A Cerne | PubMed Health

PubMed2004

Viral abundance and a high proportion of lysogens suggest that viruses are important members of the microbial community in the Gulf of Trieste.

Epifluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were applied to study virioplankton community in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea). The total viral abundance was in a range between 2.5 x 10(9)/L and 2.9 x 10(10)/L and was positively correlated with trophic status of the environment. Viruslike particles were significantly correlated with bacterial abundance in all samples studied. Correlations with other physicochemical or biological parameters were not significant. The data suggest that, because of the substantial fraction of tailed viruses present (26%), bacteriophages are an important component of the virioplankton community in the Gulf of Trieste. The abundance of viruslike particles in the seawater changed at hour intervals in a range from 1.3 x 10(9)/L to 5.1 x 10(9)/L. A significant fraction (71%) of the bacterial isolates was inducible in vitro by mitomycin C, and a high occurrence (51%) of lysogenic isolates with more than one phage morphotype present in the lysate was detected. The presence of lysogenic bacteria in the seawater was confirmed in situ with a mitomycin C induction experiment on the natural bacterial population. Results suggest that virioplankton is an abundant component of the microbial community in the Gulf of Trieste.

Bacteriophages↗

PubMed2003

Viral abundance and a high proportion of lysogens suggest that viruses are important members of the microbial community in the Gulf of Trieste.

Epifluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were applied to study virioplankton community in the Gulf of Trieste (northern Adriatic Sea). The total viral abundance was in a range between 2.5 x 10(9)/L and 2.9 x 10(10)/L and was positively correlated with trophic status of the environment. Viruslike particles were significantly correlated with bacterial abundance in all samples studied. Correlations with other physicochemical or biological parameters were not significant. The data suggest that, because of the substantial fraction of tailed viruses present (26%), bacteriophages are an important component of the virioplankton community in the Gulf of Trieste. The abundance of viruslike particles in the seawater changed at hour intervals in a range from 1.3 x 10(9)/L to 5.1 x 10(9)/L. A significant fraction (71%) of the bacterial isolates was inducible in vitro by mitomycin C, and a high occurrence (51%) of lysogenic isolates with more than one phage morphotype present in the lysate was detected. The presence of lysogenic bacteria in the seawater was confirmed in situ with a mitomycin C induction experiment on the natural bacterial population. Results suggest that virioplankton is an abundant component of the microbial community in the Gulf of Trieste.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2000

Vascular complications after percutaneous coronary interventions using abciximab (Reopro ): prospective evaluation with Doppler color flow imaging.

UNLABELLED: The aim of our study was to assess the incidence and consequences of vascular access site complications (VASC) associated with abciximab treatment in patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between July 1996 and November 1997, 120 patients underwent PTCA with adjunctive abciximab (n = 60) or without it (n = 60). VASC were assessed within 24 hours of PTCA completion by physical examination and Doppler color flow imaging (DCFI) of the groin. RESULTS: A total of 24 VASC were observed mostly in abciximab patients (30% vs. 10%; p = 0.006) and only half of them were suspected on physical examination. Abciximab administration [odds ratio (OR) = 3.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03Eth 9.0; p = 0.001], platelet fall > 40% (OR = 5.0; CI = 1. 03Eth 24.6; p = 0.045), and double-wall femoral artery puncture (OR = 5.3; CI = 1.9Eth 14.7; p = 0.001) carried a high probability of VASC after multivariate analysis. Vascular repair was needed in 10% of abciximab patients. CONCLUSIONS: Aggressive antiplatelet drugs adjunctive to the anticoagulation treatment may result in an increased rate of VASC after PTCA. The use of refined catheterization techniques is advised to avoid VASC associated with abciximab administration. DCFI is recommended in the patients with abnormal groin finding or significant platelet fall after PTCA.

Abciximab↗

PubMed1998

Respiration during emergence from anaesthesia with desflurane/N2O vs. desflurane/air for gynaecological laparoscopy.

BACKGROUND: The complications related to anaesthesia usually occur in the early postoperative period. Hypercapnia and hypoxaemia may result from any persistent depression of the respiratory drive relative to the metabolic demand. The purpose of this study was to compare the respiratory effects of desflurane anaesthesia with or without nitrous oxide during the period of emergence. METHODS: Twenty patients scheduled for a standardised surgical procedure, laparoscopic hysterectomy, were randomly allocated to anaesthesia with 1.3 MAC of desflurane/N2O (Group 1) or desflurane alone (Group 2), with 10 patients in each group. Times of resumption of spontaneous breathing and extubation were recorded and elimination rates of carbon dioxide, end-tidal concentrations of desflurane and N2O, and blood gases were measured. RESULTS: Spontaneous breathing was resumed in both groups when pH had decreased by about 0.07 and PaCO2 increased by about 1.4 kPa compared with the values at the end of 1.3 MAC anaesthesia with controlled normoventilation. There were no significant differences between the groups with regards to extubation time, 6 vs. 13 min, or total MAC value at extubation, 0.20 vs. 0.19 in Group 1 and 2, respectively. Neither did the groups differ in minute ventilation, end-tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen concentrations, or blood gases. CO2 elimination decreased in both groups from about 220 ml 70 kg-1 min-1 at the end of anaesthesia to a lowest value of about 160 ml 70 kg-1 min-1. CONCLUSION: The respiratory profiles during recovery from gynaecological laparoscopy with either desflurane/N2O or desflurane anaesthesia were similar with fast resumption of spontaneous breathing, short time to extubation, and no signs of CO2 retention.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Should nitrous oxide be discontinued before desflurane after anaesthesia with desflurane/N2O?

BACKGROUND: The appearance of hypoxaemia immediately after anaesthesia with nitrous oxide may be partially explained by diffusion hypoxia. This study was undertaken to evaluate circulatory and respiratory variables during emergence after desflurane/nitrous oxide anaesthesia, and whether there are any differences depending on which gas is discontinued first. METHODS: 20 patients were studied after gynaecological laparoscopic surgery. The depth of anaesthesia was reduced 10 min prior to the emergence by stopping the administration of one of the two inhalational agents. Desflurane was discontinued first in Group 1, nitrous oxide in Group 2. Ventilation was controlled with E'CO2 maintained at 5% until the administration of the second anaesthetic gas was discontinued. Thereafter, the patients breathed spontaneously. RESULTS: The PaCO2 at which the respiratory drive reappeared after controlled normoventilation was similar in both groups, 6.1-6.5 kPa, and extubation was performed after 10-11 min. At extubation, the end-tidal CO2 and total MAC were similar in the groups, about 6.2 vol% and 0.16, respectively. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in Group 1. The cardiac output increased in both groups from about 6 l/min at the conclusion of anaesthesia to 9.0 and 7.6 l/min at 15 min in the recovery period. End-tidal O2 decreased and CO2 increased in both groups during the first 10 min in the recovery period. pH was reduced at 15 and 30 min in both groups. CONCLUSION: Irrespective of which agent was discontinued first there was an increase in cardiac output decrease in oxygenation and a modest acidosis in the first 30-min recovery period. The only significant difference between the groups was in mean arterial blood pressure in the early emergence phase with a greater MAP when N2O had been used until the conclusion of anaesthesia.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

The attic space--its development and some species differences.

The attic space of the rat has been described. The lateral attic compartment is connected with the rest of the middle ear through a narrow opening--the isthmus tympanicus. Part of this lateral compartment seems to correspond to Prussak's space in the human. The attic space develops later than the rest of the middle ear cavity and is not fully developed until the external auditory canal is established. Most mammals seem to have an attic space similar to that of the rat. The size of pars flaccida relative to that of pars tensa, however, differs between species. It is interesting to note that an extremely earthbound animal such as the hedgehog has an extremely large pars flaccida, whereas guinea pig, emanating from high altitude life, has its pars flaccida converted into bony lamella. In this context it is also noteworthy that the bird investigated has only a rudimentary pars flaccida. On the basis of the presented findings it is tempting to speculate that the attic space is of importance for the pressure-equilibration of the middle ear cavity. The space needs to be ventilated. If not sufficiently ventilated, pathological conditions affecting this part of the middle ear cavity may start. To obtain conclusive evidence for these suppositions, further research is needed. Such studies are already in progress.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Middle ear mucosa in rats and humans.

The purposes of the study were to review thoroughly the literature and summarize it in a standardized fashion; to study the mucosa, including the distribution of mast cells, in all parts of the middle ear cavity in rats; and to compare the experimental findings with those known in humans. Adult, healthy rats were studied by light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The ciliated and secretory cells of the rat tympanic cavity are confined to two tracts, one anterior and one inferoposterior to the promontory. The tracts connect the epitympanum with the eustachian tube. The pars flaccida exhibits the highest density of mast cells, but mast cells are also distributed in the subepithelial layer of the tracts and in the floor of the tympanic bulla. The structure of the rat mucosa shows striking similarities to that of humans. Thus, from a morphological point of view, the rat seems to be a suitable model for middle ear studies. However, to be able to compare results obtained in different species and/or different laboratories, the areas of the middle ear from which the specimens have been taken must be carefully defined and presented in a standardized manner.

Adult↗