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Serology of treponematoses; recent developments.

In this general review of the serology of the treponematoses and of syphilis in particular, the authors first consider recent technical improvements in the materials used by serological laboratories and in the tests they perform. Special stress is laid on the new tests using treponemal antigens; but it is pointed out that the more commonly used tests should not be discarded in routine testing, the particular value of the newer tests residing in their use on doubtful sera.Mass blood testing-whether as a result of legal requirement and regulation or in the routine testing of patients and industrial workers-is extremely valuable where there is much syphilis among the population tested but becomes very costly when the number of positive reactors found is small.In a section on the clinical implications of serological findings, the authors deal with the problems presented by seropositive pregnant women and newborn children, with quantitative serological tests for syphilis, with the serological response in penicillin-treated syphilis, and with the serology of asymptomatic reinfection and serorelapse.

Child↗

[An analysis of the cell composition of the reserve population in the colony-forming unit system of bone marrow fibroblasts under the action of ionizing radiation].

The system of stromal cell precursors--colony-forming units of fibroblasts (CFUf) of the bone marrow possesses a significant reserve population which is mobilized in exposure to extreme effects, after irradiation in the given case. This compensatory-adaptational reaction is evidently one of the factors of optimization of postradiation hematopoiesis restoration. Analysis of the cell composition of the CFUf reserve population showed that it does not differ basically from the population tested under normal conditions. Differences are also noted, however: two CFUf pools are distinguished in the reserve population distinctly which possess the largest cell reserve--in the region of the small and large clones.

Animals↗

Clinical experience and results of treatment with suprofen in pediatrics. 1st communication: Suprofen dosage for children/An open and a double-blind study with suprofen syrup.

The antipyretic effect of single doses of alpha-methyl-4-(2-thienylcarbonyl)-phenyl acetic acid (suprofen, Suprol) syrup, administered at dose levels of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7.5, and 10 mg/kg b.w., was tested in a randomized double-blind and a subsequent open study. The test populations consisted of 100 children in the double-blind study and 40 patients in the open test (20 subjects/group). The patients' age ranged from 2 to 12 years; the lowest initial rectal temperature was 39.0 degrees C. The treatment groups were homogeneous as to demographic data. The temperature was reduced in all treatment groups. In the double-blind study the mean value dropped under the subfebrile threshold of 38.0 degrees C only in the group on 5 mg/kg and remained then constant for up to 6 h following administration. No sufficient antipyretic effect was obtained with lower doses. The results of the additional open study with doses of 7.5 and 10 mg/kg indicated good antipyretic effect. This effect was not, however, superior to that obtained with 5 mg/kg. Pulse and respiratory rates returned to normal within 1.5 h following administration, except in patients on 1 mg/kg. A total of 10 patients, homogeneously distributed in the treatment groups, experienced vomiting as an adverse reaction. Short-term hypotonia was seen in one subject on 7.5 mg/kg. The results obtained show that single doses of suprofen upward of 5 mg/kg b.w. exert satisfactory, long-lasting, antipyretic effect on children.

Body Temperature↗

Effect of pre-enlistment testing on the confirmed drug-positive rate for Navy recruits.

In June 1988, the armed forces of the United States began testing prospective candidates for military service for alcohol, marijuana metabolite (THC-COOH), and cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine) through the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) program. Comparison of the confirmed positive drug rates for pre-inductees into the Navy during the MEPS program testing period with the confirmed drug-positive rates for 5 years before and 1 year after MEPS testing showed a decrease in the confirmed positive rate for THC-COOH and an apparent initial decrease for cocaine metabolite as a result of MEPS testing. The overall results for cocaine seem to be overshadowed by other demographic factors operating in the population tested.

Adolescent↗

Serologic survey for antibodies against Mycobacterium a vium subsp. paratuberculosis in free-ranging cervids from Norway.

Affinity between protein-G and immunoglobulins from red deer (Cervus elaphus), moose (Alces alces), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) was tested in a competition binding assay. Sera from red deer, reindeer, and moose inhibited the assay less than sera from cattle (less affinity), whereas sera from roe deer showed a slightly higher affinity to protein-G than did sera from cattle. The conclusion was made that protein-G could be used instead of anti-species antibodies for these cervid species, where the aim of the screening was to look for exposure or lack of exposure to mycobacteria in the tested populations. Serologic screening of 1,373 free-ranging cervids for antibodies against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis was conducted. All sera were tested by a protein-G-based antigen-absorbed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seropositive moose (10/537; 1.9%), red deer (14/371; 3.8%), roe deer (6/49; 12.2%), and semidomesticated reindeer (11/325; 3.4%) were found, whereas wild reindeer (n = 91) were seronegative. In addition, the red deer sera were tested with a commercial ELISA, by which two animals tested positive and nine were suspicious of having M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis antibodies. Tissue samples and feces from 10 moose originating from a population with a clustering of seropositive animals were investigated by histology and bacteriology with negative results. Paratuberculosis has never been diagnosed in free-ranging or farmed cervid species in Norway. Thus, further studies are indicated to prove that the present findings reflect an infection with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis.

Animals↗

Characterization of spinal somatosensory neurons having receptive fields in lumbar tissues of cats.

In pentobarbital anesthetized cats, extracellular unitary recordings were made from neurons in the extreme lateral dorsal horn of spinal segments L4-5. All 118 units reported had receptive fields in deep somatic tissues and/or skin of the lumbar region, hip and/or proximal leg. Neurons were functionally characterized according to their responses to non-noxious and noxious mechanical stimuli and to injections of algogens. Most neurons (92%) were either wide-dynamic range (WDR) or nociceptive specific (NS), and most of these had very large nociceptive receptive fields in the back/hip/leg that included both skin and deep somatic tissues innervated through both the dorsal (back/hip) and ventral (leg/ventral spine) rami. Most (72%) were 'hyperconvergent' in that they were responsive to stimulation of many different somatic tissues including skin, muscles, facet joint capsules, ligaments, and periosteum. Some units were tested and found also to be activated by noxious stimulation of spinal dura and ventral annulus fibrosis and ventral longitudinal ligament. Twelve of 22 neurons tested were found to have ascending axons extending beyond Th10. The nocireceptive neurons (NS and WDR) in the population tested are suitable for processing information about tissue damage in deep somatic tissues in the back, hip and proximal leg. The apparent relative paucity of such neurons and their very large hyperconvergent receptive fields suggest that sensations served by these neurons, such as low back and referred leg pain, would be neither well localized nor attributable to pathology in a specific tissue. These deductions, based on physiological characteristics in cats, are consistent with clinical reports from humans who experience pain as a consequence of spinal or paraspinal injuries.

Animals↗

Comparison of energy prediction equations with measured resting energy expenditure in children with sickle cell anemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy of energy prediction equations when compared with measured resting energy expenditure (REE) in children with sickle cell anemia. To develop a modified equation that more accurately estimates the energy needs of children with sickle cell anemia and to cross-validate these on a different set of patients (test patients). DESIGN: REE was measured in children using indirect calorimetry and compared with predicted values using the Harris-Benedict and the Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University equations (WHO). SUBJECTS/SETTING: Eighteen patients participated in the original sample that compared predicted with measured energy expenditure. The modified equations were developed using the original 18 patients. A test population of 20 different patients was used to validate the modified equations. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to compare measured with predicted REE. The correlation analysis method and multiple linear regression method were used to develop 2 modified versions for the Harris-Benedict and WHO prediction equations. RESULTS: When compared with the mean predicted REE using the Harris-Benedict and WHO equations, the mean measured REE was 14% and 12% greater than both (P=.005 and P=.014, respectively). Two modified equations were developed from the Harris-Benedict and WHO equations. Based on the data from the test patients, the mean measured REE was 15% greater than the mean predicted REE based on the Harris-Benedict and WHO equations (P=.0001 for both). When the modified Harris-Benedict and WHO equations were used, there was almost no difference in the mean measured REE and the mean predicted REE (mean difference using Harris-Benedict = 14, P = .9273; mean difference using WHO = -13, P = .6215). CONCLUSION: Both energy prediction equations underestimated REE in children with sickle cell anemia. The 2 modified versions of the energy prediction equations that we propose predicted the energy needs of these children much more accurately; however, the modified equations need to be validated through application to other children with sickle cell anemia.

Analysis of Variance↗

Epididymal epithelium immortalized by simian virus 40 large T antigen: a model to study epididymal gene expression.

Primary cultures of the differentiated, adult epididymal duct epithelium were immortalized by retroviral transduction with the simian virus (SV)40 large T antigen. The canine epididymis was chosen here as a model with high human relevance, representing a convenient and acceptable source of differentiated epididymal tissue and, compared to other animal models, expressing a relatively large number of gene products which are also expressed by the human epididymis. To determine whether the immortalized canine epididymal (IMCE) cells retained a phenotype comparable to the original tissue, epithelial cytokeratins, various epididymal transcription factors as well as mRNAs encoding abundant epididymal secretory proteins, were studied as molecular markers. All IMCE populations obtained after transduction were of epithelial origin. The nuclear androgen receptor (AR) and the polyoma enhancer activator (PEA3), as well as the epididymal mRNA encoding the canine counterparts of human HE1, HE4 and HE5/CD52 epididymal mRNA, were retained in all populations tested. The majority of tested clones were oestrogen receptor ERalpha-positive, but ERbeta-negative, while one ERalpha-negative cell population was positive for ERbeta. The IMCE populations described thus represent useful permanent tools for studying gene expression of the epididymal duct epithelium, and for other types of experiments, examples including drug effects and toxicity on the epididymis.

Animals↗

[Anogenital dermatoses--allergic and irritative causative factors. Analysis of IVDK data and review of the literature].

BACKGROUND: Anogenital dermatoses (AGD) are common and often very distressing. Clinically it is often unclear if allergic contact dermatitis or irritant dermatitis is involved. In order to optimize therapy and prophylaxis, it is essential to identify relevant allergens or irritants. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK, data center in Göttingen) collected between 1999 and 2003 were analyzed. The anogenital area was involved in 1 168 patients with suspected allergic contact dermatitis. Clinical variables and patch test results were statistically compared with the remaining IVDK patch test population, the latter standardized for age and sex. RESULTS: Allergic contact dermatitis had been suspected prior to patch testing in 39.5 %, while in 24.6 % this diagnosis was eventually confirmed. Irritant contact dermatitis was diagnosed in 11.8 %. Other diagnoses, included balanitis, lichen sclerosus et atrophicus and herpes genitalis. Positive reactions to cinchocaine (6.6 %), bufexamac (3.5 %) and benzocaine (2.4 %) were observed significantly more often among patients with anogenital dermatitis. Among those in whom co-factors were considered important (n = 422), wetness (38.4 %), occlusion (30.3 %), mechanical strain (4.7 %) and heat (3.6 %) were mentioned as irritation factors. CONCLUSION: Because of the significantly higher frequency of sensitization to cinchocaine, benzocaine and bufexamac in patients with anogenital dermatitis, these ingredients should be used only with caution. According to the literature, ingredients of toiletries, cosmetics and contraceptives of any kind seem to cause allergic contact dermatitis rarely although there are several case reports. Comprehensive patch test including the standard series plus major sensitizers such as cinchocaine, benzocaine and bufexamac, and in particular patients' own skin care products, is recommended.

Adult↗

An optimised experimental test procedure for measuring chemical effects on reproduction in the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas.

The production of viable offspring is fundamental to the survival of any population. Tests that quantify effects on reproduction can, therefore, inform on the potential for long-term health effects of exposure to endocrine active chemicals. Surprisingly little is known, however, about the reproductive capacity of laboratory fish species used for chemical testing. As an example, the fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas, is widely used in chronic assessments of reproductive toxicology, and is readily induced to reproduce in captivity, yet there is little agreement on the reproductive capacity (egg number) of this species. For this species, the notable variation in reported estimates of egg number might relate to differences in the methods of egg collection adopted by many laboratories. To investigate this hypothesis, reproduction was assessed in a total of 200 pair-breeding fathead minnow, using egg collection methods that included the addition of trays placed beneath an inverted U-shaped PVC tile that is conventionally used alone for egg collection. The results demonstrated that the placement of a mesh-screened egg collection tray, beneath the spawning tile, increased estimates of the egg number by 25-67%. In addition, adopting the mesh-screened tray reduced variation in egg number between pairs, within an experiment, from >50% to <30% and variation between experiments was reduced from 53% to 7%. Adoption of the revised system for egg collection shows that egg number in the fathead minnow is considerably more consistent than frequently reported and is a highly robust endpoint against which chemical effects can be challenged effectively.

Animals↗

The prevalence of toxoplasmosis on Pacific Islands, and the influence of ethnic group.

The prevalence of Toxoplasma dye-test antibody was determined in inhabitants of a number of Pacific islands, in Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia, and on Taiwan. With the exception of one island in French Polynesia, two Hawaiian islands, and Taiwan, Toxoplasma antibody prevalences were high, ranging between 84% and 100% in the adult populations tested. On the Hawaiian islands of Oahu and Hawaii, populated by several ethnic groups, and where about 50% of the total adult populations were estimated to have been infected with Toxoplasma gondii, a marked variation in prevalence of infection by ethnic group was observed. The lowest prevalence in the Hawaiian islands estimated at about 15% to 20% in adults, was observed in Japanese. On Taiwan, only 6% of adult ethnic Chinese and 1% of aborigines tested had Toxoplasma antibody.

Adolescent↗

Prevalence of dichromate sensitivity.

In a population of 822 healthy adult volunteers, 2% of the 410 men and 1.5% of the 412 women showed a positive patch test reaction to 0.5% potassium dichromate in pet. Most of the positive reactions (10/14) occurred in the group of 110 offset printers, lithographers and printing plant cleaners with present occupational exposure to chromium. Among the remaining test population, sensitivity to dichromate was rare (4/712). Of the 14 chromium-allergic persons, 9 had present or past hand eczema, 2 had eczema only on the face, and 3 could not recall having had any skin trouble. In 2981 clinic patients tested during a 5-year period, the frequency of chromate sensitivity was 6.8% in men and 2.8% in women among all patients tested, but 20% in men and 8% in women of the 499 patients with occupational hand eczema. The incidence of chromium allergy in separate occupational groups is presented.

Adult↗

Diagnostic tests: a statistical review.

Common measures of the accuracy of diagnostic tests are reviewed. It is shown that the actual performance (predictive value) of these tests depends not only on their sensitivity and specificity, but also on the prevalence of the disease in the population tested (Bayes' theorem). The effect of an inaccurate "gold standard" on the calibration of a new diagnostic test is discussed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves are introduced as a tool for selecting an optimal cutpoint for a test, and for comparing different tests. Schemes are given for combining tests to improve their accuracy. When multiple continuous measurements are available, methods of discriminant analysis (and logistic regression) are shown to provide measurement combinations with improved accuracy. Examples and key references are provided.

Diagnostic Tests, Routine↗

Antigen detection for the rapid diagnosis of mycoplasma and Legionella pneumonia.

Immunologic attempts to detect mycoplasma antigens in fluids of infected patients have been rare and largely unsuccessful. Nucleic acid hybridization procedures appear promising on the basis of successes in detecting mycoplasmal contamination of tissue culture cells; results of attempts to apply these techniques to human infections have not been reported. Antigens can be detected in the urine of about 80% of patients with serogroup 1 Legionella pneumophila pneumonia and of some patients with serogroup 4 Legionella pneumophila and Legionella dumoffii pneumonia. The specificity of these assays is greater than 99%. In a test population in which the prevalence of Legionella pneumophila was 4%, the posterior probabilities of positive and negative results of tests for antigen were 86.5% and 99.3%, respectively. Antigen is detectable within the first 3 days of illness approximately as often as at later periods, and antigen may remain detectable for a few days to 1 yr after successful therapy. Antigen is detectable in serum, but the concentrations are considerably lower than in urine. Combining urinary antigen detection with direct fluorescent antibody examination of secretions increases the rapid diagnostic yield by 10%-20%. Monoclonal antibody studies demonstrate that subgroup specificities are present among the serogroup 1 urinary antigens. Radiometric and enzyme immunoassays detect antigen in equal proportions of patients. Latex agglutination results are positive in about 80% of those cases positive by the other methods.

Animals↗

HLA class II DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 polymorphisms in the Polish population from Wielkopolska.

HLA DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were determined by DNA PCR-SSO typing in a sample of 99 individuals originating from Wielkopolska (midwestern Poland). A high number of alleles (38 DRB1, 8 DQA1 and 14 DQB1) was detected at each locus, many of them presenting notable frequencies in this population. The three HLA loci are thus characterized by very high heterozygosity levels (93% for DRB1, 85% for DQA1, and 88% for DQB1), which confirms the results found for other European populations. A total of 6 DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 haplotypes are detected with an estimated frequency higher than 5%, namely, DRB1*1501-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0602, DRB1*0701-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201, DRB1*0101-DQA1*0101-DQB1*0501, DRB1*1101-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301, DRB1*03011-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201, and DRB1*1301-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0603. A genetic distance analysis between the Polish and other world populations tested for HLA class II indicates that the Wielkopolska community is close to geographically close, rather than linguistically related populations from Europe. More generally, a good agreement between genetics and geography is found for DRB1 and DQB1 polymorphisms in Europe, suggesting that these two loci are highly informative for assessing historical relationships among humans.

Alleles↗

Rubber contact dermatitis in patients attended at Walter Cantídio Hospital, Federal University of Ceará, Brasil.

Nowadays 70% of the world's rubber supply is synthesized artificially. The process involved in its manufacture is vulcanization which requires many chemical substances for speeding the process, as antioxidants to prevent deterioration of rubber, or others. These substances may constitute important sensitizers and thus be responsible for dermatological diseases like contact dermatitis. The objective of this study is to search for the main sensitizers among these rubber chemicals in a population mostly composed by women of a tropical country and compare the results with the ones obtained from previous studies which tested populations mainly composed by men and on different climates.

Brazil↗

Improved detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus using a second generation ELISA.

A screening assay for the detection of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV); ORTHO HCV ELISA Test System, Second Generation, was compared with the currently licensed c100-3 based test (ORTHO HCV ELISA Test System). The second generation ELISA differs from the c100-3 based assay in that it detects circulating antibodies to both structural (nucleocapsid) and non-structural (NS3/NS4) HCV proteins. Specimens tested consisted of a cohort of 35 patients diagnosed with non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) and 3971 presumably healthy volunteer blood donors. Second generation ELISA demonstrated significantly greater clinical sensitivity in patients with acute phase NANBH (80% vs. 60%) as well as chronic disease (88% vs. 72%). Additional specimens reactive only in second generation ELISA, demonstrated reactivity to HCV antigens c33c and/or c22-3 in supplemental testing by the Chiron HCV RIBA Assay System. The second generation ELISA also detected additional RIBA reactive volunteer blood donors (0.18% of the population tested) that were nonreactive in first generation ELISA. This data indicated that second generation ELISA would detect approximately 2 additional anti-HCV reactive donors per 1,000 screened. Specificities obtained with this low risk population were 99.6% for first generation and 99.7% for second generation ELISA.

Blood Donors↗

Influenza C virus infection in France.

Little is known of the epidemiology of influenza C virus infections in western Europe and of the exact role of this agent in acute viral respiratory infections. Several tests may be used for detecting antibodies against this agent but the significance of their respective results is not clear. A total of 301 samples of serum was collected from persons aged from 4 months to 88 years living in France in 1988. The samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to influenza C virus by haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) tests and ELISA. The specificity of the results was checked by immunoblotting and by antibody absorption with staphylococcal protein A. Significant HI activity was found in 61% of the 301 samples tested, titres ranging from 20-320; 70% were positive by ELISA with titres ranging from 500 to 32,000. The population tested was divided into four age groups: 0-15 years; 16-30 years; 31-50 years and 51-88 years. The highest rates for positive samples were found in the 16-30 year group (76 and 79% by HI tests and ELISA respectively) as well as significant HI and ELISA geometric mean titres. Positive samples were less common in young children (46 and 50% by HI tests and ELISA respectively) and in the oldest group (44 and 54% respectively). The 31-50 years age group formed an intermediate class. The high prevalence of antibody as well as the significant titres indicate intense circulation of influenza C virus, especially among young adults.

Adolescent↗