Inactivity/sleep in two wild free-roaming African elephant matriarchs - Does large body size make elephants the shortest mammalian sleepers?

The current study provides details of sleep (or inactivity) in two wild, free-roaming African elephant matriarchs studied in their natural habitat with remote monitoring using an actiwatch subcutaneously implanted in the trunk, a standard elephant collar equipped with a GPS system and gyroscope, and a portable weather station. We found that these two elephants were polyphasic sleepers, had an average daily total sleep time of 2 h, mostly between 02:00 and 06:00, and displayed the shortest daily sleep time of any mammal recorded to date. Moreover, these two elephants exhibited both standing and recumbent sleep, but only exhibited recumbent sleep every third or fourth day, potentially limiting their ability to enter REM sleep on a daily basis. In addition, we observed on five occasions that the elephants went without sleep for up to 46 h and traversed around 30 km in 10 h, possibly due to disturbances such as potential predation or poaching events, or a bull elephant in musth. They exhibited no form of sleep rebound following a night without sleep. Environmental conditions, especially ambient air temperature and relative humidity, analysed as wet-bulb globe temperature, reliably predict sleep onset and offset times. The elephants selected novel sleep sites each night and the amount of activity between sleep periods did not affect the amount of sleep. A number of similarities and differences to studies of elephant sleep in captivity are noted, and specific factors shaping sleep architecture in elephants, on various temporal scales, are discussed

Multistate Assessment of Public Health Surveillance Relevant to American Indians and Alaska Natives, 2007

Improving the health of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations involves multiple agencies, levels of government, and jurisdictions. We assessed collaboration between state health departments and AI/AN Tribes and agencies through an online survey of State Epidemiologists. Frequencies and percentages of responses were examined by univariate and bivariate analyses. Among 39 states with federally recognized or state-recognized Tribes or federally funded urban Indian health centers, 25 (64%) participated. Nineteen had discussed public health surveillance with an AI/ AN government or nongovernment entity in the past 2 years (10 (53%) of these had ongoing, regular discussions about public health surveillance; nine (47%) had these discussions as needed). Nine (36%) responding states have a point person for working with AI/AN communities and/or agencies on public health surveillance. Four (16%) states have an active memorandum of understanding or other formal agreement with an AI/AN government or nongovernment entity regarding surveillance. To prepare for public health emergencies, six (24%) states involve the Indian Health Service, and eight (47%) involve another AI/AN entity. Functional relationships between state health departments and AI/AN agencies have not been consistently established. Strengthening these relationships will facilitate surveillance and response capacity to address continuing and emerging public health problems

Rural, Cultural & Global Health: As Seen Through the Eyes of Doctoral Students at the University of New Mexico

When our early UNM College of Nursing PhD students wrote Volumes 1-3 of this compilation a decade ago, our program was new and growing, and most of the students lived here in New Mexico or in neighboring states. Much has changed since the initial volumes emerged from our course entitled Rural and Cultural Health (Nursing 611), a graduate elective. The world has embraced enormous linkages through technology. Refugee and migration patterns the world over have more people displaced and seeking a permanent home than ever before. International, national, regional and local contexts, conflicts, politics, health-related policies, economic struggles, racial/ethnic diversity, other kinds of human diversity, and all dimensions of health care have undergone tremendous change and continue to do so at a rapid pace. Students from our own and other universities now take this course online and contribute their insights and experience. Nursing 611 has evolved into an 8-week summer elective offered in even-numbered years, focused on three components of health care: global health, cultural health, and rural health. The students, who represent diversity in heritage, geographic location, and clinical/research interests, were asked to produce 3 briefs, or short papers (each 3-4 pages long), on the three components (global, cultural, and rural health). They were encouraged to write in an engaging style, even resembling the tone of a Ted Talk, to interest readers. This collection represents their focused writing in the three areas. We believe that the state of New Mexico holds unique cultures, characteristics, and problems, yet the health disparities, inequities, population trends, migration patterns, and general state of rural/cultural health the world over are more similar than different. Whatever your own disciplinary connections, we invite you to explore the critical issues presented in the following collection of short essays. In this class, we have defined both culture and rurality broadly and in multiple contexts. Much remains to be done, both locally and globally, to improve the health status of our varied populations and communities. Please join us in the analysis and resolution of the health challenges, inequities, and unresolved needs that characterize many rural and cultural settings.https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/rural-cultural-health/1005/thumbnail.jp

Surveillance of Infectious Diseases Among American Indians and Alaska Natives

We assessed participation in public health surveillance networks among Indian Health Service, tribal, and urban (I/T/U) Indian health facilities for a group of infectious diseases, and barriers to participation. We conducted surveys of I/T/U facilities and key informant interviews with representatives of tribal, urban, and national American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) agencies. For the surveys, frequencies and percentages of responses in each response category were calculated. Qualitative methods were used to analyze interview content. The proportion of facilities participating in case reporting is suboptimal across facility types and diseases. Even when reporting is occurring, there is little feedback to tribal agencies. Lack of trust between tribal authorities and state/local governments, lack of feedback on surveillance efforts, and gaps in coordination of activities were identified as barriers to participation in surveillance. Our findings indicate weaknesses in surveillance systems for monitoring infectious diseases among AI/AN people, and have implications for addressing health disparities

Labeling of Anti-MUC-1 Binding Single Chain Fv Fragments to Surface Modified Upconversion Nanoparticles for an Initial in Vivo Molecular Imaging Proof of Principle Approach

In vivo optical Imaging is an inexpensive and highly sensitive modality to investigate and follow up diseases like breast cancer. However, fluorescence labels and specific tracers are still works in progress to bring this promising modality into the clinical day-to-day use. In this study an anti-MUC-1 binding single-chain antibody fragment was screened, produced and afterwards labeled with newly designed and surface modified NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles as fluorescence reporter constructs. The MUC-1 binding of the conjugate was examined in vitro and in vivo using modified state-of-the-art small animal Imaging equipment. Binding of the newly generated upconversion nanoparticle based probe to MUC-1 positive cells was clearly shown via laser scanning microscopy and in an initial proof of principal small animal optical imaging approach

Continent-Wide Survey Reveals Massive Decline in African Savannah Elephants

African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are imperiled by poaching and habitat loss. Despite global attention to the plight of elephants, their population sizes and trends are uncertain or unknown over much of Africa. To conserve this iconic species, conservationists need timely, accurate data on elephant populations. Here, we report the results of the Great Elephant Census (GEC), the first continent-wide, standardized survey of African savannah elephants. We also provide the first quantitative model of elephant population trends across Africa. We estimated a population of 352,271 savannah elephants on study sites in 18 countries, representing approximately 93% of all savannah elephants in those countries. Elephant populations in survey areas with historical data decreased by an estimated 144,000 from 2007 to 2014, and populations are currently shrinking by 8% per year continent-wide, primarily due to poaching. Though 84% of elephants occurred in protected areas, many protected areas had carcass ratios that indicated high levels of elephant mortality. Results of the GEC show the necessity of action to end the African elephants’ downward trajectory by preventing poaching and protecting habitat

Paraneoplastic thrombocytosis in ovarian cancer

<p>Background: The mechanisms of paraneoplastic thrombocytosis in ovarian cancer and the role that platelets play in abetting cancer growth are unclear.</p> <p>Methods: We analyzed clinical data on 619 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer to test associations between platelet counts and disease outcome. Human samples and mouse models of epithelial ovarian cancer were used to explore the underlying mechanisms of paraneoplastic thrombocytosis. The effects of platelets on tumor growth and angiogenesis were ascertained.</p> <p>Results: Thrombocytosis was significantly associated with advanced disease and shortened survival. Plasma levels of thrombopoietin and interleukin-6 were significantly elevated in patients who had thrombocytosis as compared with those who did not. In mouse models, increased hepatic thrombopoietin synthesis in response to tumor-derived interleukin-6 was an underlying mechanism of paraneoplastic thrombocytosis. Tumorderived interleukin-6 and hepatic thrombopoietin were also linked to thrombocytosis in patients. Silencing thrombopoietin and interleukin-6 abrogated thrombocytosis in tumor-bearing mice. Anti–interleukin-6 antibody treatment significantly reduced platelet counts in tumor-bearing mice and in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. In addition, neutralizing interleukin-6 significantly enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of paclitaxel in mouse models of epithelial ovarian cancer. The use of an antiplatelet antibody to halve platelet counts in tumor-bearing mice significantly reduced tumor growth and angiogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusions: These findings support the existence of a paracrine circuit wherein increased production of thrombopoietic cytokines in tumor and host tissue leads to paraneoplastic thrombocytosis, which fuels tumor growth. We speculate that countering paraneoplastic thrombocytosis either directly or indirectly by targeting these cytokines may have therapeutic potential. </p&gt

Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Rural Southwestern Alaska1

One-sentence summary for table of contents: Epidemiology of MRSA isolates in this region differs from that in the lower 48 states

Focal Adhesion Kinase Silencing Augments Docetaxel-Mediated Apoptosis in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Docetaxel causes cell death through induction of apoptosis; however, cell death characteristics for docetaxel have not yet been fully elucidated. We examined the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) cleavage in docetaxel-mediated apoptosis