Large-scale spatial distribution of virioplankton in the Adriatic Sea: testing the trophic state control hypothesis.

Little is known concerning environmental factors that may control the distribution of virioplankton on large spatial scales. In previous studies workers reported high viral levels in eutrophic systems and suggested that the trophic state is a possible driving force controlling the spatial distribution of viruses. In order to test this hypothesis, we determined the distribution of viral abundance and bacterial abundance and the virus-to-bacterium ratio in a wide area covering the entire Adriatic basin (Mediterranean Sea). To gather additional information on factors controlling viral distribution on a large scale, functional microbial parameters (exoenzymatic activities, bacterial production and turnover) were related to trophic gradients. At large spatial scales, viral distribution was independent of autotrophic biomass and all other environmental parameters. We concluded that in contrast to what was previously hypothesized, changing trophic conditions do not directly affect virioplankton distribution. Since virus distribution was coupled with bacterial turnover times, our results suggest that viral abundance depends on bacterial activity and on host cell abundance.

Determinants of child nutrition and mortality in north-west Uganda.

An anthropometric survey of children aged 0-59 months in north-west Uganda in February-March 1987 indicated a high prevalence of stunting but little wasting. Use of unprotected water supplies in the dry season, prolonged breast-feeding, and age negatively affected nutrition; in contrast, parental education level improved nutrition. Mortality during the 12 months following the survey was higher among those who had low weight-for-age and weight-for-height, but children who had low height-for-age did not have higher mortality. Weight-for-age was the most sensitive predictor of mortality at specificities > 88%, while at lower specificity levels weight-for-height was the most sensitive. Children whose fathers' work was associated with the distillation of alcohol had a higher risk of mortality than other children. The lowest mortality was among children whose fathers were businessmen or who grew tobacco.

PIP: The most frequently suggested causes of malnutrition are as follows: poverty, low parental education, lack of sanitation, low food intake, malabsorption, diarrhea and other infections, poor feeding practices, family size, short birth intervals, maternal time availability, child rearing practices, and seasonality. The purpose of this study of 1178 children 0-59 months of age from 30 villages in Arua District, Uganda, was to assess the nutritional status of this population and to identify sensitive predictors of mortality and major causes of malnutrition. Anthropometric and socioeconomic and health-related data were obtained between February and March, 1987, on the randomly selected population. Follow-up after a year provided mortality data on the sampled population. The results showed that nutritional status before the first 5 months of life was satisfactory; deterioration followed. Wasting or low weight-for-height existed predominantly among those aged 6-24 months. Stunting was high after 5 months. The proportion of underweight children was greater in the 2nd year of life; improvement occurred thereafter. Mortality rates were around 10% during the first year and declined thereafter to .5% in the 4th year. Mortality was higher among those with low weight-for-age or weight-for-height. The relative risk for mortality was 3 at less than -3 standard deviation (SD) weight-for-age. For less than -2 weight-for-height the relative risk was 4.6. Mortality was higher for children 12 months of age. Weight-for-age was the most sensitive indicator of mortality for the percentage of survivors correctly identified over 88%; for lower specificity weight-for-height was a more sensitive indicator. Paternal occupation was the only household indicator related to child mortality; i.e., high mortality was related to a father's occupation as alcohol distributor, and low mortality, to his occupation as tobacco grower or businessman. In the stepwise multiple regression, a father's education was positively correlated with weight-for-age, and a mother's education, with height-for-age. Negative influences were age, breast feeding, use of unprotected water supplies in the dry season, skin infections, and diarrhea within 2 weeks before the survey. Paternal education was positively associated, and skin infections negatively association, with weight-for-height. Unrelated factors are identified; justification of significant factors is discussed.

[Long-term observations on the etiology and antibiotic resistance in urinary infections (1971-1987)]. / Osservazioni a lungo termine su eziologia ed antibioticoresistenza in corso di infezioni urinarie (1971-1987).

The activity "in vitro" of six antibiotics (co-trimoxazole, cephaloridine, nitrofurantoin, carbenicillin, nalidixic acid, gentamicin) was tested against four Gram negative: E. coli, Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp. and Enterobacter sp. isolated from urine samples from 1971 to 1987, at the Istituto di Igiene of Trieste. The temporal analysis of antibiograms revealed an decrease of the incidence of resistance in the year 1979, 1980 and 1981. In the following years the percentage of resistance showed an increasing of incidence.

Improving patient flow in ambulatory care through computerized evaluation techniques.

The Authors describe the application of Patient Flow Analysis (P.F.A.), an efficiency evaluation technique in a Gynaecologic Clinic in a large Provincial Hospital. This technique evaluates both patient flow and staff utilization in ambulatory settings. Staff efficiency (percentage of work time spent with patients) was low, (43% for clinicians and 36% for aides, and patients waiting time was excessive (average 2 hours 44 minutes) for only 35 minutes of service time, and could have been substantially reduced by a more personalized appointment pattern and punctual starting of clinics by the clinicians. The usefulness of Patient Flow Analysis is clearly demonstrated.

[Nickel and chromium. Analysis of 3 detergents using atomic absorption spectrophotometry]. / Nichel e cromo. Analisi allo spettrofotometro ad assorbimento atomico di tre detergenti.

It is well known that Nickel and Chromium are present, at different concentrations, in detergents used for washing-up, hand-washing and cleaning surfaces. In the present study we have analysed three trade marks of detergents (one for each different use) to evaluate, by means of atomic absorption spectroscopy, whether the concentrations previously detected are specific to a particular trade mark or are connected with the metals concentration variability typical of all detergents as commercial products. According to our results, Nickel and Chromium are always present, at different concentrations, in all the samples tested; detergents used for hand-washing contain the highest Nickel percentage; the concentrations observed show discrete variations also within the same trade mark.

[Human listeriosis in the Trieste area]. / Aspetti della listeriosi umana nell'area di Trieste.

This report concerns 3 cases of human listeriosis occurred in the area of Trieste between 1974-1979. Two newborns with a listeric early disease were observed in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. One child was colonized during the delivery from the infected vaginal mucosa of the mother; no signs of sepsis nor systemic involvement was observed. In the second case a bacteremia was documented with clinical signs of sepsis, and in spite of negative cultures of the mother, an intra-uterine infection was hypothesized. During an investigation carried out in 1977 on prevalence of listeric infection in pregnant women of Trieste, 127 vaginal and rectal swabs were examined and one subject (0.8%) was found harbouring a strain of Listeria monocytogenes in the vaginal secretions. Some bacteriological and epidemiological topics on human listeriosis are discussed.

["In vitro" activity of gentamicin, sisomicin and tobramycin against "pseudomonas aeruginosa" strains from hospital sources (author's transl)]. / Attivita "in vitro" di gentamicina, sisomicina e tobramicina su stipiti di "Pseudomonas aeruginosa" di provenienza ospedaliera.

The in vitro activity of two amynoglicosidic antibiotics, tobramycin and sisomicin, against 215 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens during the years 1972-1975, was evaluated in comparison with that of gentamicin. Tobramycin showed a greater activity than sisomicin and gentamicin. At the concentration of 5 mu/ml tobramycin resulted inhibitory on 94% of strains and sisomicin and gentamicin on 78.6% and 49.8% of strains respectively. The susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains to gentamicin decreased from 1972 to 1975, with an increasing of resistant strains of 23%. In an evaluation of possible cross-resistance of 14 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa highly resistant (MIC greater than or equal to 25 gamma/ml) to gentamicin, 13 showed a high degree of resistance also to sisomicin; on the other hand 7 strains highly resistant to gentamicin was sensitive to tobramycin at concentration less than or equal to 10 gamma/ml.