Molecular Characterisation of Faecal Bacterial Assemblages Among Four Species of Syntopic Odonates.

Factors such as host species, phylogeny, diet, and both timing and location of sampling are thought to influence the composition of gut-associated bacteria in insects. In this study, we compared the faecal-associated bacterial taxa for three Coenagrion and one Enallagma damselfly species. We expected high overlap in representation of bacterial taxa due to the shared ecology and diet of these species. Using metabarcoding based on the 16S rRNA gene, we identified 1513 sequence variants, representing distinct bacterial 'taxa'. Intriguingly, the damselfly species showed somewhat different magnitudes of richness of ZOTUs, ranging from 480 to 914 ZOTUs. In total, 921 (or 60.8% of the 1513) distinct ZOTUs were non-shared, each found only in one species, and then most often in only a single individual. There was a surfeit of these non-shared incidental ZOTUs in the Enallagma species accounting for it showing the highest bacterial richness and accounting for a sample-wide pattern of more single-species ZOTUs than expected, based on comparisons to the null model. Future studies should address the extent to which faecal bacteria represent non-incidental gut bacteria and whether abundant and shared taxa are true gut symbionts. Pictures of odonates adopted from Norske Art databank under Creative Commons License (CC BY 4.0).

Molecular Evidence of Chlamydia-Like Organisms in the Feces of Myotis daubentonii Bats.

Chlamydia-like organisms (CLOs) are recently identified members of the Chlamydiales order. CLOs share intracellular lifestyles and biphasic developmental cycles, and they have been detected in environmental samples as well as in various hosts such as amoebae and arthropods. In this study, we screened bat feces for the presence of CLOs by molecular analysis. Using pan-Chlamydiales PCR targeting the 16S rRNA gene, Chlamydiales DNA was detected in 54% of the specimens. PCR amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes were used to classify positive specimens and infer their phylogenetic relationships. Most sequences matched best with Rhabdochlamydia species or uncultured Chlamydia sequences identified in ticks. Another set of sequences matched best with sequences of the Chlamydia genus or uncultured Chlamydiales from snakes. To gain evidence of whether CLOs in bat feces are merely diet borne, we analyzed insects trapped from the same location where the bats foraged. Interestingly, the CLO sequences resembling Rhabdochlamydia spp. were detected in insect material as well, but the other set of CLO sequences was not, suggesting that this set might not originate from prey. Thus, bats represent another potential host for Chlamydiales and could harbor novel, previously unidentified members of this order. IMPORTANCE: Several pathogenic viruses are known to colonize bats, and recent analyses indicate that bats are also reservoir hosts for bacterial genera. Chlamydia-like organisms (CLOs) have been detected in several animal species. CLOs have high 16S rRNA sequence similarity to Chlamydiaceae and exhibit similar intracellular lifestyles and biphasic developmental cycles. Our study describes the frequent occurrence of CLO DNA in bat feces, suggesting an expanding host species spectrum for the Chlamydiales As bats can acquire various infectious agents through their diet, prey insects were also studied. We identified CLO sequences in bats that matched best with sequences in prey insects but also CLO sequences not detected in prey insects. This suggests that a portion of CLO DNA present in bat feces is not prey borne. Furthermore, some sequences from bat droppings not originating from their diet might well represent novel, previously unidentified members of the Chlamydiales order.

Sediment organic tin contamination promotes impoverishment of non-biting midge species communities in the Archipelago Sea, S-W Finland.

Chironomid species are a vital component in many benthic and terrestrial food webs; they have an important role in the detritus cycle, and are an important source of food for many species. We studied how tributyltin (TBT) in brackish water sediments affect the composition of chironomid species communities. Emergence traps were used at selected sites on a TBT gradient in the Archipelago Sea, S-W Finland. Increased sediment TBT concentration was associated with significant chironomid species turnover, which in turn was related to decreased species diversity (number of species and genera). However, the overall number of individuals did not decrease markedly with increasing TBT contamination. This suggests that the ecological role of chironomids in the food web may be preserved even under severe impoverishment of the chironomid community due to organic tin contamination. The increased prevalence of more TBT tolerant species can potentially lead to a transport of organic tin compounds between aquatic and terrestrial food webs. Furthermore, the reduced diversity of an ecologically influential group might lower the resistance of the entire food web to other environmental hazards and perturbations.

Development of new IgE specificities to allergenic components in birch pollen extract during specific immunotherapy studied with immunoblotting and Pharmacia CAP System.

BACKGROUND: New IgE sensitizations to proteins in allergen extracts have been shown to occur during allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT). However little is known about the kinetics of the changes in antibody reactivities. METHODS: Twenty-four allergic children and adults were treated with birch pollen rush IT (RIT). Fifteen matched patients served as allergic controls. Sera were obtained at regular intervals for up to three years and analyzed with immunoblotting and Pharmacia CAP System with recombinant (r) birch pollen allergens (rBet v 1, rBet v 2, and rBet v 4). RESULTS: All birch-allergic patients had specific IgE to the major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1, but only three had IgE to rBet v 2 and/or rBet v 4 at the beginning of the study. New IgE sensitizations developed in 65% of the birch RIT-treated patients when studied by immunoblotting. Twenty-nine percent of the patients developed new sensitizations to rBet v 2 and/or rBet v 4 during RIT as measured by Pharmacia CAP System. Generally, new specific IgE reactivities occurred after at least one year of RIT, and only at low levels (< 1 kUA/l). CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to additional allergenic pollen components frequently occurs during prolonged birch RIT. However, the IgE levels are low and the clinical relevance is not known.

Pollen-specific rush immunotherapy: clinical efficacy and effects on antibody concentrations.

BACKGROUND: Studies of rush immunotherapy (RIT) with standardized extracts for the treatment of seasonal pollen allergy are few, especially for birch-pollen RIT. OBJECTIVE: The study was performed to investigate the efficacy of RIT with standardized birch- or timothy-pollen extracts. Further, the serum antibody levels were evaluated for correlation with clinical efficacy. METHODS: This open, longitudinal study included 30 allergic patients treated with RIT and 16 allergic patients serving as a control group. The therapy was continued for 3 years and blood samples were collected at regular intervals for antibody measurements using the Pharmacia CAP System. RESULTS: The RIT was generally well tolerated. An increase in the total and specific IgE concentrations during the early months of RIT was observed, followed by decreased levels. Specific IgG and IgG4 increased continuously for 2 years. The symptom and medication scores were significantly decreased, compared with preRIT, at both the first and third pollen seasons after the start of RIT treatment (P < .0001 and P < .001, respectively). The clinical improvement during RIT was significantly greater compared with the control group (P < .05). The decreased medication and the symptom improvement during the third year of RIT correlated with the relative decrease in specific IgE (rs = .52, P < .05) and with the specific IgG4 level before the start of RIT (rs= -.68, P < .01), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that RIT with standardized birch- or timothypollen extracts is clinically effective and safe. Measurements of specific antibody levels during treatment may be helpful in monitoring RIT.

Mortality of adults with asthma: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have been published on the overall survival of adult patients with asthma. A cohort study was performed to assess the mortality from all causes, from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and from lung cancer among adult asthmatic subjects. METHODS: A population of 31,110 Finnish adult women and men, mostly twins, was studied to compare the 16 year mortality rates among asthmatic (n = 471) and non-asthmatic persons. A further 293 twin pairs, discordant for asthma, were also studied to determine whether the mortality of patients with asthma differs from that of their age matched siblings. RESULTS: Mortality from all causes was increased among asthmatic adults (age adjusted hazard ratios 1.49, 95% CI 1.09 to 2.05 for men and 1.53, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.13 for women), and mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases was also significantly increased in asthmatic subjects. The risk of death due to lung cancer was increased in men with asthma (hazard ratio adjusted for smoking 3.19, 95% CI 1.39 to 7.31). The risk ratios found among twins discordant for asthma corresponded to those found in the whole cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Survival in adults with asthma is worse than in those without asthma. The excess deaths due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may explain some part of the increased mortality rates, but not all of it.

Treatment of genital HPV infection with carbon dioxide laser and systemic interferon alpha-2b.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Treatment of genital warts is problematic. Numerous treatment modalities are available, but response to any therapy often is unsatisfactory. Recently, studies have suggested that interferons would be effective in the treatment of some genital warts. GOAL OF THIS STUDY: To compare carbon dioxide laser with or without adjuvant subcutaneously administered interferon alpha-2b in the treatment of genital human papillomavirus infection. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred randomized women with genital HPV infection were treated with carbon dioxide laser and adjuvant systemic interferon alpha-2b or carbon dioxide laser and placebo. Patients were followed colposcopically, cytologically, and by HPV DNA testing for 6 months. RESULTS: Complete response was seen in 62% patients who received adjuvant interferon, and in 68% patients who received placebo. However, recurrence was less common in patients treated with interferon who were infected with HPV 16/18. CONCLUSION: Only a subgroup of patients, women infected with HPV DNA 16/18, benefited from adjuvant systemic interferon treatment.

Cancer incidence among 78,000 asthmatic patients.

The risk of cancer was evaluated among 77,952 asthma patients with bronchial asthma. The series was obtained through linkage of two registers: the Finnish Social Insurance Institution's file of asthma patients and the Finnish Cancer Registry. There was a significant excess risk of lung cancer in both sexes, the standardized incidence ratio (SIR) being 1.32 among men and 1.66 among women. In women, the risk of cancer of the rectum was significantly increased (SIR 1.42), whereas the risks of cancer of the corpus uteri and multiple myeloma were lower than expected (SIR 0.76 and 0.53, respectively). In men, the incidence of cancer of the larynx was significantly reduced (SIR 0.63) and that of the bladder increased (SIR 1.25). When both sexes were combined, cancers of the colon (SIR 1.17) and rectum (SIR 1.28) also showed a significantly elevated risk. A reduction in risk was seen in stomach cancer (SIR 0.88) and lymphatic leukaemia (SIR 0.55). The increased lung cancer risk may be due to local inflammatory changes. It is possible that differences in the immune system, e.g. natural killer cell activity, explain some of the reduced cancer risks.

Survival rates in lung cancer patients with and without bronchial asthma.

Bronchial asthma itself or the treatment of asthma may modify the immunological response to cancer. The survival of lung cancer patients with a preceding diagnosis of bronchial asthma was compared with that of non-asthmatic lung cancer patients in Finland during 1970-1989. This was accomplished by linking two nation-wide data registers, the medication reimbursement register and the cancer registry. For 921 out of the 926 asthmatic patients with lung cancer diagnosed after the diagnosis of bronchial asthma, a non-asthmatic referent patient, matching with respect to sex, anatomical site, and histological type of tumour, as well as to age and year of lung cancer diagnosis, was successfully found in the files of the Cancer Registry. Another referent group was formed by using the stage of lung cancer at diagnosis as an extra matching criterion; this search was successful for 895 asthmatic lung cancer patients. The corrected 5-year survival rate of asthmatic lung cancer patients was 8.4% and that of the referent patients, not matched for stage, 9.6%. When stage was included as matching criterion the corresponding rates were 8.5% and 8.1% respectively. None of these differences were significant. The prognosis of asthmatic and non-asthmatic lung cancer patients thus seemed to be similar.

A T-helper cell epitope overlaps a major B-cell epitope in human papillomavirus type 18 E2 protein.

Cultivated CD4+ T-helper cells from two patients with cervical adenocarcinoma showed responses to a peptide EKTGILTVTYHSETQRTK derived from an E2 protein of human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV 18), but not to a corresponding HPV 16 peptide (HKSAIVTLTYDSEWQRDQ). Serum antibodies in the HPV 18 peptide were also demonstrated in these patients. The GILT motif resembles a common pattern present in many T-cell epitopes, and is located at the beginning of an 11-amino acid-long A-helix structure close to the carboxyterminal end of HPV 18 E2. We conclude that two epitopes (a T-helper cell epitope and a B-cell epitope) overlap in the HPV 18 E2.

Pre- and posttreatment serum antibody responses to HPV 16 E2 and HSV 2 ICP8 proteins in women with cervical carcinoma.

Serum antibodies to early proteins of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16 E2 protein) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV 2 ICP8) can be measured by ELISA. In the serum of 122 newly diagnosed cervical carcinoma patients and age-matched controls, enhanced IgA antibody levels to an HPV-16 E2 protein derived peptide no. 245 indicated a 9.5-fold (95% confidence limits 2.8-57.2) relative risk of cervical carcinoma. No significant risk was found with a corresponding HPV 6 E2 peptide or HSV 2 ICP8. To evaluate the HPV 16 E2 peptide as a possible tumor marker for cervical carcinoma serial postoperative serum samples were tested from 27 women with cervical carcinoma. Antibody responses to the HPV 16 E2 peptide depended on the clinical stage. Stage I and II patients showed decreasing posttreatment IgA and/or IgG antipeptide antibody levels. Stage III and IV patients initially showed decreasing antipeptide antibody levels followed by increasing levels. These patients also showed increasing IgG antibody levels to the HSV 2 ICP8. However, increasing antibody levels to the HPV 16 E2 peptide indicated significantly (P less than 0.05) worse 2-year disease free survival (recurring disease) than did stable or decreasing antibody levels. The results suggest that serum antipeptide antibodies to the HPV 16 E2 peptide no. 245 can be used for the monitoring of cervical carcinoma.

Predominance of serum antibodies to synthetic peptide stemming from HPV 18 open reading frame E2 in cervical adenocarcinoma.

AIMS: To determine if there are type specific differences in serum antibody responses to synthetic peptides derived from human papillomavirus (HPV) open reading frame (ORF) E2 in patients with cervical carcinoma. METHODS: Diagnostic phase sera from 88 age-matched women with cervical adenocarcinoma (AC), cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SC), ovarian cancer (OC) or no gynaecological malignancy were available. Serum IgG and IgA antibodies to synthetic peptides corresponding to a residue of HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 ORF E2 18 amino acids long and a control peptide from mumps virus were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Both IgA and IgG antibody positivity to the HPV 18 peptide were associated with increased risk (9.0-fold, confidence limits 1.5-199) for AC. IgA positivity to HPV 11, 16, and 18 peptides was associated with an increased risk for SC. However, the association of IgG antibodies to HPV 16 peptide with SC was not significant. IgA or IgG antibodies to HPV 6 or mumps virus peptides were not associated with increased risk for AC, SC, or OC. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest a specific role for HPV 18 in AC. Differences in antibody responses to HPV peptide in AC and SC suggest immunopathogenetic differences between the two types of cervical carcinoma.

Human papillomavirus infection of the female genital tract: correlation of HPV DNA with cytologic, colposcopic, and natural history findings.

Although molecular biology evidence suggests a strong link between HPVs and anogenital neoplasias, evidence from clinical studies is still less convincing. Thus, the recognition of both overt and subclinical HPV infection has become increasingly important. We studied the correlation between HPV DNA and cytologic, colposcopic and natural history findings in a defined group of women. The study population consisted of 150 HPV DNA positive cases (mean age 25.7 years, SD 7.4) and 69 randomly selected HPV DNA negative controls (mean age 27.3 years, SD 7.9) enrolled in an ongoing study of the natural history of genital HPV infections. All cases and controls had normal cervicovaginal cytology at the enrollment. A commercial dot-blot technique hybridization test (Virapap and Viratype, Digene Diagnostics, USA) was used for HPV DNA testing of cervicovaginal scrapes. Five percent of the patients had HPV 16/18, 31% had HPV 31/33/35, 15% had more than one of the three HPV DNA groups ("mixed"), and 15% had untypable HPV DNA. Cases and controls were followed by repeat examinations every 4th month. The mean follow-up time was 12.2 months (SD 8.7) for the cases, and 12.8 months (SD 6.9) for the controls. The study endpoint was defined as the presence of cytologic changes consistent with CIN. The overall prevalence of atypical transformation zone (ATZ) findings was 45% in the controls and 56% in the cases, with no significant differences between the specific HPV DNA groups. Although vulvar or vaginal abnormalities (acetowhite epithelium, squamous papillomatosis, filaments, satellite lesions, fissures, papules or exophytic condylomas) were more commonly seen in the cases than in the controls, the difference was significant only for condylomas and fissures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Natural history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia.

The natural history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) was studied in 23 patients followed for at least 3 years with no treatment. The mean age of the patients was 41 years of age. A large proportion of the VAIN lesions (50%) were multifocal, and approximately one half of the lesions were associated with concomitant cervical or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. Progression to invasive vaginal carcinoma occurred in two (9%) cases, persistence of VAIN occurred in three (13%) cases, and regression of VAIN occurred in 18 (78%) cases. The risk for progression to invasive carcinoma emphasizes the significance of colposcopic examination of the vagina with directed biopsy specimens obtained from all lesions.

Cervical human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid and cytologic evaluations in gynecologic outpatients.

We studied the prevalence and cytologic manifestations of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid among 2668 gynecologic outpatients. The study population consisted of 1573 women who came into the emergency room, 623 women from an abortion clinic who were seen because of induced first-trimester abortion, and 472 women who had been referred to a colposcopy clinic because of an abnormal Papanicolaou smear finding. A dot blot technique was used for the detection of human papillomavirus types 6/11, 16/18, and 31/33/35. The prevalence of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid was 4.4% in the emergency room population, 8.8% in the abortion clinic population, and 31.4% in the colposcopy clinic population. Human papillomavirus type 16/18 was most prevalent (3.5%), followed by human papillomavirus type 31/33/35 (3.1%), and human papillomavirus type 6/11 was least prevalent (2.1%). Of all unselected human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid-positive women who were enrolled from the emergency room or from the abortion clinic, 73% had normal cytologic evaluations. Twenty-five percent had benign atypia, and 2% had dyskaryotic changes. No human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid type-specific differences were detected in the distribution of cytologic atypias.

Human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Many reports have shown a link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical squamous neoplasia. However, the association of HPV with cervical adenocarcinoma has been studied less extensively. The authors evaluated the presence of HPV-DNA in 106 patients with adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix by in situ hybridization, using 35S-labeled probes for HPV 16 DNA and HPV 18 DNA. The overall prevalence of HPV-DNA was 18% (19 of 106). HPV 16 was present in 2 (2%) cases, HPV 18 was observed in 15 (14%) cases, and both HPV 16 and HPV 18 were found in 2 (2%) cases. There was a correlation between HPV-DNA positivity and tumor stage (P less than 0.01) and tumor size (P less than 0.05), but there was no relationship between HPV-DNA positivity and tumor differentiation, proliferation (S-phase fraction), ploidy, lymph node metastases, or five-year survival rate. These results suggest that HPV 18 DNA is associated with cervical adenocarcinoma but the presence of HPV 18 has no influence on overall survival.

Paranoid disorders following war brain damage. Preliminary report.

Roughly 3,000 war veterans with moderate or severe brain injury have suffered from a psychiatric disturbance. Psychotic disorders are found in approximately 750 cases. The material of this preliminary report consists of the first 100 veterans with paranoid disorders. Delusional psychosis is the most common main diagnosis (28% of veterans), followed by major depression (21%), delirium (18%) and paranoid schizophrenia (14%). Paranoid schizophrenia and paranoid schizophreniform psychosis develop earlier (in 23% of cases within 1 year) than delusional psychosis (4%). Delusional psychosis lasted less than a year in 28% of the cases and more than 5 years in 40% of cases. The corresponding figures for paranoid schizophrenia and paranoid schizophreniform psychoses are 26 and 63%. Jealousy or fear of being sexually betrayed constitutes the most prominent individual content of delusions.

Observer variability in the scoring of colpophotographs.

Colposcopy and cervicography are accepted tools for assessing the cervix for an atypical transformation zone. We studied the validity of the colpophotograph as a measurement tool by determining the agreement of experienced colposcopists using colpophotographs of 50 women. Interobserver agreement was generally fair to good (kappa greater than or equal to 0.40) for the presence of the squamocolumnar junction and the area of ectopia but it was poor (kappa less than 0.40) for the area, border, and color characteristics of an atypical transformation zone. Intra-observer agreement was fair to good for the color characteristics of an atypical transformation zone, but it was poor for the area and border characteristics. We conclude that observer agreement studies should play a role in the validation of methods used in the visual diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Considerable lack of agreement in reporting cytologic findings is a well-known problem, and lack of agreement might be an even bigger problem in reporting colposcopic findings.

Human papillomavirus DNA in unselected pregnant and non-pregnant women.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA is associated with genital squamous cell neoplasia, especially types 16, 18, and 31. Several studies, using histopathology and DNA hybridization, have shown an increased prevalence of cervical HPV DNA in pregnant women. We determined the prevalence of HPV DNA and the distribution of specific HPV DNA types in exfoliated cervical cells from 748 randomly selected pregnant and 503 non-pregnant women, using a dot blot DNA hybridization technique. The prevalence of HPV DNA was 9.6% in pregnant women and 8.9% in non-pregnant women. Thus, we found no evidence of higher prevalence of HPV DNA in pregnant women. HPV DNA types 16/18 and 31/33/35 were more common than types 6/11. The prevalence of HPV DNA was highest (15%) in the youngest age groups suggesting an association between young age and the prevalence of HPV DNA.