Diseases Commons^™

Characterization Of An Antiviral Agent Based On Nonionic Surfactants And It's Effects On Human Dermal Fibroblasts, Ji Young Li

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The AIDS ·pandemic has directed various research endeavors towards finding an appropriate method for eliminating all potentially infectious material within bone allografts before implantation into a recipient. To that effect, Panavirocide was conceived by Medicine and Applied Science·s, Inc. This compound, in which three nonionic surfactants serve as the active agents, has been shown to inactivate HIV-1 particles within blood and blood products. Because Panavirocide has never been used with allografts, the purpose of the present research was to characterize the nonionic surfactants for the putative alteration of the formulation by determining the critical micelle concentration values and to determine …

Review Of: Elizabeth M. Whelan, Toxic Terror: The Truth Behind The Cancer Scares, Sarah Redfield

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Review of: Elizabeth M. Whelan, Toxic Terror: The Truth Behind the Cancer Scares (Prometheus Books 1993). Acknowledgements, appendix, figures, foreword by Norman F. Borlaug, index, notes tables. LC 92-34154; ISBN 0-87975-788-4. [476 pp. Cloth $26.95. 59 John Glenn Drive, Buffalo NY 14228-2197.]

Periodontal Repair In Dogs : Part I : Evaluation Of The Natural Disease Model ; Part Ii : Eptfe Barrier Membranes Support Wound Stabilization And Enhance Bone Regeneration, James Marc Haney

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Animal models are frequently consulted for histometric analysis of reconstructive periodontal therapy. Statistical analysis of induced lesion defects and surgically created defects from our laboratory suggest defect size homogeneity is critical for the model to discriminate treatment effects. This study characterizes natural disease defects in beagle dogs. Buccal-lingual histologic sections from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th mandibular premolar teeth (P2, P3, P4) from 6 aged beagle dogs with natural disease defects were evaluated for variation in defect height between pair matched tooth types, and jaw quadrants, as well as estimated confidence intervals for treatment differences between left and right pair …

Investigation Of Selenium Status In Hypo-, Hyper- And Euthyroid Children, Ping Sun

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Recently, it has been reported that human type I iodothyronine deiodinase, an enzyme important in the conversion of T₄ to T₃ , is a selenoenzyme. Several studies have reported alterations in plasma selenium level in hypo- and hyperthyroid patients.

Using polarized Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectroscopy, we measured selenium, zinc, copper and manganese concentrations in the plasma and/or red blood cells in children with or without thyroid disease being seen at the outpatient clinic at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters. Children with thyroid disease were subdivided into untreated, treated and nonresponsive groups. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test …

The Amino-Terminal Functions Of The Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen Are Required To Overcome Wild-Type P53-Mediated Growth Arrest Of Cells., Robin S. Quartin, Charles N. Cole, James M. Pipas, Arnold J. Levine

Dartmouth Scholarship

High levels of the p53 tumor suppressor protein can block progression through the cell cycle. A model system for the study of the mechanism of action of wild-type p53 is a cell line (T64-7B) derived from rat embryo fibroblasts transformed by activated ras and a temperature-sensitive murine p53 gene. At 37 to 39 degrees C, the murine p53 protein is in a mutant conformation and the cells actively divide, whereas at 32 degrees C, the protein has a wild-type conformation and the cells arrest in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Wild-type simian virus 40 large T antigen and …

Dynamics Of Host Blood Effects In Glossina Morsitans Sspp. Infected With Trypanosoma Congolense And T. Brucei, Reardon O. Olubayo, Steve Mihok, Eli Munyoki, Leonard H. Otieno

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The pattern of infection in Glossina morsitans morsitans and G. m. centralis membrane-fed on eland, buffalo or goat blood mixed with Trypanosoma congolense or T. brucei was studied from day 1 to day 10. Tsetse were initially permissive vectors, with most flies harbouring infections of 104-105 parasites on day 3. However, after a second blood meal on day 3, flies cleared many infections with G. m. morsitans clearing more infections than G. m. centralis. Infective feeds of goat blood consistently increased final infection rates by limiting the number of infections lost between days 3 and 6. In further experiments with …

Coping With The Risk Of Cancer In Children Living Near Power Lines, Eileen N. Abt

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Ms. Abt briefly summarizes evidence linking power lines with a possible increase in risk of childhood cancer. She also recounts how, although many experts remain skeptical of causality, public fears, whether or not warranted, have themselves created serious problems. Finally, she proposes ways to address those problems.

Review Of: National Research Council, Issues In Risk Assessment, Diane M. Albert

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

Review of: National Research Council, Issues in Risk Assessment (National Academy Press). Appendices, executive summary, figures, preface, references, tables. LC 92-61838; ISBN 0-309-04786-2. [374 pp. Paper $37.50 - S&H, $4 for first and $0.50 for each additional copy. 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20418.]

Review Of: M. Stuart Madden, Toxic Torts Deskbook, Laura Marron

RISK: Health, Safety & Environment (1990-2002)

M. Stuart Madden, Toxic Torts Deskbook (Lewis Publishers 1992). Acknowledgements, case index, general index, notes, preface. LC 91-48238; ISBN 0- 87371-508-X. [230 pp. Cloth $69.95 domestic, $84.00 elsewhere. 2000 Corporate Boulevard, NW, Boca Raton FL 33431.]Review of:

Quality Wool Production At Lower Cost, Peter Metcalfe

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Low wool prices are forcing farmers to reduce their sheep management costs but, fortunately, cost cutting is not resulting in lower wool production, poorer wool quality or lessened sheep care on the best wool growing properties.

Detection Of Trypanosome Infections In The Saliva Of Tsetse Flies And Buffy-Coat Samples From Antigenaemic But Aparasitaemic Cattle, P. A.O. Majiwa, R. Thatthi, S. K. Moloo, J. H.P. Nyeko

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Relatively simple protocols employing non-radioactive DNA probes have been used for the detection of African trypano-somes in the blood of mammalian hosts and the saliva of live tsetse flies. In combination with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the protocols revealed trypanosomes in buffy-coat samples from antigenaemic but aparasitaemic cattle and in the saliva of live, infected tsetse flies. Furthermore, the protocols were used to demonstrate concurrent natural infections of single tsetse flies with different species of African trypanosomes. © 1994, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.

Isolation Of Trypanosoma Spp. From Wild Tsetse Flies Through Procyclic Expansion In Glossina Morsitans Centralis, Steve Mihok, Eli N. Munyoki, Freddie Masaninga, Paul N. Ndegwa, Reardon O. Olubayo

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Procyclic trypanosomes from wild tsetse flies were membrane-fed to Glossina morsitans centralis in order to develop an optimal technique for propagating field isolates. A 70% success rate was achieved in isolating Trypanosoma simiae and a variety of genotypes of T. congolense originating from G. pallidipes, G. brevipalpis and G. swynnertoni. Parasites matured into forms infective for mammals, and could be maintained by passage of gut forms to new groups of flies. In experiments with laboratory stocks, we also passaged immature gut infections of T. congolense and T. brucei from various tsetse species to G. m. centralis. The optimal technique was …

Trypanosoma Simiae In The White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium Simum) And The Dromedary Camel (Camelus Dromedarius), Steve Mihok, Erich Zweygarth, Eli N. Munyoki, John Wambua, Richard Kock

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Trypanosoma simiae was identified as the cause of a disease outbreak in dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) introduced to Tsavo East National Park, confirming the susceptibility of camels to this pathogen. T. simiae was also isolated from a new host, the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) through xenodiagnosis with a susceptible tsetse species (Glossina morsitans centralis). A white rhinoceros showed some evidence of anaemia and lymphopaenia when harbouring T. simiae, but did not suffer any long-term health effects. © 1994.

Suppressive Effects Of Transforming Factor-Β And Interleukin-10 On The Cytolytic Activity Of Murine Macrophages And Reversal By Cytokines, Chin-Hung Lin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

In this study, the suppressive effects of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) on peritoneal macrophage killing of H238 target cells and the potential for reversal of the immunosuppressive effect by IL-4 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were investigated. The responsiveness of naive and peptone-activated macrophages was compared. The cytolytic activity for tumor cells of these effector cells was measured by percent lysis of ³H-thymidine labeled Herpes simplex virus type 2-transformed tumor cells (H238). After 18-24 hours of incubation with TGF-β or IL-10, the cytolytic activity of macro-medium alone. The immunosuppressive effect of TGF-β or IL-10 on non-activated macrophages was …

Cryptococcus Neoformans Serotype Groups Found In Clinical And Environmental Isolates, John Clauson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast responsible for severe meningoencephalitis. The importance of epidemiological studies on cryptococcosis has increased since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. C. neoformans exists in two varieties containing four serotypes, C. neoformans var. neoformans (serotypes A and D) and C. neoformans var. gattii (serotypes B and C). Locally C. neoformans var. neoformans has been associated with pigeon feces during those months having an average temperature of 64.2°F j(17.8°C) and above. Clinical and environmental isolates of C. neoformans obtained from regional hospitals and environmental samplings, respectively, have been grouped into their variety status utilizing canavanine-glycine-bromthymol blue …

Longitudinal Study Of Plasma And Erythrocyte Selenium Levels In Type I Diabetic Children During Development And Treatment Of Ketoacidosis, Pi-Hsia Fan

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Most studies on the biological activity of selenium have focused on its role at the active site in the ubiquitous enzyme, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) which catalyzes the removal of hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides (1). A connection between selenium deficiency and a wide range of diseases in animals and humans has been reviewed (2). Development of various forms of human cancer (3), failure of the immune system (4), as well as some cardiovascular diseases (5) have been reported or suspected to correlate with selenium deficiency. However, the physiological function of selenium in these different diseases is not fully understood, and …

Progress Toward Eradication Of Virulent Footrot, Bob Mitchell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Western Australia is well placed to eradicate virulent footrot from the State's sheep and goat populations.

Between 1950 and 1993 the proportion of sheep flocks with footrot fell from about 15 per cent to less than 2 percent, and the 1990-92 outbreak has been turned around. One hundred and eighty properties (]. 7 per cent) of flocks, mostly in the high rainfall South-West, are in quarantine for footrot today.

This high level of footrot control is the result of strong support from the sheep industry and years of good cooperation between farmers and the Department of Agriculture.

Western Australia leads …

Experimental Immunity Against Trypanosomiasis In Rabbits, Curtis Powell

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Rabbits were immunized with specially prepared subcellular fractions of a cloned Trypanosoma brucei brucei stock 427. One fraction was found to be highly immunoprophylactic in rabbits exposed to the vector fly genus Glossina m. morsitans (tsetse flies) infected with EATRO Trypanosoma brucei brucei 1969. The most immunoprotective fraction IPFA from T. b. brucei 427 gave 75% protection to animals challenged by EATRO T. b. brucei 1969. IPFA also showed the highest IgG antibody titre against the heterologous and homologous strains. In in vitro studies, the sera from these immunized rabbits killed different strains of parasites, T. b. brucei strains 1969 …

The Influence Of Host Blood On Infection Rates In Glossina Morsitans Sspp. Infected With Trypanosoma Congolense, T. Brucei And T. Simiae, S. Mihok, R. O. Olubayo, N. Darji, E. Zweygarth

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Trypanosoma congolense, T. brucei and T. simiae isolated from wild-caught Glossina pallidipes were fed to laboratory-reared G. morsitans centralis and G. m. morsitans to determine the effect of host blood at the time of the infective feed on infection rates. Bloodstream forms of trypanosomes were membrane-fed to flies either neat, or mixed with blood from cows, goats, pigs, buffalo, eland, waterbuck and oryx. The use of different bloods for the infective feed resulted in differences in infection rates that were repeatable for both tsetse subspecies and most parasite stocks. Goat, and to a lesser extent, pig blood facilitated infection, producing …

Development Of Periapical Lesions In Immunosuppressed Rats, Phillip A. Waterman Jr.

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The pathogenesis of periapical lesions is the interaction of the oral flora with the existing host defenses. The role of bacteria has been established in endodontic disease but the contribution of the host defenses in periapical lesion formation is less clear. The purpose of this study was to compare periapical lesion development in immunosuppressed rats with that in normal rats. Thirty-five, eight-week old Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into seven groups. Groups 1, 2, and 3 were given weekly injections of Cytoxan, an immunosuppressive agent. Groups 4, 5, and 6 received no immunosuppressive therapy. Group 7 served as a control, …

Biochemical Investigation Of Gout And Its Familial Incidences, Chin-Ling Hsu

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Gout is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by deposition of uric acid on the joint. It is categorized into two types: primary and secondary. Primary gout is uric acid overproduction, caused by excessive synthesis of the purine precursors. Secondary gout occurs also as the result of overproduction or decreased renal excretion of uric acid resulting from other disease processes or medication.

The two purine bases, hypoxanthine and xanthine, liberated from ribosides by the action of nucleoside phosphorylase, are degraded to uric acid as the final excretory product in the purine degradation pathway. Hypoxanthine and xanthine are the physiological substrates of …

Kinetic Characterization Of A Recombinant C-Terminal Mutant Of Reverse Transcriptase From The Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Thomas S. Heard

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase (RT) (EC 2.7.7.49) is the central replication enzyme for HIV. In general, the kinetic mechanism for this and all other polymerases involves the ordered binding of two substrates: a primer-template (PT) followed by a deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (dNTP). Previous investigations prompted this research when it was discovered that the substrate dNTP, in absence of PT, could protect a recombinant c-terminal mutant HIV-1 RT from inhibition by pyridoxal-5'-monophosphate (PLP), an active-site dNTP inhibitor. In contrast, the non-mutant recombinant HIV-1 RT required both substrates for protection from PLP inhibition. This investigation sought to determine if this …

Cytolytic T Lymphocytes Specific For Tumors And Infected Cells From Mice With A Retrovirus-Induced Immunodeficiency Syndrome., Jennifer G. Erbe, Kathy A. Green, Karen M. Crassi, Herbert C. Morse, W R. Green

Dartmouth Scholarship

LP-BM5 retrovirus complex-infected C57BL/6 mice develop immunodeficiency, somewhat analogous to AIDS, termed murine AIDS (MAIDS). After secondary stimulation with syngeneic B-cell lymphomas from LP-BM5-infected mice, C57BL/6 mice produced vigorous CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes specific for MAIDS-associated tumors. An anti-LP-BM5 specificity was suggested because spleen and lymph node cells from LP-BM5-infected mice served as target cells in competition assays, and cells from LP-BM5, but not ecotropic, virus-infected mice functioned as secondary in vitro stimulators to generate cytotoxic T lymphocytes to MAIDS tumors.

Inhibitory Effect Of Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei On Glossina Morsitans Midgut Trypsin In Vitro, M. O. Imbuga, E. O. Osir, V. L. Labongo

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The ability of Trypanosoma brucei brucei to inhibit trypsin or trypsin-like enzymes in crude midgut homogenates of Glossina morsitans morsitans was studied in vitro. The isolated parasites caused a concentration-dependent decrease in midgut trypsin activity. Furthermore, trypanosomes lysed by repeated freeze-thawing had a similar effect on trypsin activity. In both cases, the inhibition by either intact or lysed parasites was partial as revealed by Dixon plots. Similarly, trypanosome membrane proteins stoichiometrically inhibited trypsin activity, suggesting that the enzyme interacts specifically with a moiety on the parasite surface. The Km and Ki values obtained in this case were 35 μm and …

First Evidence Of Plague (Yersinia Pestis) In Nebraska Is Found In Panhandle Predators, Dallas Virchow, Wayne L. Kramer, Charles S. Brown, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Alan M. Barnes

Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences and Affiliated Societies

In September, 1992, plague (Yersinia pestis) antibody was found in the blood of a coyote (Canis latrans) (1:128 titer) and a badger (Taxidea taxus) (1:2048 titer) taken near a suspect black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) town in Sioux County. However, a 1989-1991 survey of 96 coyotes taken from nine Nebraska Panhandle counties demonstrated no plague antibodies. Passive hemagglutination tests of Nobuto blood-sampling paper proved useful to quickly survey a predator population that is distributed across a broad geographic area.

Are Foxes Serious Predators Of Stock?, Peter Mawson, John Long

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Commercial farming of goats for mohair, cashmere and meat production is a rapidly developing industry in the south-west of Western Australia.

In this article, the authors discuss the results of two studies conducted by the Agriculture Protection Board in which the levels of predation of kids and lambs by foxes in commercial goat flocks, and an experimental multiple-birth genotype sheep flock in the southwest of Western Australia, were measured.

Effect Of Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Fever On The Humoral Response Of New Zealand White Rabbits, Lawrence W. Hinck, Stanley N. David

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Importance Of Eperythrozoon Ovis Infection In Sheep, Marc Kabay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Assigning priorities for research on sheep diseases relies in part on understanding the prevalence and economic impact of each disease.

Eperythrozoon ovis infection in sheep, for example is a common, but not costly, disease.

Trypanosome Infection Rates In Tsetse Flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) And Cattle During Tsetse Control Operations In The Kagera River Region Of Rwanda, Steve Mihok, Leonard H. Otieno, Christopher S. Tarimo

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Trypanosome infections were monitored in three species of tsetse fly (Glossina pallidipes Austen, G. morsitans centralis Machado, and G. brevipalpis News-tead) at four locations in the Kagera River region of Rwanda from May 1989 to September 1990. Two of the four areas (Mpanga Ranch and Bukora Ranch) were subjected to tsetse fly suppression operations with odour-baited traps. Proboscis infections of the Trypanosoma congolense and T. vivax types accounted for roughly equal numbers of the 207 mature infections detected (3.8%). Variation in infection rates was area-specific rather than tsetse species-specific. Order of magnitude differences in tsetse fly densities among areas were …

Studies On Tsetse Midgut Factors That Induce Differentiation Of Bloodstream Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei In Vitro, M. O. Imbuga, E. O. Osir, V. L. Labongo, N. Darji, L. H. Otieno

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

An in vitro system for studying the transformation of bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei into procylic (midgut) forms is described. In this system, transformation of the parasites was stimulated by Glossina morsitans morsitans midgut homogenates at 27° C but not at 4° C. The transformation-stimulating capacity was irreversibly destroyed by heating the midgut homogenates at 60° C for 1 h. A correlation was established between the transformation activity of the midgut homogenates and trypsin activity. The protease inhibitors (soybean trypsin inhibitor and N-p-tosyl-l-lysine-chloromethyl-ketone) inhibited trypsin activity and completely blocked the transformation of the parasites. Furthermore, the midgut homogenates could …