Approaches to the space-time modelling of infectious disease behaviour

A new approach to the space-time modelling of infectious diseasesis considered. A modulated heterogeneous Poisson process withintensity defined as a function of a two-dimensional susceptibilityfield is proposed. The model is fitted to a measles epidemicusing a proportional hazards approximation.     

Distribution and projection pattern of motoneurons that innervate hindlimb muscles in the quail

We characterized the motoneuron pool positions and projection patterns in the embryonic quail hindlimb and compared them to those in the chick to determine the degree of similarity and to form a baseline for future chimeric experiments. We find that the most similar parameters of pool position correlate with the major axonal pathway choices. First, the medial-lateral pool position, which is highly conserved among birds and mammals, is identical in the quail and chick and correlates with the dorsal-ventral pathway choice, the first and least plastic of the choices within the limb. Second, although quail pools were known to be compressed into seven rather than eight segments, we show that the map of pools is compressed about a central point (segment three) that preserves the spatial relationships between anterior pools and the crural plexus, and between posterior pools and the sciatic plexus. Access to guidance cues that are restricted to each plexus region is thus maintained between species. Third, pool position along the anterior-posterior axis is the least similar parameter between species. In fact, the entire lumbosacral motor complex may shift by +/- half a segment in individual quail. Despite the consequent differences in segmental projections, the specific projection pattern within each quail hindlimb is identical to that in the chick. There is no need to preserve the exact segmental pattern either phylogenetically or during development, because motoneurons accommodate to modest variations in their position along the anterior-posterior axis by sorting out at the limb base. The contrast between variable segmental and constant limb projections also demonstrates that neither the specification nor the precise projection of motoneurons is dependent upon the specification or development of somites.     

Characteristics of 2000 patients who visited a halitosis clinic

Aims: The aim of this paper was to analyse the aetiology and characteristics of 2000 patients who visited a multidisciplinary bad breath clinic in Leuven, Belgium and to correlate organoleptic ratings with portable device measurements.
Materials and Methods: The characteristics and aetiology of breath malodour of two thousand consecutive patients who visited a halitosis consultation were explored by means of a standard questionnaire and a clinical examination, including organoleptic scores provided by a trained and calibrated judge, and a portable bad breath detector (Halimeter^®).
Results: Most patients came without referral and had complaints for several years (mean: 7 years, SD: 8 years). For 76% of the patients, an oral cause was found [tongue coating (43%), gingivitis/periodontitis (11%) or a combination of the two (18%)]. Pseudo-halitosis/halitophobia was diagnosed in 16% of the cases; and ear, nose and throat/extra-oral causes were found in 4% of the patients. Most patients had an organoleptic score <3 and a Halimeter^® value <240 p.p.b.
Conclusions: Even though it was observed that halitosis has a predominantly oral origin, a multidisciplinary approach remains necessary to identify ear, nose and throat or extra-oral pathologies and/or pseudo-halitosis/halitophobia.     

The impact of commercial human infant formula on fecal attributes in a weanling pig model.

An experiment to assess the influence of commercially available infant formulas on characteristics of feces in a weanling piglet model was conducted. Seven commercial infant formulas [whey, whey+alpha-lactalbumin, whey+alpha-lactalbumin+oligofructose, whey+GOS+polyfructose, whey protein concentrate 1 (with 27.3% acid hydrolyzed fat), whey protein concentrate 2 (with 29.4% acid hydrolyzed fat), and enzymatically hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate] were offered to weanling piglets ad libitum for 14d. Fecal attributes that were assessed include: consistency, color, odor, dry matter, organic matter, pH, biogenic amines, short- and branched-chain fatty acids, phenols, indoles, and ammonia. Overall, there were very few differences among treatment groups in fecal attributes assessed. Minor differences in the concentrations of fecal acetate, valerate, putrescine, and cadaverine were observed in piglets fed GOS+polyfructose-containing formula. However, stool consistency, score, odor, pH, ammonia, phenols, and indoles were similar among treatment groups. Diet had an effect on fecal dry matter percentage, organic matter percentage, color, and 4 week body weights of the piglets. The results obtained in this experiment demonstrate that healthy gut function is prevalent in weanling piglets consuming the experimental treatments.     

无菌性脑炎与肠道病毒感染关系监测

目的：探讨无菌性脑炎发病与肠道病毒感染的关系。方法：对1994年苍山县和1996年栖霞市发生的两起无菌性暴发病例和1996年7月－1997年3月济南市两所医院无菌性脑炎住院病例进行流行病学和临床特征的调查，并采集部分病例粪便或脑脊液标本进行肠道病毒分离或／和PCR检测。结果：无菌性脑炎的高发季节为春夏季或夏秋季，主要发病年龄为 婴幼儿和小学生；临床以发热和神经系统症状为主，而少见腹泻与皮疹等前驱症状，多数病例的病程较短（10－19天）且预后较好，个别病例发生死亡。两起无菌性脑炎暴发病例的粪便标本病毒分离分别以CoxB3和CoxB5病毒为优势毒株，初步判定为CoxB病毒引致的病毒性脑炎；对住院的无菌性脑炎病例脑脊液标本进行PCR检测，其中8例CoxB病毒为阳性，且3例分离到CoxB3病毒，故这8例病例确诊为CoxB2病毒引致的病毒性脑炎。结论：CoxB病毒是导致我省局部地区病毒性脑炎流行的主要病原，今后应加强肠道病毒引起的病毒性脑炎的监测和防治研究工作。     

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome associated disseminated Penicillium Marneffei infection: report of 8 cases

Penicillinosis Marneffei (PSM) is a rare fungal disease caused by systemic infection of Penicillium Marneffei (PM).     

流行性出血热血清中横纹肌抗体检测

运用间接免疫荧光技术,对87例流行性出血热患者和57例正常对照者作横纹肌抗体检测,患者检出率为63.22%,正常对照检出率为7.01%,两者差异有高度显著性。横纹肌抗体的染色形态有边缘型、横纹型、弥散型、闰盘型,基本上不能激活补体。提示:横纹肌抗体的出现是该组织损伤的结果,可作为横纹肌损伤的指标。     

病毒唑与胸腺素联用治疗流行性出血热

用病毒唑与胸腺素联合治疗33例流行性出血热(治疗组),并以不用上述两药而其它治疗基本相似的30例患者为对照组。结果治疗组主要临床症状改善情况优于对照组,治疗组越期率(57.57％)和治愈率(100％)均高于对照组(30％和90％),治疗组无死亡,对照组病死率为10％。本结果提示病毒唑与胸腺素联合治疗流行性出血热效果较好。     

部分高校离退休老人家庭特征与幸福度的相关性

目的：了解广州地区高校离退休老人的家庭特征和幸福度之间的关系。方法：采用家庭环境量表中国版（ Ｆ Ｅ Ｓ Ｃ Ｖ） 和纽芬兰纪念大学幸福度量表（ Ｍ Ｕ Ｎ Ｓ Ｈ） 对１６２ 名广州地区的高校离退休老人进行调查，用典则分析的方法把两者的关系充分地揭示出来。结果：亲密度和组织性与负性情感和一般负性体验成负相关。结论：改善老人家庭的亲密度和组织性，有助于提高老人的幸福度。     

Patient characteristics and stratification in medical treatment studies for metastatic colorectal cancer: a proposal for standardization of patient characteristic reporting and stratification.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic factors have the potential to determine the survival of patients to a greater extent than current antineoplastic agents. Despite this knowledge, there is no consensus on, first, what patient characteristics to report and, second, what stratification factors to use in metastatic colorectal cancer trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven leading oncology and medical journals were reviewed for phase II and III publications reporting on medical treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer patients during 2001-2005. One hundred and forty-three studies with 21 214 patients were identified. The reporting of patient characteristics and use of stratification was noted. RESULTS: Age, gender, performance status, metastases location, sites and adjuvant chemotherapy were often reported (99-63%). Laboratory values as alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and white blood cell count, repeatedly found to be of prognostic relevance, were rarely reported (5-9%). Stratification was used in all phase III trials; however, only study centre was used with any consistency. CONCLUSION: There is considerable inconsistency in the reporting of patient characteristics and use of stratification factors in metastatic colorectal cancer trials. We propose a standardization of patient characteristics reporting and stratification factors. A common set of characteristics and strata will aid in trial reporting, interpretation and future meta-analyses.