Alterations in the rabbit lymphoid tissue after bendiocarb administration

Various pesticides have immuno-suppressive effects, and thus the organisms become responsive to viral, bacterial and parasitic diseases and neoplasm. The aim of the study was to observe the structure of the small intestine (height of enterocytes and crypts), mucosal lymphoid tissue (Payer's patches, lymphocytes in lamina propria) and a lymph node after administration of bendiocarb (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl-methylcarbamate) on days 3, 10, 20, 30 and 60 of the experiment. The height of the observed enterocytes showed an increasing tendency. On days 20, 30 and 60 we also observed an increase in diameter of crypts located in intestinal epithelium. The number of cells in lamina propria mucosae was significantly reduced on days 20 and 30 after administration of bendiocarb. Observations of the lymph node showed that on days 10 and 20 there was a significant increase in relative volume of medulla at the expense of the relative volume of the cortex and a decrease in the number of lymphocytes. However, we recorded an increase in diameter of lymphocytes. The intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) belongs to the most common pathogenic parasites in the world and it can cause serious health complications in pregnant and immunodeficient individuals. DNA isolation, standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and visualization in a 2.5 % agarose gel, the presence of DNA T. gondii was detected in no examined rabbit brain samples. Using real time PCR T. gondii DNA was detected and quantified in the three rabbit brain samples (10 %).     

Evaluation of a healthcare safety climate measurement tool

Problem

Psychometrically validated measurement tools are needed to evaluate an organization's safety climate. In 2000, Gershon and colleagues published a new healthcare safety climate measurement tool to determine its relationship to safe work behavior (Gershon, R., Karkashian, C., Grosch, J., Murphy, L., Escamilla-Cejudo, A., Flanagan, P., et al. (2000). Hospital safety climate and its relationship with safe work practices and workplace exposure incidents. American Journal of Infection Control, 28, 211-21). The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Gershon tool when modified to address respiratory rather than bloodborne pathogen exposures.

Method

Medical practitioners, nurses, and nurse aides (n = 460) were surveyed using the modified Gershon tool. Data were analyzed by factor analysis and psychometric properties of the tool evaluated.

Results

Eight safety climate dimensions were extracted from 25 items (Cronbach's alpha range: 0.62 - 0.88). Factor extractions and psychometric properties were reasonably consistent with those of the Gershon tool.

Impact on Industry

The Gershon safety climate tool appears to have sufficient reliability and validity for use by healthcare decision makers as an indicator of employee perceptions of safety in their institution.     

Prevalence of the Crayfish Plague Pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in Invasive American Crayfishes in the Czech Republic

Abstract:  In Central Europe invasive North American crayfishes are carriers of the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci, which causes crayfish plague. This lethal disease currently represents one of the major threats to native European crayfishes. We used molecular methods—species-specific amplification and sequencing of the pathogen DNA—to investigate the prevalence of individuals latently infected with A. astaci in 28 populations of two invasive American crayfish species (6 of the signal crayfish [ Pacifastacus leniusculus ] and 22 of the spiny-cheek crayfish [ Orconectes limosus ]) in the Czech Republic. The pathogen occurred in 17 investigated populations. We recorded a high variation in positive reactions, ranging from 0% to 100%, in populations of O. limosus . In P. leniusculus, however, only one individual out of 124 tested positive for the pathogen. There was a clear relationship between the water body type and pathogen prevalence in O. limosus . Infection ratios in isolated standing waters were usually low, whereas in running waters, pathogen prevalence often exceeded 50%. Other evaluated characteristics of potential plague pathogen carriers (size, sex, and the presence of melanized spots in the cuticle) seemed to be unrelated to infection. Our data suggest that in contrast to other European countries, O. limosus seems to be the primary reservoir of crayfish plague in the Czech Republic. Although all populations of alien American crayfishes may be potential sources of infections and should be managed as such, knowledge on the prevalence of the plague pathogen at various localities may allow managers to focus conservation efforts on the most directly endangered populations of native crayfishes.     

盾壳霉CCTCC M203020的生长特性及其应用潜力

以油菜菌核病病株菌核为诱饵，从油菜地中分离筛选得到一株盾壳霉(Coniothyrium minitans CCTCC M203020)．以生物防治能力好的CBS148．96为对照菌株，比较了两者在油菜叶上对油菜菌核病菌抑制作用和在土壤中对菌核的致腐能力及条件．结果表明：C．minitans CCTCC M203020对油菜菌核病菌的抑制作用及适用的pH范围(4．0～7．0)均优于CBS148．96，适片于油菜菌核病的生物防治．具体表现在：(1)C．minitans CCTCC M203020能够完全限制病原菌在叶面的进一步扩展(已萌发孢子率为800A时)，而CBS148．96则不能；(2)C．minitaras CCTCC M203020与CBS148．96的生长特性及培养条件相近，但其菌体生长和孢子产量分别高出60％和12％，并发现该菌株在PDA上产生孢子的最短周期是3．5～4d，较优培养条件为：20℃、初始pH5．0～6．2、空气湿度90％～97％；敛腐菌核的较优条件为：10^1～10^4孢子／菌核，土壤湿度80％～100％，pH4．0～7．0，图7参19     

空气CO2体积分数升高对稻麦根系活力及其VA菌根侵染率的影响

利用无锡市安镇的FACE研究平台，在施常规氮量和低氮量的条件下，研究CO2体积分数升高对稻麦轮作系统水稻和小麦根系活力及其VA菌根侵染率的影响。结果表明，在常氮和低氮条件下，FACE处理对小麦和水稻根系活力都有促进作用，并使小麦VA菌根侵染率在拔节期和孕穗期有增加趋势，小麦根系活力和VA菌根侵染率有正相关关系。施N量不足对作物根系生长和活力有一定影响，可以被CO2体积分数升高的影响所补偿。     

菌根真菌在墨兰和建兰根中的感染特征及生理特性

从产于粤北山区的野生建兰报中分离出4株内生真菌,并对这些真菌在兰根上的感染特征及生理学特性进行了研究。结果表明,菌根真菌多数浸染植株根段离很尖3～18cm的根毛区,而根尖和新长出的根则很少被感染;几乎所有的老根都受过真菌的感染。真菌菌丝从兰报表皮侵入,通过表皮层进入皮层薄壁细胞内部形成菌丝团,而在表皮层并不进入细胞内,也不形成菌丝团。真菌感染极状整后第9天,皮层细胞内的菌丝团开始消解。所分离的菌株能利用大部分简单的有机碳源和氮源,能在营养成分不明确的天然介质中生长良好,但对硝酸盐的利用较差。     

菌根真菌侵染对植物生物量累积的影响

为了从生态系统尺度探讨菌根资源与植物生物量累积的关系,调查了鼎湖山不同成熟度的三个森林群落主要优势树种的菌根侵染情况.综合分析各森林群落优势树种的个体数、生物量和菌根侵染率发现：1）菌根侵染率与径向生长速率相关,植物生长迅速的阶段菌根侵染率更高.中径级（胸径15-30 cm）的马尾松（Pinus massoniana）和锥（Castanopsis chinensis）的侵染率比小径级（胸径1-15 cm）个体的侵染率高,而大径级个体（胸径30 cm 以上）的侵染率略低于中径级个体的侵染率.木荷（Schima superba）则表现出侵染率随着胸径增大而增高的趋势.2）树种在群落内的侵染率越高,其对群落生物量的贡献率越大.如马尾松在马尾松林和混交林的侵染率分别为（77.30±18.02）%和（40.50±14.42）%,其对马尾松林群落生物量的贡献率达到87.43%,是对混交林生物量贡献率（17.51%）的5 倍.混交林和阔叶林的共有优势树种锥的侵染率和生物量贡献率也有存在相同规律.3）根系碳储量占群落总碳储量比例较高的群落其优势树种平均侵染率相对较高.马尾松林、混交林和季风常绿阔叶林中,根系碳储量占群落总碳储量的比例分别为55%、54%、42%,群落优势树种平均侵染率分别为（66.73±10.55）%、（46.97±27.28）%、（54.22±25.45）%,马尾松林的根系碳储量和平均侵染率均高于混交林和季风常绿阔叶林.以上结果表明,菌根真菌侵染对于植物个体生长速率以及群落水平的生物量累积具有-定的促进作用.     

Fetal diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in 190 women infected during pregnancy

One hundred and ninety women who contracted toxoplasmosis after the seventh week of pregnancy underwent antenatal diagnosis, including ultrasound examination and biological tests. Tests included Toxoplasma isolation in fetal blood and amniotic fluid by mouse inoculation, specific IgM and IgA in fetal blood, and non-specific tests. Twenty fetuses had positive specific as well as non-specific tests for Toxoplasma infection. At birth, four of these presented with clinical congenital toxoplasmosis and 12 with subclinical forms. Antenatal diagnosis enabled the detection of 83 per cent of the infected fetuses. Under specific conditions, cordocentesis permits early diagnosis and considerably reduces the number of terminations of pregnancy.