Some observations on the development of the long bones of ratite birds

Observations were made on the long bones of 16 young ratite birds (10 rheas, 3 emus and 3 ostriches), from 1-day-old to 12 weeks of age. At hatching all long bones contained large cartilaginous cones which were continuous with the growth plates, and an osseous cortex. At one week of age ossification had commenced on the periphery of these embryonic cones and in some bones the cones had become separated from the growth plates. At 3 weeks of age the embryonic cones of cartilage were still present in the proximal and distal tibio-tarsi and narrow cartilaginous bridges connected the cones to the growth plates. Embryonic cones were not present in other long bones of this 3-week-old rhea nor in the long bones of ratites 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Other praecocial birds such as turkey poults and chickens have cones of embryonic cartilage in their long bones at hatching and these persist in the tibio-tarsi till one to 2 weeks of age. The presence of large cones of embryonic cartilage in the tibio-tarsal bones of 3-week-old ratite birds is probably a normal phenomenon. Awareness of this feature is necessary for the correct differential diagnosis of the prevalent musculoskeletal disorders of ratite birds.

Anti-apoprotein B monoclonal antibodies detect human low density lipoprotein polymorphism

Immunochemical polymorphism among human low density lipoproteins (LDL) isolated from different individuals was demonstrated through reduced binding of three monoclonal antibodies to some individual LDL using a solid phase radioimmunoassay. These three antibodies are members of a larger group of monoclonal antibodies previously shown to bind specifically to apoprotein B ( Curtiss , L.K., and Edgington , T. S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 15213-15221; Tsao , B.P., Curtiss , L. K., and Edgington , T.S. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 15222-15228). Those antibodies which distinguished human LDL polymorphism bound to the same or adjacent epitopes on LDL, for they were mutually exclusive in competitive binding experiments. Binding was unaffected by treatment with neuraminidase, with a mixture of glycosidases, or with competing glycoproteins; thus, the carbohydrate moiety of apoprotein B did not appear to influence the epitope recognized by these antibodies. When low density lipoproteins isolated from different individuals were studied, three different phenotypes were recognized; these corresponded to strong, weak, and intermediate binding of the three monoclonal antibodies. This division into three phenotypes is demonstrated to result from a genetic polymorphism; indeed, the data fit a model consisting of two co-dominant apoprotein B alleles, and the three phenotypes then correspond to the two human homozygotes and the heterozygote. The classical Ag antigen phenotype was determined for the LDL isolated from 10 individuals who were also studied with the monoclonal antibodies, and no correspondence was found between the different epitopes recognized by the five presumptive Ag allelic pairs, x/y, a1/d, c/g, t/z, or h/i, and the site recognized by the monoclonal antibodies. All of these data are discussed, and it is concluded that the most likely explanation for the difference in recognition of the two allelic forms of apoprotein B is an alteration in amino acid sequence resulting in a slightly different configuration of a single domain containing the epitopes recognized by the three monoclonal antibodies.

Stroke after carotid endarterectomy: risk as predicted by preoperative computerized tomography

In patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy, the role of preoperative computerized tomographic head scanning in predicting the risk of postoperative neurologic deficit was determined by a retrospective evaluation of a select group of 107 consecutive patients with preoperative scans. Patients with infarction determined preoperatively by computerized tomography were found to be at a significantly higher risk for postoperative neurologic deficit than patients with a normal preoperative computerized tomographic scan. History and physical examination alone detected only 66 percent of the infarctions found with preoperative computerized tomographic scanning in these patients. Because the incidence of infarction revealed computerized tomography in patients with symptoms of a reversible ischemic neurologic deficit was 22 percent, we have proposed a new definition of reversible ischemic neurologic deficit to include the necessary finding of a normal computerized tomographic scan. Patients who presented with transient ischemic attack and the unexpected finding of a subclinical infarction on the preoperative scan were at the same significantly higher risk for postoperative stroke and a permanent neurologic deficit. Computerized tomographic scanning of potential carotid endarterectomy patients is of benefit not only to rule out other sources of neurologic symptoms, but also to predict more accurately the risk of postoperative neurologic deficit.

An immunochemical study of the synovial fluid can contribute to the distinction between rheumatoid and non rheumatoid arthritis

Synovial fluids from 102 patients affected by various joint diseases have been analyzed for their protein, immunoglobulin and beta 2-microglobulin contents, for the total and alternative pathway hemolytic activities of the complement components, for the presence of rheumatoid factors and Clq binding materials. The aim of this study was to verify whether an immunochemical analysis of the synovial fluid could help to distinguish rheumatoid arthritis from other arthropathies. With regard to this, we emphasize that the latex test, the Clq binding assay, as well as the measurement of C3d and beta 2-microglobulin concentrations in synovial fluids, were the most helpful assays. An immunochemical synovial score was calculated summing the results of these four tests, thus making the recognition of rheumatoid arthritis, among the various inflammatory joint diseases, easier.

Chromosome study of Presbytis cristatus: presence of a complex Y-autosome rearrangement in the male

The karyotypes of a female and of a male Presbytis cristatus are analysed. In the latter, there is a complex Y-autosome rearrangement. The phyletic position of this species, in relation to genus Colobus, previously studied, is proposed, considering the sequence of chromosomal rearrangements which occurred during their evolution. These rearrangements, in addition to the t(Y-autosome), are characterized by a high frequency of inversions, and above all, by several non-Robertsonian translocations which occurred very rarely during evolution of other Primates.

Survey of chiropractic in Dade County, Florida

This survey of the members of the Dade County Chiropractic Society of Miami, Florida was initiated with the encouragement and under the supervision of the Dade County Health Systems Agency (HSA). The purpose of the survey was to obtain information relative to the inclusion of chiropractic into future health planning to be conducted by the HSA. The survey was divided into a "Physicians Survey" obtaining information on location, office hours, gross income, total patient visits and type of practice of the doctor, and a "Patient Survey" obtaining information on age, sex, ethnic origin, residence, and payment source of the patients. Clinical information on initial complaints, diagnoses, treatment, referrals, and amount of care was also obtained. It was found that chiropractors work an average of 31.7 hours per week with a gross annual income of $74,750.00 (1979). The male-female distribution of patients was equal and the average patient age was 43.4 years. Anglocaucasian category comprised 80.2% of the patient sample. Nearly 50% of all chiropractic patients pay for services rendered out of their own pocket. Of the primary diagnosis, 81.3% related to the spine. The study concludes that the practice of chiropractic in Dade County is very similar to the practice of chiropractic in general.

A nosocomial outbreak of diarrheal disease due to Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 0:5, biotype 1

An outbreak of diarrheal disease due to Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 0:5 , biotype 1, involved nine hospitalized patients. The possible source of this infection was two patients who were both hospitalized with a history of several weeks of intermittent diarrhea. Person-to-person contact was the probable mode of transmission of the disease. The present report describes the second known nosocomial outbreak of infection due to Y. enterocolitica, Serotype 0:5 of Y. enterocolitica is not commonly encountered, and its involvement in an outbreak of gastroenteritis has not been previously reported. The importance of the enrichment technique in the isolation of Y. enterocolitica is demonstrated.

Effect of urinary acidifiers on formaldehyde concentration and efficacy with methenamine therapy

Twenty-seven patients with indwelling urinary catheters and chronic bacteriuria were studied for methenamine efficacy. In a crossover fashion, each patient received methenamine mandelate granules 4 g/day alone, with ascorbic acid 4 g/day, and with ascorbic acid 4 g/day plus cranberry cocktail one 1/day. Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and E. coli were the common pathogens. Urinary acidifiers had no significant effect on mean urine pH, however, high urinary formaldehyde concentrations were associated with the use of ascorbic acid. Bacteriocidal formaldehyde levels were more frequently present in patients with acidic urine pH than those with alkaline pH. Although ascorbic acid increased formaldehyde levels, additional cranberry cocktail had no further effect. Despite higher formaldehyde levels, urine culture results were positive in most cases with or without urine acidification. Methenamine therapy may be of limited value in asymptomatic chronic bacteriuric patients with indwelling catheters.

Predictability of methenamine efficacy based on type of urinary pathogen and pH

This study involved 27 geriatric patients with asymptomatic chronic bacteriuria; all had indwelling Foley catheters. The treatment regimens (daily oral dosage) were: methenamine mandelate (MM) granules, 4 gm; MM, 4 gm, plus ascorbic acid, 4 gm; and MM, 4 gm, plus ascorbic acid, 4 gm, plus cranberry cocktail, 1 liter--administered according to a cross-over design. Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli were the most common urinary organisms. Proteus organisms were more often found in alkaline than in acidic urines, but the type of pathogen had no influence on urinary pH. Urinary formaldehyde concentration [HCHO] was lower in patients with Proteus infection (17.7 micrograms/ml) than in those with Pseudomonas (21.9 micrograms/ml) or E. coli infection (21.8 micrograms/ml). However, for Proteus infection, [HCHO] was higher in patients receiving MM plus ascorbic acid than in those receiving MM alone. Addition of cranberry cocktail to ascorbic acid did not enhance urinary pH, [HCHO] or methenamine efficacy. Our data suggest that in Foley catheter patients with chronic asymptomatic bacteriuria secondary to Proteus, Pseudomonas or E. coli infection, the type of urinary pathogen or the urinary pH cannot be used to predict the efficacy of methenamine therapy either with or without urinary acidifying agents.

Effect of waterfowl (Anas platyrhynchos) on indicator bacteria populations in a recreational lake Madison, Wisconsin

A public swimming beach in Madison, wis., experienced intermittent high fecal coliform counts during the late summer and early fall of 1978. Public health officials closed the beach on a number of occasions. A public health survey identified a combination of waterfowl wastes and meteorological events as the explanation for the high bacteria counts. Fecal coliform bacteria were deposited by mallard ducks and multiplied in the beach sands. The bacteria were subsequently transported into the lake and resulted in high fecal coliform counts in the swimming area.