Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), combined with a flow-injection system, is demonstrated to analyze liquid droplets of aluminum salt, as generated with an electrospray ionization device. The spray needle also serves as the anode, through which the analyte solution is spread toward the other metal base as the cathode. Along the passage of the FI manifold, the Al-sample loading speed i...

The epidemiology and environmental factors affecting transmission of human microsporidiosis are poorly understood. We conducted the present study to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with asymptomatic intestinal microsporidiosis among aboriginal school children in the Kuala Krau District, Pahang State, Malaysia. We collected stool samples from 255 school children and examined...

Three simple, accurate, and sensitive colorimetric methods for the determination of cimetidine (Cim) in pure form, in dosage forms, and in the presence of its oxidative degradates were developed. These methods are indirect, involve the addition of excess oxidant [N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) for method A; cerric sulfate [Ce(SO4)2] for methods B and C] of known concentration in acid medium to Cim, a...

During a study of intestinal parasitic infections in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients, a parasite belonging to the phylum Myxozoa, recently described from human samples, was identified in one sample. When this parasite was stained by the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method, the features of the spores were identified: they were pyriform in shape, had thick walls, and had one sut...

Most dyes related to trypan blue inhibited hemolytic activity of oligonucleotide-streptolysin S (SLS) complex, an exotoxin produced by Streptococcus pyogenes. Order of the inhibition was: trypan blue greater than benzo blue 2B greater than Congo red greater than Evans blue greater than benzo purpurine 4B greater than thiazine red greater than trypan red. When resting streptococcal cells were in...

OBJECTIVE Microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi has been recognized as an opportunistic pathogen in immunosuppressed individuals, such as AIDS patients. The objective of the study was to develop pharmacologically immunosuppressed animals as a model of the natural occurring E. cuniculi infection. METHODS Distinct groups of adult Balb-C mice were immunosuppressed with different doses of dexam...

Different liquid phase thermal treatmentswere applied to a commercial activated carbon (Norit ROX 0.8) in order to produce modified activated carbons with varying surface chemistry and increased acidic character. Chemical characterization of the prepared materials includes determination of the point of zero charge and evaluation of the concentration and nature of acidic and basic surface functi...

Several hybridomas producing antibodies detected by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) were established by fusion of mouse myeloma SP2/O with spleen cells from BALB/c mice immunized against whole spores (protocol 1) or chitinase-treated spores (protocol 2) of Enterocytozoon bieneusi and were cloned twice by limiting dilutions. Two monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), 3B82H2 from protocol...

Microsporidia are single-celled intracellular parasites which occur in a number of animals, both vertebrates and invertebrates. Several species of microsporidia can cause disease in humans in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. However, the sources of human infection and the routes of transmission of microsporidia have not yet been fully determined, although more and more re...

Enterocytozoon bieneusi, a microsporidian parasite, has been recognized since 1985 as an agent of intestinal microsporidiosis leading to malabsorption syndrome, diarrhea, and weight loss in AIDS patients. Recently, however, we have identified E. bieneusi spores in the sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage, and stool samples of an AIDS patient with a 2-year history of intestinal microsporidiosis. The s...