In vitro screening of two Nigerian medicinal plants (Vernonia amygdalina and Annona senegalensis) for anthelmintic activity.

Vernonia amygdalina and Annona senegalensis, two plants used by local/smallholder livestock farmers in Nigeria as anthelmintic were screened for in vitro anthelmintic activity using Haemonchus contortus eggs. The extract of V. amygdalina did not show any significant activity at concentrations up to 11.

Efficacy of moxidectin 6-month injectable and milbemycin oxime/lufenuron tablets against naturally acquired trichuris vulpis infections in dogs.

Efficacy of moxidectin injection (ProHeart 6 Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs, Fort Dodge Animal Health) against naturally acquired infections of Trichuris vulpis was compared with that of milbemycin oxime/lufenuron tablets (Sentinel Flavor Tabs, Novartis Animal Health). Eighteen dogs infected with T. vulpis were ranked by egg counts and randomly allocated to treatment with moxidectin (170 micro g/kg), milbemycin (500 micro g/kg)/lufenuron (10 mg/kg), or to an untreated control group (six dogs per treatment).

Efficacy of moxidectin 6-month injectable and milbemycin oxime/lufenuron tablets against naturally acquired toxocara canis infections in dogs.

The efficacy of moxidectin injection (ProHeart 6 Sustained Release Injectable for Dogs, Fort Dodge Animal Health) against naturally acquired infections of Toxocara canis was compared with that of milbemycin oxime/lufenuron tablets (Sentinel Flavor Tabs, Novartis Animal Health). Eighteen dogs with naturally acquired infections of T. canis were ranked by egg counts and randomly assigned to treatment with moxidectin (170 micro g/kg), milbemycin (500 micro g/kg)/lufenuron (10 mg/kg), or to an untreated control group (six dogs per treatment).

Relationship between FTC 'tar' and urine mutagenicity in smokers of tobacco-burning or Eclipse cigarettes.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) classifies domestic cigarettes into one of three 'tar' categories based on 'tar' and nicotine levels. The objective of the present study was to determine urine mutagenicity in groups of smokers of ultra-low 'tar' (ULT), full-flavor low 'tar' (FFLT) and full-flavor 'tar' (FF) filtered cigarettes after switching to primarily tobacco-heating Eclipse cigarettes. Sixty-seven smokers maintained a specified diet and consumed ad libitum their usual brands of cigarettes, switched to Eclipse, and switched back to their usual brands.

Explaining the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions: models, chronologies, and assumptions.

Understanding of the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions has been advanced recently by the application of simulation models and new developments in geochronological dating. Together these have been used to posit a rapid demise of megafauna due to over-hunting by invading humans. However, we demonstrate that the results of these extinction models are highly sensitive to implicit assumptions concerning the degree of prey naivety to human hunters.

Intestinal parasites found in the research group of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda: preliminary results.

Mountain gorillas (Gorilla gorilla beringei) are critically endangered, remaining only in two isolated populations in Central Africa. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of intestinal parasites in a single group of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda over 7 weeks from June to August 2000. Fecal samples were collected from night nests and transported in formalin for examination at Cornell University and the Centers for Disease Control.

Two-year follow-up of self-examination therapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

This study examined the stability of treatment gains after receiving self-examination therapy (SET) [Bowman, D. (1995). Innovations in clinical practice: a source book.

Effects of freeze-thaw events on the viability of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in soil.

The effects of freeze-thaw events on the inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in soil were examined. Oocysts were inoculated into distilled water in microcentrifuge tubes or into chambers containing soil the water content of which was maintained at 3%, 43%, or 78% of the container capacity. The chambers and tubes were then embedded in 3 soil samples from different aspects of a hillside landscape (Experiments 1 and 2) and in 3 distinct soil types (Experiment 3) and frozen at -10 C.

A tool for the interactive 3D visualization of electronic structure in molecules and solids.

This paper presents the Vienna ab initio simulation package (VASP) data viewer, a desktop 3D visualization application for the analysis of valence electronic structure information derived from first-principles quantum-mechanical density functional calculations. This tool allows a scientist to directly view and manipulate the calculated charge density or electron localization function (ELF) from an electronic structure calculation, providing insight into the nature of chemical bonding. Particular attention was given to the design and implementation of the user interface (UI) for the data viewer.

Redescription of Neospora caninum and its differentiation from related coccidia.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite of animals, which before 1984 was misidentified as Toxoplasma gondii. Infection by this parasite is a major cause of abortion in cattle and causes paralysis in dogs. Since the original description of N.

Exposure to bushfire smoke and asthma: an ecological study.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the mean daily concentration of respirable particles arising from bushfire smoke and hospital presentations for asthma.

Design And Setting: An ecological study conducted in Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia) from 1 April - 31 October 2000, a period characterised by minimal rainfall and almost continuous bushfire activity in the proximate bushland. The exposure variable was the mean atmospheric concentration of particles of 10 microns or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM(10)) per cubic metre per 24-hour period.

Inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in field soil.

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts from dairy calves are believed to regularly contaminate watersheds. Identifying oocysts and measuring their viability in the natural environment are important elements in estimating the risk posed by this resistant organism. A 152 day field study was conducted to measure the viabilities of oocysts inoculated into 25 sampling points.

Evaluation of kinetics and single-read enzyme-linked immunoassays for detection of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sheep.

A kinetics enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a single-read ELISA for the detection of ovine anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG were developed and optimized. During the kinetics assay, 3 optical densities were obtained for each serum sample at intervals of 45 seconds, and the results were presented as average slopes (replicates of 2) of the reaction rate between bound enzyme and substrate solution. The kinetics ELISA was stopped 5 minutes after dispensing the substrate to constitute the single-read ELISA, and the results were presented as average optical densities for duplicates of each sample.

Using flow cytometry to determine the viability of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts extracted from spiked environmental samples in chambers.

Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst viability was determined by a dye permeability assay using a flow cytometric method. Oocysts were inoculated into small chambers with soil and biosolids. Oocysts extracted from soil and biosolids were then stained with propidium iodide (PI) and labeled with a fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated monoclonal antibody.

Effects of an ivermectin otic suspension on egg hatching of the cat ear mite, Otodectes cynotis, in vitro.

An otic suspension containing 0.01% ivermectin (Acarexx; Blue Ridge Pharmaceuticals, Greensboro, NC) controls adult ear mites (Otodectes cynotis), but there are no data published on its efficacy against the eggs of this parasite. Three in vitro trials were conducted to examine the efficacy of this product for prevention of hatching of O.

Response of dogs treated with ivermectin or milbemycin starting at various intervals after Dirofilaria immitis infection.

The response to heartworm infection before preventative programs were started was investigated in 56 dogs. Dogs were infected with third-stage larvae of Dirofilaria immitis and started on preventative programs (monthly treatment) with ivermectin/pyrantel pamoate (IVM/PP) or milbemycin oxime (MO) 3.5, 4.

Chemical and physical factors affecting the excystation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts.

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts were examined to ascertain excystation requirements and the effects of gamma irradiation. Oocysts and excysted sporozoites were examined for dye permeability and infectivity. Maximum excystation occurred when oocysts were pretreated with acid and incubated with bile salts, and potassium or sodium bicarbonate.

Current practices and opinions in ACL reconstruction and rehabilitation: results of a survey of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.

Many different surgical techniques and rehabilitation protocols have evolved for the treatment of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, and there is a lack of agreement as to which approach results in the best outcome. Members of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) were surveyed to determine their current ACL reconstruction technique and opinions regarding preoperative and postoperative management. In 1999, members of the AOSSM were mailed surveys asking about their current treatment of ACL injuries.

Resistance as a Tactic for Management of Meloidogyne incognita on Cotton in North Carolina.

Selected cotton cultivars were evaluated for resistance to the southern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in greenhouse and field experiments. Cotton cultivars LA 887, Auburn 634, and NemX cotton were highly resistant to three North Carolina populations of root-knot nematode in greenhouse experiments compared to susceptible cultivars. The relative susceptibility of cultivars tested in the greenhouse from most to least susceptible were Deltapine 16 > Deltapine 50 > LA 887 or NemX > Auburn 634.

Sarcocystis neurona and Sarcocystis falcatula: monitoring of schizogony in cell culture using fluorescent nuclear labeling.

The nuclei of merozoites of Sarcocystis neurona and Sarcocystis falcatula were labeled with the fluorescent marker Syto21. It was shown that the marker would label the parasites and that they would retain the marker throughout schizogony. Thus, there was sufficient marker in the daughter merozoites to make them easily visible with fluorescence microscopy.

Comparison of Sarcocystis neurona isolates derived from horse neural tissue.

Sarcocystis neurona is a protozoan parasite that can cause neurological deficits in infected horses. The route of transmission is by fecal-oral transfer of sporocysts from opossums. However, the species identity and the lifecycle are not completely known.

Urinary thromboxane, prostacyclin, cortisol, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in nonsmokers exposed and not exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

This study tested the hypotheses that (1) increased platelet aggregation, as measured by 2,3-dinor-thromboxane B(2) (Tx-M) and 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha) (PGI-M), and (2) increased oxidative stress, as measured by 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), would occur in ETS-exposed nonsmokers as compared with non-ETS-exposed nonsmokers. The concentrations of the stable urinary metabolites of thromboxane (Tx-M) and prostacyclin (PGI-M), cortisol and 8-OHdG were measured in a 24-h urine sample from 3 groups of subjects: 21 nonsmokers with minimal (15 min or less per day) ETS exposure (termed non-ETS-exposed), 22 nonsmokers with at least 5 h per day of ETS exposure (termed ETS-exposed), and 20 cigarette smokers who served as a positive control group. The self-reported levels of ETS exposure were verified by personal air monitors.

Tolerance of Selected Cotton Lines to Rotylenchulus reniformis.

The reproductive and damage potential of the reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis, on five cotton breeding lines reported as tolerant to this nematode in Texas were compared with two standard cotton cultivars, Deltapine 50 and Stoneville LA 887, in a North Carolina field naturally infested with R. reniformis. Numbers of R.