Isolation and identification of the icosalides--cyclic peptolides with selective antibiotic and cytotoxic activities

Three cyclic peptolides have been isolated from two different fungal species and their structures determined. Icosalides A1 (1a), A2 (1b), and B (1c) each contain two serine and two leucine amino acid residues and incorporate two fatty acid moieties as part of the central twenty-member ring. 1a contains L-serine and both D- and L-leucine residues, while 1b and 1c contain only L-amino acid residues. Icosalide A1 displays antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, S. pneumoniae (Felton), and Enterococcus faecalis. Icosalides A2 and B are cytotoxic to replicating MDCK cells.     

Nematode symbiont for Photorhabdus asymbiotica

Photorhabdus asymbiotica is an emerging bacterial pathogen that causes locally invasive soft tissue and disseminated bacteremic infections in the United States and Australia. Although the source of infection was previously unknown, we report that the bacterium is found in a symbiotic association with an insect-pathogenic soil nematode of the genus Heterorhabditis.     

Correlation between cytoplasmic steroid receptors and tumour differentiation and invasion in endometrial carcinoma

The incidence and levels of cytoplasmic steroid receptors were studied in 155 endometrial carcinomas: oestrogen receptors (ER) were measured in all samples, progesterone receptors (PR) in 148 and androgen receptors (AR) in 118. Well-differentiated adenocarcinomas were significantly more likely to contain ER, PR and AR than were poorly-differentiated tumours, and mean values of ER and PR content were significantly higher in well-differentiated adenocarcinomas than in less-differentiated tumours. Receptor profiles in adenosquamous carcinomas and clear-cell carcinomas were similar to those in adenocarcinomas. Deeply invasive tumours were significantly less likely to be ER, PR or AR positive and, even when positive, such tumours had significantly lower mean levels of ER and PR. Poorly-differentiated tumours were significantly more likely to be ER-negative PR-positive than well-differentiated adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas.     

The immotile cilia syndrome: radiological manifestations

The immotile cilia syndrome (ICS) is an uncommon disorder characterized by specific and genetically determined defects of cilia that cause upper and lower respiratory disease. We reviewed the radiographic patterns in 30 patients who had ICS (15 females, 15 males) and ranged in age from newborn to 26 years. Except for two neonates, sinusitis and otitis were present in all patients. Chest radiographic abnormalities, universally present, included bronchial wall thickening, hyper-inflation, segmental atelectasis or consolidation, and segmental bronchiectasis. Situs inversus, present in 50% (7 females, 8 males), was not an essential part of this disorder. Radiologically, the disease progresses from bronchial wall thickening with or without hyperinflation, to increasing hyperinflation plus parenchymal changes including segmental atelectasis, consolidation, and bronchiectasis. There is also a predilection for anatomic middle lobe abnormalities. The radiological appearance and clinical state have similarities to cystic fibrosis, although they are less severe and less progressive. ICS should be considered in the differential diagnosis of slowly progressive chronic lung disease, sinusitis, and otitis.