Susceptibility to itraconazole and miconazole of fungi strains isolated from the vaginal ontocenosis

The activity of itraconazole (RO 51211, molecular weight 705,64) and miconazole (RO 14889, molecular weight 479,15) obtained from Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, against 100 fungi strains, was studied. These strains were isolated from vaginal materials of patients with recognized candidosis. The axenic fungal strains were assessed by own methods and unified tests (bioMérieux: API 20 C, API 20 C AUX). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values calculated from dose-response curves on agar diffusion-test (Kad?ubowski's method), were also examined by analysing the variation (mean x +/- standard error, median Me, mode Mo, Min-Max). The drug MIC values for all strains were characterized by a wide range of variation itraconazole 0.0001 - 5.30 mg/L, miconazole 0.0045 - 4.70 mg/L; the shape of MIC values variation polygons was similar to normal distribution.     

Body size,fat distribution,menarcheal age and blood pressure in 14-year-old girls

Background: The relationships between body size and fatness and blood pressure are generally acknowledged. The majority of the few studies that have examined the effect of fat distribution and maturation rate on blood pressure have used secondary sex characteristics as the measure of maturity. The aim of the present study is to examine the associations between blood pressure and relative weight, fat distribution, recalled menarcheal age and occurrence of menstruation (yes/no) in a sample comprising of 1149 14-year-old girls. Methods: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), height, weight and body circumferences were measured using standard protocols. Fatness was expressed as body mass index (BMI, kg/m²), whereas fat distribution was estimated by using waist-to-hip ratio. The girls' maturity status was assessed from exact recalled date of menarche. One-way analysis of covariance and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the strength of association among systolic blood pressure (SBP), DBP and BMI, menarcheal age and indices of fat distribution. Results and conclusion: Height and BMI are significantly associated with SBP. Relative weight is the most important factor related to SBP independently of chronological age and maturity status. Height and age at menarche are significantly associated with DBP. Height of 14-year-old girls shows the same strength of association with SBP and DBP, whereas maturity status negatively correlates with DBP. Fat distribution shows no effect on the level of DBP in girls.     

Effects of isomalto-oligosaccharides on bowel functions and indicators of nutritional status in constipated elderly men

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effects of isomalto-oligosaccharides (IO) on the bowel function and nutritional status of elderly men. METHODS: Seven older male subjects participated in this study that consisted of a 30-day control low fiber period followed by a 30-day IO-supplemented (10 g active components) experimental period. Bowel functions such as defecation, enema use and bloating were monitored daily. Fecal characteristics such as wet and dry stool weights, stool moisture, pH and short-chain fatty acid contents were determined on five-day fecal composites collected in each period. Feces were further fractionated into plant, bacterial and soluble fractions to determine the bases for the increase in stool weight. Nutritional status of subjects was assessed with anthropometric parameters, nutrient intake and biochemical measurements. RESULTS: Incorporation of IO significantly increased the defecation frequency, wet stool output and dry stool weight by twofold, 70% and 55%, respectively. Fecal acetate and propionate concentrations significantly increased by nearly two and a half fold with IO supplement. The increase in stool bulk was mainly attributed by increased bacterial mass. Mean serum sodium concentration decreased in the experimental period while other blood characteristics did not change significantly. Anthropometric parameters and nutrient intake remained constant throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of IO effectively improved bowel movement, stool output and microbial fermentation in the colon without any adverse effect observed in this study. Therefore, supplementation of IO into ordinary low fiber diets may be practical in relieving constipation in the elderly population.     

A case of endobronchial aspergilloma

Pulmonary aspergillosis may be classified under three categories, depending upon whether the host is atopic or immunocompromised: invasive aspergillosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) or aspergilloma. However, it is not always possible to effectively categorize this disease. We experienced a case of endobronchial aspergilloma, which was difficult to categorize, in a healthy male patient. The chest X-ray and computed tomography showed an ill-defined nodule mimicking lung cancer. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy revealed an aspergilloma without cavity formation in the left lower laterobasal segmental bronchial orifice. The aspergilloma was removed and the patient's symptoms were relieved. We present this unusual case with a review of the literature.     

Brucella abortus tandem repeated ATP-binding proteins, BapA and BapB, homologs of haemophilus influenzae LktB, are not necessary for intracellular survival

Brucella abortus actively secretes materials and uptakes nutrients to maintain the survival and multiplication of the bacteria in host cells. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters can uptake or secrete diverse materials across the bacterial membrane, and thus, ABC transporters may be important for survival of the pathogen in the host. In the present study, the B. abortus genes encoding tandem repeated Brucella ATP-binding proteins, BapA and BapB, were identified. The deduced amino acid sequences of these two genes place BapA and BapB into group 6 containing RTX toxin transporters and cyclic beta-1,2-glucan transporters, one of 25 ABC transporter ortholog groups. One of the ortholog group 6 proteins, Haemophilus influenzae LktB, shows the highest similarity and identity with these two Brucella proteins. To test the role of these putative tandem repeated ABC transporters in Brucella pathogenesis, a bap deletion mutant was constructed and used to infect murine RAW 264.7 macrophages and mice. The number of cfu from RAW 264.7 cells and spleens of BALB/c mice infected with wild type or the bap deletion mutant was similar during the course of infection, suggesting the bap genes are not necessary to maintain the pathogenesis of B. abortus, or alternative compensatory mechanisms may exist to permit the intracellular survival of B. abortus in vitro and in vivo. This is the first molecular approach to investigate the role of putative ABC transporters classified into ortholog group 6 in Brucella pathogenesis.     

New method for predicting efficiency of heating by measuring bioimpedance during radiofrequency catheter ablation in humans

INTRODUCTION: Efficiency of heating (defined as the average temperature divided by the average power) during radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation (RFCA) can be predicted by the electrode-tissue contact pressure before RFCA. To predict the efficiency of heating during RFCA, we prospectively measured bioimpedance and correlated the bioimpedance with the efficiency of heating in patients undergoing RFCA for supraventricular tachycardias. METHOD AND RESULTS: Of 239 RF applications in 55 patients, bioimpedance was measured from the distal pair of the electrodes of the ablation catheter using an extremely low current (10 microA at 45 kHz). Tip electrode temperature was measured with a closed-loop RF generator. Efficiency of heating and the difference (delta bioimpedance) between preablation bioimpedance (measured from the target ablation site) and baseline bioimpedance (measured in the right atrium without tissue contact) were calculated. There was significant positive correlation between preablation bioimpedance and efficiency of heating (regression coefficient = 0.053; P = 0.003) and between delta bioimpedance and efficiency of heating (regression coefficient = 0.067; P = 0.003). The highest degree of correlation was found during RFCA of the accessory pathways in the left free wall (regression coefficient = 0.14; P < 0.01). With preablation delta bioimpedance >21.5 ohms, applications targeted at the left free-wall, left posteroseptal, or right septal accessory pathways had a greater likelihood of achieving effective tissue heating (defined as maximal temperature achieved >55 degrees C). CONCLUSION: Both preablation bioimpedance and delta bioimpedance have positive correlation with efficiency of heating during RFCA of supraventricular tachycardia. Measuring preablation bioimpedance appears to be a useful tool for predicting the efficiency of heating during RFCA.     

The clinical significance of QTc dispersion measurement for risk of syncope in patients with aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVES: (1) To evaluate the clinical usefulness of QTc dispersion determination in aortic stenosis and (2) to compare the effects of QTc dispersion on the occurrence risk of syncope in aortic stenosis. BACKGROUND: QT interval dispersion has long been known to be a marker of dispersion of ventricular repolarization and, hence, electrical instability. Additionally, it has been shown that these patients have a propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmic syncope. METHODS: The study included 86 patients with aortic stenosis who underwent left-heart catheterization and coronary angiography during investigation of syncope, as well as 30 control subjects. The patients were characterized with regards to the presence or absence of a history of syncope and the severity of aortic stenosis (the degree of peak transvalvular gradient). In addition, QT dispersion measurements were corrected for heart rate according to Bazett's formula and both were measured. RESULTS: QTc dispersion was greater in patients with aortic stenosis than in the control subjects (60 +/- 13 msec vs 38 +/- 12 msec, P < 0.001). Similarly, QTc dispersion was greater in the patients with a history of syncope than in the patients with no history of syncope (68 +/- 12 msec vs 53 +/- 10 msec, P < 0.001). In addition, QTc dispersion values were greater in the patients with a high transvalvular gradient than in the patients with a low transvalvular gradient (65 +/- 12 msec vs 50 +/- 9 msec, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that only an increased QTc dispersion had significant value for the risk of syncope in aortic stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: An increased QTc dispersion increases the occurrence risk for syncope in aortic stenosis. These results suggest that high values of QTc dispersion are a sensitive noninvasive marker for determining the risk for syncope in aortic stenosis.