Experimental Determination of α Widths of

The efficiency of the weak s process in low-metallicity rotating massive stars depends strongly on the rates of the competing ^{17}O(α,n)^{20}Ne and ^{17}O(α,γ)^{21}Ne reactions that determine the potency of the ^{16}O neutron poison. Their reaction rates are poorly known in the astrophysical energy range of interest for core helium burning in massive stars because of the lack of spectroscopic information (partial widths, spin parities) for the relevant states in the compound nucleus ^{21}Ne. In this Letter, we report on the first experimental determination of the α-particle spectroscopic factors and partial widths of these states using the ^{17}O(^{7}Li,t)^{21}Ne α-transfer reaction. With these the ^{17}O(α,n)^{20}Ne and ^{17}O(α,γ)^{21}Ne reaction rates were evaluated with uncertainties reduced by a factor more than 3 with respect to previous evaluations and the present ^{17}O(α,n)^{20}Ne reaction rate is more than 20 times larger. The present (α,n)/(α,γ) rate ratio favors neutron recycling and suggests an enhancement of the weak s process in the Zr-Nd region by more than 1.5 dex in metal-poor rotating massive stars.

Piscine mycobacteriosis - Involvement of bacterial species and reflection in pathology.

INTRODUCTION: Piscine mycobacteriosis is a lethal disease with zoonotic potential, found worldwide in both fresh and marine fish. More than 20 strains of Mycobacterium spp. are known to persist in fish so far, but the pathogenicity is currently unknown for most of them. However, M. marinum is reported as one of the most pathogenic agents for fish and is involved in zoonotic cases. We examined 47 different cases from two zoological gardens, where fish tuberculosis was identified or previously suspected during the last ten years. We collected PCR and sequencing data, which were then compared to previously collected clinical data and pathology. The clinical signs caused by Mycobacterium spp. were similar in all the cases, except for cases infected by M. marinum, which lacked the presence of skin lesions. Lesions seen in histology caused by M. marinum tended to be more acute and severe compared lesions caused by other Mycobacterium spp. The majority of M. marinum cases have been reported within marine fish. In contrast to previous studies we detected this species to be the predominant bacteria present within freshwater fish. Interestingly, we detected M. holsaticum in one of the seawater systems used in this project, being the first report of this Mycobacterium species shown to be present in a fish.

INTRODUCTION: La mycobactériose du poisson est une maladie létale avec un potentiel zoonotique qui se trouve dans le monde entier chez les poissons d'eau douce et marins. Plus de 20 souches de Mycobacterium spp. sont à ce jour connues chez les poissons, mais la pathogénicité est actuellement inconnue pour la plupart d'entre elles. Cependant, M. marinum est signalé comme l'un des agents les plus pathogènes pour les poissons et il est impliqué dans des cas de zoonoses. Nous avons examiné 47 cas différents provenant de deux jardins zoologiques où la tuberculose du poisson a été identifiée ou suspectée au cours des dix dernières années. Nous avons recueilli des données de PCR et de séquençage qui ont ensuite été comparées aux données cliniques et à la pathologie précédemment collectées. Les signes cliniques causés par Mycobacterium spp. étaient similaires dans tous les cas, à l'exception des cas infectés par M. marinum, chez lesquels manquaient les lésions cutanées. Les lésions histologiques observées dans les infections par M. marinum tendaient à être plus aiguës et graves comparées aux lésions provoquées par d'autres espèces de Mycobacterium spp. La majorité des cas de M. marinum ont été documentés chez des poissons marins. Contrairement aux études précédentes, nous avons constaté que cette espèce était la principale bactérie présente chez les poissons d'eau douce. Fait intéressant, nous avons détecté M. holsaticum dans l'un des systèmes d'eau de mer examinés dans ce projet, ce qui est le premier cas confirmé de la présence de cette espèce de Mycobacterium chez un poisson.

Impact of sample storage on detection of periodontal bacteria.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Information on the impact of sample storage prior to analysis by DNA methods is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of subgingival sample storage on bacterial detection and enumeration. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples were studied by a) checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization by immediate processing, b) storage at + 4 degrees C for 6 weeks, c) storage at - 20 degrees C for 6 months or d) storage at - 20 degrees C for 12 months. RESULTS: No differences in total DNA were found between protocol 1 and 2, or between protocol 3 and 4. Protocol 1 yielded 2.4 times more total bacterial DNA than did protocol 3 (P < 0.001). Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Campylobacter gracilis were detected in 21.1% of the immediately processed samples but only in 6.6% of the samples after 12 months of storage. Similar changes were noticed for Treponema denticola, which was detected in 22.3% and 9.2%, respectively. Streptococci spp., Fusobacterium nucleatum and Tannerella forsythia did not seem to be affected by storage. In contrast, the level of Campylobacter rectus detection frequency changed from 2.6% if processed immediately to 15.8% if samples were stored for 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: In longitudinal clinical studies including microbiological samples and processed with DNA-DNA hybridization methods, samples should be stored for the same period of time before processing to avoid loss of microbiological information.

Familial gigantiform cementoma: classification and presentation of a large pedigree.

Very few cases of gigantiform cementoma have been reported, and those associated with a positive family history are especially rare. Confusion exists about the relationship of gigantiform cementoma to florid osseous dysplasia, cementifying fibroma, and diffuse chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis. It has been unclear whether gigantiform cementoma should be accorded the status of a separate entity. In this article, we report our findings on a family that, over five generations, has exhibited clinical, radiographic, and/or histologic findings consistent with the designation familial gigantiform cementoma. This pedigree consists of 55 members. Significant heterogeneity in expression of this trait was noted. The pattern of occurrence of the trait is consistent with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with variable expressivity of the phenotype. We suggest that familial gigantiform cementoma should be recognized as a separate entity.

[Automatic measurement of dye filling of simultaneous digital ICG- and fluorescein angiography sequences]. / Automatische Berechnung der Kontrastmittelfüllung simultaner digitaler ICG- und Fluoreszeinangiographiesequenzen.

BACKGROUND: The ICG filling is supposed to be faster than Fluorescein filling. Interestingly the filling characteristics of these dyes were never correlated directly using precise quantitative methods. Since ICG and Fluorescein are injected as a mixture, the simultaneous 2-channel angiography provides a suitable method to correlate the filling characteristics of the dyes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The simultaneous ICG and Fluorescein angiograms were recorded with a Rodenstock Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope. The angiographic images were digitized real-time with a graphic workstation. Filling characteristics of the two dyes was calculated after off-line eye tracking in different regions of interests (ROIs) on the central retina. RESULTS: The Fluorescein filling was faster than the ICG filling in 56.5% of our patients. In 26% of our patients was a mixed filling detectable. Depending on the position of the ROIs the Fluorescein or ICG filling was faster. In only 17.5% of our cases was the ICG filling faster than the Fluorescein filling. CONCLUSION: Our results show that Fluorescein filling in more than 50% of the cases is faster than ICG filling and only a minority of the patients has a faster ICG filling. According to our experience the filling pattern of the two dyes is individual, there is no rule of thumb for the filling.