Aleutian mink disease virus in free-ranging mustelids in Finland - a cross-sectional epidemiological and phylogenetic study.

Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) can cause severe immune-complex-mediated disease in American mink. AMDV has also been detected in several other mustelid species with potential negative impact on their health and population. A molecular and cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted to obtain data on the prevalence, distribution, transmission and diversity of AMDV strains in Finnish free-ranging mustelids and risk factors associated with infection. The presence of anti-AMDV antibodies and/or AMDV DNA was tested from 308 samples representing eight mustelid species and 17 administrative regions. Positive samples were detected across Finland, and in 54 % (31/57) of feral American mink, 27 % (7/26) of European badgers and 7 % (1/14) of European polecats. Samples from Eurasian otters, European pine martens, least weasels, stoat and wolverine were negative. Major risk factors for infection were the species American mink with 335 and badger with 74 times higher odds than other species, and the years 2006-2009 with five times higher odds than the years 2010-2014. No clustering according to species, geographical origin or year was evident in phylogeny, except for four divergent sequences from Estonian badgers that formed a separate phylogroup distinct from other AMDV strains. This study showed that AMDV was prevalent in certain species of Finnish free-ranging mustelids and widely distributed across Finland. Furthermore, the free-ranging mustelids carried both strains similar to those found in farmed mink, but also distinct strains that may represent novel amdoparvoviruses.

Metabolic syndrome, periodontal infection, and dental caries.

Only a few studies have examined the association of metabolic syndrome with periodontal infection and dental caries. The aim in this study was to examine the association of metabolic syndrome with periodontal infection and dental caries using the European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance (EGIR) definition and its separate components. This study population consisted of dentate, non-diabetic individuals aged 30 to 64 years (N = 2050) who had never smoked. Relative risks (RR) were estimated with Poisson regression models. Metabolic syndrome was associated with teeth with deepened periodontal pockets 4 mm deep or deeper [adjusted RR 1.19 (95% CI 1.01-1.42)], with pockets 6 mm deep or deeper [adjusted RR 1.50 (95% CI 0.96-2.36)], and carious teeth [adjusted RR 1.25 (95% CI 0.93-1.70)]. The results suggest that metabolic syndrome or some of its components are associated weakly with periodontal infection.

Ocular penetration of cyclosporin A. III: The human eye.

The distribution of cyclosporin A (CsA) in the blood, saliva, tears, aqueous humour, vitreous, and cerebrospinal fluid has been studied after oral treatment with 5 mg/kg/day of CsA or application of 2% CsA eye drops in olive oil solution. After oral treatment all patients had high CsA levels in blood. Measurable levels of CsA were also found in the saliva and tears. Patients without any intraocular inflammation or patients with mild uveitis did not have any detectable CsA in the aqueous humour. However, patients with severe uveitis had significant levels of CsA in the aqueous humour and in the vitreous. No CsA was found in the cerebrospinal fluid of two patients with central nervous system manifestations of Behçet's disease. After local treatment with 2% CsA eye drops no detectable levels of CsA were found in the blood, the saliva, the aqueous humour, or the vitreous even in patients with severe uveitis.

Predictive value of cyclosporin A level for efficacy or renal dysfunction in psoriasis.

Cyclosporin A (CyA) trough (pre-dose) levels were measured in whole blood with a radioimmunoassay (RIA) using specific monoclonal antibody in 193 patients receiving CyA for the treatment of psoriasis. These patients received either CyA 2.5 mg/kg/day (n = 134) or 5 mg/kg/day (n = 59). In addition, a subgroup of 94 patients also had CyA trough levels measured using a non-specific polyclonal RIA. Within each CyA dose group, no difference was detected between mean CyA trough levels in relation to success or failure nor to the presence or absence of renal dysfunction with the use of either the specific or non-specific RIA. Based on the experience in transplantation, CyA thresholds of 100 and 200 ng/ml (specific) were selected for the assessment of efficacy and renal dysfunction. The success rate was higher by 10-15% when the CyA level was above, rather than below, 100 ng/ml in both the CyA 2.5 mg and 5 mg/kg/day groups. A slightly increased incidence of renal dysfunction was only found in the 5 mg/kg/day group when the CyA level was above 200 ng/ml. Because of its low predictive value, measurement of the level of CyA was not particularly useful for monitoring patients with psoriasis treated with low-dose CyA.

Efficacy of low-dose cyclosporin A in psoriasis: results of dose-finding studies.

The efficacy of cyclosporin A (CyA) in severe psoriasis was analysed in 457 adult patients included in five European multicentre dose-finding studies. Initial CyA doses were 1.25 mg/kg/day in 33 patients, 2.5-3 mg/kg/day in 285 and 5 mg/kg/day in 139. After 3 months of treatment, the reduction of the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was 35 +/- 6% with 1.25 mg/kg/day of CyA, 57 +/- 2% with 2.5 mg or 3 mg/kg/day and 86 +/- 2% with 5 mg/kg/day (P less than 0.001). The rates of success, defined by a PASI score reduction greater than or equal to 75% or a score less than or equal to 8, were 24%, 52% and 88%, respectively. There were no differences in age, initial severity or duration of psoriasis. The improvement was maintained for 9 months or more in the majority of patients receiving continuous CyA therapy.