Modelling bluetongue risk in Kazakhstan.

BACKGROUND: Bluetongue is a serious disease of ruminants caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV). BTV is transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides spp.). Serological evidence from livestock and the presence of at least one competent vector species of Culicoides suggests that transmission of BTV is possible and may have occurred in Kazakhstan. METHODS: We estimated the risk of transmission using a mathematical model of the reproduction number R0 for bluetongue. This model depends on livestock density and climatic factors which affect vector density. Data on climate and livestock numbers from the 2466 local communities were used. This, together with previously published model parameters, was used to estimate R0 for each month of the year. We plotted the results on isopleth maps of Kazakhstan using interpolation to smooth the irregular data. We also mapped the estimated proportion of the population requiring vaccination to prevent outbreaks of bluetongue. RESULTS: The results suggest that transmission of bluetongue in Kazakhstan is not possible in the winter from October to March. Assuming there are vector-competent species of Culicoides endemic in Kazakhstan, then low levels of risk first appear in the south of Kazakhstan in April before spreading north and intensifying, reaching maximum levels in northern Kazakhstan in July. The risk declined in September and had disappeared by October. CONCLUSION: These results should aid in surveillance efforts for the detection and control of bluetongue in Kazakhstan by indicating where and when outbreaks of bluetongue are most likely to occur. The results also indicate where vaccination efforts should be focussed to prevent outbreaks of disease.

Hybrid contact lenses for visual management of patients after keratoplasty.

AIM: This study aims to report the outcomes of new-generation hybrid contact lenses for visual rehabilitation of postkeratoplasty patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty eyes of twenty postkeratoplasty patients were fitted with hybrid lenses. Each patient's keratometric values, ocular surface irregularity indices, central corneal thickness (CCT), uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), spectacle-corrected visual acuity, contact lens-corrected visual acuity, contact lens fitting data, and contact lens daily wearing time were recorded. Follow-up examinations were performed at 1st week, 1st month, and 3rd month visit after successful fitting of the lenses. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.42 ± 4.89 years. The mean spherical component of refractive error was -4.46 ± 2.1 D, and the mean astigmatism was -5.31 ± 1.55 D. The median UCVA was 1.00 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) which improved to 0.40 logMAR after spectacle correction. The median visual acuity with hybrid contact lenses was 0.05 logMAR. The median CCT was 544.4 µm and increased to 549.2 µm at 3 months after contact lens wear. The difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.38). The mean follow-up of patients was 4.32 ± 0.45 months. Eighteen of twenty patients reported a mean of 8.37 ± 1.95 h comfortable wearing time per day during this period. Two patients discontinued contact lens wearing due to conjunctival hyperemia. No graft-related complications such as decompensation, rejection, and infection were documented during the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The new-generation hybrid contact lenses can be considered helpful in the visual management of postcorneal graft patients, particularly who are unable to achieve an adequate visual outcome with spectacles.

Effects of carbohydrase enzyme supplementation on performance, eggshell quality, and bone parameters of laying hens fed on maize- and wheat-based diets.

1. This study was conducted to determine the effects of enzyme supplementation of maize/wheat-based diets on the performance, egg quality, and serum and bone parameters of laying hens. 2. During the 12-week experimental period, a total of 72 laying hens aged 52 weeks were randomly distributed among 6 experimental groups. Each experimental group contained 4 replicates, each with three birds. The experiment was a randomised design consisting of a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three levels of wheat substitution and two levels of enzyme (xylanase: 1500.00 U/kg, ß-glucanase: 100 000 U/kg, cellulase: 1 000 000 U/kg, α-amylase: 160 000 U/kg) inclusion in the diet. Wheat replaced 0, 50, or 100% of maize with or without 1.0 g/kg enzyme supplementation in iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric experimental diets. 3. Body weight, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and the feed conversion ratio were adversely affected by the wheat-based diet. The eggshell quality parameters decreased with enzyme supplementation to the diet. 4. Wheat-based diets adversely affected calcium and phosphorus concentrations in the tibia, but the addition of the enzymes to the wheat-based diet prevented the negative effects of wheat-based diets on tibia mineralisation in laying hens. The wheat-based diets tended to reduce plasma mineral contents, and the addition of enzymes tended to affect plasma minerals and biomechanical properties of the tibia positively in laying hens. 5. These results indicate that wheat-based diets in aged laying hens adversely affected the mineral metabolism compared with maize-based diets, and the negative effects of wheat on bone mineralisation can be prevented by enzyme supplementation to the diets in laying hens.

Near stereoacuity: development in preschool children; normative values and screening for binocular vision abnormalities; a study of 115 children.

PURPOSE: Because of controversial results in previous reports, we wished to further evaluate stereoacuity development in children with normal binocular vision, and to investigate the reliability of stereoscopic tests for screening for abnormal binocular vision and amblyopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, 115 children, age 3 to 6 1/2 years, were first tested on the TNO and Titmus Stereotests, after which they received a more complete eye examination to determine the presence of ocular and vision abnormalities. Only specific quantitative stereotest results were tabulated for the development study. RESULTS: Binocular vision anomalies were detected by stereotesting in 3 of the 115 children. Testability was better on the TNO than the Titmus Stereotest. Using only the quantitative stereotest results, when segregated by age groups, there was a "statistically significant" change (improvement with age) on the TNO Test (p=.0001)(x2); whereas there was no such improvement found on the Titmus Stereotest Circles, p=.045, 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: The TNO Test is reliable for screening for binocular vision anomalies and amblyopia. Also, normal stereopsis and stereoacuity acuity improves "significantly" between age 4 and 5 1/2 years, and reaches adult-like level at 5 1/2 years on this test.

[Unusual course of glioblastoma multiforme as calcinosis in CCT]. / Ungewöhnliche Verlaufsform eines Glioblastoma multiforme als Verkalkung im CCT.

We report about a rare case of multifocal bihemispheric glioblastoma (WHO grade IV) with unusual course: At time of histological diagnosis via open biopsy and subtotal tumor resection right parieto-occipital the tumorous lesion presents itself for nine months unchanged as a little calcification right parietal, before developing in CCT multiocular bihemispheric hyperdens-hypodens areals with margin contrast enhancement and perifocal edema within one month. Tumor histogenesis of this special case is discussed contrasting the embryogenetic concept with the concept of tumor-grading. From clinical relevance is the fact that even a long time unchanged unifocal calcification in CCT could be the first sign of developing glioblastoma, and so short-term clinical and computer tomographic controls are necessary.