Convergent structure and function of mycelial galleries in two unrelated Neotropical plant-ants.

The construction process and use of galleries by Azteca brevis (Myrmicinae: Dolichoderinae) inhabiting Tetrathylacium macrophyllum (Salicaceae) were compared with Allomerus decemarticulatus (Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) galleries on Hirtella physophora (Chrysobalanaceae). Though the two ant species are phylogenetically distant, the gallery structure seems to be surprisingly similar and structurally convergent: both are pierced with numerous holes and both ant species use Chaetothyrialean fungi to strengthen the gallery walls. Al. decemarticulatus is known to use the galleries for prey capture and whether this is also the case for Az. brevis was tested in field experiments. We placed Atta workers as potential prey/threat on the galleries and recorded the behaviour of both ant species. We found considerable behavioural differences between them: Al. decemarticulatus was quicker and more efficient at capture than was Az. brevis. While most Atta workers were captured after the first 5 min by Al. decemarticulatus, significantly fewer were captured by Az. brevis even after 20 min. Moreover, the captured Atta were sometimes simply discarded and not taken to the nest by Az. brevis. As a consequence, the major function of the galleries built by Az. brevis may, therefore, be defense against intruders in contrast to Al. decemarticulatus which uses them mainly for prey capture. This may be due to a higher need for protein in Al. decemarticulatus compared to coccid-raising Az. brevis.

Finite-element-modeling of egg white as a substitute for tissue coagulation during bipolar radiofrequency-induced thermofusion.

Radiofrequency-induced thermofusion is a frequently used electrosurgical procedure for the sealing of blood vessels. A disadvantage of vessel sealing instruments is that the generated thermal energy spreads to the surrounding tissue and may irreversibly damage it. This is particularly problematic when operating close to sensitive structures such as nerves. Given their advantages, there is nonetheless a lot of interest in using bipolar vessel sealing for surgical procedures. To select instruments that may be safely used in such cases, it is important to reliably quantify the thermal spread to the surrounding tissue. Mathematical models can help to evaluate the transient behavior, that is the evolution of the thermal spread over time, more precisely. A finite element model allows for a detailed analysis of inhomogeneities in the spatial temperature distribution. As a first step towards a finite model of the bipolar vessel sealing process, a model of the coagulation of chicken egg white is presented here. Egg white has thermal and electrical properties that are very similar to tissue, making it suitable as a substitute for the analysis of the coagulation process. It has the additional advantage, that the spatial and temporal evolution of the thermal spread can be visually gauged. The presented model describes the experimentally observed spatial temperature distribution, the shape of the coagulated egg white, and the formation of hotspots. Furthermore, it is shown that the model can correctly predict the shape of the coagulated egg white in further experiments.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance during simulator-based trainings: a comparative retrospective analysis of adherence to 2005 and 2010 guidelines.

BACKGROUND: New cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines have been published in 2010 emphasizing the importance of minimizing interruptions during chest compression. The aim of our study was to compare the simulator-based CPR training performance of physicians not specialized in anaesthesia and intensive care nurses before and after implementation of new resuscitation guidelines. METHODS: In autumn 2010, a total of 74 scenarios during six 1.5 day simulation-based CPR trainings were performed. Four of them were conducted after the implementation of the 2010 guidelines. During each simulated scenario a programmed script standardized the conditions of the simulator and its reactions on the trainees' actions. CPR relevant parameters were extracted on the basis of the simulator's log files and no-flow-time fraction and median cardiac output of the simulator were calculated. Results before and after the guideline implementation were compared using the Wilcoxon Two Sample Test. RESULTS: Thirty-four out of 74 scenarios were included into the analysis. During training according to the 2010 guidelines, the no-flow-time fraction was lower (median: 21.8% [IQR: 16.1-27.1%] vs. 29.1 % [IQR: 25.0-30.9 %]; P=0.04). The median cardiac output increased from 1.60 L/min-1 [IQR: 1.50-1.65 L/min-1] to 1.90 L/min-1 [IQR: 1.80-2.10 L/min-1]; P<0.001) when the CPR training was conducted according to the 2010 resuscitation guidelines. CONCLUSION: Non-anesthesiological physicians and intensive care nurses training demonstrated an improved CPR performance in a high-fidelity human patient simulator with respect to the median cardiac output and duration of no-flow-time when 2010 CPR guidelines were applied.

Pregnancy and Birth After a Two-Step PGD: Polar Body Diagnosis for Hemophilia A and Array CGH on Trophectoderm Cells for Chromosomal Aberrations.

Objective: To demonstrate that a PGD program can be successfully established after the 2011 verdict of the German Bundestag concerning PGD. Material and Method: Eight years previously, the couple had had a daughter who suffered from clinically manifest hemophilia A due to an unbalanced X-inactivation, as well as microdeletion syndrome resulting in severe physical and mental disability. The couple wished to have a second child but refused the idea of a "trial" pregnancy. Given the indications for both, it was necessary to carry out polar body diagnosis (PBD) to rule out hemophilia A and, during the same cycle, a subsequent PGD on the blastocysts to rule out genetic aberrations. The PBD and PGD (trophectoderm biopsy, TEB) were performed after high-dosage ovarian stimulation and ICSI fertilization of the oocytes. A blastocyst was successfully transferred on day 6. Results: The patient conceived immediately. The pregnancy developed normally and the patient gave birth to a girl in the 40th week of pregnancy. Post-natal examinations showed that the baby is free from hemophilia A and is developing normally both physically and mentally. Conclusion: Establishment of a PGD program is now possible after legalization of PGD in Germany. It is possible to apply two investigative techniques in a single treatment cycle if multifactorial diagnosis is required.

[Punctate maculae on the back of the hands of a 44-year-old woman]. / Punktförmige Makulae an den Handrücken einer 44-jährigen Frau.

A 44-year-old woman developed punctate erythematous maculae on the backs of her hands, arms and shoulders following a pregnancy. Laboratory evaluation was unremarkable. Our differential diagnosis includes idiopathic teleangiectases, teleangiectasia eruptiva perstans, angioma serpiginosum and angiokeratoma corporis diffusum Fabry. Microscopic examination showed increased numbers of the small vessels of the upper vascular plexus with dilated capillaries. This coupled with the clinical findings led us to the diagnosis of angioma serpiginosum with symmetrical distribution involving the shoulder girdle, upper aspects of the arms, and the backs of the hands. We treated with a pulsed dye laser and noted some regression after two sessions.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease risk and PRNP codon 129 polymorphism: necessity to revalue current data.

The polymorphism at codon 129 (M129V) of the prion protein gene (PRNP) is a recognized genetic marker for susceptibility to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in the Caucasians. The distribution of this polymorphism in healthy individuals provides an important starting point for the evaluation of CJD risk in the general population. Early studies of reference population cohorts demonstrated that methionine/valine heterozygosity was the most frequent genotype. These studies were performed in relatively small numbers of control subjects and do not correspond with the findings of more recent investigations. In this study, we present an analysis of the codon M129V distribution in 613 corneal donors, representing one of the largest control groups examined to date. Methionine homozygotes represented 48.1%, valine homozygotes 8.7% and methionine/valine heterozygotes 43.2%. While age-related difference was not significant, differentiation according to the gender showed significant difference. The observed highest proportion of methionine homozygotes and statistically significant difference between genders as well as comparison with results obtained in other countries underline the need to re-evaluate the generally used reference data on M129V, including consideration of the gender, age and geographical distribution.

HIV infection and risk behaviour of commercial sex workers and intravenous drug users in Slovakia.

INTRODUCTION: Aim of the study was to determine risk behaviour and HIV prevalence among commercial sex workers (CSWs) and intravenous drug users (IDUs) in streets of Bratislava and B. Bystrica, SR. METHODS: HIV antibodies were tested from saliva using ELISA test. Anonymous questionnaire was completed. RESULTS: 121 persons (61 men and 60 women) were involved in the sociological study. Mean age of the participants was 21.9 years. 185.1% of subjects were from Bratislava. 108 participants were tested for the presence of HIV-antibodies, one was confirmed HIV-positive (0.82%). In the past 47.9% of participants and 22.3% of their partners were tested for the presence of HIV-antibodies. 10.8% of subjects proclaimed that they suffered from other sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the past HIV testing of participants significantly correlated with the testing for other STI (p<0.002) as well as with HBV/HCV (p<0.001). 58 participants were using tattooing (47.9%). 46.3% of all participants never used condoms with partners. 31.4% of respondents proclaimed disruption of condom during sexual intercourse. Significant correlation was found between testing of participants for other STI and usage of condoms with their partners (p<0.013). Women used condoms more often by sexual contacts with partners than men used condoms (p<0.094). They were also significantly more tested for other STI in the past (p<0.021) and they suffered from other STI more often than men (p<0.033). 26.5% of person--only women--were involved in commercial sex work. 93.5% of them were taking drugs as well, 21.8% suffered for other STI in the past They were working in sex business on average for 26 months. The average number of their clients per week was 12.3. CSWs used condoms more often with clients than with partners. 98.2% of all participants were taking drugs, 93% of them intravenously. 24.6% of IDUs always used new or their own needles and syringes, while 69.4% shared equipments with the other users. IDUs drug users used condoms significantly less often with their partners than did CSWs (p<0.006). CSWs were significantly more often tested for other STI (p<0.001) and they also more often suffered for other STI than IDUs (p<0.045). CONCLUSION: More effort should be done to decrease risk behaviour revealed in the groups of CSWs and drug users.

Initial RNA expression in human monocytes after multiple injury: a screening pilot study on potentially trauma-sensitive factors by using the microarray-technique.

BACKGROUND: Pathological affection of the immune system is one of the initiating mechanisms for the induction of multiple organ failure (MOF) in patients suffering from multiple injuries. Potential responsible intracellular mechanisms such as initial monocyte mRNA expression of specific mediators remain poorly studied, so far. Hence, we applied the microarray technique for screening of a wide variety of genes in circulating monocytes of multiple injured patients and compare the molecular results to the clinical course of the patients (MOF-score). METHODS: In our prospective pilot study 6 patients were enclosed presenting with blunt multiple injuries (Injury Severity Score 16 to 57 points). Monocytes were isolated out of sequentially drawn samples (6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after trauma) using magnetic cell sorting (CD14) and a human microarray system was used (Atlas stress 1.2, Clontech, 1176 genes). Alterations in the sequential samples were identified by calculating ratios to baseline levels on admission and cluster analysis was performed (Spotfire Decision). RESULTS: Only 86 (ca.5%) genes displayed an obvious signal. The house-keeping genes clustered well together in all patients in contrast to a substantial inter-individual variability of the other signal giving genes. No mediator burst of the classical pro- or anti-inflammatory cascade were detected. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate for the first time a screening analysis of mRNA expression patterns in circulating monocytes of multiple injured patients indicating that only very few genes appeared to be influenced by the traumatic event. So far, no correlation to the severity of trauma or MOF could be detected.

Improvements for multipurpose bacteriological identification tables to suit the diagnosis of Vibrio cholerae.

The aim of the study was to reduce to key tests the 4 extensive polyvalent diagnostic biochemical tables most widely used in Croatia and to adapt them for the demonstration of Vibrio cholerae and its differentiation from the 3 Vibrios (V. alvinolyticus, V. mentschikovii, V. fluvialis) important in differential diagnosis. The fourth table has now been adapted to differentiate among all 12 Vibrio species known to be human pathogens (V. mimicus, V. cincinatiensis, V. holisae, V. damsela, V. furnisi, V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, V. carchariae). Using the inductive Learning by Logic Minimization Method (ILLM), we analyzed 2 tables (i.e. identification matrices) that were a part of bioMérieux's commercial packaged polyvalent identification systems widely used in Croatia (API 20E and ATB 32E), as well as 2 compilation tables by M. T. Kelly et al. The tables contained 27, 32, 59 and 8 tests, respectively. Cutting these solely to the key tests involved rationalizing them from 59 to the 5 necessary to differentiate Vibrio cholerae from 3 related Vibrios. Further rationalizations were from 32 to 2 and from 27 to the 3 necessary to differentiate Vibrio cholerae from 2 related Vibrios. By reducing the table of 8 tests to 7, and adding 4 new ones to these we achieved an optimization permitting mutual differentiation of all 12 known human Vibrio pathogens. Use of the selective TCBS plating medium was the only precondition for making these tables effective.

Bed utilization performances of Slovenian and Croatian acute hospitals systems.

With Barber-Johnson-Yates scattergrams (BJYS), the performances of Slovenian and Croatian acute hospital system were explored by taking turnover interval as a predictor variable, length of stay as a dependent variable, and by looking at the variables of bed throughput and percentage of bed emptiness on installed network. The growing influences on the Slovenian hospital system of a cost-containment policy and of the past war on the Croatian hospital system are the best illustrations of the informatics potential inherent in BJYS presentations for the exploratory data analysis (EDA) used to identify systematic relations between variables in a setting of not complete a priori expectations of these relations.

Programmed cell death: will it become a factor in cancer prevention?

Among the factors triggering programmed cell death (PCD) are a number of known carcinogens, and several consequences of DNA abnormalities characteristic of cancer have been shown capable of eliciting the PCD response. So although elimination of a potentially malignant cell is likely to be a rare consequence of PCD it could turn out to be important for cancer development. A brief survey is given of the most well-known triggering factors, the molecular mechanisms of the pathways involved and the emerging experimental and clinical data relating capacity of PCD to cancer initiation and progression. It is suggested that future cancer prevention will have to consider also those factors which may abrogate normal PCD.

[Encephalopathy in AIDS--increased formation of beta-chemokines in monocytes after HIV-1 virus infection: mechanisms of CNS involvement]. / Encefalopatia pri AIDS--zvýsená tvorba chemokínov-beta monocytmi po infekcii vírusom HIV typu 1: príspevok k mechanizmom postihnutia CNS.

The characteristic trait of the family of lentiviruses (Retroviridae) which includes the human immune deficiency virus (HIV), is the tendency to cause a subacute neurologic disease in their animal host. The neuraxis can be inflicted at all its levels. In the advanced stage of HIV disease, more than 60 percent of patients suffer from a clinically evident neurological dysfunction. Neuropathologic changes are demonstrated in 75 - 90 percent of them at autopsy. HIV enters the CNS during the early phase of infection. HIV replicates predominantly in the nervous tissue macrophages which serve also as intrathecal reservoirs of infection. HIV isolated from the CNS is usually macrophagotropic. Neural cells are not susceptible to a productive HIV infection, contrasting with the permissivity of activated astroglial cells. The neuropathological picture of the brain involvement is typical by the giant multinuclear cells, i.e. fused monocytes/macrophages, then neuronal loss and changes in the white matter. The clinical manifestations of CNS involvement (AIDS encephalopathy) in HIV disease are variable protean, frequently associated with dementia. The pathogenesis of the neurological disease remains elusive. The cells supporting the HIV replication in the CNS (microglia, monocytes, astroglia) do not play a major role in dementia development. The neurotoxicity of viral glycoproteins, virus-induced cytokines and neurotoxin produced by CNS macrophages infected with particularly efficiently replicating HIV strains are being intensively studied. Dementia is associated with an increased virus load in the brain in the advanced stage of HIV disease. Neurotoxicity associated with HIV-infected microglial cells and macrophages activity remain to be considered, for the time being, as the most likely pathogenetic mechanism of neural dysfunction and injury. Our investigations have demonstrated that HIV infection of macrophages stimulate considerably the synthesis of MIP-1-alpha, MIP-1-beta RANTES chemokines (subgroup CC). These substances by their chemoattractant and activating properties may participate in the pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS encephalopathy, contributing to leukocytosis and inflammation, increasing thus the population of HIV-susceptible cells, facilitating their infection and enhancing finally the intrathecal spread of virus. (Tab. 2, Ref. 22.)

[Distribution of viruses from the Californian encephalitis serogroup (Bunyaviridae, Bunyavirus) in the northern expanses of Russia]. / Rasprostranenie virusov serogruppy Kaliforniiskogo éntsefalita (Bunyaviridae, Bunyavirus) v severnykh shirotakh Rossii.

The study was carried out in 1983-1991 and covered a territory of about 10 x 10(6) km2 in various physico-geographic areas (East Fennoscandia, Northern Russian Plain, West Siberia, Central Siberia, North-Eastern Siberia, and Northern Pacific Region) in the Arctic, Subarctic, Northern-Central-Southern taiga, forest-steppe, and steppe in Northern Russia. A total of 251 strains were isolated from 1391,900 mosquitoes, identified as the California group snowshoe hare (83), Inkoo (44), and Tahyna (2) viruses; 122 strains were not completely identified. Some of the strains with uncommon antigenic composition can be natural reassortants. Fifty-two percent of strains were isolated from Aedes communis and the associate species of mosquitoes, other hosts were A. excrucians (8%), A. cantans (6.25%), A. flavescens (6.25%), A. ciprius (6.25%), A. punctor (4.5%), A. vexans (4.5%), A. cataphylla (3.6%), A. nigripes (3.6%), and A. hexodontus (2.6%). The infection rate of mosquitoes was 0.009% in the tundra, 0.012% in forest-tundra, 0.01% in Northern taiga, 0.02% in Central taiga, 0.017% in Southern taiga, 0.026% in forest-steppe, and 0.097% in steppe. The epidemic season is one month in the tundra (from the beginning of July till the beginning of August), two months in Northern taiga (July-August), and three months in Central taiga (from the second half of June till the beginning of September). The highest infection rate of mosquitoes was observed at the end of the epidemic season in all regions. SSH strains prevailed to the East from the Enisei river, whereas to the West and in the Subarctic regions INK virus predominated, SSH being rare; in the taiga the distribution was quite the opposite. TAH virus was virtually absent. Human morbidity was observed in all territories studied. The immune stratum of adult population is about 30% in the tundra and forest-tundra and about 50% in Northern and Central taiga.

Utility of a test for chromosomal malsegregation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D61.M for the detection of antianeugens: test of the model combination of chlorophyllin and nocodazole.

Despite the fact that aneuploidy is a major genetic cause of human morbidity and mortality, antimutagenicity studies have used predominantly short-term tests that detect gene mutations, chromosomal aberrations, and micronuclei. Therefore, the major deficiency in the use of short-term tests for antimutagenicity studies is those that detect chromosomal malsegregation leading to aneuploidy. Thus, we initiated a study on the utility of short-term tests for the detection of antianeugenic activity. We selected strain D61.M of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nocodazole, and chlorophyllin as a model short-term test, aneugen, and antimutagen, respectively, for our initial study. Chlorophyllin strongly inhibited the aneugenic activity of nocodazole, but had no effect on the endpoints when tested alone, in strain D61.M. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an antianeugen. Furthermore, we conclude that strain D61.M can be used as a relatively simple, inexpensive, and rapid short-term test for the study of antianeugenicity.

Induction of chromosome loss in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D61.M by selected benzimidazole compounds.

Twenty-two benzimidazole compounds were tested for induction of chromosome loss (CHRL) in the diploid yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain D61.M. Six compounds tested positive for CHRL induction: mebendazole, albendazole, RS-9237-000, fenbendazole, 2-benzimidazolylacetonitrile, and thiabendazole. Mebendazole, albendazole, RS-9237-000, and fenbendazole were strongly positive only after modified testing media were used to enhance solubility. The compounds that tested negative for CHRL were 2-phenylbenzimidazole, 2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole, benzimidazole, 2-aminobenzimidazole, 2-amino-5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, 2-(aminomethyl)benzimidazole dihydrochloride hydrate, 5,6-dimethylbenzimidazole, 2-guanidinobenzimidazole, 2-methylbenzimidazole, 2-(methylmercapto) benzimidazole, 1-methyl-2-phenylbenzimidazole, 2-benzimidazolylurea, RS-65255-000, oxibendazole, and RS-95005-000. One chemical, cambendazole, tested negative or only marginally positive. Modified testing medium was also used to enhance the solubility of 2-phenylbenzimidazole, oxibendazole, and RS-95005-000. Because no toxicity was observed with oxibendazole or RS-95005-000, the negative results obtained with these two compounds could not be considered definitive.