Incidence of osmophilic yeasts and Zygosaccharomyces rouxii during the production of concentrate grape juices.

Zygosaccharomyces rouxii is the main spoilage yeast of grape juice concentrates. Detection and identification of Z. rouxii during the production of grape juice concentrate is critical to prevent spoilage in the final product. In this work, three grape juice concentrate processing plants were assessed by identifying osmophilic yeasts in juices and surfaces during different stages of a complete production line. Subsequently, molecular typing of Z. rouxii isolates was done to determine the strain distribution of this spoilage yeast. Osmotolerant yeast species, other than Z. rouxii, were mainly recovered from processing plant environments. Z. rouxii was only isolated from surface samples with grape juice remains. Z. rouxii was largely isolated from grape juice samples with some degree of concentration. Storage of grape juice pre-concentrate and concentrate allowed an increase in the Z. rouxii population. A widely distributed dominant molecular Z. rouxii pattern was found in samples from all three processing plants, suggesting resident microbes inside the plant.

Linfoma folicular primario de la conjuntiva simulando conjuntivitis crónica / Primary conjunctival follicular lymphoma mimicking chronic conjunctivitis

CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente varón de 43 años con conjuntivitis folicular crónica resistente a tratamiento local, y serologías para bacterias negativas. Se realizó biopsia incisional que fue compatible con hiperplasia reactiva linfoide. Un año después, una nueva biopsia mostró un linfoma folicular, sin afectación sistémica, que fue tratado con radioterapia local. DISCUSIÓN: Ante una conjuntivitis folicular crónica resistente a tratamiento convencional es esencial realizar una biopsia incisional para el diagnóstico histopatológico, que puede abarcar desde la inflamación crónica y la hiperplasia reactiva linfoide al linfoma. El linfoma folicular es raro entre los linfomas de conjuntiva y la estadificación es indispensable para un correcto abordaje terapéutico

CLINICAL CASE: The case is presented of a 43 year-old male patient with chronic follicular conjunctivitis, negative bacterial serology, and refractory to local treatment. The incisional biopsy performed showed to be consistent with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. A year later, a new incisional biopsy showed follicular lymphoma, with no systemic involvement, and he was treated with local radiotherapy. DISCUSSION: When a chronic follicular conjunctivitis is refractory to treatment, it is essential to perform an incisional biopsy to establish the histopathological diagnosis that can range from chronic inflammation, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia to lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is rare among conjunctival lymphomas, and the staging is indispensable for the correct therapeutic approach

Primary conjunctival follicular lymphoma mimicking chronic conjunctivitis.

CLINICAL CASE: The case is presented of a 43 year-old male patient with chronic follicular conjunctivitis, negative bacterial serology, and refractory to local treatment. The incisional biopsy performed showed to be consistent with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia. A year later, a new incisional biopsy showed follicular lymphoma, with no systemic involvement, and he was treated with local radiotherapy. DISCUSSION: When a chronic follicular conjunctivitis is refractory to treatment, it is essential to perform an incisional biopsy to establish the histopathological diagnosis that can range from chronic inflammation, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia to lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is rare among conjunctival lymphomas, and the staging is indispensable for the correct therapeutic approach.

Multiparameter flow cytometry for the identification of the Waldenström's clone in IgM-MGUS and Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia: new criteria for differential diagnosis and risk stratification.

Although multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) has demonstrated clinical relevance in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)/myeloma, immunophenotypic studies on the full spectrum of Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) remain scanty. Herein, a comprehensive MFC analysis on bone marrow samples from 244 newly diagnosed patients with an immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal protein was performed, including 67 IgM-MGUS, 77 smoldering and 100 symptomatic WM. Our results show a progressive increase on the number and light-chain-isotype-positive B-cells from IgM-MGUS to smoldering and symptomatic WM (P<.001), with only 1% of IgM-MGUS patients showing >10% B cells or 100% light-chain-isotype-positive B-cells (P<.001). Complete light-chain restriction of the B-cell compartment was an independent prognostic factor for time-to progression in smoldering WM (median 26 months; HR: 19.8, P=0.001) and overall survival in symptomatic WM (median 44 months; HR: 2.6, P=0.004). The progressive accumulation of light-chain-isotype-positive B-cells accompanied the emergence of a characteristic Waldenstrom's phenotype (CD22(+dim) / CD25+ /CD27+ / IgM+) that differed from other B-NHL by negative expression of CD5, CD10, CD11c or CD103. In contrast to myeloma, light-chain-isotype-positive plasma cells in IgM monoclonal gammopathies show otherwise normal antigenic expression. Our results highlight the potential value of MFC immunophenotyping for the characterization of the Waldenström's clone, as well as for the differential diagnosis, risk of progression and survival in WM.

Immunophenotypic analysis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia.

Immunophenotyping has become an essential tool for diagnosis of hematological malignancies. By contrast, for diagnosis of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) immunophenotyping is used only occasionally. From 150 patients with a IgM monoclonal gammopathy we have selected 60 cases with (1) morphological lymphoplasmocytoid bone marrow (BM) infiltration (>20%); (2) IgM paraprotein (>10g/L); and (3) absence of features of other lymphoma types. Immunophenotypic analysis was based on the use of the triple or quadruple monoclonal antibody (MoAb) combinations. To increase the sensitivity of the analysis of antigen expression, selected CD19(+)CD20(+) B cells were targeted. We have also explored the antigenic characteristics of both the plasma cell (PC) and mast cell (MC) compartments present in the BM from 15 WM patients. Clonal WM lymphocytes were characterized by the constant expression of pan-B markers (CD19, CD20, CD22, CD24) together with sIg, predominantly kappa (5:1, kappa:lambda ratio). A high proportion of cases (75%) were positive for FMC7 and CD25, but in contrast to hairy cell leukemia (HCL), these lymphocytes were always negative for CD103 and CD11c. CD10 antigen was also absent in all WM patients and less than one fifth of patients were positive for CD5 and CD23, while CD27, CD45RA, and BCL-2 were present in most malignant cells. In two cases, the coexistence of two different clones of B lymphocytes was identified, and in eight additional cases, intraclonal phenotypic heterogeneity was observed. As far as PCs are concerned, in most patients (85%) the number of PCs was within the normal range (median, 0.36%). The antigenic profile of these PCs differed from that observed in normal and myelomatous PC (CD38(++)CD19(++/-)CD56(-)CD45(++)CD20(+)). In three cases, PCs showed aberrant expression for CD5, CD22, or FMC7. Finally, the number of mast cells was significantly higher (0.058 +/- 0.13) as compared to normal BM (0.019 +/- 0.02) (P <.01), although they were immunophenotypically normal (CD117(+)CD2(-)CD25(-)).

Detection of Sorghum yellow banding virus Infecting Grain Sorghum in Venezuela.

Naturally infected grain sorghum plants (Sorghum bicolor) in Maracay, Aragua State, showed yellow speckles, streaks and bands with chlorosis, stunting, and necrosis. A virus was mechanically transmitted to 3 to 10% of inoculated sorghum cvs. Atlas and Himeca-303 plants in the greenhouse. They developed symptoms similar to those in the field within 20 days after inoculation. The virus infected a narrow range of the gramineous species. It was not transmitted by Rhopalosiphum maidis, Schizaphis graminum, Peregrinus maidis, Dalbulus maidis, nor Hortensia similis, nor by sorghum seed. The virus was purified three times from fresh infected tissue giving yields as high as 14.7 mg/100 g. The A260/ A280 was 1.55. The virions were isometric, 25 nm in diameter, and contained a single capsid protein with a molecular weight of approximately 29 kDa. The virus was highly stable in sap. The virus was not serologically related to eight small isometric viruses that infect Gramineae species but did react in agar double-diffusion tests with antiserum (supplied by R. W. Toler) to Sorghum yellow banding virus (SYBV), a virus that affects sorghum and sorghum × sudangrass hybrids in Texas and California (1). Based on the above characteristics, the virus is considered to be SYBV. This disease has not been found in other states in Venezuela. This is the first report of SYBV infecting grain sorghum in Venezuela. Reference: (1) V. A. Klaassen and B. W. Falk. Phytopathology 79:646, 1989.

Alcohol and stroke: a community case-control study in Asturias, Spain.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and stroke is uncertain. Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of stroke, while light drinking appears to be protective. However, the evidence is not uniform. We sought to examine the relationship between alcohol consumption and stroke, according to stroke type. We performed a population-based case-control study from September 1990 to December 1991. The study comprised 467 incident cases of stroke and 477 controls aged between 40 and 85. Case was defined following WHO criteria and control was randomly selected from the study base population. Alcohol exposure was obtained by medical interview. We found that consumption of less than 30 g/day of alcohol was protective against all stroke types combined, the multivariated adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41-0.83). Moderate alcohol drinking is also protective against all cerebral infarction combined (OR = 0.53; 95% CI, 0.35-0.80) and cortical infarction (OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.18-0.86). Drinking up to 30 g/day of alcohol has a borderline protective effect on deep cerebral infarction (OR = 0.40; 95% CI, 0.16-1.02) and has no effect on intracerebral hemorrhage (OR = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.44-1.74). Heavy alcohol drinking, over 140 g/day, is a risk factor for all stroke types combined (OR = 3.2; 95% CI, 1.1-9.7), all cerebral infarction combined (OR = 5.0; 95% CI, 1.5-16.3), small deep cerebral infarction (OR = 9.7; 95% CI, 2.6-36.7), intracerebral hemorrhage (OR = 6.2; 95% CI, 1.3-24.0), and is marginally associated with superficial cerebral infarction (OR = 4.6; 95% CI, 1.0-20.6). The relationship between alcohol and stroke depends on the alcohol dose and the pathology of the disease. Atherosclerosis of the large and medium cerebral arteries is found mainly in superficial cerebral infarction, and this type of stroke shows a J-shaped relationship with alcohol similar to that found in coronary heart disease, suggesting that they are similar diseases. On the other hand, arteriosclerosis of the penetrating arteries has been found in deep cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage, while atherosclerosis is not prominent. This may explain why alcohol does not have a protective effect on cerebral hemorrhage whereas heavy drinking is a strong risk factor in these two types of stroke.

[Stroke incidence in Asturias, 1990-1991]. / Incidencia del accidente cerebrovascular en Asturias: 1990-1991.

BACKGROUND: Stroke, with a rate of 121/100,000 was the second cause of death in Asturias, Spain. Here we communicate the results of a population based stroke register in the oriental health districts of Asturias. METHOD: The study took place between October 1, 1990 and May 30, 1991, covering a population of 652,549. Surveillance was both active and passive and included the public and private hospitals, and the primary health care. Death certificates could not be checked due to legal reasons. We defined case following the WHO criteria. RESULTS: During the eight months of study 708 case occurred. The crude incidence rate of first stroke was 132.4/100,000 and that of any stroke, 162.7/100,000. The age adjusted incidence to the world population was, respectively, 61.3/100,000 and 73.6/100,000. There were no differences in the incidence across sexes. Age showed a strong effect in cerebral infarctation and less marked in intracerebral hemorrhage Infarcts are very rare in women before 50. Distribution of stroke type was: infarct: 77%; intracerebral hemorrhages: 14%: subarachnoid hemorrhage: 4% and unspecified stroke: 4%. Almost 50% of the strokes occurred in the morning hours, from 6:00 am to 12:00 am also during the cold season, winter and fall, the proportion of stroke was higher than during the warm season. CONCLUSION: Stroke is an important cause of morbi-mortality in Asturias. The magnitude of mortality is larger than the expected from the incidence. It maybe explained by a high case/fatality ratio in Asturias due to proportion of hemorrhagic stroke, the ageing of the population and the distribution of competing causes of death. However, we cannot rule out a small incomplete registration of cases, mostly in patients over 85. We estimated the incidence of any stroke, given underegistration, to be 176/100,000 for any stroke.

True villous adenoma of the jejunum.

True villous adenoma of the jejunum is a rare lesion, first described by Keely and Gottlieb in 1969. Our case is similar in that it was benign and presented with intermittent intussusception. An important difference was the presence of multiple gastrointestinal neoplasia, thereby resembling villous adenomas of the colon. The pathological differentiation of true villous adenoma and adenomatous polyp is discussed.