Calcium gluconate as cross-linker improves survival and shelf life of encapsulated and dried Metarhizium brunneum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the application as biological control agents

Calcium chloride (CC) is the most common cross-linker for the encapsulation of biocontrol microorganisms in alginate beads. The aim of this study was to evaluate if calcium gluconate (CG) can replace CC as cross-linker and at the same time improve viability after drying and rehydration, hygroscopic properties, shelf life and nutrient supply. Hence, the biocontrol fungi Metarhizium brunneum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were encapsulated in Ca-alginate beads supplemented with starch. Beads were dried and maximum survival was found in beads cross-linked with CG. Beads prepared with CG showed lower hygroscopic properties, but a higher shelf life for encapsulated fungi. Moreover, we demonstrated that gluconate has a nutritive effect on encapsulated fungi, leading to increased mycelium growth of M. brunneum and to enhanced CO₂ release from beads containing Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The application of CG as cross-linker will pave the way towards increasing drying survival and shelf life of various, especially drying-sensitive microbes.     

Beverage intake improvement by high school students in Saskatchewan,Canada

Certain beverages contribute energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. North American adolescents have shifted their beverage intake from predominantly milk to predominantly sugary beverages. Intake of these sugary beverages, in sufficient quantity, may increase the risk of bone fractures, may contribute to obesity, and may lead to tooth decay. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a school-nutrition education program (Fluids Used Effectively for Living) on nutrition knowledge, attitude, and self-reported behavior of grade 9 students in Saskatchewan, Canada. Two classes of grade 9 students, 1 (n = 33) in a high school in Saskatoon (n = 33) and 1 (n = 24) in a large high school in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, received the peer educator intervention. Two other classes in the 2 cities (n = 24 and n = 24, respectively) were controls. Six sessions of Fluids Used Effectively for Living nutrition education were delivered by using 2 peer educator models (multiple and single), and the intervention was delivered in a 45-minute weekly class session over a 6-week period. After the intervention, students in these 2 peer educator classes decreased their sugary beverage intake significantly, which was sustained for 3 months. Students in the control self-taught class increased their juice intake at the end of the year. The significant decrease of juice and sugary beverage intakes in the single model peer educator class disappeared after Bonferroni correction. Carbonated sugary beverage intake of students in the control self-taught classes declined, but it was not sustainable at the 3-month follow-up. A peer educator school-based nutrition education approach can lead to a decrease in sugary beverage intake in high school children.     

Bazin's hydroa vacciniforme. General review of 2 cases

Hydroa vacciniform is a rare recurrent photosensitive skin condition in which deep-seated vesicles appear on sun-exposed areas and heal leaving a depressed scar. Two cases are reported, with particular emphasis on phototesting investigations. Results of blood and urine porphyrin studies were normal and no systemic abnormalities were noted. Phototesting may be viewed as an important diagnostic aid, since the induction of lesions, clinically identical to hydroa vacciniform can occur following sequential exposure to UV-A, as was the case in one of our patients.     

Successful treatment of disseminated Fusarium infection in an immunocompromised child

We report the first know case of disseminated fungal infection due to Fusarium proliferatum in a bone marrow transplant recipient to our knowledge. Fusarium was cultured from the blood, a paranasal sinus, and necrotic skin lesions. The isolate was sensitive to amphotericin B and on further sensitivity testing, synergy was demonstrated using rifampin in combination with amphotericin B. The patient had this infection while she was receiving alternate-day amphotericin, rifampin, and 5-flucytosine (5-FC) therapy. The infection was documented within 48 h of discontinuing daily granulocyte transfusions, which she had received for 3 weeks. The 5-FC was discontinued when sensitivities showed the organism resistant. After 6 weeks of treatment she showed complete remission of the infection, although neutrophil counts remained below 0.25 X 10(9)/L. From this case and from a review of the literature, it appears that synergic antifungal agents combined with leukocyte transfusions may be beneficial in the successful treatment of fusariosis in the compromised host.     

Denny-Brown sensory neuropathy disclosing a bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma

The authors report the case of a 76 year-old woman examined because of occurrence of a paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy. Three months later, she developed a left inguinal adenopathy, metastasis of a bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma. This case of particular interest in view of the way the neoplasm was discovered. The sensory neuropathy was previously reported to be associated with an ovarian cancer in only one case of the literature. Besides the tumor masse only limited to a left inguinal adenopathy, in this case emphasizes the ability of these rare metastasis. The ovarian cancer-associated antigen CA 125 is particularly useful for the diagnosis when high levels are found. In the absence of a pelvic tumor masse, the paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy, as well as the high levels of CA 125, have resulted in an exploratory laparotomy with extemporaneous examination of the ovaries, enabling to make the diagnosis of bilateral ovarian adenocarcinoma.     

Spectrum of cross-photosensitization in 18 consecutive patients with contact photoallergy to ketoprofen: associated photoallergies to non-benzophenone-containing molecules

Contact photoallergy to ketoprofen gels has been widely reported, and cross-sensitivity reactions with other compounds, such as tiaprofenic acid, fenofibrate and benzophenones, are well known. However, positive photopatch tests to other different non-benzophenone-related compounds have recently been observed. We report the results of photopatch testing in patients with contact photoallergy to ketoprofen and discuss the spectrum of cross-sensitization to ketoprofen. 18 consecutive patients with a history of photocontact dermatitis from ketoprofen were investigated. Patch and photopatch tests were performed. As expected, we observed positive photopatch tests to Ketum* gel and ketoprofen 2.5% in petrolatum in all patients (100%). However, it was remarkable to note positive photopatch tests to other unexpected and non-relevant allergens, including fentichlor (67%), tetrachlorosalicylanilide (28%), triclosan (17%), tribromsalan (11%) and bithionol (11%), with no clinical relevance. Interestingly, these agents belong to the family of halogenated salicylanilides and related compounds, which have been forbidden in Europe since the 1970s. Our results raise the question of hyper-photosusceptibility to non-relevant allergens induced by photosensitivity to ketoprofen. The mechanism may involve the high photoreactivity induced by the association of a benzene ring with an oxygen group.     

Changes in hemogram parameters in infections

PURPOSE: Leukocytosis is considered as an argument for infection. We have compared leukocytosis with the other data available with the white blood cell count. METHODS: White blood cell counts obtained from 187 patients (age: 18 to 81 years), admitted to an emergency room for abdominal pain, were analysed using an automate (Bayer Technicon H2, Dublin, Ireland), and compared with matched healthy subjects. The patients were classified into two groups: diseases of the biliary or of the urinary tract, and subsequently in two subgroups: infectious diseases (angiocholitis, cholecystis, pyelonephritis) or non-infectious diseases (hepatic and nephritic colic). RESULTS: Leukocytes and neutrophils were significantly increased, and eosinophils significantly decreased in all subjects by comparison with controls. These abnormalities were more important in infected patients. Lymphocytes were significantly decreased in infectious disease. For predicting infection, sensitivity and specificity of leukocytosis (> 1,000/mm3) were respectively 66% and 56%, while that of eosinopenia (< 100/mm3) were respectively 91% and 38%, and that of lymphopenia (< 1,200/mm3) respectively 58% and 73%. The probability of infection was less than 3% when neutrophils were less than 7,000/mm3, and eosinophils and lymphocytes respectively more than 100/mm3 and 1,200/mm3. CONCLUSION: This study shows that leukocytosis, eosinopenia or lymphopenia are poor indicators of infection, when considered alone or in combination. However, eosinopenia and lymphopenia appear as better criteria of infection than leukocytosis. A detailed analysis of the white blood cell count allows the exclusion of infection with an acceptable risk of error.