ROI-Finder: machine learning to guide region-of-interest scanning for X-ray fluorescence microscopy.

The microscopy research at the Bionanoprobe (currently at beamline 9-ID and later 2-ID after APS-U) of Argonne National Laboratory focuses on applying synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques to obtain trace elemental mappings of cryogenic biological samples to gain insights about their role in critical biological activities. The elemental mappings and the morphological aspects of the biological samples, in this instance, the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. Coli), also serve as label-free biological fingerprints to identify E. coli cells that have been treated differently. The key limitations of achieving good identification performance are the extraction of cells from raw XRF measurements via binary conversion, definition of features, noise floor and proportion of cells treated differently in the measurement. Automating cell extraction from raw XRF measurements across different types of chemical treatment and the implementation of machine-learning models to distinguish cells from the background and their differing treatments are described. Principal components are calculated from domain knowledge specific features and clustered to distinguish healthy and poisoned cells from the background without manual annotation. The cells are ranked via fuzzy clustering to recommend regions of interest for automated experimentation. The effects of dwell time and the amount of data required on the usability of the software are also discussed.

Developing risk-adjusted quality indicators for pressure ulcers in long-term care hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

Pressure ulcers result in financial losses, including the cost of unnecessary medical expenses because of extended hospital stays, treatment, and examination. This was a retrospective, observational, methodological study to develop quality indicators related to pressure ulcer development and validate risk adjustment factors for pressure ulcer development. We performed a literature review to develop risk adjustment factors, and an expert group performed a content validity test. To validate risk adjustment factors for pressure ulcer development using electronic medical records, 127 patients admitted to a long-term care hospital in South Korea from June to September 2015 were enrolled in the study. Pressure ulcer risk factors were peripheral vascular disease, end-stage disease, past pressure ulcer history, high risk group for pressure ulcer development, fever, haemoglobin, and albumin (all P < 0.05); only albumin (odds ratio: 0.210, P < 0.001) was significantly associated with pressure ulcer development as an independent risk factor. Further research with a large sample size is needed for the validation of risk adjustment factors. Risk-adjusted quality indicators for pressure ulcer development can be used to evaluate the quality of nursing care and compare outcomes after preventive pressure ulcer care activities or between long-term care hospitals.

Temporal variability of glucocorticoid receptor activity is functionally important for the therapeutic action of fluoxetine in the hippocampus.

Previous studies have shown inconsistent results regarding the actions of antidepressants on glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signalling. To resolve these inconsistencies, we used a lentiviral-based reporter system to directly monitor rat hippocampal GR activity during stress adaptation. Temporal GR activation was induced significantly by acute stress, as demonstrated by an increase in the intra-individual variability of the acute stress group compared with the variability of the non-stress group. However, the increased intra-individual variability was dampened by exposure to chronic stress, which was partly restored by fluoxetine treatment without affecting glucocorticoid secretion. Immobility in the forced-swim test was negatively correlated with the intra-individual variability, but was not correlated with the quantitative GR activity during fluoxetine therapy; this highlights the temporal variability in the neurobiological links between GR signalling and the therapeutic action of fluoxetine. Furthermore, we demonstrated sequential phosphorylation between GR (S224) and (S232) following fluoxetine treatment, showing a molecular basis for hormone-independent nuclear translocation and transcriptional enhancement. Collectively, these results suggest a neurobiological mechanism by which fluoxetine treatment confers resilience to the chronic stress-mediated attenuation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity.

MRI findings of spinal arteriovenous fistulas: focusing on localisation of fistulas and differentiation between spinal dural and perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas.

AIM: To investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of spinal arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) to predict their locations and types. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who underwent spinal angiography for suspected spinal AVF between April 2003 and April 2013 were enrolled. Spine MRI images were analysed by two radiologists in consensus focusing on the distribution patterns of flow void pial vessels (FVPVs): longitudinal distribution pattern along the spinal level (even or uneven, with description of the most crowded level in uneven cases) and axial distribution pattern in relation to the cord (ventral, dorsal, or co-dominance). Spinal angiography served as the reference standard for the locations and types of fistulas. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (M:F=24:8, mean age, 53 years; range, 2-74 years) were included. There were 18 patients with spinal dural AVFs (SDAVFs), seven with perimedullary AVFs, four with epidural AVFs, and three diagnosed as normal. In 12 of 15 longitudinally uneven AVFs, the most crowded levels of FVPVs corresponded to the true fistulous levels within two-level differences. While dorsal dominance was predominant in SDAVFs (13/18), ventral dominance was predominant in perimedullary AVFs (5/7; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Fistulous levels may be predicted to be within two levels of the most crowded levels of FVPVs. The dorsal dominance pattern of FVPVs favours SDAVFs, whereas ventral dominance suggests perimedullary AVFs.

Bacterial community analysis of Tatsoi cultivated by hydroponics.

Tatsoi (Brassica narinosa) is a popular Asian salad green that is mostly consumed as a source of fresh produce. The purpose of this study was to assess the microbial diversity of Tatsoi cultivated in a hydroponic system and of its ecosystem. Tatsoi leaves, nutrient solution, and perlite/earth samples from a trickle feed system (TFS) and an ebb-and-flow system (EFS) were collected and their microbial communities were analyzed by pyrosequencing analysis. The results showed that most bacteria in the leaves from the TFS contained genus Sporosarcina (99.6%), while Rhizobium (60.4%) was dominant in the leaves from the EFS. Genus Paucibacter (18.21%) and Pelomonas (12.37%) were the most abundant microbiota in the nutrient solution samples of the TFS. In the EFS, the nutrient solution samples contained mostly genus Rhodococcus and Acinetobacter. Potential microbial transfer between the leaves and the ecosystem was observed in the EFS, while samples in the TFS were found to share only one species between the leaves, nutrient solution, and earth. Together, these results show that the bacterial populations in Tatsoi and in its ecosystem are highly diverse based on the cultivation system.

Angle change of the parent arteries after stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked intracranial bifurcation aneurysms.

AIM: To investigate the angle changes of the parent arteries after stent-assisted coil embolization of wide-necked intracranial bifurcation aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The adjacent parent arterial angles before and after stent-assisted coil embolization were measured in 38 patients with aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (ACoAA) and 41 patients with bifurcation aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery (MCABA). Variables were analysed in relation to the angle changes. RESULTS: Vascular angles of the parent arteries significantly increased by 27.8° (±18.5°) immediately after stent-assisted coil embolization in 79 cases (p < 0.001), with 25.7° (±14.8°) in ACoAA and 29.7° (±21.4°) in MCABA, respectively. In 51 (64.6%) cases with follow-up angiography (mean interval 13.5 ± 4.1 months), vascular angles increased by 27.2° (±17.1°) immediately after treatment and further increased by 20.7° (±14.3°) at the last follow-up (all p < 0.001). More acute pre-stent angles of the parent arteries correlated with greater post-stent angle changes (p = 0.006). Younger age tended to be inversely related to post-stent angle changes (p = 0.091). CONCLUSION: Stent placement during coil embolization induced significant changes in the aneurysm-parent artery relationship. Further study is needed to elicit the association between angle change of the parent arteries and aneurysmal stability after coil embolization.

Development and application of a multiplex PCR assay for rapid detection of 4 major bacterial pathogens in ducks.

Infections with Pasteurella multocida, Salmonella enterica, Riemerella anatipestifer, and Escherichia coli result in high morbidity and mortality, which cause significant economic loss in the poultry industry. It can be difficult to distinguish these pathogens based on clinical signs because these pathogens can cause similar clinical signs and coinfections can occur. Thus, rapid and sensitive detection of these 4 major bacterial pathogens are important in ducks. The aim of this study was to develop a multiplex PCR (mPCR) assay for simultaneously detecting and identifying these 4 pathogenic bacteria in a single tube reaction. The target genes used were KMT1 of P. multocida, the invasion protein gene of S. enterica, 16S rDNA of R. anatipestifer, and the alkaline phosphatase gene of E. coli. The detection limit of the assay for all bacterial DNA was 10 pg. The mPCR did not produce any nonspecific amplification products when tested against other related pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Mycoplasma gallinarum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Mycoplasma gallisepticum, which can also infect ducks. We applied mPCR to field samples, and the results were the same as the single PCR results. These results suggest that mPCR for the 4 bacteria is a useful and rapid technique to apply to field samples.

Discrimination between Sjögren's and non-Sjögren's sicca syndrome by sialoscintigraphy and antibodies against alpha-fodrin and Ro/La autoantigens.

Both Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and non-Sjögren's syndrome (NSS) can present with the sicca symptoms of dry eyes and a dry mouth but they are distinct pathological entities that require diagnostic discrimination. This study included 82 sicca syndrome patients and examined the ability of sialoscintigraphy and antibodies against the autoantigens alpha-fodrin, Ro and La to discriminate between SS and NSS. A total of 30.8% of SS patients compared with 58.8% of NSS patients were alpha-fodrin positive. The prevalence of Ro positivity was 69.4% for SS patients compared with 0% for NSS patients. The prevalence of La positivity was 52.4% for SS compared with 0% for NSS patients. Sialoscintigraphy showed that more NSS patients had grade III salivary gland impairment compared with SS patients (64.7% versus 19.4%). These data suggest that using sialoscintigraphy in combination with measuring the levels of serum alpha-fodrin, Ro and La might be useful for SS and NSS discrimination.

Relationship of serum leptin concentration with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and cholestatic disease in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To measure serum leptin concentration in dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and varying degrees of cholestatic disease and determine whether serum levels differed between dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and those with gall bladder mucocoele. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Client-owned healthy dogs (n=20), dogs diagnosed with gall bladder mucocoele (n=20) and dogs diagnosed with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (n=60) were enrolled. Only dogs of normal body condition score were included. Dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism were divided into three groups according to the severity of cholestatic disease: normal gall bladder (n=20), cholestasis (n=20) and gall bladder mucocoele (n=20). Serum leptin levels were measured using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of leptin were similar between dogs with gall bladder mucocoele and those with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism accompanied by gall bladder mucocoele; these concentrations were significantly higher than those in healthy control dogs. In dogs with pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism, circulating leptin concentration significantly increased with the severity of cholestasis: higher in the cholestasis group than the normal gall bladder group and higher in the gall bladder mucocoele group than the cholestasis group. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Elevated circulating leptin concentration was associated with canine pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism and gall bladder mucocoele. Homeostatic imbalance of leptin concentration might be associated with severity of cholestatic disease in pituitary-dependent hyperadrenocorticism.

Polar hexagonal tungsten bronze-type oxides: KNbW2O9, RbNbW2O9, and KTaW2O9.

The synthesis, crystal structures, second-harmonic generation (SHG), piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric properties of three polar noncentrosymmetric (NCS) hexagonal tungsten bronze-type oxides are reported. The materials KNbW 2O 9, RbNbW 2O 9, and KTaW 2O 9 were synthesized by standard solid-state techniques and structurally characterized by laboratory powder X-ray diffraction. The compounds are isostructural, crystallizing in the polar NCS space group Cmm2. The materials exhibit a corner-shared MO 6 (M = Nb (5+)/W (6+) or Ta (5+)/W (6+)) octahedral framework, with K (+) or Rb (+) occupying the "hexagonal" tunnels. The d (0) transition metals, Nb (5+), Ta (5+), and W (6+), are displaced from the center of their oxide octahedra attributable to second-order Jahn-Teller effects. SHG measurements using 1064 nm radiation revealed frequency-doubling efficiencies ranging from 180 to 220 x alpha-SiO 2. Converse piezoelectric measurements resulted in d 33 values ranging from 10 to 41 pm V (-1). The total pyroelectric coefficient, p, at 50 degrees C ranged from -6.5 to -34.5 muC K (-1) m (-2). The reported materials are also ferroelectric, as demonstrated by hysteresis loops (polarization vs electric field). Spontaneous polarization values, P s, ranging from 2.1 to 8.4 muC cm (-2) were measured. The magnitudes of the SHG efficiency, piezoelectric response, pyroelectric coefficient, and ferroelectric polarization are strongly dependent on the out-of-center distortion of the d (0) transition metals. Structure-property relationships are discussed and explored. Crystal data: KNbW 2O 9, orthorhombic, space group Cmm2 (No. 35), a = 21.9554(2) A, b = 12.60725(15) A, c = 3.87748(3) A, V = 1073.273(13) A (3), and Z = 6; RbNbW 2O 9, orthorhombic, space group Cmm2 (No. 35), a = 22.00985(12) A, b = 12.66916(7) A, c = 3.8989(2) A, V = 1086.182(10) A (3), and Z = 6; KTaW 2O 9, orthorhombic, space group Cmm2 (No. 35), a = 22.0025(2) A, b = 12.68532(14) A, c = 3.84456(4) A, V = 1073.05(2) A (3), and Z = 6.

Risk factors associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N8 outbreaks on broiler duck farms in South Korea.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N8 outbreaks occurred in poultry farms in South Korea in 2014 resulting in significant damage to the poultry industry. Between 2014 and 2016, the pandemic disease caused significant economic loss and social disruption. To evaluate the risk factors for HPAI infection in broiler duck farms, we conducted a retrospective case-control study on broiler duck farms. Forty-three farms with confirmed laboratories on premises were selected as the case group, and 43 HPAI-negative farms were designated as the control group. Control farms were matched based on farm location and were within a 3-km radius from the case premises. Spatial and environmental factors were characterized by site visit and plotted through a geographic information system (GIS). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were developed to assess possible risk factors associated with HPAI broiler duck farm infection. Four final variables were identified as risk factors in a final multivariable logistic model: "Farms with ≥7 flocks" (odds ratio [OR] = 6.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-37.04), "Farm owner with ≥15 years of raising poultry career" (OR = 7.91, 95% CI 1.69-37.14), "Presence of any poultry farms located within 500 m of the farm" (OR = 6.30, 95% CI 1.08-36.93) and "Not using a faecal removal service" (OR = 27.78, 95% CI 3.89-198.80). This highlights that the HPAI H5N8 outbreaks in South Korea were associated with farm owner education, number of flocks and facilities and farm biosecurity. Awareness of these factors may help to reduce the spread of HPAI H5N8 across broiler duck farms in Korea during epidemics. Greater understanding of the risk factors for H5N8 may improve farm vulnerability to HPAI and other subtypes and help to establish policies to prevent re-occurrence. These findings are relevant to global prevention recommendations and intervention protocols.

Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Stent Tips Embedded into Internal Carotid Artery Branches during Aneurysm Coiling.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: During stent-assisted coiling of ICA aneurysms, stent tips are sometimes unintentionally embedded into ICA branches. Stent tips can be visualized because they have radiopaque markers. Concerns regarding stent tip misplacement include risks of artery perforation and occlusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of ICA branches with embedded stent tips. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ICA branches with embedded stent tips were identified among 35 patients with unruptured ICA aneurysms treated with stent-assisted coiling between November 2003 and November 2014. Patient clinical and angiographic outcomes associated with the embedded stent tip were analyzed. RESULTS: Most of the 35 studied aneurysms were paraclinoid ICA aneurysms (n = 30). The most commonly involved ICA branch was the posterior communicating artery (26 patients, 74.3%), followed by the anterior choroidal artery (8 patients, 22.9%) and ophthalmic artery (1 patient, 2.9%). During the follow-up period (38.6 ± 17.9 months), no new neurologic deficits developed. Neither hemorrhagic nor thromboembolic events occurred. Angiography was performed during the final follow-up evaluation at a mean of 32.7 ± 18.0 months, and all ICA branches with embedded stent tips showed patent blood flow without severe luminal narrowing. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, placement of a stent tip into ICA branches during stent-assisted coiling was not associated with any major adverse events.

Synthesis and characterization of donor-acceptor chromophores for unidirectional electron transfer.

[reaction: see text] A series of electron-transfer chromophores containing a donor and acceptor linked by an alkyl spacer were synthesized, and their electronic spectra were investigated. By inclusion with amylose, the supramolecularly encapsulated chromophores exhibit enhanced fluorescence quenching with discrete distance dependence and acquire the ability to sustain self-assemblies of a densely packed supramolecular array on a SiOH/Si substrate.

Anterior spinal artery as a collateral channel in cases of bilateral vertebral arterial steno-occlusive diseases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We report 6 cases of retrograde flow through the anterior spinal artery (ASA) from cervical vertebral artery (VA) to intracranial distal VA because the perfusion from bilateral vertebral arteries was tenuous. Its hemodynamic and clinical implications are discussed. METHODS: In association with bilateral steno-occlusive disease of vertebral arteries, 6 cases of retrograde flow through ASA were reviewed in terms of clinical and angiographic characteristics. All 6 patients presented with stroke in the posterior fossa and underwent conventional angiography as part of diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention. RESULTS: On the angiography, 2 patients showed bilateral VA occlusion, and the other 4 patients showed VA occlusion on 1 side and severe stenosis in the other VA. Distal perfusion by ASA was prominent in 2, and not prominent in 4. Reversal or disappearance of the retrograde flow through ASA was observed after successful recanalization of the occluded VA in 4 patients. In 1 patient, increased perfusion through ASA was observed because the stenosed VA was completely occluded. CONCLUSION: When the vertebral arteries were occluded bilaterally or when a single VA was occluded and the other carried a severe stenosis and, as a result, the basilar arterial blood supply was tenuous, retrograde flow through ASA could be observed. This is a potentially important source of collateral supply to the posterior fossa neural contents. The degree and extent of perfusion via this collateral channel varied depending on presence of other collateral routes and patency of the vertebrobasilar junction.

The fate of implanted autologous chondrocytes in regenerated articular cartilage.

Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) is used to treat some articular cartilage defects. However, the fate of the cultured chondrocytes after in-vivo transplantation and their role in cartilage regeneration remains unclear. To monitor the survival and fate of such cells in vivo, the chondrocytes were labelled with a lipophilic dye and the resultant regenerated tissue in dogs examined. It was found that, 4 weeks after implantation, the osteochondral defects were filled with regenerative tissue that resembled hyaline cartilage. Fluorescence microscopy of frozen sections of the regenerated tissue revealed that the majority of cells were derived from the DiI-labelled implanted chondrocytes. From these results, it was concluded that a large population of implanted autologous chondrocytes can survive at least 4 weeks after implantation and play a direct role in cartilage regeneration. However, it remains unknown whether other cells, such as periosteal cells or bone marrow stromal stem cells, are involved in the regeneration of cartilage after ACI.

Radiochemical dates obtained by alpha spectrometry on fossil mollusk shell from the 5e Atlantic shoreline of the High Atlas, Morocco.

The reported radiochemical results obtained on 77 samples collected from Moroccan fossil beaches assumed to be deposited during the above present sea-level high stands corresponding to 5e climatic stage, and on 12 present and Holocene samples, are discussed in order to judge the age validity. Contrary to the Holocene shells where (238)U contents are low and (234)U/(238)U are in agreement with sea-water ratio, the 5e results vary considerably irrespective of species and calcite content of samples. Because of the open-system possibility, the (230)Th/(234)U ages based on shell samples should be interpreted as minima for any studied shoreline discussed in the light of geological data and several shells analyses.

Increased Leptin and Leptin Receptor Expression in Dogs With Gallbladder Mucocele.

BACKGROUND: Leptin and its receptor play a role in several disease processes such as pancreatitis and heart disease. However, their association with gallbladder mucocele (GBM) in dogs has not been reported. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To evaluate differences in the expression of leptin and leptin receptor between dogs with and without GBM. ANIMALS: Twenty-five healthy dogs, including 9 laboratory beagle dogs, and 22 client-owned dogs with GBM. METHODS: Serum leptin concentration was determined in blood samples of all dogs by ELISA. Canine gallbladder samples were collected from 9 dogs with GBM that underwent surgery for therapeutic purposes and from 9 healthy laboratory beagle dogs as a normal control group. Samples were analyzed for leptin and leptin receptor mRNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Serum leptin concentration was significantly higher in dogs with GBM than in healthy dogs (medians of 7.03 and 2.18 ng/mL, respectively; P < .001). Patients with GBM that had undergone surgery had significantly higher serum leptin concentrations than those that had not (medians of 12.2 and 4.09 ng/mL, respectively; P = .001). However, no difference in serum leptin concentration was found between dogs with GBM with or without endocrinopathies. The mRNA expression levels of leptin and its receptor were significantly increased in the gallbladder tissues of dogs with GBM. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Dysregulation of leptin might be involved in the pathophysiology of GBM, and leptin concentrations might be associated with GBM severity.

Korean traditional Chungkookjang improves body composition, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices in overweight/obese subjects: a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chungkookjang is a Korean representative fermented soybean food. In this study, we investigated the effect of Korean traditional Chungkookjang compared with placebo on body composition, dyslipidemia and risk factors for atherosclerosis in overweight/obese subjects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover trial was conducted on 120 overweight/obese subjects, aged 19-29 years. Subjects were randomly divided into a Chungkookjang (n=60) or a placebo (n=60) group. After 12 weeks, the groups were crossed over for an additional 12 weeks. During the intervention period, subjects were asked to maintain their usual diet and activity and not to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. The anthropometric measures, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices were determined at baseline and at the end of each 12-week period. RESULTS: The anthropometry measurements, percentage body fat, lean body mass, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio of women in the Chungkookjang group were significantly improved compared with the placebo group. Lipid profiles and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein of women in Chungkookjang were significantly improved. The atherogenic indices of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 decreased in both the placebo and the Chungkookjang group, and it also decreased below 0.55 for all the men and women in the Chungkookjang group. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, these results suggest that supplementation with Chungkookjang may improve body composition and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese adults.

Epidemiology of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Serotype O Epidemic of November 2010 to April 2011 in the Republic Of Korea.

The largest epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Korea since the first record in 1911 occurred between November 2010 and April 2011. The outbreak was confirmed in 153 farms, and more than three million animals were destroyed. This study presents the temporal and spatial distribution patterns, epidemiological investigation and the control measures for the 2010/2011 epidemic in Korea. The index case of this 2010/2011 FMD epidemic was reported in a pig-farming complex with five piggeries in Andong, GyeongBuk Province, on 28 November 2010, and the outbreak lasted 145 days. The largest number of new detection of the infected farms per day was recorded in mid-January. Epidemiological investigation revealed that the FMD virus had spread from farm to farm through routine movements associated with animal husbandry operations. In contrast to FMD epidemics in other countries in which movement of the infected animals largely contributed to the spread of the disease, human behaviours were major factors in the spread of the FMD virus in the Korean epidemic. The 2010/2011 epidemic was first confirmed in a local small and medium city where share of smallholder producers is higher than that of other provinces. Although Korea had a well-developed emergent response system with the experience of controlling infection and re-obtaining FMD-free status after the previous epidemics, Korea was prompted to revise their contingency plan by tailoring it to its unique livestock environment. Practical contingency plans tailored to Korea for control of FMD can be fully effective when farmers, livestock-related agencies, veterinary service providers and the general public work together.

The highly leukotoxic JP2 clone of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and progression of periodontal attachment loss.

The JP2 clone of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans has been implicated in the etiology of periodontitis in adolescents. The aim of this two-year longitudinal study was to describe clinical attachment loss (CAL) progression and to assess its association with baseline occurrence of the JP2 and non-JP2 types of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Clinical re-examination of 121 adolescents in Morocco was performed. Progression of CAL > or = 1 mm, > or = 2 mm, > or = 3 mm, and > or = 4 mm on at least one site was found in 58%, 48%, 22%, and 6% of the subjects, respectively. Subjects who, at baseline, harbored the JP2 clone had a significantly higher progression of CAL than did subjects harboring non-JP2 types of A. actinomycetemcomitans. Subjects harboring non-JP2 types displayed a marginally higher CAL progression than did subjects who were culture-negative for A. actinomycetemcomitans.