Infection and transmission dynamics of rKSHV.219 in primary endothelial cells

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is the aetiologic agent of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), a tumour of endothelial cell origin. The study of KS development was aided by the generation of a recombinant GFP (latent)/RFP (lytic)-expressing KSHV (rKSHV.219) by Vieira and O’Hearn (2004). In this study the first data characterising primary endothelial cell infection and transmission with this virus is presented. Infection was predominantly latent and the percentage of GFP-positive cells increased over time. Neither horizontal transmission of infection, nor cellular proliferation, explained this increase. Analysis of latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA-1) expression revealed that a threshold level of infection was required for GFP expression early post infection. At later time points GFP correlated more closely with LANA-1 expression, likely due to the accumulation of GFP over time. This study provides methodological guidance for the use of rKSHV.21. In addition, it highlights potential problems associated with the use of fluorescent proteins as markers of viral infection

The potential role of three-dimensional surface imaging as a tool to evaluate aesthetic outcome after Breast Conserving Therapy (BCT)

To establish whether objective measurements of symmetry of volume and shape using three-dimensional surface imaging (3D-SI) can be used as surrogate markers of aesthetic outcome in patients who have undergone breast conserving therapy (BCT). Women who had undergone unilateral BCT in the preceding 1-6 years were invited to participate. Participants completed a satisfaction questionnaire (BREAST-Q) and underwent 3D-SI. Volume and surface symmetry were measured on the images. Assessment of aesthetic outcome was undertaken by a panel of clinicians. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to assess the relationship between volume and shape symmetry measurements with the panel score. Spearman's rho correlations were used to assess the relationship between the measurements and patient satisfaction. 200 women participated. Median volume symmetry was 87% (IQR 78-93) and shape symmetry was 5.9 mm (IQR 4.2-8.0). The participants were grouped according to panel assessment of aesthetic outcome (poor, fair, good, excellent) and the median volume and shape symmetry was calculated for each group. Volume symmetry significantly differed between the groups. Post hoc pairwise comparisons demonstrated that these differences existed between panel scores of fair versus good and good versus excellent. Median shape symmetry also differed according to patient panel groups with four significant pairwise comparisons between poor versus good, poor versus excellent, fair versus good and fair versus excellent. There was a significant but weak correlation of both volume symmetry and surface asymmetry with BREAST-Q scores (correlation coefficients 0.187 and -0.229, respectively). Breast volume and shape symmetry are both associated with panel assessment scores and patient satisfaction. The objective volume and shape symmetry measures were strongly associated with panel assessment scores, such that a 3D-SI tool could replace panel assessment as a faster and more objective method of evaluating aesthetic outcomes

Environmental DNA from Residual Saliva for Efficient Noninvasive Genetic Monitoring of Brown Bears (<i>Ursus arctos</i>)

<div><p>Noninvasive genetic sampling is an important tool in wildlife ecology and management, typically relying on hair snaring or scat sampling techniques, but hair snaring is labor and cost intensive, and scats yield relatively low quality DNA. New approaches utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) may provide supplementary, cost-effective tools for noninvasive genetic sampling. We tested whether eDNA from residual saliva on partially-consumed Pacific salmon (<i>Oncorhynchus</i> spp.) carcasses might yield suitable DNA quality for noninvasive monitoring of brown bears (<i>Ursus arctos</i>). We compared the efficiency of monitoring brown bear populations using both fecal DNA and salivary eDNA collected from partially-consumed salmon carcasses in Southeast Alaska. We swabbed a range of tissue types from 156 partially-consumed salmon carcasses from a midseason run of lakeshore-spawning sockeye (<i>O</i>. <i>nerka</i>) and a late season run of stream-spawning chum (<i>O</i>. <i>keta</i>) salmon in 2014. We also swabbed a total of 272 scats from the same locations. Saliva swabs collected from the braincases of salmon had the best amplification rate, followed by swabs taken from individual bite holes. Saliva collected from salmon carcasses identified unique individuals more quickly and required much less labor to locate than scat samples. Salmon carcass swabbing is a promising method to aid in efficient and affordable monitoring of bear populations, and suggests that the swabbing of food remains or consumed baits from other animals may be an additional cost-effective and valuable tool in the study of the ecology and population biology of many elusive and/or wide-ranging species.</p></div

The Oregon Connectivity Assessment and Mapping Project (OCAMP)

Habitat loss and fragmentation represent the single greatest threat to biodiversity worldwide. The intensification of human development is so severe that planning for connecting species and processes between natural habitats has become a conservation imperative. The Oregon Connectivity Assessment and Mapping Project (OCAMP) is a multi-year, statewide, collaborative effort to analyze and map connectivity for a wide diversity of Oregon’s terrestrial wildlife species. The project, led by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Portland State University, and Samara Group, will advance priority conservation planning aimed at understanding and mitigating barriers to wildlife movement in Oregon. The fine resolution connectivity maps produced during the project will aid in statewide planning and prioritization for strategic conservation investments, species protection measures, siting of land use changes and development, targeted habitat restoration efforts, and transportation improvements, including reduction of wildlife-vehicle collisions. Here, we provide an overview of OCAMP and discuss how interested individuals and organizations can actively engage, by helping with species selection, providing technical expertise, sharing data, participating on teams to provide feedback on project progress, or reviewing draft products

Relative Success of Different Salmon Swabbing Techniques.

<p>Braincases and bite holes were encountered most frequently, and also amplified at proportionally higher rates than other swabbing techniques.</p

Results by Sample Type.

<p>Results by Sample Type.</p

Detections by Sample Type.

<p>Number of detections by sample type for 12 individual brown bears identified from both saliva samples and scat swab samples collected in the Chilkoot valley near Haines, AK. Age classes, where noted, were determined based on scat diameter (for juveniles) or sightings of known individuals (for immature bears and adults).</p

Study Area.

<p>(A) Chilkoot and Klehini watersheds near Haines, Alaska, and locations of Chilkoot Lake and Herman Creek where we sampled scat and saliva from sockeye, and saliva from chum carcasses, respectively. (B) We divided the Chilkoot valley into five separate regions, each visited by personnel on a weekly basis. Fish icons mark the locations of known, distinct sockeye salmon spawning areas. Created with ESRI ArcGIS 10.3 software. Basemap data sources include: National Geographic, Esri, DeLorme, HERE, UNEP-WCMC, USGS, NASA, ESA, METI, NRCAN, GEBCO, NOAA, and increment P Corp.</p

Population Estimates for Chilkoot Valley by Sample Type.

<p>Population Estimates for Chilkoot Valley by Sample Type.</p

Histoplasmosis complicating tumor necrosis factor-α blocker therapy: a retrospective analysis of 98 cases

BACKGROUND: Histoplasmosis may complicate tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blocker therapy. Published case series provide limited guidance on disease management. We sought to determine the need for long-term antifungal therapy and the safety of resuming TNF-α blocker therapy after successful treatment of histoplasmosis. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter retrospective review of 98 patients diagnosed with histoplasmosis between January 2000 and June 2011. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors for severe disease. RESULTS: The most commonly used biologic agent was infliximab (67.3%). Concomitant corticosteroid use (odds ratio [OR], 3.94 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.06-14.60]) and higher urine Histoplasma antigen levels (OR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.03-1.25]) were found to be independent predictors of severe disease. Forty-six (47.4%) patients were initially treated with an amphotericin B formulation for a median duration of 2 weeks. Azole treatment was given for a median of 12 months. TNF-α blocker therapy was initially discontinued in 95 of 98 (96.9%) patients and later resumed in 25 of 74 (33.8%) patients at a median of 12 months (range, 1-69 months). The recurrence rate was 3.2% at a median follow-up period of 32 months. Of the 3 patients with recurrence, 2 had restarted TNF-α blocker therapy, 1 of whom died. Mortality rate was 3.2%. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, disease outcomes were generally favorable. Discontinuation of antifungal treatment after clinical response and an appropriate duration of therapy, probably at least 12 months, appears safe if pharmacologic immunosuppression has been held. Resumption of TNF-α blocker therapy also appears safe, assuming that the initial antifungal therapy was administered for 12 months