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Bronchoprovocation inhalation challenge tests with direct acting stimuli (e.g. methacholine) are widely used clinically to aid in the diagnosis of asthma. Areas covered: The history of direct challenges with histamine and muscarinic agonists is reviewed. This began with parenteral administration of stimuli with responses monitored clinically and by VC, progressing to inhalation dose-response challenges monitored by FEVThe methacholine inhalation test is highly sensitive for a diagnosis of current asthma when symptoms under evaluation are clinically current and when methacholine is inhaled without deep inhalations. Under these circumstances, a methacholine PD

The use of membrane filtration in drinking water treatment has significantly increased in the last decades due to its advantages, including its capacity to produce water of high quality with a high level of pathogens rejection. However, if membrane integrity is compromised, this feature cannot be guaranteed, increasing the associated microbial risk of the treated water. This study has focused on the development and application of a protocol based on virus surrogates challenge tests applicable to the three existing ultrafiltration (UF) configurations. The operational conditions have been defined, and the tests have been conducted successfully. The selected micro-organisms, PDR-1, MS-2, GA and Bacillus spores, present different characteristics providing complementary information of membrane integrity and its status. In particular, PDR-1 and Bacillus spores, due to their larger size, are mainly removed by size exclusion and low removal rates may indicate membrane impairment. MS-2 and GA, 25 nm in si...

This study examined the extent to which the underlying factor structure of the 2005 South Carolina Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT) in science for grades 3, 4, and 5 was equivalent for students who were administered the test in a regular (standard) or accommodated form. Three accommodation groups were of interest: students who received any testing accommodations, students who received any testing accommodations excluding those for whom setting was the only accommodation provided, and students who received the oral administration accommodation. Each accommodation group was compared to a matched sample of the regular group. It was found that the science test for a given grade level is appropriately described by the factor model for regular and accommodation groups. Results indicated that the factor structure, factor loadings, and error variances of the science test were similar across the regular and accommodation groups.

Many agricultural and environmental problems are interrelated and overlapping. Several agencies, including nonprofit organizations, have developed programs to educate schoolchildren about agricultural and environmental issues; however, programs that integrate both agricultural and environmental learning, especially among middle and high school students, are limited. To facilitate agricultural and environmental learning among middle and high school students, an agricultural and environmental challenge program was developed at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (UL Lafayette) in southwestern Louisiana. Educators conducted 4 challenge events for middle and high school students in 2002. Each event consisted of 5 stations: water quality, plant science, soil science, land management, and aquaculture. Groups of 5 to 6 students spent 25 min at each station engaged in hands-on activities and discussion. At the end of each event, appropriate tests were administered, and prizes and a scholarship to study in th...

A new method to assess bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) using a single concentration methacholine has already been validated in adults with asthma. Because the geometrical dimensions of the airways in children are different, the results from studies in adults cannot be extrapolated to children. In this study, we validated the single concentration methacholine inhalation provocation test (SCIPT) in children. Twenty-two children performed three methacholine inhalation challenge tests in random order. Two challenges were performed according to the SCIPT: doubling doses (0.03-1.8 mg; maximal cumulated dose 3.6 mg) were administered with an Aerosol Provocation System (Masterscope, Jaeger). The third challenge was performed according to a standard dosimeter method (SDM): doubling doses (0.002-1.8 mg; maximal cumulative dose 3.5 mg) were administered with a DeVillbiss 646 nebulizer. The degree of BHR is expressed as a PD20. A difference of

This article reports on the consistency of the achievement-level classifications (below basic, basic, proficient, and advanced) established in 1999 for the South Carolina Palmetto Achievement Challenge Tests (PACT; Huynh, Meyer, & Barton, 2000) of English language arts and mathematics. It also utilizes the PACT longitudinal data files of student records from 2000 to 2002 to assess the predictive nature of these classifications. It was found that the proportion of students who obtained a basic or higher level classification, which is considered passing, on the same subject at the next grade level was about 80% for students at the basic category and at 99% for the combined proficient and advanced category. For school accountability purposes, the original below basic category was split into a low category, below basic-1, and a high category, below basic-2. The passing proportion was 17% for below basic-1 students and about 43% for below basic-2 students. It was concluded that the PACT 1999 achievement catego...

To investigate the prevalence of adverse reactions to food and food allergy in Icelandic and Swedish 18-month-old children.Prospective multicentre comparative study.Primary health care centres in Sweden and Iceland.A total of 324 children in Iceland and 328 in Sweden who attended for regular 18-month check-up.Adverse reaction to food according to questionnaire, and food allergy according to skin prick tests and double blind food challenge tests.Adverse reactions to food were reported in 27% of children in Iceland and 28% in Sweden. Food allergy was confirmed in 2.0% in both countries. Allergy among other family members was reported in 45% of the Icelandic children and 62% in the Swedish (p0.001). Indoor smoking was reported by 30% of the Icelandic families and 3% of the Swedish. Respiratory infections were reported significantly more often in Icelandic children than Swedish.Adverse reactions to food and food allergy were similar in Icelandic and Swedish children. At the age of 18 months one can expect to confirm food allergy in approximately one out of 15 children with reported adverse reactions to food.

In preparation for filter efficiency tests and sampler comparison studies, methods of biological aerosol generation, sampling, and filter recovery were modified from previous studies. Methods described include (1) techniques for generating aerosols that reduced nuisance particles to negligible levels and increased the cell culturability of Mycobacterium abscessus by 30%, (2) sampling techniques that lowered the detectable range of biological particle size from 0.65 to 0.45 micron and reduced the sampling flow from the chamber from 28.3 to 1.5 L/min, and (3) development of methods to remove culturable organisms from respirator filter media. These methods were developed for filter challenge tests with M. abscessus and were applied to two other bacteria. They may also have application to a wider variety of organisms and bioaerosol assessments.

In a newly built workplace a high proportion of the staff experienced nasal, pharyngeal, and ocular irritation; tiredness; and headache. They suspected the glue in the new flooring to be the cause of the symptoms. The present study was designed to investigate whether the components of the floor were responsible for the symptoms reported by the staff. The study design was experimental. Using a mobile exposure chamber (0.5 m3), three workers were exposed to off-gas emissions to determine their response. To simulate the emission of vapors at the workplace, part of the workplace floor was broken into pieces and placed in the chamber. Ambient air and floor vapor exposures were performed at temperatures of 21° and 25°C. Samples from the chamber were collected and analyzed. Benzyl alcohol, an irritant present in the flooring material, was used as a marker for liberation of vapors. Symptoms were reported by the subjects, and an otorhinolaryngologist examined the participants before and after each exposur...

A trivalent leptospiral vaccine prepared by incorporating servovar hardjo in an existing pomona, copenhageni product has been evaluated in both hamsters and cattle. Hamster challenge tests were performed on all 3 components. The hardjo component was initially tested as a separate entity and later in combination with the other serovars using a challenge test. In no case were vaccinated hamsters infected from a hardjo challenge which infected 8/10 non-vaccinated animals. The pomona and copenhageni components passed the European Pharmacopoea potency test for leptospiral vaccines. Both artificial and natural exposure trials in cattle demonstrated protection against urinary shedding. Vaccinated cattle failed to develop leptospiruria when exposed to an artificial hardjo challenge which produced shedding in 7/10 unvaccinated animals. Trials conducted on 9 dairy farms with leptospirosis problems demonstrated prevention of leptospiruria by vaccination. Protection persisted for at least 12 months.

In this study the effectiveness of preservatives in twelve currently used antacid suspensions was evaluated. In eight of the twelve formulations, hydroxybenzoates were used as preservative. Only four of these products met the existing USP XXI requirements. One of the discarded products systematically contained a contaminant belonging to the Pseudomonas group. Of the remaining four products with other preservatives, two failed the USP XXI challenge tests. The main cause of all failures was the incompatibility of pH with the preservatives choosen. Especially the challenge test with the Ps. aeruginosa strain posed the greatest difficulties. However the Pseudomonas results were not always easy to interprete, partially due to the lack of interpretation criteria at the seventh and the twenty first day. Therefore we propose a three percent bacterial concentration level as an additional pass-fail criterion for the seventh and twenty first day.

Electronic fetal monitoring. Oxytocin challenge tests and Cesarean sections are all examples of the technological deviations from the natural processes of birth. Obstetrical care in the United States has evolved into a technology of scientitic and active management which obviates the natural processes and the normal physiology of birth. As this deviation continues, birth naturally will continue to be the perverted and pathological product of modern technology.