Interaction of classical swine fever virus with dendritic cells

Functional disruption of dendritic cells (DCs) is an important strategy for viral pathogens to evade host defences. Monocytotropic viruses such as classical swine fever virus (CSFV) could employ such a mechanism, since the virus can suppress immune responses and induce apoptosis without infecting lymphocytes. Here, CSFV was shown to infect and efficiently replicate in monocyte- and in bone marrow-derived DCs. Interestingly, the infected DCs displayed neither modulated MHC nor CD80/86 expression. Stimulation of DCs with IFN-/TNF- or polyinosinic¿polycytidylic acid (pIC) induced phenotypic maturation with increased MHC and CD80/86 expression, both with mock-treated and infected DCs. In addition, the T cell stimulatory capacity of CSFV-infected DCs was maintained both in a polyclonal T cell stimulation and in specific antigen-presentation assays, requiring antigen uptake and processing. Interestingly, similar to macrophages, CSFV did not induce IFN- responses in these DCs and even suppressed pIC-induced IFN- induction. Other cytokines including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-12 and TNF- were not modulated. Taken together, these results demonstrated that CSFV can replicate in DCs and control IFN type I responses, without interfering with the immune reactivity. These results are interesting considering that DC infection with RNA viruses usually results in DC activation

Effects of overhead canopy on macroinvertebrate production in a Utah stream

1. Macroinvertebrate abundance and production were compared between an open and shaded site of a stream in the Wasatch Mountains, Utah. Mean biomass was significantly higher at the open site for midges (Chironomidae), 4.6x; Baetis bicaudatus, 5.7x; Baetis tricaudatus, 2.3x; Drunella coloradensis, 12x and Cinygmula sp., L6x. Abundance of most other macroinvertebrates (except black flies: Simuliidae) was also greater at the open site, but differences were not significant. Black fly biomass was 1.7x greater at the shaded site. 2. Seasonal production, estimated by the size-frequency and instantaneous growth rate methods, was greater at the open site than the shaded site for most taxa (except black flies) and reflected differences in standing crops between the sites rather than differences in rate of growth. Excluding black flies, production at the open site was twice as high as at the shaded site. 3. The greater abundance and production of most invertebrate taxa at the open site is probably associated with either higher quality food (algae and algal detritus), or a phototactic attraction to sunlit areas. 4. Sampling of large cobbles was an efficient method of sampling all taxa except Cinygmula sp. which was more abundant on smaller substrate particles

Cardiopulmonary exercise variables are associated with postoperative morbidity after major colonic surgery: a prospective blinded observational study

BACKGROUND: Postoperative complications are associated with reduced fitness. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) has been used in risk stratification. We investigated the relationship between preoperative CPET and in-hospital morbidity in major colonic surgery.METHODS: We prospectively studied 198 patients undergoing major colonic surgery (excluding neoadjuvant cancer therapy), performing preoperative CPET (reported blind to clinical state), and recording morbidity (assessed blind to CPET), postoperative outcome, and length of stay.RESULTS: Of 198 patients, 62 were excluded: 11 had emergency surgery, 25 had no surgery, 23 had incomplete data, and three were unable to perform CPET. One hundred and thirty-six (89 males, 47 females) were available for analysis. The median age was 71 [inter-quartile range (IQR) 62-77] yr. Sixty-five patients (48%) had a complication at day 5 after operation. Measurements significantly lower in patients with complications than those without were O2 uptake () at estimated lactate threshold () [median 9.9 (IQR 8.3-12.7) vs 11.2 (9.5-14.2) ml kg-1 min-1, P&lt;0.01], at peak [15.2 (12.6-18.1) vs 17.2 (13.7-22.5) ml kg-1 min-1, P=0.01], and ventilatory equivalent for CO2 (/) at [31.3 (28.0-34.8) vs 33.9 (30.0-39.1), P&lt;0.01]. A final multivariable logistic regression model contained at {one-point change odds ratio (OR) 0.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-0.89], P&lt;0.0005; two-point change OR 0.61 (0.46-0.81) and gender [OR 4.42 (1.78-9.88), P=0.001]}, and was reasonably able to discriminate those with and without complications (AUC 0.71, CI 0.62-0.80, 68% sensitivity, 65% specificity).CONCLUSIONS: CPET variables are associated with postoperative morbidity. A multivariable model with at and gender discriminates those with complications after colonic surgery.<br/