Risk factors associated with clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis and seroconversion without clinical disease in Colorado horses during the 2014 outbreak.

Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is caused by a contagious rhabdovirus that affects horses, cattle, and swine. Clinical signs of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection in pigs and cattle are indistinguishable from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a foreign animal disease and reportable disease in the United States (Rodriguez et al., 2000). A VS epidemic occurred in the Rocky Mountain region in 2014-15. A study was conducted in Colorado to evaluate horse- and management-level factors associated with VS. For a horse to be considered a clinical VS horse, there were two requirements. First, clinical VS horses had to have clinical signs consistent with VS, including one or more of the following: vesicles, ulcers, erosions or crusting on the muzzle, nares, lips, oral or nasal mucosa, ears, ventrum, udder or penile sheath, or coronary band lesions. Second, clinical VS horses had to have laboratory confirmation of VSV exposure via virus isolation from lesions or a positive complement fixation test performed on sera. All non-clinical horses residing on VSV-affected premises enrolled in the study were evaluated for exposure (i.e., seroconversion) to VSV. Overall, management and housing data were collected from 334 horses on 48 premises in Colorado. Approximately one-third (31.4%) of enrolled horses were clinical cases and two-thirds (68.6%) were controls. Three premises-matched logistic regression models were constructed in SAS using backward elimination (P-value < 0.05) after univariate screening of a priori-selected variables (P-value < 0.20). Model outcomes included differences in characteristics and management of 1) clinical and nonclinical horses, 2) exposed and unexposed horses, and 3) exposed nonclinical and unexposed nonclinical horses. Overall, factors most strongly associated with risk of being a VS clinical horse were access to pasture (P-value = 0.002), and pregnancy status (P-value = 0.001). Factors most strongly associated with VSV exposure among horses were access to pasture (P-value = 0.003) and lack of any insect control (P-value = 0.001). The only factor associated with VSV-exposed nonclinical horses compared with unexposed VSV horses was contact with clinical horses (P-value = 0.013). There were no associations identified regarding clinical horses compared with exposed nonclinical horses. With regard to severity of lesions (severe vs. moderate or mild), no variables met the criteria for inclusion in the multivariable model. Results of this study provide evidence that pasture access and fly control are important factors associated with VSV exposure.

[Defence mechanisms and coping strategies in men and women: a comparative and structural study based on the artistic production of people suffering from a break-up of their life project]. / Mécanismes de défense et stratégies d'ajustement au masculin et au féminin: etude structurale comparée basée sur la production artistique de personnes en rupture de projet de vie.

A comparative study of men and women suffering from a break-up of their life project allowed us examining the typically female and male manners to cope with trauma, anxiety, guilt, depression and internal destructivity. In a first stage, an exploratory study was focussed on 206 subjects, belonging to several clinical subgroups: people living in great precarity and long-term unemployed people, asylum seekers and refugees, drug addicts, prisoners and people coming out of prison. Secondly, arts therapeutic sessions were proposed with the aim of helping the participants finding an outlet to their situation. The artistic production (drawings and stories induced by music) was analysed with the help of original rating scales, constructed in a phenomenological and structural perspective. We will present a synthesis of our qualitative observations, as well as some results of typological and structural studies, computed with the help of non parametric statistical procedures on the data of N = 93 participants. The results allow us pointing to gender differences and defining typically male and female coping styles. Differential indications for psychotherapy can be extracted from these analyses.

[Shape analysis of retroperitoneal tumors in childhood in magnetic resonance imaging]. / Formanalyse in der Magnetresonanztomografie - Landmarken und Objektdifferenzierung bei retroperitonealen Tumoren im Kindesalter.

2D-shape analysis of biological objects is described first in 2007 with MRI-data (magnetic resonance imaging) of renal tumours of infancy. For shape analysis the evaluation of landmarks is necessary (n >2). In this study 24 landmarks are selected. Every object is described by these landmarks. The shape is the standardised and centred object. The procedure is applied on transversal as well as on frontal images. The results for frontal and transversal images are compared. Tumours of different origin, topography and size can be analysed. The differentiation of relevant landmarks is important for statistical and medical reason. In this study, evaluation of landmarks and their possibility for tumour differentiation is demonstrated.

Analysing the relationship between traumatic biographical events and the current structural functioning of personality.

We present the general structure of a multi-annual research project. Our general expectancy concerns the possibilities of arts psychotherapy as a means of launching the blocked process of subjectivation with people suffering from exclusion, precarity and marginalization. The research project follows a complex research design with a sequential strategy, the first part consisting in an integrated psychosocial and clinical study using a mixed methodology. We constructed special rating scales for the analysis of the data of a semi-structured biographical interview and also for the holistic interpretation of the Rotter Blank Sentences Test, separating the associations to sentences beginning with the third and first person. The correlations between two sets of variables (biographical interview and Rotter test) were computed for the total experimental group (N=206), and for clinical subgroups. We shall analyse the matrices of correlations (Spearman's Rho) with the help of optimal scaling procedures (OVERALS). The links between traumatic biographical events and responses to the 3rd, respectively 1st person items of the Rotter test are interpreted in terms of unconscious versus conscious psychological processes and allow us analysing the expression of defence mechanisms and coping strategies. The results of the study are discussed in the light of the recent traumatogenic hypothesis of borderline functioning.

[Various methods of dynamic functional analysis in human sciences and economics]. / Les différents modéles d'analyse factorielle dynamique en sciences humaines et économie.

Including the temporal and developmental dimension into the measurement of human conduct is a fundamental concern for those who do research in natural surroundings. Observing an individual day after day may possibly give a more complete vision of how behavior works than measuring a group of individuals at a single time and analyzing the differences found among them. Unfortunately most of the tools allowing analyzing individual time series call for large numbers of repeated observations. Thus, practicable longitudinal research designs often do not involve either enough repeated measurements for traditional time series analyses nor either replicate enough individuals for traditional, large-sample analyses. Dynamic factor analysis is a rationale and procedure for both pooling relatively short time series information across limited numbers of participants and analyzing the pooled information for its dynamic, process-relevant elements. It is a merging of two important analytical tools - multivariate time series and the common factor model, from which it distinguishes itself mainly by the fact that in dynamic factor analysis, the values of the common factors can influence the values of the observed variables both concurrently and in delayed fashion. Dynamic factor analysis is actually a method which allows detecting structures in the time series as well as the relations between the series and the explanatory variables. We illustrate the different models used in psychology and social sciences, as well as in econometry and economics.

Effects of visual impairment on stroke parameters in Paralympic swimmers.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between degree of vision and stroking parameters in male and female Paralympic swimmers with visual impairment during the 50- and 100-m freestyle events. METHODS: A video analysis was conducted at the 1996 Paralympic Games in which swimmers competed in three groups based on degree of impairment (S11, S12, and S13; S11 least amount of vision). A video camera placed 25 m from the start, perpendicular to the swimming direction, recorded the performance of each swimmer during the clean swim phase. Variables measured included total race time, clean swimming speed (CSS), stroke rate (SR), stroke length (SL), and stroke index (SI = CSS x SL). Comparisons of performance were made between the classes and between men and women. RESULTS: The men showed no significant differences between S12 and S13 on any of the variables or between all three classes on SL and SI. The S11 swimmers demonstrated a significantly slower total race time and CSS in both events. In the women, an increase in class was associated with a decrease in total race time, faster CSS, and increase in SI. In comparing men and women, men demonstrated a significantly faster CSS and total race time during both events, whereas no differences were observed in SR. CONCLUSION: Stroke parameters during the clean swim phase were affected by visual impairment in both men and women. The male classes, however, were not clearly distinct from each other based on the swimming variables measured, as no significant differences were found between S12 and S13 in either event. With the exception of stroke rate and length, performance of the women tended to increase with an increase in class.

Genomic structure and expression of the murine Hmgi(y) gene.

Mammalian HMGI proteins belong to the high mobility group (HMG) of small non-histone nuclear proteins, and function as architectural factors to mediate structural changes in DNA. The HMGI family consists of three members: HMGI, HMGY and HMGI-C. As pseudogenes have complicated the genomic analysis of murine Hmgi(y), a mouse lambda FIX II genomic library was screened with an intron-specific probe to identify and characterize the authentic Hmgi(y) gene. The murine Hmgi(y) gene is 7.2kb long and contains four protein coding exons and two additional exons encoding part of the 5' untranslated region. Sequencing confirms that an alternative splicing site within exon 3 results in the two protein isoforms: Hmgi and Hmgy. Primer extension experiments revealed that at least three transcription start sites exist in the 5' end of the gene. It has been well established that the expression of both Hmgi-c and Hmgi(y) is readily detectable throughout embryogenesis. Unlike Hmgi-c, whose expression is restricted to embryogenesis, a Northern hybridization analysis showed low-level expression of Hmgi(y) in adult mouse tissues. Similarly, when tissues from newborn animals were examined, Hmgi(y) expression was readily detected at a level of intensity intermediate between that found in embryos and adults. Understanding the gene structure and expression pattern will provide important insights into the in-vivo function of Hmgi(y).

Thirst and salt appetite elicited by hypovolemia in rats with chronic lesions of the nucleus of the solitary tract.

Cardiac vagal afferents terminating in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) are believed to participate in stimulating neurohypophysial secretion of vasopressin as well as increased ingestion of water and NaCl solution in response to decreased blood volume. However, we recently reported that chronic lesions of NTS, which eliminate neural input from cardiac and arterial baroreceptors, do not impair hypovolemia-induced vasopressin secretion in rats. In the present investigation we sought to determine whether those sensory signals were necessary for hypovolemia-induced thirst and salt appetite. Rats with chronic lesions of the NTS increased consumption of water and NaCl solution normally when plasma volume was reduced isosmotically by subcutaneous injection of polyethylene glycol solution. These results were obtained whether rats were allowed to drink water or 0.15 M NaCl in one-bottle tests or water and 0.5 M NaCl in two-bottle tests. The induction of thirst and salt appetite by hypovolemia despite the apparent loss of neural input to the brain from cardiac volume-sensitive receptors indicates that other signals generated by plasma volume deficits can stimulate these behavioral responses in rats.

Decreases in arterial pressure activate oxytocin neurons in conscious rats.

Hemorrhage and nonhypotensive hypovolemia are known to increase plasma levels of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) in rats. The present experiments demonstrated that secretion of OT and VP also are stimulated by acute drug-induced hypotension. Injection of hydralazine abruptly decreased arterial blood pressure in conscious rats and induced Fos expression, a marker of neuronal activation, within OT and VP neurons in the hypothalamus. Hydralazine also elicited substantial increases in plasma levels of both OT and VP. Injection of chlorisondamine similarly elicited acute hypotension and increased plasma levels of OT and VP. Furthermore, when the hypotensive effect of chlorisondamine was blunted by coinfusion of phenylephrine, the induced increases in OT and VP were markedly attenuated. Across all treatments, arterial blood pressure was inversely related to plasma levels of OT and VP. Plasma osmolality was not increased by hydralazine, nor was there evidence of gastric malaise, two known stimuli for OT secretion in rats. These results suggest that arterial hypotension increases neurohypophysial release of OT and VP in conscious rats.

Effect of chemotherapy on hepatic collagen and glycosaminoglycan metabolism in Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.

The dynamics of biosynthesis and accumulation of collagenous proteins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in liver granulomas induced by eggs of Schistosoma mansoni were studied in mice following eradication of adult worms by chemotherapy. The relatively synchronous granulomas around parasite eggs were isolated from the livers at ensuing 2-week intervals; the number of recoverable granulomas per liver gradually decreased and was 7% of initial values at 20 weeks. Hepatic or granuloma-associated extracellular matrix components increased for 4 weeks after treatment despite cessation of ova deposition. At 12 weeks after chemotherapy the rate of GAG biosynthesis per total liver granuloma fraction, measured by 3H-glucosamine incorporation, decreased dramatically; this was followed by a decrease in the amount of GAGs present. The rate of collagen biosynthesis per total liver granuloma fraction, measured by 3H-proline incorporation, began to decline at 14 weeks and a decrease in the amount of collagen present was noted at 16 weeks. Our results demonstrated that liver granulomas induced by S. mansoni eggs synthesize collagens and GAGs for about 4-6 weeks following parasitological cure. The subsequent resolution of granulomas proceeds first by a reduction in GAG biosynthesis followed 4-8 weeks later by decreased collagen biosynthesis, followed by accelerated resolution of both collagen and GAGs.

Deposition of viprostol (a synthetic PGE2 vasodilator) in the skin following topical administration to laboratory animals.

1. Topical application of 14C-viprostol, a synthetic prostaglandin E2 analogue, to laboratory animals resulted in a significant depot of radioactivity in the skin at the application site in all species studied: mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit and monkey, with longer residence times in the larger species. 2. The location of the 14C-label in the skin in mice and monkeys was determined by microscopic autoradiography. Evaluation of the autoradiograms show rapid penetration of the drug into the skin via the hair follicles. 3. In mouse distribution of radioactivity was evident in the stratum corneum and down the hair shafts by 30 min. after dosing. By 2 h radioactivity was also observed throughout the viable epidermis; in the dermis only the hair shafts contained significant radioactivity. At 72 h after dose removal, radioactivity was evident only in the hair follicles and hair shaft. 4. In monkey the residence time of radioactivity in the skin was significantly longer than in mouse, but the general distribution pattern was similar in both species. 5. The presence of viprostol in the hair follicles and epidermal layer after topical administration is consistent with its extensive skin metabolism previously reported.

Retinoic acid induces cyclic changes in epidermal thickness and dermal collagen and glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis rates.

The effects of daily topical application onto guinea pig ears of a therapeutic concentration of all trans-retinoic acid (RA) on epidermal thickness and dermal collagen and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthesis rates were studied during a 40-day period. Clinically, the RA-treated skin became erythematous and scaly beginning at 5-6 days, conditions which persisted throughout the experiment. The epidermis became thickened and hyperplastic with marked psoriasi-form histologic features, and the phenomenon was dependent on RA concentration. The initial hyperplasia resulted from a transient 4-fold increase in epidermal basal cell replication during the first 3-4 days, as shown by the rise and fall of [3H]thymidine labeling index which preceded the hyperplasia. The extent of epidermal hyperplasia as measured by epidermal thickness was not constant throughout the 40-day treatment period, but exhibited maxima on days 11, 25, and 36. These maxima were followed by periods of decreased thickness, although the minima were always greater than the untreated controls. Retinoic acid induced similar temporal cycles in GAG and collagen biosynthesis rates, but the collagen cycles occurred at different times with maxima on days 6, 20, and 34. After 8 weeks' treatment, the blood flow rates in the ear microcirculation (laser Doppler photometry) were increased 81% above that of the water-treated controls. The demonstration of these RA-induced cyclic changes in epidermal hyperplasia and dermal fibroblast biosynthetic activities have revealed the presence of control mechanisms in these tissues which normally operate to maintain tissue homeostasis.

Uroporphyrin I stimulation of collagen biosynthesis in human skin fibroblasts. A unique dark effect of porphyrin.

Porphyria cutanea tarda and erythropoietic porphyria are disorders of heme synthesis that originate in the liver and bone marrow, respectively. Each is characterized by increased accumulation of uroporphyrin, I, by cutaneous photosensitivity, and in some patients by indurated plaques and scarring that resemble scleroderma. These scleroderma-like lesions occur in light-exposed and light-protected body areas. In these studies we evaluated the role of uroporphyrin I and of light in evoking the scleroderma-like cutaneous changes. Normal human skin fibroblasts were exposed to uroporphyrin I and to 400 nm radiation and the effect of these agents on collagen accumulation by the cells was determined. Radioactive tracer studies showed that uroporphyrin I caused a specific increase in the accumulation of newly synthesized collagen by fibroblast monolayer cultures, as verified by [(3)H]hydroxyproline and collagenase digestion assays. Collagen accumulation was stimulated 1.5- to 2.7-fold by uroporphyrin I, whereas noncollagenous protein accumulation was unchanged. The increased collagen accumulation was time and uroporphyrin I-concentration-dependent, and occurred both in the presence or absence of ultraviolet light exposure. Further studies demonstrated that the increased accumulation was not the result of decreased rates of collagen degradation nor was it due to changes in cell population growth parameters (generation times and saturation densities). No changes in morphology of the treated cells occurred. These studies indicate that porphyrins possess previously undemonstrated biological effects that are independent of their photosensitizing properties. This novel dark effect of uroporphyrin I may account for the sclerodermatous lesions seen in the skin of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda and erythropoietic porphyria.

Appearance of "pemphigus acantholysis factor" in human skin cultured with pemphigus antibody.

These studies deal with the mechanism of pemphigus IgG-induced epidermal acantholysis. When normal human skin was culted with defined medium containing IgG from pemphigus serum, extensive epidermal acantholysis developed and heat-labile proteolytic enzyme(s) were recovered in the culture medium. The enzyme(s) displayed maximal activity at pH 6.5 when a 3H-amino acid-labeled, insoluble epidermal cell material was used as substrate. The enzyme activity increased during the first 3 days of culture and the appearance of maximal activity coincided with the time of onset of acantholysis. Acantholysis did not occur in control cultures incubated with normal IgG and the enzyme did not appear in the medium or in aqueous extracts of cultured tissues. The enzyme(s) is probably not of lysosomal origin because low pH-active proteases characteristic of these organelles remained within the cells. The effects of puromycin on appearance of enzyme activity, acantholysis and cell viability was studied. At cytotoxic concentrations, the appearance of the enzyme(s) and acantholysis were prevented, whereas at less toxic concentrations enzyme activity and acantholysis were not prevented. Because inhibition of protein synthetic rates by puromycin could not be dissociated from the cytotoxic effects, it is uncertain whether enzyme appearance and acantholysis were dependent upon living tissue or on specific protein synthesis. After pemphigus IgG was removed from the conditioned medium by DEAE cellulose and affinity column chromatography, the remaining material contained enzyme activity and caused acantholysis in fresh skin explants. Similar activities were not present in normal IgG-containing conditioned medium or unfractionated epidermal extracts from normal skin. These data indicate that when the pemphigus IgG autoantibody interacts with epidermal cell surface antigens, the cell responds by synthesis or activation of a non-IgG "pemphigus acantholysis factor" (PAF) which may be a nonlysosomal proteolytic enzyme. It is suggested that PAF causes loss of adhesion between keratinocytes and ultimately produces the characteristic acantholytic cells of pemphigus.