Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, USA.

A number of studies were initiated in response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill to understand potential injuries to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that inhabit the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) estuarine waters. As part of these studies, remote biopsy skin and blubber samples were collected from dolphins at six field sites that received varying degrees of oiling: Barataria Bay (BB), Chandeleur Sound West (CSW), Chandeleur Sound East (CSE), Mississippi Sound South (MSS), Mississippi Sound North (MSN), and St. Joseph Bay (SJ).

Are the current Australian sun exposure guidelines effective in maintaining adequate levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D?

An adequate vitamin D status, as measured by serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration, is important in humans for maintenance of healthy bones and muscle function. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was assessed in participants from Melbourne, Australia (37.81S, 144.

Negative dystonia of the palate: a novel entity and diagnostic consideration in hypernasal speech.

Objective: To present the first documented series of patients with negative dystonia (ND) of the palate, including clinical symptoms, functional MRI findings, and management options.

Study Design: Case series ascertained from clinical research centers that evaluated patients with both hyperkinetic and hypokinetic movement disorders.

Methods: Between July 1983 and March 2013, data was collected on patient demographics, disease characteristics, functional MRI findings, long-term management options, and outcomes.

A Zap70-dependent feedback circuit is essential for efficient selection of CD4 lineage thymocytes.

During positive selection of CD4(+), CD8(+) double positive (DP) thymocytes, expression of the tyrosine kinase Zap70 is subject to developmental regulation. Signalling downstream of T-cell receptor (TCR) induces Zap70 expression, forming a positive feedback circuit. Although previous studies show this circuit is required for generation of CD8 lineage cells, it is not known whether selection of CD4 T cells also depends on intact developmental regulation of Zap70.

Weekend personal ultraviolet radiation exposure in four cities in Australia: influence of temperature, humidity and ambient ultraviolet radiation.

Purpose: To examine the effects of meteorological factors on weekend sun exposure behaviours and personal received dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in Australian adults.

Methods: Australian adults (n=1002) living in Townsville (19°S, 146°E), Brisbane (27°S, 153°E), Canberra (35°S, 149°E) and Hobart (43°S, 147°E) were recruited between 2009 and 2010. Data on sun exposure behaviours were collected by daily sun exposure dairies; personal UVR exposure was measured with a polysulphone dosimeter.

Youth indoor tanning and skin cancer prevention: lessons from tobacco control.

Youth use of ultraviolet-emitting indoor tanning beds represents a present and emerging public health crisis. Nearly 30% of white female high school students report tanning indoors, and a quarter of high school tanners have used a tanning bed more than 20 times in the past year. Despite the significant health risks of tanning beds, including potentially deadly melanoma and eye problems, limited actions have been taken in the U.

Differential requirement for IL-2 and IL-15 during bifurcated development of thymic regulatory T cells.

The developmental pathways of regulatory T cells (T(reg)) generation in the thymus are not fully understood. In this study, we reconstituted thymic development of Zap70-deficient thymocytes with a tetracycline-inducible Zap70 transgene to allow temporal dissection of T(reg) development. We find that T(reg) develop with distinctive kinetics, first appearing by day 4 among CD4 single-positive (SP) thymocytes.

Combination therapy with antibiotics and anthrax immune globulin intravenous (AIGIV) is potentially more effective than antibiotics alone in rabbit model of inhalational anthrax.

Background: We have evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of AIGIV when given in combination with levofloxacin and the effective window of treatment to assess the added benefit provided by AIGIV over standard antibiotic treatment alone in a New Zealand white rabbit model of inhalational anthrax.

Methods: Rabbits were exposed to lethal dose of aerosolized spores of Bacillus anthracis (Ames strain) and treated intravenously with either placebo, (normal immune globulin intravenous, IGIV) or 15 U/kg of AIGIV, along with oral levofloxacin treatment at various time points (30-96 hours) after anthrax exposure.

Results: The majority of treated animals (>88%) survived in both treatment groups when treatment was initiated within 60 hours of post-exposure.

Automated quantification of neurite outgrowth orientation distributions on patterned surfaces.

Objective: We have developed an image analysis methodology for quantifying the anisotropy of neuronal projections on patterned substrates.

Approach: Our method is based on the fitting of smoothing splines to the digital traces produced using a non-maximum suppression technique. This enables precise estimates of the local tangents uniformly along the neurite length, and leads to unbiased orientation distributions suitable for objectively assessing the anisotropy induced by tailored surfaces.

Impact of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on demand for microbiology gastrointestinal diagnostic services at the Public Health Laboratory London.

Planning for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games at the Public Health Laboratory London was based on the requirement to meet potential increased demand with scalable capacity. The aim of this study was to determine the impact on demand for microbiology gastrointestinal diagnostic services during the Games period. Retrospective cross-sectional time-series data analysis was used to assess the number of gastrointestinal specimens received in the laboratory and the number of positive results.

Translating glycolytic metabolism to innate immunity in dendritic cells.

Growing evidence supports a role for glycolysis in immune activation. Everts et al. (2014) now show that TLR-mediated stimulation of dendritic cells rapidly induces glycolysis, which regenerates NADPH and TCA intermediates to support fatty acid production.

Management of excess weight in pregnancy in Otago, New Zealand: a qualitative study with lead maternity carers.

Aim: To investigate the knowledge and practice of midwives providing lead maternity care (LMC) in Otago, regarding gestational weight gain (GWG).

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using three semi-structured focus groups and one in-depth interview. A total of 12 midwives, including one student midwife, were interviewed.

Overlapping and asymmetric functions of TCR signaling during thymic selection of CD4 and CD8 lineages.

TCR signaling plays a central role in directing developmental fates of thymocytes. Current models suggest TCR signal duration directs CD4 versus CD8 lineage development. To investigate the role of TCR signaling during positive selection directly, we switched signaling off in a cohort of selecting thymocytes and followed, in time, their subsequent fate.

Nanopesticides: guiding principles for regulatory evaluation of environmental risks.

Nanopesticides or nano plant protection products represent an emerging technological development that, in relation to pesticide use, could offer a range of benefits including increased efficacy, durability, and a reduction in the amounts of active ingredients that need to be used. A number of formulation types have been suggested including emulsions (e.g.

Reproducibility, and age, body-weight and gender dependency of candidate skeletal muscle MRI outcome measures in healthy volunteers.

Objectives: Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can potentially meet the pressing need for objective, sensitive, reproducible outcome measures in neuromuscular disease trials. We tested, in healthy volunteers, the consistency, reliability and sensitivity to normal inter-subject variation of MRI methods targeted to lower limb muscle pathology to inform the design of practical but comprehensive MRI outcome measure protocols for use in imminent patient studies.

Methods: Forty-seven healthy volunteers, age 21-81 years, were subject at 3T to three-point Dixon fat-fraction measurement, T₁-relaxometry, T₂-relaxometry and magnetisation transfer ratio (MTR) imaging at mid-thigh and mid-calf level bilaterally.

Atypical hand, foot, and mouth disease associated with coxsackievirus A6 infection, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, January to February 2014.

In January to February 2014, 16 hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases were identified in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. All presented with atypical features, with most (n=13) resembling eczema herpeticum or chickenpox. Coxsackievirus A6 (CV-A6) was identified in all the typed cases (n=11).

Palatal myoclonus: algorithm for management with botulinum toxin based on clinical disease characteristics.

Objectives/hypothesis: To review the clinical characteristics and management of patients with palatal myoclonus and devise an algorithm for treatment with botulinum toxin based on presenting symptoms, clinical examination findings, and involved muscle groups.

Study Design: Retrospective chart review at two clinical research centers.

Methods: Between 1985 and 2011, 15 patients with a diagnosis of essential palatal myoclonus were assessed.

The balancing point: understanding uptake of advance directive forms in a rural Australian community.

Objectives: The study was conducted in Western Australia, focusing on the attitudes of older, rural, non-hospitalised people towards newly legislated advance care planning (ACP) documents. This study explored baseline awareness and perception of advance directive (AD) forms and factors relevant to their utilisation, using the transtheoretical model as a theoretical framework.

Methods: Sixty-two adults were recruited from residential aged care facilities, community care organisations, general practice, an oncology service and a law firm.

Cutaneous Mycobacterium chelonae infection in Edinburgh and the Lothians, South-East Scotland, U.K.

Background: We reviewed all cases of Mycobacterium chelonae infection seen in our department between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2012.

Objectives: To review the epidemiology, clinical features and management of cutaneous M. chelonae in South-East Scotland, and to compare prevalence data with the rest of Scotland.

Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2I: a multinational cross-sectional study.

We conducted a prospective multinational study of muscle pathology using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2I (LGMD2I). Thirty eight adult ambulant LGMD2I patients (19 male; 19 female) with genetically identical mutations (c.826C>A) in the fukutin-related protein (FKRP) gene were recruited.

Discussing dying in the diaspora: attitudes towards advance care planning among first generation Dutch and Italian migrants in rural Australia.

Western cultural practices and values have largely shaped advance care planning (ACP) policies across the world. Low uptake of ACP among ethnic minority groups in Western countries has been interpreted with reference to cultural differences. This paper adopts a life-history approach to explore attitudes towards ACP among older, first-generation Dutch-Australian and Italian-Australian migrants.

Investigation into the occurrence in food of veterinary medicines, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals used in personal care products.

Human exposure to emerging contaminants by indirect routes is of increasing interest. This study assessed the contamination of food by chemicals used in human pharmaceuticals (HPs), veterinary medicines (VMs), and personal care products (PCPs). A prioritization study was undertaken to identify the chemicals and food-producing scenarios most likely to result in contamination of food.

A public health approach to promoting advance care planning to Aboriginal people in regional communities.

Objective: To explore perceptions of Noongar community members towards advance care planning (ACP), while developing culturally appropriate information resources for use in community and hospital settings.

Design: Qualitative research methods, combining active health promotion with interviews and group discussions for participant feedback.

Setting: Six rural communities across the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

The role of public health advocacy in achieving an outright ban on commercial tanning beds in Australia.

Although many countries still face opposition to the legislation of artificial tanning beds, all Australian states and territories have announced a total ban on commercial tanning beds. A combination of epidemiological and policy-centered research, powerful personal stories, and the active advocacy of prominent academics, cancer organizations, and grassroots community campaigners contributed to the decisions to first legislate standards and then ban all commercial tanning beds. We have illustrated that incremental change can be an effective pathway to securing substantial public health reforms.