Recurrence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis after discontinuation of maintenance treatment by antifungal triazoles

ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence and risk factors of recurrence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) after discontinuation of antifungal triazoles.MethodWe reviewed the medical records of CPA patients who achieved resolution of clinical and radiographic manifestations and stopped taking antifungal triazoles between June 2006 and June 2012 at Tokyo National Hospital. We evaluated whether there was CPA recurrence within 1 year after treatment cessation and investigated risk factors for relapse. The association of anti-Aspergillus antibody conversion with CPA recurrence was also reviewed.ResultsA total of 39 patients were included in this study and there was CPA recurrence in 14 patients. Compared with the Non-recurrence group, the Recurrence group exhibited 1) younger age (p = 0.017), 2) more than one lung lobe affected by CPA more frequently (p = 0.008), 3) longer duration needed to remit manifestations of chest radiograph (p = 0.031), 4) longer antifungal treatment duration (p = 0.042). The present study did not reveal an association between negative conversion of serum anti-Aspergillus antibody and recurrence risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with CPA with affected area of more than one lung lobe had increased risk (odds ratio, 10.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.49–69.77; p = 0.018).ConclusionCPA recurrence can be seen in about one-third of cases after discontinuing azole treatment. We should make decisions about treatment duration and follow up depending on the severity of each case, particularly on the expansion of CPA-affected area.     

分子印迹固相萃取-高效液相色谱法分析2种三唑类杀菌剂残留

目的:建立了分子印迹固相萃取-高效液相色谱法检测食品中2种三唑类杀菌剂残留的方法。方法:分别以三唑醇、烯唑醇为模板分子,α-甲基丙烯酸为功能单体,乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸酯为交联剂,采用本体聚合法合成分子印迹聚合物。将制得的三唑醇、烯唑醇聚合物按质量比1:1混合,制成固相萃取柱用于样品的前处理,并采用高效液相色谱法检测。结果:在低和高浓度添加水平下,平均回收率在78.7%～94.3%之间,RSD在1.8%～2.4%之间(n=5)。结论:该方法灵敏度高,精密度好,适合于同时检测食品中三唑醇和烯唑醇2种三唑类杀菌剂残留。     

ANNUAL REPORT OF COUNCIL FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30th JUNE, 1949

The thinning guide presented with this paper is a graph of stocking per acre on predominant height, and it indicates what is considered to be the optimum range of stocking within which thinning should maintain P. radiata stands in South Australia, if an optimum compromise between certain factors is to be achieved.

These factors include a commercial first thinning as a pre-requisite, full site use, reasonable rates of diameter growth, and stability to wind.

It is suggested that representation of a thinning guide in terms of stand height and in graphical form gives it a flexibility to individual stand characteristics which is not possible in tabular form, and that such flexibility is necessary if a thinning guide is to be a ready practicable guide to logging officers. A special value of the graphical form is that past and proposed thinning of a stand can be represented diagrammatically, against a background of growth and stability criteria. By indicating long-term possibilities, this should assist with short-term decisions.     

蛇床子等中药提取物对几种病菌生物活性的初步研究

以蛇床子、野菊花和白芷丙酮提取物为材料,测定了其对8种植物病原真菌的生物活性。结果表明:在供试质量浓度为0.05gm/L时,蛇床子提取物对8种供试菌中的6种病原真菌菌丝生长的抑制作用效果最好,抑制率均在65%以上,野菊花提取物抑菌活性次之,对其中3种供试菌抑制率均在65%以上;在供试质量浓度为0.1gm/L时,野菊花提取物对棉花枯萎病菌孢子萌发抑制作用效果较好,抑制率为92.5%。蛇床子和野菊花作为植物源杀菌剂值得进一步研究。     

Carvacrol ameliorates behavioral disturbances and DNA damage in the brain of rats exposed to propiconazole

Propiconazole (PCZ) is an ergosterol biosynthesis inhibiting fungicide. Carvacrol (CAR) is a monoterpenoid phenol that has various beneficial health effects. The current research was designed to study the impact of PCZ on the behavior of rats and its ability to induce DNA damage in neurons as well as to clarify the ameliorative effect of CAR against these toxic impacts. Sixty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly and equally divided into 4 experimental groups and treated daily by oral gavage for 2 months as follows: Group 1 (control); group 2 treated with PCZ (75 mg/kg); group 3 treated with CAR (50 mg/kg) and group 4 treated with both PCZ and CAR. Behavioral tests demonstrated that exposure to PCZ had a deleterious effect on psychological, motor and cognitive neural functions. Additionally, antioxidant enzyme activities, SOD and GSH-Px, were declined in brain tissue following exposure to PCZ. Moreover, comet assay revealed a high percent of DNA damage in the brain of rats exposed to PCZ. On the other hand, CAR administration ameliorated the harmful effects induced by PCZ through a protective mechanism that involved the improvement of neural functions and attenuation of oxidative stress and DNA damage.