Post-infection fatigue syndrome following Q fever

In 1989, 147 individuals in the West Midlands, UK, were infected with Q fever. Five years later, following anecdotal reports of fatigue, we used a questionnaire-based case-control study to determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms in this group. Replies from 71 patients were compared with those from 142 age- and sex-matched controls. Increased sweating (52.9% vs. 31.6%, p = 0.006), breathlessness (50.7% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.006), blurred vision (34.3% vs. 17.8%, p = 0.016) and undue tiredness (68.7% vs. 51.5%, p = 0.03) were found in controls compared to cases. These findings were similar to those in Australian abbatoir workers occupationally exposed to Q fever. CDC criteria for chronic fatigue syndrome were fulfilled by 42.3% of cases and 26% of controls. Using visual analogue scores, symptoms were more severe in cases than in controls. Our findings support the existence of a chronic fatigue state following acute Q fever, in a group of patients exposed just once to the organism, and in circumstances free of such confounding factors as lawsuits over compensation.      

A Chromatographic Study on the Glycosides of Aerva lanata L.

AIM:In order to identify the HPTLC profile(bio-marker),at species level,for the identification and confirmation of crude drugs,HPTLC separation was initiated on different parts of Aerva lanata L.from South India.METHODS:Preliminary phyto-chemical screening was done by the method of Harborne.HPTLC studies were carried out following Harborne and Wagner et al method.The Ethyl acetate-ethanol-water(8:2:1.2)was employed as mobile phase for glycosides.RESULTS:The methanolic extract of stem,leaves,root,flowers and...     

Recent advances of genetic ancestry testing in biomedical research and direct to consumer testing

In the post-Human Genome Project era, the debate on the concept of race/ethnicity and its implications for biomedical research are dependent on two critical issues: whether and how to classify individuals and whether biological factors play a role in health disparities. The advent of reliable estimates of genetic (or biogeographic) ancestry has provided this debate with a quantitative and more objective tool. The estimation of genetic ancestry allows investigators to control for population stratification in association studies and helps to detect biological causation behind population-specific differences in disease and drug response. New techniques such as admixture mapping can specifically detect population-specific risk alleles for a disease in admixed populations. However, researchers have to be mindful of the correlation between genetic ancestry and socioeconomic and environmental factors that could underlie these differences. More importantly, researchers must avoid the stigmatization of individuals based on perceived or real genetic risks. The latter point will become increasingly sensitive as several 'for profit companies' are offering ancestry and genetic testing directly to consumers and the consequences of the spread of the services of these companies are still unforeseeable.     

Knowledge,attitudes and practices about malaria among communities: Comparing epidemic and non-epidemic prone communities of Muleba district,North-western Tanzania

Background  

Muleba district in North-western Tanzania has experienced malaria epidemics in recent years. Community knowledge, attitudes and practices are important in enhancing disease control interventions. This study investigated determinants of malaria epidemics in the study area in relation to household knowledge, attitudes and practice on malaria.     

Achilles tendon: US diagnosis of pathologic conditions. Work in progress

Twenty-three patients were prospectively examined with ultrasound (US) for acute or recurrent Achilles tendon symptoms. Three types of pathologic conditions of the Achilles tendon were found: tendinitis/tenosynovitis, acute tendon trauma, and postoperative changes. US appears to enable differentiation of these conditions and to contribute to the diagnosis of a broad range of Achilles tendon disorders.     

Infected aortoiliofemoral grafts: magnetic resonance imaging

Three patients with proved infected aortoiliofemoral grafts were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging using a spin echo technique. MR clearly identified the perigraft abscess, the involvement of adjacent structures, and the longitudinal extent of the process in all patients. The MR findings were: Abscesses create a high signal intensity, somewhat less than fat. The perigraft abscess has a great contrast with the signal void of flowing blood in the graft. Inflammatory changes cause an inhomogeneous intermediate signal, slightly more intense than muscle. Both abscesses and edematous areas increase their signal intensity with long repetition rates and long echo delays. Areas of gas appear black. They cannot be distinguished from calcified plaques. Additional information is gained about the graft patency. Although the specificity has to be proved, MR imaging is sensitive in the detection of infected grafts and for defining the longitudinal extent of the perigraft abscess.     

Asymptomatic total hip prosthesis: natural history determined using Tc- 99m MDP bone scans

A prospective study was performed with 97 patients who had undergone total hip replacement surgery and who were not experiencing pain or other symptoms or problems. The study was intended to determine the normal postoperative appearance of radionuclide scans of the hip following administration of technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate. Five areas of the prostheses were evaluated. Results showed that 6 months after implantation activity around the lesser trochanter and prosthesis shaft became insignificant. Activity around the acetabulum, greater trochanter, and prosthesis tip stabilized approximately 2 years after surgery; approximately 10% of patients in the study had persistent activity in these areas. Familiarity with this normal progression is fundamental to interpretation of postoperative bone scans in patients with total hip prosthesis.