A Retrospective Database Analysis of Neonatal Morbidities to Evaluate a Composite Endpoint for Use in Preterm Labor Clinical Trials

Objective To propose and assess a composite endpoint (CE) of neonatal benefit based on neonatal mortality and morbidities by gestational age (GA) for use in preterm labor clinical trials. Study Design A descriptive, retrospective analysis of the Medical University of South Carolina Perinatal Information System database was conducted. Neonatal morbidities were assessed for inclusion in the CE based on clinical significance/risk of childhood neurodevelopmental impairment, frequency, and association with GA in a mother– neonate linked cohort, comprising women with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies delivered at !24 weeks’ GA. Results Among 17,912 mother–neonate pairs, neonates were at a risk of numerous severe but infrequent morbidities. Clinically important, predominantly rare events were combined into a CE comprising neonatal mortality and morbidities, which decreased in frequency with increasing GA. The highest CE frequency occurred at \u3c31 weeks. High frequency of respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and sepsis drove the CE. Median length of hospital stay was longer at all GAs in those with the CE compared with those without. Conclusions Descriptive epidemiological assessment and clinical input were used to develop a CE to measure neonatal benefit, comprising clinically meaningful outcomes. These empirical data and CE allowed trials investigating tocolytics to be sized appropriately

Network analysis of host–virus communities in bats and rodents reveals determinants of cross-species transmission

Bats are natural reservoirs of several important emerging viruses. Cross-species transmission appears to be quite common among bats, which may contribute to their unique reservoir potential. Therefore, understanding the importance of bats as reservoirs requires examining them in a community context rather than concentrating on individual species. Here, we use a network approach to identify ecological and biological correlates of cross-species virus transmission in bats and rodents, another important host group. We show that given our current knowledge the bat viral sharing network is more connected than the rodent network, suggesting viruses may pass more easily between bat species. We identify host traits associated with important reservoir species: gregarious bats are more likely to share more viruses and bats which migrate regionally are important for spreading viruses through the network. We identify multiple communities of viral sharing within bats and rodents and highlight potential species traits that can help guide studies of novel pathogen emergence

Review: Mammals of Colorado. Second edition. David M. Armstrong, James P. Fitzgerald, and Carron A. Meaney.

In my view, the second edition of Mammals of Colorado is among the finest state-level books on mammals available. The book is a major revision of the first edition (Fitzgerald et al. 1994) and is a reference worth having, even if the first edition is already at hand. In this review, T summarize aspects of the new volume and provide comparisons to the first edition in an effort to persuade the reader that this is indeed the case. The first four chapters of the second edition include background information and updated material about Colorado environments, mammals in general, the history of mammals and mammalogy in Colorado, and the stewardship of wild mammals in the state. The chapter on history is new; history was only a short subsection in the first edition. Chapter I focuses on environments and includes an expanded description of grassland habitats, including their susceptibility to invasive plants and their rapid conversion to urbanized landscapes in parts of Colorado. Table 1-2 lists habitats of Coloradan mammals and now includes 51 species (plus humans) as grassland dwellers (only 46 species were listed in the 1994 edition). Chapter 2 focuses on origins, characteristics, and diversity of Mammalia and contains the same headings and much of the same material that was included in the first edition, but with some interesting updates, such as the discovery of lactation in males of some Old World species of bats, the increase in the number of known species of mammals worldwide, and references to more comprehensive works on mammalian biology

Review: Mammals of Colorado. Second edition. David M. Armstrong, James P. Fitzgerald, and Carron A. Meaney.

In my view, the second edition of Mammals of Colorado is among the finest state-level books on mammals available. The book is a major revision of the first edition (Fitzgerald et al. 1994) and is a reference worth having, even if the first edition is already at hand. In this review, T summarize aspects of the new volume and provide comparisons to the first edition in an effort to persuade the reader that this is indeed the case. The first four chapters of the second edition include background information and updated material about Colorado environments, mammals in general, the history of mammals and mammalogy in Colorado, and the stewardship of wild mammals in the state. The chapter on history is new; history was only a short subsection in the first edition. Chapter I focuses on environments and includes an expanded description of grassland habitats, including their susceptibility to invasive plants and their rapid conversion to urbanized landscapes in parts of Colorado. Table 1-2 lists habitats of Coloradan mammals and now includes 51 species (plus humans) as grassland dwellers (only 46 species were listed in the 1994 edition). Chapter 2 focuses on origins, characteristics, and diversity of Mammalia and contains the same headings and much of the same material that was included in the first edition, but with some interesting updates, such as the discovery of lactation in males of some Old World species of bats, the increase in the number of known species of mammals worldwide, and references to more comprehensive works on mammalian biology

Monitoring Trends in Bat Populations of the United States and Territories: Status of the Science and Recommendations for the Future

Populations of bats (Order Chiroptera) are difficult to monitor. However, current recognition of the importance of bats to biodiversity, their ecological and economic value as ecosystem components, and their vulnerability to declines makes monitoring trends in their populations a much-needed cornerstone for their future management. We report findings and recommendations of a recent expert workshop on monitoring trends in bat populations in the United States and territories. We summarize selected case reports presented by others at the workshop, including reviews of methods and ongoing efforts to monitor a wide range of species of bats in a diverse array of situations. Most efforts at monitoring bat populations involve use of indices that are uncalibrated in relation to population size, do not incorporate measures of variation or detectability, are discontinuous in time and space, and sometimes lack standard proto- cols. This is in part because the complex and variable natural history of bats poses many challenges to monitoring. We also review principal findings and recommendations made by workshop participants. Recommendations centered on improving methods for monitoring populations of bats, defining objectives and priorities for monitoring, gaining mandates for monitoring, and enhancing information exchange

An overview of contaminants and bats, with special reference to insecticides and the Indiana bat

Bats accumulate and suffer from adverse effects of environmental contaminants, and this raises concern about potential impacts on endangered species, such as the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). Organochlorine insecticides are persistent, lipophilic neurotoxins that have been implicated as agents of mortality in populations of other species of bat, including gray bats (Myotis grisescens) in Missouri. We provide previously unpublished data, obtained in 1975-] 978, on organochlorines in carcasses and brains of 3 8 Indiana bats and guano from five roosts. These data provide the first evidence for mortality of Indiana bats due to insecticides of the organochlorine pesticide era and provide a benchmark for future studies. Most organochlorines have been eliminated from use in the United States, but they are stil1 found in decreasing amounts in bats and continue to be elevated at hotspots of contaminati on. Organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides are used most widely in place of organochlorines, but their occurrence and effects in bats are poorly known. Three studies suggest inhibition of cholinesterase in brains of bats caused by exposure to organophosphates or carbamates. Pyrethroid insecticides recently were detected in tissues or guano of some bats, including species of Myotis in Missouri. We compare data on insecticide use and agricultural production from counties with records of reproductively active females or juveniles in Missouri and Indiana, searching for differences associated with declines in populations ofIndiana bats at hibernacula in Missouri but not in Indiana. Intensity ofagricultural production, types of crops requiring insecticides, and general insecticide use and intensity were higher in Indiana. However, pyrethroid insecticides were used more in Missouri. Use of insecticides in southeastern Missouri is very intensive because of applications to cotton, and this area should be investigated for use by Indiana bats and their possible exposure to insecticides

An overview of contaminants and bats, with special reference to insecticides and the Indiana bat

Bats accumulate and suffer from adverse effects of environmental contaminants, and this raises concern about potential impacts on endangered species, such as the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). Organochlorine insecticides are persistent, lipophilic neurotoxins that have been implicated as agents of mortality in populations of other species of bat, including gray bats (Myotis grisescens) in Missouri. We provide previously unpublished data, obtained in 1975-] 978, on organochlorines in carcasses and brains of 3 8 Indiana bats and guano from five roosts. These data provide the first evidence for mortality of Indiana bats due to insecticides of the organochlorine pesticide era and provide a benchmark for future studies. Most organochlorines have been eliminated from use in the United States, but they are stil1 found in decreasing amounts in bats and continue to be elevated at hotspots of contaminati on. Organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides are used most widely in place of organochlorines, but their occurrence and effects in bats are poorly known. Three studies suggest inhibition of cholinesterase in brains of bats caused by exposure to organophosphates or carbamates. Pyrethroid insecticides recently were detected in tissues or guano of some bats, including species of Myotis in Missouri. We compare data on insecticide use and agricultural production from counties with records of reproductively active females or juveniles in Missouri and Indiana, searching for differences associated with declines in populations ofIndiana bats at hibernacula in Missouri but not in Indiana. Intensity ofagricultural production, types of crops requiring insecticides, and general insecticide use and intensity were higher in Indiana. However, pyrethroid insecticides were used more in Missouri. Use of insecticides in southeastern Missouri is very intensive because of applications to cotton, and this area should be investigated for use by Indiana bats and their possible exposure to insecticides

Population Changes in Bats from Central Arizona: 1972 and 1997

Prompted by concern about declining bat populations in the southwestern United States, we surveyed for changes in populations between 1972 and 1997 at a study area in central Arizona. We duplicated earlier searches of ancient Indian dwellings and crevices in surrounding cliffs for diurnally roosting bats during the time of year when maternity colonies should have been present, and repeated mist-netting to capture bats in flight along the cliffs at night. Antrozous pallidus was gone. A maternity colony of Myotis velifer no longer existed. Tadarida brasiliensis was rare in 1997 compared to 1972; aggregations of Myotis yumanensis seen in 1972 were missing in 1997. Breeding Corynorhinus townsendii were found in 1997, but were unknown at this location in 1972. Small numbers of Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis californicus, and Pipistrellus hesperus occupied the site in both 1972 and 1997. Additionally, museum records show that most of the bats we documented at this site also were present in 1931. Surrounding habitat did not appear substantially different between 1972 and 1997, and a reconstruction of possible impacts from bat biologists did not suggest that researchers caused the local extinctions we document. The most obvious change over 25 years was a dramatic increase in recreational use of the area. We believe that disturbances associated with recreationists resulted in the observed population changes, primarily through roost abandonment. /// Por preocupación por la disminución poblacional de los murciélagos en la región suroeste de los Estados Unidos, monitoreamos los cambios poblacionales entre 1972 y 1997 en un área de estudio en Arizona central. Repetimos las búsquedas anteriores en antigüas moradas de indígenas americanos y en cuevas de acantilados aledaños para murciélagos en dormideros durante el tiempo del año cuando las colonias de maternidad deberían haber estado presentes, y repetimos la captura con redes de malla de los murciélagos en vuelo a lo largo de los acantilados durante la noche. Antrozous pallidus n