Phosphate free perfusion prevents washout of tissue creatine in Langendorff perfused rabbit heart.

Rabbit hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer supplemented with 15 mM glucose and 10 mU/ml of insulin +/- Pi. At the end of 60 min the hearts were freeze-clamped and the content of ATP, creatine phosphate, creatine, lactate, pyruvate, DHAP and 3-P glycerate were determined enzymatically in neutralized perchloric acid tissue extracts. The free cytosolic ADP and Pi and the cytosolic NAD+ redox and phosphorylation potentials were calculated from the measured metabolite concentrations. Pi free perfusion resulted in increased creatine, free cytosolic ADP and cytosolic phosphorylation potential, decreased calculated free Pi and no change in cardiac ATP and creatine phosphate content. The increase in the cytosolic phosphorylation potential was due to the lowering of cytosolic free Pi. The increase in ADP was due to the increase in creatine. The increase in creatine appeared to be due to an inhibition of creatine efflux from the heart during Pi free perfusion which was mediated by an enhanced Na+ electrochemical gradient.

The "crowding effect" phenomenon in Ascaris lumbricoides.

Ascaris lumbricoides worm populations were studied from 150 Filipino children (0-14 years) dewormed with pyrantel pamoate (Combantrin) or oxantel-pyrantel pamoate (Quantrel). Populations were classified according to intensity of infection: very light, light, moderate or heavy. A total of 2072 adult worms were sexed (939 males and 1133 females) and weighed. Descriptive statistics on the weights obtained from each sex were derived and one-way ANOVA was performed to compare the mean weights among the 4 intensity classes. Linear regression analysis (individual worm weight versus total worm burden) was also employed to equalize the possible influence of host factors. Statistical analysis revealed that mean weights of both sexes were significantly different and decreased as worm burden increased. This strongly suggests that the "crowding effect" phenomenon may also apply to Ascaris lumbricoides, and not only to tapeworms, as reported in the literature.

An attempt to study the case fatality rate in Schistosoma japonicum infection in the Philippines.

As a sequence to a cross-sectional study on the clinical gradient of the disease by Pesigan et al., (1965) a follow-up of the subjects in that study was made after 12 years. Of the 135 untreated cases followed up, 23 (17.04%) died from various causes of which 12 (8.89%) had signs and symptoms attributable to schistosomiasis as the immediate cause or one of the main causes of death. This occurred in 1 to 11 years with an average of 5 years, which corresponds roughly to 1.78% of the infected cases per year. This is considered a conservative estimate because in the other deaths due to other diseases, schistosomiasis is a contributory cause. A diminishing severity of the disease was observed among the surviving patients which could imply that they must have developed some degree of immunity to the disease.

Vector mosquitoes of Wuchereria bancrofti at Bicol region in the Philippines. 1. Transmission capability.

Mosquitoes were surveyed for the capability of filaria transmission at Sitio Bacolod and Barrio Salvacion, in Bicol region, Luzon, Philippines. The results of indoor collections and experimental infections showed that the infective rates and the median density of infective larvae per infected mosquito were significantly higher in Aedes poicilius than in Culex quinquefasciatus. Aedes poicilius was found to be the principal vector of bancroftian filariasis in this region.

Parasites: treatment and prevention of infestation.

PIP: The control of intestinal roundworms, particularly in developing countries including the Philippines, is difficult due to poor environmental sanitation and personal hygiene, lack of health education and adequate supply of potable water and the low socioeconomic status of the people in these countries. Ascaris is the most common parasite of man in both temperate and tropical countries. About 900 million of the world's population are affected. The most frequent complaint of people with ascariasis are vague abdominal discomfort and colicky pains in the upper abdomen. In addition to a variety of medical and surgical problems, the adult worms steal food nutrients from the host causing loss of appetite, faulty absorption, and loss of weight. The most effective means of controlling these common intestinal worms is a combination of personal hygiene, sanitary disposal of body waste, health education and environmental sanitation, an adequate supply of potable water and mass treatment of the population. Because poverty, ignorance and lack of discipline are prevalent, it is not possible to apply all these factors simultaneously. Mass treatment together with personal hygiene and proper disposal of human waste are sufficient for effective control. Recent research work compared 3 different methods of treatment. The findings suggest that mass treatments of a community given 3 times each year at 4 month intervals for a period of 3 years appears to be the most effective in controlling intestinal worms.^ieng

Reinfection and infection rates of ascariasis in relation to seasonal variation in the Philippines.

Stool examinations of 320 primary school children for eggs of Ascaris revealed a prevalence of 74.0 percent. Reinfection and infection rates were determined on a monthly basis with egg-positive subjects treated correspondingly. Due to dropouts of subjects, only 154 children completed the 12-month observation. About 15% of children remained negative after treatment during one year but 85% got reinfected, with those reinfected only once being the highest then those reinfected twice, followed by those reinfected more than twice in a year. Of the 203 Ascaris worms collected 69% were females and 31% were males with a sex ratio of 2.4 females to one male; 73% were mature and 27% were immature females; 70% were mature and 30% were immature males; mean number of worms per child was 2.6. The mean length and weight of female was 22.9 cm and 3.6 gms respectively while for males it was 16.1 cm and 1.7 gm respectively. The graph showing amount of rainfall, reinfection and infection rates of ascariasis revealed the presence of two major peaks both in the reinfection and infection rates noted in December-January and May-June. Likewise, the rainfall also peaked twice namely in August and October. It appears that ascariasis reinfection or transmission is highest when rainfall is minimal and lowest when rainfall is at its highest peak. Based on the peaks of reinfection and infection, it is suggested the school children be dewormed in June and in December each year for at least three years.

Paragonimiasis in the Philippines: current status.

Paragonimiasis in the Philippines was first reported in 1907. The first attempt to study its life cycle was made in 1941 when metacercariae of Paragonimus were found in fresh-water mountain crabs. At present the causative agent of human paragonimiasis in this country is Paragonimus westermani, although the new name, Paragonimus philippinensis, has been proposed instead. The second species of Paragonimus, Paragonimus siamensis, was reported in cats in 1973. The prevalence of disease in two endemic areas ranges from 0.5 to 12%. Transmission to man is attributed to the preparation of local delicacies using raw crab juice, eating of undercooked roasted crabs by children and eating of raw crabs by adult males with local alcoholic drinks. Microscopic examination of sedimented sputum collected over 24 h and dissolved in 3% sodium hydroxide appears to be the best diagnostic technique when performed twice. Intradermal testing followed by sputum examination is recommended in paragonimiasis surveys. Bithionol and probably praziquantel (2-cyclohexylcarbonyl-1,2,3,6,7,11b-hexahydro-4H-pyrazino[2,1-a]++ +isoquinolin- 4-one, EMBAY 8440, Biltricide) are drugs of choice for treatment. The first intermediate hosts are Antemelania asperata and Antemelania dactylus, formerly Brotia asperata, with an infection rate of less than 1%, while the second intermediate crustacean host is Sundathelphusa philippina, formerly Parathelphusa grapsoides, with an infection rate ranging from 50 to 100%. So far, the natural animal reservoir hosts are cats, dogs and field rats.

An epidemiological study of filariasis in Sorsogon province, Republic of the Philippines, with notes on experimental mosquito infection.

An epidemiological survey was conducted on Bancroftian filariasis in Sorsogon province, the Philippines, with special regard to low density microfilaremia (LDF). Filtration technique using nuclepore membrane examining 1 ml blood revealed 31% positive rate for microfilaria out of 262 volunteers. Out of 82 positives 21 (25.6%) had LDF (less than 10 in 1 ml blood). No conspicuous grouping of LDF was noted in younger age groups or sexes. In three out of 12 clinical filariasis, microfilaria was detected but none of them were LDF. Among 22 cases treated with diethylcarbamazine, nine subsequently had LDF suggesting necessity of improvement of drug administration regimen to avoid incomplete treatment. A series of feeding experiments using two mosquito species, Aedes poicilius and Culex quinquefasciatus, on volunteers showed that both species could act as vectors in the region. No larva was detected in either species fed on LDF carriers. It was concluded that there is little possibility that LDF plays an important role in the transmission of Bancroftian filariasis in the region.

Study of lung flukes from Philippines: --a preliminary report.

In this paper taxonomic study on paragonimus including their metacercariae obtained from the crabs collected from Sorsogon, Luzon, Philippines and adult worms and ova obtained through animal feeding, with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that there may exist two or more species of lung flukes in Philippines. The occurrence of Semisulcospira libertina in addition to Antemelania dactylus (Lea) as an additional snail host is mentioned for the first time. The chromosome Karyotyping of the adult worms revealed that they belong to the diploid pattern. Electronic scanning showed that the cuticular spines of the Paragonimus from Sorsogon look like "pineapple ears" both in distribution and in appearance, a new finding that has not been recorded before. In the lungs of a white rat killed 290 days after infection, two adult worms were obtained within the solitary cyst. These 2 adult worms measured 4.5 x 2.5 mm and 4.5 x 3.0 mm respectively. Their unusually small size and somewhat round shape suggest that they may be of a different species from those hitherto reported in the Philippines. Clearcut evidence is presented for the first time, demonstrating the occurrence of the phenomenon of cross fertilization (allogamy) of lung flukes.

Treatment of falciparum malaria with clindamycin.

Foram estudados dois grupos de pacientes portadores de malaria por P. falciparum que receberam o antibiotico durante sete dias. A um desses grupos, com 24 pacientes foi administrada a dose de 300 mg/dia, dividida a cada 12 horas. A via endovenosa foi utilizada durante tres dias e, a seguir, a via oral por mais quatro dias. Ao outro grupo, de 12 pacientes, administrou-se 600 mg/dia de clindamicina seguindo identico regimen do grupo anterior.Em testes de resistencia a cloroquina, evidenciou-se positividade em cinco pacientes do primeiro grupo e tres do segundo, a nivel de R-II. Ambos os regimes provaram efetividade na cure de malaria por P. falciparum

Comparison of the blood film, Millipore filter and Nuclepore filter techniques for the detection of microfilaremia in a field survey in the Philippines.

The blood film, Millipore filter and Nuclepore filter techniques were applied in a filariasis field survey at a village in the Philippines. venous blood from each person was examined by the three techniques to compare their efficacy of microfilariae detection. Overall positive rate was 16.1% by the combined techniques. Microfilaria positive rate was highest in Nuclepore filter method (15.6%) followed by Millipore technique (13.6%) and blood film (11.5%), but their difference was not significant statistically. The ratio of the total microfilaria counts by the three techniques was 1:29.8:30.3, which seems to reflect the ratio of the blood volumes used. There was no significant difference between the microfilaria counts by the three techniques adjusted to the same volume of 30 microliter and examined by F-test. It is considered that the blood film is still of practical value in field surveys.

Clinical trials of broad spectrum anthelmintics against soil-transmitted helminthiasis.

Clinical trials on the three broad spectrum anthelmintics against trichuriasis, ascariasis and hookworm infection were carried out in a rural community in Irosin, Sorsogon. Flubendazole (Fluvermal) appears to be a promising drug against trichuriasis particularly when periodic mass treatment of a community is carried out. Mebendazole (Antiox) also appears to be promising given as single dose during mass treatment of soil-transmitted helminthiasis. As shown in previous studies, oxantel-pyrantel (Quantrel) should be given at 15 mg/kg body weight at 12-hour intervals or 20 mg/kg body weight single dose rather than 10 mg/kg body weight in a single dose when treating trichuriasis.