Human infections associated with wild birds.

IntroductionWild birds and especially migratory species can become long-distance vectors for a wide range of microorganisms. The objective of the current paper is to summarize available literature on pathogens causing human disease that have been associated with wild bird species.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed to identify specific pathogens known to be associated with wild and migratory birds. The evidence for direct transmission of an avian borne pathogen to a human was assessed. Transmission to humans was classified as direct if there is published evidence for such transmission from the avian species to a person or indirect if the transmission requires a vector other than the avian species.ResultsSeveral wild and migratory birds serve as reservoirs and/or mechanical vectors (simply carrying a pathogen or dispersing infected arthropod vectors) for numerous infectious agents. An association with transmission from birds to humans was identified for 10 pathogens. Wild birds including migratory species may play a significant role in the epidemiology of influenza A virus, arboviruses such as West Nile virus and enteric bacterial pathogens. Nevertheless only one case of direct transmission from wild birds to humans was found.ConclusionThe available evidence suggests wild birds play a limited role in human infectious diseases. Direct transmission of an infectious agent from wild birds to humans is rarely identified. Potential factors and mechanisms involved in the transmission of infectious agents from birds to humans need further elucidation

Leptin and Its Emerging Role in Children and Adolescents

Leptin is an adipocyte-secreted hormone which plays a key role in energy homeostasis. Recent “proof of concept” studies involving leptin administration to humans support its critical role in regulating energy homeostasis, neuroendocrine and immune function as well as insulin resistance in states of energy/ caloric deprivation. Moreover, interventional studies in leptin deficient children and observational studies in normal girls and boys support a role for leptin as a permissive factor for the initiation of puberty in children. The potential clinical usefulness of leptin in several disease states in children and adolescents, including hypothalamic amenorrhea, eating disorders and syndromes of insulin resistance is still under investigation

Human infections associated with wild birds.

IntroductionWild birds and especially migratory species can become long-distance vectors for a wide range of microorganisms. The objective of the current paper is to summarize available literature on pathogens causing human disease that have been associated with wild bird species.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed to identify specific pathogens known to be associated with wild and migratory birds. The evidence for direct transmission of an avian borne pathogen to a human was assessed. Transmission to humans was classified as direct if there is published evidence for such transmission from the avian species to a person or indirect if the transmission requires a vector other than the avian species.ResultsSeveral wild and migratory birds serve as reservoirs and/or mechanical vectors (simply carrying a pathogen or dispersing infected arthropod vectors) for numerous infectious agents. An association with transmission from birds to humans was identified for 10 pathogens. Wild birds including migratory species may play a significant role in the epidemiology of influenza A virus, arboviruses such as West Nile virus and enteric bacterial pathogens. Nevertheless only one case of direct transmission from wild birds to humans was found.ConclusionThe available evidence suggests wild birds play a limited role in human infectious diseases. Direct transmission of an infectious agent from wild birds to humans is rarely identified. Potential factors and mechanisms involved in the transmission of infectious agents from birds to humans need further elucidation

Human infections associated with wild birds

Introduction: Wild birds and especially migratory species can become tong-distance vectors for a wide range of microorganisms. The objective of the current paper is to summarize available literature on pathogens causing human disease that have been associated with wild bird species. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed to identify specific pathogens known to be associated with wild and migratory birds. The evidence for direct transmission of an avian borne pathogen to a human was assessed. Transmission to humans was classified as direct if there is published evidence for such transmission from the avian species to a person or indirect if the transmission requires a vector other than the avian species. Results: Several wild and migratory birds serve as reservoirs and/or mechanical vectors (simply carrying a pathogen or dispersing infected arthropod vectors) for numerous infectious agents. An association with transmission from birds to humans was identified for 10 pathogens. Wild birds including migratory species may play a significant rote in the epidemiology of influenza A virus, arboviruses such as West Nile virus and enteric bacterial. pathogens. Nevertheless only one case of direct transmission from wild birds to humans was found. Conclusion: The available evidence suggests wild birds play a limited role in human infectious diseases. Direct transmission of an infectious agent from wild birds to humans is rarely identified. Potential factors and mechanisms involved in the transmission of infectious agents from birds to humans need further elucidation. (C) 2007 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Total and high-molecular-weight adiponectin in breast cancer: In vitro and in vivo studies

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor for breast cancer. We hypothesized that obesity-induced decreases in total and/or high-molecular-weight ( HMW) adiponectin levels may underlie this association. Methods: We measured serum total and HMW adiponectin in a hospital-based case-control study of 74 female breast cancer patients and 76 controls. In parallel, expression of adiponectin and its receptors AdipoR1/R2 were measured in tissue samples using RT-PCR, and protein expression of AdipoR1/R2 was localized and quantified using immunohistochemistry. Finally, we documented AdipoR1/R2 expression in several breast cancer cell lines and studied adiponectin signaling and the effect of adiponectin on proliferation in the T47D breast cancer cell line in vitro. Results: Women with the highest adiponectin levels had a 65% reduced risk of breast cancer ( P = 0.04). This association became stronger after adjustment for age, body mass index, and hormonal and reproductive factors ( P = 0.02). Modeling HMW instead of total adiponectin produced similar results and did not offer any additional predictive value. Breast cancer cells expressed AdipoR1/R2 but not adiponectin. Expression of AdipoR1, but not AdipoR2, was higher in tumor tissue than both adjacent and control tissues. Exposure of T47D cells to adiponectin significantly inhibited the percentage of viable cells to 86% and proliferation to 66% but had no effect on apoptosis. These effects were associated with activation of ERK1/2 but not AMP-activated protein kinase or p38MAPK. Conclusion: These studies suggest that adiponectin may act as a biomarker of carcinogenesis and may constitute a molecular link between obesity and breast cancer