QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube reliability for immigrants with parasitic infections in Boston, USA.

Accurate testing and treatment for latent tuberculous infection is necessary for tuberculosis elimination. Certain parasite infections are associated with increased tuberculin skin test positivity; species-specific effects on QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QGIT) have not been described. To determine whether infection with helminths or protozoa affects QGIT results. We retrospectively analyzed QGIT and parasite testing results for immigrants screened in Boston, MA, USA, from 2012 to 2017. We also prospectively measured cytokines in QGIT supernatants for a subset (n = 68) with 1) helminths, 2) Blastocystis hominis, 3) other protozoa, and 4) no parasites. Of 527 immigrants screened, 141 (26.8%) were QGIT-positive and 229 (43.4%) had parasites detected: 27/527 (5.1%) had helminths and 202/527 (38.3%) protozoa. Cytokine analysis revealed increased interleukin-10 concentrations with protozoa (P = 0.04), and non-significantly higher T-helper 2 concentrations with helminths compared with no parasites. No significant differences emerged in QGIT positivity or interferon-gamma concentrations in any group. Study results support the use of QGIT in parasite-endemic settings. .

Effect of topical diclofenac solution on discomfort after radial keratotomy.

The eyes of 65 consecutive radial keratotomy patients were treated topically with either diclofenac sodium 0.1% (Voltaren) solution or with Tears Naturale (control group) preoperatively and postoperatively in a prospective, randomized, double-masked study. During the first postoperative day, patients completed a questionnaire on discomfort level present at 15 minutes and at one, three, six, and 18 hours after surgery. Patients treated with topical diclofenac were generally more comfortable than patients in the control group. They had a significantly lower rate of "moderate" or "severe" discomfort and a higher rate of less than "mild" discomfort. Peak discomfort occurred at three hours in both groups. The prescribed optional oral analgesic was taken by 48.5% of patients in the diclofenac group and by 71.9% of those in the control group.

Relative effectiveness of topical ketorolac and topical diclofenac on discomfort after radial keratotomy.

Two prospective, randomized, double-masked studies were conducted evaluating the analgesic effect of topical eyedrops after radial keratotomy (RK). One study of 117 consecutive initial RK procedures compared topical ketorolac (Acular) with topical diclofenac (Voltaren), and another study of 23 consecutive initial RK procedures compared topical ketorolac with a control medication (HypoTears). Topical ketorolac was significantly more effective than the control but not significantly different from topical diclofenac. The onset of analgesic effect of these topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is longer than one hour. The analgesic effect of oral acetaminophen #3 significantly augments that of topical diclofenac drops for those experiencing any discomfort by six hours after surgery.

International validation study for the determination of chloramphenicol in bovine muscle.

A gas chromatographic (GC) procedure for the quantitation and GC/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometric (NICIMS) confirmation of chloramphenicol in calf muscle tissue was the subject of a validation study. Five analysts representing 5 laboratories in 4 countries participated in the quantitative method and analyzed 7 randomly numbered blind triplicates at 4 fortified and 3 incurred tissue concentrations on 3 separate days. The chloramphenicol concentrations ranged from 0 to 2.5 ppb. All data were reported to 3 significant figures. The coefficients of variation were 9.5-28.7% for repeatability and 14.6-38% over the study range for reproducibility. NICIMS data representing 3 laboratories in 3 countries successfully confirmed chloramphenicol in samples at 0.6 ppb or greater with no false positives in blank tissues.

Chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and tetracycline in edible animal tissues, liquid chromatographic method: collaborative study.

Thirteen laboratories analyzed samples of edible animal tissues for tetracycline residues. The method included extraction of analytes into buffer, elution from a C18 solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge, and reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) analysis, including use of a confirmation column. An additional laboratory, using an alternative LC assay based on a different sample cleanup, also analyzed the samples. Results showed the 2 methods are comparable. The LC method for determination of cholortetracycline, oxytetracycline, and tetracycline in edible animal tissues has been adopted by AOAC INTERNATIONAL. Results from 13 laboratories indicate that the method under study provides generally better results at the higher concentrations tested than at concentrations near the detection limit and that there is less problem with interferences in muscle tissue than in kidney. The method can achieve reliable results for analytes and matrixes studied at concentrations from 0.1 to 0.6 ppm and above, depending on the analyte-matrix combination, with generally better performance to be expected with muscle than with kidney. The poorer performance for fortified samples, particularly kidney, was attributed to additional homogenization steps required to prepare these samples. Recovery of analytes from different lots of solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridges was an important variable.

Tissue sulfonamide concentration and correlation in turkeys.

Nineteen hen turkeys (10 to 12 kg each) were used in a feeding study to determine sulfadimethoxine and sulfaquinoxaline concentrations in blood serum, liver, and skeletal muscle, as well as the respective ratios at selected withdrawal intervals. Two feeds were prepared by use of premixes to achieve 60 mg of sulfadimethoxine/kg and 100 mg of sulfaquinoxaline/kg, respectively. Each of the medicated feeds was given to 9 turkeys for 7 days. The turkeys were then fed nonmedicated feed at intervals from 24 to 56 hours and were slaughtered. One turkey was used as control. The serum/liver and serum/muscle ratios for sulfaquinoxaline were 60 to 70% higher than for sulfadimethoxine. However, the liver/muscle ratio for both sulfonamides was equivalent, approximately 3. Disposition of both sulfonamides approximated first-order pharmacokinetics. The calculated half-life of sulfadimethoxine was half that of sulfaquinoxaline, approximately 16 vs 30 hours. The coefficients of variation in the serum/tissue ratios for both sulfonamides were between 13% and 25% for serum/liver and less than 15% for serum/muscle, indicating excellent potential for using serum as a predictor of actionable concentrations of sulfonamide residues.

Chloramphenicol concentrations in calf muscle tissue.

Twenty-five 9- to 11-week-old calves were administered 2 doses of chloramphenicol prepared in propylene glycol (13.6 mg/kg of body weight IV; 6.8 mg/kg IM; or 13.6 mg/kg IM) at 24-hour intervals. Calves were euthanatized at designated times from 2 to 72 hours after the last dose was administered. Muscle tissues were collected immediately after euthanasia, and chloramphenicol concentrations in the tissues were determined.

Sulfamethazine blood/tissue correlation study in swine.

Seventy market-weight hogs (90 to 113 kg) were used in a feeding study to determine the correlation of serum sulfamethazine concentrations with sulfamethazine concentrations in liver and muscle at time of slaughter. Test groups were fed medicated feeds prepared from commercial medicated premixes containing 110 g of sulfamethazine/metric ton for 30 days. Fifteen days before hogs were slaughtered, test groups were given maintenance feeds containing 1.1 to 13.9 g of sulfamethazine/metric ton and were fed these diets until slaughtered. Comparison of data from positive- and negative-control groups indicated that total withdrawal of sulfamethazine in the feed was not necessary for the liver to contain less than the allowed tolerance of 0.1 mg of sulfamethazine/kg of liver at slaughter. Feed concentrations of up to 2 g of sulfamethazine/metric ton could be tolerated in withdrawal feeds before liver sulfamethazine values exceeded 0.1 mg/kg of liver. Serum/tissue sulfamethazine ratios were erratic in hogs given 1.1 to 2.7 g of sulfamethazine/metric ton, but became less variable in hogs given greater than 5.7 g/metric ton. Feed concentrations greater than 8 g of sulfamethazine/metric ton produced values greater than 0.1 mg/kg of muscle and values of about 0.4 mg/kg of liver. When serum sulfamethazine concentrations alone were used as a predictor for tissue sulfamethazine values, 100% of the liver values exceeded 0.10 mg/kg of liver when sulfamethazine in serum was greater than 0.45 mg/L. However, 57.4% of samples having serum concentrations between 0.10 and 0.45 mg/L had associated sulfamethazine values greater than 0.1 mg/kg of liver. All hogs having serum sulfamethazine concentrations less than 0.1 mg/L had sulfamethazine concentrations less than 0.1 mg/kg of liver.

Interaction of reovirus with cell surface receptors. III. Reovirus type 3 induces capping of viral receptors on murine lymphocytes.

We have previously shown that there are receptors for the hemagglutinin of reovirus type 3 on a subset of both murine T and B cells. Using purified reovirus type 3 particles as a ligand, followed by FITC-labeled antiviral antibody we have now been able to demonstrate viral induced capping of the reovirus receptor on both B and T cells. Kinetic studies and inhibition experiments using cytochalasin B and colchicine demonstrate that reovirus-induced capping of the viral receptor on both B and T cells has characteristics identical to the capping of immunoglobulin on B cells by anti-immunoglobulin reagents. Removal of the viral receptor and reexpression after overnight culture was demonstrated after membrane treatment by proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, pronase) or after viral induced modulation of receptor. Protein synthesis was required for reexpression since cyclohexamide prevented the reexpression of receptor in culture. Co-capping studies utilizing 2-color immunofluorescence failed to identify and association between the reovirus receptor and a variety of known surface structures on either B or T cells, but demonstrated independent modulation of the viral receptor from other surface structures. These studies suggest that the lymphocyte surface binding site for reovirus type 3 is a distinct structure that behaves identically in capping studies of both B and T cells, is protein in nature, and is intimately linked to the cell cytoskeleton.

Validation study of gas chromatographic determination of pentachlorophenol in animal liver.

A validation study was conducted of a gas chromatographic procedure for the determination of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in chicken, pork, and beef liver. Five analysts representing 5 laboratories analyzed randomly numbered blind duplicates at 3 fortified tissue concentrations and one incurred tissue on 2 consecutive days. The PCP concentrations ranged from approximately 40 to 400 parts per billion (ppb). All data were reported to 3 significant figures in ppb. The coefficients of variation for repeatability were between 2.8 and 8.5%, except for the beef liver, at a mean value of 80 ppb PCP, where the CV was 11.3%. The CVs for reproducibility were in the range of 9.7-16.5% with little significant difference by species. The CV asymptotically approached 10% as the PCP level increased.