The use of prevalence as a measure of lice burden: a case study of Lepeophtheirus salmonis on Scottish Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms.

This study investigates the benefits of using prevalence as a summary measure of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Aspects such as sampling effort, the relationship between abundance and prevalence arising from the negative binomial distribution, and how this relationship can be used to indicate the degree of aggregation of lice on a site at a given time point are discussed. As a case study, data were drawn from over 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms on the west coast of Scotland between 2002 and 2006. Descriptive statistics and formal analysis using a linear modelling technique identified significant variations in sea lice prevalence across year class, region and season. Supporting evidence of a functional relationship between prevalence and abundance of sea lice is provided, which is explained through the negative binomial distribution.

Temporal and spatial variations in lice numbers on salmon farms in the Hardanger fjord 2004-06.

The long and narrow Hardanger fjord in western Norway has a high density of salmon farms and has had severe salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis, problems. In the years 2004-06, salmon lice numbers were recorded in selected salmon farms in the fjord as part of a larger research project. Most farm sites participated in a strategic control programme and were deloused between November and January in each year. The aim of the programme was to achieve a mean abundance of <0.3 adult female lice at this time and to minimize the infection pressure on wild smolts in the spring. Dedicated teams carried out detailed counting of lice on farmed fish in April-September each year. Temperature conditions were fairly similar throughout the fjord and amongst years, but wide variations in salinities were observed. The two innermost zones, B and C, had the lowest lice mean abundances, whereas the outermost zones, D and E, consistently had more lice. General linear model analyses showed that differences in adult female lice abundance between the zones were associated with differing levels of salinity and emamectin benzoate treatments strategically administered. Mean fish weight was significantly positively correlated with mean abundance of adult female lice.

Fat necrosis in the breast: review of the mammographic and ultrasound features, and a strategy for management.

The present study reviews the mammographic and ultrasound features of fat necrosis, the degree of correlation between the two modalities, and proposes a strategy for management, especially in cases with atypical appearances.

Inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver.

A case of inflammatory pseudotumour of the liver is presented. The clinical, radiological and pathological findings are described and a brief discussion of this rare but important condition is presented.

Persistent inhibition of CYP3A4 by ketoconazole in modified Caco-2 cells.

PURPOSE: The intestinal metabolism of some CYP3A substrates can be altered profoundly by co-administration of the potent inhibitor, ketoconazole. The present research was conducted to test the hypothesis that, unlike the inhibition kinetics observed with isolated microsomes, inhibition of CYP3A4 by ketoconazole in an intestinal cell monolayer is time-dependent and slowly reversible. METHODS: Confluent, 1alpha,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3-treated Caco-2 cells were exposed to 1 microM ketoconazole for two hours (Phase I) and then washed three times with culture medium containing no inhibitor. This was followed by a second incubation period (Phase II) that varied in the composition of the apical and basolateral culture medium: Condition 1. apical/basolateral differentiation medium (DM); Condition 2, apical/ basolateral DM + basolateral 2g/dL Human Serum Albumin (HSA); Condition 3, apical/basolateral DM + apical/basolateral 2 g/dL HSA. After various lengths of time for the second phase (0 to 4 hours), both apical and basolateral medium were exchanged with fresh DM. Midazolam (6 microM) was included in the apical medium for determination of CYP3A4 activity (Phase III). RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA of the data revealed persistent inhibition of CYP3A4 under Conditions 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). In contrast, cells treated under Condition 3 exhibited rapid reversal of CYP3A4 inhibition. The level of CYP3A4 activity observed was inversely correlated with the amount of ketoconazole remaining in the cell monolayer at the end of Phase II. CONCLUSIONS: These studies provide mechanistic evidence that ketoconazole can be sequestered into the intestinal mucosa after oral administration, producing a persistent inhibition of first-pass CYP3A4 activity.

Prospective controlled study of hydroxyzine and cetirizine in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyzine has been used for many years for the treatment of allergic symptoms. Cetirizine, an active metabolite of hydroxyzine, has become very popular for the treatment of allergy symptoms because of its efficacy without the sedating effects of the parent compound. Little is known about the safety of hydroxyzine use during pregnancy, and there are no published reports on the effects of cetirizine on pregnancy outcome. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether hydroxyzine and cetirizine are associated with any increased risk of malformations in humans. METHODS: All pregnant women counseled by the Motherisk Program in Toronto on the use of hydroxyzine or cetirizine during their pregnancies were enrolled in a prospective, controlled, observational study. The control group consisted of pregnant women matched for age, smoking, and alcohol consumption who were counseled for non-teratogenic drug. RESULTS: One hundred twenty women were followed after exposure to either hydroxyzine or cetirizine during pregnancy. Of these, 53 were exposed to hydroxyzine during organogenesis and 39 to cetirizine. There were no significant differences found between the hydroxyzine or cetirizine groups and the control groups in the pregnancy outcome: rate of livebirths, spontaneous or therapeutic abortion, or stillbirth. There was also no difference in the rates of major or minor anomalies, mean birth weight, mode of delivery, gestational age, or presence of neonatal distress. CONCLUSIONS: The use of hydroxyzine and cetirizine does not appear to be associated with increased teratogenic risk.

Temporal changes in biotypes of Haemophilus influenzae isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis.

Isolates of Haemophilus influenzae obtained sequentially over a period of 2 years from 62 patients with cystic fibrosis were biotyped. Rapid changes were seen from month to month in biotypes isolated from the respiratory tract and only a few of the patients harboured the same biotype for several months. Up to four biotypes were present simultaneously, whereas even two different biotypes were found in only one of a series of 148 patients with respiratory infections but not cystic fibrosis. Colony morphology was no guide to biotype, since the same biotype may show different colony appearances on the same plate and different biotypes may show identical colony forms.

Generation of monoclonal antibodies against human spermatozoa and seminal plasma constituents.

Five mouse myeloma X splenocyte hybridoma cell lines synthesizing monoclonal antibody against human sperm were generated. Antibodies from three clones (VII 5, A-24 and B-20) exhibited high reactivity with sperm, as well as with seminal plasma in enzyme-lined immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA) tests, and two clones (VI 1 and VI 16) showed high reactivity only with sperm. Seminal plasma competitively inhibited binding of the monoclonal antibodies (VII 4, A-24 and B-20) to sperm in ELISA. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the three monoclonal antibody types (VII 5, A-24 and B-20) stained only 5-30% of the sperm strongly, and the rest weakly. Monoclonal antibody types VI 1 and VI 16 showed weak staining of nearly all sperm. None of these monoclonal antibodies possessed sperm-agglutinating or sperm-immobilizing activity. As determined by ELISA the class and subclass specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was: A-24, IgG1 (kappa); B-20, IgG1 (kappa); VI 1, IgG3 (kappa); VI 16, IgG1 (kappa); and VII 5, IgG1 (kappa).

The congenital warfarin syndrome: a case report.

A case is reported of a baby born with congenital abnormalities due to maternal ingestion of warfarin during pregnancy. Warfarin is known to be teratogenic, producing characteristic abnormalities, namely a hypoplastic nose, stippled epiphyses, and skeletal abnormalities. A variety of ocular abnormalities have been reported. Ophthalmologists should seek a history of maternal warfarin ingestion when seeing a baby with congenital ocular abnormalities. They should also be aware of the possible teratogenic effects when considering warfarin therapy for a woman of childbearing age.

Tonsilloadenoidectomy. Personal observations in 15,000 cases.

The indications for removal of tonsils and/or adenoids are discussed, along with preoperative assessment, operative technique, treatment of postoperative haemorrhage, aftercare, and results.

Comparison of three serological methods for the detection of hepatitis-associated antigen.

Serum hepatitis (Australia) antigen in the sera of hepatitis patients and carriers can be detected in one and a half to three hours by crossover electrophoresis. The method is more sensitive than the immunodiffusion technique commonly employed in this field. It is of the same order of sensitivity as complement fixation but is less complicated.Crossover electrophoresis is thus the method of choice for the rapid screening of sera for hepatitis antigen; complement fixation may be used for quantitative determination of antigen in positive cases.