title: Prospective, randomised, double blind, controlled comparison of metoclopramide and pethidine in the emergency treatment of acute primary vascular and tension type headache episodes.

text: STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare analgesic effects of metoclopramide (MTP), pethidine (PET), and combination of metoclopramide-pethidine (M-PET) in the treatment of adult patients with acute primary vascular and tension type headache admitted in the emergency department (ED). METHODS All consecutive adult patients admitted into a university hospital ED in six months with acute vascular and tension type headache were recruited. The patients whose complaints had lasted no longer than seven days were randomised to four groups and thereby received 10 mg MTP intravenously plus placebo intramuscularly (MTP), 10 mg MTP intravenously plus 50 mg PET intramuscularly (M-PET), 50 mg PET intramuscularly plus placebo intravenously (PET); and intramuscular and intravenous placebo (PLC) in a blinded fashion. The patients were asked to report the degree of pain at 0, 15, 30, and 45 minutes on visual analogue scale (VAS) and demographic data and any side effects encountered were recorded. Rescue medication was used if required by the patient because of poor pain relief. RESULTS Data regarding 336 patients meeting inclusion criteria were analysed. Mean VAS values recorded at 45 minutes were significantly higher in PLC group than in others (p = 0.000). When the PLC group was excluded, VAS scores in MTP and M-PET groups were significantly lower than in PET group (p = 0.038). Though unimportant, the incidence of side effects recorded in PET group was found to be significantly higher than in the other groups (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION These data suggest that MTP produces more effective analgesia than PET in both vascular and tension type headache in patients with acute primary headache episodes.


docid: oslazsbb

title: Depression, antidepressants, and peripheral blood components.

text: The biological attributes of affective disorders and factors which are able to predict a response to treatment with antidepressants have not been identified sufficiently. A number of biochemical variables in peripheral blood constituents have been tested for this purpose, as a consequence of the lack of availability of human brain tissue. At first, the biological attributes of mental disorders were sought at the level of concentrations of neurotransmitters and their metabolites or precursors. Later on, attention shifted to receptor systems. Since the 1990s, intracellular processes influenced by an illness or its treatment with psychopharmaceuticals have been at the forefront of interest. Interest in biological predictors of treatment with antidepressants has reappeared in recent years, thanks to new laboratory techniques which make it possible to monitor cellular processes associated with the transmission of nerve signals in the brain. These processes can also be studied in plasma and blood elements, especially lymphocytes and platelets. The selection of the qualities to which attention is paid can be derived from today's most widely discussed biochemical hypotheses of affective disorders, especially the monoamine hypothesis and the molecular and cellular theory of depression. Mitochondrial enzymes can also play an important role in the pathophysiology of depression and the effects of antidepressants. In this paper, we sum up the cellular, neurochemical, neuroendocrine, genetic, and neuroimmunological qualities which can be measured in peripheral blood and which appear to be indicators of affective disorders, or parameters which make it possible to predict therapeutic responses to antidepressant administration.


title: Antihistamines for the common cold.

text: BACKGROUND Although antihistamines are prescribed in large quantities for the common cold, there is little evidence to whether these drugs are effective. OBJECTIVES To assess in patients with a common cold the effects of antihistamines in alleviating nasal symptoms, or in shortening of illness duration. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group Specialized Register and EMBASE up to December 2002; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and MEDLINE up to February 2003. We also followed up references in identified papers. We appealed for further articles at a major international conference on Acute Respiratory Infections (1997). We corresponded with experts and got in touch with pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised, placebo-controlled trials on treatment of common cold with antihistamines, used either singly or in combination, in adults or children. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Data were extracted by two reviewers and authors were contacted for further data. Trials were subdivided into monotherapy and combination therapy. Data on general recovery, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and side-effects were extracted and summarized in a systematic review. MAIN RESULTS We included thirty two papers describing 35 comparisons; 22 trials studied monotherapy, 13 trials a combination of antihistamines with other medication. A total of 8930 people suffering from the common cold were included. There were large differences in study designs, participants, interventions, and outcomes. There was no evidence of any clinically significant effect - in children or in adults - on general recovery of antihistamines in monotherapy. First generation - but not non-sedating - antihistamines have a small effect on rhinorrhea and sneezing. In trials with first generation antihistamines the incidence of side effects (especially sedation) is significantly higher with active treatment. Two trials, studying a combination of antihistamines with decongestives in small children, both failed to show any effect. Of the eleven trials on older children and adults, the majority show an effect on general recovery and on nasal symptom severity. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Antihistamines in monotherapy - in children as well as in adults - do not alleviate to a clinical extend nasal congestion, rhinorrhoea and sneezing, or subjective improvement of the common cold. First generation antihistamines also cause more side-effects than placebo, in particular they increase sedation in cold sufferers. Combinations of antihistamines with decongestives are not effective in small children. In older children and adults most trials show a beneficial effect on general recovery as well as on nasal symptoms. It is however not clear whether these effects are clinically significant.


title: Mouse hepatitis virus utilizes two carcinoembryonic antigens as alternative receptors.

text: The cellular receptor for the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) has been identified as a member of the murine carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) family (R. K. Williams, G. S. Jiang, and K. V. Holmes, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 88:5533-5536, 1991). However, the receptor protein was not detected in some of the susceptible mouse tissues. We therefore examined whether other types of MHV receptor might exist. By polymerase chain reaction with the conserved sequences of murine CEA gene family members (mmCGM) as primers, we detected two CEA-encoding RNAs in the mouse liver. One of them (1.3 kb) encodes mmCGM1, which has previously been identified as the receptor for MHV, and the other one (0.8 kb) was shown to encode another member of mouse CGM, mmCGM2. The sequence analysis showed that mmCGM2 lacks 564 nucleotides in the middle of the gene compared with mmCGM1. These two CEA transcripts are probably derived from the same gene by an alternative splicing mechanism. Expression of either of these cDNA clones in COS-7 cells rendered these cells susceptible to MHV infection, suggesting that not only mmCGM1 but also mmCGM2 serves as a receptor for MHV. The mmCGM2 was the major CEA species in the mouse brain, which is a main target organ for the neurotropic strains of MHV. Very little mmCGM1 was detected in the mouse brain or in cells of the susceptible mouse astrocytoma cell line DBT. This result indicates that MHV may utilize different CEA molecules as the major receptor in the mouse brain and in the liver. This is a first identification of multiple receptors for a single virus. The presence of different receptors in different tissues may explain the target cell specificity of certain MHVs.


title: Physiological significance of apoptosis during animal virus infection.

text: Apoptosis has been considered to be a host defense mechanism against viral infection in multicellular organisms. This is based on the findings that apoptogenic mutants of insect viruses cannot grow because infected host cells die by apoptosis. This suggests that the apoptotic response of host cells has a deleterious effect on virus infection. Thus, apoptosis is an important host defense mechanism that is capable of inhibiting viral replication during infection. However, in vitro studies indicated that apoptosis alone does not provide the same protection against viral infection in animal cells as it does in the insect cells. Still, most animal viruses have acquired a strategy to overcome host cell apoptosis. In addition, a varying degree of necrosis usually accompanies apoptosis, suggesting a possible contribution of necrosis to the host reactions against virus. To understand the physiological significance of apoptosis during animal virus infection, we have characterized viral growth and the cellular responses against virus infection in a wide variety of virus-cell interaction systems. Mainly based on our own works, we discuss the nature of apoptosis in the animal virus infection and verify its role as a host defense mechanism against virus infection.


title: Teaching Lessons from the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic in Telemedicine.

text: The Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY.


title: State Medicaid coverage for tobacco-dependence treatments--United States, 2006.

text: Approximately one third of adult Medicaid recipients smoke. The Public Health Service, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services, and the Institute of Medicine recommend that health-insurance coverage be provided for tobacco-dependence treatments. In addition, a Healthy People 2010 national health objective calls for total health-insurance coverage for evidence-based tobacco-dependence treatments in all 51 Medicaid programs (objective 27-8b). The types of tobacco-dependence treatments covered by Medicaid have been reported periodically from surveys conducted by the Center for Health and Public Policy Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. This report summarizes results of the 2006 survey, which determined that 39 state Medicaid programs (including the District of Columbia) covered some form of tobacco-dependence treatment (i.e., medication or counseling) for all Medicaid recipients and one state program provided coverage for all recommended treatments. Two states that previously provided no coverage for tobacco-dependence treatment began coverage in 2006. In addition, 32 states added coverage for a new medication, varenicline (Chantix [Pfizer, Mission, Kansas]), one state expanded its coverage to include the nicotine lozenge, and one state expanded coverage to include individual counseling. If the 2010 objective is to be achieved, Medicaid coverage for tobacco-dependence treatment must increase substantially.


title: Immunodepression induced by Trypanosoma cruzi and mouse hepatitis virus type 3 is associated with thymus apoptosis.

text: Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice show disturbance in the peripheral immune system such as polyclonal lymphocyte activation, autoantibody production, and immunosuppression of T lymphocytes. Previous observations in our laboratory showed that some stocks of T. cruzi can be contaminated with mouse hepatitis virus type 3 (MHV-3). Literature has shown that MHV-3 infection induces immunologic disorders characterized by thymic involution with marked cell depletion. However, the effects of interactions between MHV-3 and the parasite on the immune system are not well understood. In the present study specific-pathogen-free CBA mice were inoculated with MHV-3, alone or associated with different stocks of T. cruzi. Concurrent murine virus infection resulted in increased pathogenicity of T. cruzi infection shown by profound thymic atrophy; loss of cortical thymocytes; depletion of Thy1.2+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells; enhancement of in situ labeling of nuclear DNA fragmentation; and eventually, death of the animals. Such lines of evidence show that the mechanism underlying this thymic atrophy is associated with apoptosis. These results also suggest that MHV-3 can account for the increased immunosuppression observed during experimental infection with the parasite.


title: Comparison of immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and direct fluorescent antibody test for the detection of bovine coronavirus.

text: Bovine coronavirus (BCV) is 1 of the major causes of calf diarrhea and has also been implicated in respiratory infections of young calves and winter dysentery of adult cattle. Currently, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), direct fluorescent antibody (DFA), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques are considered standard methods for the diagnosis of BCV infection. However, these techniques are not useful if fresh tissues and intestinal contents are not available for examination. The detection of viral antigens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a suitable alternative. In the present study, 166 tissue specimens were tested by IHC for the presence of BCV. These tissues were from animals whose feces were positive for rotavirus and/or coronavirus by TEM. Some of these samples were also tested by DFA. Thus, TEM, DFA, and IHC were compared for the detection of BCV. There was 56% agreement among the 3 methods (overall kappa = 0.368). When IHC was compared with TEM, 78% agreement was observed (kappa = 0.475). Similarly, IHC and DFA had 64% agreement (kappa = 0.277). These kappa values indicate a moderate degree of agreement between IHC and TEM; agreement between IHC and DFA was fair. The results of this study indicate that IHC may be a suitable adjunct for the detection of BCV because of its simplicity, ease of use, and relatively close correlation with TEM results.


title: The state of infection surveillance and control in Canadian acute care hospitals.

text: BACKGROUND Nosocomial infections and antibiotic-resistant pathogens cause significant morbidity, mortality, and economic costs. The infection surveillance and control resources and activities in Canadian acute care hospitals had not been assessed in 20 years. METHODS In 2000, surveys were mailed to infection control programs in all Canadian hospitals with more than 80 acute care beds. The survey was modeled after the US Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control instrument, with new items dealing with resistant pathogens and computerization. Surveillance and control indices were calculated. RESULTS One hundred seventy-two of 238 (72.3%) hospitals responded. In 42.1% of hospitals, there was fewer than 1 infection control practitioner per 250 beds. Just 60% of infection control programs had physicians or doctoral professionals with infection control training who provided services. The median surveillance index was 65.6/100, and the median control index was 60.5/100. Surgical site infection rates were reported to individual surgeons in only 36.8% of hospitals. CONCLUSIONS There were deficits in the identified components of effective infection control programs. Greater investment in resources is needed to meet recommended standards and thereby reduce morbidity, mortality, and expense associated with nosocomial infections and antibiotic-resistant pathogens.


title: Molecular determinants of species specificity in the coronavirus receptor aminopeptidase N (CD13): influence of N-linked glycosylation.

text: Aminopeptidase N (APN), a 150-kDa metalloprotease also called CD13, serves as a receptor for serologically related coronaviruses of humans (human coronavirus 229E [HCoV-229E]), pigs, and cats. These virus-receptor interactions can be highly species specific; for example, the human coronavirus can use human APN (hAPN) but not porcine APN (pAPN) as its cellular receptor, and porcine coronaviruses can use pAPN but not hAPN. Substitution of pAPN amino acids 283 to 290 into hAPN for the corresponding amino acids 288 to 295 introduced an N-glycosylation sequon at amino acids 291 to 293 that blocked HCoV-229E receptor activity of hAPN. Substitution of two amino acids that inserted an N-glycosylation site at amino acid 291 also resulted in a mutant hAPN that lacked receptor activity because it failed to bind HCoV-229E. Single amino acid revertants that removed this sequon at amino acids 291 to 293 but had one or five pAPN amino acid substitution(s) in this region all regained HCoV-229E binding and receptor activities. To determine if other N-linked glycosylation differences between hAPN, feline APN (fAPN), and pAPN account for receptor specificity of pig and cat coronaviruses, a mutant hAPN protein that, like fAPN and pAPN, lacked a glycosylation sequon at 818 to 820 was studied. This sequon is within the region that determines receptor activity for porcine and feline coronaviruses. Mutant hAPN lacking the sequon at amino acids 818 to 820 maintained HCoV-229E receptor activity but did not gain receptor activity for porcine or feline coronaviruses. Thus, certain differences in glycosylation between coronavirus receptors from different species are critical determinants in the species specificity of infection.


title: The support of severe respiratory failure beyond the hospital and during transportation.

text: PURPOSE OF REVIEW Given the number and variety of calamities in the past few years, providing support for critically ill and injured casualties has become a global priority. This article reviews and describes the challenges faced in providing critical care and respiratory support in an austere environment and during medical transport. The primary focus to be discussed is mechanical ventilation. RECENT FINDINGS The United States Air Force has developed a programme called the Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Teams. These teams provide dynamic and sophisticated critical care in austere environments, including during medical transport. The Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Teams programme provides a framework for the discussion of supporting respiratory failure in these settings. We will discuss the team concept of operations, the equipment assemblage, methods and techniques of intensive care unit patient care in this setting, and caveats and pitfalls as they pertain to respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, and respiratory monitoring. SUMMARY The support of respiratory failure with mechanical ventilation during a disaster is complex and challenging. The key to success is pre-planning, flexibility, and portability. Programmes such as the Critical Care Aeromedical Transport Teams can be a useful model for the development of appropriate civil response capabilities in critical care for use during a disaster.


title: Implications of resolved hypoxemia on the utility of desaturation alerts sent from an anesthesia decision support system to supervising anesthesiologists.

text: BACKGROUND Hypoxemia (oxygen saturation <90%) lasting 2 or more minutes occurs in 6.8% of adult patients undergoing noncardiac anesthesia in operating room settings. Alarm management functionality can be added to decision support systems (DSS) to send text alerts about vital signs outside specified thresholds, using data in anesthesia information management systems. We considered enhancing our DSS to send hypoxemia alerts to the text pagers of supervising anesthesiologists. As part of a voluntary application for an investigative device exemption from our IRB to implement such functionality, we evaluated the maximum potential utility of such an alert system. METHODS Pulse oximetry values (Spo(2)) were extracted from our anesthesia information management systems for all cases performed in our main operating rooms and ambulatory surgical center between September 1, 2011, and February 4, 2012 (n = 16,870). Hypoxemic episodes (Spo(2) < 90%) were characterized as either (a) lasting one or more minutes or (b) lasting 2 or more minutes. A single simulated "alert" was modeled as having been sent at the timestamp of the first (a) or the second (b) hypoxemic value. The hypoxemic episode was considered resolved at 1, 3, or 5 minutes after the time of the alert if the Spo(2) value was no longer below the 90% threshold. Two-sided 99% conservative confidence limits were calculated for the percentage of unresolved alerts at the 3 evaluation intervals and compared with 70%, the lower limit of an acceptable true alarm rate for clinical utility. RESULTS There was at least 1 hypoxemic episode lasting 1 minute or longer in 23% of cases, and at least 1 episode lasting 2 minutes or longer in 8% of cases. Only 7% (99% confidence interval [CI] 6% to 8%) of the 1-minute hypoxemic episodes were unresolved after 3 minutes, and only 8% (99% CI 6%to 9%) of 2-minute episodes after 5 minutes (both P < 10(-6) in comparison with 70% minimum reliability rate). CONCLUSIONS Low utility should be expected for a DSS sending hypoxemia alerts to supervising anesthesiologists, because nearly all hypoxemic episodes will have been resolved before arrival of the anesthesiologist in the operating room. These results suggest that the principal research focus should be on developing more sophisticated alerts and processes within rooms for the anesthesia care provider to initiate treatment promptly, to interpret or correct artifacts, and to make it easier to call for assistance via a rapid communication system.


title: Comparison of the clinical manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome and Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.

text: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The clinical manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and mycoplasma pneumonia are similar. However, administration of corticosteroid to Mycoplasma pneumoniae patients suspected of having SARS may unnecessarily increase the risk of opportunistic infection. We compared the clinical course of 13 SARS patients and 6 patients with mycoplasma pneumonia treated during the outbreak of SARS in Taiwan. METHODS Patients admitted due to suspicion of SARS with a subsequent diagnosis of SARS or Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia were included. RESULTS The initial clinical manifestations were similar in patients with SARS and those with M. pneumoniae infection. However, SARS patients had more severe lymphopenia (p = 0.013) and anemia (p = 0.007), and more persistent pulmonary infiltrates (p = 0.023). Respiratory failure developed in 15.4% of the SARS patients and in none of the M. pneumoniae patients. Recovery from thrombocytopenia was associated with defervescence in 12 SARS patients and radiographic improvement in 6 in the following 5 days. In those with unsatisfactory resolution of the pulmonary infiltrates, corticosteroid therapy was associated with rapid radiographic improvement. CONCLUSIONS Because of similar initial presentations, differentiating SARS from M. pneumoniae pneumonia is very difficult based on symptomatology. In this series, lymphopenia and anemia were more severe in SARS than in M. pneumoniae infection, and SARS patients had more persistent and more new pulmonary infiltrates after hospitalization.


Origins of electron microscopy and viral diagnosis.


title: Utilization of host SR protein kinases and RNA-splicing machinery during viral replication.

text: Although the viral genome is often quite small, it encodes a broad series of proteins. The virus takes advantage of the host-RNA-processing machinery to provide the alternative splicing capability necessary for the expression of this proteomic diversity. Serine-arginine-rich (SR) proteins and the kinases that activate them are central to this alternative splicing machinery. In studies reported here, we use the HIV genome as a model. We show that HIV expression decreases overall SR protein/activity. However, we also show that HIV expression is significantly increased (20-fold) when one of the SR proteins, SRp75 is phosphorylated by SR protein kinase (SRPK)2. Thus, inhibitors of SRPK2 and perhaps of functionally related kinases, such as SRPK1, could be useful antiviral agents. Here, we develop this hypothesis and show that HIV expression down-regulates SR proteins in Flp-In293 cells, resulting in only low-level HIV expression in these cells. However, increasing SRPK2 function up-regulates HIV expression. In addition, we introduce SR protein phosphorylation inhibitor 340 (SRPIN340), which preferentially inhibits SRPK1 and SRPK2 and down-regulates SRp75. Although an isonicotinamide compound, SPRIN340 (or its derivatives) remain to be optimized for better specificity and lower cytotoxicity, we show here that SRPIN340 suppresses propagation of Sindbis virus in plaque assay and variably suppresses HIV production. Thus, we show that SRPK, a well known kinase in the cellular RNA-processing machinery, is used by at least some viruses for propagation and hence suggest that SRPIN340 or its derivatives may be useful for curbing viral diseases.


title: Community-acquired pneumonia in elderly patients.

text: Community-acquired pneumonia continues to have a significant impact on elderly individuals, who are affected more frequently and with more severe consequences than younger populations. As the population ages it is expected that the medical and economic impact of this disease will increase. Despite these concerns, little progress has been made in research specifically focusing on community-acquired pneumonia in the elderly. Data continue to show that a high index of suspicion, early antimicrobial therapy and appropriate medications to cover typical pathogens are extremely important in treating community-acquired pneumonia in older individuals. This review is designed to serve as an update to our previous work published in Aging Health in 2006, with specific emphasis on the most recent evidence published since that time.


title: Some serum acute phase proteins and immunoglobulins concentrations in calves with rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli F5 and Eimeria species.

text: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in the serum concentrations of haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA) and IgG, IgA in calves with diarrhea caused by rotavirus, coronavirus, Escherichia coli F5 and Eimeria species. The experiment was carried out on 40 diarrhoeic and 10 non-diarrhoeic calves (group C). A total of 13 calves were infected with rotavirus or coronavirus (group V), 12 calves with E. coli F5 (group B) and 15 calves with Eimeria species (group P). SAA and Hp levels of calves in groups V, B and P were statistically higher than group C (P<0.05). SAA and Hp levels of the group B and group P were significantly higher than the group V (P<0.05). SAA and Hp levels in group B were not significantly higher than the group P. The levels of IgG and IgA were found to be lower in groups B and V compared to other groups. There was a negative correlation between immunoglobulins and the levels of serum Hp and SAA in groups B and V (r=-0.315 and r=-0.369, respectively, P<0.05). Serum SAA, Hp, IgA and IgG levels could be useful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of diarrhea caused by rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli F5 and Eimeria species.


title: Generation and characterization of DNA vaccines targeting the nucleocapsid protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus.

text: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a serious threat to public health and the economy on a global scale. The SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) has been identified as the etiological agent for SARS. Thus, vaccination against SARS-CoV may represent an effective approach to controlling SARS. DNA vaccines are an attractive approach for SARS vaccine development, as they offer many advantages over conventional vaccines, including stability, simplicity, and safety. Our investigators have previously shown that DNA vaccination with antigen linked to calreticulin (CRT) dramatically enhances major histocompatibility complex class I presentation of linked antigen to CD8(+) T cells. In this study, we have employed this CRT-based enhancement strategy to create effective DNA vaccines using SARS-CoV nucleocapsid (N) protein as a target antigen. Vaccination with naked CRT/N DNA generated the most potent N-specific humoral and T-cell-mediated immune responses in vaccinated C57BL/6 mice among all of the DNA constructs tested. Furthermore, mice vaccinated with CRT/N DNA were capable of significantly reducing the titer of challenging vaccinia virus expressing the N protein of the SARS virus. These results show that a DNA vaccine encoding CRT linked to a SARS-CoV antigen is capable of generating strong N-specific humoral and cellular immunity and may potentially be useful for control of infection with SARS-CoV.


title: Understanding and improving low bystander CPR rates: a systematic review of the literature.

text: OBJECTIVES Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial yet weak link in the chain of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. We sought to understand the determinants of bystander CPR and the factors associated with successful training. METHODS For this systematic review, we searched 11 electronic databases, 1 trial registry and 9 scientific websites. We performed hand searches and contacted 6 content experts. We reviewed without restriction all communications pertaining to who should learn CPR, what should be taught, when to repeat training, where to give CPR instructions and why people lack the motivation to learn and perform CPR. We used standardized forms to review papers for inclusion, quality and data extraction. We grouped publications by category and classified recommendations using a standardized classification system that was based on level of evidence. RESULTS We reviewed 2409 articles and selected 411 for complete evaluation. We included 252 of the 411 papers in this systematic review. Differences in their study design precluded a meta-analysis. We classified 22 recommendations; those with the highest scores were 1) 9-1-1 dispatch- assisted CPR instructions, 2) teaching CPR to family members of cardiac patients, 3) Braslow's self-training video, 4) maximizing time spent using manikins and 5) teaching the concepts of ambiguity and diffusion of responsibility. Recommendations not supported by evidence include mass training events, pulse taking prior to CPR by laymen and CPR using chest compressions alone. CONCLUSION We evaluated and classified the potential impact of interventions that have been proposed to improve bystander CPR rates. Our results may help communities design interventions to improve their bystander CPR rates.


title: Submaximal angioplasty for symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis: a prospective Phase I study.

text: OBJECTIVE Intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) accounts for approximately 10% of ischemic strokes. The recent Stenting and Aggressive Medical Management for Preventing Recurrent Stroke in Intracranial Stenosis (SAMMPRIS) study demonstrated a high incidence of perioperative complications (15%) for treatment of ICAD with stenting. Although the incidence of stroke was lower in the medical arm, recurrent stroke was found in 12% of patients despite aggressive medical management, suggesting that intervention may remain a viable option for ICAD if perioperative risk is minimized. Angioplasty without stenting represents an alternative and understudied revascularization treatment for ICAD. Submaximal angioplasty limits the risks of thromboembolism, vessel perforation, and reperfusion hemorrhage that were frequently reported with stenting in the SAMMPRIS trial. The authors conducted a prospective Phase I trial designed to assess the safety of submaximal angioplasty in patients with symptomatic ICAD. METHODS This study was approved by the local institutional review board. Demographic and clinical data were prospectively collected. Angioplasty was performed with a balloon undersized to approximately 50%-70% of the nondiseased vessel diameter in patients with symptomatic ICAD who had angiographically significant stenosis of ≥ 70%. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of periprocedural complications (combined rate of death, stroke, and hemorrhage occurring within 30 days and at 1 year). RESULTS Among the 65 patients with symptomatic ICAD who were screened, 24 had significant angiographic stenosis that met the inclusion criteria of this study. The mean age was 64.08 years (median 65 years; SD ± 11.24 years), most were men (62.5%), and most were white (66.67%). Many patients had concomitants of vascular disease, including hypertension (95.8%), hyperlipidemia (70.83%), smoking history (54.1%), and diabetes mellitus (50.0%). Coronary artery disease (41.66%) and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (45.83%) were frequently present. Most patients (75%) had anterior circulation stenosis. The mean preprocedure stenosis was 80.16% (median 80%, range 70%-95%). Submaximal angioplasty was performed in patients who met the inclusion criteria, with a mean postangioplasty stenosis rate of 54.62% (median 55.5%, range 31%-78%). Rates of ischemic stroke in the territory of the treated artery were 0% within 30 days and 5.55% (in the only patient who presented with recurrent stroke) at 1 year. The mortality and hemorrhage rates in this series were 0%. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the safety of the submaximal angioplasty technique, with no permanent periprocedural complications in 24 treated patients.


title: Prospective Case Series of a Novel Minimally Invasive Bipolar Coagulation System in the Treatment of Grade I and II Internal Hemorrhoids.

text: Background Existing nonsurgical procedures for the treatment of grade I and II internal hemorrhoids are often painful, technically demanding, and often necessitate multiple applications. This study prospectively assessed the safety and efficacy of the HET Bipolar System, a novel minimally invasive device, in the treatment of symptomatic grade I and II internal hemorrhoids. Methods Patients with symptomatic grade I or II internal hemorrhoids despite medical management underwent hemorrhoidal ligation with the HET Bipolar System. Endpoints included resolution or improvement of hemorrhoidal bleeding and/or prolapse from baseline, recurrent or refractory symptoms, and pain. Results Twenty patients were treated with the HET Bipolar System. Two were lost to follow-up. Refractory or recurrent bleeding was present in 8 of 18 (44.4%), 4 of 11 (36.4%), and 4 of 8 (50.0%) patients, and prolapse was reported by 1 of 18 (5.6%), 4 of 11 (36.4%), and 1/7 (14.3%) of patients at 1, 3, and 6 months, respectively. Bleeding improved from baseline in 88.2%, 81.8%, and 87.5% of patients, and resolution of baseline prolapse was seen in 11 of 11 (100%), 4 of 7 (57.1%), and 5 of 5 (100%) patients at the same intervals. Thirteen of 18 (72.2%) patients did not require additional treatment for their symptoms. Conclusions The HET Bipolar System is safe and easy to use with short-term effectiveness comparable to that of currently used techniques for the treatment of symptomatic grade I and II internal hemorrhoids. It may be an effective alternative to rubber band ligation in patients with larger internal hemorrhoids and those with hemorrhoids close to the dentate line in which banding may produce debilitating pain.


title: Stabilization of a full-length infectious cDNA clone of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus by insertion of an intron.

text: The stable propagation of a full-length transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) cDNA in Escherichia coli cells as a bacterial artificial chromosome has been considerably improved by the insertion of an intron to disrupt a toxic region identified in the viral genome. The viral RNA was expressed in the cell nucleus under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter and the intron was efficiently removed during translocation of this RNA to the cytoplasm. The insertion in two different positions allowed stable plasmid amplification for at least 200 generations. Infectious TGEV was efficiently recovered from cells transfected with the modified cDNAs.


When viral oncoprotein meets tumor suppressor: a structural view.


title: New antimicrobial peptide active against Gram-positive pathogens.

text: BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Human and animal cystatins have been shown to inhibit the replication of certain viruses and bacteria, though it is not directly demonstrated that the effects are due to protease inhibitory capacity of the cystatins. We report antibacterial properties of a novel antimicrobial peptidyl derivative, (2S)-2-(N(alpha)-benzyloxycarbonyl-arginyl-leucylamido)-1-[(E)-cinnamoylamido]-3- methylbutane, structurally based upon the aminoterminal segment of the inhibitory centre of the human cysteine protease inhibitor, cystatin C. METHODS Clinical isolates of group A, B, C and G streptococci were collected. The antibacterial activity of Cystapep 1 derivative was tested by agar well diffusion method. RESULTS Cystapep 1, displayed antibacterial activity against several clinically important Gram-positive bacteria. It displayed minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of about 16 microg/ml for both Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. In radial agar diffusion assays, groups A, B, C and G streptococci as well as staphylococci were generally susceptible to the action of Cystapep 1, whereas pneumococci and enterococci were less susceptible. No activity against Gram-negative bacteria was observed. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION Cystapep 1 also showed high activity against methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) and multi-antibiotic resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), suggesting its mechanism of action to be different from most currently used antibiotics.


title: A field trial to evaluate the efficacy of a combined rotavirus-coronavirus/Escherichia coli vaccine in dairy cattle.

text: A field trial was designed to determine the efficacy of a combination rotavirus-coronavirus/Escherichia coli vaccine on dairy farms in southwestern Ontario. In Part A of the trial, 321 cows on 15 farms were randomly assigned to either vaccination or placebo groups. On eight farms, 50% of the dams were vaccinated, while on the other seven farms, 80% of the dams were vaccinated. In Part B of the trial, 26 farms were randomly assigned to either a total vaccination program or to no vaccination program. Mortality, disease occurrence and weight gains were recorded on all calves for the first two weeks of life. In Part A, 23.5% of all calves were treated in the first two weeks of life, 20.9% were treated specifically for scours and 3.6% of live-born calves died. Enteropathogenic E. coli was identified on 13 of the 15 farms, rotavirus on 11 and coronavirus on ten. At least one of the three potential pathogens was found on every farm. There were no significant differences between calves from placebo-treated and vaccine-treated dams with regard to the proportion treated for all diseases, or for scours, or the proportion which died. Neither were there differences in days to first treatment for all diseases (seven days on average), days to first scour (6.7 days), duration of treatments (3.9 days for all diseases, 3.7 days for scours), or estimated weight gains (0.5 kg/day to 14 days). These results were not altered when the presence or absence of enteropathogenic E. coli, rotavirus or coronavirus on the premises was accounted for.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


title: Molecular cloning and expression of a spike protein of neurovirulent murine coronavirus JHMV variant cl-2.

text: A cDNA encoding the spike (S) protein of the neurovirulent murine coronavirus JHMV variant cl-2 was isolated and sequenced. Analysis of the cDNA revealed that the S protein consists of 1376 amino acids, as does the S protein of mouse hepatitis virus 4. We inserted the cDNA into the genome of vaccinia virus to obtain a recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV). The S protein expressed in RK13 cells infected by the rVV was shown to be electrophoretically and immunologically indistinguishable from the S protein produced in DBT cells infected with cl-2 virus. RVV infection of rats and mice induced S protein-specific antibody production detectable by immunofluorescence and neutralization. Moreover, the S protein expressed by the rVV induced syncytium formation not only in mouse DBT and L cells, which are susceptible to cl-2 virus infection, but also in rabbit RK13 cells, which are not susceptible to cl-2 virus infection. This result suggests the possibility that RK13 cells have binding sites for the cl-2 virus S protein.


title: Amino acid sequence of a conserved neutralizing epitope of murine coronaviruses.

text: We identified the binding site of monoclonal antibody 19.2, which cross-neutralizes several mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) strains, inhibits fusion of MHV-infected cells, and protects against lethal infection (P. J. Talbot and M. J. Buchmeier, Virus Res. 2:317-328, 1985). We used fusion proteins, generated by expression of fragments of the MHV A59 E2 gene in pEX plasmids, and synthetic peptides in a PEPSCAN.


Tackling social determinants of health through community based initiatives.


Identifying hazards, assessing the risks.


Coronavirus antibodies in patients with multiple sclerosis.


Portable monitoring devices for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea at home: review of accuracy, cost-effectiveness, guidelines, and coverage in Canada.


title: Maturation and localization of macrophages and microglia during infection with a neurotropic murine coronavirus.

text: Macrophages and microglia are critical in the acute inflammatory response and act as final effector cells of demyelination during chronic infection with the neutrotropic MHV-JHM strain of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-JHM). Herein, we show that "immature" F4/80(+)Ly-6C(hi) monocytes are the first cells, along with neutrophils, to enter the MHV-JHM-infected central nervous system (CNS). As the infection progresses, macrophages in the CNS down-regulate expression of Ly-6C and CD62L, consistent with maturation, and a higher frequency express CD11c, a marker for dendritic cells (DCs). Microglia also express CD11c during this phase of the infection. CD11c(+) macrophages in the infected CNS exhibit variable properties of immature antigen-presenting cells (APCs), with modestly increased CD40 and MHC expression, and equivalent potent antigen uptake when compared with CD11c(-) macrophages. Furthermore, CDllc(+) and F4/80(+) macrophages and microglia are localized to areas of demyelination, in some instances directly associated with damaged axons. These results suggest that chronic CNS infection results in the appearance of CD11c-expressing macrophages from the blood that exhibit properties of immature APCs, are closely associated with areas of demyelination, and may act as final effectors of myelin destruction.


title: Recapitulation of normal and abnormal BioBreeding rat T cell development in adult thymus organ culture.

text: Congenitally lymphopenic diabetes-prone (DP) BioBreeding (BB) rats develop spontaneous T cell-dependent autoimmunity. Coisogenic diabetes-resistant (DR) BB rats are not lymphopenic and are free of spontaneous autoimmune disease, but become diabetic in response to depletion of RT6+ T cells. The basis for the predisposition to autoimmunity in BB rats is unknown. Abnormal T cell development in DP-BB rats can be detected intrathymically, and thymocytes from DR-BB rats adoptively transfer diabetes. The mechanisms underlying these T cell developmental abnormalities are not known. To study these processes, we established adult thymus organ cultures (ATOC). We report that cultured DR- and DP-BB rat thymi generate mature CD4 and CD8 single-positive cells with up-regulated TCRs. DR-BB rat cultures also generate T cells that express RT6. In contrast, DP-BB rat cultures generate fewer CD4+, CD8+, and RT6+ T cells. Analysis of the cells obtained from ATOC suggested that the failure of cultured DP-BB rat thymi to generate T cells with a mature phenotype is due in part to an increased rate of apoptosis. Consistent with this inference, we observed that addition of the general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK substantially increases the number of both mature and immature T cells produced by DP-BB rat ATOC. We conclude that cultured DR-BB and DP-BB rat thymi, respectively, recapitulate the normal and abnormal T cell developmental kinetics and phenotypes observed in these animals in vivo. Such cultures should facilitate identification of the underlying pathological processes that lead to immune dysfunction and autoimmunity in BB rats.


docid: lrjrkcdi

title: [Robotic and laparosocpic urological surgery during COVID-19 pandemia.]

text: OBJECTIVE SARS-CoV-2 pandemic hashigh repercussion on urologic minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Controversy about safety of MIS procedures during COVID-19 pandemic has been published. Nowadays, our priority should be create agreement in order to restart and organize MIS with safety conditions for patients and healthcare workers. METHODS: Pubmed and web search was conducted with following terms: "SARS-CoV-2", "COVID19", "COVID19 Urology", COVID19 Surgery", "COVID19 transmission", "SARS-CoV-2 transmission", "COVID19 nd minimally invasive surgery", "SARS-CoV-2 and CO 2insuflation". A narrative review of available literature and scientific evidence summary was done. A modify nominal group technique was used to achieve an expert consensus. First draft was circulated amongst authors. Definitive document was approved in May 26th. RESULTS: Non evidence supports higher risk of SARSCoV-2 healthcare workers infection with MIS compared to open surgery. MIS is associated with shorter hospital stay than open surgery. Modify MIS indications to open surgery, with no scientific evidence, could spend valuable resources in detriment to COVID-19 patients. MIS indications should be prioritized attending to available resources and pandemic intensity. SARS-CoV-2screening 72 hours prior to surgery by clinical and epidemiological questionnaire and nasopharyngeal PCRis recommended, in order to prevent nosocomial transmission, professional infections and to minimize postoperative complications. Intraoperative steps should be established to reduce professional exposure to surgical aerosols, including: surgical room reorganization, adequate personal protective equipment, surgical technique optimization and management of CO2 and surgical smoke. CONCLUSIONS In COVID-19 pandemic de-escalation, MIS carried out with optimal safety measurements, could contribute to reduce hospital resources utilization. With current evidence, MIS should not be limited or reconverted to open surgery during COVID-19 pandemic.


docid: fujxdmyo

title: Anesthesia for the child with an upper respiratory tract infection: still a dilemma?

text: One of the most controversial issues in pediatric anesthesia has revolved around the decision to proceed with anesthesia and surgery for the child who presents with an upper respiratory tract infection (URI). In the past, doctrine dictated that children with URIs have their surgery postponed until the child was symptom free. This practice was based on the empirically supported premise that anesthesia increased the risk of serious complications and complicated the child's postoperative course. Although recent clinical data confirm that some children with URIs are at increased risk of perioperative complications, these complications can, for the most part, be anticipated, recognized, and treated. Although the child with a URI still presents a challenge, anesthesiologists are now in a better position to make informed decisions regarding the assessment and management of these children, such that blanket cancellation has now become a thing of the past.


title: The role of superspreading in Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) transmission.

text: As at 15 June 2015, a large transmission cluster of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV)was ongoing in South Korea. To examine the potential for such events, we estimated the level of heterogeneity in MERS-CoV transmission by analyzing data on cluster size distributions. We found substantial potential for superspreading; even though it is likely that R0 < 1 overall, our analysis indicates that cluster sizes of over 150 cases are not unexpected forMERS-CoV infection.


title: Catheter-based renal denervation for treatment of resistant hypertension.

text: INTRODUCTION Activation of renal sympathetic nerves is associated with the development of hypertension. Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation with radiofrequency energy ablation is a new promising treatment option for resistant hypertension. We here report the first Danish experiences and results with this technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS Nine patients with resistant hypertension and a day-time 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) of 152/89 mmHg ± 10/10 (standard deviation) mmHg despite treatment with 5.4 ± 1.4 anti-hypertensive drugs underwent catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation with the Symplicity catheter. RESULTS No periprocedural complications or adverse events during follow-up were observed. Seven patients received complete ablation and two patients only partial ablation. Five patients responded to the treatment with a reduction in day-time 24-hour ambulatory BP from 158/94 ± 13/9 mmHg to 139/82 ± 10/8 mmHg (p < 0.05) at the one month follow-up and a reduction in the number of anti-hypertensive drugs from 5.4 ± 1.6 to 3.4 ± 0.9 (p < 0.05). BP in the remaining four patients was not significantly changed and antihypertensive therapy was not changed. CONCLUSION Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation is a feasible and in several cases also effective treatment option for patients with resistant hypertension. Adequately designed controlled trials are needed to assess the long-term safety and the full potential of this treatment.


title: Cellular origin and ultrastructure of membranes induced during poliovirus infection.

text: Poliovirus RNA replicative complexes are associated with cytoplasmic membranous structures that accumulate during viral infection. These membranes were immunoisolated by using a monoclonal antibody against the viral nonstructural protein 2C. Biochemical analysis of the isolated membranes revealed that several organelles of the host cell (lysosomes, trans-Golgi stack and trans-Golgi network, and endoplasmic reticulum) contributed to the virus-induced membranous structures. Electron microscopy of infected cells preserved by high-pressure freezing revealed that the virus-induced membranes contain double lipid bilayers that surround apparently cytosolic material. Immunolabeling experiments showed that poliovirus proteins 2C and 3D were localized to the same membranes as the cellular markers tested. The morphological and biochemical data are consistent with the hypothesis that autophagy or a similar host process is involved in the formation of the poliovirus-induced membranes.


Open-access chemistry databases evolving slowly but not surely.


title: Comparative study of the effects of heptameric slippery site composition on -1 frameshifting among different eukaryotic systems.

text: Studies of programmed -1 ribosomal frameshifting (-1 PRF) have been approached over the past two decades by many different laboratories using a diverse array of virus-derived frameshift signals in translational assay systems derived from a variety of sources. Though it is generally acknowledged that both absolute and relative -1 PRF efficiency can vary in an assay system-dependent manner, no methodical study of this phenomenon has been undertaken. To address this issue, a series of slippery site mutants of the SARS-associated coronavirus frameshift signal were systematically assayed in four different eukaryotic translational systems. HIV-1 promoted frameshifting was also compared between Escherichia coli and a human T-cell line expression systems. The results of these analyses highlight different aspects of each system, suggesting in general that (1) differences can be due to the assay systems themselves; (2) phylogenetic differences in ribosome structure can affect frameshifting efficiency; and (3) care must be taken to employ the closest phylogenetic match between a specific -1 PRF signal and the choice of translational assay system.


title: Development of a focus-reduction neutralizing test for detecting equine herpesvirus type-1-neutralizing antibodies.

text: Virus-neutralizing (VN) testing is essential for evaluating virus-specific immunity in equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) infection. We developed a focus-reduction neutralization test (FRNT) for EHV-1 using 96-well plates for faster large-scale testing with sufficient sensitivity. We used an overlay medium containing Avicel (FMC Biopolymer), a microcrystalline cellulose with lower viscosity than the methylcellulose. The foci were visualized by immuno-staining with anti-EHV-1 gp14 monoclonal antibody. The FRNT successfully detected seroconversion in horses experimentally infected with EHV-1 (n = 3) and in those infected naturally (n = 16). The FRNT for EHV-1 was high-throughput and time saving. The FRNT can be used in large-scale seroepidemiological studies of EHV-1 and in evaluating vaccine efficacy.


title: Computational methods for remote homolog identification.

text: As more and more protein sequences are available, homolog identification becomes increasingly important for functional, structural, and evolutional studies of proteins. Many homologous proteins were separated a very long time ago in their evolutionary history and thus their sequences share low sequence identity. These remote homologs have become a research focus in bioinformatics over the past decade, and some significant advances have been achieved. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive review on computational techniques used in remote homolog identification based on different methods, including sequence-sequence comparison, and sequence-structure comparison, and structure-structure comparison. Other miscellaneous approaches are also summarized. Pointers to the online resources of these methods and their related databases are provided. Comparisons among different methods in terms of their technical approaches, their strengths, and limitations are followed. Studies on proteins in SARS-CoV are shown as an example for remote homolog identification application.


title: Canine viruses and multiple sclerosis.

text: Serum and cerebrospinal fluid from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and control subjects were tested and compared for presence and titer of neutralizing antibody against the most common canine viruses. Canine viruses included canine distemper virus (CDV), canine adenovirus 1 (CAV-1), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), canine herpesvirus (CHV), canine coronavirus (CCV), and canine parvovirus (CPV). Neutralizing titers against measles virus (MV) and human adenovirus 8 (HA8) were also tested. Significantly elevated (p less than 0.05) antibody levels in sera from MS patients were found only against MV and CDV, but this depended upon the study population and the method of evaluation. The CDV-neutralizing component in serum could be absorbed on MV-infected cells. Results of this study failed to establish a link between canine viruses and MS.


title: Emotional and behavioral consequences of bioterrorism: planning a public health response.

text: Millions of dollars have been spent improving the public health system's bioterrorism response capabilities. Yet relatively little attention has been paid to precisely how the public will respond to bioterrorism and how emotional and behavioral responses might complicate an otherwise successful response. This article synthesizes the available evidence about the likely emotional and behavioral consequences of bioterrorism to suggest what decision makers can do now to improve that response. It examines the emotional and behavioral impact of previous "bioterrorism-like" events and summarizes interviews with experts who have responded to such events or conducted research on the effects of community-wide disasters. The article concludes by reflecting on the evidence and experts' perspectives to suggest actions to be taken now and future policy and research priorities.


title: Prevalence of rotavirus and coronavirus antigens in the feces of normal cows.

text: The prevalence of rotavirus and coronavirus shedding by adult cows was investigated using capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Fecal samples from 121 cows in a single herd were tested for the presence of rotavirus and coronavirus, either free or complexed with immunoglobulin. Free rotavirus was not detected in any samples while rotavirus-immunoglobulin complexes were detected in 53 of 121 (44%) samples tested. In contrast, free coronavirus was detected in six (5%) samples and coronavirus-immunoglobulin complexes were detected in 85 (70%) of the samples tested. Thus it appears that subclinical infection of cows by either of these viruses is common, possibly providing a source for infection of the neonate. These assays may therefore provide important information regarding the epidemiology of enteric virus infections and suggest means of improving management to prevent epidemics of neonatal diarrhea.


title: CCR7 is critically important for migration of dendritic cells in intestinal lamina propria to mesenteric lymph nodes.

text: Although dendritic cells (DCs) located in the small intestinal lamina propria (LP-DCs) migrate to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) constitutively, it is unclear which chemokines regulate their trafficking to MLNs. In this study we report that LP-DCs in unperturbed mice require CCR7 to migrate to MLNs. In vitro, LP-DCs expressing CCR7 migrated toward CCL21, although the LP-DCs appeared morphologically and phenotypically immature. In MLNs, DCs bearing the unique LP-DC phenotype (CD11chighCD8alphaintCD11blowalphaLlowbeta7high and CD11chighCD8alpha-CD11bhighalphaLlowbeta7high) were abundant in wild-type mice, but were markedly fewer in CCL19-, CCL21-Ser-deficient plt/plt mice and were almost absent in CCR7-deficient mice, indicating the critical importance of CCR7 in LP-DC trafficking to MLNs. Interestingly, CCR7+ DCs in MLNs with the unique LP-DC phenotype had numerous vacuoles containing cellular debris in the cytoplasm, although MLN-DCs themselves were poorly phagocytic, suggesting that the debris was derived from the LP, where the LP-DCs ingested apoptotic intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). Consistent with this, LP-DCs ingested IECs vigorously in vitro. By presenting IEC-associated Ag, the LP-DCs also induce T cells to produce IL-4 and IL-10. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that LP-DCs with unique immunomodulatory activities migrate to MLNs in a CCR7-dependent manner to engage in the presentation of IEC-associated Ags acquired in the LP.


title: [Detection of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus by Reverse-transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification].

text: A simple, rapid and sensitive colorimetric reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) was developed for rapid detection of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The method employed six primers that recognized sequences of a nucleocapsid gene for amplification of nucleic acids under isothermal conditions at 63 degrees C for 60 min. Products were detected through a LA-320c Loopamp Turbidimeter (real-time RT-LAMP) or visual inspection of color change by pre-addition of Hydroxynaphthol Blue dye (visual RT-LAMP). Specificity of RT-LAMP was validated by detection of several human coronaviruses and common respiratory viruses. MERS-CoV real-time RT-LAMP had a linear correlation (R2) of 0.995 at 10(3)-10(6) copies. The limit of detection of real-time RT-LAMP, visual RT-LAMP and quantitative real-time PCR was 500, 1000 and 100 copies/reaction, respectively. The established RT-LAMP assay was demonstrated to be a rapid screening tool for MERS-CoV infection, and could be suitable in resource-limited clinical sites and for field studies.


title: Application of RT-Bst to enhance detection of pathogenic viruses of the respiratory tract.

text: Inefficiency of RT-PCR can be associated with the suboptimal process of reverse transcription as only 40-80% of RNA is converted to cDNA. We employed a novel method, RT-Bst, to enrich the concentration of cDNA for subsequent multiplex PCR detection of selected RNA viruses. The RT-Bst method amplifies cDNA through reverse transcription of viral RNA using reverse transcriptase and amplification of cDNA using Bst DNA polymerase. Viral RNA was extracted from 25 nasopharyngeal samples for detection of influenza A, B and C; parainfluenza 1-4; human coronaviruses 229E and OC43; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and rhinovirus. Both multiplex one-step RT-PCR and RT-Bst PCR were used to compare their performances for detection of virus sequences. These findings were compared with routine laboratory detection. When using RT-Bst PCR, 28% of samples yielded a viral pathogen compared to 20% with RT-PCR and 12% using routine diagnostic tests. RT-Bst PCR was shown to have particular utility in the detection of RSV RNA as this was present in 20% of the samples studied compared to 8% when using RT-PCR. For one patient, RT-Bst PCR was able to detect RSV five days earlier than conventional hospital diagnostic testing. RT-Bst and RT-Bst PCR can be used as alternative approaches to reverse transcription and one-step RT-PCR, respectively, for sequence-independent amplification of RNA virus sequences and a larger scale analysis of this new diagnostic approach is warranted.


title: Vaccines for the prevention of respiratory viral infections: problems and current status.

text: Acute respiratory virus infections cause the majority of lower respiratory tract illnesses and hospitalisations of infants and the elderly. The emergence of new respiratory viruses and a high probability that influenza will cause further pandemics highlights the necessity for developing better preventative strategies. Although there is a clear and pressing need for vaccines to prevent respiratory syncytial virus, rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, parainfluenza and human metapneumovirus, progress has been extremely slow. This review presents the current status of vaccine development for respiratory viral diseases and outlines novel approaches for the future.


title: Correlation between blood and lymphatic vessel density and results of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography.

text: UNLABELLED Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a novel technique used for detection of tumour vascularity by imaging the moment in which contrast, delivered to the lesion by blood vessels, leaks out of them, and flows out through lymphatic vessels. In our study, we included 174 women for whom spectral mammography was performed for diagnostic purposes. The relationship between enhancement in CESM and blood vessel density (BVD), lymphatic vessel density (LVD) or the percentage of fields with at least one lymphatic vessel (distribution of podoplanin-positive vessels - DPV) and other related parameters was assessed in 55 cases. BVD, LVD and DPV were assessed immunohistochemically, applying podoplanin and CD31/CD34 as markers of lymphatic and blood vessels, respectively. The sensitivity (in detection of malignant lesions) of CESM was 100%, while its specificity - 39%. We found a significant positive correlation between the intensity of enhancement in CESM and BVD (p = 0.007, r = 0.357) and a negative correlation between the intensity of enhancement in CESM and DPV (p = 0.003, r = -0.390). Lesions with the highest enhancement in CESM showed a high number of blood vessels and a low number of lymphatics. CONCLUSIONS 1) CESM is a method characterized by high sensitivity and acceptable specificity; 2) the correlation between CESM results and blood/lymphatic vessel density confirms its utility in detection of tissue angiogenesis and/or lymphangiogenesis.


docid: jxqngqei

title: Biochemical aspects of coronavirus replication and virus-host interaction.

text: Infection by different coronaviruses (CoVs) causes alterations in the transcriptional and translational patterns, cell cycle, cytoskeleton, and apoptosis pathways of the host cells. In addition, CoV infection may cause inflammation, alter immune and stress responses, and modify the coagulation pathways. The balance between the up- and downregulated genes could explain the pathogenesis caused by these viruses. We review specific aspects of CoV-host interactions. CoV genome replication takes place in the cytoplasm in a membrane-protected microenvironment and may control the cell machinery by locating some of their proteins in the host cell nucleus. CoVs initiate translation by cap-dependent and cap-independent mechanisms. CoV transcription involves a discontinuous RNA synthesis (template switching) during the extension of a negative copy of the subgenomic mRNAs. The requirement for base-pairing during transcription has been formally demonstrated in arteriviruses and CoVs. CoV N proteins have RNA chaperone activity that may help initiate template switching. Both viral and cellular proteins are required for replication and transcription, and the role of selected proteins is addressed.


title: Arterial aneurysms associated with arteriovenous malformations of the brain: classification, incidence, risk of hemorrhage, and treatment-a systematic review.

text: BACKGROUND Aneurysms associated with brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) influence the natural history of these lesions and pose important therapeutic challenges. However, the epidemiology, natural history, and appropriate management of the aneurysms associated with bAVMs are not completely understood due to the paucity of large and uniform studies. We performed a systematic review of published series examining the association between aneurysms and bAVMs with the purpose of clarifying the prevalence, risk of hemorrhage, and appropriate management of these lesions. METHOD PRISMA/MOOSE guidelines were followed. We conducted a comprehensive literature search of three databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Ovid EMBASE) on aneurysms associated with bAVMs. Only studies examining consecutive case series of aneurysms associated with bAVMs were included. From the collected studies, we extracted data regarding prevalence of bAVM-associated aneurysms, risk of aneurysm rupture in relation to bAVM location and aneurysm characteristics, and treatment-related outcomes. RESULTS Our systematic review included 44 articles with a total of 10,093 bAVMs. The proportion of bAVMs with an associated aneurysm was 20.2 % (95 % CI = 19.4-20.9 %). Among ruptured bAVMs with associated aneurysms, the aneurysm was the source of hemorrhage in 49.2 % (95 % CI = 43.7-54.7 %) of cases. Flow-related aneurysms were the most common source of aneurysm rupture (78.5 %, 95 % CI = 70.6-84.9 %). Infratentorial bAVM-associated aneurysms presented a higher risk of rupture (60 %, 95 % CI = 47.4-71.9 %) when compared with supratentorial lesions (29 %, 95 % CI = 21.4-38.5 %). Endovascular treatment of aneurysms associated with bAVMs had a cure rate of 80.0 % (95 % CI = 73.3-85.3 %), complication rate of 8.7 % (95 % CI = 5.5-13.1 %), and a good neurological outcome rate of 78.8 % (95 % CI = 72.5-83.9 %). CONCLUSIONS Twenty percent of bAVMs harbored arterial aneurysms. The presence of aneurysm increases the risk of bleeding of the bAVM, especially when flow-related or infratentorially located. Aneurysms associated with bAVMs should be treated promptly. Selective endovascular treatment of bAVM-associated aneurysms appears safe and effective.


title: Carboxyl terminus of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nucleocapsid protein: self-association analysis and nucleic acid binding characterization.

text: Coronavirus nucleocapsid (N) protein envelops the genomic RNA to form long helical nucleocapsid during virion assembly. Since N protein oligomerization is usually a crucial step in this process, characterization of such an oligomerization will help in the understanding of the possible mechanisms for nucleocapsid formation. The N protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) was recently discovered to self-associate by its carboxyl terminus. In this study, to further address the detailed understanding of the association feature of this C-terminus, its oligomerization was systematically investigated by size exclusion chromatography and chemical cross-linking assays. Our results clearly indicated that the C-terminal domain of SARS-CoV N protein could form not only dimers but also trimers, tetramers, and hexamers. Further analyses against six deletion mutants showed that residues 343-402 were necessary and sufficient for this C-terminus oligomerization. Although this segment contains many charged residues, differences in ionic strength have no effects on its oligomerization, indicating the absence of electrostatic force in SARS-CoV N protein C-terminus self-association. Gel shift assay results revealed that the SARS-CoV N protein C-terminus is also able to associate with nucleic acids and residues 363-382 are the responsible interaction partner, demonstrating that this fragment might involve genomic RNA binding sites. The fact that nucleic acid binding could promote the SARS-CoV N protein C-terminus to form high-order oligomers implies that the oligomeric SARS-CoV N protein probably combines with the viral genomic RNA in triggering long nucleocapsid formation.


title: Quantitative systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing antibiotic with placebo for acute cough in adults.

text: OBJECTIVES To assess whether antibiotic treatment for acute cough is effective and to measure the side effects of such treatment. DESIGN Quantitative systematic review of randomised placebo controlled trials. DATA SOURCES Nine trials (8 published, 1 unpublished) retrieved from a systematic search (electronic databases, contact with authors, contact with drug manufacturers, reference lists); no restriction on language. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of subjects with productive cough at follow up (7-11 days after consultation with general practitioner); proportion of subjects who had not improved clinically at follow up; proportion of subjects who reported side effects from taking antibiotic or placebo. RESULTS Eight trials contributed to the meta-analysis. Resolution of cough was not affected by antibiotic treatment (relative risk 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.73 to 1.00)), neither was clinical improvement at re-examination (relative risk 0.62 (0.36 to 1.09)). The side effects of antibiotic were more common in the antibiotic group when compared to placebo (relative risk 1.51 (0.86 to 2.64)). CONCLUSIONS Treatment with antibiotic does not affect the resolution of cough or alter the course of illness. The benefits of antibiotic treatment are marginal for most patients with acute cough and may be outweighed by the side effects of treatment.


title: Daily Situation Report on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Iran; March 22, 2020.

text: To forecast the COVID-19 epidemic trend in Iran, a set of dynamic models were created. In these models, the effect of climate and community behavior change on the reproductive number is modeled. A baseline scenario is also defined as letting the epidemic grow naturally, with no prevention/control interventions. Different levels of intervention are also defined based on the extent of population isolation. Outcomes of each scenario on the number of infected cases are computed. Modeling results shows that if effective isolation occurs in 10% of the population, 307,000 individuals will be infected with COVID-19 in Iran by May 20, 2020. For an isolation rate of 25%, started since March 10, 2020, cumulative number of deaths will be 13,450 individuals by May 20, 2020. If preventive efforts can reach a 32% effective isolation rate, a considerable decrease in the number of new cases would be expected during April and May, and the total number of deaths would decrease to 8,630. If the isolation rate increases to 40%, the total number of infected individuals is expected to be 6,030 individuals. It should be acknowledged that this model predicts the number of deaths of all COVID-19 cases, including those who will not be confirmed as COVID-19, because of non-testing or death prior to COVID-19 identification. This serious health issue requires both long-term and short-term planning and arrangements. Social distancing, and identification and isolation of suspected and confirmed cases are believed to be the most important and effective control measure, and should be strengthened soon. For further details on the methodology and results of these models, please visit: http://corona.behdasht.gov.ir/files/site1/files/Covid_Modeling_V14_26.12.98.pdf.


Will travel restrictions control the international spread of pandemic influenza?


title: Murine coronavirus replication induces cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase.

text: Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) replication in actively growing DBT and 17Cl-1 cells resulted in the inhibition of host cellular DNA synthesis and the accumulation of infected cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase of the cell cycle. UV-irradiated MHV failed to inhibit host cellular DNA synthesis. MHV infection in quiescent 17Cl-1 cells that had been synchronized in the G(0) phase by serum deprivation prevented infected cells from entering the S phase after serum stimulation. MHV replication inhibited hyperphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb), the event that is necessary for cell cycle progression through late G(1) and into the S phase. While the amounts of the cellular cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors p21(Cip1), p27(Kip1), and p16(INK4a) did not change in infected cells, MHV infection in asynchronous cultures induced a clear reduction in the amounts of Cdk4 and G(1) cyclins (cyclins D1, D2, D3, and E) in both DBT and 17Cl-1 cells and a reduction in Cdk6 levels in 17Cl-1 cells. Infection also resulted in a decrease in Cdk2 activity in both cell lines. MHV infection in quiescent 17Cl-1 cells prevented normal increases in Cdk4, Cdk6, cyclin D1, and cyclin D3 levels after serum stimulation. The amounts of cyclin D2 and cyclin E were not increased significantly after serum stimulation in mock-infected cells, whereas they were decreased in MHV-infected cells, suggesting the possibility that MHV infection may induce cyclin D2 and cyclin E degradation. Our data suggested that a reduction in the amounts of G(1) cyclin-Cdk complexes in MHV-infected cells led to a reduction in Cdk activities and insufficient hyperphosphorylation of pRb, resulting in inhibition of the cell cycle in the G(0)/G(1) phase.


Letter by Venema et al Regarding Article, "Analysis of Workflow and Time to Treatment on Thrombectomy Outcome in the Endovascular Treatment for Small Core and Proximal Occlusion Ischemic Stroke (ESCAPE) Randomized, Controlled Trial".


title: [Severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemiology in Sichuan province].

text: OBJECTIVE To explore the epidemiological characters of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Sichuan province in order to provide evidence for prevention and control. METHODS To generate data on SARS in Sichuan province through descriptive and analytical studies on time, geographic distribution, population, source of infection, the way of case finding, symptom, diagnosis and treatment of the cases. RESULTS The peak of the epidemic last from April 16 to May 7. The number of cases in Luzhou and Guangyuan cities took up 60% of the total. Mobile population occupied 68% of the cases. Most of the patients were above the age of 20 with a sex ratio of 1.5:1 (m/f). 80% of the cases had a history of working in Guangdong province and recently returned to their hometowns. The main symptoms and signs of the SARS patients would include fever, cough and chest X-ray changes. CONCLUSION All cases were imported. Fluctuation of the epidemics was mainly affected by the mobility of working population who recently returned to their hometowns. Measures concerning the prevention and control of the epidemics would mainly target on the isolation of confirmed and suspected patients who might serve as the sources of infection through setting up quarantine station, assigned hospitals and special 'fever-clinics'.


title: Stability of SARS coronavirus in human specimens and environment and its sensitivity to heating and UV irradiation.

text: OBJECTIVE The causal agent for SARS is considered as a novel coronavirus that has never been described both in human and animals previously. The stability of SARS coronavirus in human specimens and in environments was studied. METHODS Using a SARS coronavirus strain CoV-P9, which was isolated from pharyngeal swab of a probable SARS case in Beijing, its stability in mimic human specimens and in mimic environment including surfaces of commonly used materials or in household conditions, as well as its resistance to temperature and UV irradiation were analyzed. A total of 10(6) TCID50 viruses were placed in each tested condition, and changes of the viral infectivity in samples after treatments were measured by evaluating cytopathic effect (CPE) in cell line Vero-E6 at 48 h after infection. RESULTS The results showed that SARS coronavirus in the testing condition could survive in serum, 1:20 diluted sputum and feces for at least 96 h, whereas it could remain alive in urine for at least 72 h with a low level of infectivity. The survival abilities on the surfaces of eight different materials and in water were quite comparable, revealing reduction of infectivity after 72 to 96 h exposure. Viruses stayed stable at 4 degrees C, at room temperature (20 degrees C) and at 37 degrees C for at least 2 h without remarkable change in the infectious ability in cells, but were converted to be non-infectious after 90-, 60- and 30-min exposure at 56 degrees C, at 67 degrees C and at 75 degrees C, respectively. Irradiation of UV for 60 min on the virus in culture medium resulted in the destruction of viral infectivity at an undetectable level. CONCLUSION The survival ability of SARS coronavirus in human specimens and in environments seems to be relatively strong. Heating and UV irradiation can efficiently eliminate the viral infectivity.


title: Leukocyte-specific protein 1 interacts with DC-SIGN and mediates transport of HIV to the proteasome in dendritic cells.

text: Dendritic cells (DCs) capture and internalize human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 through C-type lectins, including DC-SIGN. These cells mediate efficient infection of T cells by concentrating the delivery of virus through the infectious synapse, a process dependent on the cytoplasmic domain of DC-SIGN. Here, we identify a cellular protein that binds specifically to the cytoplasmic region of DC-SIGN and directs internalized virus to the proteasome. This cellular protein, leukocyte-specific protein 1 (LSP1), was defined biochemically by immunoprecipitation and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. LSP1 is an F-actin binding protein involved in leukocyte motility and found on the cytoplasmic surface of the plasma membrane. LSP1 interacted specifically with DC-SIGN and other C-type lectins, but not the inactive mutant DC-SIGNDelta35, which lacks a cytoplasmic domain and shows altered virus transport in DCs. LSP1 diverts HIV-1 to the proteasome. Down-regulation of LSP1 with specific small interfering RNAs in human DCs enhanced HIV-1 transfer to T cells, and bone marrow DCs from lsp1(-/-) mice also showed an increase in transfer of HIV-1(BaL) to a human T cell line. Proteasome inhibitors increased retention of viral proteins in lsp1(+/+) DCs, and substantial colocalization of virus to the proteasome was observed in wild-type compared with LSP1-deficient cells. Collectively, these data suggest that LSP1 protein facilitates virus transport into the proteasome after its interaction with DC-SIGN through its interaction with cytoskeletal proteins.


title: An initial investigation of the association between the SARS outbreak and weather: with the view of the environmental temperature and its variation.

text: OBJECTIVE To understand the association between the SARS outbreak and the environmental temperature, and to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control measures against it. METHODS The daily numbers of the probable SARS patients and the daily meteorological factors during the SARS outbreak period in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing, and Taiyuan were used in the data analysis. Ecological analysis was conducted to explore the association between the daily numbers of probable SARS patients and the environmental temperature and its variations. RESULTS There was a significant correlation between the SARS cases and the environmental temperature seven days before the onset and the seven day time lag corresponds well with the known incubation period for SARS. The optimum environmental temperature associated with the SARS cases was between 16 degrees C to 28 degrees C, which may encourage virus growth. A sharp rise or decrease in the environmental temperature related to the cold spell led to an increase of the SARS cases because of the possible influence of the weather on the human immune system. This study provided some evidence that there is a higher possibility for SARS to reoccur in spring than that in autumn and winter. CONCLUSION Current knowledge based on case studies of the SARS outbreak in the four cities suggested that the SARS outbreaks were significantly associated with the temperature and its variations. However, because the fallacy and the uncontrolled confounding effects might have biased the results, the possibility of other meteorological factors having an affect on the SARS outbreaks deserves further investigation.


docid: qjbywqbs

title: The prevalence of types I and II feline coronavirus infections in cats.

text: The types of feline coronaviruses that are prevalent throughout Japan were determined by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) Type II and neutralizing test using Type II FIPV as challenge virus. A total of 1,079 cat serum samples were tested by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) assay for FIPV Type II antigen, all 42 sample from natural cases of FIP, 138 of 647 (21.3%) from cases with some chronic diseases and 57 of 390 (14.6%) from apparently non-diseased cases were positive. Of the 42 cases with FIP, 29 (69%) and 13 (31%) were found to have infection with FIPV Types I and II, respectively. Of the cases with chronic diseases, 111 (80.4%) were shown to have infection with FIPV or FECV Type I, while 14 (10.1%) with FIPV or FECV Type II. All of the 57 apparently non-diseased cases seemed to have been infected with FIPV or FECV Type I. These results indicated that feline coronavirus Type I is more high prevalent in Japan.


title: Severe acute respiratory syndrome: correlation between clinical outcome and radiologic features.

text: PURPOSE To evaluate whether there is a correlation between the clinical outcomes and radiologic features of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). MATERIALS AND METHODS The clinical, laboratory, and radiologic features of 138 patients with SARS were analyzed. Three radiologists in consensus retrospectively assessed the frontal chest radiographs obtained at presentation and during treatment (n = 2045) for the distribution (each lung was divided into upper, middle, and lower zones) and extent of lung parenchymal abnormality. Clinical end points included intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death. RESULTS Thirty-six (26.1%) patients required ICU care, and eight (5.8%) died. The patients who required ICU care and/or died had more extensive consolidation on chest radiographs obtained initially (median percentage of consolidation, 3.30%, with interquartile range [IR] of 1.70%-8.78% vs 1.70% [IR, 0%-3.30%]; P < .001) and on day 7 after fever onset (median percentage of consolidation, 15.00% [IR, 6.48%-28.73%] vs 5.00% [IR, 2.50%-7.50%]; P < .001) than did surviving patients who did not require ICU care. Patients with involvement of more than one lung zone on initial and day 7 chest radiographs were more likely to require ICU care and/or die than were those with involvement of one or fewer zones (P < .001). Patients with bilateral pneumonic changes at presentation were more likely to have an adverse outcome than were those with unilateral pneumonia (P < .001). Involvement of more than one lung zone at baseline chest radiography was an independent predictor of ICU admission and/or death (odds ratio, 3.16; 95% confidence interval: 1.07, 9.32; P = .037) after adjustments for other significant factors (ie, patient age, and baseline neutrophil count and lactate dehydrogenase level). CONCLUSION More extensive airspace disease at presentation is an independent predictor of adverse outcome in patients with SARS.


docid: egsuykbu

title: Detection of rodent coronaviruses by use of fluorogenic reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis.

text: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays have proved useful for the detection of mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) and rat coronavirus (RCV) in acutely infected animals and contaminated biomaterials. Fluorogenic nuclease RT-PCR assays combine RT-PCR with an internal fluorogenic hybridization probe, thereby eliminating post-PCR processing and potentially enhancing specificity. Consequently, a fluorogenic nuclease RT-PCR assay specific for rodent coronaviruses was developed. Primer and probe sequences were selected from the viral genome segment that encodes the membrane (M) protein that is highly conserved among rodent coronaviruses. Use of the fluorogenic nuclease RT-PCR detected all strains of MHV and RCV that were evaluated, but did not detect other RNA viruses that naturally infect rodents. Use of the assay detected as little as two femtograms of in vitro transcribed RNA generated from cloned amplicon, and when compared directly with mouse antibody production tests, had similar sensitivity at detecting MHV-A59 in infected cell culture lysates. Finally, use of the assay detected coronavirus RNA in tissues, cage swipes, and feces obtained from mice experimentally infected with MHV, and in tissues and cage swipes obtained from rats naturally infected with RCV. These results indicate that the fluorogenic nuclease RT-PCR assay should provide a potentially high-throughput, PCR-based method to detect rodent coronaviruses in infected rodents and contaminated biological materials.


title: Current and predicted trends in the production, consumption and trade of live animals and their products.

text: Changes in livestock production, driven by both demand- and supply-side factors, have been significant worldwide. Though historically the developed world was a large supplier of meat and livestock for the developing world, the developing world has rapidly increased production and is meeting more of its growing domestic demand. Many regions of the developing world, however, do not produce enough currently to meet their domestic demand and continue to import more than they produce. There are exceptions, such as Brazil, Thailand, the People's Republic of China and India, where growth in livestock production has been rapid. It is anticipated that in the future many of the developing countries will increase domestic production to meet growing domestic demand. By 2030, beef will probably still be the most significant meat import of developing countries and milk will have more than doubled as a net export of the developed world.


title: β-coronavirus infectious diseases: recommended strategies for the prevention and control of transmission.

text: In recent years, the incidence and mortality of infectious diseases in China are increasing. Infectious diseases, especially new infectious diseases, seriously threaten people's lives. Recent works found that most of the emerging infectious diseases come from wild life. At the same time, the impact of human activities on the environment has further deteriorated the living environment of wildlife. However, with the conducted in-depth research on virus, human beings increase the risk of getting infected. Taking Beta Coronavirus as the example, we analyzed the transmission risks of coronavirus in the prevention and control of the outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases, and recommend the prevention and control strategies before, during and after the viral outbreak. Additional works are urgently needed to better define the biological and epidemiological characteristics of these viruses.


title: [Immunological characteristics of 1291 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Beijing].

text: OBJECTIVE To investigate the immunological characteristics of the cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Beijing City. METHODS Clinical data of 1291 patients with SARS from March to July 2003 in Beijing City were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS In patients with SARS, the absolute numbers of white blood cells, lymphocytes and CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) lymphocyte subsets decreased during the early period of the disease, being manifested in 56.91%, 88.26%, 47.96%, 45.56% and 41.10% of the patients, respectively. During the first 3 days the median numbers of CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) were 425 x 10(6)/L, 223 x 10(6)/L, 170 x 10(6)/L, respectively, being the lowest values in the course of the disease. During the second week the corresponding numbers were 536 x 10(6)/L, 267 x 10(6)/L, 224 x 10(6)/L, respectively; they returned to normal by the fourth week (P < 0.05), showing a trend of gradual increase during the disease progression. Comparison of different time points of the same cases also showed that CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) were lowest in the first 1 - 3 days. The median number of CD(3) was higher (954 x 10(6)/L) during week 3, and there was no significant difference among other 3 weeks (P > 0.05). In the early period of the disease the CRP increased but ESR, C(3) and C(4) were still in normal ranges. CONCLUSIONS In the early period of SARS, the WBC, lymphocytes, CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) lymphocyte subsets decreased remarkably, and they tended to increase as the disease progressed. Simultaneous decreases in CD(3), CD(4) and CD(8) during the first week is a characteristic immunological change, which may facilitate the early diagnosis of SARS.


title: Demystifying bioterrorism: misinformation and misperceptions.

text: The true threat of bioterrorism remains mysterious and elusive to the common citizen. It principally has become the dominion of a few "experts", many of whom have limited apparent expertise, who have failed to effectively communicate the risks and realities to society, and have instead created an air of uncertainty surrounding the topic. Unlike the great classic deceptions of modern life (e.g., "the check is in the mail"), the misinformation and misperceptions associated with bioterrorism can be dangerous and are not merely humorous. Indeed, it is possible to grasp the facts as well as fallacies associated with bioterrorism, and, as a result, demystify this nightmare scenario and prepare for the "unthinkable".


title: Ecchymoses as an adverse effect of fluoxetine treatment.

text: We report a case of a 28-year-old major depressive female patient who manifested ecchymoses following fluoxetine use. After substitution of sertraline, her depression resolved after 4 weeks and ecchymoses 1.5 months latter. This is an unexplored side-effect with unknown long-term consequences that warrants further study.


docid: jgjarfvg

title: Foamy virus envelope glycoprotein is sufficient for particle budding and release.

text: Foamy viruses (FVs) are classified in the family Retroviridae, but recent data have shown that they are not conventional retroviruses. Notably, several characteristics of their particle replication strategies are more similar to those of hepatitis B virus (HBV) than those of typical retroviruses. Compared to conventional retroviruses, which require only Gag proteins for budding and release of virus-like particles (VLPs), both FV and HBV require Env proteins. In the case of HBV, Env (S protein) alone is sufficient to form subviral particles (SVPs). Because FVs also depend on Env for budding, we tested whether FV Env alone could produce SVPs. The Env proteins of FV and murine leukemia virus (MuLV) were both released into cell culture supernatants and migrated into isopycnic gradients; however, unlike MuLV Env, FV Env displayed characteristics of SVPs. FV Env particles were of greater density than those of MuLV (1.11 versus 1.07 g/ml, respectively), which strongly suggested that the released proteins of FV Env were particulate. When we examined FV SVPs by immunoelectron microscopy, we found particles that were consistent in morphology, size, and staining with gold beads, similar to FV VLPs and unlike the particle-like structures of MuLV Env, which were more consistent with vesicles produced from nonspecific membrane "blebbing." Taken together, our results demonstrated that FV Env alone is sufficient for particle budding. This finding is unique among retroviruses and further demonstrated the similarities between FV and HBV.


title: Outcomes of the adjustable gastric band in a publicly funded obesity program.

text: BACKGROUND Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) is considered a safe and effective treatment for severe obesity and obesity-related comorbidities. We sought to examine the outcome of LAGB delivered through a Canadian publicly funded obesity program. METHODS We retrospectively analysed the cases of patients who underwent LAGB within a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, publically funded obesity program. RESULTS A total of 178 patients underwent LAGB. Mean percentage total body weight loss at 1, 2 and 3 years was 15.8%, 20.7% and 20.3%, respectively. The most common short-term complication was postoperative nausea (19%). The medium-term complications included band migration (5.6%) and port site complications, band leakage and incisional hernia at 1% each. The reoperation rate was 4.5%. The mean surgery duration was 56 minutes and the mean length of stay was 1.4 days. The average numbers of clinic visits and band adjustments were highest in the first year. The most common investigation for postoperative symptoms was fluoroscopy (86%). An outcome comparison between the 2 generations of the REALIZE gastric band was inconclusive, requiring further data collection. CONCLUSION Publicly funded LAGB results in effective weight loss and acceptable safety over the short term. Our patients may represent a distinct population that differs from that in the private system. Long-term data are necessary to determine the cost-effectiveness of this important surgical option for severe obesity.


title: Exogenous ACE2 expression allows refractory cell lines to support severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus replication.

text: Of 30 cell lines and primary cells examined, productive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Urbani strain) (SARS-CoV) infection after low-multiplicity inoculation was detected in only six: three African green monkey kidney epithelial cell lines (Vero, Vero E6, and MA104), a human colon epithelial line (CaCo-2), a porcine kidney epithelial line [PK(15)], and mink lung epithelial cells (Mv 1 Lu). SARS-CoV produced a lytic infection in Vero, Vero E6, and MA104 cells, but there was no visible cytopathic effect in Caco-2, Mv 1 Lu, or PK(15) cells. Multistep growth kinetics were identical in Vero E6 and MA104 cells, with maximum titer reached 24 h postinoculation (hpi). Virus titer was maximal 96 hpi in CaCo-2 cells, and virus was continually produced from infected CaCo-2 cells for at least 6 weeks after infection. CaCo-2 was the only human cell type of 13 tested that supported efficient SARS-CoV replication. Expression of the SARS-CoV receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), resulted in SARS-CoV replication in all refractory cell lines examined. Titers achieved were variable and dependent upon the method of ACE2 expression.


title: [Preparation and characterization of the epitopes of SARS coronavirus spike protein].

text: AIM To prepare the recombinant epitopes of SARS-CoV spike protein and study their antigenic property to spike protein. METHODS The epitopes of SARS-CoV spike protein were analyzed by epitope prediction software. A novel gene, named Z, encoding 16 predicted epitopes of spike protein was designed and synthesized using chemical method. Z gene was cloned into vector pET-28a(+), expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3) and purified by Ni(2+) affinity method. Z protein was used as antigen to immunize the rabbit and anti-Z sera was collected. Then the antigenic property of Z protein to SARS-CoV spike protein was analyzed by dot-blot and ELISA assay. RESULTS Z gene was successfully designed and expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3). Dot blot analysis showed that SARS-CoV spike protein, which was expressed and purified from mammal cells, can be detected by anti-Z sera from rabbit. ELISA analysis indicated the SARS-CoV antigen prepared from SARS-CoV lysates can be detected by anti-Z sera. CONCLUSION The predicted epitopes of Z protein can induce the development of SARS-CoV spike protein antibody in rabbits, which provides a new protein for developing vaccine against SARS-CoV.