Degradation of the antibiotics norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin by a white-rot fungus and identification of degradation products

More than 90% of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) and norfloxacin (NOR) at 2 mg L(-1) were degraded by Trametes versicolor after 7 days of incubation in malt extract liquid medium. In in vitro assays with purified laccase (16.7 nkat mL(-1)), an extracellular enzyme excreted constitutively by this fungus, 16% of CIPRO was removed after 20 h. The addition of the laccase mediator 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt led to 97.7% and 33.7% degradation of CIPRO and NOR, respectively. Inhibition of CIPRO and NOR degradation by the cytochrome P450 inhibitor 1-aminobenzotriazole suggests that the P450 system also plays a role in the degradation of the two antibiotics. Transformation products of CIPRO and NOR were monitored at different incubation times by triple-quadrupole and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and can be assigned to three different reaction pathways: (i) oxidation of the piperazinyl substituent, (ii) monohydroxylation, and (iii) formation of dimeric products.

Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Visna/Maedi virus in semi-intensive lamb-producing flocks in northwestern Spain

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine Visna/Maedi virus (VMV) seroprevalence and risk factors in semi-intensive lamb-producing flocks as a prelude to establishing a monitoring program in northwestern (NW) Spain. A total of 15,155 serum samples were taken from 78 commercial flocks and were submitted to an indirect VMV ELISA. Association between potential risk factors and seroprevalence at the flock level was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model. A Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) model and Exhaustive Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) were used to determine the seropositivity against VMV at the individual animal level. Individual seropositivity was 24.8% while 52.6% of the flocks examined had a true seroprevalence ≥1%. Flock size and introduction of new animals in the flock were significantly associated with seropositivity at the flock level. Flock size, sheep-goat contact, type of housing of lambs prior to weaning and age were significantly associated with individual VMV seropositivity. Confinement of lambs in preweaning lamb groups and high sheep-goat contact, regardless of the low number of goats per flock, were risk factors associated with individual VMV seropositivity, suggesting that these two factors are crucial for VMV control in semi-intensive lamb-producing flocks. These factors should be considered for developing more efficient strategies that will reduce the rate of VMV transmission.

Fetal gender determination by first-trimester ultrasound in dairy cows under routine herd management in Northwest Spain

Ultrasonography (US) provides detailed visualization of the fetus in early pregnancy in cows, thus allowing for fetal sex determination. The objective of this prospective observational study was to determine the feasibility and accuracy of a single US examination to diagnose fetal sex in dairy cattle under routine reproductive management conditions. For this purpose, 953 Holstein cows at 7-16 weeks of gestation were examined. Gender assignment was performed in 822 cows, while the genitalia could not be clearly visualized in 131 (13.7%) of the fetuses. After calving, it was verified that 99.3% of the diagnoses were accurate. Fetal sex was correctly determined by US in 99.5% of male fetuses and 98.8% of female fetuses. Fetal sex determination was less accurate when conducted before d 55 of gestation. Likewise, it was verified that fetal sex, cow age and ultrasonographic diagnosis section did not have a significant influence (P>0.05) on diagnostic accuracy. With respect to the plane used for diagnosis, the sagittal view was poorly used for early pregnancy diagnosis, whereas the longitudinal and cross-sectional planes were used most frequently. These results demonstrate that US can be routinely applied under farm conditions to accurately determine the fetal sex in cattle between days 51 and 111 of gestation without apparent influence of cow age, US scanning plane or fetal sex. Conversely, days of gestation affected the accuracy and feasibility of US gender determination, showing poorer results when the diagnosis was made before day 55 of gestation.

Evidence for major emissions of PCBs in the west African region

In previous studies unexpectedly high air concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were observed in ship-based measurements made ∼400 km off parts of the West African coast. To investigate further (i) samples were taken on board the RV Polarstern during a cruise from Germany to South Africa in October-November 2007; (ii) samples were obtained on Cape Verde Island during the same period to monitor airflows from Africa; and (iii) passive samplers were deployed in four West African countries to try to characterize potential sources on land. Results were as follows: on Cape Verde and on the ship air masses came predominantly (∼ 95%) from the African continent; the shipboard Σ29PCB concentrations off West Africa ranged from 10 to 360 pg m(-3) and from 6 to 99 pg m(-3) in Cape Verde; the highest land-based concentrations were observed in Ivory Coast and the Gambia (up to 300 pg m(-3)) and the lowest was observed in Ghana (9 pg m(-3)). Taken together, these and previous studies indicate there are more major emission(s) of PCBs and different source types in parts of West Africa than accounted for in current global atmospheric emissions estimates. Results from the FLEXPART model and PAH measurements show that emission inventories and biomass burning cannot fully explain the high PCB concentrations. Potential sources of the high PCB levels to the African regions are discussed, namely illegal dumping of PCB containing waste with release via volatilization and uncontrolled burning, and the storage and breakup of old ships.

[Prostate specific antigen and NF-kB in prostatic disease: relation with malignancy]

INTRODUCTION

NF-kB (p50/p65) is a transcription factor involved in TNF-α-induced cell death resistance by promoting several antiapoptotic genes. We intend to relate the expression of NF-kB (p50 and p65) with serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), both in normal males and in those with pathologic conditions of the prostate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

this study was carried out in 5 normal, 24 benign prostatic hyperplastic (BPH) and 19 patients with prostate cancer (PC). Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were performed on tissue and serum PSA was assayed by PSA DPC Immulite assays (Diagnostics Products Corporation, Los Angeles, CA).

RESULTS

in controls, p65 NF-kB was not found and p50 was scantly detected in 60% normal samples in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Both p50 and p65 were expressed in 62.5% of the samples with BPH and in 63.2% of those with PC. Both increased its frequency of expression with higher PSA serum levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Activation of NF-kB revealed by its nuclear translocation in prostate cancer could be related to cancer progression and elevated seric PSA levels. A better understanding of the biologic mechanism by which circulating PSA levels increase and its relation with NF-kB expression is needed. Possibly, NF-kB blockage could be used as a therapeutic target to counteract proliferation in prostate cancer.

[Invasive basal cell carcinoma of the scalp. A clinical case]

Basal cell carcinoma is the most frequent skin malignant neoplasm, although it doesn't usually compromise a vital risk. However, there are cases in which their local aggressiveness is very important, and it get deep structures. We present a 62 years old female operated several times because multifocal basal cell carcinoma on her scalp. She consulted with a wide local recidive affecting dura mater and superior sagittal sinus. We show the clinical case and the surgical treatment employed realized by Plastic and Neurosurgery Departments.

Ultrasonic-assisted derivatization of estrogenic compounds in a cup horn booster and determination by GC-MS

Cup horn boosters are miniaturized ultrasound baths that maximize efficiency and precision. The optimization of an ultrasonic-assisted derivatization step by means of a cup horn booster and the determination of estrone, 17beta-estradiol, estriol, 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol and mestranol was developed by GC-MS. Different derivatization reagents and solvents were studied for maximizing the di-derivatization of 17alpha-ethynyl estradiol under ultrasound energy. Only N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% of trimethylchlorosilane in pyridine gave satisfactory results and this mixture was further used in the optimization of the ultrasound assisted derivatization. The experiment designs included sonication time (1-10 min), sonication power (20-80%), sonication cycles (1-9), derivatization reagent volume (25-125 microL) and solvent volume (25-125 microL). Once the optimum conditions were fixed, the effect of organic matter and the frequency of the water bath change were studied. Finally, the validation of the analytical method was carried out using spiked natural and synthetic waters. Recoveries (natural (138-70%) and synthetic (112-89%)), the LODs (0.35-1.66 ng/L), and LOQs (1.16-5.52 ng/L) and the precision (0.2-5.3%) of the method were studied. This is the first work in the literature where a cup horn booster is used with the aim of minimizing derivatization time during the determination of estrogenic compounds.

Recurrent anaphylaxis due to lupin flour: primary sensitization through inhalation

Allergic reactions to lupin have increased in parallel with the growing use of lupin flour by food manufacturers. We studied a patient with recurrent anaphylaxis to manufactured foods and a history of rhinitis-asthma related to lupin inhalation and legume tolerance. Skin prick tests with airborne and food allergens, specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E determinations, and an inhalation exposure test to ground lupin were carried out. Lupin allergens and cross-reactivity with other legumes were also studied using sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting/immunoblotting inhibition. The skin tests and specific IgE were positive for lupin and vetchling and negative for other legumes. The presence of lupin flour in the implicated foods was confirmed. Immunoblotting showed multiple IgE-binding bands (10-40 kDa) for lupin and vetchling but not for peanut, pea, or soy extracts. Immunoblotting inhibition demonstrated intense lupin-vetchling cross-reactivity. We present a case of recurrent anaphylaxis due to lupin flour as a hidden food allergen with primary sensitization due to exposure to ground lupin via inhalation. We found cross-reactivity between lupin and vetchling but not other legumes.

Involvement of lipid transfer proteins in saffron hypersensitivity: molecular cloning of the potential allergens

BACKGROUND

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are relevant allergens, and have recently been proposed as model plant allergens from fruit, vegetables, seeds, and pollens. However, no LTP spice allergen has been characterized to date.

OBJECTIVES

To identify and isolate saffron LTPs and to explore their relevance in saffron allergy.

METHODS

Six patients with rhinitis and positive skin prick test (SPT) results to saffron extract were selected. Two recombinant LTPs from saffron were isolated, cloned into pPIC9 plasmid, and produced in Pichia pastoris. Immunoglobulin (Ig) E immunodetection and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed with the 2 purified allergens and with the major peach allergen Pru p 3.

RESULTS

Full cDNA corresponding to 2 saffron LTP variants was isolated and expressed in P pastoris. The molecular weight of rCro s 3.01 and rCro s 3.02 was 9.15 kDa and 9.55 kDa, respectively. The sequences obtained had a 47% identity with each other and 51% and 43% with Pru p 3. Both proteins were recognized by anti-Pru p 3 antibodies. Specific IgE to the purified allergens was found in 50% of patients for rCro s 3.01 and 33% for rCro s 3.02 and Pru p 3 in the saffron-allergic patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that rCro s 3.01 and rCro s 3.02 are minor allergens of saffron, at least in the study patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the implication of LTPs in spice allergy.