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The aim of this article is to present the idea that the tobacco epidemic, included in the World Health Organization's (WHO) documents, may have contributed to the success of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The tobacco epidemic as a construct was present in internal and official WHO documentation as well as in scientific publications of the tobacco control‐oriented scientists who constituted the anti‐tobacco epistemic community. Using a qualitative approach, I analyzed three sets of texts to describe the features of the tobacco epidemic and how it may have contributed to the success of the FCTC. The methodology of the analysis was based on the sociological concept of medicalization. I argue that by virtue of medicalized framing in the case of the FCTC, the WHO was able to influence the debate on tobacco control. Related Articles: Luján José, Luis. 2023. "Evidence‐Based Policies: Lessons from Regulatory Science." Politics & Policy 51(4): 524–37. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12543. Newman, Joshua. 2019. "The Role of Uncertainty in Regulating E‐Cigarettes: The Emergence of a Regulatory Regime, 2005‐15." Politics & Policy 47(2): 407–29. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12294. Roberts, Alex N. 2023. "The Scientization of Public Policy and Politics: A New Approach to Conceptualizing and Identifying the Phenomenon." Politics & Policy 51(5): 726–54. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12548. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-voltage electrocution-induced neurological complications are often associated with dire consequences. The low-resistance neural pathway provides an easy gateway for the current propagation and subsequent injuries. We present a case of electrocution-induced high-cervical myelopathy resulting in quadriparesis with sensorimotor and autonomic involvement with a slow recovery course along with the subsequent imaging and electrophysiological finding suggestive of long-term degeneration of the central corticospinal tracts. On review of prior works of literature, few similar cases are seen with varied postulations of the pathophysiology of the injury. More frequent reporting of such cases, which often go undetected, should be done to increase awareness.

En Nayarit, México, se configura un Sistema Integrado de Producción de Tabaco (SIPT) que opera principalmente con participación de familias campesinas aunque para algunas labores preparatorias y garantizar la cosecha de la hoja, se contrata temporalmente a jornaleros locales y familias indígenas migrantes originarias de las zonas serranas de Nayarit, Jalisco, Durango y Zacatecas, principalmente, quienes durante la zafra de cosecha viven por algunos meses en condiciones precarias en casas y patios de las viviendas de los productores y en las parcelas agrícolas. A partir del Convenio Marco y de la Ley General para el Control del Tabaco respectivamente, las empresas que controlan el SIPT adoptaron nuevas narrativas y estrategias para la gestión y continuidad de sus negocios, destacándose principalmente la llamada Responsabilidad Social Empresarial (RSE). El objetivo de este artículo es analizar las acciones de RSE de las compañías tabacaleras desde un enfoque de la Acumulación por Despojo, entendiendo la RSE como una herramienta capitalista para la extracción de plusvalía. Con apoyo de una metodología cualitativa, basada en la revisión bibliográfica y hemerográfica, observación directa, diarios de campo y entrevistas se han documentado acciones empresariales comprendidas entre 2018 a 2023. El análisis denota que la British American Tobacco y Tabacos del Pacífico Norte han “patrocinado” la operación de los centros Florece y del programa Sustenta en los campos de tabaco de Nayarit, aunque en la realidad tabacalera, la operación de dichos programas y sus costos son asumidos y absorbidos por los productores, mientras que las empresas difunden una imagen de gestión empresarial sustentable.

Abstract Background TMS is being used to aid in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) illnesses. It is useful in planning rehabilitation programs and setting appropriate goals for patients. We used a parabolic coil with biphasic pulse stimulation to find normal values for diagnostic TMS parameters. Objectives 1. To determine the normal motor threshold (MT), motor evoked potentials (MEP), central motor conduction time (CMCT), intracortical facilitation (ICF), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and silent period (SP) values. 2. To measure the MEP latencies of abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) at various ages, heights, and arm and leg lengths. Study design Descriptive Study. Setting Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Subjects Forty-eight healthy participants volunteered for the study. Methods All participants received a single diagnostic TMS using a parabolic coil with biphasic pulse stimulation on the left primary motor cortex (M1). All parameters: MT, MEP, CMCT, ICF, SICI, and SP were recorded through surface EMGs at the right APB and EDB. Outcome parameters were reported by the mean and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR), according to data distribution. MEP latencies of APB and EDB were also measured at various ages, heights, and arm and leg lengths. Results APB-MEP latencies at 120% and 140% MT were 21.77 ± 1.47 and 21.17 ± 1.44 ms. APB-CMCT at 120% and 140% MT were 7.81 ± 1.32 and 7.19 ± 1.21 ms. APB-MEP amplitudes at 120% and 140% MT were 1.04 (0.80–1.68) and 2.24 (1.47–3.52) mV. EDB-MEP latencies at 120% and 140% MT were 37.14 ± 2.85 and 36.46 ± 2.53 ms. EDB-CMCT at 120% and 140% MT were 14.33 ± 2.50 and 13.63 ± 2.57 ms. EDB-MEP amplitudes at 120% and 140% MT were 0.60 (0.38–0.98) and 0.95 (0.69–1.55) mV. ICF amplitudes of APB and EDB were 2.26 (1.61–3.49) and 1.26 (0.88–1.98) mV. SICI amplitudes of APB and EDB were 0.21 (0.13–0.51) and 0.18 (0.09–0.29) mV. MEP latencies of APB at 120% and 140% MT were different between heights

Future healthcare is transitioning toward a decentralization of patient care, in which personal care is increasingly moved at the patient home and surrounding areas, while hospitals concentrate primarily on procedures that cannot be performed elsewhere, such as surgeries or outpatient examinations. The healthcare system in the Liguria region (Italy) is currently developing a new Center for Computational and Technological Medicine (CMCT), which is intended to facilitate and support this transition. As a component of the strategic planning and design process, this study examines the development and organization of telemedicine services across a range of chosen Italian and European institutions that share similarities with CMCT in terms of scope and scale. We specifically focus on telemedicine services - how they are governed, their main fields of application. The analysis confirmed the growing importance of telemedicine as part of the new vision of medicine, in which the patient is at the center. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: TMS is being used to aid in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) illnesses. It is useful in planning rehabilitation programs and setting appropriate goals for patients. We used a parabolic coil with biphasic pulse stimulation to find normal values for diagnostic TMS parameters. Objectives: 1. To determine the normal motor threshold (MT), motor evoked potentials (MEP), central motor conduction time (CMCT), intracortical facilitation (ICF), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and silent period (SP) values. 2. To measure the MEP latencies of abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and extensor digitorum brevis (EDB) at various ages, heights, and arm and leg lengths. Study design: Descriptive Study. Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. Subjects: Forty-eight healthy participants volunteered for the study. Methods: All participants received a single diagnostic TMS using a parabolic coil with biphasic pulse stimulation on the left primary motor cortex (M1). All parameters: MT, MEP, CMCT, ICF, SICI, and SP were recorded through surface EMGs at the right APB and EDB. Outcome parameters were reported by the mean and standard deviation (SD) or median and interquartile range (IQR), according to data distribution. MEP latencies of APB and EDB were also measured at various ages, heights, and arm and leg lengths. Results: APB-MEP latencies at 120% and 140% MT were 21.77 ± 1.47 and 21.17 ± 1.44 ms. APB-CMCT at 120% and 140% MT were 7.81 ± 1.32 and 7.19 ± 1.21 ms. APB-MEP amplitudes at 120% and 140% MT were 1.04 (0.80–1.68) and 2.24 (1.47–3.52) mV. EDB-MEP latencies at 120% and 140% MT were 37.14 ± 2.85 and 36.46 ± 2.53 ms. EDB-CMCT at 120% and 140% MT were 14.33 ± 2.50 and 13.63 ± 2.57 ms. EDB-MEP amplitudes at 120% and 140% MT were 0.60 (0.38–0.98) and 0.95 (0.69–1.55) mV. ICF amplitudes of APB and EDB were 2.26 (1.61–3.49) and 1.26 (0.88–1.98) mV. SICI amplitudes of APB and EDB were 0.21 (0.13–0.51) and 0.18 (0.09–0.29) mV. MEP latencies of APB at 120% and 140% MT were different between heights < 160 cm and ≥ 160 cm (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) and different between arm lengths < 65 and ≥ 65 cm (p = 0.022 and p = 0.002). Conclusion: We established diagnostic TMS measurements using a parabolic coil with a biphasic pulse configuration. EDB has a higher MT than APB. The 140/120 MEP ratio of APB and EDB is two-fold. The optimal MEP recording for APB is 120%, whereas EDB is 140% of MT. CMCT by the F-wave is more convenient and tolerable for patients. ICF provides a twofold increase in MEP amplitude. SICI provides a ¼-fold of MEP amplitude. SP from APB and EDB are 121.58 ± 21.50 and 181.01 ± 40.99 ms, respectively. Height and MEP latencies have a modest relationship, whereas height and arm length share a strong positive correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common subtype of hereditary ataxia. Few studies reported the CMCT features in SCA3, but with inconsistent findings. So far, CMCT in SCA3 remains largely unknown.Methods: This study included 86 SCA3 patients and 80 healthy controls. Motor-evoked potentials were recorded bilaterally from upper and lower limbs muscles by TMS using a double-cone coil attached to CCY-IA magnetic stimulator. CMCT was determined using F wave and paravertebral magnetic stimulation (PMS). The statistical analyses were performed using R software.Results: In our study, 36.5% of SCA3 patients had a slight prolongation of CMCT in lower limbs, but not upper limbs, uncorrelated with disease severity. Moreover, SCA3 patients with Babinski signs did not necessarily have abnormal CMCT, and vice versa. Our study demonstrated that PMS is a reliable method as F wave for detecting CMCT in SCA3. Additionally, CMCT to lower limbs was positively correlated with height, but not with age, sex, or weight in healthy controls.Conclusions: A small proportion of SCA3 patients had a slight prolongation of CMCT in lower limbs, but not upper limbs, uncorrelated with disease severity. Furthermore, CMCT measures were observed irrespective of pyramidal sign in SCA3; however, patients with abnormal CMCT had a higher incidence of the pyramidal sign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition of the central nervous system, which is accompanied by the impairment of the cortico-subcortical excitation and inhibition systems. It is characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, having both hypokinetic and hyperkinetic features. Objective To investigate the integrity of the central motor pathways by studying the motor evoked potential (MEP) latencies, amplitudes and central conduction time (CMCT) of the median nerve in patients with PD as compared to healthy controls. Methods Twenty-five patients with documented PD were studied; with a mean age of (63.16±5.49 years) as compared to 25 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls. All subjects were instructed about the examination and informed consent was provided. Transcranial magnetic stimulation TMS-MEP study of the right median nerve was done. Cortical and cervical latencies and amplitudes of the MEP study were determined. The responses were recorded with both relaxed and slightly contracted target muscle. CMCT calculation was done by subtraction of the latency of peripheral segment of the motor pathway (spinal motor root to muscle) from that of the entire motor pathway (motor cortex to muscle) or by calculation of the CMCT with the F-wave method. Results The means of the cortical latencies of PD patients during relaxation and facilitation states were lower than controls; and the differences were significant for both (P=0.03 and 0.02; respectively). In both relaxed and facilitation states, the means of CMCT in PD patients were lower than in control and the difference was significant during contraction (P=0.02), and near statistical significance during relaxation (P=0.08). CMCT calculations by the estimation of F wave and distal motor latency (DML) were equivocal between relaxation and facilitation states. Nevertheless, the differences were not statistically significant (P=0.45; P=0.62; respectively). The means of the MEP amplitude of PD patients were lower than controls (4.21±1.94 versus 4.28± 1.84 mV; respectively). Nevertheless, the differences were not significant (P=0.89). Conclusion Single-pulse TMS is a valuable study to investigate central motor dysfunction in PD. CMCT measurement of the median nerve or any nerve in the upper limb is a potential marker for the evaluation of the severity of PD; especially in the facilitated state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nucleic acids, especially RNA, naturally contain a diversity of chemically modified nucleosides. To understand the biological role of these modified nucleosides, nucleic acid scientists need tools to specifically label, detect and enrich modified nucleic acids. These tools comprise a diverse set of chemical reagents which have been established in the early years of nucleic acid research. Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing and mass spectrometry utilize these chemical labeling strategies to efficiently detect and localize modifications in nucleic acids. As a consequence the transcriptome-wide distribution of modified nucleosides, especially 5-methylcytosine and pseudouridine, in all domains of life could be analyzed. With the help of these techniques and the gained knowledge, it becomes possible to understand the functions of modifications and even study their connections to human health and disease. Here, the differential chemical reactivity of modified nucleosides and their canonical counterpart is reviewed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The indirect effects of mastitis treatment are often overlooked in cost-benefit analyses, but it may be beneficial for the dairy industry to consider them. The cost of mastitis treatment may increase when the duration of intra-mammary infections are prolonged due to misdiagnosis of host-adapted mastitis. Laboratory diagnosis of mastitis can be costly and time consuming, therefore cow-side tests such as the California Milk Cell Test (CMCT) and Milk Electrical Resistance (MER) need to be utilised to their full potential. The aim of this study was to determine the relative benefit of using these two tests separately and in parallel. This was done using a partial-budget analysis and a cost-benefit model to estimate the benefits and costs of each respective test and the parallel combination thereof. Quarter milk samples (n= 1860) were taken from eight different dairy herds in South Africa. Milk samples were evaluated by means of the CMCT, hand-held MER meter and cyto-microbiological laboratory analysis. After determining the most appropriate cut-off points for the two cow-side tests, the sensitivity and specificity of the CMCT (Se= 1.00, Sp= 0.66), MER (Se= 0.92, Sp= 0.62) and the tests done in parallel (Se= 1.00, Sp= 0.87) were calculated. The input data that were used for partial-budget analysis and in the cost-benefit model were based on South African figures at the time of the study, and on literature. The total estimated financial benefit of correct diagnosis of host-adapted mastitis per cow for the CMCT, MER and the tests done in parallel was R898.73, R518.70 and R1064.67 respectively. This involved taking the expected benefit of a correct test result per cow, the expected cost of an error per cow and the cost of the test into account. The CMCT was shown to be 11%more beneficial than the MER test, whilst using the tests in parallel was shown to be the most beneficial method for evaluating the mastitis-control programme. Therefore, it is recommended that the combined tests should be used strategically in practice to monitor udder health and promote a pro-active udder health approach when dealing with host-adapted pathogens.

El estudio de la Carga Mundial de la Enfermedad proyecta que el incremento en la prevalencia de fumadores en países de ingresos medios y bajos contribuirá a incrementar las muertes cardiovasculares, por enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y algunos cánceres. Para reducir estas consecuencias del tabaquismo, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomienda un conjunto de acciones reunidas en el Convenio Marco para el Control del Tabaco (CMCT) y los informes MPOWER. En este artículo se revisó el más reciente de estos informes y sintetizamos las principales intervenciones que estaban vigentes en los países latinoamericanos y también revisamos algunas medidas implementadas durante 2009 y 2010. En los últimos años se ha avanzado considerablemente en materia de control del tabaco. Sin embargo, todavía queda por avanzar para acercarnos a lo sugerido por la OMS. De mantenerse el nivel de consumo entre los adolescentes de la región actualmente, observaremos en las décadas futuras un incremento en el número de muertes prematuras y evitables causadas por el tabaco.Projections based on the most recent report on the Global Burden of Disease show that the observed increase in smoking prevalence in middle and low income countries will contribute to the increase of the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and some cancers. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends a group of actions to curb the tobacco epidemic. This is a review paper based on the most recent MPOWER report and also included in this review are some of the most recent tobacco control measures implemented during 2009 and 2010. We conclude that most Latin American countries have achieved significant progress in tobacco control in recent years. However, when comparing the current situation against the WHO recommendations we realized that for most countries there is still work to be done. If current smoking prevalence among teenagers remains unchanged, there will be a significant increase in the number of premature deaths attributable to tobacco consumption in future decades.

El tabaquismo es un grave problema de salud pública en Latinoamérica, cuyos países aún muestran en su estructura poblacional una amplia base piramidal formada por grupos etarios de jóvenes que han sido el blanco primordial de la industria tabacalera. Latinoamérica requiere urgentemente de estrategias de prevención y acciones sanitarias para modificar las consecuencias de fumar sobre la salud de la población a través de la cesación del tabaquismo. El tratamiento de la adicción a la nicotina requiere estrategias de intervención eficaces para disminuir la prevalencia de fumadores y evitar su recaída, brindándoles herramientas para el mantenimiento de la abstinencia. En la actualidad, poblaciones pobres y vulnerables (44% de la población latinoaméricana) están condenadas a sufrir las consecuencias sanitarias de esta enfermedad, ya que son las que presentan un mayor consumo de tabaco y las que pueden acceder menos a las intervenciones sanitarias. El Convenio Marco para el Control del Tabaco (CMCT) y el MPOWER, ambos estrategias de la Organización Mundial de la Salud para la lucha contra el tabaco, definen claras líneas de acción pero sus limitaciones están definidas por los recursos que se asignan para las mismas en cada país. La comunidad científica y técnica abocada a la lucha contra este flagelo debe considerar y poner en marcha nuevas perspectivas para lograr colocar en la agenda política la necesidad de obtener y asignar más recursos económicos y humanos para disminuir el consumo del tabaco en todos los grupos de la población. En la lucha contra el tabaco, este es el momento indicado para considerar primordialmente aspectos de equidad y justicia social en salud.The tobacco epidemic is a huge public health problem affecting all Latin American countries. These countries have the characteristic of a wide base of the pyramidal population structure, with many young people who have been natural targets for the tobacco industry. Therefore in this region there is an urgent need to establish prevention and treatment strategies capable to reduce incidence and prevalence of tobacco smoking in the population and as a consequence modify the health effects of tobacco consumption. Treating nicotine addiction requires intervention strategies really effective to reduce the number of current smokers as well as giving them tools to avoid relapse and maintain abstinence. Currently poor and vulnerable groups, which represent 44% of the total population in Latin America, are the most susceptible to suffer the health consequences of smoking since they show the highest prevalence rates and have little or no access to health services. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and MPOWER, both strategies proposed by the World Health Organization against tobacco, define clear goals to achieve their purposes, nevertheless they are limited by the economic and human resources assigned by each country. The scientific community involved in the fight against tobacco must think about new ways to place this issue in the political agenda so there will be more opportunities to increase the resources and therefore to reduce tobacco consumption in all the groups of the population. In the fight against tobacco, this is the right time to consider primarily issues related to equity and social justice.

The tobacco epidemic is a huge public health problem affecting all Latin American countries. These countries have the characteristic of a wide base of the pyramidal population structure, with many young people who have been natural targets for the tobacco industry. Therefore in this region there is an urgent need to establish prevention and treatment strategies capable to reduce incidence and prevalence of tobacco smoking in the population and as a consequence modify the health effects of tobacco consumption. Treating nicotine addiction requires intervention strategies really effective to reduce the number of current smokers as well as giving them tools to avoid relapse and maintain abstinence. Currently poor and vulnerable groups, which represent 44% of the total population in Latin America, are the most susceptible to suffer the health consequences of smoking since they show the highest prevalence rates and have little or no access to health services. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and MPOWER, both strategies proposed by the World Health Organization against tobacco, define clear goals to achieve their purposes, nevertheless they are limited by the economic and human resources assigned by each country. The scientific community involved in the fight against tobacco must think about new ways to place this issue in the political agenda so there will be more opportunities to increase the resources and therefore to reduce tobacco consumption in all the groups of the population. In the fight against tobacco, this is the right time to consider primarily issues related to equity and social justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Projections based on the most recent report on the Global Burden of Disease show that the observed increase in smoking prevalence in middle and low income countries will contribute to the increase of the number of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and some cancers. The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends a group of actions to curb the tobacco epidemic. This is a review paper based on the most recent MPOWER report and also included in this review are some of the most recent tobacco control measures implemented during 2009 and 2010. We conclude that most Latin American countries have achieved significant progress in tobacco control in recent years. However, when comparing the current situation against the WHO recommendations we realized that for most countries there is still work to be done. If current smoking prevalence among teenagers remains unchanged, there will be a significant increase in the number of premature deaths attributable to tobacco consumption in future decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article investigates the value of electric conductivity (EC), California Milk Cell Test (CMCT), and somatic cell count (SCC) as diagnostic tools for mastitis in dairy goats. Conductivity color reading correlated with SCC, the authors said. According to the authors, milk samples with conductivity color red had significantly higher SCC than those with conductivity colors green and orange. Mastitis is defined as a serious disease of dairy goats generally resulting from invasion of the udder by an infectious agent, and deleteriously affects milk production.

RNA folds into secondary structures that can serve in understanding various RNA functions (Weeks KM. Curr Opin Struct Biol 20(3):295-304, 2010). Chemical probing is a method that enables the characterization of RNA secondary structures using chemical reagents that specifically modify RNA nucleotides that are located in single-stranded areas. In our protocol, we used Dimethyl Sulfate (DMS) and Cyclohexyl-3-(2-Morpholinoethyl) Carbodiimide metho-p-Toluene sulfonate (CMCT) that are both base-specific modifying reagents (Behm-Ansmant I, et al. J Nucleic Acids 2011:408053, 2011). These modifications are mapped by primer extension arrests using 5' fluorescently labeled primers. In this protocol, we show a comprehensive method to identify RNA secondary structures in vitro using fluorescently labeled oligos. To demonstrate the efficiency of the method, we give an example of a structure we have designed which corresponds to a part of the 5'-UTR regulatory element called Translation Inhibitory Element (TIE) from Hox a3 mRNA (Xue S, et al. Nature 517(7532):33-38, 2015).

RNA structure probing enables the characterization of RNA secondary structures by established procedures such as the enzyme- or chemical-based detection of single- or double-stranded regions. A specific type of application involves the detection of changes of RNA structures and conformations that are induced by proteins with RNA chaperone activity. This chapter outlines a protocol to analyze RNA structures in vitro in the presence of an RNA-binding protein with RNA chaperone activity. For this purpose, we make use of the methylating agents dimethyl sulfate (DMS) and 1-cyclohexyl-3-(2-morpholinoethyl) carbodiimide metho-p-toluenesulfonate (CMCT). DMS and CMCT specifically modify nucleotides that are not involved in base-pairing or tertiary structure hydrogen bonding and that are not protected by a ligand such as a protein. Modified bases are identified by primer extension. As an example, we describe how the RNA chaperone activity of an isoform of the RNA-binding protein AUF1 induces the flaviviral RNA switch required for viral genome cyclization and viral replication.This chapter includes comprehensive protocols for in vitro synthesis of RNA, 32 P-5'-end labeling of DNA primers, primer extension, as well as the preparation and running of analytical gels. The described methodology should be applicable to any other RNA and protein of interest to identify protein-directed RNA remodeling.

RNA structure is important for understanding RNA function and stability within a cell. Chemical probing is a well-established and convenient method to evaluate the structure of an RNA. Several structure-sensitive chemicals can differentiate paired and unpaired nucleotides. This chapter specifically addresses the use of DMS and CMCT. Although exhibiting different affinities, the combination of these two chemical reagents enables screening of all four nucleobases. DMS and CMCT are only reactive with exposed unpaired nucleotides. We have used this method to analyze the effect of the RNA chaperone Hfq on the conformation of the 16S rRNA. The strategy here described may be applied for the study of many other RNA-binding proteins and RNAs.

Pseudouridine is found in almost all cellular ribonucleic acids (RNAs). Of the multiple characteristics attributed to pseudouridine, making messenger RNAs (mRNAs) highly translatable and non-immunogenic is one such feature that directly implicates this modification in protein synthesis. We report the existence of pseudouridine in the anticodon of Escherichia coli tyrosine transfer RNAs (tRNAs) at position 35. Pseudouridine was verified by multiple detection methods, which include pseudouridine-specific chemical derivatization and gas phase dissociation of RNA during liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Analysis of total tRNA isolated from E. coli pseudouridine synthase knock-out mutants identified RluF as the enzyme responsible for this modification. Furthermore, the absence of this modification compromises the translational ability of a luciferase reporter gene coding sequence when it is preceded by multiple tyrosine codons. This effect has implications for the translation of mRNAs that are rich in tyrosine codons in bacterial expression systems., (© 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.)

Objective: To develop a neurophysiological method to explore central motor pathways to proximal and distal muscles of lower limbs., Methods: MEPs to transcranial magnetic stimulation using the double cone coil were bilaterally and simultaneously recorded from vastus medialis, tibialis anterior and flexor hallucis brevis. Voluntary facilitation was controlled using a predefined sequence of movements of constant amplitude. Compound motor action potentials elicited by maximal high voltage electrical stimulation of lumbosacral roots (root-CMAPs) were recorded from the same muscles to obtain the corresponding peripheral conduction times. We studied 28 healthy subjects and 28 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with no or mild motor impairment., Results: The described facilitation procedure and the averaging of 5 MEPs reduced area variability to about 10%. In MS patients conduction slowing and/or MEP area reduction in at least one muscle was found in 91.7% of cases, with significant correlation with individual motor impairment., Conclusions: Combined use of stable MEPs and maximal root-CMAPs was able to detect both conduction slowing and conduction failure in central motor pathways to proximal and distal districts of lower limbs in MS patients., Significance: The proposed method provides an extensive electrophysiological mapping of central motor impairment of lower limbs in clinical application., (Copyright © 2013 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of diurnal variability on cortical excitability using single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in drug naive patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) and to look for any differences in cortical excitability between males and females., Methods: Thirty drug-naive patients with JME and 10 healthy controls were studied. Resting motor threshold (RMT), motor evoked potential (MEP), the duration of central motor conduction time (CMCT) and cortical silent period (CSP) were measured, twice, first early in the morning and again in the afternoon of the same day., Results: Diurnal variation with higher evening values of CMCT and CSP were observed in the control group. In the study group, diurnal variation in RMT, CMCT and CSP was found with higher values in the morning than in control group. However, only the raised values of CSP [mean, 110.7ms, morning and 96.44ms, evening] were of statistical significance [p=0.005, morning and 0.039, evening] as compared to controls. In the study group, males had higher values of RMT, CMCT and CSP than in females. However, the CMCT in males was lower in the evening study than in females. Further, RMT and morning CMCT was lower in females than in controls. In females, the morning CSP [mean, 100.91ms, morning versus 87.86ms, evening] was significantly prolonged [p=0.017, morning versus 0.221, evening] as compared to controls., Conclusion: The study is suggestive of the existence of impaired supraspinal/intracortical inhibitory circuits which may account for the hyperexcitability of the motor system being prominent in the morning among drug naïve patients with JME. In this study, increased activity of cortical inhibitory networks, as evidenced by prolonged cortical silent period existed among drug naïve JME patients, but was found to be significant only in female patients. This may explain the increased seizure susceptibility in this cohort, at this time of the day and an increased manifestation of JME in females., (Copyright © 2013 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The syndrome of subacute simultaneous peripheral neuropathy and bilateral optic neuropathy is known to occur in tropical countries, probably due to malnutrition or toxicity, but not often seen in developed countries. We report seven patients in London who were not malnourished or alcoholic, and in whom no clear cause was found., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the case notes and arranged some further investigations., Results: All patients developed peripheral and bilateral optic neuropathy within 6 months. Patients were aged 30-52, and all of Jamaican birth and race but lived in the UK. Most had subacute, painful ataxic sensory axonal neuropathy or neuronopathy, some with myelopathy. Nerve conduction studies revealed minor demyelinating features in two cases. The optic neuropathy was symmetrical, subacute and monophasic, usually with marked reduction in visual acuity. CSF protein concentration was usually elevated but other laboratory investigations were normal. Patients showed only modest improvement at follow-up., Conclusion: These patients share a common clinical and electrophysiological phenotype, age, ethnicity and elevated CSF protein, but otherwise normal laboratory investigations. The syndrome is a cause of significant morbidity in young people. The cause remains uncertain despite thorough investigation., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)