Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse

Viruses have brought humanity many challenges: respiratory infection, cancer, neurological impairment and immunosuppression to name a few. Virology research over the last 60+ years has responded to reduce this disease burden with vaccines and antivirals. Despite this long history, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented attention to the field of virology. Some of this attention is focused on concern about the safe conduct of research with human pathogens. A small but vocal group of individuals has seized upon these concerns - conflating legitimate questions about safely conducting virus-related research with uncertainties over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The result has fueled public confusion and, in many instances, ill-informed condemnation of virology. With this article, we seek to promote a return to rational discourse. We explain the use of gain-of-function approaches in science, discuss the possible origins of SARS-CoV-2 and outline current regulatory structures that provide oversight for virological research in the United States. By offering our expertise, we - a broad group of working virologists - seek to aid policy makers in navigating these controversial issues. Balanced, evidence-based discourse is essential to addressing public concern while maintaining and expanding much-needed research in virology.

Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse

Viruses have brought humanity many challenges: respiratory infection, cancer, neurological impairment and immunosuppression to name a few. Virology research over the last 60+ years has responded to reduce this disease burden with vaccines and antivirals. Despite this long history, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented attention to the field of virology. Some of this attention is focused on concern about the safe conduct of research with human pathogens. A small but vocal group of individuals has seized upon these concerns - conflating legitimate questions about safely conducting virus-related research with uncertainties over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The result has fueled public confusion and, in many instances, ill-informed condemnation of virology. With this article, we seek to promote a return to rational discourse. We explain the use of gain-of-function approaches in science, discuss the possible origins of SARS-CoV-2 and outline current regulatory structures that provide oversight for virological research in the United States. By offering our expertise, we - a broad group of working virologists - seek to aid policy makers in navigating these controversial issues. Balanced, evidence-based discourse is essential to addressing public concern while maintaining and expanding much-needed research in virology.

Virology under the Microscope-a Call for Rational Discourse

Viruses have brought humanity many challenges: respiratory infection, cancer, neurological impairment and immunosuppression to name a few. Virology research over the last 60+ years has responded to reduce this disease burden with vaccines and antivirals. Despite this long history, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented attention to the field of virology. Some of this attention is focused on concern about the safe conduct of research with human pathogens. A small but vocal group of individuals has seized upon these concerns - conflating legitimate questions about safely conducting virus-related research with uncertainties over the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The result has fueled public confusion and, in many instances, ill-informed condemnation of virology. With this article, we seek to promote a return to rational discourse. We explain the use of gain-of-function approaches in science, discuss the possible origins of SARS-CoV-2 and outline current regulatory structures that provide oversight for virological research in the United States. By offering our expertise, we - a broad group of working virologists - seek to aid policy makers in navigating these controversial issues. Balanced, evidence-based discourse is essential to addressing public concern while maintaining and expanding much-needed research in virology.

Studying global processing in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder with gaze movements: The example of a copying task

Recent discussions in the literature, along with the revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) (American Psychiatric Association 2013), suggest aetiological commonalities between the highly comorbid Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Addressing this discussion requires studying these disorders together by comparing constructs typical to each of them. In the present study, we investigate global processing, known to be difficult for participants with ASD, and Intra-Subject Variability (ISV), known to be consistently increased in participants with ADHD, in groups, aged 10–13 years, with ADHD (n = 25), ASD without comorbid ADHD (ASD-) (n = 13) and ASD with ADHD (ASD+) (n = 18) in comparison with a typically developing group (n = 22). A Copying task, typically requiring global processing and in this case particularly designed using equally complex stimuli to also measure ISV across trials, was selected. Oculomotor measures in this task proved to be particularly sensitive to group differences. While increased ISV was not observed in the present task in participants with ADHD, both ASD groups looked longer on the figure to be drawn, indicating that global processing takes longer in ASD. However, the ASD+ group fixated on the figure only between drawing movements, whereas the ASD- group did this throughout the drawing process. The present study provides evidence towards ASD and ADHD being separate, not-overlapping, disorders. Since the pure ASD- group was affected more by central coherence problems than the ASD+ group, it may suggest that neuropsychological constructs interact differently in different clinical groups and sub-groups.

OARSI Clinical Trials Recommendations: Design and conduct of clinical trials for primary prevention of osteoarthritis by joint injury prevention in sport and recreation

The risk of post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) substantially increases following joint injury. Research efforts should focus on investigating the efficacy of preventative strategies in high quality randomized controlled trials (RCT). The objective of these OARSI RCT recommendations is to inform the design, conduct and analytical approaches to RCTs evaluating the preventative effect of joint injury prevention strategies. Recommendations regarding the design, conduct, and reporting of RCTs evaluating injury prevention interventions were established based on the consensus of nine researchers internationally with expertise in epidemiology, injury prevention and/or osteoarthritis (OA). Input and resultant consensus was established through teleconference, face to face and email correspondence over a 1 year period. Recommendations for injury prevention RCTs include context specific considerations regarding the research question, research design, study participants, randomization, baseline characteristics, intervention, outcome measurement, analysis, implementation, cost evaluation, reporting and future considerations including the impact on development of PTOA. Methodological recommendations for injury prevention RCTs are critical to informing evidence-based practice and policy decisions in health care, public health and the community. Recommendations regarding the interpretation and conduct of injury prevention RCTs will inform the highest level of evidence in the field. These recommendations will facilitate between study comparisons to inform best practice in injury prevention that will have the greatest public health impact.

[Indocyanine green elimination for the evaluation of liver function: prognostic value in patients with community-acquired sepsis]

BACKGROUND

The aim of our clinical study was to correlate liver function measured by indocyanine green (ICG) elimination and clinical outcomes in patients with an early stage of community-acquired sepsis (CAS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 341 patients (≥ 18 years) presenting with suspicion of CAS or evidence of an infection and fulfillment of ≥ 2 systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria were included in the observational study"Prognosis of early sepsis 2" (Prognose der frühen Sepsis 2, ProFS 2). Patients who had been hospitalized within the last 7 days were excluded. In a subgroup of these patients (n = 72) who were transferred to an intensive or intermediate care unit according to the clinical judgment of the treating physicians, ICG elimination (plasma disappearance rate, ICG-PDR; 15 min retention rate, ICG-R15) was assessed by using a noninvasive monitoring system (LiMON, PULSION Medical Systems, Germany). ICG-PDR and -R15 were determined on the day of admission (n = 72) and after 96 h (n = 34). The primary end point of the study was defined as death within 30 days. Secondary endpoints were need for renal replacement therapy, requirement for invasive mechanical ventilation, and length of stay in an intermediate or intensive care unit.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

In contrast to patients with sepsis or severe sepsis, ICG elimination was found to be significantly impaired in patients with septic shock. Furthermore, a significant predictive value of ICG-PDR and -R15 on the day of admission for the need for subsequent renal replacement therapy (n = 12) was observed. In addition, reduced ICG elimination was associated with a longer stay in an intermediate or intensive care unit. However, ICG elimination on admission could not predict 30-day mortality (n = 14) or requirement of mechanical ventilation (n = 20).

The CORE-OM in an older adult population: psychometric status, acceptability, and feasibility

There is a need to extend and test the feasibility and acceptability of mental health outcome measures in the older population (i.e., aged 65-100). We present data on the CORE-OM (Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure) on a sample of 118 people aged 65-97 presenting for mental health treatment and 214 people aged 65-94 drawn from a non-clinical population. Results show the CORE-OM to be a reliable measure in both samples when the overall mean item is used but the reliability is not as high for the specific domains as psychometrically stable structures. The CORE-OM showed large overall differences between the non-clinical and clinical samples indicating that it is equally as sensitive to these differing populations across this older age band as with working-age adults. However, the norms for the clinical sample were consistently lower than the equivalent clinical norms for a working-age sample. These findings suggest that the collection and compilation of age-specific norms is crucial in ensuring that appropriately referenced norms are used rather than assuming that norms are generalizable across the whole adult life-span.

[The man in the ice under special consideration of paleo-pathological evidence]

Dealing with archaeological findings, the physical condition of the 5000-year-old Man in the Ice will be discussed. Several research projects with autoscopical, radiological, computertomographical and laparoscopical methods present an overview of the state of health of the Tyrolean Iceman. The vascular network at the lower brain shows a slight hardening of the arteries. On the right side of the thorax the sixth and seventh ribs are fractured without callus formation. On the left side serial rib fractures can be seen which had healed well. The twelfth ribs are absent on both sides. The Iceman was suffering from arthrosis of the right hip of medium severity. Osteolysis of the little toe is indicative of frostbite. Some ecto- and endoparasites were found (Pulex irritans, Trichuris trichiura). The Iceman has a number of skin markings on various places. The location of these tattoos matches the X-ray findings of discrete to medium arthrotic changes in the corresponding joints. It seems reasonable to assume that the markings were applied for a therapeutic reason. The combination of thickening of the arteries, arthrosis of the joints, the healed fractures and frostbite lesions illustrates the hard life to be endured by the Man in the Ice and by Late Stone Age man in general.

Follicular phase hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function in women with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

OBJECTIVE

Fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are clinically overlapping stress associated disorders. Neuroendocrine perturbations have been noted in both syndromes, and they are more common in women, suggesting abnormalities of gonadal steroid hormones. We tested the hypothesis that women with FM and CFS manifest abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) hormonal axis.

METHODS

We examined the secretory characteristics of estradiol, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), including a detailed analysis of LH in premenopausal women with FM (n = 9) or CFS (n = 8) during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle compared to matched healthy controls. Blood was collected from an indwelling intravenous catheter every 10 min. over a 12 h period. LH was assayed from every sample; pulses of LH were identified by a pulse-detection program. FSH and progesterone were assayed from a pool of hourly samples for the 12 h period and estradiol from samples pooled over four 3 h time periods.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in FSH, progesterone, or estradiol levels in patients versus controls. There were no significant differences in pulsatile secretion of LH.

CONCLUSION

There is no indication of abnormal gonadotropin secretion or gonadal steroid levels in this small, but systematic, study of HPG axis function in patients with FM and CFS.

Isolation and characterization of insect PC2-like prohormone convertase cDNA

Endoproteolytic processing of large precursor molecules at basic amino acid residues plays an important role in the maturation of many hormones, neuropeptides and other regulatory proteins. Enzymes performing these reactions are designated as prohormone or proprotein convertases and belong to the subtilisin family of serine proteases. The screening of a larval cDNA library of the sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina resulted in the isolation of two cDNAs encoding a PC2-like prohormone convertase. The predicted 675 amino acid preproprotein (LcuPC2) exhibits its highest identity to invertebrate and vertebrate prohormone convertase 2 homologues, and a noticeably lower identity to the so far known insect furin-like prohormone convertases of Drosophila melanogaster and Aedes aegypti. In Northern blot experiments a signal at 2.5 kb could be detected.

Mouse adenovirus (MAV-1) expression in primary human endothelial cells and generation of a full-length infectious plasmid

Using RT-PCR, we show that mouse adenovirus type I (MAV-1) is capable of infecting and expressing in various cell types, specifically human endothelial cells. The capability of MAV-1 to infect and express in human endothelial cells makes it a potentially useful alternative to the use of human adenoviruses type 2/5 (Ad2/5) in virus-based gene therapy, although presently MAV-1 can only be produced at lower titers than Ad2/5. In this report, we present methods for the purification of MAV-1 DNA and use of this DNA along with a modified bacteria-based homologous recombination protocol to generate a full-length plasmid clone of MAV-1 DNA. Using various transfection procedures, we show that this plasmid MAV-1 DNA can generate plaques of MAV-1 virus, albeit at low efficiencies (about 0. 2 p.f.u./microg DNA). Furthermore, the construction of an MAV-1 plasmid along with its capability to express in human cells justifies the full development of MAV-1 into a system of gene therapy.

Direct extracellular electrical stimulation influences density dependent aggregation of fetal rat cerebrocortical neurons in vitro

Cells isolated from fetal (E17) rat cerebral cortex form aggregates in a density-dependent manner. Direct current electrical stimulation influences the formation of neuronal aggregates by promoting neuronal survival at a calculated current density of 15 nA/cm2 (with an average calculated field strength of 1 microV/cm), and inhibiting neuronal survival at calculated current densities of both 1 nA/cm2 and 150 nA/cm2. Electrical stimulation had no observable effect on neuronal aggregation independent of its effect on cell survival.

Enhanced survival of rat neonatal cerebral cortical neurons at subatmospheric oxygen tensions in vitro

In vitro tissue culture experiments are routinely performed at atmospheric oxygen tension (21%), although most cells experience lower oxygen tensions in vivo. The optimal oxygen tension for the survival of neurons and synthesis of neurofilament (NF) was determined using dissociated neonatal rat cerebral cortex and monoclonal antibodies to the 68 kDa and 200 kDa subunits of NF. Maximum production of each subunit determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay occurred at 9% O2. Neuronal survival determined by immunohistochemistry was also maximal at 9% O2. CNS neurons are highly sensitive to oxygen tension and grow best at levels approximating capillary rather than atmospheric pO2.

Rapid evolution of RNA genomes

RNA viruses show high mutation frequencies partly because of a lack of the proofreading enzymes that assure fidelity of DNA replication. This high mutation frequency is coupled with high rates of replication reflected in rates of RNA genome evolution which can be more than a millionfold greater than the rates of the DNA chromosome evolution of their hosts. There are some disease implications for the DNA-based biosphere of this rapidly evolving RNA biosphere.