Lead mineral transformation by fungi

Pyromorphite (Pb5(PO4)3Cl), the most stable lead mineral under a wide range of geochemical conditions [1], can form in urban and industrially contaminated soils [2] [3] [4] [5]. It has been suggested that the low solubility of this mineral could reduce the bioavailability of lead, and several studies have advocated pyromorphite formation as a remediation technique for lead-contaminated land [3] [5] [6], if necessary using addition of phosphate [6]. Many microorganisms can, however, make insoluble soil phosphate bioavailable [7] [8] [9] [10], and the solubilisation of insoluble metal phosphates by free-living and symbiotic fungi has been reported [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]. If pyromorphite can be solubilised by microbial phosphate-solubilising mechanisms, the question arises of what would happen to the released lead. We have now clearly demonstrated that pyromorphite can be solubilised by organic-acid-producing fungi, for example Aspergillus niger, and that plants grown with pyromorphite as sole phosphorus source take up both phosphorus and lead. We have also discovered the production of lead oxalate dihydrate by A. niger during pyromorphite transformation, which is the first recorded biogenic formation of this mineral. These mechanisms of lead solubilisation, or its immobilisation as a novel lead oxalate, have significant implications for metal mobility and transfer to other environmental compartments and organisms. The importance of considering microbial processes when developing remediation techniques for toxic metals in soils is therefore emphasised.

Australia's contribution to global polio eradication initiatives

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence according to the requirements of the Global Commission for Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication that poliomyelitis has been eliminated in Australia.

METHODS

Documentation of the surveillance of poliomyelitis, the presence of a comprehensive national immunisation program, and a network of laboratories for viral diagnosis. Active surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases was initiated in 1995 to prove that poliovirus does not cause such paralysis. Australia is also evaluating the surveillance of AFP through a retrospective hospital based study.

RESULTS

The last case in Australia of polio due to wild poliovirus was seen in 1978 and the last case of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis detected by serology was in 1994. The latest immunisation coverage figures for OPV3 for children under one year of age is 85.6%. The Australian National Polio Reference Laboratory has tested 821 enteroviruses since 1994 and have not identified any wild poliovirus. The average rate of non-polio AFP based on 111 cases investigated for the period 1995-98 is 0.71 per 100,000 under the age of 15 years. Stool samples were collected from only 21% of cases.

CONCLUSION

The process of certification of the eradication of poliomyelitis in Australia is almost complete. Although immunisation coverage is high, improvement in AFP surveillance and stool collection is vital for the certification process. The next challenge is the containment of polioviruses.

IMPLICATIONS

Although Australia and other Western Pacific countries are likely to be certified as wild-polio free in 2000, a comprehensive immunisation program and surveillance must continue for three years after global certification (expected 2003-04).

Surgical outcome in patients with epilepsy and dual pathology

High-resolution MRI can detect dual pathology (an extrahippocampal lesion plus hippocampal atrophy) in about 5-20% of patients with refractory partial epilepsy referred for surgical evaluation. We report the results of 41 surgical interventions in 38 adults (mean age 31 years, range 14-63 years) with dual pathology. Three patients had two operations. The mean postoperative follow-up was 37 months (range 12-180 months). The extrahippocampal lesions were cortical dysgenesis in 15, tumour in 10, contusion/infarct in eight and vascular malformation in five patients. The surgical approach aimed to remove what was considered to be the most epileptogenic lesion, and the 41 operations were classified into lesionectomy (removal of an extrahippocampal lesion); mesial temporal resection (removal of an atrophic hippocampus); and lesionectomy plus mesial temporal resection (removal of both the lesion and the atrophic hippocampus). Lesionectomy plus mesial temporal resection resulted in complete freedom from seizures in 11/15 (73%) patients, while only 2/10 (20%) patients who had mesial temporal resection alone and 2/16 (12.5%) who had a lesionectomy alone were seizure-free (P < 0.001). When classes I and II were considered together results improved to 86, 30 and 31%, respectively. Our findings indicate that in patients with dual pathology removal of both the lesion and the atrophic hippocampus is the best surgical approach and should be considered whenever possible.

Investigation of a unique male and female sibship with Kallmann's syndrome and 46,XX gonadal dysgenesis with short stature

A sibship is described where the brother and a sister both have Kallmann's syndrome (anosmia and deficiency of gonadotrophin releasing hormone) and the woman also has streak ovaries. Although there are several conditions that may occur with Kallmann's syndrome, there are no known reports of ovarian dysgenesis being associated with this disorder. Cytogenetic analysis showed no rearrangement or major deletions of the chromosomes. Linkage analysis using informative microsatellite markers predicts that a gene other than KAL1 (at Xp22.3) is implicated in the Kallmann's syndrome manifesting concurrently with ovarian dysgenesis found in this family.

[11C]Flumazenil PET in patients with epilepsy with dual pathology

PURPOSE

Coexistence of hippocampal sclerosis and a potentially epileptogenic cortical lesion is referred to as dual pathology and can be responsible for poor surgical outcome in patients with medically intractable partial epilepsy. [11C]Flumazenil (FMZ) positron emission tomography (PET) is a sensitive method for visualizing epileptogenic foci. In this study of 12 patients with dual pathology, we addressed the sensitivity of FMZ PET to detect hippocampal abnormalities and compared magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with visual as well as quantitative FMZ PET findings.

METHODS

All patients underwent volumetric MRI, prolonged video-EEG monitoring, and glucose metabolism PET before the FMZ PET. MRI-coregistered partial volume-corrected PET images were used to measure FMZ-binding asymmetries by using asymmetry indices (AIs) in the whole hippocampus and in three (anterior, middle, and posterior) hippocampal subregions. Cortical sites of decreased FMZ binding also were evaluated by using AIs for regions with MRI-verified cortical lesions as well as for non-lesional areas with visually detected asymmetry.

RESULTS

Abnormally decreased FMZ binding could be detected by quantitative analysis in the atrophic hippocampus of all 12 patients, including three patients with discordant or inconclusive EEG findings. Decreased FMZ binding was restricted to only one subregion of the hippocampus in three patients. Areas of decreased cortical FMZ binding were obvious visually in all patients. Decreased FMZ binding was detected visually in nonlesional cortical areas in four patients. The AIs for these nonlesional regions with visual asymmetry were significantly lower than those for regions showing MRI lesions (paired t test, p = 0.0075).

CONCLUSIONS

Visual as well as quantitative analyses of FMZ-binding asymmetry are sensitive methods to detect decreased benzodiazepine-receptor binding in the hippocampus and neocortex of patients with dual pathology. MRI-defined hippocampal atrophy is always associated with decreased FMZ binding, although the latter may be localized to only one sub-region within the hippocampus. FMZ PET abnormalities can occur in areas with normal appearance on MRI, but FMZ-binding asymmetry of these regions is lower when compared with that of lesional areas. FMZ PET can be especially helpful when MRI and EEG findings of patients with intractable epilepsy are discordant.

Transcranial magnetic-stimulation mapping of the cortical topography of the human masseter muscle

The cortical topography of several limb and trunk muscles has been disclosed using transcranial magnetic stimulation, but the corticomotor representation of the human jaw muscles has not yet been described. An experimental paradigm incorporating transcranial magnetic stimulation of verified sites on the scalp was used (a) to determine the cortical topography of the human masseter muscle and (b) to assess the reproducibility of the motor map, in seven healthy individuals. The results showed that the masseter was discretely represently on the motor and premotor cortex with interindividual variation in map area, volume and height (p < 0.05). Coefficients of variation and reliability were low (15-18%) and high (89-96%), respectively, for motor maps obtained at experimental sessions 2 weeks apart, indicating high reproducibility. The findings have clinical relevance in the management of patients with cerebral injury involving corticobulbar projections to the masseter.

Glove usage and reporting of needlestick injuries by junior hospital medical staff

The use of gloves when conducting invasive procedures and the reporting of needlestick injuries have been strongly encouraged. Despite this, neither practice appears to be universal. In order to determine the rates of glove usage and needlestick injury reporting, we conducted a survey of junior doctors in three hospitals in the UK. Of the 190 respondents, the majority rarely wore gloves for venesection, insertion of intravenous cannulas or arterial blood gas sampling. For more major procedures (insertion of central venous lines, insertion of thoracostomy tubes, suturing) gloves were invariably worn. Only 17.5% of needlestick injuries were reported. The rates of glove usage and needlestick injury reporting were lower than previous studies have demonstrated in North America. Surgeons suffered the most needlestick injuries and were the least likely to report them. The low reporting rate may have serious implications, particularly in view of the new Government guidelines on needlestick injuries which involve HIV-infected blood. By failing to use gloves and report needlestick injuries, junior doctors, in particular surgeons, are placing themselves and patients at increased risk of blood-borne transmissible diseases.

Improved reproducibility of magnetic stimulation-evoked motor potentials in the human masseter by a new method for locating stimulation sites on the scalp

In magnetic-stimulation studies where motor-evoked potentials (MEP) are measured on different occasions, accurate relocation of the stimulation site on the scalp is essential. Here a novel method of locating neural stimulation sites was tested and the reproducibility of MEPs in the human masseter assessed. The heads of the participants were immobilized in a plastic mask that incorporated a grid overlying the left cerebral hemisphere. A figure-of-eight coil was oriented with a micromanipulator. Electrodes were placed over the right masseter using a standardized method. Two discrete sites on the grid were stimulated alternately at threshold + 10% whilst participants clenched their teeth. Recordings were repeated after the mask and electrodes had been removed and replaced. Within individual participants, the latency and amplitude of the MEP were reproducible between trials and when the mask and electrodes were replaced. The new method appears to be accurate and practical when recording longitudinal MEP data in the masseter.

Intraperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma in children: incidence and imaging characteristics on CT

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and CT imaging features of intraperitoneal rhabdomyosarcoma in children.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 10% of children with rhabdomyosarcoma may have intraperitoneal neoplastic involvement either at the time of diagnosis or subsequently. On CT, intraperitoneal rhabdomyosarcomas are associated with ascites, enhancing nodules, masses, a pseudomyxoma peritonei-like appearance, and omental caking.

Measuring the impact of conjugate vaccines on invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b infection in Western Australia

Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) causes serious infections in 26-59 per 100,000 non-Aboriginal Australian children under five years of age. Aboriginal children suffer much higher rates of infection (> or = 150 per 100,000), and at an earlier age, and have a greater risk of death and disability due to Hib infection. In 1992 and 1993, four conjugate Hib vaccines were introduced in Australia, and a nationally funded program of infant vaccination was begun in July 1993. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of Hib vaccination in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Western Australia using a population-based active surveillance system for non-Aboriginal children and a case control study for Aboriginal children. The incidence of invasive Hib disease in non-Aboriginal children fell from 30.9 per 100,000 before vaccination was available to 6.3 per 100,000 in the second year after its introduction. The vaccine efficacy was estimated to be 80 per cent for Aboriginal children (odds ratio 0.20, 95 per cent CI 0.01-2.76) and, after adjustment for confounders, 75 per cent (odds ratio 0.25, CI 0.02-3.66). Based on the adjusted value (75 per cent), and using a Bayesian approach, we estimate that the posterior probability was 0.55 that the true vaccine efficacy is greater than 70 per cent, and 0.69 that the efficacy is greater than 50 per cent. We conclude that Hib vaccination is effective in preventing invasive Hib disease in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in Australia.

Recombinant human CXC-chemokine receptor-4 in melanophores are linked to Gi protein: seven transmembrane coreceptors for human immunodeficiency virus entry into cells

This article describes the transient expression of the CXC chemokine receptor-4 in Xenopus laevis melanophores and the resulting functional assay for the endogenous ligand for this receptor stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha. Specifically, it will be shown that SDF-1alpha produces increased light transmittance in transfected cells that is consistent with the activation of Gi protein. This stimulus pathway is further implicated by the abolition of this response after pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin, a known method for the inactivation of Gi protein. The fact that SDF-1alpha does not produce responses in nontransfected cells and that treatment of the cells with 12G5, an antibody specific for the CXC chemokine receptor-4, eliminates this response indicates that this ligand produces responses by activation of this receptor in these cells. The possible relevance to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) entry into cells was explored by observing the effects of SDF-1alpha on HIV-mediated cell fusion. It was found that SDF-1alpha blocked cell-to-cell fusion (as has been previously reported) at concentrations 1200-fold greater than those required to produce Gi protein mediated responses. The implications of the functional assay to screening for new drugs to block HIV-mediated fusion is discussed.

Expression cloning and receptor pharmacology of human calcitonin receptors from MCF-7 cells and their relationship to amylin receptors

Human breast cell carcinoma MCF-7 cells were found to bind 125I-labeled rat amylin (rAmylin) and the peptide amylin antagonist radioligand 125I-AC512 with high affinity. This high affinity binding possessed characteristics unique to the already defined high affinity binding site for amylin in the rat nucleus accumbens [Mol. Pharmacol. 44:493-497 (1993); J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 270:779-787 (1994); Eur. J. Pharmacol. 262:133-141 (1994)]. To further define this receptor, we report results of expression cloning studies from an MCF-7 cell library. We isolated two variants of a seven-transmembrane receptor that were identical to two previously described human calcitonin receptors (hCTR1 and hCTR2). These receptors were characterized by expression in different surrogate host cell systems. Transient expression of hCTR1 in COS cells yielded membranes that bound 125I-AC512 and 125I-salmon calcitonin with high affinity, but no high affinity binding was observed with 125I-human calcitonin (hCAL) or 125I-rAmylin. Stable expression of hCTR1 in HEK 293 cells produced similar data. In contrast, expression of hCTR2 in COS cells yielded membranes that bound 125I-AC512, 125I-hCAL, and 125I-rAmylin with high affinity. The agonists 125I-hCAL and 125I-rAmylin bound 65% and 1.5%, respectively, of the sites bound by the antagonist radioligand 125I-AC512 in this expression system. This pattern of binding was repeated in HEK 293 cells stably transfected with hCTR2 (125I-hCAL = 24.8% Bmax, 125I-rAmylin = 8% Bmax). In both expression systems, the agonists hCAL and rAmylin were much more potent in displacing their radioligand counterparts than was the antagonist radioligand 125I-AC512. For example, the pKi value for displacement of 125I-AC512 by rAmylin was 7.2 in HEK 293 cells but rose to 9.1 when displacing 125I-rAmylin. Finally, hCTR2 was expressed in baculovirus-infected Ti ni cells. In this system, only specific binding to the antagonist 125I-AC512 and agonist 125I-hCAL was observed; no binding to 125I-rAmylin could be detected. These data are discussed in terms of two working hypotheses. The first is that amylin is a weak agonist for hCTR2 and that this receptor is unrelated to the amylin receptor found in this cell line. The second is that hCTR2 couples to different G proteins for calcitonin and amylin function in different cells. At present, these data cannot be used to disprove conclusively either hypothesis.

Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical applications and contributions to the understanding of temporal lobe epilepsy

In recent years, magnetic resonance imaging-based volumetric measurements of the amygdala and hippocampus have proved useful in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. This imaging modality allows amygdaloid and hippocampal volumes to be correlated with neurophysiological, neuropathological, and neuropsychological findings, surgical outcome, and clinical findings. We evaluated the technical and anatomical aspects underlying the successful use of the modality that were reported in previous studies. We also evaluated issues such as the sensitivity and specificity of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging, its use in bilateral temporal lobe epilepsy, and the debate concerning the sensitivity of qualitative visual analysis vs quantitative volumetric analysis of magnetic resonance images. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging, when used in conjunction with video electroencephalographic monitoring, neuropsychological studies, and other neuroimaging studies, will enable patients with temporal lobe epilepsy to be treated in an appropriate, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

Isolation and characterization of phenoloxidase from egg masses of the gastropod mollusc, Biomphalaria glabrata

Previous studies have shown that phenoloxidase activity is present in the albumen gland and egg masses of Biomphalaria glabrata, and its potential role in egg formation in this snail has been proposed. In the present study, a phenoloxidase enzyme has been isolated from the supernatant of egg mass homogenates using a combination of hydrophobic interaction chromatography and gel filtration high-performance liquid chromatography (GF-HPLC). The isolated phenoloxidase eluted as a single peak of activity upon GF-HPLC (representing a 132-fold purification) and subsequently was detected as a single band with an estimated molecular mass of 35 kDa by SDS-PAGE analysis. Phenylthiourea-inhibitable mono- and diphenoloxidase activities were demonstrated for the isolated enzyme suggesting that both enzyme activities are associated with a single, tyrosinase-type molecule.

Evaluation of a project to enhance knowledge of hereditary diseases and management

During 1992 and 1993, in a designated suburban area of Perth, Western Australia, information on hereditary disease was provided for health professionals and the general community. This information was in the form of posters, pamphlets, postal flyers and return letter cards, a static display, newspaper articles, advertisements and radio broadcasts, and professional seminars. The aim of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of combined strategies to convey practical information about hereditary disease to the community and health professionals. Multiple measures of response evaluation were used, which included structured questionnaire surveys of health professionals and members of the community before and after the project. In the community surveys, respondents who were female, married, middle aged, and parents, and had a higher level of education or were born in Australia, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom were generally better informed about hereditary diseases. This intervention resulted in only meagre changes in community knowledge about hereditary disease, even though promotional materials were shown to be appropriate. General Practitioners (GPs) and Child Health Nurses (CHNs) were supportive of clinical genetic services and recognised a need for continuation of education in this field. There is a rapidly increasing need for community and health professional comprehension of the applications of the new genetic technology. This project indicates that routine educational and health promotion strategies will not be enough to achieve desired levels of knowledge and attitude change.

Gender, race and poverty: bringing the sociopolitical into psychotherapy

OBJECTIVE

To explore the modification of traditional psychotherapy to provide a more relevant service for non-dominant groups including women, Maori and the poor.

METHOD

The philosophy and practice of a psychotherapy service that made overt sociopolitical issues for women, Maori and the poor was analysed and linked with literature on psychotherapy for non-dominant groups.

RESULTS

Traditional psychotherapy, with its focus on the intrapsychic, has not addressed the condition of marginalised groups such as the poor, ethnic minorities including Maori, and some women, whose mental health difficulties have major contributions from external sources. The service analysed, and much of the literature, used social analysis as a therapeutic tool to break the cycle of self-blame and doubt and to contextualise intrapsychic experience. As non-dominant groups lack power, power differences in the therapy relationship should be lessened to avoid retraumatising the patient.

CONCLUSION

It is possible for psychotherapy to broaden its traditional base to include a sociopolitical viewpoint. This would make it more available and meaningful to a wider range of people, especially those with the double disadvantage of adverse intrapsychic and sociopolitical factors.

Multiple frequency bioimpedance: a bed-side technique for assessment of fluid shift patterns in a patient with severe dehydration

This report describes the use of multiple frequency bioimpedance analysis (MFBIA) to monitor fluid changes in a patient who developed severe dehydration and recovered. Initially, the patient weighed 53.2 kg, his total body water (TBW; D(2)0 dilution) was 33.5 L, his extracellular water (ECW; Br dilution) was 19.5 L, and hydration of the fat-free mass (FFM; dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) was normal (73%). The resistances at infinite and 0 frequency were R(inf) = 454 and R(0) = 580 ohm respectively, which predicted TBW = 33.1 L and ECW = 16.6 L. On day 7, when the weight loss was 7.2 kg, FFM had decreased by 7.4 kg, and R(inf) and R(0) had increased to 662 and 902 ohm respectively, predicting decreases of 5.8 L in TBW and 3.7 L in ECW. On recovery (day 14), all parameters had returned to baseline values. This study encourages the use of MFBIA as a bed-side technique for the serial assessment of body water compartments in patients with disturbances in fluid balance.

Periventricular nodular heterotopia and intractable temporal lobe epilepsy: poor outcome after temporal lobe resection

We describe 5 women and 5 men with periventricular nodular heterotopia and electroclinical features suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy, who were surgically treated for control of medically refractory seizures. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia in 7 of the 10 patients. Because of the lack of clear localization, 6 patients were studied with intracranial depth electrode recordings. Seizures were of hippocampal onset (3 patients), regional temporal lobe onset (2 patients), or occipital-temporal onset (1 patient). Anterior temporal lobectomy was performed in 6 patients; selective amygdalohippocampectomy, in 1; and anterior temporal lobectomy plus resection of the heterotopic tissue, in 3. None of the 9 patients followed for more than 12 months postoperatively were seizure free. Two patients were initially seizure free for approximately 18 months, but then seizures recurred. One patient had a major reduction in seizure frequency at a 39-month follow-up after most of the unilateral heterotopic tissue was included in the temporal resection. Temporal resection did not lead to a long-term favorable outcome in this group of patients with periventricular nodular heterotopia and epileptogenic discharges involving the temporal lobe. This suggests a more widespread disorder with epileptogenic activity possibly originating in or near the heterotopic tissue. The clinical and electrographic features of periventricular nodular heterotopia pointing to temporal lobe origin are misleading and temporal resection does not result in long-term cessation of seizures.

Regulation of aromatase activity within the breast

Local oestrogen biosynthesis within the breast can be highly variable, in vitro aromatase activity both in breast cancers and mammary adipose tissue displaying over a 40-fold range between the highest and lowest levels. Evidence is presented to show that: (i) transcriptional activity may influence oestrogen biosynthesis within breast cancers in that both aromatase mRNA and STAT nuclear binding are correlated positively to in vitro aromatase activity; (ii) the local presence of cancer may enhance aromatase activity in particulate fractions and primary fibroblast cultures from mammary adipose tissue; (iii) tumour extracts and breast cyst fluids may induce aromatase in cultured fibroblasts, the active principles responsible for these effects being incompletely defined (although the combination of interleukin (IL)-6 and its soluble receptor dramatically enhances aromatase activity, it is unclear whether this particular cytokine system can account for the stimulatory effects of breast extracts and fluids); (iv) the aromatase activities in both breast cancer and adipose tissues are susceptible to classical aromatase inhibitors such as aminoglutethimide and 4-hydroxyandrostenedione (and to newer inhibitors such as CGS16949 and CGS20267 at low nanomolar concentrations) but reduced sensitivity to 4-hydroxyandrostenedione may be observed in certain breast cancers. These findings may have important implications for the development and progression of hormone-dependent cancers within the breast.