Accumulation of phthalic acid esters in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and in paddy soil.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Q Y Zeng.
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Direct blood smear examination (using 0.05 ml of whole blood) detected 168 (80.9%) of 204 microfilaremic canine blood samples as determined by the modified Knott test for microfilariae (mff) of Dirofilaria immitis (using 1 ml of whole blood). Direct smear examination detected all of 134 microfilaremias greater than 50 mff ml(-1), but only 31 of 70 (44.3%) microfilaremias having less than 50 mff ml(-1). In a separate retrospective query of a database of 963 dogs with necropsy-confirmed heartworm infections, 834 (86.6%) were positive by the DiroCHEK heartworm antigen test, and 504 (52.3%) were microfilaremic by the modified Knott test. Only 2 (0.4%) of the microfilaremic dogs were DiroCHEK negative and another 18 (3.6%) were very weak positives. Although these microfilaremic dogs were not tested by direct smear, only one of the two DiroCHEK-negative and six of 18 weakly DiroCHEK-positive dogs had microfilaremias so low that a direct smear may have given a false negative result. Significant adverse reactions to either diethylcarbamazine or the macrolide endectocides have not been reported for microfilaremias less than 500 mff ml(-1), thus substitution of the direct smear for a concentration test for mff, such as the modified Knott test or membrane filtration, does not appear to increase the risk of an unexpected adverse reaction to heartworm prophylactic drugs. Such a substitution results in only a very slight decrease (on the order of 0.1%) in the overall sensitivity of heartworm screening, provided a test for mff is run concurrently with an antigen test. If a test for mff is the only screening test used, then substitution of a direct smear for a concentration test may decrease the sensitivity of heartworm screening by nearly 20%, depending on the prevalence of low level microfilaremias in the population of dogs tested.
The purpose of this study was to compare MRI findings with CT findings of mass-forming calcification/ossification of the thoracic ligamenta flava (OTLF). Twenty-one Chinese patients presented with clinical evidence of chronic and progressive thoracic spinal cord compression which included: difficulty in walking; weakness; and/or numbness of the extremities, back pain, and lower extremity paresthesias. Axial and sagittal T1-weighted imaging (T1WI) and T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) were performed through the thoracic spine on a 1.0-T Impact unit (Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Axial CT was obtained with 5-mm contiguous sections through the thoracic region. Decompressive surgery with resection of the OTLF were carried out in all patients. Low signal intensity of the mass-forming OTLF was demonstrated at a single level (n=1) or at multiple levels (n=20) on both T1WI and T2WI. The distribution of OTLF was bilateral at all levels identified in 6 cases, unilateral at all levels in 5 patients, and both unilateral and bilateral at different levels in 10 cases. Ossification of the thoracic ligamenta flava involved the upper thoracic spine (T1-4) in 3 cases, midthoracic spine (T5-8) in 3 cases, lower thoracic spine (T9-12) in 10 cases, and more than one thoracic spinal subregion in 5 cases. Computed tomography confirmed the MR findings regarding the location and distribution of OTLF in all cases, as well as the associated evidence of central spinal canal stenosis. In addition, 5 patients revealed associated ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. All patients demonstrated gradual, but incomplete, clinical improvement of the radiculomyelopathy following decompressive surgery. Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament resulting in thoracic central spinal canal stenosis and clinical radiculomyelopathy is not uncommon in the Asian people. Ossification of the thoracic ligamenta flava can be accurately evaluated equally well by CT and MR with regard to level(s) and side(s) of involvement, as well as to the relative degree of central spinal canal stenosis and the associated compression of the thoracic spinal cord.
Approximately 350 Amazon parrots were destined for relocation in Peten province, northeastern Guatemala. In random sampling of the parrots, 95 blood and 75 fecal samples were examined individually for parasites. Coccidia were present in 6.0% (3/50) of Amazona autumnalis autumnalis, and they were the only parasites detected. There were no blood parasites observed in 64 A. a. autumnalis, four Amazona pionus senilis, 16 Amazona ferinosa guatemala, 10 Amazona albifronsus albifronsus, and one Amazona xantholora. No fecal parasites were observed in four A. p. senilis, 12 A. f. guatemala, eight A. a. albifronsus, and one A. xantholora.
The case of a 21-year-old woman presenting with macronodular multi-organs tuberculoma is reported. She was examined for pulmonary tuberculosis on a chest X-ray film in January, 1995, and admitted with a cough, anorexia, and abdominal pain in July, 1996. Computed tomography revealed multiple calcified nodules with peripheral hypodense areas in the brain, and calcified hypodense masses in the liver and spleen. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed hypointense masses in the liver and spleen on T1-weighted spin echo images and a hypointense mass with a hyperintense area on T2-weighted spin echo images. On contrast-enhanced dynamic MR images, the liver and spleen masses were unenhanced and hypointense with slight rim enhancement. T2-weighted spin echo images showed a round hypointense nodule in the right kidney and hydronephrosis and enlargement in the left kidney. Antituberculous treatment was started with a gradual improvement in her signs and symptoms. Her temperature became normal. However, she was systemically treated with antituberculous chemotherapy 10 months later, her condition worsened again. She died from increased intracranial pressure in August, 1997.
This article elucidates the prevalence and pathogenic roles of the MHC and microbial infections and clinical features and treatment of SpA across different populations from the arctic and subarctic regions to Central America, Asia, and Africa. Preliminary evidence suggests significant genetic and environmental influences on the onset and presentation of SpA, particularly AS, in these populations, which are different than those reported in white Caucasians; however, community surveys and longitudinal and case control studies are difficult to undertake in many of the developing countries. Thus, most of the currently available data have been devised from short-term and retrospective studies and should be treated with caution. Differences in referral and follow-up practices and the availability of rheumatology expertise and relevant resources may explain some of the differences observed in the populations discussed in this article. Furthermore, widely accepted criteria for the classification of SpA may not be applicable to non-Caucasians and need to be evaluated in these subjects. With gradual improvement in the economic status in many of the developing countries in Asia and Africa, it is hoped that with improvement in medical services, more physicians and specialty clinics in rheumatology, and changing referral patterns, better documentation of the various aspects of different SpA can be achieved. Future research should focus on the evaluation of specific risk or protective factors in population groups to better delineate the relative importance of genetic and environmental effects in the pathogenesis of SpA.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in Han Chinese in north and south China. METHODS: Samples of 4192 adults in the Beijing (north) and 5057 in the Shantou (south) areas, based on village administration registers, were studied. The same questionnaire was administered by doctors who then examined those with rheumatic symptoms. One observer (QYZ) took part in both studies. RESULTS: The prevalence of definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was 0.34% (95% CI; 0.20-0.51) in the north and 0.32% (0.16-0.47) in the south. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was noted in 0.26% of both samples (95% CI; 0.11-0.42 north and 0.14-0.40 south). Only 3 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in the north and one in the south were identified. General rheumatic pain was reported more frequently in the north. Lumbar problems were recorded on examination 5 times more frequently in the north than in the south [men, 25%:5.3%; women 38%:6.5%] and knee problems 10 times more frequently [men, 24%:1.8%; women, 36%:3.4%] in the north. The difference was greatest in the 55 to 64 year age group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RA was similar to that in other rural populations and Japan, but only half that reported from other industrialized communities. The prevalence of AS was similar to that in most Caucasian populations. SLE was too infrequent to establish a prevalence with confidence, but did not differ from that in other populations. A study is planned in the south to assess the contribution of interobserver error and/or differences in cultural response to the north/south differences observed in the prevalence of general rheumatic symptoms and back pain.
Efficacy of abamectin against gastrointestinal tract nematodes and lungworms of cattle was determined in 4 experiments. The first 2 experiments were controlled trials in which efficacy was determined at necropsy in calves with either experimentally induced (n = 14) or naturally acquired (n = 16) infections. Half the calves in each experiment were treated with abamectin (200 micrograms/kg of body weight, SC), and half were left untreated as controls. Efficacy was > 99% against adult stages of Dictyocaulus viviparus, Haemonchus placei, Ostertagia ostertagi, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia punctata, Trichuris discolor, and C oncophora, and was 92.4% against Nematodirus helvetianus. The second 2 experiments were clinical trials in which efficacy was determined by fecal egg count reduction in naturally infected yearling heifers (n = 75) or 2-year-old heifers (n = 75). Within replicates of 5, 4 heifers were assigned at random to treatment with 200 micrograms of abamectin/kg and 1 was left untreated as a control. Abamectin was 100% effective in eliminating strongylate nematode eggs from the feces of these heifers. In all experiments, adverse reactions were limited to small, clinically unimportant injection site swellings in 29% of abamectin-treated calves. Abamectin was judged to be safe and effective in these trials.
3 cases of seronegative synovitis syndrome were reported. Two elderly women and one man presented with symmetrical polysynovitis of acute onset involving most of their appendicular joints and flexor digitorum tendons associated with pitting edema of the dorsum of both hands and both feet. Rheumatoid factor was absent from serum samples in all and no radiologically evident erosions developed. All the three patients had a benign course and the disease resolved completely within 2-18 months after the onset. None had deformities, erosions and/or relapse after being followed for 22-34 months. Literatures on this syndrome were reviewed.
Twenty calves with naturally acquired gastrointestinal nematode infections were assigned to 10 replicates of 2 calves each and were treated with febantel paste (5 mg/kg of body weight, PO) or an equivalent volume of paste vehicle (control calves). Adverse reactions were not observed after febantel treatment. At necropsy, gastrointestinal nematode counts in febantel-treated calves, compared with control calves, were reduced by over 99% for all major species except Trichuris discolor, counts of which were reduced by only 69%. Counts of gastrointestinal nematode eggs in feces of febantel-treated calves were reduced by 100% after treatment.
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