Human rabies postexposure prophylaxis during a raccoon rabies epizootic in New York, 1993 and 1994.

We describe the epidemiology of human rabies postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in four upstate New York counties during the 1st and 2nd year of a raccoon rabies epizootic. We obtained data from records of 1,173 persons whose rabies PEP was reported to local health departments in 1993 and 1994. Mean annual PEP incidence rates were highest in rural counties, in summer, and in patients 10 to 14 and 35 to 44 years of age. PEP given after bites was primarily associated with unvaccinated dogs and cats, but most (70%) was not attributable to bites. Although pet vaccination and stray animal control, which target direct exposure, remain the cornerstones of human rabies prevention, the risk for rabies by the nonbite route (e. g., raccoon saliva on pet dogs' and cats' fur) should also be considered

A cell culture model using rat coronary artery adventitial fibroblasts to measure collagen production

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We have developed a rat cell model for studying collagen type I production in coronary artery adventitial fibroblasts. Increased deposition of adventitial collagen type I leads to stiffening of the blood vessel, increased blood pressure, arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Although the source and mechanism of collagen deposition is yet unknown, the adventitia appears to play a significant role. To demonstrate the application of our cell model, cultured adventitial fibroblasts were treated with sex hormones and the effect on collagen production measured.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Hearts (10–12 weeks) were harvested and the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was isolated and removed. Tissue explants were cultured and cells (passages 2–4) were confirmed as fibroblasts using immunohistochemistry. Optimal conditions were determined for cell tissue harvest, timing, proliferation and culture conditions. Fibroblasts were exposed to 10^-7M testosterone or 10^-7M estrogen for 24 hours and either immunostained for collagen type I or subjected to ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Results showed increased collagen staining in fibroblasts treated with testosterone compared to control and decreased staining with estrogen. ELISA results showed that testosterone increased collagen I by 20% whereas estrogen decreased collagen I by 15%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Data demonstrates the usefulness of our cell model in studying the specific role of the adventitia apart from other blood vessel tissue in rat coronary arteries. Results suggest opposite effects of testosterone and estrogen on collagen synthesis in the rat coronary artery adventitial fibroblasts.</p

Removal of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) from SHR male rat

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "A cell culture model using rat coronary artery adventitial fibroblasts to measure collagen production"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/7/13</p><p>BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2007;7():13-13.</p><p>Published online 8 May 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1885448.</p><p></p> A) intact LAD, B) heart with LAD removed, C) isolated LAD, D) LAD length, E) LAD diameter, and F) fibroblasts migrating from LAD explant

Collagen Type I (μg) measured by ELISA in LAD fibroblasts treated with 10M testosterone or 10M estrogen

<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "A cell culture model using rat coronary artery adventitial fibroblasts to measure collagen production"</p><p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2261/7/13</p><p>BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2007;7():13-13.</p><p>Published online 8 May 2007</p><p>PMCID:PMC1885448.</p><p></p> Testosterone significantly increased the amount of collagen deposited (2.912 ± 0.247 μg) compared to control values (2.475 ± 0.211 μg) (* p < 0.05, 1 tailed t-test). Estrogen decreased the amount of collagen (2.103 ± 0.262 μg) compared to control (p = 0.058, 1 tailed t-test). Collagen was measured in wells with a 0.32 cmgrowth area from a 96 well culture plate

COVID-19 and religious ethics

The editors of the JRE solicited short essays on the COVID-19 pandemic from a group of scholars of religious ethics that reflected on how the field might help them make sense of the complex religious, cultural, ethical, and political implications of the pandemic, and on how the pandemic might shape the future of religious ethics