Survival of Penicillium species in marine and river water contaminated with diesel oil,nitrogen, and phosphorus compounds

It was established that species of Penicillium exposed to open water bodies did not perish immediately and are adaptable. Two species of Penicillium were able to grow under extremely high doses of diesel oil, although the growth of another two species were blocked at the lowest doses of diesel oil used in our experiments. Phosphates favored growth and survival of Penicillium when their level did not exceed 6.5 g per L water. Water contaminated by nitrates or nitrites at 0.2 to 2.0 g per L was not detrimental to the growth and survival of Penicillium species. The ability of Penicillium to use these compounds as a source of carbon, nitrogen, or phosphorus, as well as their survival period in the strongly contaminated marine and river water, strictly depended on the temperature of water, the level and character of pollution and the specificity of Penicillium species. Penicilliums investigated stayed alive in highly contaminated marine and river water from 2–3 months to more than one year.     

Airway surface pH in subjects with cystic fibrosis.

The cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator protein can transport bicarbonate and may therefore regulate airway surface (AS) pH. Disturbances of AS pH could contribute to the pathophysiology of CF lung disease. Five studies were carried out including the following: study 1) nasal pH measurements were made in 25 CF and 10 non-CF adults using an antimony pH probe. Mean nasal pH was significantly lower in the CF group. Nasal potential difference may have been a confounding factor; study 2) in a fresh cohort of CF and non-CF subjects, no significant difference was found between the two groups using a gold pH probe; study 3) simultaneous nasal pH measurements were made in 15 CF and 15 non-CF adults using both probes. In the CF group, there was a trend for the antimony probe to read lower than the gold probe. In the non-CF group, the antimony probe read higher. The pH difference noted in study 1 related to technical factors; study 4) the effect of acute changes in serum acid/base balance on nasal pH was assessed in five non-CF adults. Nasal pH was not altered by either acute respiratory acidosis or alkalosis; study 5) nasal and lower airway pH was measured in five CF and six non-CF children. No difference was found between the groups. There was a correlation between nasal and lower airway pH. The authors conclude that airway surface pH does not differ between cystic fibrosis and noncystic fibrosis subjects and therefore, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator may not play a major role in airway surface pH in vivo.     

Ion transport characteristics of the murine trachea and caecum.

1. The basic defect in cystic fibrosis relates to abnormalities of ion transport in affected tissues, such as the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. The identification of the cystic fibrosis gene has enabled studies on the production of a cystic fibrosis transgenic mouse to be undertaken. Knowledge of normal ion transport will be necessary for the validation of any such animal model. We have therefore characterized selected responses of the murine trachea and caecum mounted in 'mini' Ussing chambers under open-circuit conditions. 2. Basal values for the trachea were: potential difference, 1.1 mV (SEM 0.2; n = 18); equivalent short-circuit current, 20.4 microA/cm2 (3.6); conductance, 18.2 mS/cm2 (1.7). Corresponding values for the caecum were: potential difference, 0.7 mV (0.1; n = 18); equivalent short-circuit current, 11.0 microA/cm2 (1.6); conductance, 14.5 mS/cm2 (1.4). 3. Amiloride (10 mumol/l) produced a significant (P less than 0.001) fall in potential difference of 43.0% (5.7) in the trachea, but had no significant effect in the caecum. 4. Subsequently, one of three protocols was used to assess the capacity of either tissue for chloride secretion. Addition of a combination of forskolin (1 mumol/l) and zardaverine (10 mumol/l) produced rises in the potential difference of 873% (509) in the trachea and 399% (202) in the caecum. Both A23187 (10 mumol/l) and phorbol dibutyrate (10 nmol/l) increased tracheal potential difference by 350% (182) and 147% (47), respectively. Neither had a significant effect in the caecum. 5. Subsequent addition of bumetanide caused a fall in the stimulated potential difference of between 39.8% and 71.7%, depending on secretagogue and tissue type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Beta-defensin genomic copy number is not a modifier locus for cystic fibrosis

Human beta-defensin 2 (DEFB4, also known as DEFB2 or hBD-2) is a salt-sensitive antimicrobial protein that is expressed in lung epithelia. Previous work has shown that it is encoded in a cluster of beta-defensin genes at 8p23.1, which varies in copy number between 2 and 12 in different individuals. We determined the copy number of this locus in 355 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and tested for correlation between beta-defensin cluster genomic copy number and lung disease associated with CF. No significant association was found.     

The use of natural interferon alpha conjugated to a monoclonal antibody anti mammary epithelial mucin (Mc5) for the treatment of human breast cancer xenografts

Summary An immunoconjugate composed of natural interferon (nIFN) bound in a noncleavable fashion to a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) recognizing a breast epithelial membrane mucin (Mc5) was used to treat xenografts of a human mammary carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) growing in nude mice. The immunoconjugate (nIFN/Mc5) was administered as 20 intralesional (i.l.) injections to 1 of 2 xenografts in each animal. It was found that nIFN/Mc5 produced a significant enhancement of the growth inhibitory actions of nIFN on the injected tumors. Further enhancement was obtained when nIFN or nIFN together with Mc5 (at a dose 10 times larger than that present in nIFN/Mc5) were added to the immunoconjugate. Biodistribution experiments showed that the uptake of¹²⁵I-nIFN/Mc5 by the tumors was greater and its elimination slower than for¹²⁵I-nIFN alone or conjugated to irrelevant mouse IgG₁. In addition, the immunoconjugate up-regulated the antigenic expression of a breast epithelial membrane mucin by the carcinoma cells, an up-regulation which was not significantly different from that produced by nIFN alone. The contralateral noninjected tumors exposed to systemic levels of the immunoconjugate showed an enhancement of antitumor effects, but to a lesser extent than the injected tumors. These findings suggest that the enhancement of the growth inhibitory action of the immunoconjugate was related to the specific binding of Mc5 which targeted the IFN to the carcinoma cells and impeded its elimination. It is likely that the targeting was favored by the IFN-mediated up-regulation of antigenic expression by the carcinoma cells, thereby producing a cascade of interrelated effects. The results of this study point out the feasibility and potential usefulness of IFN treatment by means of immunoconjugates as well as the worth of pursuing and improving this form of therapy.     

Observer variation in detecting the radiologic features associated with bronchiolitis

Chest radiographs are commonly obtained to assess children for bronchiolitis, both to corroborate the diagnosis and to exclude other diagnostic possibilities. Their utility in this setting has not previously been examined. Using a blinded, randomized study design, we examined the interobserver and intraobserver variation in the detection of the radiologic features of bronchiolitis from the chest radiograph using "weighted kappa" statistics. This observer variation was compared with that found by other authors for other diagnoses. We also determined the reported presence of these radiologic features in radiographs from patients with bronchiolitis as compared with normal controls. Our study showed acceptable interobserver (kappa = 0.40-0.66) and intraobserver agreement (kappa = 0.50-0.78) on the radiologic features of bronchiolitis relative to other diagnoses. We demonstrated a higher reported presence of these accepted radiologic features in patients with bronchiolitis as compared to controls. Although kappa statistics are widely used in studies of observer variation, "weighted kappa" has received little attention in the radiologic literature. This statistical analysis allows observers to equivocate on the presence or absence of a feature and therefore allows the format of observer variation studies to simulate more closely the normal clinical setting.     

A case of pituitary adenoma: Thomas Willis revisited.

Thomas Willis (1621-1675) was the founder of modern clinical neuroscience. His habit of taking detailed histories with acute clinical observation often accompanied by post mortem studies has left a body of work which still provokes thought and debate. While we were considering a case of pituitary tumour described by Willis, a similar case presented coincidentally at our hospital. The two cases are compared and contrasted.     

Informed consent, parental awareness, and reasons for participating in a randomised controlled study

BACKGROUND: The informed consent procedure plays a central role in randomised controlled trials but has only been explored in a few studies on children. AIM: To assess the quality of the informed consent process in a paediatric setting. METHODS: A questionnaire was sent to parents who volunteered their child (230 children) for a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of ibuprofen syrup to prevent recurrent febrile seizures. RESULTS: 181 (79%) parents responded. On average, 73% of parents were aware of the major study characteristics. A few had difficulty understanding the information provided. Major factors in parents granting approval were the contribution to clinical science (51%) and benefit to the child (32%). Sociodemographic status did not influence initial participation but west European origin of the father was associated with willingness to participate in future trials. 89% of participants felt positive about the informed consent procedure; however, 25% stated that they felt obliged to participate. Although their reasons for granting approval and their evaluation of the informed consent procedure did not differ, relatively more were hesitant about participating in future. Parents appreciated the investigator being on call 24 hours a day (38%) and the extra medical care and information provided (37%) as advantages of participation. Disadvantages were mainly the time consuming aspects and the work involved (23%). CONCLUSIONS: Parents' understanding of trial characteristics might be improved by designing less difficult informed consent forms and by the investigator giving extra attention and information to non-west European parents. Adequate measures should be taken to avoid parents feeling obliged to participate, rather than giving true informed consent.