Fusarium oligoseptatum sp. nov., a mycosymbiont of the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea validus in the Eastern U.S. and typification of F. ambrosium.

Fusarium oligoseptatum sp. nov. was isolated from the invasive Asian ambrosia beetle Euwallacea validis (Coleoptera, Scolytinae, Xyleborini) and from the galleries that females had constructed in dying Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven) symptomatic for Verticillium wilt in south-central Pennsylvania, USA. This ambrosia fungus was cultivated by Euwallacea validis as the primary source of nutrition together with a second symbiont, Raffaelea subfusca . Female beetles transport their fungal symbionts within and from their natal galleries in paired pre-oral mycangia. Fusarium oligoseptatum was distinguished phenotypically from the 11 other known members of the Ambrosia Fusarium Clade (AFC) by uniquely producing mostly 1-2 septate clavate sporodochial conidia that were swollen apically. Phylogenetic analysis of multilocus DNA sequence data resolved F. oligoseptatum as a genealogically exclusive species-level lineage but evolutionary relationships with other members of the AFC were unresolved. Published studies have shown that F. oligoseptatum can be identified via phylogenetic analysis of multilocus DNA sequence data or a PCR multiplex assay employing species-specific oligonucleotide primers. In addition, to provide nomenclatural stability, an epitype was prepared from an authentic strain of F. ambrosium that was originally isolated from a gallery constructed in Chinese tea (Camellia sinensis ) by E. fornicatus in India, together with its lectotypification based on a published illustration.

[Drug hypersensitivity syndrome associated with a primary HHV6 infection]. / Syndrome d'hypersensibilité médicamenteuse associé à une primo-infection HHV6.

INTRODUCTION: Drug hypersensitivity syndrome is a severe life-threatening drug reaction. An association between this syndrome and HHV6 reactivation has been hypothesized. CASE-REPORT: A 45 year-old women was treated with sulfasalazine for polyarthralgia. One month after beginning the treatment, she developed a drug hypersensitivity syndrome with severe acute hepatic failure. HHV6 serology and serum PCR revealed a primary HHV6 infection. DISCUSSION: We report the second case of drug hypersensitivity syndrome associated with a primary HHV6 infection. An immunological disorder may explain such an association by increasing viral replication. Detection and titration of anti-HHV6 antibodies in each case of drug hypersensitivity syndrome should help to confirm this association and possibly modify treatment strategy.

Lymphomatoid papulosis: a localized form with acral pustular involvement.

We report a localized form of lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) presenting as pustular papules of the hands. The histopathology revealed a moderate inflammatory infiltrate composed of atypical pleomorphic large lymphocytes with atypical mitosis and large nuclei. Epidermotropism could be observed. These atypical cells expressed CD4 and CD30. Laboratory examinations and bone marrow explorations remained negative. The clinical presentation of this case of LyP is unusual. Only histopathological features allowed to diagnose LyP. The knowledge that LyP may be associated with neoplasia or lymphoma underlines the need for a long-term follow-up of these patients.

Health insurance coverage of the unemployed: COBRA and the potential effects of Kassebaum-Kennedy.

We use the April 1993 Current Population Survey to examine the health insurance coverage decisions of the unemployed and to simulate the potential effects of the new Kassebaum-Kennedy legislation. After controlling for demographic characteristics, COBRA eligibility raises the probability of health insurance coverage by 0.095, while eligibility for spouse employer insurance increases the likelihood of coverage by 0.318, and eligibility for both increases the likelihood of coverage by 0.341. In our simulations, we find that had Kassebaum-Kennedy been in effect in April 1993, 9.0 percent of the unemployed would be eligible to take up coverage, and the coverage rate of the unemployed would have been increased by 0.85 percent to 1.5 percent from 41.6 percent. Our estimates of the effect of Kassebaum-Kennedy on health insurance coverage are much lower than those reported by the Government Accounting Office prior to the passage of the legislation.

The demographic cycle and optimal schooling choices.

PIP: A model is developed that enables the authors to estimate the effects of demographic cycles on both earnings and schooling. The model is tested using data from the 1991 Korean Occupational Wage Survey. The results indicate that cohorts following large birth cohorts in the cycle choose relatively less formal schooling compared to pre-peak cohorts, and that post-peak cohorts also have lower incomes. This result concerning South Korea is consistent with findings from previous studies concerning the United States.^ieng

Production and analysis of transgenic mice with ectopic expression of parvalbumin.

Transgenic mice expressing rat parvalbumin under the control of the human metallothionein IIA (MTII A), SV-40 early, and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) promoters were produced. Ectopic expression was analyzed by RNA polymerase chain reaction and RNase protection in combination with immunohistochemistry. From a total of 25 transgenic lines 18 were found to express the transgene. Expression strength and tissue specificity were dependent upon the promoter used and varied considerably among animal lines produced with the same construct. Highest constitutive MT IIA-driven expression was found in lung, liver, heart, and kidney, as well as in brain, and lower amounts of transgene expression were found in spleen, testis, and muscle. Immunohistochemistry of tissue sections of metallothionein-parvalbumin transgenic strain 29 in the non-induced state revealed that ectopic PV mRNA is translated into protein. Short-term induction of the MT IIA promoter by CdSO4 or CdCl2 leads to a shift in tissue specificity and does not increase ectopic expression in tissues where the transgene is active in the noninduced state. As expected the NSE promoter showed highest activity in brain. However, NSE-driven expression could also be detected to various degrees in all investigated tissues. SV-40-dependent PV expression showed no tissue preference and varied considerably among different strains. Except for the observation that the SV-40-PV construct showed lower yields in transgenic production and reduced numbers of positive offspring no obvious impairment of growth or behavior as a consequence of transgenic PV expression could be detected.

The effective use of consultants.

Successful consultation between nurse administrators and management consultants requires developing a good working relationship and effectively managing the consultation process. The authors describe a four-phase consultation process from the perspective of both the manager and the consultant, identifying the critical steps and behaviors at each phase that promote a successful consultation.

An econometric technique to remove unobserved variables that bias the relationship between alcohol and blood pressure.

We use econometric techniques to consider whether the statistical association between drinking and blood pressure among men may be due, in part, to the constitutional hypothesis. The constitutional hypothesis holds that the same unobserved genetic or personality factors that affect blood pressure will affect the amount of alcohol consumed. Our sample is restricted to men because most investigations for women have revealed a weak to nonexistent positive, and sometimes a negative, association. Data are drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1971-1975. The econometric technique requires fitting three equations using two-stage least squares or multiple regressions. The first equation explains how much people drink. The second and third equations explain fluctuations in systolic and diastolic blood pressures using information on the predicted values of the drinking variable from the first equation. Our results suggest that, after accounting for unobserved constitutional factors as well as other observed covariates such as obesity, salt intake, schooling and so on, the strength of the statistical association between high blood pressure and heavy drinking in men drops only slightly by 8% (diastolic) and 23% (systolic). Thus, a strong statistically significant result remains after removing the unobserved variables bias.

Isolation and analysis of a human cDNA highly homologous to the yeast gene encoding L17A ribosomal protein.

A cDNA from human brain poly(A)+RNA with significant similarity to the gene encoding yeast L17A large subunit ribosomal (r) protein (L17A) was isolated using the polymerase chain reaction. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of 140 aa (calculated pI of 10.79) exhibits a 78% similarity to that of the yeast L17A r protein (88% when conservative aa replacements are considered as well). This indicates that L17A is one of the best conserved r-proteins and therefore may play a critical role in ribosome function. In contrast to its eubacterial and chloroplast counterparts, human L17A contains an N-terminal extension of 19 aa which may be involved in nuclear targeting of the r-protein. Approximately five to seven genes in mammalian genomes give strong hybridization signals when probed with the human L17A homologue cDNA. Whereas the L17A homologue was found to be expressed at similar levels in several human tissues as a transcript of 600 nucleotides, a several-fold higher transcript level was detected in the rapidly growing neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-BE.

Response of hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and home health agencies in Oregon to AIDS: reports of nursing executives.

To describe experience and readiness to provide care for persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), responses to a mailed survey from 86 percent of chief nursing executives of the 207 hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and home health agencies (HHAs) in Oregon were summarized. As of January 1989, 44 percent reported having provided care; even in low incidence counties, 64 percent of hospitals had provided care. Adequate resources were reported by 79 percent in hospitals, 26 percent in SNFs, and 69 percent in HHAs.

A chemically transformed rat fibroblast cell line expresses high levels of oncomodulin.

Chemically (by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine) treated rat fibroblasts (T14c) exhibited growth characteristics and a morphology typical for transformed cells and markedly different from untreated, parental cells. In contrast to untransformed cells, T14c fibroblasts produced significant levels of oncomodulin mRNA as analyzed on Northern blots even when compared to rat Morris hepatomas, the richest source of oncomodulin known so far. The levels of transcripts for both calmodulin and oncomodulin in T14c cells were higher in log phase growth as compared to confluent stages. The T14c model system may be useful in the elucidation of mechanisms involved in the regulation of oncomodulin synthesis.

Demographic cycles, cohort size, and earnings.

This article examines whether position in the demographic cycle is an important factor in determining earnings and earnings growth. Earnings equations for white males are estimated by using March Current Population Survey data. Position in the demographic cycle is captured by including both measures of own cohort size and the size of surrounding cohorts in the estimated earnings equations. Position in the demographic cycle matters. Increases in own cohort size lead to flatter earnings profiles, whereas increases in the size of surrounding cohorts are associated with steeper earnings profiles. The net effect is that those who enter the labor market before or after the peak of the demographic cycle start out with lower earnings but experience faster earnings growth. This pattern is uniform across all schooling groups: high school dropouts, high school graduates, those with some college, and college graduates.

Effects of smoking and being overweight on current earnings.

Medical researchers have demonstrated the potent influences of smoking and being overweight on the deterioration of health. Economists have documented the sizable impact of poor health on earnings. We looked for statistical associations between smoking and being overweight on the one hand and current earnings on the other using a national probability sample of American workers employed 20 or more hours a week. Using multiple regressions that included a variety of control variables, for both male and female workers no strong statistical associations could be found. These results should not be interpreted as suggesting that smoking and being overweight do not have profound influences on lifetime earnings through their effects on health. The results suggest only that among workers currently employed 20 hours or more a week, no residual short-run direct association exists between smoking or being overweight and current annual earnings.

Black-white earnings ratios: the role of cohort size effects.

"While black-white earning ratios have been rising over time across cohorts [in the United States] there is some evidence that they have been dropping over time within cohorts of recent entrants to the labor market. This has coincided with the entry of the large baby boom cohorts into the labor market. This paper examines the role of race differences in cohort size effects on black-white earnings ratios for male high school graduates using Current Population Survey data. In larger cohorts, the black-white earnings ratio is lower at entry and falls as the cohort progresses through the career, consistent with recent evidence."

Husband's health and wife's labor supply.

This paper examines the labor supply response of the wife to deterioration in the husband's health. Unlike past cross-sectional studies, responses over time are directly examined through the use of longitudinal data. The empirical results suggest that the magnitude and direction of the response depend crucially on the attractiveness of transfers which the family may qualify for when the husband's health deteriorates. When no transfers are available the wife increases her market work in order to replace the lost earnings of the husband. However, as transfers become more attractive, the wife begins to reduce her labor supply, enabling her to spend more time at home caring for her husband.