PF-IND: probability algorithm and software for separation of plant and fungal sequences.

The separation of plant and fungal sequences in EST pools by bioinformatic methods is difficult because of sequence similarities between plants and fungi, lack of enough sequence information, and the short length of the isolated fragments. An algorithm and software that utilize the differences in codon usage bias to discriminate between plant and fungal sequences are described. The software (PF-IND) includes five pairs of fungi and their host plants that can be used to analyze a large number of related species. Analysis of a sequence provides an arbitrary value that defines the likelihood that a sequence will be a fungal or a plant gene. The software can distinguish between homologous fungal and plant genes and it helps identify the correct reading frame of unknown expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for which BLAST analyses do not provide clear information. Short sequences of 100-150 bp can be analyzed with high confidence. PF-IND analysis of 100 sequences derived from fungal infected plants identified the origin of 94 sequences. Only 66 sequences were identified by a BLASTX analysis of the same 100 ESTs. Overall, PF-IND is a novel bioinformatic tool aimed at assisting the research of fungus-plant interactions.

Prehospital stabilization of the cervical spine for penetrating injuries of the neck - is it necessary?

The purpose of this study was to assess the specific indications, benefits and risks associated with cervical spine stabilization during pre-hospital care of penetrating neck injuries. We retrospectively reviewed hospital charts and autopsy reports of 44 military casualties in Israel with a penetrating neck injury during a period of 4.5 years. A review of the literature was also carried out. In eight of 36 hospitalized casualties (22%) a life-threatening sign was diagnosed in the exposed neck - large or expanding haematoma, or subcutaneous emphysema. Surgical stabilization of the cervical spine was not performed for any of the casualties. It was concluded that life threatening complications due to penetrating neck injury are common and may be overlooked if the neck is covered by a stabilization device. It is extremely rare for a penetrating injury to result in an unstable cervical spine. New management guidelines concerning pre-hospital stabilization are suggested.

Preliminary experience with postmortem computed tomography in military penetrating trauma.

BACKGROUND: Postmortem examination serves as a tool for confirmation of clinical diagnosis, "quality" assurance, and education. In Israel, mostly because of religious reasons, most families withhold their permission to perform autopsies. To obtain objective information regarding the death of soldiers, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps started in September of 1997 to perform postmortem computed tomographic (PMCT) scans. The purpose of our study is to determine what information can be obtained from the PMCT scans. METHODS: In a period of 16 months, 27 soldiers were killed in low-intensity conflicts and PMCT was obtained in 22 cases. Medical data obtained from the field medical care providers were collected and compared with PMCT results. RESULTS: Several examples of patients whose death was determined at the scene either before any medical intervention or after initiation of resuscitative treatment are shown in our study and compared with the clinical impression of the treating physician. Two examples of autopsy results are compared with PMCT results. Gas was detected in various parts of the circulatory system in many cases. The significance of this finding, described in our study for the first time, needs further investigation. CONCLUSION: PMCT scanning has limits in detecting superficial injuries and injuries of the extremities and determining the exact route of fragments through body tissues in penetrating military trauma. It also cannot serve as a tool for examining ammunition or the protection provided by various armors. However, it can provide a substantial amount of evidence that, when reviewed with the clinical information obtained from the physician at the scene, can help in assessing the treatment given at the field and point toward the probable cause of death.

Prehospital blood transfusion in prolonged evacuation.

BACKGROUND: Prehospital blood transfusion for hemorrhaging trauma patients has been used infrequently and is controversial. Currently, there is no satisfactory nonsanguineous fluid therapy for use during prolonged transport, such as in military or rural trauma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed prehospital data and hospital charts of all trauma patients in Israel who had received prehospital blood transfusion during a period of 30 months. RESULTS: Forty patients received 60 U of Rh-positive type O packed red blood cells. Mean time from injury to hospital admission was 120 minutes. Twenty-one of 31 patients admitted to the hospital alive (68%) received additional blood transfusions during the initial resuscitation phase, justifying the prehospital transfusion. Of nine documented admissions with hemoglobin of less than 7 g/dL, one patient died of exsanguination. There was one case of a minor adverse reaction that could be attributed to prehospital transfusion. CONCLUSION: Prehospital blood transfusion is justified in certain trauma patients, especially when long prehospital transport is required. Blood may be safely maintained and used by physicians with little experience in care of major trauma.

Characterization of DNA topoisomerase activity in two strains of Mycoplasma fermentans and in Mycoplasma pirum.

DNA topoisomerases (topos) are essential enzymes that participate in many cellular processes involving DNA. The presence of the DNA-gyrase genes in various mycoplasmas has been reported elsewhere. However, the characterization of DNA topo activity in mycoplasmas has not been previously undertaken. In this study, we characterized the topo activity in extracts of Mycoplasma fermentans K7 and incognitus and in Mycoplasma pirum, as well as in partially purified extract of M. fermentans K7. The topo activity in these microorganisms had the following properties. (i) The relaxation of supercoiled DNA was ATP dependent. (ii) ATP independent relaxation activity was not detected. (iii) Supercoiling of relaxed topoisomers was not observed. (iv) The relaxation activity was inhibited by DNA gyrase and topo IV antagonists (novobiocin and oxolinic acid) and by eukaryotic topo II (m-AMSA [4'-(9-acridylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide]) and topo I antagonists (camptothecin). Other eukaryotic topo II antagonists (teniposide and etoposide) did not affect the topo relaxation activity. (v) Two polypeptides of 66 and 180 kDa were found to be associated with the mycoplasma topo activity. These results suggest that the properties of the topo enzyme in these mycoplasma species resemble those of the bacterial topo IV and the eukaryotic and the bacteriophage T4 topo II. The findings that mycoplasma topo is inhibited by both eukaryotic topo II and topo I antagonists and that m-AMSA and camptothecin inhibited the growth of M. fermentans K7 in culture support our conclusion that these mycoplasma species have topo with unique properties.