Multiple ParA/MinD ATPases coordinate the positioning of disparate cargos in a bacterial cell.

In eukaryotes, linear motor proteins govern intracellular transport and organization. In bacteria, where linear motors involved in spatial regulation are absent, the ParA/MinD family of ATPases organize an array of genetic- and protein-based cellular cargos. The positioning of these cargos has been independently investigated to varying degrees in several bacterial species. However, it remains unclear how multiple ParA/MinD ATPases can coordinate the positioning of diverse cargos in the same cell. Here, we find that over a third of sequenced bacterial genomes encode multiple ParA/MinD ATPases. We identify an organism (Halothiobacillus neapolitanus) with seven ParA/MinD ATPases, demonstrate that five of these are each dedicated to the spatial regulation of a single cellular cargo, and define potential specificity determinants for each system. Furthermore, we show how these positioning reactions can influence each other, stressing the importance of understanding how organelle trafficking, chromosome segregation, and cell division are coordinated in bacterial cells. Together, our data show how multiple ParA/MinD ATPases coexist and function to position a diverse set of fundamental cargos in the same bacterial cell.

Elective Treatment of Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra: A Review of Treatment Modalities.

Dermatosis papulosa nigra is a benign skin lesion found most frequently on the face of patients with skin of color. Elective treatment is occasionally requested. However, in view of knowledge gaps regarding aesthetic treatments for skin of color, patients can be exposed to unnecessary risks or simply denied treatment options due to physician reservation. Cosmetic treatments should balance efficacy of lesion removal while minimizing pigmentary complications. In this review, we describe the few published treatment modalities for dermatosis papulosa nigra. Alongside established surgical techniques, laser devices including the 532-nm potassium-titanylphosphate laser, 532-nm diode laser, 585-nm pulsed dye laser, 1064-nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, 1550-nm erbium-doped fractionated laser and the 10,600-nm carbon dioxide laser have been successfully reported. The insight from this review can assist in increasing our understanding of safe and effective treatments for conditions that are common on skin of color.

Increases in CD4+ T-cell count at antiretroviral therapy initiation among HIV-positive illicit drug users during a treatment-as-prevention initiative in Canada.

BACKGROUND: Although treatment-as-prevention (TasP) efforts are a new cornerstone of efforts to respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, their effects among people who use drugs (PWUD) have not been fully evaluated. This study characterizes temporal trends in CD4+ T-cell (CD4) count at ART initiation and rates of virological response among HIV-positive PWUD during a TasP initiative. METHODS: We used data on individuals initiating ART within a prospective cohort of PWUD linked to comprehensive clinical records. Using multivariable linear regression, we evaluated the relationship between CD4 count prior to ART initiation and year of initiation and time to HIV-1 RNA viral load <50 copies/ml following initiation using Cox proportional hazards modelling. RESULTS: Among 355 individuals, CD4 count at initiation rose from 130 to 330 cells/ml from 2005 to 2013. In multivariable regression, initiation year was significantly associated with higher CD4 count (ß=29.5 cells per year, 95% CI 21.0, 37.9). Initiating ART at higher CD4 counts was significantly associated with optimal viral response (adjusted hazard ratio =1.13 per 100 cells/ml increase, 95% CI 1.05, 1.22). CONCLUSIONS: Increases in CD4 cell count at initiation over time was associated with superior virological response, consistent with the aims of the TasP initiative.

Cutaneous Manifestations of Mucopolysaccharidoses.

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of inherited lysosomal storage disorders characterized by deficiencies in specific enzymes involved in the catabolism of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). These deficiencies cause excessive metabolites to accumulate in multiple organs. There are eight different MPS disorders, contributing to the wide variation in clinical presentation. Depending on the severity and subtype of the disease, some children live normal life spans, while others have a more grim prognosis. Children with MPS can present with neurologic, behavioral, skeletal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or respiratory abnormalities. Cutaneous manifestations are mostly nonspecific and can include coarse facial features, thickened skin, and excessive hair growth. More specific skin findings include ivory-colored "pebbly" papules found in Hunter syndrome and extensive dermal melanocytosis found in Hurler and Hunter syndromes. Early diagnosis of MPS disorders is extremely important to minimize the progression of the disease and for early initiation of appropriate treatment.

Incidence of melanoma in organ transplant recipients in Alberta, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have documented the increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancers in organ transplant recipients (OTRs). However, the incidence of melanoma is less well defined. To date, there have been no studies on the incidence of melanoma in Canadian OTRs. Herein, we determine the incidence and clinical features of melanoma in a cohort of OTRs in Southern Alberta, Canada. METHODS: We used the Southern Alberta Transplant database to identify kidney and liver transplant recipients between the years 2000 and 2012. This population was cross-referenced with the Alberta Cancer Registry for a diagnosis of melanoma. The clinical features of all cases were obtained, and the standardized incidence rate was calculated. RESULTS: We identified 993 OTR patients, representing 5955 person-years. Only one patient developed a melanoma post-transplant, and this was a nodular melanoma. The age-standardized incidence rate was 11 per 100 000 (0.6 per 5955), compared to 13.4 per 100 000 in the general Alberta population (incidence rate ratio of 1.29, with 95% confidence interval of 0.17 to 9.82). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Canadian study to investigate the association between organ transplantation and melanoma. Our study did not identify an increased risk of developing a de novo melanoma post-transplant.