Prevention of Milk Fever (Hypocalcemic Paresis Puerperalis) by Dietary Salt Supplements

Twelve cows of 14 given a basic diet supplemented with Na2GO3 and NaHCO3 during four weeks pre partum and one week past partum were attacked by milk fever (hypocalcemic paresis puerperalis), while 12 cows of 13 receiving the same basic diet supplemented with sulfates and chlorides remained healthy. A mixture of CaCl2, Al2(SO4)3 and MgSO4 was found to be a convenient prophyllactic supplement. It was found possible to induce and prevent milk fever at successive parturitions in the same cow by altering the dietary conditions. The data give further support to the hypothesis that the alkali alkalinity of the diet is the major factor in induction or prevention of milk fever.     

In vitro susceptibility to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones of Japanese isolates of Coxiella burnetii

Coxiella burnetii is the agent of the worldwide zoonosis, Q fever. The in vitro susceptibility to tetracycline and fluoroquinolones of Japanese isolates of C. burnetii was evaluated for the first time. The MICs against Japanese isolates were almost the same as the MICs against the foreign reference isolates. The results suggest that the common antibiotics therapy for Q fever used in other countries is also effective for Japanese Q fever patients.     

Epidemic hemorrhagic fever in Hubei Province, The People's Republic of China: a clinical and serological study

Between July 1975 and April 1980, 71 patients were admitted to the Second Attached Hospital of Hubei Provincial Medical College in Wuchang with the diagnosis of epidemic hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The clinical course among these patients was similar to that described for patients with Korean hemorrhagic fever, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome of the U.S.S.R. The overall mortality was 11.2 percent. Sera obtained from some of these patients as well as from patients admitted to the First Attached Hospital of Hubei Provincial Medical College were tested against an antigen associated with Korean hemorrhagic fever and showed exceedingly high antibody titers. We conclude that EHF in Central China represents the same or a closely related disease process as Korean hemorrhagic fever.     

Evaluation of thermostable yellow fever vaccine from the Pasteur Institute on international travellers

The authors studied the tolerance and efficacy of the new stabilized 17D yellow fever vaccine produced by Pasteur Vaccins, on 50 international travellers at the University Hospital of Grenoble (France), comparing it with the standard 17D yellow fever vaccine. The short-term and long-term tolerance in all the travellers was excellent. The serological efficacy was estimated by seroneutralization assay with the vaccine virus Rockefeller 17D, which is the most sensitive and the most specific method. The seroconversion rate was 93.8%, the same as the rate obtained with the standard yellow fever vaccine in 50 other travellers. The authors studied also the serological response to the standard yellow fever vaccine associated with other vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, oral or injectable poliomyelitis, and oral cholera): the seroconversion rates were similar to those obtained with the yellow fever vaccine alone, thus demonstrating that these associated vaccines do not interfere with immunization against yellow fever.     

Maternal fever during early pregnancy and the risk of oral clefts

An increased risk of birth defects after hyperthermic exposures has been confirmed in animal studies, but population studies have yielded inconsistent results. Oral clefts are a common birth defect and have been associated with these exposures in some of these studies. In this study, data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study was used to evaluate the association of maternal report of febrile illness in early pregnancy and the risk of oral clefts. All oral cleft cases born between 1997 and 2004 were compared with nonmalformed controls born in the same geographical region during the same time period. Mothers reporting febrile illness during pregnancy were stratified by fever grade and antipyretic use. Logistic regression models were used to generate crude and adjusted odds ratios for exposure to fever and association with each oral cleft phenotype. The dataset included 5821 controls, 1567 cases of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL+/?P) and 835 cases of cleft palate only. A modestly increased risk was observed for isolated CL+/?P (odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.63). Stratification by fever grade (body temperature <101.5° or ≥101.5°F) did not yield significant differences in risk. Risk estimates were higher among women who reported a fever, but did not take antipyretics to control their fever, particularly for nonisolated compared with isolated oral clefts. This finding suggests that adequate control of fever may diminish the deleterious effects of fever in cases of oral cleft. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

黑龙江省2010～2020年猩红热发病与气象因素的关联性研究

分析黑龙江省气象因素与猩红热发病的关系,建立时间序列模型,为今后制定更科学有效的猩红热防控策略提供参考依据。收集黑龙江省2010～2020年猩红热月发病数据以及同期气温、气压等气象资料,应用广义相加模型分析气象因素与猩红热发病之间的关联程度和形式。结果发现: 猩红热全年均有发病而且呈现出较为典型的双峰型特征,在春季的4～5月份和冬季的11～12月份发病数达到高峰;月平均气压、月平均相对湿度、月日照时数和月平均风速的P值均小于0.05,表明具有统计学意义。同时,RR(相对危险度Risk Ratio)值均小于1,即猩红热发病与四个气象因素呈负相关。黑龙江省猩红热发病每年存在两个流行高峰,主要以冬季为主,发病数随着月平均相对湿度、月日照时数、月平均风速与月平均气压的升高而降低。     

Arylsulphatase A and acid phosphatase activities in plasma and leucocytes during LPS fever in the ox (Bos taurus)

Intravenous injection of E. coli LPS (0.5 micrograms/kg) produced the biphasic elevation of rectal temperature (TR) in conscious oxen. The fever was accompanied by a significant increase of the arylsulphatase A (AsA) activities in plasma and in mononuclear leucocytes. In polymorphonuclear cells a substantial decrease of the AsA activity after 1 hr fever was observed. After 3.5 hr of fever the polymorphonuclear activity of AsA restored to normal found before LPS administration. In contrast with AsA, the pyrogenic dose of LPS caused negligible changes of the acid phosphatase (AcP) activities in the sampled materials. Daily-repeated injections of pyrogen into the same oxen attenuated magnitudes of fever as well as AsA responses in plasma and granulocytes. Heat-induced hyperthermia provoked only minute changes of the AsA and AcP.     

用间接免疫荧光法检测流行性出血热病人尿中特异性抗体的研究

用间接免疫荧光法检测110例不同病程、病期及病型的流行性出血热病人尿中及血清中特异性抗体。尿中IgM型抗体阳性率为62.7％。尿中IgG型抗体阳性率91.8％与血清IgG型者90.9％相似,而总阳性率(IgG或IgM有一项以上阳性者的总检出率)99.1％则高于血清IgG者。20例其它疾病及10例正常人尿抗体均为阴性。结果表明尿抗体检查法是特异且可靠的,它比血清学方法简便、灵敏、为临床诊断可早期快速得出结果,不用采血有利于病人。IgM型抗体阳性率受病程、病期、病型及尿蛋白量的影响较明显。     

Incidence of Q fever in two inadequately investigated occupational groups.

In 1973 the authors investigated the incidence of Q fever serologically by means of the reaction of complement fixation (RCF) and the method of immunofluorescent titration (MIFT) in two inadequately investigated occupational groups--communal workers from the town of Russe and medical workers in obstetric departments of several towns in North Bulgaria. In addition, they carried out comparative studies in order to characterize the incidence and the degree of affection from the same disease in other persons exposed and not exposed at work in the same area--transport workers and blood donors. Out of 198 communal workers, 91 (45.95 +/- 3.54%) had positive titres for Q fever (1:8--1:512). A high incidence of Q fever was established in dustmen (61.40%), sweepers (46.55%) and drivers of dust cars (38.00%), i.e. persons collecting and rendering harmless the garbage of big town. Out of 174 medical workers in obstetric departments 65 (37.36% +/- 3.78%) were positive in titres 1:8--1:512. A high incidence of Q fever was established in obstetricians (57.14%), midwives (38.11%) and hospital attendants (34.38%), i.e. persons providing medical care for pregnant women or women in childbirth. In both groups the occupational hazard increases with the length of service. Out of 244 transport workers 82 (33.60% +/- 3.02%) were positive for Q fever, and out of 237 blood donors 19 (8.01 +/- 2.54%) were serologically positive for Q fever. The authors suggest continued investigation of these two occupational groups.     

DIAGNOSIS OF RHEUMATIC FEVER AND LIKE CONDITIONS—Evaluation of Certain of the Acute Phase Reactants in a Single Specimen of Blood

Certain of the acute phase reactant tests were performed on the same specimen of blood from persons with the following states: Normal, acute respiratory disease, streptococcosis, acute rheumatic fever, acute glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatoid arthritis, inactive rheumatic fever, lupus erythematosus, malignant disease, obesity, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Of the tests performed, the mucoprotein-tyrosine and the antistreptolysin-0 titer when done together appeared to be the most discriminating. It is suggested that the performance of such tests on the same sample of blood might aid in differentiating mild acute rheumatic fever and acute rheumatoid arthritis from each other and also from other disease states.     

Rheumatic fever in Southern California; problems related to diagnosis

Rheumatic fever occurs in native of Southern California and is a cause of death. The incidence of streptococcosis in Los Angeles is approximately equal to that in three other major cities in the United States where rheumatic fever is known to occur commonly. Manifestations of rheumatic fever may range from mild to severe. It is suggested that a greater percentage of patients in Southern California have symptoms of rheumatic fever that are more mild. Differentiation between prolonged, uncomplicated streptococcosis and rheumatic fever is a major problem. The judicious use of a battery of tests, acute phase reactants, on the same blood sample will frequently help to establish the diagnosis in borderline situations so common to Southern California.     

Central and peripheral injections of ACTH (1–24) reduce fever in adrenalectomized rabbits

Central administration of ACTH (1-24) reduces fever in normal rabbits in doses that have no effect on afebrile body temperature. Previous experimental and clinical reports indicate that peripheral administration of both ACTH and corticosteroids reduces fever, and since central injection of corticosteroids can also lower fever it might be that the antipyretic effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) ACTH (1-24) is due to adrenal stimulation. To learn whether this endogenous central peptide can produce antipyresis independently, ACTH (1-24) was injected ICV in bilaterally adrenalectomized (ADX) rabbits made febrile by IV injections of leukocytic pyrogen (LP). ACTH (250 ng) given ICV reduced fever in these animals and had a slight hypothermic effect when given to the same rabbits when they were afebrile. Doses of 25-75 ng reduced fever without influencing normal body temperature. Intravenous injections of ACTH (2.5 micrograms) also lowered fever caused by IV LP in ADX rabbits. The present findings raise the possibility that release of endogenous central ACTH, and perhaps entry into the brain of circulating ACTH, the release of which is known to increase in fever, limits the magnitude of the febrile response by influencing central temperature controls.     

The epidemic process of an acute streptococcal respiratory infection in large organized collectives of children

The study of the specific features of the development of the epidemic process of scarlet fever, tonsillitis, and acute respiratory diseases (ARD) in two large organized groups of children revealed the presence of some differences which depended on the character of prophylactic measures taken in these groups. Thus, in the absence of prophylaxis with bicillin a pronounced increase in the level of carriership, accompanied by an increase in the infective capacity of carriers, was noted. This resulted in a high level and unfavorable dynamics of morbidity in scarlet fever, tonsillitis, and ARD. On the contrary, the use of prophylaxis with bicillin ensured the stability of the level of carriership, while the infective capacity of carriers was not pronounced. At the same time a rise in ARD morbidity was insignificant, and morbidity in scarlet fever and tonsillitis was reduced to nil.     

Economic burden of dengue fever in China: A retrospective research study

BackgroundDengue fever has been a significant public health challenge in China. This will be particularly important in the context of global warming, frequent international travels, and urbanization with increasing city size and population movement. In order to design relevant prevention and control strategies and allocate health resources reasonably, this study evaluated the economic burden of dengue fever in China in 2019.MethodsThe economic burden of dengue fever patients was calculated from both family and the organisation perspectives. A survey was conducted among 1,027 dengue fever patients in Zhejiang, Chongqing, and Yunnan Provinces. Treatment expenses, lost working days, and insurance reimbursement expenses information were collected to estimate the total economic burden of dengue fever patients in 2019. The expenditures related to dengue fever prevention and control from government, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), communities and subdistrict offices of 30 counties (or districts) in Zhejiang Province and Chongqing City were also collected.ResultsThe direct, indirect and total economic burden for dengue fever patients in 2019 in the three Provinces were about 36,927,380.00 Chinese Yuan (CNY), 10,579,572.00 CNY and 46,805,064.00 CNY, respectively. The costs for prevention and control of dengue fever for the counties (or districts) without cases, counties (or districts) with imported cases, and counties (or districts) with local cases are 205,800.00 CNY, 731,180.00 CNY and 6,934,378.00 CNY, respectively. The total investment of dengue fever prevention and control in the 30 counties in China in 2019 was approximately 3,166,660,240.00 CNY.ConclusionThe economic burden of dengue fever patients is relatively high, and medical insurance coverage should be increased to lighten patients’ direct medical economic burden. At the same time, the results suggests that China should increase funding for primary health service institutions to prevent dengue fever transmission.     

Acute Rheumatic Fever in Los Angeles County

There was a general downward trend in the reported incidence of acute rheumatic fever in Los Angeles County during the years 1954-1963. A survey of hospital records in five large hospitals in 1962 revealed 100 cases diagnosed, 39 of which were reported. Diagnoses in the charts reviewed conformed to the Modified Jones Criteria. Most of the patients were born in Los Angeles County.Mortality rates for acute rheumatic fever during the same period were greatly in excess of those expected from the reported morbidity. The mean crude mortality rate for the period concerned was higher than for New York City, although not as high as for Boston.Acute rheumatic fever appears to constitute a health problem in need of review in Los Angeles County.     

Sensitivity of hypothalamic sites to salicylate and prostaglandin.

This study was designed to determine the dose of salicylate necessary to produce substantial antipyresis, and to determine the relationship between the response to salicylate and prostaglandin infused into the same region of the preoptic area of the rabbit. The effect of preoptic infusions of three doses of sodium salicylate, or a control solution, on the fever produced by an intravenous injection of endogenous pyrogen was measured. The pyrogenic response to prostaglandin E1 injected into the same preoptic sites in the same rabbits was also monitored. The results showed that the 50 microgram/microL per hour dose of salicylate did not produce significant antipyresis but that the 100 and 200 microgram/microL per hour doses did. The results also showed a significant correlation between the magnitude of fever produced by prostaglandin E1 and the magnitude of antipyresis produced by sodium salicylate at a particular site. Those sites at which infusion of salicylate produced the most effective antipyresis were also the ones at which prostaglandin E1 produced the largest fevers.     

Purification and characterization of precipitating antigens from Theileria parva.

Precipitating antigens from Theileria parva have been partially purified. Two antigens from each of the schizont and piroplasm stages of the parasite were identified; the major antigens from the two stages shared the same specificity. The antigens showed considerable molecular heterogeneity, almost certainly a result of the preparative method, and they always contained large amounts of DNA. The piroplasm antigens were of parasite nuclear origin and the schizont antigens were probably of the same origin. The antigens were weakly antigenic, and the activity against them of humoral antibody from cattle immune to East Coast fever was low. These antigens do not appear to induce protection against East Coast fever.     

Phenotypic and genotypic homogeneity of the strains of Rickettsia japonica isolated from patients with Oriental spotted fever.

Nine pathogenic strains of Rickettsia japonica isolated from patients with Oriental spotted fever were compared phenotypically and genotypically. Constitution and antigenicity of the proteins demonstrated to be the same among strains. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the two major outer membrane protein genes (ompA and ompB) and an intracellular spotted fever group-common antigen protein gene (rps120) produced the same sizes of products for all strains. Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the PCR products showed the same pattern among strains with each endonuclease. Thus, these strains belong to a single type, the same as the type strain YH (=ATCC VR-1363).     

Site of action of calcium channel blockers in inhibiting endogenous pyrogen fever in rats.

We have demonstrated that the Ca2+ channel blocker verapamil, administered intravenously, exerts an antipyretic effect on the febrile responses of rats to intravenously injected endogenous pyrogen (EP). We have also shown that the same intravenous dose of verapamil is ineffective in blocking fevers induced by the microinjection of exogenous prostaglandin E (PGE) into the organum vasculosum laminae terminalis (OVLT) of rats. Experiments were conducted to determine whether the site of this verapamil antipyresis was in the OVLT itself. The febrile responses of six male Sprague-Dawley rats to EP were determined at thermoneutrality. Verapamil (10 micrograms/rat) was microinjected directly into the OVLT, and the febrile responses to the EP dose were redetermined 15-30 min later. In every case the EP fevers were attenuated after verapamil pretreatment. Intra-OVLT injections of verapamil alone were without effect on body temperature. When the same dose of verapamil was injected into the OVLT 15 min before the injection of PGE into the same site, it had no effect on the ensuing PGE-induced fever. In view of the fact that less than 1/250th of the effective systemic dose of verapamil, when injected into the OVLT, was equally effective in blocking the EP fevers, we conclude that verapamil acts within the OVLT to block fever rather than peripherally. Furthermore, because verapamil administered into the OVLT does not block PGE fevers, it is unlikely that PGE produces fever by acting as a Ca2+ ionophore on hypothalamic neurons.     

Stress fever magnitude in laboratory-maintained California ground squirrels varies with season

A previous study demonstrated that California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) living in the natural environment had, independent of season, a significantly higher mean diurnal body temperature (T(b)) (39.6 degrees C) than either summer (37.5 degrees C) or winter (36.5 degrees C) laboratory maintained animals. Based upon the previous study it has been suggested that California ground squirrels living in the natural environment may have an elevated set-point for body temperature in a manner analogous to a stress fever response. The present study was conducted to determine if season and/or duration of laboratory open-field exposure influenced the magnitude of laboratory open-field stress fever. If stress fever was involved to some extent in the higher body temperature observed in animals from the natural environment, laboratory maintained animals should exhibit a lower magnitude stress fever during the summer months and a higher magnitude stress fever during the winter months. It was hypothesized that laboratory maintained animals would exhibit the same set-point for stress fever T(b) independent of season, and that the duration of open-field exposure would not influence the magnitude of stress fever. Adult California ground squirrels were acclimated to an ambient temperature of 20+/-1.0 degrees C under either LD 14:10 (summer) or LD 10:14 (winter) photoperiod conditions and individuals from both photoperiod conditions were exposed for periods of 2, 4, and 6 h to an open-field arena. An analysis of the data with a two-factor ANOVA demonstrated that season (photoperiod) significantly influenced the magnitude of the stress fever response (1.1+/-0.1 degrees C for summer animals; 2.1+/-0.2 degrees C for winter animals) while there was no significant influence of open-field exposure duration on stress fever magnitude. These results demonstrate that although the set-point for body temperature in unstressed laboratory maintained California ground squirrels varies with season, the set-point for body temperature in open-field stressed animals does not vary with season. These data lend support to the hypothesis that something like stress fever may play some role in the higher body temperature observed in California ground squirrels living in the natural environment.