Healthcare Provider Confidence and Perceived Barriers to Diagnosing Illness Associated with Harmful Algal Blooms.

Introduction: Illnesses caused by harmful algal blooms can vary in clinical presentation and severity depending on the types of algae, cyanobacteria, or toxins involved as well as the route and extent of exposure. These illnesses are primarily diagnoses of exclusion owing to lack of access to clinical testing for harmful algal bloom toxins. We used a national survey of healthcare providers to explore self-reported confidence and perceived barriers to diagnosing harmful algal bloom-associated illnesses.

Surveillance for Harmful Algal Bloom Events and Associated Human and Animal Illnesses - One Health Harmful Algal Bloom System, United States, 2016-2018.

Harmful algal bloom events can result from the rapid growth, or bloom, of photosynthesizing organisms in natural bodies of fresh, brackish, and salt water. These events can be exacerbated by nutrient pollution (e.g.

Novel Psychoactive Substances in Custodial Settings: A Mixed Method Investigation on the Experiences of People in Prison and Professionals Working With Them.

Introduction: Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS), especially Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists (SCRAs), pose a substantial challenge to health and the security of the prison environment. This study analyses the phenomenon from the perspective of people in prison and that of professionals working with them.

Methods: A phenomenological qualitative approach was used to analyze self-reported experiences with 'Spice' (NPS) among users in prison.

L-Selectin Enhanced T Cells Improve the Efficacy of Cancer Immunotherapy.

The homing molecule, L-selectin (CD62L), is commonly used as a T cell activation marker, since expression is downregulated following engagement of the T cell receptor. Studies in mice have shown that CD62L central memory T cells are better at controlling tumor growth than CD62L effector memory T cells, while L-selectin knockout T cells are poor at controlling tumor growth. Here, we test the hypothesis that T cells expressing genetically modified forms of L-selectin that are maintained following T cell activation (L-selectin enhanced T cells) are better at controlling tumor growth than wild type T cells.

Outbreaks Associated with Untreated Recreational Water - United States, 2000-2014.

Outbreaks associated with untreated recreational water can be caused by pathogens, toxins, or chemicals in fresh water (e.g., lakes, rivers) or marine water (e.

Surveillance for Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated with Drinking Water - United States, 2013-2014.

Provision of safe water in the United States is vital to protecting public health (1). Public health agencies in the U.S.

Waterborne Disease Outbreaks Associated With Environmental and Undetermined Exposures to Water - United States, 2013-2014.

Waterborne disease outbreaks in the United States are associated with a wide variety of water exposures and are reported annually to CDC on a voluntary basis by state and territorial health departments through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS). A majority of outbreaks arise from exposure to drinking water (1) or recreational water (2), whereas others are caused by an environmental exposure to water or an undetermined exposure to water. During 2013-2014, 15 outbreaks associated with an environmental exposure to water and 12 outbreaks with an undetermined exposure to water were reported, resulting in at least 289 cases of illness, 108 hospitalizations, and 17 deaths.

Purity of transferred CD8(+) T cells is crucial for safety and efficacy of combinatorial tumor immunotherapy in the absence of SHP-1.

Adoptive transfer of tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells is a promising advance in cancer therapy. Similarly, checkpoint inhibition has shown striking clinical results in some patients. Here we combine adoptive cell transfer with ablation of the checkpoint protein Src homology 2-domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP-1, Ptpn6).

L-selectin Is Essential for Delivery of Activated CD8(+) T Cells to Virus-Infected Organs for Protective Immunity.

Cytotoxic CD8(+) T lymphocytes play a critical role in the host response to infection by viruses. The ability to secrete cytotoxic chemicals and cytokines is considered pivotal for eliminating virus. Of equal importance is how effector CD8(+) T cells home to virus-infected tissues.

Complement inhibition accelerates regeneration in a model of peripheral nerve injury.

Complement (C) activation is a crucial event in peripheral nerve degeneration but its effect on the subsequent regeneration is unknown. Here we show that genetic deficiency of the sixth C component, C6, accelerates axonal regeneration and recovery in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury. Foot-flick test and Sciatic Function Index monitored up to 5 weeks post-injury showed a significant improvement of sensory and motor function in the C6 deficient animals compared to wildtypes.

Soluble complement receptor 1 protects the peripheral nerve from early axon loss after injury.

Complement activation is a crucial early event in Wallerian degeneration. In this study we show that treatment of rats with soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1), an inhibitor of all complement pathways, blocked both systemic and local complement activation after crush injury of the sciatic nerve. Deposition of membrane attack complex (MAC) in the nerve was inhibited, the nerve was protected from axonal and myelin breakdown at 3 days after injury, and macrophage infiltration and activation was strongly reduced.

The membrane attack complex of the complement system is essential for rapid Wallerian degeneration.

The complement (C) system plays an important role in myelin breakdown during Wallerian degeneration (WD). The pathway and mechanism involved are, however, not clear. In a crush injury model of the sciatic nerve, we show that C6, necessary for the assembly of the membrane attack complex (MAC), is essential for rapid WD.

The lipopolysaccharide co-receptor CD14 is present and functional in seminal plasma and expressed on spermatozoa.

CD14 is a 54 000-molecular weight (MW) glycolipid-anchored membrane glycoprotein, expressed on myeloid cells, which functions as a member of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor complex. Soluble forms of CD14 have been reported in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid and breast milk. In plasma and breast milk, soluble CD14 has been implicated as a regulator of T- and B-cell activation and function.

Transcolonic retrograde ureteric catheterization assisted by 3-D computed tomography.

A 42-year-old woman had bladder exstrophy at birth, treated by ureterocolic anastomosis of her single kidney. She suffered recurrent hyperammonaemia, leading to comas, but refused an ileal conduit. During her most recent coma, it was decided to divert her urine to test whether this would reduce hyperammonaemia: this was accomplished by transcolonic retrograde catheterization of the ureter.