Three dimensional analysis and comparison of human anterior teeth and experimentally created bitemark depressions

A system was proposed to scan dental models to record three-dimensional features seen in the anterior teeth to create a database of dental profiles. Dental casts were randomly selected to create indentations in cowhide leather. Reid Bite Reader was used to measure the bite forces generated by Reynolds Controlled Bite Force Generator to make the teeth impressions. Using the Immersion MicroScribe® 3D, information from the 53 bitemark depressions and 62 sets of dental casts were transferred to an Excel Spreadsheet. Software was developed to perform the 3D comparison using metric and pattern analysis. Statistical analysis showed 100% success when comparing both arches together of the dental casts with the bitemarks or different dental casts.

Morphology of the larvae, male genitalia and DNA sequences of Anopheles (Kerteszia) pholidotus (Diptera: Culicidae) from Colombia

Since 1984, Anopheles (Kerteszia) lepidotus has been considered a mosquito species that is involved in the transmission of malaria in Colombia, after having been incriminated as such with epidemiological evidence from a malaria outbreak in Cunday-Villarrica, Tolima. Subsequent morphological analyses of females captured in the same place and at the time of the outbreak showed that the species responsible for the transmission was not An. lepidotus, but rather Anopheles pholidotus. However, the associated morphological stages and DNA sequences of An. pholidotus from the foci of Cunday-Villarrica had not been analysed. Using samples that were caught recently from the outbreak region, the purpose of this study was to provide updated and additional information by analysing the morphology of female mosquitoes, the genitalia of male mosquitoes and fourth instar larvae of An. pholidotus, which was confirmed with DNA sequences of cytochrome oxidase I and rDNA internal transcribed spacer. A total of 1,596 adult females were collected in addition to 37 larval collections in bromeliads. Furthermore, 141 adult females, which were captured from the same area in the years 1981-1982, were analysed morphologically. Ninety-five DNA sequences were analysed for this study. Morphological and molecular analyses showed that the species present in this region corresponds to An. pholidotus. Given the absence of An. lepidotus, even in recent years, we consider that the species of mosquitoes that was previously incriminated as the malaria vector during the outbreak was indeed An. pholidotus, thus ending the controversy.

Climate Change and the Risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Birds.

In this paper, we examine the association between climate change and outbreak probability of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A virus (HPAI H5N1) in birds. Climate change is a potential factor for the recent spread of H5N1 outbreaks because it can directly alter the conditions involved in persistence of the virus and disease transmission. Also it can contribute indirectly by changing wild bird migration patterns. Econometric analyses using a dynamic Probit model over monthly data from January 2004 to December 2008 found that a 1% rise in winter total precipitation increases the risk of HPAI H5N1 outbreaks by 0.26%. Spring mean temperature was also found to have positive and significant impacts. Our findings are robust across different model specifications and under out-of-sample tests. Using historical data we find the realized climate change of the last 20 years partly explains the recent expansion in outbreaks. Under future climate change projections, we find that countries having higher projected spring temperature or more winter precipitation or both, such as Japan and Romania, will have large increases in outbreak probabilities. This suggests that climate change may play an even greater role in the future, although magnitudes will vary across countries and climate projections. From a policy perspective, future climate conditions may give rise to a need for different disease control and prevention strategies.

Translocación bacteriana e infecciones en un modelo experimental de cirrosis en la rata / Bacterial translocation and infections in an experimental model

In summary the carbon tetrachloride/phenobarbital of cirrhosis in rats mimics human cirrhosis very closely, with development of ascites and SBP. This model shows us that bacterial overgrowth occurs as cirrhosis progresses and that bacterial translocation from the gut to extra-intestinal sites is part of the early pathogenesis of SBP. SID with norfloxacin dramatically reduced translocation and SBP at the expense of grampositive overgrowth and infection with gram-positives and colonization with strange gram negatives. SID with TMP-SMZ actually delayed development of ascites and prolonged survival.

Infecciones diferentes a la peritonitis bacteriana espontánea en pacientes con cirrosis / Infections other than spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in patients with cirrhossis

Patients with cirrhosis are regularly infected with a plethora of bacteria, fungi and mycobacteria. A high index of suspicion of infection and a low threshold for culturing, ascitic fluid, blood, urine, pleural fluid, spinal fluid, joint fluid, etc will lead to a rapid diagnosis of infection and perhaps prolong survival of these very fragile patients.

Lost opportunities to Complete CD4+ Lymphocyte Testing among Patients who Tested Positive for HIV in South Africa

Objective:To estimate rates of completion of CD4+ lymphocyte testing (CD4 testing) within 12 weeks of testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at a large HIV/AIDS clinic in South Africa, and to identify clinical and demographic predictors for completion.Methods:In our study, CD4 testing was considered complete once a patient had retrieved the test results. To determine the rate of CD4 testing completion, we reviewed the records of all clinic patients who tested positive for HIV between January 2008 and February 2009. We identified predictors for completion through multivariate logistic regression.Findings:Of the 416 patients who tested positive for HIV, 84.6% initiated CD4 testing within the study timeframe. Of these patients, 54.3% were immediately eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART) because of a CD4 cell count ≤ 200/µl, but only 51.3% of the patients in this category completed CD4 testing within 12 weeks of HIV testing. Among those not immediately eligible for ART (CD4 cells > 200/µl), only 14.9% completed CD4 testing within 12 weeks. Overall, of HIV+ patients who initiated CD4 testing, 65% did not complete it within 12 weeks of diagnosis. The higher the baseline CD4 cell count, the lower the odds of completing CD4 testing within 12 weeks.Conclusion:Patient losses between HIV testing, baseline CD4 cell count and the start of care and ART are high. As a result, many patients receive ART too late. Health information systems that link testing programmes with care and treatment programmes are needed

The ecological dimensions of vector-borne disease research and control / Dimensões ecológicas do controle e gerenciamento de doenças transmitidas por vetores

Alarming trends in the resurgence of vector-borne diseases are anticipated to continue unless more effective action is taken to address the variety of underlying causes. Social factors, anthropogenic environmental modifications and/or ecological changes appear to be the primary drivers. The ecological dimension of vector-borne disease research and management is a pervasive element because this issue is essentially an ecological problem with biophysical, social, and economic dimensions. However there is often a lack of clarity about the ecological dimension, the field of ecology (e.g. role, limitations), and related concepts pertinent to ecosystem approaches to health. An ecological perspective can provide foresight into the appropriateness of interventions, provide answers to unexpected vector control responses, and contribute to effective management solutions in an ever-changing environment. The aim of this paper is to explore the ecological dimension of vector-borne diseases and to provide further clarity about the role of "ecological thinking" in the development and implementation of vector control activities (i.e. ecosystem approaches to vector-borne diseases).

A tendência alarmante em direção ao ressurgimento de doenças transmitidas por vetores continuará, a menos que ações eficazes sejam tomadas para controlar suas causas primárias. Fatores sociais, mudanças ambientais causadas pelo homem e/ou mudanças ecológicas são, aparentemente, a base do problema. A dimensão ecológica da pesquisa e do gerenciamento dessas doenças é um elemento difuso e constante, já que consiste, essencialmente, em um problema de caráter ecológico com dimensões biofísica, social e econômica. No entanto, há pouca discussão sobre a dimensão ecológica, sobre o campo da ecologia (p.ex.: seu papel e suas limitações) e sobre os conceitos relacionados à abordagem ecossistêmica na saúde. Uma perspectiva ecológica poderá permitir uma análise antecipada da eficácia de intervenções, oferecer respostas para resultados inesperados provenientes de ações para controle de vetores e contribuir para o planejamento de medidas eficazes de gerenciamento em um ambiente em constante mudança. O objetivo deste trabalho é explorar a dimensão ecológica de doenças transmitidas por vetores e esclarecer o papel do "pensamento ecológico" no desenvolvimento e implantação de ações de controle vetorial, ou seja, abordagem ecossistêmica para o controle de doenças transmitidas por vetores.

Developing aptamers into tumor diagnostics and therapeutics / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

Aptamers are small single-stranded nucleic acid molecules that bind a target protein with high affinity and specificity. Due to their stability, low toxicity and immunogenicity, as well as improved safety, aptamers are attractive alternatives to antibody and are therefore suitable for in vivo applications. Aptamers are typically isolated, through a process termed SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment), from combinatorial libraries with desired proteins. In the present review, the recent non-conventional aptamer selection process will be discussed together with an overview on the aptamer application in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand V. Genera Orthopodomyia, Kimia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adults of species representing six genera of mosquitoes in Thailand are presented, along with information about the geographic distribution of the species and the habitats occupied by their immature stages. Fifty-nine species belonging to genera Orthopodomyia, Kimia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites are recognized. Topomyia argyropalpis, To. bifurcata, To. gracilis, To. spathulirostris, To. tenuis, To. tipuliformis, and To. vijayae are included as new country records, and ten undescribed species, four in Topomyia, four in Toxorhynchites, and two in Tripteroides, are recognized.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. IV. Anopheles.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the larvae and adult female Anopheles mosquitoes of Thailand are presented along with distribution maps, tabulated bionomics information, and a checklist. A total of 73 species are treated, including 71 previously and newly described species (An. cracens = dirus B, An. scanloni = dirus C, An. baimaii = dirus D, An. latens = leucosphyrus A, and An. epiroticus = sundaicus A). Also, two undescribed species are included, i.e., An. minimus C and a new species near An. gigas. Thirty-four chromosomal forms of 14 species are discussed, with suggestions provided for resolving their taxonomic status.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand III. Genera Aedeomyia, Ficalbia, Mimomyia, Hodgesia, Coquillettidia, Mansonia, and Uranotaenia.

Illustrated keys for the identification of fourth-instar larvae and adult females of seven genera of mosquitoes are presented, along with the geographic distribution of each species and the known immature habitats. Sixty-seven mosquito species belonging to genera Aedeomyia, Ficalbia, Mimomyia, Hodgesia, Coquillettidia, Mansonia, and Uranotaenia are recognized in Thailand. Hodgesia bailyi and Uranotaenia (Pfc.) abstrusa are included as new country records, and four new undescribed species in the subgenus Uranotaenia are reported.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand. II. Genera Culex and Lutzia.

Illustrated keys for the identification of the fourth-instar larvae and adult females of the mosquito genera Culex and Lutzia is presented, along with information on the geographic distribution of each species, and bionomics. Eighty-two species belonging to subgenera Culex, Culiciomyia, Eumelanomyia, Lophoceraomyia, and Oculeomyia of genus Culex, and three species belonging to subgenus Metalutzia of genus Lutzia are recognized in Thailand. Subgenus Oculeomyia includes a probable new species near Cx. infula and Lt. vorax is recognized as a new country record.

Illustrated keys to the mosquitoes of Thailand I. Background; geographic distribution; lists of genera, subgenera, and species; and a key to the genera.

This is the first of a series of six sections that will cover 436 species of mosquitoes currently known to occur in Thailand. In this section we provide information on the background, geographic distribution, bionomics, lists of genera, subgenera, and specie of mosquitoes that occur in Thailand, and a key to the genera. The sections, listed below will be published as separate supplements in following issues of this journal: II. Key to the Culex; III. Key to the Aedeomyia, Ficalbia, Mimomyia, Hodgesia, Coquillettidia, Mansonia, and Uranotaenia. The additional 3 supplements consisting of the Key to the Tribe Aedini; Key to the Anopheles; and the Keys to the Armigeres, Heizmannia, Orthopodomyia, Malaya, Topomyia, Tripteroides, and Toxorhynchites will be published as they are completed. At the conclusion of this project, one large supplement to the Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health will be produced that includes all of these keys in a single document.

Disease ecology and the global emergence of zoonotic pathogens

The incidence and frequency of epidemic transmission of zoonotic diseases, both known and newly recognized, has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. It is thought that this dramatic disease emergence is primarily the result of the social, demographic, and environmental transformation that has occurred globally since World War II. However, the causal linkages have not been elucidated. Investigating emerging zoonotic pathogens as an ecological phenomenon can provide significant insights as to why some of these pathogens have jumped species and caused major epidemics in humans. A review of concepts and theory from biological ecology and of causal factors in disease emergence previously described suggests a general model of global zoonotic disease emergence. The model links demographic and societal factors to land use and land cover change whose associated ecological factors help explain disease emergence. The scale and magnitude of these changes are more significant than those associated with climate change, the effects of which are largely not yet understood. Unfortunately, the complex character and non-linear behavior of the human-natural systems in which host-pathogen systems are embedded makes specific incidences of disease emergence or epidemics inherently difficult to predict. Employing a complex systems analytical approach, however, may show how a few key ecological variables and system properties, including the adaptive capacity of institutions, explains the emergence of infectious diseases and how an integrated, multi-level approach to zoonotic disease control can reduce risk.

Disease Ecology and the Global Emergence of Zoonotic Pathogens

The incidence and frequency of epidemic transmission of zoonotic diseases, both known and newly recognized, has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. It is thought that this dramatic disease emergence is primarily the result of the social, demographic, and environmental transformation that has occurred globally since World War II. However, the causal linkages have not been elucidated. Investigating emerging zoonotic pathogens as an ecological phenomenon can provide significant insights as to why some of these pathogens have jumped species and caused major epidemics in humans. A review of concepts and theory from biological ecology and of causal factors in disease emergence previously described suggests a general model of global zoonotic disease emergence. The model links demographic and societal factors to land use and land cover change whose associated ecological factors help explain disease emergence. The scale and magnitude of these changes are more significant than those associated with climate change, the effects of which are largely not yet understood. Unfortunately, the complex character and non-linear behavior of the human-natural systems in which host-pathogen systems are embedded makes specific incidences of disease emergence or epidemics inherently difficult to predict. Employing a complex systems analytical approach, however, may show how a few key ecological variables and system properties, including the adaptive capacity of institutions, explains the emergence of infectious diseases and how an integrated, multi-level approach to zoonotic disease control can reduce risk.

Analysis of cervico-vaginal (Papanicolaou) smears, in girls 18 years and under

This study was conducted retrospectively at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and a private laboratory in Barbados to determine the types of epithelial abnormalities in cervico-vaginal Papanicolaou (Pap)-stained smears, and their clinical implications in Barbadian girls, 18 years and under, during the five-year period January 1995 to December 1999. Two hundred and sixty-five Pap smears from 236 patients were examined and the gynaecological history, initial and repeat Pap smear diagnoses, and histology reports of these patients were analyzed. Of the 236 first-visit smears, 94 (39.8) were abnormal with 36 (15.3) displaying cytologic features of squamous intra-epithelial lesions (SIL), (33 low grade and 3 high grade). A diagnosis of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) was reported in the remaining 58 (24.5) abnormal smears, of which 35 (60.3) were suspected to be related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Twenty-two (23.4) of these 94 patients, who had abnormal smears of either ASCUS or low grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (LSIL) were re-evaluated within six to twelve months of the initial abnormal Pap smear diagnosis. Eight of these 22 patients (36.4) had histological diagnosis of LSIL inclusive of cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN 1) and condylomata. High-risk HPV DNA types were detected in two of these eight patients (25). The study confirms that sexually active teenage girls are at risk of developing SIL and high-risk HPV infection. Screening of sexually active teenaged girls by Pap smears followed by other appropriate investigative procedures is recommended.