Interobserver variation for ultrasound determination of thyroid nodule volumes.

Thyroid ultrasound is used in the routine clinical assessment and the follow-up of thyroid disorders. The follow- up of patients with thyroid nodules is mostly based on thyroid nodule volume determinations performed by different observers. However, for the judgment of treatment effects there is uncertainty about the interobserver variation of thyroid nodule volume measurements by ultrasound because there are no prospective blinded studies available comparing the interobserver variation in thyroid nodule volume measurement.

Colonization of soil by Histoplasma capsulatum: II. Effect of bat guano added to an area of reduced colonization.

Application of bat guano to an area with reduced but detectable colonization by Histoplasma capsulatum had no quantitative effect on the fungus. After seeding the guano treated area and an untreated area with a soil culture of the fungus, a quantitative effect was noted in the treated area but the period of survival did not appear to be extended. Twenty-four months after seeding, the fungus was no longer detectable in the study areas and they have remained negative for more than a year.

Candid albicans associated with the gastrointestinal tract of the common pigeon (Columbia livia).

Candida albicans was cultured from the upper gastrointestinal tract of 44% and from the lower alimentary tract in 6% of 50 common pigeons (Columba livia). Thirty per cent of samples of pigeon droppings collected from different locations were positive for the yeast. The colony forming units for positive samples ranged from 2 times 10-2-2-8times 10-6 per g dry feces.

Cellular immune activity of a galactomannan-protein complex from mycelia of Histoplasma capsulatum.

A galactomannan-protein complex was extracted from defatted mycelium of Histoplasma capsulatum with 0.25 N alkali at 25 C. It accounted for 7.