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Biomedical subjects

P Buss

Publications and source records attributed to P Buss.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Wildlife tuberculosis in South African conservation areas: implications and challenges.

Tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, was first diagnosed in African buffalo in South Africa's Kruger National Park in 1990. Over the past 15 years the disease has spread northwards leaving only the most northern buffalo herds unaffected. Evidence suggests that 10 other small and large mammalian species, including large predators, are spillover hosts. Wildlife tuberculosis has also been diagnosed in several adjacent private game reserves and in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the third largest game reserve in South Africa. The tuberculosis epidemic has a number of implications, for which the full effect of some might only be seen in the long-term. Potential negative long-term effects on the population dynamics of certain social animal species and the direct threat for the survival of endangered species pose particular problems for wildlife conservationists. On the other hand, the risk of spillover infection to neighboring communal cattle raises concerns about human health at the wildlife-livestock-human interface, not only along the western boundary of Kruger National Park, but also with regards to the joint development of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. From an economic point of view, wildlife tuberculosis has resulted in national and international trade restrictions for affected species. The lack of diagnostic tools for most species and the absence of an effective vaccine make it currently impossible to contain and control this disease within an infected free-ranging ecosystem. Veterinary researchers and policy-makers have recognized the need to intensify research on this disease and the need to develop tools for control, initially targeting buffalo and lion.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

An innovative approach for locating and evaluating subsurface pathways for nitrogen loss.

Fundamental watershed-scale processes governing chemical flux to neighboring ecosystems are so poorly understood that effective strategies for mitigating chemical contamination cannot be formulated. Characterization of evapotranspiration, surface runoff, plant uptake, subsurface preferential flow, behavior of the chemicals in neighboring ecosystems, and an understanding of how crop management practices influence these processes are needed. Adequate characterization of subsurface flow has been especially difficult because conventional sampling methods are ineffective for measuring preferential flow of water and solutes. A sampling strategy based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) mapping of subsurface structures coupled with near real-time soil moisture data, surface topography, remotely sensed imagery, and a geographic information system (GIS) appears to offer a means of accurately identifying subsurface preferential flow pathways. Four small adjacent watersheds draining into a riparian wetland and first-order stream at the USDA-ARS Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, MD are being studied with this protocol. The spatial location of some preferential flow pathways for chemicals exiting these agricultural watersheds to the neighboring ecosystems have been identified. Confirmation of the pathways is via examination of patterns in yield monitor data and remote sensing imagery.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Surface and subsurface nitrate flow pathways on a watershed scale.

Determining the interaction and impact of surface runoff and subsurface flow processes on the environment has been hindered by our inability to characterize subsurface soil structures on a watershed scale. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) data were collected and evaluated in determining subsurface hydrology at four small watersheds in Beltsville, MD. The watersheds have similar textures, organic matter contents, and yield distributions. Although the surface slope was greater on one of the watersheds, slope alone could not explain why it also had a nitrate runoff flux that was 18 times greater than the other three watersheds. Only with knowledge of the subsurface hydrology could the surface runoff differences be explained. The subsurface hydrology was developed by combining GPR and surface topography in a geographic information system. Discrete subsurface flow pathways were identified and confirmed with color infrared imagery, real-time soil moisture monitoring, and yield monitoring. The discrete subsurface flow patterns were also useful in understanding observed nitrate levels entering the riparian wetland and first order stream. This study demonstrated the impact that subsurface stratigraphy can have on water and nitrate (NO3-N) fluxes exiting agricultural lands, even when soil properties, yield distributions, and climate are similar. Reliable protocols for measuring subsurface fluxes of water and chemicals need to be developed.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Adverse events following vaccination in premature infants.

UNLABELLED: The aims of this study were to study the frequency, severity and types of adverse reactions following DPT/Hib (diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis/Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate) immunization in very preterm infants and to identify possible risk factors. Case notes of 45 preterm babies vaccinated in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 1993 and December 1998 were studied retrospectively. Birthweight, gestational age, duration of ventilation, oxygen dependency, timing of vaccination, weight, corrected gestation at vaccination and apparent adverse effects were noted. Apparent adverse events were noted in 17 of 45 (37.8%) babies: 9 (20%) had major events, i.e. apnoea, bradycardia or desaturations, and 8 (17.8%) had minor events, i.e. increased oxygen requirements, temperature instability, poor handling and feed intolerance. Babies with major events were significantly younger (p < 0.05), had a lower postmenstrual age (p < 0.05) and weighed less (p < 0.05) at the time of vaccination compared with babies without major events. No differences in the mean birthweight, gestational age, duration of ventilation or oxygen dependency were found between the two groups. Age at vaccination of 70 days or less was significantly associated with increased risk (p < 0.01). Of 27 babies vaccinated at 70 days or less, 9 (33.3%) developed major events compared with none when vaccinated over 70 d. CONCLUSION: Vaccine-related cardiorespiratory events are relatively common in preterm babies. Problems were much more common if vaccine is administered at or before 70 d. These babies should therefore be monitored postvaccination. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify whether delaying vaccination offers protection against these adverse events.

Apnea↗
PubMed1998

The calcaneum as a site for intraosseous infusion.

Intraosseous infusion has been recommended as a rapid and effective form of circulatory access in the collapsed child. Recognised sites for insertion include the tibia, femur, iliac crest, sternum, and clavicle. The case of a 3 year old collapsed child is described who was successfully resuscitated with the use of an intraosseous needle placed in the calcaneum; the method of needle insertion is also detailed.

Calcaneus↗
PubMed1996

EEC syndrome and genitourinary anomalies: an update.

We report on a large family with the ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, clefting (EEC) syndrome. The clinical manifestations in this family show great variability. Specific genitourinary anomalies were found. The propositus with micturition problems is discussed in detail. A dysplastic bladder epithelium might be the cause of these problems. A remarkable improvement of the complaints was achieved upon treatment with synthetic sulfonated glycosaminoglycans.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1990

Linear dose-response relationship for DNA adducts in rat liver from chronic exposure to aflatoxin B1.

Male F-344 rats were given [3H]aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in the drinking water at three exposure levels (0.02, 0.6, 20 micrograms/l, resulting in average dose levels of 2.2, 73, 2110 ng/kg per day). After 4, 6 and 8 weeks, DNA was isolated from the livers and analyzed for aflatoxin-DNA adducts. The level of DNA adducts did not increase significantly after 4 weeks, indicating that a steady-state for adduct formation and removal had nearly been reached. At 8 weeks, the adduct levels were 0.91, 32 and 850 nucleotide-aflatoxin adducts per 10(9) nucleotides, i.e. clearly proportional to the dose. At the high dose level, a near 50% tumor incidence would be expected in a 2-year bioassay with F-344 rats while the low dose used is within the range of estimated human dietary exposures to aflatoxin in Western countries. The proportionality seen between exposure and steady-state DNA adduct level is discussed with respect to a linear extrapolation of the tumor risk to low dose.

Administration, Oral↗