Collection and analysis of breath and breath condensate exhaled by feral pigeons (Columba livia) and chickens (Gallus domesticus).

Samples of exhaled breath and breath condensate were collected from 20 feral pigeons (Columba livia) while they were anaesthetised and intubated, and when they were kept unanaesthetised in an acrylic box. Samples were also collected from six chickens (Gallus domesticus) while they were kept in an acrylic box. The samples were analysed for pH, nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide and leukotriene B4. The volume of condensate collected from the pigeons was independent of bodyweight and significantly more (1.66 [0.64] ml/kg) was obtained while they were in the acrylic box than when they were intubated (0.87 [0.32] ml/kg). The mean volume collected from the chickens was 0.15 (0.06) ml/kg. Cooled samples had higher concentrations of NO than uncooled samples. The pH of the samples of condensate collected from birds in the acrylic box were significantly higher (7.9 [0.3]) than those from the intubated birds (5.3 [0.1]), and samples from the chickens had significantly higher pH values than samples from the pigeons (8.2 [0.2] v 7.9 [0.3]).

Collection of exhaled breath and exhaled breath condensate in veterinary medicine. A review.

Collection of exhaled breath (EB) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a noninvasive method for obtaining samples from the lower airways. While this technique has been well established for the diagnosis of lower respiratory tract diseases in human medicine, only a few studies have been performed in veterinary medicine. This article critically reviews the collection methods and parameter values measured in various animal species published to date and points out directions for further research.

Infective endocarditis: determinants of long term outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate predictors of long term prognosis in infective endocarditis. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care centre. PATIENTS: 212 consecutive patients with infective endocarditis between 1980 and 1995 MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall and cardiac mortality; event-free survival; and the following events: recurrence, need for late valve surgery, bleeding and embolic complications, cerebral dysfunction, congestive heart failure. RESULTS: During a mean follow up period of 89 months (range 1-244 months), 56% of patients died. In 180 hospital survivors, overall and cardiac mortality amounted to 45% and 24%, respectively. By multivariate analysis, early surgical treatment, infection by streptococci, age < 55 years, absence of congestive heart failure, and > 6 symptoms or signs of endocarditis during active infection were predictive of improved overall long term survival. Independent determinants of event-free survival were infection by streptococci and age < 55 years. Event-free survival was 17% at the end of follow up both in medically-surgically treated patients and in medically treated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Long term survival following infective endocarditis is 50% after 10 years and is predicted by early surgical treatment, age < 55 years, lack of congestive heart failure, and the initial presence of more symptoms of endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis: clinical spectrum, presentation and outcome. An analysis of 212 cases 1980-1995.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate recent changes in the spectrum and clinical presentation of infective endocarditis and to determine predictors of outcome. DESIGN: A retrospective case study. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic characteristics were examined in 212 patients who fulfilled the Duke criteria for infective endocarditis between January 1980 and December 1995 to assess changes in clinical presentation and survival. RESULTS: Clinical presentation and course did not change significantly during the study period despite the concurrent introduction of new diagnostic tools (for example, transoesophageal echocardiography). In-hospital mortality was 15% and remained unchanged. Neurological symptoms on admission, arthralgia, and weight loss were all independent risk factors for adverse outcome (odds ratios 26.1, 6.2, and 4.2, respectively). Age, prosthetic valve disease, previous antibiotic treatment, renal insufficiency, surgical treatment, and the type of valve involved were not predictive of mortality. In contrast to all other major reports, Streptococcus viridans was the most common causative organism in intravenous drug users (52%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the introduction of new diagnostic tools, the course of infective endocarditis has remained unchanged over a period of 16 years. Evidence of early dissemination of the disease to other sites was associated with adverse outcome. Even in elderly patients, early aggressive treatment seems to be effective.

A male accessory gland peptide with protease inhibitory activity in Drosophila funebris.

Male accessory glands of Drosophila funebris synthesize and secrete a peptide that shows a protease-inhibiting activity. Amino acid sequencing of the purified peptide revealed that the peptide consists of 63 amino acid residues. It is a serine protease inhibitor belonging to the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (Kunitz) family. The inhibitory function and the kinetic characteristics of the inhibition have been examined with various substrates. The peptide possibly plays a role as an acrosin inhibitor involved in Drosophila reproduction.

A male accessory gland peptide that regulates reproductive behavior of female D. melanogaster.

The adult male accessory glands of D. melanogaster synthesize and secrete a peptide that represses female sexual receptivity and stimulates oviposition. Normally, this peptide is transferred to females during copulation; however, the peptide shows the same biological activity after purification and subsequent injection into the abdominal cavity of female virgins. Amino acid sequencing of the purified peptide and oligonucleotide-directed cDNA cloning established that the peptide consists of 36 amino acids. It appears to be synthesized as a precursor with a hydrophobic signal sequence of 19 residues at its N-terminal end. The precursor peptide is encoded by a short mRNA that accumulates exclusively in the male accessory gland. The gene has been localized by in situ hybridization to polytene chromosomes at 70A.

Patterns of protein synthesis in oocytes and early embryos of Rana esculenta complex.

We have used isotopic labelling and both one-and two-dimensional electrophoretic procedures to analyse the protien synthesis patterns in oocytes and early embryos of three phenotypes of the European green frogs. The results demonstrated that protein patterns of Rana ridibunda and R. esculenta are identical, but that they differ from those of R. lessonae. Progeny of the lethal cross R. esculenta × R. esculenta showed a distinct delay in the appearance of stage-specific proteins during early embryogenesis. The heat-shock response of R. ridibunda and R. esculenta oocytes was found to be identical, but different from that of Xenopus laevis. The implications of these findings, with respect to hybridogenesis in R. esculenta complex and variations in the regulations of heat shock genes in different amphibian species, are discussed.

The genes coding for 4 snRNAs of Drosophila melanogaster: localization and determination of gene numbers.

Four small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) have been isolated from Drosophila melanogaster flies. They have been characterized by base analysis, fingerprinting, and injection into Axolotl oocytes. The size of the molecules and the modified base composition suggest that the following correlations can be made: snRNA1 approximately U2-snRNA; snRNA2 approximately U3-snRNA; snRNA3 approximately U4-snRNA; snRNA4 approximately U6-snRNA. The snRNAs injected into Axolotl oocytes move into the nuclei, where they are protected from degradation. The genes coding for these snRNAs have been localized by "in situ" hybridization of 125-I-snRNAs to salivary gland chromosomes. Most of the snRNAs hybridize to different regions of the genome: snRNA1 to the cytological regions 39B and 40AB; snRNA2 to 22A, 82E, and 95C; snRNA3 to 14B, 23D, 34A, 35EF, 39B, and 63A; snRNA4 to 96A. The estimated gene numbers (Southern-blot analysis) are: snRNA1:3; snRNA2:7; snRNA3:7; snRNA4:1-3. The gene numbers correspond to the number of sites labeled on the polytene salivary gland chromosomes.

[Dental insurance systems in light of present-day prevention potentials]. / Zahnversicherungssysteme im Lichte moderner Vorbeungungsmöglichkeiten.

The situation of public dental insurance systems of several countries in Western Europe was examined in the light of the fact that caries and periodontitis may be prevented. Available epidemiological data were discussed as to their relevance. In Switzerland, dental insurance systems are of minor importance. In voluntary insurance plans for adults, prevention is scarcely included. On the other hand, the communities provide subsidies for dental care of schoolchildren, and prevention is an integral part of this system. In the German Federal Republic, dental insurance costs have quadrupled during the period 1970-1977. Preventive measures are not subsidized, and in recent years, more than half of the insurance payments were used for prosthetic dentistry. The few dental statistics available show that dental treatment of children is unsatisfactory. In Sweden, preventive measures are refunded at 75%. Since the introduction of the public insurance system in 1974 prosthetic dental work has increased at the expense of conservative treatment. In France, the social security system pays for about three quarters of conservative and simple prosthetic work. Prevention has so far not been included. Despite liberal refunding of restorative work markedly higher prevalence of tooth loss was found in lower social levels as compared to higher levels. In Great Britain, the National Health Service was introduced in 1948. As in France, tooth loss is most frequent in lower social levels. The findings are discussed with respect to cost developments and oral health prospects in Switzerland. Attention is focused upon the observation that the insurance systems were conceived at a time when realistic preventive programs were unavailable and their success had not yet been demonstrated in large groups.

Effects of inhibition and repression on the utilization of substrates by heterogeneous bacterial communities.

This investigation attempts to evaluate to what extent enzyme inhibition and repression by metabolites, indigenous to the cell, are significant phenomena in natural microbial communities. Three case histories of the kinetics of substrate utilization and growth in multisubstrate media by heterogeneous bacterial populations are presented: (i) concurrent substrate utilization and growth on both substrates simultaneously (glucose plus benzoate); (ii) sequential substrate elimination accompanied by diauxic growth as a result of inhibition of enzyme activity (glucose plus galactose); (iii) sequential substrate utilization accompanied by diauxic growth caused by repression of enzyme formation (glucose plus l-phenylalanine, benzoate plus l-phenylalanine). It is shown that enzyme inhibition was observed in two-substrate media as well as in multisubstrate media and was maintained at low substrate concentrations (few milligrams per liter). A special attempt has been made to maintain the diversity of the experimental microbial population during the adaptation and enrichment period. All substrates were determined with sensitive analytical methods specific for the individual substrates. The results obtained confirm that catabolite repression and the resulting sequential substrate utilization are observed in heterogeneous bacterial populations.