Specialization for Cell-Free or Cell-to-Cell Spread of BAC-Cloned Human Cytomegalovirus Strains Is Determined by Factors beyond the UL128-131 and RL13 Loci.

It is widely held that clinical isolates of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) are highly cell associated, and mutations affecting the UL128-131 and RL13 loci that arise in culture lead to the appearance of a cell-free spread phenotype. The bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clone Merlin (ME) expresses abundant UL128-131, is RL13 impaired, and produces low infectivity virions in fibroblasts, whereas TB40/e (TB) and TR are low in UL128-131, are RL13 intact, and produce virions of much higher infectivity. Despite these differences, quantification of spread by flow cytometry revealed remarkably similar spread efficiencies in fibroblasts.

Significant impact of transperineal template biopsy of the prostate at a single tertiary institution.

Objective: The objective was to review the impact of transperineal biopsy (TPB) at our institution by assessing rates of cancer detection/grading, treatment outcomes and complications.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective review of TPBs between 2009 and 2013 was performed. Variables included reason for TPB, age, prostate-specific antigen, previous histology, TPB histology, and management outcomes.

Thyrotoxicosis does not protect against incidental papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Thyroid cancer is the 10th most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, and many studies have linked thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Low TSH is thought to be protective against thyroid cancer. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between thyrotoxicosis, in particular Graves' disease, and the incidence of incidental PTC.