Possible meteorological influence on the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) community outbreak at Amoy Gardens, Hong Kong.
Introduction Environmental and meteorological factors are known to affect the transport, survival, and growth of many disease-causing agents (Commission on Geosciences, Environment and Resources, 2001; World Health Organization, 2004). In the case of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus, Tan and co-authors (2005) found...

Drugs used in the treatment of pediculosis.
Abstract Pediculosis is the result of infestation by one of two families of sucking lice. The Pediculidae include the agents of head and body lice. Public lice belong to the family Pthiridae. Pediculus humanus capitis (the head louse) and Pediculus humanus humanus (the body louse) look identical....

The integration of network-based models for spill response and homeland security.
INTRODUCTION Many of the streams and rivers in the US are sources for drinking water. Water from these surface sources are processed and distributed through pipelines throughout cities and suburbs. Wastewater is gathered with a second set of pipelines and treated and with the rain waters that...

Biological control of rice blast (Magnaporthe oryzae) by use of Streptomyces sindeneusis isolate 263 in greenhouse.
INTRODUCTION Streptomyces are one of the most attractive sources of biologically active substances such as vitamins, alkaloids, plant growth factors, enzymes and enzyme inhibitors (1-3). Soil Streptomycetes are of the major contributors to the biological buffering of soils and have roles in decomposition of organic matter conductive...

Plague proteome reveals proteins linked to infection.
By recreating growth conditions in flea carriers and mammal hosts, scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have uncovered 176 proteins and likely proteins in the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis whose numbers rise and fall with the virulence of the disease. The team, led by Department...

Biological control of mosquito populations through frogs: opportunities & constrains.
The use of frogs and tadpoles for disease vector control is still largely unexplored. Frogs are an important part of the ecosystem with a role for insect and pest control including mosquitoes. Available information suggests the existence of many direct and indirect factors affecting the growth and survival of...

Eco-friendly control of mosquito larvae by Brachytron pratense nymph.
Introduction Although dragonflies are often associated with ponds, streams, and swamps, they have rarely been studied as a potential biocontrol agent against malaria and other insectborne diseases. Dragonflies belong to the order Odonata, which includes dragonflies (suborder Anisoptera) and damselflies (suborder Zygoptera). Worldwide, nearly 5,000 species of...

A dermatologist's response to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines on head lice.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) allows a small committee of its members to formulate and publish policy statements for the entire specialty. In one of these quorums, a few pediatric delegates recently addressed the subject of head lice in their publication, Pediatrics. Although I commend the participants for...

Recovery of a fish pathogenic bacterium, Aeromonas salmonicida, from ebonyshell mussels Fusconaia ebena using nondestructive sample collection procedures.
ABSTRACT Refugia are increasingly being used to maintain and propagate imperiled freshwater mussels for future population augmentations. Success for this endeavor is dependent on good husbandry, including a holistic program of resource health management. A significant aspect to optimal health is the prevention or control of infectious diseases. Describing...

A case series of HIV-positive patients with malignant melanoma.
INTRODUCTION Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 1996 the course of HIV disease has changed considerably. Lasting inhibition of viral replication and restoration of immune function have significantly reduced the morbidity and mortality of HIV-related illness. However, an increase in non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADC),...