Accuracy of portable chest radiography in the critical care setting. Diagnosis of pneumonia based on quantitative cultures obtained from protected brush catheter

Sixty-six supine portable chest radiographs done on the day of bronchoscopy in 62 critical care unit patients suspected of having pneumonia were examined in a blinded fashion by two radiologists. Quantitative culture results obtained from protected brush catheter (PBC) specimens were compared with chest radiograph scores. For one observer, the sensitivity of the chest radiograph for predicting the presence of positive culture results was 0.60, specificity was 0.29, overall agreement was 0.41, positive predictive value was 0.34, and negative predictive value was 0.55. For the second observer, the values were as follows: sensitivity, 0.64; specificity, 0.27; overall agreement, 0.41; positive predictive value, 0.35; and negative predictive value, 0.55. The kappa statistic was calculated at 0.27 indicating marginal interobserver reproducibility. We conclude the portable chest radiograph in the critical care setting is not accurate in predicting the presence of pneumonia when the diagnosis is based on quantitative cultures obtained from protected brush catheter specimens.     

Native valve infective endocarditis in elderly and younger adult patients: comparison of clinical features and outcomes with use of the Duke criteria and the Duke Endocarditis Database

The effect of age on the presentation and outcome of infective endocarditis (IE) is unclear. Many of the available data are based on analyses of mixed populations of patients including intravenous drug users or those with prosthetic valve endocarditis or native valve IE. We used the Duke criteria to compare the characteristics of 44 episodes of definite native valve IE in elderly patients (> 64 years old) with the characteristics of 64 similarly defined episodes of native valve IE in younger, nonintravenous-drug-using adult patients (> 29 years and < 60 years old). Our data suggest that the clinical presentation, characteristics, and outcome of native valve IE are similar for elderly patients and younger adult patients, although elderly patients were hospitalized an average of 12 days longer. Although we found that the occurrence of renal failure and cerebral embolism during an episode of IE was associated with higher rates of death (odds ratios, 4.8 and 4.0, respectively), age was not a significant contributor to mortality.     

Prediction of postoperative knee flexion in Insall-Burstein II total knee arthroplasty

Postoperative knee flexion in patients undergoing Insall-Burstein-II total knee arthroplasty at 2 years was evaluated regarding two basic questions: what groups of patients gain or lose the most flexion and what groups of patients have the best or worst postoperative flexion. Thirteen preoperative variables (maximum flexion, flexion arc, tibiofemoral angle, quadriceps strength, extensor lag, Knee Society score, Knee Society patient assessment, gender, age, height, weight, diagnosis, and surgeon) and four postoperative variable (leg length change, tibiofemoral angle, distance from patella to the joint line, and the tibial prosthesis anteroposterior translation on a lateral radiograph) were used in an attempt to explain postoperative flexion. The analysis was performed on 164 consecutive Insall-Burstein-II total knees in which the data were gathered prospectively on a time oriented medical record database. A regression tree analysis was used to identify several groups of patients, characterized by preoperative factor values, who had markedly above average performance on postoperative flexion. The preoperative factors identified include preoperative flexion, flexion arc, tibiofemoral angle, extensor lag, diagnosis, and age. The only postoperative variable of significance was tibiofemoral angle. Among the potential determinants of postoperative flexion that failed to appear predictive were the Knee Society scores and surgeon. Preoperative flexion is known to be a critical determinant of postoperative flexion in total knee replacement. However, in the current study, preoperative flexion accounted for only half of the difference between the best (122 degrees) and the worst (88 degrees) group, as determined with regression tree analysis.     

Macrophage formation of angiostatin during inflammation. A byproduct of the activation of plasminogen

Angiostatin is a potent inhibitor of tumor angiogenesis and the growth of metastatic foci. Recent studies have indicated that neoplastic cells can generate angiostatin directly or in cooperation with tumor-associated macrophages. In studies reported here, we determined whether angiostatin is generated in mice under non-neoplastic settings. Utilizing murine RAW264.7 macrophages and thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages, we demonstrate that angiostatin-like fragments are generated as a byproduct of the proteolytic regulation of membrane-bound plasmin. Plasmin proteolysis and subsequent loss in membrane-bound plasmin activity requires active plasmin but was unaffected by inhibitors of metalloproteinases. Lysine binding fragments of plasmin, isolated from macrophage-conditioned media utilizing affinity chromatography, appeared as a major (48 kDa) and two minor bands (42 and 50 kDa) in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and were immunoreactive with anti-kringle 1-3 IgG. Each peptide begins with Lys77 and contains the entire sequence of angiostatin. The affinity isolated plasmin fragments inhibited bFGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation. Lavage fluid recovered from the peritoneal cavities of mice previously injected with thioglycollate contained angiostatin-like plasmin fragments similar to those generated in vitro. This is the first demonstration that angiostatin-like plasmin fragments are generated in a non-neoplastic inflammatory setting. Thus, in addition to regulating pericellular plasmin activity, proteolysis of plasmin generates inactive kringle-containing fragments expressing angiostatic properties.     

RANTES-induced T cell activation correlates with CD3 expression

The chemokine RANTES induces a unique biphasic cytoplasmic Ca2+ signal in T cells. The first phase of this signal, similar to that of other chemokines, is G-protein mediated and chemotaxis associated. The second phase of this signal, unique to RANTES and evident at concentrations greater than 100 nM, is tyrosine kinase linked and results in a spectrum of responses similar to those seen with antigenic stimulation of T cells. We show here that certain jurkat T cells responded to RANTES solely through this latter pathway. A direct correlation between the RANTES-induced second phase response and CD3 expression was demonstrated in these cells. Sorting the Jurkat cells into CD3(high) and CD3(low) populations revealed that only the CD3(high) cells were responsive to RANTES. Furthermore, stimulation of these Jurkat cells with anti-CD3 mAb significantly depresses their subsequent response to RANTES. While a RANTES-specific chemokine receptor is expressed at a low level on these Jurkat cells, the RANTES-induced activation is dependent on the presence of the TCR. Thus, stimulation through TCR may partially account for RANTES' unique pattern of signaling in T cells.     

Fibroblast growth factor-2 and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 mRNA expression and peptide localization in placentae from normal and diabetic pregnancies

Soils developed on serpentine rocks cover a large area in Albania which contains large reserves of iron, nickel, chromium and copper and is characterised by a high density of mines and metal smelters. This work was conducted to study the flora associated with serpentine and former industrial and mining sites in Albania. Eight sites were investigated in the south-eastern, central and northern parts of the country. Soils were sampled in the Ap horizon and plants were collected and identified. Plant material was allowed to dry before being ground. Soil and plant samples were analysed for total Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Ni, Pb and Zn. Results showed that each site exhibited a high concentration of one or more metals. The maximum concentrations of metals in soils dry matter (DM) were 14 mg Cd kg-1, 476 mg Co kg-1, 3865 mg Cr kg-1, 1107 mg Cu kg-1, 3579 mg Ni kg-1, 172 mg Pb kg-1 and 2495 mg Zn kg-1. The Mg/Ca ratio in serpentine soils varied from 1 to 7.8. A collection of 58 plant species, members of 44 genera and 17 families, were collected. Alyssum markgrafii in the north and Alyssum murale in the south-eastern serpentines had a concentration of 1.26 and 0.85% Ni in DM, respectively. In the species Herniaria hirsuta, a serpentine plant, concentrations of 808 mg Ni kg-1 and 275 mg Cr kg-1 in DM were recorded. Other taxa (Filago, Inula, Picris, Galamintha, Marrubium, Teucrium, Lotus, Ononis and Xeranthemum) from serpentines had a high, but not exceptional Ni content. Some species collected on serpentines and industrial sites presented rather high concentrations of lead or copper in their above-ground parts, probably related to contamination by soil dust.