Towards harmonised procedures in wildlife epidemiological investigations: A serosurvey of infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related agents in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Switzerland

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a (re-)emerging disease in European countries, including Switzerland. This study assesses the seroprevalence of infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related agents in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Switzerland, because wild boar are potential maintenance hosts of these pathogens. The study employs harmonised laboratory methods to facilitate comparison with the situation in other countries. Eighteen out of 743 blood samples tested seropositive (2.4%, CI: 1.5-3.9%) by ELISA, and the results for 61 animals previously assessed using culture and PCR indicated that this serological test was not 100% specific for M. bovis, cross-reacting with M. microti. Nevertheless, serology appears to be an appropriate test methodology in the harmonisation of wild boar testing throughout Europe. In accordance with previous findings, the low seroprevalence found in wild boar suggests wildlife is an unlikely source of the M. bovis infections recently detected in cattle in Switzerland. This finding contrasts with the epidemiological situation pertaining in southern Spain.

Low correlation between self-report and medical record documentation of urinary tract infection symptoms.

BACKGROUND Correlations between symptom documentation in medical records and patient self-report (SR) vary depending on the condition studied. Patient symptoms are particularly important in urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis, and this correlation for UTI symptoms is currently unknown. METHODS This is a cross-sectional survey study in hospitalized patients with Escherichia coli bacteriuria. Patients were interviewed within 24 hours of diagnosis for the SR of UTI symptoms. We reviewed medical records for UTI symptoms documented by admitting or treating inpatient physicians (IPs), nurses (RNs), and emergency physicians (EPs). The level of agreement between groups was assessed using Cohen κ coefficient. RESULTS Out of 43 patients, 34 (79%) self-reported at least 1 of 6 primary symptoms. The most common self-reported symptoms were urinary frequency (53.5%); retention (41.9%); flank pain, suprapubic pain, and fatigue (37.2% each); and dysuria (30.2%). Correlation between SR and medical record documentation was slight to fair (κ, 0.06-0.4 between SR and IPs and 0.09-0.5 between SR and EDs). Positive agreement was highest for dysuria and frequency. CONCLUSION Correlation between self-reported UTI symptoms and health care providers' documentation was low to fair. Because medical records are a vital source of information for clinicians and researchers and symptom assessment and documentation are vital in distinguishing UTI from asymptomatic bacteriuria, efforts must be made to improve documentation.

Adenovirus-36 infection and obesity related hormones in children

Obesity has a complex, multi-factorial etiology. Infectious agents have recently emerged as a possible contributor to the current obesity epidemic. Seven viruses have demonstrated an association with obesity in animals; however, Adenovirus-36 (Ad-36) is the only known virus associated with obesity in humans. The primary aim of this research was to determine the association between Ad-36 infection and the expression of obesity related hormones in children. Additionally, this study proposed to compare the mean three year change in the level of obesity related hormones between Ad-36 positive and negative children. This study utilized pilot data collected from 98 children at baseline and year three of the Project Heartbeat! cohort. Fasting serum samples were analyzed for the concentration of adiponectin, insulin and leptin. The crude analysis uncovered Ad-36 positive children had significantly lower mean concentrations of insulin (p=0.039) and leptin (p=0.038) at baseline compared to Ad-36 negative children. The results of the adjusted analysis indicated the leptin association with Ad-36 infection at baseline was statistically significant even after controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, and BMI percentile. The longitudinal evaluation revealed individuals with a history of Ad-36 infection experienced a larger mean decrease in adiponectin, a larger mean increase in leptin, and a smaller mean increase in insulin levels over a three year period compared to individuals without a history of infection. These results suggest Ad-36 infection may produce changes in hormone expression. The only statistically significant findings in the crude and adjusted longitudinal analysis occurred at baseline when the children were younger, suggesting physical changes that occur during sexual maturation may mask or enhance Ad-36 induced changes in hormone expression. Furthermore, the longitudinal analysis revealed the duration and course of Ad-36 infection may influence changes in the expression of obesity-related hormones. Taken together, the results of this pilot study are suggestive of an association between Ad-36 infection and the expression of obesity-related hormones.^

Cloud Computing Service for Managing Large Medical Image Data-Sets Using Balanced Collaborative Agents

Managing large medical image collections is an increasingly demanding important issue in many hospitals and other medical settings. A huge amount of this information is daily generated, which requires robust and agile systems. In this paper we present a distributed multi-agent system capable of managing very large medical image datasets. In this approach, agents extract low-level information from images and store them in a data structure implemented in a relational database. The data structure can also store semantic information related to images and particular regions. A distinctive aspect of our work is that a single image can be divided so that the resultant sub-images can be stored and managed separately by different agents to improve performance in data accessing and processing. The system also offers the possibility of applying some region-based operations and filters on images, facilitating image classification. These operations can be performed directly on data structures in the database.

Natural and experimental oral infection of nonhuman primates by bovine spongiform encephalopathy agents

Experimental lemurs either were infected orally with the agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or were maintained as uninfected control animals. Immunohistochemical examination for proteinase-resistant protein (prion protein or PrP) was performed on tissues from two infected but still asymptomatic lemurs, killed 5 months after infection, and from three uninfected control lemurs. Control tissues showed no staining, whereas PrP was detected in the infected animals in tonsil, gastrointestinal tract and associated lymphatic tissues, and spleen. In addition, PrP was detected in ventral and dorsal roots of the cervical spinal cord, and within the spinal cord PrP could be traced in nerve tracts as far as the cerebral cortex. Similar patterns of PrP immunoreactivity were seen in two symptomatic and 18 apparently healthy lemurs in three different French primate centers, all of which had been fed diets supplemented with a beef protein product manufactured by a British company that has since ceased to include beef in its veterinary nutritional products. This study of BSE-infected lemurs early in their incubation period extends previous pathogenesis studies of the distribution of infectivity and PrP in natural and experimental scrapie. The similarity of neuropathology and PrP immunostaining patterns in experimentally infected animals to those observed in both symptomatic and asymptomatic animals in primate centers suggests that BSE contamination of zoo animals may have been more widespread than is generally appreciated.

Color aerial view of Medical campus, incl. "Old Main" Hospital, mid 1960s?

side 2

Composite photo, Medical School Class of 1996 (new revised print, incl. Sharin Sakurai)

also did a detail of small section showing 2 female grads, including Dr. Rose E. McCaughna. Saved with same hs number, add file name "detail"

Remarks on the uses of some of the bazaar medicines and common medical plants of India : with a full index of diseases, indicating their treatment by these and other agents procurable throughout India : to which are added directions for treatment in cases of drowning, snake-bites &c. /

Reprint. Originally published: 5th ed. London, J.&A. Churchill, 1897.

June 1899 photograph of members of the Medical School Class of 1901 (incl. Joshua Manwaring of Flint, MI)

On verso: Alice Hamilton in front row, fourth from left.

Focal infection; the Lane medical lectures,

Bibliography: p. 159-166.

Cytotoxicity of topical antimicrobial agents used in burn wounds in Australasia

Background: Burn sepsis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in patients with major burns. The use of topical antimicrobial agents has helped improve the survival of these patients. Silvazine (Sigma Pharmaceuticals, Melbourne, Australia) (1% silver sulphadiazine and 0.2% chlorhexidine digluconate) is used exclusively in Australasia, and there is no published study on its cytotoxicity. This study compared the relative cytotoxicity of Silvazine with 1% silver sulphadiazine (Flamazine (Smith & Nephew Healthcare. Hull. UK)) and a silver-based dressing (Acticoat (Smith & Nephew Healthcare, Hull, UK)). Methods: Dressings were applied to the centre of culture plates that were then seeded with keratinocytes at an estimated 25% confluence. The plates were incubated for 72 h and culture medium and dressings then removed. Toluidine blue was added to stain the remaining keratinocytes. Following removal of the dye, the plates were photographed under standard conditions and these digital images were analysed using image analysis software. Data was analysed using Student's t-test. Results: In the present study, Silvazine is the most cytotoxic agent. Seventy-two hour exposure to Silvazine in the present study results in almost no keratinocyte survival at all and a highly statistically significant reduction in cell survival relative to control, Acticoat and Flamazine (P

Disseminated Scedosporium prolificans infection and survival of a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Scedosporium prolificans is a saprophytic fungus responsible for an increasing number of infections among immumocompromised hosts. Historically, disseminated infection with this organism has resulted in death. We report on a pediatric patient who developed overwhelming S. prolificans sepsis after induction chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She is well 18 months after the diagnosis of fungal sepsis and continues to receive chemotherapy for leukemia, which remains in remission.