Risk Factors of Venous Thromboembolism in Sudanese Pregnant Women.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the major causes of pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to determine the frequency of factor V Leiden (FVL) and prothrombin G20210A polymorphisms and measure the plasma levels of protein C (PC), protein S (PS) and antithrombin (AT) in pregnant women with VTE and healthy pregnant women. This prospective case-control study determined the frequencies of FVL G1691A and prothrombin G20210A polymorphisms and measured the plasma levels of PC, PS and AT in 198 pregnant women with VTE and 198 healthy pregnant women. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR) was used to detect the FVL G1691A polymorphisms and prothrombin G20210A gene mutations. The FVL G1691A polymorphism and prothrombin G20210A gene mutations were detected only in pregnant women with VTE, with frequencies of 4.0 and 0.5%, respectively. The highest frequency of FVL G1691A polymorphism was observed in patients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and positively associated with contraceptive use and termination. Pregnant women with VTE had significantly lower levels of PC, PS and AT than those of controls. In conclusion, among the VTE cases, FVL G1691A polymorphism and PC, PS and AT deficiencies were the most common findings in patients presenting with DVT. Antithrombin deficiency was more common than PC and PS deficiencies. Contraceptive use, high body mass index (BMI) and termination correlated strongly with FVL G1691A polymorphism and PC and PS deficiencies in patients with VTE.

Description and SEM Observations of a New Species of Cyst Nematode Heterodera goldeni (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) Attacking Panicum coloratum in Egypt.

A cyst nematode, Heterodera goldeni n. sp., is photographed and described from Qasabagrass roots (Panicum coloratum L.) in Alexandria, Egypt. It is characterized in having second-stage juveniles with body length of 546 microm (450-612), stylet length of 22.6 microm (22-23.5) with anchor-shaped knobs, lateral field with 3 lines, tail 60-75 microm, hyaline tail terminus 38.4 microm (33-43); cysts are lemon-shaped, dark to light brown with an extensive sub-crystalline layer covering the entire cyst, cuticular midbody pattern zig-zag, cysts ambifenestrate, well-developed underbridge with finger-like projections, bullae present, vulva slit measuring 44-48 microm long. Males are absent, and females have heavy punctations on the cuticle. Its relationship to H. graminophila described from Florida and Louisiana and H. leuceilyma described from Florida are discussed. The present known distribution is restricted to Alexandria, Egypt. Its economic importance in rangeland grasses and cultivated crops such as rice is not known.

Ameliorative effects of sodium bentonite on phagocytosis and Newcastle disease antibody formation in broiler chickens during aflatoxicosis.

The ameliorative effect of graded levels of dietary sodium bentonite (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 per cent wt/wt of feed) on in vitro-impaired phagocytosis and suppressed immune response to Newcastle disease vaccine during aflatoxicosis (AF) in broiler chicks was investigated. Both percentage and mean of phagocytic activities were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in chicks fed 2.5 mg aflatoxin per kg feed. The addition of sodium bentonite was significantly effective in ameliorating the negative effect of AF on the percentage and mean of phagocytosis. The presence of AF alone in the diet depressed the immune response of chicks as measured by haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test. Sodium bentonite was also effective in ameliorating the suppressive effect of AF on the HI -titre in chicks vaccinated against Newcastle disease. The best results obtained when sodium bentonite was added at the rate of 0.4 per cent wt/wt of feed to the AF-containing diets.

A survey of phytoparasitic nematodes on cultivated and non-cultivated plants in northwestern egypt.

Surveys were conducted in Alexandria, El-Behera, and Matrouh Governorates in northwestern Egypt during the 1994-1998 cropping seasons to study the occurrence, population density, host associations, and distribution of phytoparasitic nematodes associated with 35 major crops, grasses, and weeds. A total of 220 soil and root samples containing mixed populations of 26 genera and 38 species of phytoparasitic nematodes was analyzed; three known genera and 13 known species are reported for the first time in northwestern Egypt. Root-knot nematodes with 34 occurrences were the most frequently encountered group of nematodes, followed by spiral, stunt, ring, lesion, lance, and dagger nematodes with 19, 18, 15, 9, 8, and 7 occurrences, respectively. New species records are Boleodorus pakistanensis, Criconemella sphaerocephala, Discocriconemella sphaerocephaloides, Hemicriconemoides cocophilus, Hemicycliophora thienmanni, Hoplolaimus clarissimus, Irantylenchus clavidorus, Merlinius nanus, Paratylenchus projectus, Tylenchorhynchus ebriensis, Tylenchus afghanicus, T. exiguus, Xiphinema basilgoodeyi, and X. ensiculiferum. Survey results showed new host plant records for most of the identified nematode species in Egypt.

Liver toxicity profile in gold-treated Egyptian rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The objective was to evaluate the rationale for liver needle biopsy versus blood liver functional tests in monitoring the incidence of hepatotoxicity in Egyptian rheumatoid arthritic patients treated with gold compounds. Forty patients (12 males, 28 females) were randomly selected out of 258 Egyptian rheumatoid arthritic patients treated with sodium auro-thiomalate during the past 4 years. The minimum duration of treatment was 40 weeks. The methods used were firstly, liver function tests (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase, total serum bilirubin and total serum albumin) before, weekly during and after administration of sodium auro-thiomalate. Secondly, a needle liver biopsy was conducted by using the tru-cut needle. Then liver histology was graded according to Roenigk for grading liver toxicity. Viral hepatitis markers (hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus were done for monitoring viral hepatitis. Finally, the liver tissue contents of heavy metals were counted in the cases that showed grade IIIB histological changes. The results showed that none of the studied cases developed any clinically significant liver disease during the course of chrysotherapy. Blood liver function tests were of normal value throughout the course of drug administration. According to Roenigk grading, 20 patients (50%) showed grade I liver changes, and the other 20 patients showed liver changes of grades II and III (four grade II, eight grade IIIA, and another eight grade IIIB). None of the patients showed grade IV liver changes. It was concluded that blood liver tests are not the most sensitive methods to detect hepatotoxicity in gold-receiving Egyptian rheumatoid arthritic patients. Needle liver biopsy is not superior in detecting liver toxicity, compared with routine laboratory liver function tests, because of its complications. Rheumatoid arthritic patients with a potential risk of clinically significant liver disease should not be exposed to the risk of gold salt therapy. Pretreatment HLA-DR genetic typing may be a good detector for rheumatoid arthritic patients with potential risk of hepatotoxicity.

Giant repeater F-wave in patients with anterior horn cell disorders. Role of motor unit size.

Conventional F-wave responses as well as single motor unit F-wave responses together with the volitionally recruited motor unit action potentials (MUAP) were studied in hand and feet muscles of 10 healthy subjects and 32 patients with anterior horn cell disorders. The amplitude of the largest F-wave (Fl) was significantly greater in the affected patients compared with healthy subjects. Giant repeater F-wave responses "up to 4 mV" were recorded in muscles having volitionally recruited giant MUAPs. Although, the group mean percentage of motor unit F-wave responses per stimulation in all tested orthodromic MUAPs was significantly decreased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, the group mean percentage of motor unit F-wave responses per stimulation in all tested orthodromic MUAPs that gave motor unit F-wave response was significantly increased compared with healthy subjects. The responding orthodromic MUAP gave identical motor unit F-wave response, even for complex polyphasic units. Enhanced monosynaptic (H-) reflex, proximal axon reflex (A-wave), and repetitive muscle response as possible explanations for the giant F-wave responses could be discounted. The electrophysiologic behavior of the giant late responses described here fits well with the criteria of F-waves modulated by newly formed distal (and or proximal) axonal branching.

The origin of R2 of the blink reflex recorded on the affected side of patients with complete facial nerve paralysis.

The possible mechanisms contributing to the generation of R2-like response were investigated in 19 patients with complete facial nerve paralysis, where the efferent limb of the reflex arc is absent. The first possibility that potentials produced by the unaffected orbicularis oculi (0.0c) are conducted to the reference electrode taped over the nose was confirmed as the amplitude of R2 on the affected side was significantly reduced when the reference electrode was removed from the nose and taped on the ear lobule. The second possibility of volume conducted potentials produced by muscular generator in temporalis and masseter muscles through trigemino-trigeminal reflex was suggested in some patients based on three reproducible observations: (1) EMG activity of high amplitude could be recorded with electrodes taped over the affected 0.0c muscle during voluntary teeth clenching, (2) R2-like responses were recorded in patients with bilateral complete facial paralysis, (3) R2-like responses were recorded from temporalis and masseter muscles. The contribution of extraocular muscles could be discounted as R2 could be recorded from patients with Möbius's syndrome who had complete bilateral facio-ocular paralysis. The results of the present study further support the greater value of R1--rather than R2--in predicting clinical outcome of patients with peripheral facial nerve palsy.

Impaired afferent control in patients with spastic hemiplegia at different recovery stages: contribution to gait disorder.

The cerebral somatosensory potentials (SEP) evoked by electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve on the affected and unaffected limbs during stance and gait were recorded in 50 patients with spastic hemiplegia. On the unaffected side, the onset of the cortical activation during gait was 15 to 20ms later, and the amplitude was about 50% smaller than that recorded during stance condition. This was attributed to blocking of Ia afferent fibers during gait. SEPs recorded on the affected side during gait were, in general, of smaller amplitude and appeared with a shorter latency than in the unaffected side. During gait, 22 affected limbs showed a "Ia" blocking pattern of SEPs whereas another 28 showed a nonblocking pattern. The behavior of SEPs was analyzed with respect to three clinical identifiable recovery stages of voluntary movements in the spastic limbs (namely synergistic, isolated, and useful movements). The blocking pattern during gait was usually present in good functioning limbs, whereas the nonblocking pattern was usually present in poorly functioning limbs. It is concluded that the change in the gait pattern of hemiparetic patients represents a shift from good relevant functioning group II-afferent system to a predominance of functionally ineffective group I-afferent system.

Stretch-induced electromyographic activity and torque in spastic elbow muscles. Differential modulation of reflex activity in passive and active motor tasks.

Stretch-evoked electromyographic (EMG) activity and torque signals have been studied in elbow joint muscles of both sides of patients with spastic hemiparesis and healthy subjects. In order to reveal differences in the generation of muscle tone between clinical assessment and functional movement, stretches of different velocities and amplitudes were applied during passive and quasi-functional active motor tasks. In spastic patients the strength and duration of the EMG responses following stretching of flexor and extensor muscles during both passive and active tasks were dependent on the stretch velocity and duration, respectively. This effect was seen on both the spastic and unaffected side. Under passive conditions EMG activity after stretching was negligible in the limb muscles of healthy subjects, of small amplitude in unaffected limbs of the patients, but was strong in affected muscles. Under active conditions, the amplitude of the early (M1) component of the EMG signal was larger, while the later components (M2 and M3) were smaller. These differences were due more to a change in reflex gain than to a change in reflex threshold when the stretch velocity signal was the basis for calculation. It is suggested that in spastic paresis, modulation of stretch-induced EMG activity in the spastic limb becomes restricted to a smaller range with a poor ability to switch off under passive conditions. Furthermore, the reflex EMG activity suffers a reduced facilitation under active conditions. In comparison with unaffected limbs the stretch-evoked torque on the affected side was increased under passive conditions (due to the extra EMG activity) and decreased under active conditions (due to a reduced EMG activity). An increased torque to EMG ratio was found in spastic flexor and extensor muscles during active tasks. This is thought to be due to changes in mechanical muscle fibre properties suffered as a consequence of defective muscle activation following cerebral lesions. The consequences for clinical assessment of muscle tone and therapy of spastic movement disorder are discussed.

Impaired activation pattern in antagonistic elbow muscles of patients with spastic hemiparesis: contribution to movement disorder.

Surface electromyographic "EMG" activity in biceps brachii (agonist muscle) and triceps brachii (antagonist muscle) as well as the discharge behaviour of motor units "MUs" (needle recording) in biceps brachii muscle were recorded during slow (0.33 Hz) and fast (0.66 Hz) voluntary elbow flexion movements (auditory matching task) in fifty patients with spastic hemiplegia. In the spastic limbs, a long lasting, small amplitude tonic co-contraction of antagonist muscles was seen during slow flexions (SF) in 29 cases. This effect was strongest during the fast elbow flexion movements (FF). In 33 patients a triphasic pattern of muscle activation was observed on the unaffected side but not on the spastic side. The amplitude of the agonist surface EMG was significantly reduced and the amplitudes of the MU potentials recruited during maximal effort were generally smaller on the spastic side compared to the unaffected side. The agonist-antagonist activation pattern was analysed with respect to three clinically identifiable functional recovery stages of voluntary movements in the spastic limbs, namely synergistic, isolated and useful movements. The MU amplitudes and the amplitude of the surface EMG activity in the agonist muscle recorded during FF movements became significantly larger whereas the amplitude of the antagonist tonic activity became smaller with increasing functional recovery of the limb. It is concluded that impaired recruitment of type II motor units in the agonist muscles and the inability to selectively activate the agonist muscle contribute to the deficit in motor performance in spastic paresis.

Patients with spastic hemiplegia at different recovery stages: evidence of reciprocal modulation of early/late reflex responses.

Reflex electromyographic (EMG) muscle responses were recorded from abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles of fifty patients with spastic hemiplegia. Responses in the muscles were evoked during voluntary muscle contraction (about 20% of maximum voluntary effort) by submaximal but suprathreshold electrical stimulation of the median (at the wrist) and common peroneal (at the neck of the fibula) nerves respectively. Three EMG peaks (R1, R2 and R3) could be recorded after the direct muscle response (M). There was only a slight difference in R1-R2 latency interval of about 5 ms between upper and lower limbs on the unaffected side of the patients making it unlikely that this late response of the lower limb involves a long loop pathway, although this possibility cannot be discounted for the later, R3, response. Reflex behaviour was analysed for three clinical identifiable recovery stages of voluntary movements in the spastic limbs (synergistic, isolated and useful movements). The major finding was that an increase in the amplitude of the early response "R1" was associated with a decreased amplitude and delayed latency of the late response "R2" on the spastic side. The amplitude of R1 in the three different recovery stages decreased significantly, whereas the amplitude of R2 increased significantly with improvement of the functional stage of the limb. A significant negative linear correlation was found between R1 and R2 amplitude changes in upper as well as lower limbs. A refractoriness of the motor neuron pool as a possible explanation for the decreased R2 amplitude could be discounted. These findings together with recent work on reflex development in children support the hypothesis of reciprocal modulation of early and late reflex signals by supraspinal motor centers.

Human stance on a sinusoidally translating platform: balance control by feedforward and feedback mechanisms.

With subjects standing on a treadmill moving sinusoidally backward and forward, recordings of electromyographic (EMG) leg and trunk muscle activity, head and joint movements and platform torque were made with the subjects' eyes open or closed. The sinusoidal frequency was changed, stepwise and randomly, between 0.5, 0.3 and 0.25 Hz. The amplitude of the deflection was constant at +/- 12 cm. During an adapted sinus cycle, the maximum leg muscle EMG activity was recorded in the tibialis anterior around the posterior turning point and in the gastrocnemius around the anterior turning point in the treadmill cycle. This activity was associated with a forward inclination of the body around the posterior point and a straightening of the body at the anterior point. Both the degree of body inclination and the corresponding EMG activity were dependent upon the sinusoidal frequency. The programmed adjustment of the body inclination was such that the result of inertial and gravitational forces acting on the body coincided with the axis of the body at the posterior turning point. At the anterior point, the adjustment was achieved mainly by strong activation of the leg extensors. The latencies of the compensatory muscle responses to a change in treadmill frequency were significantly shorter at the posterior point for the gastrocnemius than for the tibialis anterior, and at the anterior point for the tibialis anterior than for the gastrocnemius. No correlated changes were seen in the corresponding head and joint movements. The difference in latency can best be attributed to the different body postures during the sinusoid. Early activation of the gastrocnemius is required due to the forward-directed impulse to the inclined body at the posterior point, and of the tibialis anterior muscle due to the backward-directed impulse to the erect body at the anterior point. It is suggested that afferent input from extensor load receptors provides information about the position of the body's centre of gravity relative to the support surface and determines the generation of the EMG responses. Adaptation of both the EMG and biomechanical patterns to a new sinusoidal frequency of the treadmill occurred within four cycles after the change. Biomechanically, this was reflected as a change in the body posture. Vision did not significantly affect these changes. In conclusion, standing on a sinusoidally moving platform, the nervous system acts to control the position of the body's centre of gravity relative to the feet. Body posture is adjusted in such a way that the forces acting on the body during the treadmill movements become minimised.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Host Suitability of Graminaceous Crop Cultivars for Isolates of Meloidogyne arenaria and M. incognita.

Twenty-two graminaceous plant cultivars were evaluated in the greenhouse for host suitability for three South Carolina isolates of Meloidogyne arenaria race 2 (Ma-R2) designated as Florence, Govan, and Pelion, a Florida isolate of M. arenaria race 1 (Ma-R1), and a South Carolina M. incognita race 3. Host suitability was determined by calculating egg mass index (EMI) reproduction factor (RF) (final egg numbers/initial egg numbers), and number of eggs per gram fresh root. Corn hybrids Pioneer 3147 and Northrup King 508 and oat cv. Florida 502 were nonhosts to all nematode isolates, as no egg masses or eggs were found in roots grown in infested soils. Oat cv. Coker 716 and grain sorghum cvs. Cherokee, Northrup King 2660, and Pioneer 8333 were poor hosts (RF < 1). Good (RF = 1.1-5.0) or excellent (RF > 5.0) hosts for both Ma-R1 and three Ma-R2 isolates included the following: barley cvs. Boone, Keowee, and Redhill; corn hybrid Pioneer 3389; oat cvs. Brooks and Coker 820; rye cvs. Bonel, Florida 401, and Wrens Abruzzi; triticale cvs. Beagle 82 and Florida 201 ; and wheat cvs. Coker 983, Florida 302, and Williams. All cultivars except Coker 716 oat were good or excellent hosts of M. incognita.

Developmental aspects of stance regulation, compensation and adaptation.

Recordings of electromyographic (EMG) leg muscle activity, head and joint movements and platform torque were taken in healthy subjects within three age groups (approximately 6, 10 and greater than 22 years) standing upright upon a sinusoidally moving treadmill. The sinusoidal frequency was randomly changed between 0.5, 0.33 and 0.25 Hz, while the amplitude of the deflection was constant (+/- 12 cm). During an adapted sinus, forward inclination of the body at the posterior turning point was associated with a slowly increasing tibialis anterior and decreasing gastrocnemius activity, while straightening of the body at the anterior turning point was associated with a sharply increasing gastrocnemius and decreasing tibialis anterior activity. The angle of forward inclination was greatest in the groups of children and was dependent upon both the sinus frequency and the child's height. The presumed programmed adjustment of the body inclination was such that the net effect of both inertial and gravitational forces acting on the body coincided approximately with the axis of the body at the posterior turning point. Changes of sinusoidal frequency were followed by compensatory responses, the amplitude of which depended upon the velocity of the body's displacement and the height of the subjects. In all three subject groups the response latencies were significantly shorter at the posterior turning point for the gastrocnemius response to a change from 0.5 to 0.25 Hz (105 ms for children and 119 ms for adults) than for the tibialis anterior response to a change from 0.25 to 0.5 Hz for which the values were 162 and 169 ms, respectively. This difference could be attributed to the forward inclination of the body at the posterior turning point which requires an earlier onset of compensatory extensor activity in order to maintain equilibrium. Adaptation to a new sinusoidal frequency occurred within 4 cycles following a change in sinus frequency. The phase shifts between treadmill position and the biomechanical and EMG signals that occurred during the adaptational process suggest that the position of the body's centre of gravity is the variable controlled by the programmed leg muscle activation. In young children the phase shifts during adaptation were absent, which may contribute to their greater instability. It is concluded that posture is continually adjusted in such a way that the resulting torque acting on the body during the treadmill movement becomes minimized. For this regulation load receptors in addition to the classical afferent impulses from visual, vestibular and muscle stretch receptors could play a major role.

Interrelationships of Meloidogyne arenaria and M. incognita on Tolerant Soybean.

Reproduction of Meloidogyne arenaria race 2 was excellent on Centennial, Govan, and Kirby soybeans, the latter two of which have tolerance to this species. The M. incognita race 1 isolate reproduced poorly on Centennial, especially at the higher of two temperature regimes. Numbers of galls and egg masses of M. arenaria plus M. incognita in simultaneous equivalent infestations on Centennial did not differ from sequential infestations in which M. arenaria was added first and M. incognita was added to the same pots, 1,2, or 3 weeks later. However, at both 25 and 30 C, suppression of galls and egg masses occurred when inoculation of M. incognita preceded that of M. arenaria by 2 weeks. Generally, M. arenaria reproduced well at 25 or 30 C, whereas M. incognita reproduced better at 30 C. Kirby was tolerant to either nematode species at 25 and 30 C, but in combined infestations of M. arenaria and M. incognita there was evidence of synergistic growth suppression. Govan was tolerant of M. arenaria at 25 C but not at 30 C. Moreover, general plant growth was less vigorous for Govan at the higher temperature, whereas Centennial was much more vigorous at this temperature. Kirby grew equally well at both temperatures.

Haemorrhagic liver syndrome in laying fowl fed diets containing rapeseed meal.

Liver haemorrhage was studied in laying fowl given diets containing rapeseed meals prepared from seed of varieties of Brassica napus grown in the United Kingdom and from seed of the varieties Tower and Erglu. There was lower mortality from liver haemorrhage in birds given Tower than in those given B napus (UK) meal but haemorrhagic lesions in the liver occurred in all groups of birds given rapeseed meal diets, whichever meal was included. Histological and electron microscopical examination revealed several abnormalities in the structure of the hepatocytes. Early degenerative changes were, enlargement of the intercellular spaces, swelling of the mitochondria, distortion of the rough endoplasmic reticulum profiles, disruption of the hepatic sinusoids, and in the most severely affected areas there were necrotic hepatocytes. These abnormalities were observed in sections from the livers of two hybrid strains of birds given the B napus (UK) or Tower rapeseed meal for four weeks or longer.

Are potassium supplements for the elderly necessary?

Plasma and total-body potassium (TBK) were measured in 19 elderly patients receiving diuretics and potassium supplements for cardiac failure and in 13 elderly controls. The mean value for the ratio of TBK to fat-free mass (TBK:FFM) was significantly reduced in the patient group. TBK:FFM showed a negative correlation with age but no correlation with plasma potassium or dose of supplements. When controls and patients were matched for sex and age decade, the mean TBK:FFM was decreased significantly in the diuretic group, giving a mean potassium deficit of 13.3%. These results suggest that ageing influences potassium status, and that diuretics and cardiac failure have a greater effect on TBK in old age than in youth or middle age.

Electron Microscope Studies on the Cuticle of Swarming and Nonswarming Tylenchorhynchus martini.

Studies on the structure of the cuticle of Tylenchorhynchus martini swarmers with electron microscopes revealed abnormal disruptive and eruptive morphological changes in most layers. Drastic effects of swarming on cuticular structure were reflected in the partial dissolution of cortical layer and matrix and in the irregular cracking of cortical sublayers in sublateral areas of the body. The occurrence of projections in the cortex was apparently unrelated to other changes. The structure of the cuticle of nonswarmers was intact and without any morphological changes.