Comparative evaluation of FUNGITEST and broth microdilution methods for antifungal drug susceptibility testing of Candida species and Cryptococcus neoformans

The FUNGITEST method (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, Paris, France) is a microplate-based procedure for the breakpoint testing of six antifungal agents (amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and miconazole). We compared the FUNGITEST method with a broth microdilution test, performed according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards document M27-A guidelines, for determining the in vitro susceptibilities of 180 isolates of Candida spp. (50 C. albicans, 50 C. glabrata, 10 C. kefyr, 20 C. krusei, 10 C. lusitaniae, 20 C. parapsilosis, and 20 C. tropicalis isolates) and 20 isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. Overall, there was 100% agreement between the methods for amphotericin B, 95% agreement for flucytosine, 84% agreement for miconazole, 83% agreement for itraconazole, 77% agreement for ketoconazole, and 76% agreement for fluconazole. The overall agreement between the methods exceeded 80% for all species tested with the exception of C. glabrata (71% agreement). The poorest agreement between the results for individual agents was seen with C. glabrata (38% for fluconazole, 44% for ketoconazole, and 56% for itraconazole) and C. tropicalis (50% for miconazole). The FUNGITEST method misclassified as susceptible 2 of 12 (16.6%) fluconazole-resistant isolates, 2 of 10 (20%) itraconazole-resistant isolates, and 4 of 8 (50%) ketoconazole-resistant isolates of several Candida spp. Further development of the FUNGITEST procedure will be required before it can be recommended as an alternative method for the susceptibility testing of Candida spp. or C. neoformans.     

Screening for diabetic retinopathy: the utility of nonmydriatic retinal photography in Egyptian adults

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Drug resistance has become a major cause of treatment failure in patients with acute leukemia. P-glycoprotein (Pgp), which is associated with the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype, has been reported to be an important predictor of treatment outcome. The aim of this study was to analyze the value of Pgp expression in bone marrow or peripheral blood as a predictor of the response to remission induction chemotherapy as well as the duration of remission in patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined the expression of Pgp in 82 patients with de novo AML using an immunocytochemical assay with the C219 monoclonal antibody. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the 82 patients (33%) were C219-positive in from 1% to 100% of their cells. Thirteen cases (16%) showed a positive reaction in more than 50% of the leukemic cells. Only hyperleukocytosis was significantly associated with higher expression of Pgp. Although 8 of the 13 cases (62%) with more than 50% of cells having Pgp expression were CD34-positive, this association was not statistically significant. A univariate analysis of resistance to induction therapy showed a significantly higher resistance rate in patients with increased Pgp expression (P = 0.01) as well as in those patients with decreased reactivity to myeloperoxidase. The multivariate analysis revealed the independent prognostic value of Pgp expression. C219 reactivity did not have an influence on remission duration. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that P-glycoprotein expression is a reliable marker of resistance to induction treatment in patients with de novo AML.     

Experimental evidence for mode shape influence on acceleration-induced frequency shifts in quartz resonators

Experimental results are presented to support the hypothesis that the shape and location of the active region of vibration in a thickness shear mode quartz resonator are the dominant factors in determining the acceleration sensitivity of the resonator. The shape and location of the mode in a real world resonator vary sufficiently from unit to unit (due to material and processing variations) that all other considerations are overwhelmed. It is shown experimentally that the mode shape and/or location can be trimmed with energy trapping by judicious addition or subtraction of mass to produce resonators with improved acceleration sensitivity.     

Ten common-sense teaching strategies for effective inservice presentation by staff nurses

Staff nurses are currently being given the opportunity to present inservice offerings as a criterion for the professional performance evaluation. Unfortunately, staff nurses, even those with baccalaureate preparation, generally have not been prepared in strategies for effective teaching. Consequently, many staff nurses either avoid this opportunity altogether or may proceed with the "seat of the pants" approach, making learning a chance event. This article sets forth 10 common-sense teaching strategies for effective inservice education presentations with the goal of encouraging and empowering staff nurses to share their particular area of expertise with their peers.     

The yield behaviour of amorphous polyethylene terephthalate: An activated rate theory approach

Yield-stress measurements on amorphous polyethylene terephthalate film are presented covering five decades of strain rate at temperatures from just below the glass transition ( 60° C) to –160° C. The data were obtained by combining measurements from a conventional Instron machine with data from a high-speed tensile tester capable of applying strain rates of up to 50 sec^–1. Five different failure modes have been identified over this extensive range of test conditions. All data from tests which show a clear yield point can be described accurately by an extension of the Ree Eyring approach to include two processes. The process which is only important at low temperatures correlates well with the-process observed in dynamic mechanical experiments.     

The creep behaviour of ultra-high modulus polypropylene

The creep and recovery behaviour of highly drawn polypropylene monofilaments has been studied over the temperature range 20 to 50° C. A range of samples was examined to identify the influence of draw ratio and molecular weight. It is concluded that the permanent flow creep arises from the presence of two thermally activated processes, one of which relates to the -relaxation process and is associated with the crystalline regions of the polymer, and the second with the molecular network.     

Quantitative X-ray powder diffraction analysis of clay minerals in Australian coals using Rietveld methods

The mineralogy of clay-rich mineral matter isolated from a range of Australian bituminous coals has been evaluated in quantitative terms from X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns using a Rietveld-based data processing technique. The chemical composition of coal ash derived from this mineral matter has been calculated and compared to the directly determined composition of the ash prepared from the same coal samples. Although there are some minor differences due in part to uncertainty regarding the actual composition of several minerals, the compositions indicated by the two methods show a relatively high correlation, suggesting that the Rietveld technique provides mineralogical analyses that are consistent with independently determined chemical data. Comparison of the normalised clay mineral percentages from the Rietveld analysis to quantitative interpretations based on a peak intensities in glycolated and heat-treated oriented aggregates of the respective clay fractions also shows a high correlation, confirming mutual consistency of the two different mineralogical analysis methods. Such quantitative mineralogical data are significant to a range of coal exploration, mining and utilization activities, including seam correlation, material handling and ash and slag formation in combustion processes.