Outbreaks of pleuritis and peritonitis in calves associated with Pasteurella multocida capsular type B strain.

Case History: Three dairy calf-rearing properties experienced high mortality in calves during 2008 and 2009. Affected calves were aged 13-18 weeks (Farm I), 6 months (Farm II), and 2-11 weeks (Farm III), and the mortality rate was 22/175 (13%), 5/80 (6%), and 60/900 (7%), respectively.

Clinical And Laboratory Findings: Affected calves rapidly became moribund, were in respiratory distress, and had a fever (40-41°C).

Incidence of hepatitis-C among HIV infected men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a sexual health service: a cohort study.

Background: We aimed to determine the incidence of Hepatitis C (HCV) infection among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) attending a Sexual Health Centre.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out among HIV-infected MSM seen at least once between February 2002 and March 2010. The analysis was restricted to MSM who had had a negative HCV antibody test at least 6 months after their diagnosis for HIV.

'The difference in determinants of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium in a sample of young Australian women'.

Background: Differences in the determinants of Chlamydia trachomatis ('chlamydia') and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) genital infection in women are not well understood.

Methods: A cohort study of 16 to 25 year old Australian women recruited from primary health care clinics, aimed to determine chlamydia and MG prevalence and incidence. Vaginal swabs collected at recruitment were used to measure chlamydia and MG prevalence, organism-load and chlamydia-serovar a cross-sectional analysis undertaken on the baseline results is presented here.

Development and clinical validation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for the rapid detection of Neisseria meningitidis.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an innovative technique that allows the rapid detection of target nucleic acid sequences under isothermal conditions without the need for complex instrumentation. The development, optimization, and clinical validation of a LAMP assay targeting the ctrA gene for the rapid detection of capsular Neisseria meningitidis were described. Highly specific detection of capsular N.

Automated polysomnogram artifact compensation using the generalized singular value decomposition algorithm.

Manual/visual polysomnogram (psg) analysis is a standard and commonly implemented procedure utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep related human pathologies. Current technological trends in psg analysis focus upon translating manual psg analysis into automated/computerized approaches. A necessary first step in establishing efficient automated human sleep analysis systems is the development of reliable pre-processing tools to discriminate between outlier/artifact instances and data of interest.

The decriminalization of prostitution is associated with better coverage of health promotion programs for sex workers.

Objective: In order to assess whether the law has an impact on the delivery of health promotion services to sex workers, we compared health promotion programs in three Australian cities with different prostitution laws. The cities were Melbourne (brothels legalized if licensed, unlicensed brothels criminalized), Perth (criminalization of all forms of sex work) and Sydney (sex work largely decriminalized, without licensing).

Methods: We interviewed key informants and gave questionnaires to representative samples of female sex workers in urban brothels.

Estimating the number of unlicensed brothels operating in Melbourne.

Objective: To estimate the number of unlicensed brothels operating in Melbourne, Australia, and the sexual health of the women working in them.

Methods: Advertisements from Melbourne newspapers published in July 2006 were systematically analysed based on the language used to identify premises likely to be unlicensed brothels. A visit was made to each of the businesses where an address was available.

Biological determinants of immune reconstitution in HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy: the role of interleukin 7 and interleukin 7 receptor α and microbial translocation.

Background: Multiple host factors may influence CD4(+) T cell reconstitution in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients after suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). We hypothesized that residual immune activation and polymorphisms in the interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor α (IL-7Rα) gene were important for immune recovery.

Methods: We examined HIV-infected patients receiving suppressive ART (n = 96) for their IL-7Rα haplotypes and measured levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), soluble CD14, and IL-7 in plasma samples collected before and after ART initiation.

Young pregnant women's views on the acceptability of screening for chlamydia as part of routine antenatal care.

Background: In pregnancy, untreated chlamydia infection has been associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and infant. Like most women, pregnant women infected with chlamydia do not report genital symptoms, and are therefore unlikely to be aware of their infection. The aim of this study was to determine the acceptability of screening pregnant women aged 16-25 years for chlamydia as part of routine antenatal care.

Clinical validation of an autoantibody test for lung cancer.

Background: Autoantibodies may be present in a variety of underlying cancers several years before tumours can be detected and testing for their presence may allow earlier diagnosis. We report the clinical validation of an autoantibody panel in newly diagnosed patients with lung cancer (LC).

Patients And Methods: Three cohorts of patients with newly diagnosed LC were identified: group 1 (n = 145), group 2 (n = 241) and group 3 (n = 269).

Pregnant women have increased incidence of IgE autoantibodies reactive with the skin and placental antigen BP180 (type XVII collagen).

BP180 (type XVII collagen) is a transmembrane protein expressed in a variety of cell types. It is also the target of autoantibodies in cutaneous autoimmune disease including bullous pemphigoid and pemphigoid gestationis, a disease unique to pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and specificity of cutaneous autoantibodies in a cohort of pregnant women.

Computer reminders for Chlamydia screening in general practice: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Chlamydia notifications are increasing in Australia, and the use of a computer alert prompting general practitioners to test young women is a potential way to increase opportunistic chlamydia testing. The aim of this trial was to determine the effectiveness of a computer alert in general practice on chlamydia testing in young women.

Methods: In 2006, clinics (n = 68) in Melbourne, Australia were cluster randomized into 2 groups: the intervention group received a computerized alert advising the general practitioner to discuss chlamydia testing with their patient which popped up when the medical record of a 16- to 24-year-old woman was opened; the control group received no alert.

The genome of a songbird.

The zebra finch is an important model organism in several fields with unique relevance to human neuroscience. Like other songbirds, the zebra finch communicates through learned vocalizations, an ability otherwise documented only in humans and a few other animals and lacking in the chicken-the only bird with a sequenced genome until now. Here we present a structural, functional and comparative analysis of the genome sequence of the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), which is a songbird belonging to the large avian order Passeriformes.

Phosphorylation of TFIIB links transcription initiation and termination.

The general transcription factor TFIIB plays a central role in preinitiation complex (PIC) assembly and the recruitment of RNA polymerase II (RNA pol II) to the promoter. Recent studies have revealed that TFIIB engages in contact with the transcription termination region and also with complexes that are involved in 3' end processing and/or termination. Here we report that TFIIB can be phosphorylated within the N terminus at serine 65 in vivo and that the phosphorylated form of TFIIB is present within (PICs).

Experiences and outcomes of partner notification among men and women recently diagnosed with Chlamydia and their views on innovative resources aimed at improving notification rates.

Objective: To describe the partner notification experiences of individuals diagnosed with chlamydia and to determine what supports might best assist them.

Goal: To determine what supports might best assist chlamydia infected individuals to notify their partners.

Study Design: A telephone survey was undertaken with men and women recently diagnosed with chlamydia across 3 Australian jurisdictions between August 2007 and January 2008.

Incentive payments to general practitioners aimed at increasing opportunistic testing of young women for chlamydia: a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Financial incentives have been used for many years internationally to improve quality of care in general practice. The aim of this pilot study was to determine if offering general practitioners (GP) a small incentive payment per test would increase chlamydia testing in women aged 16 to 24 years, attending general practice.

Methods: General practice clinics (n = 12) across Victoria, Australia, were cluster randomized to receive either a $AUD5 payment per chlamydia test or no payment for testing 16 to 24 year old women for chlamydia.

Ensembl's 10th year.

Ensembl (http://www.ensembl.org) integrates genomic information for a comprehensive set of chordate genomes with a particular focus on resources for human, mouse, rat, zebrafish and other high-value sequenced genomes.

Early sexual experiences and risk factors for bacterial vaginosis.

Background: We have undertaken a cross-sectional study that investigates the association between bacterial vaginosis (BV) and sexual practices in sexually experienced and inexperienced women.

Methods: Participants were 17-21-year-old females who attend Melbourne University, Australia. Study kits that contained an information and consent form, questionnaire, swab, and slide were distributed.

Innovative resources could help improve partner notification for chlamydia in primary care.

Objective: To examine practices of general practitioners' (GPs) in relation to partner notification for chlamydia and identify the supports they would find most useful to assist them.

Goal: To identify innovative resources that could improve partner notification for chlamydia in primary care.

Study Design: A postal survey was undertaken that involved GPs from several jurisdictions across Australia between August and December 2007.

Patterns of treatment of external genital warts in Australian sexual health clinics.

Background: External genital warts are a common sexually transmitted viral disease. We describe the patterns of treatment for initial presentations of external genital warts (EGWs) in Australian sexual health centers.

Methods: This was a retrospective audit of 489 case notes from consecutive individuals who presented with a new diagnosis of EGWs to 1 of 5 major sexual health clinics in Australia.

A novel ELISA reveals high frequencies of BP180-specific IgE production in bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is a humoral autoimmune disease directed predominantly against the non-collagenous NC16A domain of the BP180 hemidesmosomal protein. Our laboratory has recently shown, using a mouse xenograft model, that passive transfer of IgE autoantibodies from BP sera induces a skin phenotype that recapitulates the early phases of the disease. Herein, we describe the development of a highly specific and sensitive ELISA to detect circulating IgE autoantibodies that recognize BP180-NC16A.

Mycoplasma genitalium in men who have sex with men at male-only saunas.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and clinical associations of Mycoplasma genitalium in urethral, rectal and pharyngeal specimens collected from men who have sex with men (MSM) attending male-only saunas.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 521 MSM attending six male-only saunas in Melbourne was conducted between October 2001 and September 2002. Stored urine and rectal and pharyngeal swabs were tested for M genitalium by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

A randomized controlled trial of the safety of candidate microbicide SPL7013 gel when applied to the penis.

Objectives: To determine the safety of the candidate vaginal microbicide SPL7013 gel (VivaGel) when applied to the penis.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Thirty-six healthy men (18 circumcised, 18 uncircumcised) were randomized in a 2:1 ratio and treated with 3% SPL7013 gel (n = 24) or placebo gel (n = 12), applied once daily for 7 days.