Changes in wild pig (Sus scrofa) relative abundance, crop damage, and environmental impacts in response to control efforts.

BACKGROUND: As the population and range of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) continue to grow across North America, there has been an increase in environmental and economic damages caused by this invasive species, and control efforts to reduce damages have increased concomitantly. Despite the expanding impacts and costs associated with population control of wild pigs, the extent to which wild pig control reduces populations and diminishes environmental and agricultural damages are rarely quantified. The goal of this study is to quantify changes in wild pig relative abundance and subsequent changes in damages caused by invasive wild pigs in response to control. RESULTS: Using a combination of wild pig population surveys, agricultural damage assessments, and environmental rooting surveys across 19 mixed forest-agricultural properties in South Carolina, USA, we quantified changes in wild pig relative abundance and associated damages over a 3-year period following implementation of a professional control program. Following implementation of control efforts, both the number of wild pig detections and estimated abundance decreased markedly. Within 24 months relative abundance was reduced by an average of ~70%, which resulted in a corresponding decline in environmental rooting damage by ~99%. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that sustained wild pig control efforts can substantially reduce wild pig relative abundance, which in turn resulted in a reduction in environmental rooting damage by wild pigs. Ultimately this study will help fill critical knowledge gaps regarding the efficacy of wild pig control programs and the effort needed to reduce impacts to native ecosystems, livestock, and crops. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Minimum cost of transport in Asian elephants: do we really need a bigger elephant?

Body mass is the primary determinant of an animal's energy requirements. At their optimum walking speed, large animals have lower mass-specific energy requirements for locomotion than small ones. In animals ranging in size from 0.8 g (roach) to 260 kg (zebu steer), the minimum cost of transport (COT(min)) decreases with increasing body size roughly as COT(min)∝body mass (M(b))(-0.316±0.023) (95% CI). Typically, the variation of COT(min) with body mass is weaker at the intraspecific level as a result of physiological and geometric similarity within closely related species. The interspecific relationship estimates that an adult elephant, with twice the body mass of a mid-sized elephant, should be able to move its body approximately 23% cheaper than the smaller elephant. We sought to determine whether adult Asian and sub-adult African elephants follow a single quasi-intraspecific relationship, and extend the interspecific relationship between COT(min) and body mass to 12-fold larger animals. Physiological and possibly geometric similarity between adult Asian elephants and sub-adult African elephants caused body mass to have a no effect on COT(min) (COT(min)∝M(b)(0.007±0.455)). The COT(min) in elephants occurred at walking speeds between 1.3 and ∼1.5 m s(-1), and at Froude numbers between 0.10 and 0.24. The addition of adult Asian elephants to the interspecific relationship resulted in COT(min)∝M (-0.277±0.046)(b). The quasi-intraspecific relationship between body mass and COT(min) among elephants caused the interspecific relationship to underestimate COT(min) in larger elephants.

Vitamin D Combined with Aminolevulinate (ALA)-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for Human Psoriasis: A Proof-of-Principle Study.

We previously showed that select agents (methotrexate or Vitamin D), when administered as a preconditioning regimen, are capable of promoting cellular differentiation of epithelial cancer cells while simultaneously enhancing the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT). In solid tumors, pretreatment with Vitamin D simultaneously promotes cellular differentiation and leads to selective accumulation of target porphyrins (mainly protoporphyrin IX, PpIX) within diseased tissue. However, questions of whether or not the effects upon cellular differentiation are inexorably linked to PpIX accumulation, and whether these effects might occur in hyperproliferative noncancerous tissues, have remained unanswered. In this paper, we reasoned that psoriasis, a human skin disease in which abnormal cellular proliferation and differentiation plays a major role, could serve as a useful model to test the effects of pro-differentiating agents upon PpIX levels in a non-neoplastic setting. In particular, Vitamin D, a treatment for psoriasis that restores (increases) differentiation, might increase PpIX levels in psoriatic lesions and facilitate their responsiveness to ALA-PDT. This concept was tested in a pilot study of 7 patients with bilaterally-matched psoriatic plaques. A regimen in which calcipotriol 0.005% ointment was applied for 3 days prior to ALA-PDT with blue light, led to preferential increases in PpIX (~130%), and reductions in thickness, redness, scaling, and itching in the pretreated plaques. The results suggest that a larger clinical trial is warranted to confirm a role for combination treatments with Vitamin D and ALA-PDT for psoriasis.

In-vivo singlet oxygen dosimetry of clinical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a viable treatment option for a wide range of applications, including oncology, dermatology, and ophthalmology. Singlet oxygen is believed to play a key role in the efficacy of PDT, and on-line monitoring of singlet oxygen during PDT could provide a methodology to establish and customize the treatment dose clinically. This work is the first report of monitoring singlet oxygen luminescence in vivo in human subjects during PDT, demonstrating the correlation of singlet oxygen levels during PDT with the post-PDT photobiological response.

Willingness-to-pay stated preferences for 8 health-related quality-of-life domains in psoriasis: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that has a major impact on health-related quality of life (QOL). We evaluated health-related QOL via willingness to pay and a ranking task for 8 domains of health relevant to psoriasis: intimacy, physical comfort, self-care, ability to work or volunteer, ability to concentrate, emotional health, social comfort, and ability to sleep. OBJECTIVE: The goals of the study were to pilot test a new method to measure QOL impact in psoriasis and identify the areas of life most affected by psoriasis. METHODS: Forty participants with a history of psoriasis were interviewed in a face-to-face format. First, participants were asked to rank the 8 domains of health we were investigating. Second, patients were asked how much money they would be willing to pay for a hypothetical cure for each domain of health. Responses in US dollars were interpreted as strength of preference rather than absolute monetary values. RESULTS: About half of the patients in the sample (48%) were female, 60% had a college degree or further education, and 38% had an income level over $45,000/y. Physical comfort, social comfort, and emotional health were highly ranked by more than 75% of respondents. Ability to concentrate was least likely to be affected by psoriasis with just a quarter (25.7%) of respondents ranking this domain as important. The median amount patients were willing to pay for a hypothetical cure of psoriasis specific to a particular domain was highest for physical comfort ($2000, 25th quartile = $500, 75th quartile = $5500) and emotional health ($2000, 25th quartile = $250, 75th quartile = $5000), and lowest for ability to sleep ($625, 25th quartile = $50, 75th quartile = $5000). LIMITATIONS: The sample size is modest for this pilot study. Willingness to pay as a method of eliciting stated preferences for qualitative aspects of health may be influenced by individual perception of money. CONCLUSIONS: This study successfully pilot tested a willingness-to-pay method and a ranking task to measure the relative severity of 8 domains of health-related QOL and found that physical comfort, social comfort, and emotional health were the domains of health most affected by psoriasis.

The Influence of Purchasing Context and Reversibility of Choice on Consumer Responses Toward Personalized Products and Standardized Products.

Existing research on personalization has found that consumers generally prefer personalized products over standardized ones. This study argued that consumer preference for personalized products is dependent on purchasing context and reversibility of choice. Results of an experiment conducted in this study found that consumers preferred personalized products when purchasing an item for personal use but preferred standardized products when purchasing an item as a gift. However, the effects of purchasing context were negated when consumers were given the assurance that personalized products could be returned (reversibility of choice); when presented with reversibility of choice, consumers preferred personalized products over standardized products regardless of purchasing context. Theoretical and managerial implications of these results were discussed.

Ultraviolet light (UVB and UVA) induces the damage-responsive transcription factor CHOP/gadd153 in murine and human epidermis: evidence for a mechanism specific to intact skin.

C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP)/gadd153 (or CHOP) is a transcription factor induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Forcible overexpression of CHOP causes apoptosis in keratinocytes in culture. Here, we asked whether CHOP might be increased in the skin after UVB (280-320 nm) exposure, thus implicating CHOP in sunburn cell (SBC) formation. SKH-1 hairless mice were exposed to a ultraviolet (UV) source (80 mJ per cm2; approximately 74% UVB, approximately 16% UVA), and skin biopsies examined by immunohistology and immunoprecipitation. Compared with non-irradiated epidermis, CHOP expression was significantly increased at 30 min, and reached maximal levels by 24 h. Similar increases in CHOP following UVB exposure were observed in human buttock skin. The time course of CHOP expression preceded SBC formation and another marker of apoptosis, caspase-3 cleavage. Intracellular CHOP accumulated mainly in cytoplasmic and perinuclear locations, with little remaining in the nucleus. To examine mechanisms, cultured keratinocytes were irradiated in vitro and examined by western blotting. Under conditions that eliminated ER stress because of cell handling, CHOP did not accumulate (and was in fact decreased) in the cells. Thus, induction of CHOP in keratinocytes requires factors present only in the native skin. Overall, the data suggest that CHOP participates in adaptive responses of the epidermis following UVB/UVA exposure in vivo.

Identification of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase from Sphingobacterium sp. T2 as a Novel Bacterial Enzyme for Lignin Oxidation.

The valorization of aromatic heteropolymer lignin is an important unsolved problem in the development of a biomass-based biorefinery, for which novel high-activity biocatalysts are needed. Sequencing of the genomic DNA of lignin-degrading bacterial strain Sphingobacterium sp. T2 revealed no matches to known lignin-degrading genes. Proteomic matches for two manganese superoxide dismutase proteins were found in partially purified extracellular fractions. Recombinant MnSOD1 and MnSOD2 were both found to show high activity for oxidation of Organosolv and Kraft lignin, and lignin model compounds, generating multiple oxidation products. Structure determination revealed that the products result from aryl-Cα and Cα-Cß bond oxidative cleavage and O-demethylation. The crystal structure of MnSOD1 was determined to 1.35 Å resolution, revealing a typical MnSOD homodimer harboring a five-coordinate trigonal bipyramidal Mn(II) center ligated by three His, one Asp, and a water/hydroxide in each active site. We propose that the lignin oxidation reactivity of these enzymes is due to the production of a hydroxyl radical, a highly reactive oxidant. This is the first demonstration that MnSOD is a microbial lignin-oxidizing enzyme.

Low-dose excimer 308-nm laser for the treatment of oral lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus is a difficult-to-treat chronic inflammatory disorder that affects mucous membranes, causing inanition, halitosis, and dyspareunia. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the novel use of low-dose 308-nm excimer laser radiation for the treatment of symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP). DESIGN: A single-center, before-after trial. SETTING: Academic clinical research center. PATIENTS: Nine patients with symptomatic, biopsy-proven OLP, unresponsive to conventional therapies, were recruited from the dermatology clinics of the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Eight participants completed the entire study, and 1, despite early improvement, did not complete the study because of hospitalization for an unrelated reason. Intervention With a narrow, fiberoptic handpiece to target precisely only diseased sites, 308-nm excimer laser radiation was delivered at an initial dose of 100 mJ/cm(2) once a week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: A visual analog scale was used to grade subjective disease severity. Clinical improvement was graded in quartiles as follows: poor (<25%), fair (25%-50%), good (51%-75%), and excellent (>75%). Follow-up visits occurred for up to 18 months. A paired t test was performed to evaluate efficacy of treatment. RESULTS: Treatments were painless and well tolerated. Five patients demonstrated overall excellent clinical and subjective improvement after 7 treatments. Two participants with nonerosive OLP were deemed fair responders. The only poor responder in the study also had chronic active hepatitis C infection. Overall improvement was statistically significant (P<.05), and for the responders, remission times ranged from 2 to 17 months. Conclusion Low-dose treatment with the excimer 308-nm laser can be very effective in treating symptomatic and especially erosive OLP, an otherwise notoriously difficult-to-control disease.

308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of psoriasis: induration-based dosimetry.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the response of stubborn psoriatic plaques to the 308-nm excimer laser. DESIGN: Controlled study with a before-after design. SETTING: A university-based clinical research center. PATIENTS: Adult subjects with recalcitrant plaque psoriasis that have not responded to other therapies for at least 2 months. INTERVENTIONS: Selected psoriatic plaques were treated with the 308-nm excimer laser. One lesion was left as a control. Each plaque was treated 2 times a week, with an initial dose based solely on the induration component of the modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score for that lesion. Subsequent treatments were twice a week with dosage increments up to 50%, based on the change in induration. Four final consolidation doses were given once the induration score was reduced to zero. RESULTS: Eighteen subjects were treated. There were 4 dropouts because of various scheduling problems. In the remaining 14 subjects, 44 plaques received a mean of 10 treatments (range, 4-14). Treatments were quick and well tolerated. The mean cumulative dose was 8.8 J/cm2 (range, 2.2-22.8 J/cm2). Compared with controls, treated plaques showed significant improvement (P<.001). The only adverse event was a mild sunburn-like reaction in 2 subjects after 1 treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Selective targeting of laser-generated 308-nm excimer radiation with this convenient subblistering dosage schedule based on induration allows for individualized treatment plans for each plaque. Clearing of stubborn psoriatic lesions occurs rapidly and safely.

Photodynamic therapy with aminolevulinic acid topical solution and visible blue light in the treatment of multiple actinic keratoses of the face and scalp: investigator-blinded, phase 3, multicenter trials.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using 20% wt/vol aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride (hereinafter "ALA") and visible blue light for the treatment of multiple actinic keratoses of the face and scalp. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, uneven parallel-group study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients (N = 243) were randomized to receive vehicle or ALA followed within 14 to 18 hours by PDT. Follow-up visits occurred 24 hours and 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks following PDT. Target lesions remaining at week 8 were re-treated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical response based on lesion clearing by week 8. RESULTS: Most patients in both groups had 4 to 7 lesions. Complete response rates for patients with 75% or more of the treated lesions clearing at weeks 8 and 12 were 77% (128/166) and 89% (133/149), respectively, for the drug group and 18% (10/55) and 13% (7/52), respectively, for the vehicle group (P<.001, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel general association test). The 95% confidence interval for the difference in response rates at week 8 was 46.9% to 71.0% and at week 12, 65.3% to 86.3%. The week 12 response rate includes 30% of patients who received a second treatment. Most patients experienced erythema and edema at the treated sites, which resolved or improved within 1 to 4 weeks after therapy, and stinging or burning during light treatment, which decreased or resolved by 24 hours after light treatment. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that topical ALA PDT is an effective and safe treatment for multiple actinic keratoses of the face and scalp.

Development of novel assays for lignin degradation: comparative analysis of bacterial and fungal lignin degraders.

Two spectrophotometric assays have been developed to monitor breakdown of the lignin component of plant lignocellulose: a continuous fluorescent assay involving fluorescently modified lignin, and a UV-vis assay involving chemically nitrated lignin. These assays have been used to analyse lignin degradation activity in bacterial and fungal lignin degraders, and to identify additional soil bacteria that show activity for lignin degradation. Two soil bacteria known to act as aromatic degraders, Pseudomonas putida and Rhodococcus sp. RHA1, consistently showed activity in these assays, and these strains were shown in a small scale experiment to breakdown lignocellulose, producing a number of monocyclic phenolic products. Using milled wood lignin prepared from wheat straw, pine, and miscanthus, some bacterial lignin degraders were found to show specificity for lignin type. These assays could be used to identify novel lignin degraders for breakdown of plant lignocellulose.

UVA1 phototherapy for cutaneous diseases: an experience of 92 cases in the United States.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of UVA1 (340-400 nm) phototherapy were established by studies from European countries. PURPOSE: Evaluate experience with UVA1 phototherapy for patients with cutaneous diseases in the United States. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 92 cases of UVA1-treated cutaneous conditions from four medical centers in the United States was performed. RESULTS: Two-third of the patients showed a fair to good response (26-100% improvement) and one-third of the patients showed a poor response (0-25% improvement). Diseases with a moderate to good response (51-100% improvement) included scleredema adultorum, hand or foot dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, morphea (medium or medium- to high-dose UVA1), systemic sclerosis, and urticaria pigmentosa. Besides tanning, other adverse effects were found in 15% of patients, which include pruritus, erythema, tenderness, and burning sensation. Patients with skin types I-III responded better that those with a darker skin type. CONCLUSION: UVA1 phototherapy is a useful and well-tolerated treatment option for a variety of skin conditions.

High-dose 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The excimer laser can deliver high-intensity ultraviolet B (UVB) energy at 308 nm, a wavelength similar to that used in narrow-band UVB phototherapy. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the role of high-dose single treatments with the excimer 308-nm laser in stable plaque-type psoriasis. METHODS: Eighteen volunteers were enrolled in the study. Two plaques were selected and half of each plaque was held as a control while the other half was treated with a single dose of either 8 or 16 times the minimal erythema dose. RESULTS: Sixteen subjects completed the study. Two patients signed up but never actually participated because of scheduling problems. Eleven showed significant improvement within 1 month, and 5 still demonstrated persistent areas of clearing at 4 months. CONCLUSION: As little as one high-dose excimer laser treatment can be effective for localized plaque-type psoriasis. Multiple treatments or other irradiation schedules with this innovative device may prove even more efficacious.

A 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of scalp psoriasis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Scalp psoriasis is a frustrating disorder whose treatments can all too often be cumbersome and ineffective. Our objective was to test a combination device involving the 308-nm excimer laser in tandem with a hair blower for treating scalp psoriasis. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult subjects with scalp psoriasis unresponsive to class I topical steroids used in conjunction with medicated shampoos were treated with 308-nm excimer laser pulses in conjunction with a hair blower that parted the obstructing hair twice a week for up to 15 weeks. Half of the scalp served as a control. Starting doses were based on standard minimal erythema dose (MED)'s with subsequent increments of up to 20%. RESULTS: Thirteen subjects completed the study without adverse events. Two were dropped due to lack of compliance. At the end of the investigation, the difference in the mean modified PASI scores between the control and treated sites was 4.0 (<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The air blower device in conjunction with the 308-nm excimer laser can safely and effectively treat otherwise refractory scalp psoriasis.

Medium-dose 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: The excimer laser delivers targeted ultraviolet B 308-nm radiation. OBJECTIVE: This investigation evaluated the efficacy of multiple, medium-dose excimer 308-nm laser treatments for psoriasis. METHODS: Twenty volunteers with plaque psoriasis were enrolled. Six plaques received treatment 3 times per week for up to 8 weeks; another plaque served as a control. As in standard phototherapy, a flexible dose escalation scheme was implemented during the course of treatment. Modified Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores were rendered throughout the study with follow-ups at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects completed the study without complications. The mean number of treatments to achieve >95% clearance was 10.6. The mean cumulative UV radiation dose was 6.1 J/cm(2), and the mean remission time was 3.5 months. CONCLUSION: A thrice-weekly, medium-dose irradiation schedule with the 308-nm laser can effectively clear localized plaque-type psoriasis in fewer treatments with an overall lower cumulative dose, compared with standard phototherapy. This innovative UV device allows specific targeting of affected sites without needless exposure of unaffected skin.

Broad-band UVB fiber-optic comb for the treatment of scalp psoriasis: a pilot study.

Abstract Background Scalp psoriasis is a frustrating condition with limited treatment options. Our objective was to test a new fiber-optic broad-band UVB comb device for the treatment of this condition. Methods Scalp psoriasis on adult subjects was treated three times a week for up to 12 weeks with a fiber-optic UVB comb. A minimum 50-cm(2) scalp area served as the control. Starting doses were based on the standard minimal erythema dose (MED) with increments up to 20% for subsequent treatments. Results Fourteen subjects completed the study without sunburn reactions or blisters. Treated sites showed a mean improvement in the modified PASI score of 3.6. The difference in the mean modified PASI scores between the control and treated sites was 3.9 (< 0.0001). Conclusions This fiber-optic broad-band UVB comb can safely and effectively treat scalp psoriasis.

308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of localized vitiligo.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Vitiligo is commonly treated with PUVA, and more recently, narrow-band UVB (NBUVB) phototherapy. Given the proximity of the wavelengths of NBUVB (311 nm) and the excimer laser (308 nm), we undertook a clinical trial to test the efficacy of this device. METHODS: Twice-weekly 308-nm UV-B radiation was given to selected vitiligo lesions for a maximum of 60 treatments. These lesions had been unsuccessfully treated previously with at least one other method of treatment. Initial doses were 100 mJ/cm2 with increments of 10-25%. Improvement was assessed on a visual scale via serial photographs. RESULTS: Subjects tolerated the treatment well. Improvement varied with body site. After 60 treatments, lesions on the hands and feet showed grade 2 improvement in 2/10 subjects and grade 1 in 8/10. For the axillae, there was grade 4 improvement in 1/3 subjects and grade 2 improvement in 2/3 by treatment 60. The face demonstrated the most rapid repigmentation with grade 4 repigmentation seen in 3/5 subjects by 40 treatments and grade 3 in 2/5 by 30 treatments. There were no adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The user-friendly 308-nm excimer laser allows targeted treatments of localized vitiligo.