Nocardia ignorata, a new agent of human nocardiosis isolated from respiratory specimens in Europe and soil samples from Kuwait

Nocardia ignorata is a recently described species identified on the basis of a single isolate of unknown origin. Here we describe the epidemiological, phenotypic, and phylogenetic characteristics of this new species, based on five new clinical and soil isolates.     

道诺霉素抑制视网膜色素上皮细胞炎前因子的表达

目的　观察道诺霉素对视网膜色素上皮细胞细胞(RPE)炎前因子表达的影响 .方法　培养的人 RPE经 IL- 1β(10μg· L- 1 )刺激以及不同浓度的道诺霉素作用后 ,用EL ISA、免疫组化和原位杂交等方法 ,检测培养的人 RPE炎前因子 m RNA和蛋白质的表达 .结果　 EL ISA显示对照组培养 RPE在 IL- 1β刺激 8h后 ,上清中 IL- 6与 IL- 8分别为2 0 0 0 pg· m L- 1· 10 - 6 cells和 5 0 0 0 pg· m L- 1· 10 - 6 cells.使用 10 0 μg·L- 1 道诺霉素作用于培养的 RPE后 IL- 6与 IL-8分别为 180 pg· m L- 1 · 10 - 6 cells (P <0 .0 1)和 32 0pg· m L- 1· 10 - 6 cells(P<0 .0 1) .免疫组化和原位杂交亦显示不同浓度道诺霉素可以不同程度地抑制 RPE内炎前因子蛋白质与 m RNA的表达 .结论　道诺霉素能有效地抑制 IL -1β诱导的培养的 RPE IL - 6和 IL - 8的表达     

Ets－1在颌骨软骨肉瘤和骨软骨瘤中的表达及意义

目的：分析Ｅｔｓ－１在颌骨软骨肉瘤和骨软骨瘤中的表达及意义。方法：利用免疫组化法检测Ｅｔｓ－１在２０例颌骨软骨肉瘤和８例骨软骨瘤中的表达。结果：６０％（１２／２０）的软骨肉瘤中Ｅｔｓ－１呈阳性表达,Ⅱ、Ⅲ级患者的阳性表达率明显高于Ｉ级（Ｐ＜０．０５）;复发组的阳性表达率明显高于原发组（Ｐ＜０．０５）;Ｅｔｓ－１在骨软骨瘤中的阳性表率为１２．５％（１／８）,与软骨肉瘤有显著性差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结     

Career trends in health information management: a look toward 2006, Part I

The transformation taking place in health information management is causing a shift in the role of HIM professionals. This article examines the influence this shift has had on current trends in the workforce and what it means to HIM professionals.     

Antifungal Activity of a New Triterpenoid Glycoside from Pithecellobium racemosum (M.)

Purpose. In a continuation of our search for novel antifungal compounds from higher plants, the standard extract of the bark of Pithecellobium racemosum was found to have good activity against important AIDS-related opportunistic yeasts. Methods. The extract was subjected to bioguided fractionation using silica gel column chromatography which led to purification of triterpene glycosides. The structures of these compounds were determined by a combination of spectroscopic (IR, NMR, HRMS) and chemical methods. Results. Compound 1 is a new glycoside, 3-O[-L-arabinopyranosyl (1 -2)][-L arabinopyranosyl (1 -6)]2-acetoamido-2-deoxy--D-gluco-pyranosyl oleanolic acid and Compound 2 was identified as the known compound 3-O-[-L-arabinopyranosyl (l-2)]-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-6)] 2-acetamido-2-deoxy--D-glucopyranosyl echinocystic acid. Conclusions. Compound 1 is a new glycoside, 3-O-[-L-arabinopyranosyl (1-2)]-L-arabinopyranosyl (l-6)]-2-acetoamido-2-deoxy--D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid and exhibits moderate antifungal activity against T. mentogrophytes, C. albicans and S. cerevisiae with MIC values of 6.25, 12.5 and 12.5 g/ml respectively.     

Access to health care. A conceptual framework and its relevance to health care planning

Despite some serious past efforts to clarify its multiple dimensions and meanings, access to health care has remained a rather elusive concept, hampering the work of health care policymakers and professionals as they endeavor to effect meaningful health care reform. This article provides perhaps the most detailed clarification of the access concept, especially the crucial linkages among the various access dimensions, and presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for evaluation and planning activities as they relate to people's access to health care services. The proposed conceptual model recognizes access as the outcome of a process involving the interplay between the characteristics of the health care service system and of potential users in a specified area, and moderated by health care related public policy and planning efforts. An elaborate typology of access, incorporating four pairs of access dimensions, is also derived. This atomization of the concept allows us to focus on specific aspects of the access to health care problem, and to develop precise outcome indicators of health system performance for evaluative purposes. Further, it enables the access concept and its pertinent dimensions to be put into proper perspective when assessing the health care access situation in a specific national or regional context. The relevance of the proposed access model and the typology to health care planning in general, and to spatial planning of health care service systems in particular, is also discussed.     

Country watch: Pakistan

75-80% of the general public in Pakistan visits a private practitioner first in the case of illness. Private practitioners are therefore an important primary target for HIV/AIDS training and clinics are an ideal site in which to convey HIV prevention messages. The Physicians Forum for Family Planning in 1991 conducted a random survey of private practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about AIDS. 48% did not know what AIDS stands for, 68% were unaware of the meaning of HIV, none could identify all three modes of HIV transmission, 33% knew that contaminated needles can transmit HIV, and none knew about perinatal transmission. Training workshops were therefore organized to improve HIV/AIDS awareness among private practitioners, concentrating upon transmission, risk factors, clinical signs and symptoms, HIV prevention, HIV and contraception, the role of private practitioners in prevention and care, and counseling. 398 private practitioners had participated in the workshops by the end of September 1993. When pre- and post-workshop awareness were compared, correct answers had increased from 45% to 95%. It was difficult, however, to convince participants that kissing is not risky. It was also a challenge to make them understand the difference between HIV infection and AIDS. Interactive discussions and slide talks were particularly popular. Counseling on sexuality and clinical care for and counseling people with HIV/AIDS are areas for follow-up for those interested. A post-intervention evaluation in 1994 found that the workshops had a significant impact upon the clinical practice of private practitioners.     

Manganese in gasoline. Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association

This report responds to a resolution that asked the American Medical Association (AMA) to take action to reduce potential health risks from the use of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) in gasoline. Information for this report was derived from a search of the MEDLINE database and references listed in pertinent articles, as well as through communications with medical and public health experts. Based on this information, the AMA Council on Scientific Affairs determined that there is insufficient scientific evidence to assess the public health impact of MMT use. While limited evidence indicates that general-population exposures to manganese from the use of MMT in gasoline are low, more research is needed to determine possible health effects from long-term, low-dose exposures to MMT and its combustion products. Until such data are available, educational and informational strategies should be developed to improve public awareness of the health and environmental issues surrounding MMT use.