Anesthetic management of a patient after functional hemispherectomy using bilateral bispectral index monitoring.


title: Antigenic and genomic characterization of turkey enterovirus-like virus (North Carolina, 1988 isolate): identification of the virus as turkey astrovirus 2.

text: A small round virus (SRV) was isolated in 1988 from droppings of enteritis-affected turkeys in North Carolina and tentatively identified as an enterovirus on the basis of size (18-24 nm in diameter), intracytoplasmic morphogenesis, and a single-stranded RNA genome of approximately 7.5 kb. Additional characterization studies based on antigenic and genomic analyses were done to determine the relationship of this turkey enterovirus-like virus (TELV) to turkey astrovirus 2 (TAstV2), a recently characterized SRV of turkeys. Cross-immunofluorescence studies with TELV- and TAstV2-specific antisera indicated a close antigenic relationship between these viruses. TELV RNA was amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedures with oligonucleotide primers specific for TAstV2 polymerase gene (open reading frame [ORF] 1b) and capsid protein gene (ORF 2). Subsequent sequence analyses of these TELV-derived RT-PCR products indicated a high degree of similarity with polymerase gene (98.8%) and capsid gene (96.9%) of TAstV2. These studies definitively identify TELV (North Carolina, 1988 isolate) as TAstV2.


title: Structural proteins of bovine coronavirus and their intracellular processing.

text: The Quebec isolate of bovine coronavirus (BCV) was found to contain four unique major structural proteins. These proteins consisted of the peplomeric protein (gp190/E2, gp100/E2), the nucleocapsid protein (p53/N) and its apparent trimer (p160/N), a family of small matrix glycoproteins (gp26/E1, gp25/E1 and p23/E1) and the putative haemagglutinin (gp124/E3). Pulse-chase experiments utilizing polyclonal antiserum and monoclonal antibodies indicated that the unique BCV E3 protein had its primary precursor an N-linked glycoprotein with an Mr of 59,000 (gp59) which underwent rapid dimerization by disulphide bond formation to yield gp118. Further glycosylation of gp118 produced gp124/E3 which incorporated fucose. Thus gp124/E3 was probably a homodimer. The processing of the E2 and E1 proteins of BCV was similar to that shown previously for mouse hepatitis virus. A large N-linked precursor glycoprotein, gp170, underwent further glycosylation to yield gp190/E2 before subsequent proteolytic cleavage to yield gp100/E2. The glycosylated E1 (gp26, gp25) proteins arose as a result of O-linked glycosylation of p23/E1 as indicated by the resistance of these species to tunicamycin.


title: Epidemiologic herd-level assessment of causative agents and risk factors for winter dysentery in dairy cattle.

text: OBJECTIVE To test the association between exposure to bovine coronavirus (BCV) and outbreaks of winter dysentery (WD) in dairy herds and to examine other risk factors for outbreaks of WD in dairy herds. ANIMALS 12 dairy herds in Ohio affected with WD (case herds). For each case herd, 2 unaffected herds from the same area were concurrently used as control herds. PROCEDURE A case-control study was conducted, using herds as the unit of investigation. Multivariate logistic regression modeling was used to identify risk factors for contracting disease. RESULTS 4 factors appeared to increase a herd's risk for WD: increase in herd prevalence of adult cows that had a fourfold or more increase in BCV serum IgG antibody titer; increase in herd prevalence of adult cows that had a fourfold or more increase in bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) titer; housing cattle in tiestall or stanchion barns rather than free-stall facilities; and use of equipment to handle manure and subsequently handle feed. The adjusted population-attributable risk for these variables was 71, 43, 53, and 31%, respectively, and 99% overall, indicating that these variables had considerable impact on WD outbreaks for the study population. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In dairies in Ohio, recent herd exposure to BCV appeared to increase the risk for WD outbreaks. Some WD outbreaks might have been associated with acute BVDV infection. Certain housing and management practices may have increased the risk of an outbreak of WD.


[No time to waste; plea for scientific validity and against prolific authorship].


title: High rate of viral evolution associated with the emergence of carnivore parvovirus.

text: Canine parvovirus (CPV) is an emerging DNA virus that was first observed to cause disease in canines in 1978 and has since become a ubiquitous pathogen worldwide. CPV emerged from feline panleukopenia parvovirus (FPLV) or a closely related virus, differing at several key amino acid residues. Here we characterize the evolutionary processes underlying the emergence of CPV. Although FPLV has remained an endemic infection in its host populations, we show that, since the 1970s, the newly emerged CPV has undergone an epidemic-like pattern of logistic/exponential growth, effectively doubling its population size every few years. This rapid population growth was associated with a lineage of CPV that acquired a broader host range and greater infectivity. Recombination played no role in the emergence of CPV. Rather, any preexisting variation in the donor species and the subsequent rapid adaptation of the virus to canines were likely dependent on a high rate of mutation and the positive selection of mutations in the major capsid gene. Strikingly, although these single-stranded viruses have a DNA genome and use cellular replication machinery, their rate of nucleotide substitution is closer to that of RNA viruses than to that of double-stranded DNA viruses.


title: Isolation of coronaviruses antigenically indistinguishable from bovine coronavirus from wild ruminants with diarrhea.

text: Diarrheal feces from three sambar deer and one waterbuck in a wild animal habitat and one white-tailed deer on a wildlife farm in Ohio contained coronavirus particles which were agglutinated by antiserum to bovine coronavirus (BCV) in immune electron microscopy. Three coronavirus strains were isolated in human rectal tumor cells from the feces of the sambar and white-tailed deer and the waterbuck, respectively. Hemagglutination, receptor-destroying enzyme activity, indirect immunofluorescence, hemagglutination inhibition, virus neutralization, and Western blot (immunoblot) tests showed close biological and antigenic relationships among the isolates and with selected BCV strains. Gnotobiotic and colostrum-deprived calves inoculated with each of these isolates developed diarrhea and shed coronavirus in their feces and from their nasal passages. In a serological survey of coronavirus infections among wild deer, 8.7 and 6.6% of sera from mule deer in Wyoming and from white-tailed deer in Ohio, respectively, were seropositive against both of the isolates and selected BCV isolates by indirect immunofluorescence tests. These results confirm the existence of coronaviruses in wild ruminants and suggest that these species may harbor coronavirus strains transmissible to cattle.


title: Design of potential RNAi (miRNA and siRNA) molecules for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) gene silencing by computational method.

text: The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a virus that manifests itself in viral infection with fever, cough, shortness of breath, renal failure and severe acute pneumonia, which often result in a fatal outcome. MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact. Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed and is irredeemable with present technology. Genetic studies on MERS-CoV have shown that ORF 1ab encodes replicase polyproteins and play a foremost role in viral infection. Therefore, ORF 1ab replicase polyprotein may be used as suitable target for disease control. Viral activity can be controlled by RNA interference (RNAi) technology, a leading method for post transcriptional gene silencing in a sequence specific manner. However, there is a genetic inconsistency in different viral isolates; it is a great challenge to design potential RNAi (miRNA and siRNA) molecules which can silence the respective target genes rather than any other viral gene simultaneously. In current study four effective miRNA and five siRNA molecules for silencing of nine different strains of MERS-CoV were rationally designed and corroborated using computational methods, which might lead to knockdown the activity of virus. siRNA and miRNA molecules were predicted against ORF1ab gene of different strains of MERS-CoV as effective candidate using computational methods. Thus, this method may provide an insight for the chemical synthesis of antiviral RNA molecule for the treatment of MERS-CoV, at genomic level.


title: Development of calpain-specific inactivators by screening of positional scanning epoxide libraries.

text: Calpains are calcium-dependent proteases that are required for numerous intracellular processes but also play an important role in the development of pathologies such as ischemic injury and neurodegeneration. Many current small molecule calpain inhibitors also inhibit other cysteine proteases, including cathepsins, and need improved selectivity. The specificity of inhibition of several calpains and papain was profiled using synthetic positional scanning libraries of epoxide-based compounds that target the active-site cysteine. These peptidomimetic libraries probe the P4, P3, and P2 positions, display (S,S)- or (R,R)-epoxide stereochemistries, and incorporate both natural and non-natural amino acids. To facilitate library screening, an SDS-PAGE assay that measures the extent of hydrolysis of an inactive recombinant m-calpain was developed. Individual epoxide inhibitors were synthesized guided by calpain-specific preferences observed from the profiles and tested for inhibition against calpain. The most potent compounds were assayed for specificity against cathepsins B, L, and K. Several compounds demonstrated high inhibition specificity for calpains over cathepsins. The best of these inhibitors, WRH(R,R), irreversibly inactivates m- and mu-calpain rapidly (k(2)/K(i) = 131,000 and 16,500 m(-1) s(-1), respectively) but behaves exclusively as a reversible and less potent inhibitor toward the cathepsins. X-ray crystallography of the proteolytic core of rat mu-calpain inactivated by the epoxide compounds WR gamma-cyano-alpha-aminobutyric acid (S,S) and WR allylglycine (R,R) reveals that the stereochemistry of the epoxide influences positioning and orientation of the P2 residue, facilitating alternate interactions within the S2 pocket. Moreover, the WR gamma-cyano-alpha-aminobutyric acid (S,S)-complexed structure defines a novel hydrogen-bonding site within the S2 pocket of calpains.


title: An updated systematic review of epidemiological evidence on hormonal contraceptive methods and HIV acquisition in women.

text: OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN Some studies suggest that specific hormonal contraceptive methods [particularly depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)] may increase women's HIV acquisition risk. We updated a systematic review to incorporate recent epidemiological data. METHODS We searched for articles published between 15 January 2014 and 15 January 2016 and hand-searched reference lists. We identified longitudinal studies comparing users of a specific hormonal contraceptive method against either nonusers of hormonal contraception or users of another specific hormonal contraceptive method. We added newly identified studies to those in the previous review, assessed study quality, created forest plots to display results, and conducted a meta-analysis for data on DMPA versus non-use of hormonal contraception. RESULTS We identified 10 new reports of which five were considered 'unlikely to inform the primary question'. We focus on the other five reports, along with nine from the previous review, which were considered 'informative but with important limitations'. The preponderance of data for oral contraceptive pills, injectable norethisterone enanthate, and levonorgestrel implants do not suggest an association with HIV acquisition, though data for implants are limited. The new, higher quality studies on DMPA (or nondisaggregated injectables), which had mixed results in terms of statistical significance, had hazard ratios between 1.2 and 1.7, consistent with our meta-analytic estimate for all higher quality studies of hazard ratio 1.4. CONCLUSION Although confounding in these observational data cannot be excluded, new information increases concerns about DMPA and HIV acquisition risk in women. If the association is causal, the magnitude of effect is likely hazard ratio 1.5 or less. Data for other hormonal contraceptive methods, including norethisterone enanthate, are largely reassuring.


title: Serum antibodies to bovine coronavirus in Swedish sheep.

text: Altogether 218 sheep sera from 40 flocks in different parts of Sweden were screened for antibodies to bovine coronavirus (BCV). Nineteen per cent of the sera were positive and there was a significantly higher frequency (p < 0.05) of at least one positive sample in flocks with more than 100 adult sheep than in smaller flocks. There was also a significantly higher frequency (p < 0.001) of positive samples from sheep older than 4 years than from younger ones. Only a weak relationship between BCV positivity (2 or more positive samples, p < 0.05) and cattle contact was demonstrated in this study. Possible transmission routes and other factors that could have affected the result are discussed. In light of our finding that all 5 sheep experimentally exposed to BCV through contact with infectious cow faeces seroconverted, we conclude that the antibodies found in Swedish sheep are probably the result of BCV infections directly or indirectly transmitted from cattle.


title: Risk and outbreak communication: lessons from alternative paradigms.

text: Risk communication guidelines widely used in public health are based on the psychometric paradigm of risk, which focuses on risk perception at the level of individuals. However, infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies are more than public health events and occur in a highly charged political, social and economic environment. This study examines other sociological and cultural approaches from scholars such as Ulrich Beck and Mary Douglas for insights on how to communicate in such environments. It recommends developing supplemental tools for outbreak communication to deal with issues such as questions of blame and fairness in risk distribution and audiences who do not accept biomedical explanations of disease.


title: [Chlamydia-like and coronavirus-like agents found in dead cases of atypical pneumonia by electron microscopy].

text: OBJECTIVE To explore the causative agents of the atypical pneumonia (also SARS) occurred recently in some regions of our country. METHOD Organ samples of 7 dead cases of SARS were collected from Guangdong, Shanxi, Sichuan Provinces and Beijing for electron microscopic examination. 293 cell line was inoculated with the materials derived from the lungs to isolate causative agent(s). The agents in the organs and cell cultures were revealed by immunoassay. RESULTS Both Chlamydia-like and coronavirus-like particles were found in EM. Inclusion bodies containing elementary bodies, reticulate antibodies and intermediate bodies of Chlamydia-like agent were visualized in multiple organs from the 7 dead cases, including lungs (7 cases), spleens (2 cases), livers (2 cases), kidneys (3 cases) and lymph nodes (1 cases), by ultrathin section electron microscopy (EM). In some few sections, coronavirus-like particles were concurrently seen. A coronavirus RNA- polymerase segment (440 bp) was amplified from the lung tissues of two cases of the SARS. After inoculated with materials from the lung samples, the similar Chlamydia-like particles were also found in the inoculated 293 cells. Since the Chlamydia-like agents visualized in both organs and cell cultures could not react with the genus specific antibodies against Chlamydia and monoclonal antibodies against C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci, the results might well be suggestive of a novel Chlamydia-like agent. CONCLUSION Since the novel Chlamydia-like agent was found co-existing with a coronavirus-like agent in the dead cases of SARS, it looks most likely that both the agents play some roles in the disease. At the present time, however, one can hardly determining how did these agents interact each other synergetically, or one follows another, need further study.


Awareness-level information for veterinarians on weapons of mass destruction and preservation of evidence.


title: Bovine coronavirus nucleocapsid protein processing and assembly.

text: The coronavirus nucleocapsid protein (N) encapsidates the genomic RNA to form a helical nucleocapsid. The requirements for coronavirus nucleocapsid assembly are being studied. Two forms (approximately 50 kDa and 55 kDa) of the bovine coronavirus (BCV) N protein were detected in infected cells. However, only one form, a 50 kDa species, was detected in extracellular virions. After treatment with calf intestinal alkaline phosphatase (CIAP), the 55 kDa intracellular form increased in mobility to comigrate with the 50 kDa form; whereas, the 50 kDa intracellular species and N from extracellular virions was not sensitive to CIAP treatment. The data indicate that specificity exists with regard to assembly of N into the mature virion. The data suggests that processing of N may take place during assembly of either nucleocapsids or virions and that the processing may be a dephosphorylation event.


docid: mgikoefx

title: Respiratory viruses and asthma.

text: Viral infections have become increasingly recognized as a significant cause of asthma exacerbations, mainly because of improved viral detection techniques. Unfortunately, the ability to specifically treat viral infections and to limit the asthma morbidity associated with these agents has not kept pace with diagnostic technology. This article focuses on current concepts of the epidemiology of viruses in asthma exacerbations, investigations studying the physiologic and immunologic consequences of viral infection, and potential therapies to minimize virally-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. To impact this significant health problem, researchers must definitively ascertain the mechanisms by which viruses induce airway reactivity and must develop rational, safe approaches to prevent the consequences of viral infection in the patient with asthma.


title: [Recommendation for the diagnosis and treatment of novel coronavirus infection in children in Hubei (Trial version 1)].

text: Since December 2019, a cluster of patients have been diagnosed to be infected with 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in Wuhan, China. The epidemic has been spreading to other areas of the country and abroad. A few cases have progressed rapidly to acute respiratory distress syndrome and/or multiple organ function failure. The epidemiological survey has indicated that the general population is susceptible to 2019-nCoV. A total of 14 children (6 months to 14 years of age, including 5 cases in Wuhan) have been confirmed to be infected with 2019-nCoV in China so far. In order to further standardize and enhance the clinical management of 2019-nCoV infection in children, reduce the incidence, and decrease the number of severe cases, we have formulated this diagnosis and treatment recommendation according to the recent information at home and abroad.


Supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) During the Covid-19 Pandemic.


docid: dfwsehte

title: Human LINE1 endonuclease domain as a putative target of SARS-associated autoantibodies involved in the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

text: BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a disease with a mortality of 9.56%. Although SARS is etiologically linked to a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and functional cell receptor has been identified, the pathogenesis of the virus infection is largely unclear. METHODS The clinical specimens were processed and analyzed using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in-house. Further investigations of target antigen included reviews of phage display technique, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique, protein expression and purification, Western blotting validation, serological and immunohistochemical staining in postmortem tissue. RESULTS A type of medium or low titer anti-lung tissue antibodies were found in the sera of SARS patients at the early stage of the disease. Human long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE1) gene endonuclease (EN) domain protein was one of the target autoantigens and it was aberrantly expressed in the lung tissue of SARS patients. Anti-EN antibody was positive in the sera of 40.9% of SARS patients. CONCLUSIONS Human LINE1 endonuclease domain was identified as a putative target of SARS-associated autoantibodies, which were presented in the serum of SARS patients and may be involved in the pathogenesis of SARS.


title: Coronavirus SARS-Cov-2 and arterial hypertension - facts and myths.

text: Arterial hypertension is the most common comorbid disease in patients who died as a result of SARS-Cov-2 infection. Numerous observational studies indicate a relationship between arterial hypertension and its treatment and SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus infection. It is known from experimental studies that SARS-Cov-2 enters the cells by interacting with the ACE2 enzyme, while it is not known whether ACE2 is the only factor that allows the virus to enter the cell. There is no clear evidence of a link between the use of medications such as ACE and ARB and an increased risk of SARS-Cov-2 infection. It has been shown that the use of recombinant ACE2 can be potentially beneficial in COVID-19 therapy by limiting the entry of the virus into the cell. Blood glucose as well as lipid profile should be monitored during SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus infection. This article attempts to gather key information on arterial hypertension and COVID-19.


title: Evaluation of real-time reverse transcriptase PCR and real-time loop-mediated amplification assays for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus detection.

text: We compared the performance of a recently established real-time loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) assay with the one from a highly sensitive quantitative PCR assay. None of these assays produced false-positive results in this study. For samples isolated from patients within the first 3 days of disease onset, the detection rate of the quantitative PCR assay was higher (14 of 15 were positive) than the LAMP assay (9 of 15 were positive). By contrast, the detection rates of these assays toward specimens sampled from patients with more than 3 days of illness were similar (32 of 44 for PCR and 33 of 44 for LAMP were positive). The simpler operation of LAMP might be a possible solution for on-site diagnosis.


title: [Suicidality in adolescents with therapy refractory internalising behaviour].

text: BACKGROUND Suicidality in adolescence is increasingly becoming a societal problem, especially because there remains a small group of patients in which treatment effectiveness is small. Existing formal guidelines often are of limited value in this group that often shows complex comorbidity. AIM: To contribute to the diagnostic and aetiological perspective in order to better understand therapy refractory internalising behaviour. METHOD: Integration of several scientific theoretical concepts into a holistic model. RESULTS: Evidence shows that suicidality should be considered within a broader scope of therapy refractory internalising behaviour. Important underpinnings comprise a partially overprotective parenting style, disturbed attachment processes and social anxiety. Internalising and externalising behaviour problems are viewed as expressions of avoidance behaviour. Furthermore, we discuss important implications for treatment. CONCLUSION: Applying an aetiological model for therapy refractory internalising behaviour may help to increase efficacy of treatment. Thus, transdiagnostic treatment can be offered, being less dependent on specific dsm-classifications. Focus of treatment is on restoration of basic trust between the youngster and his parents, and on ending avoidance behaviour that is based on social anxiety.


Rabies remains a 'neglected disease'.


Biology of coronaviruses 1980.


title: Identifying Future Disease Hot Spots: Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index.

text: Recent high-profile outbreaks, such as Ebola and Zika, have illustrated the transnational nature of infectious diseases. Countries that are most vulnerable to such outbreaks might be higher priorities for technical support. RAND created the Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index to help U.S. government and international agencies identify these countries and thereby inform programming to preemptively help mitigate the spread and effects of potential transnational outbreaks. The authors employed a rigorous methodology to identify the countries most vulnerable to disease outbreaks. They conducted a comprehensive review of relevant literature to identify factors influencing infectious disease vulnerability. Using widely available data, the authors created an index for identifying potentially vulnerable countries and then ranked countries by overall vulnerability score. Policymakers should focus on the 25 most-vulnerable countries with an eye toward a potential "disease belt" in the Sahel region of Africa. The infectious disease vulnerability scores for several countries were better than what would have been predicted on the basis of economic status alone. This suggests that low-income countries can overcome economic challenges and become more resilient to public health challenges, such as infectious disease outbreaks.


title: [Demonstration of coronavirus infection in buffaloes].

text: The hemagglutination-inhibition test and a bovine corona virus antigen were used to investigate a total of 293 samples of buffalo sera, of which 152 were taken from buffalo calves at the age of up to 12 months and 141 were taken from buffalo cows at the age of between 18 and 30 months. Corona virus antibodies were proven in 52.6 per cent of the sera of buffaloes originating from 3 cooperative farms and a number of private farms. The antibodies in the sera of buffalo calves had an average geometric titer of 182, and those in the sera of buffalo cows--74. The parallel study of 40 of the sera revealed a correlation between the hemagglutination inhibiting and the neutralizing antibodies. Twenty-nine fecal samples from buffalo calves with diarrhea, aged 5 to 30 days, were also studied via hemagglutination-inhibition on the same public farms. Corona virus of high titers was demonstrated in 7 of the samples, the hemagglutination activity of which had been suppressed by a bovine corona virus antiserum. It was concluded that a hemagglutinating coronavirus was circulating among the buffaloes. It seemed to be analogous to the bovine coronavirus and to participate in the etiology of part of the enteritis cases in growing buffalo calves.


title: A 100-kilodalton polypeptide encoded by open reading frame (ORF) 1b of the coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus is processed by ORF 1a products.

text: The genome-length mRNA (mRNA 1) of the coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) contains two large open reading frames (ORFs), 1a and 1b, with the potential to encode polypeptides of 441 and 300 kDa, respectively. The downstream ORF, ORF 1b, is expressed by a ribosomal frameshifting mechanism. In an effort to detect viral polypeptides encoded by ORF 1b in virus-infected cells, immunoprecipitations were carried out with a panel of region-specific antisera. A polypeptide of approximately 100 kDa was precipitated from IBV-infected, but not mock-infected, Vero cells by one of these antisera (V58). Antiserum V58 was raised against a bacterially expressed fusion protein containing polypeptide sequences encoded by ORF 1b nucleotides 14492 to 15520; it recognizes specifically the corresponding in vitro-synthesized target protein. A polypeptide comigrating with the 100,000-molecular-weight protein (100K protein) identified in infected cells was also detected when the IBV sequence from nucleotides 8693 to 16980 was expressed in Vero cells by using a vaccinia virus-T7 expression system. Deletion analysis revealed that the sequence encoding the C terminus of the 100K polypeptide lies close to nucleotide 15120; it may therefore be generated by proteolysis at a potential QS cleavage site encoded by nucleotides 15129 to 15135. In contrast, expression of IBV sequences from nucleotides 10752 to 16980 generated two polypeptides of approximately 62 and 235 kDa, which represent the ORF 1a stop product and the 1a-1b fused product generated by a frameshifting mechanism, respectively, but no processed products were observed. Since the putative picornavirus 3C-like proteinase domain is located in ORF 1a between nucleotides 8937 and 9357, this observation suggests that deletion of the picornavirus 3C-like proteinase domain and surrounding regions abolishes processing of the 1b polyprotein. In addition, the in vitro translation and in vivo transfection studies also indicate that the ORF 1a region between nucleotides 8763 and 10720 contains elements that down-regulate the expression of ORF 1b.


An electron microscopic study of haemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus of pigs.


title: [A study on the differences of emotion and depression between patients as doctor/nurse and others occupation with severe acute respiratory syndrome].

text: OBJECTIVE To study the emotional and depressive differences between severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients whose occupations were doctor/nurse and others. METHODS During the three months when SARS was explosive in 2003, 524 questionnaires were collected from Xuanwu Hospital, You'an Hospital, Xiaotangshan Hospital, Renmin Hospital and Ditan Hospital in Beijing. There were 109 questionnaires finished by patients as doctors/nurses themselves. For a background matching, 109 questionnaires were also finished by the others. RESULTS From 218 questionnaires, we found that the score on emotional condition (46.6204 +/- 8.4408 vs. 41.6789 +/- 8.612 95, P < 0.001) of SARS patients whose jobs were doctor/nurse was higher than the other groups on while the score of SARS patients whose jobs were doctor/nurse was lower than the other groups (37.7615 +/- 9.026 61 vs. 41.2844 +/- 9.655 25, P = 0.006) regarding depressive condition. The scores of emotional and depressive condition were all correlated with the factor as "I can not master my future". CONCLUSION Doctors/nurses having SARS had less emotional and depressive conditions than the others, which might due to the difference in medical knowledge, working condition and the route of infection, suggesting that psychological intervention in the post-SARS period called for attention.


title: Experimental induction of diarrhoea in newly-weaned piglets.

text: To induce diarrhoea and hypovolaemia, newly-weaned conventionally bred piglets (3- to 4-weeks-old), were either given secretagogues or were inoculated with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). Choleratoxin (n = 2), E. coli heat-labile enterotoxin (n = 2) or castor oil (n = 2) were given intragastrically or piglets were intraperitoneally injected with DL 5-hydroxytryptophan (n = 3). These substances induced a transient diarrhoea without clinical symptoms of dehydration. Therefore, a combination of castor oil and DL 5-hydroxytryptophan was given two times a day during 3 consecutive days to 3 piglets. Although diarrhoea lasted for 5 days, still no hypovolaemia occurred. Probably the secretagogues have to be given continuously to mimic the continuous release of enterotoxins during secretory colibacillary diarrhoea. It was, therefore, tried to reproduce colibacillosis in the just-weaned piglets. Animals were inoculated with K88ac fimbriae producing ETEC strains (O149:K91:K88ac; LT, STa and STb positive) (n = 7), or pretreated with chloramphenicol followed by the ETEC inoculation (n = 8), or pretreated with the antibiotic, inoculated with an enteropathogenic coronavirus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), and subsequently inoculated with ETEC (n = 18). Only the last procedure induced a reproducible diarrhoea (93%) and dehydration resulting in a mortality of 80%. It was concluded that the latter experimental procedure could be used to study diarrhoea and hypovolaemia in newly-weaned piglets and to evaluate the effect of potentially antisecretory drugs on postweaning diarrhoea in piglets.


title: Laparoscopic Repair of Morgagni Hernia: Three-Case Presentation and the Literature.

text: Introduction. Morgagni hernia is a rare form of congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Case Presentation. We present three cases of Morgagni hernia with GI symptoms treated by laparoscopic surgery. Discussion. Hernial sac was excised in two cases and left in situ in one case. There was no recurrence in symptoms after 30 months from surgery.


Incorporating appropriate technology into North American schools of public health.


title: The autodisplay story, from discovery to biotechnical and biomedical applications.

text: Among the pathways used by gram-negative bacteria for protein secretion, the autotransporter pathway represents a solution of impressive simplicity. Proteins are transported, independent of their nature as recombinant or native passengers, as long as the coding nucleotide sequence is inserted in frame between those of an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal domain, referred to as the beta-barrel of the outer membrane translocation unit. The immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) protease from Neisseria gonorrhoeae was the first identified member of the autotransporter family of secreted proteins. The IgA1 protease was employed in initial experiments investigating autotransporter-mediated surface display of recombinant proteins and to investigate structural and functional requirements. Various other autotransporter proteins have since been described, and the autodisplay system was developed on the basis of the natural Escherichia coli autotransporter protein AIDA-I (adhesin involved in diffuse adherence). Autodisplay has been used for the surface display of random peptide libraries to successfully screen for novel enzyme inhibitors. The autodisplay system was also used for the surface display of functional enzymes, including esterases, oxidoreductases, and electron transfer proteins. Whole E. coli cells displaying enzymes have been utilized to efficiently synthesize industrially important rare organic compounds with specific chirality. Autodisplay of epitopes on the surface of attenuated Salmonella carriers has also provided a novel way to induce immune protection after oral vaccination. This review summarizes the structural and functional features of the autodisplay system, illustrating its discovery and most recent applications. Autodisplay facilitates the export of more than 100,000 recombinant molecules per single cell and permits the oligomerization of subunits on the cell surface as well as the incorporation of inorganic prosthetic groups after transport of apoproteins onto the bacterial surface without disturbing bacterial integrity or viability. We discuss future biotechnical and biomedical applications in the light of these achievements.


title: Behavioural responses to influenza pandemics: what do we know?

text: The emergence of the novel A/H1N1 virus has made pandemic preparedness a crucial issue for public health worldwide. Although the epidemiological aspects of the three 20th century influenza pandemics have been widely investigated, little is known about population behaviour in a pandemic situation. Such knowledge is however critical, notably for predicting population compliance with non pharmaceutical interventions. This paper reviews the relevant scientific literature for the 1918-1920, 1957-1958, 1969-1969 influenza epidemics and the 2003 SARS outbreak. Although the evidence base of most non pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) and personal protection measures is debated, it appears on the basis of past experience that NPIs implemented the most systematically, the earliest, and for the longest time could reduce overall mortality rates and spread out epidemic peaks. Adequate, transparent, and targeted communication on the part of public health authorities would be also of crucial importance in the event of a serious influenza pandemic.


title: In utero infection by porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus is sufficient to increase susceptibility of piglets to challenge by Streptococcus suis type II.

text: Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) consistently elevates the frequency of disease and mortality in young pigs. Many different secondary bacterial diseases occur in PRRS virus (PRRSV)-infected pigs. However, to date, establishing a reproducible experimental model of PRRSV infection in weaned pigs, with subsequent clinical disease following secondary bacterial challenge, has been difficult. PRRSV is frequently isolated during outbreaks from weak-born piglets affected by secondary bacterial diseases. This study was performed to investigate the potential role of intrauterine PRRSV infection on piglet susceptibility to secondary bacterial infection. PRRSV-free pregnant sows were intranasally infected at 98 days of gestation with PRRSV strain SD 23983. All piglets born to the PRRSV-infected sows were viremic. Piglets were removed from the sows at birth and deprived of colostrum. Piglets from PRRSV-infected and noninfected sows were randomly assigned to Streptococcus suis challenge or control subgroups. At 5 days of age, piglets were challenged intranasally with strain MN 87555 of S. suis type II. Total and differential leukocyte counts were performed on blood samples collected at 3 days of age. The numbers of leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes were significantly reduced in the PRRSV-infected piglets. Lesions were observed in bone marrow, brain, lung, heart, spleen, lymph node, tonsil, and thymus of PRRSV-infected piglets. Thymus/body weight ratios of in utero PRRSV-infected piglets were significantly reduced compared to those of non-PRRSV-infected piglets, and thymic lesions were characterized by severe cortical depletion of thymocytes. Lesions were not observed in piglets born to PRRSV-free sows. Overall, 20 out of 22 piglets in the PRRSV-S. suis dual-infection group died within 1 week after challenge with S. suis (10 of 11 in each of two trials). This contrasts with 1 of 18 piglets in the PRRSV-infection-only group and 5 of 23 piglets in the S. suis-challenge-only group (1 of 12 in trial 1 and 4 of 11 in trial 2). No piglets died in the uninfected control groups. Most of the piglets in the PRRSV-S. suis dual-infection group developed suppurative meningitis. S. suis type II was recovered from their brains and joints. These results indicate that in utero infection by PRRSV makes piglets more susceptible to infection and disease following challenge by S. suis type II. In utero infection by PRRSV may provide a useful model to study the interaction between PRRSV and bacterial coinfections in piglets.


docid: qmnmhrto

title: Extracorporeal life support for pandemic influenza: the role of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pandemic management.

text: The recent global threat of a severe pandemic influenza outbreak has suggested that extracorporeal life support will begin to play an evolving role in the care of critically ill influenza stricken patients. The highly communicable attributes of influenza could result in widespread infection and an associated increased need for advanced life support. Supply and demand equilibrium may be abruptly disrupted, and ethical decisions regarding the allocation of life saving resources will inevitably need to be made. Protocol oriented planning, research analysis, and advanced technologies are critical factors in averting catastrophe. This review article details the epidemiology, diagnostic techniques, and interventions for the influenza A virus, including H1N1.


title: The use of a self-gripping mesh in open inguinal hernia repair. A prospective observational single surgeon study.

text: BACKGROUND The Lichtenstein repair is a well standardized surgical technique that can mostly be performed in day-clinic under loco-regional anesthesia. The major concern is the chronic pain reported after mesh suture fixation. We studied the practical and clinical aspects of a Lichtenstein repair using the semi-resorbable self-fixating Parietex ProGrip mesh. METHODS Consecutive patients with inguinal hernia were operated according to the Lichtenstein technique using Parietex ProGrip. Complications were assessed. Pain and discomfort were evaluated at discharge, and at 1 and 4 weeks and minimum 6 months after the intervention. RESULTS 320 patients were included in the study. No intra-operative complications or difficulties occurred. Mean operating time was 36 minutes (range 20-65 minutes). 87.5% of the patients (280) were discharged at day of operation, 11.9% (38 patients) had an overnight stay and 0.6% (2 patients) stayed two nights. Mean number of days of analgesic use is 2.1. At the 1 week follow-up visit, minor pain or discomfort was reported by 45 patients (14%) and at 4 weeks 11 patients (3.4%) still had minor discomfort. At 6 months 1 patient suffered from persisting local numbness. Two recurrences were noted, both were re-operated. CONCLUSIONS This observational study confirms earlier findings with this semi-resorbable self-gripping mesh regarding operation time, complications and recurrence. The open Lichtenstein hernia repair with the semi-resorbable self-gripping Parietex Progrip mesh seems to offer a reliable alternative for the treatment of inguinal hernia with benefits on operating time as well as on postoperative pain.


title: Comparison of infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) isolation on monolayers and in suspended cells.

text: A cell culture virus isolation procedure for infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) in the epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell line (EPC) is described. Ovarian fluid samples were collected from fish and tested for IHNV at 9 farms. The samples were inoculated in parallel on 24 h old EPC cell monolayers and in freshly trypsinized cells. The titre of the initial virus isolation and of first passages were compared using the 2 methods for each sample. Titres were consistently higher in suspended cells and this method also proved more sensitive for isolation of IHN virus from ovarian fluids of infected fish.


docid: feovyuld

title: Exploratory study on psychosocial impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak on Chinese students living in Japan.

text: The aim of this study is to explore the impact of the 2003 SARS outbreak on Chinese students living in Japan. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. The participants were recruited at multiple locations at the University of Tokyo, Japan. The results showed approximately 60% (96/161) of the respondents felt an impact of SARS on college life; they had experienced SARS-related fear, worry, depression as well as social discrimination and had taken SARS prevention measures for daily protection in Japan during the epidemic. The magnitude of the impact was associated with socio-demographic factors, including their age, specialty, area of previous residence in China and length of stay in Japan. The findings suggest that the SARS outbreak had a psychosocial impact on the Chinese students living in Japan, even though none of them had SARS. Social support tailored for these foreign students should be provided during such a disease outbreak.


title: Recovery from severe novel coronavirus infection.

text: We describe the third confirmed case of novel coronavirus infection in a resident of the Arabian Peninsula. Our patient presented, as did 2 prior cases, with severe pneumonia and renal dysfunction requiring intensive care support including assisted ventilation. However, unlike the earlier cases, and despite underlying chronic disease and a single kidney, he survived his infection and has been discharged home. The Ministry of Health continues active surveillance for additional cases. As this case report goes to press, 2 additional confirmed cases have been identified in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Contact investigations are in progress. Future work will focus not only on the origin of the virus and mechanisms of transmission, but also the host factors that influence pathogenesis and prognosis.


title: [The effects of 4 laboratory test kits in early detecting of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus].

text: OBJECTIVE To compare the 4 test kits on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) gene, antigen and antibody for early diagnose of SARS patients. METHODS Three enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect SARS-CoV IgG, IgM and N protein and fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (F-PCR) kit was used to detect SARS-CoV RNA. RESULTS In 162 serum samples, 90.2% (55/61) became N protein positive in 1 - 5 days and 92.8% (13/14) became positive IgM and IgG in 15 - 18 days after the onset of disease, respectively. On 82 gorgling samples, the positive rates of F-PCR were 56.3% (14/24) in 1 - 5 days and 71.4% (10/14) in 6 - 9 days after the onset. CONCLUSION Other than F-PCR, N protein had good effect in the early detection on dubious patients which could lead to effective prevention and control of the epidemic.


Integrated working.


docid: lctcftff

title: Atypical pathogens and challenges in community-acquired pneumonia.

text: Atypical organisms such as Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila are implicated in up to 40 percent of cases of community-acquired pneumonia. Antibiotic treatment is empiric and includes coverage for both typical and atypical organisms. Doxycycline, a fluoroquinolone with enhanced activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae, or a macrolide is appropriate for outpatient treatment of immunocompetent adult patients. Hospitalized adults should be treated with cefotaxime or ceftriaxone plus a macrolide, or with a fluoroquinolone alone. The same agents can be used in adult patients in intensive care units, although fluoroquinolone monotherapy is not recommended; ampicillin-sulbactam or piperacillin-tazobactam can be used instead of cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. Outpatient treatment of children two months to five years of age consists of high-dose amoxicillin given for seven to 10 days. A single dose of ceftriaxone can be used in infants when the first dose of antibiotic is likely to be delayed or not absorbed. Older children can be treated with a macrolide. Hospitalized children should be treated with a macrolide plus a beta-lactam inhibitor. In a bioterrorist attack, pulmonary illness may result from the organisms that cause anthrax, plague, or tularemia. Sudden acute respiratory syndrome begins with a flu-like illness, followed two to seven days later by cough, dyspnea and, in some instances, acute respiratory distress.


Peripheral nerve disease in SARS:: report of a case.


title: Viremia-associated ana-aki-byo, a new viral disease in color carp Cyprinus carpio in Japan.

text: A new virus disease that displays dermal ulceration and high mortality has been occurring since 1996 in color carp Cyprinus carpio reared in warm water in Japan. In histological examinations, initial erosive lesions displayed necrosis, hemorrhage and fibrin deposition in the dermal loose connective tissue and were accompanied by the partial destruction of the epidermis. Developed ulcerative lesions involved the lateral musculature with bacterial invasions. In visceral organs, necrotic cells were observed in the hematopoietic tissue, the spleen and the intestinal tissues as well as in cardiac muscle fibers which showed no signs of bacterial invasion. Electron microscopy revealed corona-like virus particles in these necrotic cells. The necrotic cells of the hematopoietic tissue and the spleen were accompanied by the formation of tubular structures and crystalline inclusions. The putative virus was isolated and cultured in epithelioma papillosum cyprini (EPC) cells. Carp experimentally inoculated with the cultured virus showed virus transmission, and the same pathological signs of the disease and mortalities as in natural infections.


title: Isolation, characterisation and preliminary cross-protection studies with a new pathogenic avian infectious bronchitis virus (strain PL-84084).

text: Virological 1 examination of a severe infectious bronchitis (IB)-like field case in laying hens, led to the isolation of a coronavirus antigenically different from Massachusetts, Connecticut and four Dutch IB variant strains. The virulence of the isolate for the fowl, and its dual tropism for the respiratory and genital tracts were demonstrated. In preliminary cross-protection studies Commercial vaccines did not protect against challenge with this isolate. These points and the possible economic significance of the virus are discussed.


title: Safety of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal air disinfection for room occupants: results from the Tuberculosis Ultraviolet Shelter Study.

text: OBJECTIVES We evaluated the safety of room occupants in the Tuberculosis Ultraviolet Shelter Study (TUSS), a double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial of upper-room ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) at 14 homeless shelters in six U.S. cities from 1997 to 2004. METHODS Data collection involved administering questionnaires regarding eye and skin irritation to a total of 3,611 staff and homeless study subjects. RESULTS Among these subjects, there were 223 reports of eye or skin symptoms. During the active UV period, 95 questionnaires (6%) noted such symptoms, and during the placebo period, 92 questionnaires (6%) did so. In the 36 remaining cases, either the UV period when symptoms took place was unknown or the symptoms spanned both periods. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of reports of symptoms between the active and placebo periods. One definite instance of UV-related keratoconjunctivitis occurred, resulting from a placement of a bunk bed in a dormitory where a single bed had been used when the UV fixtures were first installed. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that careful application of upper-room UVGI can be achieved without an apparent increase in the incidence of the most common side effects of accidental UV overexposure.


title: Nucleocapsid protein gene sequence analysis reveals close genomic relationship between turkey coronavirus and avian infectious bronchitis virus.

text: Antibodies to infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) cross-react with turkey coronavirus (TCV) in immunofluorescence assay (IFA) indicating that IBV and TCV may share an amino acid sequence similarity. To determine its extent, the gene encoding the nucleocapsid (N) protein of TCV was amplified by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) from RNA purified from intestines of embryos of turkeys infected with various TCV isolates and from allantoic fluid of chicken embryos infected with IBV M41 strain, the obtained N genes were cloned, sequenced and compared with known sequences of N genes of five IBV strains. The primers for amplification were designed from the genome of IBV PCR products were obtained only from two of eight TCV isolates tested. It was found that the two TCV isolates were identical with five IBV strains by 90.1-94.1% at the N gene level. It was also observed that the N gene of eight TCV isolates originating from various regions of the USA could not be amplified by the primers designed from the N gene of bovine coronavirus (BCV).


title: Recognizing and managing emerging infectious diseases in the emergency department.

text: With population shifts, increased travel, and climate change, the spread of emerging and re-emerging infections is increasing. Although encountering a patient with an emerging infection on any given emergency department shift is unlikely, missing a diagnosis could have profound consequences for the patient, healthcare workers, and the patient's close contacts. This review provides a framework to evaluate, diagnose, and treat a returning traveler with suspected Middle East respiratory syndrome, chikungunya virus, or Zika virus-3 recently emerged infections. All may present with nonspecific viral-like symptoms and are easily missed if an appropriate travel history is not obtained. A high level of vigilance and proper disposition will enable the emergency clinician to effectively diagnose, manage, and contain these diseases.


title: A large-scale COVID-19 Twitter chatter dataset for open scientific research -- an international collaboration.

text: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its march around the world, an unprecedented amount of open data is being generated for genetics and epidemiological research. The unparalleled rate at which many research groups around the world are releasing data and publications on the ongoing pandemic is allowing other scientists to learn from local experiences and data generated in the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a need to integrate additional data sources that map and measure the role of social dynamics of such a unique world-wide event into biomedical, biological, and epidemiological analyses. For this purpose, we present a large-scale curated dataset of over 152 million tweets, growing daily, related to COVID-19 chatter generated from January 1st to April 4th at the time of writing. This open dataset will allow researchers to conduct a number of research projects relating to the emotional and mental responses to social distancing measures, the identification of sources of misinformation, and the stratified measurement of sentiment towards the pandemic in near real time.


Severe parvovirus in a 12-year-old dog that had been repeatedly vaccinated.


title: Characterization of nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus DMV/1639/11 recovered from Delmarva broiler chickens in 2011.

text: A limited outbreak of nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis (NIB) occurred in three Delmarva (DMV) commercial broiler chicken flocks in 2011. Isolates of NIB virus (NIBV)--DMV/1639/11, DMV/3432/11, and DMV/3902/11--were characterized by sequence analysis of the N-terminal subunit (S1) of the spike (S) gene. Findings indicated that the isolates were identical to each other and to PA/9579A/10, a 2010 isolate from poultry in Pennsylvania. The 2010 and 2011 isolates appear to have originated from a 1997-2000 NIB outbreak in Pennsylvania. DMV/1639/11 and PA/9579A/10 were determined to be nephropathogenic in susceptible chickens, yielding virus reisolations from kidney and inducing characteristic interstitial nephritis microscopic lesions. In a controlled laboratory study, 40% of chickens vaccinated with a combination live vaccine containing infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strains Massachusetts (Mass) + Connecticut (Conn) were positive on virus isolation attempts after challenge with DMV/1639/11, compared with only 13% of Mass + Arkansas (Ark) vaccinates. Both combination vaccines gave partial protection against the development of DMV/1639/11-induced renal lesions. Although numerically fewer chickens vaccinated with Mass + Conn had interstitial nephritis compared with those vaccinated with Mass + Ark, neither vaccine combination offered greater protection (P < 0.05) than observed in unvaccinated chickens challenged with DMV/1639/11. Mass + Ark vaccinations, applied under commercial conditions in the hatchery (spray) and on-farm (spray), did not protect the trachea or kidney from DMV/1639/11 challenge. Serologic testing of broiler flocks found < 3% (2 of 69) tested to possess specific antibodies to DMV/1639/11, indicating the virus had not become established in the region.


docid: fpoovtld

title: [Analysis of special ehealth service for corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia].

text: OBJECTIVE To analyze how governments, hospitals and information technology(IT) companies use Internet technology to provide online health services during the early stage of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic in January 2020 in China, and then provide suggestions and coping strategies for the later stage and post-epidemic time. METHODS We searched for information on ehealth services related to the outbreak of COVID-19 in China. The sources of information were mainstream search engines such as Baidu and the popular interactive social platforms such as Webchat. The keywords were "Internet+pneumonia", "Internet clinic", "pneumonia online clinic" and so on. The time of information was from January 20 to February 3, 2020. The key information was extracted and encoded by two persons back-to-back. The coding information included: name of organization provider, launching time, location of provider, service items, user, health workers engaging in the service, and so on. The coded information was entered and analyzed with SPSS 24.0 and Excel. RESULTS There were totally 57 projects launched by local governments, hospitals and IT companies. Most of them were launched from January 24th to 27th, the hospital and government projects services regionally, especially in eastern provinces. In this study, 90.48% of the enterprises and 100.00% of the hospitals had online fever clinic and consultation services for COVID-19, 66.67% of the enterprises and 37.04% of the hospitals serviced derivative health problems. Only a few projects provided tele-medical consultation. There were individual projects that provided online health management for home quarantine people. Physicians were the main force of various projects. In some hospital projects, there were also nurses, pharmacists and professional technicians to provide featured consultation. CONCLUSION Ehealth is useful and helpful for the health care system to rapidly cope with health demand during instantaneous and post epidemic time. Regional distribution of ehealth is unbalanced. There are institutional and technical feasibilities for the emergency application of Internet technology. However, community health centers seldom provide ehealth or connect with tertiary hospitals with Internet. Therefore, all kinds of providers within healthcare system should promote emergence ehealth. Tele-medical diagnosis and referral should be developed by local governments during COVID-19. The application of "Internet+medical treatment" in community medical institutions and synergy among various institutions should be promoted.


title: Membrane topology of aquaporin CHIP. Analysis of functional epitope-scanning mutants by vectorial proteolysis.

text: CHIP is the archetypal member of the aquaporins, a widely expressed family of membrane water channels. The NH2- and COOH-terminal halves of CHIP are sequence-related, and hydropathy analysis predicted six membrane-spanning domains with five connecting loops (A-E). Here, we determined the membrane topology of CHIP expressed in Xenopus oocytes using biologically active recombinant channels. CHIP is glycosylated at Asn-42, indicating loop A is exofacial. An epitope from the coronavirus E1 glycoprotein was inserted into CHIP and localized to the outer or inner leaflet of the membrane by alpha-chymotrypsin digestion of intact oocytes or inside-out membrane vesicles. The E1 epitope at Thr-120 was protease-sensitive in intact oocytes, indicating that loop C is exofacial. The E1 epitope at Lys-6, Arg-162, or Lys-267 was protease-sensitive in inside-out membrane vesicles, confirming the cytoplasmic location of the NH2 and COOH termini and loop D. Insertions into loops B and E did not produce active water channels, but their cleavage patterns were consistent with inner (loop B) and outer (loop E) leaflet locations. This study indicates that the functional CHIP molecule is a unique structure with two internal repeats oriented 180 degrees to each other within the membrane.


title: Are dexamethasone suppression test nonsuppression and thyroid dysfunction related to a family history of dementia in patients with major depression? An exploratory study.

text: OBJECTIVE Recent data suggest that the low thyroid function syndrome in depression is nonspecific. They also suggest that depression may constitute a risk factor for the development of dementia, especially in atypical patients who have high rates of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis disorders. This study aimed to search for correlations among Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) cortisol levels, thyroid indices, and family history of dementia in patients with depression. METHODS A sample of 30 patients, aged 21 to 60 years and suffering from major depression according to DSM-IV criteria, took part in the study. Three had a family history of dementia in first-degree relatives. We measured their serum levels of free T3, free T4, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroid binding inhibitory immunoglobulines, thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMAs). We applied the 1-mg DST to all patients. The statistical analysis included 1-way multivariate analysis of covariance using t tests as the post hoc tests. RESULTS Significantly higher levels of TMAs were found in patients with a family history of dementia, compared with those who did not have this family history. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that a more pronounced autoimmune process may characterize depression patients with a family history of dementia.


title: The receptor for mouse hepatitis virus in the resistant mouse strain SJL is functional: implications for the requirement of a second factor for viral infection.

text: The SJL mouse strain is resistant to infection by some strains of the murine coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), such as JHM and A59. The block to virus infection has been variously attributed to defects in virus receptors or virus spread. Since the cellular receptors for MHV, mmCGM1 and mmCGM2, have recently been identified as members of the carcinoembryonic antigen family, we reexamined the possible defectiveness of the MHV receptors in SJL mouse strain. Cloning and sequencing of the cDNAs of both mmCGMs RNAs from SJL mice revealed that they were identical in size to those of the susceptible C57BL/6 (B6) mouse. There was some sequence divergence in the N terminus of the mmCGM molecules between the two mouse strains, resulting in a different number of potential glycosylation sites. This was confirmed by in vitro translation of the mmCGM RNAs, which showed that the glycosylated mmCGM2 of SJL was smaller than that of B6 mice. However, transfection of either mmCGM1 or mmCGM2 from SJL mice into MHV-resistant Cos 7 cells rendered the cells susceptible to MHV infection. The ability of the SJL mmCGM molecules to serve as MHV receptors was comparable to that of those from B6. These molecules are expressed in SJL mouse brain and liver in a similar ratio and in amounts equivalent to those in the B6 mouse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that an SJL-derived cell line was susceptible to A59 but resistant to JHM infection. We concluded that the MHV receptor molecules in the SJL mouse are functional and that the resistance of SJL mice to infection by some MHV strains most likely results from some other factor(s) required for virus entry or some other step(s) in virus replication.


title: Phosphorylation site analysis of Semliki forest virus nonstructural protein 3.

text: Nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3) is an essential subunit of the alphavirus RNA replication complex, although its specific function(s) has yet to be well defined. Previously, it has been shown that Semliki Forest virus Nsp3 (482 amino acids) is a phosphoprotein, and, in the present study, we have mapped its major phosphorylation sites. Mass spectrometric methods utilized included precursor ion scanning, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry used in conjunction with on-target alkaline phosphatase digestions, and tandem mass spectrometry. Two-dimensional peptide mapping was applied to separate tryptic (32)P-labeled phosphopeptides of Nsp3. Radiolabeled peptides were then subjected to Edman sequencing, and phosphoamino acid analysis. In addition, radiolabeled Nsp3 was cleaved successively with cyanogen bromide and trypsin, and microscale iron-chelate affinity chromatography was used to enrich phosphopeptides. By combining these methods, we showed that Nsp3 is phosphorylated on serine residues 320, 327, 332, 335, 356, 359, 362, and 367, and is heavily phosphorylated on peptide Gly(338)-Lys(415), which carries 7-12 phosphates distributed over its 13 potential phosphorylation sites. These analytical findings were corroborated by constructing a Nsp3 derivative devoid of phosphorylation. The results represent the first determination of phosphorylation sites of an alphavirus nonstructural protein, but the approach can be utilized in phosphoprotein analysis in general.


title: Possession, use, and transfer of select agents and toxins; biennial review. Final rule.

text: In accordance with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has reviewed the list of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety and is republishing that list. As a result of our review, we have added Chapare virus, Lujo virus, and SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) to the list of HHS select agents and toxins. We have also removed from the list of HHS and overlap select agents and toxins, or excluded from compliance with part 73, the agents and toxins described in the Executive Summary. Further, in accordance with Executive Order 13546, "Optimizing the Security of Biological Select Agents and Toxins in the United States," HHS/CDC has designated those select agents and toxins that present the greatest risk of deliberate misuse with the most significant potential for mass casualties or devastating effects to the economy, critical infrastructure; or public confidence as "Tier 1" agents; established new security requirements for entities possessing Tier 1 agents, including the requirement to conduct pre-access assessments and on-going monitoring of personnel with access to Tier 1 agents and toxins; and made revisions to the regulations to clarify regulatory language concerning security, training, biosafety, and incident response. In a companion document published in this issue of the Federal Register, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made parallel regulatory changes.


title: Differential adsorption of occluded and nonoccluded insect-pathogenic viruses to soil-forming minerals.

text: Soil represents the principal environmental reservoir of many insect-pathogenic viruses. We compared the adsorption and infectivity of one occluded and two nonoccluded viruses, Helicoverpa armigera single nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) (Baculoviridae), Cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) (Dicistroviridae), and Invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (IIV-6) (Iridoviridae), respectively, in mixtures with a selection of soil-forming minerals. The relative infective titers of HaSNPV and CrPV were unchanged or slightly reduced in the presence of different minerals compared to their titers in the absence of the mineral. In contrast, the infective titer of IIV-6 varied according to the mineral being tested. In adsorption studies, over 98% of HaSNPV occlusion bodies were adsorbed by all the minerals, and a particularly high affinity was observed with ferric oxide, attapulgite, and kaolinite. In contrast, the adsorption of CrPV and IIV-6 differed markedly with mineral type, with low affinity to bentonites and high affinity to ferric oxide and kaolinite. We conclude that interactions between soil-forming minerals and insect viruses appear to be most important in nucleopolyhedroviruses, followed by invertebrate iridescent viruses, and least important in CrPV, which may reflect the ecology of these pathogens. Moreover, soils with a high content of iron oxides or kaolinite would likely represent highly effective reservoirs for insect-pathogenic viruses.


title: Real-time RT-PCR for H5N1 avian influenza A virus detection.

text: The recent recurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus A H5N1 was firstly reported in mid-December 2003 and continued through 2005. This study describes a sensitive and specific real-time RT-PCR method for the detection of influenza A subtype H5 and for monitoring virus loads. Using serial dilutions of influenza A H5N1 cultures, this assay reproducibly determined the lowest detection limit to be approximately 5 x 10(-2) 50 % egg infective doses (EID(50)). In contrast, the minimum detection limit was approximately 3 EID(50) in conventional RT-PCR with WHO primers and 10 EID(50) in antigen-capture ELISA. In tests of serial dilutions of in vitro-transcribed influenza A H5 gene RNA, there was linear amplification from 40 copies to 4 x 10(8) copies of target RNA per reaction and approximately six copies, and sometimes even as few as three copies, of target RNA tested positive in our assay. Thirty-five throat swabs from ill birds were tested: 33 samples tested positive using this assay. In comparison, 27, 13 and 19 samples tested positive using conventional RT-PCR, antigen-capture ELISA and virus isolation, respectively. To evaluate further the sensitivity of this real-time RT-PCR, a standard panel and 60 H5N1 isolates that contained different clades of influenza virus A/H5N1 were tested and all tested positive. To evaluate the specificity of the assay, 60 throat swabs from patients infected with influenza virus A H1 were tested; all were negative. Thirteen other viruses were also tested and all tested negative.


title: Use of human nasal cannulas during bronchoscopy procedures as a simple method for maintaining adequate oxygen saturation in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina).

text: Rising concerns over respiratory illnesses caused by agents such as avian influenza viruses and SARS coronavirus have prompted intensive research efforts and the resurgence of nonhuman primates as models for these human diseases. In the context of studying influenza infection and vaccine development, serial bronchoscopic procedures, including bronchial brush biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage, were performed in pigtailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina). The possible need for oxygen supplementation during these procedures was anticipated because of the size of the animals relative to the 5-mm bronchoscope. We therefore monitored oxyhemoglobin saturation, a measure of arterial blood oxygen content, before and after insertion of the bronchoscope, during bronchoalveolar lavage, and after initiation of oxygen supplementation. Although more data are required to draw definitive conclusions, our findings suggested the need for oxygen supplementation during such procedures in nonhuman primates, despite the fact that human patients undergoing bronchoscopy and lavage do not routinely get oxygen unless they are already compromised. Our data also suggested that the need for supplementation could not be predicted from simple parameters such as size of the animal, presence of respiratory clinical signs, or experimental treatment. Finally, we show a simple and cost-effective method of using human nasal cannulas for delivering oxygen to pigtailed macaques during bronchoscopic procedures, and we believe that, after further testing, this method could be used safely and effectively in other nonhuman primate species.


title: Microwave or autoclave treatments destroy the infectivity of infectious bronchitis virus and avian pneumovirus but allow detection by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

text: A method is described for enabling safe transit of denatured virus samples for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification without the risk of unwanted viable viruses. Cotton swabs dipped in avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) or avian pneumovirus (APV) were allowed to dry. Newcastle disease virus and avian influenza viruses were used as controls. Autoclaving and microwave treatment for as little as 20 sec destroyed the infectivity of all four viruses. However, both IBV and APV could be detected by reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR after autoclaving and as long as 5 min microwave treatment (Newcastle disease virus and avian influenza viruses were not tested). Double microwave treatment of IBV and APV with an interval of 2 to 7 days between was tested. After the second treatment, RT-PCR products were readily detected in all samples. Swabs from the tracheas and cloacas of chicks infected with IBV shown to contain infectious virus were microwaved. Swabs from both sources were positive by RT-PCR. Microwave treatment appears to be a satisfactory method of inactivating virus while preserving nucleic acid for PCR identification.


title: Expression of neutral glycosphingolipids in the brain, lymphoid organs and lungs of mice lacking beta(2)-microglobulin.

text: OBJECTIVES AND METHODS Previous studies have demonstrated the involvement of glycosphingolipid (GSL) antigens in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated neurological disorders such as peripheral neuropathies and multiple sclerosis, as well as in infections of the central nervous system. We investigated the expression of neutral GSLs in the brain, thymus, spleen, and lungs of mice lacking the gene for the beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)M), an important component of the MHC class I molecule. Determination of GSL fractions in the tissues of mice homozygous (beta(2)M-/-) or heterozygous (beta(2)M+/-) for beta(2)M gene knockout was performed by high performance thin layer chromatography, followed by immunostaining with specific antibodies. RESULTS Immunochemical analyses revealed abundant expression of globotetraosylceramide (Gb 4), in the brain of beta(2)M-/- mice, compared with undetectable expression in the control beta(2)M+/- mice. The brain of both groups of animals was negative for Gg 3, Gg 4 and Gb 3 immunostaining. Abundant expression of Gg 3, Gg 4, and Gb 3 was found in the lungs of control beta(2)M+/- mice, whereas beta(2)M-/- mice lacked these structures. Immunostaining of Gb 4 in the lungs was similar in both groups of animals. The thymus and spleen neutral GSL profiles did not significantly differ between beta(2)M-/- and control animals. CONCLUSION This study provides in vivo-evidence that globo- and ganglio-series neutral GSL expression in the brain and lungs may be related to the presence of beta(2)M or functional MHC class I molecule, and implicates different modulation of biosynthesis of globo- and ganglio-series neutral GSLs in these tissues.


title: A domain at the 3' end of the polymerase gene is essential for encapsidation of coronavirus defective interfering RNAs.

text: Two murine hepatitis virus strain A59 defective interfering (DI) RNAs were generated by undiluted virus passages. The DI RNAs were encapsidated efficiently. The smallest DI particle, DI-a, contained a 5.5-kb RNA consisting of the following three noncontiguous regions from the MHV-A59 genome, which were joined in frame: the 5'-terminal 3.9 kb, a 798-nucleotide fragment from the 3' end of the polymerase gene, and the 3'-terminal 805 nucleotides. A full-length cDNA clone of the DI-a genome was constructed and cloned downstream of the bacteriophage T7 promoter. Transcripts derived from this clone, pMIDI, were used for transfection of MHV-A59-infected cells and found to be amplified and packaged. Deletion analysis of pMIDI allowed us to identify a 650-nucleotide region derived from the 3' end of the second open reading frame of the polymerase gene that was required for efficient encapsidation.


title: Host Specificity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Chicken and Turkey Parvoviruses.

text: Inoculation of specific-pathogen-free chickens and turkeys with five chicken parvoviruses (ChPV) and five turkey parvoviruses (TuPV) resulted in productive virus replication only in the homologous host species. A phylogenetic tree based on nucleotide sequences of the VP1 gene segment revealed a host-specific clustering of the virus strains. These results suggest that the VP1 gene plays an essential role in host specificity of ChPV and TuPV strains and could be a relevant target sequence for strain classification.


Polydipsia in a foal with renal helminthiasis.


title: A simulation framework for wound closure by suture for the endo stitch suturing instrument.

text: Our simulation framework for wound closure by suture is designed for education and training purposes. Currently, it is designed specifically to support a simulation of the Endo StitchTM suturing instrument by Covidien, and could be extended for other surgical instruments designed for intracorporeal suturing. The framework allows the user to perform a virtual wound closure by suture with real surgical instrument handles customized to fit on haptic devices. The wound simulation is based on a triangular surface mesh embedded in a linear hexahedral finite element mesh, whereas the suture simulation is based on a simplified Cosserat theory of elastic rods. The simulation utilizes a combination of physically-based and control-based simulations.


title: [Severe acute respiratory syndrome: the first transmissible disease of the 21st century].

text: The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is the first severe and easily transmissible disease to emerge in the 21st century. It is caused by the infection with a coronavirus, a single strand RNA capsulated virus, recently found in a small mammalian, the masked palm civet. It is likely to represent the source of human infection. The first cases of SARS have been reported in the Chinese province of Guangdong and, since then, probable cases have been reported world wide. The clinical picture is characterized by nonspecific symptoms such as fever, cough or dyspnea in patients affected by air-space opacities (unifocal involvement in the 54.6% of cases) or distress respiratory syndrome and linked to a recent exposure to a SARS case or to a travel/residence in an affected area. The empirical therapy is based on broad-spectrum antibiotics, steroids and ribavirin, but susceptibility testing have failed to demonstrate direct anti-viral activity of ribavirin against SARS-related coronavirus in vitro. The exposure to respiratory droplets and the contact with biologic fluids (respiratory and gastrointestinal secretions) represent the most efficient transmission modality of the SARS-related coronavirus. Hand hygiene is the most simple and cost effective measure of infection control to prevent contagion, and the use of airborne, contact and droplet precaution is strictly recommended to all health care workers taking care of such patients. The spread of SARS, to less developed country with limited resource for public health programs, represent the emerging alarming threat in the new global scenario.


docid: cmdaqtkl

title: Localization of antigenic sites of the E2 glycoprotein of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus.

text: Four antigenic sites of the E2 glycoprotein of transmissible gastroenteritis virus were defined by competitive radioimmunoassays of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Here, we describe the localization of these sites by testing the antigenicity of protein fragments and prokaryotic expression products of E2 gene fragments, and by sequencing of MAb-resistant (mar) mutants. Partial proteolysis of purified E2 protein allowed the isolation of a 28K fragment recognized by both site A- and site C-specific MAbs. An antiserum against this fragment bound to a synthetic peptide containing residues 1 to 18 and to an expression product containing residues 1 to 325. The same expression product was recognized by site C-specific MAbs. These data indicate that residues within the sequence 1 to 325 contribute to site C and possibly also to site A. Sequencing of mar mutants that escaped neutralization by site A-specific MAbs indicated that residues 538 and 543 also belong to site A. The binding of site-specific MAbs to expression products led directly to the localization of sites B and D, between residues 1 to 325 and 379 to 529, respectively. The first 37% of the polypeptide chain of E2 appears to be more immunogenic than the rest of the sequence.


title: A functional ubiquitin-specific protease embedded in the large tegument protein (ORF64) of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 is active during the course of infection.

text: All herpesviruses contain a ubiquitin (Ub)-specific cysteine protease domain embedded within their large tegument protein, based on homology with the corresponding sequences of UL36 from herpes simplex virus type 1 and M48 from murine cytomegalovirus. This type of activity has yet to be demonstrated for cells infected with a gammaherpesvirus. By activity-based profiling, we show that the large tegument protein of murine gammaherpesvirus (MHV-68) ORF64 (273 kDa) is a functional deubiquitinating protease, as assessed by tandem mass spectrometry of adducts in extracts from MHV-68-infected cells that had been labeled with ubiquitin vinylmethylester, a ubiquitin-based active site-directed probe. The recombinantly expressed amino-terminal segment of ORF64 displays deubiquitinating activity toward Ub C-terminal 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin in vitro. The findings reported here for MHV-68 ORF64 extend those made for the alpha- and betaherpesvirus families and are consistent with an important, conserved enzymatic function of the tegument protein.


Open access publishing.


title: Health care worker protection in mass casualty respiratory failure: infection control, decontamination, and personal protective equipment.

text: Maintenance of a safe and stable health care infrastructure is critical to an effective mass casualty disaster response. Both secondary contamination during chemical disasters and hospital-associated infections during epidemic illness can pose substantial threats to achieving this goal. Understanding basic principles of decontamination and infection control during responses to chemical and biologic disasters can help minimize the risks to patients and health care workers. Effective decontamination following toxic chemical exposure should include both removal of contaminated clothing and decontamination of the victim's skin. Wet decontamination is the most feasible strategy in a mass casualty situation and should be performed promptly by trained personnel. In the event of an epidemic, infection prevention and control measures are based on essential principles of hand hygiene and standard precautions. Expanded precautions should be instituted as needed to target contact, droplet, and airborne routes of infectious disease transmission. Specific equipment and measures for critical care delivery may serve to decrease risk to health care workers in the event of an epidemic. Their use should be considered in developing comprehensive disaster response plans.


title: [Development of a SPA-ELISA method for detecting anti-coronavirus IgG antibodies in serum samples from fulvous fruit bats].

text: OBJECTIVE To develop an simple and sensitive method for detecting anti-coronavirus IgG antibodies in bat sera based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). METHODS A commercial ELISA kit for detecting SARS-CoV antibody was modified for detecting coronavirus antibodies in bat serum samples. The second antibody in the kit was replaced with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated protein-A (HRP-SPA) based on the characteristics of binding between Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA) and mammal IgG Fc fragment. The sera of 55 fulvous fruit bats (Rousettus dasymallus) were tested using the SPA-ELISA. RESULTS The test results of the positive and negative controls in the kit and the serum samples from convalescent ;patient were consistent with expectation. Coronavirus antibody was detected in 2 out of the 55 bat serum samples. Serum neutralization test confirmed the validity of the SPA-ELISA method. CONCLUSION This SPA-ELISA method is applicable for detecting coronavirus antibody in bat sera.


title: Antigenic variant of swine influenza virus causing proliferative and necrotizing pneumonia in pigs.

text: A new antigenic variant of swine influenza virus was isolated from the lungs of pigs experiencing respiratory problems in 7 different swine herds in Quebec. Pigs of different ages were affected, and the main clinical signs were fever, dyspnea, and abdominal respiration. Coughing was not a constant finding of the syndrome. At necropsy, macroscopic lesions included the overall appearance of pale animals, general lymphadenopathy, hepatic congestion, and consolidation of the lungs. Histopathologic findings were mainly proliferative pneumonia with a significant macrophage invasion, necrotic inflammatory cells in the alveoli and the airways, a marked proliferation of type II pneumocytes, and thickening of the alveolar septae. Fluorescent antibody examination of lungs of sick piglets did not demonstrate porcine parvovirus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, or encephalomyocarditis virus. However, evidence of the presence of an influenza type A infection was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) staining using monoclonal antibody directed to nucleocapsid protein (NP) of human type A influenza virus. The virus was isolated either by intra-allantoic inoculation of specific-pathogen-free embryonating hens' eggs or propagation in canine kidney (MDCK) cells in the presence of trypsin. By hemagglutination inhibition tests, no cross-reactivity was demonstrated with human influenza H1N1, H2N2, and H3N2 strains, and infected MDCK cells did not react by IIF with monoclonal antibodies to NP protein of type B influenza virus. The hemagglutination activity of plaque-purified isolates was only partly inhibited by hyperimmune serum produced to subtypes A/Wisconsin/76/H1N1 and A/New Jersey/76/H1N1 of swine influenza virus. Gnotobiotic piglets that were infected intranasally with egg-adapted isolates of this new antigenic variant of swine influenza virus developed the very same type of lesions observed in field cases.


title: The Australian response: pandemic influenza preparedness.

text: Australia's preparedness for a potential influenza pandemic involves many players, from individual health carers to interdepartmental government committees. It embraces a wide number of strategies from the management of the disease to facilitating business continuity. The key strategy underlying Australia's planned response is an intensive effort to reduce transmission of the virus. This includes actions to reduce the likelihood of entry of the virus into the country and to contain outbreaks when they occur. Containment will provide time to allow production of a matched vaccine. The health strategies are outlined in the Australian health management plan for pandemic influenza. The plan is accompanied by technical annexes setting out key considerations and guidelines in the areas of clinical management and infection control. National plans present overall strategies and guidance, but the operational details can only be determined by individual states and territories, regions, and the services themselves. Primary health care practices will be on the frontline of an influenza pandemic. Every practice needs a plan that defines the roles of staff, incorporates infection control and staff protection measures, and considers business continuity. Most importantly, a practice needs to know how to implement that plan.


title: [Clinical study on treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome with integrative Chinese and Western medicine approach].

text: OBJECTIVE To summarize the clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and observe the therapeutic effect with integrative Chinese and western medicine (ICWM) approach in treating patients with SARS. METHODS Forty-eight patients selected from the authors' hospital, whose diagnosis confirmed as SARS were analysed to sum-up the diagnostic type and basic feature of patients and the chief clinical characteristics. All the patients were randomly divided into the trial group and the control group, 24 in each. The control group was treated with the western medical therapeutic program and the trial group was treated with ICWM therapeutic program. The differences between the two groups were compared in terms of development of illness, time of using corticosteroid and absorption time of pulmonary inflammatory lesion, etc. RESULTS Most patients were youth and adult aged between 18 to 40 years old, the initial symptom was mainly the high fever, accompanied with general soreness, chest stuffiness and cough, etc. The hospitalization time, body temperature fluctuation sustaining time and time of using corticosteroid in the trial group were shorter than those in the control group, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). ICWM treatment showed a better effect in defervescence and inflammatory lesion absorption time, but with no statistical significance. CONCLUSION Patients of SARS are mainly youth and adults in the prime of life, fever always appears as the initiation of illness and some accompanying symptoms would appear. As compared with the western treatment, ICWM treatment could evidently shorten the course of illness, prevent the rebounding of fever and reduce the time of using corticosteroid.


title: [Oncology: navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic and Steer the Course].

text: Medical oncologists are steering a difficult course during the COVID-19 pandemic between three opposing forces : revisiting optimal standards of cancer care, facing constantly evolving shortages as some resources are being redirected, and acknowledging the paradoxical need to keep patients away from the health care facility. This article compiles recommendations fr om cancer societies and expert opinions to provide guidance and practical solutions for the oncology clinic. We propose that optimal standards of care be upheld, and short-term safety concerns due to exposure to SARS-CoV-2 be weighed against a long-term compromise in cancer prognosis when deciding on adjustments in cancer care. Proper mitigation strategies in the clinic and use of less resource-heavy but equivalent treatment alternatives often allow optimal cancer care. The magnitude of benefit of cancer treatments needs to be systematically considered.


docid: mtecvroz

title: Epidemiology of documented viral respiratory infections and acute otitis media in a cohort of children followed from two to twenty-four months of age.

text: BACKGROUND Viral upper respiratory infections (URIs) are considered major risk factors for acute otitis media (AOM) in young children. We studied the epidemiology and relative roles of different viruses in respiratory infections in a cohort of 329 Finnish children followed from 2 months to 2 years of age. METHODS A nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) was collected whenever the child had signs and/or symptoms of URI and tested for the presence of common respiratory virus antigens or infectivity/nucleic acid (only rhinoviruses). Possible repeated detections of a given virus during a 30-day period were considered to represent a single designated virus-specific episode. AOM and URI episodes were defined in a similar way. RESULTS At least one virus was detected in 837 (41.7%) of the 2005 NPA specimens examined. Rates of URI and virus-specific episodes showed expected seasonal variation with major peak occurrences coinciding with or preceding those of AOM. The proportions of rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, parainfluenza virus (PIV) type 3, influenza virus A and adenoviruses were 63.1, 14.7, 6.7, 6.7 and 6.2% of the total of 761 virus-specific episodes. Influenza virus B, PIV1 and PIV2 were each responsible for approximately 1% of the episodes. AOM was diagnosed in 870 URI cases (43.4%) and in 43.3% of cases associated with a virus-positive NPA. The latter figure was clearly higher (57.7%) for RS virus-positive specimens. CONCLUSIONS The seasonal coincidence of URI and AOM demonstrated the obvious role of URI in the pathogenesis of AOM. The occurrence of rhinoviruses and RS virus in URI was strikingly more common than that of any other virus tested. Although rhinoviruses were definitely the most frequently found viruses in NPA specimens, the association of RS virus with concurrent AOM was relatively higher than that of any other virus.


title: TRAF3: a novel tumor suppressor gene in macrophages.

text: Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), a member of the TRAF family of cytoplasmic adaptor proteins with E3 ligase activity, is ubiquitously expressed in various cell types of the immune system. It is shared for signaling by a variety of adaptive and innate immune receptors as well as cytokine receptors. Previous studies examining conditional TRAF3-deficient mouse models that have the Traf3 gene specifically deleted in B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes have revealed the diverse and critical in vivo functions of TRAF3 in adaptive immunity. Although in vitro evidence points to a pivotal and indispensable role for TRAF3 in type I interferon production induced by pattern recognition receptors in macrophages and dendritic cells, the in vivo functions of TRAF3 in the innate immune system had long remained unclear. Three laboratories have recently addressed this gap in knowledge by investigating myeloid cell-specific TRAF3-deficient (genotype: TRAF3flox/floxLysM+/Cre) mice. The new evidence together demonstrates that specific ablation of TRAF3 in myeloid cells leads to inflammatory diseases, altered progression of diabetes, and spontaneous development of different types of tumors and infections in mice. These new findings indicate that TRAF3 acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and is required for optimal innate immunity in myeloid cells. Strikingly, the new evidence also identifies TRAF3 as a novel tumor suppressor gene in macrophages and other myeloid cells. In this review, we discuss and summarize the new findings and current knowledge about the multi-faceted regulatory roles and complex signaling mechanisms of myeloid cell TRAF3 in inflammation, innate immunity, and tumor development.


title: Radiographic features of a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome with fatal outcome.

text: INTRODUCTION Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a new form of atypical pneumonia caused by a coronavirus. We present the clinical course and chest radiographic findings of a case of SARS with fatal outcome. CLINICAL PICTURE A 39-year-old Chinese male presented with fever, sore throat and non-productive cough. During his illness, serial chest radiographs showed increasingly severe air-space shadowing in both lungs. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME The patient was treated with supplemental oxygen, levofloxacin, oseltamivir, ribavirin and methylprednisolone. As his condition worsened, the required ventilatory and inotropic support. He later developed a myocardial infarct and coagulopathy, and succumbed to his illness. CONCLUSION The reported case mortality of SARS is about 9% worldwide. In Singapore, the mortality is 15.5%. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is believed to be a contributory factor to our patient's demise. We report this case to show the radiographic changes of ARDS in a patient with SARS.


The membrane M protein of the transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus binds to the internal core through the carboxy-terminus.


title: Seroepidemiological survey of sympatric domestic and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Tsumkwe District, north-eastern Namibia.

text: Disease is a potential threat to many endangered populations and may originate from sympatric domestic species. This paper describes a cross-sectional serological survey of canine pathogens carried out in domestic (n = 70) and wild dogs (Lycoan pictus) (n = 6), in Tsumkwe District, northeastern Namibia. Evidence of past exposure to canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus and parainfluenza virus was evident in both wild and domestic dogs with this, the first, documented exposure of free-living wild dogs to canine distemper. Domestic dogs were also exposed to rabies virus, canine parvovirus and coronavirus. There was no pathogen to which wild dogs, but not domestic dogs, were exposed. With wild dogs known to be susceptible to rabies and canine distemper, these may be the greatest threat to this population of wild dogs, although some wild dogs can clearly survive infection with canine distemper.


title: Detection of transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus antigens by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique.

text: A new sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, was developed to detect transmissible gastroenteritis virus antigens from cell culture and from intestinal wash or feces obtained from experimentally infected pigs. This technique was shown to be suitable for the detection of virulent field strain unadapted to cell culture. Cross reactions had not been observed with other enteric pathogens, rotavirus, porcine epizootic diarrhea virus, and Escherichia coli.