Modified enzyme immunoassay for detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigens

A commercial modification of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Gonozyme; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.) for detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antigens was compared with conventional culturing. Specimens from males and females were collected at a sexually transmitted disease clinic; additional female specimens were collected at an obstetrics and gynecology clinic. EIA sensitivity and specificity for males were 100 and 98.6%, respectively (68 negative, 34 positive, 1 false-positive, and 0 false-negative). EIA sensitivity and specificity for female sexually transmitted disease clinic patients were 74.4 and 95.7%, respectively (66 negative, 29 positive, 3 false-positive, and 10 false-negative) EIA sensitivity and specificity for obstetrics and gynecology clinic patients were 100 and 99.2%, respectively (6 positive, 119 negative, 1 false-positive, and 0 false-negative). In female patients from whom multiple swab specimens were collected, the sequence of specimen collection and subsequent EIA analysis affected sensitivity.     

Implants for draining neovascular glaucoma.

The implant design, surgical technique, and pharmacological methods of controlling bleb fibrosis, used to treat neovascular glaucoma, are described, together with the results of 14 operations performed on 12 eyes.     

Incidence of and risk factors for acute stress disorder in children with injuries

BACKGROUND: To assess the incidence of and risk factors for Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) in children with injuries. Numerous studies have documented the increased incidence of PTSD in those initially diagnosed with ASD. PTSD symptoms cause tremendous morbidity and may persist for many years in some children. METHODS: Children hospitalized with one or more injuries were interviewed and assessed with the following: Child Stress Disorders Checklist (CSDC), Family Strains Scale, Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and Facial Pain Scale. RESULTS: Participants included sixty-five children (ages 7-18 years). The mechanisms of injury varied (e.g. MVC, penetrating). The mean injury severity score was 8.9 +/- 7. The mean length of hospital stay was 4.6 +/- 4.6 days. Altogether, 18 (27.7%) of participants met DSM IV criteria for ASD during their acute hospital stay. Risk factors such as level of family stress, caregiver stress, child's experience of pain, and child's age were predictive of acute stress symptoms. CONCLUSION: We have identified four risk factors of ASD that have implications for the treatment, and possibly, preventative intervention for PTSD. Further investigation and greater understanding of risk factors for ASD in children with injuries may facilitate the design of acute interventions to prevent the long-term negative outcomes of traumatic events.     

Plasma Volume Expansion 24-Hours Post-Exercise: Effect of Doubling the Volume of Replacement Fluid

The effects of two volumes (1.5 L or 3.0 L) of commercially available electrolyte beverage (1.44 mM·L^-1 Na⁺) taken during a 24-hour recovery period post-exercise, on plasma volume (PV) expansion 24-hours post-exercise were assessed. A simple random-order crossover research design was used. Subjects (n = 9 males: age 21 ± 4 years, body mass 80.0 ± 9.0 kg, peak incremental 60-second cycling power output 297 ± 45 W [means ± SD]) completed an identical exercise protocol conducted in hot ambient conditions (35^oC, 50% relative humidity) on two occasions; separated by 7-days. On each occasion, subjects received a different volume of 24-hour fluid intake (commercial beverage) in random order. In each case, the fluid was taken in five equal aliquots over 24-hours. PV expansions 24-hours post-exercise were estimated from changes in haemoglobin and haematocrit. Dependent t-testing revealed no significant differences in PV expansions between trials, however a significant expansion with respect to zero was identified in the 3.0 L trial only. Specifically, PV expansions (%) were; 1.5 L trial: (mean ± SE) 2.3 ± 2.0 (not significant with respect to zero), 3.0 L trial: 5.0 ± 2.0 (p < 0.05, with respect to zero). Under the conditions imposed in the current study, ingesting the greater volume of the beverage lead to larger mean PV expansion.

Key Points

• Greater volume of re-hydration beverage is beneficial to mean PV expansion 3-hours post-exercise, however this relationship has not been previously tested under adequate controls over 24-hours to our knowledge.
• This study indicates that under the conditions we imposed, over 24-hours increased volume (1.5 Vs. 3.0 L) of oral re-hydration fluid is associated with increased mean PV expansion.
• Although we used an almost identical exercise stimulus as previous researchers, relative intensity was slightly lower in the current study. Coincidentally, PV expansions noted during this study were approximately half those reported by others.

Key words: Hypervolemia, dehydration, re-hydration     

Correlates of habitual snoring and witnessed apnoeas in Busselton, Western Australia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify potential body size, behavioural and respiratory risk factors for habitual snoring and witnessed apnoeas in a general population. METHODS: Correlates of these conditions were studied in a sample of 3,577 adults aged 25-74 years who participated in a comprehensive health survey in Busselton, Western Australia, during 1994/95. Logistic regression was used to assess associations after age and gender adjustment and also in multivariate models. RESULTS: The prevalence of both conditions was higher in men and rose with age. After controlling for age, gender and body mass index no additional body size variable remained significantly associated with witnessed apnoeas, whereas both waist-hip ratio and neck-height ratio remained significantly associated with habitual snoring. Among behavioural variables, smoking showed the strongest association, and among respiratory symptoms, asthma for habitual snoring and bronchitis for witnessed apnoeas had significant independent associations. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study has confirmed obesity and smoking as key determinants of habitual snoring and witnessed apnoeas. It has also shown that a number of measures of obesity are independently related to habitual snoring and that asthma and bronchitis may also play a role, independently of obesity.     

The case for strategic international alliances to harness nutritional genomics for public and personal health

Nutrigenomics is the study of how constituents of the diet interact with genes, and their products, to alter phenotype and, conversely, how genes and their products metabolise these constituents into nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactive compounds. Results from molecular and genetic epidemiological studies indicate that dietary unbalance can alter gene-nutrient interactions in ways that increase the risk of developing chronic disease. The interplay of human genetic variation and environmental factors will make identifying causative genes and nutrients a formidable, but not intractable, challenge. We provide specific recommendations for how to best meet this challenge and discuss the need for new methodologies and the use of comprehensive analyses of nutrient-genotype interactions involving large and diverse populations. The objective of the present paper is to stimulate discourse and collaboration among nutrigenomic researchers and stakeholders, a process that will lead to an increase in global health and wellness by reducing health disparities in developed and developing countries.     

Pseudo-obstruction and a sprue-like syndrome from stronglyloidiasis.

Symptomatic disease from Strongyloides stercoralis has been recognized for the first time in Trinidad. Five cases are reported, all showing clinical features suggestive of a sprue-like syndrome. Subtotal jejunal villous atrophy was seen in one case and partial villous atrophy in two. Three patients had laparotomies because of suspected partial intestinal obstruction. A sprue-like syndrome in certain Caribbean immigrants should arouse a suspicion of S. stercoralis.     

Secretory effect of the venom of the scorpion Tityus trinitatis on rat pancreatic slices

A linear concentration response relationship was found for amylase release from rat pancreatic slices by venom of the scorpion Tityus trinitatis. Maximum release of amylase was caused by 20 μg venom per ml of medium. Acetylcholine, used as a standard stimulant had a maximum effect at 3 × 10^?7 M. Atropine partially blocked both venom and acetylcholine induced release of amylase. Nicotine, hexamethonium and tubocurarine did not affect this stimulated amylase release, nor did they alter the non-stimulated (basal) release of amylase. Physostigmine potentiated the venom stimulated amylase release but had no effect on non-stimulated release. These observations suggest that the venom exerts its secretory effect through a cholinergic mechanism which may involve muscarinic receptors.