A Complicated Case of Vaccine Refusal.

Parents in the United States have a legal right to refuse vaccination for their children. There are, however, special circumstances under which the state may compel vaccination against parental wishes. In this Ethics Rounds article, we present the case of a young boy with sickle cell disease who was partially vaccinated against encapsulated bacteria and the ethics of whether to compel complete vaccination before splenectomy.

The MT-CO1 V83I Polymorphism is a Risk Factor for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in African American Men.

Purpose: We investigate the function of the V83I polymorphism (m.6150G>A, rs879053914) in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (MT-CO1) gene and its role in African American (AA) primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: This study used Sanger sequencing (1339 cases, 850 controls), phenotypic characterization of Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics study (POAAGG) cases, a masked chart review of CO1 missense cases (V83I plus M117T, n = 29) versus wild type cases (n = 29), a yeast 2-hybrid (Y2H) cDNA library screen, and quantification of protein-protein interactions by Y2H and ELISA.

Background frequency of Bacillus species at the Canberra Airport: A 12 month study.

Anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, is a naturally occurring disease in Australia. Whilst mainly limited to livestock in grazing regions of Victoria and New South Wales, movement of people, stock and vehicles means B. anthracis could be present outside this region.