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“Dengue is an acute mosquito borne viral infection caused by one of the four distinct serotype of dengue viruses (type 1-4), belonging to flavivirus family. Dengue fever, an arboviral infection is known to cause various neurological complications. Commonly reported neurological manifestations associated with dengue infection are encephalopathy, myelopathy, stroke, Guillain-Barre syndrome and hypokalemic paralysis. Brachial amyotrophy associated with dengue infection were not described previously. Here, we describe three patients presenting with brachial neuritis associated with dengue infection. Dengue infection should be considered

in the etiological list of brachial neuritis in dengue endemic areas, especially if preceded by history of febrile illness compatible with dengue illness.”
“Among the many clinical manifestations of light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, musculoskeletal involvement

is Birinapant VX-770 research buy rarely reported. We describe the case of a 72-year-old woman who was referred to our rheumatology department for fixed flexion contractures of the fingers that developed concomitantly with a decline in general health. Macroglossia and recent-onset dyspnea were noted. Investigations, which included a tongue biopsy, established the diagnosis of kappa light-chain amyloidosis with soft tissue, bone, and cardiac deposits. Melphalan and dexamethasone therapy was successful in stabilizing the clinical and laboratory abnormalities within 6 months. This case is remarkable in that the musculoskeletal manifestations were at the forefront of the clinical picture and led to the diagnosis. (C) 2009 Societe Francaise de Rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Male Selleckchem JNK inhibitor Anopheles mosquitoes that swarm rely in part on features of the environment including visual stimuli to locate swarms. Swarming is believed to be

the primary behaviour during which mating occurs in the field, but is not a common behaviour in the laboratory. Features that stimulate male Anopheles gambiae G3 strain swarming were created in novel large indoor cages. Methods: The following visual features were tested in all combinations to determine which were important for swarm formation. Large cages and fading ceiling lights at dusk alone did not stimulate swarming while a dark foreground and contrasting illuminated background with a contrasting landmark stimulated and localized swarm formation during artificial twilight. Given the need to test transgenic strains in as natural a setting as possible, in this study it was investigated whether induced swarm behaviour and cage size would affect relative mating performance of wild-type and transgenic beta 2Ppo1 and beta 2Ppo2 A. gambiae sexually sterile males. Results: Even using a mosquito colony that has been in laboratory culture for 39 years, swarming behaviour was induced by this novel arrangement.