Identification of ochratoxin A producing Aspergillus carbonarius and A. niger clade isolated from grapes using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) reaction.

AIMS: To develop two assays based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of DNA for the quick and specific identification of Aspergillus carbonarius and ochratoxigenic strains of the Aspergillus niger clade isolated from grapes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two sets of primers were designed based on the polyketide synthase genes involved or putatively involved in ochratoxin A (OTA) biosynthesis in A. carbonarius and A. niger clade. Hydroxynaphthol blue was used as indirect method to indicate DNA amplification. The limit of detection of both assays was comparable to that of a PCR reaction. Specificities of the reactions were tested using DNA from different black aspergilli isolated from grapes. The two LAMP assays were then used to identify A. carbonarius and ochratoxigenic A. niger and A. awamori grown in pure cultures without a prior DNA extraction. CONCLUSIONS: The two LAMP assays permitted to quickly and specifically identify DNA from OTA-producing black aspergilli, as well as isolates grown in pure culture. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Monitoring vineyards for the presence of OTA-producing strains is part of the measures to minimize the occurrence of OTA in grape products. The two LAMP assays developed here could be potentially used to speed the screening process of vineyards for the presence of OTA-producing black aspergilli.

Comparative study of bipolar eletrocoagulation versus argon plasma coagulation for rectal bleeding due to chronic radiation coloproctopathy.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Chronic radiation coloproctopathy (CRCP) is a well-recognized complication of radiotherapy, with rectal bleeding the most common presentation. It is frequently refractory to conservative management, but the optimal endoscopic treatment of bleeding secondary to CRCP is still controversial. The efficacy and safety of bipolar eletrocoagulation (BEC) and argon plasma coagulation (APC) in the management of bleeding from CRCP were evaluated and compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 30 patients (mean age 67.4 years) with active and chronic bleeding from telangiectasias, were randomly allocated to BEC or APC and stratified by severity of CRCP according to clinical severity and endoscopic findings (Saunders score). Success was defined as eradication of all telangiectasias, and therapeutic failure as need for more than seven sessions or for other treatment. Complications were categorized as minor (e.g. fever, anal or abdominal pain) or major (hemorrhagic). RESULTS: Both treatments were equally effective for the treatment of CRCP rectal bleeding. Only one failure was observed in each group (P = 1.000). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding number of sessions, minor or major complications, or relapse. However, overall complication rate was significantly higher in the BEC group (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: BEC and APC are both effective for the therapy of bleeding telangiectasias from CRCP. There are probably no major differences between them. Although APC seemed safer than BEC in this investigation, further studies, involving a much larger population, are needed to assess the complication rates and determine the best management option.

The incidence of bacteraemia after argon plasma coagulation in patients with chronic radiation proctocolitis.

AIM: Argon plasma coagulation (APC) is considered a safe treatment for haemorrhagic chronic radiation proctocolitis (CRPC), but bacteraemia is a rare complication. The study aimed to evaluate the frequency of bacteraemia after APC. METHOD: A prospective study of 21 patients who underwent APC (30 procedures) for CRPC was carried out. Blood cultures (Bactec(®) ) were obtained before and 30 min after the procedure (60 samples total). Patients were monitored for 48 h after the procedure to detect signs of infection. RESULTS: None of the 21 patients had fever or any sign suggestive of infection after any of the 30 sessions. All baseline blood cultures were negative and two (7%) of the 30-min blood cultures were positive (Staphylococcus hominis n = 1; Streptococcus bovis and Rhodotorula sp n = 1). The first was likely to be a contaminant and the second patient had no evidence of any other colonic disease (neoplasia or polyps) beside CRPC. CONCLUSION: APC is a low-risk procedure regarding bacteraemia and does not warrant prophylactic antibiotic administration.

ANCA-associated necrotizing/granulomatous glomerulonephritis in an elderly patient; importance of the renal biopsy.

ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis may present initially with renal symptoms, especially in elderly patients. We report a case of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis in an 80-year-old female presenting with renal insufficiency and proteinuria. There was no evidence of systemic illness at admission. The major finding in the renal biopsy was the presence of granulomas. Additional testing for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) was suggested. The ANCA test was positive confirming the diagnosis of ANCA-associated necrotizing/granulomatous glomerulonephritis. The patient responded well to adequate treatment with immunosuppressive therapy. This case demonstrates the importance of the renal biopsy in cases of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis presenting with renal symptoms.

Inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder in children: case report and review of prognostic significance and biological potential behavior.

Inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder is rare in the pediatric population. Despite several reports in the literature the prognostic significance and biological potential behavior of this lesion remain uncertain. The authors report a case of polypoid inverted papilloma of the urinary bladder in an 11-year-old boy and review its pathology. The pediatric population with this lesion is an ideal group to provide intense, long-term follow-up to define the biological behavior and prognosis significance of this lesion.

A phase variant of Azospirillum lipoferum lacks a polar flagellum and constitutively expresses mechanosensing lateral flagella.

Flagellation of a nonswimming variant of the mixed flagellated bacterium Azospirillum lipoferum 4B was characterized by electron microscopy, and polyclonal antibodies were raised against polar and lateral flagellins. The variant cells lacked a polar flagellum due to a defect in flagellin synthesis and constitutively expressed lateral flagella. The variant cells were able to respond to conditions that restricted the rotation of lateral flagella by producing more lateral flagella, suggesting that the lateral flagella, as well as the polar flagellum, are mechanosensing.

Effects of endogenous ABA levels and temperature on cedar (Cedrus libani Loudon) bud dormancy in vitro.

Axillary and apical buds of in-vitro-propagated cuttings of Cedrus libani are unable to burst at 24 °C, but this inhibition was overcome at 30 °C. Here we have used cedar microcuttings to investigate whether the levels of endogenous hormones vary with bud dormancy and temperature. We analysed the levels of abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, isopentenyladenine and their major metabolites using HPLC purification and fractionation of the samples coupled to an ELISA method for hormonal quantitation involving several antibodies elicited against each hormonal family. Abscisic acid levels in microcuttings with dormant buds were higher than those in microcuttings with growing buds. At 24 °C, needles accumulated more abscisic acid than at 30 °C. In addition, when needles were removed, but growth release was achieved at 24 °C. Abscisic acid supplied at 30 °C induced the formation of dormant buds. These results suggest that abscisic acid accumulation in the needles can explain the bud dormancy of cedar microcuttings at 24 °C.

Atomic force microscopy study of isolated ivy leaf cuticles observed directly and after embedding in Epon®.

The first results obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM) of the fine structure of isolated ivy leaf cuticles are reported. Observations of transverse sections embedded in Epon® allow easy recognition of the general shape of cuticles as viewed by light microscopy. The surface profile shows irregularities not revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The lamellate and reticulate zones, distinguishable by TEM, were also located by AFM. The outer zone appears as an irregularly thick (c. 4 µm) homogeneous region; lamellae can be visualized only after image-processing to subtract relief defects produced by sectioning. The second region or internal zone represents the largest part of the cuticle thickness; it appears heterogeneous and disordered. The cuticle internal surface images show imprints of the epidermal cells. At high magnification, the cell imprint central regions appear to be made up of a network of fibres of c. 50 nm diameter. Some images show that these fibres have a preferential orientation. They disappear after acid-hydrolysis is used to eliminate polysaccharides. This study shows that AFM can produce reproducible images of isolated plant cuticles at a subcellular scale leading to new high-resolution representations of cuticle substructure.

Effect of exchange of ham for boiled egg on plasma glucose and insulin responses to breakfast in normal subjects.

Blood glucose (BG) and plasma insulin (IRI) were measured during two breakfasts different only by the nature of proteins--egg (E) or ham (H)--in eight normal subjects. Compared with H, E led to a flattened BG response at 30, 40, and 50 min and to a sustained BG from 150 to 240 min. Integrated BG response was not significantly different between E and H. After E, the IRI response decreased at 90 min and 120 min (P less than 0.05). Integrated IRI response with E was significantly smaller than with H (P less than 0.025). The reasons for the effect of E ingestion on BG are not obvious; pancreatic and/or intestinal mechanisms may be involved. It is suggested that greater consideration be given to the protein composition of the test meals when they are used in studies of glucose homeostasis.

Angioplasty of a stenotic aorto-renal artery saphenous vein bypass graft to a single kidney.

A 69-year-old white woman who 18 months previously had undergone a right nephrectomy and an aorto-renal artery saphenous vein bypass to her left kidney because of accelerated hypertension underwent angioplasty repair of the saphenous vein bypass, which had become stenotic and was causing accelerated hypertension and renal failure. Angioplasty resulted in improvement in BP control and renal function. This is the first report of a successful angioplasty of an aorto-renal saphenous vein bypass. This case also demonstrates the previously described captopril-induced acute renal failure seen in patients with compromised renal perfusion pressure.

[Effect of a 36-hour fast on blood glucose and insulin responses to the glucose stimulus in the normal subject]. / Effet d'un jeûne de trente-six heures sur les réponses glycémiques et insulinémiques au stimulus glucosé chez le sujet normal.

The authors show that it's been able to perform an oral glucose tolerance test on subjects after an 36 hrs 'fasting, providing that a feeding with 250 g of carbohydrates has been brought on the three days before fasting. Three oGTT were performed on 10 normal subjects and carried out as follow: the first after a 3 days' period of usual food intake, the second after a 36 hours 'fasting, the third after a new three days' period with the usual food intake. The first and the third glycemic and insulinemic responses to oGTT are not significantly different. However, after the third period, weight, triacylglycerolemic rate and fasting blood sugar levels are still significantly below the initial values.

Feeding frequency and nitrogen balance in weight-reducing obese women.

In a prospective trial, ten obese women, each her own reference, ate a 1200 kcal/d slimming diet in six meals a day compared with three meals a day during two 14-d periods. Loss of weight was slightly greater during the six-meal periods when loss of nitrogen was lower and thus loss of lean mass was also lower.