Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Prevalence in Bats' Guano from Caves and Attics of Buildings Studied by Culture and qPCR Examinations

A total of 281 guano samples were collected from caves (N = 181) in eight European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia) and attics in the Czech R. (N = 100). The correlation of detection of mycobacteria between Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and culture examination and qPCR was strong. ZN microscopy was positive in guano from caves (58.6%) more than double than positivity in guano from attics (21.0%; p < 0.01). From 89 mycobacterial isolates (73 isolates from cave guano and 16 isolates from attics’ guano), 68 (76.4%) isolates of 19 sp., ssp. and complex were identified as members of three Groups (M. fortuitum, M.chelonae, and M. mucogenicum) and four complexes (M. avium, M. terrae, M.vaccae, and M.smegmatis). A total of 20 isolates (22.5%) belonged to risk group 1 (environmental saprophytes), 48 isolates (53.9%) belonged to risk group 2 (potential pathogens), and none of the isolates belonged to risk group 3 (obligatory pathogens). When comparing bat guano collected from caves and attics, differences (p < 0.01; Mann–Whitney test) were observed for the electrical conductivity, total carbon, total organic, and total inorganic carbon. No difference (p > 0.05; Mann–Whitney test) was found for pH and oxidation-reduction potential parameters.

Lower frequency of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations in a South African adult de novo AML cohort

INTRODUCTION

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal disorder of hemopoietic progenitor cells diagnosed in individuals of any age, but with a median age of 67 years at presentation in adults. Assessment of the mutation status of nucleophosmin protein-1 (NPM1) and FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3-ITD) is essential for the prognosis, and treatment of AML.

METHODS

A total of 160 de novo AML cases, both cytogenetically normal and abnormal, were analyzed for the presence of NPM1 and FLT3-ITD mutations, and the results assessed in conjunction with epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory findings.

RESULTS

Nucleophosmin protein-1 mutations were found in 7.5%, while FLT3-ITD was present in 12% of these cases. Both of these were lower than expected. The median age at diagnosis of AML was 41 years, and for the FLT3-ITD only cases, median age was 33 years; these ages were younger than expected.

CONCLUSION

The lower reported frequencies and younger median age at diagnosis of AML and these specific mutations may be contributed to by a number of factors including effects of race on age of presentation, inclusion of patients diagnosed with de novo AML only, and a generally younger median age of the South African population.

[Selective laser trabeculoplasty]

The prospective clinical study of the selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) by means the Coherent Selecta 7000 laser (wave length 532 nm) was conducted. Totally 108.7 +/- 18.3 laser non-overlapping spots (mean energy level 1.04 +/- 0.22 mJ) along the whole circle of the trabecular meshwork in the anterior chamber angle were applied. The study included 258 eyes of 146 patients (50 of them were men) with glaucoma. The mean age of the whole group was 55.9 +/- 13.7 years. The group of unsuccessfully treated patients (30 patients, 41 eyes) in whom the intraocular pressure (IOP) elevated from 23.2 +/- 3.7 mm Hg in 4.7% (measured 493 +/- 474 days after the treatment) during the follow up, was removed from the study. In the group with good response to the SLT, 116 patients (217 eyes) were evaluated 650 +/- 405 days after treatment. Before treatment, in this group the IOP was 23.9 +/- 3.0 mm Hg, at the end of the study the IOP was lowered by 4.5 +/- 2.9 mm Hg, in total by 18.6%. IOP decrease was more pronounced in patients with higher level of IOP at the beginning. Immediately after SLT, no significant rising of the IOP level was recorded. Selective laser trabeculoplasty preserves the integrity of the trabecular meshwork of the anterior chamber angle, and is a safe and clinically effective method of treatment of different forms of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

[Refractive lensectomy with intraocular lens implantation in hypermetropia gravis]

The objective of the study was to evaluate the results of refractive lensectomy with implantation of an IOL in patients with hypermetropia gravis. The authors included in the group patients operated at the Ophthalmological Clinic in Hradec Králové between May 1995 and April 1997 with a refraction of +7.2 +/- 1.76 D and axial length of 19.91 +/- 1.23 mm. The mean value of IOL was 32 +/- 1.8 (+30.0 to +35.0 D). The group comprised 124 men and 23 women (range 21-67 years, mean age 45.8 +/- 10.5 years). From the total number of 94 eyes 22 were operated, while the patients were hospitalized, 72 were operated at the out-patient department. Visus of 6/12 and better with supplementary correction was achieved in 73 eyes, i.e. 77% during the last check up. Before operation thist was the case in 70 eyes, i.e. 75.3%. The mean refraction after operations was -0.25 +/- 1.05 D. Lensectomy in hypermetropia gravis with implantation of an intraocular lens is according to the achieved functional results a fully justified method for resolving the problem of severe far-sightedness.

[Implantation of intraocular lenses in myopia]

The objective of the investigation was to evaluate implantation of an intraocular lens in patients with cataract and myopia. Posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOL)+15 D and lens with a length of the axis of 25.00 mm and more were implanted after ECCE or phacoemulsification in the year 1994 in 81 eyes of 71 patients with mean age of 69 years (range 45 - 81 years). The mean length of the axis was 27.05 mm +/- 1.49 mm, the mean value of the IOL was +11.2 +/- 2.83 diopters. Vision of 6/12 and better with supplementary correction was achieved in 62.7% of the eyes during the last check-up examination. The mean refraction value after surgery was -2.11 +/- 1.63 diopters with a range from +2.0 to -6.0 diopters. Surgery of cataract in myopia gravis with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens is fully justified and makes it possible to achieve excellent functional results.

[Dynamics of retinal changes in relation to treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia]

Authors document with the aid of fluorescent angiography of the retina pathological changes on the retina resulting from hyperviscous syndrome of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia and their regulation after combined treatment with plasmapheresis and cytostatics.