Diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites in reptiles: comparison of two coprological methods

BACKGROUND: Exotic reptiles have become increasingly common domestic pets worldwide and are well known to be carriers of different parasites including some with zoonotic potential. The need of accurate diagnosis of gastrointestinal endoparasite infections in domestic reptiles is therefore essential, not only for the well-being of captive reptiles but also for the owners. Here, two different approaches for the detection of parasite stages in reptile faeces were compared: a combination of native and iodine stained direct smears together with a flotation technique (CNF) versus the standard SAF-method. RESULTS: A total of 59 different reptile faeces (20 lizards, 22 snakes, 17 tortoises) were coprologically analyzed by the two methods for the presence of endoparasites. Analyzed reptile faecal samples contained a broad spectrum of parasites (total occurence 93.2%, n=55) including different species of nematodes (55.9%, n=33), trematodes (15.3%, n=9), pentastomids (3.4%, n=2) and protozoans (47.5%, n=28). Associations between the performances of both methods to detect selected single parasite stages or groups of such were evaluated by Fishers exact test and marginal homogeneity was tested by the McNemar test. In 88.1% of all examined samples (n=52, 95% confidence interval [CI]=77.1 - 95.1%) the two diagnostic methods rendered differing results, and the McNemar test for paired observations showed highly significant differences of the detection frequency (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The combination of direct smears/flotation proved superior in the detection of flagellates trophozoites, coccidian oocysts and nematode eggs, especially those of oxyurids. SAF-technique was superior in detecting larval stages and trematode eggs, but this advantage failed to be statistically significant (P=0.13). Therefore, CNF is the recommended method for routine faecal examination of captive reptiles while the SAF-technique is advisable as additional measure particularly for wild caught animals and individuals which are to be introduced into captive collections

The murine orthologue of the Golgi-localized TPTE protein provides clues to the evolutionary history of the human TPTE gene family

Abstract.: The human TPTE gene encodes a testis-specific protein that contains four potential transmembrane domains and a protein tyrosine phosphatase motif, and shows homology to the tumor suppressor PTEN/MMAC1. Chromosomal mapping revealed multiple copies of the TPTE gene present on the acrocentric chromosomes 13, 15, 21 and 22, and the Y chromosome. Zooblot analysis suggests that mice may possess only one copy of TPTE. In the present study, we report the isolation and initial characterization of the full-length cDNA of the mouse homologue Tpte. At least three different mRNA transcripts (Tpte.a, b, c) are produced via alternative splicing, encoding predicted proteins that would contain four potential transmembrane domains and a protein tyrosine phosphatase motif. Transfection of a 5′EGFP-TPTE fusion protein in Hela cells revealed an intracellular localization within the Golgi apparatus. Tpte was mapped by radiation hybrid to a region of mouse chromosome 8 that shows conserved synteny with human 13q14.2-q21 between NEK3 and SGT1. This region of the human genome was found to contain a partial, highly diverged copy of TPTE that is likely to represent the ancestral copy from which the other copies of TPTE arose through duplication events. The Y chromosome copy of TPTE is a pseudogene and is not therefore involved in the testis expression of this gene famil

The inositol Inpp5k 5-phosphatase affects osmoregulation through the vasopressin-aquaporin 2 pathway in the collecting system

Inositol Inpp5k (or Pps, SKIP) is a member of the inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatases family with a poorly characterized function in vivo. In this study, we explored the function of this inositol 5-phosphatase in mice and cells overexpressing the 42-kDa mouse Inpp5k protein. Inpp5k transgenic mice present defects in water metabolism characterized by a reduced plasma osmolality at baseline, a delayed urinary water excretion following a water load, and an increased acute response to vasopressin. These defects are associated with the expression of the Inpp5k transgene in renal collecting ducts and with alterations in the arginine vasopressin/aquaporin-2 signalling pathway in this tubular segment. Analysis in a mouse collecting duct mCCD cell line revealed that Inpp5k overexpression leads to increased expression of the arginine vasopressin receptor type 2 and increased cAMP response to arginine vasopressin, providing a basis for increased aquaporin-2 expression and plasma membrane localization with increased osmotically induced water transport. Altogether, our results indicate that Inpp5k 5-phosphatase is important for the control of the arginine vasopressin/aquaporin-2 signalling pathway and water transport in kidney collecting duct

A Toolbox for Implementing Pharmacy Services intended for pharmacists and education

Introduction. Implementing a professional service in pharmacy - i.e., a service integrated into practice which is routinized and institutionalized over time to achieve and maintain the expected service outcomes - is a complex process. From theory to practice, the implementers need a structured approach for strategy, planning, managing and monitoring the service during the process. The study reports on the development and evaluation of a user-friendly toolbox (named “TIPS: Toolbox for Implementation of community Pharmacy Services”) which aims to guide pharmacists, managers and other pharmacy staff wishing to implement professional services in community setting. Method TIPS has been developed between trainers in implementation science (including academics and service implementers) who teach the tools as part of a continuing education course for registered pharmacists. TIPS has been designed for training purposes and is not specific to any pharmacy service. Tools are derived from project and business management, as well as implementation sciences. Each tool included in TIPS has been developed and/or selected to meet the specific objective of the implementation phases (following the FISpH, Framework for the Implementation of Services in Pharmacy) and generic enough to be adaptable for various types of services and pharmacy characteristics. As next step, TIPS will be evaluated and validated by a group of experts including: i) community pharmacists to ensure that TIPS meets their expectations and needs in carrying out their implementation projects; ii) pharmacy managers to ensure that TIPS helps them achieve their objectives, make the right decisions according to their environment and characteristics, and monitor key aspects such as profitability and sustainability, iii) pharmacy academics in implementation science in other Swiss universities to ensure that TIPS is be helpful in collection of research data. Results TIPS includes 15 methodological tools structured by implementation phases: 1) Exploration phase: stakeholders’ matrix and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, Pharm-Business Simulation tool; 2) Preparation phase: CFIR (Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research) framework, SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable/Ambitious, Relevant/Realistic, Time-Bound) goals, Working breakdown structure (WBS) &amp; Product Breakdown Structure (PBS), PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) diagram, GANTT diagram; 3) Testing/Operation phase: Checklist of key indicators and data source of information, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) approach, Quality and risk management; 4) Maintenance phase: Basics in clinical trials, economic evaluation and policy regulations applied to pharmacy services. The final tool of TIPS is the formalization of a network to encourage peer exchanges and the pooling of resources, which cuts across all phases of the implementation process. The TIPS validation process is underway. Conclusion TIPS can be useful as a training and practical when implementing services for an independent pharmacy, a pharmacy group/chain, a professional association or researchers. The next steps, after its validation, will be to find the right format to make the tool accessible and promote its use

Impact and cost of a 2-week community-based screening and awareness program for diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in a Swiss canton

BACKGROUND: Community-based diabetes screening programs can help sensitize the population and identify new cases. However, the impact of such programs is rarely assessed in high-income countries, where concurrent health information and screening opportunities are common place. INTERVENTION AND METHODS: A 2-week screening and awareness campaign was organized as part of a new diabetes program in the canton of Vaud (population of 697,000) in Switzerland. Screening was performed without appointment in 190 out of 244 pharmacies in the canton at the subsidized cost of 10 Swiss Francs per participant. Screening included questions on risk behaviors, measurement of body mass index, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, random blood glucose (RBG), and A1c if RBG was &gt;/=7.0 mmol/L. A mass media campaign promoting physical activity and a healthy diet was channeled through several media, eg, 165 spots on radio, billboards in 250 public places, flyers in 360 public transport vehicles, and a dozen articles in several newspapers. A telephone survey in a representative sample of the population of the canton was performed after the campaign to evaluate the program. RESULTS: A total of 4222 participants (0.76% of all persons aged &gt;/=18 years) underwent the screening program (median age: 53 years, 63% females). Among participants not treated for diabetes, 3.7% had RBG &gt;/= 7.8 mmol/L and 1.8% had both RBG &gt;/= 7.0 mmol/L and A1c &gt;/= 6.5. Untreated blood pressure &gt;/=140/90 mmHg and/or untreated cholesterol &gt;/=5.2 mmol/L were found in 50.5% of participants. One or several treated or untreated modifiable risk factors were found in 78% of participants. The telephone survey showed that 53% of all adults in the canton were sensitized by the campaign. Excluding fees paid by the participants, the program incurred a cost of CHF 330,600. CONCLUSION: A community-based screening program had low efficiency for detecting new cases of diabetes, but it identified large numbers of persons with elevated other cardiovascular risk factors. Our findings suggest the convenience of A1c for mass screening of diabetes, the usefulness of extending diabetes screening to other cardiovascular risk factors, and the importance of a robust background communication campaign

About the Electrospray Ionization Source in Mass Spectrometry: Electrochemistry and On-chip Reactions

The present work shows that the electrochemical properties of electrospray ionization (ESI) can be used to add functions to the process. As example, we show how the choice of the electrode material can be used to study interactions between metal ions and biomolecules in mass spectrometry (MS). In positive ionization MS, an electrospray device acts as anode, which implies oxidation reactions. Sacrificial electrodes (made of copper or zinc) are used to supply the electrospray current and to produce cations that are able to react on-line with compounds of interest. Thus, the interactions between copper ions and ligands or peptides were investigated by using a copper electrode. Another example is the in situ electrogeneration of a dinuclear zinc(II) complex for the mass tagging of phosphopeptides when working with a zinc electrode. In order to perform these reactions on the same microchip, a dual-channel microsprayer was used, where one channel was dedicated to the tag electrogeneration and the other to the infusion of a phosphopeptides solution. Finally, this dual-channel microsprayer was used to study complexation at liquid-liquid interfaces in biphasic ESI-MS, such as thioether crowns and lead ions or peptides and phospholipids complexes. These examples illustrate the use of electrochemistry and on-chip reactions in ESI-MS analysis

Phosphate Starvation Triggers Production and Secretion of an Extracellular Lipoprotein in Caulobacter crescentus

Life in oligotrophic environments necessitates quick adaptive responses to a sudden lack of nutrients. Secretion of specific degradative enzymes into the extracellular medium is a means to mobilize the required nutrient from nearby sources. The aquatic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus must often face changes in its environment such as phosphate limitation. Evidence reported in this paper indicates that under phosphate starvation, C. crescentus produces a membrane surface-anchored lipoprotein named ElpS subsequently released into the extracellular medium. A complete set of 12 genes encoding a type II secretion system (T2SS) is located adjacent to the elpS locus in the C. crescentus genome. Deletion of this T2SS impairs release of ElpS in the environment, which surprisingly remains present at the cell surface, indicating that the T2SS is not involved in the translocation of ElpS to the outer membrane but rather in its release. Accordingly, treatment with protease inhibitors prevents release of ElpS in the extracellular medium suggesting that ElpS secretion relies on a T2SS-secreted protease. Finally, secretion of ElpS is associated with an increase in alkaline phosphatase activity in culture supernatants, suggesting a role of the secreted protein in inorganic phosphate mobilization. In conlusion, we have shown that upon phosphate starvation, C. crescentus produces an outer membrane bound lipoprotein, ElpS, which is further cleaved and released in the extracellular medium in a T2SS-dependent manner. Our data suggest that ElpS is associated with an alkaline phosphatase activity, thereby allowing the bacterium to gather inorganic phosphates from a poor environment