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PURPOSE: Peritonsillar abscess can be diagnosed by B-mode ultrasound and cross-sectional imaging. The latter (with MRI being the modality of first choice in children) is associated with higher effort and risk for pediatric patients due to the administration of X-rays and/or the need of sedation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the introduction of CEUS into the diagnostic algorithm for suspected pediatric peritonsillar abscess is suitable and advantageous. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-institution retrospective review of data of pediatric patients who were presented to the department of pediatric radiology for sonographic evaluation under the suspicion of peritonsillar abscess. Diagnostic performance of CEUS was evaluated by using surgical exploration or clinical follow-up as the reference standard. RESULTS: 284 children included in the study underwent B-mode ultrasound. Mean age of all patients was 6,23 years. Peritonsillar abscess was the diagnosis in 42 patients. Diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess was made by B-mode ultrasound alone in 13 of 42 patients (31 %). In 17 of 42 patients (40 %), diagnosis was made by a combination of B-mode ultrasound and CEUS. Sensitivity rose from 37 % to 86 % in cases where B-mode ultrasound remained unclear and CEUS was used. CONCLUSION: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is suitable and efficient for the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess in pediatric patients. It increases the sensitivity for the diagnosis of peritonsillar abscess and thereby reduces the need of additional cross-sectional imaging for the pediatric patients.
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Absceso Peritonsilar , Niño , Humanos , Absceso Peritonsilar/diagnóstico por imagen , Absceso Peritonsilar/cirugía , Ultrasonografía/métodos , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
Neuroblastoma (NBL) stage 4s is an incompletely understood phenomenon with variable clinical course. While the majority of patients may undergo spontaneous regression and achieve complete resolution without intensive therapy, a small proportion is at increased risk of developing secondary complications. One such situation is liver insufficiency due to diffuse metastases. We report a patient suffering from NBL 4S who required double lifesaving liver transplantation. Abdominal and respiratory complications due to hepatomegaly are crucial determinants for treatment intensity and duration in 4S NBL [1,2] . We provide an algorithm in order to facilitate the clinical decision when dealing with similar potentially life-threatening events.
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Algoritmos , Toma de Decisiones , Neoplasias Hepáticas/cirugía , Trasplante de Hígado , Neuroblastoma/cirugía , Adulto , Humanos , Neoplasias Hepáticas/secundario , Masculino , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Estadificación de NeoplasiasAsunto(s)
Exposición por Inhalación , Pulmón , Animales , Humanos , Tamaño de la Partícula , Ratas , Medición de RiesgoRESUMEN
The article by Balwierz et al [...].
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Cosméticos , Salud Pública , Carcinógenos/toxicidadRESUMEN
High concentrations of low-density particles may cause effects in acute inhalation toxicity studies which can be easily underestimated or misinterpreted following strictly the OECD TG 436, i.e., limited parameters as mortality and gross lesions will be evaluated only. Seven particle types (synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) HMDZ-SAS, silica gel, pyrogenic SAS, and precipitated SAS, calcium carbonate, aluminum oxide pyrogenic alumina, organic red pigment) were chosen at the highest technically feasible concentration of approximately 500â¯mg/m3 for acute inhalation studies with an expanded endpoint setup. Therefore additional parameters and a thorough histopathological evaluation of an extensive set of organs, including the respiratory tract emphasizing the nasal cavities were added. Six Crl:WI rats per study were exposed for four hours from which three animals were sacrificed after 24â¯hours and three animals after 14 days. HMDZ-SAS caused early death in all animals due to blockage of the nasal passages caused by its hydrophobicity. For all other Si-containing compounds, histology revealed minor inflammatory and reactive lesions in lungs after 24â¯hours that were still present after 14 days, except in silica gel-treated animals. After 14 days, for pyrogenic SAS, precipitated SAS, and pyrogenic alumina, granulomas formed in the BALT and lung-associated lymph nodes. In contrast, the calcium carbonate induced almost no findings, and the red pigment (also tested for the additional dose of 1000â¯mg/m3) stuck partially to the nasal mucosa without causing pathological damage and partly entered the lungs without showing any adverse effects. The results of the present study highlight the advantage of improving the rather simple study design of acute inhalation studies by implementing an extended study design.
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Introduction: In this qualitative study, we examine digital leadership (DL) capabilities and their positive influence on the management of technology-driven change by leveraging service innovations. The context of digital transformation (DT) has triggered a new leadership paradigm, among others referred to as digital leadership (DL). However, despite its practical relevance, leadership research has yet paid little attention to conceptualise DL as an approach to digitally transform organisations. Methods: Drawing on mid- and top-level mangers' experiences with service innovation projects, and based on Grounded Theory, we develop a taxonomy of DL-related capabilities and a conceptual framework which exemplifies their influences on dynamic service innovation capabilities (DSICs). DSICs build on the dynamic capabilities view (DCV) and represent the "organisational muscle" to repeatedly deliver service innovations indicating an effective management of technology-driven change. Results and Discussion: Taxonomy results show that aggregated dimensions in terms of a digital leader's personal, social, and organisational capital serve as underpinnings (DL-related capabilities) to drive strategic change in DT contexts. The conceptual framework further reveals that especially the personal and organisational capital of a digital leader owns several strong and moderate influences on DSICs which demonstrates DL's "long arm" on the management of technology-driven change. Our findings contribute to leadership research by advancing the conceptualisation of DL and by adding a novel micro-foundational perspective towards the DCV discourse. As organisations struggle to realise the full benefits of DT initiatives, our results also provide a valuable contribution for practitioners by supporting them to strategically prepare for the human-related challenges of DT.
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Rat lungs and lung-associated lymph nodes from 14 inhalation studies with chemically different particulate materials were histopathologically re-evaluated, and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) data and lung burden analyses were compared. All investigated substances caused similar lesions. For most substances, 1 mg/m3 of respirable particulate matter was established as the borderline for adverse morphological changes after the 90-day exposure period, confirmed by the increase in polymorphonuclear neutrophils in BALF. Possible reversibility was demonstrated when recovery groups are included in the study especially allowing the differentiation between regeneration or progressing of inflammatory changes during the recovery period. It was concluded, that the major driver of toxicity is not an intrinsic chemical property of the particle but a particle effect. Concerning classification for specific target organ toxicant (STOT) repeated exposure (RE), this paper highlights that merely comparing the lowest concentration, at which adverse effects were observed, with the Classification Labelling and Packaging (CLP) regulation (EC) no. 1272/2008 guidance values is inappropriate and might lead to a STOT classification under CLP for a large part of the substances discussed in this paper, on the basis of typically mild to moderate findings in rat lung and lung-associated lymph nodes on day 1 after exposure. An in-depth evaluation of the pathologic findings is required and an expert judgement has to be included in the decision on classification and labeling, evaluating the type and severity of effects and comparing these with the classification criteria.
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INTRODUCTION: There is an ongoing controversy regarding management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in infants, with a shift towards a non-operative approach. However, precise predictors of outcome are lacking. Recent studies postulated a high prognostic value of Technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine tissue tracer transit with regard to the development of an impaired differential renal function and its potential improvement following pyeloplasty. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic value of Technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine tissue tracer transit for the occurrence of changes in differential renal function in infants with suspected unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a prospective observational multicenter study. STUDY DESIGN: Infants below 3 months of age with a unilateral isolated hydronephrosis ≥ grade 3 received ultrasound and Technetium-99m-mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renography at two different time points (timepoint 1 and timepoint 2). Data were analyzed at local centers and at the study center and were collected in an internet-based database system. Tissue tracer transit was determined for each diuretic renography, inter-observer variation for tissue tracer transit and standard parameters for judgement of differential renal function development were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were analyzed. Median age was 11 weeks (7-15) at timepoint 1 and 26 weeks (19-33) at timepoint 2. A delayed tissue tracer transit at timepoint 1 was not associated with deterioration of differential renal function at timepoint 2 in both, locally (10/37 cases) and centrally (4/37) analyzed cases. However, sensitivity and specificity were poor. The intraclass correlation coefficient comparing local and central findings of tissue tracer transit and renal drainage demonstrated poor or fair agreement. Analysis of standard parameters for differential renal function development revealed a prognostic value only for the dichotomized anteroposterior renal pelvic diameter (APD, p = 0.03, 95%-CI 1.2-22.2). DISCUSSION: Regarding the primary endpoint of our study, we could not confirm the hypothesis that delayed tissue tracer transit reliably predicts a subsequent decline in differential renal function in the cohort of patients studied. Whether the low age of the patients, technical problems in the correct assessment of tissue tracer transit by the investigator in early infancy, the study design, or the parameter itself played a role is debated. CONCLUSION: In the presented setting tissue tracer transit was not useful as a predictive parameter for deterioration of differential renal function in infants with suspected unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Sensitivity and specificity of tissue tracer transit were not sufficient for risk stratification. Improved utility of tissue tracer transit as a marker might be achieved using a different study setting.
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Hidronefrosis , Obstrucción Ureteral , Humanos , Lactante , Diuréticos , Hidronefrosis/cirugía , Riñón/diagnóstico por imagen , Pelvis Renal/cirugía , Renografía por Radioisótopo , Tecnecio Tc 99m Mertiatida , Obstrucción Ureteral/cirugía , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
Inhalation toxicity testing of particulate materials is mandated for classification. According to CLP, particulate materials should be tested as marketed and many particulate materials are marketed as non-respirable particles. However, OECD TG 413 requires exposure to particle sizes that are respirable and reach the alveoli. The requirement for exposure of rats to respirable particles is thus in contrast to CLP and requires the application of high shear forces. The exposure to artificially small particles causes a number of issues that hamper the interpretation of the results of the testing. These issues are aerosol altering in the exposure system, assessment of the adversity of the inflammatory lung responses, inclusion of recovery groups, and extrapolation of the results to humans exposed under occupational condition. In addition, effects of many particulate materials after testing according to OECD 413 are not intrinsic properties, but a general reaction of the lung to the deposited material, show very similar NOAECs for chemical diverse materials, and often are completely reversible.
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Aim This official guideline was coordinated and published by the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the German Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (DGPRÄC), the Austrian Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (OEGGG), and the Swiss Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SGGG). The guideline aims to provide a consensus-based overview of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries on female genitalia based on an evaluation of the relevant literature. Methods This S2k-guideline was developed by representative members from different medical professions on behalf of the guidelines commission of the DGGG, DGPRÄC, OEGGG and SGGG using a structured consensus process. Recommendations Statements and recommendations on the epidemiology, aetiology, classification, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired changes of the external genitalia are presented and special situations are discussed.
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Background: After enterostomy creation, the distal bowel to the ostomy is excluded from the physiologic passage of stool, nutrient uptake, and growth of this intestinal section. Those infants frequently require long-term parenteral nutrition, continued after enterostomy reversal due to the notable diameter discrepancy of the proximal and distal bowel. Previous studies have shown that mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) results in faster weight gain in infants. The aim of the randomized multicenter open-label controlled MUCous FIstula REfeeding ("MUC-FIRE") trial is to demonstrate that MFR between enterostomy creation and reversal reduces the time to full enteral feeds after enterostomy closure compared to controls, resulting in shorter hospital stay and less adverse effects of parenteral nutrition. Methods/Design: A total of 120 infants will be included in the MUC-FIRE trial. Following enterostomy creation, infants will be randomized to either an intervention or a non-intervention group.In the intervention group, perioperative MFR between enterostomy creation and reversal will be performed. The control group receives standard care without MFR.The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is the time to full enteral feeds. Secondary endpoints include first postoperative bowel movement after stoma reversal, postoperative weight gain, and days of postoperative parenteral nutrition. In addition adverse events will be analyzed. Discussion: The MUC-FIRE trial will be the first prospective randomized trial to investigate the benefits and disadvantages of MFR in infants. The results of the trial are expected to provide an evidence-based foundation for guidelines in pediatric surgical centers worldwide. Trial registration: The trial has been registered at clinicaltrials.gov (number: NCT03469609, date of registration: March 19, 2018; last update: January 20, 2023, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03469609?term=NCT03469609&draw=2&rank=1).
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Synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) is industrially relevant material whose bioactivity in vitro is strongly diminished, for example, by protein binding to the particle surface. Here, we investigated the in vitro bioactivity of fourteen SAS (pyrogenic, precipitated, or colloidal), nine of which were surface-treated with organosilanes, using alveolar macrophages as a highly sensitive test system. Dispersion of the hydrophobic SAS required pre-wetting with ethanol and extensive ultrasonic treatment in the presence of 0.05% BSA (Protocol 1). Hydrophilic SAS was suspended by moderate ultrasonic treatment (Protocol 2) and also by Protocol 1. The suspensions were administered to NR8383 alveolar macrophages under serum-free conditions for 16 h, and the release of LDH, GLU, H2O2, and TNFα was measured in cell culture supernatants. While seven surface-treated hydrophobic SAS exhibited virtually no bioactivity, two materials (AEROSIL® R 504 and AEROSIL® R 816) had minimal effects on NR8383 cells. In contrast, non-treated SAS elicited considerable increases in LDH, GLU, and TNFα, while the release of H2O2 was low except for CAB-O-SIL® S17D Fumed Silica. Dispersing hydrophilic SAS with Protocol 1 gradually reduced the bioactivity but did not abolish it. The results show that hydrophobic coating reagents, which bind covalently to the SAS surface, abrogate the bioactivity of SAS even under serum-free in vitro conditions. The results may have implications for the hazard assessment of hydrophobic surface-treated SAS in the lung.
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Compuestos de Organosilicio , Dióxido de Silicio , Peróxido de Hidrógeno/farmacología , Indicadores y Reactivos , Tamaño de la Partícula , Dióxido de Silicio/química , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfaRESUMEN
The present study summarizes the current literature on the presence and the structure of biogenic amorphous silica (BAS) in nature. Based on this review, it is shown that BAS is ubiquitous in nature and exhibits a structure that cannot be differentiated from the structure of synthetic amorphous silica (SAS). The structural similarity of BAS and SAS is further supported by our investigations-in particular, specific surface area (BET) and electron microscope techniques-on oat husk and common horsetail. Many food products containing BAS are considered to be beneficial to health. In the context of the use of SAS in specific applications (e.g., food, feed, and cosmetics), this is of particular interest for discussions of the safety of these uses.
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Equisetum , Avena , Dióxido de Silicio/químicaRESUMEN
The aim of the present study was to understand the mechanism of lethality associated with high dose inhalation of a low-density hydrophobic surface-treated SAS observed in some acute inhalation studies. It was demonstrated that physical obstruction of the upper respiratory tract (nasal cavities) caused the effects observed. Hydrophobic surface-treated SAS was inhaled (flow-past, nose-only) by six Wistar rats (three males and three females) in an acute toxicity study at a concentration of ~500 mg/m3 for an intended 4-hr exposure. Under the conditions of the test set-up, the concentration applied was found to be the highest that can be delivered to the test animal port without significant alteration of the aerosol size distribution over time. None of the test- material-exposed animals survived the planned observation time of 4 h; three animals died between 2 34 h after starting exposure and cessation of exposure at 3 14 h, two died after transfer to their cages and the remaining animal was sacrificed due to its poor condition and welfare considerations. Histology accomplished by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis demonstrated that test material particles agglomerated and formed a gel-like substrate that ultimately blocked the upper respiratory airways, which proved fatal for the rat as an obligatory nose breather. This observation is in line with the findings reported by Hofmann et al. showing a correlation between lethality and hydrophobicity determined by contact angle measurement. The aerosol characterizations associated with this study are provided in detail by Wessely et al.
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Exposición por Inhalación , Dióxido de Silicio , Aerosoles , Animales , Asfixia , Femenino , Interacciones Hidrofóbicas e Hidrofílicas , Exposición por Inhalación/efectos adversos , Exposición por Inhalación/análisis , Masculino , Cavidad Nasal/química , Ratas , Ratas Wistar , Dióxido de Silicio/análisis , Dióxido de Silicio/toxicidadRESUMEN
Since late 2019, concerns regarding trace levels of the probable human carcinogen N-dimethylnitrosamine (NDMA) in Metformin-containing pharmaceuticals have been an issue if they exceeded the maximum allowable intake of 96 ng/day for a medicine with long-term intake. Here, we report results from an extensive analysis of NDMA content along the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing process as well as two different drug product manufacturing processes. Our findings confirm that Metformin API is not a significant source of NDMA found in Metformin pharmaceuticals and that NDMA is created at those steps of the drug product manufacturing that introduce heat and nitrite. We demonstrate that reduction of nitrite from excipients is an effective means to reduce NDMA in the drug product. Limiting residual dimethylamine in the API has proven to be another important factor for NDMA control as dimethylamine leads to formation of NDMA in the drug products. Furthermore, analysis of historical batches of drug products has shown that NDMA may increase during storage, but the levels reached were not shelf-life limiting for the products under study.
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Dimetilnitrosamina , Metformina , Dimetilaminas , Dimetilnitrosamina/análisis , Excipientes , Humanos , NitritosRESUMEN
The Interleukin-1/Toll-like receptor signaling pathway is a crucial signaling pathway within the innate immune system and the use of mass spectrometric techniques became valuable to investigate signal transduction pathways. To date only a few reports exist that focus on the mass spectrometric identification of novel signaling intermediates within the TLR signal transduction pathway. Here we used this approach systematically to identify new interaction partners of the TLR signaling pathway and subsequently characterized them functionally. We identified 14-3-3 theta as a new member of the TLR signaling complex. With genetic complementation assays, we demonstrate that 14-3-3 negatively regulates TLR2-dependent NF-κB activity and amplifies the TLR4-dependent activation of the transcription factor. While 14-3-3 has no effect on TLR-induced apoptosis in innate immune cells, it controls the release of the inflammatory, IRF3-dependent cytokines like RANTES and IP-10 after stimulation with LPS. Most strikingly, 14-3-3 controls the production of proinflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα in a different manner. Our results identify 14-3-3 theta as a new and important regulatory protein in the TLR signaling suppressing the MyD88-dependent pathway.
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Proteínas 14-3-3/metabolismo , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Receptor Toll-Like 2/metabolismo , Animales , Apoptosis , Quimiocina CXCL10/metabolismo , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Inflamación , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Interleucina-8/metabolismo , Espectrometría de Masas/métodos , Ratones , Modelos Biológicos , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal , Receptor Toll-Like 4/metabolismo , Transcripción Genética , Factor de Necrosis Tumoral alfa/metabolismoRESUMEN
Various cell types are compromised by synthetic amorphous silica (SAS) if they are exposed to SAS under protein-free conditions in vitro. Addition of serum protein can mitigate most SAS effects, but it is not clear whether this is solely caused by protein corona formation and/or altered particle uptake. Because sensitive and reliable mass spectrometric measurements of SiO2 NP are cumbersome, quantitative uptake studies of SAS at the cellular level are largely missing. In this study, we combined the comparison of SAS effects on alveolar macrophages in the presence and absence of foetal calf serum with mass spectrometric measurement of 28Si in alkaline cell lysates. Effects on the release of lactate dehydrogenase, glucuronidase, TNFα and H2O2 of precipitated (SIPERNAT® 50, SIPERNAT® 160) and fumed SAS (AEROSIL® OX50, AEROSIL® 380 F) were lowered close to control level by foetal calf serum (FCS) added to the medium. Using a quantitative high resolution ICP-MS measurement combined with electron microscopy, we found that FCS reduced the uptake of particle mass by 9.9% (SIPERNAT® 50) up to 83.8% (AEROSIL® OX50). Additionally, larger particle agglomerates were less frequent in cells in the presence of FCS. Plotting values for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glucuronidase (GLU) or tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) against the mean cellular dose showed the reduction of bioactivity with a particle sedimentation bias. As a whole, the mitigating effects of FCS on precipitated and fumed SAS on alveolar macrophages are caused by a reduction of bioactivity and by a lowered internalization, and both effects occur in a particle specific manner. The method to quantify nanosized SiO2 in cells is a valuable tool for future in vitro studies.
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Introduction: Since early 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic and statutory preventive reorganization of treatment capacities with cancellation of elective surgery as well as curfew regulations led to vastly decreased utilization of primary health care. Materials and Methods: To assess whether there are negative effects on pediatric acute care in Bavaria during the spring 2020 lockdown a state-wide retrospective multi-center study was performed to analyze the rate of perforated appendicitis during lockdown. Children who have been operated on during the corresponding period in 2018/19 served as control group. Results: Overall, 514 patients (292 boys, 222 girls) were included (2020: 176 patients; 2019: 181 patients; 2018: 157 patients). Median age was 11.2 years. Four hundred thirty-nine patients (85.4%) underwent laparoscopic surgery, 69 (13.4%) open surgery and 1.2% underwent conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery. In 2020 a perforation rate of 27.8% (49/176 patients) was found, in 2018-2019 perforation rate was 20.7% (70/338 patients, p = 0.0359, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel-Test). Subgroup analysis showed that in younger patients (≤ 11.2 years), in 2020 perforation rate was significantly higher with 37.6% (32/85 patients), while 22.2% (39/176) in 2018/2019 (p = 0.014, Fisher's exact test).In boys perforation rate was significantly higher in 2020 with 35.0% (35/100 patients) compared to 21.4% in 2018-2019 (p = 0.0165, Fisher's exact test). Conclusion: During the period of curfew regulations in Bavaria the rate of perforated appendicitis in childhood increased significantly, especially in younger children and boys. Potentially this has to be attributed to delayed presentation to pediatric surgery care. Because of potential long-term sequelae of perforated appendicitis these adverse effects during curfew have to be taken into account for future political decision making to ensure reasonable patient care and avoid collateral damage in near-future or on-going pandemic situations.
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The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.7 (N501Y.V1) throughout the UK, B.1.351 (N501Y.V2) in South Africa, and P.1 (B.1.1.28.1; N501Y.V3) in Brazil has led to the definition of variants of concern (VoCs) and recommendations for lineage specific surveillance. In Switzerland, during the last weeks of December 2020, we established a nationwide screening protocol across multiple laboratories, focusing first on epidemiological and microbiological definitions. In January 2021, we validated and implemented an N501Y-specific PCR to rapidly screen for VoCs, which are then confirmed using amplicon sequencing or whole genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 13,387 VoCs have been identified since the detection of the first Swiss case in October 2020, with 4194 being B.1.1.7, 172 B.1.351, and 7 P.1. The remaining 9014 cases of VoCs have been described without further lineage specification. Overall, all diagnostic centers reported a rapid increase of the percentage of detected VOCs, with a range of 6 to 46% between 25 to 31 of January 2021 increasing towards 41 to 82% between 22 to 28 of February. A total of 739 N501Y positive genomes were analysed and show a broad range of introduction events to Switzerland. In this paper, we describe the nationwide coordination and implementation process across laboratories, public health institutions, and researchers, the first results of our N501Y-specific variant screening, and the phylogenetic analysis of all available WGS data in Switzerland, that together identified the early introduction events and subsequent community spreading of the VoCs.
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The diversity of lactic acid bacteria associated with Hussuwa fermentation, a Sudanese fermented sorghum food, was studied using a polyphasic taxonomical approach. Predominant strains could be well characterised based on a combination of phenotypic tests and genotypic methods such as ARDRA, rep-PCR and RAPD-PCR, as well as 16S rRNA gene sequencing of representative strains. Thus, the majority (128 of 220, 58.3%) of strains exhibited phenotypic properties typical of heterofermentative lactobacilli and of these, 100 strains were characterised more closely using the genotyping methods. The majority (97/100) strains could be characterised as Lactobacillus fermentum strains. Seventy-two of 220 strains (32.7%) showed phenotypic properties that are characteristic of pediococci. Of 41 selected strains investigated by genotyping techniques, 38 (92.7%) could be characterised as Pediococcus acidilactici strains, while three (7.3%) could be characterised as Pediococcus pentosaceus strains. The Hussuwa fermentation thus appears to be dominated by L. fermentum strains and P. acidilactici strains. For this reason, we selected representative and predominant strains as potential starter cultures for Hussuwa fermentation. These strains, L. fermentum strains BFE 2442 and BFE 2282 and P. acidilactici strain BFE 2300, were shown on the basis of RAPD-PCR fingerprinting to predominate in a model fermentation when used as starter cultures inoculated at 1 x 10(6) CFU/g and to lower the pH of the fermentation to below pH 4.0 within 48 h. These cultures should be studied for further development as starter preparations in pilot scale studies in actual field fermentations.