bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of local anaesthesia of the mandible on external‐load compensation during jaw closing
Authors: ABBINK J. H. , VAN DER BILT A. , VAN DER GLAS H. W. , BOSMAN F.
Published: March 2003

In the past, chewing experiments with simulated food resistance have shown that jaw muscle responses to overcome the resisting load are mainly of sensory origin and only partly pre‐programmed, even if loading can be anticipated (Ottenhoff et al., 1992). It is unknown to what extent the several types of sensors involved in adjusting jaw‐muscle activity contribute to this response. Such sensors are, for example, periodontal receptors, sensitive to pressure on the teeth, and jaw muscle spindles, sensitive to changes in muscle length and therefore to changes in jaw position.

We studied the activity of the masseter and temporal muscles during rhythmic open–close movements of the jaw. An electromagnetic device generated a load that simulated food resistance during jaw closing. Halfway the experiment, local anaesthesia was applied to the front part of the mandible with the aim to reduce possible feedback from periodontal receptors in this region to the jaw muscles.

Anaesthesia did not affect the activity of the masseter muscles and their responses to the simulated food resistance. In the temporal muscles the reflex response (latency <120 ms) to the loading also did not change. However, with anaesthesia less temporal muscle activity was observed towards the end of jaw closing and during clenching.

The results indicate that periodontal receptors in the mandible contribute little to the strong reflex responses of the jaw muscles to loading. Near the end of jaw closing and during clenching, when forces on the teeth are larger, output of periodontal receptors in the mandible may facilitate the activity of the temporal muscles. This facilitation may have been reduced by anaesthesia.
Task‐related electromyographic spectral changes in the human jaw muscles
Authors: FARELLA M. , VAN EIJDEN T. M. , BACCINI M. , MICHELOTTI A.
Published: March 2003

The masticatory muscles differ in their fibre type composition. It can therefore be expected that their electromyographic (EMG) power spectra will differ during the performance of different bite force tasks. In the present study surface EMG activity was picked up from the masseter, and anterior and posterior temporalis muscles of nine adult subjects. Direction and magnitude of bite force were recorded using a three‐component force transducer. Bite forces were exerted in five different directions: vertical, forward, backward, to the right and to the left of the subject. Non‐vertical forces were kept at an angle of 15° from the vertical. Force levels of 25, 50, 100 and 200 N were exerted in each of the investigated directions. Data collected were analysed by means of a regression model for repeated measurements.

It appeared that the mean power frequency (MPF) values of the posterior temporalis were significantly lower (P < 0·01) than those of the masseter and anterior temporalis. The MPF values of the masseter muscles decreased with an increase of bite force magnitude (P < 0·001) whereas the MPF values of the anterior and posterior temporalis did not change significantly (P > 0·05). The MPF values were significantly influenced by the direction of bite force (P < 0·01). The observed changes of MPF are possibly related to the recruitment of different fibre types and support the concept that the masticatory muscles behave heterogeneously.
Patients' assessment of efficiency of physiotherapeutic treatment modalities in temporomandibular disorders (TMD)
Authors: HUGGER A. , PAAK S. , BOLLMANN F. , STÜTTGEN U.
Published: March 2003

Especially in the last 10 years the aetiological significance of occlusion for TMD was relativated and the search for other alternative therapeutic strategies was intensified. For the treatment of myogenous and arthrogenous problems in TMD different kinds of physiotherapy are reported. Our intention of the present pilot study was focused on patients' perception of efficiency of different physiotherapeutic modalities and in relation to splint therapy.

A total of 187 patients of the TMD clinic in Düsseldorf were retrospectively asked to fill out a questionnaire with topics on physiotherapeutic home training programme (HTP), on professional physiotherapy (PP), on splint therapy (ST) and overall assessment of treatment effort (OATE). Eighty‐one questionnaires could be analysed and evaluated in relation to three diagnostic TMD subgroups (myogenous, arthrogenous and mixed).

The HTP was positively assessed in 74%, PP in 70% and ST only in 38%. Fifty‐one per cent of patients could realize HTP regularly per day, 86% of patients could realise PP regularly per week. The majority of patients felt improvement after some weeks/months of HTP resp. PP. No significant relation could be detected between TMD subgroups and patients'assessment to HTP, PP, ST and OATE.

Based on patients' assessment the results indicate that physiotherapeutic treatment modalities are highly efficient, whereas a differentiation between mentioned TMD subgroups does not seem to exist. A minority of patients (c. 20–25% of clinical cases) does not respond to dental‐occlusal and physiotherapeutic therapy very well. Therefore, a multidisciplinary psychosocial‐based treatment approach might be useful in these cases.
Association between oral habits and signs/symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in Flemish adolescent girls
Authors: DE LAAT A. , SOONTJENS N.
Published: March 2003

The influence of oral habits on the development of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and pain is unclear. The prevalence and nature of such oral habits may also vary geographically. The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of parafunctions in Flemish adolescent girls and to study the interrelationship with TMD. A group of 261 school girls (15–16 years of age) participated. A questionnaire used in a similar study (Gavish et al., 2000) was translated and inquired for oral habits (chewing of gum, nails or foreign objects, eating of seeds, crushing of ice or food, continuous leaning on the arm, daytime or night‐time grinding or clenching, jaw play, unilateral chewing) and TMD symptoms (joint noises, catching or locking, joint or muscle pain, tension or fatigue in the muscles). A brief clinical examination was performed by a single examiner: active and passive maximal mouth opening, presence of joint sounds, palpation tenderness of the lateral poles of the joints and of the masseter and anterior temporalis muscles, extent of abrasion of the canines, tongue or cheek imprints. Statistical evaluation used Spearman correlation, chi‐squared analysis and multiple regression analysis. The intra‐examiner reproducibility was moderate to high (κ 0·6–0·8 – Spearman Correlation 0·99 for maximal mouth opening). The frequency of reported oral habits was high: leaning on the arm (98%), gum chewing (89%, mean duration 3 h day−1), lip‐ (62·1%) and cheek‐biting (41%), ice‐crushing (30%). There was a significant (P < 0·0001) but weak (0·30) positive correlation between the number of oral habits and the number of symptoms. Internal derangements were significantly (P < 0·0001) but weakly (0·25) correlated with jaw play and other oral habits. There was no relation between tooth clenching and myogenous pain (χ2, P=0·31, but only 27% power). Multiple regression analysis showed that the number of symptoms increased by 52% if the subject reported ‘jaw play’, by 24% if chewing gum more than 2 h day−1, by 28% while cheek biting and by 25% if chewing unilaterally.
Local application of morphine inhibits intra‐dental nociceptor responses to mustard oil but not to hydrodynamic stimulation of dentine
Authors: NÄRHI M.
Published: March 2003

Mustard oil (MO) has been used to induce inflammation and nociceptor activation in various tissues. It has been proposed to selectively activate small afferent fibres but more detailed knowledge on the functional characteristics and activation mechanisms of the responding neurones seems to be limited. In the present study we recorded intra‐dental nerve responses to hydrodynamic dentinal stimulation and MO. Also, the effect of local application of morphine on the induced nerve responses was studied.

The experiments were performed on six beagle dogs (three female and three male, 1–2 years old, 9·5–12·5 kg). They were anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone (35 mg kg−1). The inferior alveolar nerve of the left side was exposed for nerve dissection and recording. The intradental nerve fibres were identified by monopolar electrical stimulation of the canine tooth crown. Dentine was exposed at the tip of the test tooth and the responses of the nerve fibres to drilling, probing and air blasts were tested. The test cavity was then drilled deep close to the pulp until 1·5 m NaCl induced nerve firing. After that MO was applied in the cavity. In six other canine teeth nerve activity was recorded from cavities drilled in dentine in the midcrown and the cervical area. The same stimuli were applied in the stimulation cavity as in the single fibre recordings.

Seven single intra‐dental nerve fibres responding to drilling, probing and air blasts were recorded. Mustard oil induced long lasting firing of action potentials in all seven afferents with a latency of 5–10 min. In the dentine recordings nerve responses to MO were completely abolished by pre‐treatment of the stimulation cavity with morphine (20 mg mL−1) for 15 min but the responses to hydrodynamic stimulation and 2·5 m NaCl were unaffected. Further, in four teeth naloxone (7·5 mg mL−1) was applied in the cavity for 10 min and after that the responses to MO recovered.

The present results indicate that the same intra‐dental nerve fibres are activated by hydrodynamic stimulation and MO. However, the mechanism of activation induced by MO seems to be different from other stimuli and sensitive to opioids.
Surface texture and some properties of acrylic resins submitted to chemical polishing
Authors: Braun K. O. , N. Mello J. A. , N. Rached R. , Del Bel Cury A. A.
Published: March 2003

summary  The effects of chemical polishing on dental acrylic resin properties are not well clarified. This study evaluated the effect of chemical and mechanical polishing on the residual monomer release (RM), Knoop hardness (KH), transverse strength (TS) and surface texture (ST) of a heat‐ and self‐cured acrylic resin. Four groups were formed: GI‐self‐cured resin/mechanical polishing; GII‐self‐cured resin/chemical polishing; GIII‐heat‐cured resin/mechanical polishing; GIV‐heat‐cured resin/chemical polishing. Following the polishing procedures, specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 °C. The KH and RM measurements were taken after 1, 2, 8 and 32 days of storage, and TS after 2, 8 and 32 days. Surface texture was observed under SEM evaluation. Results were compared statistically at a confidence level of 95%. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) regardless of the acrylic resin and the period of analysis, chemical polishing increased RM levels, reduced KH, and did not affect TS significantly; (2) water storage increased the surface hardness of GII and GIV; (3) GII and GIV showed a smooth and wavy surface under SEM evaluation.
Magnetic resonance imaging analysis on the relationship between anterior disc displacement and balancing‐side occlusal contact
Authors: Ohta M. , Minagi S. , Sato T. , Okamoto M. , Shimamura M.
Published: March 2003

summary  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between balancing‐side occlusal contact patterns and the prevalence of the internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Forty‐one patients were used for the magnetic resonance image (MRI) analysis of TMJ and occlusal examination. Balancing‐side occlusal contact patterns observed during mandibular lateral excursive movements were classified into the three following categories: group A, simultaneous balancing‐side contact, group B, balancing‐side contact (with clenching only) and Group C, no balancing‐side contact (with or without clenching). By the occlusal examination of 57 sides, 31·6% showed group A, 8·8% showed group B and 59·6% showed group C contact. Group A could not be observed in the patient group with normal disc position. In the disc displacement group, the prevalence of group A, group B and group C were 40·9, 6·8 and 52·3%, respectively. The higher prevalence of simultaneous balancing‐side contact was revealed to be associated with articular disc dislocation.
Correlation between periodontal status and biting ability in Chinese adult population
Authors: Morita M. , Nishi K. , Kimura T. , Fukushima M. , Watanabe T. , Yamashita F. , Zhou R. , Yang J. , Xu X.
Published: March 2003

summary  This study investigated the relation between periodontal condition and biting ability in a Chinese population using the pressure‐detecting sheet. A total of 142 subjects residing in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, China, participated in the study. The examination included probing pocket depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing and coronal caries teeth. Biting abilities per person, biting force, biting pressure and occlusal contact area were measured using the sheet. Number of teeth present showed positive correlation with biting force and occlusal contact area, but were negatively correlated with biting pressure. No significant correlation was observed between the mean PD, percentage of pocket ≥ 4 mm, bleeding index and any of biting abilities. The mean CAL showed a significantly negative correlation with biting force and occlusal contact area. Multiple stepwise regression analysis selected the number of teeth present, sex and age as the significant factors affecting the biting ability. However, no periodontal indices were picked up as the significantly contributing factor. There appears to be little effect of periodontal condition on biting ability. Ageing was selected as a contributing factor to reduction in the Chinese adults, but not in the Japanese population.
The strengths and weaknesses of cognitive behavioural approaches to treating depression and their potential for wider utilization by mental health nurses
Authors: Beech B. F.
Published: March 2003

Depression is widely acknowledged to be the major factor implicated with suicide, an enormous financial cost on the economies of western countries and a source of intense despair for millions of people around the world. A steady stream of articles are published both in popular, generic and specialist nursing journals that illustrate the potential of cognitive behavioural therapies in the treatment of depression. Should these therapies be restricted for use by registered therapists or do the techniques have a wider application? The marketing of these approaches for use by nurses prompted a review of the purported strengths and weaknesses of these approaches in comparison with other possible alternatives. Many mental health nurses in community settings already use cognitive behavioural approaches with clients. Here it will be argued that several of the recognized strengths of cognitive behavioural approaches lend themselves to incorporation in nurse–patient interactions in varied in‐patient settings by nurses who spend protracted periods of time with depressed patients but lack formal therapist qualifications and do not consider themselves counsellors.
A sociological study of bed blocking in psychiatric rehabilitation units
Authors: Leighton Kevin
Published: March 2003

This study focuses on the reported problem of psychiatric patients who are ‘bed‐blocking’ mental health rehabilitation units. It explores the concept of individualized care within psychiatric nursing and argues that this ‘received view’ is counterproductive for some client groups. Individualized care assumes a number of mainstream social values and beliefs that may conflict radically with the attitudes to life (ideologies) of some service users. These clients may resist normalisation, independence and individualism, preferring instead a more collective, pastoral and spiritual lifestyle. Clients and nurses may reject culture‐biased care policy, using various strategies to neutralize individualized care in practice. In the absence of a coherent alternative, such action may lead to frustration, alienation and bed blocking. The study uses structured and unstructured interviews in two psychiatric units to examine this hypothesis.
In whose best interests? An examination of the ethics of the UK government's White Paper ‘Reforming the Mental Health Act’
Authors: Chan P.
Published: March 2003

Throughout history the legislative framework for the treatment of the mentally ill has reflected societies’ attitudes, and the proposals in the United Kingdom (UK) govern‐ment's White Paper ‘Reforming the Mental Health Act’ are no exception. This paper examines some of the fundamental ethical issues invoked by the proposals, particularly the concept of paternalism and use of risk assessment in determining ‘best interests’. The issue of power in relation to the mentally ill is also examined, alongside the impact of the change on nurses’ ethical decision making. As will be seen, the proposed Act will require high standards of professional practice to ensure the ethical application of care, particularly in the case of individuals diagnosed as suffering from ‘dangerous and severe personality disorders’. Nurses need to ensure that the interventions used are of the highest quality and are indeed in the patient's ‘best interests’. If they are not, then again nurses need to be very clear as to why the profession should be involved at all. Nurses should demonstrate vigilance and high professional standards to ensure they are maintaining rigorous safeguards to promote the public interest. Although relating specifically to UK legislation the underlying ethical dilemmas posed by this proposed legislation are relevant to all mental health nurses, as they challenge fundamental assumptions regarding the role of nurses in supporting mental health legislation that may have a social, rather than therapeutic, function.
Subjective measurement of insomnia and quality of life in depressed inpatients
Authors: Mccall W. Vaughn , Reboussin Beth A. , Cohen Wayne
Published: March 2003

Insomnia and major depressive episodes (MDE) have each been associated with quality of life (QOL) deficits. In this study we examined insomnia as an independent predictor of QOL deficits during MDE, and used a secondary analysis of cross‐sectional data. The study was based at the inpatient psychiatric ward and included 88 adults (mean age 53; 78% women). We assessed insomnia severity with the 21‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Measurements of QOL in the week prior to admission included activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental ADLs (IADLs), daily living and role functioning, and relation to self and colleagues (the last two both subscales of the Basis 32). Linear regression models used the insomnia items as independent variables and the QOL measures as the dependent variables, after adjusting for age and nonsleep related depression severity. The results showed that 93% of patients endorsed insomnia on the observer‐rated HRSD, and 97% endorsed sleep disturbance in the self‐rated BDI. However, the insomnia items on the HRSD and BDI showed poor concurrent validity. Increasing severity of insomnia on the HDRS was associated with better QOL, while increasing severity of insomnia on the BDI was associated with worse QOL. We conclude that the BDI and HRSD do not produce equivalent measures of insomnia severity in depressed inpatients, and each insomnia measure has a unique relationship with QOL.
Selective sleep deprivation after daily torpor in the Djungarian hamster
Authors: Palchykova Svitlana , Deboer Tom , Tobler Irene
Published: March 2003

Sleep, daily torpor and hibernation are no longer considered homologous processes. Animals emerging from these states spend most of their time in sleep. After termination of the torpor‐associated hypothermia, there is an initial high electroenecephalogram (EEG) slow‐wave activity (SWA; 0.75–4.0 Hz) and a subsequent monotonic decline. Both of these features are similar to the effects elicited by prolonged waking. It was previously shown that when hamsters are not allowed to sleep immediately after emerging from torpor, an additional SWA increase above the level reached after sleep deprivation (SD) alone occurs during the delayed recovery. A similar manipulation in hibernating ground squirrels abolished the subsequent SWA increase, shedding doubt on the similarity of the regulatory aspects following torpor and hibernation. To further investigate the extent to which SWA is homeostatically regulated after torpor, Djungarian hamsters were subjected to 1.5 h partial non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep deprivation (NSD) that either immediately followed the emergence from torpor (T + NSD) or 4‐h SD (SD + NSD). The NSD was attained by disturbing the animals when they exhibited NREM sleep with high amplitude slow‐waves. To investigate whether regional aspects of sleep homeostasis are similar after torpor and SD, the EEG was recorded from a parietal and frontal derivation after 4‐h SD. An increase in SWA in NREM sleep occurred after all conditions in both EEG derivations. There was no significant difference in SWA during the initial 1.5‐h recovery when torpor, T + NSD and SD + NSD were compared. During recovery from torpor and SD, SWA was higher in the frontal than in the parietal derivation. Our results provide further evidence that torpor and SD have similar effects on sleep. The SWA increase did not disappear after the NSD; therefore, SWA is homeostatically regulated after daily torpor. The frontal predominance of slow waves encountered both after torpor and SD indicates that waking and torpor induce similar regional changes in EEG SWA.
Disposition of mirosamicin in honeybee hives
Authors: Nakajima C. , Sakogawa T. , Okayama A. , Nakamura A. , Hayama T.
Published: March 2003

Disposition of mirosamicin, a macrolide antibiotic, to honeybee adults, larvae, honey and royal jelly in the beehive after in‐feed administration to adult bees was studied. Treatment was initiated at the end of July when the availability of natural pollen and nectar was poor. The drug was mixed with pollen‐substitute paste and administered to honeybee colonies continuously for a week at a dossage of 200 mg/hive/week. High distributions in adult bees, jelly, larvae and a relatively low distribution in honey, of mirosamicin were observed. One day dosing of microsamin in sucrose syrup, a nectar substitute, resulted in a very high and long lasting residue in honey. Both royal and worker jelly, secreted from the jelly glands of adult bees, are acidic, so that a high distribution of a basic drug, such as mirosamicin, in jelly can be expected. This mechanism was considered to be responsible for a high concentration of mirosamicin in honeybee larvae, the host of Paenibacillus‐larvae infection (American foulbrood), as primary larval food is jelly.
The α2‐adrenoceptor agonists xylazine and guanfacine exert different central nervous system, but comparable peripheral effects in calves
Authors: Scholtysik  , Regli  , Bruckmaier  , Blum
Published: March 2003

Acute pharmacodynamic effects of the α2‐adrenoceptor agonists, xylazine and guanfacine, were investigated in nine healthy calves in an open crossover trial. Xylazine (100 μg/kg body weight intravenously (i.v.)) and guanfacine (20 μg/kg body weight i.v.) were equi‐effective in lowering heart rate by 25–30% at 5 min. Under these conditions, xylazine induced strong sedation and increased plasma growth hormone levels, indicating central nervous system mediated actions, whereas guanfacine was not sedative and did not induce release of growth hormone. Oxygen consumption was decreased by both drugs, but respiratory exchange ratio decreased only in response to xylazine. However, in response to both drugs, plasma levels of noradrenaline, adrenaline, insulin and non esterified fatty acids decreased similarly and glucose increased comparably. These results demonstrate marked differences in the central nervous system‐mediated effects of the two α2‐adrenoceptor agonists, whereas peripheral actions are similar.
Chiral inversion of R(−) fenoprofen and ketoprofen enantiomers in cats
Authors: Castro E. , Soraci A. , Fogel F. , Tapia O.
Published: March 2003

The chiral inversion process is a characteristic metabolic pathway for different aryl‐2‐propionic acids or profens. Important variations have been observed between these individual compounds as well as between animal species. In this study, R(−) fenoprofen [R(−)FPF] and R(−) ketoprofen [R(−) KTF] were used to investigate their comparative stereoconversion in cats. After intravenous (i.v.) administration of R(−) FPF, the percentage of chiral inversion was 93.20±13.70%. A highly significant correlation (r: 0.978) was observed between the clearance of R(−) FPF and the chiral inversion process. After i.v. administration of R(−) KTF, the percentage of inversion was only 36.73±2.8%. No correlation between the clearance of R(−) KTF and this process was observed. R(−) FPF was metabolized by the pathways of thioesterification – chiral inversion processes. For R(−) KTF, the competitive metabolic pathways, glucuronidation and hydroxylation may be involved. However, these metabolic steps are saturable or less functional in cats. Moreover, the thioesterification of R(−) KTF in in vitro studies has been shown to be important in carnivores. The lack of correlation between clearance and chiral inversion process of R(−) KTF may be finally explained by deviation of thioesterification to other metabolic pathways of lipids and/or aminoacid conjugation, particulary glicine derivatives.
Elimination of doxepin isomers from the horse following intravenous application
Authors: Hagedorn H.‐W. , Meiser H. , Zankl H. , Schulz R.
Published: March 2003

Hagedorn, H.‐W., Meiser, H., Zankl, H., Schulz, R. Elimination of doxepin isomers from the horse following intravenous application. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.24, 283–289.

The tricyclic antidepressant doxepin, representing a 5:1 mixture of trans‐ and cis‐isomers, owns tranquilizing properties. This compound has been associated with illicit medication of racing horses, and therefore should be considered in doping control. Because analysis of doxepin in equine body fluids has not been documented in the literature, a highly sensitive analytical method was developed to individually monitor the doxepin isomers in blood and urine of horses by the use of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Following a dose of 1 mg doxepin‐HCl/kg intravenously (i.v.), both the isomers were quantified for up to 24 h in serum of horses (n=4). The β‐half‐lives of the trans‐ and cis‐isomers were 3.5 and 3.1 h, respectively. The ratio of the trans/cis‐isomers was found to be constant (4.7:1) during drug elimination and thus corresponded to the original composition of the antidepressant. Up to 12 h following administration low trans‐isomer concentrations in an average range of 2–6 ng/mL were detected in urine of each of the horses, while the cis‐isomer was only present in two of four horses for up to 8 and 12 h, respectively. In serum, mean trans‐isomer concentrations exceeded urine levels maximally 120‐fold after 3 h and at least sixfold after 12 h. As serum exhibits considerably higher concentrations of the doxepin isomers as compared with urine, blood of horses is the recommended body fluid when screening for the antidepressant.
Production of antibody to hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B surface antigen measured after combined hepatitis A/ hepatitis B vaccination in 242 adult volunteers
Authors: Reutter J. , Bart P. A. , Francioli P. , Safary A. , Frei P. C.
Published: March 2003

Two batches of a new hepatitis A/hepatitis B combined vaccine were tested in 242 healthy students. Three injections, given at 0, 1 and 6 months, produced seroconversion rates and hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) antibody levels comparable to those reported after administration of separate monocomponent vaccines. The vaccine proved to be safe and well‐tolerated. Influence of host factors, such as elevated body mass index or gender, were investigated and proven to be of little influence on the immunoresponse.
Shift of hepatitis E virus RNA from hepatocytes to biliary epithelial cells during acute infection of rhesus monkey
Authors: Kawai H. F. , Koji T. , Iida F. , Kaneko S. , Kobayashi K. , Nakane P. K.
Published: March 2003

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been considered to be the major cause of enterically transmitted non‐A, non‐B hepatitis in developing countries. However, little is known about viral replication and localization in the liver. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution of HEV‐infected cells in experimentally infected animals. Seven captured wild rhesus monkeys were inoculated intravenously with faecal extract derived from a Myanmar strain of HEV. Animals were killed at different time‐points of clinical illness: during early infection, during prehepatitis with viral‐like particles in bile, during acute hepatitis and during convalescence. Intrahepatic localization of HEV was analysed using non‐isotopic thymine dimer in situ hybridization (NITDISH). Both plus and minus strands of HEV RNA were found in hepatocytes during the early infection period. Staining in the submembranous cytoplasmic region of hepatocytes was observed. In the prehepatitis period, both plus and minus strand HEV RNAs appeared in the canalicular side of isolated bile epithelial cells. Subsequently, HEV RNA became universally distributed in the cytoplasm of medium‐size bile epithelial cells. After recovery, HEV RNA disappeared.
Do undefined sources of hepatitis C transmission exist? The Greek study in General Practice
Authors: Lionis  , Vlachonikolis  , Skliros  , Symeonidis  , Merkouris  , Kouroumalis  ,   the Hepatitis C Working Group of the Greek General Practitioners
Published: March 2003

A seroepidemiological study was carried out in 15 primary health care (PHC) centres in rural Greece to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the surgeries of Greek General Practitioners (GPs) and to further clarify the transmission of hepatitis C in Greece. Serum samples were obtained from 1961 subjects (1259 females) aged ≥ 15 years, who visited GP surgeries between July 1996 and February 1997 in 15 PHC centres located in three large Greek regions (Macedonia, Attika and Crete). Subjects who participated in the study fulfilled the following criteria: history of blood transfusion; hospital admission of > 7 days’ duration without surgical or other intervention; use of intravenous drugs (current or previous); or women with a history of medical or paramedical abortion. Nearly 65% (1263 subjects) of the participants in this study reported hospital admission with a length of stay > 7 days. Antibodies to HCV (anti‐HCV) were found in 67 participants (3.5%), 41 of whom were females and 44 of whom were aged ≥ 61 years. The highest prevalence (4.8%) of anti‐HCV was found in Crete, and differences among the Greek regions were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Multivariate statistical analysis showed that in addition to regional differences, the following variables had a statistically significant effect on the prevalence of anti‐HCV: history of dental surgery; use of intravenous drugs; hospital admission for > 7 days; and the high consumption of alcoholic drinks. Hence there is a significant variability in the prevalence of hepatitis C in well‐defined PHC areas of Greece. Several risk factors for acquiring HCV infection have been identified. Screening for HCV risk factors may enable Greek GPs to identify HCV‐infected patients.
African Americans with genotype 1 treated with interferon for chronic hepatitis C have a lower end of treatment response than Caucasians
Authors: Kinzie J. L. , Naylor P. H. , Nathani M. G. , Peleman R. R. , Ehrinpreis M. N. , Lybik M. , Turner J. R. , Janisse J. J. , Massanari M. , Mutchnick M. G.
Published: March 2003

African Americans as a group have a higher incidence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) than Caucasians but are often under‐represented in clinical trials used to define response rates to interferon therapy. The aim of this study was to compare African Americans with Caucasians with respect to end‐of‐treatment response to interferon. This retrospective study had 61 African Americans and 49 Caucasians with CHC. All patients were treated for at least 12 weeks with interferon‐α2b (Intron A) thrice weekly. End‐of‐treatment response was defined as three consecutive nondetectable HCV RNA measurements at least 1 month apart. Sustained response was defined as a negative serum HCV RNA 6 months after end of treatment. Of the 110 patients, 19 achieved an end‐of‐treatment response (17%) but only four achieved a sustained response (4/110=4%). Of the patients achieving a sustained response, one was genotype 1 (male Caucasian), three were genotype 2/3 with four patients having no follow‐up information. The end‐of‐treatment response was 7% for patients with genotype 1 and 71% for genotype non‐1 (P < 0.005 for genotype non‐1). The end‐of‐treatment response was significantly higher in Caucasians (14/49=31%) compared with African Americans (5/61=8%; P < 0.05). A lower response rate in African Americans with genotype 1 in contrast to Caucasians was the primary reason for the difference in end‐of‐treatment response (1/45=2% vs. 5/33=15%, P < 0.05). Hence, interferon treatment resulted in a poor sustained response rate in the group of patients representative of the urban populations with the highest prevalence of hepatitis C. A genotype other than type 1 was the strongest predictor of end‐of‐treatment response in patients treated but over 86% of patients in this urban clinic were genotype 1. Caucasians were more likely to respond than African Americans, especially in patients with genotype 1.
In situ polymerase chain reaction detection of transfusion‐transmitted virus in liver biopsy
Authors: Comar M. , Ansaldi F. , Morandi L. , Dal Molin G. , Foschini P. M. , Crocè S. L. , Bonin S. , Stanta G. , Tiribelli C. , Campello C.
Published: March 2003

The potential role of transfusion‐transmitted virus (TTV) infection in determining liver damage is poorly understood and no information exists about TTV replication within hepatocytes. In this study, we assess TTV in situ PCR in liver tissue. Twenty‐one patients with different degrees of liver damage were studied by both serum TTV‐DNA detection and in situ TTV PCR analysis and extractive PCR in liver biopsy paraffin sections (FFPE). Extractive PCR and in situ PCR detected TTV‐DNA both in serum and liver tissue of five patients. The presence of TTV in serum matched with that found in the liver and TTV sequences were never found independently in liver or serum. Four out of five TTV‐DNA‐positive patients have not other known cause of liver damage while in one a coinfection from HCV was observed. Our data indicate that in situ PCR appears to be a reliable tool for the detection of TTV‐DNA in FFPE, and may help detecting unknown origin of liver damage.
Cross‐sectional survey of the extent and indicators of hepatitis C virus infection in Houston Department of Health and Human Services’ sexually transmitted disease clinics
Authors: D'Souza G. , Arafat R. , Hwang L. , Cunningham C. , Shah S. , Reynolds K.
Published: March 2003

summary. To evaluate the prevalence and indicators of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Houston and determine the effectiveness of targeted HCV screening in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. We performed a cross‐sectional survey in low‐risk and high‐risk groups in Houston. This included a blinded survey of HCV conducted in 1010 STD clinic clients having serological syphilis tests, and 1885 multi‐speciality group practice patients having metabolic blood work. This was followed with a targeted hepatitis C survey of 822 high‐risk clients from STD clinics. The seroprevalence of hepatitis C infection in the blinded survey was 3.9% (95% CI 3.0–4.8) in the multi‐speciality group and 5.0% (95% CI 3.7–6.3) in the STD clinics. Prevalence of hepatitis C infection among targeted STD clinic clients was significantly higher at 15.3% (95% CI 12.7–17.7). Risk factors that correlated with HCV infection after logistic regression included: injection drug use (OR = 10, 95% CI =  3.4–30.3), heroin use (OR = 6.6, 95% CI = 2.2–20.5), non‐transfusion/ transplantation blood exposure (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.3–6.9), sharing equipment to snort drugs (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5.4), and age above 25 years (OR = 51, 95% CI = 9–47). This study demonstrates that targeting clients in STD clinics for known risk behaviours is an effective way to identify cases of HCV infection. STD clinics allow access to clients with both drug use and sexual risk behaviours and are a useful location for targeting hepatitis C screening and prevention efforts.
Delayed egg production and a possible group effect in the blowflyCalliphora vicina
Authors: Davies Lewis
Published: March 2003

Abstract.Protein‐fed Calliphora vicina, F1 offspring of wild flies in two cages with lower and higher fly densities showed variable delay in starting oocyte vitellogenesis at ambient semi‐natural temperatures in warm July–August weather in 1996 and 1997 at Durham in northern England (54°45′ N). The high‐density flies in 1996 showed no delay, in that the thermal sum (degree‐days) experienced was 133, comparable to 18°C constant, assuming the lower threshold for egg maturation to be 5°C. Low‐density cages and flies in a large outdoor cage (2 m3) in both years showed delays in production of first eggs of 34 days (thermal sum 293 degree‐days) in 1996 and 32 days (396 degree‐days) in 1997, and longer delays for other individuals. Delays in egg production at low densities relative to high densities seem to be a group effect of unknown mechanism.
Tissue distribution and prevalence ofWolbachiainfections in tsetse flies,Glossinaspp.
Authors: Cheng Q. , Ruel T. D. , Zhou W. , Moloo S. K. , Majiwa P. , O'neill S. L. , Aksoy S.
Published: March 2003

Tsetse fliesGlossinaspp. (Diptera: Glossinidae) harbor three different symbiotic microorganisms, one being an intracellular Rickettsia of the genusWolbachia. This bacterium infects a wide range of arthropods, where it causes a variety of reproductive abnormalities, one of which is termed cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) that, when expressed, results in embryonic death due to disruptions in fertilization events. We report here that in colonized flies,Wolbachiainfections can be detected in 100% of sampled individuals, while infections vary significantly in field populations. Based onWolbachiaSurface Protein (wsp) gene sequence analysis, the infections associated with different fly species are all unique within the A group of theWolbachia pipientisclade. In addition to being present in germ‐line tissues,Wolbachiainfections have been found in somatic tissues of several insects. Using aWolbachia‐specific PCR‐based assay, the tissue tropism of infections inGlossina morsitans morsitansWestwood, Glossina brevipalpisNewstead andGlossina austeniNewstead were analysed. While infections inG. m. morsitansandG. brevipalpiswere limited to reproductive tissues, inG. austeni,Wolbachiacould be detected in various somatic tissues.
Anopheles culicifacies Y‐chromosome dimorphism indicates sibling species (B and E) with different malaria vector potential in Sri Lanka
Authors: Surendran S. N. , Abhayawardana T. A. , De Silva B. G. D. N. K. , Ramasamy R. , Ramasamy M. S.
Published: March 2003

In Sri Lanka, malaria is transmitted mainly by Anopheles culicifacies Giles sensu lato (Diptera: Culicidae). In India, this nominal taxon comprises sibling species A, B, C, D and E, distinguished by their chromosome morphology. Species B (identified by polytene chromosome sequence Xab, 2g1 + h1) is not such an efficient vector of malaria as other members of the An. culicifacies complex in India. All specimens of An. culicifacies s.l. examined from Sri Lanka possess Xab, 2g1 + h1 polytenes, previously interpreted as species B, despite their important vector status. Recently, species E was described from Rameshwaram Island (Tamil Nadu, India) between Sri Lanka and the Indian mainland, where both species B and E are sympatric. Species B and E share polytene sequence Xab, 2g1 + h1 but differ by the mitotic Y‐chromosome being acrocentric in species B, submetacentric in species E, the latter implicated as vector of vivax malaria. From May 1999 to January 2000, we surveyed Y‐chromosomes of male progeny from An. culicifacies Xab, 2g1 + h1 females collected from cattle bait in diverse malarious districts of Sri Lanka: Badulla, Monaragala, Puttalam and Trincomalee. Karyotypes of readable quality were obtained from 42/83 families examined, with overall proportions 24% acrocentric and 76% submetacentric Y‐chromosome carriers, both types being sympatric in at least 3/4 localities sampled. By analogy with the situation on Rameshwaram Island, we interpret these observations to demonstrate widespread presence of two members of the An. culicifacies complex in Sri Lanka, their karyotypes being compatible with species B and E, the latter predominant and having greater vector potential.
Application of DNA markers to identify the individual‐specific hosts of tsetse feeding on cattle
Authors: Torr S. J. , Wilson P. J. , Schofield S. , Mangwiro T. N. C. , Akber S. , White B. N.
Published: March 2003

Primer sets for five different ungulate loci were used to obtain individual microsatellite DNA profiles for 29 Mashona cattle from a herd in Zimbabwe. There were 3–13 alleles for each locus and, using the entire suite of five loci, each animal within the herd, including closely related individuals, could be unequivocally distinguished. Wild‐caught Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae) were fed on specific cattle and the bloodmeal was profiled 0.5–72 h after feeding. The individual specific sources of the bloodmeals, including mixed meals produced by allowing tsetse to feed on two different cattle, were reliably identified up to 24 h after feeding. The technique was used in field studies of host selection by G. pallidipes and G. morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) attracted to pairs of cattle. When the pair comprised an adult and a calf, 100% of meals were from the adult. For some pairs of adult cattle, tsetse were biased significantly towards feeding on one animal, whereas for other pairs there was no such bias. In general, feeding was greater on the animal known to have a lower rate of host defensive behaviour. Results suggest that relatively slight differences in the inherent defensive behaviour of cattle produce large differences in host‐specific feeding rates when the hosts are adjacent. For flies attracted to pairs of cattle, < 2% contained blood from both hosts. The DNA profiling technique will be useful in studying the epidemiology of vector‐borne diseases of livestock.
PCR assay for identification of Anopheles quadriannulatus species B from Ethiopia and other sibling species of the Anopheles gambiae complex
Authors: Fettene M. , Koekemoer L. L. , Hunt R. H. , Coetzee M.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Sibling species A and B of Anopheles quadriannulatus (Theobald) are recognized as allopatric members of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex of Afrotropical mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Species A represents An. quadriannulatus sensu stricto, widespread in southern Africa, whereas An. quadriannulatus species B occurs in Ethiopia. Because of difficulty of identification, distribution of An. quadriannulatus sensu lato remains poorly known. Cytotaxonomy and the standard DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay do not distinguish between species A and B of An. quadriannulatus. By optimizing the standard PCR assay (Scott et al., 1993) for identification of members of the An. gambiae complex, we identified two discriminant fragments of 153 bp and 900 bp from DNA of An. quadriannulatus species B, whereas only the 153 bp fragment was amplified for species A from South Africa. This modified PCR assay can therefore be used to distinguish between species A and B of An. quadriannulatus s.l. as well as other members of the An. gambiae complex.
Microsatellite diversities and gene flow in the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans s.l.
Authors: KRAFSUR E. S. , ENDSLEY M. A.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Tsetse flies occupy discontinuous habitats and gene flow among them needs to be investigated in anticipation of area‐wide control programs. Genetic diversities were estimated at six microsatellite loci in seven Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newstead (Diptera: Glossinidae) populations and five microsatellite loci in six G. m. morsitans Westwood populations. Nei's unbiased diversities were 0.808 and 76 alleles in G. m. submorsitans and 0.727 and 55 alleles in G. m. morsitans. Diversities were less in three laboratory cultures. Matings were random within populations. Populations were highly differentiated genetically. Populations were strongly subdivided, as indicated by fixation indices (FST) of 0.18 in G. m. morsitans and 0.17 in G. m. submorsitans. 35% of the genetic variance in G. m. submorsitans was attributed to differences between populations from The Gambia and Ethiopia. All available genetic evidence suggests that genetic drift is much greater than gene flow among G. morsitans s.l. populations.
Structure and function of the gnathosoma  of the mange mite, Psoroptes ovis
Authors: Mapstone S. C. , Beasley A. , Wall R.
Published: March 2003

Abstract Mites of the genus Psoroptes (Acari: Psoroptidae) are obligate, non‐burrowing, astigmatid ectoparasites of mammals. A detailed understanding of the morphology of the gnathosoma is an important step towards elucidation of the feeding behaviour of this mite and, hence, the pathology of psoroptic mange. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine Psoroptes ovis (Hering) (syn. P. cuniculi). The gnathosoma is composed of an infracapitulum (hypostome), which forms the floor of an extended U‐shaped pre‐oral trough, bounded by laterally compressed palps and enclosing paired chelicerae. Distally, each palp terminates in a flap‐like process and four tapered terminal sensillae. The floor of the infracapitulum is interrupted along its length by a dorsally projecting ridge. At the distal end of the infracapitulum are paired, grooved pseudorutellae and, between them, paired, ungrooved lateral lips. Between the lateral lips is a grooved, elongate labium. Medially, a pair of finger‐like projections emanates from the paraxial walls of the palps and project anteriorly. Each chelicera is made up of fixed and mobile digits, with a cheliceral membranous fold articulating the two. The distal ends of both digits are chelated. For much of its length, the mobile cheliceral digit appears to lie within a fold formed by the infracapitular ridge, thereby creating a central channel between the chelicerae. It is suggested that this arrangement of elements may facilitate a two‐way flow of liquid, where saliva flows down a central salivary canal and spills out onto the host's skin over the labium at the point where the chelated tips of the chelicerae meet and abrade the skin. Liquid food may move along the grooves of the pseudorutellae and then be sucked up a food canal formed by the paraxial walls of the palps and the outer wall of the chelicerae.