OBJECTIVETo demonstrate a noninvasive large mammalian genetic sampling method using blood meal obtained from a tabanid fly.

METHODSBlood meal was recovered from the abdomen of an engorged tabanid fly (Haematopota sp.) which was captured immediately after biting a Sumatran rhino in captivity. The blood was applied on to a Whatman FTA(®) blood card. Subsequent laboratory work was conducted to extract, amplify and sequence the DNA from the sample. Validation was done by sampling the hair follicles and blood samples from the rhinoceros and subjecting it to the same laboratory process.

RESULTSBLAST search and constructed phylogenetic trees confirmed the blood meal samples were indeed from the rhino.

CONCLUSIONSThis method could be used in the field application to noninvasively collect genetic samples. Collection of tabanids and other haematophagous arthropods (e.g. mosquitoes and ticks) and other blood-sucking parasites (e.g. leeches and worms) could also provide information on vector-borne diseases.

Animals ; Diet ; veterinary ; Diptera ; genetics ; physiology ; Endangered Species ; Female ; Food Chain ; Indonesia ; Insect Bites and Stings ; blood ; veterinary ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Perissodactyla ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; veterinary ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; veterinary

No abstract available.
Equidae*

No abstract available.
Horses*

The purpose of this study was to evaluated the method for quantitative assessment of bone mass from aluminum-equiv alent value of hydroxyapatite by using digital imaging system consisted of Power Macitosh 7200/120, 15-inch color monitor, and GT-9000 scanner with transparency unit. After aluminum-equivalent image made from correlation between aluminum thickness and grey scale, the accuracy of conversion to mass from aluminum-equivalent value was evaluated. Measured bone mass was compared with converted bone mass fr om aluminum-equivalent value of hydroxyapatite block by correlation formula between aluminum-equivalent value of hydroxy apatite block and hydroxyapatite mass. The results of this study were as follows: 1. Correlation between aluminum thickness and grey level for obtaining aluminum-equivalent imge was high positively ass ociated(r2=0.99). Converted masses from aluminum-equivalent value were very similar to measured masses. There was, statistically, no significnat difference(P<0.05) between them. 2. Correlation between hydroxyapatitie aluminum-equivalent and hydroxyapatite mass was shown to linear relation(r2 =0.95). 3. Converted masses from aluminum-equivalent value of 3 dry mandible segments were similar to measured masses. the diff erence between the exposure directions was not significantly different(P<0.05).
Aluminum ; Durapatite ; Equidae ; Mandible

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of the tourniquet on intraoperative patellar tracking and to determine how this may influence the decision to perform lateral release during primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From Jan. 1998 to Feb. 1999, 126 TKAs in which patellar tracking was assesed with tourniquet inflated were chosen as a control group. From May 1999 to June 2000, a total of 221 consecutive TKAs in which patellar tracking was assessed before and after tourniquet release were selected as a study group and were placed into 1 of 3 groups: Group I (49 out of 221) were knees that tracked properly both before and after tourniquet release. Group II (150 out of 221) were knees that maltracked with the tourniquet inflated and subsequently corrected with the tourniquet deflated. Group III (22 out of 221) were knees that maltracked both before and after tourniquet release, therefore required a lateral release. The lateral release rate, patella tilt and displacement were compared among groups. RESULTS: In control group, the lateral release rate was 65.9%(83/126). The patella tilit and displacemen were 2.65+/-0.78 degree and 3.51+/-1.68 mm respectively. In study group, the lateral release rate was 10.0%(22/221). The patella tilit and displacement were 0.76+/-0.85degree and 2.96+/-1.96 mm in study group. CONCLUSION: Tourniquet application alters intraoperative patellar tracking during TKA. When contemplating lateral retinacular release, tourniquet release and reevaluation of patellar tracking should be considered.
Arthroplasty* ; Equidae ; Knee* ; Patella ; Tourniquets*

Microbiological method using a 96-well microplate reader for folate assay was established, and folate intake and blood folate concentrations of 23 female college students were assessed. To evaluate folate intake, dietary data were collected by a 3-day weight food record, and serum and RBC folate concentrations were measured by the new method. The coefficient of variation for the new method was less than 10%. Mean daily folate intake of the subjects was 126.7ug which is only 50.7% of the RDA. The mean concentrations of serum and RBC folate were 7.46ng/ml and 294.4ng/ml, respectively, which were within the normal range. These results indicate that folate intake seems to be underestimated due to incomplete food composition database. Therefore, folate database should be appropriately in order to asses folate intake accurately.
Equidae ; Female ; Folic Acid* ; Humans ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: OSCE, a performance assessment method using simulator and multimedia standardized patients can evaluate the student's clinical skills more effectively. It, however, lacks specific assessment criteria and methods for each station which OSCE consists of. Thus, in this research, we propose a web-based PBL (Problem Based Learning) performance assessment model which consists of the assessment criteria (Rubric) and the process for each OSCE station. METHODS: In our model, setting the assessment criteria (Rubric) makes the goal of problem- based learning clearer and the assessment procedure more objective by giving the concrete assessment measure. We decompose the PBL-based OSCE into five procedures: problem understanding, hypothesis clarification, the clarification of interaction role, the decision of performance assessment types, performance assessment testing. RESULTS: The web-based model was developed consisting of five corresponding areas: problem setting, assessment criteria (Rubric), community, performance assessment types (automatic production, template production), the performance assessment testing. CONCLUSIONS: A proposed web-based PBL model will provide the concrete guidelines for clinical skill and attitude learning by giving more objective and clarified assessment criteria and by increasing the quality of assesment through the continuous development of assessment criteria.
Clinical Competence ; Equidae ; Humans ; Learning ; Multimedia

The outcomes of treatment of 31 patients who were managed by single visual internal urethrotomy were compared with those of 25 patients managed by perineal urethroplasty to asses whether the replacement of almost urethroplasty by the simpler urethrotomy was justified. The overall successful results were achieved in 51.6% of visual internal urethrotomy and 76%, of urethroplasty. Patients with anterior urethral strictures more than 1 cm long or completely obliterated strictures had higher failure rates in the visual internal urethrotomy than urethroplasty (p<0.05). The morbidity rates were 9.6% in the visual internal urethrotomy and 24% in the urethroplasty. We recommend that visual internal urethrotomy be reserved for patients with urethral strictures 1 cm or less in length and posterior urethral stricture which is supposed to have a high recurrence rate since the procedure is simple and it does not compromise asecondary urethroplasty.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Equidae ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Urethral Stricture*

PURPOSE: Our study tried to find a relationship between baseline FEF25-75% and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and whether a greater FEF25-75% impairment may be a marker of a more severe hyperresponsiveness in subjects with normal FEV1 and FEV1/FVC and suggestive asthma symptoms. Besides, we tried to asses a FEF25-75% cut-off value to identify hyper-reactive subjects. METHODS: 4,172 subjects (2,042 M; mean age: 38.3+/-14.9; mean FEV1 % predicted: 100.5+/-12.7 and FEV1/FVC: 85.4+/-6.8) were examined after performing a methacholine (Mch) test. All subjects reported a symptom onset within 3 years before the test. Subjects with PD20<400 or >400 microg were arbitrarily considered affected by moderate/severe and borderline AHR, respectively. RESULTS: PD20 values were 213 (IQR:86-557), 340 (IQR:157-872) and 433 (IQR:196-1032) microg in subjects with baseline FEF25-75< or =50%, FEF25-75 between 50 and 70% and FEF25-75>70% respectively (P<0.0001). Only in moderate/severe hyper-reactive subjects (excluded borderlines), PD20 was lower in the FEF25-75< or =50% subgroup than in the 1 with FEF25-75>70%. The hyperreactive subjects percentage, was higher in those with FEF25-75< or =50% and lower in those with FEF25-75>70% (P<0.0001). FEF25-75<50% (compared to FEF25-75>70%) was a higher AHR risk factor, especially in subjects with moderate/severe AHR (OR: 2.18 [IQR:1.41-3.37]; P<0.0001). Thresholds yielding the highest combined sensitivity/specificity for FEF25-75% were 75.19 (area under curve [AUC]: 0.653) and 74.95 (AUC:0.688) in subjects with PD20<2,400 and <400 microg respectively. FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC measured in subjects with different FEF25-75< or =50%, FEF25-75>50 and < or =70% or FEF25-75>70% levels were similar both in normoreactive and hyperreactive subjects. CONCLUSIONS: At asthma onset, reduced baseline FEF25-75 values with normal FEV1 and FEV1/FVC may predict AHR. Detectable predictive cut-off values do not exist because even normoreactive subjects can show lower FEF25-75 values. Furthermore, a greater FEF25-75 reduction may be associated to a more severe AHR, suggesting a possible FEF25-75 role in the management of asthma when FEV1 and FEV1/FVC are normal.
Asthma* ; Diagnosis ; Equidae ; Methacholine Chloride ; Risk Factors

In order to assess the efficiency of Percoll gradient centrifugation(PGC) as a method of sperm selection, we have examined morphological characteristics of spermatozoa from 40 teratozoospermic patients attending the Infertility Clinic of Inchon Gil Gerneral Hospital. Patients were divided into three groups according to percentage normal morphology in the fresh sample : group A(n=5), < 5% normal morphology : group B(n=21), 5~14% normal morphology : and group C(n=14), > 14% normal morphology. Morphology slides were perpared using Diff-Quik staining techniques and evaulated by Kruger strict criteria, under oil immersion at a magnification of X 1000, specific defects, head, neck and tail were assesed individualy. The results were as follows. 1. Following PGC, sperm samples with enhanced morphology were recovered for all groups. 2. For group A, PGC did not select a sample with significantly improved morphological characteristics. 3. Usually, sperm defects affected by PGC was head and neck. No significant difference was found for tail abnormality. In conclusion, Percoll gradient centrifugation is an efficient sperm preparation technique when the semen sample exhibits teratozoospermia, especially head or neck abnormality. However, in sample with < 5% normal form or tail abnormality, There is not significant improvement following PGC.
Centrifugation* ; Equidae ; Head ; Humans* ; Immersion ; Incheon ; Infertility ; Neck ; Semen ; Spermatozoa*