A cluster of Legionnaires' disease in Belgium linked to a cooling tower, August-September 2016: practical approach and challenges.

A cluster of Legionnaires' disease (LD) with 10 confirmed, three probable and four possible cases occurred in August and September 2016 in Dendermonde, Belgium. The incidence in the district was 7 cases/100 000 population, exceeding the maximum annual incidence in the previous 5 years of 1.5/100 000. Epidemiological, environmental and geographical investigations identified a cooling tower (CT) as the most likely source. The case risk around the tower decreased with increasing distance and was highest within 5 km. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, ST48, was identified in a human respiratory sample but could not be matched with the environmental results. Public health authorities imposed measures to control the contamination of the CT and organised follow-up sampling. We identified obstacles encountered during the cluster investigation and formulated recommendations for improved LD cluster management, including faster coordination of teams through the outbreak control team, improved communication about clinical and environmental sample analysis, more detailed documentation of potential exposures obtained through the case questionnaire and earlier use of a geographical information tool to compare potential sources and for hypothesis generation.

Physiologic and metabolic results of pancreatic cold storage with Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate-HTK solution (Custodiol) in the porcine autotransplantation model.

UNLABELLED: Delayed graft function (DEGF) remains an obscure phenomenon in organ transplantation. For the optimal washing of the compounds of the different organ flush solutions, adequate temperature and equilibrium of electrolytes have to be provided. A total of 29 land-race pigs weighing 37.3-5.4 kg were included in this study. According to the model, the left hemipancreas was perfused with Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate (HTK)-solution and autotransplanted after 24 h (G1, n = 13) and 48 h (G2, n = 4) of cold storage (CS). Results were compared with grafts perfused with UW-solution and autotransplanted after 24 h (G3, n = 8) and 48 h (G4, n = 4) CS respectively. Daily measurements of glycemia, glucosuria, amylase and lipase were carried out. HTK perfusion resulted in an increase in wet weight of the grafts after 24 h and 48 h CS (P = 0.031 vs UW). Postoperative glycemia levels in pancreases flushed with HTK-solution were higher after 48 h than after 24 h CS until the 6th postoperative day, when the glycemia returned to normal range (P = 0.02), suggesting a delayed endocrine graft function. The mean IVGTT values attained after full function were comparable in G1 and in G3 (-1.22 +/- 0.23 vs. -1.5 +/- 0.65). The rises in serum amylase and lipase levels were more pronounced after 48 h CS in both HTK and UW groups, (P = n.s.). Appearance of interstitial and intracellular edema after CS and reperfusion did not influence the function. CONCLUSION: HTK-solution is suitable for 24 h pancreatic preservation in vivo; the perfusion requires at least 4 min for electrolyte equilibration. Long preservation time (48 h) resulted in a transitory DEGF.

Cold preservation of the porcine pancreas with histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution.

BACKGROUND: Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) has been used for experimental and clinical cardiac, renal, and liver transplantation. No experience exists in either experimental or clinical pancreas transplantation. METHODS: In the present study, the solution was employed to flush segmental pancreatic grafts and to autotransplant the grafts after 24, 48, and 72 hr of cold storage in a porcine model. The results were compared to those obtained from animals receiving pancreatic grafts flushed and preserved with UW (University of Wisconsin) solution. RESULTS: A total of 10 landrace pigs received a graft stored with HTK solution for 24 hr, and 6 animals received a graft stored with UW solution for 24 hr. Daily blood glucose levels were normoglycemic (i.e., blood glucose < 150 mg/dl), and glucosuria was absent in all transplant animals. Intravenous glucose tolerance tests were comparable to two unoperated controls. Seven totally pancreatectomized, nontransplant diabetic controls exhibited daily hyperglycemia, glucosuria (i.e., > 1,000 mg/dl) and highly impaired intravenous glucose tolerance tests (mean K-values of -0.52+/-0.19 vs. -1.25+/-0.46 for HTK, -1.30+/-0.81 for UW, and -1.53+/-0.81 for controls, P-value vs. diabetic <0.01). The changes in wet weight between flushing and reperfusion were +2.22+/-2.84 g for HTK and -1.40+/-2.70 g for UW stored grafts (P=0.034). After 48 hr of storage with HTK, 4/17 grafts were functioning and 1/11 recipients of grafts stored with UW were normoglycemic. All grafts stored for 72 hr in either HTK (n=3) or UW (n=3) uniformly failed to render the recipients normoglycemic. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that preservation of segmental pancreatic autografts for 24 hr with HTK solution provides reliable graft function, as does preservation with UW solution associated with an increase in wet weight after HTK preservation. Cold preservation with HTK and UW is feasible for 48 hr; however, the success rate is equally reduced with HTK and UW solution. Cold storage for 72 hr in either HTK or UW solution results in uniform graft failure in this model.

5, 6, 4'-Trihydroxy-7, 3'-dimethoxyflavone and other Methoxylated Flavonoids Isolated from Thymus satureiodes.

From the aerial parts of THYMUS SATUREIOIDES, two flavonoids, new for this species, have been identified: 5-hydroxy-6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone and 5,6,4'-trihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyflavone. This last compound has previously been isolated once from other species of Labiatae.

Spasmolytic activity of the flavonoids from Thymus vulgaris.

Flavonoids from Thymus vulgaris L. have been studied in vitro for spasmolytic activity on the smooth muscles of the guinea-pig ileum and trachea and of the rat vas deferens. The flavones and thyme extracts inhibit responses to agonists which stimulate specific receptors (acetylcholine, histamine, L-noradrenaline) as well as to agents whose actions are not mediated via specific receptors (BaCl2). Cumulative dose-response curves point to a non-competitive antagonism. Inhibition of Ca2+ contractions on K+ depolarized smooth muscles suggest inhibition of availability of Ca2+ for muscle contraction. pD'2 values were determined to compare the potency of these components to each other and to standard drugs. Flavones induce relaxation of the carbachol contracted tracheal strip without stimulation of the beta 2-receptors, which were blocked by propranolol.