Australian Gay and Bisexual Men’s Attitudes to HIV Treatment as Prevention in Repeated,National Surveys, 2011-2013

Objective

Assess the acceptability of HIV treatment as prevention and early antiretroviral treatment among gay and bisexual men in Australia and any changes in attitudes over time.

Methods

National, online, cross-sectional surveys of gay and bisexual men were repeated in 2011 and 2013. Changes in attitudes to HIV treatment over time were assessed with multivariate analysis of variance. The characteristics of men who agreed that HIV treatment prevented transmission and thought that early treatment was necessary were identified with multivariate logistic regression.

Results

In total, 2599 HIV-negative, untested and HIV-positive men participated (n = 1283 in 2011 and n = 1316 in 2013). Attitudes changed little between 2011 and 2013; most participants remained sceptical about the preventative benefits of HIV treatment. In 2013, only 2.6% of men agreed that HIV treatment prevented transmission; agreement was associated with being HIV-positive, having an HIV-positive regular partner, and having received HIV post-exposure prophylaxis. In contrast, 71.8% agreed that early antiretroviral treatment is necessary; younger men were more likely and HIV-positive men and participants with HIV-positive partners were much less likely to agree with this.

Conclusions

Promoting the individual health benefits of HIV treatment rather than its preventative benefits remains more acceptable to Australian gay and bisexual men.     

Chronic pneumonia in calves after experimental infection with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycoplasma bovis</Emphasis> strain 1067: Characterization of lung pathology,persistence of variable surface protein antigens and local immune response

Background  

Mycoplasma bovis is associated with pneumonia in calves characterized by the development of chronic caseonecrotic lesions with the agent persisting within the lesion. The purposes of this study were to characterize the morphology of lung lesions, examine the presence of M. bovis variable surface protein (Vsp) antigens and study the local immune responses in calves after infection with M. bovis strain 1067.     

A 41-kDa variable surface protein of Mycoplasma gallisepticum has a counterpart in Mycoplasma imitans and Mycoplasma iowae

Abstract Mycoplasma gallisepticun, M. imitans and M. iowae are three morphologically similar avian Mycoplasma species, and M. gallisepticum and M. imitans have been shown to be antigenically related. Using a monoclonal antibody that binds to the previously described size- and phase-variant integral membrane surface protein PvpA of M. gallisepticum , we have identified in all three avian Mycoplasma species a 41-kDa surface antigen, which in M. gallisepticum and M. imitans was identified as peripheral membrane protein undergoing variation in expression among clonal isolates. Southern blot analysis using the pvpA gene as a probe demonstrated sequence homology with M. imitans and M. iowae genomic DNA and suggested that a pvpA -related gene that may encode the 41-kDa product exists in these two Mycoplasma species. These studies establish (i) that M. iowae is antigenically related to M. gallisepticum and M. imitans , (ii) that the three species share non-ribosomal gene sequences, and (iii) that peripheral membrane proteins contribute to Mycoplasma surface variation.     

Vsp antigens and vsp-related DNA sequences in field isolates of Mycoplasma bovis

The expression of the 1E5 epitope which is common to the three characterized variable lipoproteins VspA, VspB and VspC of Mycoplasma bovis type strain PG45 and the presence of vsp gene DNA sequences were assessed in field isolates randomly collected from cattle showing clinical manifestations due to M. bovis infection. Among 250 isolates tested, only four failed to react with mAb 1E5. Southern blot analysis of these four isolates and of 20 isolates expressing the 1E5 epitope were performed using synthetic oligonucleotide probes corresponding to a sequence located in the Vsp signal peptide coding region common to all known Vsp products or to selected regions of previously characterized vsp genes, vspA, vspE and vspF. The results demonstrate the presence of multiple vsp-related DNA sequences in all M. bovis field isolates tested and indicate that the vsp repertoire varies in size and composition among isolates.     

In-hospital resource utilization in coronary angioplasty: the impact of increased coronary stenting rates and antiplatelet therapy

BACKGROUND: The technique of coronary stenting has evolved over recent years, with improved stent technology and effective antiplatelet therapies to prevent stent thrombosis. In Europe, reductions in stent and equipment costs have resulted from increased market competition. The impact of these changes on the in-hospital procedural cost of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the current clinical setting is not known. METHODS: We compared the initial equipment and pharmaceutical costs of one hundred consecutive, unselected patients undergoing PCI in 1998 to a similar population who underwent PCI in 1994. RESULTS: Similar patient characteristics were noted, yet more complex disease (multivessel, AHA type B2/C lesions) was treated in the 1998 population. The stent utilization rate (83% vs 15%, p < 0.0001) and use of intravenous and/or oral antiplatelet therapy (abciximab, ticlopidine) (64% vs 4%, p < 0.0001) was higher in 1998. Similar angiographic success was achieved in each group with low complication rates. Mean hospital stay was reduced in the 1998 group (2.6 +/- 2.8 vs 4.3 +/- 3.8 days, p < 0.001). Repeat PCI was required more frequently in the 1994 population (26% vs 9%, p < 0.001). Overall there was no significant difference in the mean equipment cost between the two groups ( pound 1551 vs pound 1422, p=ns). CONCLUSION: Despite the widespread use of coronary stenting and antiplatelet therapies there appears to be no difference in current in-hospital equipment costs for PCI compared to 1994. Improved clinical outcomes in the 1998 population imply that stenting is a cost-effective therapy.     

The use of unlicensed bone marrow–derived platelet lysate–expanded mesenchymal stromal cells in colitis: a pre-clinical study

Background

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising candidate for treatment of inflammatory disorders, but their efficacy in human inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) has been inconsistent. Comparing the results from various pre-clinical and clinical IBD studies is also challenging due to a large variation in study designs.

World Health Organization International Standard To Harmonize Assays for Detection of Mycoplasma DNA

Nucleic acid amplification technique (NAT)-based assays (referred to here as NAT assays) are increasingly used as an alternative to culture-based approaches for the detection of mycoplasma contamination of cell cultures. Assay features, like the limit of detection or quantification, vary widely between different mycoplasma NAT assays. Biological reference materials may be useful for harmonization of mycoplasma NAT assays. An international feasibility study included lyophilized preparations of four distantly related mycoplasma species (Acholeplasma laidlawii, Mycoplasma fermentans, M. orale, M. pneumoniae) at different concentrations which were analyzed by 21 laboratories using 26 NAT assays with a qualitative, semiquantitative, or quantitative design. An M. fermentans preparation was shown to decrease the interassay variation when used as a common reference material. The preparation was remanufactured and characterized in a comparability study, and its potency (in NAT-detectable units) across different NATs was determined. The World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS) established this preparation to be the “1st World Health Organization international standard for mycoplasma DNA for nucleic acid amplification technique-based assays designed for generic mycoplasma detection” (WHO Tech Rep Ser 987:42, 2014) with a potency of 200,000 IU/ml. This WHO international standard is now available as a reference preparation for characterization of NAT assays, e.g., for determination of analytic sensitivity, for calibration of quantitative assays in a common unitage, and for defining regulatory requirements in the field of mycoplasma testing.     

Disruption of the pdhB Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Gene Affects Colony Morphology,In Vitro Growth and Cell Invasiveness of Mycoplasma agalactiae

The utilization of available substrates, the metabolic potential and the growth rates of bacteria can play significant roles in their pathogenicity. This study concentrates on Mycoplasma agalactiae, which causes significant economic losses through its contribution to contagious agalactia in small ruminants by as yet unknown mechanisms. This lack of knowledge is primarily due to its fastidious growth requirements and the scarcity of genetic tools available for its manipulation and analysis. Transposon mutagenesis of M. agalactiae type strain PG2 resulted in several disruptions throughout the genome. A mutant defective in growth in vitro was found to have a transposon insertion in the pdhB gene, which encodes a component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. This growth difference was quite significant during the actively dividing logarithmic phase but a gradual recovery was observed as the cells approached stationary phase. The mutant also exhibited a different and smaller colony morphology compared to the wild type strain PG2. For complementation, pdhAB was cloned downstream of a strong vpma promoter and upstream of a lacZ reporter gene in a newly constructed complementation vector. When transformed with this vector the pdhB mutant recovered its normal growth and colony morphology. Interestingly, the pdhB mutant also had significantly reduced invasiveness in HeLa cells, as revealed by double immunofluorescence staining. This deficiency was recovered in the complemented strain, which had invasiveness comparable to that of PG2. Taken together, these data indicate that pyruvate dehydrogenase might be an important player in infection with and colonization by M. agalactiae.     

Responses of potential hosts of Asian cuckoos to experimental parasitism

In the arms race between avian brood parasites and their hosts, several adaptations and counter‐adaptations have evolved. The most prominent host defence is rejection of parasitic eggs. We experimentally parasitized nests of 10 potential host species breeding in sympatry with four different cuckoo species in an area in Bangladesh using differently coloured model eggs to test host responses. In four species we introduced both mimetic and non‐mimetic eggs. Black Drongos Dicrurus macrocercus, hosts of the Indian Cuckoo Cuculus micropterus, rejected all model eggs. Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis and Jungle Babblers Turdoides striata accepted all eggs regardless of mimicry. These two species are parasitized by Asian Koels Eudynamys scolopaceus, Common Hawk‐cuckoo Hierococcyx varius and, in the case of Jungle Babblers, Jacobin Cuckoos Clamator jacobinus. Pied Mynas Gracupica contra, with no records of parasitism in our study area, also accepted all eggs regardless of mimicry. In the six remaining species, all of which lay spotted eggs, we introduced only non‐mimetic eggs. Black‐hooded Orioles Oriolus xanthornus rejected all model eggs, even though we have found no records of natural parasitism. Long‐tailed Shrikes Lanius schach and House Crows Corvus splendens, hosts of Asian Koels, rejected 75 and 9.1% of model eggs, respectively. Large‐billed Crows Corvus macrorhynchos, apparently not used as hosts in our study area, accepted all blue but rejected all brown model eggs. Oriental Magpie‐Robins Copsychus saularis and Red‐vented Bulbuls Pycnonotus cafer accepted all non‐mimetic model eggs. In Black Drongos, Long‐tailed Shrikes and Black‐hooded Orioles, all model eggs were ejected within 24 h of introduction. The results show considerable variation in egg rejection rates among various species, providing baseline data for further investigation of co‐evolutionary interactions between brood parasites and hosts in this region.