Transcriptional profiling of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes for adult age estimation.

The age distribution of female mosquitoes in the field is a critical component of vectorial capacity because of the extrinsic incubation period of mosquito-borne pathogens. However this parameter has not been well characterized in malaria vectors because of methodological difficulties; transcriptional profiling provides a potential new approach for age determination. In Anopheles gambiae, microarrays were used to examine global gene expression over adult life. Nine genes were selected from the 2714 gene transcripts that displayed age-related transcription patterns, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR used to select the four best performing genes. The resulting age estimation assay was able to predict female age from lab-reared samples with sufficient accuracy to provide a potentially useful tool for studies of malaria epidemiology and control.

Treatment costs of directly observed therapy and traditional therapy for Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a comparative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of tuberculosis is a time-consuming and expensive process, often complicated by patient non-adherence. Directly observed therapy (DOT), an out-patient management strategy designed to ensure adherence, is not widely used because it is perceived to be too expensive. This study compared costs of tuberculosis treatment in DOT to the same factors in traditional therapy. DESIGN: A retrospective economic evaluation of 659 tuberculosis cases was reported to a major metropolitan county public health department between 1980 and 1994. Out-patient costs, in-patient costs and the cost impact of relapse and acquired resistance were estimated in 1995 dollars. RESULTS: Treatment costs were lower with DOT: $15,670 per case for in-patient care and $700 per case for out-patient care (P < 0.001). These cost differences resulted from shorter therapy duration (334 vs 550 days), fewer patient hospitalizations (58 vs 75%) and shorter hospital stays (26 vs 55 days per hospitalized patient). Relapse or acquired resistance occurred in 10.9% of patients and accounted for 35.7% of cost with traditional therapy, as compared to 1.2% of patients and 6.0% of cost with observed therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Directly observed therapy is less costly than traditional therapy.

The effect of electron beam irradiation, combined with acetic acid, on the survival and recovery of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus curvatus.

The preservation of food by ionising radiation may lead to undesirable sensory changes within the food. These changes can be reduced by combining irradiation with other treatments, for example the addition of organic acids. Late exponential phase cultures of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus curvatus were irradiated, in a liquid medium, at doses of 0-1.8 kilograys (kGy), in the presence of acetic acid (0-2%) at pH 4.6. A synergistic effect occurred when E. coli was irradiated in the presence of acetic acid (0.02-1.0%) at all doses used (0.145-1.1 kGy). There is evidence to suggest that membrane disruption occurred in the cells as a result of the combined treatments and this may account, to some extent, for the synergism observed. The addition of acetic acid up to a concentration of 2.0% had no effect upon the radiation survival or upon the subsequent growth of L. curvatus.

Trends in technology, trade and consumption likely to impact on microbial food safety.

Current and potential future trends in technology, consumption and trade of food that may impact on food-borne disease are analysed and the key driving factors identified focusing on the European Union and, to a lesser extent, accounting for the United States and global issues. Understanding of factors is developed using system-based methods and their impact is discussed in relation to current events and predictions of future trends. These factors come from a wide range of spheres relevant to food and include political, economic, social, technological, regulatory and environmental drivers. The degree of certainty in assessing the impact of important driving factors is considered in relation to food-borne disease. The most important factors driving an increase in the burden of food-borne disease in the next few decades were found to be the anticipated doubling of the global demand for food and of the international trade in food next to a significantly increased consumption of certain high-value food commodities such as meat and poultry and fresh produce. A less important factor potentially increasing the food-borne disease burden would be the increased demand for convenience foods. Factors that may contribute to a reduction in the food-borne disease burden were identified as the ability of governments around the world to take effective regulatory measures as well as the development and use of new food safety technologies and detection methods. The most important factor in reducing the burden of food-borne disease was identified as our ability to first detect and investigate a food safety issue and then to develop effective control measures. Given the global scale of impact on food safety that current and potentially future trends have, either by potentially increasing or decreasing the food-borne disease burden, it is concluded that a key role is fulfilled by intergovernmental organisations and by international standard setting bodies in coordinating the establishment and rolling-out of effective measures that, on balance, help ensure long-term consumer protection and fair international trade.

Bacillus fermentation of soybeans.

Kinema fermentations of Indian and Canadian No. 1 soybeans by Bacillus sp. DK-W1 and by mixed cultures of Bacillus sp. DK-W1 and Enterococcus faecium DK-C1 were essentially identical. The viable cell count of Bacillus increased from an initial 10(5) to 10(10) c.f.u./g wet wt after 48 h incubation at 37°C. The pH of the fermentation dropped from an initial 6.9 to about 6.4 after 8 h and then rose to 8.6 after 32 h, with a coincident increase in proteolytic activity and ammonia concentration. The fermentations containing E. faecium and Bacillus exhibited a greater initial pH decline and a slightly retarded subseqent increase in pH compared with fermentations with Bacillus only. The presence of E. faecium had no detectable effects on growth of the Bacillus, proteolytic activity, ammonia production or the final pH of the fermentations.

Self-derogation and defense style in college students.

The self-concept literature generally shows that different measures of self-acceptance and self-satisfaction are positively related to psychological adjustment and several measures of defensiveness. In order to understand clearly the relationship between self-concept and adjustment it is also important to consider characteristic defense styles. With this purpose in mind, Kaplan, and Pokorny's Self-derogation scale, three of the most commonly used measures of defensive styles, and a measures of trait-anxiety, were administered to 158 college students. Self-derogation correlated positively with repression-sensitization and trait-anxiety, and negatively with general defensiveness. A positive relationship between self-derogation and ego-control was also found. The results were interpreted as consistent with self theory.

The effect of electron beam irradiation and modified pH on the survival and recovery of Escherichia coli.

The severity of radiation processing can be reduced by combining irradiation with other treatments, such as low pH. An exponential phase culture of Escherichia coli was irradiated at doses of 0-2.4 kGy at pH values ranging between 7.0 and 4.0, in an enriched nutrient broth. At pH 4.3 and above there was no significant effect of lowering the pH prior to irradiation. At pH 4.13 and 4.0, a much higher level of cell death occurred compared with irradiation at pH 7.0. This synergistic effect was observed only when the pH was lowered before radiation processing.

Fatal overdose with amantadine.

The authors describe the first case report in the psychiatric literature of death from an overdose of amantadine hydrochloride used to treat neuroleptic induced extrapyramidal side effects. The pharmacology, adverse reactions and risks of using amantadine are briefly reviewed.

Imipramine-flupenthixol decanoate interaction.

The authors describe a case in which flupenthixol decanoate and imipramine were co-administered to a patient with schizophrenia, resulting in extremely high levels of imipramine and its metabolite, desipramine. The literature on the co-administration of neuroleptics and antidepressants is reviewed and guidelines for limiting possible iatrogenic effects of the combination are suggested.

Sources of microorganisms in pozol, a traditional Mexican fermented maize dough.

Freshly prepared pozol, a traditional Mexican fermented maize dough, contained (c.f.u./g wet wt): lactic acid bacteria, 10(4) to 10(6); aerobic mesophiles, 10(4) to 10(5); Enterobacteriaceae, 10(2) to 10(3); yeasts, 10(2) to 10(4); and mould propagules, <10(3). After 30 h at 28°C the numbers were, respectively: 10(9), 7×10(6), 5×10(5), 10(6) and 10(4). Soaking alkali-treated grains overnight allowed lactic acid bacteria, aerobic mesophiles and Enterobacteriaceae to grow and these then constituted the primary microbial flora of the pozol dough. Grinding in a commercial mill inoculated the dough with lactic acid bacteria, aerobic mesophiles, Enterobacteriaceae and yeasts. Other processing stages, including the nature of the surface upon which the balls were made, handling of the dough, and air, contributed only minor numbers of microbes compared with the two major sources, soaking and grinding. The pH of pozol fell from an initial value of 7.3 to 4.6 after 30 h incubation at 28°C. The numbers of Enterobacteriaceae and other aerobic mesophilic bacteria remained constant between 11 and 30 h incubation and there was no evidence of the acidic conditions having any lethal effects on these organisms.

Survey of local authority approaches to investigating sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning.

Local authorities in England were surveyed in 1997 to document their approach to investigating sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning, the data they collect, and their objectives for doing so. Three hundred and nineteen of the 359 authorities (89%) responded. The main objectives stated were to prevent spread of infection, detect outbreaks, educate the public, and identify risk factors for infection. Most outbreaks of food poisoning were detected as a result of complaints from members of the public. Investigation of Salmonella spp and Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 appeared to have a higher priority than campylobacter infection and viral gastroenteritis. Eighty-five per cent (266/311) of local authorities had agreed timescales for investigating cases and 54% (165/306) reported using computer technology to collate and analyse data on sporadic cases of food poisoning. Almost all (243/244) respondents supported the idea of having a new national system for the collation of such data and 79% (244/309) expressed interest in piloting a new standard form for enhanced surveillance of food poisoning.

Universal HIV screening at a major metropolitan TB clinic: HIV prevalence and high-risk behaviors among TB patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the outcome of implementing a policy of universal screening of patients with tuberculosis (TB) for HIV infection at a major metropolitan public health TB clinic. METHODS: HIV serologic testing was completed on 768 (93%) of 825 eligible patients. Ninety-eight HIV-positive cases (13%) were compared with 670 HIV-negative cases. The presence of adult HIV risk factors was determined by structured interview and review of medical records. RESULTS: One or more HIV risk factors were present in 93% of HIV-positive cases and 42% of HIV-negative cases. CONCLUSIONS: The metropolitan TB clinic is well suited for HIV screening, and HIV-antibody testing and counseling should be provided to all TB patients.

Evaluation of a pilot standard questionnaire for the enhanced surveillance of sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning.

A national survey of local authorities, carried out in 1997, investigated how they dealt with sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning. A standard questionnaire for recording routine follow up information was then designed and piloted for three months in 30 local authorities in England. The questionnaire captured information on clinical and demographic details and exposure histories such as contact with animals, recreational exposure to water, and travel but was less successful at capturing information on domestic catering practices and food consumption. A successful surveillance questionnaire must be designed carefully to gather essential data without overburdening investigating officers.

A study of infectious intestinal disease in England: microbiological findings in cases and controls.

A study was undertaken to identify the microorganisms and toxins in stool specimens associated with infectious intestinal disease (IID) among cases in the community and presenting to general practitioners (GPs) and in asymptomatic controls. Population based cohorts were recruited from practice lists in 70 practices and followed for 26 weeks (cohort component). Seven hundred and sixty-one cases of IID identified from the cohorts, 2893 cases who presented to GPs in 34 of the practices (GP component), and age/sex matched control subjects (555 and 2264, respectively) submitted stool specimens by post for comprehensive microbiological examination. Campylobacter spp (12.2% of stools tested), rotavirus group A (7.7%), and small round structured virus (SRSV) (6.5%) were the organisms most commonly detected in the GP component. SRSV was identified in 7.0% of cases in the community cohort. No target microorganisms or toxins were identified in 45.1% and 63.1% of cases in the two components. Aeromonas spp, Yersinia spp, and some enterovirulent groups of Escherichia coli were detected as frequently in controls as in cases. The higher frequency of detection of campylobacter, salmonella, and rotavirus among cases who presented to GPs than among those in the community suggests that those pathogens cause more severe illness. No enteropathogens were detected from a large proportion of cases although comprehensive standard methods were used to seek them.