Infection and tissue distribution of highly pathogenic avian influenza A type H5N1 (clade 2.3.4.4b) in red fox kits (Vulpes vulpes)

Avian influenza H5N1 is a highly pathogenic virus that primarily affects birds. However, it can also infect other animal species, including mammals. We report the infection of nine juvenile red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A type H5N1 (Clade 2.3.4.4b) in the spring of 2022 in the central, western, and northern regions of New York, USA. The foxes displayed neurologic signs, and examination of brain and lung tissue revealed lesions, with brain lesions ranging from moderate to severe meningoencephalitis. Analysis of tissue tropism using RT-PCR methods showed a comparatively lower Ct value in the brain, which was confirmed by in situ hybridization targeting Influenza A RNA. The viral RNA labelling was highly clustered and overlapped the brain lesions, observed in neurons, and grey matter. Whole viral genome sequences obtained from the affected foxes were subjected to phylogenetic and mutation analysis to determine influenza A clade, host specificity, and potential occurrence of viral reassortment. Infections in red foxes likely occurred due to preying on infected wild birds and are unlikely due to transmission between foxes or other mammals.

Partnering with Taxidermists for Improved Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance

Simple Summary

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, moose, elk, and reindeer. CWD is predominantly found in North America and has a higher prevalence in older male deer. To increase the submission of samples from older male deer, the Taxidermy Partnership Program (TPP) was implemented in New York State (NYS). This program partners with taxidermists to obtain valuable samples that would otherwise be lost and helps raise awareness about CWD. Since its start, the TPP has been successful in increasing the number of older male deer submitted for CWD testing.

Abstract

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease of cervids caused by a misfolded protein called a prion. This disease affects captive and free-ranging deer, moose, elk, and reindeer, and has been detected in 26 states. Cervids infected with CWD may be asymptomatic for months or years. In most areas, older male deer have higher prevalence rates. Prior to 2013, CWD surveillance in New York State focused on testing samples of convenience, by collecting deer heads from meat processors. However, this sampling was biased because many of the heads from older male deer were taken to taxidermists to be mounted. In 2013, the Taxidermy Partnership Program (TPP) was created to train taxidermists to collect CWD samples, and to increase the proportion of older male deer submitted for CWD testing. Added benefits include improved communication with taxidermists and increased awareness about CWD. Trained taxidermists were able to successfully collect and submit tissue samples with few errors. Participating taxidermists were paid for viable samples. Currently, there is a stable number of taxidermists that participate each year. This program has proven to be a valuable resource for obtaining high-value CWD samples for the wildlife agency, requiring a minimal amount of funding and time.

Depression as a moderator in the relation between mothers' and daughters' ethnic identity commitment

OBJECTIVES

This study examined whether maternal depressive symptoms moderated the association between mothers' and daughters' ethnic identity commitment.

METHOD

The sample included 165 (69% Latina, 26% African American/Black, and 5% Asian, Native American, or Middle Eastern) mother-adolescent daughter dyads. Mothers' self-reported on their ethnic identity commitment and depressive symptoms, and adolescent daughters self-reported on their ethnic identity commitment.

RESULTS

After controlling for adolescent age and language, results revealed no association between mothers' and daughters' ethnic identity commitment. However, a 2-way interaction was found. Mothers' and daughters' ethnic identity commitment were positively related when mothers reported low depressive symptoms, and negatively related when mothers reported high depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Family clinicians who work to strengthen positive self-concepts in girls of color should consider promoting their mothers' attachment to their ethnic group and treating existing maternal depressive symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

A NOVEL ORTHOREOVIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH EPIZOOTIC NECROTIZING ENTERITIS AND SPLENIC NECROSIS IN AMERICAN CROWS (CORVUS BRACHYRHYNCHOS)

Epizootic mortalities in American Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) during the winter months, referred to as winter mortality of crows, have been recorded in North America for almost two decades. The most common postmortem findings include necrotizing enteritis, colitis, and fibrinous splenic necrosis. These findings are proposed to be due to infection with a Reovirus sp. Our objectives were to characterize the pathology and seasonality of the epizootics in New York State (NYS), confirm the causative role of an Orthoreovirus sp., and determine its phylogeny. On the basis of our proposed case definition for reovirosis, we examined case data collected by the NYS Wildlife Health Program for 16 yr. A total of 558 cases of reovirosis were recorded between 2001 and 2017. Reovirosis had a clear seasonal presentation: cases occurred almost exclusively in winter months (71% in December-January). Detailed data from a 2-yr period (2016-17) demonstrated that reovirosis caused up to 70% of all recorded crow deaths during epizootic months. Crows with positive orthoreovirus isolation from the spleen or intestine were 32 times more likely to die with characteristic histologic lesions of enteritis or enterocolitis and splenic necrosis than crows with negative isolation results. An in situ hybridization probe specific to virus isolated from NYS crow reovirosis cases demonstrated a direct association between viral presence and characteristic histologic lesions. Sigma C (capsid protein) sequences of isolates from NYS crows showed high homology with Tvärminne avian virus, recently proposed as a novel Corvus orthoreovirus clade, and only distantly related to the avian orthoreovirus clade. Our study indicated that a novel orthoreovirus was the cause of winter mortality (or reovirosis) of American Crows and placed the NYS isolates in the newly proposed genus of Corvid orthoreovirus.

The role of a PSP-producing Alexandrium bloom in an unprecedented diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin) mortality event in Flanders Bay, New York, USA

Diamondback terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) are a threatened or endangered species in much of their range along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Over an approximately three-week period from late April to mid-May 2015, hundreds of adult diamondback terrapins were found dead on the shores of Flanders Bay, Long Island, New York, USA. Concurrent with the mortality event, elevated densities of the paralytic shellfish toxin (PST)-producing dinoflagellate, Alexandrium fundyense (>10⁴ cells L^-1) and high levels of PST in bivalves (maximal levels = 540 μg STX eq. 100 g^-1 shellfish tissue) were observed in the Flanders Bay region, resulting in shellfish bed closures in regional tributaries. Gross and histologic postmortem examinations of terrapins revealed no physical trauma to individuals or a common, underlying disease process to explain the deaths. PST compounds (0.2-12.5 μg STX eq. 100 g^-1) were present in various M. terrapin tissues collected over the duration of the mortality event. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the ribbed mussel (Geukensia demissa, a PST vector) was present in the gastrointestinal tracks of all terrapin samples tested. While the potential of PST to cause mortality in chelonians has not been well-characterized, in the absence of other significant findings from necropsies and pathological analyses, we provide evidence that PST in shellfish was likely high enough to cause or contribute to the mortality in these small (<2.0 kg) animals.

New and Old MCAT

This study examines the relationships between the New and Old versions of the Medical College Aptitute Test (MCAT) . The New MCA T scales were introduced in order to measure problem-solving skills in addition to the ability to recall infor mation. The primary sample consisted of 401 medical school applicants who had responded to the Old MCAT. Scores on both the Old and New MCA T were available for 66 of the 401 applicants. Correlations between the Old MCA T scales and the New MCA T scales were corrected for restriction of range in order to estimate the correlations pertaining to the total group of applicants. Despite instances of moderate commonality between the Old and New MCA T scales, substantial variability on all of the New MCAT scales could not be explained by performance on the Old MCA T scales. The results provide preliminary support for the claim that the New MCA T is assessing skills not measured by the Old MCAT.

Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: A New Frontier for Stem Cells in Dentistry

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are the newest member of a growing list of stem cell populations that hold great potential for use in cell-based treatment approaches in the dental field. This review summarizes the dental tissues that have successfully been utilized to generate iPSC lines, as well as the potential uses of iPSCs for tissue regeneration in different dental applications. While iPSCs display great promise in a number of dental applications, there are safety concerns with these cells that need to be addressed before they can be used in clinical settings. This review outlines some of the apprehensions to the use of iPSCs clinically, and it details approaches that are being employed to ensure the safety and efficacy of these cells. One of the major approaches being investigated is the differentiation of iPSCs prior to use in patients. iPSCs have successfully been differentiated into a wide range of cells and tissue types. This review focuses on 2 differentiation approaches-the differentiation of iPSCs into mesenchymal stem cells and the differentiation of iPSCs into osteoprogenitor cells. Both these resulting populations of cells are particularly relevant to the dental field.

Periodontal ligament-derived cells for periodontal regeneration in animal models: a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Implantation of periodontal ligament stem cells is emerging as a potential periodontal regenerative procedure. This systematic review considers the evidence from animal models investigating the use of periodontal ligament stem cells for successful periodontal regeneration.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE and Google Scholar were searched to December 2013 for quantitative studies examining the outcome of implanting periodontal ligament stem cells into experimental periodontal defects in animals. Inclusion criteria were: implantation of periodontal ligament stem cells into surgically created periodontal defects for periodontal regeneration; animal models only; source of cells either human or animal; and published in English. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

RESULTS

From the literature search, 43 studies met the inclusion criteria. A wide variety of surgical defects were created in four species of animal (dog, rat, pig and sheep). Owing to wide variability in defect type, cell source and cell scaffold, no meta-analysis was possible. Outcome measures included new bone, new cementum and new connective tissue formation. In 70.5% of the results, statistically significant improvements of these measures was recorded.

CONCLUSION

These results are notable in that they indicate that irrespective of the defect type and animal model used, periodontal ligament stem cell implantation can be expected to result in a beneficial outcome for periodontal regeneration. It is recommended that there is sufficient evidence from preclinical animal studies to warrant moving to human studies to examine the efficacy, safety, feasibility (autologous vs. allogeneic transplantation) and delivery of periodontal ligament stem cells for periodontal regeneration.

Mesenchymal stem cells from iPS cells facilitate periodontal regeneration

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been considered as a potential therapy for the treatment of periodontal defects arising from periodontitis. However, issues surrounding their accessibility and proliferation in culture significantly limit their ability to be used as a mainstream treatment approach. It is therefore important that alternative, easily accessible, and safe populations of stem cells be identified. Controlled induction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) into MSC-like cells is emerging as an attractive source for obtaining large populations of stem cells for regenerative medicine. We have successfully induced iPSC to differentiate into MSC-like cells. The MSC-like cells generated satisfied the International Society of Cellular Therapy's minimal criteria for defining multipotent MSC, since they had plastic adherent properties, expressed key MSC-associated markers, and had the capacity to undergo tri-lineage differentiation. Importantly, the resulting iPSC-MSC-like cells also had the capacity, when implanted into periodontal defects, to significantly increase the amount of regeneration and newly formed mineralized tissue present. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that MSC derived from iPSC have the capacity to aid periodontal regeneration and are a promising source of readily accessible stem cells for use in the clinical treatment of periodontitis.

A train-the-trainer education and promotion program: chronic fatigue syndrome--a diagnostic and management challenge

BACKGROUND

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a complicated illness for providers and patients. Fewer than 20% of persons with CFS have been diagnosed and treated. For providers, compounding the issue are the challenges in making a diagnosis due to the lack of a biomedical marker.

METHODS

The objective of the CFS diagnosis and management curriculum was to instruct core trainers as to the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of CFS. Over a two year period, 79 primary care physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners from diverse regions in the U.S. participated as core trainers in a two day Train-the-Trainer (TTT) workshop. As core trainers, the workshop participants were expected to show increases in knowledge, self-efficacy, and management skills with the primary goal of conducting secondary presentations.

RESULTS

The optimal goal for each core trainer to present secondary training to 50 persons in the health care field was not reached. However, the combined core trainer group successfully reached 2064 primary care providers. Eighty-two percent of core trainers responded "Very good" or "Excellent" in a post-tessurvey of self-efficacy expectation and CFS diagnosis. Data from the Chicago workshops showed significant improvement on the Primary Care Opinion Survey (p < 0.01) and on the Relevance and Responsibility Factors of the CAT survey (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). Dallas workshop data show a significant change from pre- to post-test scores on the CFS Knowledge test (p = 0.001). Qualitative and process evaluation data revealed that target audience and administrative barriers impacted secondary training feasibility.

CONCLUSION

Data show the workshop was successful in meeting the objectives of increasing CFS knowledge and raising perceived self-efficacy towards making a diagnosis. The CFS TTT program informed an educational provider project by shifting the format for physicians to grand rounds and continuing medical education design while retaining TTT aspects for nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. Evaluations also indicate that secondary trainings may be more readily employed and accepted if administrative barriers are addressed early in the planning phases.

A randomized controlled trial of phytoestrogen supplementation, growth and bone turnover in adolescent males

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of phytoestrogens on bone turnover and growth in adolescent boys.

DESIGN

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING

Single school in northwest Tasmania.

PARTICIPANTS

Adolescent boys (treatment n=69, placebo n=59, mean age 16.8 y).

INTERVENTIONS

Six weeks of isoflavone supplementation (Novasoy, 50 mg daily of isoflavone equivalents). Bone turnover markers (bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and pyridinoline creatinine ratio (PYR)) were measured at baseline and follow-up.

RESULTS

Despite marked increases in urinary genistein and daidzein in the treatment arm (both P<0.001), there were no significant differences in BAP, PYR or short-term height or weight change. This applied to both intention-to-treat and per protocol analysis. Neither was there a significant correlation between urinary genistein and daidzein levels and BAP or PYR.

CONCLUSIONS

Phytoestrogen supplementation to the level of usual Japanese dietary intake has no measurable effect on bone turnover in adolescent boys. Longer-term studies of bone density may be desirable but it is unlikely that there will be a large effect in either girls or boys given the lower endogenous oestrogen levels in boys.

Hepatitis B Catch-Up Project: analysis of 1999 data from the Chicago Public Schools

PURPOSE

Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) children face an increased risk for acquiring hepatitis B virus infection. Since 1990, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended universal hepatitis B immunization for AAPI children. In 1997, Illinois passed a law requiring hepatitis B vaccination for school entry, but its implementation was restricted to pre-kindergarten and fifth-grade students. That same year, the Illinois Health Education Consortium (IHEC) began the Hepatitis B Immunization Catch-Up Project in collaboration with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and community organizations. Schools targeted for IHEC intervention were those enrolling more than 100 (or over 20%) AAPI students. This study describes the effects of the Illinois law and the Hepatitis B Immunization Catch-Up Project on hepatitis B immunization of AAPI students in the CPS in 1999.

METHODOLOGY

The effects of the IHEC Catch-Up Project intervention and the Illinois law upon hepatitis B immunization was tested using a two-way analysis of variance for the 1999-2000 cohort of AAPI students enrolled in the CPS as of November 1999.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Results indicated students required to receive hepatitis B immunization shots received a significantly (p < .001) higher mean number of shots than was the case for students who were not required to receive the shots. Similarly, IHEC-intervention students received a significantly (p < .001 ) higher mean number of shots than was the case for students who were not part of the IHEC intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The IHEC intervention produced a significant, positive effect on the hepatitis B immunization rate above and beyond the state law. The practical significance of the IHEC intervention is described and discussed.

Sex and site differences in cartilage development: a possible explanation for variations in knee osteoarthritis in later life

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that sex-related and joint compartment-related differences in the risk of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee might be associated with variations in cartilage development, we investigated knee cartilage volume in healthy children.

METHODS

We studied 92 children who were randomly selected from among students in grades 3-12 of a single school in Hobart, Tasmania (49 boys, 43 girls; age range 9-18 years). Articular cartilage thickness and volume were determined at the patella, medial tibial compartment, and lateral tibial compartment by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Sagittal T1-weighted fat-suppressed MRI images were obtained and processed on an independent computer work station.

RESULTS

Males had significantly more knee cartilage than females. Sex accounted for 6-36% of the variation in cartilage thickness and volume, which was statistically significant at all sites. Even after adjustment for age, body mass index, bone area, and physical activity, males had 16-31% higher cartilage volume; this was most marked at the medial tibial site. In addition, lateral tibial thickness was greater than medial tibial thickness (5.9 versus 3.6 mm; P < 0.0001) and lateral tibial volume was greater than medial tibial volume (2,823 versus 2,299 microl; P < 0.0001). Furthermore, physical activity was a significant explanatory factor for cartilage volume at all sites (R2 7-14% depending on site; all P < 0.05). The most consistent activity association was with vigorous activity in the previous 2 weeks (difference between any vigorous activity versus none 22-25% greater; all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sex- and joint compartment-related differences in cartilage development may be one explanation for variations in the pattern of knee OA seen in later life. Furthermore, the physical activity associations suggest that cartilage development is amenable to modification.

The effects of area health education centers on primary care physician-to-population ratios from 1975 to 1985

The purpose of this study was to explore how the primary care (PC) physician-to-population ratio changed from 1975 to 1985 in counties that were served by an Area Health Education Center (AHEC) in contrast to those counties that were not. The investigation attempted to determine whether any observed changes in this ratio were dependent upon either degree of urbanization or contiguity to a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area (SMSA). The data source for this study was the Area Resource File. Results indicated that: (a) irrespective of AHEC status, increased degree of urbanization across counties was associated with relatively more PC physicians in both 1975 and 1985; (b) PC physician-to-population ratios increased from 1975 to 1985 for all American Medical Association (AMA) county code categories, regardless of AHEC versus non-AHEC designation; (c) AHEC counties demonstrated greater (or equivalent) absolute improvement for all AMA county code categories except for several categories which represented more urbanized counties; (d) for the least urbanized counties in the AMA code, the percentage improvement in PC physician-to-population ratios for AHEC counties ranged from 3 to 5 percent higher than corresponding percentage improvement in ratios for non-AHEC counties; and (e) AHEC counties showed greater absolute and percentage improvement in PC physician-to-population ratios than did non-AHEC counties for counties not contiguous to SMSAs.

Effect of retaking the medical college admission test on applicants' scores

This study was designed to determine whether or not retaking the Medical College Admission Test, a practice commonly engaged in by medical school applicants, results in significant improvement in test scores. A sample of 532 applicants, of which 93 applicants retook the test on two consecutive administrations, was studied. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that the retake group initially was significantly lower than the non-retake group on all six scales. Although applicants who had retaken the test significantly improved their scores, the magnitude of this improvement was not impressive. Furthermore, scores of the retake group on their second test were still significantly lower than those of the non-retake group on two scales. Although retaking this test may lead to greater similarity between the two groups, retakers remain distinguishable from those who did not retake the test.