Biomedical subjects

R Daniels

Publications and source records attributed to R Daniels.

57 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Bartonellosis in Zamora Chinchipe province in Ecuador.

Human bartonellosis was investigated in the Ecuadorian province of Zamora Chinchipe; 17 cases were identified retrospectively from hospital records over the period 1984-1995, mostly from 6 communities in the provincial district of Zumba. A questionnaire concerning risk factors for disease transmission was administered in these 6 communities. Blood samples were taken from individuals with current febrile illnesses or skin lesions suggestive of bartonellosis. Samples for detection of Bartonella bacilliformis were also taken from all school-age children in communities where historical cases had been identified by questionnaire. No bacteriologically positive case was identified and no evidence of asymptomatic infection was detected. Risk factors for disease transmission, identified by the questionnaire, included the presence of sick or dying chickens and guinea-pigs. It was suggested that bartonellosis is a zoonosis with wild animals, probably rodents, as the reservoir. The widespread use of residual insecticides and the easy availability of antibiotics is likely to have modified the epidemiology of this disease over the last decade.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of two palpation, four radiographic and three ultrasound methods for early detection of mild to moderate canine hip dysplasia.

Hip joint laxity was evaluated in Golden Retriever (n = 60), Labrador Retriever (n = 23), and Labrador/Golden Retriever mix (n = 24) puppies. Ortolani and Bardens maneuvers, four radiographic measurement indices and three dynamic ultrasonographic measurements were used. Each puppy was evaluated twice; at 6.5 to 9 and 43 to 79 weeks of age. These nine methods were compared for accuracy in predicting the development of canine hip dysplasia with or without degenerative joint disease by a median age of 16 months. The Bardens maneuver was a significant predictor of canine hip dysplasia/+/-degenerative joint disease for Golden Retriever puppies, however, it was not a reliable predictor for the other two breeds. Norberg angle measurements taken with femurs in a neutral position with hips distracted (PennHip position) was a significant predictor of degenerative joint disease in two breeds, but not in Golden Retriever puppies. Ultrasound measurement was a reliable predictor of hip canine hip dysplasia/+/-degenerative joint disease for Labrador/Golden Retriever mix puppies, but was not reliable for the other two breeds. Palpation, radiographic, and ultrasonographic methods of evaluating hip joint laxity in puppies at 6.5 to 9 weeks of age were not consistently reliable for all three breeds in predicting hip dysplasia with or without degenerative joint disease at one year of age. A strong association was found between Norberg angle and degenerative joint disease occurrence, as well as between distraction index (PennHip) and degenerative joint disease occurrence when measured at 52 to 79 weeks of age, but not when measured at 6.5 to 9 weeks of age in these breeds. These results emphasize the difficulty of early detection of mild hip dysplasia in the dog.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of pH adjustment on microcapsules obtained from complex coacervation of gelatin and acacia.

The coacervation behaviour of commercial grade gelatin and acacia mixtures was studied with five different acids to adjust the coacervation pH, i.e. HCl, HNO3, H2SO4, acetic acid, and citric acid. The electrical equivalence pH value (EEP) of the polymer mixture was determined by means of a streaming current detector (SCD). With all acids--except H2SO4--maximum coacervate yield was observed at the EEP. Using H2SO4 the EEP was found at a lower pH value than compared with the point of maximum coacervate yield. The quantity of coacervate at the EEP was significantly reduced in the presence of H2SO4 whereas with all other acids, almost no differences were found. The dependence of the coacervate volume on the added amount of acid did not change in parallel to the dry coacervate yield and there was no coincidence of the maximum coacervate volume and the EEP. The barrier properties of the capsule shells of corresponding microcapsules using indomethacin as a model drug were examined by dissolution studies. Indomethacin microcapsules showed the slowest release rate when the coacervation pH was adjusted to the EEP and not to the pH of maximum coacervate yield. As expected from the coacervation behaviour, dissolution profiles of the microcapsules were quite similar even when different acids were used for pH adjustment.

Acacia↗