Genotyping of Theileria lestoquardi from sheep and goats in Sudan to support control of Malignant Ovine Theileriosis.

Theileriosis, caused by parasitic protozoa of the genus Theileria parasites, are among the major tick-borne diseases of ruminant livestock. The largest economic losses are attributed in particular to those caused by the leukoproliferative species of Theileria: T. parva, T. annulata and T. lestoquardi. Theileria lestoquardi is transmitted by Hyalomma ticks and causes malignant ovine theileriosis (MOT), a disease that is particularly prevalent in Sudan. The disease is considered of a high economic importance in Sudan, where export of sheep is a major component of the national economy. A live vaccine based on a Sudanese isolate of T. lestoquardi (Atbara strain) was previously developed for the control of MOT in Sudan, but not yet deployed in the field. The present study aims to genetically characterize and compare samples of T. lestoquardi circulating in Sudan as well as the live vaccine isolate in order to understand vaccine breakthroughs and failure that may occur. Sheep and goats blood samples were collected from six regions in Sudan that are known to be endemic for T. lestoquardi infection or have experienced outbreaks of MOT. Blood samples infected with T. lestoquardi were identified by PCR or RLB. Genotyping was carried out by (1) sequencing the homologues of two T. parva CD8+ T cell antigen genes, Tp1 and Tp2, and (2) using a panel of seven micro- and mini-satellite markers. A total of 100 T. lestoquardi positive field samples and the T. lestoquardi (Atbara) vaccine were genotyped. The results showed that all samples had mixed genotypes, with several alleles identified at one or more loci. The gene diversity ranged from 0.7840 (TS8) to 0.2133 (TS12) with mean values of 0.5470. PCA revealed three clusters of the parasite in Sudan; interestingly one independent cluster was clearly seen, corresponding to the vaccine isolate. The T. lestoquardi Tp1 homologue showed higher homology with T. annulata than with T. parva sequences included the defined single CD8+ T cell target epitope region. The result indicates that multiple genotypes are a common feature of T. lestoquardi infection in Sudan. Both genotyping and the sequencing results clearly showed that the vaccine isolate is highly distinct from the field samples. This finding raised the question whether vaccination with the prepared lived vaccine will effectively protect animals against challenges by the field isolates of T. lestoquardi. The results of this work will inform on the best approach for controlling MOT in Sudan.

Determination of rare earth elements in dust deposited on tree leaves from Greater Cairo using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

This work aims at monitoring the rare earth elements (REEs) and Th in dust deposited on tree leaves collected inside and outside Greater Cairo (GC), Egypt. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed. The concentration of REEs in the collected dust samples was found to be in the range from 1 to 60 µg g(-1). The highest concentration of REEs was found in dust samples collected outside GC, in the middle of the Nile Delta. This would refer to the availability of black sands, due to desert wind occurrence during the sample collection, and anthropogenic activities. The limits of detection of the REEs ranged from 0.02 ng g(-1) for Tm to 3 ng g(-1) for Yb. There was an obvious variation in the concentration of REEs inside and outside GC due to variations of natural and anthropogenic sources. Strong correlations among all the REEs were found.

Cytochrome P450 3A4 genetic polymorphisms and post-operative fentanyl requirements.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Interindividual variability in drug responses may be attributable to genetically determined alteration in enzyme activity. In this study, we investigated the association between cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) genetic polymorphisms and post-operative fentanyl requirements. METHODS: Patients (n = 94) scheduled for gynaecological laparotomy received i.v. fentanyl infusion (3 µg/kg/h) after induction of general anaesthesia. Post-operative fentanyl requirements were quantified by using a patient-controlled analgesia and the number of i.v. fentanyl rescue analgesia required were recorded. Pain control was assessed using visual analogue scores (VAS) and fentanyl's adverse effects were documented. CYP3A4*4, CYP3A4*5 and CYP3A4*18 alleles of cytochrome P450 3A4 were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Differences in fentanyl requirements, VAS scores and adverse effects among the various genotypes were compared. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: No CYP3A4*4 and CYP3A4*5 alleles were detected. Eighty-nine patients (94·7%) were wild-type, five (5·3%) were heterozygous and none was homozygous. No significant difference was demonstrated between the genotype groups in terms of fentanyl consumption, pain control and adverse effects. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: CYP3A4*4 and CYP3A4*5 are rare in the Malaysian Malay population. Genetic polymorphism of CYP3A4*18 may not play an important role in influencing postoperative fentanyl requirements.

Mortality and serum urea and electrolytes on admission for hip fracture patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between pre-operative serum urea and electrolyte concentrations and mortality in patients with hip fractures requiring surgery. METHODS: A prospective observational study of 2963 consecutive patients admitted to a single trauma unit with a hip fracture, treated operatively. RESULTS: The 30-day mortality for patients with low and normal urea concentrations was 6.9%. The 30-day mortality for patients with raised urea concentrations was almost double (11.5%). A raised admission serum urea concentration was an independent predictor for mortality at 30 days, 90 days, 1 year and 2 years. Mortality was significantly increased in patients admitted with: raised or low serum sodium, raised serum potassium and raised serum creatinine. CONCLUSION: Mortality is high following hip fracture. Patients admitted with a raised serum urea are at increased risk of death at all time intervals analysed up to and including 2 years. This group of patients may require a separate care pathway that provides more intensive management of fluid and electrolyte balance.

PVC ion-selective electrodes based on calcium bis-[dialkyl- and di-(4-alkylphenyl) phosphates] and mixed solvent mediators.

PVC calcium ion-selective electrodes based on either calcium bis-di(n-decyl)phosphate or calcium bis-di[4-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl]phosphate with various solvent mediators (alone or in pairs) have been evaluated with particular respect to interference from Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Sr(2+), Ba(2+), Mn(2+), Cu(2+), Ni(2+) and Zn(2+) ions. PVC calcium ion-selective electrodes based on calcium bis-di[4-(n-octyl)phenyl]phosphate with varied amounts of decan-l-ol plus di-n-octyl phenylphosphonate showed a continuous gradation in selectivity coefficients on going from a high fraction of decan-l-ol to a high fraction of the second mediator. Thus, k(pot)(Ca,Mg) changed from 1.6 for an electrode based exclusively on decan-l-ol to 4.9 x 10(-4) for one based completely on di-n-octyl phenylphosphonate. The corresponding k(pot)(Ca,Na) values were 7.0 x 10(-2) and 1.1 x 10(-3).