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PubMed1996

Association between duration of humid season and geographical distribution patterns of different species of chewing lice (Mallophaga:Insecta) infesting domestic chickens in Nigeria.

In a countrywide study of the geographical distribution patterns of chicken lice in Nigeria, 3 species, Menacanthus pallidulus (Neumann 1912), Goniodes dissimilis Denny, 1842, and Menopon gallinae (Linnaeus, 1758), were completely restricted to within areas with a long humid season (6-12 humid mo per yr). In constrast, 4 species, Cuclotogaster occidentalis Tendeiro, 1954, Menacanthus cornutus (Schommer, 1913), Amyrsidea powelli (Bedford, 1920), and Goniodes gigas (Taschenberg, 1879), thrived only in areas where the humid season was of a short duration (< or = 5 mo). The last 3 named species extended also into the fringes of areas with a long humid season (6-8 humid mo) at significantly reduced numbers. They were entirely absent in areas with a particularly protracted humid season (9-12 humid mo). Three other species. Numidilipeurus tropicalis (Peters, 1931), Goniocotes gallinae (DeGeer, 1778), and Lipeurus caponis (Linnaeus, 1758), were just as abundant in areas of a long humid season as they were in areas with a short humid season. It was concluded that there was an association between duration of the humid season and the geographical distribution patterns of certain species of chicken lice in Nigeria. The duration of the humid season might thus provide a means of predicting the potential occurrence of some species of chicken lice in a particular area.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1997

Seasonal variation in fibrinogen in the Rotterdam Study.

As evidence accumulates to implicate fibrinogen as a risk indicator for cardiovascular disease, it is of interest to study its seasonal variation. A population based cross-sectional study was performed among participants of the Rotterdam Study, a cohort of 7,983 men and women, aged 55 years and over. Fibrinogen levels were measured by the prothrombin time derived method in the first 2,325 participants of the study. Fibrinogen levels were considerably higher in winter. The seasonal difference was 0.34 g/l (95% confidence interval 0.29, 0.39) and was more pronounced in subjects aged 75 years and over than in subjects aged 55 to 75 years, 0.43 g/l (0.34, 0.52) and 0.29 g/l (0.24, 0.35), respectively. Additional adjustment for body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and total and HDL cholesterol did not materially change the findings. After adjustment for seasons, outdoor temperature was not associated with fibrinogen. Adjustment for outdoor temperature did not change the seasonal variation of fibrinogen, seasonal difference 0.31 g/l (0.24, 0.37). In conclusion, fibrinogen levels are highest in Winter. The seasonal variation of fibrinogen is more pronounced in the elderly. Outdoor temperature does not seem to play a role in the seasonal variation of fibrinogen. Seasonal variation of fibrinogen may partly explain the increased cardiovascular disease mortality in Winter.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Cry j 1-induced synthesis of interleukin-5 and interferon-gamma by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to Japanese cedar pollens.

This study comprised 130 adult patients with Japanese cedar pollen-specific IgE in the serum and 15 non-atopic individuals. Eighteen patients had no seasonal aggravation of nasal symptoms during the pollen season in 1998 (asymptomatic group). Forty-two patients had not been treated previously with immunotherapy and were treated with antihistamine tablets during the pollen season in 1998 (medication group). Sixty-one patients had undergone variable periods of immunotherapy using pollen extracts, and they were further divided into a good-IT group who responded markedly to immunotherapy and a poor-IT group who responded poorly to immunotherapy. The remaining nine patients had been treated with immunotherapy for more than 12 years and all of them had stopped immunotherapy by the end of May 1997 because they had no nasal symptoms for the last three pollen seasons and were considered to be cured of seasonal allergic rhinitis (cure group). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from each subject during the cedar pollen season in 1998 and were stimulated for 96 h with 10 micrograms/ml Cry j 1. The concentrations of interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the culture supernatant were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of IFN-gamma did not differ significantly among the non-atopic group, the asymptomatic group, the medication group, the poor-IT group and the good-IT group. The level of IL-5 in the asymptomatic group was not different from that in the non-atopic group. The levels of IL-5 in the medication group, the good-IT group and the poor-IT group were significantly higher than in the non-atopic group. The level of IL-5 in the good-IT group, but not in the poor-IT group, was significantly lower than in the medication group. The level of IL-5 in the cure group was not significantly different from in the non-atopic group, and the level of IFN-gamma in the cure group was significantly lower than in the non-atopic group. In conclusion, immunotherapy can decrease the pollen allergen-induced synthesis of IL-5, but not of IFN-gamma, and this immunological modulation is involved in the working mechanism of immunotherapy related to its clinical efficacy. A tolerance or anergy of both TH1 and TH2 cells under allergen stimulation may be an immunological indication of cure after the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Thus, the suppression of synthesis of IL-5 and IFN-gamma by allergen-stimulated PBMCs is likely to be a reliable criterion for a possible cure of seasonal allergic rhinitis after immunotherapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2007

Mood-worsening with high-pollen-counts and seasonality: a preliminary report.

BACKGROUND: Because aeroallergens produce inflammation in the respiratory airways, and inflammation triggers depression in vulnerable individuals, we hypothesized that mood sensitivity to pollen, the most seasonal aeroallergen, will be associated with a greater seasonality of mood. Since pollen is absent during winter, we specifically predicted that mood sensitivity to tree pollen will predict non-winter SAD but not winter SAD. METHODS: A convenience sample of African and African American college students who lived in the Washington DC metropolitan area for at least the past 3 years completed the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ), from which the Global Seasonality Score (GSS) was calculated, a diagnosis of cumulative SAD (syndromal or subsyndromal SAD) was derived, a seasonal pattern (winter vs non-winter) identified, and self-reported mood changes during high pollen counts obtained. A Mann-Whitney test was used to compare GSS between participants with vs without mood worsening during high pollen counts. The capability of mood worsening with high pollen counts, gender, ethnicity, and age to predict non-winter SAD was analyzed with logistic regressions. RESULTS: GSS was greater (z=5.232, p<0.001) in those who reported mood worsening with high pollen counts. Mood sensitivity to pollen predicted non-winter SAD (p=0.017), but not winter SAD. LIMITATIONS: The SPAQ is not a definitive tool to assess seasonality, and self-reported mood worsening with high pollen counts relies on recollection. No direct measures of depression scores or pollen counts were collected. The non-winter SAD concept has not been previously established. CONCLUSIONS: Our study, which should be considered preliminary in light of its limitations, suggests that self-reported mood-worsening with high pollen count is associated with a greater seasonality of mood, and predicts SAD of non-winter type.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Determining the growing season of land vegetation on the basis of plant phenology and satellite data in Northern China.

The objectives of this study are to explore the relationships between plant phenology and satellite-sensor-derived measures of greenness, and to advance a new procedure for determining the growing season of land vegetation at the regional scale. Three phenological stations were selected as sample sites to represent different climatic zones and vegetation types in northern China. The mixed data set consists of occurrence dates of all observed phenophases for 50-70 kinds of trees and shrubs from 1983 to 1988. Using these data, we calculated the cumulative frequency of phenophases in every 5-day period (pentad) throughout each year, and also drew the cumulative frequency distribution curve for all station-years, in order to reveal the typical seasonal characteristics of these plant communities. The growing season was set as the time interval between 5% and 95% of the phenological cumulative frequency. Average lengths of the growing season varied between 188 days in the northern, to 259 days in the southern part of the research region. The beginning and end dates of the surface growing season were then applied each year as time thresholds, to determine the corresponding 10-day peak greenness values from normalized difference vegetation index curves for 8-km2 pixels overlying the phenological stations. Our results show that, at the beginning of the growing season, the largest average greenness value occurs in the southern part, then in the northern, and finally the middle part of the research region. In contrast, at the end of the growing season, the largest average greenness value is measured in the northern part, next in the middle and lastly the southern part of the research region. In future studies, these derived NDVI thresholds can be applied to determine the growing season of similar plant communities at other sites, which lack surface phenological data.

China↗
PubMed1990

Effects of separate and mixed grazing on trichostrongylosis in first- and second-season grazing calves.

This study on natural trichostrongylosis in calves on permanent pasture was designed to evaluate whether susceptible first-season calves would benefit from mixed grazing with second-season calves that were more resistant. The experimental plan allowed a comparison of the effect of mixed grazing with that of separate grazing for each age category. The results showed that the first-season calves already grazing with the older animals at the beginning of the grazing season had lower parasite burdens and less clinical symptoms than first-season calves grazing alone. This effect, experienced in 1987 and characterized by a rather high overwintered parasite population on herbage, could not at this early stage be explained by a parasite "diluting" effect exerted by the older animals, but might perhaps be explained by different grazing behaviour of the two age categories. Later in the summer, the first-season calves continued to benefit from the mixed grazing, most likely because the pasture was less contaminated per unit area due to the very low egg deposition of the older animals. The effect of mixed grazing was most clearly reflected in the differences between worm burdens in tracer calves grazing the respective plots at the end of the season. Apparently, the second-season calves did not suffer parasitologically from grazing together with the younger animals. The paper discusses possible long-term implications with combinations of different age categories of cattle.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1992

Degranulation of eosinophils from pollen-atopic patients with asthma is increased during pollen season.

The secretion of granule proteins from eosinophils and neutrophils was studied in isolated cells, obtained from 11 pollen-atopic patients with asthma, twice during and twice outside pollen season. Granulocytes were stimulated with serum-opsonized Sephadex particles, and the released amount of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil protein X (EPX), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured by means of specific radioimmunoassay (RIA). Eosinophils from the pollen-atopic patients obtained during pollen season released significantly more (p less than 0.02) ECP and EPX than cells from the same patients obtained before pollen season. The released amount of ECP and EPX was correlated (r = 0.54; p less than 0.003) to the total pollen count. The release of MPO from neutrophils was only raised (p less than 0.01) at the end of the pollen season. Serum concentrations of ECP and EPX and blood eosinophil counts were significantly raised (p less than 0.002, p less than 0.001, and p less than 0.009, respectively) before pollen season and increased further at the end of the pollen season. There were no changes in lung function during pollen season and consequently no discernible relationships to eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation. We conclude that eosinophils and, to some extent, neutrophils from birch pollen-atopic subjects have an increased propensity to secrete their granule proteins during a pollen season. We suggest that these cells have been primed as a consequence of allergen exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Comparing physical activity questionnaires for youth: seasonal vs annual format.

BACKGROUND: In large cohort studies of older children, self-report is the only practical way to assess physical activity. Assessing usual activity over the entire year is desirable, but children and adolescents may overestimate activities with high seasonal variability. Use of questionnaires in which individuals report each activity by season may improve accuracy. METHODS: A total of 6782 girls and 5110 boys, aged 9-14 years in 1996, completed self-administered activity questionnaires in 1996 and in 1997. In 1996, participants reported the average time spent in each of 17 activities during the previous 12 months; in 1997, we also asked for the average time spent in the previous year, but within each of the four seasons. RESULTS: Girls reported a median of 12.8 hours/week total activity in 1996 and 10.4 hours/week in 1997. For boys, the estimates were 15.5 hours/week and 13.4 hours/week, respectively. Girls and boys within 1-year age strata (e.g., comparison of 10-year olds in 1996 with 10-year olds in 1997) reported an average of 3.7 and 3.1 fewer hours per week, respectively, on the 1997 seasonal format versus the 1996 annual format questionnaire. In longitudinal analyses, the difference between the annual and the seasonal estimates was greater if participants did the activity in fewer seasons in 1997. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to an annual format questionnaire, a seasonal format questionnaire may improve accuracy of self-report of physical activity by reducing over-reporting of activities in which pre-adolescents and adolescents engage in fewer seasons.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Temporal patterns of injury during a rugby season.

The aim of this study was to describe temporal patterns in the frequency, nature and circumstances of injuries occurring among a cohort of 356 rugby players during a club rugby season in New Zealand. It was found that the rate of injury in games decreased significantly over time in both males and females. The reduction in injury rate over the season was more pronounced in some grades, but no differences were found when examined by gender. playing position, age, ethnicity or by health and fitness types. Trends in injury rate were consistent over the rugby season and did not appear to be the result of a bias involving under-reporting of end-of-season injuries. The types and severity of injury remained relatively constant, but the proportion of injuries occurring in back play fell significantly over the season and injuries were more likely to occur in the trunk body region as the season progressed. This study supported the hypothesis that higher rates of injury occur at the start of the rugby season and decrease over the course of the season. This reduction is consistent over time and across player types, and is not attributable either to decreasing injury severity or to increasing player fitness.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Aerobic exercise adaptations in trained adolescent runners following a season of cross-country training.

Adaptations in aerobic exercise responses as well as the relationship between aerobic exercise responses and running performance were examined in a group of previously trained adolescent runners (n = 9; 15.9 +/- 1.0 years) over the course of a competitive cross-country season. Running economy (RE), submaximal blood lactate concentration [BLa] and VO2max were assessed before and immediately after the season. Five-km race time improved (P < 0.05) from 18.68 +/- 1.10 min at the beginning of the season to 18.16 +/- 1.11 min at the end of the season. Significant increases were observed in peak VO2 (61.6 +/- 3.5 to 65.3 +/- 2.9 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and graded exercise test time (11.32 +/- 1.56 to 12.22 +/- 0.79 min). There was a tendency for RE (P = 0.051) to worsen slightly and for [BLa] (P = 0. 057) to decline as a result of training. At the beginning of the season submaximal [BLa] at 14 km x hr(-1) (r = 0.86) and graded exercise test time (r = -0.87) were significantly related to 5-km time. At the end of the season, RE (r = 0.78) and [BLa] (r = 0.77) at 14 km x hr(-1) and graded exercise test time (r = -0.69) were significantly related to race time. In this well-trained group of runners, further training during the cross-country season increased peak VO2 and improved race time. Submaximal [BLa] and graded exercise test time appear to be the most robust predictors of performance, while RE became a significant predictor of race time at the end of the season.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1986

Site fertility affects seasonal carbon reserves in loblolly pine.

Concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and total non-structural carbohydrates were examined in loblolly pine foliage from control stands and stands fertilized with sludge containing 450 kg N ha(-1). Needles from the fertilized sites had higher N concentrations regardless of needle age. Fertilization increased P concentration in needles relative to the control sites. Seasonal patterns of change in sugar concentrations were similar among sites for both current-year and one-year-old needles, the highest concentration (126 mg g(-1)) occurring in February. Sugar concentrations were lowest in June and were generally lower in current needles than year-old needles. Starch concentrations and the amount of starch per fascicle varied both seasonally and among sites. Fertilization increased starch reserves in current needles at the end of the growing season (7 mg g(-1) and 14 mg g(-1) for the control and fertilized sites, respectively), and increased the rate of starch mobilization during the initiation of needle growth. In the growing season, starch concentrations were lower in current foliage from high fertility sites than low fertility sites. Carbon reserves accumulated during the growing season in mature one-year-old needles from control sites indicating a lower sink strength for carbon under low nutrient conditions. There was a positive relationship between starch and nitrogen concentrations during the dormant season whereas the relationship was negative during the growing season. The magnitude and direction of change in starch reserves with the onset of growth following the dormant season may indicate nutrient limitation and potential growth response to fertilization.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2006

Seasonal variations in pore water and sediment geochemistry of littoral lake sediments (Asylum Lake, MI, USA).

BACKGROUND: Seasonal changes in pore water and sediment redox geochemistry have been observed in many near-surface sediments. Such changes have the potential to strongly influence trace metal distribution and thus create seasonal fluctuations in metal mobility and bioavailability. RESULTS: Seasonal trends in pore water and sediment geochemistry are assessed in the upper 50 cm of littoral kettle lake sediments. Pore waters are always redox stratified, with the least compressed redox stratification observed during fall and the most compressed redox stratification observed during summer. A 2-step sequential sediment extraction yields much more Fe in the first step, targeted at amorphous Fe(III) (hydr)oxides (AEF), then in the second step, which targets Fe(II) monosulfides. Fe extracted in the second step is relatively invariant with depth or season. In contrast, AEF decreases with sediment depth, and is seasonally variable, in agreement with changes in redox stratification inferred from pore water profiles. A 5-step Tessier extraction scheme was used to assess metal association with operationally-defined exchangeable, carbonate, iron and manganese oxide (FMO), organic/sulfide and microwave-digestible residual fractions in cores collected during winter and spring. Distribution of metals in these two seasons is similar. Co, As, Cd, and U concentrations approach detection limits. Fe, Cu and Pb are mostly associated with the organics/sulfides fraction. Cr and Zn are mostly associated with FMO. Mn is primarily associated with carbonates, and Co is nearly equally distributed between the FMO and organics/sulfide fractions. CONCLUSION: This study clearly demonstrates that near-surface lake sediment pore water redox stratification and associated solid phase geochemistry vary significantly with season. This has important ramifications for seasonal changes in the bioavailability and mobility of trace elements. Without rate measurements, it is not possible to quantify the contribution of various processes to natural organic matter degradation. However, the pore water and solid phase data suggest that iron reduction and sulfate reduction are the dominant pathways in the upper 50 cm of these sediments.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Dopaminergic A14/A15 neurons are activated during estradiol negative feedback in anestrous, but not breeding season, ewes.

A major factor responsible for seasonal anestrus in sheep is a striking increase in the ability of estradiol (E) to inhibit pulsatile GnRH and LH secretion. Previous studies suggest that dopaminergic neurons in the A14 and A15 groups of the ovine hypothalamus play a key role in conveying the inhibitory effects of E in anestrous ewes. The present study tested the hypothesis that A14/A15 neurons in anestrous ewes are activated in response to E, and that this activation is specifically related to seasonal changes in E negative feedback. Expression of the immediate early gene products, Fos and the Fos-related antigens (FRAs), was used as a marker of neuronal activation. Ovariectomized anestrous ewes received either blank implants (no E) or 0.5-cm long E implants sc and were killed 6 h later (E+6h) or 7 days later (E+7d and no E groups). During the breeding season, two additional groups of ovariectomized ewes were perfused 7 days after insertion of either blank or E implants. During anestrus, E completely suppressed LH pulses in the E+7d group, but had no effect in the E+6h group. In the E+7d anestrous group, there was also a significant increase in the mean percentage of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells that expressed nuclear Fos/FRAs in A14 and A15 areas compared to that in either the no E or E+6h group. By contrast, during the breeding season, E had no effect on LH pulse frequency, and there were relatively few TH-positive cells in A14 and A15 that coexpressed Fos/FRAs in either the no E or E+7d group. No significant steroidal or seasonal differences in Fos/FRA expression were seen in other hypothalamic dopaminergic cell groups (A12 and A13) or in the preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus or suprachiasmatic nucleus. Furthermore, E did not alter the total number of TH-positive neurons in A14/A15 or other cell groups. There were seasonal differences in the number of TH-positive neurons, with a significantly greater number of cells in the A13 and A15 of breeding season animals compared to anestrous ewes. Thus, E increased Fos/FRA expression in A14/A15 neurons only during anestrus at a time when it also inhibited LH pulse frequency. These findings are consistent with the view that activation of dopaminergic cells in A14 and A15 is a critical link in the chain of events leading to seasonal shifts in sensitivity to E negative feedback in the ewe.

Anestrus↗
PubMed1998

Seasonal variations in office and home blood pressures in hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive drugs.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze various factors influencing season variations in blood pressure under ordinary circumstances. METHODS: We examined home and office blood pressures in 315 outpatients with essential hypertension. The majority (88%) were being administered antihypertensived drugs. Their office and home blood pressures were recorded in 1993. The patients were 156 men and 159 women, aged 60.8 +/- 0.6 years (mean +/- SEM). The office blood pressure was measured monthly by the same physicians. The home blood pressure was measured every day by the patients, in the morning and evening. RESULTS: The home blood pressures both in men and in women exhibited significant seasonal variations, to a similar extent. The winter-summer difference in home blood pressure was 3.9 +/- 0.5 mmHg systolic and 1.7 +/- 0.3 mmHg diastolic for the men and 4.6 +/-0.5 mmHg systolic and 2.4 +/- 0.3 mmHg diastolic for the women. The office blood pressure of the men also exhibited significant seasonal variation. There was no seasonal variation in office systolic blood pressure in the women. The levels of home blood pressure in the men and women were similar during each season, whereas the office systolic blood pressure of the women was significantly higher than that of men throughout the year. For the total group of patients, the winter-summer differences in home systolic blood pressure was positively correlated to age. The seasonal variations in blood pressure were not affected by body mass index, smoking status, and administration of antihypertensive medication.CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal variations in blood pressure existed both for male and for female hypertensive patients and occurred even for subjects being treated with antihypertensive drugs. However, there was no seasonal variation in the office systolic blood pressure of women, suggesting that the differences between the office and home blood pressures and between thermoregulatory mechanisms for the sexes may have obscured it.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

[Influenza and influenza-like acute respiratory diseases in Slovakia in the 1999-2000 season].

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) represent the most frequent cause of morbidity. Their epidemic outbreaks become a severe problem not only in healthcare, but also in economical and social spheres. OBJECTIVE: Presentation of epidemiological and virologic characteristics of the 1999-2000 influenza season in Slovakia; their comparison with the same Influenza season in other European countries, as well as with the situation during the preceding season in Slovakia. METHODS: The epidemiological analysis of Influenza and influenza-like diseases is based on the duty of attending physicians to report the number of new cases, complications, cases of working inability due to disease, and death cases. The reports are required on a compulsory weekly basis, and the reported cases are structured into 4 age groups. The laboratory diagnosis is based on virus isolation, rapid detection of antigen and serological tests. RESULTS: The outbreak of Influenza spread through Slovakia during the period between the 4th and 8th calendar weeks with its peak appearing during the 6th calendar week, when its incidence reached 2821 cases/100,000. The age group mostly afflicted by morbidity during the entire investigated season were children at the age of 0-5, while during the outbreak, the highest morbidity was reported among school children at the age of 6-14. The epidemic broke out on the entire territory of the Slovak Republic at the same time. 5 death cases were reported. Complicated cases were reported in 6.1% of the diseased. 34.1% of the group at the age from 15 to 59 were reported to be unable to work due to disease. 25 isolates of influenza virus were obtained from 505 nasopharyngeal swabs. 2 strains were found to be atigenetically similar to the vaccine strain A(H3N2)/Sydney 5/97 and A(H3N2)/Moscow 10/99. Regarding ARI aetiology, influenza viruses were serologically confirmed in 1356 samples; out of which type A(H3N2) was confirmed in 930 cases, A(H1N1) in 143 cases, type B in 283 cases; adenoviruses were detected in 467 samples; RS viruses in 779 samples; and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 859 samples. Mixed infection caused by two viruses was diagnosed in 27 cases. DISCUSSION: The outbreak which hit Slovakia in the 1999/2000 season was a part of the European epidemic wave. As to its extent, it was a mild epidemic outbreak. It was significantly low as to its incidence among children. During autumn months, ARI aetiology was dominated by M. pneumoniae, viruses of type A(H3N2) prevailed. CONCLUSION: The identification of strains isolated during the investigated season confirmed that strains of influenza virus similar to strain A(H3N2)/Sydney 5/97 which is contained within the vaccine which has been assessed for this season, circulated in Slovakia during the past two subsequent seasons. Similar experience was reported from the majority of European countries involved in the international WHO programme of influenza Surveillance. These facts explain the mild extent of the investigated epidemic outbreak. (Tab. 5, Fig. 7, Ref. 8.)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

In vivo seasonal assessment of Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to chloroquine in two different malaria endemic communities in Southern Ghana.

A two year (1992 to 1993) in vivo assessment of Plasmodium falciparum sensitivity to chloroquine was conducted in two communities at Dodowa (hyperendemic) and Prampram (mesoendemic) in Southern Ghana. A slightly modified World Helath Organization standard field test (7 day test) for response of Plasmodium falciparum asexual parasites to chloroquine was used for the survey. In 1992, 16.2% (12/74) responses were classified as exhibiting chloroquine resistance at RI (14.8% ) and RII (1.4%) in the dry season and 8.2% (10/122) responses at RI in the wet season in the hyperendemic community. Only a single response (1/144; 0.7%) at RI showed resistance in the mesoendemic community. The rest of the responses in both communities were classified as sensitive to chloroquine. In the hyperendemic community, 8.4% (13/154) of responses in the dry season showed resistance at RI and 1.3% (82/150) at RI (0.7%) and RII (0.7%) in the wet season in 1993. In the mesoendemic community 1 (1.0%) response was resistant at RI in the wet season. The rest of the responses were classified as sensitive responses to chloroquine. No RIII response was encountered in any of the communities. The pattern of RI and RII responses did not show any seasonal variations in the mesoendemic community. However, they were generally higher in the dry season than in the wet season in the hyperendemic community.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Changes in physical fitness profile during the competitive season in elite bandy players.

Nine bandy players from an elite team were used as subjects in order to examine effects of the competitive season on a physical fitness profile. The present findings demonstrated that the competitive season led to a minor change in maximum oxygen uptake (from 63.2 +/- 6.0 to 60.8 +/- 3.7 ml x kg-1 x min-1) but a significant (p less than 0.05) decrease occurred in oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold from 48.6 +/- 6.8 to 43.4 +/- 2.3 ml x kg-1 x min-1. Average anaerobic power output during a 60 s maximal work period remained statistically unaltered during the season. A statistically nonsignificant change (from 3233 +/- 493 to 3185 +/- 543 N) took place in maximal strength of the leg extensor muscles. A considerable change occurred during the competitive season in the shape of the isometric force-time curve so that the times of force production lengthened significantly (p less than 0.05) at all positions of the curve. The individual changes during the season in each of the characteristics of the physical fitness profile correlated (p less than 0.05-0.01) with the initial level recorded before the season. The present findings suggest that a competitive season in elite bandy players may lead to considerable decreases in selected characteristics of the physical fitness profile. The findings suggest that the magnitude and/or the frequency of physical training stimuli might be given more attention also during the competitive season and the individual needs of the players should be taken properly into consideration in the full training program.

Competitive Behavior↗
PubMed2001

Effect of omalizumab on symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a common IgE-mediated disorder that produces troublesome symptoms. A recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody (omalizumab) forms complexes with free IgE, blocking its interaction with mast cells and basophils and lowering free IgE levels in the circulation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of omalizumab for prophylaxis of symptoms in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging, placebo-controlled trial conducted from July 25 through November 21, 1997. SETTING: Twenty-five outpatient centers throughout the United States. PATIENTS: Five hundred thirty-six patients aged 12 to 75 years with at least a 2-year history of moderate to severe ragweed-induced seasonal allergic rhinitis and a baseline IgE level between 30 and 700 IU/mL. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive omalizumab, 50 mg (n = 137), 150 mg (n = 134), or 300 mg (n = 129), or placebo (n = 136) subcutaneously just prior to ragweed season and repeated during the pollen season every 3 weeks in patients with baseline IgE levels of 151 to 700 IU/mL (4 total treatments) and every 4 weeks in patients with baseline IgE levels of 30 to 150 IU/mL (3 total treatments). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Self-assessed daily nasal symptom severity scores (range, 0-3), rescue antihistamine use, and rhinitis-specific quality of life during the 12 weeks from the start of treatment. RESULTS: Nasal symptom severity scores were significantly lower in patients who received 300 mg of omalizumab than in those who received placebo (least squares means, 0.75 vs 0.98, respectively; P =.002). A significant association was observed between IgE reduction and nasal symptoms and rescue antihistamine use. Rhinitis-specific quality of life scores were consistently better in patients who received 300 mg of omalizumab than in those who received lower dosages or placebo and did not decline during peak season. The frequency of adverse events was not significantly different among the omalizumab and placebo groups. CONCLUSION: Omalizumab decreased serum free IgE levels and provided clinical benefit in a dose-dependent fashion in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗