[Acute allergy in practice of military physician].

Increasing number of patients with allergy observed in recent years is accompanied with increasing number of health encounters due to acute allergy. The sudden beginning and unpredictable course characterize acute allergy. These factors can be fatal for patient and must be treated immediately. Allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, acute urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis refer to diseases based on acute allergy. The most dangerous diseases, characterized by fatal conditions, are generalised urticaria, angioedema and anaphylaxis. Knowledge of first aid principles is the most important factor of effective treatment because quickness of allergy progression requires prompt decisions. Use of the whole complex of modern therapeutic possibilities is the most important and durable. Modern methods of first aid for acute allergy, based on recommendations from foreign and domestic publications, are given in the article.

[Contact dermatitis: an approach used by a medical officer].

The article deals with contact dermatitis issues, that are of interest not only for dermatologists and specialists in professional pathology, but as well as for general practitioners. Issues of contact dermatitis classification, pathogenic peculiarities of the disease main forms and their basic causes are discussed. Clinical manifestations of irritative and allergic contact dermatitis are described in detail, aspects of differential diagnostics analysed. A detailed consideration is given to allergic diagnostics of contact dermatitis using application test-systems with the most common contact allergens. Main principles of contact dermatitis treatment are outlined in the article. The necessity of a complex approach to this disease therapy that requires not only external therapy, but the compliance with an appropriate treatment regimen, diet as well as application of a particular system therapy is shown. Recommendations for contact dermatitis prophylaxis are given.

Nonparallel secretion of antibacterial activity and protein in porcine pancreatic juice.

The antimicrobial activity of exocrine pancreatic juice is an important component of gastrointestinal tract innate defenses, yet little is known about whether secretion is regulated in parallel with digestive enzymes. In this study, we used 8 pigs with pancreatic catheters to quantify antibacterial activity and measure protein content (indicator of enzyme secretion) of pancreatic juice collected hourly from 0700 to 1900, with the animals adapted to being fed at 0800 and 1600. Antibacterial activity in the samples of pancreatic juice was quantified by comparing the growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus strain ATCC 6538P relative to a known concentration of gentamicin. Antibacterial activity (U/mL and /min) was highest in samples collected 1 hour prior to feeding (equivalent to 0.6 microgram gentamicin/mL), declined as the meal was consumed, and was lower (P < 0.05) in samples collected while the meals were being digested (0.41 microgram gentamicin/mL). Protein content was negatively correlated with antibacterial activity, with protein secretion lower (mg/mL and /min) before feeding, with an increase as the pigs ate and digested the meals (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the antibacterial activity in pancreatic juice is not secreted in parallel with protein secretion, suggesting that regulation involves alternative signaling pathways or contrasting responses to shared signals.

A kinetic microplate method for quantifying the antibacterial properties of biological fluids.

The microplate assay for measuring antibacterial activity was adapted by incorporating a known concentration range of gentamicin as an internal standard. Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus strain ATCC 6538P, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Lactobacillus spp. were used as target organisms, although other indicator organisms and antibiotics can be examined. Assay range and sensitivity were dependent on the species and density of indicator organism, and conditions (e.g., type, concentration, and pH of growth medium). Plotting the area under the growth curve (AUGC) versus gentamicin concentration (log transformed) yielded a linear curve that was used to quantify in units of gentamicin the antibacterial activity of a secretory fluid (SCF; pancreatic juice) and for comparisons of samples collected at different times, analysed on different days, and from different studies. This adaptation of the microtiter broth method will be useful for investigating man-made compounds, and the antibacterial activity of secretory fluids and the influences of age, diet, and health status.

Organic acid dipping of catfish fillets: effect on color, microbial load, and Listeria monocytogenes.

Microbiological and color changes of catfish fillets were determined following dip treatment in solutions at 4 degrees C of 2% acetic, citric, hydrochloric, lactic, malic, or tartaric acid. Fillets were inoculated with an eight-strain mixture of Listeria monocytogenes prior to dipping. L. monocytogenes, coliform, and aerobic plate counts and surface pH and Hunter color were measured at 0, 2, 5, and 8 days of storage at 4 degrees C. Acid dipping reduced surface pH and L. monocytogenes, coliform, and aerobic microbial loads. Little microbial proliferation was observed on acid-treated fillets, however, controls had a distinct foul odor and microbial loads in excess of 10(6) CFU/g by day 8. On untreated fillets, L. monocytogenes counts did not increase during storage, perhaps due to competitive inhibition by normal catfish microflora. Hunter color analysis revealed lighter and yellower acid-treated fillets than untreated controls, with malic acid producing the least bleaching. The shelf life of refrigerated fillets increased when fillets were acid dipped. It remains to be established if this enhanced microbial quality also parallels sensory acceptability.

Use of Double-Gradient Plates To Study Combined Effects of Salt, pH, Monolaurin, and Temperature on Listeria monocytogenes †.

This study evaluated the combined effects of pH, NaCl, incubation temperature, and sublethal concentrations of monolaurin on the survival of Listeria monocytogenes using the double-gradient diffusion technique. L. monocytogenes tolerance to NaCl was greatest (>78 g/liter) at neutral pH (6.8 to 7.2) and increased in the pH range 7.0 to 5.4 as the incubation temperature was lowered. Monolaurin at 2 µg/ml lowered the salt tolerance of L. monocytogenes to 60 g/liter independently of pH. At 4 µg of monolaurin per ml, salt tolerance was reduced to approximately 40 g/liter with no growth occurring at pH 6.0 to 5.4 and 25 g of NaCl per liter. At 8 µg of monolaurin per ml, only a subpopulation of the initial inoculum tolerated 25 g of NaCl per liter at neutral pH (6.5 to 7.5). Monolaurin reduced the tolerance of L. monocytogenes to NaCl and low pH.

Evolution of liver disease in morbid obesity after small-intestinal bypass and its restoration. A case report.

We studied a woman who underwent a jejunoileal bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity and in whom severe jaundice and hepatic failure developed six months later; these developments prompted restoration of the normal continuity of the small bowel. Four serial wedge biopsy specimens of the liver were taken during a three-year follow-up. The first biopsy was performed before the bypass surgery, the second six months after the operation, the third three months after restoration of normal continuity of the bowel, and the fourth three years later. The biopsy specimens clearly showed the morphologic changes of the liver in obesity, the effect of small intestinal bypass and its reversal on hepatic structure, and the natural evolution of liver disease in morbid obesity.