Food impaction: etiology over 35 years and association with eosinophilic esophagitis.

With the emergence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) as a common cause of food impaction (FI) and a presumed increase in incidence of EoE in the population, the effect on the incidence of FI has not been well described. The aim of this study is to describe the incidence of FI and endoscopic findings in these patients and the association with EoE. A population-based retrospective chart review of the Rochester Epidemiology Project database was performed to identify all patients within Olmsted County that presented with FI from 1976 to 2012. A review of all endoscopic findings, biopsy results, and demographic data was performed. 497 patients were identified with FI from 1976 to 2012. The overall incidence of FI has changed from 1976 to 2012 (Fig. 1) (P < 0.001). The peak incidence of 17.12 per 100,000 people occurred in the time period 1995 to 2000. Both the incidence of comorbid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use increased over the time period of the study (P < 0.001 for both). Of these patients, 188 (46.7%) had no abnormalities on their endoscopy. The most common endoscopic finding was stricture in 71 (17.6%) patients followed closely by Schatzki's ring in 68 (16.9%) patients. 139 patients had biopsies performed within 2 years of FI and 50 (36.0%) of those were diagnosed with EoE. We present for the first time the changing incidence of FI over the last 35 years in a population-based setting. We also demonstrate the rise of EoE as an important clinical consideration in patients with FI.

Replication of Heliothis zea nuclear polyhedrosis virus in cloned cell lines.

Clones from two Heliothis zea (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) ovarian cell lines, BCIRL-Hz-AM1 (AM1) and BCIRL-Hz-AM3 (AM3), were generated and their ability to produce H. zea nuclear polyhedrosis virus (HzSNPV) was compared. Titers of extracellular virus (ECV) ranged from 5.5 (AM3-F9) to 44.9 x 10(5) PFU/ml (AM1-A4), with the parental cell lines AM3 and AM1 producing 14.8 and 26.4 x 10(5) PFU/ml, respectively. Concentrations of polyhedral inclusion bodies (PIB) produced by the cloned lines ranged from 0.7 (AM3-F9) to 59.6 x 10(6) PIB/ml (AM1-B3), while the parental cell lines generated 6.5 (AM3) and 12.9 x 10(6) PIB/ml (AM1). The percentage of cells from the cloned lines that produced PIB ranged from 39 to 86.4% for AM3-F9 and AM1-A7, respectively, with the parental lines exhibiting 49.1% (AM3) and 75.3% (AM1) cells with PIB. The number of PIB per cell also differed markedly between cell lines, varying from 18.3 (AM3-F9) to 184.4 (AM1-B3) PIB/cell. The parental lines produced 57.3 (AM3) and 75.9 (AM1) PIB/cell. Thus, significant differences were seen in virus production (ECV, PIB) between parental cell lines, as well as between parental cell lines and their clones. In addition, cell lines were characterized with regard to their growth rates and isoenzyme patterns.

Digestive proteinases of larvae of the corn earworm, Heliothis zea: characterization, distribution, and dietary relationships.

Proteinases and peptidases from the intestinal tract of fifth-instar larvae of Heliothis (= Helicoverpa) zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) were characterized based on their substrate specificity, tissue of origin, and pH optimum. Activity corresponding to trypsin, chymotrypsin, carboxypeptidases A and B, and leucine aminopeptidase was detected in regurgitated fluids, midgut contents, and midgut wall. High levels of proteinase activity were detected in whole midgut homogenates, with much lower levels being observed in foregut and salivary gland homogenates. In addition, enzyme levels were determined from midgut lumen contents, midgut wall homogenates, and regurgitated fluids. Proteinase activities were highest in the regurgitated fluids and midgut lumen contents, with the exception of leucine aminopeptidase activity, which was found primarily in the midgut wall. Larvae fed their natural diet of soybean leaves had digestive proteinase levels that were similar to those of larvae fed artificial diet. No major differences in midgut proteinase activity were detected between larvae reared under axenic or xenic conditions, indicating that the larvae are capable of digesting proteins in the absence of gut microorganisms. The effect of pH on the activity of each proteinase was studied. The pH optima for the major proteinases were determined to be pH 8.0-8.5 for trypsin, when tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester was used as the substrate; and pH 7.5-8.0 for chymotrypsin, when benzoyl-L-tyrosine ethyl ester was used as the substrate.