Observations of childhood 'cancer clusters' in small communities in central California prompted us to examine the distribution of childhood cancer in communities throughout the region to see if the overall cancer rate or the distribution of 'cancer clusters' was unusual for agricultural towns where pesticide exposure might be elevated. The distribution of rates was evaluated using a variety of methods: comparison of rates to the regional average, evaluation of the empirical observed versus expected Poisson distribution of events, and multivariate modelling using Poisson regression. These analyses suggest that there were no previously undiscovered communities with excess rates, although the index community which prompted the initial investigation does stand out as unusual. We discuss the impact of a range of forces of morbidity on the likelihood of 'cancer clusters' and the distributions of observed and expected numbers of cancers in a population of locales.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Real-time ultrasound and pulsed Doppler evaluation of the retroplacental clear area.

The retroplacental clear area is a hypoechoic region at the placental-endometrial interface which is frequently demonstrated with high-resolution equipment. During pulsed Doppler examination of the retroplacental clear area, venous signals were obtained in 26 of 27 cases. This is strong evidence that this region is composed of dilated veins.

Doppler Effect↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Iodine intake in pregnancy in Ireland--a cause for concern?

BACKGROUND: Adequate dietary iodine intake is necessary to maintain maternal thyroid function at a level permitting normal neuropsychological development of the foetus. AIMS AND METHODS: To determine dietary iodine status by measuring urinary iodine excretion (UIE), proportional to dietary intake, in Irish mothers during the first trimester of pregnancy. RESULTS: Median UIE showed seasonal variations, being lower in summer than in winter. The median values in pregnant women were, summer 45microg/l, winter 68microg/l. Equivalent values for controls were 43 and 91microg/l respectively. UIE required to achieve WHO recommended daily iodine intakes would be 120-180microg/l. In the Irish subjects UIE values suggestive of iodine deficiency (<50microg/l) were observed in 55% of pregnant women tested in summer and 23% in winter. Dairy milk iodine, a major dietary iodine source, showed similar variation. CONCLUSIONS: While there is as yet no available evidence of widespread thyroid hypofunction in the Irish obstetric population, the findings are a cause of concern, which if confirmed by a more comprehensive investigation, may indicate the need for iodine prophylaxis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of age on serum tryptophan and urine indican in adults given a tryptophan load test.

An oral load of L-tryptophan (490 mumol/kg) was administered to 25 men and 25 women between the ages of 30 and 80 years. Blood samples were drawn before the load and at 2-h intervals for 6 h after the load. Urine samples were collected for 5 days. Fasting serum tryptophan levels averaged 79.5 mumol/l (+/- 12.9 s.d.). Peak serum tryptophan levels (911-1002 mumol/l) occurred 2 h after the load. Urinary indican excretion on the day of the load averaged 6.4 mumol/24h/kg of body weight (+/- 2.8 s.d.). The concentration of tryptophan in serum, the amount of indican excreted in urine, and the indican:creatinine ratio in urine depended on the age of the subjects. The findings are discussed in relation to previous reports on effects of age on tryptophan pharmacokinetics.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of lithium on behavior: critical analysis of a school of thought.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis in north Tunisia: identification of the causative agent as Leishmania infantum by the use of a diagnostic deoxyribonucleic acid probe.

A diagnostic kinetoplast deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) probe has been used to identify as Leishmania infantum amastigotes taken from the lesions (in dermal fluid or lesion triturates) of 7 of 8 patients suffering from sporadic cutaneous leishmaniasis in north Tunisia. All 8 isolates were very difficult to culture but, subsequently, sufficient parasites of one isolate have been grown for isoenzyme typing, and were identified as zymodeme MON 24 of L. infantum. The advantages of using recombinant DNA probes for the identification of parasites from lesions are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterisation and expression of a stage-regulated gene of Leishmania major.

This paper describes the isolation and characterisation of the meta 1 gene from Leishmania major, that is expressed predominantly in infective metacyclic parasites. The termini of the major 2-kb transcript derived from this gene have been mapped and polypyrimidine sequences implicated in RNA processing located in the flanking regions. The meta 1 gene is conserved in both Old and New World Leishmania species and codes for a putative protein of 112 amino acids. Antibodies raised against a recombinant protein expressed from this open reading frame recognise an 11.5-kDa protein in metacyclic cell lysates and this molecule localises to the region of the flagellar pocket by indirect immunofluorescence.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Parasite genome analysis. A global map of the Leishmania major genome: prelude to genomic sequencing.

In 1994, the World Health Organization (TDR) launched a new strategic initiative in parasite genome analysis, establishing international genome networks for filariae, Schistosoma, Leishmania, Trypanosoma brucei and T. cruzi. For Leishmania, a number of different but complementary approaches have been adopted by members of the Leishmania Genome Network. Our laboratory has been using cosmid clone fingerprinting to produce a physical map of the genome. Progress towards the completion of an integrated physical and biological map of L. major, and the preparations for genomic sequencing, are described.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Serodiagnosis of Leishmania donovani infections: assessment of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using recombinant L. donovani gene B protein (GBP) and a peptide sequence of L. donovani GBP.

The repetitive sequence of Leishmania major gene B protein (GBP) has previously been shown to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Here, we have assessed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) using recombinant L. donovani GBP (rGBP) and a peptide sequence of L. donovani GBP (GBPP) in the diagnosis of L. donovani infections in Sudan. The sensitivity of the rGBP ELISA in diagnosing visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) was 92% and 93%, respectively. In contrast, the sensitivity of the GBPP ELISA was 55% for VL and 63% for PKDL. Plasma antibody reactivity of donors with VL and PKDL remained high for an extended period after the end of treatment. Antibody-reactivity to rGBP and GBPP was detected in 71% and 14% of plasma samples from CL patients, respectively. Plasma from healthy Sudanese donors living in an area endemic for malaria but free of leishmaniasis was negative in both assays.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Pesticide food poisoning from contaminated watermelons in California, 1985.

Aldicarb, a carbamate pesticide, is the most potent pesticide in the market and has a LD50 of 1 mg/kg. In the United States it is illegal to use aldicarb on certain crops, e.g., watermelons, because it is incorporated into the flesh of the fruit. Once an accidental or illegal use of such a potent pesticide occurs, there is no easy way for the agricultural or public health system to protect the populace. This paper describes the impact of one such event upon the health of individuals and the institutions of California. On July 4, 1985, California and other western states experienced the largest known outbreak of food-borne pesticide illness ever to occur in North America. This was attributed to watermelons contaminated through the illegal or accidental use of aldicarb by a few farmers in one part of the state. Within California, a total of 1,376 illnesses resulting from consumption of watermelons was reported to the California Department of Health Services (CDHS). Of the 1,376 illnesses, 77% were classified as being probable or possible carbamate illnesses. Many of the case reports involved multiple illnesses associated with the same melon among unrelated individuals. Seventeen individuals required hospitalization. There were 47 reports of illness involving pregnant women, two of whom reported having subsequent stillbirths. Thirty-five of the remaining pregnant women were followed-up 9 mo after the epidemic; no additional stillbirths were found.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗