Characterization of Cucurbit Aphid-Borne Yellows Virus (CABYV) from Passion Fruit in Brazil: Evidence of a Complex of Species within CABYV Isolates.

High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has been an important tool for the discovery of plant viruses and their surveillance. In 2015, several virus-like symptoms were observed in passion fruit (PF) plants in Bahia state, Brazil. Using HTS technology, bioinformatics tools, RT-PCR, and Sanger sequencing, we identified the cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV, Polerovirus, Solemoviridae) in co-infection with cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV, Potyvirus, Potyviridae) in PF, in green manure, and spontaneous plants in several localities in Bahia. Complete genomes of CABYV-PF isolates were determined and analyzed with other CABYV isolates available in GenBank that have been identified in various countries. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise identity comparison with CABYV isolates showed that CABYV-PFs are more closely related to French and Spanish isolates. Overall, analyses of all the CABYV genomes revealed that these could represent ten distinct species, and we thus proposed reclassifying these CABYV as isolates into ten species, tentatively named "Polerovirus curcubitaeprimum" to "Polerovirus curcubitaenonum", and "Polerovirus melo". CABYV-PF is a member of "Polerovirus curcubitaeprimum".

Elevated baseline cardiac troponin levels in the elderly - another variable to consider?

AIMS: This study aimed to determine the frequency of baseline high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT) elevation in different age groups presenting to the Emergency Department without acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or other acute illnesses known to cause to troponin elevation. We additionally sought to determine whether the relationship between age and hs-TnT was independent of co-morbidities. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data on all patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) between November 2010 and June 2011 in whom hs-TnT was measured. Patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) or other acute illness known to elevate hs-TnT levels were excluded. Demographics, clinical characteristics and diagnosis were recorded, together with hs-TnT assay results. RESULTS: Of 3219 patients with hs-TnT testing in the ED during the study period, 526 with proven/suspected ACS and 1376 with other acute medical conditions known to elevate troponin concentrations were excluded. The percentage of patients with hs-TnT concentrations elevated above the upper reference limit (>14ng/L) increased with age: <50 years (1.8%), 50-69 years (7.3%), ≥70 years (41.5%), p=0.001. Multivariate analysis identified age over 70 years (p<0.001) as the strongest independent predictor of elevated hs-TnT. Other independent predictors included atrial fibrillation (p<0.001), age 50-69 years (p<0.001) male gender (p<0.001), previous heart failure (p<0.007) and previous ischaemic heart disease (p<0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Hs-TnT elevations (>14ng/L) are common in elderly patients presenting to the ED without ACS or other acute illnesses known to cause to troponin elevation. This finding appears to be independent of the higher burden of co-morbidities in this age group.

Casting versus percutaneous pinning for extra-articular fractures of the distal radius in an elderly Chinese population: a prospective randomised controlled trial.

We carried out a prospective randomised controlled clinical trial to compare the functional and radiological outcomes of casting with percutaneous pinning in treating extra-articular distal radial fracture in an elderly Chinese population. Sixty patients were randomly allocated by sealed envelopes to either a 'Cast' group (n = 30) or a 'K-wire' group (n = 30). All patients were available for final follow-up assessment. The radiological outcomes in terms of dorsal angulation, radial inclination and radial length were statistically significantly better in the K-wire group, whereas the Mayo wrist score and quality of life, healing rate, healing time, and complications were similar. The functional outcomes and quality of life were not affected by the treatments. Both treatments had a very low rate of complication and high healing rates.

Loss determination in microsphere resonators by phase-shift cavity ring-down measurements.

The optical loss of whispering gallery modes of resonantly excited microresonator spheres is determined by optical lifetime measurements. The phase-shift cavity ring-down technique is used to extract ring-down times and optical loss from the difference in amplitude modulation phase between the light entering the microresonator and light scattered from the microresonator. In addition, the phase lag of the light exiting the waveguide, which was used to couple light into the resonator, was measured. The intensity and phase measurements were fully described by a model that assumed interference of the cavity modes with the light propagating in the waveguide.

Spontaneous fractures in nursing home residents.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate spontaneous long bone fractures occurring in nursing home residents and to identify what factors put them at risk for fractures. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of a pubic hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: A total of 30 nursing home residents who developed spontaneous long bone fractures between 1994 and 2005 were reviewed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic data, mechanism of injury, pattern of fractures, associated risk factors, complications, outcomes, and post-treatment status. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 84 years. Co-morbidities were as follows: 22 patients were bedridden, 21 required long-term feeding by Ryle's tube, 19 had a history of cerebrovascular accident and 18 of whom had a long bone fracture on the side of the hemiplegia, 15 had dementia, and 25 had lower limb contractures. Closed supracondylar fractures of the femur occurred in 23 patients, 17 of whom presented with limb deformity. In 21 patients, fractures were treated successfully with hinged braces. In one patient, the fracture changed from closed to open. In five patients, the fractures were complicated by sacrum or heel sores, and in one by infected nonunion. In 28 patients, the fractures eventually healed without further complications. Three formerly bedridden patients were able to sit after their fractures had been treated. CONCLUSIONS: Female nursing home residents who require long-term Ryle's tube feeding, have dementia, hemiplegia, lower limb contractures, osteoporosis, or are bedridden, are at high risk for spontaneous fractures.

Implications of the changing pattern of bacterial infections following total joint replacements.

PURPOSE: To retrospectively review the causative organisms isolated from infected hip and knee replacements requiring revision. METHODS: We reviewed a consecutive series of 36 patients who underwent revision hip or knee arthroplasties due to bacterial infection at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Hong Kong between 1995 and 2003. The male to female ratio was 1:2, and the mean age of patients was 70 years (range, 54-82 years). The mean duration of follow-up was 3.8 years (range, 1.1-8.3 years). No patient was lost to follow-up. All 14 revision knee patients had previously undergone cemented and patella-resurfacing total knee arthroplasties. Of the 22 revision hip patients, 9 had cementless, 6 had cemented, and 7 had hybrid total hip arthroplasties previously. RESULTS: None of the bacteria isolated from 1995 to 1996 were multiple-drug resistant. Subsequently, however, most of the isolates were multiple-drug resistant, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) being the most common. Half of the isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli demonstrated multiple-drug resistance. The incidence of positive culture in revision hip patients was 59%, 46% of which were MRSA. All 13 revision hips with positive cultures showed chronic sepsis: 4 occurred within one year and 10 occurred 2 or more years after the index arthroplasty. The incidence of positive culture in revision knee patients was 57%, 46% of which were MRSA. All 8 revision knees with positive cultures showed chronic sepsis: 3 occurred within one year, 5 occurred 2 or more years after the index arthroplasty. Only one patient, who was infected with gram-negative bacilli, required a second revision for residual sepsis. Harris hip scores for the revision hip patients improved from a mean of 65 (range, 55-75) to 85 (range, 75-90). Knee Society knee scores of the revision knee patients improved from a mean of 68 (range, 55-75) to 80 (range, 70-85). There were no radiological signs suggestive of loosening in the 2 groups at the latest follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study found a definite increase in multiple-drug-resistant bacteria isolated from periprosthetic infections around total hip and knee prostheses.

Detection of PCR products of the ipaH gene from Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.

PCR techniques applied to diarrheal stools reliably diagnose Shigella and enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) infections. Identification of PCR products using agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and hybridization with DNA probes has several shortcomings. Automated methods of identifying PCR products that process larger numbers of specimens can facilitate epidemiologic studies and standardize results. In this study, we used ELISA following PCR to detect ipaH gene sequences of Shigella and EIEC from 89 diarrheal stools. Results of ELISA were compared with AGE with and without DNA probe, and with culture. Two specimen preparation methods were compared as well: boiling/centrifugation, and purification with silicon dioxide (SiO(2)). Both PCR product-detection methods identified significantly more infections than did culture. PCR-ELISA detected significantly more infections than PCR-AGE when processed using SiO2 (P = 0.014). PCR-ELISA allows screening of larger numbers of specimens, automates test results, and avoids use of mutagenic reagents. PCR-ELISA is faster than PCR-AGE when testing large numbers of specimens, although not when testing small numbers of specimens.

Over-expression of acetylcholinesterase stimulates the expression of agrin in NG108-15 cells.

Several lines of evidence suggest the non-cholinergic functions of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in promoting neurite outgrowth of cultured neurons and in inducing the postsynaptic specializations of developing neuromuscular junctions. In order to support the hypothesis, a cholinergic synapse-forming cell line NG108-15 was over-expressed with chick AChE by cDNA transfection. The transfected NG108-15 cells secreted a approximately 105-kDa protein, recognized by anti-AChE antibody in Western blot analysis, corresponding to the chick AChE catalytic subunit. Over 80% of the recombinant enzyme were secreted into the conditioned medium and they were enzymatically active. In the NG108-15 cell-muscle co-cultures, the AChR-aggregating activity of NG108-15 cells was increased by the over-expression of AChE. The increase in AChR-aggregating activity of the transfected NG108-15 cells paralleled with the increase in agrin and neurofilament expression of the transfected cells as determined by their corresponding antibodies. However, the intracellular cAMP level remained unchanged in the AChE over-expressed NG108-15 cells. These results support the hypothesis that AChE could play a role in promoting neuron differentiation.