Folacin deficiency and requirement in the squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciuresus).

Acute folacin deficiency was studied in eight young squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus). Half of the animals were fed a semipurified deficient diet (no added folic acid) and half were fed a control diet (0.84 mg of added folic acid per kilogram of dry diet). Monkeys fed the deficient diet lost weight and suffered from diarrhea and dehydration leading to the death of one of the animals after 6 weeks. Folacin deficiency also was studied in six older animals fed diets containing varying levels of added folic acid. Monkeys fed diets containing 0.14 or 0.27 mg of added folic acid per kilogram of dry diet slowly developed alopecia, a scaly dermatitis, and a mild macrocytic anemia. When these animals were fed the deficient diet, they lost weight rapidly, the alopecia and dermatitis worsened, excretion of formiminoglutamic acid in the urine increased, and a severe megaloblastic anemia with profound intramedullary hemolysis developed. Deficient monkeys had low plasma and red blood cell folacin values but maintained normal plasma vitamin B12 values. Repletion of the animals fed the deficient diet with injections of folic acid reversed both the hematological and physical deterioration. The folacin requirement for maintenance of body weight in these animals was 28 micrograms of total folacin per kilogram of body weight per day. More than 75 micrograms of total folacin per kilogram of body weight/day may be needed to assure growth and normal hematological parameters and bone marrow cytology.     

Dissociated response of plasma albumin and transferrin to protein-calorie restriction in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

The responses of albumin and transferrin to selective nutritional interventions were assessed in 31 infant monkeys. Diets were restricted in protein, calories, or both from age 2 to 8 wk (study A) or protein alone from age 4 to 24 wk (study B)--in both cases to prevent growth. Transferrin levels in study A were significantly lower than control in all three restricted groups whereas albumin levels were decreased only in both low-protein groups. In study B albumin and transferrin concentrations were significantly decreased during the first 12 wk of intervention. A sharp recovery in the transferrin concentrations, however, was observed when a minimal increase in protein intake was allowed in the latter portion of the study. It appears that the response of albumin is linked to amino acid availability whereas the response of transferrin is influenced by variables such as acute dietary manipulation and rate of growth, among others. The value of these indices as single predictors of nutritional status is questioned.     

Sterilization of male stray dogs with a single intratesticular injection of calcium chloride: a dose-dependent study

OBJECTIVE: To study a method of chemical sterilization and its efficacy in adult male stray dogs. METHODS: Sterilization was performed 45 days after a single bilateral intratesticular injection of calcium chloride (CaCl(2)) at the doses of 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg per testis per kg body weight. RESULTS: Histomorphological measures of testes showed total necrosis of testicular tissue at 45 days after an injection of either 10 or 15 or 20 mg CaCl(2) along with fibrosis and hyalinization in seminiferous tubules and interstitial spaces. Infiltration of leucocytes was also observed with the 10- or 15-mg dose. Disintegration of germ cell arrangement in seminiferous tubules and washing out of germ cells from the tubules were noted with the 5-mg dose. Relative organ weight, epididymal sperm count, plasma and intratesticular concentrations of testosterone, testicular activities of Delta(5),3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta(5),3beta-HSD), 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and testicular contents of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulphide (GSSG) and the ratio of GSH/GSSG, all were declined in each of the calcium chloride treated groups in comparison to the control group. Increases occurred in testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma concentrations of LH and FSH with each of the treatments by comparison with the control group. Plasma concentrations of cortisol, fasting blood sugar level, blood urea nitrogen as well as packed cell volume (PCV) and total plasma protein were recorded to monitor the changes in chronic stress in the experimental animals. Changes in these parameters were not significant. CONCLUSION: An intratesticular injection of CaCl(2) at specified doses could be a suitable method of sterilization in preference to surgical castration of dogs.     

Evaluation of single intratesticular injection of calcium chloride for nonsurgical sterilization in adult albino rats

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a method of chemical sterilization and its efficacy in adult albino rats. METHOD: Evaluation was conducted 3 weeks after a single bilateral intratesticular injection of calcium chloride (CaCl2) at the dose of 5, 10, 15 or 20 mg per testis per 100 g body weight. RESULTS: The significant graded diminution in relative sex organ weights, testicular androgenic enzymes like Delta5,3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Delta5,3beta-HSD) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, testicular content of reduced glutathione (GSH), plasma and intratesticular concentrations of testosterone, epididymal sperm count as well as significant elevation in plasma concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testicular content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were noted in all the treated groups with respect to vehicle control. There was no chronic general stress in experimental animals as indicated by insignificant changes in plasma concentrations of corticosterone, prolactin, total protein, blood urea nitrogen and fasting blood sugar level. Dose-dependent responses on testicular histopathology were recorded by noting multinucleated giant cells in seminiferous tubules, derangement of tubular architecture along with infiltration of leucocytes and appearance of fibrous tissue throughout the testicular sections. The fertility efficacy of the 10, 15 or 20 mg CaCl2-treated males was nil, proven after mating with fertile, virgin healthy females, as there were no implantation sites in each uterine horns noted by laparotomy. CONCLUSION: Intratesticular CaCl2 injection at a specific dose might serve as a way of sterilization and may be considered as an alternative to surgical castration in male animals.     

Methylmercury effects in rat,hamster, and squirrel monkey: Lethality,symptoms, brain mercury,and amino acids

The LD50_{24 hours} of methylmercury chloride was estimated as 11.9 mg/kg in the rat, 22.4 mg/kg in the hamster, and more than 17 mg/kg in the squirrel monkey. At 30 days, the LD50 was 10.1 mg/kg in the rat and 15.2 mg/kg in the hamster and was estimated as 4.7–6.4 mg/kg in the monkey. Motor symptoms such as hind-leg tucking when lifted by the tail were induced in the rat by five daily doses of 2 mg each, resulting in brain mercury levels above 8 μg/g of cerebral hemisphere or cerebellum, and more than 6 μ/g of pons and medulla. Levels of glycine, glutamate, aspartate, and γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) were unchanged from control levels. In monkeys, single doses of more than 3 mg/animal and five doses of 0.75 mg or more produced a neurological degenerative pattern at mercury levels greater than 8 μg/g of tissue. GABA was increased and glycine, glutamate, and aspartate were decreased in the brain tissue. Neither single nor repeated doses produced motor responses in the hamster prior to death.     

Deaths from intravenous colchicine resulting from a compounding pharmacy error--Oregon and Washington, 2007

Colchicine for injection has been available in the United States since the 1950s. Although not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), intravenous (IV) cholchicine has been an accepted treatment for acute gout symptoms. Several additional IV uses have been studied, including treatment of familial Mediterranean fever, pericarditis, primary biliary cirrhosis, amyloidosis, and Beh?et's syndrome. More recently, outpatient use of IV administration for chronic back pain has been advocated by alternative medicine providers but is not an accepted practice. Colchicine has well-known toxicities that limit its safe therapeutic use. IV doses that exceed the standard single-use therapeutic dose of 2--4 mg per episode of gout have resulted in life-threatening toxicity. In March 2007, two persons from Washington and Oregon died after receiving IV colchicine for back pain from an alternative medicine clinic in Oregon. This report describes the investigation, which determined that a measuring error by a Texas compounding pharmacy resulted in a fatal colchicine concentration that was eight times greater than the recognized standard level. A subsequent review of medical records revealed that a third death from colchicine toxicity in a patient treated at the Oregon clinic also occurred in March and likely was associated with the same compounding error. These deaths highlight the potential risk from use of IV colchicine for back pain and the possibly fatal consequences of measuring errors in compounding pharmacy products.     

Characterization and Source Investigation of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Anatum from a Sustained Outbreak,Taiwan

An ongoing outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Anatum began in Taiwan in 2015. Pork and poultry were identified as vehicles for transmission. Contaminated meat contributed to the high rate of infections among children. Nearly identical Salmonella Anatum strains have been identified in the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Philippines.     

Expression of P16(INK4a) in testis of rhesus monkey during heat stress and testosterone undecanoate induced azoospermia or oligozoospermia

Previous studies on azoospermia or oligozoospermia induced by heat stress or high doses of testosterone mainly focused on germ cell apoptosis; no data regarding their possible effect on spermatogonia mitosis are available. We have established unilateral cryptorchid and testosterone undecanoate (TU)-treated monkey models and examined expression of P16(INK4a) in the testis to look at its possible role in azoospermia or oligozoospermia induced by the heat stress or the TU treatment. The results showed that both heat stress and TU were capable of inducing expression of P16(INK4a) mainly in spermatogonia and other types of germ cells as well as Sertoli cells at the later stage of germ cell apoptosis, namely on Day 10 after operation or on Day 60 after TU injection. It is, therefore, suggested for the first time that P16(INK4a) protein may inhibit the spermatogonia mitosis in the testis at the later stage of the germ cell apoptosis, resulting in arrest of spermatogenesis.     

Sexually aroused self-aggression in a socialized,adult male monkey

An abnormal but apparently successful sexual posture was observed in an adult male rhesus monkey in which the subject bit its hands and leg in the process of dismounting. This behavior followed each of several mounts but ceased toward the end of the series, culminating in ejaculation. The animal's rearing history is included, suggesting that early partial isolation may produce long-lasting abnormalities which, while unusual, need not seriously affect successful copulation.This research was supported by NIH research grants No. MH 22253 to G. Mitchell, HD04335 to L. Chapman, and RR00169 to the California Primate Research Center and by an NIH predoctoral fellowship to T. Maple.     

High lead exposures resulting from pottery production in a village in Michoacán State, Mexico.

This paper reports findings from a screening study conducted to examine potential lead (Pb) exposures in residents of a Mexican village where Pb oxide continues to be used in ceramic pottery production. Extremely high Pb concentrations were measured in personal and indoor air samples, household surface dust samples, and household soil samples. Personal air Pb concentrations for workers performing pottery firing and glazing were up to 454 microg/m3. Results from indoor air samples indicate that airborne Pb concentrations were lower during nonglazing period compared to the glazing period. Soil Pb concentrations measured in 17 homes ranged from 0.39 to 19.8 mg/g. Dust Pb loading on surfaces of household items, hands, and clothes of a worker ranged from 172 to 33,060 microg/ft2. Pb content as high as 2.4 microg/g was found in a bean stew cooked in a pot made in the village. Based on these Pb concentrations measured in multiple media and data adapted for exposure contact rates, we have made rough estimates of Pb exposures via inhalation, soil/dust ingestion, and food ingestion. Estimated total daily Pb intake, on average, is 4.0 mg for adults and 3.4 mg for children living in the village. In the total daily intake, a greatest fraction may be contributed by food ingestion and another significant fraction may come from soil/dust ingestion for the children. Although the sample size is small, these measurements indicate a very significant public health problem for the village residents and a large number of other similar communities in Mexico. (It was estimated that there are approximately 1.5 million glaze potters.) The Pb exposure is implicated in a number of pervasive health problems in the region, and is the cause for national and international attention. Several recommended solutions to this problem range from personal protection and behavioral changes to introduction of alternative glazes.