Transmission of influenza A virus in pigs

Influenza A virus infections cause respiratory disease in pigs and are a risk to public health. The pig plays an important role in influenza ecology because of its ability to support replication of influenza viruses from avian, swine and human species. Influenza A virus is widespread in pigs worldwide, and influenza A virus interspecies transmission has been documented in many events. Influenza A virus is mostly transmitted through direct pig-to-pig contact and aerosols although other indirect routes of transmission may also exist. Several factors contribute to differences in the transmission dynamics within populations including among others vaccination, pig flow, animal movement and animal introduction which highlights the complexity of influenza A transmission in pigs. In addition, pigs can serve as a reservoir of influenza A viruses for other pigs and other species and understanding mechanisms of transmission within pigs and from pigs to other species and vice versa is crucial. In this paper, we review the current understanding of influenza virus transmission in pigs. We highlight the ubiquity of influenza A virus in the pig population and the widespread distribution of pandemic H1N1 virus worldwide while emphasizing an understanding of the routes of transmission and factors that contribute to virus spread and dissemination within and between pig populations. In addition, we describe transmission events between pigs and other species including people. Understanding transmission is crucial for designing effective control strategies and for making well-informed recommendations for surveillance.

Coherent x-ray wavefront reconstruction of a partially illuminated Fresnel zone plate

A detailed characterization of the coherent x-ray wavefront produced by a partially illuminated Fresnel zone plate is presented. We show, by numerical and experimental approaches, how the beam size and the focal depth are strongly influenced by the illumination conditions, while the phase of the focal spot remains constant. These results confirm that the partial illumination can be used for coherent diffraction experiments. Finally, we demonstrate the possibility of reconstructing the complex-valued illumination function by simple measurement of the far field intensity in the specific case of partial illumination.

113 EFFECT OF SOME FACTORS ON CONCEPTION RATE IN ALPACAS UNDER PERUVIAN HIGHLAND CONDITION

Alpacas are a domestic species of South American camelids with a great importance to highland people because of their high-quality fibre production. However, their reproductive performance has been reported to be poor, with a birth rate of 50% under the Andean community’s conditions. Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of some factors on the pregnancy rate of alpacas at first service in lactating, 3- to 8-years old, without parity problems. The objective of the first experiment (n = 85) was to evaluate the effect of age (G1: 3, G2: 4 to 5, G3: ≥ 6 years old); mating time (G1: 15 min, G2: 16–24 min, G3: ≥ 25 min), and interval from parturition to mating (G1: 20 days, G2: ≥ 20 days) on first service conception rate. A second experiment (n = 174) evaluated the effect of month of calving (January, February, or March) on conception rate in females with a postpartum interval ≥20 days. Animals were mated with male of good fertility after a receptivity test and confirmation of presence of a dominant follicle ≥7 mm by ultrasonography. Pregnancy was determined by ultrasonography 25 days after mating. Proportional data were compared by Fisher’s exact test. In the first experiment, conception rates were 57.9, 66.7, and 47.2% in females of G1, G2, and G3, respectively (P ≤ 0.05); 50.0, 54.5, and 59.0% in females with mating time of 15, 16–24, or ≥ 25 min of mating; 48.0 and 59.4% in those with a postpartum interval <20 days and ≥20 days (P ≤ 0.05). In the second experiment, conception rates were 58.3, 70.7, and 82.1% in alpacas calving in January, February, and March, respectively (P ≤ 0.05). The results suggest that age of female, postpartum interval, and month of calving are factors that affect conception rates in alpacas. Therefore, a reproductive management system that includes these factors would improve the pregnancy rate in alpacas under highland Peruvian conditions. Consejo Superior de Investigacion – UNMSM.

Abstract P3-11-09: Body Mass Index (BMI) and Survival: A Retrospective Review of Women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer (An Update)

Body Mass Index (BMI) has been reported as a risk factor for recurrence and decreased survival in women with breast cancer. At the Inter-American Breast Cancer Conference we presented data showing the effect BMI has on overall survival in women with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Here we present an update of this data which to our knowledge is the only study addressing the effect BMI has on outcomes in TNBC. We conducted a retrospective review of 170 patients with TNBC seen at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and Jackson Memorial Hospital between December of 1999 and April 2010. Charts were reviewed looking at BMI at the time of diagnosis and overall survival defined as date of last contact or date of death when known. 163 patients were included in the study. BMI was defined as normal (BMI 18.5-24.9) and overweight or obese (25 or greater). The average age at diagnosis was 50.96 years with a mean OS of 44.67 months. 21 patients (13%) had stage I disease, 61 (37.4%) had stage II disease, 81 (49.6%) had stage III disease. In patients with stage I disease 33% had a normal BMI with a mean OS of 51.7 months. 67% were overweight or obese with a mean OS of 60.2 months. In patients with stage II disease 33% had a normal BMI with a mean OS of 30.8 months. 67% were overweight or obese with a mean OS of 48.4 months. In patients with stage III disease 28% had a normal BMI with a mean OS of 37.2 months. 72% were overweight or obese with a mean OS of 43.1 months.

Survival in patients with TNBC does not appear to be negatively impacted by the patients BMI at diagnosis. While not statistically significant (p=0.274) patients with stage I TNBC that were overweight or obese tended to have an increased OS compared to those with a normal BMI. In patients with stage II disease there was a statistically significant (p=0.010) increase in OS in overweight or obese patients compared to those with a normal BMI. In the patients with stage III disease there was no significant difference in the OS (p=0.458) between patients with a normal BMI and those that were overweight or obese.

Our study shows that increased BMI at the time of diagnosis may have a positive impact on OS in patients with TNBC. Overweight and obese patients with stage I and II TNBC have an increased OS compared to those with a normal BMI. In those with stage II disease the difference was statistically significant. Although this study was limited by small sample size, if confirmed, it might suggest a relationship between obesity and survival in TNBC. Further studies are needed to evaluate these findings.

Capture probability of released males of two Bactrocera species (Diptera: Tephritidae) in detection traps in California

The genus Bactrocera (Diptera: Tephritidae) includes approximately 70 polyphagous species that are major pests of fruit and vegetable crops. Most Bactrocera species have limited geographic distributions, but several species are invasive, and many countries operate continuous trapping programs to detect infestations. In the United States, California maintains approximately 25,000 traps (baited with male lures) specifically for Bactrocera detection distributed over an area of approximately 6,400 km2 (2,500 miles2) in the Los Angeles area. Although prior studies have used male lures to describe movement of Bactrocera males, they do not explicitly relate capture probability with fly distance from lure-baited traps; consequently, they do not address the relative effectiveness of male lures in detecting incipient populations of Bactrocera species. The objective of this study was to measure the distance-dependent capture probability of marked, released males of Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) and Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (methyl eugenol- and cue lure-responding species, respectively) within the detection trapping grid operating in southern California. These data were then used to compute simple probability estimates for detecting populations of different sizes of the two species. Methyl eugenol was the more powerful attractant, and based on the mark-recapture data, we estimated that B. dorsalis populations with as few as approximately 50 males would always (>99.9%) be detected using the current trap density of five methyl eugenol-baited traps per 2.6 km2 (1 mile2). By contrast, we estimated that certain detection of B. cucurbitae populations would not occur until these contained approximately 350 males. The implications of the results for the California trapping system are discussed, and the findings are compared with mark-release-recapture data obtained for the same two species in Hawaii.

Activation of the EGFR/ERK pathway in high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the salivary glands

Background:

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) shows differences in biological behaviour depending mainly on its histological grade. High-grade tumours usually have an aggressive biological course and they require additional oncological treatment after surgery.

Methods:

In a series of 43 MECs of the salivary glands, we studied the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene by using dual-colour chromogenic in situ hybridisation (CISH). Moreover, we assessed the protein expressions of the EGFR and the activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (pERK1/2) by using immunohistochemistry. These results were correlated with the histological grade of the tumours and the outcome of the patients.

Results:

The CISH study demonstrated a high-EGFR gene copy number, with balanced chromosome 7 polysomy, in 8 out of 11 high-grade MECs (72.7%), whereas 27 low-grade and 15 intermediate-grade tumours had a normal EGFR gene copy number (P<0.001). The EGFR gene gains correlated with disease-free interval (P=0.003) and overall survival of the patients (P=0.019). The EGFR protein expression had a significant correlation with the histological grade of the tumours but not with the outcome of the patients. The pERK1/2 expression correlated with histological grade of tumours (P<0.001), disease-free interval (P=0.004) and overall survival (P=0.001).

Conclusions:

The EGFR/ERK pathway is activated in high-grade MECs with aggressive behaviour. Patients with these tumours who require oncological treatment in addition to surgery could benefit from EGFR and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway inhibitors.

Three-dimensional x-ray Fourier transform holography: the Bragg case

A novel approach to determine the structure of nanoscale crystals in three dimensions is proposed by the use of coherent x-ray Fourier transform holography in Bragg geometry. The full internal description is directly obtained by a single Fourier transform of the 3D intensity hologram. Together with the morphology, Bragg geometry gives access to the 3D displacement field within the crystal. This result opens great possibilities for the investigation of strain fields inside nanocrystals in a simple way.

Factors affecting the concentration in seven-spotted ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata L.) of Cd and Zn transferred through the food chain

The transfer of Cd and Zn from soils amended with sewage sludge was followed through a food chain consisting of wheat, aphids and the predator Coccinella septempunctata. Multiple regression models were generated to predict the concentrations of Cd and Zn in C. septempunctata. No significant model could be generated for Cd, indicting that the concentration of this metal was maintained within relatively narrow limits. A model predicting 64% of the variability in the Zn concentration of C. septempunctata was generated from of the concentration of Zn in the diet, time and rate of Zn consumption. The results suggest that decreasing the rate of food consumption is an effective mechanism to prevent the accumulation of Zn and that the availability of Zn in the aphid prey increased with the concentration in the aphids. The results emphasise the importance of using ecologically relevant food chains and exposure pathways during ecotoxicological studies.

HIV/STI co-infection among men who have sex with men in Spain

In Spain, neither the HIV nor the STI national surveillance systems collect information on HIV/STI co-infection. However, there are two networks based on HIV/STI clinics which gather this data. We describe HIV prevalence in men who have sex with men (MSM) diagnosed with infectious syphilis and/or gonorrhoea in 15 STI clinics; and concurrent diagnoses of STI in MSM newly diagnosed with HIV in 19 HIV/STI clinics. In total, 572 MSM were diagnosed with infectious syphilis and 580 with gonorrhoea during 2005-2007. HIV prevalence among syphilis and gonorrhoea cases was 29.8% and 15.2% respectively. In the multivariate analysis, HIV/syphilis co-infection was associated with being Latin American; having a history of STI; reporting exclusively anal intercourse; and having sex with casual or several types of partners. HIV and gonorrhoea co-infection was associated with age older than 45 years; having no education or only primary education completed; and having a history of STI. In total, 1,462 HIV infections were newly diagnosed among MSM during 2003-2007. Of these, 31.0% were diagnosed with other STI at the same time. Factors associated with STI co-infection among new HIV cases in MSM were being Latin American; and having sex with casual partners or with both steady and casual partners. In Spain, a considerable proportion of MSM are co-infected with HIV and STI.