Crop improvement and disease suppression by a Bacillus spp. SR2 from pea nut rhizosphere

An antibiotic producing Bacillus strain SR2, isolated from pea nut rhizosphere, showed in vitro antibiosis against many known plant pathogens. Seed bacterization with this strain showed an enhancement in seed germination, shoot height, root length, fresh and dry weights in four crop plants. A multiple drug resistant strain, SR2+, used to monitor root colonization confirmed the root colonization by the organism. Seed bacterization, reduced the number of chick pea wilted plants in wilt-sick soil, making the organism a potential bio-control agent against chick pea wilt.     

An ultrastructural study of the phagocytosis of Burkholderia pseudomallei

Burkholderia pseudomallei causes melioidosis and is believed to be an intracellular pathogen in human and animal disease. The uptake of B. pseudomallei by mouse peritoneal macrophages and cells in tissue culture was examined by electron microscopy. In all the systems studied B. pseudomallei were phagocytosed and apparently inhibited the normal processes of intracellular killing. Destruction of the phagosome membrane occurred and the bacteria escaped into the cytoplasm.     

Thyroid palpation versus high-resolution thyroid ultrasonography in the detection of nodules

Detection of thyroid nodules by physical examination and high-resolution ultrasonography was compared using small groups of blinded, experienced physician examiners working with a sample of 2441 persons from Estonia, most of whom were Chernobyl nuclear reactor clean-up workers. A random subsample of 113 (5%) persons was subjected to triple control examinations with both physical examination and high-resolution ultrasonography. Positive high-resolution ultrasonographic findings were considerably more reproducible among different observers than were positive physical examination findings. Agreement between methods was poor. Nodules were found in 169 (6.9%) subjects by physical examination and in 249 (10.2%) subjects by high-resolution ultrasonography. Physical examination found only 53 (21%) of the 249 nodules found by high-resolution ultrasonography. High-resolution ultrasonography did not confirm the existence of 115 (68%) of the 169 nodules found by physical examination. Only 6.4% of nodules less than 0.5 cm in diameter, as based on high-resolution ultrasonographic results, were detected by physical examination. Physical examination detection improved with increasing nodule size but was still only 48.2% for nodules larger than 2 cm. Physical examination was relatively effective in detecting nodules in the isthmus of the thyroid gland but much less so for nodules in the upper pole of the gland. Clinical evaluation and epidemiologic studies of nodular thyroid disease stand to benefit from the greater sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonographic examinations.     

Differences in the management of inflammatory bowel disease in children and adolescents compared to adults

Managing IBD in children and adolescents requires attention to issues unique to these age groups. The spectrum of presenting signs and symptoms is broad and often, subtle. Physician awareness of intestinal and extra-intestinal features prompts earlier diagnosis and intervention. The focus of treatment is not limited to intestinal symptoms, but also involves assessing weight and height gains, sexual maturation, extra-intestinal manifestations and psychosocial well-being. Differences in selecting drugs for pediatric versus adult patients are based on: 1. lack of prospective trials establishing effective doses for different ages; 2. inability to swallow capsules; 3. importance of nutrition in promoting growth; 4. paucity of data regarding the long-term safety of medications; 5. untoward cosmetic effects of corticosteroids, and 6. the need to develop coping mechanisms for a chronic illness. While sulfasalazine and mesalamine are useful in mild disease, corticosteroids are necessary for moderate and severe disease. Metronidazole and ciprofloxacin are effective in perianal CD. Elemental and polymeric formulas induce and maintain remission in active CD and reverse growth failure. Immunomodulatory agents (azathioprine and 6-mercaptopurine) enable physicians to reduce steroids and hospitalization. In practice, combination therapy is recommended to control symptoms and limit drug-induced side effects.     

Lactic acid production from molasses by Sporolactobacillus cellulosolvens

Sporolactobacillus cellulosolvens (NCIMB 12173) isolated from an anaerobic digester and characterised biochemically is being reported for homofermentative lactic acid production from molasses in a batch culture. The effect of various process parameters on lactic acid production were optimized. A maximum lactic acid (24.2 g/l) and yield coefficient (0.79) was achieved using 3% (v/v) inoculum of 36 h old culture in molasses medium containing sugars (5%; w/v) supplemented with peptone (2.5 g/l) and (NH4)2SO4 (7.5 g/l), pH 6.5 at 40 degrees C after 72 h of fermentation.     

Ganciclovir treatment of active hepatitis B virus infection in a heart transplant patient

We report a 51-year-old woman with alopecia caused by sarcoidosis. The lesion enlarged within 4 years and only repeated biopsies enabled the diagnosis. The medical work-up revealed that the patient had asymptomatic pulmonary involvement. Scarring alopecia is a rare complication of sarcoidosis and biopsy from the active margin may lead to the diagnosis.     

Different expression patterns of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in breast cancer

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in activation of cGMP is well established. It has been proposed that the ratio of cAMP to cGMP may be important in the regulation of preimplantation embryonic growth and differentiation. Therefore, we determined the ability of murine preimplantation embryos to produce NO. In addition, NO as an endogenous smooth muscle relaxant and vasodilator is a candidate for involvement in embryo implantation because this process requires increased vascular permeability and uterine quiescence at the sites of blastocyst apposition. Nitrite assays, an indirect measure of NO production, indicate that preimplantation murine embryos produce NO. This production was reversibly inhibited by culture of embryos in medium containing a nonspecific NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor (NG-nitro-L-arginine). Additionally, inhibition of normal development was observed in embryos cultured with NOS inhibitor. NO levels increased in culture medium when ovariectomized progesterone-treated animals were exposed to estrogen for 1 h in utero. Such hormonal treatment induces implantation. These data indicate that NO levels are regulated by estrogen and may be important in regulation of implantation. In addition, these data demonstrate for the first time that NO production appears to be required for normal embryonic development.     

Effect of anticoagulant therapy on the hypercoagulable state in patients carrying the factor V Arg506Gln mutation

The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), created by the 1986 Health Care Quality Improvement Act, has been in operation since 1990. Hospitals and other credentialing bodies must query the NPDB when granting and renewing privileges. The NPDB receives about 25,000 reports of adverse actions against health practitioners each year. The NPDB was designed to be a flagging system providing information to licensing or credentialing authorities who would further examine practitioner records. Its purpose is to ensure that decision makers have information that might not otherwise be readily available, especially in the case of incompetent practitioners who move from hospital to hospital or state to state. Access to NPDB information is a concern for consumers and providers alike. Only 2% of matched reports to the NPDB made a difference in hospital privileging decisions. A limitation of NPDB information is that malpractice payments recorded in the NPDB do not necessarily constitute a comprehensive and definitive reflection of actual health care incompetence. All health care providers need to be aware of the NPDB, its mission, potential impact on their ability to be credentialed, and proposed additional uses of its information.