Mutations in the G-H loop region of ephrin-B2 can enhance Nipah virus binding and infection.

Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV) are zoonotic paramyxoviruses classified in the genus Henipavirus of the family Paramyxoviridae. The entry of henipaviruses occurs through a pH-independent membrane-fusion mechanism mediated by the cooperation of the viral attachment (G) and fusion (F) envelope glycoproteins following virion binding to susceptible host cells. Virus attachment is mediated by the interaction of the G glycoprotein with ephrin-B2 or ephrin-B3, which were identified as the functional receptors of henipavirus.

Yin Yang 1 expression and localisation in quadriceps muscle in COPD.

Introduction: Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a transcriptional repressor that inhibits muscle gene expression and myogenesis. YY1 has not previously been investigated in the skeletal muscle of patients with COPD. The aims of this study were to investigate YY1 expression and localisation in the quadriceps muscle of COPD patients compared to healthy age-matched controls, and examine the relationship between YY1 expression and localisation and quadriceps muscle fibre cross-sectional area (CSA) in COPD patients.

Differences in leg bone geometry in young, old and very old women.

Bone geometry is an important measure of bone strength and is known to be affected by weight-bearing and adult ageing. Engagement in weight-bearing activity decreases with age, thus in this study we compared bone geometry changes between weight-bearing (tibia) and non-weight-bearing (fibula) leg bones in three different age groups of women. Magnetic resonance images of the right leg were acquired in 9 young (20-27 years), 7 old (61-69 years) and 7 very old (71-80 years) women.

Initial and continued adherence with bladder cancer screening in an occupationally exposed cohort.

Objective: To identify significant predictors of initial and repeated adherence with bladder cancer screening in a high-risk occupationally exposed cohort.

Methods: We analyzed longitudinal (13 years) health survey data and a cross-sectional behavioral health survey from the Drake Health Registry Study. Construct validity of the behavioral health survey scales was evaluated using factor analysis.

Fiber glass exposure and human respiratory system cancer risk: lack of evidence persists since 2001 IARC re-evaluation.

Objective: To determine whether IARC's 2001 decision to downgrade the classification of insulation glass wool from Group 2B to Group 3 remains valid in light of epidemiological evidence reported after 2001.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of epidemiological evidence regarding respiratory cancer risks in relation to man-made vitreous fiber (MMVF) exposure before and after the 2001 IARC re-evaluation with focus on glass wool exposure and respiratory system cancer.

Results: Since 2001, three new community-based, case-control studies, two detailed analyses of existing cohort studies and two reviews/meta-analyses were published.

Interferon signaling remains functional during henipavirus infection of human cell lines.

Henipaviruses encode several proteins from the P gene, of which V and W have been demonstrated by gene-based transfection studies to antagonize the innate immune response, blocking both type I interferon production and signaling. This study examines the effects of henipavirus infection on the innate immune response in human cell lines. We report that henipavirus infection does not result in interferon production, with the virus antagonizing this response.

Type III IFNs in pteropid bats: differential expression patterns provide evidence for distinct roles in antiviral immunity.

Bats are known to harbor a number of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viruses, many of which are highly pathogenic in other mammals but result in no clinical symptoms in bats. The ability of bats to coexist with viruses may be the result of rapid control of viral replication early in the immune response. IFNs provide the first line of defense against viral infection in vertebrates.

Advances and current themes in occupational health and environmental public health surveillance.

The essential purpose of public health surveillance is to monitor important health outcomes and risk factors and provide actionable information to practitioners, policy makers, researchers, and the public to prevent or ameliorate exposure, disease, and death. Although separate 1970s-era acts of Congress made possible the creation of modern occupational health and environmental public health surveillance, these acts also led to fragmented responsibilities and unconnected data across federal agencies. Having a well-defined purpose for systematically collecting relevant data is key, and state and local programs play a crucial role in conducting meaningful surveillance and connecting it with evidence-based outreach and interventions.

A case of myositis ossificans in the upper cervical spine of a young child.

Study Design: Case report.

Objective: We present a case of myositis ossificans (MO) of the upper cervical spine in a young child. The literature is reviewed with the classification, etiology, and treatment of MO discussed.

Genome sequence conservation of Hendra virus isolates during spillover to horses, Australia.

Bat-to-horse transmission of Hendra virus has occurred at least 14 times. Although clinical signs in horses have differed, genome sequencing has demonstrated little variation among the isolates. Our sequencing of 5 isolates from recent Hendra virus outbreaks in horses found no correlation between sequences and time or geographic location of outbreaks.

Long-term health experience of jet engine manufacturing workers: IV. A comparison of central nervous system cancer ascertainment using mortality and incidence data.

Purpose: To compare ascertainment of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms with the use of mortality and incidence data as part of an occupational epidemiology study.

Methods: Deaths were identified by matching the cohort of 223,894 jet engine manufacturing employees to the U.S.

Incomplete follow-up in the National Cancer Institute's formaldehyde worker study and the impact on subsequent reanalyses and causal evaluations.

Three of us (G.M., A.

Long-term health experience of jet engine manufacturing workers: III. Incidence of malignant central nervous system neoplasms.

Objective: To explore a perceived unusual occurrence of glioblastoma at one jet engine manufacturing facility located in North Haven (NH), Connecticut (CT).

Methods: Subjects were 212,513 workers ever employed in 1 of 8 manufacturing facilities from 1952 to 2001 and at risk from 1976 to 2004. We identified 722 cases of CNS neoplasms mainly by tracing through 19 state cancer registries.

Characterization of an abundant and novel methyl- and methoxy-substituted brominated diphenyl ether isolated from whale blubber.

A previously unidentified yet abundant substituted polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) was isolated from a northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) found dead in the Skagerrak, North Sea. A combination of gas chromatography, high and low resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) ((1)H, (1)H-(1)H and (1)H-(13)C) after isolation with preparative capillary gas chromatography (PCGC) lead to the identification of the unknown substance as 6-MeO-5-Me-2,2',3,4'-tetrabromo diphenyl ether (6-MeO-5-Me-BDE42). To our knowledge this is only the second time PCGC has been used to isolate individual organohalogen compounds present in trace amounts for identification with NMR.

Complex antioxidant blend improves memory in community-dwelling seniors.

One hundred thirteen community dwelling subjects between the ages of 50 and 75 without dementia were recruited. A blind administrator randomly assigned 54 subjects to placebo and 59 to active treatment groups. The active treatment consisted of four months treatment with a complex antioxidant blend.

Effects of ammonium chloride ingestion on phosphocreatine metabolism during moderate- and heavy-intensity plantar-flexion exercise.

This study examined the effects of NH(4)Cl ingestion on phosphocreatine (PCr) metabolism during 9 min of moderate- (MOD) and heavy- (HVY) intensity constant-load isotonic plantar-flexion exercise. Healthy young adult male subjects (n = 8) completed both a control (CON) and NH(4)Cl ingestion (ACID) trial. Phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy was used to monitor changes in intracellular pH (pHi), [Pi], [PCr], and [ATP].

Establishment, immortalisation and characterisation of pteropid bat cell lines.

Background: Bats are the suspected natural reservoir hosts for a number of new and emerging zoonotic viruses including Nipah virus, Hendra virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Ebola virus. Since the discovery of SARS-like coronaviruses in Chinese horseshoe bats, attempts to isolate a SL-CoV from bats have failed and attempts to isolate other bat-borne viruses in various mammalian cell lines have been similarly unsuccessful. New stable bat cell lines are needed to help with these investigations and as tools to assist in the study of bat immunology and virus-host interactions.

Anxiety, depression and quality of life among Chinese breast cancer patients during adjuvant therapy.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine anxiety and depression and their effects on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used. Data were collected from a self-report survey derived from the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-Cantonese/Chinese version, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for Breast Cancer (FACT-B)-Chinese version, and from demographic and clinical characteristics.

Pharmaceutical production workers and the risks of mortality from respiratory system cancer and lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue cancers.

Objectives: To evaluate further elevated mortality risks from respiratory system cancer (RSC) and lymphatic and hematopoietic tissue cancers (LHTC) in a cohort of 1466 male workers employed full-time in pharmaceutical production.

Methods: We computed standardized mortality ratios, and in nested case-control studies of RSC and LHTC, evaluated mortality risks by plant exposures with adjustment for potential confounding factors.

Results: Subjects with potential plant exposure had no elevated RSC risk and a statistically significant LHTC excess.

The symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression and the effect on the quality of life of women receiving treatment for breast cancer: a multicenter study.

Purpose/objectives: To examine the symptom cluster of fatigue, pain, anxiety, and depression and its effect on the quality of life (QOL) of women receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy for breast cancer.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: Oncology outpatient sections of four public hospitals in Hong Kong.

Mortality patterns among workers exposed to arsenic, cadmium, and other substances in a copper smelter.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term mortality experience of workers exposed to arsenic, cadmium, and other substances at a copper mine and smelter in Copperhill, Tennessee studied earlier as part of an industry-wide study.

Methods: Subjects were 2,422 male workers employed three or more years in the smelter or mill between 1/1/46 until the plant strike and scale-down of operations in April 1996. Vital status was determined through 2000 for 99.

Geometry of a weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing bone in the legs of young, old, and very old men.

Bone geometry is an important determinant of bone strength and is influenced by muscle pull and weight-bearing. Muscle mass and exposure to weight-bearing decrease with age and thus the purpose of the study was to compare bone geometry of the weight-bearing (tibia) and non-weight-bearing (fibula) bones of the leg in different age groups. Magnetic resonance images of the right leg were acquired in 13 young (26 yr), 13 old (66 yr), and 13 very old men (83 yr).