Ammonia-hyperproducing bacteria from New Zealand ruminants

Pasture-grazed dairy cows, deer, and sheep were tested for the presence of ammonia-hyperproducing (HAP) bacteria in roll tubes containing a medium in which tryptone and Casamino Acids were the sole nitrogen and energy sources. Colonies able to grow on this medium represented 5.2, 1.3, and 11.6% of the total bacterial counts of dairy cows, deer, and sheep, respectively. A total of 14 morphologically distinct colonies were purified and studied further. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms of 16S rRNA genes indicated that all isolates differed from the previously described HAP bacteria, Clostridium aminophilum, Clostridium sticklandii, and Peptostreptococcus anaerobius. Carbon source utilization experiments showed that five isolates (C2, D1, D4, D5, and S1) were unable to use any, or very few, of the carbon sources tested. Biochemical tests and phylogenetic analyses of 16S ribosomal DNA sequences indicated that all isolates were monensin sensitive; that D1 and S1 belonged to the genus Peptostreptococcus, that D4 and D5 belonged to the family Bacteroidaceae, where D4 was similar to Fusobacterium necrophorum; and that C2 was most similar to an unidentified species from the genus Eubacterium. Growth on liquid medium containing tryptone and Casamino Acids as the sole nitrogen and energy source showed that D1, D4, and S1 grew rapidly (specific growth rates of 0.40, 0.35, and 0.29 h-1, respectively), while C2 and D5 were slow growers (0.25 and 0.10 h-1, respectively). Ammonia production rates were highest in D1 and D4, which produced 945.5 and 748.3 nmol/min per mg of protein, respectively. Tests of individual nitrogen sources indicated that D1 and D4 grew best on tryptone, S1 grew equally well on Casamino Acids or tryptone, and C2 and D5 grew poorly on all nitrogen sources. The intact proteins casein and gelatin did not support significant growth of any of the isolates. These isolates extend the diversity of known HAP rumen bacteria and indicate the presence of significant HAP bacterial populations in pasture-grazed New Zealand ruminants.     

Theonellapeptolide IIIe, a new cyclic peptolide from the New Zealand deep water sponge, Lamellomorpha strongylata

The structure, stereochemistry, and conformation of theonellapeptolide IIIe (1), a new 36-membered ring cyclic peptolide from the New Zealand deep-water sponge Lamellomorpha strongylata, is described. The sequence of the cytotoxic peptolide was determined through a combination of NMR and MS-MS techniques and confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis, which, with chiral HPLC, established the absolute stereochemistry.     

New macrodiolide antibiotics, 11-O-monomethyl- and 11, 11'-O-dimethylelaiophylins, from Streptomyces sp. HKI-0113 and HKI-0114

Elaiophylin (1) and two new methyl derivatives, 11-O-monomethylelaiophylin (2) and 11,11'-O-dimethylelaiophylin (3), were isolated from the mycelium cake of Streptomyces strains HKI-0113 and HKI-0114. The structures of 2 and 3 were determined by mass spectrometric and NMR investigations. Compounds 2 and 3 display antimicrobial and moderate cytotoxic activities.     

Fusaricide, a new cytotoxic N-hydroxypyridone from Fusarium sp

A new cytotoxic N-hydroxypyridone, fusaricide (1), was isolated from a Fusarium sp. Its structure was solved by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic analyses.     

Monoclonal anti-cardiolipin antibodies from New Zealand Black x New Zealand White F1 mice react to thrombomodulin

The reactivity with and affinity for thrombomodulin (TM) of monoclonal anti-cardiolipin Abs (MoaCL), derived from a New Zealand Black x New Zealand White F1 (NZB/W F1) mouse, were studied to investigate the pathogenicity of anti-cardiolipin Abs (aCL). Four of eighteen MoaCL were found to react with rabbit TM when examined using ELISA. These four MoaCL also reacted with synthetic peptide that included the epidermal growth factor-like domain of human TM, a binding site for thrombin. The reaction with TM of these four MoaCL was inhibited by bovine thrombin. When the affinity for TM of the MoaCL was determined, the dissociation constants (Kd) ranged from 4.8 x 10(-9) to 4.7 x 10(-8) M. By contrast, examination of the affinity for cardiolipin (CL) gave values from 8.3 x 10(-6) to 7.4 x 10(-5) M. Thus, these MoaCL reacted to TM with a higher affinity than to CL. Moreover, these MoaCL also bound to TM on HUVEC and down-regulated the expression level of TM on the surface of HUVEC due to internalization of TM. The binding of thrombin to TM is known to initiate rapid protein C activation, and complexes of activated protein C and protein S show anticoagulatory activity. Thus, the present studies suggest that certain pathogenic aCL cross-react with TM and induce down-regulation of TM on endothelial cells, followed by induction of thrombosis.     

Rubrobramide, a cytotoxic and phytotoxic metabolite from Cladobotyrum rubrobrunnescens

Cladobotrin (1) and rubrobramide (2) were isolated from the culture filtrate of Cladobotryum rubrobrunnescens, a mycophilic deuteriomycete. Rubrobramide (2), possessing a unique oxidized tricyclic system, is a new compound structurally related to flavipucine (3), which also is produced by the fungus. The structure of 2 was determined by spectroscopic methods. Cladobotrin (1) exhibited weak nematicidal activity toward Meldogyne incognita, while 2 showed weak cytotoxic and phytotoxic activities.     

Paediatric nephrotic syndrome in Auckland, New Zealand

Forearm rotation affects grip strength. In a study with 40 volunteers, an overall decrease in grip strength was observed when the forearm rotated from pronation to supination. In males grip strength in pronation was significantly lower compared to the neutral and supinated position, with the wrist free as well as in an immobilized wrist position. In females this was only observed with a free wrist position, but with the wrist immobilized, the grip strength was higher in supination compared to neutral and pronation.     

Resting B cells from autoimmune lupus-prone New Zealand Black and (New Zealand Black x New Zealand White)F1 mice are hyper-responsive to T cell-derived stimuli

To determine whether B cells from New Zealand Black (NZB) and (New Zealand Black x New Zealand White)F1 (NZB/W) mice possess intrinsic defects that lead to altered immune responsiveness, we purified resting B cells from these mice and compared their surface phenotype and function with those of resting B cells isolated from BALB/c and DBA/2 nonautoimmune mouse strains. Flow cytometric analysis of freshly isolated resting B cells revealed that NZB and NZB/W resting B cells are conventional B2-type cells similar to their nonautoimmune counterparts. Despite this, resting B cells from young NZB and NZB/W mice express lower levels of CD23 on their surface and aberrant levels of intracellular IgM. Upon stimulation, resting B cells from young NZB and NZB/W mice demonstrate increased proliferation, IgM secretion, or enhanced expression of costimulatory molecules in response to a variety of different T cell-derived stimuli, including cytokines and signals generated through CD40. Therefore, B cell hyper-responsiveness to T cell stimuli is immunodominant or codominant in NZB/W mice. Taken together, our results suggest that intrinsic B cell hyper-responsiveness may play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease in NZB and NZB/W mice. The increased clonal expansion of these B cells together with increased Ig production and enhanced costimulatory capacity serve to amplify the immune response. In the context of normal but incomplete T cell tolerance, B cell hyperresponsiveness to the limited signals provided by partially tolerant T cells may be sufficient to yield an autoantibody response.     

Personal barriers to diabetes care: lessons from a multi-ethnic community in New Zealand

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify barriers to diabetes care perceived by diabetic subjects from a multiethnic, urban community (mainly New Zealand Europeans, Maori, and Pacific Islanders). A qualitative survey including 57 diabetic subjects and health care providers from a diverse range of backgrounds was followed by a cross-sectional household survey. Barriers to care were quantified among 1862 (2.1%) diabetic residents of a total surveyed population of 90477. Thirty barriers to care categories were generated incorporating patient beliefs, internal and external physical barriers, educational, psycho-social and psychological barriers. In spite of major difference in culture, acculturation, and socio-economic status, the top 10 barriers were similar between the ethnic groups. The most important barriers were perceiving that the benefits of self-care were outweighed by the disadvantages (20% Europeans, 20% Maori, 29% Pacific Islanders, 16% others, p<0.001), lack of community-based services (13% Europeans, 27% Maori, 25% Pacific Islanders, 11% others, p<0.001) and the limited range of services available (15% Europeans, 22% Maori, 20% Pacific Islanders, 14% others, p<0.05). It is postulated that definition of these barriers, with subsequent, systematic action to reduce their impact, in both patients and populations could result in an improvement in diabetes outcomes.     

Trampolines in New Zealand: a decade of injuries

An oral folate absorption test was performed in 100 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and 20 healthy individuals to investigate the frequency of abnormal folate absorption in regard to the site of the disease and to investigate the possibility of defining a subgroup of patients requiring parenteral folate supplementation. The described oral folate absorption test can be performed quickly on an outpatient basis and is capable of distinguishing patients with altered folate absorption from those with normal folate absorption. In 25 patients, abnormal folate absorption was detected. 16 patients showed impaired folate absorption as indicated by a marked but insufficient increase in serum folate levels after oral folate intake, whereas no increase of the serum folate levels was detected in the remaining 9 patients. Abnormal folate absorption was not correlated with disease extent or activity. In patients with only impaired folate absorption, it might be sufficient to increase dietary intake of folates. In the remaining patients with no measurable increase of serum folate levels after oral folate intake, i.e. about 10% of all patients with CD, parenteral folate supplementation could be considered.     

Restructuring long-term care and the geography of ageing: a view from rural New Zealand

This paper examines the major points of contact between the restructuring of long-term care and the evolving geography of the elderly in the Waikato, one of New Zealand's agricultural heartlands. The time frame of the study is 1981-91, a decade in which new Zealand embarked on a sweeping program of service restructuring and privatization. Comparative analysis of data on the evolving distribution of the elderly and on the shifting supply of long-term care beds reveals that restructuring has sharpened contrasts between urban and rural contexts for ageing. Almost all the urban centres in the Waikato benefited from an expansion of long-term care driven by private-sector initiatives, while rural communities suffered a broad-based depletion of services. However, the data indicate that, contrary to the trend in long-term care, more older elderly people (defined as those aged 80 or older) are "staying on' in rural communities. The paper concludes with a consideration of emergent policy issues; we speculate that it through the aggregate outcomes of decisions to "stay on' that the personal troubles of the elderly residents of service-depleted communities may yet become an important policy issue in rural New Zealand.     

Achievement motivation, occupations, and labor turnover in New Zealand.

Used a nonprojective measure of achievement motivation to investigate the relationship among need for achievement (nAch), labor turnover, and occupations in New Zealand. Questionnaire results from 315 entrepreneurs, engineers, accountants, and middle managers revealed low turnover among high nAch self-employed Ss. High-turnover Ss displayed significantly higher achievement motivation levels than low-turnover Ss. Among engineers, accountants, and middle managers, those with high nAch had high labor mobility rates. Results are supportive of D. C. McClelland's theory and demonstrate the feasibility of extension of the model through use of nonprojective research methods. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Campylobacteriosis in New Zealand: results of a case-control study

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To identify and assess the contributions of major risk factors for campylobacteriosis in New Zealand. DESIGN: Case-control study. Home interviews were conducted over nine months using a standardised questionnaire to assess recent food consumption and other exposures. SETTING: Four centres in New Zealand with high notification rates of campylobacter infections--Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, and Christchurch. PARTICIPANTS: Case patients were 621 people notified between 1 June 1994 and 28 February 1995 as having campylobacter infection. Control subjects were selected randomly from telephone directories, and were matched 1:1 with case patients in relation to sex, age group, and home telephone prefix. RESULTS: Risk of campylobacteriosis was strongly associated with recent consumption of raw or undercooked chicken (matched odds ratio 4.52, 95% confidence interval 2.88, 7.10). There was also an increased risk with chicken eaten in restaurants (matched odds ratio 3.85; 2.52, 5.88). Recent consumption of baked or roasted chicken seemed to be protective. Campylobacteriosis was also associated with recent overseas travel, rainwater as a source of water at home, consumption of raw dairy products, and contact with puppies and cattle, particularly calves. CONCLUSIONS: Improperly cooked chicken seems to be associated with a large proportion of campylobacteriosis in New Zealand. Thorough cooking of chicken in homes and restaurants could reduce considerably the incidence of this disease.     

Heart donation: the New Zealand experience, 1987-1996

AIMS: To audit all donor hearts offered to our unit, assess the outcome, identify factors which might enhance the acceptance rate and provide data on which to base and modify acceptance criteria. METHODS: Demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected retrospectively and analysed for all patients in whom brain death had been established and permission for organ donation obtained from the family prior to referral to the transplant donor coordinator. RESULTS: Over a nine year period (1987-96) 267 hearts were offered for transplantation. The mean donor age was 31.2 years (2-72), 163 being male and 104 female. The cause of death was secondary to trauma in 52%, neurological in 44% and due to hypoxia in 4%. The mean donor weight was 68 kg and the distribution of ABO blood group similar to the New Zealand population. Seventy-six hearts (28%) were implanted. Of the 191 not implanted no suitable recipient was available for 98 (51%) according to blood group and body weight criteria, 38 donors (20%) were medically unsuitable, 37 (19%) were declined because of donor age, 16 (8%) because of a markedly abnormal echocardiogram and 2 (1%) for logistical reasons. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced efforts are needed to increase public awareness of the benefits of organ donation. However, a greater number of heart transplants may be achieved by increasing the recipient pool.