Neck and shoulder symptoms of high school students and associated psychosocial factors.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of neck and shoulder symptoms among high school students and associated psychosocial factors. METHODS: High school students (718) completed a questionnaire concerning neck and shoulder pain and psychosocial factors such as stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy. A participant was classified into the "no disturbing symptoms" group or into the "disturbing symptoms" group according to the frequency of the neck and shoulder symptoms. The sum of mean scores of stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, and self-efficacy were compared between these groups. RESULTS: Twenty-one percent of the girls and 10% of the boys suffered from disturbing neck and shoulder symptoms. Stress symptoms and depressive symptoms were more common among the girls than the boys. For both sexes, the sum of stress scores and those of depressive symptom scores were significantly higher in the "disturbing symptoms" group than the "no disturbing symptoms" group. Among the girls, the sum of the self-efficacy scores was lower in the "disturbing symptoms" group than in the "no disturbing symptoms" group. CONCLUSIONS: Neck and shoulder symptoms are common among adolescents and psychosocial factors such as stress and depressive symptoms seem to be associated with these symptoms, especially among girls. More knowledge about the etiologic factors associated with neck and shoulder symptoms in adolescents may result in preventive programs with the potential for reducing morbidity of neck and shoulder symptoms in adulthood.

Comparison of methods to diagnose an epizootic of Corynebacterium kutscheri pneumonia in rats.

An outbreak of Corynebacterium kutscheri pneumonia occurred in a colony of laboratory rats. Diagnostic methods compared on a prospective basis included (1) an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum antibody to C. kutscheri; (2) C. kutscheri isolation from retrograde nasal wash, cervical lymph nodes, tracheal wash, lung homogenate; and (3) histopathology. C. kutscheri was isolated from one or more of the cultured sites from suspected cases, but no individual rat yielded C. kutscheri from all of the sites. The presence of histological lung lesions was the most frequent indicator of infection (8 of 9 suspected cases), followed by isolation of C. kutscheri from lung homogenate (5 of 6), ELISA for serum antibody (6 of 8), and isolation of C. kutscheri from cervical lymph node (4 of 8). Isolation of C. kutscheri from nasal wash (1 of 9) was the least sensitive indicator of infection. ELISA antibody was not detected in rats which had normal lungs and did not harbor C. kutscheri. It was concluded that ELISA provides noninvasive means for detecting infection and cervical lymph node culture increase the potential for successful isolation of the agent in C. kutscheri infected rats.

Single-step immunization using a controlled release, biodegradable polymer with sustained adjuvant activity.

The use of a biodegradable polymer for antigen delivery based on poly(CTTH-iminocarbonate) (IUPAC nomenclature: poly[oxyimidocarbonyloxy-p-phenylene [2-(hexyloxycarbonyl)ethylene]imino[2-[1-(benzyloxy)formamido]- 1-oxotrimethylene]-p-phenylene]) was investigated. This polymer was selected since its primary degradation product, N-benzyloxycarbonyl-L-tyrosyl-L-tyrosine hexyl ester (CTTH) was found to be as potent an adjuvant as complete Freund's adjuvant and muramyl dipeptide, when measuring the serum antibody response to bovine serum albumin (BSA) in male CD-1 mice over 56 weeks. BSA released from subcutaneously implanted polymeric antigen delivery devices made of poly(CTTH-iminocarbonate) resulted in significantly higher (P less than 0.006) anti-BSA antibody titers than devices made of poly(bisphenol A-iminocarbonate).

Evaluation of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer as a non-inflammatory alternative to Freund's complete adjuvant in rabbits.

Ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVAc) was evaluated as an antigen delivery device in laboratory rabbits. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was incorporated with EVAc in a pellet, which was implanted subcutaneously. Serum antibody titers to BSA in four implanted rabbits were equal to titers in four rabbits injected twice with BSA in complete Freund's adjuvant. Three of four rabbits implanted with EVAc displayed no inflammation or systemic illness in response to the pellet. The fourth rabbit repeatedly developed a small abscess at the implantation site, but the lesions were less severe than complete Freund's adjuvant injection sites. The EVAc pellet is recommended as a non-inflammatory alternative method to Freund's adjuvants for producing serum antibody in rabbits.

Nephrotic syndrome associated with renal amyloidosis in a colony of Syrian hamsters.

A 6% incidence of nephrotic syndrome was noted in a colony of 400 Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) over a period of 2 years. Clinical findings consisted of severe ascites and anasarca, anorexia, cachexia, and papular dermatitis. Serum and urine chemical analysis revealed proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia in all animals tested; hypoproteinemia and high concentrations of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine were detected in some of the affected hamsters. Demodex aurati was detected in skin scrapings from 4 of 8 hamsters. Necropsy findings included subcutaneous edema, ascites, and hydrothorax, as well as atrophic kidneys and testes. Extensive deposits of type AA amyloid were detected histologically in kidney, liver, spleen, and adrenal gland; smaller deposits were found in thyroid gland and intestine. Other histologic findings included periodontitis and hyalinization of the small arteries of the testes.

Retro-orbital technique for blood collection from the ferret (Mustela putorius furo).

Blood samples were obtained from anesthetized ferrets of various ages, by venipuncture of the retro-orbital plexus with a heparinized capillary pipette. It is recommended that a cumulative collection of 20% of total blood volume not be exceeded for any two week period. This technique, when carefully performed on alternate orbits and at a frequency dictated by body weight and volume of blood needed, has been used repeatedly for months without apparent harm or distress to the animal.

Experimental Salmonella-associated conjunctivitis in cats.

Cats were infected experimentally with Salmonella typhimurium via the conjunctiva. Clinical signs consisted of lacrimation, conjunctivitis, blepharospasm, prominent nictitating membrane and scleral injection. These signs were accompanied by an absolute neutrophilia and conjunctival smears indicative of moderate to severe suppurative inflammation. Ocular signs disappeared by day 6 postinfection. Salmonella typhimurium was cultured intermittently from the inoculated conjunctivae and rectal swabs through day 7. At necropsy, mesenteric and cervical lymph nodes were enlarged. Histopathological findings included chronic conjunctivitis and lymphoid hyperplasia in cervical and mesenteric lymph nodes. This study confirms that S. typhimurium can cause a primary conjunctivitis and that the ocular route of infection can lead to fecal excretion of Salmonella, in the absence of other clinical manifestations.

Border disease virus isolation from postpartum ewes.

The prevalence of border disease virus in a flock of Targhee sheep in southern Idaho was determined by serologic and virologic techniques. Of 249 ewes, 73 (29%) were seropositive to the antigenically related togavirus, bovine seropositive to the antigenically related togavirus, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Concurrent testing of sera from 337 neonatal lambs indicated that 172 (51%) were seropositive for BVDV. It was observed that a high percentage (35%) of the BVDV-seropositive lambs were derived from seronegative ewes. Immunotolerance of the ewe was considered as the explanation for the lack of serologic relationship between seropositive lambs and their seronegative dams. Eleven cytopathogenic viruses were isolated from nasal and vaginal specimens obtained from 80 clinically healthy ewes within 24 hours of parturition. The viral isolates were demonstrated to be antigenically related to BVDV by direct immunofluorescence. Six of the 11 isolates were obtained from BVDV-seronegative ewes.

A comparison of two tuberculins in nonsensitized macaques.

Two tuberculins (mammalian and Old Tuberculin) were compared in three species of macaques after one of the tuberculins elicited nonspecific reactions up to 72 hours after intradermal inoculation in nontuberculous monkeys. A significant difference in initial intradermal eyelid reactivity between the tuberculins was found in some subjects. The heterogeneity of tuberculins and the necessity of accurate interpretation of intradermal testing are important components in addressing tuberculosis screening in nonhuman primate colonies.

Selenium in bovine spermatozoa.

This study investigated the association of selenium with ejaculated bovine spermatozoa. Over 75% of the radioactive spermatozoa. Over 75% of the radioactive selenium-75 was released after 30 min of incubation in 2 X 10(-3) dithiothreitol. Of the selenium-75 released by dithiothreitol, 85% was associated with spermatozoal protein. Protein containing selenium-75 was found predominantly in a single band after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weight was approximately 21,500 daltons.

Hematologic and serum protein reference values of the Octodon degus.

Blood and serum from normal degus (Octodon degus) that ranged in age from 3 to 48 months were analyzed to determine reference hematologic and serum protein values. Both sexes were evaluated and were similar. The hematologic and serum protein values for males were: erythrocytes, 8.69 +/- 0.19 X 10(6) /microliter; packed cell volume, 42.1% +/- 0.59%; hemoglobin, 12.0 +/- 0.15 g/dl; leukocytes, 8.50 +/- 0.39 X 10(3)/microliter; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ration, 40:60; and total protein, 5.70 +/- 0.20 g/dl. The hematologic and serum protein values for females were: erythrocytes, 8.94 +/- 0.16 X 10(6)/microliter; packed cell volume, 40.0% +/- 0.61%; hemoglobin, 11.7 +/- 0.17 g/dl; leukocytes, 8.20 +/- 0.36 X 10(3)/microliter; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, 40:60; and total protein, 5.62 +/- 0.18 g/dl. The hematologic and serum protein values for the degu were similar in some respects to values reported for guinea pigs and rats.

Ulcerative dermatitis in the rat.

Ulcerative dermatitis observed in several shipments of rats was found to be limited to one strain (Sprague Dawley) provided by one supplier from two specific breeding areas. The incidence of lesions was higher in males than in females. Rats receiving an agar base diet also appeared to have a higher incidence of the lesions. The lesion consisted of a moist ulcer usually involving the lateral aspect of the shoulder and often the sides of the neck. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from lesions of affected rats and from the skin of unaffected rats. Inoculation of S aureus into susceptible animals resulted in lesions in 25-40% of the rats, but usually at sites other than the site of inoculation. Serum neutralization tests for sialodacryoadenitis virus indicated that about half the rats with lesions and half the rats without lesions were positive. Toenail clipping of the hind feet of affected rats reduced the severity of the lesions. Efforts to isolate fungi and ectoparasites were unsuccessful. The selective procurement of rats from specified breeding areas, eliminated the population susceptible to or harboring the etiologic agent or agents responsible for the development of the ulcerative dermatitis described.