Epidemiology and control of egg-associated Salmonella enteritidis in the United States of America.

The isolation rate for Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) in humans in the United States of America (USA) increased from 1,207 sporadic isolates identified in 1976 (0.6 isolates/100,000 population) to 10,201 identified in 1995 (4.0/100,000 population).

Hepatitis B core antigen antibody as an indicator of a low grade carrier state for hepatitis B virus in a Saudi Arabian blood donor population.

Blood donor screening for anti-hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was introduced as a surrogate marker of non-A, non-B hepatitis prior to the availability of a specific test for hepatitis C. In areas endemic for hepatitis B virus (HBV), such as Saudi Arabia, earlier studies indicated that up to 30% of blood donors might disqualify if screened for anti-HBc. The issue was readdressed in a study of 6035 consecutive first-time Saudi national blood donors in an attempt to identify a subgroup of anti-HBc positive donors who might be at high risk of being low grade carriers of HBV.

Hamburger-associated Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in Las Vegas: a hidden epidemic.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether a multistate fast food hamburger-associated outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection involved Las Vegas residents as well and, if so, why public health officials had not detected it.

Methods: A matched case-control study was conducted among persons with bloody diarrhea and their healthy meal companions. Hamburger production, distribution, and cooking methods were reviewed.

Perspectives unifying symptom interpretation.

Purpose: To introduce the symptom interpretation model (SIM) and facilitate understanding symptoms from an intrapersonal perspective. Determining an individual's interpretation of symptoms is critical to understanding the resulting decisions.

Organizing Construct: SIM is based on an illness representation model, knowledge structures theory, and propositions about reasoning.

The development of a comprehensive stroke programme in the acute hospital.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and an important cause of hospital admissions and long term disability. The incidence of stroke is estimated at 200 per 100,000 of the population, Dublin has approximately 2,400 new strokes per annum. In 1989 a comprehensive stroke programme was introduced in St Vincent's Hospital.

Human airway narrowing measured using high resolution computed tomography.

Exaggerated airway narrowing in response to bronchoconstricting stimuli is a characteristic feature of asthmatic subjects. It is unknown whether the site of airway narrowing differs in asthmatic subjects from that observed in normal subjects. Increased airway wall thickness has been suggested as a contributing cause for airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma, based on histologic measurements.

A new route of transmission for Escherichia coli: infection from dry fermented salami.

Objectives: This study evaluated the production of dry fermented salami associated with an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157.H7 infection in Washington State and California.

Methods: Facility inspections, review of plant monitoring data, food handler interviews, and microbiological testing of salami products were conducted.

Short-term stability of HIV provirus levels in the peripheral blood of HIV-infected individuals.

Changes in viral load have been reported to reflect disease progression or response to therapy; however, the stability of HIV DNA levels in HIV-infected individuals has not been extensively studied. Cellular HIV DNA levels in infected individuals were evaluated over a short time period to determine degree of variability as well as any correlation with other measurements of virus load or immune status. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained several times over 1 month from 32 asymptomatic or symptomatic non-AIDS, HIV-infected individuals currently on AZT therapy.

Methods Used for Detection and Recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Associated with a Food-Borne Disease Outbreak .

The current Food Safety and Inspection Service method for detection and recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7, (including modified EC broth with novobiocin (mEC+n) and a direct blot ELISA). was used to analyze beef and environmental samples during an investigation of a food-borne disease outbreak attributed to consumption of undercooked hamburger patties. Double-modified trypticase soy broth (dmTSB) and a commercially available dipstick immunoassay were also used to improve detection/recovery of E.

Chronic fenoterol exposure increases in vivo and in vitro airway responses in guinea pigs.

We tested the hypothesis that the regular inhalation of a beta 2-adrenergic receptor (beta 2AR) agonist increases airway responsiveness in guinea pigs. A potent beta 2AR agonist, fenoterol hydrobromide, in sublaryngeal doses equivalent to maximal doses used in the treatment of asthma on a weight basis (5.28 micrograms/kg), was administered by nebulizer three times a day for 6 weeks to normal adolescent guinea pigs (FEN, n = 10) and to ovalbuminsensitized guinea pigs challenged twice weekly with ovalbumin (OA + FEN, n = 20), although not in the 12 h prior to or 4 h after antigen challenge.

Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in hemodialysis patients.

The clinical significance of the high prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in dialysis patients remains undefined. In order to assess the relationship between seropositivity and potential infectivity, 63 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were evaluated between April and May 1990. The mean duration of maintenance hemodialysis was 45 mo (range, 13 to 144).

Quantitative detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in sera from patients with acute hepatitis B.

Two hundred forty-four serial serum samples from 30 adults hospitalized with benign (nonfulminant) acute hepatitis B were tested for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by a quantitative solution hybridization assay using a 125I-labeled DNA probe complementary to HBV-DNA sequences. Acute hepatitis B was self-limiting in 28 and progressed to chronicity in the remaining two patients. Of the 28 patients with self-limiting hepatitis, 21 (75%) were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive, 26 (93%) were HBV-DNA positive, and one patient (3.

Haemospermia: how to proceed?

Haemospermia is an alarming symptom but does it signify serious disease and how should it be investigated? A retrospective review of 44 men showed no evidence of malignancy and infection as the commonest cause. Standard investigation with midstream specimen of urine, intravenous pyelogram and cystoscopy is unhelpful. Microscopy and culture of a first stream specimen of urine or expressed prostatic secretions is the investigation of choice.

Detection of HIV-1 provirus in bronchoalveolar lavage cells by polymerase chain reaction.

This study was undertaken to evaluate whether HIV-seropositive individuals harbor HIV provirus in cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). BAL cells were obtained from 14 HIV-positive patients undergoing bronchoscopy for evaluation of acute pulmonary symptoms. Cells were fractionated into macrophage-enriched and lymphocyte-enriched populations.

Serum and liver hepatitis B virus DNA in chronic hepatitis B after sustained loss of surface antigen.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect hepatitis B virus DNA in the sera and livers of nine patients with chronic hepatitis B after treatment-induced or spontaneous loss of serum hepatitis B surface antigen. Patients were evaluated at intervals ranging from 3 to 67 months after disappearance of hepatitis B surface antigen. PCR was performed using primer pairs from the surface and core gene regions, and surface gene products were quantitated.

Airway narrowing in excised canine lungs measured by high-resolution computed tomography.

The exact site of airway narrowing in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is unknown. High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a sensitive noninvasive imaging technique that can be used to measure airway dimensions. After determining the optimal computed tomographic parameters using a phantom, we measured lobe volume and airway dimensions of isolated canine lung lobes at a transpulmonary pressure of 25 cmH2O.

Optimum duration of transtelephonic ECG monitoring when used for transient symptomatic event detection.

Transtelephonic electrocardiographic monitoring (TTM) has been used for postpacemaker follow-up study, postmyocardial infarction monitoring, and transient symptomatic event detection (TSED). For postpacemaker follow-up study, TTM is continued indefinitely. For postmyocardial infarction monitoring, TTM is continued for 1 year or more.

Complement and antibody mediate enhancement of HIV infection by increasing virus binding and provirus formation.

Previous studies have shown that infection of complement receptor (CR2)-bearing cells with HIV pretreated with antibody (Ab) plus complement (C) resulted in increased virus expression. The current study was designed to determine whether C-mediated 'enhancement' of HIV-1 production was the result of increased virus infection of cells as assessed by provirus formation and virus binding. Virus was incubated with anti-HIV Ab and/or C and added to CR2-positive MT-2 cells.

Ambulation status of adults with myelomeningocoele.

The current ambulation status of 87 adults with myelomeningocoele who had been ambulant with calipers as children was reviewed--23 patients were community ambulators, while 58 had become wheelchair-bound. The majority of patients in the study group found calipers uncomfortable to wear, and almost half of the group developed pressure sores directly related to their calipers.

Quantitation of hepatitis B viral DNA by solution hybridization: comparison with DNA polymerase and hepatitis B e antigen during antiviral therapy.

Serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication were assessed in a randomized, controlled trial of prednisone withdrawal followed by alpha-interferon in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. HBV DNA levels in more than 700 serial serum samples from 41 patients were determined by a sensitive and quantitative solution hybridization assay. Results were compared with HBV DNA polymerase (DNAp) activity and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in 21 untreated controls and 20 treated patients.

Plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and preschool behavior in children with conduct disorder.

The preschool behavior history and a history of abuse or neglect were compared between emotionally disturbed boys with and without conduct disorder (CD), and between boys with high and low plasma dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (D beta H) activities and CD. Boys with CD had the expected increase in preschool behaviors associated with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and CD as well as more reports of abuse or neglect. A higher percentage of boys with low D beta H were reported to have preschool behaviors associated with ADD.