Developments in the application of impact assessment methodologies for pollution prevention.

Pollution prevention requires the assessment of various multimedia environmental impacts to ensure that the alternative selected most closely represents the environmental goals and priorities of the facility. While some facility's environmental policies are easy to assess (e.g.

Comparison of four human studies of perinatal exposure to methylmercury for use in risk assessment.

Newer data from human epidemiologic studies of methylmercury (MeHg) poisoning in which perinatal exposure occurred are available from four distinct populations. The results of an Iraqi grain-consuming population are compared to results from studies performed in fish-consuming groups in the Faroe Islands, the Seychelles Islands and in Peruvian fishing villages. A comparison of the results indicate that the Iraqi population does not represent a sensitive subpopulation within a perinatal group, but rather the relative lower threshold identified from this study was the results of confounders.

90-Day toxicity study of dichloroacetate in dogs.

Male and female juvenile beagle dogs were dosed daily for 90 days with dichloroacetate (DCA). The compound was administered orally via gelatin capsules at doses of 0, 12.5, 39.

Microwave: practical cost-effective method for sterilizing urinary catheters in the home.

We used a standard microwave oven to sterilize red rubber catheters used for intermittent self-catheterization. Catheters were incubated for sixty minutes in a suspension of microorganisms isolated from the urine of patients with urinary tract infections. For each trial, 6 catheters were removed from their respective suspensions, placed in separate plastic freezer bags, distributed evenly in a microwave oven (avoiding cold spots), and microwaved simultaneously for twelve minutes.

New apparatus to reduce urinary drainage associated with urinary tract infections.

The automatic release of povidone iodine (PVP-I) into the outlet tube of a urinary collecting bag significantly reduced urinary tract infections (UTIs) and provided a more practical bacterial barrier than manual instillation of PVP-I into the bag as used previously. In 52 patients using a new urinary drainage system with a cartridge that released PVP-I into the outlet tube of the collection bag UTIs developed in 3, compared with 57 patients using a standard closed drainage system and in whom 13 UTIs developed (p less than 0.005).

Microwave sterilization: a method for home sterilization of urinary catheters.

A standard microwave oven has been used to sterilize catheters used for intermittent self-catheterization. Catheters were incubated for 60 minutes in a suspension of microorganisms isolated from the urine of patients with urinary tract infections. Each catheter was removed from the suspension, placed in a paper bag and microwaved for 0 to 30 minutes.

The immune response to nematode parasites: modulation of mast cell numbers and function during Strongyloides stercoralis infections in nonhuman primates.

Mucosal mast cell numbers are modulated in the intestines of rodents during parasitic infections. These mast cells can degranulate in response to worm antigens, and this event has been suggested to play a protective role for the host. To examine whether mast cells in higher animals play a role in protecting from disseminated parasitic disease, mast cell numbers and responsiveness to parasite antigens were evaluated in 5 Erythrocebus patas infected with the human intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis.

Hepatitis B virus, hepatitis non-A, non-B virus and hepatitis delta virus in lyophilized antihemophilic factor: relative sensitivity to heat.

Lyophilized plasma derivatives are more stable to heat than when they are in the liquid state. Commercial Factor VIII (antihemophilic factor) was seeded with a measured quantity of hepatitis B virus. The contaminated material was then lyophilized and subjected to heat of 60 degrees C for 30 hr.

Single-dose ceftriaxone treatment of urinary tract infections.

Single-dose antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections in which no underlying structural or neurologic lesions are present holds the promise of greater patient compliance and convenience. We present the results of a study comparing a single intramuscular dose of a long-acting, third-generation cephalosporin, ceftriaxone, with a standard, five-day regimen of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMS). Fifty-two patients were entered into the study.

Overnight concentration of urine. Natural defense mechanism against urinary tract infection.

Growth of Escherichia coli 06 was compared in concentrated overnight urine and dilute daytime urine. In concentrated urine, 90 per cent of the initial inoculum died during the lag phase and surviving bacteria had a long lag period before they started to grow. Once growth began, these bacteria required fifty-five hours to reach their maximum growth yield.

Radioimmunoassay and characterization of woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen and antibody.

Solid-phase radioimmunoassays for woodchuck hepatitis virus core antigen (WHcAg) and antibody (anti-WHc) were developed. WHcAg in woodchuck liver homogenates was characterized by ultracentrifugation in CsCl gradients; both heavy (1.35 g/cm3) and light (1.

Endocrine profile of pregnancy in the patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas).

Spontaneous toxemia occurs in approximately 6% of pregnancies in patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas). To assess further the relevance of this animal as a model system for toxemia of pregnancy in humans, we characterized the endocrine profile of the patas pregnancy by analyzing weekly blood samples for estrone, estradiol, estriol, progesterone, aldosterone, and PRA throughout gestation. The profiles obtained bear striking resemblance to those described for human pregnancy, an unexpected finding since the patas monkey is not a higher hominoid.

Epstein-Barr virus-induced malignant lymphoma in a white-lipped marmoset.

One of six white-lipped marmosets inoculated with cell-free B95-8 virus developed diffuse malignant lymphoma. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was detected in a pathologically enlarged mandibular lymph node by DNA-DNA hybridization. The affected animal at the time of killing had EBV antibody titers of 1:320 for viral capsid antigen (VCA) and 1:20 for early antigen (EA) while all non-diseased animals had less than or equal to 1:80 VCA antibody and no detectable EA antibody.

Office practice survey of urease positive bacterial pathogens causing urinary tract infections.

Office patients with a positive urinary tract infection (UTI) were screened for the presence of a urease positive microorganism by a rapid biotyping. Approximately 12 per cent of the UTI episodes were caused by a urease positive organism. Over 95 per cent of Proteus and Klebisella isolates were urease positive, and a lesser percentage of Pseudomonas.

Classification of urinary tract infections by biotype identification of the pathogens.

Bacterial isolates from urinary tract infections were identified by biotyping. During a 2-year period all episodes of urinary tract infection in 276 patients from an office practice could be classified into 4 categories: 1) first or simple urinary tract infection, 2) recurrent urinary tract infection owing to unresolved bacteriuria during treatment, 3) recurrent urinary tract infection owing to bacterial persistence and 4) recurrent urinary tract infection owing to reinfection.

Growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in normal and burned skin extract: role of extracellular proteases.

Growth curves and mean generation times (MGT) were determined for Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain M-2 (protease +) and strain PA-103 (protease +/-) in burned skin extract (BSE) and in normal skin extract (NSE). Strain M-2 grew on NSE or BSE with an MGT of 30 min. Strain PA-103 grew in NSE at a similar MGT; however, PA-103 in BSE had a MGT of 65 min.

Experimental infection of Callithrix Jacchus marmosets with Herpesvirus ateles, Herpesvirus saimiri, and Epstein Barr virus.

We inoculated common marmosets (Callithrix Jacchus) with Herpesvirus ateles (HVA), Herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). HVA-induced tumors contained several cell types, including giant cells reminiscent of the Sternberg-Reed cells observed in human Hodgkin's disease. HVS and EBV did not induce tumors, although HVS was present in lymphocytes and elicited a strong antibody response.

Notes on comparative reproduction of selected Callitrichidae in the laboratory.

Analysis of reproductive performance for four species of callitrichids maintained in our laboratory shows conception rates to vary from 3.14 for S. weddelli to 1.

Lymphocyte functions and subpopulation distribution in marmosets.

Marmoset lymphocytes were highly reactive to general mitogens, participate in direct cytotoxicity (purportedly mediated by T-cells) and particpate in an antibody dependent lymphocyte cytotoxicity assay (K-cell). The distribution of lymphocyte subpopulations among various species showed that the percent T-cells ranged from 46.4 to 66.

Uptake of extracellular biotin by Escherichia coli biotin prototrophs.

Uptake of exogenous biotin by two Escherichia coli biotin prototroph strains, K-12 and Crookes, appeared to involve incorporation at a fixed number of binding sites located at the cell membrane. Incorporation was characterized as a binding process specific for biotin, not requiring energy, and stimulated by acidic pH. Constant saturation quantities of exogenous biotin were incorporated by these cells, and the amounts, which were titrated, depended on whether the cells were resting or dividing.

Breeding the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) in a laboratory environment.

A breeding colony of owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) established in 1972 produced 35 live infants during the first 3 years from an average daily population of 30 monogamous pairs. Initial productivity was poor, but once the breeding pairs were set up by karyotypes, reproductive performance improved. No seasonal influence on births was observed and most births occurred during daylight hours.

A coagulopathy of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) associated with high antithrombin III activity.

The species-associated coagulopathy of the owl monkey (Aotus trivirgatus) was shown to be caused by a high level of circulating anticoagulant, antithrombin III, in approximately 4-6 times the activity in which the same anticoagulant is found in man or the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). The survival of the owl monkey in the presence of this added biological risk is an interesting and enigmatic observation. Treatment with protamine, prednisone, or estradiol did not alter the activity of circulating anticoagulant.