Trichosporon beigelii funguria in renal transplant recipients.
Trichosporon beigelii funguria in renal transplant recipients is usually benign and is seldom associated with invasive or deep-seated infections.
Adult↗
Biomedical subjects
K Weiss
Publications and source records attributed to K Weiss.
Comparative activity of new quinolones against 326 clinical isolates of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important emerging pathogen causing a variety of infections in severely ill patients. This microorganism is inherently resistant to many antibiotics, and only a few therapeutic options are available. The principal aim of this study was to assess the in vitro activity of new quinolones against this pathogen. Three hundred and twenty-six single clinical isolates were tested in this study. The MIC(90) was 16 mg/L for ciprofloxacin, 8 mg/L for levofloxacin and gatifloxacin, 4 mg/L for trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin and sparfloxacin and 2 mg/L for clinafloxacin. At a 2 mg/L concentration, a C(max) lung:MIC ratio of >/=10 can be reached for 95%, 84.3%, 83.1% and 81.5% of isolates, respectively, for clinafloxacin, trovafloxacin, moxifloxacin and sparfloxacin (P < 0. 001 compared with levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin). In spite of the rare but serious adverse events associated with the new-generation quinolones, these agents may become very useful in the treatment of certain severe or life-threatening infectious conditions due to S. maltophilia, notably lower respiratory tract infections.
4-Quinolones↗
Antarctica natural laboratory and space analogue for psychological research.
This introduction to the special issue traces the history of psychosocial concerns related to Antarctic exploration, from the heroic age of early explorers through the International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1957 to 1958 to recent and current systematic research projects. The introduction discusses the organization and topics of international psychological investigations in polar stations and summarizes the articles that follow. Living in Antarctica imposes some unusual restrictions as well as opportunities, and it requires psychological adaptation to extreme environmental circumstances. The thrust of previous scientific and popular literature has been to focus on the negative effects of the situation and ignore the positive ones; however, ongoing studies are bringing about a more balanced view. Having an accurate understanding is important not only intrinsically and for appropriate application in the Antarctic itself but also in analogous extreme and unusual environments. These include extended space flight and space habitation, such as the projected voyage to Mars.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Psychological adjustment during three Japanese Antarctic research expeditions.
This study investigates the individual characteristics of Japanese polar team members. Four sets of measures from the Polar Psychology Project Battery have been used in Asuka Station. These measures are thought to reflect adjustment and well-being. Data have been collected during 3 consecutive years. The psychological profile of the subjects was relatively stable, and comparable to the standard means of Western sojourners. The results show the subjects were generally high in stress resistance. However, an increase in the Planning Orientation score and a decrease in the Hardiness score appear at the end of the wintering-over. These modifications correspond to psychological changes linked to the approaching end of wintering-over.
Adaptation, Psychological↗
Delivery room management of the apparently vigorous meconium-stained neonate: results of the multicenter, international collaborative trial.
OBJECTIVE: Disagreement exists concerning the appropriate delivery room management of the airway of vigorous meconium-stained infants. Some suggest a universal approach to intubation and suctioning of the airway in all such neonates, whereas others advocate a selective approach. We performed this investigation: 1) to assess whether intubation and suctioning of apparently vigorous, meconium-stained neonates would reduce the incidence of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS); and 2) to determine the frequency of complications from delivery room intubation and suctioning of such infants. METHODS: Inclusion criteria included: 1) gestational age >/=37 weeks; 2) birth through meconium-stained amniotic fluid of any consistency; and 3) apparent vigor immediately after birth. Subjects were randomized to be intubated and suctioned (INT) or to expectant management (EXP). Primary outcome measures included: 1) the incidence of respiratory distress, including MAS, and 2) the incidence of complications from intubation. RESULTS: A total of 2094 neonates were enrolled from 12 participating centers (1051 INT and 1043 EXP). Meconium-stained amniotic fluid consistency was similar in both groups. Of the 149 (7.1%) infants that subsequently demonstrated respiratory distress, 62 (3.0%) had MAS and 87 (4.2%) had findings attributed to other disorders. There were no significant differences between groups in the occurrence of MAS (INT = 3.2%; EXP = 2.7%) or in the development of other respiratory disorders (INT = 3.8%; EXP = 4.5%). Of 1098 successfully intubated infants, 42 (3.8%) had a total of 51 complications of the procedure. In all cases, the complications were mild and transient in nature. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with expectant management, intubation and suctioning of the apparently vigorous meconium-stained infant does not result in a decreased incidence of MAS or other respiratory disorders. Complications of intubation are infrequent and short-lived.
Adult↗
[Surgical procedures on the external carotid artery].
A clinical series of five patients operated on for symptomatic cerebral blood flow deterioration is discussed. They presented with either hemispheral symptoms (hemiparesis, amaurosis fugax) or signs of diffuse cerebral hypoxia. In the presence of unilateral or bilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion a critical stenosis of the external carotid artery (ECA) was confirmed either by duplex ultrasound or angiography. In all these cases ECA was reconstructed by means of common vascular surgical techniques. The use of intraluminal (i.l.) shunt was mandatory. There were neither early nor late deaths in this group. In one patient a transient stroke occurred three days following standard carotid endarterectomy performed after ECA surgery on the contralateral side. After the mean follow-up of 46 months all patients remain neurologically asymptomatic. In selected cases the ECA reconstruction offers an effective and beneficial tool for surgical management of critical cerebral perfusion impairment.
Adult↗
Template-Mediated Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Cyclodehydrogenation and Planarization of a Hexaphenylbenzene Derivative at a Copper Surface.
The deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on substrate surfaces is a key step for using such disklike molecules in nanoelectronic devices. An alternative to the (frequently problematic) preparation by evaporation or deposition from solution is to use the substrate surface as a template for the planarization that accompanies the cyclodehydrogenation (see picture).
Journal Article↗
Group A Streptococcus carriage among close contacts of patients with invasive infections.
During the past few years, the incidence of invasive group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection has been increasing. However, there are presently no clear recommendations regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for close contacts of index patients. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the prevalence of carriage of the same GAS strain as the patient's among contacts of patients with invasive infections and 2) to assess the importance of exposure duration. From March 1995 to March 1996, the authors prospectively included in the study all patients with invasive GAS infection, as defined by the Working Group on Severe Streptococcal Infections, who came to Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. An epidemiologic investigation was systematically carried out for each index case. Contacts were divided into two groups: those who had spent 24 hours or more with the index patient during the week preceding the beginning of his or her illness and those who had spent 12-24 hours with the index patient during that week. Strains of GAS were examined by serotyping (proteins M and T and the presence or absence of the serum opacity factor) and by characterization of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins (exotoxins A, B, and C). One hundred and two contacts of 17 index cases with invasive GAS infection were systematically screened. Contacts were considered positive if they carried the same strain of the bacterium and the same streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin as the index case. Among the contacts who had spent at least 24 hours per week with their respective index cases, 13 out of 48 (27%) were found to be harboring the same serotype of GAS as the index patient (95% confidence interval 14.5-39.5). By comparison, only one of the 54 contacts in the 12- to 24-hour group (1.8%) was found to be carrying the same strain of the bacterium (95% confidence interval 0-5.3). This difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). The median age of the positive carriers (10 years) was significantly lower than the median age of the noncarriers (39 years) (p< or =0.0005). This study showed that close contacts who had spent 12-24 hours with the index patient were rarely colonized with GAS. If antibiotic prophylaxis against GAS is recommended, it should probably target contacts who spent at least 24 hours with an infected patient during the week preceding illness onset.
Adolescent↗
Global transcription regulators of eukaryotes.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adenosine Triphosphate↗
Adenoviral transfer of the viral IL-10 gene periarticularly to mouse paws suppresses development of collagen-induced arthritis in both injected and uninjected paws.
Gene therapy is a promising new approach in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Gene delivery to diseased joints offers the prospect of achieving high, local concentrations of a therapeutic gene product in a sustained manner, while minimizing exposure of nontarget organs. We report that a single administration of a modified adenovirus encoding the Epstein-Barr-derived homologue of IL-10 can suppress the development of disease for extended periods of time when injected locally within the periarticular tissue surrounding the ankle joints of mice with collagen type II-induced arthritis. Furthermore, we show that injection of an adenoviral vector carrying the IL-10 gene into a single paw can suppress development of arthritis in other, noninjected paws of the same individual. The systemic protection resulting from local gene therapy occurred in the absence of detectable levels of viral IL-10 in the serum. Circulating Ab levels to heterologous collagen were unaffected; however, treatment with viral IL-10 significantly suppressed the development of Abs to autologous mouse type II collagen. Thus, the treatment of a single joint by local delivery of the vIL-10 gene may protect multiple joints of the same individual while avoiding deleterious side effects often associated with systemic therapy.
Adenoviridae↗
[Investigations on the fermentation quality of silage from low-nitrate green forage].
In 3-year-experiments green forage from Dactylis glomerata and Festuca species, produced by differentiated cutting frequencies, was ensiled under laboratory conditions. The forage was almost without nitrate. Because of the higher content of water-soluble carbohydrates the fermentability coefficients of Festuca species were above of Dactylis glomerata. The fermentability coefficients of both plant species were inferior in the second and third cut, even if the first cut was delayed until July. Despite of similar fermentability coefficients of the two plant species silages contained different amounts of lactic and butyric acid. The portion of lactic acid amounted to 52 to 57% and 60 to 73% of total acids, the proportion of butyric acid 30 to 35% and 18 to 25% for Dactylis glomerata and Festuca species, respectively. According to the high fermentability coefficients silages free of butyric acid would be expected, however, by both species butyric acid always was formed, in some cases at high concentrations. In the contrary the amounts of ammonia, acetic acid and alcohol as well as the pH-value were almost extremely low. It can be concluded that the quality of silages produced of green forages with low nitrate cannot be assessed adequately by the current evaluation key.
Acetic Acid↗
Varicella-zoster screening and management programs in healthcare facilities in Canada.
A 24-question survey on varicella-zoster screening programs and control measures for varicella-zoster infections was sent to 170 Canadian healthcare facilities. The results indicated that 60% of Canadian healthcare facilities have well-established preemployment varicella-zoster screening programs for healthcare workers. Overall, 30% of healthcare facilities impose work restrictions for susceptible healthcare workers, 49% use negative-pressure rooms for varicella-zoster management, and 28% have a policy to discharge susceptible exposed patients. Large variations exist among Canadian healthcare facilities in their varicella-zoster infection control policies.
Canada↗
Level of suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis over a 4-year period in a teaching hospital.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Cross Infection↗
High-resolution structural analysis of chromatin at specific loci: Saccharomyces cerevisiae silent mating-type locus HMRa.
Genetic and biochemical evidence implicates chromatin structure in the silencing of the two quiescent mating-type loci near the telomeres of chromosome III in yeast. With high-resolution micrococcal nuclease mapping, we show that the HMRa locus has 12 precisely positioned nucleosomes spanning the distance between the E and I silencer elements. The nucleosomes are arranged in pairs with very short linkers; the pairs are separated from one another by longer linkers of approximately 20 bp. Both the basic amino-terminal region of histone H4 and the silent information regulator protein Sir3p are necessary for the organized repressive chromatin structure of the silent locus. Compared to HMRa, only small differences in the availability of the TATA box are present for the promoter in the cassette at the active MATa locus. Features of the chromatin structure of this silent locus compared to the previously studied HMLalpha locus suggest differences in the mechanisms of silencing and may relate to donor selection during mating-type interconversion.
Chromatin↗
Development of a TEM to study in situ structural and chemical changes at an atomic level during gas-solid interactions at elevated temperatures.
A Philips (Eindhoven, The Netherlands) 430 (300 keV) high resolution transmission electron microscope has been modified for in situ study of gas-solid interactions at elevated temperatures. This microscope can be best described as a synthesis, processing, and characterization laboratory for nano-size materials. A differentially pumped environmental cell (E-cell), capable of handling up to 20 torr of gas pressure, is fitted in the objective lens pole-piece gap. Single-tilt or double-tilt heating holders can be used to heat the samples up to 1,300 degrees C and 850 degrees C, respectively. The system can handle any non-corrosive gases such as H2, O2, N2, NH3, CO, water vapor. Electron diffraction patterns are used to elucidate the reaction path and to identify stable and/or metastable phases formed. Time, temperature, and pressure resolved electron diffraction patterns can also be used to estimate the thermodynamical conditions for the onset of a reaction and the stability range of different phases observed during the process can also be determined. The high resolution imaging capabilities enable elucidation of the basic structural mechanisms involved at near atomic level. The TV rate camera/video recording system is used to measure the reaction rates (kinetics of the reaction). A post projector energy filter (Gatan Imaging Filter, GIF) is attached at the bottom of the microscope in order to filter the inelastic scattering from the gases/thick samples as well as to obtain energy filtered images (chemical maps). The GIF can also be used as a parallel electron energy loss spectrometer (PEELS) to obtain changes in the sample composition during the reactions. The changes in the near-edge structures of PEELS spectrum is used to monitor changes in bonding and/or chemical environment elements during reaction. The chemical maps obtained can also be used to identify preferred regions of gas reactions, e.g., grain boundaries or surfaces, etc. Various modifications of the microscope are described in detail, with suitable examples showing the performance.
Cerium↗
Mcm1 regulates donor preference controlled by the recombination enhancer in Saccharomyces mating-type switching.
Switching of Saccharomyces mating type by replacement of sequences at the MAT locus involves a choice between two donors, HML and HMR. MATalpha cells inhibit recombination along the entire left arm of chromosome III, including HML, whereas MATa cells activate this same region. MATa-dependent activation of HML depends on a small, cis-acting DNA sequence designated the recombination enhancer (RE), located 17 kb centromere-proximal to HML. A comparison of RE sequences interchangeable between Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces carlsbergensis defines a minimum RE of 244 bp. RE activity is repressed in MATalpha cells by binding of the Matalpha2-Mcm1 corepressor to a site within the RE. Mutation of the two Matalpha2 binding sites removes most, but not all, of this repression, and RE chromatin structure in MATalpha cells becomes indistinguishable from that seen in MATa. Surprisingly, a 2-bp mutation in the Mcm1 binding site completely abolishes RE activity in MATa cells; moreover, RE chromatin structure in the MATa mutant becomes very similar to that seen in MATalpha cells with a normal RE, displaying highly ordered nucleosomes despite the absence of Matalpha2. Further, a mutation that alters the ability of Mcm1 to act with Matalpha2 in repressing a-specific genes also alters donor preference in either mating type. Thus, Mcm1 is critically responsible for the activation as well as the Matalpha2-Mcm1-mediated repression of RE activity.
Base Sequence↗
Part I. A look at population-based medical care.
Recent trends toward managed health care have generated interest in developing strategies to manage the health care of a population as a whole. Population-based medicine places the individual patient within the context of the larger community, which is composed of both sick and well individuals; when viewed in these terms, only a small proportion of the people who consult a primary care physician are at risk for substantial morbidity. However, the physician serves as the central figure for delivering population-based health care to the entire community. Many strategies for population-based care contain the following 4 basic elements: 1. Identifying the health and disease states that are likely to be responsive to population-based care, 2. Applying principles of epidemiology to define the population-of-interest, 3. Assembling a multidisciplinary team, and 4. Building information systems to support ongoing surveillance of population-based care. To date, most of the published examples of population-based management have been conducted in managed care environments, but population-based management may also be used by a single physician practice or a small group practice. Programs aimed at health promotion or disease prevention are among the easiest to implement. By examining the results of an entire population with a given condition, physicians and their teams may begin to identify ways to improve the overall delivery of care, either by establishing new procedures or improving old ones.
Community Health Planning↗
Primary renal mucormycosis.
Primary renal mucormycosis is a rare infection capable of acute illness with sepsis. Few cases have been reported. We report a case of an acute primary renal mucormycosis and review the published reports. The incidence of primary renal mucormycosis has risen in recent years. The most frequently reported underlying predisposing disorders are human immunodeficiency virus infection, intravenous drug abuse, and diabetes mellitus. Primary renal mucormycosis should be suspected in patients with an immunocompromising illness or particular risk factors, when persistent flank pain and fever with sterile urine not responding to appropriate antibiotics are associated with enlarged heterogeneous kidneys.
Acute Disease↗