Plant growth-promoting traits of yeasts isolated from Spanish vineyards: benefits for seedling development.

It is known that some microorganisms can enhance plant development. However, the use of yeasts as growth-promoting agents has been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was the characterisation of a collection of 69 yeast strains isolated from Spanish vineyards. Phytobeneficial attributes such as solubilisation of nutrients, synthesis of active biomolecules and cell wall-degrading enzyme production were analysed. Strains that revealed multiple growth-promoting characteristics were identified. The in vitro co-culture of Nicotiana benthamiana with yeast isolates showed enhancement of plant growth in 10 strains (up to 5-fold higher shoot dry weight in the case of Hyphopichia pseudoburtonii Hp-54), indicating a beneficial direct yeast-plant interaction. In addition, 18 out of the 69 strains increased dry weight and the number of roots per seedling when tobacco seeds were inoculated. Two of these, Pichia dianae Pd-2 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii Mg-11, also increased the chlorophyll content. The results in tobacco were mostly reproduced in lettuce with these two strains, which demonstrates that the effect of the yeast-plant interaction is not species-specific. In addition, the yeast collection was evaluated in maize seedlings grown in soil in a phytotron. Three isolates (Debaryomyces hansenii Dh-67, Lachancea thermotolerans Lt-69 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sc-6) promoted seedling development (increases of 10 % in dry weight and chlorophyll content). In conclusion, our data confirm that several yeast strains can promote plant growth and could be considered for the development of biological fertiliser treatments.

[Ondansetron in the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting in ambulatory cataract surgery]. / Ondansetrón en la profilaxis de las náuseas y los vómitos postoperatorios en cirugía de cataratas ambulatoria.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) are potentially serious complications of ophthalmic surgery. We assess the efficacy of ondansetron for antiemetic prophylaxis in outpatient unilateral cataract surgery under retrobulbar blockade. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cohort study of patients undergoing unilateral cataract surgery between January 1996 and March 1997. The main predictive variable was intravenous administration of 4 mg of ondansetron 30 min before surgery and the main effect variable was the presence of PONV during the first 24 h after surgery. The incidence of PONV was calculated and an analysis of statistical significance was performed using a Mantel-Haenszel chi 2 test, describing the magnitude of association between relative risk and the corresponding confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: One hundred sixty-two patients were enrolled. Eighty-two patients received ondansetron and 80 did not. The two groups were similar with respect to control variables. PONV occurred in 23 patients (14.2%): in 16 (20%) who did not receive ondansetron and in 7 (8.2%) who did (p < 0.05). The relative risk of patients who received ondansetron was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.19-0.98) in comparison with those who did not. CONCLUSION: We found a high incidence of PONV, although the administration of ondansetron reduced PONV significantly.

Comparison of disease severity scoring systems in septic shock.

OBJECTIVE: To compare six disease severity scoring systems as predictors of mortality in septic shock when used in the first 24 hrs of diagnosis. The six scoring systems tested were: Multiorgan Failure; the Acute Organ System Failure; the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II); the Multisystem Organ Failure scoring system; the Mortality Prediction Model; and the grading of sepsis. DESIGN: Retrospective, case series, consecutive sample. SETTING: Adult ICUs of three teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: Seventy-one patients from 12 to 84 yrs, fulfilling specific criteria for the diagnosis of septic shock, who were admitted to the ICU during 15 consecutive months. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The Multiorgan Failure scoring system, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), and Acute Organ System Failure scoring system were found, with our modifications, to be statistically significant predictors of mortality. Predictive data for these three scoring systems were as follows: Multiorgan Failure scoring system p = .008, mean number of points of survivors 5.2 +/- 1.5 (SD), mean number of points of nonsurvivors 6.3 +/- 1.5; APACHE II p = .013, mean number of points of survivors 21.1 +/- 5.9, mean number of points of nonsurvivors 24.6 +/- 6.0; and Acute Organ System Failure scoring system p = .011. None of the other three scoring systems showed significant predictive ability: Multisystem Organ Failure scoring system p = .072, Mortality Prediction Model p = 0.091, and the grading of sepsis p = .27. There was a significant (p = .004) difference in the survival rate of the three hospitals. CONCLUSION: The Multiorgan Failure scoring system, APACHE II, and the Acute Organ System Failure scoring system, with minor modifications, were found to be useful prognostic tools for patients with septic shock and allowed us to compare the performance and treatment programs of different ICUs.

Septic shock in the Intensive Care Unit, Hillbrow Hospital, Johannesburg.

The records of all patients with septic shock admitted to an intensive care unit during a 15-month period were analysed retrospectively. The main purpose of the study was to describe the aetiology and clinical features of illness, and to determine the outcome of the patients, including those factors influencing prognosis. Thirty-five patients (46% medical, 54% surgical) fulfilling the criteria for the diagnosis of septic shock were admitted to the study. There were 21 male and 14 female patients. Most infections were community-acquired (69%). The two most common sources of infection were the respiratory tract and abdomen. All patients required inotropic blood pressure support. Most patients (94%) were mechanically ventilated and 7 required dialysis. Organisms, sometimes multiple, were isolated in 18 patients. Fifty percent of the isolates (12 of 24) were Gram-negative, 10 were Gram-positive and there were 2 associated Candida albicans bacteraemias. The overall mortality rate was 40%. There was no difference in outcome between community or hospital-acquired infections, infections with Gram-positive or Gram-negative organisms, or in patients with differing sources of sepsis. Features associated with a poorer prognosis were older age and higher bilirubin value.