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At least 793 records · Page 44Linked to original sources

Probable epizootic chlamydiosis in wild California (Larus californicus) and ring-billed (Larus delawarensis) gulls in North Dakota.

During the summer of 1986, more than 400 California gulls (Larus californicus) and ring-billed gulls (Larvus delawarensis), primarily fledglings, died on an island in Lake Sakakawea near New Town, North Dakota (USA). Mortality was attributed largely to chlamydiosis. Necropsy findings in nine carcasses included splenomegaly (n = 9), hepatomegaly (n = 4), and pericarditis (n = 1). Livers from three California gulls and two ring-billed gulls, and spleens from the same five birds plus a third ring-billed gull were positive for Chlamydia psittaci by the direct immunofluorescence test. Chlamydia psittaci was isolated from separate pools of liver and spleen from one California gull and one ring-billed gull. This is believed to be the first record of epizootic chlamydiosis in gulls and the second report of epizootic chlamydial mortality in wild birds in North America.

Animals↗

Phylogeography and demography of sympatric sister surfperch species, Embiotoca jacksoni and E. lateralis along the California coast: historical versus ecological factors.

With 18 closely related endemic species that radiated in a diversity of ecological niches, the California surfperches (Embiotocidae) species flock is a good candidate for the study of sympatric speciation. Resource partitioning has been suggested as an important driving force in the radiation of the surfperch family. Within the family, two congeneric sister species, Embiotoca jacksoni and E. lateralis, are known to compete strongly for a preferred single food resource and may be used as a model of ecological interactions for the family. Along the California coast, the distribution of the two species differs. Embiotoca jacksoni has a continuous range, whereas E. lateralis shows a disjunction with a distribution gap in the Southern California Bight. Two hypotheses may explain this disjunct distribution. Ecological competition may have displaced E. lateralis in favor of E. jacksoni. Alternatively, a common vicariant event may have separated the species into northern and southern populations, followed by secondary contact in E. jacksoni but not in E. lateralis. The two hypotheses predict different phylogeographic and demographic signatures. Using a combined phylogeographic and coalescent approach based on mitochondrial control region data, we show that vicariance can only account for a portion of the observed divergences. Our results are compatible with a significant role played by ecological competition in the southern range of the species.

Animals↗

In vitro fertilization in unstimulated cycles: the University of Southern California experience.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical experience of our center with in vitro fertilization (IVF) in unstimulated cycles and to provide a comparison to stimulated cycles. DESIGN: Spontaneous ovulatory cycles were triggered with human chorionic gonadotropin in the midcycle, and 78 aspirations for IVF were performed, with the remainder of the IVF cycle proceeding in a standard manner. SETTING: The IVF program of the University of Southern California and the California Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. PATIENTS: Spontaneously ovulatory women (n = 46) with predominantly pelvic factor as their principal cause of infertility, under the age of 40, and no male factor. INTERVENTIONS: Human chorionic gonadotropin administration in midcycle, follicle aspiration, IVF, and embryo transfer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Embryo implantation and pregnancy. RESULTS: Seventy-eight follicle aspirations resulted in 11 clinical (14%) and 9 ongoing (12%) pregnancies. The per embryo implantation rate was 13% clinical and 11% ongoing. There was no decrease in per cycle pregnancy rates (PRs) for up to three unstimulated cycles. CONCLUSIONS: Unstimulated IVF is a viable alternative to stimulated cycles with PRs approximately one half those of stimulated cycles. It is reasonable to offer patients up to three cycles of unstimulated IVF without expecting a decrease in PRs.

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗

Characterization of Salmonella california and S. typhimurium strains with reduced ability to colonize the intestinal tract of broiler chicks.

This study determined the ability of eight strains of Salmonella and their agarsubcultured variants to colonize the intestinal tract of broiler chicks. Nalidixic-acid (NAL)-resistant and streptomycin-resistant subcultured strains (S. california 1989/A and S. typhimurium 3366/A) that persisted in the ceca of chicks in lower numbers than their NAL-resistant parent strains (1989/O and 3366/O) were selected for additional study S. typhimurium strain 3366/A was present in the ceca of chicks in lower numbers than the parent strain 3366/O when given concomitantly with the parent strain or when the two strains were given separately to different chicks. S. california 1989/A strain was present in the ceca in lower numbers than the parent strain after concomitant oral or intracloacal inoculation. Strains 3366/O and 3366/A of S. typhimurium differed in growth rates in BHI broth and cecal mucus. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) profile indicated that LPS components present in S. california 1989/O were missing from strain 1989/A. A mutant of 1989/O--2095/R--was also LPS- and colonization-deficient.

Animals↗

Asymphylodora atherinopsidis (Trematoda: Monorchiidae) from the California grunion, Leuresthes tenuis, including a redescription.

Asymphylodora (Asymphylodoroides) atherinopsidis from the California grunion, Leuresthes tenuis, a new host record, and jacksmelt, Atherinopsis californiensis, the type host, is redescribed and illustrated using more symmetrical as well as larger and smaller specimens than the holotype. The geographic distribution is extended from the type locality of Stinson Beach, Marin Co., California to Estero Beach, 10 km south of Ensenada, Baja California Norte, Mexico. Two tubular externat seminal vesicles opening independently into the internal seminal vesicle are reported apparently for the first time in a trematode. The genital pore is at the left posterolateral margin of the acetabulum which is midway between the lateral margins. Worms may grow to a length of 5.6 mm but eggs were present in one specimen 1.3 mm long.

Animals↗

Habitats and biodiversity of decapod crustaceans in the SE Gulf of California, Mexico.

Samples of benthic macro-fauna were obtained in different habitats along and off the coast of Southern Sinaloa, Gulf of California, Mexico, from 1978 to 1991. Occurrence of species of decapod crustaceans was registered for six habitats, from the interidal to depth of 1200 m. A total of 299 species were collected, belonging to 53 families and including 17 species of Penaeoidea, 45 of Caridea, 6 of Thalassinidea, 5 of Palinura, 1 of Astacidea, 63 of Anomura, and 162 of Brachyura. Number of species varied considerably from one habitat to another. Highest biodiversity was observed in the Bay of Mazatlán, with 121 species, followed by the continental shelf and the rocky interidal (107 species each), the estuarine/coastal lagoons (48 species), the upper slope (18 species) and the sandy beaches (9 species). One species was found to be strictly insular-terrestrial and two are primarily associated with the flotsam. The results of this survey were compared with distribution data available for decapod crustaceans fauna from the SE Gulf of California and the Eastern Tropical Pacific zoogeographic region (ETP). The fauna collected represents 82% of the species cited for the area for coastal and shallow subtidal habitats (to ca. 115 m depth) and 57.6% of deep water (> 200 m) species known to occur in the Gulf of California. Except in two cases, similarity indices (SI) based on the number of species common to any pair of habitats were all very low. Continental shelf and the Bay of Mazatlán have 57 species in common (SI = 0.50), while rocky shore habitat and the Bay of Mazatlán share 27 species (SI = 0.24). Comparative studies of decapod crustaceans communities for the ETP are almost lacking altogether. Available data, however, indicate that biodiversity observed on Southern Sinaloa is so far the highest on record for marine and brackish-water habitants for a given section of this tropical zoogeographic region.

Animals↗

Vaccination levels among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites aged > or =65 years -- Los Angeles County, California, 1996.

An estimated 90% of deaths from pneumonia and influenza occur each year in the United States among adults aged > or = 65 years. Despite the substantial impact of these and other vaccine-preventable diseases on older adults, national vaccination levels are suboptimal and disproportionately lower among some racial/ethnic minorities than among others. For example, in 1995, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates for older Hispanics (50.0% and 24.2%, respectively) were substantially lower than those for non-Hispanic whites (60.1% and 37.4%, respectively). To develop and implement community-based activities to increase vaccination levels among older Hispanic adults in Los Angeles County, California, the Edward R. Roybal Institute for Applied Gerontology at California State University, Los Angeles, formed a community consortium involving multiple public and private organizations. During August-November 1996, this consortium, in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Latino Health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), conducted a telephone survey to assess vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and practices of older Hispanic adults and to provide baseline information for developing interventions. This report summarizes the results of the initial assessment conducted in two geographic areas; the findings document low vaccination levels among the populations surveyed and race/ethnicity-specific differences in barriers to vaccination and places where vaccinations were received.

Aged↗

Retrospective on community dentistry and public health at the University of Southern California (1966-1976), Part 2.

The authorization of departments of community dentistry and public health in the nation's dental schools is a relatively recent innovation in dental education. Such a department was established at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in 1966, as part of the School of Medicine's effort to share responsibility in providing both access and availability of health services in inner-city Los Angeles, California. Dentistry was included in the protocol submitted to the US Office of Economic Opportunity to build a neighborhood health center in Watts, operated under the joint jurisdiction of the medical and dental schools. The dental division of the health center was designated a satellite of the community dentistry department. The department envisioned future changes during the revolutionary 1960s when all aspects of the nation were experiencing upheaval as traditional concepts were challenged by new attitudes. The nation's leaders in government and education as well as in the health professions were stimulated by scientific and technologic discoveries. Dentistry had come of age, having gained the respect of other health-care disciplines. It was a time of expanded exploration of means toward a healthier populace and a more sensitive ethical provider of health care. In one decade, the USC community dentistry department accomplished a major shift in attitude about the specialty from one of pervasive opposition and antipathy to that of acceptance and even enthusiasm. The department became competitive with similar units nationwide in educating dental students and practitioners to fulfill their responsibilities at the highest level of proficiency and to be true to the trust bestowed on them by the public. In pursuit of these goals, the department reflected credit on dentistry and the University of Southern California.

Community Dentistry↗

Promoting antenatal steroid use for fetal maturation: results from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative.

OBJECTIVE: The California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) was formed to seek perinatal care improvements by creating a confidential multi-institutional database to identify topics for quality improvement (QI). We aimed to evaluate this approach by assessing antenatal steroid administration before preterm (24 to 33 weeks of gestation) delivery. We hypothesized that mean performance would improve and the number of centers performing below the lowest quartile of the baseline year would decrease. STUDY DESIGN: In 1998, a statewide QI cycle targeting antenatal steroid use was announced, calling for the evaluation of the 1998 baseline data, dissemination of recommended interventions using member-developed educational materials, and presentations to California neonatologists in 1999-2000. Postintervention data were assessed for the year 2001 and publicly released in 2003. A total of 25 centers voluntarily participated in the intervention. RESULTS: Antenatal steroid administration rate increased from 76% of 1524 infants in 1998 to 86% of 1475 infants in 2001 (P < .001). In 2001, 23 of 25 hospitals exceeded the 1998 lower-quartile cutoff point of 69.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Regional collaborations represent an effective strategy for improving the quality of perinatal care.

California↗

The association between exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and breast cancer: a review by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

BACKGROUND: The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) recently completed a health effects assessment of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) which resulted in California listing ETS as a Toxic Air Contaminant in January 2006. As part of the assessment, studies on the association between exposure to ETS and breast cancer were reviewed. METHODS: Twenty-six published reports (including 3 meta-analyses) evaluating the association between ETS exposure and breast cancer were reviewed. A weight-of-evidence approach was applied to evaluate the data and draw conclusions about the association between breast cancer and ETS exposure. RESULTS: The published data indicate an association between ETS and breast cancer in younger primarily premenopausal women. Thirteen of 14 studies (10 case-control and four cohort) that allowed analysis by menopausal status reported elevated risk estimates for breast cancer in premenopausal women, seven of which were statistically significant. Our meta-analyses indicated elevated summary relative risks ranging from OR 1.68 (95% C.I. 1.31, 2.15) for all 14 studies to 2.20 (95% C.I. 1.69, 2.87) for those with the best exposure assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Cal/EPA concluded that regular ETS exposure is causally related to breast cancer diagnosed in younger, primarily premenopausal women and that the association is not likely explained by bias or confounding.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Identification and localization of conserved antigenic epitopes on the G2 proteins of California serogroup Bunyaviruses.

California (CAL) serogroup Bunyaviruses are significant agents of arboviral encephalitis in humans. They are maintained and transmitted in nature by mosquitoes to preferred vertebrate amplifying hosts. The G2 envelope glycoprotein of La Crosse virus (LAC) was proposed by Ludwig et al. to be a determinant for virus attachment to mosquito midgut cells. Monoclonal antibodies to G2 neutralize the infectivity of pronase-treated virus for mosquito cells. We determined the location of antigenic sites on the LAC G2. We showed that antigenic areas present on the LAC G2 protein are conserved among viruses in the California encephalitis and Melao subgroups of the CAL serogroup, but not in trivatattus virus, nor within the BUN serogroup. A comparison of the G2 exodomain amino acid sequences of eight CAL and three BUN viruses with monoclonal antibodies (MAb) binding data predicted the possible location of the antigenic sites. We used in vitro mutagenesis of the LAC G2 gene to construct a set of G2 genes with replacement sequences in the coding regions for the suspected MAb binding sites. The native and mutated proteins were expressed in Hela cells and the ability of MAbs to bind to the expressed proteins was tested. Four discontinuous amino acid sequences, conserved among eight CAL serogroup viruses, were identified as contributing to two conformational binding domains for neutralizing LAC G2 MAbs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Effects of pulmonary rehabilitation on dyspnea, quality of life, and healthcare costs in California.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated pulmonary rehabilitation as practiced in the general California medical community to determine its effectiveness in improving dyspnea and health-related quality of life and reducing the use of healthcare resources. METHODS: For this study, 10 established pulmonary rehabilitation programs agreed to collect common clinical health outcome data on consecutive patients over 2 years. The following three self-administered questionnaires were obtained before and after rehabilitation, then at 3-, 6-, 12-, and 18-month follow-up assessments: Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF-36), University of California, San Diego Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ), and Health Care Utilization in the preceding 3 months. Information also was collected on patient demographics, diagnostic categories, use of supplemental oxygen, and available spirometry and 6-minute walk tests. RESULTS: Nine centers enrolled 647 patients that met prespecified inclusion criteria. Of these, 521 completed the rehabilitation program and both the pre- and the postprogram assessment. At least two of the four follow-up assessments were completed by 415 patients in eight centers. The mean age of the patients was 68 years, and 42% were men. Overall, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 44% of the predicted value. There were few significant differences between the centers. The baseline outcome measures demonstrated marked symptoms, as evidenced by the mean SOBQ score (56.8) and the mean impaired quality of life results (SF-36 physical component score, 31.2; SF-36 mental component score, 47.5). These measures also showed high utilization of healthcare services over the preceding 3 months in terms of mean hospital stay (2.4 days), urgent care visits (0.4), physician visits (4.4), and telephone calls (2.7). After rehabilitation, there were significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life in all the centers, as evidence by mean changes of -6.8 for the SOBQ, 7.5 for the physical component score, and 3.9 for the mental component score). Over 18 months, benefits gradually declined, but levels remained above baseline values. There also were significant reductions in all measures of healthcare utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary rehabilitation was effective in improving symptoms and quality of life and reducing the utilization of healthcare resources over 18 months. The results were consistent across participating centers despite variations in practice settings, patient referral patterns, and program structure.

Aged↗

California encephalitis group viruses isolated from mosquitoes collected in Southern and Arctic Norway.

Three virus strains serologically related to the California encephalitis group (Bunyaviridae) of arboviruses were isolated from 7331 mosquitoes collected in Norway in June-August 1975. Two of the isolates (S 548 and S 618) seemed to be closely related and the third, S 568, more distantly related by serological techniques to Tahyna virus. Viruses were found in the mosquito species Aedes sticticus, A. diantaeus and A. hexodontus colllected (in order) from Oyern (59 degrees N, 11 degrees 12' E), Trandum (60 degrees 08' N, 11 degrees 10' E) and Masi (69 degrees 26' N, 23 degrees 39' E). The Masi isolate seems to be the northernmost arbovirus isolate in the world so far. Strain S 568 was from 16 male A. diantaeus, indicating transovarial transmission of the virus. An accidental infection demonstrated the potential human pathogenicity of one of the newly-isolated strains (S 568), and the ability of CE viruses to persistently infect suckling mouse brains was indicated by in vivo findings. The biological characteristics of the new strains so far investigated are consistent with those of the California encephalitis group. During this work the Aerosil absorption method for production of haemagglutinating antigens proved useful for Tahyna virus and the newly-isolated strains. Trypsinization of erythrocytes improved the haemagglutinating capacities of these viruses.

Animals↗

Detecting bunyaviruses of the Bunyamwera and California serogroups by a PCR technique.

Many bunyaviruses of the Bunyamwera and California serogroups are medically important human pathogens. The development of an effective technique to detect the viruses by using molecular biologic tools, such as PCR, improves not only clinical diagnosis but also virologic surveillance of mosquito vectors in the field. In this study, we evaluated eight pairs of primers for reactivity with 44 viruses of the genus Bunyavirus, using a reverse transcriptase PCR technique. With a pair of serogroup-specific primers we designed, all viruses of the serogroups tested could be detected. Further, virus-specific primer pairs were identified for California encephalitis virus, Jamestown Canyon virus, La Crosse virus, and snowshoe hare virus for use in North America. Using this technique, we could detect one La Crosse virus-infected mosquito in a pool of 100 mosquitoes with undetectable plaque titers.

Animals↗

Closing the gap: effect of diabetes case management on glycemic control among low-income ethnic minority populations: the California Medi-Cal type 2 diabetes study.

OBJECTIVE: Disparities exist in the diabetes health status of ethnic minority and/or low-income populations relative to other groups. A primary objective of diabetes management is to improve glycemic control. The feasibility of implementing intensive diabetes case management in disparate populations remains largely untested. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Clinical sites in three southern California counties serving low-income, ethnic minority populations participated in our study. We randomized 362 Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California) recipients with type 2 diabetes for at least 1 year to intervention (diabetes case management) or control (traditional primary care treatment) groups. Fifty-five percent of participants were minorities. Participants with HbA(1c) levels less than 7.5%, serious diabetes-related complications, or other serious medical conditions were excluded. We assessed the effect of the intervention (ongoing diabetes case management added to primary care) on glycemic control using serial HbA(1c) measurements over several years. RESULTS: The mean duration of follow-up was 25.3 months. HbA(1c) decreased substantially in both groups from an average of 9.54-7.66% (a reduction of 1.88%) in the intervention group and from an average of 9.66-8.53% (a reduction of 1.13%) in the control group. This improvement was sustained throughout the study. The reduction in HbA(1c) was consistently greater in the intervention group at each time point (P < 0.001), ranging between 0.65 at 6 months and 0.87 at study end. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes case management, added to primary care, substantially improved glycemic control compared with the control group. Diabetes case management can help reduce disparities in diabetes health status among low-income ethnic populations.

Blood Glucose↗

Evaluation of the efficiency of transovarial transmission of California encephalitis viral strains in Aedes dorsalis and Aedes melanimon.

California encephalitis (CE) virus was transmitted transovarially by its natural vector, Aedes melanimon. Vertical transmission rates ranged from 13-26% in geographical populations of Ae. melanimon infected with CE virus by intrathoracic inoculation. No consistent pattern of transmission rates was detected for location or time of year mosquito collection. Vertical transmission rates ranged from 9-29% in Aedes dorsalis inoculated with CE viral strains isolated from Ae. melanimon collected in California. The month or year of viral isolation had no effect on the efficiency of vertical transmission. However, a viral strain isolated from the Owens Valley was less efficiently transmitted than strains from the Sacramento Valley, and strains from the San Joaquin Valley were intermediate in efficiency. Filial infection rates were highest in first ovarian cycle progeny and declined with increasing ovarian cycles in both Ae. dorsalis and Ae. melanimon.

Aedes↗

California serogroup viruses in New York State: the role of subtypes in human infections.

The roles of various subtypes of the California serogroup viruses as infectious agents and as neuropathogens were evaluated by using the plaque reduction neutralization test. Sera from 394 patients with central nervous system (CNS) infections during 1971-1982 and from 501 persons without CNS manifestations were studied. Jamestown Canyon (JC) and La Crosse (LAC) viruses were found to have been common infectious agents in New York State for at least 16 years. JC virus was the prevalent indicated agent in patients with antibody to California serogroup viruses in screening tests (62 of 93 cases), followed by LAC virus (11 cases), snowshoe hare (2 cases), and trivittatus (1 case). In the remaining 17 patients the subtype was undetermined. LAC virus appears to be more pathogenic for children and to produce more serious illness, as judged by the frequent clinical diagnosis of encephalitis. JC virus affects mainly adults, and meningitis was the most common diagnosis. JC virus appears to cause a stronger neutralizing antibody response than does LAC virus, with a longer persistence of high levels of antibody. Some cases of JC virus infection may have been missed in the past due to the choice of a LAC-like isolate from New York State as the sole antigen in hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) screening tests. Comparison of the HI test and a single-dilution neutralization assay for screening for the two major subtypes, JC and LAC, indicated that the latter procedure is more broadly reactive and is less likely to miss cases if only one test antigen is used.

Animals↗

Jamestown Canyon virus (California serogroup) is the etiologic agent of widespread infection in Michigan humans.

In a sample population of 780 Michigan residents tested for neutralizing antibodies to California serogroup viruses, 216 (27.7%) had specific neutralizing antibody to Jamestown Canyon virus. An additional eight (1.0%) had specific neutralizing to trivittatus virus; none had specific neutralizing antibody to La Crosse virus. Significantly more male residents than female residents of the Lower Peninsula had antibody to Jamestown Canyon virus. The frequency of neutralizing antibody titers fits the Poisson distribution, suggesting that Jamestown Canyon virus infections occur endemically in residents of Michigan. Among 128 sera with specific neutralizing antibody to Jamestown Canyon virus, only two (1.6%) were found to have significant hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody titers with La Crosse virus, while 23 of 44 (52%) had significant titers with Jamestown Canyon virus; a single serum had significant antibody by complement fixation tests with both La Crosse and Jamestown Canyon viruses. This study confirms earlier speculation that complement fixation and hemagglutination-inhibition tests with La Crosse virus (the only tests for California serogroup virus infections performed by most state diagnostic laboratories) fail to detect antibody to Jamestown Canyon virus. ASPEX computer-drawn maps demonstrated that the distribution of persons with antibody to Jamestown Canyon virus and residing in Michigan's Lower Peninsula is closely correlated with the estimated distribution of white-tailed deer in that part of the state, further supporting the hypothesis that white-tailed deer are the primary vertebrate host for Jamestown Canyon virus.

Adolescent↗