Determination of polyamines in organic extracts from roots of Canavalia ensiformis by capillary electrophoresis

A rapid, selective and specific capillary zone electrophoresis method to determine polyamines in organic extracts from roots of Canavalia ensiformis (Jack Beans) was developed using ultra violet (UV) detection. Canavalia ensiformis is relatively free from diseases and it is used as reference in allelopathy studies. Polyamines are widely distributed in plant and it could be involved in plant pathogen interactions. Optimal separation was achieved using 15 mmol L(-1)formic acid (pH 3.0) + 4 mmol L(-1) imidazole as a background electrolyte. It was possible to identify and quantify the polyamines on herbal samples in the presence of other phytochemical substances and analyze them quickly (up to 6 min). The applicability of this method was evaluated in crude organic extracts from roots of Canavalia ensiformis.

Method for bacteriophage isolation against target Campylobacter strains

AIMS

Poultry meat is considered a major source of Campylobacter. This micro-aerobic bacterium is commonly responsible for foodborne illness. This work focuses on the isolation of Campylobacter coli lytic bacteriophages (phages) against target C. coli strains.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A method involving the enrichment of free-range chicken samples in a broth containing the target C. coli strains and salts (CaCl(2) and MgSO(4)) was used for phage isolation. This method allowed the isolation of 43 phages that were active against 83% of the C. coli strains used in the isolation procedure. Approximately 65% of the phages were also effective against Campylobacter jejuni strains.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of target pathogens in the phage isolation step improves the likelihood of detecting and isolating phages for the control of these specific strains.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This technique will be valuable in the context of phage therapy for enriching for phages that are active against specifically identified strains of bacteria, for example from a food poisoning outbreak or epidemic strains resistant to multiple antibiotics. In these situations, using the conventional methods for searching for bacteriophages active for these particular strains can be a time-consuming, if not an unsuccessful process. Using the isolation method described in this manuscript, the particular strains can be added to the enrichment broth increasing the probability of finding phages against them. Therefore, it will shorten the time needed for seeking phages able to lyse target strains, which in most of the cases, because of the rapid increase in antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, is of crucial importance.

Salmonella Enteritidis bacteriophage candidates for phage therapy of poultry

AIMS

Salmonella is a worldwide foodborne pathogen causing acute enteric infections in humans. In the recent years, the use of bacteriophages has been suggested as a possible tool to combat this zoonotic pathogen in poultry farms. This work aims to isolate and perform comparative studies of a group of phages active against a collection of specific Salmonella Enteritidis strains from Portugal and England. Also, suitable phage candidates for therapy of poultry will be selected.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The Salm. Enteritidis strains studied were shown to have a significantly high occurrence of defective (cryptic) prophages; however, no live phages were found in the strains. Bacteriophages isolated from different environments lysed all except one of the tested Salm. Enteritidis strains. The bacteriophages studied were divided into different groups according to their genetic homology, RFLP profiles and phenotypic features, and most of them showed no DNA homology with the bacterial hosts. The bacteriophage lytic efficacy proved to be highly dependent on the propagation host strain.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the evidences shown in this work that the Salm. Enteritidis strains used did not produce viable phages, we have confirmed that some phages, when grown on particular hosts, behaved as complexes of phages. This is most likely because of the presence of inactive phage-related genomes (or their parts) in the bacterial strains which are capable of being reactivated or which can recombine with lytic phages. Furthermore, changes of the bacterial hosts used for maintenance of phages must be avoided as these can drastically modify the parameters of the phage preparations, including host range and lytic activity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This work shows that the optimal host and growth conditions must be carefully studied and selected for the production of each bacteriophage candidate for animal therapy.

[Stroke-psychosis. Description of two cases]

INTRODUCTION

The presence of neuropsychiatry symptoms (hallucinations, delusions and agitation) as stroke-related guideline symptoms, thus forming an acute psychosis of organic cause, are extremely uncommon and often correlate with strategic infarcts (caudate nucleus, striatum and thalamus).

CLINICAL CASE

We report two cases of stroke-psychosis. Case 1. A 67-year-old man with sudden-onset delusions of persecution and complete recovery in three months. The brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed infarctions in both head of the caudate nucleus and body of right caudate nucleus. Case 2. A 49-year old man with sudden-onset delusions of persecution and gustative hallucinations that disappeared in three months. The brain MRI revealed small infarction in the left thalamus.

DISCUSSION

The possible vascular origin of the psychosis in both cases (sudden onset, complete recover, demonstration of acute ischemic lesion in strategic territory) and the underlying psychopathogenic mechanism (dysfunction of prefrontal cortico-subcortical circuits) is discussed.

N-(2-Furo-yl)-N'-(2-pyrid-yl)thio-urea

The title compound, C(11)H(9)N(3)O(2)S, crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit. The central thio-urea core makes dihedral angles of -3.3 (3) and 0.6 (3)° with the furan carbonyl groups in each mol-ecule, whereas the pyridine ring is inclined by 4.63 (2) and 11.28 (7)°, respectively. The trans-cis geometry of the thio-urea fragment is stabilized by an intra-molecular N-H⋯N hydrogen bond between the H atom of the cis-thio-amide group and the pyridine N atom. In the crystal structure, inter-molecular bifurcated N-H⋯S and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds form centrosymmetric tetra-mers extending along the b axis.

Men attending a breast cancer risk evaluation clinic

Abstract #1103

Background- Counselling for hereditary breast cancer risk has been mostly directed to women and their female counterparts. However, BRCA1/2 male carriers are at risk for several cancers and their motivation for counselling and follow up is mostly unknown.
 Material and methods- Review of individual and family records from all male pts counseled in our clinic from Jan2001-Dec2007.
 Results: eighty one male pts were counseled, 32 previously affected with cancer (mean age 61yrs) and 49 healthy men (mean 41 yrs). Mostly, all affected pts were refered to or invited to as probands for BRCA2 screenning. All but 2 of these accepted screening after counseling, being the concern with their offspring the main motivation for testing. With 3 exceptions all unaffected men were unvited for counselling due to the identification of BRCA2 mutations in their families: 6/49 refused or postponed genetic testing after counselling (mean age 39 yrs). All male BRCA carriers (total of 32) are BRCA2 positive: 12 index probands affected with Breast (10 cases, 3 bilateral) or prostate cancer ( 2 cases) and 20 healthy carriers under increased surveillance (yearly observations at the Breast Clinic + Dermatology and Urology). Psychosocial support is also available but only one male BRCA2 carrier, a prostate cancer survivor with previous depressive symptons, has this support regularly.
 Male carriers did adhere to increased surveillance and 5 neoplasias were diagnosed in 4 BRCA2 male breast cancer survivors: 3 cases of asymptomatic prostate cancer (Gleasons 9, 7 and 6 respectivly) 1 case of contralateral breast cancer and 1 case of gastric cancer. All 4 pts are alive without evidence of disease, after appropriate treatment. Conclusions: men belonging to BRCA families are at risk for several cancers and seem to adhere to genetic testing and surveillance. Guidelines for hereditary breast cancer management should be comphreensive and include orientations to counsell male individuals at risk.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 1103.

Determinação do perfil protéico da membrana externa da Leptospira interrogans sorovariedade Hardjoprajitno

Estudou-se o perfil das proteínas da membrana externa (PME) da Leptospira interrogans sorovariedade Hardjoprajitno por meio da eletroforese bidimensional. Foram utilizadas técnicas de extração das PME com Triton x114 e precipitação com acetona. Os géis foram corados com nitrato de prata e as imagens analisadas para determinação da massa molecular das proteínas detectadas. Foram visualizadas 35 bandas protéicas, sendo que cinco delas se destacaram por estarem em maior quantidade: 22,54KDa (LipL22), 30/26KDa (LipL32), 34,41KDa (PME34), 42,75KDa (LipL41) e 58,59KDa (LipL63).

Relationship between thyroid-stimulating hormone and insulin in euthyroid obese men

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Obesity has been associated with hypothyroidism and impaired insulin sensitivity. However, few studies have specifically addressed the association between insulin sensitivity and thyroid function. Our aim was to look for a relation between these 2 factors in a sample of obese males.

METHODS

One hundred and forty-four euthyroid male obese patients--mean age 42.6 years, mean body mass index (BMI) 41.8--were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The hospital study protocol at entrance included baseline serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), insulin and glucose concentrations. Data were studied using an age-adjusted simple and multivariate linear regression analysis with TSH as the dependent and insulin and BMI as the independent variables.

RESULTS

Mean TSH and insulin were 1.6 and 21.2 mU/l, respectively. It was found that their relationship follows a regression model: TSH=1.725-0.019 (age) + 0.003 (insulin) + 0.017 (BMI). Further data showed a positive correlation between BMI and TSH (r= 0.22; p<0.05), as well as between serum baseline insulin (>10 mU/l) and TSH concentration (r=0.27; p<0.05). This association was stronger in patients with higher insulin values (>21.2 mU/l; r=0.40; p<0.01). However, negative correlations between age and insulin (r= -0.14; not significant) and age and TSH (r= -0.35; p<0.05) were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In obese males, insulin resistance is significantly related with impairment of thyroid function, and this situation seems to be attenuated with age.

[Focal presentation of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy: first manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection]

INTRODUCTION

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a subacute demyelinating disorder of central nervous system caused by an opportunistic papovavirus infection of oligodendroglial cells, the JC virus. This virus remains latent in the human host. Their antibodies are detectable in 70% of healthy adult subjects. It is reactivated by different diseases and medical therapies impairing cellular immunity.

CLINICAL CASE

A 35 year-old man, smoker, allergic to penicillin and derivatives, with a history of endovenous drug abuse, was admitted to Neurology Department due to a progressive left facial palsy and hand weakness. An alteration in the cellular immune ratio (CD4/CD8 0.07) and a positive human immunodeficiency virus serology were demonstrated. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was started. A unique wide hyperintense subcortical right temporoparietal lobe lesion was shown by a cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), suggesting a differential diagnosis between PLM and low grade glial tumor. Cerebrospinal fluid study was normal and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was negative for JC virus. A steroataxic cerebral biopsy was made in order to establish a correct diagnosis due to patient's age and the good response to treatment. The pathology study showed changes suggestive of PLM and a positive-PCR test for JC virus.

DISCUSSION

We report this case to suggest that inva- sive diagnosis methods may be useful to differentiate between PLM and low grade glial tumors and to establish a correct prognosis. HAART is becoming a good treatment option because it seems to make long term survival longer, as is the case of this patient who is practically asymptomatic after more than 2 years of evolution.

Chronic bronchitis and acute infections as new risk factors for ischemic stroke and the lack of protection offered by the influenza vaccination

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Acute and chronic infections may play a role in promoting complications of atherosclerotic disease. We evaluated the importance of acute infections and chronic bronchitis (CB; as a chronic inflammatory state) in several subtypes of ischemic stroke, and we investigated whether the influenza vaccination was independently associated with a reduced likelihood of stroke.

METHODS

A case-control study was performed on 393 consecutive ischemic stroke patients and 393 control subjects matched for age, sex and time of year. Data were collected by a structured interview that assessed risk factors, acute infections within the preceding 2 months, CB and whether they had received the influenza vaccination.

RESULTS

Infections within the 2 months before stroke onset and CB were more common among patients than control subjects [23.3 vs. 16.3% (p = 0.014) and 17.2 vs. 8.5% (p = 0.001), respectively]. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, the risk of stroke was increased in the subjects with CB (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.35-2.48, p = 0.016), but not with acute infection (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.98-1.78, p = 0.16). Acute infections and CB increased the risk of ischemic events in all age groups; this reached significance for patients older than 60 years. The profile of vascular risk factors was similar in patients with and without previous infections. The influenza vaccination did not prevent ischemic stroke, and it did not reduce the rate of acute previous infections in stroke patients.

CONCLUSIONS

CB and infections over the previous 2 months predicted the risk of ischemic stroke. The influenza vaccination was not associated with a reduction in the incidence of stroke in our group of patients.

Plasticity of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) wood-forming tissues during a growing season

The seasonal effect is the most significant external source of variation affecting vascular cambial activity and the development of newly divided cells, and hence wood properties. Here, the effect of edapho-climatic conditions on the phenotypic and molecular plasticity of differentiating secondary xylem during a growing season was investigated. Wood-forming tissues of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) were collected from the beginning to the end of the growing season in 2003. Data from examination of fibre morphology, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), analytical pyrolysis, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were combined to characterize the samples. Strong variation was observed in response to changes in edapho-climatic conditions. A genomic approach was used to identify genes differentially expressed during this growing season. Out of 3512 studied genes, 19% showed a significant seasonal effect. These genes were clustered into five distinct groups, the largest two representing genes over-expressed in the early- or late-wood-forming tissues, respectively. The other three clusters were characterized by responses to specific edapho-climatic conditions. This work provides new insights into the plasticity of the molecular machinery involved in wood formation, and reveals candidate genes potentially responsible for the phenotypic differences found between early- and late-wood.

[Evaluation of the appropriateness of stays in a third level hospital]

BACKGROUND

Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) has proved to be a useful tool for reviewing the utilisation of hospital resources. The aim of this article is to determine the proportion of inappropriate admissions and stays, as well as their causes, in patients hospitalised in the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid (HCUV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective, analytical, observational, cohort study. The period of study was one year (2004). A sample of 1,630 admissions was gathered. Case definition, variables of interest and the model of data gathering were carried out in accordance with the AEP. The principal variables were analysed by means of a basal analysis and the possible relations between them.

RESULTS

Fifty-four percent of the admissions showed at least one day of inappropriate stay, with the global rate of inappropriateness being 34.17%. Amongst the causes responsible for inappropriateness, 68.9% of admissions showed at least one criterion falling under the responsibility of the doctor or the hospital, and 51.3% were due to delays in the development of study or treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The utilisation of methods of identification of inappropriate use such as AEP show applications both in planning and in hospital management, by making it possible to identify hospital problems causing delays, principally problems of an organisational type, making it possible to develop interventions aimed at reducing inappropriate use.

[Migraine-like headache secondary to pituitary macroadenoma]

INTRODUCTION

Differential diagnosis of migraine-like headache with and without aura needs to proceed with neuroimaging evaluation in order to rule out any secondary conditions. We report a patient with a 2 year history of migraine like headache with a good response to ergotics and due to pituitary macroadenoma.

CLINICAL CASE

A 44 year old man with no familiar history of migraine presented to our hospital because of campimetric failure and a change of his migrainous features. The patient started with migraine without aura 2 years ago and was well treated with ergotics from the beginning. Field testing showed a bitemporal hemianopsia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an unknown pituitary macroadenoma.

CONCLUSION

Pituitary macroadenoma must be included in the differential diagnosis of migraine headache although the presence of aura or the good response to ergotics.

Risk of ischemic stroke and lifetime estrogen exposure

BACKGROUND

Estrogen loss has been related to higher incidence of stroke in postmenopausal women, but randomized trials have demonstrated an increased risk of stroke in women receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between exposure to endogenous ovarian hormones and the risk of noncardioembolic ischemic stroke.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, age-matched, case-control study in postmenopausal women (case: nonembolic ischemic stroke; control: no stroke) comparing duration of ovarian activity or lifetime estrogen exposure, which was defined as age at menarche to age at menopause. Embolic cardiopathy and unreliable gynecologic data were exclusion criteria. Cardiovascular disease risk factors were recorded. The relationships of the principal variables to the risk of stroke were assessed using a conditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

There were 430 cases and 905 controls in the study. In the multivariate analysis, hypertension (odds ratio [OR]: 2.73; 95% CI: 2.09 to 3.58; p < 0.0001), diabetes (OR: 3.38; 95% CI: 2.53 to 4.52; p < 0.0001), hyperlipidemia (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.7; p = 0.045), lifespan of ovarian activity <34 years (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.13 to 2.03; p = 0.005), and menarche at <13 years of age (OR 1.49; 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.92; p = 0.002) were independently related to an increased risk of stroke. Obesity (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56 to 0.95; p = 0.021) was related to a lower risk of stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Longer lifetime exposure to ovarian estrogens may protect against noncardioembolic ischemic stroke. However, a very early age of exposure onset could be disadvantageous.

Calcium hydroxide barrier over the apical root-end of a type III dens invaginatus after endodontic and surgical treatment

AIM

To report the simultaneous endodontic and surgical treatment of a tooth associated with Oehlers type III dens invaginatus and a persistent periapical lesion, which comprised root-end resection, root-end filling and application of a calcium hydroxide barrier placed on the resected dentine surface.

SUMMARY

Three root canals were identified in a tooth with a type III dens invaginatus, which presented with a necrotic pulp, wide foraminal opening and extensive periapical lesion, and with a previous history of acute abscess, intracanal exudate and fistula. After root canal preparation followed by intracanal application of calcium hydroxide pastes, the clinical-pathological status persisted. After periapical curettage and root-end resection, the root canals were filled, followed by root-end filling with Sealer 26 mixed with zinc oxide powder to a clay-like consistency. Calcium hydroxide paste was then applied over the exposed dentinal surface forming a covering over the root apex. At the 20-month follow-up examination the patient had no symptoms and no fistula; advanced periapical bone repair was obvious on the radiograph.

KEY LEARNING POINTS

Because of the variable morphology and extent of invagination, type III dens invaginatus represents a challenge for conventional treatment, often leading to the need for a surgical approach. Sealer 26 thickened with zinc oxide powder provided satisfactory clinical properties for use as a root-end filling material. Application of a calcium hydroxide barrier over the resected root-end is a potential treatment option to encourage tissue repair.