Human exposure to rabid free-ranging cats: a continuing public health concern in Pennsylvania.

Rabid free-ranging cats have been a public health concern in Pennsylvania since raccoon variant rabies first was recognized in the state in the early 1980s. Over the last decade, between 1.5 and 2.5% of cats submitted to Pennsylvania's state laboratories for rabies testing have been positive. In this report, we describe the extent of rabies in free-ranging cats in Pennsylvania. We also present two examples of human exposure to rabid free-ranging cats that occurred in Pennsylvania during 2010-2011 and the public health actions taken to address rabies exposure in the humans and animals. We then describe the concerns surrounding the unvaccinated and free-ranging cat population in Pennsylvania and possible options in managing this public and animal health problem.

Concurrent 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in ferrets and in a community in Pennsylvania.

We report a fall 2010 cluster of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (pH1N1) infections in pet ferrets in Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. The ferrets were associated with one pet shop. The influenza cluster occurred during a period when the existing human surveillance systems had identified little to no pH1N1 in humans in the Lehigh Valley, and there were no routine influenza surveillance systems for exotic pets. The index case was a 2.5-month-old neutered male ferret that was presented to a veterinary clinic with severe influenza-like illness (ILI). In response to laboratory notification of a positive influenza test result, and upon request from the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH), the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) conducted an investigation to identify other ill ferrets and to identify the source and extent of infection. PDA notified the PADOH of the pH1N1 infection in the ferrets, leading to enhanced human surveillance and the detection of pH1N1 human infections in the surrounding community. Five additional ferrets with ILI linked to the pet shop were identified. This simultaneous outbreak of ferret and human pH1N1 demonstrates the important link between animal health and public health and highlights the potential use of veterinary clinics for sentinel surveillance of diseases shared between animals and humans.

Fatal pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza A virus infection in a Pennsylvania domestic cat.

We report the earliest recognized fatality associated with laboratory-confirmed pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza in a domestic cat in the United States. The 12-year old, indoor cat died on 6 November 2009 after exposure to multiple family members who had been ill with influenza-like illness during the peak period of the fall wave of pH1N1 in Pennsylvania during late October 2009. The clinical presentation, history, radiographic, laboratory and necropsy findings are presented to assist veterinary care providers in understanding the features of this disease in cats and the potential for transmission of infection to pets from infected humans.

[Parapharyngeal synovial sarcoma]. / Synovialosarcome parapharyngé.

A parapharyngeal biphasic synovial sarcoma arising in a 38-year-old man is reported. The rarity of this tumor in the head and neck and its multitude of histopathologic features are responsible for frequent initial misdiagnosis. The purpose of this report is to highlight the differential diagnosis with other cervical tumors.

[Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia or BOOP. Report of a new case, reflections on the concept of BOOP]. / Bronchiolite oblitérante avec pneumopathie organisée ou BOOP. A propos d'une nouvelle observation, réflexion sur le concept de BOOP.

A new case of bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is reported. The clinical, radiographical and histological characteristics of the BOOP are reviewed. It is a rare affection which has been described for a long time but the nosological situation of which among diseases of bronchioles has been only recently established. It corresponds to an unspecific inflammatory answer to a pulmonary aggression and can therefore be observed in numerous circumstances. It may represent a model for the understanding of the mechanisms of pulmonary fibrosis.

[Lymphoepithelial tumor of the skin]. / Tumeur lympho-épithéliale cutanée.

The authors report an additional case of lympho-epithelial tumor. First described in 1987 by Santa-Cruz et al., this tumor, also called cutaneous lymphadenoma, is rare. The mean age is 44. The lesion is generally located on the face and the clinical diagnosis of basal cell carcinoma is most often evoked. The tumor has a peculiar histological feature with cyst-like cavities composed by an epithelial proliferation and intraepithelial lympho-histiocytic cells. It is considered as a benign tumor. Its origin is still discussed but a pilosebaceous nature seems to be accepted.

A pseudo-outbreak of influenza A associated with use of laboratory stock strain.

In November 1982, when influenza type A(H3N2) viruses were spreading in the United States, influenza A(H1N1) viruses were reportedly isolated from 10 hospitalized patients in New Mexico, only two of whom had influenza-like illnesses. Reference stock influenza A/Fort Monmouth (FM)/1/47(H1N1) virus had been used to prepare fluorescent antibody test slides in the laboratory reporting the isolates. After investigation, it was concluded that the isolates from the patients' cultures were a result of laboratory contamination. When an unexpected cluster of unusual virus isolates is reported, the possibility of laboratory contamination should be considered.

Autonomic mechanisms of training bradycardia: beta-adrenergic receptors in humans.

To address the autonomic mechanisms underlying the bradycardia of physical training in human subjects, we performed a cross-sectional study comparing the heart-rate responses to graded doses of isoproterenol in 7 elite marathon runners and 7 age-matched controls, and a longitudinal study in 12 normal volunteers of the effects of 6 wk of intense physical training on lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors identified by l-[3H]dihydroalprenolol. We observed no significant differences between marathoners and controls in the dose of isoproterenol that produced a 25-beat/min increment in heart rate, either in the absence (1.9 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.6 microgram; P, 0.509) or in the presence of cholinergic blockade (4.4 +/- 1.3 vs. 3.1 +/- 0.4 microgram: P, 0.320). Likewise, we observed no effects of physical training on lymphocyte beta-adrenergic receptors in terms of receptors number (53 +/- 11 vs. 56 +/- 10 fmol/mg protein) or receptor affinity (Kd 4.0 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.6 +/- 0.7 nM) (P, 0.9178). Although our data cannot exclude reduced chronotropic sensitivity to catecholamines as contributing to lowered heart rate in some highly conditioned individuals, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that altered neuronal input to the sinus node is usually a more important mechanism of training bradycardia.

Cholesterol metabolism in non-obese women--Failure of physical conditioning to alter levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol.

The effects of a 6-week program of vigorous exercise were studied in 14 non-obese females aged 22--26. Preceding and following a regimen consisting of 30--45 min of jogging 5 days per week, treadmill performance, body weight, total plasma cholesterol, and plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were assessed. Aerobic performance improved markedly after training as demonstrated by a reduced heart rate at each submaximal treadmill workload, and by an increase in maximal attainable workload. In the absence of a significant change in body weight, total cholesterol fell significantly after training (171 +/- 6 vs 161 +/- 5 mg/dl, P less than 0.05) whereas HDL cholesterol was not significantly altered (63 +/- 5 vs 58 +/- 3 mg/dl). The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol fell insignificantly (2.92 +/- 0.19 vs 2.86 +/- 0.14). Our findings differ from prior reports of elevations of high density lipoprotein levels following physical conditioning in men. We suggest that hormonal or other factors leading to higher baseline levels of HDL in women counteract the expected alterations in lipoprotein metabolism induced by physical training.