Electrodermal activity in euthymic unipolar and bipolar affective disorders. A possible marker for depression.

Skin conductance, heart rate, and resting EEG were examined in 26 patients with unipolar and 24 with bipolar affective disorder (in remission) and 46 medical control patients. The electrodermal activity (EDA) was monitored during a tone series that included a dishabituating stimulus as well as at rest and during respiratory maneuvers. The EDA of the patients with affective disorder was uniformly depressed across all tasks and conditions. Only one of the unipolar and five of the bipolar patients showed an elevated tonic conductance level, compared with about half of the normal subjects. These results suggest that diminished EDA may serve as a marker of susceptibility to affective disorder or, alternatively, that elevated EDA may be a protective factor. There were no EEG differences between groups, and observed cardiac rate differences were attributable to the effects of tricyclic medication.

Cloning and expression of the polychlorinated biphenyl-degradation gene cluster from Arthrobacter M5 and comparison to analogous genes from gram-negative bacteria.

Arthrobacter M5 was characterized genetically to determine if the catabolic pathway (controlled by the bph genes), responsible for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) biodegradation in this Gram-positive strain, was similar to the pathways characterized from various Gram-negative bacteria. Arthrobacter M5 was originally isolated as a contaminant from a culture of the PCB degrader, Acinetobacter sp. strain P6. A bph-specific oligodeoxyribonucleotide (oligo) gene probe (bphC2) was designed by aligning the published sequences of two bphC genes (encoding 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl dioxygenase) and synthesizing a 29-nucleotide (nt) fragment from a conserved region of the gene. The bphC2 oligo was used as a probe to identify a 10-kb HindIII fragment of total DNA from Arthrobacter M5 and subsequently to isolate Escherichia coli clones possessing bphC. The PCB-degradation genes were expressed in E. coli, but expression was increased by subcloning in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The nt and amino acid sequences of the region corresponding to the Arthrobacter M5 bphC gene showed a very high degree of homology with the published sequences of bphC genes from Gram-negative bacteria.

Impact of a 12-month exercise program on the physical and psychological health of osteopenic women.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of a supervised physical activity program on the physical and psychological health of osteopenic women. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 124 community-living postmenopausal women, between 50 and 70 years of age, with low bone mass took part in the study. INTERVENTION: Subjects allocated to the experimental group performed weight-bearing exercises (walking, stepping up and down from benches), aerobic dancing, and flexibility exercises for 60 minutes, three times a week, over a period of 12 months. All subjects were invited to attend bi-monthly educational seminars covering topics related to osteoporosis. OUTCOME MEASURES: Spinal and femoral bone mineral density (BMD), functional fitness (flexibility, coordination, agility, strength/endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance), psychological well-being, back pain intensity, and self-perceived health. RESULTS: Spinal BMD stabilized in the exercisers while decreasing significantly in the controls (P = .031). No change in femoral BMD was observed in either group (P = .597). Four of the five parameters chosen to evaluate functional fitness, namely flexibility, agility, strength, and endurance, were affected positively by the exercise program (all P < .01). Adjusting for prescores by means of an analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the groups in psychological well-being, which favored the exercisers (P = .012). After 12 months, back pain reported by exercisers was lower than that reported by controls (P = .008). Finally, self-perceived health increased in the exercise group, whereas no difference was observed in the control group (P = .790). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that after 12 months, exercising can produce a significant increase above initial levels in the functional fitness, well-being, and self-perceived health of osteopenic women. Intensity of back pain can also be lowered by exercise. The exercise program succeeded in stabilizing spinal BMD but had no effect on femoral BMD.

IgG subclass responses to Pseudomonas aeruginosa a- and b-type flagellins in patients with cystic fibrosis: a prospective study.

Sera from 20 cystic fibrosis patients, whose lungs were colonised by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were examined in a 3-5-year prospective study for any relationship between IgG subclass antibody levels to P. aeruginosa a- and b-type flagellins and pulmonary function (FEV1 and radiological score). Patients were divided into two groups according to their pulmonary status: group 1 comprised 11 patients with poor pulmonary status; group 2 comprised nine patients with relatively good pulmonary status. High concentrations of IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 antibodies to flagellins, particularly to the b-type, were found in most patients. IgG4 reactivity was observed in only a few patients. Comparison of the two groups of patients showed that those with poor pulmonary status (group 1) had a significantly higher concentration (p < 0.05) of IgG3 for two of the three periods studied and of IgG2 for the last period studied. Moreover, IgG3 and IgG1 reactivities to b-type flagellin and IgG3 to a-type flagellin were also increased significantly (p < 0.05) in group 1 patients between the first and the last period studied. These patients also showed a significant (p < 0.05) time-dependent increase in IgG3 and IgG1 antibody concentrations. These data demonstrate that cystic fibrosis patients with poorer pulmonary status have higher IgG3 levels to flagellin than other cystic fibrosis patients. High concentrations of strong opsonic IgG3 and, to a lesser degree, of IgG1 antibodies may increase pulmonary inflammation and induce heightened pulmonary deterioration.

The spectrum of category effects in object and action knowledge in dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

The validity and origin of category effects in the anomia demonstrated by individuals with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) remains controversial. Twenty DAT subjects were tested with picture naming and semantic association judgment tests. Picture and word stimuli were drawn from biological, nonbiological, and actions-verbs categories, all of equal difficulty and previously normed on elderly controls. DAT subjects made significantly more naming and semantic judgment errors in the biological category than in the nonbiological category. They were relatively more accurate in naming and making judgments for actions-verbs when presented as words or as 5-s animations. When line drawings of actions were shown for naming, performance deteriorated significantly. Converging results from these 2 tasks provide strong evidence for a semantic memory impairment preferentially affecting biological items to a greater extent than nonbiological items or action verbs in DAT.

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery and 109 mycetomas of paranasal sinuses.

Mycetomas of paranasal sinuses are more frequently diagnosed with the widespread use of nasal endoscopy and computed tomography (CT). We present a series of 109 cases treated by functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with a mean follow-up of 29 months. All localizations were seen, and contrary to what was initially thought, seven cases presented in multiple sites. Several clinical presentations were found, from a pansinusal involvement to a simple mycetoma hanging in a superior meatus. A heterogeneous sinus opacity with microcalcifications on CT scan is very suggestive of the diagnosis, but a homogeneous opacity may be encountered even with bone lysis. FESS was performed in all cases to obtain a wide opening of the affected sinuses, permitting a careful extraction of all fungal material. In the postoperative period, no medical treatment is prescribed. With a mean follow-up of 29 months, only four recurrences were seen. This study reinforces the interest in FESS for cases of mycetoma of the paranasal sinuses.

Diffuse nasal polyposis: postoperative long-term results after endoscopic sinus surgery and frontal irrigation.

Diffuse nasal polyposis remains a challenge despite recent improvements in endonasal surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results after a radical complete sphenoethmoidectomy with peroperative and postoperative frontal irrigation in cases of diffuse nasal polyposis. In this prospective study, we include 50 consecutive patients with diffuse nasal polyposis suffering from nasal obstruction, anosmia, and other symptoms of chronic sinusitis. All patients were refractory to medical therapy. In each patient an endoscopic complete sphenoethmoidectomy including total excision of all diseased ethmoid mucosa was performed. Preoperative and postoperative frontal irrigation was performed systematically. The patients were followed closely with serial endoscopic examination, and CT scanning was performed between 2 and 3 years after surgery. There were no complications. Thirty-nine of the 50 patients regained satisfactory olfaction. Partial nasal obstruction persisted in four of the 50 patients. Endoscopically, polyp recurrence was noted in 3% of posterior ethmoids, 23% of anterior ethmoids, and 50% of frontal recesses. We conclude that in cases of refractory and extensive nasal polyposis, a total sphenoethmoidectomy with perioperative frontal irrigation followed by long-term postoperative topical steroid therapy provides excellent improvement or cure with safety and reliability.

Production of ScFv antibody fragments following immunization with a phage-displayed fusion protein and analysis of reactivity to surface-exposed epitopes of the protein F of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by cytofluorometry.

To increase the possibilities of obtaining antibodies to surface-exposed epitopes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa protein F, we immunized mice with cloned and expressed oprF gene as a gIII-fusion protein displayed on the M13 phage surface. The fusion protein elicited mouse antibodies reacting with the purified protein F at a limit dilution of 1:10,000. Recombinant clones expressing antibody fragments were constructed from the genes of selected B cells of hyperimmunized mouse after a first round of panning against the protein F. Expression of single chain Fv (ScFv) antibody fragments to the protein of P. aeruginosa was detected by ELISA in 20 of 384 clones obtained after the first panning selection. The 20 positive clones recognizing different protein F epitopes as demonstrated by ELISA were assayed by flow cytometry to identify antibody fragments reacting only with surface-exposed epitopes of the protein F on whole bacteria; one of the 20 clones tested showed a level of reactivity compatible with surface-exposed epitope that can lead to ulterior developments in targeting studies.

Aspergillomas of the sphenoid sinus: a series of 10 cases treated by endoscopic sinus surgery.

We report our experience with 10 cases of sphenoidal aspergillomas treated by endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Chronic symptoms such as cough, post-nasal discharge, dysphonia and even facial pain can be encountered in the history. Computerised tomography and, occasionally, magnetic resonance imaging are of great help in the assessment of this disease, especially when extensive skull base involvement is present. The radiological presentation can vary from an heterogeneous to homogeneous opacity with or without bone lysis to a frank pseudotumoural appearance. Four diagnostic tools have been evaluated to confirm the diagnosis: histology, direct smear, fungal cultures, and serology for Aspergillus. ESS has been successfully carried out without morbidity in all cases. No recurrence of the disease is seen after a mean follow-up of 27 months.

Tips and techniques in breast MRI.

The standard breast MRI protocol includes T2 sequences (anatomy and signal analysis), T1 gradient-echo sequences which can detect markers placed after biopsy, and injected dynamic 3D sequences for performing volume and multiplanar reconstructions, which are particularly useful for locating lesions well. Good patient positioning is essential and is obtained by using foam wedges for small breasts, ensuring there are no folds, and the correct position of the nipples. These aspects limit movement artefacts which alter subtraction sequences, so that it must always be possible for reading these sequences to be assisted by comparing them with the native sequences. New functional imaging sequences are now appearing in an attempt to increase the specificity of MRI, which is one of its main limitations. Of these, magnetic resonance spectroscopy appears to be the most promising, highlighting an abnormal choline peak in malignant lesions. This molecular signature provides early information (24 hours after beginning neoadjuvant treatment) on the chemosensitivity of a breast tumour.

Use of oligonucleotide probes to analyse the homology of the oprF gene among clinical and heterologous immunotype strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The conservation of oprF gene among 25 clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and a set of 17 serotype-specific representative strains of the international antigen typing scheme (IATS) was analysed by dot-blotting using five specific oligonucleotide probes. The oligo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 correspond to five different regions of the oprF gene and hybridized strongly with respectively 88%, 88%, 76%, 94% and 71% of the IATS strains and 88%, 96%, 92%, 88% and 92% of the clinical strains. A parallel study performed with the whole oprF gene showed a lack of specificity of this probe: indeed, the probe hybridized not only with the 42 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains but also with Escherichia coli and Salmonella minnesota. This study suggests that the gene sequence encoding the protein F is not totally conserved among Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

Endonasal dacryocystocele of the newborn.

The true incidence of endonasal dacryocystocele in the newborn is probably underestimated; the number of cases in the last few years has increased with better imaging techniques and diagnostic tools. Although infrequent, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress and nasal obstruction. These children typically present an endonasal mass under the inferior turbinate, most often associated with inner canthal swelling. This series of four patients represents one of the largest to be reported since the first publication on the subject by Goralowna in 1979.

Cloning of Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 genes specifying dehalogenation of 4-chlorobenzoate.

The degradation of 4-chlorobenzoate (4-CBA) by Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 is thought to proceed first by the dehalogenation of 4-CBA to 4-hydroxybenzoate (4-HBA), which is then metabolized following the protocatechuate branch of the beta-ketoadipate pathway. The cloning of the 4-CBA dehalogenation system was carried out by constructing a gene bank of Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 in Pseudomonas putida. Hybrid plasmid pPSA843 contains a 9.5-kilobase-pair fragment derived from the chromosome of Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3. This plasmid confers on P. putida the ability to dehalogenate 4-CBA and grow on 4-CBA as the only source of carbon. However, pPSA843 did not complement mutants of P. putida unable to grow on 4-HBA (POB-), showing that the genes involved in the metabolism of 4-HBA were not cloned. Subcloning of Pseudomonas sp. strain CBS3 genes revealed that most of the insert is required for the dehalogenation of 4-CBA, suggesting that more than one gene product is involved in this dehalogenation.

Mitomycin C in sinus surgery: preliminary results in a rabbit model.

Mitomycin C (MMC) is an antineoplastic agent with an antiproliferative effect on fibroblasts. It is routinely used topically in ophthalmology. The goal of this research project is to evaluate if topically applied MMC at the site of a maxillary antrostomy will inhibit the healing process of the mucosa and reduce the risk of postoperative stenosis. Antrostomies were carried out in both maxillary sinuses of 10 rabbits. For each rabbit, MMC is applied at the site of the antrostomy on one side while the other side serves as control. Antrostomies are re-evaluated 3 weeks later and their areas measured precisely. Seven of 10 control antrostomies were closed compared to only 1 of the 10 treated with MMC (p = .014). Comparison of the areas of the control and treated sides also proved to be statistically significant (p = .0039). Topical application of MMC was not associated with any systemic side effects and did not cause any permanent microscopic changes since the mucosa re-epithelialized normally. These results suggest that MMC slows the postoperative healing process of the nasal mucosa of the rabbit without affecting re-epithelialization. This could allow antrostomies to heal with a wider diameter, decreasing the risk of postoperative stenosis. Our next step will be to reproduce these results following functional endoscopic surgery on humans.

Mapping of the hemE locus in Salmonella typhimurium.

A new type of heme-deficient mutant was isolated in Salmonella typhimurium by neomycin selection. The mutant was deficient in uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity, coded by the hemE gene. The hemE gene was located between the genes rif and thi at 128 min on the chromosomal map of S. typhimurium.