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Biomedical subjects

S Uga

Publications and source records attributed to S Uga.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Soil contamination and infections by soil-transmitted helminths in an endemic village in southern Thailand.

The aim of this study was to test the association between soil contamination and infection of the household members by soil-transmitted helminths in dry and rainy seasons. A lake-side community in southern Thailand with a population of 2,340 was studied twice, in the dry season and rainy season of 1995. Fifty households were randomly selected. Soil samples near the latrine, in the yard, at the foot-washing area and under the trees were taken and analysed for presence of helminthic eggs. All members of the selected household were interviewed and stool samples obtained. Age-adjusted odds ratios of presence of Ascaris and Trichuris eggs in the household soil for ascariasis and trichuriasis were 10.5 (95% CI 1.5-77.1) and 5.5 (95% CI 2.4-12.7) in dry season and 10.4 (95% CI 2.5-43.8) and 8.3 (95% CI 3.4-20.0) in rainy season. The levels of hookworm eggs detected in the soil were too low to test the association. Soil analysis for eggs of Ascaris and Trichuris may be used to predict infections among the household members but not that for hookworm.

Ascariasis↗
PubMed1998

Histopathological study of the effect of phacoemulsification-aspiration on iris muscles.

Phacoemulsification-aspiration (PEA) followed by peripheral iridectomy was performed in 10 patients, and the dissected iris fragments were examined by electron microscopy. Organic changes such as cytoplasmic vacuolation and lamellar formation were observed in both the sphincter and dilator muscles of the pupil. No changes in the axons were detected. The same findings were observed when a simian eye was examined after PEA. These results indicate that PEA causes injury to iris muscles.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Effect of intestinal helminth infection on some nutritional parameters among rural villagers in Nepal.

We report the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis and its impact on health of Nepalese in two different rural Village Development Committees (VDC) in Nepal. A total of 261 school children from Okharpauwa VDC in Nuwakot district (Central Region) and 242 inhabitants of Boya VDC in Bhojpur district (Eastern Region) in Nepal were included in this study. The overall prevalence in these two different districts were 57.5% and 55.4%, respectively. Altogether four types of helminths were detected. In both districts, Ascaris lumbricoides was the commonest helminth. Mixed helminth infection in both study areas accounted for less than 5.0%. All helminth infected subjects were treated with a single dose of albendazole. Heavy Trichuris trichiura infection needed a second dose. Blood hemoglobin and serum total protein level in school children in Okharpauwa VDC increased significantly after chemotherapy (P < 0.05). Eosinophil count (10.1%; SD 5.0325) returned to normal (4.8%; SD 4.6997). Helminth infection in Boya VDC was more common in children than in adults. Serum total protein, albumin, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were not influenced by the presence or absence of helminths among the inhabitants of Boya VDC. In both districts, more than 80.0% of the household had no latrine. In Boya VDC, 94.0% of inhabitants interviewed were not aware of other intestinal parasite other than A. lumbricoides.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Toxoplasma antibody prevalence in Nepalese pregnant women and women with bad obstetric history.

Sera from randomly selected 345 pregnant Nepalese women aged 16-36 years and 13 women with bad obstetric history (BOH) were tested for the presence of Toxoplasma antibodies using microlatex agglutination (MLA) and ELISA methods. The overall prevalence was 55.4% (191/345). Prevalence was slightly higher (59.0%) in older age-group (27-36 years) compared with younger age-group (16-26 years) (52.2%). No significant difference in antibody prevalence in women belonging to two different ethnic-groups (Tibeto-Burmans 57.8%, Indo-Aryans 52.7%) was observed (p>0.05). MLA antibody titer ranged from 1:16 to 1:2,048. Over three-fourth of the women showed either high (1:510 or over) or low (1:16 or 1:32) antibody titer. Three percent (6/191) of MLA antibody positive subjects had Toxoplasma IgM antibodies by IgM-ELISA. All six IgM antibody positive pregnant women had MLA antibody titer of over 1:510. Of the total 13 women with BOH, 5 (38.5%) had Toxoplasma antibodies of which 2 (40.0%) were positive for Toxoplasma-IgM antibodies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Cryptosporidium infection in HIV-seropositive and seronegative populations in southern Thailand.

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in 61 HIV-seropositive and 61 HIV-seronegative subjects (aged less than one to 67-year-old) in Songkhla City, southern Thailand was studied by a centrifugal flotation technic using sucrose solution. Most of the HIV-seropositive subjects (72%) were 20 to 39 years old. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 10% (6/61) of HIV-seropositive and in 2% (1/61) of HIV-seronegative subjects. Infection rates in these two groups, however, were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The number of Cryptosporidium oocysts observed in 20 microscopic fields ranged between one and over 12,000. Among the seven Cryptosporidium-positive subjects, six were adults (18 to 42-year-old) and one was three-year-old child. All of the Cryptosporidium infected subjects were male, and two of them were passing formed (normal) feces. Biochemical findings revealed dishepatica in five of six Cryptosporidium infected HIV-seropositive subjects.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1998

Relationship between disc displacement and morphologic features of skeletal Class III malocclusion.

The present study assessed the relationship between disc displacement and facial morphologic features in 48 patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion. Clinical examination, standardized lateral oblique temporomandibular joint radiographs, and cephalographs were used to investigate this relationship. Disc displacement was evaluated by the presence of joint sounds (clicking and crepitation) or restricted condylar translation at maximal mouth opening. Thirty-two patients with signs of disc displacement were compared with 16 patients without signs of disc displacement. Results showed that patients with signs of disc displacement had a significantly larger gonial angle and/or SN-MP of the mandible. Thus, morphologic features of patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion may represent a risk factor for the development of disc displacement.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Rupture of lens cataract: a novel hereditary recessive cataract model in the mouse.

The RLC is a new mouse model of hereditary cataract. In this mutant, opacity of lens developed spontaneously at 35-60 days of age. The initial histological change was irregular swelling, condensation, degeneration and fragmentation of lens fibers in the deep cortex, leading to rupture of the lens capsule at the posterior pole at 45-100 days of age. Following rupture, the lens nucleus dislocated behind the lens or occasionally in the anterior chamber. Both eyes were affected. Genetic analysis indicated that the mutation was dictated by a single autosomal recessive gene with complete penetrance. Homozygotes of either sex developed cataract with rupture of lens capsule. We named the responsible gene as rupture of lens cataract (rlc) and the mouse strain as RLC. Neither allelism nor linkage was found between rlc and nct, another recessive gene in Nakano cataract mice. The rlc mutation is now fixed in a inbred background since the RLC has been maintained over 20 inbred generations in the laboratory. Although no direct homologous disease of this unusual cataract is found in human, this mutant will provide a valuable tool to investigate the mechanism involved in maintainance of lens.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Use of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of toxocariasis: an experimental study.

In this paper we report the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction technique in the diagnosis of visceral larva migrans in a mouse model. Liver samples obtained from two set of experimentally infected mice (10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 embryonated Toxocara canis eggs per mouse) along with the eggs of T. canis, T. cati and Ascaris suum were included in this study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using Toxocara primers (SB12). The first PCR product electrophoresis revealed very thin positive bands or no bands in liver samples. However, on second PCR a clear-cut bands were observed. No positive band was shown by A. suum eggs. Our findings thus indicate the usefulness of PCR technic in the diagnosis of visceral larva migrans (VLM) in liver biopsy materials specifically by means of double PCR using the primer SB12.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Contamination of soil with parasite eggs and oocysts in southern Thailand.

Soil contamination with parasite eggs and oocysts was surveyed in southern Thailand in December 1994 and September 1995. The survey areas were Hat Kai Tao Village in Phatthalung Province and a slum area in a city of Songkhla Province. We used a modification of the centrifugal floatation technique with sucrose solution (specific gravity, 1.200) to recover helminth eggs and protozoa oocysts. Overall, 10 genera and 11 species of parasite eggs and oocysts were recovered. They included eight species of nematoda eggs, one species of cestoda eggs, and two species of protozoan oocysts. The definitive hosts of these parasites are dogs, cats, sheep, lizards, humans, etc. The contamination rates in two areas at different occasions varied from 55% to 72% with an average of 64%. Contamination rates of Hat Kai Tao Village in beginning and end of the rainy seasons were 72%, and 55%, respectively. Although the contamination rate in the end of rainy season was higher than that in beginning of the rainy season, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Of the 11 parasites recovered, six were infective to humans, of which, Trichuris trichura, Ascaris lumbricoides, and Toxocara species were predominant. The mean numbers of these eggs recovered in each test were more than 10. Therefore, the contamination was estimated to be more than an egg per gram of soil sample based on the recovery efficiency (40%) of this test. These results suggested that the soil in some parts of southern Thailand may be heavily contaminated by both animal and human feces.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence of antibody to Toxoplasma gondii in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan: comparison at a 10-year interval.

We have previously surveyed antibody to Toxoplasma gondii among Japanese populations. In this report, we studied the current situation of antibody prevalence and compared it with the situation approximately 10 years before. A total of 1,800 human serum samples were collected at the Central Laboratory of Kobe University Hospital from June through September, 1995, and were examined for Toxoplasma antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall prevalence was found to be 16.4% with similar seropositivities in males (16.8%) and females (15.9%). Prevalence of antibody increased with age, reaching 41.0% in males and 59.0% in females at 80 years or more. Comparison with data obtained at the same hospital in 1981 to 1982 indicated that seropositivities at 30-39 years significantly decreased in both males and females. A positivity currently obtained at a certain age group was similar to a positivity previously obtained at the corresponding age group (10 years younger), indicating that the previous age prevalence curve shifted to the current position. A serological survey among stray cats collected in Hyogo Prefecture in 1990-1991 indicated that 44 (19.0%) of 231 cats were positive for Toxoplasma antibody as determined by the latex agglutination test. These results suggested less transmission of Toxoplasma to humans in Hyogo Prefecture at least for the last 10 years comparing with the situation in the past, although the transmission cycle among cats was still active in nature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Comparison of lens biochemistry and structure between BSO-treated and glucocorticoid-treated developing chick embryos.

In this paper various changes in glutathione level, which were influenced by balance of its synthesis, degradation, transport and utilization, were analysed in chick embryos administered with glucocorticoid (GC) or buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of glutathione synthesis). When BSO (30 mumol egg-1) was administered twice to chick embryos on day 14 and 15, the GSH in both the lens and the liver decreased to 15-20% and 30-40% of the age-matched control level, respectively, between 24 and 48 hr after the second treatment, then began to recover. Although this decline in the GSH level in these tissues was greater and more prolonged in embryos treated with BSO than with GC, the former embryos maintained lens transparency even up to 144 hr by a visual examination. However, histological changes in the lens occurred after 96 hr and more significantly 144 hr after second administration of BSO. The changes mainly consisted of pale epithelial cells on the anterior peripheral surface of the lens, irregular height of the epithelial cells at the equator, clefts between the epithelium and the cortex and swelling of almost all the cortical fibers. These observations may suggest that BSO treatment could produce the beginning of a cataract. Embryos with GC-cataract revealed the following changes at 48 hr: loss of transparency, elevation of LPO (TBA-reacting substance) in the lens, the blood and the liver. These were not observed in BSO-treated embryos during the experimental period. The GC-cataract may well depend on the generation of LPO. BSO cataract, having a distinct mechanism compared to that caused by GC, develops more slowly in GSH-depleted lenses. The BSO-treated chick embryos will be a useful model to screen the risk factors which accelerate cataract formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Defecation habits of cats and dogs and contamination by Toxocara eggs in public park sandpits.

The defecation habits of cats and dogs in three sandpits in urban public parks were observed by camcorder. Cats were the main cause of fecal contamination of these sandpits. Most (80%) feline defecations occurred at night between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. Each of the sandpits was used habitually as a defecation site by 4-24 cats, but these cats seemed to defecate elsewhere, as well. Fecal deposits within the sandpits were evenly distributed and did not tend to be concentrated in one area, suggesting that the cats avoided previously deposited feces when choosing a place to defecate. One sandpit was strongly contaminated and two were weakly contaminated with Toxocara eggs. Because sandpits are widely used as play areas for young children, effective sanitation measures should be implemented to prevent the contamination of sandpits by Toxocara eggs.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Morphological study of age-related changes in Fischer rat lens.

The authors conducted a morphological investigation of age-related changes in the lens of male Fischer rats at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. At 6 months, there were no abnormalities of particular note other than slight swelling of the subcapsular fibers. Moreover, other than a slight decrease in the density of epithelial cells and slightly more extensive fiber swelling, there were no remarkable changes seen in the lens at 12 months. At 18 months of age, posterior invasion by the processes of the cortical lens fibers toward the lens capsule and slight swelling of the anterior cortical fibers were seen in addition to the above-mentioned changes. By 24 months of age, these changes had become more noticeable, with further reduction in the density of epithelial cells, swelling and degeneration of both anterior and posterior fibers and extension of the thin processes of the equatorial fibers toward the capsule. However, the bow configuration at the equator appeared almost normal. These findings indicate that the age-related changes in the Fischer rat lens occurred in the epithelial cells and superficial layer of the cortical fibers, subsequently leading to the loss of clarity in the lens.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Lens development and crystallin distribution of the early onset hereditary cataract in the UPL rat.

The Upjohn Pharmaceuticals Limited (UPL) rat is a new dominant hereditary cataract model with two types of cataract formation, early onset (E-type) and late onset (L-type). In the UPL E-type rat cataracts have formed by the time the eyes open. The E-type rat also develops microphthalmos and buphthalmos. In this study, histological observations of cataract development in the E-type rats were performed during the period of fetal development, at birth and at 1, 3 and 62 weeks of age. In addition, the distribution of alpha- and gamma-crystallins in the developing lens was determined using anti-crystallin antisera. Abnormal elongation of the lens fibers was first observed on the 13th day of gestation. Stratification of lens epithelial cells was present on the 19th day of gestation and this change became more severe with age. There was no alteration in alpha- and gamma-crystallin expression during the fetal period. The continuity between the lens epithelial cells and lens fibers was lost at 3 weeks of age and it was assumed that differentiation of lens epithelial cells had ceased. These findings suggested that development of the UPL rat E-type cataract was related to an early abnormality in lens cell differentiation not involving crystallin expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Comparative study on serological diagnosis of entamoebiasis histolytica].

The practicability of four diagnostic methods for entamoebiasis histolytica including micro-gel diffusion precipitin test (MGDP), indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFA), indirect hemagglutination test (IHA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated. The serological test methods were compared by using sera obtained from 30 entamoebiasis histolytica patients and 130 normal health individuals. The highest sensitivity was obtained with the method of ELISA, followed by IFA and IHA : the lowest was obtained with MGDP. On the contrary, the high specificity was obtained with IHA, IFA, MGDP : the lowest was obtained with ELISA. Intensity of the antibody titers in IHA was correlated well with that of IFA. In addition, we studied antibodies nonspecifically reactive to Entamoeba histolytica in sera from E. histolytica-negative individuals with high CRP patients with regard to the sensitivity and specificity. Among 101 sera examined, six showed false positive results of which five were the sera with extremely high CRP.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Seroepidemiological study of Toxoplasma infection in central and western regions in Nepal.

The present study was carried out to ascertain the seroprevalence rate in different geographical areas in Central and Western Regions in Nepal. A total of 1,237 serum samples collected from Nuwakot (217), Kathmandu valley (402) and Chitawan (159) districts in Central Region, and Mustang (143), Surkhet (64) and Banke (252) districts in Western Region in Nepal were included in this study. Toxoplasma antibodies were detected by micro-latex agglutination (MLA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (IgM-ELISA) methods. The seropositive rate in Central and Western Regions were found to be 48% and 49%, respectively; with an overall positive rate of 48 percent. Districtwise, the seropositive rate in Nuwakot, Kathmandu valley, Chitawan, Mustang, Surkhet and Banke districts were 38, 46, 64, 51, 67 and 44%, respectively. Interestingly, the relatively newly inhabited Surkhet district in Western Region and Chitawan district in Central Region showed significantly higher seropositive rate compared with those of two other districts in the respective Regions (p < 0.05). Ethnically, Tibeto-Burmans showed higher seropositive rates in Central Region (p > 0.05). In contrast, Indo-Aryans showed higher seropositive rate in Western Region (p > 0.05). Age related increase in seropositivity was observed only in Central Region. One percent of Toxoplasma antibody positive samples also showed Toxoplasma IgM antibody positivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Seroepidemiology of five major zoonotic parasite infections in inhabitants of Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia.

We conducted a seroepidemiological survey of zoonotic parasite infection in inhabitants of East Java, Indonesia. The subjects of the survey were 244 persons selected from visitors to Sidoarjo City Hospital in East Java between May 1992 and October 1993. Ninety-seven had diarrhea and the rest came to the hospital for routine check-ups. All serum samples were tested for antibodies against five zoonotic parasites: Toxoplasma gondii, Entamoeba histolytica, Toxocara canis. Angiostrongylus cantonensis, and Anisakis species. Tests used were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), latex agglutination (LA) test, indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA) test, hemagglutination (HA) test, and gel diffusion precipitation (GDP) test. Some 64% of the subjects had antibodies to T. gondii. The prevalence of antibodies to E. histolytica varied from 2 to 15% depending on the test, but the true rate was probably the 7% or 8% obtained by the HA and IFA tests. The proportions of subjects with positive results were 63% for T. canis, 17% for A. cantonensis, and 11% for the Anisakis spp. The prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and T. canis was lower in subjects aged 1 to 9 years than in older subjects, probably because the persons in this group had less time to be infected. Antibody titers to A. cantonensis and the Anisakis spp. were high in the juvenile group, perhaps because recent changes in eating habits have increased opportunities for infection.

Adolescent↗