Unusual microbes in asthma exacerbation: Alcaligenes xylosoxidans and Leishmania.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition characterised by a variable degree of airflow limitation. Exacerbations during the course of asthma often occur due to environmental factors or infectious, mostly viral, aetiology. The present study reports the case of a 61-yr-old male with severe asthma hospitalised due to increasing respiratory distress. Since recovery was delayed despite anti-obstructive/anti-inflammatory and antibiotic therapy, further diagnostic procedures, including bronchoscopy, were performed in order to attempt to identify the cause of the worsening respiratory condition. The surprising finding consisted of a rare coincidence of concomitant infection with the bacterial pathogen Alcaligenes xylosoxidans, grown from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the protozoan parasite Leishmania spp., revealed by histopathological examination of bronchial mucosal biopsy specimens. This is the first report of an isolated bronchial mucosal involvement of Leishmania in an HIV-negative asthma patient following brief exposure in Leishmania-endemic regions. Further, to the best of the present authors' knowledge, this represents the first description of A. xylosoxidans in asthma, although it is questionable whether it was an infection or colonisation. The present observation identifies previously unreported microbial pathogens associated with asthma exacerbation. Further, the report highlights the importance of obtaining a thorough travel history and applying invasive diagnostic procedures in circumstances of treatment failure, even under unfavourable conditions.

Cartilage biomarkers in hemodialysis patients and the effect of beta2-microglobulin on articular chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: Dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) is a severe complication of maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Given the predominant deposition of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta2m) fibrils on articular cartilage in early DRA, we investigated the significance of beta2m and its relationship to distinct cartilage biomarkers in early DRA diagnosis in HD patients. Furthermore, we assessed the effects of beta2m on articular chondrocytes in vitro. METHODS: Serum samples from 133 patients were collected before and after HD. Type II collagen cleavage product (C2C), procollagen II c-propeptide (CPII), aggrecan chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS-486) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Primary bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured as monolayers and incubated with beta2m at 1.5mg/l and 20mg/l. Cartilage glucosaminoglycan synthesis was measured by [(35)S]sulfate incorporation. mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1beta, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-3 and -9 was measured by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Incubation with beta2m at 20mg/l significantly decreased matrix biosynthesis. PCR analysis revealed an increase of IL-1beta, as well as MMPs-3 and -9 on the mRNA level. C2C/CPII, CS-486 and COMP levels were increased only in a subset of patients without a significant correlation with beta2m concentrations. A subgroup analysis elucidated an increase in type II collagen degradation during the first years of HD, as shown by the elevation of C2C/CPII ratio. CONCLUSION: beta2m exerted anti-anabolic effects on articular chondrocytes in vitro and might be involved in cartilage degradation in HD patients. beta2m serum levels, however, did not reflect cartilage degradation in DRA. The assessment of C2C/CPII, CS-486 or COMP concentrations apparently has minor relevance in DRA diagnosis in HD patients. However, the increased type II collagen breakdown within 5 years after HD onset possibly mirrors the early stages of DRA. Thus, the C2C/CPII ratio could be employed in longitudinal studies, since it may reflect a risk for DRA related arthropathy development in a subset of patients.

Multiple complex coronary plaques in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocardial infarction is believed to be caused by rupture of an unstable coronary-artery plaque that appears as a single lesion on angiography. However, plaque instability might be caused by pathophysiologic processes, such as inflammation, that exert adverse effects throughout the coronary vasculature and that therefore result in multiple unstable lesions. METHODS: To document the presence of multiple unstable plaques in patients with acute myocardial infarction and determine their influence on outcome, we analyzed angiograms from 253 patients for complex coronary plaques characterized by thrombus, ulceration, plaque irregularity, and impaired flow. RESULTS: Single complex coronary plaques were identified in 153 patients (60.5 percent) and multiple complex plaques in the other 100 patients (39.5 percent). As compared with patients with single complex plaques, those with multiple complex plaques were less likely to undergo primary angioplasty (86.0 percent vs. 94.8 percent, P = 0.03) and more commonly required urgent bypass surgery (27.0 percent vs. 5.2 percent, P < or = 0.001). During the year after myocardial infarction, the presence of multiple complex plaques was associated with an increased incidence of recurrent acute coronary syndromes (19.0 percent vs. 2.6 percent, P < or = 0.001); repeated angioplasty (32.0 percent vs. 12.4 percent, P < or = 0.001), particularly of non-infarct-related lesions (17.0 percent vs. 4.6 percent, P < or = 0.001); and coronary-artery bypass graft surgery (35.0 percent vs. 11.1 percent, P < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute myocardial infarction may harbor multiple complex coronary plaques that are associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Plaque instability may be due to a widespread process throughout the coronary vessels, which may have implications for the management of acute ischemic heart disease.

Vasoactive substances in renal transplantation.

During and after transplantation the kidney experiences a variety of insults that result in functional impairment and structural damage. These changes are mediated or influenced by hormones, cytokines, enzymes and growth factors, which are excreted by endothelial, graft parenchymal as well as by graft infiltrating cells. This review evaluates the pathophysiological role of vasoactive substances (for example, the vasoconstrictors angiotensin II and endothelin, as well as vasodilators such as nitric oxide, adrenomedullin and atrial natriuretic peptide) in kidney transplantation and summarizes recent reports that indicate that targeting vasoactive substances may represent effective therapeutic strategies for the achievement of long-term allograft survival.

5'-hydroxycotinine-N-oxide, a new nicotine metabolite isolated from rat urine.

1. 5'-Hydroxycotinine-N-oxide, 5-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-5-hydroxy-1-methyl-pyrrolidone-2, was identified as a new in vivo metabolite of nicotine. 2. The new metabolite was isolated from the urine of rats treated with S-nicotine and characterized using chemical and spectrometric methods. 3. 5'-Hydroxycotinine-N-oxide was synthesized and characterized by MS and by infrared as well as 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. 4. Identity of the new metabolite with synthetic 5'-hydroxycotinine-N-oxide was demonstrated by comparing the MS and 1H-NMR spectroscopy data as well as by co-chromatography of a spiked urine sample.

Study of the effects of thermotherapy in benign prostatic hypertrophy.

UNLABELLED: Prostatic transurethral thermotherapy was evaluated clinically using the Prostcare microwave system of the Bruker Company, which uses a microwave radiometer to measure and control intraprostatic temperature. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate the immediate histological lesions induced in the prostatic tissue depending on the temperatures delivered to the prostate; the histological changes when adenectomy is carried out after thermotherapy, and the endoscopic appearance of the prostatic fossa 48 h, and 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after thermotherapy. METHODS: Our study was divided into three stages: in the first stage, we conducted thermotherapy in 10 patients in whom suprapubic adenectomy was indicated. During thermotherapy, a multipoint fiber-optic receptor and two thermocouples were implanted into the prostage gland at a distance of 5-15 mm from the urethra. Adenectomy was carried out 10 min after thermotherapy; the second stage of our study concerned the changes seen over time. We heated adenomas using the same protocol and carried out adenectomy 24, 48, 72 h, and 1 week, 6 weeks and 3 months after thermotherapy, and lastly, we studied the endoscopic appearance after a single heating-session of 30 min by endoscopic controls at different times after thermotherapy (48 h, 1, 2, 3 and 6 months after thermotherapy). RESULTS: Macroscopic appearance: necrotic lesions measured 30 mm in length on average. Necrosis was roughly circumferential. Immediate histological aspect: in all cases, histological examination showed coagulation necrosis with periurethral thromboses. Histological changes: at 8 days, necrosis intensity was maximal and histological structures were difficult to identify. Endoscopic appearance: 3 months after thermotherapy, the typical endoscopic appearance was a large periurethral cavity. There was a sharp demarcation between untreated areas and cicatricial tissue. CONCLUSION: The efficacy of thermotherapy depends on the radiometric temperature, which should reach 47 degrees C (i.e. a temperature of 55-65 degrees C delivered to the prostate), and a rapid increase in temperature, i.e. in the power applied, which should reach the thermal radiometric level of 47 degrees C in 5 min. As soon as necrosis is obtained, the power is automatically reduced. Using this protocol, heating proves effective in 30 min.

[Percutaneous nephrostomy in malignant ureteral obstruction]. / Perkutane Nephrostomie bei malignombedingter Ureterobstruktion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess survival length and quality of life in patients with a percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) for malignant tumour and postrenal anuria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Case records were analysed of 50 patients (39 men, eleven women; mean age 65.6 years) with postrenal anuria due to malignancy who had undergone ultrasound-directed PN under local anaesthesia for urinary drainage. Particular attention was paid to the course of the disease from nephrostomy until death. RESULTS: Survival time after PN ranged from 4 days to 16 months, averaging 4.3 months. 26 patients (52%) had died after 3 months, 41 (82%) after 6 months. The patients had spent on average 44.5% of their remaining life in hospital. After an initial improvement in their state, cancer-produced pain and complications soon set in and often required operative intervention. CONCLUSION: The achieved prolongation of survival time did not always meet the patient's own wishes. Detailed explanation and information to patient and family before PN is therefore urgently required.

Survival of enterobacteria in liquid cultures during microwave radiation and conventional heating.

Bacteria in food have been reported to survive in larger numbers after processing by microwave radiation than after conventional processing. The bactericidal effect of a domestic microwave oven (SHARP R-7280) on certain pathogenic enterobacteria species was investigated in vitro, in comparison with conventional heating (boiling). The death rates of different nosocomial strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella sofia, Salmonella enteritidis, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were tested. The microwave oven and the conventional heating system used were both calibrated in order to calculate temperatures from exposure times. For each strain duplicate samples of 25 ml of pure culture with concentrations at least 10(6) cfu/ml were exposed to microwave radiation. An equal number of samples of the same volume and concentration were exposed to conventional heating. Subsequently all samples were examined qualitatively and quantitatively following standard microbiological procedures. The results indicate that microwaves have an efficient bactericidal effect on the enterobacteria in liquid cultures.

[Epididymal leiomyosarcoma. A case report with review of the literature]. / Le léiomyosarcome de l'épididyme. A propos d'un cas avec revue de la littérature.

The authors report the 14th case of leiomyosarcoma of the epididymis in a 67-year-old man. Treatment consisted of radical left orchidectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The patient is free of local or distant recurrence with a follow-up of 2 years. The other 13 cases reported in the literature are briefly reviewed.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of nicotine and its urinary metabolites via their 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid derivatives.

The 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid (DETBA) assay for nicotine metabolites has been improved so that it can be used to determine the concentrations of nicotine and up to 12 metabolites in the urine of humans and laboratory animals, including phase 2 metabolites. The products of beta-glucuronidase cleavage found in human urine were mainly trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, cotinine, and a small amount of nicotine. Following isolation, spectroscopic analyses showed the structure of the nicotine DETBA derivative to be the one-to-one ring-opening product of DEBTA and the cyanopyridinium salt of nicotine.

[Ureteral risk in celioscopic surgery]. / Le risque urétéral en coelio-chirurgie.

In recent years, there has been a significant improvement in laparoscopic surgery which had led to more and more frequent use of this technic in various cases. As a consequence, the ureteral injury which have been a less common iatrogenic pathologic up to know is likely to be more and more frequent in the years to come. The authors present 2 cases of 28 and 36 years old patients. In both cases the laparoscopy was indicated for gynecologic pathology. The healing ureteral occurred in those cases during a revealing postoperative peritonitis. Treatment consisted in healing up the lesion by ureteral stent. Treatment and evolution of this injury are discussed.

[Partial cystectomy: and alternative to radical cystectomy? Apropos of a series of 75 patients]. / Cystectomie partielle: une alternative à la cystectomie radicale? A propos d'une série de 75 patients.

From a retrospective series of 75 patients, we try to determine the place of this treatment with respect to bladder urothelial cancer. Of our 75 patients the breakdown of tumours according to their stage is the following: PTA: 16 (21.3%) PT1: 12 (16%) PT2: 21 (28%) PT3 A: 15 (20%) PT3 B: 7 (9.3%) PT4: 4 (5.4%) 47 patients benefited from a complete check up of tumoural spread which is negative in any case. In 28 cases, an uretero-vesical reimplantation was necessary for carcinologic reasons. None of the patients benefited from chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in pre or post-operative period. Mortality was 4% (3 cases) and morbidity 8% (6 cases)- Sixty two Patients were followed-up at 5 years. The results are expressed according to different carcinologic parameters. The overall rate of recurrence is 61.2% (38/62). The actuarial survival corrected at 5 years, all stages and grades included, is 53.2% (32/62). There was no recurrence in 18 patients (29%) and 29 patients preserved their bladder. The advantages of partial cystectomy are obvious: Its mortality and morbidity are weak. It also preserves the sexual function and mainly avoids resorting to urinary derivations. As a principle these indications apply to a small percentage of invasive tumours T2-T3 A located in the mobile part of the bladder that is unifocal and of small size (< 4 cms).

[Is adrenalectomy always advisable in tumor nephrectomy?]. / Ist die Adrenalektomie bei der Tumornephrektomie immer erforderlich?

Since the addition of ultrasonography and computerized tomography to the diagnostic tools used for the recognition of renal tumor masses, detection of renal cell carcinomas has been much earlier and more reliable than formerly. Between July 1981 and June 1990, 335 patients without distal metastases underwent radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. In only 2.6% of the patients were adrenal metastases found, exclusively with stage pT3 tumors. The results of this review suggest that the adrenal gland need not be removed with the radical nephrectomy specimen in the case of tumors staged T1 or T2 if the adrenal CT scan is normal.

Isolation and characterization of the 47 kDa protein and the D1-D2-cytochrome b-559 complex.

The 47 kDa polypeptide and a protein complex consisting of the D1 (32 kDa), D2 (34 kDa) and cytochrome b-559 (9 kDa) species were isolated from a Tris-washed Photosystem II core complex solubilized with dodecylmaltoside in the presence of LiClO4. Although the 43 kDa chlorophyll-binding protein is readily dissociated from the Photosystem II complex under our conditions, two cycles of exposure to high concentrations of detergent and LiClO4 were required for complete removal of the 47 kDa chlorophyll-binding protein from the D1-D2-cytochrome b-559 complex. Spectroscopic characterization of these two species revealed that the 47 kDa protein binds chlorophyll a, whereas the D1-D2-cytochrome b-559 complex shows an enrichment in Pheo a and heme on a chlorophyll basis. A spin-polarized EPR triplet can be observed at liquid helium temperatures in the D1-D2-cytochrome b-559 complex, but no such triplet is observed in the purified 47 kDa species. The zero-field splitting parameters of the P-680+ triplet indicate that the triplet spin is localized onto one chlorophyll molecule. Resonance Raman spectroscopy showed that: (i) beta-carotene is bound to the reaction center in its all-trans conformation; (ii) all chlorophyll a molecules are five-coordinate; and (iii) the C-9 keto group of one of the chlorine pigments is hydrogen-bonded. Our results support the proposal that the D1-D2 complex binds the P-680+ and Pheo a species that are involved in the primary charge separation.

Comparative structural and catalytic properties of oxygen-evolving photosystem II preparations.

Biochemical techniques now exist to produce the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II (PSII) and its associated photochemical redox reactions in various states of purity. These preparations permit one to assess the structural roles of polypeptides in promoting activity by using selective extraction techniques which remove certain polypeptides, to carry out reconstitution studies which re-establish activity, and, in the case of more recently developed, highly purified preparations discussed in this overview, to identify the minimal polypeptide complement necessary for photosynthetic oxygen evolution activity. These comparative investigations also suggest a tentative structure for an oxygen-evolving PSII core complex whose primary constituents are a hydrophobic complex of polypeptide, manganese, calcium and chloride, and the 33 kDa extrinsic polypeptide.