Comparison of lithium dosage methods for preschool- and early school-age children

BACKGROUND: Allergens produced by mites are one of the principal causes of allergic disease. House dust mites can be found in significant numbers living in textile garments, and therefore development of optimal washing conditions for delicate textiles represents an important aim for domestic mite control. OBJECTIVES: Investigation of methods to eliminate house dust mites from clothing under low temperature washing conditions. METHODS: Domestic house dust mites Dermatophagoides farinae were cultured on garments under favourable conditions. The breeding success was monitored in terms of population and distribution using the free-mite Mobility Test. The mite containing garments were washed at low temperature with different commercial detergents in the presence or absence of a mite control additive containing 0.03% benzyl benzoate, and the numbers of mites surviving the washing process were assessed using the Heat Escape Method. RESULTS: The successful culture of mites in textile garments led to mite numbers of a total of at least 9000 to 10000 mites in 10 garments (Mobility Test). After washing in a domestic washing machine with detergents alone approximately 6000 remaining mites were detected in 10 garment halfs (Heat Escape Method). In contrast, mite control by the application of the same detergents together with an additive achieved a reduction to almost 50 mites. This is an additional reduction in mite numbers of 99.2%. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to achieve mite control in delicate garments by washing at low temperature in the presence of a mite control additive providing a final concentration of 0.03% benzyl benzoate.     

The equine herpesvirus 1 glycoprotein gp21/22a, the herpes simplex virus type 1 gM homolog, is involved in virus penetration and cell-to-cell spread of virions

Experiments to analyze the function of the equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) glycoprotein gM homolog were conducted. To this end, an Rk13 cell line (TCgM) that stably expressed EHV-1 gM was constructed. Proteins with apparent M(r)s of 46,000 to 48,000 and 50,000 to 55,000 were detected in TCgM cells with specific anti-gM antibodies, and the gM protein pattern was indistinguishable from that in cells infected with EHV-1 strain RacL11. A viral mutant (L11deltagM) bearing an Escherichia coli lacZ gene inserted into the EHV-1 strain RacL11 gM gene (open reading frame 52) was purified, and cells infected with L11deltagM did not contain detectable gM. L11deltagM exhibited approximately 100-fold lower titers and a more than 2-fold reduction in plaque size relative to wild-type EHV-1 when grown and titrated on noncomplementing cells. Viral titers were reduced only 10-fold when L11deltagM was grown on the complementing cell line TCgM and titrated on noncomplementing cells. L11deltagM also exhibited slower penetration kinetics compared with those of the parental EHV-1 RacL11. It is concluded that EHV-1 gM plays important roles in the penetration of virus into the target cell and in spread of EHV-1 from cell to cell.     

Effect of steam application based on microbiological and parasitologic test procedures

In the present study steam application was investigated with regard to microbicidal and parasiticidal effects. The cleaning apparatus used (Uninova Company) works at a boiler pressure of about 5 bar and consequently with a temperature up to 155 degrees C inside the boiler. Whereas the ambient atmosphere working temperature of steam is slightly below 100 degrees C. The tests are based on the DVG guidelines for testing chemical disinfectants (2). Different steaming times and distances were used in germ carrier tests with three different germ carriers (tile, wood, carpet) and three different test germs (Staphyloccocus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans) in order to determine the optimum conditions for biocidal effects of steam-application. These optimum conditions were additionally tested with two test viruses (ECBO- and Reo-virus) and a parasitological resting form (ascarid worm eggs). Swirling of germs caused by steam turbulence was minimized by covering the steam outlet nozzle with cloth. The experiments showed logarithmical reduction factors of at least 5.0 in the germ count at steaming times of 5 seconds and a steaming distance of 2.5 cm for all three test germs on all three germ carriers (mean of 10 repeated tests). The virological tests showed good disinfection results after a steaming time of only 2 seconds using aseptic gauze as germ carrier and also after 5 seconds using wood as a carrier. Finally in testing vitality of undeveloped Ascarid worm eggs only 2 seconds of steam treatment proved to be sufficient for a 100 percent destruction. According to the present results steam treatment is most likely to become a valuable, ecologically compatible method in controlling hygienic problems, with a potential of partly replacing chemical disinfectants. In particular we see applications in keeping pets and companion animals, provided the above mentioned rules are followed (steaming distance 2.5 cm; steaming time 5 seconds; cloth). In farm animal stables steam disinfection seems harder to achieve because of large, rough surfaces and economical reasons as e.g. expenditure of time and energy.     

In vitro selection of RNA molecules that displace cocaine from the membrane-bound nicotinic acetylcholine receptor

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) controls signal transmission between cells in the nervous system. Abused drugs such as cocaine inhibit this receptor. Transient kinetic investigations indicate that inhibitors decrease the channel-opening equilibrium constant [Hess, G. P. & Grewer, C. (1998) Methods Enzymol. 291, 443-473]. Can compounds be found that compete with inhibitors for their binding site but do not change the channel-opening equilibrium? The systematic evolution of RNA ligands by exponential enrichment methodology and the AChR in Torpedo californica electroplax membranes were used to find RNAs that can displace inhibitors from the receptor. The selection of RNA ligands was carried out in two consecutive steps: (i) a gel-shift selection of high-affinity ligands bound to the AChR in the electroplax membrane, and (ii) subsequent use of nitrocellulose filters to which both the membrane-bound receptor and RNAs bind strongly, but from which the desired RNA can be displaced from the receptor by a high-affinity AChR inhibitor, phencyclidine. After nine selection rounds, two classes of RNA molecules that bind to the AChR with nanomolar affinities were isolated and sequenced. Both classes of RNA molecules are displaced by phencyclidine and cocaine from their binding site on the AChR. Class I molecules are potent inhibitors of AChR activity in BC3H1 muscle cells, as determined by using the whole-cell current-recording technique. Class II molecules, although competing with AChR inhibitors, do not affect receptor activity in this assay; such compounds or derivatives may be useful for alleviating the toxicity experienced by millions of addicts.     

Economic longitudinal lateral posterior thoracothomy. Minimally invasive option in pulmonary resections

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary resections are usually performed through posterolateral thoracotomy. However this approach has been associated largely with early and late incidence of postoperative morbidity. Several lateral chest approaches have been reported in the medical literature with the objective to decrease morbidity due to thoracotomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of pulmonary resection, performed by means of a minor thoracotomy in the posterior axillary region. METHODS: The skin incision was longitudinal and scapular; shoulder and chest wall muscles were not cut, a subperiosteally lateral portion of rib was removed and the thoracic wall was opened in the rib bed. The approach in this place allowed a smaller skin incision, skin flaps were not necessary and the chest wall opening stayed in a better position in relation to the pulmonary hilum, facilitating the exposition of its anterior and posterior faces. From January 1994 to December 1996 seventy-eight consecutively non-selected patients underwent eighty surgical procedures for several kinds of pulmonary resections. RESULTS: All surgical procedures occurred without difficulties and with a lower number of postoperative complications. A very good aesthetic result was reached. CONCLUSIONS: We believe this chest approach may be a good choice for pulmonary resection.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the alpha and beta subunits of the type I interferon receptor. Interferon-beta selectively induces tyrosine phosphorylation of an alpha subunit-associated protein

We studied the phosphorylation of the alpha and beta subunits of the Type I interferon (IFN) receptor induced by Type I IFNs in the human U-266 and MOLT-4 cell lines. Both IFN-alpha and IFN-beta induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta subunit of the receptor. The Type I IFN-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the beta subunit was rapid and transient, being detectable within 1 min of Type I IFN treatment and gradually diminishing to almost base-line levels by 60 min. All Type I IFNs studied were found to induce tyrosine phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of the Type I IFN receptor, the p135tyk2 and JAK-1 tyrosine kinases, and the ISGF3 alpha components. Interestingly, IFN-beta, but not IFN-alpha or IFN-omega, induced tyrosine phosphorylation of an alpha subunit-associated protein with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 100 kDa (p100). These data suggest the existence of a common signaling pathway(s) for Type I IFNs involving the alpha and beta subunits of the receptor, the tyrosine kinases p135tyk2 and JAK-1, and the ISGF3 alpha components. However, differences between the signaling pathways of different Type I IFNs exist, as suggested by tyrosine phosphorylation of an alpha subunit-associated protein only in response to IFN-beta.     

A talking Prestel terminal

A terminal which allows a blind person to access the British Telecom Videotex service, Prestel, has been developed. Technical aspects of the hardware and software are described in detail. Practical suggestions on the manufacture of the terminal are also disccused.     

Endovascular therapy of carotid cavernous fistulas

The clinical manifestations of carotid cavernous fistulas, regardless of the type, depend on the pattern of venous drainage from the fistula. Venous drainage toward the orbit produces the usual syndrome of proptosis, chemosis, and arterialization of scleral veins. If the venous drainage is toward the brain, the signs and symptoms may not be as apparent, but the risk for catastrophic hemorrhage is much higher. Although many of these lesions may be managed in a conservative fashion, there are indications for urgent treatment to prevent a devastating hemorrhage or loss of vision. Direct carotid cavernous fistulas can usually be managed by transarterial embolization, most commonly with detachable balloons. The transvenous approach is most efficacious for treating indirect carotid cavernous fistulas.