Postmortem migration of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoidea: Cyclophyllidea) in the laboratory rat.

Postmortem migration is of considerable concern in surveys and studies of parasite ecology where accurate estimates of parasite location is crucial. Yet, there is no quantitative information documenting this phenomenon. Twenty-seven Sprague-Dawley rats were each inoculated with 5 cysticercoids of Hymenolepis diminuta. Four weeks postinfection, 15 rats were killed by cervical dislocation. The small intestines of 3 rats were removed immediately and fast frozen. Additional groups of 3 rats each (experimentals) were processed at intervals of 30, 60, 120, and 240 min after death (AD). Four additional groups of 3 rats (controls) were killed and processed at 30, 60, 120, and 240 min in order to assess changes due to circadian movement. Changes in the position of the scolex and biomass (dry weight) were assessed as a proportion of small intestine length for the following criteria: anterior, median, and posterior location. The only significant within-group difference was an anterior shift in median biomass in the experimental group. Between-group differences were not evident at 30 min. Significant posterior shifts were found in anterior and median scolex position of the experimentals at 120 and 240 min AD, respectively. Median and posterior biomass shifted significantly anteriorly at 60 and 120 min AD in the experimental group, respectively, and worm range was significantly reduced in the experimentals at 120 min AD. There appears to be a 30-min period following host death in which H. diminuta does not change its position within the rat small intestine.

138 cases of mandibular fractures in four government hospitals from July 1995 to July 1996.

A descriptive type of study was utilized in the presentation of this paper. The main sources of information were the different government hospitals namely, East Avenue Medical Center, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Hospital, Philippine Orthopedic Hospital, and V. Luna Memorial Hospital. This paper was based on information gathered from actual cases and medical records of the patients treated in the above mentioned government hospitals from July 1995 to July 1996. The results of the study sample shows that 117 (84.8%) males were affected. The major cause of mandibular fracture was alleged assaults or mauling comprising 60 (43.5%) cases of the entire study. The symphysis was the part of the mandible most susceptible to fracture having 75 (54%) cases of the study.