The in vitro efficacy of SunSmile® Fruit & Vegetable Rinse against pathogenic strains of Prototheca algae that cause mastitis in cows.

The research concerns algae of the genus Prototheca. They are found in the natural environment and they can cause a disease in animals and humans called protothecosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of the fruit and vegetable rinse agent SunSmile® Fruit & Vegetable Rinse (Sunrider International) against P. zopfii isolates. The materials consisted of ten P. zopfii strains isolated from the milk of cows with mastitis. The following antifungal chemotherapeutic agents were also used in the study for comparison: nystatin, ketoconazole, amphothericin B, miconazole, clotrimazole, econazole, fluconazole, and flucytosine. The tube dilution method were used to evaluate the effect of a fruit and vegetable rinse agent and the disc-diffusion method to evaluate the effect of antifungal chemotherapeutic agents on P. zopfii strains. All tested strains of P. zopfii were susceptible to the action of the SunSmile® agent. The MMC was in the range of 0.0024-0.0190%. The SunSmile® Fruit & Vegetable Rinse can be used in prevention of mastitis in cows and in human protothecosis due to its safe, natural composition and efficacy.

Short communication: Cold atmospheric plasma inactivation of Prototheca zopfii isolated from bovine milk.

Mastitis is a serious bovine diseases that can be caused by Prototheca zopfii, yeast-like algae belonging to the family Chlorellaceae. The substantial economic losses and health damage associated with bovine mastitis emphasize the need to develop effective strategies aimed at control of the infection. Unfortunately, P. zopfii is highly resistant to most common antibacterial and antifungal agents, as well as to heat treatment. We report here the first attempt to use cold atmospheric plasma to inactivate this pathogen. We studied 20 strains of P. zopfii isolated from milk samples taken from cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis. The studies confirmed the high level of resistance of P. zopfii to typical antifungal agents, such as voriconazole, fluconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, anidulafungin, and micafungin. In contrast, each of the strains revealed high susceptibility to cold atmospheric plasma, >2-fold higher compared with a reference strain of Candida albicans. The obtained results are promising and open up a new approach in the fight against P. zopfii.

A chiral member of the family of organic hexameric cages.

A cubic nanocage (O symmetry) that exhibits inherent chirality and has a covalent, rigid skeleton with molecule-sized entrance portals was obtained by means of dynamic covalent chemistry using a reaction between aldehyde-functionalized resorcin[4]arene and hydrazine.

Benign Cutaneous Disease Among Polish Renal Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Organ transplant recipients are an at-risk group for skin cancers and benign cutaneous diseases. Immunosuppression type, dosage, and treatment length dictates the frequency of benign lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hundred twenty-three consecutive adult renal transplant recipients (RTRs) were enrolled and screened for benign skin lesions. During examination, swabs, skin scrapings, and nail clippings were collected from any suspected areas infection and any cutaneous lesions marked for quality and quantity on a special questionnaire. The aim was to examine the prevalence of benign cutaneous disease and risk factors. RESULTS: Fungal infections were the most common infections found (60%), most commonly in the oral cavity (40.8%). Viral warts occurred in 18.4%, being significantly more common in those transplanted over 5 years (P = .002). Hypertrichosis was the most common pilosebaceous disorder found (P ≤ .001). Other iatrogenic cutaneous effects included purpura (50.2%), xerosis (41.2%), and gingival hyperplasia (28.2%), the latter strongly associated with cyclosporine (P = .0005). Seborrhoeic warts (23.8%) were most common in patients older than 50 years (P < .001). One-third of subjects had skin tags (31%). DISCUSSION: This is the largest study of the prevalence and type of non-malignant cutaneous diseases in Polish RTRs. We see increasing numbers of patients with long-term side effects from immunosuppressive therapy, and treatment, gender, age, and time since transplantation should be considered with new skin lesions in everyday practice with RTRs. CONCLUSIONS: The study group had a high prevalence of benign cutaneous diseases and these should not be overlooked as they can cause aesthetic problems and reduced quality of life.

Analysis of the relationship between fluconazole consumption and non-C. albicans Candida infections.

The effect of fluconazole consumption on the incidence of nosocomial non-C. albicans Candida infections remains unclear. In this study we investigated such a relationship in an intensive care unit (Poland) over an 11-year period (2002-2012). Statistics relating to the number of candidiasis cases and the number of defined daily doses of fluconazole showed that only a very weak and not statistically significant linear correlation existed between these two variables (r(2) = 0.36, P = 0.052). However, the assumption of a 1-year delay in the infection response to changes in fluconazole concentrations resulted in a strong and statistically significant linear correlation (r(2) = 0.64, P = 0.0053). To more accurately determine the nature of this relationship, a simple epidemiological model was proposed that provided a better than linear correlation (r(2) = 0.78, P = 0.00077). We successfully used this approach to analyze results from the literature that were interpreted as evidence that fluconazole use is not a risk factor for development of non-C. albicans Candida infections. If a time delay in the infection response was assumed, a strong and statistically significant correlation was obtained. These findings suggest the need for a closer look at fluconazole therapy as a possible risk factor for development of non-C. albicans Candida infections.

Mast cells and eosinophils are involved in activation of ulcerative colitis.

PURPOSE: The intestinal mucosal immune cells such as the mast cells and eosinophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of present study was to compare the number of mast cells and eosinophils in patients with active and non-active ulcerative colitis. Another purpose was to found whether the number of eosinophils could correlate with number of mast cells in both tested groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The twenty-five of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens of active ulcerative colitis, the twenty of non-active ulcerative colitis and the ten of controls were retrieved from archival material. Tryptase and chymase immunopositive cells were detected using immunohistochemical method. Additionally, the number of mast cells and eosinophils were detected using the most common histochemical methods. RESULTS: The number of eosinophils and toluidine blue stained and tryptase immunopositive mast cells was significantly increased in active UC compared to non-active UC. In active stage of UC positive correlation between the number of mast cells stained with toluidine blue and the number of chymase and tryptase immunopositive mast cells were observed. Moreover, the number of eosinophils was significantly correlated with number of mast cells stained with toluidine blue and number of tryptase- and chymase immunopositive mast cells. In non-active stage of UC positive correlation was observed only between the number of mast cells stained with toluidine blue and chymase immunopositive cells and eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings confirmed that mast cells and eosinophils are functionally involved in the course of UC.

Effect of Octenisept antiseptic on bioburden of neoplastic ulcers in patients with advanced cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of octenidine dihydrochloride (Octenisept, Schülke & Mayr) on the clinical condition and bacterial flora in neoplastic ulcers. METHOD: Twenty-one patients with advanced cancer and neoplastic ulcers were included in the study. Octenisept-moistened gauze dressings were applied to the ulcers three times daily. The clinical and bacteriological status of the wounds were assessed at baseline and after three weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-three bacterial strains were cultured at baseline. After three weeks of treatment, the tests were repeated on 16 patients. Clinical observations confirmed an improvement in the clinical condition of the ulcers, characterised by a reduction in necrosis, exudate levels, erythema and oedema. According to the bacteriological assessment, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Proteus mirabilis were eradicated from the wounds. Enterococcus faecalis persisted in two patients, Escherichia coli in one patient and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in another patient. CONCLUSION: Octenispet was an effective antimicrobial: Staphylococcus aureus and Proteus mirabilis were eradicated in all ulcers. After three weeks of treatment, none of the ulcers developed an infection and there was an improvement in their clinical condition.

A novel thermostable nitrilase superfamily amidase from Geobacillus pallidus showing acyl transfer activity.

An amidase (EC 3.5.1.4) in branch 2 of the nitrilase superfamily, from the thermophilic strain Geobacillus pallidus RAPc8, was produced at high expression levels (20 U/mg) in small-scale fermentations of Escherichia coli. The enzyme was purified to 90% homogeneity with specific activity of 1,800 U/mg in just two steps, namely, heat-treatment and gel permeation chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electron microscopic (EM) analysis of the homogenous enzyme showed the native enzyme to be a homohexamer of 38 kDa subunits. Analysis of the biochemical properties of the amidase showed that the optimal temperature and pH for activity were 50 and 7.0 degrees C, respectively. The amidase exhibited high thermal stability at 50 and 60 degrees C, with half-lives greater than 5 h at both temperatures. At 70 and 80 degrees C, the half-life values were 43 and 10 min, respectively. The amidase catalyzed the hydrolysis of low molecular weight aliphatic amides, with D: -selectivity towards lactamide. Inhibition studies showed activation/inhibition data consistent with the presence of a catalytically active thiol group. Acyl transfer reactions were demonstrated with acetamide, propionamide, isobutyramide, and acrylamide as substrates and hydroxylamine as the acyl acceptor; the highest reaction rate being with isobutyramide. Immobilization by entrapment in polyacrylamide gels, covalent binding on Eupergit C beads at 4 degrees C and on Amberlite-XAD57 resulted in low protein binding and low activity, but immobilization on Eupergit C beads at 25 degrees C with cross-linking resulted in high protein binding yield and high immobilized specific activity (80% of non-immobilized activity). Characterization of Eupergit C-immobilized preparations showed that the optimum reaction temperature was unchanged, the pH range was somewhat broadened, and stability was enhanced giving half-lives of 52 min at 70 degrees C and 30 min at 80 degrees C. The amidase has potential for application under high temperature conditions as a biocatalyst for D: -selective amide hydrolysis producing enantiomerically pure carboxylic acids and for production of novel amides by acyl transfer.

Hydrogen-induced defects in austenite and ferrite of a duplex steel.

The influence of hydrogen on the microstructure of two types of austeno-ferritic duplex stainless steel (Cr26-Ni6 model steel and Cr22-Ni5-Mo3 commercial steel), each of them after two thermo-mechanical treatments, was investigated. The aim of this study was to reveal microstructural changes appearing during the hydrogen charging and particularly to clarify the occurrence of phase transformations induced by hydrogen. The specific microstructural changes in the ferrite (alpha) and austenite (gamma) of both types of steel were observed. A strong increase of dislocation density was noticed in the alpha phase. In the case of model steel, longer hydrogen charging times led to significant ferrite grain refinement. In the commercial steel, the strips and twin plates appeared in the ferrite after hydrogenation. The appearance of stacking faults was revealed in the gamma phase. The martensite laths appeared in austenite after longer hydrogenation times. It seems that the microstructural changes gave rise to the formation of microcracks in the alpha and gamma phases as well as on the alpha/gamma interphase boundaries.

Kinetic and molecular properties of Bacillus subtilis IBTC-3 subtilisin.

Bacillus subtilis IBTC-3 subtilisin was purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G 75 and affinity chromatography on bacitracin-CNBr-Sepharose 4B and characterized. Its molecular mass of 27 kDa was determined by SDS-PAGE, and isoelectric pH of 8.4 by chromatofocusing. FT-Raman and FT-IR spectroscopy studies revealed fragments with alpha-helix and irregular secondary structures within the polypeptide chain. The beta-sheet conformation was observed only in second-derivatives of FT-RS and FT-IR spectra, in the range of the amide II, III, and I bands. Tyr residues were shown to be hydrogen bonded and CSCH(3) groups adopted two conformations (P(H)-T and P(C)-G conformers). Kinetic properties of B. subtilis IBTC-3 subtilisin in hydrolysis of ethyl esters of amino acid derivatives were compared with that of alkaline peptidase from Bacillus alcalophilus PB92. The first enzyme displayed the highest affinity for NAc-Phe-OEt, both in hydrolysis (K(m) of 0.22 mM) and in synthesis (K(m) of 0.85 mM), whereas PB92 peptidase preferred Tyr derivatives (NAc-Tyr-OEt, K(m) of 0.043 and 0.75 mM, respectively). In contrast to the latter enzyme, B. subtilis IBTC-3 subtilisin catalyzed hydrolysis and synthesis of Bz-Arg-OEt.

[The enzymatic activity of fungi strains isolated from the skin and skin appendages of humans returning from the tropics]. / Aktywnosc enzymatyczna szczepów grzybów wyizolowanych ze skóry i jej przydatków od osób powracajacych z tropiku.

The aim of the work was to assess the enzymatic activity of 11 fungi strains isolated from the skin of 10 Lódz residents who had visited the tropics over 1998-1999. The strains were cultured by Jeske and Lupa of The Voivodeship Outpatient Clinic of Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases and Fungal Infections in Lódz. They were as follows: Trichophyton rubrum and Acremonium kiliense from Zambia, Myriodontium keratinophilum, Beauveria bassiana, Cladosporium herbarum, Candida famata and Trichophyton yaoundei from Sudan, Trichophyton tonsurans from Ethiopia, Trichophyton phaseliforme from Egypt, Acremonium strictum from Zimbabwe and Microsporum racemosus from Tanzania. The enzymatic activity was determined with the use of API ZYM of bioMérieux enabling 19 hydrolases to be revealed. In general, all tropical strains were characterised by a weak hydrolytic activity.

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in central Poland. Part III. Tinea pedis.

The total number of dermatophytoses (7393) included 2025 (27.4%) tinea pedis cases. Etiological factors in descending order by contribution were: Trichophyton rubrum (41.7%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. granulosum (30.9%), T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (10.0%), Epidermophyton floccosum (7.4%), T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum (6.9%), Trichophyton tonsurans (2.3%), Trichophyton spec. (0.4%), Trichophyton terrestre (0.2%), Trichophyton violaceum (0.1%). In the years 1987-93 the incidence of tinea pedis substantially increased over 1994-96. Today tinea pedis is second by incidence among all clinical forms of dermatophyte infections of skin and skin appendages in the Lódz region.

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in Central Poland. Part II--Non-dermatophyte infections of nails and periungual walls.

This study presents the epidemiology of dermatomycoses and their etiological agents of people living in the Lódz region, Central Poland, over the years 1987-1996. The study comprised a total of 25,737 patients. Positive mycological results were obtained for 14,084 patients (54.7%). The total number of 14,295 of positive mycological results included 6902 (48.3%) isolations of non-dermatophyte fungi. Among these positive results, isolations from subjects with infections of nails and periungual walls amounted to 2034 (29.5%). Candida albicans (59.9%) and Aspergillus sp. (17.3%) were major etiological factors of those infections. The decade in question was marked by a steady growth in incidence of the infections studied, especially over the years 1994-1996.

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in central Poland. Part I--Superficial infections caused by yeasts and moulds.

This work presents the epidemiology of dermatomycoses and their etiological agents of people living in the Lódz region, Central Poland, over the years 1987-1996. The analysis involved subjects referred by physicians to three major mycological laboratories in Lódz (covering the entire mycological diagnostics of the Lódz region). The study comprised a total of 25,737 persons aged 1-82. Positive results of mycological examinations were obtained for 14,084 (54.7%) patients. The total number of 14,295 positive mycological results included 6902 (48.3%) isolations of non-dermatophyte fungi. The non-dermatophytes included: Candida-like (69.8%), moulds (26.9%) and lipophilic yeasts (3.3%). The distribution of non-dermatophytes was characterized by dependence on sociodemographic features such as subjects' age, place of residence, education and occupation. Candida-like fungi are etiological factors of superficial infections of all clinical types whereas moulds were found to cause infections of finger and toe nails and periungual walls.

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in central Poland. Part IV. Onychomycosis due to dermatophytes.

The total number of dermatophytoses (7393) included 1567 (21.2%) cases of onychomycosis. Etiological factors in descending order were: Trichophyton rubrum (58.8%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. granulosum (26.2%), T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum, T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (5.1%), Trichophyton tonsurans (4.1%), Trichophyton violaceum (1.5%), Trichophyton spec. (1.1%). An increase in the incidence was noted between 1994 and 1996. At present, onychomycosis is third by incidence among all clinical forms of dermatophyte infections of skin and skin appendages in the Lódz region.

Epidemiology of dermatomycoses of humans in central Poland. Part V. Tinea corporis.

The total number of dermatophytoses (7393) included 2204 (29.8%) cases of tinea glabrosa. Etiological factors in descending order were: Microsporum canis (23.5%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. granulosum (21.6%), Trichophyton rubrum (17.8%), Trichophyton tonsurans (10.4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (7.7%), T. mentagrophytes var. quinckeanum (6.0%), Microsporum gypseum (5.3%), Trichophyton violaceum (3.7%), T. mentagrophytes var. interdigitale (2.3%), Microsporum equinum (0.7%), Trichophyton verrucosum (0.4%), Trichophyton spec. (0.4%), Microsporum cookei (0.14%). At present tinea glabrosa is dominant among all clinical forms of dermatophyte infections of skin and skin appendages in the Lódz region.

[Utilization of a system with application of a new media for detecting dermatophytes]. / Wykorzystanie systemu z uzyciem nowych podlozy dla zwiekszenia wykrywalnosci dermatofitów.

Previously proposed system with application of new media was applied for differential diagnostics of dermatophytes. Evaluation concerned: 1. Direct preparations (KOH with glycerol, fluid with lactic acid and cotton blue), 2. Cultures on Sabouraud medium with CCG, Littman agar, agar supplemented with casein hydrolysate, erythritol and albumin, Christensen medium and 2% glucose agar, 3. Results of hair enticement test, 4. Clinical changes in Wood lamp. It was found that percentage of positive results (35.2 +/- 7.95%) was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than in culture when compared with results obtained from direct preparations. On erythritol medium strains from Trichophyton genus were isolated which was not the case on the Sabouraud medium. Christensen medium and agar containing 2% of glucose are most reliable in differentiating T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum.

The vasopressin and oxytocin neurohypophysial content as influenced by bleeding or dehydration: effect of cholecystokinin octapeptide.

The effect of CCK-8 (50 ng, i.c.v.) on the neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin storage was estimated in haemorrhaged (1 ml per 100 g b.w.) male Wistar rats. In another experimental series rats dehydrated for three days were given CCK-8 in a daily i.c.v. dose of 50 ng. The neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin content was bioassayed by pressor effect following Dekanski or milk-ejection activity in vitro following van Dongen and Hays, respectively. The decrease of neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin content, brought about by dehydration, was significantly less marked in animals treated with CCK-8. The depletion of neurohypophysial vasopressin and oxytocin content in haemorrhaged animals could be completely inhibited by earlier i.c.v. administration of CCK-8. It is suggested that hypothalamic cholecystokinin may serve as a modulator of neurohypophysial function.