Comparative vaccination of cattle against Boophilus microplus with recombinant antigen Bm86 alone or in combination with recombinant Bm91

Cattle were vaccinated either with a single recombinant tick antigen, Bm86 or with a combination of two recombinant antigens, Bm86 and Bm91 from the tick Boophilus microplus . In three experiments, the responses of cattle to subsequent challenge with the tick were assessed. The addition of the Bm91 antigen enhanced the efficacy of the vaccination over that with Bm86 alone to a statistically significant degree. Moreover, co-vaccination with two antigens did not impair the response of cattle to the Bm86 antigen. Finally, responses of individual cattle to the two antigens were independent. All of these results may be relevant to the increase in efficacy expected from a dual antigen vaccine.     

Evaluating projects funded by the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation: first results

The paper describes output measures of performance of the WesternAustralian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway), using asystem known as graduated project evaluation (GPE). Resultsare reported at the basic and process levels of evaluation on588 health and sponsorship projects, and at the impact levelbased on surveys of 5710 spectators and participants at 53 sport,arts and racing events sponsored by Healthway funds. At thebasic and process levels the average Healthway project reached7449 people directly and generated media coverage of healthmessages on 27.3 occasions. It secured, on average, 0.99 healthystructural reforms in recreational or cultural venues, involvedthe participation of local community members in project administrationin 38% of instances, and provided 1596 person-hours of healtheducation. Non-smoking, safe drinking, nutrition, exercise,sun protection, safe sex and injury prevention health messageswere promoted using 24 different types of sponsor benefits.Of the 5710 respondents surveyed post-event, 67% were awareof the promoted health message and 82% of these understood whatthe message meant. Four per cent of all respondents intendedto take action ranging from seeking information to adoptingthe health behaviour. A comparison of the cost-effectivenessof small and large sponsorship projects is given to illustratethe use of GPE to inform funding decisions. Smaller projectsoutperformed larger projects on all available indicators. Wediscuss the peculiar features of the health promotion foundationconcept, methods to improve its performance and implicationsfor future research.     

Addiction versus stages of change models in predicting smoking cessation

Prospective data from the California Tobacco Surveys (n=2066) were used to perform a critical test of the Prochaska et al. (1991) stages of change model. When the stages of change model was used as a stand alone predictor, smokers in preparation at baseline were more likely to be in cessation at follow-up than smokers in pre-contemplation at baseline (OR adj="1.9)" When stage membership was combined with baseline measures of addiction including smoking behaviors and quitting history, it was not a significant predictor of future cessation. A prediction equation that combined daily vs. occasional smoking, cigarettes per day smoked, life-time quits of at least a year, and quits of more than 5 days in the previous year discriminated smokers in cessation at follow-up of 1 to 2 years better than did the stages of change model. The area under the ROC curve for the equation based on addiction measures was 69.3% vs. 55.1% for the stages of change. Cessation rates ranged from 7.7% to 35.7% for the four-category addiction equation compared with 15.1% to 24.9% for stages of change model.     

Aetiology of Acute Pharyngitis and Clinical Response to Empirical Therapy with Erythromycin Versus Amoxicillin

Guthrie R M, Ruoff G E, Rofman BA, Ginsberg D, Karp R R, BrownS M and Schulz GA. Aetiology of acute pharyngitis and clinicalresponse to empirical therapy with erythromycin versus amoxicillin.Family Practice 1988; 5: 29–35. One hundred and eighty-nine adults with acute pharyngitis hadculture and serological evaluation for groupA beta haemolyticstreptococci (GABHS), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Branhamellacatarrhalis. Sixteen patients had evidence for infection withGABHS, none for M. pneumoniae, and one for B. catarrhalis. Forthose with GABHS, there was no significant difference betweenempirical treatment by erythromycin or amoxicillin. For thosewithout GABHS, empirical treatment with erythromycin appearedto result in a statistically significant reduction in coughand a noticeable but less than significant reduction of othersymptoms when compared to empirical treatment with amoxicillin.The new formula tion of erythromycin utilized in this study(PCE) may be associated with a reduction in gastrointestinalintolerance from that reported with other erythromycin products.     

A 6-Month Multispecies Inhalation Study with Maleic Anhydirde

A 6-Month Multispecies Inhalation Study with Maleic Anhydride.SHORT, R. D., JOHANNSEN, F. R., AND ULRICH, C. E. (1988). Fundam.Appl. Toxicol. 10, 517–524. This study was initiated toassess the safety of atmospheres containing maleic anhydride.Accordingly, rats (15/sex/group), hamsters (15/sex/group), andmonkeys (3/sex/group) were treated 6 hr a day 5 days a weekfor 6 months. Atmospheres were generated by subliming maleicanhydride and were monitored using Tenax collection columnsand gas chromatography to detect total maleic; i.e., maleicanhydride plus maleic acid. The mean analytical concentrationswere 0, 1.1,3.3, and 9.8 mg/m³ of total maleic. Dose-relatedsigns of nasal and ocular irritation were observed at each testlevel in all three species; signs included discharge, sneezing,gasping, and coughing. No significant treatment-related mortalitywas observed in any species. While reduced weight gains wereobserved only in mid- and high-dose rats, their terminal bodyweights were greater than 90% of control values. No treatment-relatedeffects were observed in hematology. clinical chemistry, urinalysis,and pulmonary function tests. Although microscopic evaluationof tissue revealed evidence of nasal irritation in all species,there was no evidence of systemic toxicity which was directlyattributed to maleic anhydride. While the results of this studysupport the current ACGIH TLV and OSHA PEL of 1 mg/m³ regardingsystemic toxicity, continuous exposure at this level duringthe day may produce some signs of irritation.     

LONGEVITY AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

As part of a multicenter V.A. Cooperative Study, 437 male veteranswith varying stages of alcoholic liver injury were followedover a 4.5 year period. Their ethnic distribution consistedof 256 Caucasians, 109 black Afro-Americans, 63 Puerto RicanHispanics, and 9 Native American Indians. Survival analysesrevealed significant differences between groups (P = 0.0002):66% of Afro-Americans were still living at 42 months; Caucasianswere intermediate with 40% survival; and only 28% of Hispanicswere alive. The number of Native American Indians enrolled wastoo small to draw conclusions but none of those enrolled survivedbeyond 24 months. Survival regression analysis of 30 clinical,laboratory, histologic and nutritional parameters, revealedthe following significant risk factors: clinical severity (P< 0.0001), histologic severity (P < 0.0001), race (P =0.001), age (P = 0.002), BUN (P = 0.01) and ALT (P = 0.02).These analyses indicated that ethnicity, independent of othervariables, is significantly associated with outcome from thedisease.     

Acute, Distribution, and Subchronic Toxicological Studies of Succinate Tartrates

The estimated single-dose oral toxicity (50% lethality) of succinatetartrates (ST) was 2–3 g/kg in rats. ST produced minimalto moderate dermal irritation but no evidence of systemic toxicityin a standard acute percutaneous toxicity test in rabbits. STwas not an eye irritant in a standard rabbit low-volume eyeirritation test ST was not genotoxic in a series of six genotoxicitytests. A 14-day oral gavage study in rats at a dose range of0.05–1.0 g ST/kg/day produced only gastric irritation.The no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for gastric irritation was0.1 g/kg for males and 0.05 g/kg for females. A 28-day percutaneoustoxicity study in rabbits produced minimal to moderate dermalirritation and no adverse systemic effects at a high dose of450 mg ST/kg/day. Single-dose absorption, distribution, andelimination (ADE) studies in male rats showed that 10–15%of an oral dose and 1–3% of a dermal dose were absorbed.Approximately 98% of the orally administered ST was eliminatedas ¹⁴C in urine, feces, or expired CO₂ after 72 hr. Approximately80% of the dermally absorbed ¹⁴C dose was eliminated in urine,feces, or expired CO₂ after 72 hr. In conclusion, no adverseeffects were noted in acute toxicity, genotoxicity, or subchronictoxicity studies conducted with ST.     

ASSESSMENT OF OPIOID DEPENDENCE

Diagnostic criteria for opioid dependence is presented. Five methods are described to assess the presence and/or severity of the opioid dependence syndrome:

• 1 Self-report.
• 2 Physical examination
• 3 Toxicological analysis
• 4 Observation of withdrawal symptoms
• 5 Naloxone (Narcan) test.

Problems in determining actual amounts of heroin in “street deals’ is also discussed. It is emphasised that assessment of heroin-related problems in particular, requires a comprehensive lifestyle assessment in addition to the specific diagnosis of opioid dependence based largely on physical symptomatology as outlined in this paper.     

Coronary Reperfusion Following Experimental Myocardial Infarction

Numerous studies have shown that early coronary reperfusion is feasible in the setting of evolving acute myocardial infarction in man. While early reperfusion reduces myocardial infarct size, there are potentially deleterious consequences of reperfusion. The concept of "reperfusion injury", oxygen-free radical damage, no reflow phenomenon, and stunned myocardium are discussed.     

Technical Grade but Not Recrystallized {alpha}-Naphthylthiourea Potentiates Superoxide Release by Rat Neutrophils Stimulated in Vitro by Phorbol Myristate Acetate

Technical Grade but Not Recrystallized -Naphthylthiourea PotentiatesSuperoxide Release by Rat Neutrophils Stimulated in VitrobyPhorbol Myristate Acetate. ROTH, R.A., AND BALL, T.M. (1986).Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 7, 324–328. -Naphthylthiourea (ANTU)causes pulmonary edema and pleural effusion in rats. It hasbeen suggested that ANTU pneumotoxicity may be mediated by bloodneutrophils (PMNs) via the release of reactive oxygen species.Accordingly, we tested the effect of technical grade ANTU (tANTU)on the ability of rat peritoneal PMNs to release superoxide(O₂). tANTU did not itself stimulate O₂ production by PMNs,but it increased the O₂ released in response to PMN stimulationby phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). This effect was dependentupon the amount of tANTU added. In PMNs activated in vitro bya submaximal PMA stimulus, addition of 20 µg/ml tANTUdoubled superoxide release. When tANTU was recrystallized fromethanol, the purified ANTU was not effective in potentiatingthe effect of PMA on PMNs. This suggests that an impurity intechnical grade ANTU is capable of increasing O₂ release bystimulated PMNs. tANTU and recrystallized ANTU caused similarpneumotoxicity in rats in vivo, suggesting that the unidentifiedimpurity does not markedly influence the biologic effects ofANTU.