title: Health-promoting behaviors through pregnancy, maternity leave, and return to work: effects of role spillover and other correlates.

text: Women's health-promoting behavior changes and their correlates across the transition to motherhood and return to work are insufficiently understood. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare women's health-promoting behaviors, particularly physical activity (PA), across these transitions. A prospective, observational design was employed to assess 243 female healthcare workers from 3 sites with regard to health-promoting behaviors, and their demographic (e.g., age, parity) and psychosocial (i.e., work-family role spillover) correlates. Forty-two participants were recruited while pregnant and re-assessed during maternity leave and upon return to work, and compared to 201 non-pregnant participants. No significant changes in health-promoting behaviors were observed from pregnancy through the postpartum. Pregnant participants reported better nutrition than comparison participants (p=.001), and were more likely to check their pulse when exercising (p=.004). During pregnancy, health-promoting behaviors were related to parental status, with first-time mothers engaging in more positive behaviors. Correlates of PA during maternity leave and return to work included family income and exercise history. Positive family-to-work spillover was significantly greater among pregnant women than among comparison participants (p<.001), and positive work-to-family spillover was related to greater PA upon return to work (p<.01). This study reveals little variability in health-promoting behaviors from the prenatal to the postpartum period. Both demographic and psychosocial factors have effects on health-promoting behaviors, and we must look to these correlates to promote increased PA.


title: [Collateral damage of COVID-19 pandemic in private healthcare centres of Argentina].

text: To contain the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), a strict nationwide lockdown has been enforced and the health systems have been reorganized to deal with this entity. During this period, changes in the care of non-infectious diseases have been observed. Our aim was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the care of non-communicable diseases. A structured retrospective survey was carried out in 31 healthcare centers affiliated with the Asociación de Clínicas, Sanatorios y Hospitales Privados de la República Argentina y Cámara de Entidades de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento. We compared data for April 2019 versus April 2020 regarding emergency room consultations, hospital admissions, invasive procedures and treatments, and bed occupancy. In April 2020, we observed a decrease in emergency room visits (75%) and hospitalizations (48%). A 62% decrease in admissions was noted for angina pectoris and acute coronary syndromes and a 46% decrease in admissions for stroke and transient ischemic attack. A meaningful decrease was found in coronary angioplasties (59%) and total percutaneous interventions (65%), and also a decrease in general surgeries (73%), and cardiac surgeries (58%). Although social distancing measures are a key public health strategy to flatten the infection curve, the observed decrease in medical visits and interventions may impact negatively on cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and cancer related morbidity and mortality. A collective effort is required to avoid the unintended consequences and collateral damage of the COVID-19 pandemic.


title: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus NTPase/helicase belongs to a distinct class of 5' to 3' viral helicases.

text: The putative NTPase/helicase protein from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is postulated to play a number of crucial roles in the viral life cycle, making it an attractive target for anti-SARS therapy. We have cloned, expressed, and purified this protein as an N-terminal hexahistidine fusion in Escherichia coli and have characterized its helicase and NTPase activities. The enzyme unwinds double-stranded DNA, dependent on the presence of a 5' single-stranded overhang, indicating a 5'o 3' polarity of activity, a distinct characteristic of coronaviridae helicases. We provide the first quantitative analysis of the polynucleic acid binding and NTPase activities of a Nidovirus helicase, using a high throughput phosphate release assay that will be readily adaptable to the future testing of helicase inhibitors. All eight common NTPs and dNTPs were hydrolyzed by the SARS helicase in a magnesium-dependent reaction, stimulated by the presence of either single-stranded DNA or RNA. The enzyme exhibited a preference for ATP, dATP, and dCTP over the other NTP/dNTP substrates. Homopolynucleotides significantly stimulated the ATPase activity (15-25-fold) with the notable exception of poly(G) and poly(dG), which were non-stimulatory. We found a large variation in the apparent strength of binding of different homopolynucleotides, with dT24 binding over 10 times more strongly than dA24 as observed by the apparent Km.


title: Effect of maximizing oxygen delivery on morbidity and mortality rates in critically ill patients: a prospective, randomized, controlled study.

text: OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of optimizing oxygen delivery (DO2) to "supranormal" levels on morbidity and mortality in patients with sepsis, septic shock, and adult respiratory distress syndrome. DESIGN A prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING A 16-bed surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and 14-bed mixed medical/surgical ICU in two separate hospitals in the University of Hawaii Surgical and Internal Medicine Residency programs. PATIENTS During a 1-yr period, 67 patients who had pulmonary artery catheters and who met the criteria for sepsis or septic shock, adult respiratory distress syndrome, or hypovolemic shock were enrolled in the study. Patients admitted to the ICU who were < 18 yrs old, or with a do-not-resuscitate order, or those patients who faced imminent death (< 24 hrs), such as those patients with uncontrollable hemorrhage or brain death, were excluded from the study. INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized into treatment and control groups. The treatment group was assigned a therapeutic DO2 indexed (DO2I) goal of > 600 mL/min/m2. Interventions to attain this goal included fluid boluses, administration of blood products, and the use of inotropes. The control group was not assigned to a specific therapeutic goal other than "normal" values of DO2I of 450 to 550 mL/min/m2. Every attempt was made to reach the therapeutic goals within the first 24 hrs after entry into the study. Hemodynamic measurements were obtained on study patients every 4 hrs until the end of the study. The severity of illness was evaluated using the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System, and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring system. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS There were 32 patients in the control group and 35 patients in the treatment group. The groups were similar in age, sex, number of organ dysfunctions, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Therapeutic Intervention scores. There were no statistical differences between the two groups in mortality, development of organ failure, ICU days, and hospital days. Upon analysis, it became apparent that the patients comprised clinically distinct subgroups, including: a) a treatment group who achieved supranormal DO2I; b) a control group with normal DO2I; c) a treatment group who failed to reach target DO2I; d) a control group who self-generated to high DO2I values; and e) a small number of patients who could not even reach a normal DO2I of 450 mL/min/m2. These subgroups were found to be similar and matched. The mortality rate was significantly lower for patients in groups who reached supranormal values of DO2I whether treated or self-generated as compared with patients who reached normal DO2I values (14% vs. 56%, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS Although there was no statistically significant difference in the control vs. treatment groups, subgroup analysis demonstrated a strong, significant difference between patients with supranormal values of oxygen transport vs. patients with normal levels of DO2. Supranormal values of DO2I, whether self-generated or as a result of treatment, resulted in a statistically significant decrease in mortality rate. This study adds to the weight of evidence that current standard of care of treating critically ill patients to normal DO2I should be reconsidered, and that maximizing to high DO2I might be a more appropriate therapeutic end-point.


title: An adenovirus recombinant expressing the spike glycoprotein of porcine respiratory coronavirus is immunogenic in swine.

text: The full-length spike (S) gene of porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) was inserted into the genome of human adenovirus type 5 downstream of the early transcription region 3 promoter. The recombinant virus replicated in cultures of the swine testicle ST cell line and directed the synthesis of S antigen with a maximum yield of approximately 26 micrograms per 10(6) cells. The antigen was cell-associated except in the late phase of the infection, when a small amount (3.5 micrograms per 10(6) cells) was released. The cell-associated antigen consisted of polypeptides of molecular mass 160 kDa and 175 kDa, comigrating with the authentic precursor S' and the mature S protein of PRCV, respectively. The extracellular recombinant antigen corresponded to the 175 kDa mature protein. Some recombinant S protein was exposed on the cell surface and was recognized by neutralization-mediating anti-S monoclonal antibodies. Piglets, inoculated oronasally with the recombinant adenovirus vector developed PRCV-neutralizing serum antibodies and were partially protected against PRCV challenge, demonstrating the potential of live adenovirus as vaccine vector.


title: Studies of respiratory disease in random-source laboratory dogs: viral infections in unconditioned dogs.

text: A prospective study was conducted to identify the viruses causing respiratory diseases in unconditioned, random-source dogs. During the quarantine period, respiratory disease occurred in 86 of 167 (52%) dogs, and 34 (21%) died. Most affected dogs had a distemper-like illness which required extensive and prolonged care. Histopathologic studies confirmed the diagnosis of canine distemper in 10 of 12 (83%) fatal infections examined. Sixty-seven of 91 (74%) dogs which arrived without canine distemper antibody became ill, and 30 (32%) died. In contrast, only 16 of 67 (24%) dogs with canine distemper antibody had respiratory disease, and only 3 (4%) died. Parainfluenza SV5 and canine adenovirus--type II were recovered from 27 of 54 and 22 of 54 sick dogs, respectively. Canine herpesviruses, canine coronaviruses, and canine parvoviruses were less frequently isolated. Increased antibody titers to SV5 were found consistently, and rises in titer to the other viruses were demonstrated. Many of the sick dogs were infected with two or more viruses. Although several viral agents were detected during these epizootics, prevention of canine distemper appeared to be the key to controlling severe, prolonged, and often fatal respiratory disease.


title: Longer term follow up of aerobic capacity in children affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

text: BACKGROUND A study was undertaken to investigate the aerobic capacity and pulmonary function of children 6 and 15 months after the diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). METHODS Thirty four patients of mean age 14.7 years completed both pulmonary function and maximal aerobic capacity tests at 6 months. All had normal clinical examination and were asymptomatic. Their exercise responses were compared with a group of healthy controls. Complete data were collected on 27 of the original 34 cases at 15 months. RESULTS Compared with normal controls, the patient group had significantly lower absolute and mass related peak oxygen consumption (peak V o(2) (p<0.01)), higher ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (p<0.01), lower oxygen pulse (p<0.01), and a lower oxygen uptake efficiency slope (p<0.01) at 6 months. This impairment was unexpected and out of proportion with the degree of lung function abnormality. Residual high resolution computed tomography of thorax (HRCT) abnormalities were present in 14 patients. Those with abnormal HRCT findings had significantly lower mass related peak V o(2) than subjects with normal radiology (p<0.01). Absolute and mass related peak V o(2) in the patient group remained impaired at 15 months despite normalisation of lung function in all patients. CONCLUSIONS The mechanism for the reduced aerobic capacity in children following SARS is not fully understood, but it is probably a consequence of impaired perfusion to the lungs at peak exercise and deconditioning.


[DISEASES OF THE NEWBORN].


title: REMEDIAL APPLICATIONS OF EXOSOMES IN CANCER, INFECTIONS AND DIABETES.

text: Different cell types under normal and diseased states constantly secrete numerous membrane vesicles including exosomes into extracellular space wkich can be isolated from various biological fluids and cell culture supernatants. Exosomal diameter ranges between 40-100 nm. In current research, exosomes are being exploited as biomarkers for pathological diagnosis and potential remedy against various disease conditions such as infections and autoimmune disorders. In cancer immunotherapy, exosomes have promisingly been employed due to the identical immunogenic antigens of exosomes produced by neoplastic cells and the originating tissues. Antigen-specific T-cell activation and immunomodulatory activity is observed to be performed by exosomes isolated from tumor and dendritic cells (DCs). However, more research is still required to uncover the realistic uses of exosomes, particularly as drug delivery tool in autoimmune diseases, cancers and diabetes.


Novel Coronavirus Mimicking Kawasaki Disease in an Infant.


title: New fACEs to the renin-angiotensin system.

text: Inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) protects against the progression of several cardiovascular diseases. Recent evidence suggests that some of the beneficial effects of ACE inhibitors can be attributed to the activation of a distinct ACE signaling cascade rather than to the changes in angiotensin II and bradykinin levels. Moreover, at least one other ACE homolog (ACE2) plays a significant role in the regulation of heart and kidney function.


Tight-binding inhibitors--IV. Inhibition of adenosine deaminases by various inhibitors.


title: Sustainable water management in rural and peri-urban areas: what technology do we need to meet the UN millennium development goals?

text: Installation of advanced urban water management systems is one of the most important first steps in the attempt to overcome poverty on earth, outbreak of diseases, crime and even terrorism. Because world wide application of traditional water supply, sewerage and wastewater treatment technology requires financial resources which are basically not available within a reasonable short time frame novel solutions must be found, developed and implemented. The combination of high-tech on-site treatment of the various waste streams generated in households, enterprises and industrial sites, and reuse of the valuable materials obtained from the treatment plants, including the purified water, is one of the options which is investigated by various groups of researchers and technology developers, nowadays. This concept may help meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals, provided people are ready to accept this new way of dealing with household wastes. Education is necessary to build up the foundation which modern water technology can be based upon. In parallel, tailored modifications are to be considered to satisfy the specific demands of local communities. In this context, female participation appears to be extremely important in the decision making process.


docid: fjjfgiuy

title: Hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy - initial experience.

text: INTRODUCTION The advantages of minimally invasive live donor nephrectomy have been well documented, with no adverse effect on graft function. Minimal access nephrectomy has now become the standard of care in many units. We have adopted the hand-assisted laparoscopic live donor (HALLDN) technique, and present our initial experience with the first 24 cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS HALLDNs were performed trans-peritoneally. Primary outcomes included total operative time, warm ischaemic time, time to discharge, and post-operative complications. Warm ischaemic time was measured from the time of clamping the renal artery to the time of perfusing the kidney on the back table. RESULTS Mean total operative time was 143 minutes and mean warm ischaemic time was 188 seconds. A downward trend was displayed for operative times. Mean time to discharge was 60 hours. A right nephrectomy was performed in 2 cases. No surgical morbidity is reported. We describe 1 donor mortality. DISCUSSION Our results compare favourably with those documented in the literature. Aberrant renal vascular anatomy had no adverse effect on operative or warm ischaemic times. HALLDN proved beneficial in patients with a high BMI. CONCLUSION Surgical experience is vital when performing HALLDN. Overcoming the learning curve with an animal model is beneficial.


title: Comparative dynamic distribution of avian infectious bronchitis virus M41, H120, and SAIBK strains by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in SPF chickens.

text: Avian infectious bronchitis is an acute, highly contagious disease of chickens. To study the differences of dynamic distribution between nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains such as SAIBK and other strains (the M41 and H120 strains), relative quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was developed by housekeeping gene selection. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and Ubiquitin were chosen for normalization in this experimental set. Then nine tissues, the trachea, thymus, liver, spleen, lungs, kidney, pancreas, proventriculus, and bursa of Fabricius, were analyzed and compared to determine the tropism of IBV infection. In this research, the kidney and the lung were established of the most sensitive organs in IBV infection. The pancreas and the liver are candidates for antigen detection. The trachea and the spleen can be used as references for histological diagnosis, but they are not suitable for antigen detection; proventriculus might be an important target in IBV infection; the thymus and the bursa of Fabricius were not sensitive organs in IBV infection.


title: Can team training make surgery safer? Lessons for national implementation of a simulation-based programme.

text: AIM Unintended patient harm is a major contributor to poor outcomes for surgical patients and often reflects failures in teamwork. To address this we developed a Multidisciplinary Operating Room Simulation (MORSim) intervention to improve teamwork in the operating room (OR) and piloted it with 20 OR teams in two of the 20 District Health Boards in New Zealand prior to national implementation. In this study, we describe the experience of those exposed to the intervention, challenges to implementing changes in clinical practice and suggestions for successful implementation of the programme at a regional or national level. METHODS We undertook semi-structured interviews of a stratified random sample of MORSim participants 3-6 months after they attended the course. We explored their experiences of changes in clinical practice following MORSim. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a general inductive approach to develop themes into which interview data were coded. Interviews continued to the point of thematic saturation. RESULTS Interviewees described adopting into practice many of the elements of the MORSim intervention and reported positive experiences of change in communication, culture and collaboration. They described sharing MORSim concepts with colleagues and using them in teaching and orientation of new staff. Reported barriers to uptake included uninterested colleagues, limited team orientation, communication hierarchies, insufficient numbers of staff exposed to MORSim and failure to prioritise time for team information sharing such as pre-case briefings. CONCLUSION MORSim appears to have had lasting effects on reported attitudes and behaviours in clinical practice consistent with more effective teamwork and communication. This study adds to the accumulating body of evidence on the value of simulation-based team training and offers suggestions for implementing widespread, regular team training for OR teams.


How to interpret and pursue an abnormal complete blood cell count in adults.


title: Translational frameshifting mediated by a viral sequence in plant cells.

text: It has been proposed that the polymerase gene of barley yellow dwarf virus and related viruses is expressed by a ribosomal frameshift event during translation. The 5' end of this gene overlaps with the 3' end of an upstream gene that is in a different reading frame. The region of overlap is similar to sequences in retro- and coronaviruses that are known to express their polymerase genes by frameshifting. This overlap region includes a "shifty" heptanucleotide, followed by a highly structured region that may contain a pseudoknot. Sequences of 115 or 144 base pairs that span this region from barley yellow dwarf virus (PAV serotype) genomic RNA were introduced into a plasmid, so that a reporter gene could be expressed in plant cells only if a minus one (-1) frameshift event occurred. Frameshifting was detected at a rate of approximately 1%. This frameshifting was abolished when the stop codon at the 3' end of the upstream open reading frame was deleted. A sequence expected to form a strong stem-loop immediately upstream of the frameshift site was unnecessary for frameshifting, and initiation at AUG codons within the stem-loop appeared to be inhibited. Like viruses that infect hosts in other kingdoms, plant viruses also can induce frameshifting in translation of their genes.


title: Recombinant poxviruses as mucosal vaccine vectors.

text: The majority of infections initiate their departure from a mucosal surface, such as Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a sexually transmitted virus. Therefore, the induction of mucosal immunity is a high priority in the development of vaccines against mucosal pathogens. The selection of an appropriate antigen delivery system is necessary to induce an efficient mucosal immune response. Poxvirus vectors have been the most intensively studied live recombinant vector, and numerous studies have demonstrated their ability to induce mucosal immune responses against foreign expressed antigens. Previous studies have demonstrated that recombinants based on the attenuated modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector were effective in inducing protective responses against different respiratory viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, following immunization via mucosal routes. Recent studies performed in the murine and macaque models have shown that recombinant MVA (rMVA) does not only stimulate HIV-specific immunity in the genital and rectal tracts following mucosal delivery, but can also control simian/human immunodeficiency viraemia and disease progression. In addition, a prime-boost vaccination approach against tuberculosis emphasized the importance of the intranasal rMVA antigen delivery to induce protective immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this review is to summarize the studies employing recombinant poxviruses, specifically rMVA as a mucosal delivery vector. The results demonstrate that rMVAs can activate specific immune responses at mucosal surfaces, and encourage further studies to characterize and improve the MVA mucosal immunogenicity of poxvirus vectors.


title: [THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON MENTAL HEALTH - LITERATURE REVIEW].

text: INTRODUCTION The spread of epidemics resulting in many deaths has been known since the dawn of civilization, for example, the typhus and smallpox epidemics and the plague. Early in the previous century there was an outbreak of the Spanish Flue and towards the end of the 60's, the AIDS epidemic (HIV). Since the start of the current century, several epidemics broke out and spread to various places around the world, for instance, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), the Avian Influenza and the Swine Influenza. In 2014 there was an outbreak of Ebola (Ebola virus disease) and in 2015 the Zika virus emerged and there were more. Epidemics cause havoc and impact all areas of life. Each epidemic takes an unfathomable price in lives. It is estimated, for example, that the AIDS epidemic took the lives of some 30 million people. The Corona virus (Covid-19) broke out in China, towards the end of 2019 and spread to most parts of the world. The implications of the outbreak are similar in many countries, among others, due to the uncertainty regarding the way the virus spreads, the appropriate treatment, the lack of vaccination and the high rate of deaths. Naturally, at such times physical protection is a top priority. However, coping with the implications to people's mental health is no less important and these may result in long-term negative impacts.


title: [Comparison among four kits in detection of anti-SARS-CoV IgG in sera of SARS patients].

text: OBJECTIVE To compare the sensitivity and specificity of four kits for detection of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV IgG in sera of SARS patients. METHODS Anti-SARS-CoV IgG was detected in 99 serial sera from 18 SARS patients and in 123 negative reference sera, using two enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (EIA No. A and No. B) and two indirect immunofluorescence assays (Australian IFA and Euroimmun IFA). RESULTS Anti-SARS-CoV IgG was not detected in sera collected from SARS patients at the first week after onset by any of the four kits, however, it was detectable in sera obtained at the second week of illness by EIA No. B, and two IFA, but not by EIA No. A, with the positive rates of 57.1% (4/7), 57.1% (4/7) and 42.9% (3/7), respectively. The anti-SARS-CoV IgG was first determined in sera on the 9th day by Euroimmun IFA, 12th day by EIA No. B, 13th day by Australian IFA, and 16th day by EIA No. A. The positive rates of antibody on the 3rd week after onset were 84.2% (16/19), 94.7% (18/19), 78.9% (15/19) and 52.6% (10/19) respectively. They were identical since the 4th week after the disease onset. Through detection of 123 negative reference sera, the specificity of EIA No. A and two IFA was 100%, with exception of 94.9% for EIA No. B. CONCLUSION The sensitivity and specificity of the two IFAs were relatively higher than that of the two EIAs. The quality of the two homemade EIAs should be improved.


title: A multiplex reverse transcriptase-PCR assay for the genotyping of avian infectious bronchitis viruses.

text: Infectious bronchitis viruses (IBVs) in Taiwan have been divided into two genogroups, Taiwan group I (TW-I) and Taiwan group II (TW-II). Heterologous Mass-type strains are widely used as vaccines in the field. This work reports on a rapid and reliable multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) assay for the genotyping of IBVs. Multiplex primer sets were designed to amplify the region covering hypervariable regions 1 and 2 of the S1 glycoprotein gene. Several local strains and commercially available vaccines were used for evaluating the viral genotyping assay, and a number of field isolates were examined for clinical application. The results showed that all of the examined IBVs were accurately genotyped by identifying the corresponding bands on agarose gels (TW-I: 322 bp, TW-II: 161 bp, Mass type: 256 bp) after the mRT-PCR, in agreement with the viral genome sequence data. The mRT-PCR assay was able to detect viral RNA copies as low as 10(3), 10(50, and 10(3) for the TW-I, TW-II, and Mass-type strains, respectively. The mRT-PCR assay accurately detected and discriminated vaccine viruses from wildtype strains in the field. This assay may be beneficial for virus identification and differentiation in routine disease surveillance.


title: Balkan endemic nephropathy and associated urinary tract tumours: a review on aetiological causes and the potential role of mycotoxins.

text: A series of publications in the 1950s described a kidney disease in Bulgaria, the former Yugoslavia and Romania that became known as Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). The disease was qualified by World Health Organisation (WHO) experts as 'progressive and very gradually developing renal failure with insidious onset.... The last stage shows marked fibrosis...'. BEN is characterized by tubular degeneration, interstitial fibrosis and hyalinization of glomeruli accompanied by enzymuria and impaired renal function without nephrotic syndrome. Later, an association between BEN and tumours of the kidney pelvis and ureter was recognized, so that the problem of BEN became not only nephrological, but also oncological. There may also be an association with increased urinary bladder cancer incidence, although many confounding factors may interfere in the analysis of data for this organ. In view of the very intimate association between BEN and the urinary tract tumours (UTT), the term 'endemic uropathy' has been proposed. Several hypothesis concerning the aetiology of these diseases has been investigated, which include: predisposing genes factors, environmental factors (heavy metals, minerals, bacteria, leptospira, viruses, fungal toxins and, most recently, pliocene lignites). This paper reviews the different hypotheses about the aetiology of endemic uropathy and pays particular attention to the role of fungal toxins.


title: Identification of 120 kD and 30 kD receptors for human coronavirus OC43 in cell membrane preparations from newborn mouse brain.

text: A biotinylated virus overlay was used to identify a 120kD virus-binding molecule in dissociated newborn mouse brain (nmb) cell suspensions after separation of the proteins by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electroblotting, and blockage of non-specific binding sites. The virus-binding molecule was not detected in adult mouse brain cell suspensions. Mannose- and glucose-rich glycoproteins from nmb cell membranes were selected by ConA-Sepharose (Pharmacia) chromatography. A 30kD virus-binding molecule was eluted by 0.2 M alpha-methyl-D-mannoside. O-linked sialic acid, a receptor component, was identified in the eluate.


docid: iukccbge

title: Convalescence after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a qualitative systematic review.

text: BACKGROUND Duration of convalescence after inguinal hernia repair is of major socio-economic interest and an often reported outcome measure. The primary aim was to perform a critical analysis of duration of convalescence from work and activity and secondary to identify risk factors for unexpected prolonged convalescence after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. METHODS A qualitative systematic review was conducted. PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane database were searched for trials reporting convalescence after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in the period from January 1990 to January 2016. Furthermore, snowball search was performed in reference lists of identified articles. Randomized controlled trials and prospective comparative or non-comparative trials of high quality were included. Trials with ≥100 patients, >18 years of age and manuscripts in English were included. Scoring systems were used for assessment of quality. RESULTS The literature search identified 1039 papers. Thirty-four trials were included in the final review including 14,273 patients. There was overall a large variation in duration of convalescence. Trials using non-restrictive recommendations of 1-2 days or "as soon as possible to return to all activities" reported overall a shorter duration of convalescence compared with trials not using recommendations for convalescence. Strenuous physical activity at work, strenuous leisure activity and patients with expectations of a prolonged period of convalescence may be risk factors for prolonged convalescence extending more than a few days after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. CONCLUSIONS Patients should be recommended a duration of 1-2 days of convalescence after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Short and non-restrictive recommendations may reduce duration of convalescence without increasing risk of pain, complications or recurrence rate.


title: Kansans in the Middle of the Pandemic: Risk Perception, Knowledge, Compliance with Preventive Measures, and Primary Sources of Information about COVID-19.

text: Introduction As we conduct this study, the world is in the grasp of a deadly pandemic. In less than six months since its first diagnosis in Wuhan, China, the COVID-19 infectious disease due to the novel coronavirus has infected over 5,000,000 people and claimed over 350,000 lives. In the United States, most of the cases are in large urban settings along the coasts, but the disease is slowly progressing through the mainland. Kansas, with its particular location in the midwest United States, has seen a relatively small number of cases, but these are increasing. The Kansas government took radical measures to prevent the spread of the disease. According to the Health Beliefs Model, an individual's perception of risk will dictate engagement with preventive behaviors. Knowledge about the disease and preventive measures drive the risk assessment. Knowledge is dependant on the sources of information used. This study explored these metrics in a sample of Kansans living in the times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A combination of snowball samples and random distribution through social media was used to recruit participants to an online survey. The risk and knowledge instrument was developed and validated by WHO Europe. Data collection lasted 96 hours. Results The attitudes and behaviors of Kansans concerning COVID-19 were consistent with its location in an area of the country with a relatively lower incidence of the disease. Participants had good knowledge about the disease and preventive measures and were willing to comply with recommendations from local authorities. Conclusion Localized information sources that cater to the community are often primary, while social media is not a valuable source for information pertinent to COVID-19.


title: Reverse genetics system for the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus.

text: Major advances in the study of the molecular biology of RNA viruses have resulted from the ability to generate and manipulate full-length genomic cDNAs of the viral genomes with the subsequent synthesis of infectious RNA for the generation of recombinant viruses. Coronaviruses have the largest RNA virus genomes and, together with genetic instability of some cDNA sequences in Escherichia coli, this has hampered the generation of a reverse-genetics system for this group of viruses. In this report, we describe the assembly of a full-length cDNA from the positive-sense genomic RNA of the avian coronavirus, infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), an important poultry pathogen. The IBV genomic cDNA was assembled immediately downstream of a T7 RNA polymerase promoter by in vitro ligation and cloned directly into the vaccinia virus genome. Infectious IBV RNA was generated in situ after the transfection of restricted recombinant vaccinia virus DNA into primary chick kidney cells previously infected with a recombinant fowlpox virus expressing T7 RNA polymerase. Recombinant IBV, containing two marker mutations, was recovered from the transfected cells. These results describe a reverse-genetics system for studying the molecular biology of IBV and establish a paradigm for generating genetically defined vaccines for IBV.


title: A review of viral gastroenteritis.

text: PURPOSE OF REVIEW Since Kapakian first identified a virus in the stool of a patient with diarrhoea in 1972, many viruses have been described that cause diarrhoea directly or indirectly. It is now appreciated that viruses are the most common cause of diarrhoeal illness worldwide. Although bacteria and other pathogens cause significant numbers of gastroenteritis, it is the viruses that are dealt with in this review. The viruses responsible will be discussed individually. RECENT FINDINGS Rotavirus remains the leading cause of diarrhoeal disease overall, with the newly designated calicivirus family causing the most outbreaks in the industrialized nations. As diagnostic techniques improve, however, the importance of astrovirus and other previously under-reported pathogens is becoming more apparent and the number of viruses associated with gastroenteritis continues to increase. The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, arguably the most important emerging infection of recent years and a cause of significant gastrointestinal disease, is also discussed. SUMMARY No effective treatments have been developed for viral gastroenteritis. Current efforts are targeted at the development of suitable vaccines and the implementation of infection control measures.


title: [Viral etiology of acute respiratory tract infection among pediatric inpatients and outpatients from 2010 to 2012 in Beijing, China].

text: OBJECTIVE Acute respiratory tract infections (ARI) are the leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Viruses are the main pathogens of ARI in children. The purpose of the present study was to determine the epidemiologic features of respiratory viruses, including novel viruses, in outpatient and hospitalized children with ARI. METHOD From March 2010 to February 2012, 2066 children with ARI, including 1050 outpatients and 1016 inpatients, were involved in this study. One nasopharyngeal aspirate or throat swab specimen was collected from each patient. Reverse transcription (RT) PCRs were performed to detect common respiratory tract viruses including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV), influenza virus (IFV), parainfluenza virus (PIV) type 1-4, adenovirus (ADV), enterovirus (EV), human coronavirus (HCOV), human metapneumonia virus (HMPV) and human bocavirus (HBOV). RESULT At least one viral pathogen was identified in each of 1274 out of 2066 patients and the overall positive rate was 61.7%. The positive rate in inpatient (69.7%) was higher than that in outpatient (53.9%). The frequencies of detection of various viruses among in- and outpatients were different. RSV was the most prevalent virus detected among hospitalized children, followed by HRV and PIV, whereas IFV was the most frequently identified virus in the outpatient group, followed by ADV and PIV. Simultaneous detection of two or more viruses was found in 377 cases. Coinfection was more frequent in inpatients than in outpatients (30.1% vs. 6.8%, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Respiratory viruses play an important role in children with ARI, especially in young children. RSV was the most prevalent virus detected among hospitalized children, whereas IFV was the most frequently identified virus in the outpatient group. Viral coinfections are frequently identified, particularly in hospitalized patients. Further studies are required to better understand the impact of coinfections in children with ARI.


title: Toward the development of a plant-based vaccine against reovirus.

text: Transgenic lines of Arabidopsis thaliana producing recombinant TC protein were developed. The S1 gene encoding sigmaC protein of an avian reovirus (ARV) was amplified by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR). The amplified product was cloned into a plant-expression vector, pE1857, with a strong promoter for expression. The resulting construct with the BAR gene cassette for bialaphos selection was designated rpE-sigmaC and was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens by electroporation. Agrobacterium containing the rpE-sigmaC constructs that transform A. thaliana and transgenic plants were selected using bialaphos selection. The presence of S1 transcript in plants and their relative level of expression were determined by real time RT-PCR. Western blot analysis further confirmed the presence of sigmaC protein in the plants. Transgenic lines with high levels of sigmaC protein were selected for immunization experiments using specific-pathogen free chickens. Recombinant sigmaC protein produced in plants induced a variety of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses in chickens. Recombinant protein administered either subcutaneously or orally in birds showed significant protection against challenge. Results suggested that the recombinant sigmaC protein produced in plants has the potential for large-scale vaccination against ARV in commercial poultry.


title: Comparative pathogenicity of nine US porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates in a five-week-old cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived pig model.

text: One hundred forty-six 5-week- old cesarean-derived, colostrum-deprived (CDCD) pigs were inoculated intranasally with 1 of 9 US porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) isolates. Differences were found in severity of clinical respiratory disease, rectal temperatures (P < or = 0.001), gross lung lesions (P < or = 0.001), and microscopic lung lesions (P < or = 0.05). Gross lung lesions were generally most severe 10 days postinoculation and were distributed primarily in the cranial, middle, and accessory lobes and ventromedial portion of the caudal lung lobes. Mean gross lung lesion scores estimating the percentage of lung affected by pneumonia at 10 days postinoculation ranged from 16.7% +/- 2.8% (mean +/- SEM, n = 10) for isolate ISU-51 to 62.4% +/- 5.7% (n = 10) for isolate ISU-28. Microscopic lung lesions were characterized by hyperplastic and hypertrophied type 2 pneumocytes, septal infiltration by mononuclear cells, and accumulation of necrotic alveolar exudate. Lymph node follicular hyperplasia and focal necrosis was seen with all 9 isolates. This CDCD pig model was useful for demonstration of significant differences in pathogenicity among US PRRSV isolates. This difference in pathogenicity may help explain the variation of severity of clinical disease observed in field outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome and should provide for meaningful comparison of PRRSV genotypes.


title: Experimental bovine coronavirus in turkey poults and young chickens.

text: The DB2 calf strain of bovine coronavirus (BCV) was used to inoculate 1-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) turkey poults in three trials. In all trials, the birds developed clinical signs of enteritis at 48-72 hr postinoculation. Birds euthanatized at 3, 5, and 7 days postinoculation (DPI) had flaccid, pale intestines with watery contents, and the ceca were markedly enlarged with frothy contents. Coronavirus particles were detected by immune electron microscopy with BCV antibodies from the intestinal contents of birds killed at 3, 5, 7, and 12 DPI. Body weights of inoculated poults killed at 3, 5, and 7 DPI were significantly reduced as compared with controls. Hemagglutinating antibodies were detected in sera of convalescent birds at 12 DPI. However, experimental inoculation of 1-day-old SPF chicks in two trials with the same virus resulted in no clinical signs or macroscopic or microscopic lesions. No coronaviruses were detected from intestinal contents, and there were no significant differences in body weights of inoculated and noninoculated control chicks.


title: Diseases and parasites of red foxes, gray foxes, and coyotes from commercial sources selling to fox-chasing enclosures.

text: Fifty-six red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 18 gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), and 13 coyotes (Canis latrans) obtained by the South Carolina Wildlife and Marine Resources Department during an investigation of suspected illegal wildlife translocation were examined for diseases and parasites. Red foxes and coyotes were confiscated from an animal dealer based in Ohio (USA), and gray foxes were purchased from an animal dealer in Indiana (USA). Emphasis was placed on detection of pathogens representing potential health risks to native wildlife, domestic animals, or humans. All animals were negative for rabies; however, 15 gray foxes were incubating canine distemper at necropsy. Serologic tests disclosed antibodies to canine parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, canine coronavirus, canine herpesvirus, and canine parainfluenza virus in one or more host species. Twenty-three species of parasites (two protozoans, three trematodes, four cestodes, eleven nematodes, and three arthropods) were found, including species with substantial pathogenic capabilities. Echinococcus multilocularis, a recognized human pathogen not enzootic in the southeastern United States, was found in red foxes. Based on this information, we conclude that the increasingly common practice of wild canid translocation for stocking fox-chasing enclosures poses potential health risks to indigenous wildlife, domestic animals, and humans and, therefore, is biologically hazardous.


title: Antigenic and genomic relationships among turkey and bovine enteric coronaviruses.

text: Antigenic and genomic relationships among tissue culture-adapted turkey enteric coronavirus (TCV) isolates, three strains of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), and mammalian coronaviruses were investigated. Immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation experiments using polyclonal antisera showed that the four major structural proteins of TCV cross-reacted with the four homologous proteins of bovine enteric coronavirus (BCV), the N and M proteins of mouse hepatitis virus serotype 3, and the N protein of IBV. Close antigenic relationships between TCV and BCV were also established by seroneutralization and hemagglutination-inhibition. Of 49 monoclonal antibodies produced against either TCV or BCV, 11 differentiated the two viruses. Five of these monoclonal antibodies had neutralizing activities and were directed to either the peplomeric S (gp200-gp100) or hemagglutinin HE (gp140-gp65) glycoproteins. BCV cDNA probes tested on purified viral preparations and coronavirus-positive (by electron microscopy) fecal samples from diarrheic turkey poults confirmed the relatedness of TCV and BCV. The two viruses produced distinct cytopathic changes in HRT-18 cells in the presence of trypsin, whereas only TCV isolates were able to reproduce the clinical symptoms in turkey poults. Their matrix (M) proteins undergo different glycosylation processes.


Mental Health Act 1983.


title: The effect of disease life history on the evolutionary emergence of novel pathogens.

text: We present a general analytical result for the probability that a newly introduced pathogen will evolve adaptations that allow it to maintain itself within any novel host population, as a function of disease life-history parameters. We demonstrate that this probability of "evolutionary emergence" depends on two key properties of the disease life history: (i) the basic reproduction number and (ii) the expected duration of an infection. These parameters encapsulate all of the relevant information and can be combined in a very simple expression, with estimates for the rates of adaptive mutation, to predict the probability of emergence for any novel pathogen. In general, diseases that initially have a large reproductive number and/or that cause relatively long infections are the most prone to evolutionary adaptation.


title: Prevalence of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis among female school children in Singapore.

text: INTRODUCTION Screening for scoliosis started in Singapore schools in 1982 and is currently being done for both boys and girls, as part of the annual school-based health screening programme in all primary and secondary schools. The screening levels in the current protocol were based on the 1997 prevalence study by Wong et al. In the study, it appeared that there was a significant increase in prevalence rates between 9- and 11-year-old girls (i.e. between Primary 4 and Primary 6) but there was no data on the prevalence rates of scoliosis in 10-year-old girls (Primary 5) and in 12-year-old girls (Secondary 1). In order to decide on whether to make changes to the screening levels, a review was conducted to determine the prevalence of scoliosis among the 10-year-old girls (in Primary 5) and 12-year-old girls (in Secondary 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 93,626 female students, aged between 9 and 13 years old were screened. The study covered all of the 183 primary schools and only 83 of the 165 secondary schools due to a disruption of health screening in schools during the outbreak of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). In mid-2003, schools in Singapore were closed because Singapore was one of the countries affected by SARS. Scoliosis screening was done for all female students in the Primary 4, 5 and 6 levels as well as in the Secondary 1 and 2 levels. Male students were routinely screened for scoliosis in the Primary 6 and Secondary 2 levels. Scoliosis screening was done by measuring the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) using a scoliometer. All students with ATR >or=5 degrees were referred to the Student Health Centre (SHC) where second-tier screening was done. At SHC, if ATR >or=5 degrees , postero-anterior radiograph of the spine was done. Of the 3186 female students in the primary level, aged between 9 and 13 years old who were referred to SHC for the second-tier screening, 2438 attended, and for secondary students aged between 12 and 13 years old, 1587 out of 1720 students attended. RESULTS The prevalence rates of idiopathic adolescent scoliosis for the 9- to 13-year-old female students were 0.27%, 0.64%, 1.58%, 2.22% and 2.49%, respectively, which showed an increasing trend in the prevalence rates with increasing age. There was a significant increase in the prevalence rates of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) in the 10- to 11-year-old females compared to the 9-year-old females (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.4; P = 0.010). There was also a significant increase in the prevalence rates in the 12- to 13-year-old females (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.4-3.3; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The study showed a significant increase in the prevalence rates of scoliosis in the 10- to 11-year-old female students and again a significant increase in the prevalence rates in the 12- to 13-year-old female students. Since the prevalence rate for the 9-year-old females was quite low (0.27%), and there was a significant increase in the prevalence rates in the 10- to 11-year-old and 12- to 13-year-old females, it was recommended that screening for females be performed every year commencing at 10 years old (Primary 5) until 13 years old (Secondary 2).


title: Plaque assay for titration of bovine enteric coronavirus.

text: The plaquing ability of two isolates of bovine enteric coronavirus (BECV) was studied in HRT18 (human rectal adenocarcinoma) cell monolayers. Both isolates were able to induce plaque formation within 2 to 3 days; plaques appeared as round opalescent areas which remained colourless after neutral red or crystal violet staining. A good correlation was found between the titres as determined either by counting the plaques that were visible to the naked eye before and after neutral red staining, or by enumerating fluorescence or haemadsorption foci.


title: Health effects of subchronic exposure to environmental levels of hardwood smoke.

text: Hardwood smoke is a contributor to both ambient and indoor air pollution. As part of a general health assessment of multiple anthropogenic source emissions conducted by the National Environmental Respiratory Center, a series of health assays was conducted on rodents exposed to environmentally relevant levels of hardwood smoke. This article summarizes the study design and exposures, and reports findings on general indicators of toxicity, bacterial clearance, cardiac function, and carcinogenic potential. Hardwood smoke was generated from an uncertified wood stove, burning wood of mixed oak species. Animals were exposed to clean air (control) or dilutions of whole emissions based on particulate (30, 100, 300, and 1000 micromg/m3). F344 rats, SHR rats, strain A/J mice, and C57BL/6 mice were exposed by whole-body inhalation 6 h/day, 7 days/wk, for either 1 wk or 6 mo. Effects of exposure on general indicators of toxicity, bacterial clearance, cardiac function, and carcinogenic potential were mild. Exposure-related effects included increases in platelets and decreases in blood urea nitrogen and serum alanine aminotransferase. Several other responses met screening criteria for significant exposure effects but were not consistent between genders or exposure times and were not corroborated by related parameters. Pulmonary histopathology revealed very little accumulation of hardwood smoke particulate matter. Parallel studies demonstrated mild exposure effects on bronchoalveolar lavage parameters and in a mouse model of asthma. In summary, the results reported here show few and only modest health hazards from short-term to subchronic exposures to realistic concentrations of hardwood smoke.


title: Early and late CNS-effects of corona virus infection in rats.

text: The mouse hepatitis virus strain JHM was injected intracerebrally into newborn and weanling rats. Three types of diseases were observed: 1. Acute panencephalitis: Almost all suckling rats became moribund within 6 days. Histologically severe panencephalitis with demyelinating foci was noticed; the foci were similar to those found in mice. Virus was easily detectable in the oligodendroglial cells and neurons both by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Infectious virus could be isolated. 2. Subacute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (SDE): Three weeks after infection of weanling rats, about 35% of the animals developed paralysis. Neuropathologically, demyelination with a striking predilection for white matter was observed in the brain stem, optic nerve and spinal cord. Virus was detectable by electron microscopy in degenerating oligodendroglial cells only, which corresponded to the results obtained by the immunofluorescent techniques. Infectious virus could be recovered. 3. Chronic progressive paralysis: Inoculated weanling rats without SDE developed 6 to 8 months later a slowly progressing paralysis of the legs. Hydrocephalus and myelomalacia were present. Viral "footprints" could not be detected.


title: Respiratory virus infection of monolayer cultures of human nasal epithelial cells.

text: The effect on nasal epithelial cells in monolayer cultures of infection with rhinovirus, coronavirus 229E, influenza type A, and adenovirus was studied. Fragments (1 x 2 mm) of epithelium with adherent submucosa from nasal polyps, adenoids, or nasal turbinates were cultured in plastic dishes with media containing a serum supplement. Within a week a monolayer of epithelial cells with interspersed ciliated cells surrounded each fragment. Epithelial monolayers were exposed to 10(3) to 10(4) TCID50/ml of each virus; unattached virus was removed after 3 h. Replication of virus was examined by doing viral titrations of the media daily, and ciliated and nonciliated epithelial cells in the monolayer were examined morphologically with an inverted microscope. The peak titer of rhinovirus and coronavirus occurred 24 to 48 h after inoculation, indicating that viral replication was occurring. However, no detectable damage or cytopathic effect (CPE) developed in the monolayer of epithelial cells when compared with that in uninfected control cells. In contrast, infection of epithelial monolayers with influenza or adenovirus resulted in CPE and destruction of the monolayer. The marked difference in the effect of these respiratory viruses on nasal epithelial cells may reflect similar differences in their effect on respiratory tract mucosa in the intact host. If so, the pathogenesis of symptom production during rhinovirus and coronavirus infections must be by mechanisms other than destruction of the nasal lining.


title: The social and political impact of animal diseases.

text: The twenty-first century is characterised by 'epidemiological globalisation' on an unprecedented scale with resulting impacts at the interface of economic, scientific, social and political forces arising from the emergence and re-emergence of animal diseases. Throughout history, animals have served as a source to humankind of food, transportation, medicines, entertainment, clothing, fuel, military advantage and financial security. It is therefore not at all surprising that animal diseases have resulted in significant social and political impacts that have shaped and continue to shape the course of national and international events. The social impacts can be expressed as indirect health consequences or behavioural changes, changes in societal values and changes in social standing and can be felt at the individual, family or community level. The political impact of major disease outbreaks can include loss of public and consumer confidence, resistance to investments in disease surveillance, reluctance to report disease detections in a timely or transparent manner, failure to implement science-based international standards for safe trade (which protect animal, human and ecosystem health) and the removal of government officials. The magnitude of these impacts would support that social and political impacts warrant their inclusion in the consequence assessment of a robust animal disease risk analysis framework.


title: Therapeutic effects of renal denervation on renal failure.

text: Sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is increased in both patients and experimental animals with renal failure. The kidney is a richly innervated organ and has both efferent and afferent nerves. Renal denervation shows protective effects against renal failure in both animals and humans. The underlying mechanisms include a decrease in blood pressure, a decrease in renal efferent SNA, a decrease in central SNA and sympathetic outflow, and downregulation of the reninangiotensin system. It has been demonstrated that re-innervation occurs within weeks after renal denervation in animals but that no functional re-innervation occurs in humans for over two years after denervation. Renal denervation might not be renal protective in some situations including bile duct ligation-induced renal failure and ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury. Catheter-based renal denervation has been applied to patients with both early and end stage renal failure and the published results so far suggest that this procedure is safe and effective at decreasing blood pressure. The effectiveness of renal denervation in improving renal function in patients with renal failure needs to be further investigated.


title: Infants born to mothers with severe acute respiratory syndrome.

text: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a newly discovered infectious disease caused by a novel coronavirus. During the community outbreak in Hong Kong, 5 liveborn infants were born to pregnant women with SARS. A systematic search for perinatal transmission of the SARS-associated coronavirus, including serial reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction assays, viral cultures, and paired serologic titers, failed to detect the virus in any of the infants. In addition, none of the infants developed clinical, radiologic, hematologic, or biochemical evidence suggestive of SARS. One preterm infant developed jejunal perforation and another developed necrotizing enterocolitis with ileal perforation shortly after birth. This case series is the first report to describe the clinical course of the first cohort of liveborn infants born to pregnant women with SARS.


title: Mycobacteriosis, Mycobacterium chelonae, in a captive yellow stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis).

text: An adult yellow stingray (Urobatis jamaicensis) from a touch-tank exhibit developed a large abscess on the dorsal aspect of the calvarium and swollen soft tissue surrounding the left spiracle. A large amount of fluid exudate was drained from the abscess. Mycobacterium chelonae was diagnosed by cytology of the exudate and by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. The animal was euthanized and disseminated mycobacteriosis was confirmed with histology.


title: Order out of chaos: the self-organization of communication following the anthrax attacks.

text: This article describes 5 communication challenges faced by the author as she managed the communication response by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the anthrax attacks of 2001: communicating uncertainty, selecting credible spokespersons, collaborating with other organizations, satisfying a competitive 24/7 media, and speed. The lessons learned in responding to these challenges led to profound changes in the way communication was organized in the agency. These changes are described within the framework of chaos theory.


title: Politics and the management of public health disasters: reflections on the SARS epidemic in greater China.

text: This paper examines the problems of coordination between and within six jurisdictional players, namely the Hong Kong SAR Government, the Guangdong Province, the Central Authority (PRC), the Taiwanese Government, the Taipei Government and the World Health Organization during the SARS episode from November 2002 until August 2003. We found that the diverging political interests and entrenched administrative practices accounted for the poor coordination between and within these players. The obsession with "political correctness" has severely hampered "rational" decision making among the jurisdictional players. The highly fragmented and compartmentalised intra-jurisdictional public health system means that marshalling resources from health and non-health sectors is difficult.


title: Financial anatomy of biomedical research.

text: CONTEXT Public and private financial support of biomedical research have increased over the past decade. Few comprehensive analyses of the sources and uses of funds are available. This results in inadequate information on which to base investment decisions because not all sources allow equal latitude to explore hypotheses having scientific or clinical importance and creates a barrier to judging the value of research to society. OBJECTIVE To quantify funding trends from 1994 to 2004 of basic, translational, and clinical biomedical research by principal sponsors based in the United States. DESIGN Publicly available data were compiled for the federal, state, and local governments; foundations; charities; universities; and industry. Proprietary (by subscription but openly available) databases were used to supplement public sources. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Total actual research spending, growth rates, and type of research with inflation adjustment. RESULTS Biomedical research funding increased from 37.1 billion dollars in 1994 to 94.3 billion dollars in 2003 and doubled when adjusted for inflation. Principal research sponsors in 2003 were industry (57%) and the National Institutes of Health (28%). Relative proportions from all public and private sources did not change. Industry sponsorship of clinical trials increased from 4.0 dollars to 14.2 billion dollars (in real terms) while federal proportions devoted to basic and applied research were unchanged. The United States spent an estimated 5.6% of its total health expenditures on biomedical research, more than any other country, but less than 0.1% for health services research. From an economic perspective, biotechnology and medical device companies were most productive, as measured by new diagnostic and therapeutic devices per dollar of research and development cost. Productivity declined for new pharmaceuticals. CONCLUSIONS Enhancing research productivity and evaluation of benefit are pressing challenges, requiring (1) more effective translation of basic scientific knowledge to clinical application; (2) critical appraisal of rapidly moving scientific areas to guide investment where clinical need is greatest, not only where commercial opportunity is currently perceived; and (3) more specific information about sources and uses of research funds than is generally available to allow informed investment decisions. Responsibility falls on industry, government, and foundations to bring these changes about with a longer-term view of research value.


title: The stability of the duplex between sense and antisense transcription-regulating sequences is a crucial factor in arterivirus subgenomic mRNA synthesis.

text: Subgenomic mRNAs of nidoviruses (arteriviruses and coronaviruses) are composed of a common leader sequence and a "body" part of variable size, which are derived from the 5'- and 3'-proximal part of the genome, respectively. Leader-to-body joining has been proposed to occur during minus-strand RNA synthesis and to involve transfer of the nascent RNA strand from one site in the template to another. This discontinuous step in subgenomic RNA synthesis is guided by short transcription-regulating sequences (TRSs) that are present at both these template sites (leader TRS and body TRS). Sense-antisense base pairing between the leader TRS in the plus strand and the body TRS complement in the minus strand is crucial for strand transfer. Here we show that extending the leader TRS-body TRS duplex beyond its wild-type length dramatically enhanced the subgenomic mRNA synthesis of the arterivirus Equine arteritis virus (EAV). Generally, the relative amount of a subgenomic mRNA correlated with the calculated stability of the corresponding leader TRS-body TRS duplex. In addition, various leader TRS mutations induced the generation of minor subgenomic RNA species that were not detected upon infection with wild-type EAV. The synthesis of these RNA species involved leader-body junction events at sites that bear only limited resemblance to the canonical TRS. However, with the mutant leader TRS, but not with the wild-type leader TRS, these sequences could form a duplex that was stable enough to direct subgenomic RNA synthesis, again demonstrating that the stability of the leader TRS-body TRS duplex is a crucial factor in arterivirus subgenomic mRNA synthesis.


title: [News in the examination of the ciliary activity in the respiratory tract mucosa].

text: Ciliary activity assessment attracts a great interest and has undergone dynamic progress since the last decades. The ciliary function is typically impaired in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). The cilia are mostly examined in vitro, the sample is taken away from the nasal mucosa. Digital videomicroscopy is accessible for the cilia observation in vitro and represents a gold standard. Manual reading using this method is lengthy in comparison with a photomultiplier. Using the photomultiplier, light captured in an optical fibre is analysed automatically by a computer. With technological progress other methods gain ground such as automatical analysis of variance of grey degrees or photomultiplier connected with a scanning confocal microscope. A medium 199 is mostly used for preservation of the functioning cilia. To retain ciliary beat frequency (CBF) it is necessary to use a heated microscope stage. Average physiological CBF value is 11.5 Hz in adult population and 12.8 Hz in children.


title: Neuroinvasion by human respiratory coronaviruses.

text: Human coronaviruses (HCoV) cause common colds but can also infect neural cell cultures. To provide definitive experimental evidence for the neurotropism and neuroinvasion of HCoV and its possible association with multiple sclerosis (MS), we have performed an extensive search and characterization of HCoV RNA in a large panel of human brain autopsy samples. Very stringent reverse transcription-PCR with two primer pairs for both viral strains (229E and OC43), combined with Southern hybridization, was performed on samples from 90 coded donors with various neurological diseases (39 with MS and 26 with other neurological diseases) or normal controls (25 patients). We report that 44% (40 of 90) of donors were positive for 229E and that 23% (21 of 90) were positive for OC43. A statistically significant higher prevalence of OC43 in MS patients (35.9%; 14 of 39) than in controls (13.7%; 7 of 51) was observed. Sequencing of nucleocapsid protein (N) gene amplicons revealed point mutations in OC43, some consistently found in three MS patient brains and one normal control but never observed in laboratory viruses. In situ hybridization confirmed the presence of viral RNA in brain parenchyma, outside blood vessels. The presence of HCoV in human brains is consistent with neuroinvasion by these respiratory pathogens. Further studies are needed to distinguish between opportunistic and disease-associated viral presence in human brains.


title: Enhancement of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli pathogenicity in young turkeys by concurrent turkey coronavirus infection.

text: In a previous study, turkey coronavirus (TCV) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) were shown to synergistically interact in young turkeys coinfected with these agents. In that study, inapparent or mild disease was observed in turkeys inoculated with only TCV or EPEC, whereas severe growth depression and high mortality were observed in dually inoculated turkeys. The purpose of the present study was to further evaluate the pathogenesis of combined TCV/EPEC infection in young turkeys and determine the role of these agents in the observed synergistic interaction. Experiments were conducted to determine 1) effect of EPEC dose, with and without concurrent TCV infection, and 2) effect of TCV exposure, before and after EPEC exposure, on development of clinical disease. Additionally, the effect of combined infection on TCV and EPEC shedding was determined. No clinical sign of disease and no attaching and effacing (AE) lesions characteristic of EPEC were observed in turkeys inoculated with only EPEC isolate R98/5, even when turkeys were inoculated with 10(10) colony forming units (CFU) EPEC (high dose exposure). Only mild growth depression was observed in turkeys inoculated with only TCV; however, turkeys inoculated with both TCV and 10(4) CFU EPEC (low dose exposure) developed severe disease characterized by high mortality, marked growth depression, and AE lesions. Inoculation of turkeys with TCV 7 days prior to EPEC inoculation produced more severe disease (numerically greater mortality, significantly lower survival probability [P < 0.05], increased frequency of AE lesions) than that observed in turkeys inoculated with EPEC prior to TCV or simultaneously inoculated with these agents. Coinfection of turkeys with TCV and EPEC resulted in significantly increased (P < 0.05) shedding of EPEC, but not TCV, in intestinal contents of turkeys. These findings indicate that TCV infection predisposes young turkeys to secondary EPEC infection and potentiates the expression of EPEC pathogenicity in young turkeys.


title: COVID-19 and gastrointestinal injury: a brief systematic review and data from Bulgaria.

text: In December 2019, a new Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in China, causing the pandemic disease COVID-19. The clinical presentation is variable, but the predominant symptoms are those of the upper respiratory tract. AIM The aim of the current study is to describe the incidence and type of the gastrointestinal injury (GI) in COVID-19, as well as their prognostic value. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a coincidental search on this topic in PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE. We also followed a group of 31 Bulgarian COVID-19 patients throughout the course of their disease and analyzed their symptoms (catarrhal and other) and outcome. RESULTS The publications concerning our survey followed a total of 1509 COVID-19 patients. In the Bulgarian cohort, only 14 from the 31 patients were laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases. Approximately 1/3 of the infected individuals presented with GI. In some patients this was the first, or only, symptom of the disease. It was also indicative of a more severe disease course. CONCLUSION GI may be an important symptom and prognostic factor in COVID-19. Therefore, patients with acute gastrointestinal symptoms must be actively tested for SARS-CoV-2.


title: Identification of the leader-body junctions for the viral subgenomic mRNAs and organization of the simian hemorrhagic fever virus genome: evidence for gene duplication during arterivirus evolution.

text: Simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV) was recently reclassified and assigned to the new virus family Arteriviridae. During replication, arteriviruses produce a 3' coterminal, nested set of subgenomic mRNAs (sgRNAs). These sgRNAs arise by discontinuous transcription, and each contains a 5' leader sequence which is joined to the body of the mRNA through a conserved junction sequence. Only the 5'-most open reading frame (ORF) is believed to be transcribed from each sgRNA. The SHFV genome encodes nine ORFs that are presumed to be expressed from sgRNAs. However, reverse transcription-PCR analysis with leader- and ORF-specific primers identified only eight sgRNA species. The consensus sequence 5'-UCNUUAACC-3' was identified as the junction motif. Our data suggest that sgRNA 2 may be bicistronic, expressing both ORF 2a and ORF 2b. SHFV encodes three more ORFs on its genome than the other arteriviruses. Comparative sequence analysis suggested that SHFV ORFs 2a, 2b, and 3 are related to ORFs 2 through 4 of the other arteriviruses. Evidence which suggests that SHFV ORFs 4 through 6 are related to ORFs 2a through 3 and may have resulted from a recombination event during virus evolution is presented.


title: Strategies for providing mechanical ventilation in a mass casualty incident: distribution versus stockpiling.

text: Federal funding provides state public and private health care systems the ability to build and maintain a reserve supply of ventilators for emergency response to mass casualty incidents. Studying and planning the ventilator reserve capability requires subject-matter expertise, identification of best mechanical-ventilation practices and quality care standards, and contingency planning. Natural disasters such as pandemic influenza, or man-made disasters such as bioterrorism could necessitate field use of numerous mechanical ventilators. This paper discusses the pros and cons of stockpiling ventilators at one site (to be distributed as needed to disaster areas) versus increasing the number of ventilators at all hospitals. Respiratory-device corporations, respiratory professional associations, and respiratory therapists should be involved in the planning and development of respiratory mass casualty response systems.


docid: pafuubxk

title: SARS-CoV accessory protein 7a directly interacts with human LFA-1.

text: The SARS-CoV accessory protein 7a is a type I membrane protein with an extracellular domain of 81 amino acid residues. It is described to be expressed during infection and to be a component of the virus particle surface. In this study, we demonstrate that protein 7a binds directly and specifically to human lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) on the cell surface of Jurkat cells. The binding is increased upon artificial cell activation with phorbol ester. These observations are confirmed by direct in vitro binding of recombinant protein 7a to the wild type and mutant K287C/K294C I domain showing that the I domain is the 7a binding site in the alpha(L) chain of LFA-1. Consequences of the LFA-1 interaction with 7a are discussed. In particular, our data suggest LFA-1 to be an attachment factor or the receptor for SARS-CoV on human leukocytes.


title: Multiscale, resurgent epidemics in a hierarchical metapopulation model.

text: Although population structure has long been recognized as relevant to the spread of infectious disease, traditional mathematical models have understated the role of nonhomogenous mixing in populations with geographical and social structure. Recently, a wide variety of spatial and network models have been proposed that incorporate various aspects of interaction structure among individuals. However, these more complex models necessarily suffer from limited tractability, rendering general conclusions difficult to draw. In seeking a compromise between parsimony and realism, we introduce a class of metapopulation models in which we assume homogeneous mixing holds within local contexts, and that these contexts are embedded in a nested hierarchy of successively larger domains. We model the movement of individuals between contexts via simple transport parameters and allow diseases to spread stochastically. Our model exhibits some important stylized features of real epidemics, including extreme size variation and temporal heterogeneity, that are difficult to characterize with traditional measures. In particular, our results suggest that when epidemics do occur the basic reproduction number R(0) may bear little relation to their final size. Informed by our model's behavior, we suggest measures for characterizing epidemic thresholds and discuss implications for the control of epidemics.


title: Endoscopic removal of urinary calculi.

text: Despite advances in the prevention and management of urinary calculi, calculus removal remains a common need in small animal practice. In fact, changes in calculus management have increased the percentage of calculi that are difficult to manage medically.1 Endoscopic techniques that reduce the need for calculus removal by traditional laparotomy and cystotomy have been developed. In my experience, most cystic and urethral calculi can be removed by transurethral or laparoscopic-assisted cystoscopy. These techniques decrease trauma to and urine contamination of the abdomen. Endoscopy also improves the ability to examine the urinary system for disease and the presence of more calculi.


title: Chloroquine in controlling biological infections.

text: From the middle of the 17th century, Cinchona tree's bark, which contains quinine, was used as an anti-malarial agent. It wasn't until the midtwentieth century that chloroquine was synthesized, followed by its further derivatives. Chloroquine inhibits protozoan polymerase activity, leading to an increase in heme, which is toxic to Plasmodium. The sensitivity of the protozoan to chloroquine depends on its ability to accumulate the drug in aquatic vacuolas. The medicine is also directly toxic to protozoa of the genus Entamoeba histolytica. The immunomodulatory properties of chloroquine have led to its use in collagen diseases, rheumatic disease, chronic rheumatoid and ankylosing arthritis and autoimmune skin disease. Chloroquine has recently been shown to be effective in controlling infection caused by the new Corona virus 2019- nCov (SARS-CoV-2). The drug inhibits viral infectivity by increasing endosomal pH in cells and blocking virus-cell interference by glycosylating SARS-CoV-2 cell receptors. Chloroquine has been shown to be able to bind sialic acid and gangliosides effectively by blocking the combination of virus S protein with gangliosides, which prevents the infection from starting. The effectiveness of the drug in the first stage of infection by SARS-CoV-2 was confirmed in clinical observations and the drug was included in the developed therapeutic recommendations.


title: Examining the knowledge of and attitudes to pandemic influenza among general practice staff.

text: OBJECTIVE To assess the views, needs and intended behaviour of general practitioners and practice nurses (PNs) regarding pandemic influenza. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A postal survey of GPs and PNs in four Divisions of General Practice in New South Wales, selected to represent a diverse sample of practices from inner-city, semi-urban and rural areas. The study was undertaken from 1 February to 1 April 2009. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES GPs' and PNs' responses to survey statements assessing their awareness and perceived personal risk, intended behaviour in the event of a pandemic, and expectations surrounding antivirals, vaccine and personal and family protection. RESULTS Of 390 general practice staff who were sent the survey, 139 (36%) completed it. Most respondents felt confident that they possessed the necessary knowledge (71.5%, 98/137) and skills (73.7%, 101/137) to provide patient care during an influenza pandemic. Although 38.7% (53/137) stated that they would visit quarantined symptomatic patients, 41.6% (57/137) were unsure. More than half the respondents (53.2%, 74/139) stated that they would require access to vaccination and antivirals for their family as well as themselves before they would attend symptomatic patients at the general practice. CONCLUSION These findings provide evidence of the need to ensure that general practice staff have access to personal and family protection to encourage an adequate response to a pandemic situation.


title: Characterization of the Tupaia rhabdovirus genome reveals a long open reading frame overlapping with P and a novel gene encoding a small hydrophobic protein.

text: Rhabdoviruses are negative-stranded RNA viruses of the order Mononegavirales and have been isolated from vertebrates, insects, and plants. Members of the genus Lyssavirus cause the invariably fatal disease rabies, and a member of the genus Vesiculovirus, Chandipura virus, has recently been associated with acute encephalitis in children. We present here the complete genome sequence and transcription map of a rhabdovirus isolated from cultivated cells of hepatocellular carcinoma tissue from a moribund tree shrew. The negative-strand genome of tupaia rhabdovirus is composed of 11,440 nucleotides and encodes six genes that are separated by one or two intergenic nucleotides. In addition to the typical rhabdovirus genes in the order N-P-M-G-L, a gene encoding a small hydrophobic putative type I transmembrane protein of approximately 11 kDa was identified between the M and G genes, and the corresponding transcript was detected in infected cells. Similar to some Vesiculoviruses and many Paramyxovirinae, the P gene has a second overlapping reading frame that can be accessed by ribosomal choice and encodes a protein of 26 kDa, predicted to be the largest C protein of these virus families. Phylogenetic analyses of the tupaia rhabdovirus N and L genes show that the virus is distantly related to the Vesiculoviruses, Ephemeroviruses, and the recently characterized Flanders virus and Oita virus and further extends the sequence territory occupied by animal rhabdoviruses.


title: Effects of inspiratory muscle training in hemodialysis patients.

text: INTRODUCTION Chronic kidney disease associated with hemodialysis can have a variety of musculoskeletal complications, in addition to repercussions in pulmonary function. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training on inspiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and functional capacity in patients with chronic kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis. METHOD Non-controlled clinical trial, comprising 15 individuals diagnosed with chronic kidney failure and undergoing hemodialysis. Maximum inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) pressures were assessed by use of pressure vacuum meter reading. Pulmonary function was assessed by use of spirometry. Functional capacity was assessed by use of walked distance and oxygen consumption obtained in the six-minute walk test (6MWT). For eight weeks, the inspiratory muscle training (IMT) protocol was applied during hemodialysis sessions, with load set to 40% of PImax and weekly frequency of three alternate days. RESULTS A significant increase in the walked distance was observed after training (455.5 ± 98 versus 557.8 ± 121.0; p = 0.003). No statistically significant difference was observed in the other variables when comparing their pre- and posttraining values. CONCLUSION The study showed no statistically significant difference in respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, and oxygen consumption. An increase in the walked distance was observed in the 6MWT.


Proteolytic processing of the arterivirus replicase.


Virus-encoded proteinases and proteolytic processing in the Nidovirales.


Chinese scientists must test wild animals to find the host of SARS.


title: VirGen: a comprehensive viral genome resource.

text: VirGen is a comprehensive viral genome resource that organizes the 'sequence space' of viral genomes in a structured fashion. It has been developed with the objective of serving as an annotated and curated database comprising complete genome sequences of viruses, value-added derived data and data mining tools. The current release (v1.1) contains 559 complete genomes in addition to 287 putative genomes of viruses belonging to eight viral families for which the host range includes animals and plants. Viral genomes in VirGen are annotated using sequence-based Bioinformatics approaches. The genomic data is also curated to identify 'alternate names' of viral proteins, where available. VirGen archives the results of comparisons of genomes, proteomes and individual proteins within and between viral species. It is the first resource to provide phylogenetic trees of viral species computed using whole-genome sequence data. The module of predicted B-cell antigenic determinants in VirGen is an attempt to link the genome to its vaccinome. Comparative genome analysis data facilitate the study of genome organization and evolution of viruses, which would have implications in applied research to identify candidates for the design of vaccines and antiviral drugs. VirGen is a relational database and is available at http://bioinfo. ernet.in/virgen/virgen.html.


title: Relationship between occurrence of white diarrhea and changes of properties and components of blood and milk in their dams after parturition in Japanese Black calves.

text: We investigated the diet content and properties of blood and milk in 11 pairs of Japanese Black cows and their calves for the one month following delivery. Four pairs (group A) had been no cases of white diarrhea during the year prior to this study, and 7 pairs (group B) had been a high occurrence of white diarrhea in calves during the same period. Properties of dams' diet in groups A and B before the onset of white diarrhea in calves were as follows: TDN fullness rate 98 +/- 2% vs. 110 +/- 5%, DCP fullness rate 151 +/- 2% vs. 200 +/- 33%, and starch content 5 +/- 2% vs. 14 +/- 3%. Blood and milk samples were collected from cows weekly and at the onset of white diarrhea in calves. No calves in group A had white diarrhea, while 5 out of 7 calves in group B had the diarrhea in this study. All cows were fed mixed hay, but 3 out of 5 cows whose calves had white diarrhea had been additionally given 3.0-3.5 kg of corn-silage a day from 4-5 days before onset. In all cows in the white diarrhea development group, the fat content of milk increased by 2.94 +/- 1.82% at the day of onset in comparison before. Serum TG and BUN, respectively, increased by 3.8 +/- 1.3 mg/dl and 3.7 +/- 2.0 mg/dl. Feeding cows a low-starch diet and additional corn-silage may induce a transient increase in blood TG, BUN and milk fat, which may contribute to the occurrence of white diarrhea in calves.


title: The lessons of SARS in Hong Kong.

text: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a novel coronavirus infection which broke out in Hong Kong in March 2003. Princess Margaret Hospital was designated to manage this new, mysterious and serious disease. Healthcare workers had to work under extremely stressful and often risky conditions to care for patients. Despite manpower and equipment reinforcements, staff infection occurred as a result of bodily exhaustion, working in an unfamiliar environment and lapses in infection control. Patients suffered even more, not only due to physical discomfort, but also because of the fear of isolation and death away from family and friends. Health authorities learnt their lessons in the outbreak and formulated emergency plans for future infectious disease epidemics. The healthcare infrastructure has been examined and upgraded with regard to intensive care capacity, infection control measures, professional training, manpower deployment, staff facilities, and stockpiling of drugs and personal protective equipment.


Planning for pandemic: a new model for governing public health emergencies.


title: [High-efficiency expression of a receptor-binding domain of SARS-CoV spike protein in tobacco chloroplasts].

text: Chloroplast-based expression system is promising for the hyper-expression of plant-derived recombinant therapeutic proteins and vaccines. To verify the feasibility of obtaining high-level expression of the SARS subunit vaccine and to provide a suitable plant-derived vaccine production platform against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), a 193-amino acid fragment of SARS CoV spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD), fused with the peptide vector cholera toxin B subunit (CTB), was expressed in tobacco chloroplasts. Codon-optimized CTB-RBD sequence was integrated into the chloroplast genome and homoplasmy was obtained, as confirmed by PCR and Southern blot analysis. Western blot showed expression of the recombinant fusion protein mostly in soluble monomeric form. Quantification of the recombinant fusion protein CTB-RBD was conducted by ELISA analysis from the transplastomic leaves at different developmental stages, attachment positions and time points in a day and the different expression levels of the CTB-RBD were observed with the highest expression of 10.2% total soluble protein obtained from mature transplastomic leaves. Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of highly expressing SARS subunit vaccine RBD, indicating its potential in subsequent development of a plant-derived recombinant subunit vaccine and reagents production for antibody detection in SARS serological tests.


title: Bats as Viral Reservoirs.

text: Bats are hosts of a range of viruses, including ebolaviruses, and many important human viral infections, such as measles and mumps, may have their ancestry traced back to bats. Here, I review viruses of all viral families detected in global bat populations. The viral diversity in bats is substantial, and viruses with all known types of genomic structures and replication strategies have been discovered in bats. However, the discovery of viruses is not geographically even, with some apparently undersampled regions, such as South America. Furthermore, some bat families, including those with global or wide distributions such as Emballonuridae and Miniopteridae, are underrepresented on viral databases. Future studies, including those that address these sampling gaps along with those that develop our understanding of viral-host relationships, are highlighted.


docid: cfzfsgzg

title: Multiple myeloma in cats: variable presentation with different immunoglobulin isotypes in two cats.

text: Multiple myeloma was diagnosed in two cats with monoclonal hyperglobulinemia, proteinuria, and plasma cell proliferations in bone marrow. An immunoglobulin G-producing myeloma occurred in the vertebral bone marrow of one cat, and twice responded to surgical reduction followed by a combination of local irradiation and chemotherapy. The cat's survival time was approximately 2 years. The other myeloma in a cat that presented with hypercalcemia and renal insufficiency involved visceral organs and produced a biclonal peak due to immunoglobulin A dimer formation on serum electrophoresis. This cat's tumor did not respond to chemotherapy.


title: Molecular and cellular mechanisms of DNA vaccines.

text: Although DNA vaccines are already in use for treatment of some animal diseases, they suffer from lower immunogenicity in humans which limits their effectiveness. Thus, recent studies have been focused on strategies to improve the immunogenicity of DNA vaccines. However, there is little known about the molecular and immunological mechanisms by which DNA vaccines work. It has long been the central dogma that DNA vaccine immunogenicity can be attributed to its immunostimulatory CpG motifs acting as 'a built-in adjuvant", which is recognized by Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9, the sole receptor for CpG motifs. Recent research, however, has provided evidence for a new mechanism of action for DNA vaccines. It was reported that the adjuvant effect of plasmid DNA is mediated by its double-stranded structure, which activates TBK1-dependent innate immune signaling pathways in the absence of TLRs. Moreover, TBK1-signaling may delineate direct or indirect (cross) antigen presentation through distinct types of cells in vivo, critical for the induction of antigen-specific CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells, respectively. This additional information about the mechanism of action of DNA vaccines will lead to improvements in their efficacy and safety.


docid: lcaexmvc

title: A 65-year-old woman with acute cough illness and an important engagement.


title: A novel internal open reading frame product expressed from a polycistronic mRNA of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus may not contribute to virus attenuation.

text: Cell-culture-adapted (ca) porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) contains three internal open reading frames (I ORF) within the nucleocapsid protein gene and lacks the downstream counterpart of porcine transmissible gastroenteritis virus ORF7 or feline infectious peritonitis virus ORF6a. To confirm whether such features also exist in wild-type (wt) PEDV, the 3' 1800 nucleotides of its genome were sequenced and were found to be identical to those of ca virus. The coding potential of I-1 ORF was ascertained by transient expression in Vero cells followed by immunofluorescence using antipeptide sera. The I-1 protein was synthesized as a 12 kDa non-phosphorylated PEDV-specific protein that was not present in detectable amounts in virions. However, a low copy number of I-1 in the virion would suggest it is a structural component. Nevertheless, identical nucleotide sequences and gene expression strategies of attenuated ca virus and its virulent parent, wt PEDV, demonstrate that the 3' 1800 nucleotides or the genes and gene products encoded therein may not contribute to virus attenuation.


title: Assembly of hepatitis B virus envelope proteins onto a lentivirus pseudotype that infects primary human hepatocytes.

text: This study demonstrates that the envelope proteins of hepatitis B virus (HBV) could be incorporated into the lipid membrane of lentivirus pseudotype particles. The assembly procedure was initiated by the transfection of 293T cells with three plasmids: (i) a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) packaging construct, (ii) a transfer plasmid expressing a reporter gene, and (iii) a plasmid expressing large (L), middle (M), and small (S) HBV envelope proteins. After 2 days, hepatitis B surface antigen and the antigenic forms of L, M, and S were detected at the cell surface by flow cytometry. Also, virus particles that were able to infect cultured primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were released. Under optimal conditions, 50% of PHH could be infected. In addition, the susceptibility of PHH and the resistance of other cell types to the pseudotype particles were similar to those observed for HBV and hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which shares the same L, M, and S. Furthermore, the infection of PHH by the pseudotype was sensitive to known inhibitors of HBV and HDV entry. These findings of specific and efficient infection of hepatocytes could be applicable to liver-specific gene therapy and may help clarify the attachment and entry mechanism used by HBV and HDV.


docid: tmgtboxi

title: Robotic-Associating Microwave Liver Ablation with Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy: How I Do It.


title: Community-acquired Pneumonia: A Global Perspective.

text: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a global disease responsible for a large proportion of deaths and having significant economic cost. As diagnostic tools have increased in sensitivity, our understanding of the etiology of CAP has begun to change with a significant increase in confirmed viral infections and the recognition that multiple pathogens are frequently present. Empiric therapy remains the standard of care and guidelines are mostly based on published data from the United States or Europe. Blindly applying guidelines without any consideration of local etiological differences can lead to a risk of under or overtreatment. Several pathogens are particularly problematic in the setting of CAP in some regions as they are not covered by standard guidelines; in particular, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and Acinetobacter baumanii. Overtreatment of patients meeting guideline criteria for healthcare-associated pneumonia is also a problem as this categorization probably only applies to a limited number of areas in the United States. New pathogens are emerging more frequently, as evidenced by severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome, influenza A H1N1 09, and avian influenza, all of which have global ramifications and good clinicians need to stay informed of evolving threats. There are clearly differences in outcomes from CAP across the globe, but accurately comparing them is difficult given the vast differences in age, comorbidities, and access to healthcare. Improved quality of outcome databases will be a key driver of quality improvement in coming years.


Analysis of passive surveillance data for antimicrobial resistance from cases of neonatal bovine enteritis.


title: Neutralizing antibody decay and lack of contact transmission after inoculation of 3- and 4-day-old piglets with porcine respiratory coronavirus.

text: Ten female neonatal piglets were infected with porcine respiratory coronavirus (PRCV) to measure the decay of a specific neutralizing antibody. By 42 weeks after exposure,1 of the gilts was serologically negative (< 5) for PRCV, and by 48 weeks 2 more gilts were serologically negative. These data demonstrate that young mature gilts can be serologically negative, yet they could have been exposed to PRCV. Sentinel pigs were commingled with the PRCV-infected pigs at 8 weeks after exposure, and no virus transmission occurred.