Lichenysin is produced by most Bacillus licheniformis strains.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to elucidate the prevalence of lichenysin production in Bacillus licheniformis and to see whether this feature was restricted to certain genotypes. Secondly, we wanted to see whether cytotoxicity reflected the measured levels of lichenysin. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-three genotyped strains of B. licheniformis, representing a wide variety of sources, were included. lchAA gene fragments were detected in all strains by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All 53 strains produced lichenysins with four molecular masses as confirmed by LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) analysis. The amounts of lichenysin varied more than two orders of magnitude between strains and were irrespective of genotype. Finally, there was a strong association between lichenysin concentrations and toxicity towards boar spermatozoa, erythrocytes and Vero cells. CONCLUSIONS: Lichenysin synthesis was universal among the 53 B. licheniformis strains examined. The quantities varied considerably between strains, but were not specifically associated with genotype. Cytotoxicity was evident at lichenysin concentrations above 10 µg ml(-1) , which is in accordance with previous studies. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This study might be of interest to those working on B. licheniformis for commercial use as well as for authorities who make risk assessments of B. licheniformis when used as a food and feed additive.

Characterization of the mbl determinant and cloning of the spoIIID gene from Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987.

To examine the transcriptional start site of the putative Bacillus cereus mbl gene, we have cloned and sequenced the upstream region of the previously reported B. cereus mbl determinant, which showed sequence similarity to the mreB morphogene from Escherichia coli. Primer extension analysis revealed the transcriptional start site of mbl to 259 bp upstream of the putative translational start site and showed that the mbl gene was expressed at 3, 6, and 10 h of growth after inoculation. Antibodies against B. cereus Mbl showed that even though mbl mRNA was present in amounts detectable with Northern blot analysis exclusively in the early logarithmic growth phase, the amount of protein was constant during the cell cycle. Immunogold labeling cryo-transmission electron microscopy indicates that B. cereus Mbl is a cytoplasmic protein. The upstream sequence of mbl revealed two open reading frames, spoIIID and orf1. The amino acid sequence of B. cereus SpoIIID is identical to the SpoIIID sequence from Bacillus thuringiensis. Primer extension showed that mbl is not cotranscribed with spoIIID.

[Attention deficit/hyperactivity (AD/HD)--development of terminology]. / Oppmerksomhetssvikt/hyperaktivitetslidelse (AD/HD)--utvikling av terminologi.

The aim of the present study is to discuss the terminology pertaining to children and adolescents who have been described as disruptive, hyperactive, inattentive, and impulsive. Review of the literature covering this century reveals that the condition has been given numerous names, which have later been rejected. Initially the focus was on brain damage as the cause, but the foundation for this explanation gradually failed: the concept was discarded in the 1960s and was replaced by the interchangable terms hyperactivity disorder and minimal brain dysfunction. The latter was only a few years later replaced by attention deficit disorder in the US and hyperkinetic disorder everywhere else. Differences and similarities between diagnostic systems and their significance for diagnostic practice are discussed. Diagnosis should be based on interdisciplinary work and the use of standardized rating scales.

Insertional inactivation of a Tet(K)/Tet(L) like transporter does not eliminate tetracycline resistance in Bacillus cereus.

Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987 and ATCC 14579 can be induced to high levels of resistance to tetracycline. The chromosomal B. cereus gene bctl encodes a transmembrane protein with homology to Gram-positive tetracycline efflux proteins and relation to other members of the major facilitator superfamily of transport proteins. A mutant strain containing an insertionally inactivated bctl gene did not show impaired tetracycline resistance. No additional altered phenotype was observed in the mutant. Accumulation studies suggested that the resistance mechanism involves a reduced sensitivity to intracellular tetracycline.

[Cornelia de Lange syndrome and the woman behind the syndrome]. / Cornelia de Langes syndrom og kvinnen bak syndromet.

The phrase syndrome indicates that certain symptoms and signs run together as a clinical entity. Collectively they characterize a particular disease or abnormal condition. Some syndromes are rare, but it is important to recognize them. Correct and early diagnosis is important for the individuals concerned, and for their families. Cornelia de Lange syndrome in its classical form is a syndrome of several congenital abnormalities and mental retardation. When not fully developed the syndrome may cause diagnostic problems. The authors discuss some biographical data about Cornelia de Lange and some matters concerning the syndrome.

Increased levels of antibodies to food proteins in Down syndrome.

An increased level of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies to food antigens has been found in Down syndrome. Biopsy did not show any anomaly of the gut. Increased IgA levels against specific proteins reflect increased transmucosal transport of antigens. The antigens presented may be immunogenic peptides or intact antigens. In this paper, we wished to exclude an institutional cause such as infections and also age differences.

[Tourette syndrome in children. An analysis of everyday problems--neurology or emotional conflicts?]. / Tourettes syndrom hos barn. En analyse av hverdagsproblemer--neurologi eller emosjonelle konflikter?

Over a three year period, 109 children aged 5-17 were diagnosed as having Tourette syndrome. They were all evaluated by a team composed of persons with backgrounds in special education, physiotherapy or neuropsychology, and a paediatrician with experience in child neurology. All the children satisfied the criteria of several motor tics and at least one vocal tic lasting more than one year. Besides the tics the most common symptoms were attention deficit disorder and motor hyperactivity. These symptoms were present in 79 children (73%). 42 children (39%) met the criteria for minimal brain dysfunction. Problems relating to attention, activity, perception, motor control and language are generally considered to be part of a neurological dysfunction. We also investigated the children's emotional profile by looking into factors such as aggression, fluctuations of mood, peer relationships and impulsiveness. More than half of the children experienced serious problems in these areas. We believe that emotional problems of this nature are an integral part of their neurological dysfunction and that they can seldom be attributed to psychological factors in their families or to other events related to everyday life.

Prokaryotic members of a new family of putative helicases with similarity to transcription activator SNF2.

Cloning and sequence analysis of a new open reading frame from Bacillus cereus reveals the relationship to a recently identified family of putative eukaryotic transcription activators similar to the yeast SNF2 gene product. As a result of comparative analysis of sequence features conserved in all members of this family, a gene from a chilo iridescent virus, as well as a putative helicase from Escherichia coli (hepA), can also be grouped into this family. The unexpected presence of prokaryotic and viral sequences in the previously purely eukaryotic SNF2 family suggests a defined subgroup of DNA helicases present in all species, with specific function in transcription activation.

[Gastroesophageal reflux associated with severe cerebral paresis]. / Gastroøsofageal refluks ved alvorlig cerebral parese.

Five patients, aged 9-16, living in a community-based home for the mentally retarded, have undergone Nissen fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux. They were all severely physically handicapped by cerebral palsy. Their symptoms had persisted from 1-10 years, and included chronic retching and vomiting, intermittent obstruction of the upper airways, frequent bronchial and pulmonary infections, and episodic abdominal pain and failure to thrive. Three had hematemesis. Two patients lost a great deal of weight. One had chronic reflux associated with lower airway obstruction, which improved postoperatively. All patients had undergone conservative medical treatment of four to 12 months duration, with no lasting improvement. There were very few postoperative complications. One patient had to be reoperated. After surgical treatment their main symptoms had disappeared and their subsequent management was easier. We have reasons to believe that this condition is seriously underdiagnosed in our society, thereby causing unnecessary pain and distress in patients who are unable to convey their complaints to others.

Childhood autism: a complex disorder.

Twenty-four-hour urine samples from psychotic and autistic children were precipitated with benzoic acid at pH 4.3. Fractionation of the aromatic complexes thus formed with benzoic acid-protein and peptides and uric acid, proteins and peptides on G-25 columns-yielded filtration patterns that may be of diagnostic value. Peptide material could be extracted from the formed complexes and refractionated on P2 gels. Increased levels of peptide material, especially of N-substituted peptides, could be demonstrated. Several bioactive factors (Reichelt et al. 1981) are under study. Possible etiological factors are discussed, and a working hypothesis is presented.

Bacteriolytic activity of amniotic fluid.

Bacteriolytic activity and lecithin concentration were measured in amniotic fluid samples from both normal and pathologic pregnancies, including conditions such as severe Rh isoimmunization, placental dysfunction, preeclampsia, and diabetes. The bacteriolytic activity increased threefold from the 25th gestational week to term, after which a slight reduction was found. No difference was found between pathologic and normal pregnancies. No correlation was found between lecithin content and bacteriolytic activity. Samples from pregnancies in which the infant developed respiratory distress syndrome had low lecithin concentrations but showed normal bacteriolytic activities.

Positional fatty acid composition in total and acetone-precipitated amniotic fluid lecithin.

The fatty acid composition of lecithin has been determined separately at the 1- and 2-position in 22 samples of amniotic fluid. Palmitic acid (16:0) was the main fatty acid present at both carbon atom positions throughout the last trimester. Myristic acid (14:0) was present in very small amounts only. There was no evidence of 1-palmitoyl/2-myristoyl lecithin being present in more than trace amounts before 35 weeks of gestation. The positional specificity of the methylation pathway is therefore doubtful. Acetone precipitation of lecithin did not alter the observed fatty acid composition at either position, indicating that this procedure precipitates the different lecithin subspecies in equal proportion, without any preference for disaturated species. This method therefore fails to isolate a lecithin fraction with a specific fatty acid composition.

Amniotic fluid palmitic acid concentrations and prediction of fetal lung maturity.

A method for rapid determination of total esterified palmitic acid concentration (TEPAC) in amniotic fluid is described. The correlation coefficient between the TEPAC and the lecithin concentration was 0.93 in 123 samples of amniotic fluid obtained during the last trimester. The respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) occurred in 73% of the cases studied with TEPAC less than mmol/l in predelivery samples. The RDS was not observed with higher concentrations except in cases of maternal diabetes mellitus. The predictive value of total esterified fatty acid studies was confirmed to the concentration of palmitic acid recorded, and no specific fatty acid distributions or ratios were reliable in identifying RDS or estimating gestational age.

Amniotic fluid lecithin concentrations in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders and intrauterine growth retardation.

Amniotic fluid lecithin has been measured in 92 samples from 75 patients with hypertensive disorders and in normotensive pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). For the group with hypertensive disorders the lecithin concentrations were not significantly different from a reference material at any stage in gestation. Pre-eclampsia associated with moderately elevated blood pressure and complicated by IUGR showed significantly higher lecithin concentrations than any other diagnostic subgroup. The lecithin concentrations showed no relationship to maternal urinary estrogen excretion. The value of serial estrogen measurements in predicting IUGR has been emphasized. An evaluation of the amniotic fluid lecithin concentration in relation to respiratory function has been made. Respiratory distress syndrome may occur even in growth retarded babies.

Phospholipid concentrations in amniotic fluid from diabetic pregnant women.

Amniotic fluid phospholipid concentrations measured in 104 samples from 65 diabetic patients have been related to gestational age, tevelopment of the respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). There is statistically significant evidence of accelerated surfactant production in White classes D, F, from 34 to 37 weeks gestation. Classes A, B, C, have phospholipid concentrations not significantly different from a reference series. RDS occurred in 26% and was frequently associated with mature phospholipid concentrations. There was a significant correlation between low Apgar scores and subsequent development of RDS.