Gill repartition of two Monogenea: Diplectanum aequans (Wagener 1857), Diesing 1958 and D. laubieri Lambert and Maillard 1974 (Monogenea, Monopisthocotylea) simultaneous parasites of the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (author's transl)]

The close observation of the gill habitat of two Monogeneans Diplectanum aequans (Wagener 1857) Diesing 1858 and Diplectanum laubieri Lambert and Maillard 1974 shows the microbiotopes of these two simultaneous parasites of the Sea-bass: Dicentrarchus labrax. The authors propose to study the distribution of the Monogeneans with references to three theoretic axes in the gill chambers. For the Diplectanum, the populations spread on each of these axes according to preferential gradients.     

Interference of oral immunization with the intestinal absorption of heterologous albumin

Rats were immunized with human serum albumin (HSA) by a single intragastric administration of 200 mg of HSA. Two weeks later their capacity to absorb a similar intragastric test dose of HSA was found to be greatly impaired, the concentrations of HSA in mesenteric venous serum having been reduced to 33 %, 25 % and 60 % of those in similarly tested but unprimed animals, respectively 1, 2 and 3 hours after the intragastric test dose. Rats given antigen (HSA) together with intestinal secretions from intragastric immunized rats also showed a striking decrease in intestinal absorption of a test dose, compared to controls given the antigen together with nonimmune intestinal secretions. From these data it is concluded that local immunization of the gut impairs its capacity to absorb the corresponding antigen, and that this effect is largely due to the failure to absorb antigen bound to secretory antibodies.     

The mutational specificity of l-nitroso-6-nitropyrene in the lacI gene of Escherichia coli strains deficient in nucleotide excision repair

We have examined the mutational specificity of 1-nitroso-6-nitropyrene(1,6-NONP), an activated metabolite of the carcinogen 1,6-dinitropyrene,in the lacI gene of Escherichia coli strains which are deficientin nucleotide excision repair (strain NR6113,     

Antiphospholipid antibodies and the outcome of pregnancy after the first in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer cycle

Increased antiphospholipid antibody prevalence has been demonstrated by a number of recent studies in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) patients but the potential effects of antiphospholipid antibodies on the different components of the reproductive process and the consideration of whether to test IVF patients for antiphospholipid antibodies are controversial. The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible association between the presence of circulating antiphospholipid antibodies (namely the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin antibodies), among a series of 21 consecutive IVF patients having a clinical spontaneous abortion after their first embryo transfer. As a control group (n=42), the nearest IVF cycle resulting in an ongoing pregnancy before and after each miscarried IVF cycle (i.e. the closest cycles in temporal relationship to the index cycle) was used. One patient (4.8%) in the study group and two women (4.8%) among controls were seropositive for antiphospholipid antibodies. These low and similar seropositivity rates found in the two groups studied lead us to conclude that antiphospholipid antibodies testing in IVF patients should be considered only in those women having repeated failures of implantation/clinical abortion after embryo transfer but not in an infertile general population reaching an IVF programme.      

The effectiveness of a treatment protocol for male lower urinary tract symptoms in general practice: a practical randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Randomised controlled trials have shown the efficacy of several treatment modalities for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in selected populations. The effectiveness in daily practice has hardly been investigated, especially in primary care and is dependent on choices between all possible treatment options and best investigated in a comprehensive study, including all treatment modalities (watchful waiting, alpha-blockers, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, and surgery). AIM: Assessment of the effectiveness of a comprehensive treatment protocol for LUTS in primary care. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Fourteen general practices in the Netherlands. METHOD: Intervention: treatment protocol based on a formalised expert opinion. Control condition: usual care. Study population: 208 subjects with moderate to severe LUTS (IPSS > or =8, median = 13). OUTCOME MEASURES: symptom severity (IPSS [International Prostate Symptom Score]), bother score (Dan-PSS [Danish Prostate Symptom Score]), and maximum urinary flow (Q(max)); incidence of acute urinary retention and urinary tract infections. RESULTS: In the intervention group markedly more subjects used an alpha-blocker at end of follow-up than in the usual care group (24% versus 6%). No significant differences were found between intervention and control group in IPSS, Q(max) or Dan-PSS. CONCLUSION: alpha-blockers and watchful waiting are the most frequent treatment modalities for LUTS in primary care. Our study showed no evidence that a protocol using well-defined indications for all possible treatment modalities based on a formalised expert opinion procedure has added value. Based on our results, we cannot recommend a broadening of the indication for alpha-blockers, which, however, seems to be the current trend.     

Stimulation of cranial vessels excites nociceptive neurones in several thalamic nuclei of the cat

Summary Extracellular recordings were made in the thalamus of cats anaesthetized with chloralose and urethane following electrical, mechanical and chemical stimulation of the superior sagittal sinus or middle meningeal artery. Facial receptive fields were looked for using electrical and mechanical stimuli. The locations of fifty-six cells were verified histologically. Twenty six cells were located in the ventroposteromedial nucleus (VPM) and six in its ventral periphery (VPMvp). All units in VPM had facial receptive fields, usually involving the first trigeminal division. Cells with nociceptive receptive fields or responding to the craniovascular application of bradykinin were often found in the periphery or “shell” region of VPM. Other craniovascular nociceptive cells were found in VPMvp, in the posterior group and in the intralaminar complex. This study shows that craniovascular afferents in the cat project to several thalamic nuclei and implicate VPM especially in craniovascular nociception.     

Simple DNA extraction method for dried blood spots and comparison of two PCR assays for diagnosis of vertical human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission in Rwanda

Dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper facilitate the collection, transport, and storage of blood samples for laboratory use. A rapid and simple DNA extraction procedure from DBS was developed and evaluated for the diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in children by an in-house nested-PCR assay on three genome regions and by the Amplicor HIV-1 DNA prototype assay version 1.5 (Roche Molecular Systems). A total of 150 samples from children born to HIV-1-infected mothers were collected in Kigali, Rwanda, in parallel as DBS and as peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) pellets. The results obtained on DBS by the two PCR assays were compared to the results of nested PCR on PBMCs. Of 150 PBMC samples, 10 were positive, 117 were negative, and 23 were indeterminate for HIV-1 infection. In DNA extracted from filter papers and amplified by using the in-house nested PCR, 9 of these 10 positive samples (90%) were found to be positive, and 1 was found to be indeterminate (only the pol region could be amplified). All of the negative samples and all of the 23 indeterminate samples tested negative for HIV-1 infection. When we used the Amplicor DNA test on DBS, all of the 10 PBMC-positive samples were found to be positive and all of the 23 indeterminate samples were found to be negative. Of the PBMC-negative samples, 115 were found to be negative and 2 were found to be indeterminate. We conclude that this simple rapid DNA extraction method on DBS in combination with both detection methods gave a reliable molecular diagnosis of HIV-1 infection in children born to HIV-infected mothers.     

Analysis of mycolic acid cleavage products and cellular fatty acids of Mycobacterium species by capillary gas chromatography.

After growth and experimental conditions were established, the mycolic acid cleavage products, constituent fatty acids, and alcohols of representative strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. smegmatis, M. fortuitum complex, M. kansasii, M. gordonae, and M. avium complex were determined by capillary gas chromatography. Reproducible cleavage of mycolic acid methyl esters to tetracosanoic (24:0) or hexacosanoic (26:0) acid methyl esters was achieved by heating the sample in a high-temperature muffle furnace. The major constituent fatty acids in all species were hexadecanoic (16:0) and octadecenoic (18:1 omega 9-c, oleic) acids. With the exception of M. gordonae, 10-methyloctadecanoic acid was found in all species; moreover, M. gordonae was the only species tested which contained 2-methyltetradecanoic acid. M. kansasii was characterized by the presence of 2,4-dimethyltetradecanoic acid, M. avium complex by 2-eicosanol, and M. tuberculosis by 26:0 mycolic acid cleavage product. The mycolic acid cleavage product in the other five species tested was 24:0. Although a limited number of strains and species were tested, preliminary results indicate that this gas chromatographic method can be used to characterize mycobacterial cultures by their mycolic acid cleavage products and constituent fatty acid and alcohol content.     

Comparison of the direct radiolabeled antiglobulin assay and the direct immunobead binding test for detection of sperm-associated antibodies

Thirty-seven semen samples were assayed for sperm-associated IgG and IgA using the immunobead test. Portions of these sperm samples were sent for testing with a direct radiolabeled antiglobulin assay and the testing results were compared. If the results of the immunobead test when only tail-tip bead binding was noted are regarded as negative, there was close correlation between the two assay methodologies.     

Assessment of a rapid HIV test strategy during labor: a pilot study from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: To use two rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) tests at labor, measure test acceptance and performance, and measure HIV prevalence in these women. METHODS: Between February and October 2000, two rapid tests (Determine; Abbott, Chicago, IL, U.S.A. and Double Check; Orgenics, Yavne, Israel) were used in three public maternities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB) analysis confirmed positive and discordant results. RESULTS: Of the 858 patients who were enrolled, the mean gestational age was 36 weeks (median = 39, mode = 40) and 17 (2%) refused testing. Of the 841 patients tested, 13 were positive by both tests, which represents a 1.5% prevalence (95% confidence interval: 0.7%-2.3%); all were confirmed by ELISA and WB analysis. Seven samples gave discordant results by the rapid tests; of these, six were ELISA-negative/WB-negative and one was ELISA-negative/WB-indeterminate. The positive predictive value for samples that were positive by both rapid tests simultaneously was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Two rapid HIV tests used at labor were well accepted (98%). When the combined results of the two rapid tests (but not a single rapid test) were analyzed, this strategy was as efficient as the standard ELISA and WB HIV strategy for correctly classifying individuals.