Phylogenetic analysis of classical swine fever virus isolates from Peru.

Classical swine fever (CSF) is considered to be endemic in Peru with outbreaks reported to the World Organization for Animal Health as recently as 2008 and 2009. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the genetic subgroup(s) of CSF virus that are circulating in Peru or their relationship to recent CSF viruses that have been isolated from neighbouring South American countries or other parts of the world. In this study, we molecularly characterize CSF viruses that were isolated from domestic pigs from different regions of Peru from the middle of 2007 to early 2008. All virus isolates were found to belong to genetic subgroup 1.1, consistent with the subgroup of viruses that have been identified from other South American countries. Although the Peruvian isolates are most closely related to viruses from Colombia and Brazil, they form a monophyletic clade, which suggests they have a distinct evolutionary history.

Characterization of avian influenza virus isolates submitted to the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease between 1997 and 2001.

The National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NCFAD) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) newest high biocontainment laboratory. One of the functions of the NCFAD is to serve as a national reference laboratory for avian influenza. Between 1997 and 2001, 15 avian influenza virus isolates were characterized. These isolates originated from domestic poultry, imported caged birds held in quarantine, and wild birds. Diagnostic specimens were submitted to the NCFAD by CFIA field veterinarians, provincial veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and veterinary colleges. Characterization of isolates included the determination of H and N subtypes: H1, H6, H7, and H10 subtypes were isolated from domestic poultry; H3, H4, and three H13 viruses were isolated from water fowl, and six H3 viruses were isolated from caged birds being held in import quarantine. Selected isolates were characterized with respect to their pathogenic potential by intravenous inoculation of 4-to-6-wk-old chickens. A molecular-based protocol was used to assess the pathogenicity of one H7 isolate. During this period, work was also carried out toward validating our molecular pathotyping protocol for avian influenza viruses with H5 and H7 hemagglutinin subtypes.

Endoscopic subureteral collagen injection: are immunological concerns justified?

PURPOSE: We evaluated the humoral immune response in children treated with subureteral collagen injection for vesicoureteral reflux by analyzing serum for anticollagen antibodies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained serum before skin testing and at intervals after subureteral collagen injection in 7 girls and 3 boys with a mean age plus or minus standard error of 9.2+/-1.4 years. Serum antibody titers to bovine collagen, and human collagen types I and III were determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Patients were assessed for adverse reactions related to an immune response to collagen. RESULTS: Followup ranged from 14 to 40 months (mean 24.6) after the initial subureteral collagen injection. One to 4 subureteral collagen injections were given with cumulative collagen volume per patient ranging from 0.15 to 5.1 cc (mean 2.1). In 2 cases no baseline serum sample was obtained. Antibody titers measured in the 8 other patients before skin testing revealed equivocal and negative results in 5 and 3 for antibovine collagen, and in 1 and 7 for antihuman collagen types I and III, respectively. At the last followup results were positive, equivocal and negative in 3, 5 and 2 for antibovine collagen, and in 0, 2 and 8 for antihuman collagen types I and III, respectively. Seroconversion developed 13 to 24 months after the initial subureteral collagen injection in antibovine collagen seropositive patients, including 1 with a limited episode of bladder irritability after seroconversion. No other patient had adverse events considered to be immunological. CONCLUSIONS: In 3 of the 10 children treated with subureteral collagen injection for vesicoureteral reflux serum antibodies to bovine collagen developed. The volume of collagen injected was small, suggesting that volume is not a major determinant of immunogenicity. In 1 patient with seroconversion a local reaction may have been immunogenic. No patient had systemic symptoms of autoimmune disease and there was no seroconversion to antibodies cross-reacting with human collagen.

Self-expanding metal oesophageal endoprostheses, covered and uncovered: a review of 30 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Oesophageal self-expanding metal endoprostheses (SEMS, or stents) are recognized as a safe means of palliating dysphagia caused by malignancy. Stent designs that have covered or uncovered walls are now available. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of use of these two designs. DESIGN: Thirty consecutive cases were reviewed. All the patients had been referred over a period of 25 months for palliation of dysphagia caused by malignant obstruction. Either a covered or an uncovered stent was placed in each patient. Palliation of dysphagia, 30 day mortality, mean survival time, and the number of endoscopic re-interventions required, were assessed. RESULTS: Uncovered Ultraflex stents were used in 14 patients, and Schneider Wallstents were used in 16 patients. Dysphagia improved by one grade or more in 69% of patients. The 30 day mortality was 27%, with an overall mean survival time of 99 days. There was no significant difference between the two groups for these three parameters. Ten patients needed a total of 28 repeat endoscopic procedures to maintain stent patency, with overall rates for each group of 1.64 procedures per patient, for uncovered stents, compared with 0.31 for covered stents (significant at the P < 0.05 level). The number of repeat procedures increased with survival time. CONCLUSION: The use of covered self-expanding metal oesophageal endoprostheses is associated with a significant reduction in the need for endoscopic reintervention after stent placement.

Alcohol and the liver.

Alcohol remains the most common cause of cirrhosis in the Western world. This article reviews the increased understanding of the mechanisms by which alcohol damages the liver, why individuals differ in their susceptibility to alcohol, current treatments available and those which may have a role to play in the future.

Early characterization of a novel metastatic disease model of murine neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: We developed a measurable metastatic disease model of murine neuroblastoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Murine neuroblastoma cells (C1300) were cotransfected with plasmids encoding for neomycin resistance and beta-galactosidase. Transfected cells were selected by culture in media containing gentamicin. Monoclonal and polyclonal transfected cell lines were selected from surviving colonies. Three cell lines (M1, P1 and P2) were cultured and inoculated into female A/J mice. A control group was included for analysis. Animals were sacrificed on day 18 after injection, and primary tumors and organs were assayed for beta-galactosidase activity by chemoluminescence assay. Animal livers were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological assessment. RESULTS: Transfected primary tumor tissue demonstrated beta-galactosidase activity. Livers from control mice had no beta-galactosidase activity. Of the 3 cell lines tested M1 showed the highest levels of beta-galactosidase activity in liver and lung, suggesting homology with human disease. Kidneys from all experimental groups had elevated beta-galactosidase activity, suggesting that the kidney is a common metastatic site for murine neuroblastoma. Hematoxylin and eosin sections demonstrated normal livers in control mice and micrometastases in the livers of all experimental animals. CONCLUSIONS: A novel metastatic disease model for murine neuroblastoma has been developed. By transfecting tumor cells with genetic material encoding 2 marker proteins distant metastases may be detected by assay for beta-galactosidase or cells can be selected for neomycin resistance, even at a stage when they are difficult to identify by standard histological techniques.