Type I IFN response to Papiine herpesvirus 2 (Herpesvirus papio 2; HVP2) determines neuropathogenicity in mice

Isolates of baboon alpha-herpesvirus Papiine herpesvirus 2 (HVP2) exhibit one of two distinct phenotypes in mice: extremely neurovirulent or apathogenic. Previous studies implicated the type I interferon (IFN) response as being a major factor in controlling infection by apathogenic isolates. To further investigate the possibility that the host IFN-beta response underlies the pathogenicity of the two HVP2 subtypes, the susceptibility of mice lacking the IFN-beta receptor (IFNAR(-/-)) to infection was examined. Apathogenic isolates of HVP2 (HVP2ap) replicated in IFNAR(-/-) primary mouse dermal fibroblast (PMDF) cultures as well as neurovirulent (HVP2nv) isolates. IFNAR(-/-) mice were also susceptible to lethal infection by HVP2ap isolates. Unlike Balb/c or parental 129 mice, LD(50) and ID(50) values for HVP2ap were the same in IFNAR(-/-) mice indicating that in these mice infection always progressed to death. HVP2ap replicated in the skin at the site of inoculation and invaded dorsal root ganglia as efficiently as HVP2nv in IFNAR(-/-) mice. Since the virion host shutoff (vhs) protein encoded by the UL41 gene of herpes simplex virus has been implicated in circumventing the host IFN-beta response and the phenotype of UL41 deletion mutants of HSV is very similar to that of HVP2ap isolates, the UL41 gene was deleted from HVP2nv (Delta 41) and replaced with the UL41 ORF from HVP2ap (Delta 41C). Like the parental HVP2nv virus, the Delta 41C recombinant replicated efficiently in Balb/c PMDFs and did not induce a strong IFN-beta response. The neuropathogenicity of the Delta 41C recombinant was also the same as the parental HVP2nv virus in Balb/c mice, indicating that the vhs protein does not underlie the different neuropathogenic phenotype of HVP2ap and HVP2nv. In contrast, the Delta 41 deletion virus induced a strong IFN-beta response but was still able to undergo multiple rounds of replication in PMDF cultures, albeit at a slower pace than the parental HVP2nv. This was reflected in vivo as the Delta 41 mutant had an LD(50) equivalent to that of the parental HVP2nv virus although the time to death was longer. These results indicate that while the vhs protein is involved in preventing and/or suppressing an IFN-beta response, it is not responsible for the ability of HVP2nv to overcome IFN-beta induced resistance of uninfected cells and does not underlie the divergent pathogenicity of the two HVP2 subtypes in mice.

Changes in the news representation of smokers and tobacco-related media advocacy from 1995 to 2005 in Australia

BACKGROUND

This study aims to show how smokers were represented in smoking-related news articles, editorials, letters and columns in a major Australian newspaper over an 11-year period from January 1995 to December 2005.

METHODS

Qualitative content analysis was conducted on a sample of 618 articles to identify 21 representational categories (RCs) of the smoker. Articles were also examined for statements that lent organisational support to either tobacco control or the promotion of tobacco.

RESULTS

The construction of the smoker as a "regulated citizen" due to being subjected to tobacco policy was the most prevalent RC, occurring in 43.4% of articles. Of the 13 most prevalent RCs, eight were constructions of the smoker that lent support to tobacco control outcomes, two were supportive of the promotion of tobacco, and three could be used by both parties. 30.6% of articles contained at least one statement from a tobacco control advocacy source, compared with only 13.6% of articles having a statement towards the promotion of tobacco.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that constructions of the smoker that support tobacco control have dominated smoking-related discourse in this Australian newspaper and that representations favouring a tobacco industry viewpoint appeared less often. However, the pro-tobacco representations of smokers in reports relating to legal issues highlight an area of media discourse in which tobacco control advocates should remain vigilant.

Markers of the denormalisation of smoking and the tobacco industry

BACKGROUND

In nations with histories of declining smoking prevalence and comprehensive tobacco control policies, smoking-positive cultures have been severely eroded. Smoking, smokers and the tobacco industry are today routinely depicted in everyday discourse and media representations in a variety of overwhelmingly negative ways. Several authors have invoked Erving Goffman's notions of stigmatization to describe the process and impact of this radical transformation, which importantly includes motivating smoking cessation. Efforts to describe nations' progress toward comprehensive tobacco control have hitherto taken little account of the role of cultural change to the meaning of smoking and the many ways in which it has become denormalised.

METHODS

This paper identifies a diversity of generally undocumented yet pervasive markers of the "spoiled identity" of smoking, smokers and the tobacco industry, illustrated with examples from Australia, a nation with advanced tobacco control.

RESULTS

We caution about some important negative consequences arising from the stigmatization of smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend that schemes rating the comprehensiveness of national tobacco control should be supplemented by documentation of markers of this denormalisation.

Compression of antiproton clouds for antihydrogen trapping

Control of the radial profile of trapped antiproton clouds is critical to trapping antihydrogen. We report the first detailed measurements of the radial manipulation of antiproton clouds, including areal density compressions by factors as large as ten, by manipulating spatially overlapped electron plasmas. We show detailed measurements of the near-axis antiproton radial profile and its relation to that of the electron plasma.

Homeostatic repopulation by CD28-CD8+ T cells in alemtuzumab-depleted kidney transplant recipients treated with reduced immunosuppression

Alemtuzumab (CAMPATH-1H) is a depleting agent introduced recently in transplantation and often used with reduced maintenance immunosuppression. In the current study we investigated the immune response of 13 kidney allograft recipients treated with alemtuzumab followed by weaned immunosuppression with reduced dose of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus. Tacrolimus was switched to sirolimus at 6 months and MMF withdrawn at 12 months after transplantation. We found that after alemtuzumab induction the recovery of CD8(+) T cells was much faster than that of CD4(+) T cells. It was complete 6 months posttransplant while CD4(+) T cells did not fully recover even 15 months posttransplant. Repopulating CD8(+) T cells were mainly of immunosenescent CD28(-)CD8(+) phenotype. In a series of in vitro experiments we showed that CD28(-)CD8(+) T cells might suppress proliferation of CD4(+) T cells. There were three successfully treated acute rejections during the study (first at +70 day, two others +12 months) that occurred in patients with the lowest level of CD28(-)CD8(+) T cells. We hypothesize that expanded CD28(-)CD8(+) T cells might compete for 'immune space' with CD4(+) T cells suppressing their proliferation and therefore delaying CD4(+) T-cells recovery. This delay might be associated with the clinical outcome as CD4(+) T cells, notably CD4(+) T effector memory cells, were shown to be associated with rejection.

Global perspective on tobacco control. Part II. The future of tobacco control: making smoking history?

Serious efforts to reduce the harm caused by tobacco use throughout populations require implementation policies and interventions capable of reaching all smokers and potential smokers. While the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control promises to accelerate the adoption of comprehensive tobacco control policies throughout the world, its extensive 'optional' language provides considerable latitude for governments unwilling to implement rigorous controls. This paper examines four broad areas in which important debates and policy advances will be necessary to ensure population-wide impact of tobacco control: harm reduction; demand reduction strategies involving particularly the use of news generation in increasing the coverage of tobacco and health issues; denormalisation of tobacco use, especially among health workers in nations where use remains high; and further efforts to regulate the tobacco industry, particularly in regard to plain packaging, under-the-counter retail sales and the regulation of tobacco products.

Pattern, management and outcome of cervical spine injuries associated with head injuries in paediatric patients

INTRODUCTION

This study examines the management and outcome of cervical spine injuries in children with head injuries, to assess the need for surgical treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis (1995-2005) of 445 children admitted intubated and ventilated to the intensive care unit with head injuries.

OUTCOME MEASURES

Frankel grade for spinal injuries and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) for head injuries.

RESULTS

Cervical spine injuries were detected in 11 patients (incidence 2.5%, mean age: 6.3 years, range: 21 months-15 years). The injuries were: C1/2 distraction: 2; C1/2 subluxation: 2; odontoid peg fracture with C1/2 dislocation and cord transection: 1; disruption of posterior longitudinal ligament at C2: 1; odontoid peg fracture with C2/3 distraction: 1; C2/3 subluxation: 1; C3 lamina fracture: 1; C3/4 facet fracture: 1; C6/7 fracture dislocation with cord transection: 1. One patient was managed operatively, ten patients nonoperatively, two with halo vests and eight with hard collars. There were three deaths (mortality 27%) associated with severe head injuries. At 6 months follow-up, two patients remained quadriplegic (Frankel Grade A), one of them ventilator dependent, one had residual motor function but of no practical use (Frankel Grade C), five had good spinal outcome (Frankel Grade E). Seven patients had good head injury outcomes (GOS 5), one remained disabled (GOS 3).

CONCLUSION

Most children with cervical injury can be managed nonoperatively with good outcomes. Surgical management may be necessary in severe unstable injuries.

Australia's 1996 gun law reforms: faster falls in firearm deaths, firearm suicides, and a decade without mass shootings

BACKGROUND

After a 1996 firearm massacre in Tasmania in which 35 people died, Australian governments united to remove semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns and rifles from civilian possession, as a key component of gun law reforms.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether Australia's 1996 major gun law reforms were associated with changes in rates of mass firearm homicides, total firearm deaths, firearm homicides and firearm suicides, and whether there were any apparent method substitution effects for total homicides and suicides.

DESIGN

Observational study using official statistics. Negative binomial regression analysis of changes in firearm death rates and comparison of trends in pre-post gun law reform firearm-related mass killings.

SETTING

Australia, 1979-2003.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Changes in trends of total firearm death rates, mass fatal shooting incidents, rates of firearm homicide, suicide and unintentional firearm deaths, and of total homicides and suicides per 100,000 population.

RESULTS

In the 18 years before the gun law reforms, there were 13 mass shootings in Australia, and none in the 10.5 years afterwards. Declines in firearm-related deaths before the law reforms accelerated after the reforms for total firearm deaths (p = 0.04), firearm suicides (p = 0.007) and firearm homicides (p = 0.15), but not for the smallest category of unintentional firearm deaths, which increased. No evidence of substitution effect for suicides or homicides was observed. The rates per 100,000 of total firearm deaths, firearm homicides and firearm suicides all at least doubled their existing rates of decline after the revised gun laws.

CONCLUSIONS

Australia's 1996 gun law reforms were followed by more than a decade free of fatal mass shootings, and accelerated declines in firearm deaths, particularly suicides. Total homicide rates followed the same pattern. Removing large numbers of rapid-firing firearms from civilians may be an effective way of reducing mass shootings, firearm homicides and firearm suicides.