Mesophotic coral ecosystems research strategy: international workshop to prioritize research and management needs for mesophotic coral ecosystems, Jupiter, Florida, 12-15 July 2008

On July 12-15, 2008, researchers and resource managers met in Jupiter, Florida to discuss and review the state of knowledge regarding mesophotic coral ecosystems, develop a working definition for these ecosystems, identify critical resource management information needs, and develop a Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Research Strategy to assist the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other agencies and institutions in their research prioritization and strategic planning for mesophotic coral ecosystems. Workshop participants included representatives from international, Federal, and state governments; academia; and nongovernmental organizations. The Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems Workshop was hosted by the Perry Institute for Marine Science (PIMS) and organized by NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The workshop goals, objectives, schedule, and products were governed by a Steering Committee consisting of members from NOAA (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research’s NOAA Undersea Research Program, and the National Marine Fisheries Service), USGS, PIMS, the Caribbean Coral Reef Institute, and the Bishop Museum

Endemic fungal infections in solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients enrolled in the Transplant‐Associated Infection Surveillance Network ( TRANSNET )

Background Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among solid organ transplant ( SOT ) and hematopoietic cell transplant ( HCT ) recipients, but few data have been reported on the epidemiology of endemic fungal infections in these populations. Methods Fifteen institutions belonging to the Transplant‐Associated Infection Surveillance Network prospectively enrolled SOT and HCT recipients with histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, or coccidioidomycosis occurring between March 2001 and March 2006. Results A total of 70 patients (64 SOT recipients and 6 HCT recipients) had infection with an endemic mycosis, including 52 with histoplasmosis, 9 with blastomycosis, and 9 with coccidioidomycosis. The 12‐month cumulative incidence rate among SOT recipients for histoplasmosis was 0.102%. Occurrence of infection was bimodal; 28 (40%) infections occurred in the first 6 months post transplantation, and 24 (34%) occurred between 2 and 11 years post transplantation. Three patients were documented to have acquired infection from the donor organ. Seven SOT recipients with histoplasmosis and 3 with coccidioidomycosis died (16%); no HCT recipient died. Conclusions This 5‐year multicenter prospective surveillance study found that endemic mycoses occur uncommonly in SOT and HCT recipients, and that the period at risk extends for years after transplantation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106980/1/tid12186.pd

Primary Invasive Aspergillosis of the Digestive Tract: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND: Disseminated aspergillosis is thought to occur as a result of vascular invasion from the lungs with subsequent bloodstream dissemination, and portals of entry other than sinuses and/or the respiratory tract remain speculative. METHODS: We report two cases of primary aspergillosis in the digestive tract and present a detailed review of eight of the 23 previously-published cases for which detailed data are available. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: These ten cases presented with symptoms suggestive of typhlitis, with further peritonitis requiring laparotomy and small bowel segmental resection. All cases were characterized by the absence of pulmonary disease at the time of histologically-confirmed gastrointestinal involvement with vascular invasion by branched Aspergillus hyphae. These cases suggest that the digestive tract may represent a portal of entry for Aspergillus species in immunocompromised patients

Mediators of neutrophil activation and bronchoconstriction in equine chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN013322 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo