scholarly journals Natural history of nonhuman primates after conjunctival exposure to Ebola virus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Cross ◽  
Abhishek N. Prasad ◽  
Courtney Woolsey ◽  
Krystle N Agans ◽  
Viktoriya Borisevich ◽  
...  

Transmission of Ebola virus (EBOV) primarily occurs via contact exposure of mucosal surfaces with infected body fluids. Historically, nonhuman primate (NHP) challenge studies have employed intramuscular or small particle aerosol exposure, which are uniformly lethal routes of infection, but mimic worst-case scenarios such as a needlestick. When exposed by more likely routes of natural infection, limited NHP studies have shown delayed onset of disease and reduced mortality. Here we performed a series of systematic natural history studies in cynomolgus macaques with a range of conjunctival exposure doses. Challenge with 10,000 plaque forming units (PFU) of EBOV was uniformly lethal, whereas 5/6 subjects survived low and moderate dose challenges (100 or 500 PFU). Conjunctival challenge resulted in a protracted time-to death. Asymptomatic disease was observed in survivors with limited detection of EBOV replication. Inconsistent seropositivity in survivors may suggest physical or natural immunological barriers are sufficient to prevent widespread viral dissemination.

Author(s):  
John Reynard ◽  
Ben Turney

Renal stones are highly prevalent and while many cause symptoms or are of a size that requires treatment even if asymptomatic, the natural history of stones suggests that treatment may not be necessary in all cases. Stone size, position, and number are related, to a degree, to the likelihood of a subsequent stone event such as stone migration causing ureteric colic or increase in stone size, but the predictive power of ‘natural history’ studies is limited by the small number of patients in these studies. In this chapter, the evidence for watchful and waiting for asymptomatic stone disease is explored, and situations in which it is reasonable and conversely unreasonable are discussed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. S8-S15 ◽  
Author(s):  
George C Ebers

The relationship of primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) to relapsing -remitting MS (RRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS) remains unclear. Natural history data from a population-based cohort of patients with PPMS followed for approximately 25 years demonstrate remarkable similarities in the progressive phases of PPMS and SPMS. Immunogenetic and magnetic resonance imaging studies in large numbers of patients also fail to differentiate between the two MS categories. PPMS thus resembles SPMS without the relapses, although the two forms do differ with respect to sex ratio. A n unfavourable outcome in PPMS is predicted by rapid early progression of disability and involvement of three or more systems. Natural history studies provide information on likely long-term outcomes and can be used in the design and interpretation of clinical trials in PPMS. The evidence that PPMS is distinct remains weak.


2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 378
Author(s):  
Matt W Hayward

AUSTRALIA’S relatively recent discovery by Europeans and rapid loss of traditional knowledge without documentation means the accumulated knowledge of our natural history is scant compared to other continents (e.g., search for publications on the top-order predators of each continent for confirmation). Yet, as Mike Archer highlights in the Foreword to this book, this natural history information is fundamental for us to develop effective conservation strategies. Instead of focusing on accumulating this information, the competitive nature of academia limits the value of publishing simple natural history studies because of the low impact such studies invariably have (see Paul Adam’s chapter), while conservation managers are too busy to publish their natural history research particularly while they receive such little incentive to do so. The Natural History of Sydney offers a valuable remedy to this problem and Dan Lunney and his Royal Zoological Society of NSW editorial team deliver once again in servicing the intellectual needs of Australian zoologists.


Author(s):  
B.G. Weinshenker ◽  
G.C. Ebers

ABSTRACT:Studies which have attempted to define the outcome of multiple sclerosis (MS) have methodologic difficulties arising from patient referral biases and the length of follow-up required, which make prospective studies of an inception cohort unrealistic. Means to improve the validity of retrospective natural history studies are suggested. Results of existing series are summarized and compared. Survival is only rarely shortened by MS, but disability to the point of requiring aids for ambulation occurs in 30-70% of patients by 15 years from onset of symptoms. Disagreement as to the percentage of patients who are ultimately bedridden by MS likely arises in large part due to differences in patient ascertainment and follow-up. The need to develop early clinical markers for the patient at high risk for rapid development of major disability is stressed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 104 (11) ◽  
pp. 5120-5135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baris Akinci ◽  
Elif A Oral ◽  
Adam Neidert ◽  
Diana Rus ◽  
Wendy Y Cheng ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Limited natural history data are available in patients with non-HIV–related lipodystrophy syndromes who never received disease-specific therapies, making interpretation of benefits of therapies in lipodystrophy syndromes challenging. Objective We assessed the natural history of non-HIV–related generalized lipodystrophy (GL) and partial lipodystrophy (PL) in patients who have never received leptin or other lipodystrophy-specific therapies. Design/Setting/Patients We conducted an international chart review of 230 patients with confirmed GL or PL at five treatment centers who never received leptin or other lipodystrophy-specific therapies. Patients were observed from birth to loss to follow-up, death, or date of chart abstraction. Outcome Measures Lifetime prevalence of diabetes/insulin resistance and select organ abnormalities, time to diabetes/insulin resistance, first organ abnormality, disease progression, and mortality were described. Results Diabetes/insulin resistance was identified in 58.3% of patients. Liver abnormalities were the most common organ abnormality (71.7%), followed by kidney (40.4%), heart (30.4%), and pancreatitis (13.0%). Kaplan-Meier estimates of mean (SE) time to first organ abnormality were 7.7 years (0.9) in GL and 16.1 years (1.5) in PL (P < 0.001). Mean time to diabetes/insulin resistance was 12.7 years (1.2) in GL and 19.1 years (1.7) in PL (P = 0.131). Mean time to disease progression was 7.6 years (0.8) and comparable between GL and PL subgroups (P = 0.393). Mean time to death was 51.2 years (3.5) in GL and 66.6 years (1.0) in PL (P < 0.001). Conclusions This large-scale study provides comprehensive, long-term data across multiple countries on the natural history of non-HIV–related lipodystrophy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Köhler

From 1825 until his death, the Austrian botanist Franz Herbich lived in Galicia (a province of the Austrian Empire), where he established an effective network of associates. Towards the end of his life, he planned to hand over this network to the future Galician Physiographical Society, which was to continue his research. In 1865, thanks to his initiative, the Academic Society of Kraków established a Physiographical Commission to conduct natural history studies, which were from 1866 funded by the Galician Parliament. Austriacki botanik Franz Herbich od 1825 r. do swej śmierci mieszkał w Galicji (prowincji Cesarstwa Austriackiego). Zorganizował tam dobrze działającą sieć współpracowników. Pod koniec życia planował ją przekazać przyszłemu Galicyjskiemu Towarzystwa Fizjograficznemu, które kontynuowałoby jego badania. W 1865 r. dzięki jego inicjatywie Towarzystwo Naukowe Krakowskie zorganizowało Komisję Fizjograficzną, by prowadzić badania przyrodnicze. Badania te od 1866 r. były finansowane przez parlament galicyjski.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac L. Downs ◽  
Carl I. Shaia ◽  
Xiankun Zeng ◽  
Joshua C. Johnson ◽  
Lisa Hensley ◽  
...  

Lassa virus (LASV), an arenavirus causing Lassa fever, is endemic to West Africa with up to 300,000 cases and between 5000 and 10,000 deaths per year. Rarely seen in the United States, Lassa virus is a CDC category A biological agent inasmuch deliberate aerosol exposure can have high mortality rates compared to naturally acquired infection. With the need for an animal model, specific countermeasures remain elusive as there is no FDA-approved vaccine. This natural history of aerosolized Lassa virus exposure in Macaca fascicularis was studied under continuous telemetric surveillance. The macaque response to challenge was largely analogous to severe human disease with fever, tachycardia, hypotension, and tachypnea. During initial observations, an increase trend of activated monocytes positive for viral glycoprotein was accompanied by lymphocytopenia. Disease uniformly progressed to high viremia followed by low anion gap, alkalosis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Hypoproteinemia occurred late in infection followed by increased levels of white blood cells, cytokines, chemokines, and biochemical markers of liver injury. Viral nucleic acids were detected in tissues of three non-survivors at endpoint, but not in the lone survivor. This study provides useful details to benchmark a pivotal model of Lassa fever in support of medical countermeasure development for both endemic disease and traditional biodefense purposes.


1960 ◽  
Vol 106 (442) ◽  
pp. 93-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Pollitt

The history of mediaeval medicine shows clearly that the decline of a science takes place whenever the tendency to theorize overruns the desire to observe and measure. Psychiatry with its shorter medical history has suffered from this tendency until fairly recent times. Even now, it is possible to estimate the efficiency of a nation's psychiatric progress by comparing the amount of factual research with the emphasis placed on unproven theoretical concepts in clinical practice.


2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1005-1014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Pourrut ◽  
Brice Kumulungui ◽  
Tatiana Wittmann ◽  
Ghislain Moussavou ◽  
André Délicat ◽  
...  

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