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Biomedical subjects

P Golob

Publications and source records attributed to P Golob.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Insecticidal and vertebrate toxicity associated with ethnobotanicals used as post-harvest protectants in Ghana.

Six plant species (Cassia sophera, Chamaecrista nigricans, Mitragyna inermis, Ocimum americanum, Securidaca longepedunculata and Synedrella nodiflora) traditionally used in Ghana to control insect pests of stored grain and legumes were screened in the laboratory at three concentrations (0.5, 1 and 5%, w/w) against four common storage pests (Rhyzopertha dominica, Callosobruchus maculatus, Sitophilus zeamais and Prostephanus truncatus). All the plants showed some ability to control all or some of the test insect species. Levels of efficacy varied according to test concentration with the highest concentration tested providing the best control. The S. longepedunculata plant induced the highest percent mortality and was the best at reducing emergence of the F(1) generation. The six plants were also incorporated into standard rat diet at two concentrations (1 and 5%, w/w) and fed to rats over a 6-week period to assess potential deleterious effects against vertebrates. None of the plants demonstrated any neurotoxicological or neurobehavioural effects to the rats over the course of the trial. However, S. longepedunculata and C. nigricans caused a significant reduction in rat growth rate when incorporated at 5% in the diet, induced cell hyperplasia in the liver, and reduced the mean weight of the liver and kidneys, compared to the control group of rats. Kidney pathology was affected only by the 5% concentration of S. longepedunculata which caused a reduced accumulation of alpha2mu-globulin. The implications of these results are discussed in the context of farmer usage of insecticidal plants for stored product protection.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Intra-operative spinal cord neuromonitoring in patients operated on for intramedullary tumors and syringomyelia.

Intra-operative neuromonitoring is of great help to the neurosurgeon and enables him to operate more precisely and with less risk of post-operative neurological deficit. The purpose of the study was to define the changes of the somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) elements in intramedullary tumors and syringomyelia, and to show the correlation between the changes of the elements and the location of the lesions in the spinal cord. Thirty patients with pain syndromes, intramedullary tumors and syringomyelia were operated on the spinal cord. The methodology of the intra-operative neuromonitoring was based on electrical stimulation of peripheral mixed nerve (tibial and median), and on intra-operative subpial recording of conducted and interneuronic SEP from the dorsal surface of the spinal cord. The recordings in pain syndrome cases were normal, and were compared with recordings obtained in syringomyelia and tumors. The most stable element of the conducted SEP are the initial negative waves that originate in the spinocerebellar tract. Deterioration of the negative high amplitude potentials is the most sensitive indicator of damage to the somatosensory system of the spinal cord, and indicates damage to the dorsal columns. The N11 and N14 waves are the most stable elements of the cervical and lumbosacral interneuronic SEP, and most probably originate in the dorsal root entry zone. Changes of the N13 and N17 elements of interneuronic SEP suggest damage to the spinal cord gray matter, and are most frequently changed in intramedullary lesions. High frequency waves seen on N13 or N17 probably reflect the somatosensory long tracts, and are even better seen in syringomyelia and pure intramedullary tumors. Changes in the elements of interneuronic and conductive SEP enable us to localize the anatomical site of the lesion, which is of great help to the operating neurosurgeon.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Long sensory tracts (cuneate fascicle) in cervical somatosensory evoked potential after median nerve stimulation.

Low amplitude high frequency waves (LHW) were investigated in normal and patient cervical somatosensory evoked potentials after median nerve stimulation (CSEP) in parallel to normal and patient conducted somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) after tibial nerve stimulation. Normal recordings were obtained in five subjects undergoing dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) coagulation for pain relief. Patient recordings were obtained in 11 subjects suffering from either syringomyelia, spinal cord tumour, or both. All recordings were made intraoperatively from the dorsal spinal cord surface using the subpial recording technique. Normal CSEP showed typical triphasic potential starting with an initial P9, followed by N13 and a final positivity, P1. Numerous LHW were superimposed on slow triphasic potential. To improve the visibility of LHW, slow triphasic potential was removed from the original CSEP. Potentials thus obtained contained only high frequency components of CSEP, i.e. LHW. They were compared with conducted SEP after tibial nerve stimulation. Comparison revealed similarities in high frequency, low amplitude and general wave form, LHW thus showing characteristics of conducted potential. Duration was found to be significantly shorter than normal duration in both patient LHW (Student's t-test, P < 0.0005) and patient conducted SEP (Student's t-test, P = 0.064). A shorter duration was associated with worsening of configuration in patient LHW and patient conducted SEP. These changes of LHW could not be connected with distortion of N13 seen in patient CSEP. A shorter duration and worsening of configuration in patient LHW were most prominent in cases with a loss of vibration and posture senses, but were also observed in cases where only pain and temperature senses were affected. We therefore concluded that cuneate fascicle is the most likely generator of LHW, although the participation of other cervical long sensory tracts, e.g. spinothalamic tract, cannot be ruled out.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Asbestos concentrations in drinking water. Asbestos cement pipes and geogenic sources in Austria].

Sources of asbestos in drinking water may be natural deposits or the use of asbestos cement for water distribution. 50 water samples were selected in Austria to detect fibre contamination from either geology or asbestos cement by comparison with control areas and by comparison of raw and treated water. Standardized EPA/BGA methodology with transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and selected area electron diffraction was used to quantify concentrations of different sized amphibole and chrysotile fibres. In 10 areas with asbestos deposits and in 14 areas with use of asbestos cement pipes asbestos concentrations in drinking water were low and not significantly different from 6 control areas (median 32,000 total asbestos fibres per litre). The relative highest concentration was found in an area with natural deposits at the source of the water supply (190,000 per litre). In areas without natural deposits the increase of asbestos concentrations from origin to consumer of water was not significant and unrelated to water aggressiveness, age and length of asbestos cement pipes. This could be mainly due to the fact that in areas with aggressive water asbestos cement pipes have been coated in Austria. A sample from a cistern, however, showed considerable asbestos contamination and raises concern about the use of surface water for room air humidification.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1984

Increase in weight and water retention on overfeeding dogs.

Dogs, kept in metabolism cages, were weighed daily and the daily water intake, urine volume and evaporative loss of water measured or calculated. When the daily meal was doubled, the weight increased in two phases: during the first 4 d the increase in weight was more than could be accounted for by the deposition of protein, glycogen and fat so that water retention must have occurred; after the fourth day the increase in weight was slower and could have been due to the deposition of solids, without water retention. When carbohydrate was added to the meal either as starch or glucose, the increase in weight in the first 3 d was more than the weight of the added carbohydrate, showing water retention. After the third day the slower increase in weight could be explained by the deposition of solids. When the daily meal was supplemented with fat, increase in weight occurred uniformly throughout the period of overfeeding and was equal to or less than the added fat. There was thus no evidence for water retention. Addition of meat to the daily meal caused an increase in weight larger than the fat and protein of the extra meat. Meat therefore caused water retention. The results indicate that during overfeeding, deposition in the body of protein and glycogen, but not fat, determines water retention.

Animals↗