Building on this, we implemented a brain autopsy program to investigate the feasibility of obtaining brains from South African Mn miners and non-exposed reference miners to investigate neuropathologic consequences of chronic Mn exposure. Employing an experienced occupational health nurse, we identified deceased miners

within 100 square km of the Mn mines. The nurse was notified of any Mn (case) or other (reference) miner or ex-miner death by local medical practitioners, occupational health and mine physicians, and community members, and families were approached for consent to remove the brains in addition to the cardio-respiratory organs. Families of deceased miners who had an autopsy at the NIOH in Johannesburg were also approached. To confirm exposure Selleck Veliparib in Mn miners, mean pallidal indices were compared AG-014699 mw between Mn miners and non-exposed reference miners. Sixty-eight potential brain donors were identified; we obtained consent from the families to remove 51 (75%). The mean autopsy interval was seven days. With optimized fixation methods, the tissue quality of the brains for gross and regular microscopic examination was excellent. Ex vivo MRI demonstrated increased pallidal index in Mn miners compared to reference miners. We conclude that obtaining brain tissue

from deceased miners in South Africa is highly successful with only a modest investment in local infrastructure. Tissue quality was excellent and should be ideal to investigate the neuropathologic consequences of chronic occupational Mn exposure. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Oseltamivir-resistant H1N1 influenza viruses emerged in 2007 to 2008 and have subsequently circulated widely. However, prior to 2007 to 2008, viruses possessing the neuraminidase (NA) H274Y mutation, which confers oseltamivir resistance, generally had low growth capability. NA mutations that compensate for the deleterious effect of the NA H274Y mutation have since been identified. Given the importance of the functional balance between hemagglutinin (HA) and NA, we focused on amino

acid changes in HA. Reverse genetic analysis showed that a mutation at residue 82, 141, or 189 of the HA protein Selleck Barasertib promotes virus replication in the presence of the NA H274Y mutation. Our findings thus identify HA mutations that contributed to the replacement of the oseltamivir-sensitive viruses of 2007 to 2008.”
“Background. Although cognitive variables have been shown to be useful in predicting outcomes in late-life depression, there has not yet been a comprehensive study in younger persons with depression.

Method. The clinical symptoms and cognitive performance of participants were evaluated at admission to one of two university teaching hospitals and again at 3 months after remission and discharge.