Unusual skin pigmentation in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Diffuse addisonian hyperpigmentation in a male patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome related complex (ARC) is described. The etiology of pigmentation in this patient remains obscure but is most probably related to the H.I.V. infection. Other causes of addisonian hyperpigmentation are considered less likely.


Surgical management of pulmonary metastases. Pulmonary metastases is a devastating complication for the cancer patient and its occurrence signals a lethal outcome. Recently, surgery is being offered more frequently to certain patients with pulmonary metastases. In this paper, the criteria used to select these patients are reviewed. Also, the various prognostic factors, including tumor histology, number and location of metastases, disease-free interval, tumor-doubling time are presented and their effect on survival is evaluated. Even with the development of objective criteria for the selection of patients for surgery, no single criterion should be used to exclude patients from surgery, especially when no alternative therapy is available.


[Therapeutic problem posed by Gardner's syndrome, report of a Lebanese family]. Gardner's syndrome ie an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the association of a polyposis coli with one or more of specific extracolonic manifestations. A lebanese family is reported. Polyposis coli, desmoid tumors, gastroduodenal polyps, procreation counselling etc. are difficult problems to manage in this syndrome.


[Wilms' tumors, 12 case reports].

[Wilms' tumors, 12 case reports]. The treatment of Wilms' tumor has shown a great success in the pediatric oncology. Our study, which includes 12 cases of nephroblastoma, between 1979 and 1987, has confirmed this results. This tumor that shows no sex prevalence, occurs in a mean age of 2.5 years. The volume of the mass is the most presenting sign in 75% of the cases, I.V.P. confirm the diagnosis in 90% of the cases. Remission occurred in 5 infants who have been in stage I, the other cases who are in stage II to V have bad prognosis. In the future, we hope more advancement in the cure of Wilms tumor, and all the remaining questions will find their answer.


[Surgical treatment of vesico-ureteral reflux: comparison between sub-ureteric injection of Polytef and the Cohen technique]. 40 patients who need surgical treatment for their vesico-ureteral reflux have been operated between 1989 and 1992; 26 of them have got the subureteric injection of Polytef (S.U.I.P.) and 14 the neo-uretero-cystostomy (N.U.C.) of Cohen. Even the N.U.C. of Cohen keeps the best results in our experience with only one stenosis on 28 operated ureters (3%), the S.U.I.P. is still an excellent technic because of its simplicity, low morbidity with 90% rate of success. This rate seems stable after a recoil of 19 +/- 13 months. Research must focus on finding a new substance to replace the Polytef and stop the fear of its particles migration found experimentally in animals.


Adenosine deaminase activity in various pathological effusions. Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) Activity in pathologic effusions was measured. The effusions were pleural (49 cases) peritoneal (38 cases) and pericardial (3 cases). The patients were divided into 6 groups: Group I included 10 cases with tuberculosis, group II included 6 cases with pleural effusions, group III included 46 cases of malignancy, group IV included 15 cases of transudates, group V included 4 miscellaneous cases and group VI included 8 cases of unknown diagnosis. Mean (ADA) activity was 102 +/- 37 U/L in Group I, 45 +/- 46 U/L in Group II, 27 +/- 30 U/L in Group III, 12 +/- 11 in Group IV, 36 +/- 32 in Group V and 38 +/- 42 in Group VI. Specificity and sensitivity for tuberculosis where a value > 41 U/L is taken is 85% and 100% respectively. Assessment of ADA in pathologic effusions is helpful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis but it does not replace the pleural or peritoneal biopsy.


[The artificial sphincter in the treatment of urinary incontinence]. During the period from August 1988 until August 1991, 31 patients who had urinary incontinence of different etiologies underwent implantation of an artificial sphincter AMS 800 at the Urology service in Hotel-Dieu de France Hospital. (26% Spinal cord injury; 42% Post op, complicate; 32% Congenital anomalies). After a follow-up of 5 to 36 months (means 24 +/- 10 months) the 28 patients in whom the sphincter was kept implanted, 26 (93%) patients achieved complete continence day time as well as nocturnal. 2 patients (7%) still have mild stress urinary incontinence. Follow-up was five months, and maximum three years. The sphincter was removed in 3 (10%) patients who had infection of the prosthesis. The above results are in favor of the implantation of this type of prosthesis.


[Cognitive therapy].

[Cognitive therapy]. This paper offers an introduction to cognitive therapy which gives special importance to schemas of thinking in the expression of affect and behavior. Depression is a disease in which distorted and idiosyncratic patterns of thinking are activated; these are the major target of cognitive therapy. This therapy obeys specific laws and techniques based on scientific data and thus requires special training. The improvement of depression through cognitive therapy leads to the disappearance of depressive symptoms and the birth of adequate patterns for the management of psychic equilibrium. A plethora of publications emphasize the efficacy of cognitive therapy in the treatment of depression. This technique is in use, in Lebanon, in the Clinical and Research Service of Psychiatry and Psychology at St. Georges Hospital, Beirut.


Post-operative return of head malposition in congenital null point nystagmus. We present two patients with congenital null point nystagmus with head malposition and orthotopic eyes who underwent a modified Kestenbaum-Anderson operation. The face malposition returned in both patients about one year post operatively despite marked reduction of gaze toward the side of the original null point. We do not believe it is the reduced adduction of the fixating eye that eliminates the face turn or prevents its recurrence. Surgical normalization of an abnormal proprioception eliminates the face turn whereas the head malposition return is due to a faulty development of the brain, irreversible and deeply adopted to the abnormal proprioception.


[Volvulus of a wandering spleen on the 2nd day after birth]. Wandering spleen (W.S) seems tu result from an abnormal development or the ligamentous attachments of this organ. The age of apparition is between 3 months and eight years. We report the youngest case of the literature of torsion of wandering spleen at two days of birth where the clinical examination and the abdominal sonography make the diagnosis.


Acute epiglottitis in adults. Presentation of cases. Acute epiglottitis is a dangerous disease which is not often seen in adults. Early diagnosis and medical attention is required. Relief of airway obstruction by intubation or tracheostomy is necessary in most cases. Ampicillin plus Chloramphenicol or only Cefotaxime is administered, pending a report on sensitivities. 3 cases of acute epiglottitis in adults are presented. The management is discussed in view to avoid this disease's possible fatal outcome.


Puerperal uterine inversion.

Puerperal uterine inversion. Puerperal uterine inversion, a life threatening condition, is a true obstetrical emergency. Quick reanimation measures coupled with manual or surgical correction are the key to success in managing this rare condition.


[Handling of antineoplastic products and nurses' knowledge]. Nurses are exposed to a variety of risks while handling cytotoxic drugs. A study was conducted in 6 different hospitals where those drugs are used. We inquired about the nurses information about their possible toxicities and the protection measures used while preparing and giving these drugs. The results showed that 50% of the 43 nurses questioned don't have complete information about these toxicities and nearly 60% of them do not apply any preventive measure for safe handling of the drugs especially the use of disposable gloves, the use of coveralls with long sleeves and the use of protective glasses.


[New amiodarone protocol in the treatment of refractory arrhythmias]. The new protocol of amiodarone was proposed to treat and to prevent some paroxysm and refractory arrhythmias with classic treatments. It is to administer an oral charge dose of 30mg/kg/day of amiodarone taken in one time during three days, then reduce progressively that posology. This protocol was applied on 60 patients with a success of 75% and a recur of 3.5%. Few secondary effects were observed, all reversible with the end of protocol. But no cardiac decompensation, no pro-arrhythmogene effect were signaled and especially no cardiac failure.


"Osteosarcoma". A review of the management used and results in 28 patients. A review of primary malignant bone tumors was carried out in the East part of Beirut from 1978-1988. Out of a total number of 105 cases, there were 28 osteosarcomas. An analysis of the management used, results obtained, and techniques one may follow to improve the prognosis of osteosarcoma in Lebanon is discussed.


Rectal cancer: 10 years experience at AUB-MC. In order to study the behaviour of rectal cancer in our country, we have reviewed our experience at AUBMC over a 10-year period. We had 82 patients with rectal cancer, 36 males and 46 females, out of which 69 patients underwent surgical resection. Epidemiologically we have a significantly higher incidence of rectal cancer among females in contrast to western countries. Our operative results with respect to morbidity, mortality, recurrence and survival are discussed and compared to the literature.


[Treatment of hypospadias with a transverse preputial pediculated flap]. With a better understanding of the penile vasculature, many one-stage techniques were proposed for mid-shaft and posterior hypospadias repair including the Duckett's technique with the transverse preputial island flap (TPIF). We performed the Duckett's technique on 25 patients with penile hypospadias with the following results: no cases of meatal stenosis and three cases of urethro-cutaneous fistula (12%). The three cases of urethro-cutaneous fistula were reported in the first 15 patients where the neo-urethra was closed in one layer but no case of fistula was reported in the last 10 patients where the noe-urethra was closed in two layers: the difference is significative (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the Duckett's technique with the two-layer closure technique of the neo-urethra is a good alternative for penile hypospadias repair.


[Primary breast lymphoma. A case report]. The authors report a case of a primary breast lymphoma (P.B.L.). A 23 year old female patient presented with a primary lymphoma of the left breast, pleural effusion and a biological syndrome of spontaneous tumor lysis. She had salvage mastectomy then chemotherapy. The issue was rapidly fatal, the day after the induction of chemotherapy. P.B.L. are uncommon. Less than 300 cases are found in the literature. These lymphomas are classified in 2 types: The first, the Burkitt type lymphoma, usually bilateral, rapidly fatal, and affects pregnant or lactating women. The second, unilateral, afflict patients at any age.


[Primary lymphoma of the uterine cervix. A case report and literature review]. One case of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix in a 45 years old woman is reported. It was discovered at a routine gynecologic examination. After an extensive work-up for staging, the patient was classified as IE (Classification d'Ann Arbor). The literature is reviewed and a number of 33 cases are collected. Bleeding per vagina is the most common clinical symptom, whereas the most common physical sign is diffuse enlargement of the cervix. Cytology of the cervix is only positive in 40-50% of the cases. Localized tumors are treated mainly by radiotherapy.


[Infantile anorexia nervosa].

[Infantile anorexia nervosa]. Infantile anorexia nervosa is different from anorexia nervosa of the adolescent; it occurs early in life, more often since the use of milk powder. The main pathway is the dyadic unit "mother and child"; the author reports two female cases of unequivalent severities, with 6 months back-up. Various presentations are discussed and focused on the struggle and duality between the mother and the child as a major element in the genesis of infantile anorexia nervosa; no organic illness was found, preventive attitude is proposed.


Sacral osteoid osteoma in a 10 year old girl. We report the case of a ten year old female student who complained of chronic back pain and morning stiffness of several months duration. She failed to respond to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Further investigations which included bone and CT scan revealed the presence of an osteoid osteoma at the first sacral vertebra (S1 vertebra). The patient made an excellent recovery after surgical excision.


[Virilizing tumor in a woman. Management]. Androgen secreting ovarian or adrenal neoplasms represent a rare cause of hirsutism in women. Because of their small volume and episodic secretion, a number of these tumors may be difficult to diagnose and treat. The authors report a case of lipoid cell tumor of the ovary, which was only detected, because of its small volume, by catheterization of adrenal and ovarian veins. This latter procedure should be performed when strong clinical and biological suspicion is faced by the negativity of other imaging techniques.


Relationship between the dose and whole blood level of cyclosporine after liver and kidney transplantation. Descriptions of the immunosuppression protocols used after organ transplantation typically refer to the dose of cyclosporine (on a per weight basis) given to patients. In actual clinical practice, however, the amount of cyclosporine given to patients is determined principally by the concentration of the drug present in blood. In this study we determined the correlation between the dose of cyclosporine prescribed and the level of cyclosporine achieved in stable organ recipients three or more months following successful grafting. Seventy-five adult liver transplant recipients and 65 kidney transplant recipients who survived for more than three months after the transplant and who had stable graft function were included in the analysis. The cyclosporine dose and the cyclosporine level at the first out-patient visit were recorded for each patient. The median dose of cyclosporine used in liver recipients was 15 mg/kg/day. Seventeen percent of liver transplant recipients were on a maintenance dose of cyclosporine of less than 12 mg/kg/day. Fifteen percent were on a maintenance dose of greater than 22 mg/kg/day. The median dose utilized by kidney transplant recipients was 15 mg/kg/day. Twenty-eight percent of kidney recipients were on a maintenance dose of less than 12 mg/kg/day while 9% were taking more than 22 mg/kg/day. The median whole blood cyclosporine level in liver recipients was 1025 ng/ml (range 18-1925 ng/ml). The median level in kidney recipients was 542 ng/ml (range 79-1451 ng/ml). The majority of the liver and kidney recipients had cyclosporine levels within standard "therapeutic" ranges reported for each type of transplant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Effects of methylcobalamin (vitamin B12) on in vitro cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Recently in Japan, one form of vitamin B12, methylcobalamin also known as methyl B12, has attracted the attention of physicians as a therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, its immunological actions in vivo are still unknown. In this study, we induced the in vitro production of such cytokines as interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) by adding various mitogens (phytohemagglutinin:PHA, concanavalin A: ConA, or pokeweed mitogen:PWM) as well as recombinant interleukin-2, and we investigated the effects of methyl B12 (final concentration, 8-8,000 ng/ml) on the production of these cytokines by peripheral mononuclear cells. As compared to the controls, IL-6 production induced by PHA and ConA on Day 4 of the culture was suppressed by an average 60-70% when methyl B12 (80-8,000 ng/ml) was added to the medium. IFN-gamma production decreased dose-dependently with methyl B12, i.e., it decreased to 46% of the control when this production was induced by rIL-2, and decreased to 56-66% when it was induced by mitogens. The effect of methyl B12 on IL-1 beta production on Day I of the culture was small. These findings indicate that methyl B12 suppresses mainly the cytokine production of T lymphocytes. Such suppressive effects as shown in the in vitro situation are expected to be expressed also in vivo in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, especially at articulation lesion sites.


Resolving empirical inconsistencies concerning priming, frequency, and nonword foils in lexical decision. Two inconsistencies in the priming literature were investigated. Schuberth and Eimas (1977) reported that semantic priming and frequency have additive effects on RTs in lexical decision tasks, whereas Becker (1979) reported that the same two factors interact. Furthermore, Shulman and Davison (1977) reported greater priming given legal vs. illegal nonword foils, whereas Stone and Van Orden (1989) found no difference in the same situation. The present study investigated these inconsistencies by manipulating nonword foil lexicality (i.e., the similarity of nonword foils to words), semantic priming, and word frequency in two lexical decision experiments. In a facilitation dominant, controlled priming experiment (i.e., long prime-target onset asynchronies and a high proportion of related prime s), the priming benefit (related vs. neutral primes) and the significant interaction of priming benefit and word frequency were unaffected by nonword foil lexicality. Given pronounceable nonword foils, there were no priming costs (unrelated vs. neutral primes). However, given illegal nonword foils, words preceded by unrelated primes were recognized more rapidly than words preceded by neutral primes (a "reversed" cost). In an automatic priming experiment (i.e., brief prime-target onset asynchronies and a lower proportion of related primes), there was no significant interaction of priming benefit and frequency. Implications for resolving the two empirical inconsistencies are discussed.


Comprehension of synthetic speech produced by rule: a review and theoretical interpretation. In this paper, we review research on the perception and comprehension of synthetic speech produced by rule. We discuss the difficulties that synthetic speech causes for the listener and the evidence that the immediate result of those difficulties is a delay in the point at which words are recognized. We then argue that this delay in processing affects not only lexical access but also comprehension processes. We consider the mechanisms by which the comprehension system adjusts to this delay, the resulting costs to higher level comprehension processes, and the changes that occur in the language processing system as its familiarity with synthetic speech increases. Based on the framework we have developed, we suggest several directions for future research on the comprehension of synthetic speech.


Auditory and visual cueing of the [+/- rounded] feature of vowels. That lipreading plays a role in phoneme recognition, even when the acoustic signal alone is phonologically unambiguous, has been concluded from experiments in the perception of discrepant combinations of acoustic and visual speech signals. Little is known about the effect of visual information on explicitly phonetic judgments, the kind of judgments made by trained observers that are the basis for describing the phonological pattern of a language. In this study some isolated vowels, most of them similar to vowels in standard French, were produced in ten random orders by an experienced phonetician. The acoustic signals and frontal views of the lower half of the speaker's face were recorded on video tape. By computer editing, audiovisual stimuli were prepared in which pairs of vowels supposed to differ primarily in rounding were variously combined. Twenty French-speaking speech researchers carried out three tasks: to decide on the rounding of each vowel by sound alone, by sight alone, and by sound when accompanied by matching or discrepant images of the talker. Their summed responses indicate that, despite the instruction to base decisions on the auditory signal, visual evidence of speech activity significantly "perturbed" subjects' rounding judgments. However, the lipreading effect varied greatly across both subjects and vowels. Most subjects judged most vowels strictly on the basis of the auditory information, while for others lipreading exerted paramount influence. Only a small minority responded so as to indicate any integration of discrepant rounding information registered by ear and eye.


Perception of prominence by Estonian and English listeners. This study deals with the perception of prominence in speech and nonspeech signals by listeners who are native speakers of Estonian or English. The stimuli consisted of repetitions of the synthetic syllable [ba] at a constant fundamental frequency (F0) or signal-correlated noise tokens whose amplitude envelope matched that of the [ba]. The basic token was 400 msec in duration. Listeners heard sequences of four stimulus tokens separated by 120 msec of silence. One token in the sequence could be lengthened to 425, 450, 475, or 500 msec and/or increased in amplitude by 3 or 6 dB; changes in duration and amplitude were independent. The speech ([ba]) and nonspeech (noise) listening tests were run separately. The listeners' task was to indicate which of the four tokens was "most prominent". The responses showed that, for English-speaking listeners, amplitude cues overrode duration cues, while Estonian listeners were more responsive to duration cues. For both groups of listeners, smaller increments in duration and/or amplitude sufficed to produce perceived prominence in the noise condition than in the speech condition. This is interpreted as being due to the absence of F0 variation. In spoken language, F0 is a significant component of stress both in production and perception. Thus the absence of F0 variation should have greater effect on the perception of speech-like stimuli than noise stimuli. The results of the experiments show this to be the case.


Breast tumour thymidine kinase levels and disease recurrence. Thymidine kinase (TK) exists in two forms, TK1 and TK2. TK levels and oestrogen receptor status (OR) were measured in tumours from 86 patients with operable breast cancer and the patients were monitored for recurrence over 24 months. During the monitored period, 13 patients showed recurrence. These patients also exhibited higher total TK levels per mg tumour (P < 0.01) and higher TK1 levels (P < 0.001) than those who did not show recurrence. TK1 levels relative to TK2 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in OR-negative tumours (n = 29) than in OR-positive tumours (n = 57). OR-negative (n = 9) and OR-positive (n = 4) patients who recurred had significantly higher TK1 levels relative to TK2 than did those who not recur (n = 20 and n = 53, respectively). These preliminary results indicate that breast tumour TK levels may have value in determining prognosis.


Serum creatinine assays in patients receiving the antibiotic Cefpirome (HR 810): a study of three different routine methods compared with a specific HPLC method. Sequential timed samples were taken from patients after a single dose of a new cephalosporin--Cefpirome HR810. The patients had been recruited in a multi-centre trial over a 12-month period. Creatinine was estimated in all of these specimens by four different techniques, embodying four different analytical principles. Interference from the drug was evident in the assay depending on the Jaffe reaction. There was also interference in the enzyme-based methods, manifested as increased imprecision due to a non-specified cause thought to be related to the age of the samples. Only the HPLC method guaranteed precise results free from drug interference.


Isolation of circulating megakaryocytes in man. Recovery of the small numbers of megakaryocytes (MKs) known to be present in normal blood is difficult because of their low frequency. Isolation of circulating MKs was achieved using a modified filtration system in which untreated blood was passed through 5 microns polycarbonate membranes. MKs were retained while most other blood cells passed through the membranes. Four groups of MKs were identified in May Grünwald-Giemsa stained filters of blood from peripheral, central and umbilical veins and umbilical arteries. Type 1 MKs were nuclei with no visible cytoplasm. Types 2, 3 and 4 were nuclei with increasing amounts of cytoplasm. Type 4 MKs, possessing copious cytoplasm, were rarely isolated from peripheral venous blood but were more regularly encountered in central venous and cord blood. Filtration of whole blood through polycarbonate membranes is a useful technique for the isolation of circulating MKs, which are a normal physiological occurrence. Their presence is consistent with the production of platelets in the placenta during intra-uterine life, and subsequently in the pulmonary circulation.


Use of technicon H*1 technology in routine thalassaemia screening. In a retrospective study of 36 cases of alpha-thalassaemia trait, 43 cases of beta-thalassaemia trait and 45 cases of iron deficiency, we have assessed the performance of the Technicon H*1 erythrogram, the hypochromia minus microcytosis (H-M) index, and the discriminant function (DF). The diagnostic accuracy of the erythrogram pattern was 83.3% for alpha-thalassaemia trait and 95.3% for beta-thalassaemia trait. The diagnostic accuracy for the H-M index was 19.4% for alpha-thalassaemia trait, 72.1% for beta-thalassaemia trait and 91.1% for iron deficiency. By comparison, the DF gave a diagnostic accuracy of 75.0% for alpha-thalassaemia trait, 81.4% for beta-thalassaemia trait and 88.9% for iron deficiency when using a locally derived value for the constant (k) = 19.2. Our study shows that the H*1 erythrogram pattern, the H-M index and the DF are useful predictive indicators in routine laboratory screening for thalassaemia.


Serum IgG and IgM levels in new and regular long-term plasmapheresis donors. This Australian study monitored the effects of monthly plasmapheresis on donor serum IgG and IgM levels in 127 new and 124 established plasma donors who donated 1014 units over a five-month period. Of the 251 donors, 3% had reduced total serum protein (TSP) levels, 7% had low IgG levels and 12% had low IgM levels prior to donation on at least one occasion over the study period. Statistical analysis showed that the TSP, IgG and IgM levels of new donors who had donated plasma on less than 10 occasions were no more likely to fall below normal than those of old donors. However, new and old donors whose IgG or IgM levels fell below normal at any time during the study had significantly lower levels of the relevant parameter on entry to the study. Followed longitudinally, IgG and IgM levels in old and new donors tended to fall, although levels fluctuated throughout the study. Statistical analysis failed to show any correlation between TSP levels and IgG or IgM levels. These parameters did not correlate significantly with the number of previous plasmaphereses, donor weight, volume collected or history of infection. This study highlighted the need for regular, specific quantitation of IgG and IgM levels as well as TSP in regular plasmapheresis donors. The frequency of testing is yet to be determined, in view of the high materials and labour costs of such a programme.


Senescence and pathology in ageing.

Senescence and pathology in ageing. The life expectancy of people living in the UK has been extended over the last century due to changes in the principal causes of death. Nowadays, people are more likely to die of diseases related to the ageing process rather than the infectious diseases which hitherto were more common causes of death in younger people. Ageing is associated with the degeneration of functional capacity in all parts of the body, and at all levels of organisation from molecules to complete organ systems. These functional changes are referred to as senescence. Both genetic and environmental factors govern senescence, although the precise mechanisms and the extent of their involvement are largely unknown. Senescence changes may themselves be responsible for certain diseases and disabilities associated with old age, or they may be a contributory factor and increase a person's susceptibility to particular diseases. The latter is the case with the most commonly encountered causes of morbidity and mortality today, namely atherosclerosis and cancer.


Neuroendocrinology and ageing.

Neuroendocrinology and ageing. Neuroendocrinology is a large field and this review concentrates on age-associated changes in the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and related systems. Most studies have been carried out in males, usually with ill-defined subject selection, and often have not included the very elderly. The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal and thyroid axes are well preserved, though some minor changes have been observed. Age alterations are frequently best observed through detailed analysis of the pattern of secretion such as with the reduced nocturnal secretion of prolactin. The gonadotrophic hormones increase with age and some of the changes can be manipulated through the controlling systems. Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 reduce with age and some of the physical alterations associated with these reductions can be reversed by the administration of recombinant growth hormone.


Water homeostasis and ageing.

Water homeostasis and ageing. The elderly are at risk of developing disturbances of water homeostasis, and clinicians have to rely on laboratory measurement to determine their presence and magnitude. Optimum management depends on having a clear understanding of age-associated changes in water homeostasis. Many studies have flawed methodology, but some conclusions can be drawn. There is a diminished thirst, but the relationship of plasma osmolality to arginine vasopressin is at least preserved, and may show increased responsiveness. There is reduced renal function with age and the kidneys' ability to produce a concentrated urine declines. Similarly, the excretion of a water load becomes impaired. Further study is needed of the interaction of specific diseases with these age-associated changes.


Free radicals, antioxidants and ageing.

Free radicals, antioxidants and ageing. Multiple mechanisms underlie the human ageing process but interest continues in the role that free radicals and antioxidants may play. Tissue levels of lipofuscin (a mixture of proteins, peroxidised lipids, pigments and metal ions) increase with age as do plasma levels of lipid peroxides. There does not appear to be a progressive increase in free radical-induced DNA damage with age. The evidence that there is a reproducible alteration in intra- or extra-cellular antioxidant mechanisms with age is far from conclusive. Differences in geographical location, the populations studied, methodology and inadequate attention to confounding factors such as gender, alcohol consumption, smoking and disease all contribute to this lack of consensus amongst workers. It is clear, however, that elderly people suffering from chronic and acute illness have reduced protective antioxidant mechanisms. Although this may not initiate an increase in free radical-mediated cell damage it may contribute to this group being less able to deal with increased free radical activity and consequent increased lipid peroxidation. The beneficial role of antioxidant supplementation to healthy individuals remains controversial, but needs to be evaluated in the sick elderly.


Ageing and free radicals.

Ageing and free radicals. Mammalian ageing is a universal phenomenon that is both obvious and inevitable, yet poorly understood, and under-researched at the molecular level. Numerous ageing theories have been proposed to explain the progressive and deleterious changes characteristic of ageing. One of the most popular of these is the 'free radical' theory of ageing, which proposes that ageing results from imperfect protection against tissue damage brought about by free radicals. Oxygen free radicals are constantly produced during aerobic metabolism, and certainly provide a universal mechanism for oxidative damage. However, a major obstacle to acceptance of the theory has been the poor record of antioxidants in prolonging the lifespan of small animals. Many other variables, such as genetic factors, temperature, activity and nutrition can affect lifespan, making it a highly complex multi-factorial process.


Principal alterations to drug kinetics and dynamics in the elderly. People over the age of 64 constitute 15% of the population in the UK, yet they consume approximately 30% of all National Health Service drug prescriptions, and adverse drug reactions account for 10.4% of all admissions to geriatric medical assessment wards. Many published studies concerning the pharmacology of old age are seriously flawed. Problems include failure to measure the drug bio-availability and the selection of subjects with overt or sub-clinical disease. It is difficult to make general rules about the effect of ageing on drug kinetics and dynamics. Each drug has to be tested separately.


Diagnostic dilemmas in acutely ill elderly people. The atypical and non-specific clinical presentations of disease in elderly people may produce diagnostic confusion. Laboratory investigations can be especially important in achieving the correct diagnoses in the older age group. Accurate interpretation of laboratory data from elderly patients necessarily requires a knowledge of the effects of ageing on the biochemical and haematological parameters of healthy individuals, so that involutional changes are not misinterpreted as representative of disease and, conversely, significant deviations from normal values are not attributed to the ageing process. In addition, the laboratory data on elderly subjects may be further complicated by specific effects of illness in the aged. Co-existent pathology or multiple drug therapy, which are most common in old people, also cause changes which should be recognised by laboratory and clinical staff alike.


Stereomicroscopy in clinical microbiology. The stereoscopic microscope has many applications in clinical microbiology, relating generally to the examination of colonial morphology. However, although potentially important in the routine microbiology laboratory, little use is made of the stereomicroscope. In this paper the applications of this form of microscopy are briefly reviewed and the considerable benefits that may be obtained from its use outlined.


Development of a three-dimensional color Doppler system. An unprecedented assembly of a three-dimensional (3D) color Doppler system was arranged for the purpose of producing and displaying precisely calculated and recorded 3D color flow mapping images of fetal and umbilical vessels. Data accuracy and quality were enhanced by a computer controlled probe positioner. Scanning was across any of three perpendicular planes to collect serial slice images in any position and interval width. The series of parallel images was digitized in a color imaging processor by a 3D reconstruction program. Analyzed data were transferred to work stations for immediate processing into 3D form and display. The resulting 3D display was a solid model image of umbilical vessels which could be rotated in real time. In addition to the clear information about the vessel's structure, hemodynamics were apparent.


Measurements of postural stability: development of a force platform and some excitation systems. Technical data are given for the construction of a low cost transportable force platform to measure postural stability. The measuring elements in the platform are placed between two rigid metal plates to give information about the movements of the center point of force of a standing subject. The system utilizes a microcomputer for data collection, and data analysis routines are used to calculate the movement of the center point of force. Postural perturbation was excited with a vibrating platform, a low frequency noise source and a vibration stimulator for the calf muscles.


Non-invasive determination of the distribution of the conduction velocity of the large-diameter fibers in peripheral nerves. Estimate based upon a single recording of the stimulus response of the nerve. The paper describes a method for the estimation of the frequency of occurrence of fibers with a given conduction velocity among the stronger myelinated fibers of superficial nerves. The method is primarily suited for the examination of sensory nerves. To mixed nerves it can be applied only if interference by excited myopotentials is sufficiently weak. A single averaged recording of the compound action potential of the nerve evoked by a supra-maximal electrical stimulus serves as input. It is shown that integration of that curve with respect to time yields an amplitude weighted graph of the density of fibers with given travel times between the stimulus site and the recording electrode. Unweighting that curve yields the distribution characteristic of the travel delays which can easily be converted to a graph of the conduction velocity density of the fibers in the excited ensemble.


Investigating the potential of three-dimensional treatment planning. 3-D treatment planning has received a great deal of attention in the radiation therapy community over the last several years. This new technology makes use of the continuous improvements in computer hardware and graphics capabilities, along with major improvements in treatment planning software, to provide a fully three dimensional simulation of the patient, radiation beams, and dose distributions which are used for radiation therapy of various cancers. With these capabilities, the physician and treatment planner may now optimize the radiation beams used to treat the patient much more effectively than in the past, when only a limited description of the patient, beams, and doses was available. This paper describes several of the new capabilities of these 3-D planning systems, some research studies which are currently being performed to evaluate the usefulness of the new technology, and finally some of the costs associated with its implementation.


Stereotactic radiosurgery.

Stereotactic radiosurgery. Radiosurgery has become a widely accepted method of treating intracranial targets with a highly focused single dose of radiation. The technique allows the precise treatment of small targets through the use of stereotactic techniques. The ability to accurately focus and target tissues with both patient and gantry movements allows the production of sharp dose gradients. This permits large target doses and allows for the sparing of critical tissues which may only lie a few millimeters from the edge of the target volume. In order to carry out this technique, routine radiotherapy simulation and treatment planning must be replaced by virtual simulation and non-coplanar treatment planning. These procedures carry with them increased quality assurance responsibilities.


[Enzymatic methylation of regulatory elements in controlling the activity of genes from various groups of organisms]. About 1800 sequences of gene promoters, enhancers and other types of regulatory elements (REG) have been statistically analysed for investigation of a role for enzymatic DNA methylation in prokaryotes, yeasts, plants, invertebrates, animal viruses, vertebrates and human. The frequencies and localizations of CG and CNG methylated sites and also the number of CG-->TG+CA transitions in different series of REGs have been studied. It was showed that the pro- and eukaryotic REGs with the exception of yeast and drosophila ones have higher CpG-suppression values than the main genome in the same species. About 40% of all the point substitutions in pro- and eukaryotic REGs were found in the CG and CNG methylated sites, that are "hot spots" for C-->T transitions. More than 30% of all analysed REGs have neither sites CG nor CNG and so they are not capable of methylation in vivo. The methylated sites have not been localized in any specific regions of promoters and other types of REGs nor in the flanking sequences of the same genes. Only part of the homological REG's sequences have CG and CNG methylated sites. Therefore the methylation of cytosine residues in any REGs may be not an obligatory condition for normal regulation of the REG activity in cells. Two main REG's families of different length were unexpectedly found in the study. The length of the first one is 9-12 n. and the second is 17-20 n. The families are about 60-80% of other REGs. The essential deficiency of cytosine residues and also triplets of CGG, CCG, CTG and CAG has been showed in the "sense" chain of the REGs. The chain has some abundance of TTG, CCA and CAA triplets. The REG's chains have a strong asymmetry in purine and pyrimidine contents and also in duplets TG and CA frequencies. It may be the result of different reparation effectivity of G-T pairs produced by 5-meC residues deamination in DNA complementary chains. Therefore cytosine methylation in REGs may strongly destabilize the structure, accelerate its divergence in evolution, and disturb the REGs binding with protein factors regulating activity of the genes. The results showed that a function of DNA enzymatic methylation may be hardly realized through the modification of gene regulatory elements.


[Dynamics of electron-conformational transitions in proteins and physical mechanisms of biomacromolecule function]. The proteins can be considered as a microheterogeneous structured media possessing memory and feedback properties. The conformational energy surface depends on the chemical states of protein groups. Conformational motions are local diffusion with relaxation times much longer than vibrational relaxation times in condensed media. Owing to the hierarchy of relaxation times chemical reaction rates depend on conformation parametrically. Regulation of functional activity by conformational mobility is accomplished via transmission of information in the form of changes in the distribution functions of separate groups along the conformational substates. The interpretation of drastic effects on conformational mobility needs super-stochastic approaches. A possible mechanism of sharp conformational change are discussed in terms of the catastrophe theory.


[A comparative thermodynamic study of heat and cold denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin]. The changes in structure and thermodynamic parameters of beta-lactoglobulin upon heat and cold denaturation have been studied using both scanning microcalorimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy methods. It has been shown that in contrast to the heat denaturation process, the cold denaturation of beta-lactoglobulin is accompanied by an opposite heat effect. In all cases, the calorimetrically measured enthalpy of beta-lactoglobulin cold denaturation is higher than it was expected from the two-state model of denaturation transition. It has been concluded that beta-lactoglobulin cold denaturation cannot be represented by a transition between two microscopic states--native and denatured. The latter, is due to the additional process that occurs together with the disruption of the beta-lactoglobulin tertiary structure and is accompanied by increasing heat capacity. Taking into account the heat capacity contribution of this process upon calculation of the enthalpy makes it closer to the enthalpy value calculated for the two-state model of denaturation transition.


[Autooxidation and oxygenation of human hemoglobin]. The processes of reversible oxygen binding and nonreversible autoxidation of human hemoglobin were studied. The activation energy of the oxygen binding, as determined by the temperature dependence of the P50 parameter, was 26 +/- 4 kJ/mol, the activation energy of the autoxidation, as determined by the temperature dependence of the apparent rate constant of autoxidation, was 120 +/- 15 kJ/mol. Pyridoxal phosphate decreased the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin, slightly diminished the cooperativity of the oxygenation process and unaffected the activation energy of the oxygen binding. Pyridoxal phosphate slightly reduced the Bohr coefficient value from 0.70 to 0.65. Pyridoxal phosphate, but not pyridoxal, raised the apparent rate constant of autoxidation reaction. The rate of autoxidation significantly increased as the pH value of the medium decreased, reflecting, probably, protonation of the distal histidine of the hemoglobin. The activation energy of autoxidation was independent of pH. Aliphatic alcohols also increased the rate of the autoxidation process, probably, either by stabilization of the hemoglobin T-state, or by direct nucleophilic displacement of the oxygen molecule.


[Thermal stability and functional properties of human hemoglobin in the presence of aliphatic alcohols]. Differential scanning microcalorimetry was used to study thermal stability of the ferro- and ferriforms of hemoglobin at pH 7.4 in phosphate buffer and in buffer mixtures of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol. Denaturation of the human hemoglobin molecule composed of four subunits was cooperative transition. The thermostability of the hemoglobin forms decreased in the order of carboxyhemoglobin (TD = 82.0 degrees C) > oxyhemoglobin (71.0 degrees C) > methemoglobin (67.0 degrees C). The aliphatic alcohols as cosolvents decreased the hemoglobin stability because of loosening the structure of the globin moiety by disturbing its hydrophobic contacts and hydrogen bonds. These alcohols reduced the oxygen affinity for hemoglobin probably due to perturbation of the R<-->T equilibrium by the decreased bulk dielectric constant of the solvent. Oxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin was converted to hemichrome by high alcohol concentrations.


[Comparison of amino acid sequences of sturgeon triprotamines using protamines from Acipenser stellatus gonads as an example]. The amino acid sequence of the triprotamine stelline C from mature sperm nuclei of Acipenser stellatus has been established by automated sequence analysis of the protein and from data provided by thermolysine peptides. The complete amino acid sequence of stelline C is: R-R-R-R-R-H-A-S-T-K-L-K-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-H-G-K-K-S-H-K. The comparison of the primary structure of stelline C with that of other triprotamines from Acipenser stellatus shows that they are similar except for the absence of N-terminal alanine in the stelline A molecule. The main structure difference between stelline C and other fish protamines is that the stelline C molecule begins with five arginine residues.


[Affinity modification of 80S ribosomes from human placenta by derivatives of tri- and hexauridylates as mRNA analogs]. Derivatives of 5'-32P]labeled (pU)3 and (pU)6 bearing 4-(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino)benzylmethylamine residues attached to 5'-phosphates via phosphamide bond were applied to the affinity labeling of 80S ribosomes from human placenta. The reagents had normal coding properties and were fixed in the ribosomal mRNA-binding region by codon-anticodon interaction with cognate Phe-tRNA(Rhe) at P site (in the case of (pU)3 derivative) or at both A and P sites (in the case of (pU)6 one). Both reagents were found to modify only the 40S subunit. The sites of the reagents attachment to 18S ribosomal RNA were identified by blot-hybridization of the modified 18S rRNA with restriction fragments of the corresponding rDNA. They were found to be located within positions 976-1057 for (pU)6 derivative and within 976-1164 for (pU)3 one. These sites are located presumably within highly conserved parts of the eukaryotic small subunit rRNA secondary structure.


[Detection of DNA-binding proteins in polyacrylamide gel after denaturing electrophoresis]. A simple method for detection of DNA-binding proteins is offered. These proteins can be revealed, following their electrophoretic separation in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel containing labeled DNA, by washing the gel in buffer to remove SDS and to allow protein renaturation. Protein-free DNA is washed out, remaining in the DNA-binding proteins that restored their original characteristic. After autoradiography these proteins are seen as black bands (by one-dimensional gel electrophoresis) or spots (by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis) on a grey background. High sensitivity of the method is shown by using protein fractions of rat liver and a standard method.


[Search for functional domain boundaries and localization of functional sites based on oligopeptide vocabularies]. A new method based on the analysis of oligopeptide composition of the amino acid sequences from different protein families is presented. We assume, that any protein family can be characterized by the set of oligopeptides (oligopeptides vocabulary). We demonstrate, that oligopeptides vocabulary comparison can distinguish different families from each other and from random sequences. It should be noted, that this comparison can be successfully performed on the set of only 25 dipeptides and without preliminary alignment. We demonstrate, that characteristic peptides are localized in the regions of functional significance, as shown on the example of GTP-binding domain of translation elongation factors. We suggest how to use this method to localize the boundaries of functional domains in amino sequences. On the example of few functional domains we demonstrate, that the average error of prediction does not exceed 3-4 amino acid residue.


[Phylogeny of Trichostrongyloidea nematodes as seen through some of their vertebrate hosts]. Reconstruction of the phylogenetic history of a parasitic group is clearly difficult due to a lack of fossil forms. Among the nematodes parasites of vertebrates, the superfamily Trichostrongyloidea is one of the richest groups in terms of number of species (more than 1000 described) and genera (175) and they therefore offer excellent opportunities to reconstruct their phylogeny. Trichostrongyles occur in the gut and less commonly in the stomach and the lungs of all classes of terrestrial vertebrates except the Perissodactyls and the Proboscidian. They have a world wide distribution and direct life cycle. The criteria used in the classification of the Trichostrongyloidea are essentially morphological. Morphological characters are numerous and an attempt has been made to distinguish their relative value. Information concerning the synlophe, which is the apparatus of locomotion and attachment of the worms in the gut of the hosts, has been found essential in order to construct a classification of the superfamily and understand its evolution. This analysis was greatly facilitated by information from two sources: 1) the morphology of free-living rhaditids, which are the ancestors of the trichostrongyles; 2) the ontogeny of the synlophe. The classification established above takes into account the different morphological characters, but only concerns extant animals. Data provided by the hosts permit us to date the appearance of different lineages and to follow their evolution in time and space. These data come from extant hosts and from paleobiogeography. 1) The evidence from extant host species includes the host distribution of the trichostrongyles in relation to the geographic distribution of the hosts. 2) The evidence from extinct forms includes the date of appearance of the host in the geological record as well as mammalian migration in geologic time periods: a) The date of the appearance of the hosts in the geological records permits us to date the origin of the different families of parasites. b) The manner in which host migration interacts with the parasite is very complex and a few examples will be considered, mainly from the caviomorphs, the sciuromorphs and the myomorphs. The combination of evidence from the morphology of the worms and evidence from the paleobiogeography of the hosts allows us not only to explain the present day host and geographic distributions of the parasites but also to reconstruct their evolutionary history. The phylogenetic tree of the Trichostrongyloidea proposed with Chabaud consists of three main branches which are morphologically clearly defined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


[The effect of electrostatic intermolecular interactions on Brownian rotation of proteins in solution]. A qualitative model that takes into account the influence of electrostatic interactions on the form of correlation function of Brownian rotation of a protein as a whole is given. It is supposed that these interactions give rise to anisotropy of Brownian rotation and this leads to the nonexponentiality of the correlation function. To define experimentally the form of the correlation function nonselective measurements of relaxation times T1 and T2 of protein protons at different resonance frequencies in lysozyme solution were carried out. Literature data on frequency dependencies of relaxation time T1 of water in protein solutions were analysed. Analysis of experiments confirms the proposed model. Correlation times, activation energies and parameters of anisotropy were found.


[Cloning and gene expression of Bacillus cereus neutral proteinase in Bacillus subtilis cells]. The neutral proteinase gene of Bacillus cereus was cloned. Its restriction map and the direction of transcription was determined. It was shown that the neutral proteinase gene could be expressed in Bacillus cells. The thermostability of the product coded by the neutral proteinase gene and its natural analogue was explored. The obtained data indicate that the neutral proteinase of Bacillus cereus is closely related to the enzyme of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens by these parameters. It was found that the neutral proteinase of Bacillus cereus has a high sensitivity to autolysis and that leads to the decrease in the enzymes concentration in the cultural medium at the late stages of cell growth. But the possibility of stabilization the neutral proteinase by Ca2+ ions has been demonstrated.


[Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) inermis Birula, 1895, in a wooded area of Latium]. Haemaphysalis (Alloceraea) inermis Birula specimens have been collected in a woody land of Manziana in the province of Rome. This is the first report in Latium region and suggests the presence of autochthonous populations of the species in Central Italy since no exotic fauna has been introduced in the past in the area studied. The role of H. inermis on the transmission of pathogens for humans and animals is discussed.


[Study of the structural properties of recombinant gamma-interferon by circular dichroism and differential scanning microcalorimetry]. Recombinant human gamma-interferon is dimeric in solution at pH 7-4 as revealed by analytical gel-filtration. It was shown by circular dichroism that decreasing pH to 5.0 does not affect the secondary and tertiary structures of gamma-interferon macromolecule. It was established that heat denaturation process of gamma-interferon obeys the two-state transition model and can be described as the first-order reversible reaction. Temperature dependence of the denaturation-renaturation rate constants was shown to be consistent with the Arrhenius law. The equilibrium value of the denaturation temperature was found. Effective enthalpy of denaturation was determined both by thermodynamic and kinetic approaches. The data obtained showed that in the pH range 7-4 the dimeric IFN-gamma structure may be considered as a single cooperative thermodynamic domain. Thus, it may be concluded that gamma-interferon dimerization is necessary for the existence of the corresponding tertiary structure of the macromolecule.


The haemoproteids of the Threskiornithidae family: first record and description of Haemoproteus from Plegadis falcinellus L. A description is given of a hemoproteid parasite tentatively referred to Haemoproteus plataleae occurring in a Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus (L.) captured in Apulia (Italy) April 29, 1991. It is compared with other haemoproteids of the avian Threskiornithidae family.


Free amino acids in wild-caught Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi (Diptera: Psychodidae). Free amino acids occurring in wild Phlebotomus perniciosus and P. perfiliewi were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. For both species the total concentration of amino acids, per unit weight, is over three times greater in females than in males. Qualitative inter-sex differences in amino acid compositions were also discovered: the most significant involving higher proportions of taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid in females and higher proportions of arginine and glutamic acid in males. Although amino acid composition is consistent between females of both species, there are significant differences between males. The most important difference between males is an increase in tyrosine levels, at the expense of taurine, in P. perniciosus (as compared with P. perfiliewi). It is suggested that the intra- and inter-specific variation in amino acid composition identified in these studies could be due to ecological factors, such as differences in the sandflies natural amino acid sources (honeydew and/or plants), although a physiological explanation is not ruled out.


[Molecular characteristics of chalcone synthase gene families from two cotton species using the polymerase chain reaction]. Using partial sequence data from a genomic clone and the fact of evolutionary conservation of chalcone synthase genes, two primers, corresponding to C-terminal peptides GGAACTCCCTTTTCTGGATAGCTCACC and CCTGGTCCGAACCCAAACAGGACGCCCC, were used to amplify, via polymerase chain reaction, genomic sequences from two Gossypium species, a diploid Gossypium herbaceum, and a tetraploid Gossypium hirsutum cv. 108F. Amplified DNA was separated into individual sequences by cloning into an M13 vector. Six different sequences were identified in each species. From each set of six, one sequence was found to be identical to the genomic sequence, which we have isolated from a subgenomic library of 108F DNA in lambda NM1149. Comparison of other sequences has allowed to find another pair of identical sequences, as well as to get an evidence, that the set isolated from the tetraploid cotton contained preferentially members of only one of the two subfamilies, probably due to primer specificity in amplification reaction. Comparison of specific amino acid substitutions in homologous sequences of cotton, peanut and soybean also suggested that all of the sequences isolated from cotton are more likely to code for chalcone synthase, that for a similar enzyme resveratrol synthetase.


[Structure of d(GT)n repeating sequences with parallel and antiparallel chains]. The ability of oligonucleotides 3'-d(GT)5pO(CH2)5Opd(GT)5-5' (anti[d(GT)]) and 3'-d(GT)5pO(CH2)6Opd(GT)5-3' (par[d(GT)]) to form hairpins and higher associates is studied. Optical methods of thermal denaturation and circular dichroism as well as the fluorescence of ethidium bromide and acridine orange bound to oligonucleotides were used. At room temperatures the formation of hairpin structure with parallel and antiparallel strands is possible. Thermodynamic parameters of par[d(GT)] and anti[d(GT)] are similar and equal to delta H = -15 kcal/mol, delta S = -50 cal/mol. deg. In the temperature range 3-10 degrees C par[d(GT)] and anti[d(GT)] form four-stranded structures with parallel chains, in which layers of four G-residues alternate with unpaired T-residues being bulged out easily. On comparison of occurrence of alternating (GT)n, (GC)n and (G)n sequences in genome it can be stated that (GT)n biological functions could be connected with conformational possibilities of the four-stranded parallel structures with unpaired T-residues.


[In vivo chemosensitivity of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine in Burkina Faso: development of resistance 1988-1990]. A study of Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to chloroquine was carried out in 1988 and 1990 in 5 localities, representatives of different climatic areas of Burkina Faso. The 7-day in vivo standard test performed in 1988 showed a total clearance failure of 25%. No significant difference with 1990 data was found, except for an increase of the resistance in the area of Fada N'Gourma, close to the border with Benin, Niger and Togo.


[Taxonometric analysis of DNA repeating elements]. The method of analysis of low molecular weight fragments of high copied repeats of DNA hydrolysed by restriction nuclease is presented. The P labeled fragments (by means of DNA polymerase I) are electrophoresed in nondenaturing PAAG and radio-autographed. The specific band patterns are observed in region between approximately 20 and 300 bp. When studying some lizard and fish species DNA's it was shown that the patterns observed have species and genus specificity but not individual. The approach supposed can be applied to investigation of interspecies relationships, some evolutionary problems and to the studying of questions concerning the role of DNA repeats in evolution. The method is simple and comparatively cheap and may be called as "taxonomic DNA fingerprint" or "DNA taxonoprint" method.


Malaria transmission in a central area of Futa Djalon (Guinea): results of a parasitological survey during the 1989 rainy season. A malaria survey based on household surveys and dispensary visits without notice was carried out during the rainy season of 1989 in three selected areas of central Futa Djalon (Republic of Guinea). Preliminary entomological evidence showed that Anopheles gambiae was the main vector in the area with a CS positive rate of 7.6% and a human blood index of 78% in August 1989. Indoor resting densities were highest in the rural village, lowest in Labé and intermediate in the town of Timbi Madina (median density per room of 18, 2 and 4.5, respectively). The household survey showed different parasite rates in the three areas: 78.2% of children had parasitaemia in Sombili, 45.8% in Timbi Madina and 16.7% in the urban sector of Labé. Prevalence and levels of P. falciparum antisporozoite antibodies were lowest in the urban area (seroprevalence of 51.9% and median titre of 2.4 arbitrary units), intermediate in the town (70.1% and 5.2) and highest in the rural village (78.9% and 5.8). Serological findings produced by dispensary visits were similar to those obtained with the household surveys except in the rural area, while parasitological data obtained with the two sampling methods were different both in rural and in urban areas. Routine malaria diagnosis made on a presumptive basis in the health services in the survey period was able to detect 30.1% of cases with parasitaemia and 53.2% of cases with hyperparasitaemia (sensitivity) and malaria was correctly not suspected in 82.8% of non parasitized people (specificity).


[Extension of the area of Aedes albopictus in Italy. 1st report of the species in central Italy]. A new infestation by Aedes albopictus was discovered in Civitavecchia, Central Italy, in October 1992. This follows previous records of the species in North Italy, where the first infestation was observed in 1990 in the city of Genoa. The present finding clearly indicates the capacity of Aedes albopictus to spread all over Italy and to become a permanent pest in Southern Europe. In spite of the expected embryonic diapause in October, larval breeding was observed in a fifteen-liter glass jar with a narrow neck, left outdoor.


Malaria transmission in the lagoon area of Cotonou, Benin. A study of the prevalence and intensity of malaria transmission in the lagunar area of Benin was carried out by means of repeated cross-sectional surveys of the child population. Six areas were selected: two urban areas of Cotonou, three lagunar villages and one savanna village. Slide positive rates and prevalence of antibodies to P. falciparum sporozoites were examined in June-July 1989 (long rainy season), October-November 1989 (short rainy season) and March-April 1990 (short dry season). Parasite rates in children 2 to 9 year-old showed holoendemic malaria, in the savanna village (89.4-94.2%) and hyperendemic malaria in the lagunar zone (60.7-83.5%). Levels of P. falciparum antisporozoite antibodies were higher in the sample from the periurban sector of Ladji compared with the nearby traditional lagunar villages and lowest in children living in the central urban sector. Cotonou had higher levels of malaria transmission compared with other West African cities.


Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) parasite of freshwater fish in Italy. A redescription of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi a pseudophyllidean cestode parasitizing cyprinid fish is given. The authors outline the hazard of dissemination of this parasite in other Italian fish-producing areas.


Immunotherapy as a treatment of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: preliminary studies in Brazil. A prophylactic vaccine composed of killed promastigotes of five stocks of Leishmania was tested as an immunotherapeutic agent against American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). The agent was administered by deep intramuscular injection daily for 10 days, followed by a 10-day interval. Out of 62 patients so treated, 47 (76%) were considered clinically cured; 41 required 2-10 treatment courses and the other six 11-19 courses. None of the patients treated by immunotherapy displayed adverse side-effects. Immunotherapy proved to be effective in the treatment of single cutaneous lesions, multiple cutaneous lesions and in cases of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis. In comparison with chemotherapy (Glucantime), immunotherapy is less efficient and more prolonged but can be safely used when antimonials are contra-indicated or are found to be ineffective. Consideration is given to the treatment of victims of ACL living in rural areas remote from a medical centre.


On some cestodes parasitizing freshwater fish in Italy. The paper presents a systematic survey of some cestodes parasitizing freshwater fish in Italy. The following eight species were recorded: Monobothrium wageneri, Cyathocephalus truncatus, Triaenophorus nodulosus (plerocercoids and adults), Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, B. claviceps, Ligula intestinalis (plerocercoids), Schistocephalus sp. (plerocercoids) and Proteocephalus percae from Perca fluviatilis which is reported from freshwater fish in Italy for the first time. All the tapeworms recovered are described and figured.


Mechanisms of protective immunity in Hymenolepis nana/mouse model. Some immunological and parasitological aspects related to the infection of Hymenolepsis nana in mice are summarized in this review, focusing on the immune effector mechanisms involved in this host/parasite relationship. H. nana is a small cestode tapeworm of man and mice. A primary egg-infection determines within few days a strong immunity. Immunity elicited by low-level primary infection is effective as a high-level infection. The protective role of both humoral and cell-mediated immunity is summarized. The histological findings demonstrate that eosinophils and mast-cells are implicated as effector cells. This review is an attempt to re-examine, at low-level infection, the immune mechanisms in H. nana/mouse model.


The significance of the "lung phase" in host-helminth relations. Many helminth infections have a "lung phase" whose significance considering the host-parasite relations has not yet been clarified. In some nematode infections larvae must pass through the lungs, in others adult worms live in the respiratory tract, and some others cause tropical pulmonary eosinophilia. Some examples of these infections (Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Schistosoma mansoni, Trichinella spiralis and Toxocara canis) are considered to clarify whether this phase of infection is a "pro-host" or a "pro-parasite" mechanism. Whereas in primary infections--in some cases--transit through the lungs may render the parasite more resistant to host defence mechanisms (e.g., Schistosoma and perhaps Trichinella infections) or enables completion of the cycle (Nippostrongylus and Toxocara infections), in secondary infections the lungs might be the site of parasite killing.


Review: Toxoplasma gondii cellular invasion. Toxoplasma gondii, the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite that requires an intracellular site for growth and replication. The invasive process involves six steps: a) cellular recognition, b) parasite movements by means of a subpellicular microtubule cytoskeleton, c) cell to cell adhesion, d) rhoptry secretion of penetrating enhancing factor (PEF) with Ca++ and Ca++ activated ATPase dependence, e) conoid penetration, f) induction of a parasitophorous vacuole, a protective and exchange site, interiorization of the parasite. The invasion is an active, oriented and specific process depending on chemical factors as energy sources, cations, as well as microviscosity and membrane structures. Toxoplasma gondii stimulates T cell subsets and induces lymphokine (IFN gamma, IL2) release.


Immune responses and protection induced in mice by an industrialized vaccine against American cutaneous leishmaniasis. An industrialized vaccine against American cutaneous leishmaniasis was compared to a laboratory made vaccine in its ability to induce cellular and humoral immune responses in mice. No differences were observed between seric IgG levels or lymphoblastic proliferation response of mice immunized with either vaccine. Antigenic composition, evaluated by SDS-PAGE, was identical in both preparations. Protection induced in mice against a challenge with infective parasites was also compared. The level of protection obtained with the industrialized vaccine was comparable to that induced by the laboratory made preparation. The results showed that the industrialization process did not alter the efficacy of the vaccine.


[Parasitic helminths of the cecum and colon of equidae in Italy]. Intestinal helminths from coecum and colon were studied in 93 equidae including 40 horses, 36 donkeys and 17 mules. A total of 38 species, 36 nematodes and 2 cestodes, were identified as follows: 1) Triodontophorus serratus, 2) Triodontophorus brevicauda, 3) Strongylus equinus, 4) Strongylus edentatus, 5) Strongylus vulgaris, 6) Cyathostomum tetracanthum, 7) Cyathostomum coronatum, 8) Cyathostomum labiatum, 9) Cyathostomum labratum, 10) Cyathostomum alveatum, 11) Cyathostomum pateratum, 12) Cyathostomum catinatum, 13) Cyathostomum sagittatum, 14) Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus, 15) Cylicocyclus radiatus, 16) Cylicocyclus auriculatus, 17) Cylicocyclus elongatus, 18) Cylicocyclus nassatus, 19) Cylicocyclus insigne, 20) Cylicocyclus leptostomus, 21) Cylicostephanus calicatus, 22) Cylicostephanus poculatus, 23) Cylicostephanus minutus, 24) Cylicostephanus longibursatus, 25) Cylicostephanus hybridus, 26) Cylicostephanus goldi, 27) Cylicostephanus ornatus, 28) Cylicostephanus skrjabini, 29) Poteriostomum ratzii, 30) Gyalocephalus capitatus, 31) Parascaris equorum*, 32) Probstmayria vivipara, 33) Draschia megastoma*, 34) Habronema muscae*, 35) Habronema majus*, 36) Setaria equina*, 37) Anoplocephala perfoliata, 38) Paranoplocephala mamillana. The asterisked species are those not usually localized in the examined material. The most frequent parasites were found in all three hosts. Species 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 21, 22, 30 and 35 showed significant differences in prevalence between horses and donkeys, the mule generally having intermediate values. Multiple infections and total worm burden appear to decrease in older animals (> 15 years). Parasite associations occur mostly at random as expected from the values of the respective total prevalences. Some significant excesses on expected values were recorded but not significant deficits. The total worm burden increases with the number of parasite species and the increase appears to follow an exponential pattern.


The ultrastructure of the capsule surrounding Pomphorhynchus laevis (Acanthocephala) in its intermediate host Echinogammarus stammeri (Amphipoda). The capsule or the membranous layer surrounding larvae of Pomphorhynchus laevis Müller, 1776 in its intermediate host, Echinogammarus stammeri S. Karaman, 1931, was studied by electron microscopy. Some observations were also made with a light microscope. Capsule components mainly show a tubular profile; capsule thickness can reach up to 8 microns. In some instances, within the hemocoel of E. stammeri, the parasite was encapsulated by amphipod hemocytes.


Occurrence of Pomphorhynchus laevis Müller 1776 (Acanthocephala) in Silurus glanis (L.) from the River Po. The sheatfish, Silurus glanis (L.), from the terminal part of River Po was examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Of 182 S. glanis specimens, 95 (52.2%) were infected with the acanthocephalan Pomphorhynchus laevis. Mid-gut followed by fore-gut appeared to be the most infected portions of host alimentary canal. In 45 sheatfish of total length < or = 40 cm, specimens of P. laevis were found encapsulated in mesenteric and peritoneal tissues. A comparison between light and electron microscopy on features and stages of testis development in both encapsulated male P. laevis and intestinal male parasites showed that the encysted acanthocephalans were immature; mature spermatozoa were rarely found within the testis of worms from the alimentary canal. Among extraintestinal P. laevis specimens, the presumable eversion of parasite praesoma was observed and described. The results of the present survey suggest that small-size individuals of S. glanis could be used as paratenic host by P. laevis during its life cycle in the study area.


[Illustrated key to the ticks of Italy. I. Larval stages of the species of the Ixodinae subfamily (Acari, Ixodoidea, Ixodidae)]. Six subgenera and 13 species of Ixodes (Ixodidae, Ixodinae) are recognized until now in Italy. After a brief morphological and ecological description, dichotomous and pictorial keys to the larvae of Ixodes species from Italy are given.


Aprocta matronensis in crows (Corvus corone corone) from northern Italy. Aprocta matronensis (Nematoda, Spirurida) has been found in the orbital cavities of carrion crows. Hooded crows and crows from the hybrid crow zone in the studied areas were not infected. The parasite population showed the typical morphology described for this species. This is the first record of A. matronensis in crows in Italy and in Corvus corone corone. Some hypotheses about the distribution of the parasites in crow populations are discussed.


[Serological survey of Rift Valley fever in sheep on the Ivory Coast]. A serological survey of Rift Valley fever was carried out in sheep in Côte-d'Ivoire. Thousand and fifty one seras collected between 1988 and 1990 in the South of the country were tested for IgG and IgM by ELISA with two objectives: determining the incidence of the Rift Valley fever and analysing the role of this virus in reproductive failure and abortion. The incidence rate was 6.85%. No difference was found between the three different geographic areas nor between the three years of the survey. Antibody prevalence increased significantly with age. The Rift Valley fever must be considered as enzootic in Côte-d'Ivoire. A significant relationship was found between positivity and abortion in ewes. Thus, the economic impact of Rift Valley fever has to be studied. The presence of antibodies in young animals aged from 6 months to 1 year, showed a recent activity of the virus; a permanent epidemio-surveillance of the Rift Valley fever in Côte-d'Ivoire is needed, because of the potential risk for human population in contact with the animals.


[Sclerectasia in a pig farm in Sotouboua, Togo]. Cases of sclerectasia were described in a pig farm, Sotouboua, Togo. The causative agent may be a pestivirus, on top of a predisposition revealed by consanguinity. Livestock owners should be kept aware.


Antibodies to some swine diseases in commercial piggeries in Central Zambia. Blood samples were taken from 121 sows and gilts on 7 commercial piggeries located around Lusaka (Zambia). The samples tested negative for antibodies to Aujeszky's disease, transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE), swine influenza, hog cholera and brucellosis. Seventy-eight pigs from 5 farms had positive titres to porcine parvovirus. Eighteen sera showed positive titres to Leptospira celledoni.


Preliminary findings for an inactivated African horsesickness vaccine using binary ethyleneimine. Investigation studies on inactivated African horsesickness vaccine using binary ethyleneimine were conducted. The inactivation process of virulent type-9 strain using the above inactivant revealed complete virus inactivation at 18, 48 and 84 h post-treatment with inactivant concentrations of 0.004, 0.003 and 0.002M, respectively, without detection of residual virus. An inactivant concentration of 0.003M is recommended and no changes in viral antigenic properties were noticed in complement fixation test. The physical parameters in oil-emulsion vaccine using the incomplete Freund's adjuvant, were studied. Emulsification time of 25 s was recommended which resulted in a 100% emulsion phase, creamy consistency, flow time of 2.2 s/0.1 ml and a stability at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C for six months and 15 days, respectively. An experimental application of the oil vaccine in two horses (which was followed by a booster oil vaccine inoculation at 2 months post-vaccination) gave an acceptable immunity during the 6-month observation period with a maximum decline of the neutralizing antibody titer of 0.2 log10 at end of this period. Challenge of the vaccinated horses with the virulent virus strain at 2 months post-vaccination did not bring about any clinical symptoms.


[Evaluation of the thermo-tolerability of the lyophilized V4 vaccine against Newcastle disease]. A freeze-dried virus vaccine against Newcastle's disease was prepared using the heat tolerant derivative V4/276 of the virus strain V4 (UPM). The viral mean titre was 10(10.4) EID50 per vial after 14 days at +4 degrees C and 10(10) EID50 after 126 days. Incubation at 45 degrees C for 7 and 14 days reduced the titre to 10(8.5) and 10(8.2) EID50, respectively. In addition, this preparation was exposed to ambient temperature at Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) during the first fortnight of July 1991 when the temperature ranged from 25 to 32 degrees C, but never exceeded 35 degrees C. After 7 and 14 days of storage, the viral mean titre was 10(9.3) EID50 per vial. This vaccine is intended to coat grains fed to African village chickens.


Lentiviral arthritis and encephalitis in goats in north-west Syria. A survey for antibodies against caprine arthritis and encephalitis (CAE) virus was undertaken in north-west Syria. Out of 72 sera, using agar immuno-diffusion test, 12.5% showed a positive reaction. Despite the seropositiveness, no clinical evidence of the infection was found in the tested animals. The findings indicate that the infection is endemic in the area studied.


Studies on the infundibular cysts of the uterine tube in camel (Camelus dromedarius). Two hundred eighteen genital tracts of slaughtered female camels were collected and examined. Infundibular cysts were observed in 35 tracts (16%); these were either unilateral (22 cases) or bilateral (13 cases) all containing fluids of different consistencies. The morphological and histological structures of the cysts were recorded. The bacteriological investigation and physicochemical analysis of cyst contents were carried out. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from 68.5% of cases. Rectal palpation and ultrasound technique were compared for the diagnosis of the cysts antemortem.


Severe heart muscle degeneration caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in camel calves (Camelus dromedarius). Clostridium perfringens type A was isolated from different organs and intestines from three to five weeks old camel calves which have died from heart muscle necrosis. No other bacterial pathogens were isolated. Virus isolation on two different cell lines including a fetal camel skin were also negative. Mice which were injected with bacteria free filtrates prepared from intestinal contents of necropsied camel calves died after one to six hours demonstrating the presence of clostridial toxins. Our findings suggest that the cardiac muscle necrosis is caused by Clostridium perfringens type A toxins.


Susceptibility to antibiotics of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic livestock in Trinidad. The sensitivity of strains of Escherichia coli isolated from calves, piglets, lambs and kids in Trinidad to seven antibiotics was determined. Two hundred and sixty-four (91.3%) of 289 strains isolated from diarrhoeic animals and 173 (87.4%) of 198 strains from non-diarrhoeic animals exhibited resistance to one or more antibiotics. The difference was not statistically significant (P > or = 0.05; X2). Regardless of health status, isolates from lambs were least resistant (75.0%) and those from piglets most resistant (96.7%) and the difference was significant (P < or = 0.001; X2). Strains of E. coli were most resistant to streptomycin (81.3%) and tetracycline (78.9%) and least resistant to chloramphenicol (4.3%) and gentamycin (4.7%). The predominant antibiotic resistance pattern for isolates from all sources was streptomycin-tetracycline (27.9%). It was concluded that the widespread prevalence of resistance to antibiotics reflects their misuse in the local environment.


An outbreak of listeriosis in cattle in Nigeria. An outbreak of listeriosis in a herd of cattle associated with still birth, abortion, nervous signs and death is reported. Typical micro abscesses in the brain were not observed on histopathology but a marked purulent meningitis was seen and Listeria monocytogenes was isolated on culture.


Parasitaemia and clinical manifestations in Trypanosoma brucei infected dogs. Four dogs were infected with Trypanosoma brucei (Mkar strain) while another four were used as uninfected controls. Two of the dogs showed acute disease and died in the first wave of parasitaemia on days 7 and 8 post infection (PI) while the other two died from the sub-acute disease on days 24 and 28 PI corresponding to the second wave of parasitaemia. In the first wave of parasitaemia there was a sharp decrease in the packed cell volume, red blood cell, haemoglobin, total leucocytes, eosinophil, neutrophil and lymphocyte values, but during the period of low parasitaemia there was a slight recovery of the values of total leucocytes and lymphocytes although these and the other values showed a continuous decrease during the second wave of parasitaemia. In contrast, there was a consistent monocytosis in both acute and sub-acute diseases. The general picture was that of loss of condition, anaemia, leucopenia, monocytosis, ocular impairment, elevated temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, the difference between the acute and sub-acute diseases being in the degree of intensity. The degree of anaemia noted and the circulatory disturbances associated with the infection could have caused the death of all the infected dogs.


[Evaluation of the test for detecting trypanosoma circulating antigens using monoclonal antibodies. Experimental and natural infections]. An antigen detection ELISA for the diagnosis of trypanosomes was recently proposed by Nantulya and Lindqvist (1989). Based on species-specific monoclonal antibodies, this test could be used to diagnose a current infection and to identify the causing trypanosomes. The test was evaluated at CRTA during experimental infections in small ruminants and with sera from naturally infected cattle, thanks to reagents supplied by the International Laboratory for Research on Animal Diseases (ILRAD). Sera from cattle sampled in France were also tested. Cattle sera from France gave optical densities (OD) from 0.007 to 0.009 with three monoclonal antibodies against T. congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei. These OD values were well below 0.050, which is considered as a positive threshold OD reading. In the small ruminant experimental infections, the sensitivity of the test was 63.2% for T. congolense-infected animals and 9.9% for T. vivax-infected animals. The sensitivity of parasitological tests was 55.1 and 48.6%, respectively. The combination of the antigen- and parasite-detection tests increased the sensitivity to 82.4 and 52.8%, respectively. Means of OD values, with the naturally infected cattle sera, were 0.116 +/- 0.030 for T. congolense, and 0.011 +/- 0.028 for T. vivax-infected animals. Sixteen out of 20 T. congolense-infected sera (sensitivity of 80%) and one out of 20 T. vivax-infected sera (sensitivity of 5%) gave an OD value exceeding 0.050. The determination of a threshold OD reading lower than 0.050 would greatly improve the sensitivity of the test. This determination could either be done by studying the preinfection sera or a local population of animals living in an area free from trypanosomosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


Erythrocyte response to Trypanosoma brucei in experimentally infected dogs. Trypanosoma brucei infection produced an acute and fatal disease in Nigerian mongrel dogs due to a rapidly developing anaemia. Infected dogs responded with increased reticulocytosis, which was not sustained with chronicity. In comparison the response to artificially-induced haemolytic anaemia was progressive, marked and sustained. The anaemia of T. brucei infection of dogs was either normocytic normochromic in acute infection or microcytic normochromic in chronic infection. Artificially-induced haemolytic anaemia was either macrocytic normochromic or normocytic normochromic. The erythropoietic potential of plasma in vivo in mice increased in T. brucei-infected dogs except at the terminal parasitaemia. The anaemia in Trypanosoma brucei-infected dogs is therefore initially responsive but becomes poorly involved with chronicity.


Changes in levels of transaminases in goats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense. Goats were experimentally infected with Trypanosoma congolense and then treated with Berenil after 9 days of infection. The infection produced increases in glutamate oxalacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate pyruvic transaminase (GPT) values. Mean GOT values in infected West African dwarf goats were generally lower than in infected Red Sokoto goats. Treatment with Berenil did not produce any significant effect on their levels probably because of the relapse infection recorded in this study.


Some plasma biochemical changes in experimental Trypanosoma brucei infection of Sokoto Red goats. Plasma biochemical changes were studied for 8 consecutive weeks in Sokoto Red goats experimentally infected by intravenous route injection of 1.6 x 10(7) Trypanosoma brucei. The strain 8/18 was highly infective. The mean packed cell volume significantly decreased from 1 to 8 weeks post-infection (PI) at P < 0.05. During this period, the mean plasma total bilirubin concentrations significantly increased (P < 0.05). The mean plasma direct and indirect bilirubin concentrations significantly increased from 2 to 8 weeks PI (P < 0.05). The mean plasma albumin concentrations did not vary significantly (P > 0.05), but the mean total plasma proteins and mean plasma globulin concentrations significantly increased between 5 and 8 weeks post infection (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the mean plasma bicarbonate, creatinine and cholesterol concentration (P > 0.05).


Prevalence of gastro-intestinal nematode infection in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) in the Butana plains, Sudan. The prevalence and intensity of gastro-intestinal nematode infection in their relation to season and rainfall were investigated from 429 female dromedary camels at Tambul market in the Butana plains (Sudan), during 1985-1986. The investigation revealed a similar seasonal pattern in the prevalence as well as the intensity of egg output. The seasonality is mainly brought about by Haemonchus spp. and Impalaia spp. while Trichostrongylus spp. seem to be present as adults throughout the year. There is a good correlation between high egg counts and rainfall ensuring optimal development of preparasitic stages.


Comparative study of tick burdens in Gudali and Wakwa cattle under natural infestation in the subhumid highlands of Wakwa, Cameroon. Preliminary observations. The relative resistance to different cattle ticks of Gudali and Wakwa cattle with different levels of Brahman breeding, grazed on natural pastures in the subhumid tropics of Wakwa, Cameroon, was assessed using pasture tick infestations. The basic design consisted of 5 young bulls of each breed from different sire herds. Tick populations were observed in Gudali and Wakwa bulls over a period of four weeks when the climate was thought to be highly favourable for the free-living stages of ticks. Counting of adult, larval and nymphal ticks was carried out in the morning of each counting day on the body surface of cattle after restraining them. Ticks were identified by species and sex. Repeated measures analysis of variance technique was used to account for time trends and breed differences. Results showed that Wakwa cattle carried slightly more ticks than Gudali cattle. However, this difference was not statistically significant. Significant within breed differences in tick counts suggested that selection for resistance to ticks, particularly Amblyomma variegatum, can be effective within each breed. The tick species recorded by order of decreasing abundance were Amblyomma variegatum, Rhipicephalus lunulatus and Hyalomma spp. It was clear from this study that long-term investigations would be necessary to ascertain the extent of the differences in tick counts between these two breeds of cattle and to assess the biological mechanisms of resistance to Amblyomma variegatum as well as to estimate the heritability of tick resistance.


Disposition kinetics of gentamicin following repeated parenteral administration in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis). Disposition kinetics of gentamicin was determined in buffalo calves following repeated parenteral administration of 5 mg/kg body weight. The absorption (t1/2 Ka) and elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) were found to be 0.40 +/- 0.12 and 4.33 +/- 0.39 h, respectively. Statistical comparison of the values of pharmacokinetic determinants generated in this study with the corresponding values following single intramuscular injection at the same dose level as reported earlier by GARG and GARG, 1990, revealed that the consecutive administration of drug influenced the pharmacokinetics profile of gentamicin. Elimination half-life was significantly longer (P < 0.05). Since elimination rate constant value was significantly reduced, the subsequent dosage will have to be reduced particularly if kidney functions are not normal. Otherwise, dosage regimen need not be changed.


Herniation of the lumbar disk in adolescents. The authors review eight cases of lumbar intervertebral disk herniation in adolescents aged less than 16 years, with a minimum follow-up treatment of 2 years during an 18-year period. All patients presented lower back and sciatic pain, antalgic scoliosis, and a positive Lasègue sign. Nerve compression signs were present in 25+ of the cases. Seventy-five percent of the cases underwent myelography and 25% underwent computerized axial tomography. Results were good in all cases.


Exclusive jejunal and ileal lesions due to blunt trauma. The exclusive jejunal and ileal lesion due to blunt trauma is a rare and potentially lethal condition. The small intestine is the most damaged organ in penetrating abdominal injuries, although its isolated injury in blunt abdominal trauma is rare and difficult to diagnosed. There are no characteristic signs nor symptoms in the exclusive jejunal and ileal lesions due to abdominal contusions which result in high morbidity and mortality rates since a late diagnosis is done despite advanced auxiliary diagnostic methods available. Considering these facts, the aim of the present work is to study the prognosis of patients suffering from this type of injury due to abdominal trauma, taking into consideration the time elapsed between the trauma and its diagnosis and the importance of its early surgical correction.


Chondromyxoid fibroma: a study based on 18 cases. The authors report on 18 cases of chondromyxoid fibroma seen at the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of São Paulo, from 1953 to 1990. A survey of the literature on chondromyxoid fibromas was conducted and radiographic analysis of all cases is presented, with a mean follow-up of 64 months. The surgical treatment employed in each case is discussed, with emphasis on the use of cement as an adjuvant. This procedure was used in 10 patients, who have been free of recurrence up to the present time.


Multiple biopsies in bladder urothelial carcinomas. Correlation of atypical lesions with histological grade, clinical staging and number of tumors. Twenty-eight cases of transitional cell carcinomas, (19 papillary cell carcinomas, 9 nonpapillary invasive carcinomas) with concomitant mucosal biopsies are reported. Multiple biopsies were obtained cystoscopically at diagnosis (during resection or biopsy of the main tumor) or afterwards, during post-operative evaluation. Fifteen patients (53.6%) were positive for dysplasia, carcinoma "in situ" or micro-invasive carcinoma in the biopsies. These lesions were correlated with the primary neoplasm in regard to: 1) histological grade. Atypical lesions were more frequent the higher the grade (0.01 < p < 0.05); 2) clinical staging. The possibility of finding atypical lesions was higher in cases with more advanced staging (0.01 < p < 0.05) and 3) presence of one or more tumors visible cystoscopically. The results were not statistically significant (0.10 < p < 0.50) but there was a trend toward a higher incidence of atypical lesions among patients with more than one tumor at cystoscopy. Performance of multiple mucosal biopsies is the only means of diagnosing for atypical lesions of the bladder because, due to their plane configuration, they are not detected cystoscopically. The presence of these lesions is very important because they influence the prognosis and the therapeutic measures.


Study of fracture healing in protein malnutrition. The present study was designed to assess the effects of nutrition on fracture healing in a controlled animal model. Tibial fractures were studied in 115 Wistar rats divided into four groups: group 1,50 control animals kept on a normal diet; groups 2 and 3, 45 protein-deprived animals, and group 4, 20 animals submitted to protein malnutrition before the fracture and then placed on a normal laboratory diet. The parameters evaluated during the study were: variation in animal weight during the experiment (confirmation of protein malnutrition), fracture healing as determined by bone callus radiology, macroscopic evaluation of bone callus mechanical resistance, and histological fracture examination by common light microscopy after staining with hematoxylin-eosin. The results showed the beneficial effects of protein nutrition support on the healing of lone bone fractures. Callus formation was significantly improved in groups 1 and 4 compared to groups 2 and 3. In groups 1 and 4, callus development was normal, with regular bone tissue formation, whereas in groups 2 and 3 there was a large amount of fibrous-connective tissue with scarce formation of osseous tissue.


Clinical fundaments for rehabilitation treatment in spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury leads to a severe disabling syndrome, which most often affects the young. The major etiologic factor in spinal cord injuries is trauma. Patients' rehabilitation is started in the acute phase, soon after the trauma occurs, mainly through preventive care against the formation of pressure sores, deformities of the palsy segments, proper vesical and bowel emptying and care with vasomotor alterations. The rehabilitation process continues at a specialized rehabilitation center, searching the best functional performance of each patient, according to the type and level of the spinal cord injury. This work shows fundaments for the rehabilitation treatment.


Epilepsy in the elderly.

Epilepsy in the elderly. With the ageing of the Brazilian population a growing number of elderly people will be seeking attention from our health system. Epilepsy is an increasingly prevalent problem in old age, which demands the awareness of our doctors to the special features of such late onset cases. Partial seizures, which are usually secondary to stroke or brain tumours, are the most frequent in old age, although subsequent generalisation often occurs. The use of EEG and imaging methods might be helpful for the diagnosis of epilepsy as well as for the clarification of the aetiological factors. It has been suggested that carbamazepine and sodium valproate are the safest drugs for the treatment of these patients.


Bronchial provocation with metacholine in young children: a simplified method. Although pointed out as a characteristic of bronchial asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity (BH) has been documented in other clinical situations such as fibrocystic disease of pancreas and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BH is diagnosed in 90% of asthmatic patients and in almost all of those who are symptomatic. BH can be measured by specific bronchial provocation tests (BPT) (antigens and occupational sensitizing agents) and by exercise. Since their introduction, nonspecific BPT have been extensively used as a preliminary method for the evaluation of BH and also to diagnose bronchial asthma, to establish its severity, to determine the therapeutic efficacy of drugs, and for epidemiological studies.