Ozone Formation Induced by the Impact of Reactive Bromine and Iodine Species on Photochemistry in a Polluted Marine Environment.

Reactive iodine and bromine species (RIS and RBS, respectively) are known for altering atmospheric chemistry and causing sharp tropospheric ozone (O3) depletion in polar regions and significant O3 reduction in the marine boundary layer (MBL). Here we use measurement-based modeling to show that, unexpectedly, both RIS and RBS can lead to enhanced O3 formation in a polluted marine environment under volatile organic compound (VOC)-limited conditions associated with high nitrogen oxide (NOX = [NO] + [NO2]) concentrations. Under these conditions, the daily average O3 mixing ratio increased to ∼44 and ∼28% for BrO and IO mixing ratios of up to ∼6.8 and 4.7 ppt, respectively. The increase in the level of O3 was partially induced by enhanced ClNO3 formation for higher Br2 and I2 emission flux. The increase in the level of O3 was associated with an increased mixing ratio of hydroperoxyl radical to hydroxyl radical ([HO2]/[OH]) and increased [NO2]/[NO] with higher levels of RBS and/or RIS. NOX-rich conditions are typical of the polluted MBL, near coastlines and ship plumes. Considering that O3 is toxic to humans, plants, and animals and is a greenhouse gas, our findings call for adequate updating of local and regional air-quality models with the effects of activities of RBS and RIS on O3 mixing ratios in the polluted MBL.

Early thalamic lesions in patients with sleep-potentiated epileptiform activity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence and type of early developmental lesions in patients with a clinical presentation consistent with electrical status epilepticus in sleep either with or without prominent sleep-potentiated epileptiform activity (PSPEA). METHODS: We performed a case-control study and enrolled patients with 1) clinical features consistent with electrical status epilepticus in sleep, 2) ≥1 brain MRI scan, and 3) ≥1 overnight EEG recording. We quantified epileptiform activity using spike percentage, the percentage of 1-second bins in the EEG tracing containing at least 1 spike. PSPEA was present when spike percentage during non-REM sleep was ≥50% than spike percentage during wakefulness. RESULTS: One hundred patients with PSPEA (cases) and 47 patients without PSPEA (controls) met the inclusion criteria during a 14-year period. Both groups were comparable in terms of clinical and epidemiologic features. Early developmental lesions were more frequent in cases (48% vs 19.2%, p = 0.002). Thalamic lesions were more frequent in cases (14% vs 2.1%, p = 0.037). The main types of early developmental lesions found in cases were vascular lesions (14%), periventricular leukomalacia (9%), and malformation of cortical development (5%). Vascular lesions were the only type of early developmental lesions that were more frequent in cases (14% vs 0%, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PSPEA have a higher frequency of early developmental lesions and thalamic lesions than a comparable population of patients without PSPEA. Vascular lesions were the type of early developmental lesions most related to PSPEA.

A misdiagnosed keratoacanthoma turned out to be a metastatic parotid carcinoma.

Distinguishing keratoacanthoma from well-differentiated squamous-cell carcinoma is often difficult on account of the clinical and histopathological similarities between them. Since the outcome of treatment depends on identifying the correct diagnosis and having the correct treatment on time, it is essential to differentiate keratoacanthoma and squamous-cell carcinoma as soon and accurately as possible. A paradigmatic case is herein reported. An 85 year-old female underwent total parotidectomy and ipsilateral neck dissection due to the squamous-cell carcinoma of the parotid gland. The investigations, in order to determine whether the tumour was a metastatic or a primary one, led to a misdiagnosis. A prior skin lesion, which was excised over her left cheek one year ago in another clinic, was diagnosed as keratoacanthoma. However, the histopathological revision of the specimen revealed that the lesion was in fact a squamous-cell carcinoma. Thus the parotid tumour was accepted as metastatic squamous-cell carcinoma rather than primary squamous-cell carcinoma.

Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), and Fe(II) metal complexes containing N,N'-(3,4-diaminobenzophenon)-3,5-Bu(t)(2)-salicylaldimine ligand: Synthesis, structural characterization, thermal properties, electrochemistry, and spectroelectrochemistry.

The synthesis, structure, spectroscopic and electro-spectrochemical properties of steric hindered Schiff-base ligand [N,N'-(3,4-benzophenon)-3,5-Bu(t)(2)-salicylaldimine (LH(2))] and its mononuclear Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Fe(II) complexes are described in this work. The new dissymmetric steric hindered Schiff-base ligand containing a donor set of NONO was prepared through reaction of 3,4-diaminobenzophenon with 3,5-Bu(t)(2)-salicylaldehyde. Certain metal complexes of this ligand were synthesized by treating an ethanolic solution of the ligand with an equimolar amount of metal salts. The ligand and its complexes were characterized by FT-IR, UV-vis, (1)H NMR, elemental analysis, molar conductivity and thermal analysis methods in addition to magnetic susceptibility, electrochemistry and spectroelectrochemistry techniques. The tetradentate and mononuclear metal complexes were obtained by reacting N,N'-(3,4-benzophenon)-3,5-Bu(t)(2)-salicylaldimine (LH(2)) with some metal acetate in a 1:1 mole ratio. The molar conductance data suggest metal complexes to be non-electrolytes.

Cellular in vitro assays in the diagnosis of Hymenoptera venom allergy.

BACKGROUND: The current diagnostic procedures of anaphylactic reactions to hymenoptera stings include intradermal tests, venom-specific IgE (sIgE) and possibly sting challenge tests. Sometimes, the culprit insect remains unidentified. The usefulness of the cellular assays CAST-ELISA and Flow-CAST in the management of hymenoptera venom allergy was investigated. METHODS: 134 patients with systemic reactions after a yellow jacket wasp and/or honey bee sting and 44 healthy controls underwent skin tests, as well as determination of sIgE (CAP-FEIA), leukocyte sulfidoleukotriene release (CAST-ELISA) and basophil CD63 expression (Flow-CAST) upon insect venom stimulation. The clinical diagnosis based on the history alone served as reference. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of all methods were compared. Concordance and correlations among methods were calculated. RESULTS: Sensitivity and specificity of all in vitro tests were consistently high. The combination of all tests (skin tests, sIgE, combined cellular assays) yielded a positive predictive value of 100% for both venoms, if all 3 were positive, and a negative predictive value of 100%, if at least 1 test was positive. Relative specificities were considerably higher for the cellular assays (honey bee: CAST 91.1%, Flow-CAST 85.7%; yellow jacket wasp: CAST 98.4%, Flow-CAST 92.1%) and allow the detection of the culprit insect in patients with reactivity to both insects. The concordance between methods was good. There is no correlation between severity of clinical reaction and cellular assays. CONCLUSION: CAST-ELISA and Flow-CAST are valuable additional diagnostic tools for establishing the true culprit insect in patients with unclear clinical history or sensitization to both insects.

[Occupational inhalant allergy to the common housefly (Musca domestica)]. / Berufsbedingte Inhalationsallergie gegen die gemeine Hausfliege (Musca domestica).

Isolated allergy to the common housefly (Musca domestica) has only been described in four cases. Predisposing factors include high concentrations of allergens and prolonged exposure time. Two pharmaceutical industry workers, 59 and 34 years of age, both without atopy, presented with recent onset of allergic rhinitis. Their symptoms appeared about 30 minutes after exposure to Musca domestica in the closed breeding rooms. They were symptom-free with other insects, on weekends and on vacation. Skin prick tests with common inhalant allergens were negative. Prick testing with crushed Musca domestica adults, hatched eggs, contaminated nets and sand, as well as fly feces were all positive. One patient had specific IGE antibodies against Musca domestica. Both patients lacked specific IgE antibodies against other insect species and common aeroallergens. In these two patients there was a species-specific sensitization without relevant cross reactions to other arthropods. The patients were transferred to new work sites where they had no contact with Musca domestica and became symptom-free. Thus this common insect can be a relevant occupational aeroallergen.

[Therapy of allergic rhinitis]. / Therapie der Rhinitis allergica.

Allergic rhinitis is a common disease with a prevalence of 10-20% in western countries. Allergic rhinitis may be complicated by the possible restriction of quality of life and can lead to sequelae like sinusitis, headache or even allergic asthma. The treatment of allergic rhinitis is mainly based on allergen avoidance, pharmacological treatment and specific immunotherapy. For mild symptoms of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis topical or nonsedating second generation oral H1-antihistamines or chromones are advised. If the patient presents symptoms of long duration or nasal obstruction is dominant, intranasal steroids should be used, which have proved to be an effective and safe form of therapy for allergic rhinitis. A combination of oral antihistamines and steroids are possible and recommended if one of these agents alone does not provide sufficient relief. If necessary this regimen is supplemented with topical antihistamines or chromone eyedrops. In cases of severe nasal obstruction, a short course of oral steroids or topical decongestants, which both should not be given longer than ten days, is recommended. Intramuscular corticosteroids should not be given, due to the suppression of adrenal glands. In addition it is important to prevent exposure to the allergen. If the treatment is not effective, further investigations should be done to exclude other nasal diseases (polyposis nasi, anatomical anomalies, chronic sinusitis). This article summarizes the recommended medications with their possible side-effects and their place in therapy management of allergic rhinitis in adults and children.

Identification of nodulation promoter (nod-box) regions of Rhizobium galegae.

A hybridisation analysis of a genomic clone library of Rhizobium galegae HAMBI 1174 located four EcoRI fragments homologous to the nod-box promoter sequence of Sinorhizobium meliloti in two separate gene regions. Two of the five nod-boxes detected in the R. galegae genome were carried on a single cosmid clone, pRg30, upstream from the nodABCIJ and nodF genes, whereas the other three nod-boxes were carried on a different cosmid clone, pRg10. Hybridisations with various nod gene probes from S. meliloti and Rhizobium leguminosarum species detected a nodD homolog in pRg10. The sequence data obtained from regions adjacent to each nod-box in pRg10 confirmed the presence of a second nodD in the R. galegae genome and, in addition, revealed the presence of nodN, nodU, dctA nifH and nifQ-like genes in pRg10. Thus, by using a promoter-specific nod-box probe we could identify a new region carrying genes involved in nitrogen fixation and host specificity functions.

Assessment of competitiveness of rhizobia infecting Galega orientalis on the basis of plant yield, nodulation, and strain identification by antibiotic resistance and PCR.

Competition between effective and ineffective Rhizobium galegae strains nodulating Galega orientalis was examined on the basis of plant growth, nodulation, antibiotic resistance, and PCR results. In a preliminary experiment in Leonard's jars, ineffective R. galegae strains HAMBI 1207 and HAMBI 1209 competed in similar manners with the effective strain R. galegae HAMBI 1174. In a pot experiment, soil was inoculated with 0 to 10(5) HAMBI 1207 cells per g before G. orientalis was sown. Seeds of G. orientalis were surface inoculated with 2 x 10(4) and 2 x 10(5) cells of HAMBI 1174 per seed (which represent half and fivefold the commercially recommended amount of inoculant, respectively). Plant yield and nodulation by the effective strain were significantly reduced, with as few as 10(2) ineffective rhizobia per g of soil, and the inoculation response was not improved by the 10-fold greater dose of the inoculant. Bacteria occupying the nodules were identified by antibiotic resistance and PCR with primers specific for R. galegae HAMBI 1174, R. galegae, and genes coding for bacterial 16S rRNA (bacterial 16S rDNA). Sixty-two large nodules examined were occupied by the effective strain HAMBI 1174, as proven by antibiotic resistance and amplification of the strain-specific fragment. From 20 small nodules, only the species-specific fragment could be amplified, and isolated bacteria had the same antibiotic resistance and 16S PCR restriction pattern as strain HAMBI 1207. PCR with our strain-specific and species-specific primers provides a powerful tool for strain identification of R. galegae directly from nodules without genetic modification of the bacteria.

Identification of Rhizobium spp. in peat-based inoculants by DNA hybridization and PCR and its application in inoculant quality control.

Procedures based on DNA hybridization and PCR were developed for quality control of Rhizobium inoculants. Inoculants for pea and goat's rue were produced by Elomestari Ltd., Juva, Finland, in sterile dry fine peat by the standard procedure used by the company. The inoculants contained Rhizobium galegae HAMBI 1174 and HAMBI 1207 and an R. leguminosarum biovar vicia strain, 16HSA, either solely or in combinations of two or three strains. DNA was isolated from 1-g samples of each peat inoculant and analyzed by nonradioactive DNA-DNA hybridization and by PCR. The hybridization probes were total DNAs from pure cultures of R. galegae HAMBI 1207 and R. leguminosarum biovar viciae 16HSA and a 264-bp strain-specific fragment from the genome of R. galegae HAMBI 1174. The total DNA probes distinguished inoculants containing R. galegae or R. leguminosarum, and the strain-specific probe distinguished inoculants containing R. galegae HAMBI 1174. The hybridization results for R. galegae were verified in a PCR experiment by amplifying an R. galegae species-specific fragment and an R. galegae HAMBI 1174 strain-specific fragment in the same reaction. When suitable probes and primers are available, the methods described here offer promising alternatives for the quality control of peat-based inoculants.

Isolation of a Rhizobium galegae strain-specific DNA probe.

We have isolated a strain-specific DNA probe from the strain Rhizobium galegae HAMBI 1174 by a subtraction hybridization procedure followed by PCR amplification and DNA cloning. The specificity of the 342-bp DNA probe (P3) was tested in dot blot or Southern blot hybridizations against total genomic DNA of 41 bacterial strains (21 of them belong to R. galegae, 15 to other Rhizobium species and five to other bacterial species). Only the samples from four R. galegae strains, which are different isolates but identical to the strain HAMBI 1174, hybridized with the probe. The P3 probe was sequenced and PCR primers were designed based on its sequence. PCR amplification from purified total genomic DNA of 52 strains and subsequent hybridization with the P3 probe proved that the primers are strain specific.