In 1995, the hitherto Sarcoptes-free alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) of the Dolomite Alps (Italy) were affected by scabies for the first time after the spread of the disease from a neighbouring ...focus in Austria. Since then, four Agencies cooperated to warrant monitoring of the spatial and temporal progress of the outbreak and further active surveillance was carried out within an intensive study area. In ten years, 15 meta-populations numbering 10,000 chamois and 210,000 ha were encompassed with a maximum distance of 55 km from the index case. “Oil spot” advancement of the epidemic was observed together with “jumps” of 9 to 20 km followed by spreading of the infection to the intervening population units. Demographic decline of the four meta-populations so far affected for a minimum of six years ranged between 49 and 77% (), whereas similar post-epidemic densities of 1.1 to 1.7 heads/100 ha () were recorded. Contiguous resistant and sensitive herds with similar pre-epidemic density were detected on a smaller population scale, suggesting complementary mechanisms intervening besides density-dependence as determinants of the outbreak outcome. No sex or age class showed a higher sensitivity to scabies out of a sample of 1,696 infected chamois. A peak prevalence of free-ranging chamois bearing overt scabietic lesions was observed in January and February. Cases were only sporadically diagnosed in other sympatrc wild ruminants (Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus and Ovis gmelini musimon), whereas all four alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) herds living in the surveyed area suffered from scabies-induced decline.
Background
A hallmark of many orofacial pain disorders is cold sensitivity, but relative to heat-related pain, mechanisms of cold perception and the development of cold allodynia are not clearly ...understood. Molecular mediators of cold sensation such as TRPM8 have been recently identified and characterized using in vitro studies. In this study we characterized operant behavior with respect to individually presented cold stimuli (24, 10, 2, and −4°C) and in a thermal preference task where rats chose between −4 and 48°C stimulation. We also evaluated the effects of menthol, a TRPM8 agonist, on operant responses to cold stimulation (24, 10, and −4°C). Male and female rats were trained to drink sweetened milk while pressing their shaved faces against a thermode. This presents a conflict paradigm between milk reward and thermal stimulation.
Results
We demonstrated that the cold stimulus response function was modest compared to heat. There was a significant effect of temperature on facial (stimulus) contacts, the ratio of licking contacts to stimulus contacts, and the stimulus duration/contact ratio. Males and females differed only in their facial contacts at 10°C. In the preference task, males preferred 48°C to −4°C, despite the fact that 48°C and −4°C were equally painful as based on their reward/stimulus and duration/contact ratios. We were able to induce hypersensitivity to cold using menthol at 10°C, but not at 24 or −4°C.
Conclusion
Our results indicate a strong role for an affective component in processing of cold stimuli, more so than for heat, which is in concordance with human psychophysical findings. The induction of allodynia with menthol provides a model for cold allodynia. This study provides the basis for future studies involving orofacial pain and analgesics, and is translatable to the human experience.
To study the mechanism of nuclear import of T-DNA, complexes consisting of the virulence proteins VirD2 and VirE2 as well as single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) were tested for import into plant nuclei in ...vitro. Import of these complexes was fast and efficient and could be inhibited by a competitor, a nuclear localization signal (NLS) coupled to BSA. For import of short ssDNA, VirD2 was sufficient, whereas import of long ssDNA additionally required VirE2. A VirD2 mutant lacking its C-terminal NLS was unable to mediate import of the T-DNA complexes into nuclei. Although free VirE2 molecules were imported into nuclei, once bound to ssDNA they were not imported, implying that when complexed to DNA, the NLSs of VirE2 are not exposed and thus do not function. RecA, another ssDNA binding protein, could substitute for VirE2 in the nuclear import of T-DNA but not in earlier events of T-DNA transfer to plant cells. We propose that VirD2 directs the T-DNA complex to the nuclear pore, whereas both proteins mediate its passage through the pore. Therefore, by binding to ssDNA, VirE2 may shape the T-DNA complex such that it is accepted for translocation into the nucleus.
Traditionally, vaccine development involves tradeoffs between immunogenicity and safety. Live-attenuated vaccines typically offer rapid and durable immunity but have reduced safety when compared to ...inactivated vaccines. In contrast, the inability of inactivated vaccines to replicate enhances safety at the expense of immunogenicity, often necessitating multiple doses and boosters. To overcome these tradeoffs, we developed the insect-specific alphavirus, Eilat virus (EILV), as a vaccine platform. To address the chikungunya fever (CHIKF) pandemic, we used an EILV cDNA clone to design a chimeric virus containing the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) structural proteins. The recombinant EILV/CHIKV was structurally identical at 10 Å to wild-type CHIKV, as determined by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, and it mimicked the early stages of CHIKV replication in vertebrate cells from attachment and entry to viral RNA delivery. Yet the recombinant virus remained completely defective for productive replication, providing a high degree of safety. A single dose of EILV/CHIKV produced in mosquito cells elicited rapid (within 4 d) and long-lasting (>290 d) neutralizing antibodies that provided complete protection in two different mouse models. In nonhuman primates, EILV/CHIKV elicited rapid and robust immunity that protected against viremia and telemetrically monitored fever. Our EILV platform represents the first structurally native application of an insect-specific virus in preclinical vaccine development and highlights the potential application of such viruses in vaccinology.
A new Magnetic Ion EXchange resin for DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon) removal (MIEX DOC Resin) has been evaluated as water pre-treatment at the Drinking Water Treatment Plant (DWTP) of Florence in ...order to reduce the oxidant demand and disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation potential. This pre-treatment leads to several effects on downstream treatment processes. In this experimental study the effects of MIEX pre-treatment on clariflocculation process were evaluated with respect to coagulant demand reduction and characteristics of flocs formed. The analysis was conducted using traditional jar test procedures and a Photometric Dispersion Analyser (PDA2000) which provided continuous information about the aggregation state of particles during the jar tests. For a fixed turbidity goal in clarified water, ion exchange pre-treatment led to coagulant dosage reduction up to 60% and PDA results shown that flocs formed in pre-treated water were bigger and more resistant to shearing effects than those formed by conventional clariflocculation.
Emerging zoonotic mosquito-borne viruses pose increasing health threats because of growing mosquito population, geographic expansions, and control challenges. We emphasize the need for global ...preparedness to effectively mitigate the health, societal, and economic impacts of spillover by these viruses through proactive measures of prediction, surveillance, prevention, and treatment.
Objective: During menopause there appear hormonal changes that have an impact on physiological aspects, such as weight gain, and psychological ones, such as the presence of anxiety, which could ...affect eating behavior. The study objective is to assess the association between anxiety level and eating behavior as well nutritional status in adult woman.
Materials and methods: A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted on women (aged 40-65 years). A sociodemographic and lifestyle survey was performed. Anxiety was determined by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and eating behavior (EB) through the Three Factor Food Questionnaire (TEFQ-R18). Nutritional status was measured considering body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Statistical analysis was performed through SPSS 19.0.
Results: One hundred twenty-eight women were included, 20.3% at the premenopausal stage and 79.7% at the postmenopausal stage. No association was found between biological stage and nutritional status (p = 0.61) or WC (p = 0.57). State anxiety was experienced by 26.6% of the women and trait anxiety by 53.9% of them; there were no significant differences according to biological stage or nutritional status. The median values of emotional eating (EE), uncontrolled eating (UE), and cognitive restraint eating (CRE) were 5.0 (4.0-7.0), 16.0 (13.0-21.0) and 14.0 (10.0-17.0), respectively, being higher in premenopausal women, whereas there were no significant differences on biological stage. Clinically detectable state anxiety was associated with EE (p = 0.035), UE (p = 0.002), and CRE (p = 0.004), and trait anxiety only with UE (p = 0.016) and EE (p = 0.001). However, anxiety and nutritional status were not related.
Conclusions: Anxiety was associated to eating behavior, although it was not related to nutritional status.
Hair cells, the mechanoreceptors of the acoustic and vestibular system, are presynaptic to primary afferent neurons of the eighth nerve and excite neural activity by the release of glutamate. In the ...present work, the role played by intracellular Ca2+ stores in afferent transmission was investigated, at the presynaptic level, by monitoring changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration (Ca2+i) in vestibular hair cells, and, at the postsynaptic level, by recording from single posterior canal afferent fibers. Application of 1-10 mm caffeine to hair cells potentiated Ca2+ responses evoked by depolarization at selected Ca2+ hot spots, and also induced a graded increase in cell membrane capacitance (DeltaCm), signaling exocytosis of the transmitter. Ca2+ signals evoked by caffeine peaked in a region located approximately 10 microm from the base of the hair cell. Ca2+i increases, similarly localized, were observed after 500 msec depolarizations, but not with 50 msec depolarizations, suggesting the occurrence of calcium-induced calcium release (CICR) from the same stores. Both Ca2+ and DeltaCm responses were inhibited after incubation with ryanodine (40 microm) for 8-10 min. Consistent with these results, afferent transmission was potentiated by caffeine and inhibited by ryanodine both at the level of action potentials and of miniature EPSPs (mEPSPs). Neither caffeine nor ryanodine affected the shape and amplitude of mEPSPs, indicating that both drugs acted at the presynaptic level. These results strongly suggest that endogenous modulators of the CICR process will affect afferent activity elicited by mechanical stimuli in the physiological frequency range.
The way polymerases interact with carcinogen-bound DNA is discussed. Many of the lagging strand proteins have evolved dual roles in DNA replication and repair.
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