Cryptosporidium is the most common protozoan that can infect a wide range of animals, including mammals and birds. Avian Cryptosporidium spp. can cause enteric and respiratory diseases which can be fatal in birds and some species are zoonotic. Companion birds have the potential as reservoir due to their close contact with humans. Pet shops are the major source of companion birds. However, few reports are available regarding Cryptosporidium spp. infection among companion birds kept in pet shops. The present study reports the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. among companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan. A total of 265 fresh fecal samples were obtained from birds kept in 4 pet shops; these birds belonged to 41 species in 3 bird orders. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 24 samples (9.1%) were positive, and Cryptosporidium spp. were detected from all pet shops. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in each of the bird orders was 6.5% (10/153) in Psittaciformes, 14.4% (13/90) in Passeriformes, and 4.5% (1/22) in Galliformes. Based on sequence analysis, 13 (54.2%) isolates were classified to C. galli, 8 (33.3%) were avian genotype III, and the remaining 3 (12.5%) were C. baileyi. No infection with zoonotic C. meleagridis and no coinfection with multiple Cryptosporidium spp. and/or genotypes were observed. The zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. infecting companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan is likely to be low.
Animals ; Birds ; Coinfection ; Cryptosporidium ; Friends ; Galliformes ; Genes, rRNA ; Genotype ; Humans ; Japan ; Mammals ; Passeriformes ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pregnancy ; Prevalence ; Psittaciformes ; Sequence Analysis

No abstract available.
Esophageal Achalasia ; Humans ; Swallows ; Water

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to evaluate the changes of the respiratory patterns associated with swallowing in the brain-injured patients. METHOD: Twenty brain-injured patients(6 bulbar lesions, 14 pseudobulbar lesions) and fifteen normal subjects were selected for this study. Each subject swallowed 5cc of water for ten times in a upright sitting position and a submental electromyography recording and respirography by pneumobelt on mid-abdomen were recorded simultaneously. RESULTS: 1) Most swallows occured during the late expiratory phase in both brain-injured patients and controls. 2) In brain-injured patients, the incidence of swallowing during inspiration was significantly higher than the controls(p<0.05). 3) In brain-injured patients, the postdeglutitive inspiration was significantly higher than the controls(p<0.05). 4) In patients with a bulbar lesion, the postdeglutitive inspiration was significantly higher than patients with a pseudobulbar lesion(p<0.01). 5) Postdeglutitive swallowing relatively correlates with the abnormalities in clinical findings and Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study(VFSS) findings. CONCLUSION: The respiratory patterns associated with the swallowing in brain-injured patients were different from that of the normal adults and the postdeglutitive inspiration could be the most valuable predictor of the aspiration.
Adult ; Deglutition* ; Electromyography ; Humans ; Incidence ; Swallows ; Water

Androgen plays an important role in singing of songbirds. Recent studies have shown that androgen levels in vivo not only affect the external morphology of songbirds, but also affect their singing behavior. Androgens (including derivatives) affect singing behavior and singing system in many ways. Based mainly on the results from our research group in the zebra finch, this review summarizes the effects of androgen on singing behavior, excitability and synaptic transmission of projection neurons of singing system, and the interaction of androgen with other neurotransmitter receptors in the brain of songbirds.
Androgens ; physiology ; Animals ; Brain ; physiology ; Songbirds ; physiology ; Vocalization, Animal

OBJECTIVE: To explore the temperature field distribution and variation rules during treatment with mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion of TCM. METHODS: Six healthy subjects were selected. Mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion were exerted at Zusanli (ST 36) respectively, for 25 min. Using infrared thermal imaging instrument, the temperature field distribution was measured during moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The simulated thermometer was adopted to measure the temperature field distribution during moxibustion at the imitated cortex. At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the temperature field distribution generated by moxibustion was observed at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36) separately. The temperature values were collected at the sites 0.7, 2.1 and 3.5 cm far from the center of the moxibustion-exerted places successively, and then the characteristics of temperature field distribution and variation rules were compared between different moxibustion methods at the imitated cortex and Zusanli (ST 36). RESULTS: At 20 min of mild moxibustion and sparrow-pecking moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36), the temperature field distribution focused on the center of moxibustion-exerted site and the temperature was reduced to all directions and illustrated as a curved surface graph, whereas, the temperature field distribution at the imitated cortex was consistent with that at Zusanli (ST 36). With mild moxibustion, the temperature field was distributed uniformly along the longitudinal temperature gradient; whereas, with sparrow-pecking moxibustion, the longitudinal temperature of the temperature field was greatly different, in which, the maximum temperature and the average temperature were higher than those with mild moxibustion respectively and the first time up to the peak value of sparrow-pecking moxibustion was shorter than that with mild moxibustion. The thermal transfer was presented at the non-moxibustion exerted areas during the moxibustion experiment at Zusanli (ST 36). CONCLUSION A distance feature is presented in the temperature field measured by simulated thermometer and generated under suspension moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36). The warm stimulation effect of sparrow-pecking moxibustion is much more obvious at the moxibustion-exerted center as compared with mild moxibustion and the area of warm stimulation generated by sparrow-pecking moxibustion is more concentrated as compared with mild moxibustion. The radiation energy produced by suspension moxibustion is scattered and attenuated in skin tissue, resulting in a certain temperature gradient in the temperature field. The warm stimulation generated at skin surface by moxibustion has a warming-dredging effect.
Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Humans ; Moxibustion ; Sparrows ; Temperature ; Torso

BACKGROUND: A volumetric caudal epidural steroid injection has been advocated to facilitate the delivery of medications to a lesion site. This study was aimed to examine the actual spreading patterns of this technique, using an epidurogram. METHODS: A total of 32 patients with chronic low back pain with a radiculopathy of various causes (degenerative spondylosis, herniated nucleus pulposus, spondylolisthesis, and spinal stenosis) were included. A volumetric caudal epidural injection of a 10 ml mixture of contrast medium 5 ml, 0.5% bupivacaine 1 ml, triamcinolone 1.5 ml (60 mg) and normal saline 2.5 ml was performed. Immediately after the cessation of the first spread, the subsequent solution of another 10 ml of contrast medium 5 ml, 0.5% bupivacaine 1 ml and normal saline 4 ml was injected. This procedure was repeated serially until the total volume equaled 50 ml. Continuous fluoroscopic imaging was obtained after each injection. RESULTS: Average time taken to complete the study was 37 seconds per every 10 ml. The spreading levels of the mixture were distributed mainly at the mid to lower lumbar area in the majority of the investigated patients. During the subsequent injections, these levels did not increase significantly. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the multiple small volume caudal epidural injections retraced their own tract repeatedly. This was thought to be due to the minimal resistance in the cephalad direction, anatomic variations and the Starling effect of epidural space.
Bupivacaine ; Epidural Space ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural* ; Low Back Pain* ; Radiculopathy ; Spondylolisthesis ; Spondylosis ; Starlings ; Triamcinolone

Diffuse esophageal spasm (DES) is an uncommon motility disorder of unknown etiology in which the abnormal motility has been offered as a possible cause for the patient's dysphagia or chest pain. Esophageal manometry is the gold standard for the diagnosis of DES and the diagnostic hallmark is identification of simultaneous contractions in at least 20% of wet swallows, alternating with normal peristalsis. Recently, a new diagnostic technique, high-resolution manometry has been reported to improve the accuracy and detail in describing esophageal function. We report a female patient with intermittent dysphagia and chest pain occurring only when swallowing a large amount of water. On HRM, this patient had esophageal spasms, increased pressurization front velocity attributable to rapid contractile wave front, associated with symptoms, which were provoked by a multiple rapid swallowing test, and thereby was diagnosed with DES.
Chest Pain ; Contracts ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse ; Female ; Humans ; Manometry ; Peristalsis ; Swallows ; Water

OBJECTIVE: To confirm a relationship between the pharyngeal response and bolus volume, and examine whether increasing the fluid bolus volume can improve penetration and aspiration for stroke dysphagic patients. METHODS: Ten stroke patients with a delayed pharyngeal response problem confirmed by a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) were enrolled. Each subject completed two swallows each of 2 mL, 5 mL, and 10 mL of barium liquid thinned with water. The pharyngeal delay time (PDT) and penetration-aspiration scale (PAS) were measured and the changes among the different volumes were analyzed. RESULTS: PDTs were shortened significantly when 5 mL and 10 mL of thin barium were swallowed compared to 2 mL. However, there was no significant difference in PAS as the bolus volume increased. CONCLUSION: The increased fluid bolus volume reduced the pharyngeal delay time, but did not affect the penetration and aspiration status.
Barium ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Deglutition* ; Fluoroscopy ; Humans ; Pilot Projects* ; Reaction Time ; Respiratory Aspiration ; Stroke ; Swallows ; Water

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We used high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) to determine the length of breaks on the isobaric contour which would predict incomplete bolus clearance in patients in the sitting position. METHODS: In total, 651 swallows in 71 patients with esophageal symptoms were studied using a solid-state HRIM system in the sitting position. Each swallow was classified as complete or incomplete bolus clearance by impedance criteria and peristaltic integrity was evaluated using 20- and 30-mmHg pressure topography isobaric contours. Correlations between the lengths of the breaks for 20- and 30-mmHg were analyzed. RESULTS: Complete bolus clearance was observed in 83.3% (542/651) of swallows. Breaks of 3 and 7 cm or less were associated with a bolus clearance of 96.8% on the 20-mmHg and 94.7% on the 30-mmHg isobaric contour, respectively (P < 0.001). The areas under the ROC curves for the 20 and 30 mmHg isobaric contours were 0.900 and 0.950, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for complete bolus clearance were 75.6% and 89.3% for breaks 3 cm or less on the 20-mmHg isobaric contour and 87.9% and 78.7% for breaks 7 cm or less on the 30-mmHg contour (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Breaks of < 3 cm in the 20-mmHg isobaric contour or < 7 cm in the 30-mmHg isobaric contour were associated with com -plete bolus clearance. The threshold for breaks in the sitting position was greater than previous reports using the supine position and longer breaks predicted incomplete bolus clearance.
Electric Impedance* ; Humans ; Manometry* ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Supine Position ; Swallows

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Most recent studies using high-resolution manometry were based on supine liquid swallows. This study was to evaluate the differences in esophageal motility for liquid and solid swallows in the upright and supine positions, and to determine the percentages of motility abnormalities in different states. METHODS: Twenty-four asymptomatic volunteers and 26 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent high-resolution manometry using a 36-channel manometry catheter. The peristalses of 10 water and 10 steamed bread swallows were recorded in both supine and upright positions. Integrated relaxation pressure, contractile front velocity, distal latency (DL) and the distal contractile integral (DCI) were investigated and comparisons between postures and boluses were analyzed. Abnormal peristalsis of patients was assessed applying the corresponding normative values. RESULTS: In total, 829 swallows from healthy volunteers and 959 swallows from patients were included. (1) The upright position provided lower integrated relaxation pressure, shorter DL and weaker DCI than the supine position. (2) In the comparison of liquid swallows, the mean for contractile front velocity was obviously reduced while DL and DCI were increased in solid swallows. (3) The supine position detected more hypotensive peristalsis than the upright position. The upright position provided more rapid and premature contraction than the supine position but there was no statistically significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: Supine solid swallows occur with more hypotensive peristalsis. Analysis should be based on normative values from the corresponding posture and bolus.
Bread ; Catheters ; Esophageal Motility Disorders ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Manometry* ; Peristalsis ; Posture ; Relaxation ; Supine Position ; Swallows* ; Water