Riboprinting and 16S rRNA gene sequencing for identification of brewery Pediococcus isolates

A total of 46 brewery and 15 ATCC Pediococcus isolates were ribotyped using a Qualicon RiboPrinter. Of these, 41 isolates were identified as Pediococcus damnosus using EcoRI digestion. Three ATCC reference strains had patterns similar to each other and matched 17 of the brewery isolates. Six other brewing isolates were similar to ATCC 25249. The other 18 P. damnosus brewery isolates had unique patterns. Of the remaining brewing isolates, one was identified as P. parvulus, two were identified as P. acidilactici, and two were identified as unique Pediococcus species. The use of alternate restriction endonucleases indicated that PstI and PvuII could further differentiate some strains having identical EcoRI profiles. An acid-resistant P. damnosus isolate could be distinguished from non-acid-resistant varieties of the same species using PstI instead of EcoRI. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis was compared to riboprinting for identifying pediococci. The complete 16S rRNA gene was PCR amplified and sequenced from seven brewery isolates and three ATCC references with distinctive riboprint patterns. The 16S rRNA gene sequences from six different brewery P. damnosus isolates were homologous with a high degree of similarity to the GenBank reference strain but were identical to each other and one ATCC strain with the exception of 1 bp in one strain. A slime-producing, beer spoilage isolate had 16S rRNA gene sequence homology to the P. acidilactici reference strain, in agreement with the riboprint data. Although 16S rRNA gene sequencing correctly identified the genus and species of the test Pediococcus isolates, riboprinting proved to be a better method for subspecies differentiation.

Skeletal muscle and aging

Age-related changes in muscle mass (sarcopenia) and functional properties are the result of a very complex hierarchical system of basic cell aging processes and cell adaptive responses. A basic aging mechanism pertains to mitochondrial production of free radicals and their associated secondary effects. From this basic aging mechanism many other cellular changes can be explained as direct effects or compensatory changes. Altered skeletal muscle cell biochemical and functional properties during aging resulting from intrinsic mechanisms and from changes in hormonal or local signals that influence phenotype maintenance, are reviewed. The effect of skeletal muscle cell senescence on the cellular response to exercise, and the effect of dietary restriction on muscle cell senescence can also be explored from this perspective.

Is a general women's health promotion program as effective as an HIV-intensive prevention program in reducing HIV risk among Hispanic women?

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess whether participants in an HIV-intensive prevention program and participants in a general women's health promotion program reported greater HIV risk-reduction than participants in a wait-list control group immediately following program participation and at three-month follow-up.

METHODS

The authors studied 162 Hispanic women ages 18 to 35 years, most of them immigrants. Three-fourths of the sample (74%) reported earning less than $800 a month, 29% did not have a high school degree, and 90% had children. Data were gathered through surveys at baseline, at intervention completion, and at three-month follow-up. Information was collected on sociodemographics, HIV risk factors, and risk behaviors. Crude and adjusted (for demographics and dose) logistic regression analyses were used to assess program effects on participants' risk reduction.

RESULTS

Crude logistic regression analyses reveal that both programs resulted in increased condom use at post-test and follow-up. Only participants in the HIV-intensive prevention program reported increased safer sex negotiation at post-test and follow-up, however, and only participants in the women's health promotion program reported increased HIV testing at post-test.

CONCLUSION

Both interventions increased condom use. The HIV-intensive prevention program appeared to be more effective in promoting safer sex negotiation, and the women's health promotion program appeared more effective in promoting HIV testing. The findings suggest that both approaches may be viable ways to package HIV prevention for short-term behavior change in this population.

[Biologic effect of diflubenzuron on Blattella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)]

The Amejeiras strain of Blatella germanica (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) kept in lab conditions since 1994 and susceptible to arpocarb, malathion and cipermethrin insecticides, was studied. This strain was treated with 4 diflubenzuron (Dimilin OMS 1804) concentrations supplied by feeding nymphs at their first stage of development, with the purpose of determining their effect on the survival, phenotype and period of nynmphal development of this species. The dosage-mortality line of regression was determined and the values of CE50 = 0.042% and CE95 = 0.357% were obtained. Sublethal effects were observed in the nymphs treated with the 4 tested concentrations whereas the morphogenetic effects in adult insects only occurred when they were exposed to higher concentrations (0.25% and 0.4%). The nymph development stage showed a highly significant increase when the diflubenzuron concentration was raised. (F = 11.64; p < 0.001).

Distribution of the cyanophyte Trichodesmium (Oscillatoriaceae) in the eastern Caribbean Sea: influence of the Orinoco River

Orinoco River influence in the Caribbean Sea, characterized by high nutrient input, causes a decrease of Trichodesmium populations. The Caribbean Time Series (CaTS) station, south of Puerto Rico (17 degrees 36'N 67 degrees 00'W), was monitored for 25 months in order to observe the Trichodesmium abundance pattern and the presence of the river plume. In general, mean Trichodesmium abundance was higher at the surface and decreased with depth. The mean upper water column (surface to 20 m) abundance was 54.1 +/- 32.6 col/m3. Within the sampling period, abundance was highly variable (1-700 col/m3). Correlation between Trichodesmium abundance and wind speed (p=0.002), chlorophyll a concentration (p=0.001), nitrate (p=0.02) and silicate (p=0.003) concentrations were statistically significant. However, Trichodesmium abundance was not correlated with salinity (p=0.70), temperature (p=0.16) and seawater density (p=0.71) variations at CaTS. Eastern Caribbean regions highly influenced by the Orinoco River discharge were devoid of Trichodesmium colonies.

The human Y chromosome genes BPY2, CDY1 and DAZ are not essential for sustained fertility

Deletions of the AZFc interval of the human Y chromosome are found in >5% of male patients with idiopathic infertility and are associated with a severely reduced sperm count. The most common deletion type is large (>1 Mb) and removes members of the Y-borne testis-specific gene families of BPY2, CDY1, DAZ, PRY, RBMY2 and TTY2, which are candidate AZF genes. Four exceptional individuals who have transmitted a large AZFc deletion naturally to their infertile sons have, however, been described. In three cases, transmission was to an only son, but in the fourth case a Y chromosome, shown to be deleted for all copies of DAZ, was transmitted from a father to his four infertile sons. Here we present a second family of this latter type and demonstrate that an AZFc-deleted Y chromosome lacking not only DAZ, but also BPY2 and CDY1, has been transmitted from a father to his three infertile sons. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot analyses revealed no difference in the size of the AZFc deletion in the father and his sons. We propose that the father carries rare alleles of autosomal or X-linked loci which suppress the infertility that is frequently associated with the absence of AZFc.

MEFV mutations in Behçet's disease

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and Behçet's disease (BD), both inflammatory diseases, are highly prevalent in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean populations. FMF is a Mendelian autosomic recessive disease linked to MEFV, a gene of unknown function. BD in contrast is a polyfactorial disease associated with the major histocompatibility complex. Because FMF and BD have epidemiological similarities, we asked whether the FMF gene was implicated in BD. We screened for the common MEFV mutations a cohort of 114 chromosomes from definite BD patients [meeting the criteria of the International study group] and probable cases [meeting at least two of these criteria]. We screened in parallel an ethnically matched cohort of FMF and control chromosomes. The M694V, V726A and E148Q mutations tended to be more frequent in definite BD (2.6%, 2.6%, and 5.2%, respectively) than in controls (0%, 0%, and 2.2%). The P706 polymorphism was found in 10.5% of the probable BD chromosomes, but in only 1.6% of the controls (p=0.01). Because some MEFV mutations were more frequent in BD than in controls, we suggest that they may act as additional susceptibility factors in BD.

Dorsolateral biplane closing radial osteotomy in zero variant cases of Kienböck's disease

Twenty-six patients with Lichtman stages II and III Kienböck's disease had biplane dorsolateral radial closing osteotomy to reduce the radial inclination and dorsal angles on the sagittal plane. The effects of the procedure were studied clinically, radiologically, and by magnetic resonance imaging in a 2- to 6-year follow-up study (average follow-up period, 3.5 years). The signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images of the lunate increased after surgery in all patients, suggesting revascularization. The comparative advantages of this technique are discussed with regard to others currently used.

[Effectiveness of a mandibular advancement prosthesis in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of a mandibular advancement prosthesis for treating obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

METHOD

Mandibular advancement appliances were prescribed for 21 patients (20 men) with OSAS diagnosed by polysomnography. Mean age was 51 (8) years, BMI was 30 (4) kg/m2, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) per hour was 48 (17). If the device was well tolerated, regardless of clinical response, polysomnography was repeated between 1 to 3 months after start of treatment. The device was considered effective if the AHI decreased to < 15/h and symptoms related to OSAS disappeared.

RESULTS

Seven patients withdrew from treatment after only a few days. The remaining 14 (66%) tolerated treatment well and the second polysomnogram was performed. In six of the 14 (43%), the device proved effective for correcting OSAS. In six more patients, the AHI decreased but failed to become normal. In the remaining two patients, no improvement was observed. Improvement in the AHI was unrelated to severity of OSAS.

CONCLUSION

The mandibular advancement prosthesis is effective for some patients with OSAS, including those in whom the AHI is high. Larger studies are needed to allow us to define the type of patients that might benefit.

Effect of inversion polymorphism on the neutral nucleotide variability of linked chromosomal regions in Drosophila

Recombination is a main factor determining nucleotide variability in different regions of the genome. Chromosomal inversions, which are ubiquitous in the genus Drosophila, are known to reduce and redistribute recombination, and thus their specific effect on nucleotide variation may be of major importance as an explanatory factor for levels of DNA variation. Here, we use the coalescent approach to study this effect. First, we develop analytical expressions to predict nucleotide variability in old inversion polymorphisms that have reached mutation-drift-flux equilibrium. The effects on nucleotide variability of a new arrangement appearing in the population and reaching a stable polymorphism are then studied by computer simulation. We show that inversions modulate nucleotide variability in a complex way. The establishment of an inversion polymorphism involves a partial selective sweep that eliminates part of the variability in the population. This is followed by a slow convergence to the equilibrium values. During this convergence, regions close to the breakpoints exhibit much lower variability than central regions. However, at equilibrium, regions close to the breakpoints have higher levels of variability and differentiation between arrangements than regions in the middle of the inverted segment. The implications of these findings for overall variability levels during the evolution of Drosophila species are discussed.

[Profile of occupational disease outpatients and the presence of repetitive strain injury]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the profile of outpatients seen at an occupational disease clinic of a general and repetitive strain injury (RSI) patients by using multivariate analyze.

METHODS

The first 565 visit registries for the year 1996 were assessed regarding their social and demographics aspects, work characteristics, and diagnosis. All the variables were analyzed by univariate analysis method. Bivariate data were analyzed using Chi square test (chi2) for categorical variables, comparison of means or ranges for quantitative and categorical variables. Multivariate data were analyzed using log-linear models with logit-transformation to identify the groups with a larger proportion of RSI.

RESULTS

Women sought the occupational diseases clinic more frequently than men, and there was a predominance of RSI cases. The occupation distribution was in order of priority as following: office workers, factory workers, and service workers. Of them, 56.9% were from the economic sector of services. RSI was seen in 56% of the patients diagnosed at their first visit.

CONCLUSIONS

The analysis confirms the trends seen in the 80s regarding the epidemiological changes in occupational diseases, when RSI started to be identified and displaced to a secondary position the other common diseases (due to physical and chemical hazards) because of inadequacy of ergonomics.

Experimental and theoretical vibrational study of silyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, CF3SO2OSiH3

Infrared and Raman spectra were obtained for liquid silyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, a silylating agent of limited stability. The molecular geometry was optimized by means of density functional theory and Möller-Plesset second order perturbation theory methods, using different basis sets. The optimized structure presents a gauche conformation, similar to that adopted by methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate, which was determined experimentally a short time ago. The wavenumbers for the normal modes of vibration and the corresponding force constants were also calculated, facilitating the interpretation of the vibrational data. The harmonic force constants given by theory were scaled to reproduce adequately the experimental wavenumbers.

[The ecological succession of mosquito species in the town of Boyeros, Ciudad de la Habana 1994-1996]

An analysis was made on the incidence of Culicidae in Boyeros municipality, City of Havana from 1994 to 1996 based on the requirements of the national program for eradication of Aedes aegypti. A total of 13 species was detected in which Aedes mediovittatus predominated during 3 years of study, followed by Culex quinquefasciatus whereas for the first time Aedes albopictus species was found in the territory. People's Councils Wajay, Santiago de las Vegas and Armada exhibited the highest values of infestation by Culicidae in the municipality, therefore, they required that anti-Aedes program, operators paid more attention to this situation. It was found that depots preferred by Culicidae for breeding were larval traps followed by low tanks in 1994 and 1995 and by other reservoirs in 1996. A mediovittatus preferred larval traps whereas Cx. quinquefasciatus preferred low tanks except in 1996 when this species was mostly found in other tanks. 93% of all test-positive reservoirs found were colonized by only one species, whereas 7% presented larvae from 2 species or more. A. mediovittatus and C. quinquefasciatus were the most related, above all in low tanks.

[Entomological surveillance over Aedes (S) aegypti and other culicids in Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba 1991-1996]

The results of the entomologic surveillance carried out from 1991 to 1996 in Boyeros municipality, City of Havana within the Program for Eradication of Aedes aegypti were analyzed. Data on mosquitoes fauna collected in the municipality by various sampling methods, larval survey, human bait, capture at rest and larval traps. Culex quinquefasciatus, Aedes mediovittatus and Aedes aegypti species were the most found by the different methods. It was proved that water tanks, man-made deposits, other kinds of tanks and low tanks were the most exploited resources by mosquitoes for their breeding in this municipality whereas larval surveys were the most sensitive method for detecting species since it contributed a greater variety of species. Reference is made to the search for a mechanism that help estimate adult populations from larval indices provided by surveys and the method of capture at rest is stressed as the most sensitive method for adult mosquitoes, particularly for dengue vector within the surveillance system aimed at this species.

Aging and the human vestibular nuclei: morphometric analysis

The data concerning the effects of age on the brainstem are scarce and few works are devoted to the human vestibular nuclear complex. The study of the effects of aging in the vestibular nuclei could have clinical interest due to the high prevalence of balance control and gait problems in the elderly. We have used in this work eight human brainstems of different ages sectioned and stained by the formaldehyde-thionin technique. The neuron's profiles were drawn with a camera lucida and Abercrombie's method was used to estimate the total number of neurons. The test of Kolmogorov-Smirnov with the correction of Lilliefors was used to evaluate the fit of our data to a normal distribution and a regression analysis was done to determine if the variation of our data with age was statistically significant. Aging does not affect the volume or length of the vestibular nuclear complex. Our results clearly show that neuronal loss occurs with aging in the descending (DVN), medial (MVN), and lateral (LVN) vestibular nuclei, but not in the superior (SVN). There are changes in the proportions of neurons of different sizes but they are not statistically significant. The neuronal loss could be related with the problems that elderly people have to compensate unilateral vestibular lesions and the alterations of the vestibulospinal reflexes. The preservation of SVN neurons can explain why vestibulo-ocular reflexes are compensated after unilateral vestibular injuries.

Immunomodulating properties of the diterpene andalusol

Andalusol [ent-13(16),14-labdadiene-6 alpha,8 alpha,18-triol], a labdane diterpene isolated from an anti-inflammatory extract of the medicinal plant Sideritis foetens Clem. was evaluated for immunomodulating properties. It exhibited a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the hemolytic activity of the classical complement pathway and also inhibited lymphocyte proliferation induced by concanavalin A at non-cytotoxic concentrations (1-100 microM). No effect on the alternative pathway was observed. These results indicate that andalusol has immunosuppressive effects in vitro in addition to its anti-inflammatory activity.

[Neuroanatomy of the nuclear vestibular complex in the syrian hamster. Comparison with other mammals]

The vestibular complex has been studied since the fifties. The general conclusion of research on many mammals is that the vestibular complex has four main vestibular nuclei and some less constantly associated neuronal groups. The general distribution of the four main vestibular nuclei in the hamster does not differ substantially from that of other mammals: humans, many primates, cat, opossom, rabbit, chinchilla, guinea pig, etc. Of the many associated groups that have been described, we clearly identified groups <<y>>, <<l>>, <<x>>, <<f>>, and the interstitial nucleus of the vestibular nucleus of Cajal. However, the latter seems to be less developed than in other mammals. We present results and a map of serial sections of the vestibular area showing the most characteristic anatomic relations with brainstem structures, and the most relevant cytomorphometric results compared with other mammals.

Successful treatment of aphthous ulcerations in AIDS patients using topical granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Oral recurrent aphthous ulceration (RAU) is a well-recognized complication in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. RAU can be progressive and destructive, causing dysphagia and secondary malnutrition. The aetiology of RAU remains unknown, and its response to available treatments is often unsatisfactory. We describe three patients with advanced AIDS who suffered from extensive RAU which failed to respond to several treatments, including topical viscous lidocaine and topical and systemic glucocorticoids. Owing to difficulties in using thalidomide (two patients had neurological conditions which precluded thalidomide use), all three patients were treated with an oral solution containing recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF, 400 microg in 5% glucose 200 mL). From the first application, all three patients showed significant improvement of their lesions and amelioration of pain, and they were completely cured in a few days. No adverse effects were recorded. The patients did not show relapses of RAU over a prolonged follow-up. Controlled trials are warranted in order to establish the role of GM-CSF as a valid, alternative option for aphthous ulcerations of the mouth in AIDS patients in whom corticosteroids or thalidomide are not suitable.