Food for all? Wildfire ash fuels growth of diverse eukaryotic plankton.

In December 2017, one of the largest wildfires in California history, the Thomas Fire, created a large smoke and ash plume that extended over the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Here, we explore the impact of Thomas Fire ash deposition on seawater chemistry and the growth and composition of natural microbial communities. Experiments conducted in coastal California waters during the Thomas Fire revealed that leaching of ash in seawater resulted in significant additions of dissolved nutrients including inorganic nitrogen (nitrate, nitrite and ammonium), silicic acid, metals (iron, nickel, cobalt and copper), organic nitrogen and organic carbon. After exposure to ash leachate at high (0.25 g ash l-1) and low (0.08 g ash l-1) concentrations for 4 days, natural microbial communities had 59-154% higher particulate organic carbon concentrations than communities without ash leachate additions. Additionally, a diverse assemblage of eukaryotic microbes (protists) responded to the ash leachate with taxa from 11 different taxonomic divisions increasing in relative abundance compared with control treatments. Our results suggest that large fire events can be important atmospheric sources of nutrients (particularly nitrogen) to coastal marine systems, where, through leaching of various nutrients, ash may act as a 'food for all' in protist communities.

The anti-proliferative effects of adiponectin on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells and oxidative stress involvement.

Adiponectin (Acrp30) plays an important role in energy metabolism and inflammation. Recently, in vivo serum Acrp30 levels have been reported to be correlated to risk of developing several types of cancers such as lung cancer, and in vitro studies have demonstrated a role for Acrp30 in the control of cell proliferation and survival. However, the molecular effects of Acrp30 on lung cancer have not yet been clearly defined. In the present study, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of Acrp30 on the A549 human alveolar epithelial cell line, an in vitro model of lung adenocarcinoma. A549 cells were exposed to various concentrations of Acrp30 and successively, proliferation, apoptosis and oxidative stress were evaluated by MTT test, caspase activity assay, flow-cytometry and western blotting analysis. Our results demonstrated that Acrp30 causes, in a time- and dose-dependent manner, a reduction of cell viability and duplication together with an increase in cell apoptosis rate. In addition, we found that Acrp30 induces an increase of lipid peroxidation evaluated by TBARS assay and a concomitant reduction of nitric oxide release, both markers of cellular oxidative stress. Taken together, our data on A549 cells provides new insight into potential involvement of Acrp30 on physio-pathologic mechanisms of lung diseases through interference with proliferation, apoptosis and oxidative status.

Allergy in adolescent population (14-18 years) living in Campania region (Southern Italy). A multicenter study.

Summary: Adolescents (Ad) constitute a difficult to manage population among individuals suffering from asthma. The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence, clinical characteristics and age of onset of allergic sensitization and clinical symptoms in a sample of atopic Ad living in the Campania region (Southern Italy). Sixteen Allergy units or Centers belonging to the Italian Association of Hospital and Territorial Allergologists (AAIITO, Campania region) participated in this cross-sectional study. A case report form (CRF) was specifically designed for this study and commercial allergen extracts used for screening SPTs were provided by ALK-Abelló Group (Milan, Italy). A total of 443 patients were examined (females, f 220, 49.6 %; males, m 223, 50.3%). Dust mites represent the most common sensitizing agents in allergic Ad living in Campania region (Dermatoph. pteronyssinus 67.4% and Dermatoph. farinae 66.5%), followed by Parietaria (58.9%), grasses (45.8%), Artemisia vulgaris (16.7%), Olea Europaea (32.2%), dog dander (17.1%), cat dander (20.0%), Alternaria alternata (8.1%), Cupressus sempervirens (4.9%), Betula pendula (4.7%), other allergens (19.4%). An interesting comparison has been made between clinical data of our Ad with data of elderly patients (E). The role of allergic sensitization is significantly higher in Ad compared to E. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus is the first sensitizing allergen in Ad and the last in E. Parietaria constitutes the first sensitizing pollen both in Ad and E, the percentage of sensitization is higher in Ad. Another important difference is the higher prevalence of As, as only symptom, in E compared to Ad (19.7% versus 7.6%). In conclusion, our findings confirm the high prevalence and clinical significance of airway allergic sensitization in the adolescents living in Campania region.

Allergic sensitization to common pets (cats/dogs) according to different possible modalities of exposure: an Italian Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: The query "are there animals at home?" is usually administered for collecting information on anamnesis. This modality to consider exposure to pet allergens constitutes a potential bias in epidemiological studies and in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate/quantify different modalities of exposure to cat/dog in inducing allergic sensitization. METHODS: Thirty Italian Allergy units participated in this study. Each centre was required to collect the data of at least 20 consecutive outpatients sensitized to cat/dog allergens. A standardized form reported all demographic data and a particular attention was paid in relieving possible modalities of exposure to cat/dog. RESULTS: A total 723 patients sensitized to cat/dog were recorded, 359 (49.65%) reported direct pet contact, 213 patients (29.46%) were pet owners, and 146 subjects (20.19%) were exposed to pets in other settings. Other patients were sensitized by previous pet ownership (150-20.75%) or indirect contact (103-14.25%), in 111 subjects (15.35%) any contact was reported. CONCLUSIONS: Only 213 patients (29.46%) would be classified as "exposed to animals" and 510 (70.54%) as "not exposed" according to usual query. Our classification has shown that many "not-exposed" subjects (399-55.19%) were "really exposed". The magnitude of exposure to pet allergens at home is not related exclusively to pet ownership. These considerations should be taken into account during the planning of epidemiological studies and in clinical practice for the management of pet allergic individuals.

Clusters of individuals recovering from an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and response to in-hospital pulmonary rehabilitation.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Due to the present low availability of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for individuals recovering from a COPD exacerbation (ECOPD), we need admission priority criteria. We tested the hypothesis that these individuals might be clustered according to baseline characteristics to identify subpopulations with different responses to PR. METHODS: Multicentric retrospective analysis of individuals undergone in-hospital PR. Baseline characteristics and outcome measures (six-minute walking test - 6MWT, Medical Research Council scale for dyspnoea -MRC, COPD assessment test -CAT) were used for clustering analysis. RESULTS: Data analysis of 1159 individuals showed that after program, the proportion of individuals reaching the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was 85.0%, 86.3%, and 65.6% for CAT, MRC, and 6MWT respectively. Three clusters were found (C1-severe: 10.9%; C2-intermediate: 74.4%; C3-mild: 14.7% of cases respectively). Cluster C1-severe showed the worst conditions with the largest post PR improvements in outcome measures; C3-mild showed the least severe baseline conditions, but the smallest improvements. The proportion of participants reaching the MCID in ALL three outcome measures was significantly different among clusters, with C1-severe having the highest proportion of full success (69.0%) as compared to C2-intermediate (48.3%) and C3-mild (37.4%). Participants in C2-intermediate and C1-severe had 1.7- and 4.6-fold increases in the probability to reach the MCID in all three outcomes as compared to those in C3-mild (OR = 1.72, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.2 - 2.49, p = 0.0035 and OR = 4.57, 95% CI = 2.68 - 7.91, p < 0.0001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Clustering analysis can identify subpopulations of individuals recovering from ECOPD associated with different responses to PR. Our results may help in defining priority criteria based on the probability of success of PR.

The challenges of a neglected STI: Molluscum contagiosum.

Molluscum Contagiosum (MC) virus, a DNA Poxvirus, is responsible for benign infection of the skin epidermal layer and mucous membranes named MC. The lesions are small papules with typical central depressions or umbilications, that contain a waxy, curd-like core. The condition is most common in children, but during the last 25 years has become more common in young adults and immuno-compromised adults, especially in HIV/AIDS. Although molluscum contagiosum infections are considered a nuisance rather than a serious heath problem, the rising incidence in young , sexually active adults, suggests a transmission during sexual activity and can be regarded as a marker for the presence of other STIs. Even though some Authors don't recommend any treatment for cutaneous, non genital molluscum contagiosum in healthy people, treatment of genital molluscum contagiosum lesions is recommended in order to reduce the risk of sexual transmission, prevent autoinoculation, and increase patients quality of life.

Metabonomic analysis of exhaled breath condensate in adults by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a noninvasive method for the study of airway lining fluid. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy can provide biochemical profiles of metabolites in biological samples. The aim of the present study was to validate the NMR metabonomic analysis of EBC in adults, assessing the role of pre-analytical variables (saliva and disinfectant contamination) and the potential clinical feasibility. In total, 36 paired EBC and saliva samples, obtained from healthy subjects, laryngectomised patients and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, were analysed by means of (1)H-NMR spectroscopy followed by principal component analysis. The effect on EBC of disinfectant, used for reusable parts of the condenser, was assessed after different washing procedures. To evaluate intra-day repeatability, eight subjects were asked to collect EBC and saliva twice within the same day. All NMR saliva spectra were significantly different from corresponding EBC samples. EBC taken from condensers washed with recommended procedures invariably showed spectra perturbed by disinfectant. Each EBC sample clustered with corresponding samples of the same group, while presenting intergroup qualitative and quantitative signal differences (94% of the total variance within the data). In conclusion, the nuclear magnetic resonance metabonomic approach could identify the metabolic fingerprint of exhaled breath condensate in different clinical sets of data. Moreover, metabonomics of exhaled breath condensate in adults can discriminate potential perturbations induced by pre-analytical variables.

Validation study of nasal nitric oxide measurements using a hand-held electrochemical analyser.

BACKGROUND: Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) measurement is a simple and non-invasive method for monitoring airway inflammation. Similarly, nasal NO has been proposed as a surrogate marker in inflammatory diseases of the upper airways, e.g. allergic rhinitis. A new portable analyser using an electrochemical sensor has been developed for measurements of exhaled NO, and its reproducibility and comparison with other analysers has been tested recently in healthy subjects and in patients with lower airways disease. The application of this hand-held analyser in nasal NO analysis was tested and compared to the gold standard represented by a chemiluminescence analyser. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty subjects including 15 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and 15 healthy subjects (HS) were studied. The intraindividual variability, calculated as the difference in nasal NO levels between two measurements from a single nasally exhaled breath manoeuvre, and the comparison between the electrochemical analyser (NIOX MINO, Aerocrine) and a chemiluminescence analyser (NOA, Sievers) were performed. RESULTS: In AR patients mean nasal NO was 59.0 +/- 16.3 p.p.b. with the MINO and 58.3 +/- 15.6 p.p.b. with the NOA. In HS nasal NO was 49.1 +/- 10.8 p.p.b. with the MINO and 49.8 +/- 8.2 p.p.b. with the NOA. The Bland-Altman analysis showed bias values of 0.005 +/- 3.6 with the 95% limits of agreement from -6.97 to 6.98 p.p.b. CONCLUSION: Measurements of nasal NO levels with a hand-held electrochemical analyser are reproducible and the results are comparable to a stationary chemiluminescence analyser.

Unusual expression and very mild course of Xp21 muscular dystrophy (Becker type) in a 60-year-old man with 26 percent deletion of the dystrophin gene.

A 54-year-old farmer with a negative family history had had mild proximal weakness for the previous 4 years. Clinical examination showed marked scoliosis, barrel-shaped chest, diffuse hypotrophy, and mild proximal weakness. Creatine kinase was 938 U/l; electrocardiography and echocardiography were normal. EMG disclosed myopathic changes. Muscle biopsy showed slight, nonspecific alterations. Dystrophin was present and normally distributed with antibodies against the C-terminal and N-terminal, whereas it was not recognized by the antibody against the rod domain. Western blotting detected an abnormal molecular weight protein of 320 kd (normal, 427 kd). Southern blot analysis revealed a deletion from exon 21 to exon 44, corresponding to 26% of the coding region of dystrophin. Six years' follow-up did not disclose progression of the muscle disease.

Subnanomole detection and quantitation of high specific activity 32P-nucleotides.

Microbore liquid chromatography utilizes conventional HPLC and ultraviolet detection principles to determine subnanomole mass quantities of biologically significant molecules. This system takes advantage of specifically designed microflow equipment to analyze ultraviolet absorbing species at the picomole range. 32P-labeled nucleotides are examples of compounds routinely used at picomole quantities that are extremely difficult to accurately quantify using standard mass measurement techniques. The procedure described in this paper has the capability of measuring nucleotides down to 10 pmol using commercially available microbore ultraviolet detection equipment. The technique can be used to accurately measure the specific activity of as little as 10 microCi of an aqueous 32P-nucleotide solution.

The catabolism of apolipoprotein B from very low density lipoprotein and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein remnants in fasted septic rats.

The catabolism of apolipoprotein B (apo B) from very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) remnants in fasted control (C) and Escherichia coli-treated septic (S) rats was measured. In Experiment 1, [125I]VLDL was injected into rats from C and S groups. Blood was collected from 0 to 60 min postdose and apo B was isolated and counted for radioactivity. No significant difference in the half-life (t1/2) or fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of apo B was observed in the VLDL fraction. In Experiment 2, [125I]TRL remnants were injected into rats from C and S groups. Blood was collected from 0 to 90 min postdose and apo B isolated. The t1/2 was 2.5 times longer in the S compared with the C and the FCR was slower in the S rats. These experiments suggest that S rats do not clear triglyceride-rich lipoproteins as easily as normal-sized lipoproteins.

Endothelin abnormalities in patients with pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: Endothelin (ET) is an endothelium-derived multifunctional peptide involved in the local regulation of the vascular tone. STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess changes of endogenous ET production/excretion in the acute phase (36 h from the event) of pulmonary embolism (PE). PARTICIPANTS: Ten patients with acute PE, nine patients with acute lung injury (ALI), and 12 healthy volunteers (HVs). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: ET was detected by radioimmunoassay in venous and arterial blood as well as in 24-h urine specimens. For each subject, arterial/venous immunoreactive ET (ir-ET) ratio was evaluated as an index of its pulmonary extraction/synthesis. Creatinine clearance was employed in each case to obtain a corrected renal ir-ET clearance. Renal ir-ET clearance was comparable in all three groups. Arterial/venous ir-ET ratio was comparable in PE and in ALI patients (1.31 +/- 0.25 vs 1.24 +/- 0.20; p = 0.7), while it was significantly higher in PE patients than in HV subjects (0.85 +/- 0.07; p = 0.0001). Accordingly, 24-h urine ir-ET excretion was higher in PE (120.50 +/- 27.36 ng/24 h) and ALI patients (135.80 +/- 21.60 ng/24 h) than in HV subjects (68.33 +/- 9.31 ng/24 h; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities of ET metabolism-mainly related to increased synthesis and/or defective pulmonary handling-occur in the acute phase of PE. The relevance of this finding with respect to the pathogenesis and/or management of pulmonary thromboembolism remains to be elucidated.

Demonstration of spotted fever group rickettsiae in the tache noire of a healthy person in Sicily.

A human case of rickettsial infection occurred in Sicily following tick bite. The patient did not have fever, the typical nodular rash, or other symptoms of illness other than development of a tache noire containing spotted fever group rickettsiae, which were demonstrated by immunofluorescence. A high titer of antibodies of the IgG class suggests that the patient may have had previous exposure to Rickettsia conorii or a related spotted fever group rickettsia. An anamnestic response may be hypothesized to have conferred partial immunity, with resulting containment of rickettsiae at the site of inoculation.

Myoglobinuria and carnitine palmityl transferase deficiency in father and son.

A 18-year-old man had recurrent myoglobinuria following exercise and fasting. His parents originated from the same village, which has less than 1000 inhabitants. His 53-year-old father suffered from similar episodes, whereas his mother and elder brother were symptom free. Biochemical investigations on muscle and platelets disclosed carnitine palmityl transferase (CPT) deficiency in the patient and his father. His mother and brother showed intermediate CPT values consistent with their being heterozygotes. This appears to be the first report of CPT deficiency with recurrent myoglobinuria in two generations (so-called quasidominant transmission).

Familial outbreak of disseminated multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and meningitis.

Rapidly progressive multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is well documented in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive subjects, but it is not fully recognised in HIV-negative subjects in the familial environment. We report three cases of MDR-TB in three young HIV-negative subjects from the same family. All the patients showed signs of meningitis during the course of their disease, and in two cases a resistant strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was isolated in cerebrospinal fluid. Two of the three subjects died from neurological complications; the other was successful treated utilising both systemic and intrathecal therapy for tuberculous meningitis. By a retrospective analysis of DNA obtained from Lowenstein-Jensen cultures, the strains were confirmed as M. tuberculosis resistant to rifampicin and isoniazid, and were closely related in the two cases where specimens were available for analysis. The resistance was acquired in two patients initially infected with a susceptible strain; in the other patient, the resistance was present on the first sensitivity test for which results were available. This report demonstrates the high risk of fatality from MDR-TB for HIV-negative subjects in the absence of reliable early diagnostic and preventive tools. It also reinforces the concept that genetic susceptibility to M. tuberculosis may be an important factor in the clinical presentation and outcome of MDR-TB.

Lack of effect of nitric oxide inhibition on bronchial tone and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in man.

The role of nitric oxide (NO) as a bronchodilator has been studied in humans with controversial results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of endogenous NO on bronchial tone by studying whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition with NGnitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) influences basal bronchial tone, or potentiates methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. In a preliminary experiment in five subjects, a significant reduction in exhaled NO was found after delivering L-NAME (15 mg in saline) (from 3.9 +/- 1.2 to 2.4 +/- 1.1 nmol min-1, P < 0.05). In nine healthy non-smokers, specific airway conductance (SGAW), as a measure of airway calibre, was recorded after delivering, in a double-blind, controlled vs. placebo fashion, both nebulized L-NAME and saline, at baseline and after methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. There was no significant difference between the baseline SGAW values before and after delivering L-NAME (0.264 +/- 0.04 and 0.267 +/- 0.05 cm H2O-1 s-1, respectively). After pre-treatment with L-NAME, SGAW values during methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction were not different in comparison to values obtained after saline inhalation. It is concluded that decreased endogenous NO does not influence bronchial tone in healthy people, nor does it modify methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction.