Upregulation of Interleukin 8 by Oxygen-deprived Cells in Glioblastoma Suggests a Role in Leukocyte Activation, Chemotaxis, and Angiogenesis

Leukocyte infiltration and necrosis are two biological phenomena associated with the development of neovascularization during the malignant progression of human astrocytoma. Here, we demonstrate expression of interleukin (IL)-8, a cytokine with chemotactic and angiogenic properties, and of IL-8–binding receptors in astrocytoma. IL-8 expression is first observed in low grade astrocytoma in perivascular tumor areas expressing inflammatory cytokines. In glioblastoma, it further localizes to oxygen-deprived cells surrounding necrosis. Hypoxic/anoxic insults on glioblastoma cells in vitro using anaerobic chamber systems or within spheroids developing central necrosis induced an increase in IL-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression. mRNA for IL-8–binding chemokine receptors CXCR1, CXCR2, and the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) were found in all astrocytoma grades by reverse transcription/PCR analysis. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry localized DARC expression on normal brain and tumor microvascular cells and CXCR1 and CXCR2 expression to infiltrating leukocytes. These results support a model where IL-8 expression is initiated early in astrocytoma development through induction by inflammatory stimuli and later in tumor progression increases due to reduced microenvironmental oxygen pressure. Augmented IL-8 would directly and/or indirectly promote angiogenesis by binding to DARC and by inducing leukocyte infiltration and activation by binding to CXCR1 and CXCR2

Validation of a model for ranking aquaculture facilities for risk-based disease surveillance.

A semi-quantitative model for risk ranking of aquaculture facilities in Switzerland with regard to the introduction and spread of Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (VHS) and Infectious Haematopoietic Necrosis (IHN) was developed in a previous study (Diserens et al., 2013). The objective of the present study was to validate this model using data collected during field visits on aquaculture sites in four Swiss cantons compared to data collected through a questionnaire in the previous study. A discrepancy between the values obtained with the two different methods was found in 32.8% of the parameters, resulting in a significant difference (p<0.001) in the risk classification of the facilities. As data gathered exclusively by means of a questionnaire are not of sufficient quality to perform a risk-based surveillance of aquaculture facilities a combination of questionnaires and farm inspections is proposed. A web-based reporting system could be advantageous for the factors which were identified as being more likely to vary over time, in particular for factors considering fish movements, which showed a marginally significant difference in their risk scores (p≥0.1) within a six- month period. Nevertheless, the model proved to be stable over the considered period of time as no substantial fluctuations in the risk categorisation were observed (Kappa agreement of 0.77).Finally, the model proved to be suitable to deliver a reliable risk ranking of Swiss aquaculture facilities according to their risk of getting infected with or spreading of VHS and IHN, as the five facilities that tested positive for these diseases in the last ten years were ranked as medium or high risk. Moreover, because the seven fish farms that were infected with Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis (IPN) during the same period also belonged to the risk categories medium and high, the classification appeared to correlate with the occurrence of this third viral fish disease

Phylogeny of the Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in European Aquaculture

<p>One of the most valuable aquaculture fish in Europe is the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, but the profitability of trout production is threatened by a highly lethal infectious disease, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), caused by the VHS virus (VHSV). For the past few decades, the subgenogroup Ia of VHSV has been the main cause of VHS outbreaks in European freshwater-farmed rainbow trout. Little is currently known, however, about the phylogenetic radiation of this Ia lineage into subordinate Ia clades and their subsequent geographical spread routes. We investigated this topic using the largest Ia-isolate dataset ever compiled, comprising 651 complete G gene sequences: 209 GenBank Ia isolates and 442 Ia isolates from this study. The sequences come from 11 European countries and cover the period 1971-2015. Based on this dataset, we documented the extensive spread of the Ia population and the strong mixing of Ia isolates, assumed to be the result of the Europe-wide trout trade. For example, the Ia lineage underwent a radiation into nine Ia clades, most of which are difficult to allocate to a specific geographic distribution. Furthermore, we found indications for two rapid, large-scale population growth events, and identified three polytomies among the Ia clades, both of which possibly indicate a rapid radiation. However, only about 4% of Ia haplotypes (out of 398) occur in more than one European country. This apparently conflicting finding regarding the Europe-wide spread and mixing of Ia isolates can be explained by the high mutation rate of VHSV. Accordingly, the mean period of occurrence of a single Ia haplotype was less than a full year, and we found a substitution rate of up to 7.813 × 10^-4 nucleotides per site per year. Finally, we documented significant differences between Germany and Denmark regarding their VHS epidemiology, apparently due to those countries' individual handling of VHS.</p

An understated danger: Antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture and pet fish in Switzerland, a retrospective study from 2000 to 2017

Aquaculture is a rapidly growing field of food production. However, morbidity and mortality are higher in aquaculture species than in domestic animals. Bacterial diseases are a leading cause of farmed fish morbidity and are often treated with antimicrobials. Since most Swiss fish farms release effluents directly into surface water without treatment and since aquaculture fish are consumed by humans, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multi-resistance in aquaculture fish are important for environmental and public health. In this study, AMR tests for 14 antimicrobials were performed on 1448 isolates from 1,134 diagnostic laboratory submissions from farmed and ornamental fish submissions for the period from 2000 to 2017. Amoxicillin, gentamycin and norfloxacin had the lowest proportion of resistant samples. However, AMR was highly variable over time. Resistance proportions were higher in: (a) ornamental fish compared with farmed fish, (b) fish from recirculation systems compared with those from other farming systems and (c) isolates originating from skin compared with those originating from inner organs. Multiple resistances were common. The results of this study provide useful data for Swiss fish veterinarians and some interesting hypotheses about risk factors for AMR in aquaculture and pet fish in Switzerland. However, further research is needed to define risk factors

Phylogeny of the infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus in European aquaculture

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) — a highly lethal infectious salmonid disease — has caused substantial economic losses in the European production of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) since the late 1980s. The causal agent of IHN is the IHN virus (IHNV) introduced from overseas. However, until today, its phylogeographic spread in Europe remains poorly understood. We therefore sought to elucidate this unresolved topic by using the largest ever compiled dataset of European IHNV isolates (E isolates) (193 GenBank E isolates and 100 isolates from this study) for the complete glycoprotein (G) gene sequence. Our results clearly revealed that the active trout trade has left its traces in the E phylogeny. For example, the spread by trade of IHNV-infected trout was apparently the cause for the exposure of the E lineage to different local scenarios of selection and genetic drift, and therefore has led to the split of this lineage into various subordinated lineages. Accordingly, we also found evidence for E isolates being mixed Europe-wide by cross-border introduction events. Moreover, there were indications that this propagation of the E lineage within Europe corresponded with an extensive and rapid spread event, already during or shortly after its formation. Finally, in accordance with the high substitution rate of IHNV determined by previous studies, our dataset indicates that the mean period of occurrence of a single E haplotype is typically not longer than one calendar year

Risk assessment for the design of a risk-based surveillance programme for fish farms in Switzerland (in accordance with Council Directive 2006/88/EC of the European Union).

Swiss aquaculture farms were assessed according to their risk of acquiring or spreading viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN). Risk factors for the introduction and spread of VHS and IHN were defined and assessed using published data and expert opinions. Among the 357 aquaculture farms identified in Switzerland, 49.3% were categorised as high risk, 49.0% as medium risk and 1.7% as low risk. According to the new Directive 2006/88/EC for aquaculture of the European Union, the frequency of farm inspections must be derived from their risk levels. A sensitivity analysis showed that water supply and fish movements were highly influential on the output of the risk assessment regarding the introduction of VHS and IHN. Fish movements were also highly influential on the risk assessment output regarding the spread of these diseases

First outbreak of sleeping disease in Switzerland: disease signs and virus characterization.

Sleeping disease is a contagious disease mainly of freshwater farmed rainbow trout, caused by salmonid alphavirus (SAV) Subtype 2. Here we describe the first case in Switzerland. Pathological changes ranged from acute pancreas necrosis to more chronic lesions with complete loss of exocrine pancreas and simultaneous degenerative, inflammatory and regenerative heart and muscle lesions. The partial sequencing of SAV E2 and nsp3 genes placed the Swiss SAV variant within the Subtype 2 clustering together with freshwater isolates from UK and continental Europe. Although mortality stayed low, growth rates were significantly reduced, making the disease economically relevant

Median-joining network based on the complete <i>G</i> gene sequence from 294 IHNV isolates (transition/transversion bias = 4).

<p>The country is indicated using a color code. The black triangles with the number 1 and 2 represent polytomy nodes (node 1 and 2). In accordance with a largely phylotemporal structure in the network, the black triangle with the number 1 (node 1) is surrounded by the oldest French isolate (X89213 from 1987, marked by an asterisk), Italian isolate (FJ711518 from 1987, marked by an asterisk), and the second eldest German isolate (LN897500 from 1993, marked by an asterisk). The <i>E</i> haplotypes are divided into two clades (the <i>E1</i> and <i>E2</i> clade). Isolate <i>M</i> is the outgroup in the network.</p

Consensus Maximum Likelihood tree and Median-joining network (transition/transversion bias = 4) of the <i>E</i> genogroup.

<p>The upper and the lower phylogeny show the phylogenetic relationship between <i>E</i> haplotypes of IHNV, based on the complete <i>G</i> gene sequence and were generated using 294 <i>E</i> isolates. The upper phylogeny is illustrated as a Consensus Maximum Likelihood tree (conflicting branching patterns are resolved by selecting the pattern seen in more than 50% of the trees). Numbers to the right of the branches represent the bootstrap support values obtained from 250 replicates. The lower phylogeny is illustrated as a Median-joining network. The subordinated lineages of clade <i>E</i>–<i>1</i> (<i>E–1–a</i> to <i>E–1–a–k</i>) and <i>E</i>–<i>2</i> (<i>E–2–a</i> to <i>E–1–c</i>) are indicated using a color code. Black triangles marked “1”or “2” represent nodes (node 1 and node 2) that correspond in the Median-joining network with a polytomy. Isolate <i>M</i> is the outgroup in each diagram.</p

Comment faciliter la réinsertion socioprofessionnelle du patient neurolésé ::outils pour le praticien

Les jeunes en transition de l’enfance à l’âge adulte présentant une maladie neurodéveloppementale sont une population spécialement vulnérable. Le suivi de leurs problèmes de santé et leur insertion socioprofessionnelle représentent un véritable défi. Au CHUV, à Lausanne, une consultation de transition entre les neurorééducateurs pédiatriques et adultes a été créée en 2006 ainsi qu’un projet pilote suisse de réinsertion socioprofessionnelle en collaboration avec l’Office de l’assurance invalidité pour le canton de Vaud. Le résultat de ce projet pilote, qui peut être utilisé comme modèle pour tous les patients neurolésés, est rapporté ici avec comme objectif d’informer le médecin traitant et de lui permettre d’utiliser les outils de cette prestation holistique afin d’optimiser la durée et la qualité de la réinsertion