Elevated levels of IL-2 and IL-21 produced by CD4+ T cells in inflammatory bowel disease.

CD4+ T cells are considered as a subset of cells that play a pivotal role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to assess the levels of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-21 and their receptors produced by CD4+ T cells in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Thirty-two patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and mean age of 37.93±10.37 years, as well as 22 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and mean age of 37.04±10.44 years, were studied. The healthy controls (HC) included 31 subjects with a mean age of 36.7±10.48 years. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from all the participants. The CD4+ T cells were isolated and the expression of IL-2 and IL-21 and also their receptors were examined by flow cytometry. The level of IL-2+ cells was significantly increased in UC patients compared with HC (40.71±6.04 vs 37.24±6.54, respectively, p=0.04). The level of IL-21+ cells was also significantly elevated in CD patients compared with HC (4.44±1 vs 3.83±0.74, respectively, p=0.02). Furthermore, we found a significant positive correlation between clinical activity index (CAI) and IL-21+ cells. According to the results, we hypothesize that the elevated level of IL-2+ and IL-21+ T cells and a positive correlation between IL-21+ cells with CAI in UC patients may contribute to the pathogenesis of disease. Moreover, the assessment of cells producing such cytokines constitutes a potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategy for IBD.

Dimensionality of carbon nanomaterial impacting on the modulation of amyloid peptide assembly.

A wide variety of inorganic nanomaterials have been exploited so far for their great potential for biological applications. Some of these materials could be valid candidates to modulate the assembly of amyloid peptides, which is relevant to amyloid-related diseases. In this work, we reveal that a carbon nanomaterial can indeed modulate the assembly of amyloid peptides and, additionally, we show that this modulating effect is closely related to the dimensionality of the nanomaterials.

Isolation and Whole-Genome Sequencing of Four Antibiotic-Producing Pseudomonas Strains.

Here, we report the isolation, whole-genome sequencing, and annotation of four novel Pseudomonas isolates. We also evaluate the biosynthetic potential of each genome.

Storage and recall of weak coherent optical pulses with an efficiency of 25%.

We demonstrate experimentally an efficient coherent rephasing scheme for the storage and recall of weak coherent light pulses in an inhomogeneously broadened optical transition in a Pr(3+):YSO crystal at 2.1 K. Precise optical pumping using a frequency stable (≈1 kHz linewidth) laser is employed to create a highly controllable atomic frequency comb structure. We report single photon level storage and retrieval efficiencies of 25%, based on coherent photon-echo-type reemission in the forward direction. The high efficiency is mainly a product of our highly controllable and precise ensemble-shaping technique. The coherence property of the quantum memory is proved through interference between a super-Gaussian pulse and the emitted echo.

[Microbiological studies of spiced beef burgers in Tripoli city, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya].

We investigated the microbiological quality of uncooked and cooked spiced beef burger in restaurants and fast food places in Tripoli city and surrounding areas. Thus 151 samples (92 cooked and 59 uncooked) were analysed microbiologically. The results showed that all samples were highly contaminated with bacteria; 74.5%, 28.8%, 27.1% and 18.6% of the uncooked samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli, Aeromonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli O157:H7 respectively. Additionally 11.9%, 9.9%, 5.4% and 3.2% of the cooked samples were contaminated with E. coli, Aeromonas spp., E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus respectively.

Integrating caregiver report with systematic choice assessment to enhance reinforcer identification.

To determine client preferences, we asked caregivers to rank-order, according to predicted client preference, a standard list of items and a list generated using a structured interview for caregivers, the Reinforcer Assessment for Individuals with Severe Disabilities. Systematic choice assessments were then conducted with both sets of stimuli. A concurrent operants paradigm was used to compare the reinforcing effects of the highest preference stimulus identified from each list. Results indicated that caregiver predictions of client preferences were slightly better for the set of stimuli they generated than for the standard set, and the choice assessment identified more potent reinforcers from the set of stimuli generated by the caregivers than from the standard set.

Treating total liquid refusal with backward chaining and fading.

In this study, we report on a 12-year-old boy with autism, mental retardation, and a history of severe gastrointestinal problems who presented with total liquid and food refusal. Backward chaining was used to shape drinking from a cup, and a fading procedure was used to increase the quantity of water he was required to drink.

Achieving and maintaining compliance with the ketogenic diet.

The ketogenic diet, a treatment for intractable epilepsy, is rarely initiated because it requires strict compliance with a diet that is perceived to be unpalatable. In a case study of a 15-year-old girl with uncontrolled epilepsy, we used a stimulus-choice procedure to assess relative preferences of 33 foods from the diet and to develop two treatments based on Premack's principle. The results of a multielement analysis showed that both treatments increased dietary compliance. Compliance was maintained with generalization of treatment across settings, and was associated with a 40% reduction in seizures.

[Descriptive study of the regulation N°06/2010/CM/UEMOA on procedures followed for registration of pharmacticals for human use in UEMOA member states]. / Etude descriptive du reglement N°06/2010/CM/UEMOA relatif aux procedures d'homologation des produits pharmaceutiques a usage humain dans les etats membres de l'UEMOA.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe Regulation No 06/2010/CM/UEMOA on procedures for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for human use in UEMOA member states to facilitate their implementation in the national legislation of each Member State. METHODS: Our study material was composed of the national laws of member states of UEMOA, the texts adopted at Community level relating to community management mechanisms of the drug in West Africa, and in particular regulations No 02/2005/CM/UEMAO on the harmonization of drug regulation in the member states of the UEMOA and No. 06/2010/CM/UEMOA. These texts were analyzed, their scope appreciated, and their origin studied. RESULT: The Regulation No 06/2010/CM/UEMOA describes all the procedures for obtaining a marketing authorization for a medicinal product in the Member States of the UEMOA. This regulation establishes a committee in charge of the technical evaluation of dossiers of application for approval and a national committee in charge of the drug definitive opinion on the request for approval, where the Minister of Health is the administrative authority issuing the marketing authorization. CONCLUSION: The regulation makes a great UEMOA standardization of procedures for drug approval and guarantees the safety and quality of medicines circulating in the UEMOA.

BUT: L'objectif de ce travail est de décrire le règlement n°06/2010/CM/UEMOA relatif aux procédures d'homologation des produits pharmaceutiques à usage humain dans les Etats membres de l'UEMOA en vue de faciliter son application dans chacun des Etats membres. MATÉRIEL ET MÉTHODE: Notre matériel d'étude a été constitué des législations nationales des Etats membres de l'UEMOA d'une part et par les textes adoptés au plan communautaire relatifs aux mécanismes communautaires de gestion du médicament en Afrique de l'Ouest d'autre part en particulier les règlements n°02/2005/CM/UEMAO relatif à l'harmonisation de la réglementation pharmaceutique dans les Etats membres de l'UEMOA et n°06/2010/CM/UEMOA. Ces textes ont été analysés, leur champ d'application apprécié, leur fondement étudié. RÉSULTAT: Le règlement n°06/2010/CM/UEMOA décrit l'ensemble des procédures pour l'obtention d'une AMM d'un médicament à usage humain dans les Etats membres de l'UEMOA. Ce règlement institue un comité technique pour l'évaluation technique des dossiers de demande d'homologation et un comité national du médicament chargé de l'avis définitif sur la demande d'homologation, le ministre de la santé étant l'autorité administrative qui délivre l'AMM. CONCLUSION: Le règlement UEMOA réalise une formidable standardisation des procédures d'homologation des médicaments et garantit la sécurité et la qualité des médicaments qui circulent dans l'espace UEMOA.

Using differential reinforcement to treat functional hypophonia in a paediatric rehabilitation patient.

Behaviour analysis studies have demonstrated the use of operant procedures for treating symptoms of psychiatric disorders. These symptoms are usually caused or maintained by a variety of variables including specific organic mechanisms, yet most can be modified by environmental social contingencies. In this case study, data is presented on a 16 year-old male admitted to a rehabilitation hospital following the onset of polymyositis. This patient also presented with functional hypophonia and met the DSM-IV diagnostic criterion for a conversion disorder. In conjunction with the medical team and a speech pathologist, a behavioural programme was developed and implemented to shape and differentially reinforce increasingly complex vocalizations. Results were evaluated using a moving treatment, multiple baseline across responses design. Differential reinforcement in the form of written and verbal feedback was effective in shaping normal speech. The protocol was applied comprehensively across staff and settings. Results are discussed in terms of basic behavioural research on 'learned non-use'.

Treating selective mutism in a paediatric rehabilitation patient by altering environmental reinforcement contingencies.

Selective mutism is a disorder which can cause severe social and academic impairment, and for which a wide variety of treatment approaches have been used, with varying degrees of success. Selective mutism can be conceptualized as the lack of generalization of a class of operant responses (e.g. audible and comprehensible verbalizations) across environmental contexts. The rehabilitation hospital setting, in which the patient is seen daily by multiple people in multiple settings, is particularly well-suited for implementing a systematic behavioural intervention to establish verbal behaviour and simultaneously reinforce its generalization. Data are presented on a 7-year-old female admitted to a rehabilitation hospital following orthopaedic surgery, who met the DSM-IV diagnostic criterion for selective mutism. Additional medical diagnoses included cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and mild mental retardation. A behavioural programme was developed and implemented to reinforce differentially first any communication, then verbal communication across staff and settings. Results were evaluated using a modified multiple baseline across settings design, and demonstrate that verbal, written, and tangible reinforcement effectively increased verbal behaviour where it previously rarely occurred. Results are discussed in terms of the relationship between selective mutism, social phobia and related disorders. The theoretical roles of behavioural phenomena (discriminative stimuli, stimulus generalization) in the development and treatment of these disorders are discussed.

Antecedent management and compliance training improve adolescents' participation in early brain injury rehabilitation.

Children and adolescents with serious brain injuries are surviving in greater numbers, often entering rehabilitation settings while still emerging from coma. As the child's or adolescent's level of consciousness improves, increased demands to begin participating in self-care and therapeutic activities are presented. When the patient is unable to participate because of disorientation and agitation, the benefits of the rehabilitation admission may be jeopardized, limited rehabilitation resources may be prematurely exhausted, and behavioural sequelae often escalate. A non-concurrent multiple baseline across subjects experimental design was used to examine the effects of a behaviour management approach employing both antecedent environmental manipulations and operant conditioning-based compliance training. Data are presented on therapy attendance, disruptive behaviour, and agitation ratings across three recently brain-injured adolescents as therapeutic demands were gradually introduced. In all three cases, therapy attendance stabilized at a high level, disruptive behaviour decreased, and agitation was maintained at a moderate to low level. The results demonstrate the importance of carefully controlling the environment and coordinating the introduction of both therapeutic demands and positive reinforcement contingencies during early recovery from brain injury.

[Microbiological studies of spiced beef burgers in Tripoli city, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya]

We investigated the microbiological quality of uncooked and cooked spiced beef burger in restaurants and fast food places in Tripoli city and surrounding areas. Thus 151 samples [92 cooked and 59 uncooked] were analysed microbiologically. The results showed that all samples were highly contaminated with bacteria; 74.5%, 28.8%, 27.1% and 18.6% of the uncooked samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli, Aeromonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli O157:H7 respectively. Additionally 11.9%, 9.9%, 5.4% and 3.2% of the cooked samples were contaminated with E. coli, Aeromonas spp., E. coli O157:H7 and S. aureus respectively