ONRAB® oral rabies vaccine is shed from,but does not persist in,captive mammals

ONRAB® is a human adenovirus rabies glycoprotein recombinant vaccine developed to control rabies in wildlife. To support licensing and widespread use of the vaccine, safety studies are needed to assess its potential residual impact on wildlife populations. We examined the persistence of the ONRAB® vaccine virus in captive rabies vector and non-target mammals. This research complements work on important rabies vector species (raccoon, striped skunk, and red fox) but also adds to previous findings with the addition of some non-target species (Virginia opossum, Norway rats, and cotton rats) and a prolonged period of post vaccination monitoring (41 days). Animals were directly inoculated orally with the vaccine and vaccine shedding was monitored using quantitative real-time PCR applied to oral and rectal swabs. ONRAB® DNA was detected in both oral and rectal swabs from 6 h to 3 days post-inoculation in most animals, followed by a resurgence of shedding between days 17 and 34 in some species. Overall, the duration over which ONRAB® DNA was detectable was shorter for non-target mammals, and by day 41, no animal had detectable DNA in either oral or rectal swabs. All target species, as well as cotton rats and laboratory-bred Norway rats, developed robust humoral immune responses as measured by competitive ELISA, with all individuals being seropositive at day 31. Similarly, opossums showed good response (89% seropositive; 8/9), whereas only one of nine wild caught Norway rats was seropositive at day 31. These results support findings of other safety studies suggesting that ONRAB® does not persist in vector and non-target mammals exposed to the vaccine. As such, we interpret these data to reflect a low risk of adverse effects to wild populations following distribution of ONRAB® to control sylvatic rabies.     

Pineal atrophy and other neuroendocrine and circumventricular features of the naked mole-rat,heterocephalusglaber (Rüppell), a fossorial,equatorial rodent

Summary Quantitative aspects of the microanatomy of the pineal gland and other neuroendocrine and circumventricular structures were studied in a small, reproductively suppressed, female Naked Mole-rat from central Kenya, Africa. The atrophic pineal is the smallest in absolute size (0.002135 mm³) of any so far described in a species of rodent, and in size relative to body weight is second only to that of another tropical species. The subcommissural organ and posterior collicular recess are also relatively small and less well differentiated than those in most other examined rodent species. In contrast, the subfornical organ, OVLT and median eminence are large and well vascularized. It is concluded that the pineal in this species follows the previously described trend among rodents of relatively smaller size in species whose centers of distribution are in lower latitudes. Although the pineal is atrophic, the Naked Mole-rat still exhibits 24-hour and seasonally timed patterns of behavior and seasonal reproduction. However, in this species these events are probably cued by moisture, temperature and social factors rather than by photic information.     

大型饲料厂鼠害防制研究

目的：对环境复杂，基础设施陈旧的大型饲料厂进行鼠害防治研究；方法：在了解大型饲料厂的环境特点及该环境下鼠类的生态特点的基础上，车间及仓库投放0．005％的溴敌隆毒水，外环境投放0．005％的大隆新鲜甜玉米毒饵进行灭鼠；结果：防制措施实施10d后，鼠密度从75．74％降至3．89％；结论：根据鼠的主要生态习性及其生活环境特点，采用投放抗凝血灭鼠药为主的防制办法，完全可以在即不停产不清库的情况下有效地控制大型饲料厂的鼠害。     

Treatment of Status Epilepticus in Adults: Guidelines of the Italian League Against Epilepsy

Summary:  Status epilepticus (SE) is a medical emergency which can lead to significant morbidity and mortality and requires prompt diagnosis and treatment. SE is differentiated into generalized or partial SE on the basis of its electro-clinical manifestations. The guidelines for the management of SE produced by the Italian League against Epilepsy also distinguish three different stages of SE (initial, established and refractory), based on time elapsed since the onset of the condition and responsiveness to previously administered drugs. Treatment should be started as soon as possible, particularly in generalized convulsive SE, and should include general support measures, drugs to suppress epileptic activity and, whenever possible, treatments aimed at relieving the underlying (causative) condition. Benzodiazepines are the first line antiepileptic agents, and i.v. lorazepam is generally preferred because it is associated with a lower risk of early relapses. If benzodiazepines fail to control seizures, i.v. phenytoin is usually indicated, though i.v. phenobarbital or i.v. valproate may also be considered. Refractory SE requires admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) to allow adequate monitoring and support of respiratory, metabolic and hemodynamic functions and cerebral electrical activity. In refractory SE, general anesthesia may be required. Propofol and thiopental represent first line agents in this setting, after careful assessment of potential risks and benefits.     

伊曲康唑不良反应的国内文献综述

目的：了解伊曲康唑的不良反应及安全性。资料与方法：手工检索《中华皮肤科杂志》等3种中文专业期刊，从对照试验的文献中提取治疗例数和各种不良反应例数，计算发生率。结果：共有14725例涉及有关安全性的报道。伊曲康唑不良反应总的发生率约为1．57％。结论：伊曲康唑较为安全。     

Analgesic and antipyretic effects of Ecballium elaterium (L.) A. Richard. Extract in rodents

The dried (elaterium) or fresh juice from Ecballium elaterium fruit is used in the treatment of various inflammatory conditions in popular medicine. In this study the elaterium is examined for its analgesic and antipyretic effects in several animal models. The elaterium exhibits both analgesic and antipyretic activities.     

Expression of the beta-nerve growth factor gene in male sex organs of the mouse, rat, and guinea pig.

Steady-state nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA levels were estimated in male sex organs of the mouse, rat, and guinea pig by RNA blot hybridization analysis. The abundance of NGF mRNAs was in the order vas deferens greater than epididymis greater than or equal to seminal vesicles much greater than testis. NGF mRNA levels in these organs were compared with those estimated for other rat peripheral tissues and were found to correlate with the density of their sympathetic innervation, with the exception of guinea pig prostate. Castration had no significant effect on NGF mRNA levels in the guinea pig prostate, suggesting that NGF synthesis in this tissue is not under direct androgen control. NGF-like and proNGF-like immunoreactivities were localized by immunohistochemical techniques in the secretory cells of the glandular epithelium of the guinea pig prostate and in germ cells in the seminiferous tubules of the mouse testis.     

Detection of human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 E4 gene products in condylomata acuminatum.

Polyclonal antiserum to an Escherichia coli-produced beta-galactosidase/E4 fusion protein of human papillomavirus type 6b (antiserum 256), and affinity purified HPV 11 anti-E4 antibodies were tested for reactivity in Western blots with bacterially expressed trpE/E4 fusion proteins of HPV types 6b, 11, 16, and 18. To further characterize the affinity purified anti-E4 antibodies, a dot-immunobinding assay was performed using overlapping synthetic HPV 11 E1E4 peptides as antigens. Protein extracts of condylomata acuminatum from 18 patients containing HPV type 6 or 11 DNA sequences were tested in Western blots using antiserum 256 or affinity purified HPV 11 anti-E4 antibodies. In the Western blots of the trpE proteins, antiserum 256 identified the HPV types 6b and 11 fusion proteins; the affinity purified HPV 11 anti-E4 antibodies identified only the HPV 11 fusion protein. In the dot-immunobinding assay, three HPV 11 peptides were recognized, each containing a shared 8 amino acid sequence that differs significantly from the corresponding sequences of HPV types 6b, 16, or 18. In the Western blots of protein extracts from 18 condylomata acuminatum samples shown to contain HPV types 6 or 11 DNA, putative E4 gene products were identified in six samples by antiserum 256. The affinity purified HPV 11 anti-E4 antibodies identified putative E4 gene products in one of these same six lesions, which was shown to contain HPV 11 sequences by the Southern blot method. All six samples containing E4 gene products were from women. Three of these women were pregnant, one had serum antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus, and one was a renal transplant recipient receiving glucocorticoids.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)