Ivermectin efficacy and post-treatment reactions in asymmetric severe reactive ochodermatitis (sowda) were studied in 8 patients with sowda syndrome and 6 with mild generalized onchodermatitis in Sudan. Initial skin snips from 12 patients contained microfilariae (1-9 per mg skin). Patients were treated in hospital with a single oral dose of c. 150 micrograms/kg ivermectin (103-200 micrograms/kg) and monitored for frequency and severity of post-treatment reactions for 4 weeks. Serial samples of heparinized blood were collected over the first 24 h after treatment for determination of ivermectin pharmacokinetics. Skin snips from all patients on days 3 and 28 revealed no microfilariae. Post-treatment reactions were more common and severe in individuals with sowda; they consisted mainly of musculoskeletal pain, local swellings with pitting oedema, and lymph gland tenderness and enlargement. No relation was established between these reactions, the microfilarial infection intensity, or the plasma pharmacokinetic profiles. A single oral dose of ivermectin cleared the skin of microfilariae and led to improvement of symptoms and dermatological signs of sowda, but resulted in more marked reactions than in cases of generalized onchodermatitis.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Community based distribution of ivermectin in eastern Sudan: acceptability and early post-treatment reactions.

A study to monitor ivermectin acceptability and post-treatment reactions during mass community distribution was carried out in eastern Sudan, where severe reactive onchodermatitis is prevalent. Of 1081 individuals eligible for treatment, 1076 (99.5%) accepted the ivermectin. Post-treatment reactions were monitored by self reporting, 5 d after a single dose of about 150 micrograms/kg (range 103-200 micrograms/kg); 230 persons reported adverse events (21.4%). No reaction was rated as severe. The most common problem was itching with cutaneous papular eruptions (16.2%). Local oedematous swelling was the second most common and the most slowly resolving complaint (5.4%), followed by musculoskeletal pain. There was a high acceptance rate of the treatment and remarkable tolerance of the post-treatment effects, probably due to efforts made to prepare the community to expect reactions to ivermectin, widespread awareness of the beneficial effects of treatment by villagers who had participated in clinical trials previously, and the encouragement we gave to the population to become involved in improvement of their health care services. Single doses of ivermectin resulted in good clinical responses and created much goodwill among villagers. Improvements in physical fitness, ability to work, and freedom from musculoskeletal pain were reported at the 3 months' follow-up. We recommend that, during mass distribution of ivermectin, community involvement in planning overall health improvement should be included, since the treatment initiates the process well. In areas where sowda syndrome is prevalent, medical surveillance for 3 d or more should be considered.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A cranio-cervical malformation presenting as acute respiratory failure.

An 18-year-old, previously healthy male presented with bilateral pneumonia and acute respiratory failure with severe carbon dioxide retention. The presence of mild brainstem signs and hypoventilation led to the discovery of a platybasia, basilar invagination, and kinking of the medulla oblongata with early syrinx. He was operated upon but postoperatively was noted to have a mixed type of sleep apnea. This case illustrates the diagnostic challenge in acute respiratory failure in a previously healthy young person and the possible pathogenic mechanisms underlying it.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of low level of dietary aflatoxins on baladi rabbits.

Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1 & G2 were administered in a low concentration (100 ppb of each aflatoxin (AN] in a mash offered to Baladi rabbits. An other group of rabbits were fed on the same contaminated mash in addition to 0.25% charcoal (CC). The two groups were compared to control animals fed on AN-free mash. Inclusion of AN in the diet decreased feed and water consumption, body weight and survival rate. Charcoal improved somewhat feed and water consumption and growth rate than AN-group. However, CC-group affected digestibility of organic matter more than AN-group. Relative weights of liver, kidneys, heart and adrenal glands were significantly higher in AN and CC groups than the control group. Blood haemoglobin content, packed cell volume percentage and sedimentation rate were lower in AN group. Although there were an increase in each of serum, calcium, inorganic phosphorus, cholesterol, phospholipids and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase in AN group, yet the serum nitrogen and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase were reduced. Charcoal had alleviated AN-effects concerning N, GPT and phospholipids. Chemical analysis revealed elevation of water, ash and silica contents of liver and water content of muscles from AN-animals. On the other hand, fat content, GOT and vitamin A in the liver as well as muscles ash were reduced. Addition of CC to the diet reduced AN-effects on liver fat, ash and silica but resulted in a rise of the water content of liver and muscles and liver GPT activity. Charcoal also resulted in a sharp decrease in vitamin A content of the liver. Aflatoxin treatments (in AN and CC groups) reduced bone ash, silica and magnesium as well as bone volume. Charcoal administration increased Ca-content of bones. Aflatoxin feeding (in AN group) resulted in a high residual percentage of AN in muscles, serum, liver, heart and kidneys with relationships of 51 :24 : 3 :2 : 1, respectively. Only 1.42% of the fed AN was excreted in the faeces. Charcoal usage had a good effect as it prevented AN to accumulate in the organs. Aflatoxin contaminated diets (in AN and CC groups) resulted in paralysis, disorder of fat deposition, discolouration and haemorrhages of some organs. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed no ill effect on the surface structure of the small intestine due to either AN or AN + CC. Pathological examination showed that the main affected organs were liver, heart and spleen, respectively. The changes include hepatic round cell infiltration, irregularities of lobular plats, focal necrosis and periportal fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of surface dose rate from a 90Sr ophthalmic applicator.

Surface dose rates from two 90Sr ophthalmic applicators were measured using thin thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD) chips. The TLD's were calibrated against the 90Sr source itself. The calibration technique is described. The results were compared to those obtained by three other techniques. The calibration in terms of roentgen equivalent betas per second provided by the manufacturer was found to be approximately 30% lower when compared to our measured dose rates. The surface dose rates obtained with the TLD's calibrated against 6-MV x rays were 18% higher. One of the two sources was sent to both the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Amersham International for calibration. NIST and Amersham use extrapolation chambers as a Bragg-Gray cavity to determine the surface dose rate. NIST results gave values higher than ours by approximately 5%. The Amersham results were approximately 35% lower than ours.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of low protein diet on manganese neurotoxicity: III. Brain neurotransmitter levels.

The effect of concurrent low protein (10% casein) diet and manganese (Mn) exposure (3 mg/ml drinking water) on brain levels of dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were investigated in Fo-growing (90 days exposure), Fo-diet rehabilitated (low----normal protein diet-28 days) and F1-weaned rats. Mn exposure in either diet group resulted in a significant increase in the DA and NE levels but a decrease in the 5-HT level. These effects were more pronounced in the rats fed the low protein diet, especially in the F1-offsprings. Diet rehabilitation reduced the effects of Mn exposure.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Developmental and longterm neurobehavioral toxicity of low level in-utero cadmium exposure in rats.

The developmental and behavioral toxicity of gestational exposure to low levels of cadmium (Cd, 4.2 and 8.4 micrograms/ml in drinking water) were assessed in rats. Significant decreases in birth weight and growth rate were observed in the 8.4 micrograms Cd/ml group. The metal exposure had no effect on the ontogeny of physical landmarks, surface and air righting reflexes and visual placing, but a significant hyperactivity and delay in the development of cliff aversion and swimming behavior were observed in the neonatal pups of either treatment group. Marked decreases in the locomotor activity shuttle box performance were evident at 60 days but not at 90 days of postnatal life. The apomorphine-induced hyperactivity was not affected in these rats at either age. These data indicate that Cd exposure during the critical periods of development might result in developmental and behavioral deficits with longterm implications on adult behavior.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of low protein diet on manganese neurotoxicity: I. Developmental and biochemical changes.

The first in a series of studies on the effect of concurrent low protein diet (10% casein) and manganese exposure (Mn2+, 3 mg/ml drinking water) in rats is reported here. The effect on growing (Fo-90 days) rehabilitated (Fo low leads to normal protein diet-28 days) and the F1 generation pups (weaned) were studied. Mn2+ exposure had no significant effect on growth pattern, brain weight or brain and plasma protein contents in either dietary groups. The diet regimen had no significant effect on the accumulation of Mn2+ in brain in any of the groups studied but the levels were higher in the F1 pups than in the parent (Fo) generation. In the F1 pups Mn2+ exposure had no effect on eye opening in either dietary group, delayed the development of startle reflex in low protein fed group only but the air righting reflex development was delayed in both the dietary groups, the effect being more marked in the low protein fed group. These changes reflect the early neurotoxic effect of Mn2+.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of low protein diet on manganese neurotoxicity: II. Brain GABA and seizure susceptibility.

The effect of manganese (Mn2+, 3 mg/ml drinking water) on brain GABA content and electroshock seizure susceptibility in low (10% casein) and normal (21% casein) protein fed rats were investigated. Manganese exposure caused a decrease in the brain GABA content, lowered the seizure threshold and increased the seizure duration. These effects were more marked in the low protein fed rats. Diet rehabilitation caused a recovery in the GABA levels but has only a moderating effect on the seizure susceptibility and duration. An inverse correlation was observed between the brain GABA levels and seizure threshold. Results indicate a lowered GABA-ergic activity and a functional dysbalance between the GABA-ergic-dopaminergic neuronal systems in manganese toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Some pharmacological investigations of embelin and its semisynthetic derivatives.

Embelin, obtained from Embolin ribes was condensed with different primary amines. Depending on the conditions of reaction, disalts or diimines were formed. Ten such disalts and fourteen diimines were developed. Embelin and all its disalts showed analgesic activity whereas all the diimines derivatives were inactive. The disalt, 2:5 disobutyl amine embelin showed maximum action. Analgesic effect was noticed only after intraperitoneal administration but not after subcutaneous, intramuscular or oral administration. The compounds cause some local irritation. The possibility of peritoneal irritation rendering the animals unresponsive to experimental pain seems to deserve consideration. However, analgesic effect could be seen in dogs and cats after intravenous injection. Embelin and its disalt, 2:5 isobutyl amine embelin also exhibited antipyretic and antiinflammatory activities.

Analgesics↗