Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in Slovakian wildlife.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the causative agent of infectious enteritis called paratuberculosis that has a high economic impact on the worldwide livestock production. A central important question arises: Can wildlife animals serve as a reservoir for transmission of MAP to domestic ruminants? With this in mind, we devised a study to detect MAP in various Slovakian wildlife species found in the areas where paratuberculosis had been documented in domestic ruminants. The samples of parenchymatous organs (intestines, ileocecal valve and mesenteric lymphatic nodes) from 83 wildlife animals representing 13 species, inclu- ding 7 herbivorous, 5 carnivorous and 1 omnivorous species were collected during a four-year period. The clinical and pathological examinations failed to demonstrate any manifestations of paratuberculosis in any of the wildlife samples. The detection of MAP was done by widely used tests, i.e. cultivation and the PCR analysis. The bacterial cultures revealed the growth of Mycobacterium spp. colonies in 58 (70%) of all of the wild animals, but the PCR testing demonstrated paratuberculosis only in one (7.69%) of the roe deer population.

Influence of storage conditions and shotshell wounding on the hygienic condition of hunted, uneviscerated pheasant (Phasianus colchicus).

The effects of shot wounds on the hygienic conditions of pheasants (particularly those in the body cavity) were studied. Slaughtered (n = 33) and hunted pheasants (31 specimens with, and 33 specimens without shots in the body cavity) were stored uneviscerated at 0 and 4 degrees C. Specimens were taken at d 0, 3, 7, and 14. Hunted pheasants differed from slaughtered pheasants with respect to muscular hemorrhages and blood and fecal matter in the body cavity but also with regard to the presence of Escherichia coli in breast and thigh muscles. In addition, a higher thigh muscle pH (P < 0.05) was noted in hunted pheasants, with no significant (P > 0.05) increase observed during storage. Concentrations of biogenic amines in muscle tissue remained below the determination limit of 1 mg/kg for 90% of samples analyzed, with the maximum concentration for the remaining 10% of samples reaching 5.7 mg/kg, indicating a low incidence of contaminant bacteria. The observed changes in pH values and levels of biogenic amines failed to correlate with the presence or absence of shot lesions in the body cavity or abdominal region. Total aerobic counts increased significantly during storage, but the absolute numbers were consistently below 10(6) log(10) cfu/g. Although E. coli were <1 log(10) cfu/g in muscles of hunted pheasants on d 3 at 4 degrees C, counts of up to 3.7 log(10) cfu/g on d 7 at 4 degrees C indicated a loss of hygienic quality. Therefore, it is recommended that hunted, uneviscerated pheasants be stored 3 d at 4 degrees C, but not longer than 7 d after the hunt.

Prevention of preterm births: a perinatal study in Haguenau, France.

A reduction in preterm births has been observed in Haguenau (Eastern France) during a 12-year intervention study with a program for prevention of preterm deliveries. The Perinatal Study of Haguenau was an observation tool used in a stable population, and it allowed measurement of the way women have progressively responded to the new proposals in prenatal care. It also allowed measurement of the results of the interventions: low birth weight (less than 2,500 g) and preterm birth rates (less than 37 weeks of gestation) among single live births. The total duration of the study was divided into three periods of four years (1971 through 1974, 1975 through 1978, and 1979 through 1982), for which the numbers of single live births are 5,763, 4,957, and 5,919, respectively. For the same periods, the low-birth-weight rates, 4.6%, 4.0%, and 3.8%, respectively, showed a significant decrease (P less than .001). Following a similar pattern, the rates of preterm birth were 5.4%, 4.1%, and 3.7% (a significant reduction with P less than .001). These improvements in pregnancy outcome do not disappear after standardization of mother's age, high blood pressure, or social class distribution. These findings, which concur with the results of others, enhance the hypothesis of a direct relationship between a prevention program and a reduction in preterm birth rates.

Twinning following oral contraceptive discontinuation.

The characteristics of 673 mothers of twins were compared to those of a matched sample of mothers of singletons. Both groups of mothers were interviewed just after delivery, and births in each group were matched for time and place. Of the characteristics studied, the use of oral contraceptives (OC) displayed a significant negative association with dizygotic twinning, with an estimated relative risk of 0.55 (95% confidence limits: 0.39/0.78). Among other maternal trails significantly associated with dizygotic twinning, ony age, parity and weight were possible confounders as far as the relationship between OC use and dizygotic twinning was concerned. Adjustment for these 3 characteristics left this relationship unaltered. These findings are compatible with the existence of the a direct relationship between OC use and a reduction in dizygotic twinning. Review of the available evidence concerning reproductive capacities following OC discontinuation suggests that the higher incidence of chromosomic abnormalities among spontaneous abortuses of OC users or their lower fertility could explain a reduction of dizygotic twinning rate after OC discontinuation. It is concluded that examination of te time and place variations in OC use and dizygotic twinning would help to clarify the nature of their relationship.

The action of calcitonin gene-related peptide on astrocyte morphology and cyclic AMP accumulation in astrocyte cultures from neonatal rat brain.

The actions of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were investigated on 9- to 14-day-old astrocyte cultures obtained from the cerebra of 1- to 2-day-old rats. The morphological appearance of the cells was monitored by immunofluorescent staining of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and the concentration of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) was measured in the cultures using radioimmunoassay. CGRP induced a morphological change in cultured astrocytes from rat brain. Flat, polygonal cells positive for GFAP became multipolar with many processes. In addition, CGRP stimulated the accumulation of cyclic AMP by up to 30-fold, half maximal stimulation being obtained at CGRP concentrations in the range 100-300 nM. These data provide evidence for the presence of functional CGRP receptors on astrocytes and suggest a role for CGRP as an intercellular messenger controlling the state of differentiation and activation of astroglial cells.

Protein A/G dependent ELISA a promising diagnostic tool in Lyme disease seroprevalence in game animals and hunting dogs.

One of the major problems in serodiagnosis in wild animals is unavailability of specific antiglobulin conjugate. Our study focuses on validation of Protein A/G dependent ELISA in game animals like deer and mouflons as well as in hunting dogs. Binding ability of Protein A/G-conjugate to antibodies was the highest in dogs followed by fallow deer and mouflons. Three different whole cell Borrelia antigens were used to evaluate antigen dependent variation. In new Protein A/G-ELISA the highest sensitivities (90.50%, deer; 85.37%, mouflon & 94.29%, dog) were obtained by B. garinii antigen, with no statistically significant variation (chi(2), P>0.05) among all other antigens used. Average seroprevalences observed in deer, mouflons and dogs were 44.90%, 29.41% and 30.43%, respectively. Marked influence of age on seroprevalence was noticed. Protein A/G-ELISA proved to be sensitive and promising diagnostic tool in serodiagnosis of Lyme disease in game ungulates and it can be used effectively for serosurvey in different wild mammals.

Dry skin, water, and lubrication.

Lubrication of the skin will become more important as our population ages. Many excellent moisturizers are available for lubrication. Individual ingredients that are touted heavily are not as important as the total mixture. The single most important factor is the regular use of the products to prevent overdrying of the skin. How should we use this information to achieve our aims? 1. The frequency of bathing, showering, and cleansing should be reduced. The water should be kept at the coolest temperature practical, and one should get out as soon as possible. Sponge bathing should be encouraged. Bath oils make tubs slippery and are wiped off by towels. It is better to apply an emollient directly on skin that is still damp. 2. Room temperatures should be kept low and comfortable and humidity should be kept as high as possible without causing damage. 3. Overdrying should be avoided by limiting the exposure to soap, detergents, solvents, and water. In addition, friction from washcloths, rough clothing, and abrasives should be avoided. 4. Emollients should be used frequently and selected to be compatible with the individual's situation. Bedridden individuals should use petrolatum, whereas the ambulatory would be better served by the use of lotions and creams. 5. If itching is present or reticulated cracking (eczema craquelé) is seen, more aggressive treatment is indicated, including possible use of topical steroid preparations. 6. A preparation that is cosmetically acceptable, so that it will be used regularly, should be prescribed. One must emphasize its importance so that the individual avoids serious and chronic dermatitis.

Effect of Ni2+ on the testosterone production of mouse primary Leydig cell culture.

This study evaluated the effects of Ni2 on testosterone (T) production of mouse Leydig cells in vitro following an in vivo or in vitro exposure. CFLP mice were subjected to repeated exposure (4 treatments, subcutaneously, every 3 d) to 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg body weight of NiSO4 or 1.0 ml of 0.9% NaCl solution. Depressed human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated T response was seen over a 48-h culture of testicular interstitial cells obtained from the animals exposed to 20 mg/kg or higher dose of NiSO4, while the basal T production remained unaltered. There were no Ni2+-related changes in the body weights or in the weights of testes, epididymides, adrenals, and kidneys. No histopathological alteration was found in the examined organs of NiSO4-treated groups except the dose-dependent tubular lesions in kidney as a result of a specific rather than a general cytotoxic action. To assess the direct effect of Ni2+ on Leydig-cell T production, testicular interstitial cells were cultured with Ni2+ (62.5 to 1000 microM) for 48 h in the presence or absence of maximally stimulating concentration of hCG. Dose-dependent depression in hCG-stimulated T production was seen at 125 microM or higher dose of Ni2+, while basal T production was unaffected. In order to evaluate the time dependency of this effect the cells were cultured for various times in the presence or absence of 250 and 1000 microM Ni2+. Decreased hCG-stimulated T production was found in the cultures maintained at least for 4 h in the presence of 1000 microM Ni2+, whereas at 250 microM at least 16 h was required to elicit the depression. Cell viability was assessed by a metabolic activity (MTT) assay. The viability of cells was unaltered by 250 microM Ni2+, and only a slight decrease was found even at the end of the 48-h culture period in the presence of 1000 microM Ni2+. Our results show a dose-related depression in stimulated T production of mouse Leydig cells in culture following either in vivo or in vitro Ni2+ treatment at a dose that does not induce any general toxic or significant cytotoxic action. The data of the time-course study indicate that the effect of Ni2+ on Leydig-cell T production is both time and concentration dependent, and not due to cytotoxicity.

Specific amino acids moderate the effects on Ni2+ on the testosterone production of mouse leydig cells in vitro.

The purpose of this investigation was to study the effectiveness of two nickel-binding amino acids, histidine (His) and cysteine (Cys), to prevent the inhibitory action of Ni2+ on testosterone (T) production by mouse primary Leydig cell culture. The maximal human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated T response was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in the culture media. Three types of experiments were performed. In a concentration-response study, Ni2+ (62.5 to 1,000 microM) was added to the cells simultaneously with equimolar or twice the equimolar concentrations of His or Cys and the cultures were maintained for 48 h. Nickel-induced reduction in T production was completely prevented by equimolar concentrations of His at Ni2+ concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 microM; equimolar or twice the equimolar concentrations of His were only partially effective at 1,000 microM Ni2+. Protective action of Cys was complete only at the lowest concentration of Ni2+ (125 microM). In a second series, the cells were incubated for various times (0.5 to 48 h) with 1,000 microM Ni2+ in the presence of 2,000 microM His or Cys. Increasing the time of incubation, the protective effect of both amino acids against Ni2+ was reduced. In a third series, attempts were made to reverse the action of 1,000 microM Ni2+ after incubation with cells for various times (0.5 to 24 h), followed by exposure to 2,000 microM His or Cys. Cell cultures were maintained for 48 h. A partial recovery of hCG-stimulated T production could be observed only if the amino acid was added not later than 4 h after the metal. This time was also required to elicit the T depression produced by Ni2+. Administration of either His or Cys at later times had no effect. Our results show that both His and Cys are able to moderate the effects of Ni2+ on Leydig cell T production, depending on the concentration of this metal ion, as well as on amino acid. However, at higher Ni2+ concentrations the complete protection by His or Cys is only temporary. Administration of these amino acids after the Ni2+-produced decrease in T production was not able to reverse the process.

Spontaneous abortions in sibship of children with congenital malformation or malignant disease.

Parents of 751 children affected by cancer/leukemia, congenital heart disease, strawberry nevus or mental retardation have been investigated with respect to their reproductive history and their exposure to risk factors for spontaneous abortion. Differences between the four groups were established for the number of children in the sibship, the proportion of multigravidae and the spontaneous abortion rate among these women. The greatest differences were observed in the two groups of malformed children compared with the other two groups, being as marked in those with a severe malformation (heart defect) as in those with a benign one (strawberry nevus). Taking known risk factors for spontaneous abortion into account did not explain the observed differences. An etiological hypothesis is put forward which takes account of the high proportion of quantitative abnormalities of the karyotype associated with congenital heart disease and spontaneous abortion.

Comparison of two successive policies of cervical cerclage for the prevention of pre-term birth.

The percentage of women receiving cervical cerclage increased from 5% to 18% between two periods at Haguenau maternity hospital, according to a new policy for the prevention of pre-term birth. A parallel reduction of premature deliveries by about a half was observed in the relevant group of women. This suggests that cerclage might be employed on another basis than is currently the case, and that a randomized trial is urgently needed to define its indications more precisely.

Cosmetics, Barnum, and science.

The marketing and use of cosmetics can involve consumers, government regulators, and dermatologists. As practitioners, we should be aware of these interactions and of the role cosmetics play in the lives of our patients, in the marketplace, and in society as a whole.

Streaky pigmentation in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

We report a case of hyperpigmentation due to bleomycin treatment in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although this type of hyperpigmentation has been previously seen in patients with cancer who are receiving bleomycin, this is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of bleomycin-induced hyperpigmentation in an AIDS patient and should be added to the growing list of cutaneous eruptions seen in these patients.

An unanticipated use of a topical cream.

A sixteen-year-old black male, distraught over his acne, injected his face via syringe and needle with a topical cream. Within twelve hours, the injected lesions became red and edematous, and later tender. After treatment with oral prednisone and erythromycin, the lesions resolved. This case serves to illustrate the unexpected misuses of cosmetics, in this instance, a patient anxious only to improve his acne problem.

[Analysis of the geographical variations of twinning rate in France. An indirect approach to study spontaneous abortions (author's transl)]. / Analyse des variations géographiques de la fréquence des accouchements gémellaires en France. Une approche indirecte de l'étude des avortements spontanés.

The hypothesis of the existence of spatial variations of spontaneous abortion rates has two logical consequences on dizygotic twinning rates: they must be heterogeneously distributed and show a positive correlation with natality. French data available on dizygotic twinning rates from 1950 to 1974 are in agreement with both implications. Although alternative explanations are possible, these findings do reinforce the relevance of dizygotic twinning rate variations as a tool for the assessment of reproduction failures.

PIP: The authors examine the hypothesis that there are spatial variations in spontaneous abortion rates that can be identified through variations in dizygotic twinning rates. French data on dizygotic twinning rates from 1950 to 1974 are used to support this hypothesis (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[Water hardness and cardiovascular mortality. Discussion of evidence from geographical pathology (author's transl)]. / Dureté de l'eau et mortalité cardiovasculaire. Analyse critique des arguments de pathologie géographique.

The existence of a significant negative correlation between hardness of drinking water and mortality rates from cardiovascular disease has been established by numerous authors. The intensity of this relationship varies according to the country concerned, the size of the areas studied, and the confounding factors taken into consideration. Nevertheless, the problem concerning the interpretation of the correlation has not yet been resolved. In particular the methodological problem resulting from the contiguity of the geographic units has been generally neglected. It is shown that these difficulties weaken the conviction that the relationship is a causal one.

[Water hardness and cardiovascular mortality. A study of 947 alsatian communities (author's transl)]. / Dureté de l'eau et mortalité cardiovasculaire. Analyse portant sur 947 communes alsaciennes.

In Alsace (France) drinking water is supplied from two different sources. This situation is favourable to study the effects on human health of various water characteristics, among which hardness. However it would be misleading to consider the 947 towns or villages as independent units of observation because of their geographical adjacencies. An aggregation algorithm of these units has been set up. It consists in a progressive regrouping of adjacent areas, similar "enough" from the point of view of the parameters studied, the aim of the procedure being to get final areas with contrasted values of water characteristics. This partition is then used to compute rank correlation coefficients between water parameters and various mortality rates. With this method, no significant correlation was found between water hardness and mortality, in spite of the existence of a sharp gradient of hardness.

[Factors of interindividual variations of blood lead levels (author's transl)]. / Facteurs de variation interindividuelle de la plombémie.

The blood lead levels of 1.877 persons living in 8 large French cities or in their suburbs were measured. Blood lead level varies with sex, age, tobacco, wine consumption and date of construction of the house. The specific effect of each of these variables can be quantified. The slope of the regression of blood lead level on age is approximatively 1 microgram/dl per 14 years. Blood lead level increases by 1 microgram for people living in houses built before 1945. The effect of tobacco and wine consumption is greater among males than females. For males the increase is about 3 microgram/dl between non smokers and heavy smokers whereas for females it is about 2 microgram/dl. Wine effect is about 2 microgram/dl among males and 1 microgram/dl among females. These findings are discussed in terms of differences in lead supply or modifications in the number and condition of red blood cells.

[Distribution of birth weights and influenza epidemics (author's transl)]. / Distribution des poids de naissance et épidémies de grippe.

The possible consequences of influenza during pregnancy on the weight of the new born were studied. It was shown that the major 1969-70 winter influenza epidemic in Alsace was followed by a decrease in the mean birth weight registered in Haguenau's maternity hospital. This study confirms previous work on the subject and shows that birth weight can be used as a valuable tool at the epidemiologic scale.

[Long-term outcome of children who were prematurely born or small for gestational age]. / Devenir à long term d'enfants nés prématurés ou hypotrophiques.

All children born between 1971 and 1974 at the Haguenau maternity center (Lower-Rhine department, N.E. France) and attending school in Haguenau were examined by school doctors. The paper shows that there were differences in development of the 3 groups studied: 54 children born before term, 62 born small-for-dates and 1,188 controls. The rapid growth rate observed in the preterm children enabled them to catch up with the controls in physical growth criteria, in contrast to those in the small-for-dates group. Overall, those in the preterm group seemed to enjoy better health than those in the small-for-dates group, but their adaptation to school life was poorer.