Cork Taint in Wine: Scientific Knowledge and Public Perception — A Critical Review

The manufacturing process of cork stoppers includes a stabilization period of the cork slabs, following boiling, during which mold growth completely covers the cork slabs. This process has been used traditionally for several decades; however, due to the possibility of certain molds isolated from cork to produce off flavor compounds, especially 2,4,6-trichloroanisole and 2,3,4,6-tetrachloroanisole, recently cork stoppers are being unsoundly targeted with the accusation of inducing cork taint in wine. This article reviews the manufacturing process of cork stoppers, the diversity of microorganisms associated with cork, and finally the diversity and origins of the compounds associated with cork taint in wine, focusing on those currently considered as more important. Some important results recendy obtained by the authors are also included. The current idea of suppressing mold growth during cork stopper manufacturing is discussed, as well as the erroneous idea of imputing, direcdy and exclusively, to cork the responsibility of the so-called cork taint in wine.     

Fungal central nervous system infections: prevalence and diagnosis

Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are rare but they pose a significant challenge. Their prevalence spans a wide array of hosts including immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals, patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures and those carrying implantable CNS devices. Cryptococcus neoformans and Aspergillus spp. remain the most common pathogens. Magnetic resonance imaging can help localize the lesions, but diagnosis is challenging since invasive procedures may be needed for the retrieval of tissue, especially in cases of fungal abscesses. Antigen and antibody tests are available and approved for use in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). PCR-based techniques are promising but they are not validated for use in the CSF. This review provides an overview on the differential diagnosis of the fungal CNS disease based on the host and the clinical syndrome and suggests the optimal use of diagnostic techniques. It also summarizes the emergence of Cryptococcus gatti and an unanticipated outbreak caused by Exserohilum rostratum.     

眼部致病性不产孢子菌的ITS测序研究

目的：运用真核生物核糖体RNA基因(rDNA)内部转录间隔区(internal transcribed spacer,ITS)测序技术对不产孢子菌进行菌属鉴定,揭示海南岛眼部致病性不产孢子菌的生物多样性。

方法：选取海南眼科医院检验科分离培养并镜检确定为不产孢子菌的真菌菌株19株,所有菌株均分离自感染性眼病患者眼部感染组织,接种于土豆葡萄糖琼脂培养基和沙氏培养基37℃温箱孵育7～21d后,镜检未发现生殖结构。采用玻璃研磨器研磨联合化学法提取真菌DNA,PCR扩增核糖体ITS保守序列,通过GenBank基因数据库对扩增出的ITS序列进行比对分析,确定致病菌种属。

结果：经PCR扩增后19株样本菌均得到清晰的目的条带。基因测序比对结果显示,19株不产孢子菌分属12个种属,包括可可毛色二孢子菌6株,月状弯孢霉1株,节菱孢霉菌2株,neodeightonia subglabosa 2株,红贝菌1株,肉座菌1株,多喙茎点霉1株,红色毛藓菌1株,深海曲霉菌1株,roussoella siamensis 1株,撕裂蜡孔菌1株、茄病镰刀菌1株。

结论：ITS基因测序技术可较准确地鉴定不产孢子菌的种属,是对传统真菌鉴定方法的有益补充。我国海南岛这一热带地区致病性不产孢子菌种属多样,且与多种感染性眼病的发生相关。     

Mycotic Sinusitis in Children

Zusammenfassung: Bei 414 Kindern im Alter von 3 bis 15 Jahren, die an rezidivierender schleimig-eitriger Sinusitis maxillaris und in der Mehrzahl der Fälle auch an anderen Erkrankungen der Atmungsorgane litten, wurden mykologische und bakteriologische Untersuchungen durchgeführt.
Bei 22 Kranken wurde eine sdileimig-eitrige mykotische Sinusitis maxillaris und in 97 Fällen eine mykotisch-bakterielle Mischinfektion festgestellt.
Die Untersuchungsergebnisse wurden vom klinischen Standpunkt analysiert.
Summary: Mycological and bacteriological examinations were carried out in 414 children aged 3—15 years, suffering from recurrent mucopurulent sinusitis, in most cases accompanied by other respiratory diseases. 22 cases have been diagnosed as mycotic mucopurulent sinusitis and 97 as fungal and bacterial sinusitis. The results of mycotic examinations are discussed in relation to the clinical picture.     

引起食物中毒绿豆糕的霉菌检验分析

引起多起食物中毒的绿豆糕有霉变现象，绿豆糕中的霉菌和酵母菌总数，在虎红培养基上为１１０００ＣＦＵ／ｇ，在高盐蔡氏培养基上为２２０００ＣＦＵ／ｇ，霉菌相主要由扩展青霉和阿姆斯特丹散囊菌组成。经卤虫急性毒性试验法测定，两种分离的霉菌都是产毒菌株。文中还对这类霉菌和霉菌毒素引起的食物中毒特点进行了讨论。     

Clinical improvement after unusual avoidance measures in the home of an atopic dermatitis patient

A 27-year-old female office clerk with widespread atopic dermatitis (AD) since infancy appeared to be highly sensitized and exposed to molds, storage mites, and chicken feathers and moderately sensitized to house-dust mites and grass and birch pollens. Hardly any textiles were present in her home; that is, only 28 m², which is less than 25% of the Dutch national average. The causal relationship between eczema and molds plus storage mites in this case of AD was strengthened by the positive effect of an unusual, multidisciplinary home-sanitation program involving cleaning of mineral surfaces and ventilation improvement. This home-sanitation program led to a gradual drop of total IgE and clinical symptom scores to 21% and 13%, respectively, of the original values.     

Total viable molds and fungal DNA in classrooms and association with respiratory health and pulmonary function of European schoolchildren

Indoor molds are associated with adverse respiratory effects in children. Although schools are important exposure sources of molds, objective measurements were more often taken in homes. Our aim was to assess indoor molds in schools and related effects on schoolchildren health. The Health Effects of the School Environment study (HESE) included 21 schools (46 classrooms) in Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and France and 654 schoolchildren (mean age 10 yr). Information on schoolchildren was collected by standardized questionnaires. Measurements of total viable molds (VM, colony-forming units, cfu/m(3)) and total/specific fungal DNA (cell equivalents, CE/g dust) were taken inside all classrooms in the cold season during normal activities, using the same standardized methodology. Pulmonary function tests were performed on 244 pupils. VM (mean, 320,cfu/m(3)) and total fungal DNA (geometric mean, 2.2 × 10(5) ± 2.1 CE/g dust) were detectable in all classrooms. The levels were significantly higher in buildings with mold/dampness problems. VM, but not fungal DNA, were inversely related to ventilation rate. VM exceeded the maximum standard of 300 cfu/m(3) in 33% of the classrooms. In the past 12 months, dry cough at night (34%) and rhinitis (32%) were the mostly reported. Children exposed to VM levels ≥ 300 cfu/m(3), compared with those exposed to lower levels, showed higher risk for past year dry cough at night (odds ratio, OR: 3.10, 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.61-5.98) and rhinitis (OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.65-4.95), as well as for persistent cough (OR: 3.79, 95% CI: 2.40-5.60). Aspergillus/Penicillium DNA was significantly positively associated with wheeze, and Aspergillus versicolor DNA with wheeze, rhinitis, and cough. There were significant inverse associations of Aspergillus versicolor DNA with forced vitality capacity (FVC) and Streptomyces DNA with both FEV(1) and FVC. In conclusion, indoor VM and fungal DNA were commonly found in monitored European schools and adversely related to respiratory health. Schools should be routinely tested through both culturable and non-culturable methods for global indoor molds' evaluation.     

糖尿病患者应用食物模具进行饮食教育的效果分析

目的 寻找积极有效的糖尿病饮食教育方式,提高糖尿病患者接受饮食教育的效果.方法 将160例2型糖尿病患者随机分为试验组和对照组,试验组应用食物模具对患者进行饮食教育,对照组则采用传统教育方式进行教育.结果 两组患者的空腹血糖、餐后2 h血糖、糖化血红蛋白均有不同程度的降低,两组比较试验组优于对照组(P<0.01).结论...