Isolation and characterization of a novel reovirus from white bream Blicca bjoerkna.

During a fish health inspection in the Viennese waterway 'Old Danube', a virus was isolated exclusively from white bream Blicca bjoerkna (L.) (formerly Abramis bjoerkna L.), one of the most abundant cyprinids present and not known as a host species for this virus. The virus preferentially replicated in cultures of the epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell line where focal plaques of infection developed slowly. Examination of infected cell cultures by electron microscopy revealed non-enveloped 60 to 70 nm icosahedral virions that had characteristic multiple segregated protrusions of their outer capsid. A partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene sequence was obtained and a BLAST search indicated 76% identity to golden shiner reovirus and grass carp reovirus. These results suggested that the virus belonged to the genus Aquareovirus (Family Reoviridae). Phylogenetic analysis placed the isolated virus within a clade of the species Aquareovirus C species. Accordingly, the virus was tentatively designated as white bream reovirus (WBRV) strain A-127/06 within the species Aquareovirus C.

Therapeutic and economic effects of multimodal back exercise: A controlled multicentre study.

To compare the cost-effectiveness of a multimodal back exercise programme for non-specific back pain with that of standard treatment. Medical costs were measured in euros (EUR) and effectiveness was measured using Graded Chronic Pain Status (GCPS). A controlled multicentre study (39 sites) with a 6-month intervention phase and follow-up at 6, 12 and 18 months. The study included 1,829 participants in an intervention group and 495 individuals in a control group. The multimodal back exercise programme comprises 36 exercise sessions for optimizing the spine stabilizing muscles and everyday motor func-tions. The patients were given a home training programme at the end of the intervention programme. The back exercise programme resulted in a significant reduction, of 0.4, in back pain grade on the GCPS after 2 years, compared with standard treat-ment, and reduced medical costs by 763 EUR. The exercise programme was therapeutically effective for GCPS back pain grades 1-4 and produced cost savings in the case of grade 4 GCPS. The multimodal back exercise programme was therapeutically effective for back pain (grades 1-2) and pain-related functional impairment (grades 3-4). It resulted in reduced costs for chronic back pain causing high pain-induced functional impairment (grade 4). The therapeutic and economic effects of the programme increase with the grade of back pain.