Study of the role of conditionally pathogenic enterobacteria in acute intestinal diseases]

Conditionally pathogenic enterobacteria were isolated in 34.2% of the patients with acute intestinal diseases (1559 cases examined in all). Such representatives of enterobacteria as Klebsiella, Hafnia, Citrobacter of 4, 8, and 22 serological groups. Proteus mirabilis of 6, 10, 13, 26, and 28 serological groups, and Proteus morganii mostly played the etiological role. In some of the patients conditionally pathogenic microbes only aggravated the main disease, taking part in the development of dysbacteriosis. In healthy individuals these microbes were much more rare and were encountered inconstantly.     

Hordein Polymorphism in Barley Varieties from Northern Africa

Using starch gel electrophoresis, we examined polymorphism of hordein encoded by loci Hrd A, Hrd B, and Hrd F in 77 accessions of local barley varieties from Northern African countries (9 from Marocco, 22 from Algeria, 7 from Tunisia, and 39 from Egypt). For loci Hrd A, Hrd B, andHrd F, respectively 35, 43, and 5 alleles were found. The existence of families of blocks of hordein components encoded by Hrd A and Hrd Bwas demonstrated. The estimation of genetic distances and cluster analysis showed similarity of barley populations from different Northern African countries with regard to alleles of the hordein-coding loci. We suggest that polymorphism at the hordein-coding loci in the populations examined has been mainly formed beyond Northern Africa, where barley has been repeatedly introduced. Apparently, the examined populations from Ethiopia and Egypt are not directly associated.     

Acute renal failure in tropical Africa.

Between 1972 and 1975, 55 adult patients with acute renal failure were admitted to the renal unit of Korle Bu Hospital. Fourteen patients died, giving an overall death rate of 25%. Massive intravascular haemolysis after a short febrile illness was the commonest cause of acute renal failure. Clinically these patients presented with blackwater fever but in only one could Plasmodium falciparum malaria be confidently diagnosed. In half the patients various bacterial and viral infections (especially typhoid) could be incriminated as causing this blackwater fever syndrome. The incidence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency was 22.5%, but we could not confirm the impression of a greater predisposition to acute renal failure in patients with this enzyme defect.     

人体肠道细菌群落与疾病

肠道定植有100万亿细菌,这占到了人体细菌总量的绝大多数。一旦肠道菌群失调,就会产生一系列疾病。本文介绍了人体肠道细菌群落异常与5种肠道疾病和5种肠道外疾病的关系,并推荐用益生菌和益生素来治疗人体肠道细菌群落异常。为了解人体肠道细菌群落和人体健康的关系,美国国立卫生研究院已启动了人类微生物组计划,欧洲委员会也正在资助人类肠道宏基因组学项目,而中国在此项目中亦取得了可喜进步。基于肠道宏基因组的个体化医疗时代已不再遥远。     

Raptor conservation in the Northern Cape Province,South Africa

Anderson, M.D. 2000. Raptor conservation in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 25–32.

The semi-arid Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province in South Africa. One of the main economic activities is sheep farming, and the properties are generally very large (>5 000 ha). A heterogeneous environment results in many habitats for a wide diversity of raptors. Fifty-one different species have been recorded, of which 37 are resident, 21 are common, and eight species are listed in the South African Red Data Book—Birds. As habitat degradation is limited, besides the areas immediately adjacent to the perennial rivers, raptors are still commonly encountered in many areas. Conflict with small-stock farming, however, results in some birds being inadvertently or directly persecuted each year. Two farmer questionnaire postal surveys (1976 and 1992) indicated a decrease in range and abundance of certain scavenging species, such as the Tawny Eagle. The more recent survey also indicated that most stock mortalities occurred in the mountainous areas, with the Black Eagle being the apparent culprit. In the Northern Cape there are both positive and negative anthropogenic effects on raptors. For example, 14 species have been recorded breeding on man-made structures, while 18 species have been documented to drown in farm reservoirs. Through the activities of the Raptor Conservation Group, the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Service and the Northern Cape Raptor Conservation Forum various threats are being addressed. Raptor conservation activities include: monitoring of raptor breeding populations, road censuses, farmer extension, establishment of raptor conservancies, rehabilitation of injured raptors, issuing of certificates to land-owners who have breeding raptors on their properties, presentation of the annual Gariep Raptor Conservationist Award, production and distribution of raptor pamphlets and booklets, modification of farm reservoirs to prevent raptor drownings, modification of powerlines to prevent electrocutions, and establishment of “vulture restaurants”. Through these efforts, the status of many raptor species is improving and species such as the Bateleur and Lappet-faced Vulture are becoming increasingly common.     

Trial of Chloramphenicol for Meningitis in Northern Savanna of Africa

In a controlled trial chloramphenicol proved as effective and much cheaper than penicillin for the treatment of group A meningococcal meningitis in Zaria, Nigeria. A short course of five days cured most patients. Adults and older children were soon able to take chloramphenicol by mouth, which reduced the cost and simplified treatment.It is suggested that chloramphenicol is a suitable alternative to sulphonamides for the treatment of meningococcal meningitis in those parts of Africa where the organism is sulphonamide-resistant.