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Biomedical subjects

J E Biles

Publications and source records attributed to J E Biles.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Effect on neuromuscular transmission of repeated administration of an organophosphorus compound, metrifonate, during treatment of children with urinary schistosomiasis.

Muscle action potential amplitude recorded from abductor pollicis brevis in response to nerve stimulation was measured in 55 children during treatment of urinary schistosomiasis with metrifonate (3 doses at 2 weekly intervals). Mean erythrocyte cholinesterase activity was 52-75% of pretreatment value in different groups when examined electrophysiologically. Twenty-six children acted as controls. There was no difference in amplitude between control and exposed subjects 2 weeks after the 2nd dose. Six hours after the 3rd dose, amplitude was larger in some subjects. This effect was not related to dose or degree of cholinesterase inhibition and was thought unlikely to be the result of treatment. Three children who received the highest dose of metrifonate had developed repetitive activity 6 hr later. The criteria for its identification are described.

Action Potentials

Initial experiences with praziquantel in the treatment of human infections due to Schistosoma haematobium.

Initial studies of the tolerance and efficacy of praziquantel in the treatment of human infections due to Schistosoma haematobium were conducted at the WHO Tropical Diseases Research Centre, Ndola, Zambia. The first stage of the trial was a double-blind assessment against placebo of the tolerance and efficacy of oral doses of 1x20, 2x20, or 3x20 mg/kg in patients with a minimum schistosome egg excretion of 50 per random 10-ml sample of urine. Later a single-blind trial was carried out of the efficacy of three oral doses, each of 20 mg/kg, given at 4-hour intervals, or of a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg.In 79 young Zambians with S. haematobium infections (and often other parasitic infections), patient tolerance to the drug was very good, only minor post-treatment symptoms of intermittent epigastric pain, anorexia, and headache being noted, all of short duration.No changes of clinical relevance were detected in the results of a battery of haematological and biochemical tests. Post-treatment eosinophilia occurred in 42% of drug-treated patients but also in 30% of those given placebo. Serial electrocardiograms revealed no changes of significance.At six months after treatment, of 73 patients followed up, only 1 case of parasitological failure was detected. At one year, 66 (83.5%) of 79 patients with S. haematobium infection were followed up and 2 (2.5%) parasitological failures were detected.Two years after treatment, 45 (57%) of 79 patients with S. haematobium showed negative urines, 7 (9%) had positive hatching tests, and 27 (34%) were absent.

Adolescent

Two new field techniques for detection and counting of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine samples, with an evaluation of both methods.

Two new techniques for the quantitative determination of Schistosoma haematobium egg densities in urine samples, the first using sedimentation and the second filtration, have been developed and evaluated. In the first method the concentrated sediment is examined in a counting chamber under a low-power microscope and in the second method the final concentration achieved by filtration is also examined microscopically. Both procedures are easily carried out under primitive field conditions, while retaining their reproducibility and reliability. The techniques can be useful in mass surveys of populations suffering from schistosomiasis.

Evaluation Studies as Topic

A simple device for counting microorganisms.

This paper describes a simple but accurate device for counting helminth and schistosome eggs as well as other organisms of similar size that can be suspended in liquids. The device presents the additional advantages of being inexpensive and durable.

Animals