3 research outputs found
Viral infections in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Background Although viral infection is a major clinical problem for
hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, there are few large
series reporting on these infections in the pediatric population. We
performed a retrospective analysis of the impact of viral infections in
this patient population in our center, managed by a uniform antiviral
prophylaxis protocol.
Method We reviewed the medical records of consecutive children and
adolescents who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the
Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer
Center in Houston, TX, from July, 1992 to August, 1996.
Results. During the study period there were 70 episodes of viral
infections in 96 transplants. The viruses most commonly encountered were
cytomegalovirus (24), varicella-zoster (21) and herpes simplex (10).
Fifty of these episodes resulted in clinically apparent diseases,
affecting 39 patients. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probability for the
development of viral diseases was 62%. Ten percent of these patients
died as a direct result of the infectious process, all within 4 months
of transplant. Significant factors for development of viral disease were
the development of acute graft-vs. -host disease and the duration of
preengraftment neutropenia.
Conclusions. Viruses are common pathogens after hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation in the pediatric population. Despite routine antiviral
prophylaxis the morbidity and mortality of viral infections remain high.
Enhancement of immune recovery after hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation together with the development of new classes of
antiviral agents may impact the incidence and prognosis of viral
infections in this setting
Census and distribution of large carnivores in the Tsavo national parks, a critical east African wildlife corridor
Kenya's Tsavo National Parks are a critical conservation area and the only wilderness corridor through densely populated human-dominated landscapes stretching from the East African coast to Lake Victoria, separating extensive undeveloped grasslands south of the equator from the undeveloped semiarid bushlands to the north. At nearly 21,000 km(2), Tsavo is one of four lion strongholds in East Africa and part of Africa's most important populations of all other large African carnivores. To provide baseline data on the status of large carnivores, a track survey was undertaken in 2013. Lions and both hyaena species were widely distributed across both parks, while cheetahs and wild dogs were more patchily distributed. Spotted hyaenas were the most abundant, with an estimated population of 3,903 +/- 514 (95% CI), followed by lion (706 +/- 201), striped hyaena (679 +/- 144), leopard (452 +/- 98), cheetah (154 +/- 74) and wild dog (111 +/- 92). Tsavo's carnivores suffer from bushmeat poaching, illegal grazing and retaliatory killing, and increasing human numbers on its periphery. Given Tsavo's importance as a stronghold for lions and an ecological corridor, increased investment in effective protection is strongly recommended. Evaluating trends will require complementary techniques in light of intensive monitoring requirements