First detection of Edwardsiella ictaluri (Proteobacteria: Enterobacteriaceae) in wild Australian catfish.

The bacterium Edwardsiella ictaluri is considered to be one of the most significant pathogens of farmed catfish in the United States of America and has also caused mortalities in farmed and wild fishes in many other parts of the world. E. ictaluri is not believed to be present in wild fish populations in Australia, although it has previously been detected in imported ornamental fishes held in quarantine facilities. In an attempt to confirm freedom from the bacterium in Australian native fishes, we undertook a risk-based survey of wild catfishes from 15 sites across northern Australia. E. ictaluri was detected by selective culturing, followed by DNA testing, in Wet Tropics tandan (Tandanus tropicanus) from the Tully River, at a prevalence of 0.40 (95% CI 0.21-0.61). The bacterium was not found in fishes sampled from any of the other 14 sites. This is the first report of E. ictaluri in wild fishes in Australia.

Isolation and screening of probiotic candidates from marron, Cherax cainii (Austin, 2002) gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and commercial probiotic products for the use in marron culture.

Six strains of bacteria including Bacillus mycoides (A10) and Shewanella species (A12) isolated from healthy marron intestine, Bacillus species (PM1), Bacillus subtilis (PM3), Bacillus sp. (PM4) and Bacillus sp. (AQ) from commercial probiotic products were investigated for probiotic potential in marron culture. Antibiotic susceptibility tests indicated PM3 and PM4 were susceptible to all nine antibiotics evaluated. A10, A12 and AQ were resistant to class penicillins, whereas PM1 was resistant to class penicillin and macrolides. All strains were non-pathogenic for marron. Strong inhibition against Vibrio mimicus and Vibrio cholerae non-01 was exhibited by PM4 and PM3. A10 inhibited V. mimicus at 72 h of growth, but not V. cholerae non-01, whereas A12 inhibited V. cholerae non-01 but not V. mimicus, and AQ showed no inhibition activity. A wide range of enzymes were produced by A10 and AQ using the API ZYM test. Protease enzymes were produced by PM3, PM4, AQ and PM1. In order of effectiveness, the following bacteria have probiotic potential: B. subtilis (PM3), Bacillus sp. (PM4) and B. mycoides (A10). Further study is required to determine the bacterium or any combination that gives a multibeneficial effect on marron.

Rage signalling promotes intestinal tumourigenesis.

Development of colon cancer is a multistep process that is regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic cellular signals. Extrinsic factors include molecular patterns that are derived from either pathogens (PAMPs) or cellular damage (DAMPs). These molecules can promote tumourigenesis by activation of the innate immune system, but the individual contribution of ligands and their receptors remains elusive. The receptor for advanced glycation end products (Rage) is a pattern recognition receptor that binds multiple ligands derived from a damaged cell environment such as Hmgb1 and S100 protein. Here we show that Rage signalling has a critical role in sporadic development of intestinal adenomas, as Apc(Min/+) Rage(-/-) mice are protected against tumourigenesis.

Role of mast cells in colorectal cancer development, the jury is still out.

The link between inflammation and colorectal cancer development is becoming increasingly clear. It had long been recognized that patients with inflammatory bowel disease are at an increased risk of colon cancer. Evidence from experimental animals now also implicates the innate immune system in the development of sporadically occurring intestinal adenomas, the precursors to colorectal cancer. Here we discuss the interaction between the immune system and the adenoma to carcinoma sequence with a special emphasis on the role of mast cells which may play a key role in adenoma development. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mast cells in inflammation.

Understanding the molecular epidemiology of the footrot pathogen Dichelobacter nodosus to support control and eradication programs.

The Gram-negative anaerobe Dichelobacter nodosus is the primary etiologic agent of ovine footrot. Few studies of the genetic diversity and epidemiology of D. nodosus have been done, despite the economic cost and welfare implications of the disease. This study examined a large collection of Australian isolates; 735 isolates from footrot-infected sheep from 247 farms in Western Australia (WA) were tested by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and a subset of 616 isolates was tested by infrequent restriction site PCR (IRS-PCR). The genetic diversity of WA isolates was compared to that of 61 isolates from three other Australian states. WA isolates were genetically diverse, with 181 molecular types resolved by PFGE, resulting in a simple diversity ratio (SDR) of 1:4 and a Simpson's index of discrimination value (D) of 0.98. IRS-PCR resolved 77 molecular types (SDR = 1:8 and D = 0.95). The isolates were grouped into 67 clonal groups by PFGE (SDR = 1:11, D = 0.90) and 36 clonal groups by IRS-PCR (SDR = 1:17, D = 0.87). Despite the high genetic diversity, three common clonal groups predominated in WA and were found in other Australian states. On some farms, molecular type was stable over a number of years, whereas on other farms genetically diverse isolates occurred within a flock of sheep or within a hoof. This study provides a large database from which to appropriately interpret molecular types found in epidemiological investigations and to identify common and unknown types that may compromise footrot eradication or control programs.

Infection with Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae and Vibrio harveyi in snapper, Pagrus auratus with bloat.

OBJECTIVE: To diagnose the cause of chronic, low mortality associated with bloat in tanks of snapper at an aquaculture facility. DESIGN: A clinical, pathological and microbiological investigation into the cause of a low number of ongoing mortalities associated with bloat in snapper at an aquaculture facility is outlined. Necropsy, histology, microbiology and a comparison of haematology and water analysis from affected and unaffected fish and holding tanks, respectively were conducted. RESULTS: Affected moribund fish were found in lateral or dorsal recumbency floating on the water surface within 24 hours of death. Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae was isolated from intestinal contents and Vibrio harveyi from the blood of affected fish and both were isolated from culture water. Both V harveyi and P damselae subspecies damselae isolates were sensitive to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and sulphamethoxazole plus trimethoprim. Environmental parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen were similar in tanks of affected and unaffected fish. Affected fish had gas distended swimbladders, anaemia, and the intestines were diffusely distended with a clear, pale yellowish fluid. Livers were mottled tan and green in a zonal pattern. Histologically the intestines of fish from tanks suffering mortality had a moderate granulocytic enteritis with oedema and infiltrations with eosinophilic granule cells that were also present as an infiltrate in the gills. There were elevated numbers of melanomacrophage centres and haemosiderin deposits in the spleen, kidney and liver of affected fish. CONCLUSION: Vibrio harveyi and Photobacterium damselae subspecies damselae infection should be recognised as potential pathogens of snapper held in water of less than optimal quality.

[Is there a correlation between low-level auditory processing and phonological processing in preschool children?]. / Gibt es einen Zusammenhang zwischen der basalen auditorischen Verarbeitung und der phonologischen Bewusstheit bei Kindern im Vorschulalter?

BACKGROUND: It appears to be widely accepted that specific language impairment (SLI) and developmental dyslexia result from some form of phonological deficit. Some theorists contend that these deficits are directly and exclusively caused by a cognitive deficit specific to representation and processing of speech sound. However, separate theories hold that phonological deficits indeed may cause SLI or dyslexia but phonological deficits arise due to sensory, mainly auditory, deficits. Here we studied if there is a correlation between two hotly debated measures of auditory low-level processing and measures of phonological processing in preschool children. DESIGN: prospective study. SAMPLE: preschool children. VARIABLES: monaural and binaural temporal order judgement (TOJ(b) and TOJ(m)), several standardized measures of broad and narrow phonological processing (Bielefelder Screening BISC). STATISTICS: correlation analysis. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between TOJ(b)/TOJ(m )and phonological processing. However, these data show that "impaired" TOJ(b) and TOJ(m) is neither a necessary nor a sufficient prerequisite for impaired phonological processing. DISCUSSION: Although TOJ(b) and TOJ(m) as measures of auditory low-level processing show a correlation with some measures of phonological processing, the precise nature of mechanisms leading to SLI or dyslexia still remains an unsolved problem.

[Auditory processing disorder versus attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A dysfunction complex or different entities?]. / Auditive Verarbeitungs- und Wahrnehmungsstörungen versus Aufmerksamkeitsstörungen mit/ohne Hyperaktivität. Ein Komplex mit verschiedenen Ausprägungen oder verschiedene Entitäten?

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that auditory processing disorders (APD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) may be the same entity with slightly differing symptoms. For testing this theory we compared parents' ratings of APD and ADHD behavioural characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out with parents rating 312 children (113 girls and 199 boys; 6.0-9.11 years old, nonverbal intelligence IQ 95 or above) using APD and ADHD questionnaires. RESULTS: Significant, albeit weak correlations between several APD and ADHD subscale scores were found. Correlations between selective listening and attention behaviours approximated clinical relevance (rho >0.4). Factor analysis revealed two factors with APD behaviour loading on one and ADHD behaviour on a second different factor. Using a categorical approach, it appears that ADHD children have significantly more APD problems than children without ADHD. DISCUSSION: These data are consistent with the hypothesis that APD and ADHD overlap partly while still being distinct entities. In addition to dimensional aspects, the parents' rating may provide a guideline for establishing a diagnosis based on categorical distinctions.

[Factorial structure of the BAKO 1-4. On the validation of the "Base competence for school years 1-4" test for determining phonological processing]. / Faktorenanalytische Untersuchungen zur Konstruktvalidität des Tests "Basiskompetenzen für das 1.-4. Schuljahr" zur Uberprüfung der phonologischen Verarbeitung.

BACKGROUND: Phonological awareness in native German speaking school children in grades 1 through 4 can be tested using the BAKO 1-4. We raised the question whether BAKO 1-4 subtests probe different aspects of phonological processing. METHODS: Participants were 62 school children aged 7-12 years. Application of the BAKO 1-4 was performed during routine clinical testing. RESULTS: Statistical analysis indicated two factors with sufficient loading as latent variables. DISCUSSION: Our data indicate that two underlying variables constitute BAKO 1-4 test performance: the first involves "conscious phonological processing in a narrow sense", and the second involves decision making. Two subtests loading on factor 2 may be related to the decision making processes. This has to be kept in mind when applying the test to indecisive children.

[German phoneme contrast hierarchy. A study with preschool children]. / Kontrasthierarchie deutscher Phoneme. Eine Untersuchung bei Vorschulkindern.

BACKGROUND: Phonemes are defined as the smallest possible units of speech with a distinctive function. Major and minor class features are used to describe individual phonemes. Phoneme opposition is based on distinctive feature contrasts. Here we constructed minimal pairs (MP) with different degrees of opposition. Preschool children were asked to repeat these MP after auditory presentation. We then investigated whether the phoneme contrast hierarchy corresponded to the empirically found degree of difficulty. METHODS: A total of 161 preschool children (96 boys, 65 girls) participated voluntarily. Real word MP (RW-MP) and nonsense word MP (L-MP) were presented from a CD recording via loudspeakers. MP were based on phonemes covering a wide range of phoneme oppositions. The children had to repeat the MP. Confusion errors were compared to the degree of phoneme opposition. RESULTS: A weak correlation was found between the theoretical degree of phoneme opposition and the phoneme confusion error matrix. When errors within an item block were added, no significant correlation was found. However, for MP with the least degree of opposition, confusion errors were always highest. DISCUSSION: The degree of markedness in MP influenced the correct perception/production of these MP. This influence must be regarded as fairly weak.

[Gender and phoneme discrimination ability]. / Ist die Lautdiskriminationsfähigkeit geschlechtsabhängig?

BACKGROUND: Boys tend to acquire language skills later than girls. Furthermore, specific language impairment and dyslexia are more often diagnosed in males than in females indicating that efficiency of phonological processing may be gender dependent. Phoneme discrimination tests tap some phonological processing abilities. Here we raised the question if phoneme discrimination abilities in male preschool children are inferior to female's phoneme discrimination abilities thus indicating less efficient phonological processing in boys. METHODS: Participants were 161 preschool children. Phoneme discrimination was tested using minimal pair (MP) reproduction. MP were either real words or nonwords (logatoms) presented in duplets or triplets. Children were asked to repeat what they had heard (immediate serial recall task). Statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney-U-tests. RESULTS: Neither a correlation was seen between gender and phoneme discrimination sum scores (i. e. all items) nor between gender and scores of each item block. DISCUSSION: Results indicate no difference between male and female children in regard to those phonological processes and representations being tapped by the test procedure employed here.

[Verbal learning and memory test in children. Analysis of it environmental validity]. / Verbaler Lern- und Merkfähigkeitstest. Untersuchungen zur ökologischen Validität.

BACKGROUND: The VLMT (auditory verbal learning and memory test) was constructed for use in children and adults. This study aimed at investigating the ecological validity in children. METHODS: In a retrospective study, data from 384 children were investigated. Correlations between the VLMT and a newly developed questionnaire (AVWS-Q) probing auditory processing skills were calculated. RESULTS: Significant albeit very weak correlations between VLMT items and AVWS-Q items were found. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that VLMT performance cannot be predicted by the AVWS-Q (neither as a sum score nor as questions regarding memory skills alone). Either the ecological validity of the VLMT has to be considered poor or the AVWS-Q does not probe memory skills sufficiently.

[Subjective assessment of auditory processing deficits and perceptual performance in children]. / Untersuchungen zur subjektiven Einschätzung der Beeinträchtigung auditiver Verarbeitungs- und Wahrnehmungsleistungen bei Kindern.

BACKGROUND: Auditory processing disorders (APD) result from dysfunctions in processes dedicated to audition. They effect the processing of information in the auditory modality. Besides several audiometric procedures, the suggestion has been made to use a newly developed questionnaire to assess APD; however, data on the reliability and validity of this psychometric tool are still lacking. METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, questionnaire data from 483 children referred to us because of suspected APD were examined and a factorial analysis was performed. RESULTS: Only one factor could be extracted. However, this did not explain much of the variance. DISCUSSION: According to our results, APD can be assumed to be a one dimensional construct. In addition, noise hypersensitivity may be separable from other APD complaints.

[Impairment of speech and communication skills in dementia]. / Sprache und Kommunikationsbeeinträchtigungen bei demenziellen Erkrankungen.

Dementia results not only in the impairment of cognitive-mnestic skills, but also of communication skills. Symptoms include difficulties in finding words and limited expression. The diagnosis of speech and language pathologies in dementia is problematic because there are no standard examination methods. Furthermore, it is difficult to distinguish dementia from semantic dementia, Broca's aphasia and chronic progressive aphasia.

[Phonological loop and minimal pair discrimination in preschool children]. / Hörmerkspanne und Minimalpaardiskrimination bei Vorschulkindern.

BACKGROUND: Phoneme discrimination tests based on presenting minimal pairs (MP) are frequently used to assess auditory processing. However test results may be influenced by other factors beside proper acoustic representation. Here we aim at determining whether working memory capacity (WMC) correlates with reproducing sets of MP. METHODS: WMC was evaluated by memory span for digits in 161 preschool children. MP were either real words or non-words (logatoms). Both real word-MP and logatom-MP were presented in duplets or triplets. Children were asked to repeat what they had heard. Spearman rank correlation was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: All four test item blocks showed a significant positive correlation with WMC (group values). Some children with poor WMC performed sufficiently on MP discrimination and vice versa. DISCUSSION: Besides confirming the phonological similarity effect, our data indicates a significant interdependence between different processes and phonological representations. This must be taken into account when using MP tests for evaluating "auditory processing" in the clinical routine. However, poor WMC is neither necessary nor obligatory for poor phoneme discrimination.

[Dementia-current knowledge and significance for ENT specialists]. / Demenz-Aktueller Wissensstand und Bedeutung für HNO-Arzte.

Because of the growing number of elderly people, the incidence of dementia is increasing. This disease is a heavy burden for patients and their relatives, and has growing social and financial implications. The essential feature of dementia is an impairment in both short and long-term memory which is associated with an impairment in abstract thinking, impaired judgment, other disturbances of higher cortical functions, and/or personality change. Mild cognitive impairment represents a transitional state between the cognitive changes of normal aging and very early dementia, and is becoming increasingly recognized as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disorders. ENT specialists require knowledge on the basic problems in patients with (early) dementia and the most common diagnostic/therapeutic assessments. New therapeutic concepts such as cholinesterase inhibitors have been shown to interfere with the progression of Alzheimer's disease. In this report, the strategies in diagnostics and therapy which should be known by ENT specialists are presented.

Effect of the interval between shearing and dipping on the spread of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in sheep.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the spread of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection to sheep in dips could be controlled by increasing the time between shearing and dipping. DESIGN: A controlled treatment trial where only the time between shearing and dipping was varied. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: One hundred and ninety-five sheep were found to be negative for C. pseudotuberculosis exposure by assay of CLA toxin antibody, were divided into four treatment groups. Each was shorn at either 0, 2, 4 or 8 weeks before dipping in a solution containing C. pseudotuberculosis. Blood samples were taken 6 weeks after dipping and sheep were slaughtered 12 weeks after dipping. A fifth smaller group of 14 sheep shorn 26 weeks before dipping, was also exposed to C. pseudotuberculosis and was slaughtered with the other sheep. RESULTS: The occurrence of caseous lymphadenitis abscesses did not differ between groups or with sheep shorn 26 weeks before dipping. The proportion of sheep that seroconverted to the C. pseudotuberculosis toxin and cell wall ELISA was larger in sheep dipped immediately after shearing than in sheep in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Delaying dipping until 8 weeks after shearing did not decrease the C. pseudotuberculosis infection rate due to dipping. Sheep dipped immediately after shearing developed higher concentrations of antibody to C. pseudotuberculosis than sheep when dipping occurred between 2 and 8 weeks and later after shearing.

The elective use of the seven-cell NIR stent in coronary arteries < 2.75 mm in diameter: clinical and angiographic results at 6-month follow-up.

The outcome of interventional procedures has been improved by the use of coronary stents in vessels > 3.0 mm in diameter. We report a single-center prospective study of elective coronary stenting in 39 consecutive patients with de novo lesions and reference diameters < 2.75 mm. Seven-cell NIR stents were deployed with standard antiplatelet therapy, but without routine use of IIb/IIIa inhibitors or intravascular ultrasound. There was one case of acute stent thrombosis, but no cases of subacute thrombosis. The binary restenosis rate was 27.8% (10/36 lesions) and the target lesion revascularization rate was 19.4%. Symptoms improved markedly as judged by Canadian Cardiovascular Society and questionnaire scores and the use of antianginal therapy. This pilot study suggests that the elective use of coronary stents in vessels < 2.75 mm in diameter is safe with acceptable long-term results. A randomized trial comparing outcomes after stents and balloon angioplasty in small vessels is required.