Prevalence and Diversity of Avian Haematozoan Parasites in Wetlands of Bangladesh

The parasites of generaHaemoproteus, Plasmodium,andLeucocytozoonare well-known avian haematozoa and can cause declined productivity and high mortality in wild birds. The objective of the study was to record the prevalence of haematozoan parasites in a wide range of wetland birds in Bangladesh. Six species ofHaemoproteus, seven species ofPlasmodium, one unidentified species ofLeucocytozoon, and one unidentified microfilaria of the genusParonchocercawere found. Data on the morphology, size, hosts, prevalence, and infection intensity of the parasites are provided. The overall prevalence among the birds was 29.5% (95 out of 322 birds). Of those, 13.2% (42 of 319) of birds were infected withHaemoproteusspp., 15.1% withPlasmodiumspp. (48 of 319) and 0.6% withLeucocytozoonspp. (2 of 319). Two birds were positive for bothHaemoproteussp. andPlasmodiumsp. A single resident bird,Ardeola grayii, was found positive for an unidentified microfilaria. Prevalence of infection varied significantly among different bird families. Wild birds of Bangladesh carry several types of haematozoan parasites. Further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary to estimate more accurately the prevalence of haematozoan parasites among wild birds as well as domestic ducks for better understanding of the disease ecology.

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Planning the Size of Clinical Trials with Allowance for Patient Noncompliance

Methods of Information in Medicine ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1634787 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 29 (03) ◽

pp. 243-246 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

M. A. A. Moussa

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Sample Size ◽

Event Rate ◽

Survival Functions ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Patient Noncompliance ◽

Event Rates ◽

Larger Sample

AbstractVarious approaches are considered for adjustment of clinical trial size for patient noncompliance. Such approaches either model the effect of noncompliance through comparison of two survival distributions or two simple proportions. Models that allow for variation of noncompliance and event rates between time intervals are also considered. The approach that models the noncompliance adjustment on the basis of survival functions is conservative and hence requires larger sample size. The model to be selected for noncompliance adjustment depends upon available estimates of noncompliance and event rate patterns.

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Augmentation Strategies for Clozapine-Resistant Patients with Schizophrenia

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200110102254 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 218-227

Author(s):

Yi-Hang Chiu ◽

Chia-Yueh Hsu ◽

Mong-Liang Lu ◽

Chun-Hsin Chen

Keyword(s):

Sample Size ◽

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Mood Stabilizers ◽

Treatment Resistant ◽

Double Blind ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Augmentation Strategies ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

Augmentation Strategy ◽

Larger Sample

Background: Clozapine has been used in treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. However, only 40% of patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia have response to clozapine. Many augmentation strategies have been proposed to treat those clozapine-resistant patients, but the results are inconclusive. In this review, we intended to review papers dealing with the augmentation strategies in the treatment of clozapineresistant patients with schizophrenia. Method: We reviewed randomized, double-blind, placebo- or sham-controlled trials (RCT) for clozapine-resistant patients with schizophrenia in Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and PubMed database from January 1990 to June 2019. Results: Antipsychotics, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, brain stimulation, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and other strategies, were used as an augmentation in clozapine-resistant patients with schizophrenia. Except for better evidence in memantine with 2 RCTs and cognitive behavior therapy in 2 studies to support its effectiveness, we found that all the other effective augmentations, including sulpiride, ziprasidone, duloxetine, mirtazapine, ECT, sodium benzoate, ginkgo biloba, and minocycline, had only one RCT with limited sample size. Conclusion: In this review, no definite effective augmentation strategy was found for clozapine-resistant patients. Some potential strategies with beneficial effects on psychopathology need further studies with a larger sample size to support their efficacy.

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‘Statistical Irreproducibility’ Does Not Improve with Larger Sample Size: How to Quantify and Address Disease Data Multimodality in Human and Animal Research

Journal of Personalized Medicine ◽

10.3390/jpm11030234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 234

Author(s):

Abigail R. Basson ◽

Fabio Cominelli ◽

Alexander Rodriguez-Palacios

Keyword(s):

Sample Size ◽

Data Visualization ◽

Random Sampling ◽

Intestinal Inflammation ◽

Random Number Generation ◽

Outcome Data ◽

Multimodal Distributions ◽

Disease Subtypes ◽

Study Designs ◽

Larger Sample

Poor study reproducibility is a concern in translational research. As a solution, it is recommended to increase sample size (N), i.e., add more subjects to experiments. The goal of this study was to examine/visualize data multimodality (data with >1 data peak/mode) as cause of study irreproducibility. To emulate the repetition of studies and random sampling of study subjects, we first used various simulation methods of random number generation based on preclinical published disease outcome data from human gut microbiota-transplantation rodent studies (e.g., intestinal inflammation and univariate/continuous). We first used unimodal distributions (one-mode, Gaussian, and binomial) to generate random numbers. We showed that increasing N does not reproducibly identify statistical differences when group comparisons are repeatedly simulated. We then used multimodal distributions (>1-modes and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods of random sampling) to simulate similar multimodal datasets A and B (t-test-p = 0.95; N = 100,000), and confirmed that increasing N does not improve the ‘reproducibility of statistical results or direction of the effects’. Data visualization with violin plots of categorical random data simulations with five-integer categories/five-groups illustrated how multimodality leads to irreproducibility. Re-analysis of data from a human clinical trial that used maltodextrin as dietary placebo illustrated multimodal responses between human groups, and after placebo consumption. In conclusion, increasing N does not necessarily ensure reproducible statistical findings across repeated simulations due to randomness and multimodality. Herein, we clarify how to quantify, visualize and address disease data multimodality in research. Data visualization could facilitate study designs focused on disease subtypes/modes to help understand person–person differences and personalized medicine.

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Re-Evaluation of the Podosphaera tridactyla Species Complex in Australia

Journal of Fungi ◽

10.3390/jof7030171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 171

Author(s):

Reannon L. Smith ◽

Tom W. May ◽

Jatinder Kaur ◽

Tim I. Sawbridge ◽

Ross C. Mann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Powdery Mildew ◽

Species Complex ◽

Taxonomic Revision ◽

Stone Fruit ◽

Prunus Species ◽

Wide Range ◽

Unidentified Species ◽

The Rose ◽

Generation Sequencing

The Podosphaera tridactyla species complex is highly variable morphologically and causes powdery mildew on a wide range of Prunus species, including stone fruit. A taxonomic revision of the Po. tridactyla species complex in 2020 identified 12 species, seven of which were newly characterised. In order to clarify which species of this complex are present in Australia, next generation sequencing was used to isolate the fungal ITS+28S and host matK chloroplast gene regions from 56 powdery mildew specimens of stone fruit and ornamental Prunus species accessioned as Po. tridactyla or Oidium sp. in Australian reference collections. The specimens were collected in Australia, Switzerland, Italy and Korea and were collected from 1953 to 2018. Host species were confirmed using matK phylogenetic analysis, which identified that four had been misidentified as Prunus but were actually Malusprunifolia. Podosphaera species were identified using ITS+28S phylogenetic analysis, recognising three Podosphaera species on stone fruit and related ornamental Prunus hosts in Australia. These were Po.pannosa, the rose powdery mildew, and two species in the Po. tridactyla species complex: Po. ampla, which was the predominant species, and a previously unidentified species from peach, which we describe here as Po. cunningtonii.

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Prescribed burning for lowland black spruce regeneration in northern Minnesota

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x84-020 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 107-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Scott E. Aksamit ◽

Frank D. Irving

Keyword(s):

Prescribed Burning ◽

Black Spruce ◽

Controlled Study ◽

University Of Minnesota ◽

Feather Moss ◽

Wide Range ◽

Labrador Tea ◽

Tall Shrub ◽

The University ◽

Larger Sample

Concern over the variability of black spruce (Piceamariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) regeneration on peatlands in northern Minnesota following prescribed burning led to a cooperative study between the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Twenty-seven black spruce cutovers on State lands that had been prescribed burned and either seeded or left to regenerate naturally were sampled. These were stratified into sphagnum – Labrador-tea – leather-leaf (SPHG) sites (10), feather moss (FM) sites (9), and alder – graminoid – other tall shrub (ALDR) sites (8). Results indicate that fire was not necessary to regenerate SPHG sites. FM sites required fire to modify unfavorable seedbeds and to reduce competition. Best results were obtained by burning when the upper layers of the peat were highly desiccated. ALDR sites occupied a wide range of ecological conditions which led to highly variable regeneration results. A larger sample size and possibly more carefully controlled study conditions are needed to fully understand ALDR site regeneration. Seeding results were uncertain for all sites.

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Adaptation of Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) in Feral Birds and their Potential Role in Interspecies Transmission

The Open Virology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874357901812010052 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 52-68 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Aziz-ul- Rahman ◽

Momena Habib ◽

Muhammad Zubair Shabbir

Keyword(s):

Newcastle Disease ◽

Potential Role ◽

Vital Role ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Avian Species ◽

Phylogenomic Analysis ◽

Susceptible Host ◽

Domestic Poultry ◽

Wide Range

Introduction:Newcastle Disease (ND), caused by Avian avulavirus 1 (AAvV 1, avulaviruses), is a notifiable disease throughout the world due to the economic impact on trading restrictions and its embargoes placed in endemic regions. The feral birds including aquatic/migratory birds and other wild birds may act as natural reservoir hosts of ND Viruses (NDVs) and may play a remarkable role in the spread of the virus in environment. In addition, other 19 avulaviruses namely: AAvV 2 to 20, have been potentially recognized from feral avian species.Expalantion:Many previous studies have investigated the field prevailing NDVs to adapt a wide range of susceptible host. Still the available data is not enough to declare the potential role of feral birds in transmission of the virus to poultry and/or other avian birds. In view of the latest evidence related to incidences of AAvVs in susceptible avian species, it is increasingly important to understand the potential of viruses to transmit within the domestic poultry and other avian hosts. Genomic and phylogenomic analysis of several investigations has shown the same (RK/RQRR↓F) motif cleavage site among NDV isolates with same genotypes from domestic poultry and other wild hosts. So, the insight of this, various semi-captive/free-ranging wild avian species could play a vital role in the dissemination of the virus, which is an important consideration to control the disease outbreaks. Insufficient data on AAvV 1 transmission from wild birds to poultry and vice versa is the main constraint to understand about its molecular biology and genomic potential to cause infection in all susceptible hosts.Conclusion:The current review details the pertinent features of several historical and contemporary aspects of NDVs and the vital role of feral birds in its molecular epidemiology and ecology.

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Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine could be an Available Weapons to Treat COVID-19 Associated Pneumonia

Journal of Pharmaceutical Research International ◽

10.9734/jpri/2020/v32i930482 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 52-60

Author(s):

Nehad J. Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ◽

Sample Size ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Google Scholar ◽

Converting Enzyme ◽

Larger Sample

Aims: This study aims to review the efficacy of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) associated pneumonia. Methodology: This review includes searching Google scholar for publications about the use of hydroxychloroquinein the treatment of COVID-19 using the words of (Covid-19) AND hydroxychloroquine. Results: Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have proven effective in treating coronavirus in China in vitro, but till now only few clinical trials are available and these trials were conducted on a small sample size of the patients. The efficacy of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine is mainly due to its effect on angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE2). Conclusion: The use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine could be very promising but more trials are needed that include larger sample size and more data are required about the comparison between chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine with other antivirals.

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Retrospective analysis of post-mortem findings in domestic ducks and geese from non-commercial flocks in Sweden, 2011–2020

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica ◽

10.1186/s13028-021-00614-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 63 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Désirée Seger Jansson ◽

Faruk Otman ◽

Elisabeth Bagge ◽

Ylva Lindgren ◽

Pernille Engelsen Etterlin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Viral Infections ◽

Muscovy Duck ◽

Post Mortem ◽

National Veterinary Institute ◽

Domestic Ducks ◽

Yeast Infection ◽

Wide Range ◽

Causes Of Mortality ◽

Muscovy Ducks

Abstract Background Small poultry flock ownership has become a popular hobby in Europe and North America in recent years but there is a general lack of information regarding bird health and welfare. This retrospective analysis of routine post-mortem cases of non-commercial anseriform poultry aimed at providing information on causes of mortality mostly in relation to mortality events. For this purpose, birds that were submitted for routine post-mortem diagnostics to the National Veterinary Institute (SVA) in Sweden in 2011–2020 were retrospectively reviewed to determine main causes of mortality. Results Records from 79 necropsy submissions involving 120 birds (domestic ducks n = 41, Muscovy ducks n = 45, hybrid ducks n = 2 and domestic geese n = 32) were retrieved and analysed. Most submissions (72.2%) represented flock disease events and unexpected mortality was the most common cause of submission (70.9% of submissions). Twenty-two submissions (27.8%) were referred by veterinarians. There was a wide range of diagnoses of infectious and noninfectious aetiologies. Infectious causes of mortality included parasitic (19.2%), bacterial (13.3%), fungal (10.0%) and viral infections (3.3%) (at bird level of all 120 birds). Some of these infections such as duck virus enteritis (DVE), highly pathogenic influenza (HPAI H5N8) in Muscovy ducks and leucocytozoonosis (Leucocytozoon sp.) in all three species were most likely acquired from contact with wild free-living waterfowl. Generalised yeast infection (Muscovy duck disease) was diagnosed in Muscovy ducks and in a Muscovy duck/domestic duck hybrid. Other diseases were related to generalised noninfectious causes (27.5% of all birds) including diseases such as kidney disease, amyloidosis, cardiac dilatation, reproductive diseases and idiopathic inflammatory conditions. Nutritional or management-related diseases were diagnosed in 14.2% of all birds including rickets and gastrointestinal impaction/obstruction. Congenital/developmental, neoplastic, toxic and traumatic causes of mortality were rare. Conclusions The information obtained in this study can be used to identify and evaluate risks and help owners and veterinarians to prevent disease and provide adequate veterinary care for non-commercial anseriform poultry.

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Abstract W P20: A Model to Calculate the Expected Treatment Effect in Acute Endovascular Stroke Trials

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.45.suppl_1.wp20 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Maarten G Lansberg ◽

Robin Lemmens ◽

Soren Christensen ◽

Nishant K Mishra ◽

Gregory W Albers

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Sample Size ◽

Endovascular Therapy ◽

Treatment Effect ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Absolute Difference ◽

Sample Size Calculations ◽

And Control ◽

Larger Sample

Background: Recent trials have shown no benefit of endovascular therapy. This may, in part, be explained by inaccurate estimates of the treatment effect used in the sample size calculations of these trials. A predictive model which includes variables that modify the expected treatment effect might yield more accurate estimates, and could be valuable in the design of future acute stroke trials. Methods: We conducted a literature review to obtain estimates of parameters that are associated with good functional outcome (GFO) following recanalization. We developed a model to estimate the treatment effect in endovascular stroke trials and applied this model to two recently published endovascular stroke trials. Results: We estimated a 40% absolute difference in the proportion of GFO (mRS 0-2 at 90 days) associated with reperfusion in patients with ICA or M1 occlusions who have a substantial ischemic penumbra at baseline. To estimate the effect size in trials, this value was multiplied by: 1) the proportion of patients undergoing endovascular therapy in the active treatment arm; 2) the proportion of patients with occlusions of the ICA or MCA-M1; 3) the proportion of patients with a substantial penumbra and a DWI lesion <50mL; and 4) the absolute difference in the proportion of patients with reperfusion, defined as TICI 2B-3, between the endovascular treatment and control arms. Based on literature review we assumed a reperfusion rate of 20% in the control arms of IMS III and MR Rescue, a 50% prevalence of patients with substantial penumbra and DWI lesions<50 mL in IMS III, and a 75% prevalence in the penumbral arms of MR Rescue. Based on these model inputs, a 2.2% increase in GFO with endovascular therapy was expected in IMS III, which closely matches the observed 2.1% increase. For MR Rescue, the model predicted a 1.5% increase in GFO with endovascular therapy. Considering the small sample size, this equates to 0.5 additional patients with GFO which closely matches the observed result of 3 fewer patients with GFO. Conclusion: A simple model shows promise for estimating the treatment effect of endovascular stroke trials. It may be useful for the design of future trials and could lead to different inclusion criteria or larger sample sizes compared to the recently conducted studies.

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Pathogens from Wild Birds at the Wildlife–Agriculture Interface

10.1093/oso/9780198746249.003.0011 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 207-228

Author(s):

Alan B. Franklin ◽

Sarah N. Bevins ◽

Susan A. Shriner

Keyword(s):

Disease Ecology ◽

Influenza A ◽

Wild Birds ◽

Avian Species ◽

Influenza A Viruses ◽

Agricultural Health ◽

Bird Populations ◽

Food Borne ◽

Global Movement ◽

Agricultural Operations

Birds are known to carry pathogens affecting human and agricultural health. Conversely, agricultural operations can serve as sources of pathogens that affect wild bird populations. This chapter provides guidelines to identify focal avian species that frequently use agricultural operations. These guidelines are coupled with identifying host types, such as maintenance and bridge hosts, and potential direct and indirect pathways for pathogen contamination from wild birds to agricultural operations, including patterns of spillover and spillback. The chapter also identifies major bacterial and viral pathogens of concern that are prevalent in birds and that affect human and agricultural health. These pathogens are then used to illustrate disease ecology concepts important at the wildlife–agriculture interface. These microorganisms include food-borne bacteria, influenza A viruses, and Newcastle disease virus. The chapter introduces the concept of contamination potential for categorizing avian species in terms of the risk they pose to contamination of agricultural operations with pathogens of concern. Finally, the chapter examines long-distance movements of wild birds in relation to pathogen introduction and illustrates this with global movement of influenza A viruses by wild birds.

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