AIM： To evaluate the prevalence of Giardia lamblia （G. lamblia） infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） and dyspepsia and to establish which is the most accurate test to diagnose the infection i...AIM： To evaluate the prevalence of Giardia lamblia （G. lamblia） infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） and dyspepsia and to establish which is the most accurate test to diagnose the infection in this setting. METHODS： One hundred and thirty-seven patients who consecutively attended the Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic for the first time between January 2002 and Decernber 2003 due to symptoms of IBS and/or dyspepsia were recruited. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, first-step haematology and chemistry tests, serologic assays for celiac disease, lactose-H2 breath test, abdominal ultrasonography, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Helicobacterpylon status was evaluated. In patients with symptoms of IBS older than 45 years, colonoscopy was also performed. In all patients, duodenal biopsies and stool samples were examined for trophozoites and cysts of G. lamblia by several methods. RESULTS： G. lamblia was identified in 9 patients. The following diagnoses were also made： IBS （100/137, 73%）, functional dyspepsia （62/137, 45%）, organic dyspepsia （33/137, 24%）, and lactose intolerance （75/137, 55%）. A significant association was found between giardiasis and H pylori infection （x^2= 6.632, OR= 12.4, CI= 1.5-68.1）. There were no symptoms that reliably allowed the recognition of giardiasis. Direct search of the parasite in duodenal biopsy and stool sample examinations gave concordant results in all cases while histological examination of duodenal biopsies displayed a low sensitivity （e.g., 22.2%）. CONCLUSION： In this consecutive series, diagnosis of G.lamblia infection accounted for 6.5% of patients with IBS and dyspepsia. Duodenal biopsies for diagnosis of giardiasis may be unnecessary if stool sample examination is performed.展开更多
AIM: To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is associated with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, presence of enteroparasites, and other surrogates of fecal exposure. METHODS: We conducted a c...AIM: To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is associated with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, presence of enteroparasites, and other surrogates of fecal exposure. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 121 children consecutively admitted at a pediatric hospital in Salvador, Brazil. H pyloriand HAV infection were identified by the presence of serum antibodies. Stool specimens were examined for the presence of ova and parasites. A structured questionnaire inquiring about sanitary conditions and life style was applied to each subject. RESULTS: Fifty-one of the 121 children (42.1%) were found to be seropositive for H pylori, and 45 (37.2%) for HAV. The seroprevalence of Hpyloriand HAV both increased significantly with age. Cross-tabulation of data showed that 26 (21.5%) were seropositive and 51 (42.1%) were negative for both H py/lriand HAV antibodies (x^2=7.18, OR=2.8, CI 1.30-5.97). The age adjusted OR for an HAV-infected child being H pylori positive was 2.3 (CI 1.02-5.03). The agreement between H pylori and HAV seropositivity was fair (k=0.24). After controlling for possible confounding, the variables remaining independently associated with seropositivity to H pylori were age, presence of Giardia lamblia in feces (OR=3.2, 95%CI, 1.1-9.5) and poor garbage disposal quality (OR=2.4, 95%CI, 1.1-5.1). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that H pylori infection is associated with surrogate markers of fecal exposure. Thus, we conclude that the fecal-oral route is relevant in the transmission of HP among children in an urban setting of a developing country. The association observed between G. lamblia and H pylori infection may have several explanations. Further studies to investigate this relationship are warranted.展开更多
AIM： To compare the efficacy and safety of five days apostrophe therapy of mebendazole （MBZ） versus quinacrine （QC） on human giardiasis in children.METHODS： A clinical trial was carried out in paediatric patien...AIM： To compare the efficacy and safety of five days apostrophe therapy of mebendazole （MBZ） versus quinacrine （QC） on human giardiasis in children.METHODS： A clinical trial was carried out in paediatric patients （aged 5-15 years） with confirmed symptomatic G. duodenalis mono-infection. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either MBZ [200 mg taken three times per day GRID） （n = 61）] or QC [2 mg/kg bodyweight tid （n = 61）], both for five days. Follow-up faecal samples were obtained at 3, 5 and 7 d after the end of the treatment.RESULTS： Although the frequency of cure was higher for QC （83.6%） than for MBZ （78.7%）, the difference was not statistically significant （P 〉 0.05）. Adverse events were reported more in the QC group （P 〈 0.05）, all of them transient and self-limiting.CONCLUSION： Despite final cure rates ocurring lower than expected, the overall results of this study reconfirmed the efficacy of MBZ in giardiasis and also indicate that, although comparable to QC, at least in this setting the 5 d course of MBZ did not appear to improve the cure rates in this intestinal parasitic infection.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the prevalence of giardiasis in patients with dyspeptic symptoms. METHODS＂ Clinical records of consecutive patients who attended Gastroenterology Department at Aga Khan University Hospital from J...AIM： To investigate the prevalence of giardiasis in patients with dyspeptic symptoms. METHODS＂ Clinical records of consecutive patients who attended Gastroenterology Department at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2000 to June 2003 and had esophagogastroduodenoscopy （EGD） with duodenal biopsies and international classification of diseases 9th revision with clinical modifications （ICD-9-CM） coded with giardiasis were studied. RESULTS： Two hundred and twenty patients fulfilled the above criteria. There were 44% （96/220） patients who were giardiasis positive, 72% （69/96） of them were males and 28% （27196） of them were females. There were 65% （81/124） males and 35% （43/124） females who were giardiasis negative. The mean age of patients with giardiasis was 28±17 years, while that of giardiasis negative patients was 40±18 years （P〈0.001）. In patients with giardiasis, abdominal pain was present in 71% （68/96） of patients （P = 0.02） and diarrhea in 29% （28/96） （P = 0.005）; duodenitis in 25% （24/96） on EGD （P = 0.006） and in 68% （65/96） on histopathology （P = 0.002）. CONCLUSION： Giardiasis occurs significantly in young people with abdominal pain, while endoscopic duodenitis is seen in only 25% of giardiasis positive cases, which supports routine duodenal biopsy.展开更多
The nuclear matrix of diplomonad Giardia lamblia was detected for the first time with DGD embedmentsectioning- embedment free electron microscopy after a series of specific extractions. The result showed that archaezo...The nuclear matrix of diplomonad Giardia lamblia was detected for the first time with DGD embedmentsectioning- embedment free electron microscopy after a series of specific extractions. The result showed that archaezoa Giardia lamblia already possessed nuclear matrix within its two nuclei. The finest fibrils of the nuclear matrix of Giardia lamblia were measured to be about 11 to 13 nm in thickness. However, the nuclear lamina and nucleolus have never been observed. These results seem to suggest that nuclear matrix is an indispensable intranuclear structural component even in the primitive nucleus.展开更多
Due to the importance of biological safety in drinking water quality and the disadvantages which exist in traditional methods of detecting typical microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it is necessary to...Due to the importance of biological safety in drinking water quality and the disadvantages which exist in traditional methods of detecting typical microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it is necessary to develop an alternative. Particle counts is a qualitative measurement of the amount of dissolved solids in water. The removal rate of particle counts was previously used as an indicator of the effectiveness of a biological activated carbon (BAC) filter in removing Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The particle counts in a BAC filter effluent over one operational period and the effects of BAC filter construction and operational parameters were investigated with a 10 m3/h pilot plant. The results indicated that the maximum particle count in backwash remnant water was as high as 1296 count/ml and it needed about 1.5 h to reduce from the maximum to less than 50 count/ml. During the standard filtration period, particle counts stay constant at less than 50 count/ml for 5 d except when influ- enced by sand filter backwash remnant water. The removal rates of particle counts in the BAC filter are related to characteristics of the carbon. For example, a columned carbon and a sand bed removed 33.3% and 8.5% of particles, respectively, while the particle counts in effluent from a cracked BAC filter was higher than that of the influent. There is no significant difference among particle removal rates with different filtration rates. High post-ozone dosage (>2 mg/L) plays an important role in particle count removal; when the dosage was 3 mg/L, the removal rates by carbon layers and sand beds decreased by 17.5% and increased by 9.5%, respectively, compared with a 2 mg/L dosage.展开更多
This paper presents equations for estimating limiting stand density for Z undulata plantations grown in hot desert areas of Raj asthan State in India. Five different stand level basal area projection models, belonging...This paper presents equations for estimating limiting stand density for Z undulata plantations grown in hot desert areas of Raj asthan State in India. Five different stand level basal area projection models, belonging to the path invariant algebraic difference form of a non-linear growth function, were also tested and compared. These models can be used to predict future basal area as a function of stand variables like dominant height and stem number per hectare and are necessary for reviewing different silvicultural treatment options. Data from 22 sample plots were used for modelling. An all possible growth intervals data structure was used. Both, qualitative and quantitative criteria were used to compare alternative models. The Akaike＇s information criteria differ- ence statistic was used to analyze the predictive ability of the models. Results show that the model proposed by Hui and Gadow performed best and hence this model is recommended for use in predicting basal area development in 12 undulata plantations in the study area. The data used were not from thinned stands, and hence the models may be less accurate when used for predictions when natural mortality is very significant.展开更多
The case of a 52-year-old woman with a past history of thymoma resection who presented with chronic diarrhea and generalized edema is the focal point of this article.A diagnosis of Giardia lamblia infection was establ...The case of a 52-year-old woman with a past history of thymoma resection who presented with chronic diarrhea and generalized edema is the focal point of this article.A diagnosis of Giardia lamblia infection was established,which was complicated by protein-losing enteropathy and severely low serum protein level in a patient with no urinary protein loss and normal liver function.After anti-helmintic treatment,there was recovery from hypoalbuminemia,though immunoglobulins persisted at low serum levels leading to the hypothesis of an immune system disorder.Good's syndrome is a rare cause of immunodeficiency characterized by the association of hypogammaglobulinemia and thymoma.This primary immune disorder may be complicated by severe infectious diarrhea secondary to disabled humoral and cellular immune response.This is the first description in the literature of an adult patient with an immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with protein-losing enteropathy secondary to giardiasis.展开更多
The author of the present paper deciphers the character “贾” in Western Zhou bronze inscriptions to be “gu贾”. He believes that its emergence was earlier than that of the character “zhu贮”,and that there was so...The author of the present paper deciphers the character “贾” in Western Zhou bronze inscriptions to be “gu贾”. He believes that its emergence was earlier than that of the character “zhu贮”,and that there was some relationship of inheritance between the “贾”in Warring States period writing and that in Western Zhou bronze inscriptions. In the Western Zhou, it was used mainly as a verb and meant trade and exchange. It could also be used as a noun, meaning officials in charge of commerce, such as “guzheng贾正” and “gushi贾师”.Sometimes it referred to a lcal state. During the early Western Zhou, there must have been traders specially engaged in long-distance transportation of goods for sale, but at present we have no evidence on the Dynastry's management of commercial activities. In the mid Western Zhou, high-ranking officials of the court interposed in trade. In the late Western Zhou, definite records about the Dynastry's sending officials to manage commerce appeared in bronze inscriptions and historical documents.展开更多
文摘AIM： To evaluate the prevalence of Giardia lamblia （G. lamblia） infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） and dyspepsia and to establish which is the most accurate test to diagnose the infection in this setting. METHODS： One hundred and thirty-seven patients who consecutively attended the Outpatient Gastroenterology Clinic for the first time between January 2002 and Decernber 2003 due to symptoms of IBS and/or dyspepsia were recruited. All patients underwent clinical evaluation, first-step haematology and chemistry tests, serologic assays for celiac disease, lactose-H2 breath test, abdominal ultrasonography, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Helicobacterpylon status was evaluated. In patients with symptoms of IBS older than 45 years, colonoscopy was also performed. In all patients, duodenal biopsies and stool samples were examined for trophozoites and cysts of G. lamblia by several methods. RESULTS： G. lamblia was identified in 9 patients. The following diagnoses were also made： IBS （100/137, 73%）, functional dyspepsia （62/137, 45%）, organic dyspepsia （33/137, 24%）, and lactose intolerance （75/137, 55%）. A significant association was found between giardiasis and H pylori infection （x^2= 6.632, OR= 12.4, CI= 1.5-68.1）. There were no symptoms that reliably allowed the recognition of giardiasis. Direct search of the parasite in duodenal biopsy and stool sample examinations gave concordant results in all cases while histological examination of duodenal biopsies displayed a low sensitivity （e.g., 22.2%）. CONCLUSION： In this consecutive series, diagnosis of G.lamblia infection accounted for 6.5% of patients with IBS and dyspepsia. Duodenal biopsies for diagnosis of giardiasis may be unnecessary if stool sample examination is performed.
文摘AIM: To investigate whether Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is associated with hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection, presence of enteroparasites, and other surrogates of fecal exposure. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 121 children consecutively admitted at a pediatric hospital in Salvador, Brazil. H pyloriand HAV infection were identified by the presence of serum antibodies. Stool specimens were examined for the presence of ova and parasites. A structured questionnaire inquiring about sanitary conditions and life style was applied to each subject. RESULTS: Fifty-one of the 121 children (42.1%) were found to be seropositive for H pylori, and 45 (37.2%) for HAV. The seroprevalence of Hpyloriand HAV both increased significantly with age. Cross-tabulation of data showed that 26 (21.5%) were seropositive and 51 (42.1%) were negative for both H py/lriand HAV antibodies (x^2=7.18, OR=2.8, CI 1.30-5.97). The age adjusted OR for an HAV-infected child being H pylori positive was 2.3 (CI 1.02-5.03). The agreement between H pylori and HAV seropositivity was fair (k=0.24). After controlling for possible confounding, the variables remaining independently associated with seropositivity to H pylori were age, presence of Giardia lamblia in feces (OR=3.2, 95%CI, 1.1-9.5) and poor garbage disposal quality (OR=2.4, 95%CI, 1.1-5.1). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that H pylori infection is associated with surrogate markers of fecal exposure. Thus, we conclude that the fecal-oral route is relevant in the transmission of HP among children in an urban setting of a developing country. The association observed between G. lamblia and H pylori infection may have several explanations. Further studies to investigate this relationship are warranted.
文摘AIM： To compare the efficacy and safety of five days apostrophe therapy of mebendazole （MBZ） versus quinacrine （QC） on human giardiasis in children.METHODS： A clinical trial was carried out in paediatric patients （aged 5-15 years） with confirmed symptomatic G. duodenalis mono-infection. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either MBZ [200 mg taken three times per day GRID） （n = 61）] or QC [2 mg/kg bodyweight tid （n = 61）], both for five days. Follow-up faecal samples were obtained at 3, 5 and 7 d after the end of the treatment.RESULTS： Although the frequency of cure was higher for QC （83.6%） than for MBZ （78.7%）, the difference was not statistically significant （P 〉 0.05）. Adverse events were reported more in the QC group （P 〈 0.05）, all of them transient and self-limiting.CONCLUSION： Despite final cure rates ocurring lower than expected, the overall results of this study reconfirmed the efficacy of MBZ in giardiasis and also indicate that, although comparable to QC, at least in this setting the 5 d course of MBZ did not appear to improve the cure rates in this intestinal parasitic infection.
文摘AIM： To investigate the prevalence of giardiasis in patients with dyspeptic symptoms. METHODS＂ Clinical records of consecutive patients who attended Gastroenterology Department at Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2000 to June 2003 and had esophagogastroduodenoscopy （EGD） with duodenal biopsies and international classification of diseases 9th revision with clinical modifications （ICD-9-CM） coded with giardiasis were studied. RESULTS： Two hundred and twenty patients fulfilled the above criteria. There were 44% （96/220） patients who were giardiasis positive, 72% （69/96） of them were males and 28% （27196） of them were females. There were 65% （81/124） males and 35% （43/124） females who were giardiasis negative. The mean age of patients with giardiasis was 28±17 years, while that of giardiasis negative patients was 40±18 years （P〈0.001）. In patients with giardiasis, abdominal pain was present in 71% （68/96） of patients （P = 0.02） and diarrhea in 29% （28/96） （P = 0.005）; duodenitis in 25% （24/96） on EGD （P = 0.006） and in 68% （65/96） on histopathology （P = 0.002）. CONCLUSION： Giardiasis occurs significantly in young people with abdominal pain, while endoscopic duodenitis is seen in only 25% of giardiasis positive cases, which supports routine duodenal biopsy.
文摘The nuclear matrix of diplomonad Giardia lamblia was detected for the first time with DGD embedmentsectioning- embedment free electron microscopy after a series of specific extractions. The result showed that archaezoa Giardia lamblia already possessed nuclear matrix within its two nuclei. The finest fibrils of the nuclear matrix of Giardia lamblia were measured to be about 11 to 13 nm in thickness. However, the nuclear lamina and nucleolus have never been observed. These results seem to suggest that nuclear matrix is an indispensable intranuclear structural component even in the primitive nucleus.
基金Project (No. 2002AA601120) supported by the Hi-Tech Research and Development Program (863) of China
文摘Due to the importance of biological safety in drinking water quality and the disadvantages which exist in traditional methods of detecting typical microorganisms such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it is necessary to develop an alternative. Particle counts is a qualitative measurement of the amount of dissolved solids in water. The removal rate of particle counts was previously used as an indicator of the effectiveness of a biological activated carbon (BAC) filter in removing Cryptosporidium and Giardia. The particle counts in a BAC filter effluent over one operational period and the effects of BAC filter construction and operational parameters were investigated with a 10 m3/h pilot plant. The results indicated that the maximum particle count in backwash remnant water was as high as 1296 count/ml and it needed about 1.5 h to reduce from the maximum to less than 50 count/ml. During the standard filtration period, particle counts stay constant at less than 50 count/ml for 5 d except when influ- enced by sand filter backwash remnant water. The removal rates of particle counts in the BAC filter are related to characteristics of the carbon. For example, a columned carbon and a sand bed removed 33.3% and 8.5% of particles, respectively, while the particle counts in effluent from a cracked BAC filter was higher than that of the influent. There is no significant difference among particle removal rates with different filtration rates. High post-ozone dosage (>2 mg/L) plays an important role in particle count removal; when the dosage was 3 mg/L, the removal rates by carbon layers and sand beds decreased by 17.5% and increased by 9.5%, respectively, compared with a 2 mg/L dosage.
基金the State Forest Department,Rajasthan for providing financial support for conducting this study and to their officials for rendering necessary assistance during fieldwork
文摘This paper presents equations for estimating limiting stand density for Z undulata plantations grown in hot desert areas of Raj asthan State in India. Five different stand level basal area projection models, belonging to the path invariant algebraic difference form of a non-linear growth function, were also tested and compared. These models can be used to predict future basal area as a function of stand variables like dominant height and stem number per hectare and are necessary for reviewing different silvicultural treatment options. Data from 22 sample plots were used for modelling. An all possible growth intervals data structure was used. Both, qualitative and quantitative criteria were used to compare alternative models. The Akaike＇s information criteria differ- ence statistic was used to analyze the predictive ability of the models. Results show that the model proposed by Hui and Gadow performed best and hence this model is recommended for use in predicting basal area development in 12 undulata plantations in the study area. The data used were not from thinned stands, and hence the models may be less accurate when used for predictions when natural mortality is very significant.
文摘The case of a 52-year-old woman with a past history of thymoma resection who presented with chronic diarrhea and generalized edema is the focal point of this article.A diagnosis of Giardia lamblia infection was established,which was complicated by protein-losing enteropathy and severely low serum protein level in a patient with no urinary protein loss and normal liver function.After anti-helmintic treatment,there was recovery from hypoalbuminemia,though immunoglobulins persisted at low serum levels leading to the hypothesis of an immune system disorder.Good's syndrome is a rare cause of immunodeficiency characterized by the association of hypogammaglobulinemia and thymoma.This primary immune disorder may be complicated by severe infectious diarrhea secondary to disabled humoral and cellular immune response.This is the first description in the literature of an adult patient with an immunodeficiency syndrome who presented with protein-losing enteropathy secondary to giardiasis.
文摘The author of the present paper deciphers the character “贾” in Western Zhou bronze inscriptions to be “gu贾”. He believes that its emergence was earlier than that of the character “zhu贮”,and that there was some relationship of inheritance between the “贾”in Warring States period writing and that in Western Zhou bronze inscriptions. In the Western Zhou, it was used mainly as a verb and meant trade and exchange. It could also be used as a noun, meaning officials in charge of commerce, such as “guzheng贾正” and “gushi贾师”.Sometimes it referred to a lcal state. During the early Western Zhou, there must have been traders specially engaged in long-distance transportation of goods for sale, but at present we have no evidence on the Dynastry's management of commercial activities. In the mid Western Zhou, high-ranking officials of the court interposed in trade. In the late Western Zhou, definite records about the Dynastry's sending officials to manage commerce appeared in bronze inscriptions and historical documents.
