Currently, 2 vaccines exist that prevent infection by the genotypes of human papillomavirus (HPV) responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide. Although vaccination is ...expected to reduce the prevalence of these HPV types, there is concern about the effect this could have on the distribution of other oncogenic types. According to basic ecological principles, if competition exists between ≥2 different HPV types for niche occupation during natural infection, elimination of 1 type may lead to an increase in other type(s). Here, we discuss this issue of "type replacement" and present different epidemiologic approaches for evaluation of HPV type competition. Briefly, these approaches involve: 1) calculation of the expected frequency of coinfection under independence between HPV types for comparison with observed frequency; 2) construction of hierarchical logistic regression models for each vaccine-targeted type; and 3) construction of Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox models to evaluate sequential acquisition and clearance of HPV types according to baseline HPV status. We also discuss a related issue concerning diagnostic artifacts arising when multiple HPV types are present in specific samples (due to the inability of broad-spectrum assays to detect certain types present in lower concentrations). This may result in an apparent increase in previously undetected types postvaccination.
The adaptation of wildlife species to urban environments can drive changes in the ecology of ectoparasites and vector-borne disease. To better understand ectoparasite dynamics in an urban ...environment, we investigated the ectoparasite communities of 183 sylvatic and urban opossums and raccoons captured across four seasons at a rural research station and within the city of Gainesville, FL, and of 115 community cats from the Gainesville, FL area. Amblyomma americanum (L.) (Acari: Ixodidae), Dermacentor variabilis (Say), and Ixodes texanus Banks were collected from raccoons, A. americanum, D. variabilis, and Ixodes scapularis Say from opossums, and A. americanum from cats. Few ticks were collected from urban animals, although species richness of ectoparasites was similar between urban and sylvatic habitats. Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) was collected from all sampled host species, but was particularly abundant on opossums. Additionally, Orchopeas howardi (Baker) (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) was collected from raccoons, and O. howardi and Xenopsylla cheopis (Rothschild) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) from opossums. Only raccoons were infested with raccoon lice, and only cats were infested with cat lice. Primarily opossums were infested with mites. Ectoparasite community composition varied by habitat, host species, and season; seasonal variation in ectoparasite communities differed between the sylvatic and urban habitats. While urban mesomammals did not appear to play an important role in supporting tick populations in an urban habitat, urban opossums appear to serve as an alternate host for large numbers of cat fleas, which may be an important consideration for treatment and control efforts against ectoparasites of companion animals.
Aims.We present a comparison between independent computer codes, modeling the physics and chemistry of interstellar photon dominated regions (PDRs). Our goal was to understand the mutual differences ...in the PDR codes and their effects on the physical and chemical structure of the model clouds, and to converge the output of different codes to a common solution. Methods. A number of benchmark models have been created, covering low and high gas densities $n = 10^3,10^{5.5}$ cm-3 and far ultraviolet intensities χ = 10, 105 in units of the Draine field (FUV: 6 < $h\,\nu$ < 13.6 eV). The benchmark models were computed in two ways: one set assuming constant temperatures, thus testing the consistency of the chemical network and photo-processes, and a second set determining the temperature self consistently by solving the thermal balance, thus testing the modeling of the heating and cooling mechanisms accounting for the detailed energy balance throughout the clouds. Results.We investigated the impact of PDR geometry and agreed on the comparison of results from spherical and plane-parallel PDR models. We identified a number of key processes governing the chemical network which have been treated differently in the various codes such as the effect of PAHs on the electron density or the temperature dependence of the dissociation of CO by cosmic ray induced secondary photons, and defined a proper common treatment. We established a comprehensive set of reference models for ongoing and future PDR model bench-marking and were able to increase the agreement in model predictions for all benchmark models significantly. Nevertheless, the remaining spread in the computed observables such as the atomic fine-structure line intensities serves as a warning that there is still a considerable uncertainty when interpreting astronomical data with our models.
Context. Protostars interact with their surroundings through jets and winds impinging on the envelope and creating shocks, but the nature of these shocks is still poorly understood. Aims. Our aim is ...to survey far-infrared molecular line emission from a uniform and significant sample of deeply-embedded low-mass young stellar objects (YSOs) in order to characterize shocks and the possible role of ultraviolet radiation in the immediate protostellar environment. Methods. Herschel/PACS spectral maps of 22 objects in the Perseus molecular cloud were obtained as part of the William Herschel Line Legacy (WILL) survey. Line emission from H2O, CO, and OH is tested against shock models from the literature. Results. Observed line ratios are remarkably similar and do not show variations with physical parameters of the sources (luminosity, envelope mass). Most ratios are also comparable to those found at off-source outflow positions. Observations show good agreement with the shock models when line ratios of the same species are compared. Ratios of various H2O lines provide a particularly good diagnostic of pre-shock gas densities, nH ~ 105 cm-3, in agreement with typical densities obtained from observations of the post-shock gas when a compression factor on the order of 10 is applied (for non-dissociative shocks). The corresponding shock velocities, obtained from comparison with CO line ratios, are above 20 km s-1. However, the observations consistently show H2O-to-CO and H2O-to-OH line ratios that are one to two orders of magnitude lower than predicted by the existing shock models. Conclusions. The overestimated model H2O fluxes are most likely caused by an overabundance of H2O in the models since the excitation is well-reproduced. Illumination of the shocked material by ultraviolet photons produced either in the star-disk system or, more locally, in the shock, would decrease the H2O abundances and reconcile the models with observations. Detections of hot H2O and strong OH lines support this scenario.
In recent work based on a 130-item wordlist, Lansing et al. claim that Basa Latala, a Punan Sajau song language of Borneo, is not an Austronesian language. In this squib, we argue that there is no ...linguistic basis for this claim. Many Basa Latala words have clear Austronesian and Borneo cognates and show evidence of Austronesian cognate morphology.
Most breast cancer survivors experience hot flashes; many use complementary or alternative remedies for these symptoms. We undertook a randomized clinical trial of black cohosh, a widely used herbal ...remedy for menopausal symptoms, among breast cancer patients.
Patients diagnosed with breast cancer who had completed their primary treatment were randomly assigned to black cohosh or placebo, stratified on tamoxifen use. At enrollment, patients completed a questionnaire about demographic factors and menopausal symptoms. Before starting to take the pills and at 30 and 60 days, they completed a 4-day hot flash diary. At the final visit, they completed another menopausal symptom questionnaire. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were measured in a subset of patients at the first and final visits.
Of 85 patients (59 on tamoxifen, 26 not on tamoxifen) enrolled in the study, 42 were assigned to treatment and 43 were assigned to placebo; 69 completed all three hot flash diaries. Both treatment and placebo groups reported declines in number and intensity of hot flashes; the differences between the groups were not statistically significant. Both groups also reported improvements in menopausal symptoms that were, for the most part, not significantly different. Changes in blood levels of FSH and LH also did not differ in the two groups.
Black cohosh was not significantly more efficacious than placebo against most menopausal symptoms, including number and intensity of hot flashes. Our study illustrates the feasibility and value of standard clinical trial methodology in assessing the efficacy and safety of herbal agents.
Laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy Ratner, L E; Ciseck, L J; Moore, R G ...
Transplantation,
11/1995, Letnik:
60, Številka:
9
Journal Article
Recenzirano
A laparoscopic live-donor nephrectomy was performed on a 40-year-old man. The kidney was removed intact via a 9-cm infraumbilical midline incision. Warm ischemia was limited to less than 5 min. ...Immediately upon revascularization, the allograft produced urine. By the second postoperative day, the recipient's serum creatinine had decreased to 0.7 mg/dl. The donor's postoperative course was uneventful. He experienced minimal discomfort and was discharged home on the first postoperative day. We conclude that laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is feasible. It can be performed without apparent deleterious effects to either the donor or the recipient. The limited discomfort and rapid convalescence enjoyed by our patient indicate that this technique may prove to be advantageous.
To compare the current recommended dose of pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) with doses two to three times higher.
We evaluated three dosages (300, 600, and 900 mg) of PPS in a randomized, ...double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, multicenter, 32-week study. Adults (n = 380) with a diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) as determined by a positive cystoscopic examination combined with bladder pain and urgency or a history of IC symptoms for at least 6 months were enrolled. Participants completed the Patient’s Overall Rating of Symptom Index (PORIS) and the O’Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) at baseline (ICSI only) and during follow-up visits at 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, and 32 weeks.
Mean ICSI scores improved significantly during the 32 weeks for all dosages (baseline 11.2, 11.9, and 11.9 to endpoint 8.2, 8.1, 8.6 for 300, 600, and 900 mg, respectively;
P <0.001) but the response to treatment was not dose dependent (no statistically significant difference in response among the three dosages). At baseline, 3.2%, 62.2%, and 34.6% reported mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively, as assessed by the ICSI. At study end, 27.5%, 56.9%, and 15.7% reported mild, moderate, and severe symptoms, respectively. The PORIS scores improved within 4 weeks with 15.8% to 21.1% of all patients classified as responders (50% or greater improvement on PORIS). At 32 weeks, 49.6%, 49.6%, and 45.2% of all patients were responders at a dose of 300, 600, and 900 mg, respectively. Most adverse events were mild and resolved without intervention.
For all three dosages of PPS, a clinically significant but similar response was demonstrated. The duration of therapy appears to be more important than the dosage.
Abstract
The study objective was to determine if acute or chronic water restriction affected hematology or performance in beef calves with parenteral or intranasal vaccination. A total of 60 ...crossbred beef steer (n = 28) and heifer (n = 32) calves were used. On d -7, calves within sex were assigned randomly to 1 of 6 treatments arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial. Water restriction treatments (Factor A) were applied at the origin ranch via 3 different models: A1) Control, no water restriction except during transport to the feedlot (CON), A2) Acute, consisting of 48 h water restriction prior to transport to the feedlot (ACU), or A3) Chronic, consisting of alternating 24 h periods of water access and restriction, over a 7-d period prior to transport to the feedlot (CHR). Upon feedlot arrival (d 0), 2 respiratory vaccine treatments were applied (Factor B): B1) parenteral administration of a pentavalent modified-live virus (MLV) respiratory vaccine (2 mL s.c. in the neck; EX), or B2) intranasal administration of a trivalent MLV respiratory vaccine (1 mL/naris; IN). Blood was collected on d -7, -5, -3, -1, 0 , 1, 3, 5, 7 and weekly thereafter through d 56 to determine complete blood count via automated hemocytometer and packed cell volume (PCV). Individual BW and rectal temperature (RT) was recorded on the same days blood sampling occurred. The PCV was greatest (P ≤ 0.01) for CHR on d -5 and -3. Similarly, hematocrit differed (P ≤ 0.01) between CON (36.4), ACU (33.5) and CHR (39.7%) on d -3. The IN group had increased total white blood cell count (P=0.009); specifically, lymphocytes (P < 0.001) and monocytes (P = 0.002) were increased for IN on d 5 and 3 and d 5, respectively. Eosinophils decreased (day effect; P < 0.01) transiently after transport to the feedlot on d -1. Rectal temperature was increased for IN on d 7 and 14 (P ≤ 0.04). The BW of ACU and CHR treatments decreased 9.5 and 9.7 kg, respectively, from d -7 to -1; however, the CON treatment gained 5.5 kg during the same time (P < 0.001). The ACU and CHR treatments had reduced ADG from d 0 to 14 compared with CON (P ≤ 0.04), regardless of vaccine treatment. Compared to IN, EX had a greater body weight (BW) change from d 42 to 56 (P = 0.01). Chronic water restriction increased PCV and hematocrit and decreased ADG during and 14-d after the restriction period; whereas, intranasal vaccination increased rectal temperature and some white blood cell differentials.
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