Production of elastase, urease and sulphatase by Epidermophyton floccosum (Harz) Langeron et Milochevitch (1930)

The production of elastase, urease and sulphatase by the primary isolations as well as by subsequent transfer cultures of Epidermophyton floccosum was studied. The granular culture did not produce enzymes studied. Production of all of the enzymes was recorded by the time when pleomorphic areas appeared in the culture. In subsequent transfer cultures made separately from the pleomorphic and granular growth areas, the pleomorphic cultures were active anzyme producers while a minimal or no production could be recorded in the granular cultures. These findings show that the transformation of the granular growth to the pleomorphic one is connected to activation of production of elastase, urease and sulphatase by E. floccosum.

Zusammenfassung

Es wurde die Erzeugung von Elastase, Urease und Sulfatase von Epidermophyton floccosum bei Erstisolierungen sowie deren Subkulturen untersucht. Die granulär wachsende Pilzform entwickelte keine der untersuchten Enzyme. Hingegen wurde die Produktion aller dieser Enzyme zu der Zeit verzeichnet, als pleomorphe Wachstumszonen zwischen den granulären Wuchsformen erschienen. Von den pleomorphen und den granulären Wuchszonen wurden getrennt Subkulturen hergestellt. Die pleomorphen Wuchstypen waren aktive Enzymbildner, während von den granulären Typen nur minimal oder keine Enzyme produziert werden konnten. Diese Ergebnisse zeigten, daß mit der Umwandlung des granulären Wuchstyps zum pleomorphen die Förderung der Enzymbildung — Elastase, Urease und Sulfatase — bei Epidermophyton floccosum in Gang gesetzt wird.     

Candida slooffii in human ventricle – A case report

The authors describe a 48-years-old female patient from whose ventricular fluid Candida slooffii was cultured. The patient suffered in 1971 from gastrointestinal troubles eliminated by Nystatin and ascribed due to candidosis and yeast bezoar of the ptotic stomach. These symptoms returned in 1973 and cholecystectomy was then carried out because of gall bladder cholesterolosis. At the same time rotational anomaly of the intestine was observed. The growth of C. slooffii may have been due to these underlying abnormalities since that yeast does not usually habitate the human gastrointestinal tract.

Zusammenfassung

Die Autoren berichten über eine 48-jährige Patientin, aus deren Magensaft Candida slooffii gezüchtet wurde. Die Patientin erkrankte 1971 an gastrointestinalen Störungen. Diese wurden durch Nystatin beseitigt und einer Candidose sowie einem Hefebezoar des gesenkten Magens zugeschrieben. Erneute Erkrankung im Jahre 1973 mit anschließender Cholezystektomie wegen einer Gallenblasencholesterolose. Zur gleichen Zeit wurden routinemäßig auf eine Anomalie des Intestinaltraktes geachtet. Diese zugrunde liegende Erkrankung kann die Ursache für das Wachstum von Candida slooffii gewesen sein, da für gewöhnlich diese Hefe den menschlichen Gastrointestinaltrakt nicht besiedelt.     

Interproximal reduction of teeth: Differences in perspective between orthodontists and dentists

Objective:To determine if interproximal reduction of teeth (IPR) is perceived differently by orthodontists and general dentists.Materials and Methods:A Web-based survey containing statements about IPR was developed and randomly distributed to orthodontists and general dentists.Results:The majority of orthodontists and general dentists strongly agreed that IPR is a minimally invasive procedure that poses little risk for the development of interproximal decay. However, general dentists were more likely to perform post-IPR polishing and to apply topical fluoride than are orthodontists (P < .0001). A greater percentage of orthodontists strongly believed that the esthetic and occlusal benefits of IPR outweigh the potential risk of tooth decay when IPR was performed (P < .0001). A greater percentage of general dentists were hesitant to perform IPR, despite research supporting that IPR has little negative effect on the health of teeth.Conclusions:The results of this study disproved the null hypothesis that orthodontists and general dentists share similar views regarding the use of IPR during orthodontic treatment. General dentists were more conservative in their views of IPR and were less comfortable with performing IPR as a routine procedure. General dentists felt more strongly about the importance of post-IPR polishing and application of topical fluoride. Orthodontists were more likely to have researched the long-term effects of IPR on the health of teeth and therefore felt more comfortable performing IPR during orthodontic treatment.     

CAPD peritonitis induces the production of a novel peptide, daintain/allograft inflammatory factor-1.

OBJECTIVES: To study the occurrence of a novel macrophage-derived peptide, daintain/allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1), in dialysate from continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients at commencement and after a follow-up period of therapy and during peritonitis. In addition, we studied peptide production in response to bacterial stimulation of monocytes and macrophages. DESIGN: Peritoneal fluid and supernatants from cells stimulated with different bacteria were analyzed for daintain/AIF-1. PATIENTS AND SETTING: Peritoneal fluid was obtained from 5 patients at commencement of CAPD therapy and during 8 weeks' follow-up, and from 14 patients (10 males, 4 females) during CAPD peritonitis and during the noninfected steady state. All patients were admitted to the Karolinska Hospital. A human monocyte cell-line, THP-1 was differentiated to macrophages, and both monocytes and macrophages were stimulated with live and heat-inactivated Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermidis. Cells were also stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1beta and interferon gamma (IFNgamma). Daintain/AIF-1 was analyzed with radioimmunoassay technique and IL-8 with enzyme immunoassay technique. RESULTS: An increased production of daintain/AIF-1 was observed in the first spent dialysate in the newly started CAPD patients, with a decrease during the follow-up period (p < 0.05). During peritonitis, the first spent dialysate revealed significantly higher levels of daintain/AIF-1 (3.9 ng/mL) compared to the noninfected state (0.8 ng/mL), with production normalizing after 9-12 days. Bacterial stimulation with E. coli, S. aureus, or S. epidermidis induced higher daintain/AIF-1 response in monocytes compared to macrophages (p < 0.05). Live bacteria induced higher production of the peptide compared to heat-inactivated bacteria (p < 0.05). Interleukin-1beta and IFNgamma were used to stimulate monocytes and macrophages; however, no daintain/AIF-1 production was found, although increased IL-8 levels were detected. CONCLUSION: CAPD peritonitis induces a high and prominent daintain/AIF-1 response. Bacteria are able to induce a response of the peptide from monocytes and macrophages, and it is likely that the virulent parts of the bacteria are heat-labile structures. The early rise in daintain/ AIF-1 might be used as a marker of CAPD peritonitis.     

Porcine diazepam-binding inhibitor is immunohistochemically colocalized with somatostatin in the D cells of human and porcine gastrointestinal tract and in pancreatic islet cells

The cellular distribution of a novel porcine peptide, diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI), was immunohistochemically mapped in the human and porcine gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Using a rabbit antiserum, raised against porcine DBI, immunoreactive epithelial cells were found in the gastric antrum and duodenal mucosa and in the parenchymal cells of the islets of Langerhans of both species. The immunoreactivity could not be absorbed by high concentrations of insulin, somatostatin (SS-14, SS-28), glucagon, or pancreatic polypeptide but was abolished by porcine DBI. Using semithin, consecutive sections, the immunoreactive intestinal and islet cells were found to be identical to the somatostatin-producing D cells. Since it has been shown that porcine DBI interferes with the secretion of insulin, the peptide may act as a modulator of islet hormone release, possibly in a paracrine manner.     

Influence of active reminders on oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients

Objective: To determine if text message reminders regarding oral hygiene compliance have an influence on the level of compliance within an orthodontic population.Materials and Methods:In this prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial, 42 orthodontic patients were assigned to a text message or control group. Parents of patients assigned to the text message group received a reminder text message one weekday each week. Oral hygiene compliance was measured using bleeding index (BI), modified gingival index (MGI), and plaque index (PI), and visual examination of white spot lesion (WSL) development at baseline (T0), two appointments after baseline (T1), and four appointments after baseline (T2).Results:BI, MGI, and PI scores were significantly lower in the text message group than in the control group at T2.Conclusion:A text message reminder system is effective for improving oral hygiene compliance in orthodontic patients.     

Alcoholization in the treatment of thyroid nodule in colloid goiter endemic region

Thyroid nodular disease is a common clinical disorder mainly in iodine lacking regions. This study has evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of single, multiple, solid, and cystic thyroid nodules of different sizes with or without glandular dysfunction, in goiter endemic region. Forty-two patients with diagnosis of colloid goiter or colloid nodular hyperplasia in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were selected for analysis, after having been submitted to at least two PEI. Thyroid nodules were multiple (solid and or cystic) in 52.4% of the patients, single and solid or mixed in 35.7%, and single and cystic in 11.9%. The mean reduction of nodules after ethanol injection was of 58.2% in the single and of 60.8% in the cystic ones. The reduction of the whole thyroid lobe was evaluated in the multiple nodules and it reached 52.4%. The side-effects were registered only as a consequence of the application discomfort. This study points out that the percutaneous ethanol injection reaching volume mean reductions, varying from 49% to 60%, is a safe, effective, and simple method for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.