Patterns of spore locations in pairs of Bacillus cereus sporangia.

The location patterns, relative to the cross wall, of terminal-to-subterminal Bacillus cereus spores were determined in pairs of sporangia. The presence of three types of patterns suggests that spores are randomly located, but medium-dependent variability of the frequency ratios of the patterns strongly suggests that nonrandom localization cannot be discounted.     

Assessment of post extraction complications in Indians

Extraction is one of the commonest procedures in dentistry. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate the post extraction complications in patients undergoing extractions of permanent teeth. A total of 70 adult patients who had undergone dental extractions and presented with post -operative complications were included in the study and evaluated. Data collected was statistically analyzed using SPSS software and results obtained. Most of the patients with post extraction complications were in the age group of 31-40 years (21.6%), followed by 21-30 (20.2%) and 61-70 years (20.2%). Dry socket (39.19%) was the common post extraction complication in our study especially in the age group of 31-40 years. There was a statistically significant association between age of the patients and the post extraction complications (p<0.001). In our study, post extraction complications were commonly observed in age group of 31-40 years with a predilection for males. Dry socket was the most common post extraction complication. Age of the patient has a significant effect on post extraction complications. However, gender, smoking habits and systemic diseases have no influence on post extraction complications.     

Effects of different disinfection and sterilization methods on tensile strength of materials used for single-use devices

Driven by economic and time constraints, some medical centers and third parties are resterilizing single-use devices (SUDs) for reuse. The steam autoclave is quick, but most plastics used in SUDs cannot survive the temperature. Thus, a number of new methods of cleaning, disinfecting, and sterilizing these complex devices are being introduced on the market. The present study investigated the effects of a range of methods on the tensile strength of latex rubber, silicone elastomer, 2 different formulations of polyurethane, nylon, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) specimens. The methods used were sodium hypochlorite bleach (Clorox), peracetic acid + hydrogen peroxide (Steris), formaldehyde gas (Chemiclave), low-temperature peracetic acid and gas plasma (Plazlyte), and low-temperature hydrogen peroxide gas plasma (Sterrad). The results showed that silicone elastomer was minimally affected, whereas the strengths of nylon, polyethylene, and latex were reduced by some of the methods. Depending on the formulation, the strength of polyurethane either increased or decreased. The data demonstrated that disinfection and sterilization can affect the tensile strength of certain materials used in medical devices.     

Duplication of 7p11.2-p13, including GRB10, in Silver-Russell syndrome

Silver-Russell syndrome (SRS) is characterized by pre- and postnatal growth failure and other dysmorphic features. The syndrome is genetically heterogeneous, but maternal uniparental disomy of chromosome 7 has been demonstrated in approximately 7% of cases. This suggests that at least one gene on chromosome 7 is imprinted and involved in the pathogenesis of SRS. We have identified a de novo duplication of 7p11.2-p13 in a proband with features characteristic of SRS. FISH confirmed the presence of a tandem duplication encompassing the genes for growth factor receptor-binding protein 10 (GRB10) and insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins 1 and 3 (IGFBP1 and -3) but not that for epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGFR). Microsatellite markers showed that the duplication was of maternal origin. These findings provide the first evidence that SRS may result from overexpression of a maternally expressed imprinted gene, rather than from absent expression of a paternally expressed gene. GRB10 lies within the duplicated region and is a strong candidate, since it is a known growth suppressor. Furthermore, the mouse homologue (Grb10/Meg1) is reported to be maternally expressed and maps to the imprinted region of proximal mouse chromosome 11 that demonstrates prenatal growth failure when it is maternally disomic. We have demonstrated that the GRB10 genomic interval replicates asynchronously in human lymphocytes, suggestive of imprinting. An additional 36 SRS probands were investigated for duplication of GRB10, but none were found. However, it remains possible that GRB10 and/or other genes within 7p11.2-p13 are responsible for some cases of SRS.     

Prevalence of systemic diseases in patients undergoing minor oral surgeries

It is of interest to evaluate the prevalence of systemic disorders in patients undergoing minor oral surgeries at a dental hospital. This will help to take necessary precautions prior to oral surgeries. We used the digital case records of 1288 patients who underwent minor oral surgeries in a hospital. Demographic details and systemic diseases of the patients were recorded from digital case records. Data shows that 103 patients (7.9%) of the total number of patients undergoing minor oral surgeries had systemic diseases with 3.8% of patients diagnosed with diabetes. Statistically significant associations were found between type of minor oral surgery and the type of systemic disease (p<0.001); age of patients and type of minor oral surgery (p<0.001); age and type of systemic diseases (p<0.001) and gender of patient and type of minor oral surgery (p = 0.005). Thus, data shows the prevalence of systemic diseases in patients undergoing minor oral surgeries was 7.9%.     

Courtship Behavior of Zaprionus indianus (Gupta) (Diptera: Drosophilidae) from Populations Colonizing South America

We describe for the first time the sexual behavior and the courtship song of males of the African fly Zaprionus indianus (Gupta), a recent invader of South America. The male courtship song is formed by monocyclic pulses and the courtship behavior is simple when compared to that of species of Drosophila. Two interpulse interval (IPI) distributions were observed: pre-mounting and mounting. No significant difference was observed between the pre-mounting IPIs of males that descended from three geographical populations from South America. We also observed the songs produced by females and the homosexual behavior exhibited by males. A sequence of bursts is produced by females as a refusal signal against males, while males emit a characteristic song that identifies sex genus, which differs from the courtship song. The short courtship and mating latencies recorded reveal vigorous males and receptive females, respectively.     

Stimulation of the autonomic nervous system in colorectal surgery: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

In this study we describe the sociodemographic characteristics of people participating in a clinical trial on the safety and immunogenicity of a H5N1 influenza vaccine and we identify the main motivations for joining it.     

Natural Atypical Listeria innocua Strains with Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenicity Island 1 Genes

Identification of bona fide Listeria isolates into the six species of the genus normally requires only a few tests. Aberrant isolates do occur, but even then only one or two extra confirmatory tests are generally needed for identification to species level. We have discovered a hemolytic-positive, rhamnose and xylose fermentation-negative Listeria strain with surprising recalcitrance to identification to the species level due to contradictory results in standard confirmatory tests. The issue had to be resolved by using total DNA-DNA hybridization testing and then confirmed by further specific PCR-based tests including a Listeria microarray assay. The results show that this isolate is indeed a novel one. Its discovery provides the first fully documented instance of a hemolytic Listeria innocua strain. This species, by definition, is typically nonhemolytic. The L. innocua isolate contains all the members of the PrfA-regulated virulence gene cluster (Listeria pathogenicity island 1) of L. monocytogenes. It is avirulent in the mouse pathogenicity test. Avirulence is likely at least partly due to the absence of the L. monocytogenes-specific allele of iap, as well as the absence of inlA, inlB, inlC, and daaA. At least two of the virulence cluster genes, hly and plcA, which encode the L. monocytogenes hemolysin (listeriolysin O) and inositol-specific phospholipase C, respectively, are phenotypically expressed in this L. innocua strain. The detection by PCR assays of specific L. innocua genes (lin0198, lin0372, lin0419, lin0558, lin1068, lin1073, lin1074, lin2454, and lin2693) and noncoding intergenic regions (lin0454-lin0455 and nadA-lin2134) in the strain is consistent with its L. innocua DNA-DNA hybridization identity. Additional distinctly different hemolytic L. innocua strains were also studied.