Assessment of the influence of HLA class I and class II loci on the prevalence of keloid disease in Jamaican Afro-Caribbeans.

Keloid disease (KD) is a common abnormal cutaneous fibrotic disorder of unknown aetiopathogenesis. KD is reported to have a strong genetic component as it is often familial and has a high incidence in certain ethnicities, in particular those of Afro-Caribbean origin. Genetic risk factors combined with aberrant lesional inflammatory responses point to the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system as a viable target for investigating disease aetiology. Sequence specific primer polymerase chain reaction with allele sequencing was used to determine HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 allele frequencies (AF) for 165 KD patients and 119 healthy controls of black Jamaican Afro-Caribbean origin. HLA class I alleles A*01, A*03, A*25, B*07 and Cw*08:02, previously identified as KD associated in a different ethnicity, were also analysed. Allele sequencing confirmed typing accuracy but no statistically significant differences in AF were identified between KD patients and controls. Furthermore, KD subgroups including patient gender, family history and multiple- or single-site scarring did not show significant allele-disease associations.

Association of HLA-DRB1* and keloid disease in an Afro-Caribbean population.

BACKGROUND: Keloid disease (KD) is a fibroproliferative dermal tumour of unknown aetiology. The high incidence of familial clustering in KD, its prevalence in certain races and its concordance in identical twins suggest a strong genetic predisposition to keloid formation. The highest incidence of keloids is found in black populations, where the incidence has been estimated to be up to 16%. The most polymorphic genetic system in vertebrates is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) also known as the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) system. The MHC has been shown to be strongly associated with numerous conditions. Of particular relevance is the association of DR2 with dermal fibrotic diseases including sarcoidosis and systemic sclerosis. AIMS: To investigate the aetiology of KD and the potential involvement of the MHC. METHODS: We compared the HLA-DRB1 phenotype frequencies of Afro-Caribbean patients of Jamaican origin with keloid scars against those seen in a control population of the same ethnicity (n = 121; mean age 34.8 years, range 14-88). In total, 180 keloid cases of Afro-Caribbean origin, recruited from Kingston, Jamaica, were evaluated in the study (mean age 29.7 years, range 2-90 years). HLA-DRB1 alleles were determined in all participants using a semiautomated typing system of reverse hybridization PCR with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. HLA-DRB1* phenotype frequencies were established in the Jamaican Afro-Caribbean population and comparisons made between cases and controls. Furthermore, the influence of multiple vs. single lesions, patient gender and family history were also investigated. RESULTS: Differences were observed between the disease and control cohorts although none was significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support an association between HLA-DRB1* alleles and susceptibility to keloid in people of Afro-Caribbean origin.

Extravasation injuries.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the time and type of treatment following extravasation from intravenous infusion and the sequelae of the injuries. METHOD: The charts of 12 patients who were referred to the Plastic and Orthopaedic Services at the University Hospital of the West Indies were reviewed. The study period was between May 2003 and January 2007. Data were collected on age, gender, site of extravasation, extravasated agent, treatment of the extravasation, necrosis interval, duration of hospital stay for treatment of injury and whether the intravenous line was resited and at what site in relation to the injury. RESULTS: The age of patients ranged from three days to 67 years. The female-to-male ratio was 2:1. In five patients, the intravenous infusion was discontinued immediately after the swelling was noticed. In two patients, the intravenous infusion was stopped after seven hours and in five patients it was discontinued within 12 to 22 hours. The necrosis interval ranged from 12 hours to three weeks. Immediate treatment following extravasation and discontinuation of the infusion included limb elevation in three patients and application of cold compresses in one patient. Eleven patients developed skin necrosis of varying severities. There was no skin necrosis in one patient. Ten patients spent an average of 31 extra days in hospital for treatment of the extravasation injury. Two patients were treated in an out-patient clinic. CONCLUSIONS: Extravenous leaks can cause severe tissue injuries. Morbidity is increased by delay in recognition and treatment of the extravasation. A protocol for the treatment of extravasation is recommended.

Chemical burns as assault injuries in Jamaica.

A three-fold greater incidence of chemical burn injuries in Jamaican hospitals, compared to burn centres in other industrial countries, underscores the problem of the use of common chemicals for assault weapons in this country. With the increased availability of guns for personal use, many Jamaicans learned the value of carrying household chemicals such as sulphuric acid from batteries or sodium hydroxide obtained from cleaning supplies. Chemicals carried in a container, such as one might carry mace, afforded a means of defence among the lower socioeconomic groups who could not afford handguns. This use of dangerous chemicals for defensive weapons has extended to the use of chemicals for assault. The pattern of chemical injury differs significantly from most reports in the literature in both prevalence and aetiology. This review was prepared to examine these injuries with a view to planning strategies for prevention.

A cage-related foot pad dermatitis in dwarf and normal-sized single comb white Leghorn layers.

Studies were conducted to determine if wire cage floors were involved in producing a foot pad dermatitis in dwarf and normal-sized Single Comb White Leghorn layers. Dermatitis scores were found to be higher for dwarf birds reared in cages versus litter floors. The use of plastic-coated cage floor inserts and wooden perches reduced the incidence of dermatitis in caged dwarf birds. Normal-sized layers consistently exhibited a lower incidence of dermatitis than did dwarf hens.

An observation of dermatitis in caged dwarf and normal-sized Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens.

Dermatitis was observed on the feet of Single Comb White Leghorn hens. Dermatitis scores and score ranges showed lesions to be predominately on the feet of dwarf compared with normal-sized hens. Statistical analysis by log-linear models showed that the percent incidence was closely related to the strains of hen tested and, to a lesser extent, to the type of ration fed the birds.

Effect of chlorinated hydrocarbons on reproductive performance of adult White Leghorn male chickens.

Two experiments of 20 and 40 weeks duration were conducted to determine the effects of feeding dieldrin or PCB (Aroclor 1254) on the reproductive performance of adult White Leghorn males. Dieldrin at the levels used (0, 25, and 50 ppm) produced no significant changes in semen volume, semen concentration, fertility, and hatchability of fertile eggs. Mortality increased with increased levels of dieldrin and appeared related to duration of exposure to the pesticide. A significant reduction (P less than .05) in feed consumption was observed at the 25 ppm level. No significant differences in body weights were observed except shortly before death when marked reductions in both feed consumption and body weight were noted. PCB at the levels used (0, 10, 20, and 40 ppm) produced no differences in fertiluty, hatchability of fertile eggs, body weights, feed consumption, or mortality. However, over a period of 40 weeks, PCB significantly (P less than .05) reduced semen volume, semen concentrations, and testes weights,

Effect of toxaphene on the performance of White Leghorn layers and their progeny.

An experiment involving 48 white leghorn layers fed 0, 10 and 100 p.p.m. of toxaphene has been conducted. Except for a slight decrease in egg production, no adverse effects on various performance parameters including fertility, hatchability and survival of progeny were observed. A significant increase (P less than .05) in average 7-day weights of progeny was noted.

Anticoccidial drugs and duckling performance to four weeks of age.

Frequently, publications pertaining to waterfowl state that medicated feeds should not be fed to ducklings and goslings. In some localities, producers and hobbyists who raise a small number of ducklings and goslings can purchase only medicated chick, turkey, or gamebird starter and grower feeds. Because of the lack of documented information on this subject and the numerous requests for advice on this matter, anticoccidial drugs, zoalene, sulfaquinoxaline, and amprolium, were mixed in mash feed and fed to Khaki Campbell male ducklings to 4 weeks of age. No significant differences in mean body weight, mortality, and anatomical development were observed among the treatments. Medicated commercial crumble turkey and chick starter feeds produced significantly better feed conversion than the mash medicated or nonmedicated feeds. These differences can be attributed to greater feed spillage with the mash feed. Some ducklings in all treatments showed unsteadiness of gait and shaky legs. These conditions disappeared when the ducklings were moved from the battery brooder to an outside pen. Zoalene, sulfaquinoxaline, and amprolium used at the recommended levels for chickens and turkeys did not cause any leg or anatomical problems in ducklings.

Effects of dietary butylated hydroxyanisole and cysteine on toxicity of Lathyrus odoratus to broiler and Japanese quail chicks.

The effect of .75% dietary butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and 1% cysteine on the toxicity of Lathyrus odoratus seed to Japanese quail and broiler chicks was examined. In both species, the feeding of Lathyrus seed as a component of a complete diet depressed (P less than .05) body weight gain and feed intake. Typical signs of lathyrism, including ruffled feathers, enlarged hocks, curled toes, ataxia, leg paralysis, and mortality, were observed. Neither BHA nor cysteine exerted protective effects against the lathyrogenic effects. As assessed by mortality, these additives appeared instead to potentiate Lathyrus toxicity.

Effect of several dermatitis preventing agents on foot pad dermatitis in dwarf and normal sized single comb white Leghorn layers.

Studies were conducted to determine the effects of increased dietary levels of vitamin and trace mineral mixtures, methionine, meat and bone meal, fish meal, and safflower oil on foot pad dermatitis in dwarf and normal size Single Comb White Leghorn layers. All layers were maintained in individual wire cages throughout a 40-week experiment period. Individual birds were scored for the incidence of foot pad dermatitis and production parameters were recorded. No significant decrease in the incidence of dermatitis was observed from the following dietary supplements: a 50% increase in a vitamin or a complete trace mineral mixture; a 50% increase in an iron, copper, iodine, and cobalt or a manganese and zinc mixture; .05% methionine; 5% meat and bone meal; 3% herring fish meal; or 2% safflower oil. It was concluded that these mixtures or supplements containing such dermatitis preventative agents as pantothenic acid, zinc, and linoleic acid appeared without effect in minimizing expression of the condition in dwarfs.

True metabolizable energy values of corn and different varieties of wheat and barley using normal and dwarf single comb White Leghorn Roosters.

An experiment with four trials was conducted to measure the true metabolizable energy value of corn and different varieties of wheat and barley using normal and dwarf Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) roosters. Maxigene, Purple, Red, and Yamhill wheats and corn were assayed for TME using normal sized and dwarf roosters in Trials 1 and 2, respectively. Hannchen, No. 2 Western, Lady Godiva, and Hiproly barleys were assayed using normal sized and dwarf SCWL roosters in Trials 3 and 4, respectively. The pooled results indicated that normal sized roosters gave (P less than .01) significantly higher TME values than dwarf roosters. There was no significant difference in TME found between wheat and barley cultivars, although both types of grain were significantly (P less than .01) lower in TME than the value found for corn. Average dry matter TME values for corn, wheat, and barley were 4.17, 3.70, and 3.54, respectively. A bird x grain interaction was found to be significant (P less than .05).

An application of response surface methodology to research in poultry nutrition.

Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is an experimental procedure for exploring and examining the nature of responses obtained from the simultaneous variation of quantitative factors. The method has been used only to a limited extent in poultry research. Statistical procedures were discussed for fitting a response surface to experimental data. An outline was made of the mathematical process for finding the stationary point, yield at the stationary point and nature of the response surface. A poultry example was given which involved the investigation of the protein and energy requirements of Japanese quail. The advantage of RSM was shown when it was determined by RSM procedures that the optimum response for body weight was out of the exploratory region covered in the first trial. A second trial was then conducted based on the levels of protein and energy predicted to give an optimum body weight. Optimum responses were shown for both body weight and feed conversion. Examination of the responses by three dimensional figures and computer plotting of contours was shown. The RSM procedure appears to offer an efficient method for examining the requirements and relationships of nutrients for poultry.

Effect of dieldrin and calcium on the performance of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dieldrin and calcium on reproductive performance of quail. At 25% egg production the quail received diets containing 0,10 or 25 p.p.m. of dieldrin for 6, 28-day periods in experiment 1 and 0, 5, or 25 p.p.m. of dieldrin for 4, 28-day periods in experiment 2. Pesticide treatments were employed with diets containing 0.5% and 3.0% calcium. The results show that egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production, feed consumption, egg weights, fertility, hatchability and body weights were not affected by dieldrin treatments. However, egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production and hatchability were adversely affected by the lower calcium level. Female body weights were consistently heavier for the low calcium diet. Mortality increased in the presence of 10 and especially 25 p.p.m. of dieldrin. Livability of chicks from hens receiving rations with 10 and 25 p.p.m. of dieldrin was significantly lower than those fed no dieldrin. In summary, dieldrin was without effect on egg shell quality or other reproductive factors but did exert a detrimental effect on adult mortality and livability of progeny.

Effect of DDE, DDT and calcium on the performance of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of DDE, DDT and calcium on performance of quail. The quail received diets containing 0 or 100 p.p.m. of DDE for eight 28-day periods in Exp. 1 and 0, 100 or 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m of DDT for six periods in Exp. 2. Diets containing either 0.5 or 3% calcium were used with each pesticide level. No differences in egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production, feed consumption, egg weights, female body weights, fertility or hatchability were obtained from DDE or DDT up to 100 p.p.m. Three hundred p.p.m. of DDE did result in a decrease in female body weights and in fertility on the low calcium diet. Egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production and hatchability were affected by the lower calcium level. Male body weights were adversely affected from 100 p.p.m. or more of DDE. Mortality increased as the level of DDE increased for females, while no effect was observed with DDT. Males appeared more sensitive to 100 p.p.m. of DDE in Exp. 1 and 300 p.p.m of DDE and 100 p.p.m. of DDT in Exp. 2. Livability and growth of chicks from hens receiving rations containing DDE AND DDT were unaffected by maternal treatment. In summary, DDE and DDT were without effect on egg shell quality or most other reproductive factors, but DDE at 300 p.p.m. did exert a detrimental effect on adult body weights, fertility and mortality.

Effect of biotin on dermatitis and hatchability in dwarf and normal size single comb white leghorn layers.

Dwarf Single Comb White Leghorn layers were observed to exhibit a marked incidence of cracked skin (dermatitis) on their foot pads and toes when compared to normal size layers, even though both types of layers were on similar rations except that the dwarfs received more methionine. An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of biotin supplementation on dermatitis and hatchability in both types of layers fed rations similar to those fed when the presumed deficiency symptoms were observed. Biotin supplementation did not affect the incidence of dermatitis in either the normals or the dwarfs. Hatchability was satisfactory in both types of layers, and it was significantly higher in the dwarfs, which is contrary to what would be expected if they had suffered from a biotin deficiency.

Effect of low salt, sodium, and chloride levels in poult rations on growth, bone development, and related factors.

Two 4-week trials were conducted to determine the role of sodium chloride (salt) on field rickets in poults. A comparison of added dietary salt at 0, .075, .10, .25, and .45% to a corn-soy basal with .103% salt showed significant differences (P less than .05) in body weight gains, blood calcium, magnesium and sodium, feed conversion, and adrenal gland weights among the treatments. Mortality and abnormal bone scores decreased with increasing salt. When sodium was added to the basal diet as a single element for the poults at either 0, .09, .10, .11, and .12%, or chloride at 0, .009, .01, .02, and .03% in comparison to a control group with .20% sodium and .30% chloride, significant differences were found in weekly gain, bone ash, bone breaking strength, tibia weight/body weight, and serum alkaline phosphatase levels between the sodium, chloride, and the combined element groups. Bone abnormality scores decreased with increasing levels of both sodium and chloride in diets.

Distribution of inorganic elements of poultry house dust.

Distribution of inorganic elements was measured in poultry house dust from five types of poultry houses during either winter, spring, or summer. With varied environmental conditions at the time of sampling, the levels of calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, magnesium, and aluminum were higher than the other elements found in dust samples from the five types of poultry houses. The most abundant element in poultry house dust was calcium. The level of this element samples from the mechanically ventilated house used for research purposes corresponded closely to the level found in the feed fed at sampling time. High zinc levels in layer houses may be attributed to either the abrasive actions of feathers and feet of layers against the galvanized wire cages on the high zinc content in feathers. The ash content of dust from the five types of poultry houses ranged from .31 to 3.54%. Air particulate counts for particles ranging in size from .5 to 10 micro meter were much higher in the layer house used for commercial purposes (ranged from 34.9 to 66.3 X 10(6) /m3) than in the layer houses used for research purposes (ranged from 5.8 to 9.8 X 10(6)/m3) than the level during summer (66.3 X 10(6)/m3). The commercial broiler house was dustier than the commercial layer house during the summer.