Rhombencephalitis and Myeloradiculitis Caused by a European Subtype of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus.

We report a case of a previously healthy man returning to the United Kingdom from Lithuania who developed rhombencephalitis and myeloradiculitis due to tick-borne encephalitis. These findings add to sparse data on tick-borne encephalitis virus phylogeny and associated neurologic syndromes and underscore the importance of vaccinating people traveling to endemic regions.

Awareness of axial spondyloarthritis among chiropractors and osteopaths: findings from a UK Web-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: Chiropractors and osteopaths are important professional partners in the management of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). In view of recent advances in diagnosis and treatment, we sought to understand their current knowledge and working practices. METHODS: A Web-based survey was advertised to chiropractors and osteopaths via the Royal College of Chiropractors and the Institute of Osteopathy. RESULTS: Of 382 completed responses [237 chiropractors (62%) and 145 osteopaths (38%)], all were familiar with AS, but only 63 and 25% were familiar with the terms axSpA and non-radiographic axSpA, respectively. Seventy-seven per cent were confident with inflammatory back pain. Respondents routinely asked about IBD (91%), psoriasis (81%), acute anterior uveitis (49%), peripheral arthritis (71%), genitourinary/gut infection (56%), enthesitis (30%) and dactylitis (20%). Eighty-seven per cent were aware of the association between axSpA and HLA-B27. Only 29% recognized that axSpA was common in women. Forty per cent recommend an X-ray (pelvic in 80%) and, if normal, 27% would recommend MRI of the sacroiliac joints and whole spine. Forty-four per cent were aware of biologic therapies. Forty-three per cent were confident with the process of onward referral to rheumatology via the general practitioner (GP). The principal perceived barrier to onward referral was reluctance by the GP to accept their professional opinion. CONCLUSION: Overall knowledge of ankylosing spondylitis is good, but the term axSpA is poorly understood. Specific learning needs include gender preponderance, awareness of acute anterior uveitis and the availability of biological therapies. There is lack of confidence in the onward referral process to rheumatology via the GP.

Whole-Body Vibration Training and Its Application to Age-Related Performance Decrements: An Exploratory Analysis.

Middle age is associated with a pronounced decline in power and flexibility. Whilst whole-body vibration training (WBVT) improves performance in a range of populations, whether WBVT can improve muscle power and flexibility in a middle-aged population is not known. The present study aimed to determine the influence of 5 weeks progressive WBVT in middle-aged (45-55 years) and younger (20-30 years) recreationally active females. Participants in each age group were randomly allocated to an intervention (WBVT) or control group. The WBVT groups trained for 5 weeks on a vibration platform, while the control groups performed identical exercises, with no vibration. Prior to, and after, the 5-week study vertical countermovement jump (VCMJ) and range of motion (ROM) performance were measured. WBVT significantly (p = 0.001) improved VCMJ performance when compared to the control groups. This improvement was significantly (p = 0.001) greater in the middle-aged compared with the younger WBVT group. WBVT significantly (p = 0.001) improved ROM irrespective of age. Taken together, these results suggest that WBVT can off-set age related performance decrements, which has therapeutic implications for musculoskeletal aging. Therefore, WBVT could be undertaken to minimise age-related performance deterioration in middle-aged female populations.

Laser-scribed graphene presents an opportunity to print a new generation of disposable electrochemical sensors.

Graphene application within electrochemical sensing has been widely reported, but mainly as a composite, which adds summative effects to an underlying electrode. In this work we report the use of laser-scribed graphene as a distinct electrode patterned on a non-conducting flexible substrate. The laser-scribed graphene electrode compared favourably to established carbon macroelectrodes when evaluating both inner sphere and outer sphere redox probes, providing promise of extensive utility as an electrochemical sensor. The laser-scribed graphene electrode demonstrated the fastest heterogeneous electron transfer rate of all the electrodes evaluated with a k(0) of 0.02373 cm s(-1) for potassium ferricyanide, which exceeds commercially available edge plane pyrolytic graphite at 0.00260 cm s(-1), basal plane pyrolytic graphite at 0.00033 cm s(-1) and the very slow and effectively irreversible electrochemistry observed using single layer graphene. Finally and most significantly, a proof of principle system was fabricated using the laser-scribed graphene as working electrode, counter electrode and underlying base for the Ag/AgCl reference electrode, all in situ on the same planar flexible substrate, removing the requirement of macroscale external electrodes. The planar three electrode format operated with the same optimal electrode characteristics. Furthermore, the fabrication is inexpensive, scalable and compatible with a disposable biosensor format, considerably widening the potential applications in electrochemical bio-sensing for laser-scribed graphene.

Validation of an automated intact N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) assay.

OBJECTIVES: N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen assay (PINP) reflects the rate of type I collagen synthesis DESIGN AND METHODS: Different sera were fractioned by gel filtration and analyzed with intact and total PINP assays. The sizes of the antigens were determined by western blotting. The thermal stability was tested at +37°C, +4°C and room temperature (RT). RESULTS: Automated intact PINP assay hardly measured monomeric form. In haemodialysis patients intact and total PINP assays gave significantly different results. The monomeric PINP antigen in serum was larger than the trimeric PINP antigen. PINP were thermally stable at least 7 days at +4°C and at RT but the results of both assays were decreased similarly at +37°C. CONCLUSIONS: The IDS-iSYS intact PINP assay is precise and sensitive. It seems that monomeric form is not derived from the thermal instability of the trimers but acts as a confounding factor.

Mu-opioid receptor desensitization in mature rat neurons: lack of interaction between DAMGO and morphine.

Mu-opioid receptors (MORs) exhibit rapid desensitization and internalization during exposure to various opioid agonists. In some studies, however, morphine has been observed to produce little MOR desensitization or internalization. We examined desensitization in mature rat locus ceruleus (LC) neurons and confirmed that morphine is a very poor desensitizing agent, whereas [D-Ala2,N-MePhe4,Gly-ol5]enkephalin (DAMGO), a high-efficacy agonist, and methadone, an agonist we observed to be of equivalent efficacy to morphine, produced profound rapid desensitization. Similarly, by measuring plasma membrane receptor levels in HEK293 cells stably expressing T7-epitope-tagged rat MOR1 at near physiological levels (HEK293-MOR1 cells), DAMGO and methadone but not morphine caused rapid MOR internalization. It has been reported that a low concentration of DAMGO, coapplied with morphine, caused morphine to induce MOR internalization. We examined whether this interaction occurred in mature mammalian neurons at the level of receptor desensitization. Coapplication of low concentrations of DAMGO did not increase morphine-induced desensitization in LC neurons but caused a lesser degree of desensitization than DAMGO alone. We also failed to observe an enhancement by DAMGO of morphine-induced desensitization in the electrically stimulated guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus-longitudinal muscle preparation. In HEK293-MOR1 cells, low concentrations of DAMGO did not convert morphine into a receptor-internalizing agent. The data presented here fail to support the theory that low concentrations of DAMGO can increase morphine-induced MOR desensitization or internalization.