Epidemiology and cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations among patients with employer‐sponsored health insurance—United States, 2005–2014

An estimated 300,000 cases of Lyme disease occur in the United States annually. Disseminated Lyme disease may result in carditis, arthritis, facial palsy or meningitis, sometimes requiring hospitalization. We describe the epidemiology and cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations. We analysed 2005–2014 data from the Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Databases to identify inpatient records associated with Lyme disease based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM) codes. We estimated the annual number and median cost of Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations in the United States in persons under 65 years of age. Costs were adjusted to reflect 2016 dollars. Of 20,983,165 admission records contained in the inpatient databases during the study period, 2,823 (0.01%) met inclusion criteria for Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations. Over half of the identified records contained an ICD‐9‐CM code for meningitis (n = 614), carditis (n = 429), facial palsy (n = 400) or arthritis (n = 377). Nearly 60% of hospitalized patients were male. The median cost per Lyme disease‐related hospitalization was $11,688 (range: $140–$323,613). The manifestation with the highest median cost per stay was carditis ($17,461), followed by meningitis ($15,177), arthritis ($13,012) and facial palsy ($10,491). Median cost was highest among the 15‐ to 19‐year‐old age group ($12,991). Admissions occurring in January had the highest median cost ($13,777) for all study years. Based on extrapolation to the U.S. population, we estimate that 2,196 Lyme disease‐related hospitalizations in persons under 65 years of age occur annually with an estimated annual cost of $25,826,237. Lyme disease is usually treated in an outpatient setting; however, some patients with Lyme disease require hospitalization, underscoring the need for effective prevention methods to mitigate these serious cases. Information from this analysis can aid economic evaluations of interventions that prevent infection and advances in disease detection.     

Use of advanced recombinant lines to study the impact and potential of mutations affecting starch synthesis in barley

The effects on barley starch and grain properties of four starch synthesis mutations were studied during the introgression of the mutations from diverse backgrounds into an elite variety. The lys5f (ADPglucose transporter), wax (granule-bound starch synthase), isa1 (debranching enzyme isoamylase 1) and sex6 (starch synthase IIa) mutations were introgressed into NFC Tipple to give mutant and wild-type BC₂F₄ families with different genomic contributions of the donor parent. Comparison of starch and grain properties between the donor parents, the BC₂F₄ families and NFC Tipple allowed the effects of the mutations to be distinguished from genetic background effects. The wax and sex6 mutations had marked effects on starch properties regardless of genetic background. The sex6 mutation conditioned low grain weight and starch content, but the wax mutation did not. The lys5 mutation conditioned low grain weight and starch content, but exceptionally high β-glucan contents. The isa1 mutation promotes synthesis of soluble α-glucan (phytoglycogen). Its introgression into NFC Tipple increased grain weight and total α-glucan content relative to the donor parent, but reduced the ratio of phytoglycogen to starch. This study shows that introgression of mutations into a common, commercial background provides new insights that could not be gained from the donor parent.     

VH1-44 gene usage defines a subset of canine B-cell lymphomas associated with better patient survival

The use of specific immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (VH) genes has been associated with increased patient survival in human B-cell lymphomas (hBCL). Given the similarity of human and canine BCL (cBCL) in morphology and clinical treatment, we examined the choice of VH in cBCL and determined whether VH gene selection was a distinct feature associated with survival time in dogs. VH gene selection and mutational status in 52 cBCL, including 29 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (cDLBCL, the most common subtype of cBCL), were analyzed by comparison with the 80 published canine germline VH gene sequences. We further examined the prognostic impact of the subgroups defined by these features on canine survival. We found that VH1-44 was preferentially expressed in the majority of the 52 cBCLs (60%) as well as in the majority of the cDLBCL subset (59%). VH1-44 gene expression was associated with a statistically better overall survival (p = 0.039) in cBCL patients, as well as in the cDLBCL subset of patients (p = 0.038). These findings suggest that VH gene selection in cBCL is not random and may therefore have functional implications for cBCL lymphomagenesis, in addition to being a useful prognostic biomarker.     

Evaluating a novel analgesic strategy for ring castration of ram lambs

Objective To evaluate the analgesic efficacy of the NSAIDs flunixin and meloxicam administered locally to the scrotum before ring castration. Study design Randomised, controlled, prospective study. Animals Forty eight single born male Merino lambs. Methods Lambs, aged approximately 4 weeks, were allocated to four groups for castration. Groups were: sham control; castration + saline; castration + flunixin; castration + meloxicam. Drugs (5 mL) were administered subcutaneously around the circumference of the scrotum immediately before castration. Cortisol, rectal temperature, haematology and plasma haptoglobin were measured before and up to 48 hours after treatment. Behaviour recorded by video for 12 hours after treatment was classified as pain avoidance behaviours in the first hour and postural behaviours in three 4 hour intervals. Results Ring castration (saline group) induced a bi‐phasic increase in cortisol with peaks at 90 minutes and 24 hours but no significant changes in haematology, haptoglobin or rectal temperature. Pain avoidance behaviours were increased and teat seeking decreased. Normal lying and normal standing postures were decreased and abnormal ventral lying, statue standing, abnormal standing and total abnormal postures increased. Flunixin decreased cortisol at 90 minutes (60.3 versus 117.3 nmol L^?1) and cortisol AUC (0–6 hours), decreased elevated leg movement (2.5 versus 5.4 events) and sum of pain avoidance behaviours (8.5 versus 16.7 events), improved time spent in normal ventral lying and decreased abnormal ventral lying and total abnormal postures compared to saline treated lambs. In a similar contrast, meloxicam caused non‐significant decreases in cortisol at 90 minutes, cortisol AUC (0–6 hours) and pain avoidance behaviours, and significantly improved the postural behaviours normal ventral lying (26.7 versus 15.4%) and normal standing (13.9 versus 7.5%), and reduced abnormal standing and total abnormal postures. Physiological and behavioural responses associated with ring castration for both NSAID treatment groups were generally greater than sham controls. Conclusions and clinical relevance Locally administered NSAIDs provided partial analgesia for ring castration.     

Genetic regulation of conidiation in Trichoderma hamatun

Achieving a balance between vegetative growth and spore production is essential for successful biocontrol by fungi. Low sporulation rates in the field can result in poor establishment and survival,whereas failure of conidia to recognise hosts can lead to persistence without efficacy. Commercial biocontrol products involve bulk preparations of conidia, however considerable variability in conidiation rates exists between biocontrol agents, which can restrict choice of strain for production. The majority of studies on Trichoderma conidiation have focused on the species T. viride and T. atroviride.These species form conidia in response to blue and near-UV light and/or nutrient deprivation and conidiation proceeds in a highly co-ordinated fashion, however relatively little is known on the genetic basis of Trichoderrma conidiation. In addition, whilst photoconidiation appears to be a general response detailed studies in other Trichoderma species are absent. In this study, conidiation in the lesser known biocontrol species T. hamatum is being investigated using a combined morphological and molecular approach. In contrast to T. atroviride, conidiation in response to blue-light was weaker and variable and suggested that additional triggers may be required for the T. hamatum photoresponse. A series of comparative photoconidiation assays are currently being undertaken investigating the effect of inoculum type and abiotic factors on timing and intensity of the response.Results will be discussed in relation to the current knowledge on conidial morphogenesis in Trichoderma. In addition to these morphological assays, a selection of genes implicated in sporulation and the blue-light responses are currently being isolated and characterised from T. hamatum. Two genes, phr1 and cmp1 , which were isolated previously from T. atroviride will be used as early and late markers of gene expression during the photoresponse in T. hamatum in order to define time points for harvesting comparable stage-specific RNA from T. hamatum and T. atroviride. Using degenerate PCR putative sporulation gene orthologues have also been identified in T. hamatum.Work is currently underway to isolate genomic clones of these genes from T. hamatum and T.atroviride. Sequence and expression analysis of orthologues, including expression in response to abiotic factors will be presented and discussed in relation to the current knowledge of the molecular basis of conidiation in Trichoderma and other filamentous fungi.……     

An experimental test of the habitat amount hypothesis reveals little effect of habitat area but transient or indirect effects of fragmentation on local species richness

Landscape Ecology - The habitat amount hypothesis (HAH) posits that local species richness is driven more by the amount of habitat in the surrounding landscape than by local patch size or habitat...     

MET amplification leads to gefitinib resistance in lung cancer by activating ERBB3 signaling

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib are effective treatments for lung cancers with EGFR activating mutations, but these tumors invariably develop drug resistance. Here, we describe a gefitinib-sensitive lung cancer cell line that developed resistance to gefitinib as a result of focal amplification of the MET proto-oncogene. inhibition of MET signaling in these cells restored their sensitivity to gefitinib. MET amplification was detected in 4 of 18 (22%) lung cancer specimens that had developed resistance to gefitinib or erlotinib. We find that amplification of MET causes gefitinib resistance by driving ERBB3 (HER3)-dependent activation of PI3K, a pathway thought to be specific to EGFR/ERBB family receptors. Thus, we propose that MET amplification may promote drug resistance in other ERBB-driven cancers as well.     

Ultrasonographic imaging of the sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) intertarsal joint.

Tendon ossification in the crus and tarsometatarsal regions of cranes makes ultrasonography difficult everywhere except for joints, where ossification is absent. Normal ultrasonographic anatomy of the adult Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis) intertarsal joint is described on the basis of ultrasonography that was performed on the limbs of a cadaver, which were dissected and cross-sectioned subsequently, to correlate ultrasonographic images with anatomic structures. Intertarsal joints of five normal sandhill cranes and two cranes with known intertarsal abnormalities were then imaged bilaterally in transverse and sagittal planes. Ultrasonographic imaging can be used to evaluate the soft-tissue structures on the dorsal and plantar aspects of the intertarsal joint of cranes, and it is a useful adjunct to physical and radiographic examination for localizing injuries to this area.     

Cytochrome P-450 in insects. 6. Age dependency and phenobarbital induction of cytochrome P-450, P-450 reductase,and monooxygenase activities in susceptible and resistant strains of Musca domestica

Development and phenobarbital (PB) induction of microsomal cytochrome P-450, cytochrome P-450 reductase, two epoxidation, and two O-demethylation activities were examined in chronologically timed populations of insecticide-susceptible (NAIDM) and -resistant (Rutgers) house flies. Measurements of these enzymes started with the pharate adult stage and ended 5 days following eclosion. Untreated insects of both strains had comparable reductase levels, whereas cytochrome P-450 and associated monooxygenase activities were 1.5-fold or more higher in Rutgers. Maximum induction, as well as toxicity, occurred at a lower PB concentration in NAIDM than Rutgers. The drug caused consistently higher increases in enzymes and activities within 12 hr of starting treatment in both strains. When PB was withdrawn from treated flies (both strains) 48 hr after treatment began, specific activities (product min^?1 mg protein^?1) in all enzymes returned to control values in 24 hr while metabolic capacity (product min^?1 insect^?1) achieved control values within 48 hr. The changes in turnover numbers (pmol product min^?1 pmol P-450^?1), in conjunction with the differences in the monooxygenation of the four substrates, suggest that PB treatment induced both a quantitative and qualitative change in NAIDM monooxygenation but only a quantitative change in Rutgers monooxygenation.     

Parasitologic analyses of the sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) at Beza Mahafaly, Madagascar.

A cross-sectional parasitologic survey of a population of wild sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi verreauxi) was conducted at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve in southwest Madagascar. Ninety fecal samples were collected from thirty 1- to 30-yr-old male and female sifakas, and the formalin-preserved and polyvinyl alcohol-preserved specimens were examined using the zinc sulfate flotation and formalin-ethyl acetate sedimentation techniques. No intestinal parasites were recovered, possibly because the sifakas are arboreal in a dry, riverine habitat and lack human contact. Low rates of parasitic infection may have contributed to the evolution of later age at first reproduction and longer reproductive lifespan, for body mass, in Propithecus compared with other placental mammals.