Partial characterization of the cohemolytic factor produced by Streptococcus uberis and comparison with the CAMP-factor

Exosubstances (cohemolysins) produced by Streptococcus agalactiae (CAMP-factor) and Streptococcus uberis (Uberis-factor) showing hemolytic synergism with beta-lysin produced by Staphylococcus aureus were compared. Cohemolytic activity was evaluated in the supernatants of bacterial cultures, before and after ammonium sulfate precipitation. Sheep erythrocytes sensitized with beta-lysin were used as substrate. The assays were performed in microtiter plates and results were expressed as cohemolytic units/ml. Maximum cohemolytic activity was detected, respectively, after 8 h and 14 h of growth in Columbia broth in S. uberis and S. agalactiae cultures. Cohemolytic activities of both microorganisms showed similarities when submitted to various physical and chemical treatments. They were significantly decreased by heating at 60 degrees C and 100 degrees C, or in presence of trypsin, and were abolished in the presence of Tween 20. Activities were found to be stable in crude supernatants and concentrated preparations maintained at -20 degrees C for 3 months. Differences were related to levels of activity and kinetics of detection during the growth cycle. The results indicate the proteic nature, at least in part, of the Uberis factor. Analysis by PAGE in the presence or absence of SDS allowed us to correlate Uberis activity with a protein band with apparent molecular mass of 42 kDa, while CAMP activity was associated with a protein band of 27 kDa.     

Severe pyruvate kinase deficiency anemia. A case report

BACKGROUND: Pyruvate kinase deficiency is a rare cause of hemolytic anemia and, in its most severe form, requires splenectomy in childhood. During pregnancy, severe cases have been traditionally managed with prophylactic blood transfusions to keep the hemoglobin concentration above arbitrary thresholds of 7-8 g/dL. CASE: A case of severe pyruvate kinase deficiency anemia was managed conservatively without blood transfusions even though the hemoglobin concentration reached a nadir of 6.8 g/dL. The perinatal outcome was good. CONCLUSION: In cases of severe pyruvate kinase deficiency anemia, pregnancy per se might not be an indication for prophylactic blood transfusions.     

45Ca exchange in rat cortex slices in conditions of long-term potentiation

OBJECTIVE: An attempt was made to find out how many operations were performed in Europe in 1995 for congenital heart disease. METHODS: Representatives from the 20 most active European countries which could supply reliable information were contacted. They were asked to contact all surgeons performing significant numbers of operations for congenital heart disease in their country. The numbers of operations on children under and over 1 year operated on with and without cardiopulmonary bypass were collected. No attempt was made to collect more detailed information such as operative mortality as it was felt that many surgeons would be reluctant to give their results and the data would be incomplete. RESULTS: A total of 27,976 operations were recorded, of which 20,318 were performed with cardiopulmonary bypass and 7658 without. The total population of the 20 European countries was 448 million and the mean number of operations performed with cardiopulmonary bypass per million was 45.4. However, the rate varied from 9.1 to 70.1. The percentage of operations on cardiopulmonary bypass performed in the first year of life varied from 9.4% to 44.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The total of nearly 28,000 operations in 1995 is probably an underestimate, but it has been difficult to collect this data at all. Obviously many smaller countries have not been included, and some older patients undergoing operations such as atrial septal defect closure in adult units have been missed. The number of open heart operations per million vary in different countries and this presumably represents differing referral patterns. If their numbers are low in some countries, these results may be helpful in persuading their governments that more resources are needed for congenital heart surgery. It is also interesting to see the variation in the number of operations performed in the first year of life. Those countries with a lower rate may have a backlog of older patients who were previously palliated, or their surgeons may still prefer initial palliation and later correction in some conditions rather than early correction. It is hoped that with better prospective data collection, an assessment can be repeated in 2000.     

Treatment options for chronic prostatitis due to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium

Prostatitis due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci has not been previously described. Reported here is a case of chronic prostatitis due to Enterococcus faecium, resistant to vancomycin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and doxycycline, in a 42-year-old liver transplant recipient. Treatment with a combination of rifampin and nitrofurantoin for 6 weeks resulted in long-lasting cure. Other antimicrobial agents active in vitro against vancomycin-resistant enterococci, such as quinupristin/ dalfopristin and chloramphenicol, are unlikely to achieve sufficient prostatic tissue levels to be successfully utilized for treatment of this condition.     

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of topical cyclosporin A in steroid-dependent atopic keratoconjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of topical cyclosporin A (CsA) 2% in maize oil as a steroid-sparing agent in steroid-dependent atopic keratoconjunctivitis. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-one patients with steroid-dependent atopic keratoconjunctivitis were studied. INTERVENTION: Patients used either topical CsA or vehicle four times daily for 3 months in addition to their usual therapy, and the clinical response was used to taper or stop topical steroids when possible. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Steroid drop usage per week, ability to cease steroid use, scores for symptoms and clinical signs, drop side effects, and overall subjective rating of trial drop by patients and clinician were measured. RESULTS: Cyclosporin A had a greater steroid-sparing effect than did placebo. Nine of 12 CsA patients ceased steroids compared to 1 of 9 placebo patients (P = 0.01), the final steroid use was lower in the CsA group (2.6 +/- 1.4 vs. 27.7 +/- 17.7, P = 0.005), and the mean reduction in steroid use was greater for CsA (85.5 +/- 14.7 vs. 13.9 +/- 16.0, P = 0.005). Clinical signs and symptom scores were reduced to a greater level for CsA. Serious side effects were lid skin maceration in one patient using CsA and an allergic reaction in one placebo patient. Marked blurring of vision after drop instillation was common in both groups, but intense stinging was more common in CsA patients (9/12 vs. 1/9, P = 0.01), limiting frequency of drop use. The clinician rated the trial drops as good or excellent more frequently for CsA (11/12 vs. 0/9, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Topical CsA is an effective and safe steroid-sparing agent in atopic keratoconjunctivitis and, despite difficulties in patient tolerance, also improves symptoms and signs.     

Development of an exostosis following a free gingival graft: case report

A new, field-adapted, colorimetric method for detecting sulfonamide drugs in urine is described. The method uses the color reagent, p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde, and has a detection limit of about 1 microgram/ml. Analysis of 35 samples collected in the field, comparing results obtained with the colorimetric field test with those obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography, indicated a calculated sensitivity value of 94% and a specificity value of 94% for the test to detect the presence of sulfonamides. The field test can be modified to allow quantitation of sulfonamides in urine in field situations, using a hand-held, portable photometer for measuring the absorbance of test solutions. For this test, calculated coefficients of variation for day to day reproducibility were < or = 5% at sulfonamide concentrations > or = 3 micrograms/ml. This new test for detecting the presence of sulfonamides in urine is more sensitive and reliable than the presently used Bratton-Marshall test.     

Modification of T-cell activation marker expression by peripheral blood lymphocytes of persons living in radiation polluted territories

Investigation to effect of low radiation doses in the T-cells activation surface markers expression of resident in 4 radiation zone around Chernobyl. Was observed the increase cells level, which CD4+CD25+ and CD4+HLA-DR(+)-cells markers expression. Were revealed the increase of the apoptosis related CD4+CD+ cells level in peripheral blood.     

Determination of ceftiofur and its desfuroylceftiofur-related metabolites in swine tissues by high-performance liquid chromatography

2- and 4-Nitrophenyl beta-D-xylopyranosides (4 and 5) were transformed, via dibutyltin oxidemediated acylation, into the corresponding 2,3-di-O-benzoyl derivatives 11 and 15. Xylobiose and xylotriose were easily isolated by charcoal column chromatography from a commercially available material and converted into the di- and trisaccharide methyl 1-thio-beta-glycosides 36 and 37. The 2-and 4-nitrophenyl beta-glycosides of the beta-(1-->4)-D-xylo-oligosaccharides of dp 2-4 were synthesized by N-iodosuccinimide-silver triflate-promoted condensation using 11 and 15 as the glycosyl acceptors and ethyl 1-thio-beta-D-xylopyranoside triacetate 16, 36, and 37 as the glycosyl donors. Also described are an improved preparation of 4 and 5, and the synthesis of 1-naphthyl beta-D-xylopyranoside, as well as an alternative approach to the 2- and 4-nitrophenyl beta-xylobiosides.