Streptomyces jietaisiensis sp. nov., isolated from soil in northern China

An actinomycete, strain FXJ46T, was isolated from cypress forest soil in northern China and shown to have chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with streptomycetes. It developed greyish aerial mycelium and pinkish-brown substrate mycelium on oatmeal agar. Phylogenetic analyses based on an almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain and on the 120 nucleotide variable γ-region of this molecule showed that it formed a distinct (but closely associated) line with Streptomyces griseoaurantiacus DSM 40430T in Streptomyces trees. However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between the two strains was only 48·8 %. A number of phenotypic properties also readily distinguished the isolate from S. griseoaurantiacus and related Streptomyces species with validly published names. It is proposed, therefore, that this organism be classified as a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces jietaisiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FXJ46T (=AS 4.1859T=JCM 12279T).

[Usefulness and practical use of an automatic counter for scattering pollen in spring]

BACKGROUND

In this decade some automatic pollen counters have been developed and showed them useful in some reports. However, the results of automatic counting have not been established.

METHOD

We have compared scattering cedar and cypress pollen counts with Durham pollen samplers and a newly developed automatic pollen counter (KH-3000) in the spring from 2000 to 2004 in Tokyo.

RESULTS

The relationship between the data of the automatic counter and that of a Durham sampler method is so good that this automatic counter seems useful. The best relationship between two methods was seen from late February to early April in the season of high amounts of pollens scatters. The ratio of pollen counts measured with automatic counter and Durham sampler was about 3.5 on average in the period of enough cedar and cypress pollen dispersion. The avoidance of pollens seems possible with real-time pollen information because reliability of automatic counting is highly evaluated when enough pollens scatter.

CONCLUSION

In future, the standardization of automatic counting should be necessary for the accurate evaluation of scattering pollens.

A Comparative Study between Real Time Monitor KH-3000 and Conventional Durham Sampler Measuring Airborne Pollen

Real time monitoring of airborne pollen has gradually increased because monitoring is laborsaving and provides better real-time information. A problem arose, however, due to differences between the KH3000 (Yamato Co. Ltd) monitor and the conventional Durham sampler pointed out in results of airborne pollen monitoring in Wakayama in 2004. We compared the two monitors for airborne pollen in Wakayama in 2004, which less dispersed than usual. The peak monitored by the KH-3000 monitor was not consistent with the prime period of Japanese cedar and cypress pollen dispersion, especially in February and April, although they correlated highly in March. The inconsistency in February is thought to be caused by snow, and that in April by falsely monitoring beech-tree airborne pollen-which is similar in size-in addition to Japanese cedar and cypress pollen. This report points out the need to take these conditions (snow and other plants pollen) into account when a real time monitor is used for collecting pollen information.

In vitro antimycotic activity of some plant extracts towards yeast and yeast-like strains

As part of screening aimed at the selection of novel antimycotic compounds of vegetable origin, leaf extracts of Camellia sinensis L., Cupressus sempervirens L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. and the seed extract of Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc. were tested against yeast and yeast-like species implicated in human mycoses. Of the extracts only those of C. sinensis (obtained from a commercial preparation of green tea) exhibited broad activity towards Candida glabrata, Clavispora lusitatiae, Cryptococcus laurentii, Filobasidiella neoformans, Issatchenkia orientalis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Prototheca wickerhamii strains. MICs ranging from 300 to 4800 microg extract/mL (corresponding to 130-2010 microg/mL total polyphenols) were observed. Concentrations of the C. sinensis extract over 25 000 microg/mL caused a rapid decrease of viable cells of Fil. neoformans and its activity was dose-dependent. Tests carried out using the pure polyphenols present in C. sinensis extract composition, showed that only epicatechin-3-O-gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) possess antimycotic activity.

Deposition velocities to Sorbus aria, Acer campestre, Populus deltoides X trichocarpa 'Beaupré', Pinus nigra and X Cupressocyparis leylandii for coarse, fine and ultra-fine particles in the urban environment

Trees are effective in the capture of particles from urban air to the extent that they can significantly improve urban air quality. As a result of their aerodynamic properties conifers, with their smaller leaves and more complex shoot structures, have been shown to capture larger amounts of particle matter than broadleaved trees. This study focuses on the effects of particle size on the deposition velocity of particles (Vg) to five urban tree species (coniferous and broadleaved) measured at two field sites, one urban and polluted and a second more rural. The larger uptake to conifers is confirmed, and for broadleaves and conifers Vg values are shown to be greater for ultra-fine particles (Dp < 1.0 microm) than for fine and coarse particles. This is important since finer particles are more likely to be deposited deep in the alveoli of the human lung causing adverse health effects. The finer particle fraction is also shown to be transported further from the emission source; in this study a busy urban road. In further sets of data the aqueous soluble and insoluble fractions of the ultra-fines were separated, indicating that aqueous insoluble particles made up only a small proportion of the ultra-fines. Much of the ultra-fine fraction is present as aerosol. Chemical analysis of the aqueous soluble fractions of coarse, fine and ultra-fine particles showed the importance of nitrates, chloride and phosphates in all three size categories at the polluted and more rural location.

[Self-care for pollinosis of cedar and cypress--from a questionnaire survey]

For patients with pollinosis, self-care is important as well as medical care. In this study, we investigated the real situation of patients with pollinosis-how they manage their symptoms. A questionnaire-based examination was conducted among 488 patients who visited National Osaka-Minami hospital and Sano ENT clinic. The onset of pollen dispersion occurred 17th Feb. 34.6% of patients visited before the onset of pollen dispersion. 45.5% of them had a checkup for allergens. 84.8% of them utilized pollen information. 41.4% of them did self-care. The rate of patients who utilized pollen information and did self-care was higher in female compared with male. The rate of those who did self-care was significantly higher in the patients who visited before pollen dispersion, who had a checkup for allergens, who utilized pollen information, compared with the patients did not. It is necessary to show the information of self-care as well as pollen, and suggest the importance of self-care against pollen allergens.

[The French Airborne Pollen Network: current situation and prospects for improvement]

The french network of aeropalynology includes traps very close together and vast areas without any trap as well. A study was launched in order to optimise this network, without the number of traps increasing too much. Five criteria are successively reviewed to rationalise the spatial cover. Equi-distance of sites has to be balanced by the number of concerned people. But the need for having long time series is incentive to delete only as a last resort the traps which are reliable for a long time. Moreover, apart from the general network, some local or regional features make indispensable a trap in such-and-such a place (health resort), or justify a higher density of traps in such-and-such an area (the Rhône-Alpes concerning ragweed, the Mediterranean South concerning cypress).

[Cypress: a new plague for the Rhône-Alpes region?]

Today the Cupressaceae are seen as one of the most allergenic plant families in the mediterranean region. A comparative study of Cupressaceae pollen concentration as sampled in Lyon-Bron (temperate region) and in Montpellier (mediterranean region) has been conducted. During the last 20 years, this family of plant has increasingly been represented in the pollinic spectra. In Montpellier the annual mean pollen concentration went from 43 pollen grains m3 of air at the beginning of the eighties to 72 pollen grains at the beginning of the years 2000. In Lyon, the progression is above 200% but with lesser annual mean pollen concentrations: 4.5 pollen grains m3 of air at the beginning of the eighties to 13.7 pollen grains at the beginning of the years 2000. The annual mean pollen concentration in the Lyon region still modest compared to the mediterranean stations, shows a steep increase though, that should be taken care of.

Effects of Cupressus sempervirens cone extract on lipid parameters in Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Lipid-lowering drugs have been developed to treat hyperlipidemia, but they are expensive, while serious side-effects may occasionally occur. In Albania, a hydroalcoholic extract of the cones of Cupressus sempervirens is used to treat a variety of disorders, including hyperlipidemia. The purpose of our study was to assess the effects of Cupressus sempervirens cone extract (CSE) on the lipid profile of Wistar rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The animals were divided into two groups. Group I (30 animals) served as a control group. Serum lipid parameters, muscle and liver enzymes, red and white blood count, platelets, and serum concentrations of uric acid and creatinine were determined at baseline and at weeks 6, 12, 18 and 24 of the study.

RESULTS

The oral administration of the extract resulted in a substantial decrease of serum total cholesterol, which was significant even after 6 weeks of treatment. Moreover, these animals exhibited lower total cholesterol levels compared to the controls after the initiation of treatment (p < 0.001) during the study period. The administration of the extract led to a substantial reduction in serum triglycerides (p < 0.05) in Group I, comparing 0 week to 6-24 weeks. However no significant differences in triglyceride levels were observed between CSE animals (Group I) and controls (Group II) during the entire study period. No significant changes in HDL-cholesterol in the other parameters occurred in either group.

CONCLUSION

The administration of CSE has an important lipid-lowering effect in Wistar rats.

[Pollen dispersion of Japanese cedar and Japanese cypress in Kagawa Medical University of Kagawa Prefecture]

We installed the Durham sampler on the roof (27.4 m on the ground) of Kagawa Medical University in 1989 to survey pollen dispersion in Kagawa prefecture and have investigated the pollen survey from 1989 to 2001. We examined the correlation between the annual variations in the pollen counts of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) and Cupressaceae, mainly Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and annual changes in meteorological conditions. The sum of these pollen counts correlated with the highest temperature from 11 July to 10 August in Kagawa prefecture. However, it is difficult to determine the pollen dispersion only based on meteorological factors. Other factors giving influences on the pollen dispersion need to be further analyzed in the future.

Comparison of positive allergy skin tests among asthmatic children from rural and urban areas living within small geographic area

BACKGROUND

Evidence of increased asthma and allergic response among urban versus rural residents has been reported.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prevalence of allergic response among asthmatic children from urban and rural areas living within close proximity.

METHODS

In all, 448 asthmatic children from urban (363) and rural (85) areas were studied. The study group consisted of 234 9-year-olds and 214 12-year-olds. A health questionnaire was completed on each child who subsequently underwent allergic skin prick tests (SPTs).

RESULTS

There was significantly more positive SPT response to house-dust mite, mold, cat, and cypress among asthmatic children from urban areas compared with children living in rural areas: 58.3% versus 37.6%, 46.1% versus 31.8%, 17.45 versus 5.9%, and 26.2% versus 15.3%, respectively. Positive SPT for indoor allergens were significantly greater among asthmatic urban residents than asthmatic rural residents: 63.3% versus 45.5%, respectively (P < 0.02). Positive SPT response to all the allergens checked was higher among the 12-year-old age group when compared with the 9-year-olds, 34.6% versus 22.7%, respectively (P = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Allergic response measured by SPT is significantly more common among asthmatic children from urban areas as opposed to rural, even though both areas are within small distance of one another. Further, asthmatic children living in urban areas demonstrated more allergic response to both indoor and outdoor allergens. The allergic response tends to increase with increased age in both urban and rural asthmatic children.

[Allergic seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis without indigenous pollen sensitization: the example of the Arizona cypress]

A 37-year old man from Lithuania presented with the typical symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis that appeared in spring this and the year preceding presentation. Skin prick tests for aeroallergens indigenous in Switzerland were all negative. A detailed history revealed that the patient was working in a building of a United Nation's agency surrounded by a park with numerous cypresses of Arizona trees. A skin prick test for pollens from Cupressus arizona was strongly positive, supporting the diagnosis of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis to pollens from this tree. Allergy to pollens from C. arizona is a widely prevalent as winter pollinosis in subtropical and Mediterranean areas but is exceptional in the continental and alpine climates of Switzerland. Five cases of C. arizona pollinosis have been diagnosed in the last 3 years in Geneva. It is notoriously difficult to diagnose cypressus pollen allergy, mainly because of the poor quality of in vivo and in vitro available tests. Horticulture with non-indigenous plants is responsible for pollinosis from C. arizona in Switzerland. The specialists in countries in which pollinosis from C. arizona is not endemic, need to be aware of arboriculture with non-indigenous plants, as well as the possibility of allergy to C. arizona.

[Significant increase of incidence of cypress pollen allergy in the city of Rome]

In the second semester of 1999, 246 patients, living in a Roman urban area, were subjected to a prick-test screening. 194 (78.9%) of the patients showed a positive answer toward almost one of the tested allergens, whereas the other 51 persons (21.1%) turned out to be negative. Of the patients with a positive cutireaction, 59 (24% of total survey and 30.4% of allergic subjects), with an average age of 29.6 (SD = 12.78) showed sensitization toward cypressus. The results were compared with a case-study of 900 atopic subjects, recruited by the same Center between 1994-96 and living in the same Roman area. In this last group we only found 84 pts (9.3%) with a positive prick-test toward Cypressus, with an average age of 35.2 (DS = 13.48). This analysis wants to stress the increasing incidence of allergy toward cypressus among atopic subjects, switching from 9.3% to 30.4%, in the same urban area, during these last three years.

The development of a pollen information system for the improvement of QOL

The Kochi Prefecture Japanese Cedar and Cypress Pollen Information System (P-Net Kochi) was established in 1991 on the initiative of the Pharmaceuticals and Sanitation Division to improve the quality of life of people in Kochi Prefecture, particularly patients with pollinosis. Kochi Prefecture has the highest forests percentage (84%) in Japan. In addition, 40% of the population of the prefecture is concentrated in Kochi City. The average pollen count at 10 observation points an one year was about 20,000/cm2 during the observation period, but it exceeded 110,000/cm2 in 1995, when it was also high nationwide. Kochi Prefecture organized a system to promote people's understanding of pollinosis in connection with environmental problems, and to enlighten people on appropriate preventive measures. The system has been improved in the rapid and efficient transmission of information over the years with technological advances. The introduction of an automatic monitoring system not dependent on human labor and the support of the users proved to be indispensable for the maintenance of the system.

Antimicrobial and buffer capacity of crude extracts of chewing sticks (Miswaki) from Kenya

The use of Chewing sticks (Miswaki) in the third world for control of dental plaque is very popular. Some of the studies that have been conducted on this subject have reported marked decrease in the incidences of dental caries and periodontal diseases in the users of Miswaki, when compared to the users of the conventional toothbrush living under similar conditions. Various mechanisms by which the Miswaki contributes to this phenomenon have been suggested. The purpose of the present study was to investigate in vitro, the anti-microbial action, the potential acid buffer capacity and fluoride content of crude aqueous extracts of eight commonly used chewing sticks from three regions in Kenya. The results obtained in the study, showed that one of the Miswaki had remarkable antibiotic activity against three stains of oral bacteria. Three of the Miswaki had significant acid buffer capacity. None of the eight Miswaki showed any significant fluoride release.

Response of Cupressus funebris tissue cultures to gibberellins

Gibberellins are a specific growth requirement of tissue cultures derived from the staminate cones of Cupressus funebris. The tissue originally required coconut milk for growth. However, a mixture of acid-hydrolyzed casein hydrolyzate and gibberellins replaces the coconut milk entirely and permits even better growth. It is tentatively suggested that coconut milk contains gibberellins or related substances and that these substances are involved in the nitrogen metabolism of the tissue.