Latency characteristics in specific pathogen-free chickens 21 and 35 days after intra-tracheal inoculation with vaccine or field strains of infectious laryngotracheitis virus

ABSTRACT

Latency is an important feature of infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) yet is poorly understood. This study aimed to compare latency characteristics of vaccine (SA2) and field (CL9) strains of ILTV, establish an in vitro reactivation system and examine ILTV infection in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in specific pathogen-free chickens. Birds were inoculated with SA2 or CL9 ILTV and then bled and culled at 21 or 35 days post-inoculation (dpi). Swabs (conjunctiva, palatine cleft, trachea) and trigeminal ganglia (TG) were examined for ILTV DNA using PCR. Half of the TG, trachea and PBMC were co-cultivated with cell monolayers to assess in vitro reactivation of ILTV infection. ILTV DNA was detected in the trachea of approximately 50% of ILTV‐inoculated birds at both timepoints. At 21?dpi, ILTV was detected in the TG only in 29% and 17% of CL9- and SA2-infected birds, respectively. At 35?dpi, ILTV was detected in the TG only in 30% and 10% of CL9- and SA2-infected birds, respectively. Tracheal organ co-cultures from 30% and 70% of CL9- and SA2-infected birds, respectively, were negative for ILTV DNA at cull but yielded quantifiable DNA within 6 days post-explant (dpe). TG co-cultivation from 30% and 40% of CL9-and SA2-infected birds, respectively, had detectable ILTV DNA within 6 dpe. Latency characteristics did not substantially vary based on the strain of virus inoculated or between sampling timepoints. These results advance our understanding of ILTV latency and reactivation.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Following inoculation, latent ILTV infection was detected in a large proportion of chickens, irrespective of whether a field or vaccine strain was inoculated.

• In vitro reactivation of latent ILTV was readily detected in tracheal and trigeminal ganglia co-cultures using PCR.

• ILTV latency observed in SPF chickens at 21 days post-infection was not substantially different to 35 days post-infection.

     

Combined effects of caffeine and malnutrition on the newborn rat's myocardium.

We hypothesized that the pathological effects on the neonatal rat heart could be aggravated by Cu deficiency due to the combined effects of caffeine exposure and malnutrition. Upon birth, pups were mixed and randomly picked; 8 pups were assigned to each dam and then divided into 4 groups. Group 1 dams received a normal diet containing 20% protein. Group 2 dams were fed 20% protein diet supplemented with caffeine (4 mg/100 g BW). Group 3 dams received 6% protein diet as a malnourished group, and group 4 dams received 6% protein diet supplemented with caffeine (4 mg/100 g BW). On postnatal day 10, dams and pups were killed. Group 2 tended to have a decrease in the Cu levels of dams' plasma and milk and in pups' plasma and heart tissue compared to those of group 1. This pattern was not observed consistently between groups 3 and 4. Transmission electron microscopy of group 2 pups' hearts revealed a degree of disruption in the mitochondria compared to normal mitochondria seen in group 1. There was no consistent change in the mitochondria of group 4 compared to group 3. The caffeine level observed in all categories of group 4 (dams' plasma and milk, pups' plasma and heart tissue) was lower than those in group 2. Although malnutrition affected body weight and heart weight, combined effects of caffeine and malnutrition on Cu content in the neonatal heart was relatively minor compared to the well nourished group. This well nourished group showed that the effects of caffeine on Cu were more consistent, resulting the changes of mitochondria.     

Correction: Synthesis and characterization of AFe2O4 (A: Ni,Co, Mg)–silica nanocomposites and their application for the removal of dibenzothiophene (DBT) by an adsorption process: kinetics,isotherms and experimental design

Correction for ‘Synthesis and characterization of AFe₂O₄ (A: Ni, Co, Mg)–silica nanocomposites and their application for the removal of dibenzothiophene (DBT) by an adsorption process: kinetics, isotherms and experimental design’ by Fahimeh Vafaee et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 22661–22676, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA02780H.

The authors regret an error in Fig. 4 where a section of the XRD for 4(a) and (b) is identical.Open in a separate windowFig. 4(a) The XRD pattern of sample 3 after adsorption of DBT. (b) The XRD pattern of sample 3 before adsorption of DBT.The authors have repeated the experiment and provided new data for Fig. 4. An independent expert has viewed the new data and has concluded that it is consistent with the discussions and conclusions presented. The correct Fig. 4 is shown below:The Royal Society of Chemistry apologises for these errors and any consequent inconvenience to authors and readers.     

A placebo-controlled study of tropisetron added to risperidone for the treatment of negative symptoms in chronic and stable schizophrenia

Rational

A growing body of evidence illustrates that 5-HT3 receptor antagonist drugs may be of benefit in the treatment of negative symptoms in schizophrenia.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of tropisetron add-on to risperidone on negative symptoms in patients with chronic stable schizophrenia.

Methods

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled 8-week trial, 40 patients with chronic schizophrenia who were stabilized on risperidone were randomized into tropisetron or placebo add-on groups. Psychotic symptoms were measured using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) every 2 weeks. Furthermore, extrapyramidal and depressive symptoms as well as side effects were assessed. The primary outcome measure was the difference in change from baseline of negative subscale scores between the two groups at week 8.

Results

Tropisetron resulted in greater improvement of the total PANSS scores [F(1.860,70.699)?=?37.366, p?<?0.001] as well as negative scores [F(2.439,92.675)?=?16.623, p?<?0.001] and general psychopathology [F(1.767,67.158)?=?4.602, p?=?0.017], but not positive subscale scores [F(1.348, 51.218)?=?0.048, p?=?0.893] compared to placebo. In a multiple regression analysis controlling for positive, extrapyramidal, and depressive symptoms, treatment group (standardized β?=??0.640) significantly predicted changes in primary negative symptoms. The side effect profile did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Conclusion

Tropisetron add-on to risperidone improves the primary negative symptoms of patients with chronic stable schizophrenia.     

Shoulder magnetic resonance imaging findings in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of rotator cuff and long head of the biceps pathologies in manual wheelchair (MWC) users with spinal cord injury (SCI).Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Outpatient clinic at a tertiary medical center.Participants: Forty-four adult MWC users with SCI (36 men and 8 women) with an average age (SD) of 42 (13) years. SCI levels ranged from C6 to L1; complete and incomplete SCI.Outcome Measures: Participants’ demographic and anthropometric information, presence of shoulder pain, Wheelchair User’s Pain Index (WUSPI) scores, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of shoulder pathologies including tendinopathy, tendon tears, and muscle atrophy.Results: Fifty-nine percent of the participants reported some shoulder pain. The prevalence of any tendinopathy across the rotator cuff and the long head of biceps tendon was 98%. The prevalence of tendinopathy in the supraspinatus was 86%, infraspinatus was 91%, subscapularis was 75%, and biceps was 57%. The majority of tendinopathies had mild or moderate severity. The prevalence of any tears was 68%. The prevalence of tendon tears in the supraspinatus was 48%, infraspinatus was 36%, subscapularis was 43%, and biceps was 12%. The majority of the tears were partial-thickness tears. Participants without tendon tears were significantly younger (P < 0.001) and had been wheelchair user for a significantly shorter time (P = 0.005) than those with tendon tears.Conclusion: Mild and moderate shoulder tendinopathy and partial-thickness tendon tears were highly prevalent in MWC users with SCI. Additionally, the findings of this study suggest that strategies for monitoring shoulder pathologies in this population should not be overly reliant on patient-reported pain, but perhaps more concerned with years of wheelchair use and age.     

A systematic review on status of lead pollution and toxicity in Iran; Guidance for preventive measures

Lead is an old environmental metal which is presented everywhere and lead poisoning is an important health issue in many countries in the world including Iran. It is known as a silent environmental disease which can have life-long adverse health effects. In children, the most vulnerable population, mental development of children health effects is of the greatest influence. Low level lead exposure can significantly induce motor dysfunctions and cognitive impairment in children. The sources of lead exposure vary among countries. Occupational lead exposure is an important health issue in Iran and mine workers, employees of paint factories, workers of copying centers, drivers, and tile making factories are in higher risk of lead toxicity. Moreover lead processing industry has always been a major of concern which affects surface water, drinking waters, and ground waters, even water of Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf and rivers due to increasing the number of industries in vicinity of rivers that release their waste discharges into river or sea. In addition, lead contamination of soil and air especially in vicinity of polluted and industrialized cities is another health problem in Iran. Even foods such as rice and fishes, raw milk, and vegetables which are the most common food of Iranian population are polluted to lead in some area of Iran. Adding lead to the opium is a recently health hazard in Iran that has been observed among opium addicts. There are few studies evaluated current status of lead exposure and toxicity in the Iranian children and pregnant women which should be taken into account of authorities. We recommend to identify sources, eliminate or control sources, and monitor environmental exposures and hazards to prevent lead poisoning.     

Soy,Soy Isoflavones,and Protein Intake in Relation to Mortality from All Causes,Cancers, and Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

ObjectiveWe conducted a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective studies to summarize findings on the associations between intakes of soy, soy isoflavones, and soy protein and risk of mortality from all causes, cancers, and cardiovascular diseases.MethodsOnline databases were systematically searched to identify relevant articles published earlier than May 2018. We applied restricted cubic splines using random-effects analysis to assess dose–response associations. Between-study heterogeneity was assessed by I² value and Cochrane Q test. Potential publication bias was assessed by visual inspection of funnel plots and Begg regression test.ResultsIn total, 23 prospective studies with an overall sample size of 330,826 participants were included in the current systematic review and the meta-analysis. Soy/soy products consumption was inversely associated with deaths from cancers (pooled relative risk 0.88, 95% CI 0.79 to 0.99; P=0.03; I²=47.1%, 95% CI 0.0% to 75.4%) and cardiovascular diseases (pooled effect size: 0.85, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.99; P=0.04; I²=50.0%, 95% CI 0.0% to 77.6%). Such significant associations were also observed for all-cause mortality in some subgroups of the included studies, particularly those with higher quality. In addition, higher intake of soy was associated with decreased risk of mortality from gastric, colorectal, and lung cancers as well as ischemic cardiovascular diseases. Participants in the highest category of dietary soy isoflavones intake had a 10% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with those in the lowest category. We also found that a 10-mg/day increase in intake of soy isoflavones was associated with 7% and 9% decreased risk of mortality from all cancers and also breast cancer respectively. Furthermore, a 12% reduction in breast cancer death was indicated for each 5-g/day increase in consumption of soy protein. However, intake of soy protein was not significantly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular diseases mortality.ConclusionsSoy and its isoflavones may favorably influence risk of mortality. In addition, soy protein intake was associated with a decreased risk in the mortality of breast cancer. Our findings may support the current recommendations to increase intake of soy for greater longevity.     

Biallelic Pathogenic GFRA1 Variants Cause Autosomal Recessive Bilateral Renal Agenesis

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