Molecular and niche modeling approaches to identify potential amplifying hosts for an emerging tick-borne pathogen, Rickettsia rickettsii subsp. californica, the causative agent of Pacific Coast tick fever.

Pacific Coast tick fever is a recently described zoonotic disease in California caused by a spotted fever group rickettsia, Rickettsia rickettsii subsp. californica (formerly Rickettsia 364D) and transmitted by the Pacific Coast tick, Dermacentor occidentalis. Like many emerging vector-borne diseases, knowledge regarding the transmission cycle, contribution from potential amplifying hosts, and geographic distribution of R.

Potential to reduce margins and Shrink targets in patients with intact cervical cancer treated on An MRI guided radiation therapy (MRgRT) system.

Introduction: Consensus contouring guidelines for intensity-modulated-radiation-therapy (IMRT) of patients with locally advanced cervix cancer (LACC) advise including the whole uterus in the target volume and adding generous planning-target-volumes (PTVs) to account for motion uncertainties of the gross-tumor-volume (GTV). The primary objective of this analysis was to assess the interfractional GTV motions using a magnetic-resonance-image (MRI) guided-Radiation-Therapy (MRgRT) system to investigate the margins required for MRgRT treatments.

Methods: 125 daily set-up MRIs from five patients with LACC who received MRgRT were analyzed.

Rickettsia rickettsii subsp. californica subsp. nov., the etiologic agent of Pacific Coast tick fever.

The etiologic agent of Pacific Coast tick fever (PCTF), a moderately severe tickborne illness that resembles Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), was first isolated in 1966 from specimens of Dermacentor occidentalis (the Pacific Coast tick) obtained in California. For several decades, this bacterium was identified ambiguously as the unclassified spotted fever group Rickettsia species 364-D, Rickettsia 364, or Rickettsia philipii. However, none of these epithets satisfied criteria of formal bacterial nomenclature.

Modelling Adverse Events in Patients Receiving Chronic Oral Corticosteroids in the UK.

Background: Oral corticosteroids (OCS) are effective anti-inflammatory agents used across a range of conditions. However, substantial evidence associates their use with increased risks for adverse events (AEs), causing high burden on healthcare resources. Emerging biologics present as alternative agents, enabling the reduction of OCS use.