Changes in body odor are known to be a consequence of many diseases. Much of the published work on disease-related and body odor changes has involved parasites and certain cancers. Much less studied ...have been viral diseases, possibly due to an absence of good animal model systems. Here we studied possible alteration of fecal odors in animals infected with avian influenza viruses (AIV). In a behavioral study, inbred C57BL/6 mice were trained in a standard Y-maze to discriminate odors emanating from feces collected from mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) infected with low-pathogenic avian influenza virus compared to fecal odors from non-infected controls. Mice could discriminate odors from non-infected compared to infected individual ducks on the basis of fecal odors when feces from post-infection periods were paired with feces from pre-infection periods. Prompted by this indication of odor change, fecal samples were subjected to dynamic headspace and solvent extraction analyses employing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to identify chemical markers indicative of AIV infection. Chemical analyses indicated that AIV infection was associated with a marked increase of acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) in feces. These experiments demonstrate that information regarding viral infection exists via volatile metabolites present in feces. Further, they suggest that odor changes following virus infection could play a role in regulating behavior of conspecifics exposed to infected individuals.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
West Nile virus (WNV)-associated disease has a range of clinical manifestations among avian taxa, the reasons for which are not known. Species susceptibility varies within the avian family Corvidae, ...with estimated mortality rates ranging from 50 to 100%. We examined and compared virologic, immunologic, pathologic, and clinical responses in 2 corvid species, the American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and the fish crow (C ossifragus), following experimental WNV inoculation. Unlike fish crows, which remained clinically normal throughout the study, American crows succumbed to WNV infection subsequent to dehydration, electrolyte and pH imbalances, and delayed or depressed humoral immune responses concurrent with marked, widespread virus replication. Viral titers were approximately 3,000 times greater in blood and 30,000 to 50,000 times greater in other tissues (eg, pancreas and small intestine) in American crows versus fish crows. Histologic lesion patterns and antigen deposition supported the differing clinical outcomes, with greater severity and distribution of lesions and WNV antigen in American crows. Both crow species had multiorgan necrosis and inflammation, although lesions were more frequent, severe, and widespread in American crows, in which the most commonly affected tissues were small intestine, spleen, and liver. American crows also had inflammation of vessels and nerves in multiple tissues, including heart, kidney, and the gastrointestinal tract. WNV antigen was most commonly observed within monocytes, macrophages, and other cells of the reticuloendothelial system of affected tissues. Collectively, the data support that WNV-infected American crows experience uncontrolled systemic infection leading to multiorgan failure and rapid death.
The root hemiparasite Striga hermonthica causes very significant yield loss in its dryland staple cereal host, Sorghum bicolor. Striga‐resistant sorghum cultivars could be an important part of ...integrated S. hermonthica control. For effective resistance breeding, knowledge about the diversity of the parasite is essential. This study aimed (i) to determine the genetic diversity within and between seven S. hermonthica populations from East and West Africa using 15 microsatellite markers and (ii) to assess the virulence and host–parasite interactions of these Striga populations grown on 16 diverse sorghum genotypes in a glasshouse trial. Most of the genetic variance (91%) assessed with microsatellite markers occurred within S. hermonthica populations. Only a small portion (8%) occurred between regions of origin of the populations. A positive correlation (R² = 0.14) between pairwise geographic and genetic distances reflected the slightly increasing differentiation of S. hermonthica populations with increasing geographic distance. East African S. hermonthica populations, especially those from Sudan, had significantly greater average infestation success across all sorghum genotypes than West African populations. Some specific host–parasite interaction effects were observed. The high genetic variation among individuals of each S. hermonthica population underlines the high potential adaptability to different hosts and changing environments. This points to the need to manage sorghum resistance alleles in space and time and to employ resistant varieties as part of integrated S. hermonthica control, so as to hinder the parasite overcoming resistance.
Background. Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency are prevalent in disadvantaged populations worldwide. Previous small or uncontrolled studies have reported that successful treatment of ...H. pylori infection may resolve iron deficiency or anemia. Methods. We screened 68% of children 7-11 years old living in 10 western Alaska villages. The 219 children with iron deficiency (serum ferritin level, <22.5 pmol/L <10 µg/L) and H. pylori infection (diagnosed on the basis of$^{13}C-labeled$urea breath tests) were enrolled in a household-randomized, unblinded trial. All children received iron supplementation for 6 weeks; children in the intervention group also received a 2-week course of treatment for H. pylori infection plus another 2-week course of treatment if the infection had not resolved at 2 months after treatment initiation. Results. At 2 months after treatment initiation, 32% of children in the intervention group and 39% of children in the control group had iron deficiency. At 14 months after treatment initiation, 65% of children in the intervention group and 72% of children in the control group had iron deficiency (adjusted relative risk ARR, 0.90 95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.74-1.1); in addition, 22% of children in the intervention group and 14% of children in the control group had anemia (ARR,1.6 95% CI, 0.86-2.9). Results were similar when children were compared by H. pylori infection status. Conclusions. In a high-prevalence population, treatment and resolution of H. pylori infection did not improve isolated iron deficiency or mild anemia up to 14 months after treatment initiation.
Among the complications after cardiac surgery the development of postoperative pulmonary distress is a serious problem. Typically, the patients leave the operating theatre with good blood gas values ...and O
2-saturation, but develop their respiratory problems within the next hours/days. We investigated whether extracorporeal circulation may induce biochemical and histological changes in the lungs which may help to explain this development.
Piglets (6–10
kg) were anaesthetized using isoflurane and underwent extracorporeal circulation (ECC) with hypothermic (25–28
°C) cardioplegic arrest for 90
min followed by 3
h reperfusion. An additional group received a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-Inhibitor, INO1001. Cardiopulmonary monitoring was performed during the whole procedure. Finally, lungs were explanted and investigated by histomorphometry and immunohistology for heat shock protein HSP70 (indicator for cellular damage) and TNFα in comparison to normal piglets without ECC.
Histologically we found significant swelling of the type I alveocytes (thickness increased from 2.4 to 3.2
μm), interstitial oedema, intra-alveolar erythrocyte (4.8 versus 0.4 erythrocytes/alveole) and granulocyte accumulation and fibrinous exudates. There was a significant up-regulation of TNFα and of the cellular repair enzyme HSP70, while in control piglets only minimal levels were observed. INO1001 significantly reduced ECC-induced elevation in TNFα and in HSP70. Despite the dramatic changes after heart-lung-machine (HLM), blood gases and gas transport were almost not affected at that time.
ECC can lead to early significant histological and histochemical changes which have similarities with a beginning early stage shock lung, although – at 3
h reperfusion – gas transport is still sufficient. INO1001 can partially antagonize these changes.
Background.Few trials of treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection have been conducted in high-prevalence or pediatric populations, and risk factors for treatment failure are poorly understood. ...Methods.As part of a study evaluating the effect of H. pylori therapy on iron deficiency, we conducted a household-randomized, open-label treatment trial involving children aged 7–11 years in 10 villages in western Alaska. We screened 690 children, of whom 219 with iron deficiency and H. pylori infection (determined on the basis of positive results of the 13C urea breath test) were enrolled in the treatment phase of the study. These 219 children received treatment with iron sulfate alone (the control group) or with iron sulfate combined with a 2-week course of lansoprazole, clarithromycin, and amoxicillin (the intervention group). Children in the intervention group who were allergic to amoxicillin or macrolides received metronidazole. Children in the intervention group who did not respond to treatment were re-treated with a 2-week course of metronidazole-based quadruple therapy. Results.Two months after initiating therapy, 34% of 104 children in the intervention group and 0.90% of 111 children in the control group tested negative for H. pylori. Among children in the intervention group, risk factors for treatment failure were lack of metronidazole (adjusted odds ratio aOR, 145), fewer treatment doses (aOR, 0.74), larger household population (aOR, 1.5), and lower body mass index (aOR, 0.69). These 4 variables predicted most of the variation in H. pylori infection status. Among 50 children who were re-treated, 84% tested negative for H. pylori at the 8-month follow-up visit, including those with poor treatment compliance. Conclusions.Among disadvantaged populations with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection, the response to standard treatment regimens may be low. Treatment compliance, household crowding, and re-treatment may influence treatment success. Metronidazole may be appropriate first-line therapy.
Objectives: To determine the incidence of and risk factors associated with infant (<1 year of age) physical abuse in Alaska.
Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study for the 1994–2000 ...resident birth cohort was conducted by linking data from birth certificates, Child Protective Services, a statewide hospital-based trauma registry, hospital discharge data, and the Alaska Infant Mortality Review (including death certificates). The main outcome measures were the incidences of overall physical abuse and abuse resulting in hospitalization or death. A case of child abuse was defined as an instance of substantiated physical abuse to an infant identified in the Child Protective Services database or an infant death with homicide identified on the death certificate as the manner of death.
Results: During the 7-year study period, there were 70,842 births and 325 cases of physical abuse including 72 that led to hospitalization (
n=58), death (
n=4), or both (
n=10); respective incidences for all abuse and abuse leading to hospitalization or death were 4.6 and 1.0 per 1000 live births. Following multivariate analyses, the risk factors with the highest population attributable risks were maternal or paternal education ≤12 years, unmarried mother, and maternal prenatal substance use. To determine if the study methodology was likely to have missed cases of severe abuse, we examined information for all 216 infants hospitalized for trauma during the study period who did not have identification of abuse in one of the study databases; of these, at least 39 had injuries inconsistent with the reported mechanism (a long bone or skull fracture that reportedly resulted from a fall of less than 3 feet or from a caretaker’s arms or for which the caretaker denied a history of trauma).
Conclusions: Alaska has one of the highest documented infant physical abuse incidences reported in the literature and abuse is associated with potentially modifiable—primarily social—risk factors. Despite this high incidence, substantial under-reporting of hospitalized cases likely occurs.
Objectifs: Déterminer l’incidence et les facteurs de risque associés aux mauvais traitements physiques envers les jeunes enfants (>un an ) en Alaska.
Méthode: Une étude rétrospective a été menée sur une cohorte issue de toute la population sur les naissances chez des résidents de 1994 à 2000. On a relié des données venant des certificats de naissances, des services de protection de l’Enfance, d’un registre portant sur les traumatismes enregistrés à l’hopital dans tout l’Etat, les données des décharges après hospitalisation, ainsi que du registre des décès des enfants (incluant les certificats de décès). Les principales mesures qui ont été relevées ont concerné l’incidence des sévices physiques en général et des sévices dont le résultat a été une hospitalisation ou un décès. On a défini un cas de mauvais traitement à enfant comme étant un mauvais traitement physique, avec preuve identifié, dans la base de données des services de Protection de l’Enfance ou le décès d’un enfant par infanticide ceci étant identifié sur le certificat de décès comme cause de la mort.
Résultats: Pendant les 7 années qu’a duré l’étude, 70,842 naissances ont eu lieu. Sur 325 cas de sévices physiques, 72 ont nécessité une hospitalisation (
n=58), ont entraı̂né la mort (
n=4), ou les deux (
n=10). L’incidence de tous les mauvais traitements et de ceux qui ont mené à une hospitalisation ou à la mort a été de 4.6 et 1.0 pour 1000 naissance d’enfants vivants. Après des analyses à plusieurs variables, on a trouvé que les facteurs de risque les plus élevés pour la population étaient le niveau d’éducation du père ou de la mère inférieur ou égal à 12 ans, mère seule, ou abus par la mère de consommation de drogues pendant sa grossesse. Pour déterminer si la méthodologie de l’étude avait été cause de l’exclusion de cas graves de mauvais traitements, nous avons examiné les informations concernant tous les 216 enfants hospitalisés pour traumatisme pendant la durée de l’étude et qui n’avaient pas été identifiés comme maltraités dans l’une des bases de données de l’étude. Parmi ceux-ci, au moins 39 avaient des blessures qui ne concordaient pas avec le mécanisme signalé (fracture d’un os long ou du crâne signalée comme résultant d’une chute de moins d’un mètre ou chute des bras d’une gardienne qui avait nié toute notion d’un traumatisme).
Conclusions: En Alaska il y a la plus haute fréquence dans toute la littérature de cas prouvés de jeunes enfants maltraités physiquement, ces cas sont associés à des facteurs de risque, surtout sociaux, potentiellement modifiables. Malgré cette fréquence élévée, il semble que les cas hospitalisés soient, dans une proportion importante, non signalés.
Objetivos: Determinar la incidencia y los factores de riesgo asociados al maltrato fı́sico de niños/as (<1 año de edad) en Alaska.
Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo de cohortes de la población teniendo en cuenta datos de certificados de nacimiento, Servicios de Protección Infantil, un registro estatal hospitalario de traumas, datos de registros hospitalarios, y la revisión de mortandad infantil de Alaska (incluidos los certificados de defunción). Las medidas principales de resultados fueron la incidencia de maltrato fı́sico en general y el maltrato producido por una hospitalización o la muerte. Se definió un caso de maltrato infantil como la confirmación de un caso de maltrato fı́sico a un niño/a que está identificado en la base de datos de los Servicios de Protección Infantil o una muerte infantil por orfandad identificada con homicidio en un certificado de defunción.
Resultados: Durante los 7 años en los que tuvo lugar el estudio, hubo 70,842 nacimientos y 325 casos de maltrato infantil, incluidos los 72 que conllevaron hospitalización (
n=58), muerte (
n=4), o ambos (
n=10); las incidencias tanto de maltrato como de maltrato que conllevó hospitalización o muerte fueron de 4.6 y 1.0 por 1000 nacimientos respectivamente. Los análisis multivariados, muestran que los factores de riesgo de los riesgos atribuibles a la mayor población fueron la educación maternal o parental ≤12 años, madre no casada, y abuso materno prenatal de sustancias. Para determinar si la metodologı́a de este estudio presentaba probabilidad de tener casos perdidos con maltrato severo, examinamos información de todos los 216 niños/as hospitalizados por trauma durante el perı́odo que tuvo lugar el estudio, niños/as que no habı́an sido identificados como casos de maltrato en ninguna de las bases de datos del estudio; de estos, al menos 39 casos presentaban inconsistencias en cómo se produjo el daño que presentaban los niños/as (una fractura ósea de carácter severo que se decı́a que habı́a sido provocada por una caı́da de menos de un metro o de los brazos de un cuidador o por el que el cuidador negaba una historia de trauma).
Conclusiones: Alaska tiene una de las incidencias de maltrato infantil, documentadas en la literatura, más altas y el maltrato está asociado a factores de riesgo potencialmente modificables—principalmente a nivel social. A pesar de la alta incidencia, la no notificación de casos hospitalizados ocurre frecuentemente.
•At low body weights indigenous Ban pigs qualify for urban niche pork markets.•Empirical data on the carcass and meat quality of low-weight Ban pigs is provided.•Value chain associates could ...economically benefit from increased market weights.•Quality control by small-scale slaughterers could enhance market transparency.•Incorporating small slaughterers may provide flexibility in a development context.
Slaughtered at heavy live weights, carcasses of the autochthonous Vietnamese Ban pig breed are not marketable on the highly remunerative niche markets of the urban Red River Delta. Therefore, Ban pigs are traded often at just 10 to 15kg to avoid excessive fat accumulation. However, already, a moderate increase of slaughter weights might lead to rising profits for smallholder farmers in the uplands. Thus, this research aimed at investigating the effect of increasing live weight on the carcass composition and meat quality of indigenous Ban pigs qualifying for commerce on high-end markets. Fifty-six castrated male Ban fatteners with body weights ranging from 6.5 to 29.3kg were collected from smallholder farmers applying a feeding system based on banana pseudostem (Musa spp.) and slaughtered by local slaughterers according to common practice. The carcass quality of 51 animals and, additionally, meat quality parameters of the loin and ham of 56 animals were assessed. For the evaluation of increased live weights on commodity prices, two pricing systems based on actual market prices for Ban fatteners in Son La town and Hanoi were suggested. Carcass fat depots did not significantly increase when body weights were raised from 12 to approximately 20kg, and the distribution of primal cuts and the meat quality of the loin and ham were relatively stable. Thus, the currently applied slaughter weights for purebred Ban pigs appear to be suboptimal, and a moderate increase of slaughter weights to approximately 20kg is feasible and could result in monetary benefits. In this context, the role of small-scale slaughterers for value chain upgrading is discussed. In conclusion, increasingly formalized value chains for traditional pork products could provide the potential to not only contribute to rural development in the Southeast Asian Massif, but also to the conservation of animal genetic resources of a highly valuable eco-cultural region.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the failure of non–tertiary care hospitals to appropriately triage and refer pregnant women and newborns contributes to low ...birth weight infant death in Alaska. Study Design: Birth certificates from 1993 to 1997 were reviewed for all 2809 infants who were born at less than 2500 g. Death certificates and maternal and infant medical charts were reviewed for all 168 infant deaths that occurred during this time. Results: Mother-infant pairs who received all care at Alaska’s single tertiary care center had a lower mortality rate than those who received some care at a non–tertiary care center (risk ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 0.86-2.6). Despite this, only 4% of deaths among low birth weight infants (all <1500 g) were associated with care decisions at non–tertiary centers; none of these deaths involved intentional inappropriate retention of infants or mothers. Conclusion: Further emphasizing perinatal care regionalization (including for infants 1500-2499 g birth weight) is unlikely to substantially decrease low birth weight infant mortality rates. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:623-8.)
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