Mosquito species richness, composition, and abundance along habitat-climate-elevation gradients in the northern Colorado Front Range

We exploited elevation gradients (1,500-2,400 m) ranging from plains to montane areas along the Poudre River and Big Thompson River in the northern Colorado Front Range to determine how mosquito species richness, composition, and abundance change along natural habitat-climate-elevation gradients. Mosquito collections in 26 sites in 2006 by using CO2-baited CDC light traps yielded a total of 7,136 identifiable mosquitoes of 27 species. Commonly collected species included Aedes vexans (Meigen) (n = 4,722), Culex tarsalis Coquillett (n = 825), Ochlerotatus increpitus (Dyar) (n = 546), Ochlerotatus trivittatus (Coquillett) (n = 303), Aedes cinereus Meigen (n = 280), Ochlerotatus melanimon (Dyar) (n = 146), Ochlerotatus dorsalis (Meigen) (n = 67), Culiseta inornata (Williston) (n = 52), Ochlerotatus pullatus (Coquillett) (n = 38), Ochlerotatus spencerii idahoensis (Theobald) (n = 37), and Culex pipiens L. (n = 29). Species richness was highest in plains habitats at elevations below 1,600 m. Numerous species were found exclusively or predominantly at low elevations below 1,700 m [Anopheles earlei Vargas, Anophelesfreeborni Aitken, Coquilletidia perturbans (Walker), Culex erythrothorax (Dyar), Cx. pipiens, Culex territans Walker, Oc. dorsalis, Ochlerotatus hendersoni (Cockerell), Oc. melanimon, and Oc. trivittatus], whereas others occurred predominantly at high elevations above 2,300 m [Ae. cinereus, Culiseta incidens (Thomson), Culiseta morsitans (Theoblad), Ochlerotatus cataphylla (Dyar), Ochlerotatus intrudens (Dyar), Oc. pullatus, and Ochlerotatus punctor (Kirby)]. Ae. vexans and Cx. tarsalis were abundant in the plains (< 1,600 m; mean June-August temperature > 19.5 degrees C), occurred at low abundances in foothills and low montane areas (1,610-1,730 m; 18.0-19.5 degrees C), and they were collected only sporadically in montane areas above 1,750 m (mean June-August temperature < 17.5 degrees C). These findings suggest that future climate warming may lead to shifts in distribution patterns of West Nile virus vectors (e.g., Cx. tarsalis) toward higher elevations in Colorado.     

The risk of breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers without a first‐degree relative with breast cancer

The objective of this study was to estimate the lifetime risk of breast cancer in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation with and without at least 1 first‐degree relative with breast cancer. A total of 2835 women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation were followed. Age‐ and gene‐specific breast cancer rates were calculated. The relative risks of breast cancer for subjects with a family history of breast cancer, compared to no family history were calculated. The mean age at baseline was 41.1 years, and they were followed for a mean of 6.0 years. The estimated penetrance of breast cancer to age 80 years was 60.8% for BRCA1 and 63.1% for BRCA2. For all BRCA carriers, the penetrance of breast cancer to age 80 for those with no first‐degree relative with breast cancer was 60.4% and 63.3% for those with at least 1 first‐degree relative with breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer for BRCA carriers with no first‐degree relative with breast cancer is substantial, and as a result, clinical management for these women should be the same as those for women with an affected relative.     

DeltaA mRNA and protein distribution in the zebrafish nervous system

Physical interaction between the transmembrane proteins Delta and Notch allows only a subset of neural precursors to become neurons, as well as regulating other aspects of neural development. To examine the localization of Delta protein during neural development, we generated an antibody specific to zebrafish DeltaA (Dla). Here, we describe for the first time the subcellular localization of Dla protein in distinct puncta at cell cortex and/or membrane, supporting the function of Dla in direct cell–cell communication. In situ RNA hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed dynamic, coordinated expression patterns of dla mRNA and Dla protein in the developing and adult zebrafish nervous system. Dla expression is mostly excluded from differentiated neurons and is maintained in putative precursor cells at least until larval stages. In the adult brain, dla mRNA and Dla protein are expressed in proliferative zones normally associated with stem cells. Developmental Dynamics 238:3226–3336, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Acid-Related Upper Endoscopy Findings in Patients with Diabetes Versus Non-diabetic Patients

Background  

The relationship between diabetes, GERD symptoms and acid-related mucosal damage has not been well studied.     

Genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 in the Province of Ontario

In 2001, genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 was introduced in Ontario, for women at high‐risk of breast or ovarian cancer. To date over 30,000 individuals have been tested throughout Ontario. Testing was offered to all Ontario residents who were eligible under any of 13 criteria. We report the results of tests conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital from 2007 to 2014. A total of 4726 individuals were tested, 764 (16.2%) were found to carry a pathogenic variant (mutation). Among 3684 women and men who underwent testing without a known familial BRCA mutation, 331 (9.0%) were found to carry a mutation. Among 1042 women and men tested for a known family mutation, 433 (41.6%) were positive. There were 603 female mutation carriers, of these, 303 were affected with breast or ovarian cancer (50%) and 16 with another cancer (2.3%). Of 284 unaffected female carriers, 242 (85%) were tested for a known family mutation and 42 (15%) were the first person in the family to be tested. By placing greater emphasis on recruiting unaffected female relatives of known mutation carriers for testing, greater than one‐half of newly identified carriers will be unaffected.     

Associations between MHC class I and susceptibility to HIV-2 disease progression

OBJECTIVES: Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) progression to disease is significantly slower than that of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Genetic determinants for susceptibility to disease progression were hypothesized to play a more significant role in this infection compared with HIV-1. We sought to identify common human lymphocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in the Senegalese population and to compare HLA profiles between HIV-2-infected individuals with low and high risk for disease progression. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We conducted a case-control study investigating possible associations between MHC class I genes and the risk of disease progression in HIV-2-infected individuals. The MHC class I genotype was molecularly defined using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 62 female sex workers from the Dakar, Senegal cohort. Lack of antibodies to the HIV-2 antigen p26 has been previously shown to predict disease progression and was used in this study as a surrogate marker. Twenty-one cases were identified lacking antibodies to p26, therefore at a higher risk of disease progression, and were compared with 41 p26 antibody-positive, randomly selected controls. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that HLA B35 was significantly associated with lack of p26 antibodies, and higher risk of disease progression ( < 0.05). The same association was found for the self-defined class I haplotypes B35-Cw4 and A23-Cw 7 ( < 0.05). The HLA B 53 allele was associated with slower disease progression; however, this association was not statistically significant. We observed a trend whereby heterozygotes were at lower risk for HIV-2 disease progression, as previously reported in HIV-1 disease. CONCLUSIONS: In this West African population, a distinct profile of HLA class I alleles was observed, and many of these appear to influence disease progression in HIV-2 infection.     

Surgical management for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the superior semicircular canal

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo of the superior semicircular canal is a rare form of BPPV. It accounts for 1% to 3% of cases. The characteristic nystagmus is positional, down‐beating, with a torsional component elicited by the Dix‐Hallpike maneuver. Symptoms of superior semicircular canal BPPV often resolve spontaneously; however, it can be refractory to repositioning maneuvers. Surgical management is described for posterior semicircular canal BPPV. To date, however, there is only one reported case of surgical management for superior semicircular canal BPPV. Here we show video documentation of positional, down‐beating nystagmus and describe a case of superior semicircular canal BPPV requiring canal occlusion with successful resolution of symptoms. Laryngoscope, 125:1965–1967, 2015     

Characterization of the antibody response against Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 in human volunteers

The immune response against the Plasmodium falciparum variant surface antigen P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1) is a key component of clinical immunity against falciparum malaria. In this study, we used sera from human volunteers who had been infected with the P. falciparum 3D7 strain to investigate the development, specificity, and dynamics of anti-PfEMP1 antibodies measured against six different strain 3D7 Duffy binding-like domain 1α (DBL1α) fusion proteins. We observed that a parasitemia of 20 to 200 infected erythrocytes per μl was required to trigger an antibody response to DBL1α and that antibodies against one DBL1α variant cross-react with other DBL1α variants. Both serum and purified immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) were able to agglutinate infected erythrocytes, and purified anti-DBL1α IgGs bound to the live infected red blood cell surface in a punctate surface pattern, confirming that the IgGs recognize native PfEMP1. Analysis of sera from tourists naturally infected with P. falciparum suggests that the anti-PfEMP1 antibodies often persisted for more than 100 days after a single infection. These results help to further our understanding of the development of acquired immunity to P. falciparum infections.     

Genetic screen for mutations affecting development and function of the enteric nervous system.

An intact enteric nervous system is required for normal gastrointestinal tract function. Several human conditions result from decreased innervation by enteric neurons; however, the genetic basis of enteric nervous system development and function is incompletely understood. In an effort to increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying enteric nervous system development, we screened mutagenized zebrafish for changes in the number or distribution of enteric neurons. We also established a motility assay and rescreened mutants to learn whether enteric neuron number is correlated with gastrointestinal motility in zebrafish. We describe mutations isolated in our screen that affect enteric neurons specifically, as well as mutations that affect other neural crest derivatives or have pleiotropic effects. We show a correlation between the severity of enteric neuron loss and gastrointestinal motility defects. This screen provides biological tools that serve as the basis for future mechanistic studies.