Permethrin-impregnated bednets reduce nuisance arthropods in Gambian houses

The prevalence of bedbugs (Cimex hemipterus L.), chicken ticks (Argas persicus Oken) and headlice (Pediculus capitis De Geer) was surveyed in a rural area of The Gambia. At the beginning of the study 37.5% of children's beds were infested with bedbugs and 3.9% with chicken ticks, whilst the prevalence rate of pediculosis in children under 10 years old was 28.8%. Both bedbugs and headlice were clustered within compounds. Headlice prevalence increased with hair length and they were more common on girls than boys. Following this cross-sectional survey all bednets in the sixteen hamlets were either dipped in permethrin or a placebo. About 4 months later it was found that bedbugs and chicken ticks had disappeared from homes in which the bednets had been impregnated with permethrin. There was no reduction in hamlets with placebo-treated bednets. The rate of acquiring headlice between the two surveys was reduced by 91.1% in children who slept under insecticide-treated bednets compared with children with placebo-treated bednets. There were also significantly fewer day-flying and crawling insects, except earwigs, in homes of children who slept under insecticide-treated bednets compared with those with placebo-treated nets. These additional benefits of permethrin-treated bednets should contribute to their widespread acceptance and utilization by the community for personal protection.     

An immunological study of a case of tinea capitis in an adult

We evaluated the immunological aspects of a case of tinea capitis in an adult. Tests revealed alteration of the T4/T8 lymphocyte ratio (T4 increase and T8 decrease) and a decrease in polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity.     

Kinematic and electromyographic analysis of the Nordic Hamstring Exercise

The Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) has been introduced as a training tool to improve the efficiency of eccentric hamstring muscle contraction. The aim of this study was to perform a biomechanical analysis of the NHE. Eighteen participants (20.4 ± 1.9 years) performed two sets of five repetitions each of the NHE and maximal eccentric voluntary contraction (MEVC) of the knee flexors on an isokinetic dynamometer whilst knee angular displacement and electrical activity (EMG) of biceps femoris were measured. EMG was on average higher during the NHE (134.3% of the MEVC). During the forward fall of the NHE, the angle at which a sharp increase in downward velocity occurred varied between 47.9 and 80.5 deg, while the peak knee angular velocity (pVelocity) varied between 47.7 and 132.8 deg s^?1. A significant negative correlation was found between pVelocity and peak EMG (r = ?0.62, p < 0.01) and EMG at 45 deg (r = ?0.75, p < 0.01) expressed as a percentage of peak MEVC EMG. Some of the variables analyzed exhibited good to excellent levels of intra- and inter-session reliability. This type of analysis could be used to indirectly monitor the level of eccentric strength of the hamstring muscles while performing the NHE and potentially any training- or injury-related changes.     

Neuromuscular activation of quadriceps bellies during tasks performed in the same biomechanical condition in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty

ObjectiveTo investigate neuromuscular activation of quadriceps bellies during different tasks in patients before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).MethodsTwenty-six patients scheduled for TKA and 16 control subjects performed three isometric tasks: knee extension (KE), hip flexion (HF), hip flexion with contralateral hip extension (HFE). Surface electromyography signals of rectus femoris, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis were collected the day before (T0), at one (T1) and three (T2) days after surgery, whereas control subjects underwent a single evaluation. The Root Mean Square peak normalized for its highest value during the three tasks (nRMS-peak) was used as index of maximum neuromuscular activation for each belly. Sixteen patients performed the postoperative assessment, due to the placement of an elastomeric pump aimed at reducing pain in 10 patients.ResultsPatients showed lower rectus femoris nRMS-peak during KE compared to HF and HFE before and after surgery (p < 0.001), as occurred in control subjects. Differently from control subjects, patients showed higher vastus medialis and vastus lateralis nRMS-peak during HF compared to KE at T1 (p = 0.008) and T2 (p = 0.039).ConclusionTKA modified quadriceps neuromuscular activation during different tasks performed the same biomechanical condition. These findings may be considered in planning physiotherapy interventions after TKA.     

Ovicidal and adulticidal activities of Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark essential oil compounds and related compounds against Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculicidae)

The toxicity of cinnamon, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, bark essential oil compounds against eggs and adult females of human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, was examined using direct contact and vapour phase toxicity bioassays and compared with the lethal activity of their related compounds, benzyl alcohol, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl acetate, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and salicylaldehyde, as well as two widely used pediculicides, d-phenothrin and pyrethrum. In a filter-paper contact toxicity bioassay with female lice at 0.25 mg/cm², benzaldehyde was 29- and 27-fold more toxic than pyrethrum and d-phenothrin, respectively, as judged by median lethal time (LT₅₀) values. Salicylaldehyde was nine and eight times more active than pyrethrum and d-phenothrin, respectively. Pediculicidal activity of linalool was comparable with that of d-phenothrin and pyrethrum. Cinnamomum bark essential oil was slightly less effective than either d-phenothrin or pyrethrum. Benzyl alcohol and (E)-cinnamaldehyde exhibited moderate pediculicidal activity. After 24 h of exposure, no hatching was observed with 0.063 mg/cm² salicylaldehyde, 0.125 mg/cm² benzaldehyde, 0.5 mg/cm² Cinnamomum bark essential oil, 1.0 mg/cm² (E)-cinnamaldehyde, and 1.0 mg/cm² benzyl cinnamate. Little or no ovicidal activity was observed with d-phenothrin or pyrethrum. In vapour phase toxicity tests with female lice, benzaldehyde and salicylaldehyde were much more effective in closed containers than in open ones, indicating that the mode of delivery of these compounds was largely due to action in the vapour phase. Neither d-phenothrin nor pyrethrum exhibited fumigant toxicity. Cinnamomum bark essential oil and test compounds described merit further study as potential pediculicides or ovicides for the control of P. h. capitis.     

小儿罕见真菌感染的临床报道

目的 探讨念珠菌病的新类型和新条件下小儿真菌感染的临床表现和致病菌。方法 回顾性收集1975～2005年的临床资料44例,进行体外毛发感染试验、电镜观察、动物试验,流式细胞（FCM）、随机括增多态性DNA（RAPD）以及DNA基因序列检测等。结果 ①累计发现44例婴儿头部念珠菌病,其中病期长者可感染头发。②粉末毕赤酵母可致婴儿皮肤感染。③一种罕见的林生地霉可致脓癣样地霉病。结论 我们发现的婴儿头部念珠菌病,慢性皮肤、黏膜念珠菌病伴皮肤粉末毕赤酵母感染和罕见的林生地霉引起儿童脓癣样地霉病,均为文献率先报道,对防治和降低念珠菌病和其他酵母样真菌感染患者的死亡率有一定意义。     

脓癣的发病情况和病原菌变迁:上海地区19年的回顾性研究

目的了解近19年间上海地区脓癣的发病情况、病原菌及其变迁。方法选取头皮屑及头发真菌直接镜检阳性和(或)真菌培养为皮肤癣菌者,记录其临床表现、感染方式及动物接触史等。结果头癣患者1 009例,其中男性437例,女性572例;年龄20 d～93岁,平均10.44岁;脓癣114例(11.30%),其中男性44例,女性70例。年龄20 d～68岁,平均10.60岁,5～10岁最多见(45.61%),其次为5岁以下儿童(31.58%)。感染方式:发内型48例,发外型66例。真菌培养阳性的脓癣95例,其中犬小孢子菌29例(30.53%)、紫色毛癣菌21例(22.11%)、须癣毛癣菌19例(20.00%)、红色毛癣菌15例(15.79%)、断发毛癣菌7例(7.37%)、石膏样小孢子菌4例(4.21%)。脓癣的发病呈上升趋势,须癣毛癣菌脓癣尤为显著。结论上海地区脓癣主要发生于10岁以内儿童,犬小孢子菌是最常见的致病菌,发外型感染较发内型多见。     

赤峰兴隆沟遗址人类椎骨疾病的生物考古学研究

对赤峰兴隆沟遗址第一地点出土的人类椎骨上椎体的退行性关节病(DJD)和黄韧带骨化(OLF)进行了生物考古学研究,制订了这两种病症患病程度的分级记录标准,并对患病率和患病程度均值进行了统计分析。对两性的对比发现DJD的差异主要体现在男性颈椎患病较多而女性腰椎患病较多,OLF的主要差异则是男性胸椎患病率显著高于女性。通过与对比组的比较,发现兴隆沟组腰椎、颈椎DJD患病率相对较高,并再次验证了两性患病情况存在的明显差异;兴隆沟组OLF患病率与对比组也有显著差异。兴隆沟组的椎骨患病情况不一定与生业模式有关,只反映了脊柱承受负荷的情况,其差异暗示行为模式上的差异。建议开展其他方面研究以详细了解其行为模式,同时要重视建立统一的古病理研究标准的重要性。     

表现为脂溢性皮炎样的儿童头癣1例

报道临床表现类似脂溢性皮炎的头癣1例。患儿5岁,因头皮丘疹半年、鳞屑增多并脱落半个月就诊。刮取皮屑、病发直接镜检查见菌丝和发内孢子,对鳞屑、病发培养有紫色菌落生长,转种作小培养后光镜下观察见菌丝粗细不一,分隔、分支多,并有不规则突起,间生厚壁孢子多见,鉴定为紫色毛癣菌。经内服和外用特比萘芬治疗3周后痊愈。