Can we afford screening for neural tube defects? The South Wales experience.

Clinical and financial gains and losses accruing from five different options for screening for open neural tube defects were estimated, based principally on the results of detailed monitoring of inputs and outcomes and of process costs in the South Wales Anencephaly and Spina Bifida Study. As well as estimating the overall clinical costs of a screening service it was shown that if the prevalence, including terminations, of open neural tube defects is between 1.25 and five per 1000 births the financial cost of avoiding the birth of a seriously handicapped child who would survive for more than 24 hours is in the range 9000 pounds- 54000 pounds depending on the option adopted and the prevalence of the condition in the target population. Prevalence is the biggest determinant of cost. The data should provide a basis for assessment and discussion of resource priorities in the National Health Service.     

Ecdysteroid receptors in a tumorous blood cell line of Drosophila melanogaster

The tumorous Drosophila melanogaster blood cell line BII has been studied for evidence for the presence of ecdysteroid receptors. The [³H]ponasterone A (pon A)* used in this study has been extensively purified, and the location of the tritium in the molecule has been partially determined. BII cells do not metabolise ecdysteroids. Intact cells demonstrate a considerable specific uptake of [³H]pon A which is saturable, apparently showing two specific components: a very high affinity component (K_D = 0.3 nM) and a high affinity component (K_D = 2 nM). The specific binding of [³H]pon A to whole cells is compatible with unlabelled ecdysteroids, but not with mammalian steroid hormones. The association rate constant (k_a) for [³H]pon A was determined to be 3 × 10⁷M^?1min^?1 at 21 °C, while the dissociation rate constant (k_d) for the specifically bound [³H]pon A was found to be 4.4 × 10^?3/min. Together, the kinetic rate constants yield a value of 0.15 nM for the K_D. The receptors have been partially characterised in a cell-free extract prepared by sonification of the cells. The optimum pH for extraction and hormone binding is 8.2. Scatchard plots of binding data indicate that the cell-free extract also contains two high affinity specific binding components (k_D = 0.1 nM and K_D = 1 nM). The hgih affinity binders are macromolecular, as shown by chromatography on Sephadex G-25, and are susceptible to protease digestion, heat, and treatment with N-ethylmaleimide. Sucrose density centrifugation of the labelled receptor shows one peak at approximately 6S. The stability of the receptor preparation has been studied and conditions have been empirically determined (10% w/v sucrose, 25 mM dithioerthreitol, and 10 mM citrate), whereby the binding capacity of the unlabelled receptor is stable for at least 8 weeks if frozen at ?20°C.     

Endogenous Stochastic Decoding of the CUG Codon by Competing Ser- and Leu-tRNAs in Ascoidea asiatica

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A quality improvement program to improve nutritional status of children with Cystic Fibrosis aged 2-12 years old over a 3 year period at CF center Roscoff,Brittany

Background

The Cystic Fibrosis (CF) center in Roscoff (Brittany) has been involved in therapeutic education programs (TEP) since 2006 and took part in the pilot phase of the French quality improvement program (QIP) since 2011. The aim was to improve the nutritional status of children with cystic fibrosis aged 2-12 years old in order to optimize their health status as they enter adolescence.

Methods

A multidisciplinary quality team was created in order to select and address a specific health problem among our pediatric population. Following analysis of yearly indicators for our CF center, our team chose to improve quality of care concerning nutritional status of children aged 2-12 years old. Factors influencing efficacy were studied, tools were developed to implement a new nutritional program, results were analyzed on a real-time basis.

Results

Over the 3 year period, all patients from 2 years of age, were monitored with the new follow-up program (2012: N =?34; 2014: N =?44). Each patient was followed up at every clinic visit, their BMI z-score was calculated to decide their nutritional risk and personalize their follow-up program consequently. Between 1/1/2012 and 31/12/2014, the mean BMI z-score of the open cohort improved from ?0.49 to ?0.22.

Conclusions

Since 2014, focus on nutrition using the newly-adapted program has become routine practice at each follow-up visit. Patients and parents expressed a high level of satisfaction (75% very satisfied). The follow-up program aimed at improving nutritional status for children aged 2-12 years old was successfully implemented and integrated into routine practice; it was therefore extended to all children with CF (1 month - 18 years) in our center. The relationship among professional and patients and parents was strengthened.

     

α-tocopherol,ascorbic acid,and rutin inhibit synergistically the copper-promoted LDL oxidation and the cytotoxicity of oxidized LDL to cultured endothelial cells

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) mildly oxidized by copper ions or UV radiations exhibit a cytotoxic effect to cultured endothelial cells. Rutin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol were able to inhibit the peroxidation of LDL and their subsequent cytotoxicity. The mixture of the three compounds (rutin/ascorbic acid/α-tocopherol, 4/4/1) exhibited a supra-additive antioxidant effect. The inhibition of the cytotoxic effect was well correlated with that of TBARS formation. Another important conclusion is that these antioxidants were able to prevent directly at the cellular level the cytotoxic effect of oxidized LDL, since cells preincubated with them were protected against the cytotoxic effect of previously oxidized LDL. The protective effect of antioxidants was limited because of their own toxicity. The antioxidant mixture permitted a maximal cytoprotective effect with relatively lower concentrations to be obtained and the cytotoxicity of high concentrations to be avoided. In conclusion, rutin, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol constitute two lines of defense in protecting cells against injury owing to oxidation of LDL (1) at the LDL level, by inhibiting the LDL oxidation and the subsequent cytotoxicity, and (2) at the cellular level, by protecting the cells directly, i.e., by increasing their resistance against the cytotoxic effect of oxidized LDL.     

Thysanoptera-Terebrantia of the Hawaiian Islands: an identification manual

An illustrated identification system is presented to 99 species and 49 genera in three families recorded from the Hawaiian Islands in the Thysanoptera suborder Terebrantia. Only seven (possibly eight) of these species are considered endemic, the remainder being adventive to these islands. The only previous study of Hawaiian Thysanoptera, by Zimmerman in 1948, included 47 Terebrantia species in 21 genera.