Cat gene frequencies in the San Francisco Bay region,California

A recent cat gene frequency survey undertaken in the San Francisco Bay region has not reconciled all the discrepancies in the two previous studies reported from this area. The only mutants for which reliable frequency estimates exist are long hair, dominant white and piebald spotting. For several alleles, the reasons for the dissimilar results reported by different workers are not clear.     

Health resources management and physician control in a San Francisco,California, hospital.

The continued escalation in health care spending has caused money to become an increasingly limited resource, which may eventually affect the ability of health professionals to provide complete health care services. Health care payers have stressed efficiency and the appropriateness of health care measures and are putting greater financial pressures on health professionals by making them more accountable for services provided. Hospitals and physicians must take a more active role in monitoring health care delivery and work together to improve performance efficiency. Efficiency can be gained through a comprehensive program that emphasizes high-quality care and the effective use of health care resources. The Health Resource Management Program is a model for carrying out this function that integrates data analysis and physician input and education.     

Medical School Graduates Who Leave California: A Study at the University of California,San Francisco

A follow-up survey of 1,087 physicians who had graduated from the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine from 1951 through 1971 was completed in 1977. A total of 307 (28.2 percent) of these persons were found to have left California. Comparison of the 307 who left with the 780 who remained showed only slight and statistically insignificant differences on most variables, such as sex, academic performance in premedical and medical education, educational level and social class of parents, age at entry into medical school, ratings by admissions interviewers, choice of specialty and a wide variety of personality inventory measures. Among the variables that did differentiate were place of birth, location and prestige of premedical college, preferences for subjects in the sciences and the humanities, and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores for quantitative ability and general information. However, attempts to combine these individual differentiators into clusters or equations from which to forecast emigration from California were unsuccessful.     

Disease Risk & Landscape Attributes of Tick-Borne Borrelia Pathogens in the San Francisco Bay Area,California

Habitat heterogeneity influences pathogen ecology by affecting vector abundance and the reservoir host communities. We investigated spatial patterns of disease risk for two human pathogens in the Borrelia genus–B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi–that are transmitted by the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus. We collected ticks (349 nymphs, 273 adults) at 20 sites in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. Tick abundance, pathogen prevalence and density of infected nymphs varied widely across sites and habitat type, though nymphal western black-legged ticks were more frequently found, and were more abundant in coast live oak forest and desert/semi-desert scrub (dominated by California sagebrush) habitats. We observed Borrelia infections in ticks at all sites where we able to collect >10 ticks. The recently recognized human pathogen, B. miyamotoi, was observed at a higher prevalence (13/349 nymphs = 3.7%, 95% CI = 2.0–6.3; 5/273 adults = 1.8%, 95% CI = 0.6–4.2) than recent studies from nearby locations (Alameda County, east of the San Francisco Bay), demonstrating that tick-borne disease risk and ecology can vary substantially at small geographic scales, with consequences for public health and disease diagnosis.     

Pyrazinamide Resistance,Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage and Treatment Outcomes in San Francisco,California

Background

Pyrazinamide (PZA) is a first line agent for the treatment of active tuberculosis. PZA is also considered a potent companion drug for newer regimens under development. There are limited data on the demographic, clinical, and pathogen characteristics of PZA resistant tuberculosis.

Methods

Using a retrospective cohort study design, we evaluated all PZA resistant M. tuberculosis (M.tb) and M. bovis cases reported in San Francisco from 1991 to 2011. Demographic, clinical, and molecular data were analyzed. M.tb lineage was determined for all PZA resistant strains and compared to PZA susceptible strains.

Results

PZA resistance was identified in 1.8% (50 of 2,842) of mycobacterial isolates tested, corresponding to a case rate of 0.3 per 100,000 in the population. Monoresistant PZA infection was associated with the Hispanic population ([OR], 6.3; 95% [CI], 1.97–20.16) and 48% of cases were due to M. bovis. Infection with monoresistant PZA was also associated with extrapulmonary disease ([OR], 6.0; 95% [CI], 2.70–13.26). There was no statistically significant difference between treatment failure and mortality rates in patients infected with PZA monoresistance compared to pansusceptible controls (4% vs. 8%, p = 0.51), or those with PZA and MDR resistance (PZA-MDR) compared to MDR controls (18% vs. 29%, p = 0.40). PZA resistance was not associated with M.tb lineage.

Conclusions

Across two decades of comprehensive epidemiologic data on tuberculosis in San Francisco County, PZA resistance was uncommon. PZA resistance caused predominantly extrapulmonary disease and was more common in Hispanics compared to other ethnicities, with nearly half the cases attributed to M. bovis. No association was found between PZA monoresistance and M.tb lineage. Treatment outcomes were not adversely influenced by the presence of PZA resistance.     

Cryptic genetic diversity in Rattus of the San Francisco Bay region, California

Invasive species can have complex invasion histories, harbor cryptic levels of diversity, and pose taxonomic problems for pest management authorities. Roof rats, Rattus rattus sensu lato, are common invasive pests of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, USA. They are a significant health risk and pest management efforts impose a large financial investment from public institutions and private individuals. Recent molecular genetic and taxonomic studies of black rats in their native range in Asia have shown that the species is a complex of two karyotypic forms and four mitochondrial genetic lineages that may represent four distinct species. We used mtDNA sequences and nuclear microsatellite variation to identify which mitochondrial lineages of the R. rattus group are present in the San Francisco Bay Area and to test for gene flow among them. We recovered specimens with mtDNA sequences representing two of the major mtDNA lineages of the R. rattus group. Microsatellite variation, however, was not structured in concordance with mtDNA lineages, suggesting a more complex history involving hybridization and introgression between these lineages. Although Aplin et al. (2011) and Lack et al. (2012) reported R. rattus Lineage II in North America, this is the first detailed examination of possible gene flow amongst lineages in this region.     

Sexual Healthcare Preferences among Gay and Bisexual Men: A Qualitative Study in San Francisco,California

Background

Research on gay and other men who have sex with men''s (G/MSM) preferences for sexual healthcare services focuses largely on HIV testing and to some extent on sexually transmitted infections (STI). This research illustrates the frequency and location of where G/MSM interface with the healthcare system, but it does not speak to why men seek care in those locations. As HIV and STI prevention strategies evolve, evidence about G/MSM''s motivations and decision-making can inform future plans to optimize models of HIV/STI prevention and primary care.

Methods

We conducted a phenomenological study of gay men''s sexual health seeking experiences, which included 32 in-depth interviews with gay and bisexual men. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and entered into Atlas.ti. We conducted a Framework Analysis.

Findings

We identified a continuum of sexual healthcare seeking practices and their associated drivers. Men differed in their preferences for separating sexual healthcare from other forms of healthcare (“fragmentation”) versus combining all care into one location (“consolidation”). Fragmentation drivers included: fear of being monitored by insurance companies, a desire to seek non-judgmental providers with expertise in sexual health, a desire for rapid HIV testing, perceiving sexual health services as more convenient than primary care services, and a lack of healthcare coverage. Consolidation drivers included: a comfortable and trusting relationship with a provider, a desire for one provider to oversee overall health and those with access to public or private health insurance.

Conclusions

Men in this study were likely to separate sexual healthcare from primary care. Based on this finding, we recommend placing new combination HIV/STI prevention interventions within sexual health clinics. Furthermore, given the evolution of the financing and delivery of healthcare services and in HIV prevention, policymakers and clinicians should consider including more primary care services within sexual healthcare settings.     

Present,Future, and Novel Bioclimates of the San Francisco,California Region

Bioclimates are syntheses of climatic variables into biologically relevant categories that facilitate comparative studies of biotic responses to climate conditions. Isobioclimates, unique combinations of bioclimatic indices (continentality, ombrotype, and thermotype), were constructed for northern California coastal ranges based on the Rivas-Martinez worldwide bioclimatic classification system for the end of the 20^th century climatology (1971–2000) and end of the 21^st century climatology (2070–2099) using two models, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) model and the Parallel Climate Model (PCM), under the medium-high A2 emission scenario. The digitally mapped results were used to 1) assess the relative redistribution of isobioclimates and their magnitude of change, 2) quantify the loss of isobioclimates into the future, 3) identify and locate novel isobioclimates projected to appear, and 4) explore compositional change in vegetation types among analog isobioclimate patches. This study used downscaled climate variables to map the isobioclimates at a fine spatial resolution −270 m grid cells. Common to both models of future climate was a large change in thermotype. Changes in ombrotype differed among the two models. The end of 20^th century climatology has 83 isobioclimates covering the 63,000 km² study area. In both future projections 51 of those isobioclimates disappear over 40,000 km². The ordination of vegetation-bioclimate relationships shows very strong correlation of Rivas-Martinez indices with vegetation distribution and composition. Comparisons of vegetation composition among analog patches suggest that vegetation change will be a local rearrangement of species already in place rather than one requiring long distance dispersal. The digitally mapped results facilitate comparison with other Mediterranean regions. Major remaining challenges include predicting vegetation composition of novel isobioclimates and developing metrics to compare differences in climate space.     

Discovery of introduced and cryptogenic cochliopid gastropods in the San Francisco Estuary, California

We report the first discovery in the San Francisco Estuary (‘Estuary’)of two cochliopid gastropods, Littoridinops monroensis and Tryoniaporrecta. These identifications were based on morphologicalcriteria and supported by analysis of mitochondrial DNA (cytochromec oxidase subunit I, COI) sequence data. We also report thefirst discovery of males in parthenogenetic T. porrecta. Thenew records represent large range extensions for both of theseNorth American species, which were previously recorded frompredominantly brackish habitats along the western Atlantic-GulfCoast (L. monroensis) and thermal springs in the Great Basinand lower Colorado River region (T. porrecta). The COI haplotypeobserved in Estuary specimens of L. monroensis differed fromthose detected in two western Atlantic populations by only 1–3 bp,suggesting recent divergence which is not consistent with theseparation of these two areas by imposing terrestrial barrierssince at least the Pliocene. We suggest that L. monroensis wasrecently introduced to the Estuary by transoceanic shipping,adding to the large exotic biota that has invaded this highlydisturbed ecosystem. The COI haplotype observed in Estuary specimensof T. porrecta is closely similar to haplotypes detected inNevada and Utah populations and highly divergent relative tothe single haplotype observed in other California populations.The implications of these findings for the status of T. porrectain the Estuary are unclear, because the native range of thisparthenogen has not been established and its scattered distributionin the West may be attributable to natural dispersal acrossland (on birds) and/or anthropogenic spread. Although we suggesttreating T. porrecta as cryptogenic in the Estuary, a nativestatus may be suggested by independent (subfossil) evidencethat this snail was locally present prior to establishment ofthe area as a major centre of human population and commercein the 1850s. (Received 13 April 2007; accepted 25 June 2007)     

Movements of green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, in the San Francisco Bay estuary, California

Synopsis The green sturgeon, Acipenser medirostris, is a long-lived, iteroparous, anadromous acipenserid that is native to the San Francisco Bay Estuary, California. Sub-adult and adult fish are oceanic, but enter the estuary during the spring and remain through autumn. Little is known about green sturgeon distribution within the estuary or what, if any, physical parameters influence their movements. We report the results of a telemetry study conducted between September 2001 and November 2002. Five sub-adult and one adult green sturgeon were captured by trammel net in the San Pablo Bay region of the estuary. We implanted depth-sensing, ultrasonic transmitters within the peritoneum of individuals and tracked them from a boat for 1 – 15 h per day over periods ranging from 1 to 12 days. Salinity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen profiles of the water column were measured hourly. Observed movements were categorized as either non-directional or directional. Non-directional movements, accounting for 63.4% of observations, were closely associated with the bottom, with individuals moving slowly while making frequent changes in direction and swim speed, or not moving at all. Directional movements consisted of continuous swimming in the top 20% of the water column while holding a steady course for extended periods. Four of the five sub-adult fish remained within the confines of San Pablo Bay for the duration of their tracking period. The remaining sub-adult moved over 45 km up-river into Suisun Bay before contact was lost. The adult fish exited the bay and entered the ocean 6 h after release near Tiburon, CA, a movement of approximately 10 km. The sub-adult fish typically remained at the shallower depths (<10 m) of the estuary, but there were no apparent preferences for temperature, salinity, or dissolved oxygen, with the fish moving widely and rapidly across the range of these physical parameters. Activity is believed to be independent of light level with no discernable crepuscular, nocturnal, or diurnal peaks in activity.     

Contemporary Land Change Alters Fish Communities in a San Francisco Bay Watershed,California, U.S.A.

Urbanization is one of the leading threats to freshwater biodiversity, and urban regions continue to expand globally. Here we examined the relationship between recent urbanization and shifts in stream fish communities. We sampled fishes at 32 sites in the Alameda Creek Watershed, near San Francisco, California, in 1993–1994 and again in 2009, and we quantified univariate and multivariate changes in fish communities between the sampling periods. Sampling sites were classified into those downstream of a rapidly urbanizing area (“urbanized sites”), and those found in less impacted areas (“low-impacted sites”). We calculated the change from non-urban to urban land cover between 1993 and 2009 at two scales for each site (the total watershed and a 3km buffer zone immediately upstream of each site). Neither the mean relative abundance of native fish nor nonnative species richness changed significantly between the survey periods. However, we observed significant changes in fish community composition (as measured by Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) and a decrease in native species richness between the sampling periods at urbanized sites, but not at low-impacted sites. Moreover, the relative abundance of one native cyprinid (Lavinia symmetricus) decreased at the urbanized sites but not at low-impacted sites. Increased urbanization was associated with changes in the fish community, and this relationship was strongest at the smaller (3km buffer) scale. Our results suggest that ongoing land change alters fish communities and that contemporary resurveys are an important tool for examining how freshwater taxa are responding to recent environmental change.