A glycoprotein E gene-deleted bovine herpesvirus 1 as a candidate vaccine strain

A bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) defective in glycoprotein E (gE) was constructed from a Brazilian genital BoHV-1 isolate, by replacing the full gE coding region with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene for selection. Upon co-transfection of MDBK cells with genomic viral DNA plus the GFP-bearing gE-deletion plasmid, three fluorescent recombinant clones were obtained out of approximately 5000 viral plaques. Deletion of the gE gene and the presence of the GFP marker in the genome of recombinant viruses were confirmed by PCR. Despite forming smaller plaques, the BoHV-1△gE recombinants replicated in MDBK cells with similar kinetics and to similar titers to that of the parental virus (SV56/90), demonstrating that the gE deletion had no deleterious effects on replication efficacy in vitro. Thirteen calves inoculated intramuscularly with BoHV-1△gE developed virus neutralizing antibodies at day 42 post-infection (titers from 2 to 16), demonstrating the ability of the recombinant to replicate and to induce a serological response in vivo. Furthermore, the serological response induced by recombinant BoHV-1△gE could be differentiated from that induced by wild-type BoHV-1 by the use of an anti-gE antibody ELISA kit. Taken together, these results indicated the potential application of recombinant BoHV-1 △gE in vaccine formulations to prevent the losses caused by BoHV-1 infections while allowing for differentiation of vaccinated from naturally infected animals.

A glycoprotein E gene-deleted bovine herpesvirus 1 as a candidate vaccine strain.

A bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) defective in glycoprotein E (gE) was constructed from a Brazilian genital BoHV-1 isolate, by replacing the full gE coding region with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene for selection. Upon co-transfection of MDBK cells with genomic viral DNA plus the GFP-bearing gE-deletion plasmid, three fluorescent recombinant clones were obtained out of approximately 5000 viral plaques. Deletion of the gE gene and the presence of the GFP marker in the genome of recombinant viruses were confirmed by PCR. Despite forming smaller plaques, the BoHV-1△gE recombinants replicated in MDBK cells with similar kinetics and to similar titers to that of the parental virus (SV56/90), demonstrating that the gE deletion had no deleterious effects on replication efficacy in vitro. Thirteen calves inoculated intramuscularly with BoHV-1△gE developed virus neutralizing antibodies at day 42 post-infection (titers from 2 to 16), demonstrating the ability of the recombinant to replicate and to induce a serological response in vivo. Furthermore, the serological response induced by recombinant BoHV-1△gE could be differentiated from that induced by wild-type BoHV-1 by the use of an anti-gE antibody ELISA kit. Taken together, these results indicated the potential application of recombinant BoHV-1 △gE in vaccine formulations to prevent the losses caused by BoHV-1 infections while allowing for differentiation of vaccinated from naturally infected animals.

Caracterización de las readmisiones precoces en la hospitalización psiquiátrica / Characterization of early readmissions in psychiatric hospitalization

Objetivos: Describir y comparar las características clínicas y demográficas asociadas con la readmisión temprana comparada con las asociadas a readmisiones tardías y las personas que tienen solo una hospitalización. Método: Se revisó de forma retrospectiva los registros clínicos de los pacientes admitidos en un servicio de psiquiatría en Santiago de Chile, desde el 1 de julio de 2001 hasta el 30 de junio de 2010. Se comparan y analizan las características de las hospitalizaciones asociadas con readmisión temprana, readmisión tardía y aquellos con sólo una admisión. Resultados: La readmisión temprana fue precedida por hospitalizaciones más cortas en comparación con los pacientes que tenían una readmisión tardía. No hubo diferencias de género y edad, pero cuando se comparan los diagnósticos entre el grupo sin readmisión v/s el grupo con reingresos, encontramos que los trastorno psicóticos y el trastorno bipolar tienen una mayor representación en el grupo de la readmisión tardía, y el trastorno bipolar en el caso de reingreso precoz. Conclusiones: La readmisión temprana estaría relacionada principalmente con las características particulares de la enfermedad en cada individuo y se agrupan en los trastornos que por su naturaleza tienden a ser más crónicos y recurrentes.

Aims: Describe and compare clinical and demographic characteristics associated with early readmissions compared with those associated with delayed rehospitalizations and individuals having only one hospitalization. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and demographic records of all patients admitted to a psychiatric service in Santiago, Chile, from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2010. We compare and analyze the characteristics of hospitalizations associated with early readmission, delayed readmision and no readmission. Results: Early readmission was preceded by shorter hospitalizations compared with patients who had a delayed admission in the period. There were no gender and age differences, but when comparing the diagnoses between the group without rehospitalization with the group with readmissions, we found that psychotic and bipolar disorder have greater representation in the group with delayed readmission, and bipolar disorder in the case of early readmission. Conclusions: Early readmission would be primarily related to the particular characteristics of each individual disease and disorders are grouped by their nature tend to be chronic and recurrent.

Bovine herpesvirus 5 induces an overproduction of nitric oxide in the brain of rabbits that correlates with virus dissemination and precedes the development of neurological signs.

We herein report an investigation of nitric oxide (NO) levels, a candidate molecule for neuronal toxicity and dysfunction, in the brain of rabbits during experimental neurological infection by bovine herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5). Spectrophotometry for NO products (NO(2) and NO(3)) revealed that NO levels were significantly increased (F(4, 40) = 3.33; P <.02) in several regions of the brain of rabbits with neurological disease, correlating with moderate to high BoHV-5 titers. Immunohistochemistry of brain regions revealed a group of cells with neuronal and astrocyte morphology expressing the enzyme inducible NO synthase (iNOS) close to virus antigen-positive neurons. In addition, the investigation of nitric oxide levels between 2 and 6 days post infection (d.p.i.) revealed an initial increase in NO levels in the olfactory bulb and cortex (OB/OC) and anterior cortex (AC) at day 3 p.i., correlating with the initial detection of virus. As the infection proceeded, increased NO levels-and infectivity-were progressively being detected in the OB/CO and AC at day 4 p.i. (F(12, 128) = 2.82; P <.003); at day 5 p.i. in several brain regions (P <.003 in the OB/OC); and at day 6 p.i. in all regions (P <.003) but the thalamus. These results show that BoHV-5 replication in the brain of rabbits induces an overproduction of NO. The increase in NO levels in early infection correlated spatially and temporally with virus dissemination within the brain and preceded the development of neurological signs. Thus, the overproduction of NO in the brain of BoHV-5-infected rabbits may be a component of the pathogenesis of BoHV-5-induced neurological disease.

Gender and socio-cultural determinants of TB-related stigma in Bangladesh, India, Malawi and Colombia.

SETTING: Tuberculosis (TB) control programmes in Bangladesh, India, Malawi and Colombia. OBJECTIVE: Assess indicators of TB-related stigma and socio-cultural and gender-related features of illness associated with stigma. DESIGN: Semi-structured Explanatory Model Interview Catalogue (EMIC) interviews were administered to 100 or more patients at each site, assessing categories of distress, perceived causes and help seeking. Indicators of self-perceived stigma were analysed individually and in a validated index, which was compared across sites and between men and women at each site. Cultural epidemiological explanatory variables for stigma and interactions with female sex were analysed at each site. Qualitative illness narratives were examined to explain the role and context of explanatory variables. RESULTS: The overall stigma index was highest in India, lowest in Malawi and greater for women in Bangladesh. In India and Malawi, women were more likely to be concerned about impact on marital prospects. Associations with HIV/AIDS were linked to TB stigma in Malawi, where sexual contact as a perceived cause was more associated with stigma for men and less for women. CONCLUSION: Stigma both influences and indicates the effectiveness of TB control. Cultural epidemiological methods clarify cross-cutting and local features of stigma and gender for TB control.

Ceratoplastia com enxerto pediculado de conjuntiva fixado com adesivo de cianoacrilato em cães

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Ceratoplastia com enxerto autógeno lamelar livre de córnea fixado com adesivo de cianoacrilato em cães

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Reparação da traqueia cervical de cão com o músculo esterno-hioideo

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Reparação da traqueia cervical de cão com o músculo esterno-hioideo

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Ceratoplastia com enxerto autógeno lamelar livre de córnea fixado com adesivo de cianoacrilato em cães

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Ceratoplastia com enxerto pediculado de conjuntiva fixado com adesivo de cianoacrilato em cães

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New Cortinarius species from Nothofagus forests in South Chile.

Four new Cortinarius species are described from Nothofagus forests in South Chile. Cortinarius aurantiorufus and C. punctatisporus, subgenus Phlegmacium, stirps Inflatipes, are mainly characterized by a viscid to glutinous pileus and a bulbous whitish stipe. They differ in the color of the pileus, and shape, ornamentation, and size of the basidiospores. Futhermore, C. punctatisporus has a translucently striate pileus. Cortinarius rubrivelatus and C. parahumilis belong to subgenus Telamonia, stirps Brunneivelatus and Scabrisporus, respectively. Cortinarius rubrivelatus has a reddish veil, a viscid pileus, and large, ellipsoid to amygdaliform basidiospores. Cortinarius parahumilis has small, subglobose to broadly elliptical, minutely verrucose basidiospores and a viscid pileus.

The results framework--an innovative tool for program planning and evaluation.

This article constitutes a case study of the development and implementation of the "results framework," an innovative planning and evaluation tool that is rapidly becoming a standard requirement for United States Agency for International Development (USAID) projects. The framework is used in a USAID-funded regional initiative for HIV/AIDS prevention in Central America. This new program evaluation and monitoring tool provides many advantages over traditional evaluation approaches that use outside consultants to provide midterm and end-of-project evaluations. The results-framework process, which spans the life of the project, provides an opportunity for program staff, donors, partners, and evaluators to work as a team to collect and use rich, longitudinal data for project planning, implementation, and evaluation purposes.

Plasma beta-endorphin concentrations and analgesia-muscle relaxation in the newborn infant supported by mechanical ventilation.

We evaluated the effects of pancuronium and opiates on plasma beta-endorphin concentrations in 25 infants supported by mechanical ventilation. Infants receiving opiate were randomly assigned to receive either fentanyl or morphine. There was no change in beta-endorphin concentrations after administration of pancuronium, whereas both fentanyl and morphine reduced beta-endorphin concentrations by approximately 60%.