Ultrastructural characteristics of Babesia odocoilei in vitro

Babesia odocoilei continuously cultured in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) erythrocytes was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Merozoites, trophozoites, intermediate-stage forms, and dividing forms were observed. Merozoites possessed a single nucleus, inner membrane complex, rhoptries, free ribosomes, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and single membrane-bound vesicles. Trophozoites lacked an inner membrane complex and rhoptries. Intermediate stages were characterized by distinct segments of inner membrane complex. Dividing forms ranged from cells with an elongated nucleus to mature daughter cells joined by a ringlike structure. Babesia odocoilei was characterized by its close proximity to the erythrocyte membrane, membranous structures resembling feeding organelles, and reproduction via a method resembling budding sensu stricto.     

Life table study of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in Puerto Rico fed only human blood versus blood plus sugar

Life table studies were performed in 1996 with Aedes aegypti (L.) during the low (cool/dry) and high (hot/rainy) dengue virus transmission seasons in Puerto Rico. Mated adult females from field-collected pupae were placed individually in cages and divided into 2 treatment groups: one was fed only human blood and the other human blood plus a 10% sucrose solution. Survival and number of eggs laid were recorded daily for each female. During both seasons, age specific survivorship was higher for the blood plus sugar group, groups fed only human blood had higher reproductive outputs (mx), and net replacement rates (Ro) for blood only groups were higher than for those fed blood plus sugar. Intrinsic rates of growth (r) were the same for both treatments during the low (cool/dry) transmission season, but higher for the blood-only treatment during the high (hot/rainy) transmission season. Our results indicate that feeding on only human blood provides an evolutionary advantage to Ae. aegypti females in Puerto Rico. These results are similar to those from an earlier study carried out with Ae. aegypti in Thailand; the advantage of feeding on human blood does not seem to be restricted to a particular geographic region. We also found that the benefits associated with human feeding persist through epidemiologically different times of the year. We conclude that feeding on human blood is reproductively beneficial for Ae. aegypti, which may increase their contact with human hosts, and therefore may influence their vectorial capacity for dengue viruses through frequent feeding on blood.     

Legal basis of vaccine prophylaxis in Russia]

As a complementary modality, therapeutic touch is gaining increasing recognition. Not only are nurses incorporating therapeutic touch into their daily patient care, but patients also are requesting this healing modality. Nurse leaders also use this nursing intervention to weave their vision of healing into their managerial role.     

Effects of the prolonged administration of bradykinin on the rat pituitary-adrenocortical axis

The effects of a prolonged administration of bradykinin (BK) and/or D-Arg, [Hyp3, D-Phe7]-BK, a specific antagonist of BK receptors (BK-A) (daily subcutaneous injections of 4 nmol/rat for 6 days) on the function of the pituitary-adrenocortical axis were investigated. BK did not change plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC), but markedly lowered that of corticosterone (PBC) and consequently induced a compensatory hypersecretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland. BK-A did not apparently affect the function and growth of the adrenal gland, but, when administered together with BK, markedly raised both PAC and PBC, and provoked a significant atrophy of the adrenal gland, probably due to loss of parenchymal cells. Taken together, these rather puzzling findings do not appear to provide clear evidence for the involvement of BK in the physiological regulation of adrenocortical growth and steroidogenic capacity in rats.     

Lipanor treatment of atherogenic hyperlipoproteinemia

AIM: The study of the hypolipidemic efficiency, safety and tolerance of ciprofibrate (lipanor) in therapy of atherogenic hyperlipoproteinemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The trial included 14 hypertensive postmenopausal females, 14 patients with diabetes mellitus type II, 14 males with coronary heart disease and primary hyperlipoproteinemia (total cholesterol > 6.5 mmol/l, triglycerides < 4.5 mmol/l under low-cholesterol diet). Lipanor was given for 12 weeks in a daily single dose 100 mg in the morning. Lipids and other biochemical indices were measured in a fasting state after 1 and 3 months of lipanor treatment. RESULTS: After 1 month of lipanor treatment there was a 22-30%, 24-49% decrease in the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, respectively. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased by 16%. The hypolipidemic effect of lipanor persisted for 3 months during which triglycerides continued to fall (up to 38.5%). Lipanor was well tolerated, only one patient with diabetes mellitus had hyperactivity of creatine phosphokinase manifesting with clinical symptoms (the drug was discontinued). 3 patients developed mild side effects. Alkaline phosphatase activity inhibited in all the groups by 25-41%. CONCLUSION: Lipanor is a highly effective, safe hypolipidemic drug with good tolerance. It can be recommended for correction of atherogenic hyperlipoproteinemia in patients at high risk of atherosclerosis progression.     

Segregation and integration of cytoplasmic and nuclear materials during cleavage and induced fusion of blastomeres of mouse early embryos

Phenylbutazone was administered intravenously (i.v.) to a group of four lactating cows at a dosage of 6 mg/kg body weight. Whole plasma, protein-free plasma and milk were analysed for phenylbutazone residues. Pharmacokinetic parameters of total and free phenylbutazone in plasma were calculated using a non compartmental method. In regards to whole plasma data, the mean volume of distribution at steady state (Vss), was 147 mL/kg body weight, with a mean (+/-SEM) terminal elimination half-life (t1/2) of 40+/-6 h. The mean clearance (Cl) was 3 mL/h/kg body weight. The Vss as determined from the protein-free plasma fraction was 50021 mL/kg body weight. This larger Vss of free phenylbutazone compared to total plasma phenylbutazone was attributed to a high degree of plasma protein binding, as well as the greater penetration of free phenylbutazone into tissues. The mean t1/2 of free phenylbutazone was 39+/-5 h. This similarity to the t1/2 estimated from total plasma phenylbutazone data is attributed to an equilibrium between free and plasma phenylbutazone during the terminal elimination phase. Mean t1/2 as determined from milk, applying a urinary excretion rate model, was 47+/-4 h. Milk clearance of phenylbutazone was 0.009 mL/h/kg body weight, or about 0.34% of total body clearance. Furthermore, evidence suggests that phenylbutazone either binds to milk proteins, or is actively transported into milk, as its concentration in milk was greater than that predicted due to a simple partitioning from plasma into milk.     

The new Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System: report one year after implementation. Eurotransplant International Foundation

BACKGROUND: Upon the availability of a cadaveric donor kidney, a delicate allocation process precedes every transplantation. A remodeled Eurotransplant Kidney Allocation System (ETKAS)-derived from simulation studies-was installed in March 1996. The purpose was to adjust long waiting times and international exchange balances, while aiming at an optimal HLA-mismatch distribution. The new ETKAS consisted of a point-score system that was 100% patient oriented. METHODS: The impact of the new ETKAS on the composition of the waiting list, and the outcome of the allocation procedures during its first year, were evaluated and compared with the results obtained in 1995. RESULTS: The percentage of long-waiting patients and of patients with poorly matchable HLA phenotype increased significantly, from 9% to 19% and from 19% to 29%, respectively. Zero HLA-A-, HLA-B-, HLA-DR-mismatched patients still comprised 23% of the kidney transplant activity. The kidney exchange of the different Eurotransplant countries became balanced within 4 months; this persisted during the rest of the year. Pediatric patients had a high transplantation rate due to an assignment of extra points. The composition of the waiting list showed, after 1 year, fewer long-waiting patients and fewer patients with rare HLA phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The new ETKAS was able in its first year to meet the goals set at its introduction. In comparison with the old ETKAS, there was a better trade-off between HLA matching and waiting time. The value of computer simulation studies has been demonstrated impressively in the context of organ allocation.     

Application of polymerase chain reaction for the correlation of Salmonella serovars recovered from greyhound feces with their diet

The polymerase chain reaction was employed to correlate Salmonella serovars isolated from fecal material of greyhounds suffering from gastroenteritis with those isolated from the diet fed to the greyhounds prior to onset of diarrhea. Kennels around the Abilene, Kansas, area were contacted and supplied with materials needed to collect a portion of the diet each day. With the onset of diarrhea, the kennels were instructed to ship the fecal material and diet from the previous 10 days to the laboratory for testing. Forty-one fecal samples and corresponding diets were screened for Salmonella, Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus intermedius, and pathogenic (piliated) Escherichia coli by direct culture using standard procedures. The fecal material was also screened for coronavirus and parvovirus using electron microscopy. Thirty-five "normal" fecal samples were screened for all of the above mentioned microorganisms as a control. In addition, the fecal material was screened for E. coli verotoxins I and II and clostridial enterotoxins. A total of 61 Salmonella isolates were recovered from the 41 samples of feces and diet submitted for testing; 31 were recovered from the feces and 30 from the diet. Four Salmonella isolates were recovered from the normal fecal samples. Results obtained by PCR, plasmid profiles, antigenic analysis, and antibiogram profiles indicated that 16 of the 31 isolates recovered from the fecal material were the same strain as that recovered from the diet.