Serodiagnostic value of culture filtrate antigens from aspergilli with septate phialides

Culture filtrate antigens from 6 typical isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus, 6 isolates with septate phialides, and isolates of A. fumigatus var. ellipticus, A. fishceri, A. flavus and A. niger were studied in tests with 2,100 samples of serum originating from 1,452 patients suffering from miscellaneous diseases, including 60 cases of aspergillosis, 850 samples of serum from apparently healthy blood donors and 522 sera referred to us as positive for C-reactive protein. The culture filtrate antigen prepared from a septate-phialide-strain proved to be most useful in detecting precipitating antibodies in the sera of patients suffering from aspergillosis caused by A. fumigatus. The antigen from this strain not only gave sharper and a larger number of precipitin bands than others but also proved to be an invaluable tool in the serodiagnosis of 5 to 56 (8.9%) A. fumigatus cases in which all other antigens repeatedly failed to give a positive result. The serological data also suggest that the septate-phialide strains are mutants of A. fumigatus and should not be classified as a separate species.

Alpha-thioglycerol sensitive excitatory oxytocin receptors in fowl rectum

The selective antagonism of the excitatory responses of oxytocin by alpha-thioglycerol and its potentiation by Mg++ indicate the presence of specific oxytocin receptors in fowl rectum. In addition, the sensitivity of the rectum to very small doses of oxytocin suggests a possible facilitatory role of neurohypophyseal hormones in oviposition.

Acute chlordecone toxicity in rats: a relationship between tremor and ATPase activities

Since we have demonstrated that ATPase system was sensitive to chlordecone, it was decided to examine the relationship between physiological and biochemical responses to this neurotoxin. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with chlordecone by gastric intubation at 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg/day for three days. Control rats received 0.3 ml of corn oil. Complete body movements (including tremors) were monitored for a period of 12 hr at 24, 48 and 72 hr after treatment by a piezoelectric crystal attached to the bottom of a plastic rodent cage. The output of the crystal was recorded by a Grass model of EEG machine and magnetic tape. For biochemical study chlordecone treated rats were killed, the brain synaptosomes were prepared and Na+-K+ ATPase, oligomycin-sensitive and insensitive Mg2+ ATPases were determined. Rats receiving chlordecone showed an increased tremor activity which was significant and dose- dependent with a correlation coefficient of the regression line of 0.96. The onset of tremors was evident as early as 2 hr in 50 mg/kg dosed rats. Behavioral abnormalities include startling response to external stimuli like sound, etc. The brain synaptosomal Na+-K+ and oligomycin-sensitive Mg2+ ATPases were significantly decreased in chlordecone treated rats as compared to controls and the decrease was dose-dependent. A linear relationship was observed between the decreases in ATPase activities and physiological (tremor) activity with an r value of 0.96. These results suggest that the inhibition of ATPase system in brain may be related to the production of the neurotoxic symptoms.

Non-adrenergic inhibitory and non-cholinergic excitatory neural involvement in DMPP and nicotine action of fowl rectum

Pharmacological analysis of the mechanical responses of fowl rectum to DMPP and nicotine showed that nicotinic stimulation produced varied responses on different segments. On the whole/distal segment DMPP and nicotine induced relaxations. On the proximal segment, DMPP induced relaxation whereas nicotine produced biphasic response. Termination of the adrenergic function converted the relaxatory responses of DMPP and nicotine to biphasic ones, the contractile component of which was potentiated by neostigmine and partially inhibited by atropine. This response was completely abolished by ganglion blockers. On cooled tissue preparations, neither nicotinic nor electrical stimulations elicited any response. These findings implicate the participation of non-adrenergic inhibitory and non-cholinergic excitatory neural elements besides the adrenergic and cholinergic ones to nicotinic stimulation.

Effects of vanadium on different adenosinetriphosphatases and binding of 3H-labeled ouabain and calcium-45 to rat brain synaptosomes

The effect of vanadium chloride on rat brain synaptosomal adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activities was determined in vitro and in rats treated at 1 mg/kg.d ip and 10 mg/kg.d po for 10 d. Additional experiments were conducted to determine the effect of vanadium chloride on binding of [3H] ouabain and 45Ca to rat brain synaptosomes. Na+ + K+ - and Ca2+-ATPase activities were inhibited significantly in a concentration-dependent manner by V in vitro. Mg2+ -ATPase inhibition was neither dose-dependent nor significant except at 10(-5) M. Na+ + K+ -ATPase inhibition by V was more pronounced than that of other ATPases studied. Vanadium inhibited [3H] ouabain binding to synaptosomes by 90% at 10(-3) M; the inhibition was concentration-dependent. Binding of 45Ca was inhibited 50% at 10(-4) M; but concentration-dependent inhibition was not evident. Rats treated with vanadium chloride neither became myotonic nor showed any changes in ATPase activities or binding of [3H] ouabain and 45Ca to brain synaptosomes. Lineweaver-Burke plots of the in vitro inhibition of Na+ + K+ -ATPase and [3H] ouabain binding revealed that (1) Na+ + K+ -ATPase activation by ATP was inhibited by V with an increase in Km and a decrease in Vmax; (2) Na+ activation was inhibited noncompetitively by V, as evidenced by a decrease in Vmax and no change in Km; (3)K+ activation was inhibited by V with a decrease in both Vmax and Km; (4) noncompetitive inhibition of Mg2+ -ATPase by V was observed; and (5) the kinetic behavior of [3H] ouabain binding inhibition by V with respect to ATP and Na+ activation was mixed and noncompetitive, respectively. These results suggest that V is a potent inhibitor of Na+ + K+ -ATPase activity in rat brain synaptosomes.

Quantitative measurement of [3H]ouabain binding to human skeletal muscle cryostat sections

The etiopathogenesis of myotonic muscular dystrophy is thought to involve a basic defect in muscle membrane. Biochemical investigations of human muscle membrane have been hampered by difficulty in obtaining large quantities of muscle at biopsy for the preparation of sarcolemma. We have determined [3H]ouabain binding to normal and myotonic dystrophy human skeletal muscle by using cryostat sections. The binding increased with increase in number of tissue sections (protein) and in concentrations of [3H]ouabain, ATP and Na+. The binding of [3H]ouabain in myotonic dystrophy patients was 2-3 fold higher than in normal and disease controls. Kinetic analysis revealed that the increased binding of ouabain to myotonic tissue sections was independent of low-affinity sites directed by ATP and Na+. These findings provide further evidence for the involvement of membrane abnormalities in myotonic muscular dystrophy.

Serotypes of Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated in Germany

An examination of 21 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from environmental and clinical sources in Germany revealed only serotypes A, D, and AD. Of these, 13 isolates were serotype A, 5 isolates were serotype D, and 3 isolates were identified as serotype AD. The absence of serotypes B or C confirms earlier reports from other European countries.

Measurement of local skeletal muscle blood flow in animals by the hydrogen electrode technique

The hydrogen (H2) electrode technique has been applied to the measurement of local skeletal muscle blood flow (LSMBF) in experimental animals (rats, rabbits, and monkeys). LSMBF was measured during resting and postexercise states, following epinephrine injections and during CO2 inhalation. Among the limited sites studied and/or measurements obtained, significant differences in LSMBF were found in only a few instances. During hypercapnia, LSMBF was found to be increased in some muscles in rats and monkeys. The present study demonstrates that the H2 electrode technique is a simple and reliable method for measuring resting and postexercise LSMBF in anesthetized animals. This method provides measurements at discrete loci, is easily reproducible, and causes little trauma.

Measurement of local skeletal muscle blood flow in normal humans by hydrogen clearance

The hydrogen (H2) electrode technique was adapted to the measurement of local skeletal muscle blood flow (LSMBF) in humans. Thirty-five normal volunteers were utilized to study the biceps, deltoid, gastrocnemius, and quadriceps muscles at rest and following exercise. Results indicated statistically significant increases (P < 0.05) in postexercise compared with resting blood flows within the muscles. The highest mean value for LSMBF was found in deltoid muscle and the lowest in biceps. This study demonstrates the potential superiority of the H2 electrode technique over previous techniques for measuring absolute muscle blood flow at individual sites. It is suggested that measurements by means of the H2 electrode technique represent the most definitive values for skeletal muscle blood flow at this time, and its application could be especially important in various neuromuscular disorders in which some question remains concerning the role of abnormalities of the skeletal muscle vasculature.

Erythrocyte membrane abnormalities in human myotonic dystrophy

Membrane-bound enzyme activities and cardiac glycoside binding were determined in red blood cell membrane preparations from patients with myotonic dystrophy and in age matched controls. Na+-K+-activated ATPase activity was significantly increased in myotonic patients. [3H]Ouabain binding to erythrocyte membranes was also significantly increased in myotonic dystrophy patients. The Mg2+-ATPase (ouabain-insensitive) was, however, unchanged. The K+-stimulated paranitrophenyl phosphatase (KPNPPase) activity was markedly enhanced in myotonic patients as compared to controls. The kinetic analysis showed a marked change in Vmax of Na+-K+ ATPase with respect to the activation by Na+, K+ and ATP. However, the Km values were the same in control as well as in myotonic groups. The increased erythrocyte membrane Na+-K+-ATPase activity, KPNPPase and [3H]ouabain binding in myotonic patients supports the hypothesis that generalized membrane abnormality may be involved in pathogenesis of the human myotonic dystrophy.

Identification of nocardiae and streptomycetes of medical importance

During a taxonomic investigation of Nocardia spp. and Streptomyces spp., we received 658 isolates from laboratories of both human and veterinary medicine. Our procedure leading to the identification of 92% of these isolates, the species that they represented, and a characteristic pattern of properties of the strains of these species are presented. A key devised for the tentative identification of species of nocardiae and streptomycetes that are believed to be of medical importance is included to assist clinical microbiologists in identifying their strains.

[Aspergillus fumigatus infection of the lung in cystic fibrosis (author's transl)]

In an 8-year-old girl with cystic fibrosis Aspergillus fumigatus infection of the lung was diagnosed. Pot-plant soil as reservior of Aspergillus fumigatus was shown to be the source of inhalable Aspergillus fumigatus units within the clinic. Cystic fibrosis mucus of the patient acted as nutritive substrate for Aspergillus fumigatus. Consequent exclusion of pot plants in housing and hospital rooms is considered necessary for prevention of Aspergillus fumigatus infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Interaction between aspergilli and streptomycetes in the soil of potted indoor plants: a preliminary report (contribution to the epidemiology of human aspergillosis)

The soil of potted ornamental plants as a reservoir for Aspergillus species pathogenic for man is of epidemiological and ecological interest. Isolation of A. niger as the sole hyphomycete from the soil of potted African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha, Gesneriaceae), prompted us to look for A. inger on the surface of the roots of this plant. Small pieces of the roots were inoculated in the nutrient-free agar-gel with and without antibiotics. On the antibiotic-free gel, a dense growth of Streptomyces griseus was consistently observed around the root pieces. But the gel fortified with antibiotics showed pure growth of only A. niger. One of the two strains of S. ariseus isolated from the African violet, showed inhibitory effect against a number of fungi including A. niger but the other strain had no effect on this fungus. The possible influence of streptomycetes on the occurrence of aspergilli in the soil of potted ornamental plants is discussed.

Epidemiology of Cryptococcus neoformans

The concept of the epidemiology of Cryptococcus neoformans as the causative agent of cryptococcosis and as a basidiomycetous yeast is based on the fact that bird manure has been until now its only known habitat but not plant material which likewise harbours various nonpathogenic Cryptococcus species. It could be shown that the possible influence of nutritional factors on the morphology and morphogenesis earns attention not only in view of the epidemiology of C. neoformans but of its perfect states, too.

Some bits and pieces of the genus Nocardia: N. carnea, N. vaccinii, N. transvalensis, N. orientalis and N. aerocolonigenes

Since 1951 when our taxonomic study of the genus Nocardia began, only eight strains of N. carnea (Rossi-Doria) Castellani & Chalmers, four strains of N. vaccinii Demaree & Smith, five of N. transvalensis Pijper & Pullinger, 21 or N. orientalis (Pittenger & Brigham) Pridham and 14 of N. aerocolonigenes (Shinobu & Kawato) Pridham have been found. These five groups of strains are described and are compared with strains of nine accepted species of Nocardia. With the possible exception of N. orientalis, more strains of these five taxa must be assembled and examined to establish the reliability of our descriptions and identifications.

Serodiagnostic value of extracellular antigens of an actively proteolysing culture of Candida albicans (immunodiffusion-test)

Cell-free, dialysed and concentrated culture filtrate of a Candida albicans strain, after proteolysis in serum-protein medium (bovine albumine), and after growth in Sabouraud glucose broth (for comparison) were used as antigens for the detection of precipitating antibodies in 558 samples of serum originating from defined groups of patients and healthy persons serving as controls. The differing distribution of antibodies against these two antigens as observed in the various groups of our patients calls for further studies of such antigens on the basis of proteolysis within the serodiagnostics of Candida albicans-mycoses.

Growth of Cryptococcus neoformans on uric acid agar

Effect of certain low molecular nitrogen substances, namely uric acid, eura and creatinine as sole source of nitrogen was studied on 31 strains of Cryptococcus neoformans as well as on a rough looking isolate recovered from the brain of a mouse inoculated with a mucoid strain of C. neoformans. Uric acid as a nitrogen source caused striking alterations in the morphology of C. neoformans. In view of the facts that uric acid is a common end-product of human and animal metabolism, it is abundantly present in the avian faecal matter and is capable of inducing mucoid growth and capsule formation in dry growing non-encapsulated strains or in an otherwise rough looking hypha forming isolate, its role in studying the phylogenesis of C. neoformans and its pathogenicity seems to be an important proposition.

[Aspergillus serum precipitins in patients of a lung clinic]

The incidence and distribution of aspergillosis among patients of a lung clinic in West Berlin were recorded. The immunodiffusion test (IDT) was used on sera of 228 patients seen during one day to test for precipitins against A. fumigatus, A. flavus, and A. niger. Precipitating antibodies specific against A. fumigatus were found in five patients, in two of them A. fumigatus was isolated simultaneously from sputum. In order to obtain a clear view of the clinical occurrence of asperigillosis and its course one requires not only serological tests but also the isolation of Aspergillus in culture from sputum or bronchial secretion. IDT is useful for detecting aspergillosis and for screening persons harbouring Aspergillus in their respiratory tract.

Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans infection (animal experiments)

During a certain period of the course of infection in white mice inoculated intraperitoneally with the pure culture of a proteolysing strain of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus and C. albicans both, were isolated simultaneously from the peritoneal abscesses, especially those adhering to the stomach, duodenum, pancreas and the upper part of small intestine. This concommitant occurrence of the two pathogens was further corroborated by histopathological examination which revealed large number of staphylococci present in the close neighbourhood of Candida cells, usually in the center of the granulomata caused by the fungus. In view of the facts that the proteolytic end-products of C. albicans can offer a good substratum for the growth of S. aureus and the latter may be isolated from the intestinal tract of apparently healthy mice, possibly as a constituent of the transient microflora, the co-existence of these two important aetiologic agents of endogenous infections as encountered during this study appears to be of great clinical interest. Furthermore, these observations also demonstrate the importance of controlling the bacterial flora of mice for pure mycological studies.

Selective involvement of the brain in experimental murine cryptococcosis. II. Histopathological observations

In the present communication the previously described cultural findings about the selective involvement of the central nervous system by C. neoformans, strain W 2/A 94, have been supplemented by the results of histopathological investigations. Attention has been paid to the organ specific tissue reaction during the course of infection, with special reference to the involvement of the brain. In agreement with former observations concerning the cryptococcoma in the muscle-tissue, the cryptococcal foci in the brain also showed the phenomenon of vascularisation. The results have been compared with those of the C. neoformans, strain W 71/A 117 which does not allow such a prolonged selective involvement of the central nervous system due to its high virulence for the white mice. These observations impressively demonstrate the significance of simultaneous microbiological and histopathological examinations for the detection of infections caused by such facultative pathogens.

Selective involvement of the brain in experimental murine cryptococcosis. I. Microbiological observations

During the course of infection in intraperitoneally infected white mice with a particular strain of Cryptococcus neoformans, it was possible to observe a time-limited and selective presence of the fungus in the brain. The presence of the fungus in the brain without causing clinical symptoms and the rare mortal exacerbation of the brain involvement offers possibilities for comparative studies of experimental and human cryptococcosis. On the basis of these strain-specific results new aspects of the virulence of C. neoformans and the epidemiology of cryptococcosis are discussed.

Mycetoma of the knee due to Nocardia caviae

Mycetoma of the knee, caused by Nocardia caviae and idangosed by culture and histopathology, occurred in a 20 year old farmer from a rural area of Varanasi District in Uttar Pradesh, India. The isolate was pathogenic to mice and it showed close agreement with the standard description of the species. It is suggested that infection due to this species has a higher prevalence than is currently recognized.

Rebound phenomenon complicating cerebral dehydration with glycerol. Case report

A patient with glioblastoma multiforme of the brain was treated with both intravenous and oral glycerol as well as intravenous mannitol in an attempt to reduce increased intracranial pressure. After an initial lowering of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure to near normal values during continuous glycerol administration, a secondary rise in CSF pressure above the initial level occurred despite a persistent elevation of plasma osmolality (315 mOsm/kg) and glycerol level (30 mmole/l). Similarly, 4 hours after the administration of a single oral dose of glycerol, CSF pressure increased to levels higher (700 mm H2O) than the original baseline (400 mm H2O).

[Contributions to the strain-specific virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans. Animal experiments with two C. neoformans-strains isolated from bird manure. Preliminary report (author's transl)]

The results briefly presented here highlight some of the observations met with during the course of a study aimed at finding out differential pathogenic behavior of the two strains of Cryptococcus neoformans i.e. W71/A117 and W2/A94 with special reference to cryptococcoma formation. Both strains were isolated from bird excreta but differed in their gross and microscopic morphology. Groups of male albino mice NMRI were separately inoculated, intramuscularly, with a comparable dose of the two strains. All the 50 animals challenged with W71/A117 developed macroscopically distinct cryptococcoma of variable size, and fatally progressive disease, involving most of the internal organs, namely, brain, heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidneys. On the contrary, only 34 of the 50 mice infected with the strain W2/A94 showed cryptococcoma formation at the site of inoculation, which were comparatively much smaller in size and gradually diminished. None of the animals, observed over a period of 93 days, died, and showed any sign of metastasis. In another series of experiment, only one instance of mortality was observed in a group of 80 mice inoculated intraperitoneally with about 2 X 10(7) viable cells of this strain. However, the fungus could be recovered, in a majority of cases, only from the brain of animals sacrificed after one month, though most of them showed no sign of sickness. The number of mice yielding positive cultures gradually decreased, and after 87 days the fungus could not be isolated from any organ. The high morbidity and mortality in mice caused by strains W71/A117 was significantly lowered when the animals were infected intramuscularly 3 months ago with the strain W2/A94. After an observation period of 61 days, 91% of the double infected animals were still alive in comparison to 23% survival among the animals challenged with the strain W71/A117 only.

Effect of cortisone administration on experimental nocardiosis

Effect of cortisone administration on the pathogenicity of Nocardia asteroides, N. caviae, and N. brasiliensis for white mice has been investigated by using the intravenous route of inoculation. The observations indicated that the susceptibility of white mice to nocardiosis was enhanced by cortisone. Test strains of the three species of Nocardia caused a higher and more rapid mortality, as well as more extensive lesions, in the cortisone-treated than in the normal mice. The mean lethal dose (LD(50)) values of N. asteroides and N. caviae for the cortisonetreated group were found to be seven and eight times lower than their respective values for the normal group. N. asteroides and N. caviae were more virulent than N. brasiliensis, the LD(50) of N. brasiliensis for cortisone-treated mice being 30 and 26 times higher than that of the former two species, respectively. N. brasiliensis also differed from the other two species in its inability to infect the brain. In the untreated animals, N. asteroides and N. caviae showed a tendency to form conglomerate growth, in contrast to formation of freely dispersed growth in the lesions of cortisone-treated animals.

Biochemical nutritional indicators in children with protein energy malnutrition attending Kanti Children Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal

Background: Nutrition is the science of food and its relationship to health. Nutritional status is one of the key indicators of health Nutritional status of Nepal is not satisfactory. Especially Protein Energy Malnutrition (PEM) in Nepal is a very common problem in children under five years of age. There are number biochemical parameters which become altered during protein energy malnutrition. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to determine biochemical nutritional indicators among children suffering from PEM and to compare all biochemical parameters with well nourished children and also to determine the factors affecting PEM among children under five years. Materials and methods: The study design was cross sectional, descriptive study with control. Children between ages 6 to 59 months attending outpatient department (OPD) and wards of Kanti Children's Hospital (KCH), Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal were purposively selected. The sample size was calculated by using prevalence of malnutrition in Nepalese context and allowable error of 10 %, a total of 120 cases which include 60 PEM cases and 60 controls were selected. They were grouped into two groups based on whether they are above or below the 80% of 50th percentile of weight for height based on growth chart of National Centre of Health Statistics 3 (NCHS), USA. Results: The educational status of parents of children with PEM was found to be significantly less (p<0.05) as compared to their non-PEM counterparts. Occupations of parents whose children were in PEM group include mainly housewives and labourers. Larger proportions of children in our study were born at home and exact birth weights of children were not known. Most of the children are colostrum fed. Most of the children in our study were immunized. Almost equal proportion of children belonged to nuclear family type and joint family type. The mean serum glucose, sodium, potassium, cholesterol, haemoglobin was not significantly different in both groups while mean total protein, albumin, and calcium were significantly (p<0.05) low in PEM group when compared to well nourished children (control). There was significantly (p<0.05) higher incidence of hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminaemia, and hypocalcaemia, in PEM group when compared to control group. Conclusion: A significant proportion of children with protein energy malnutrition had altered biochemical parameters which were related to food intake and biochemical metabolism mandatory during growth and development of children less than five years of age. There was significantly higher proportion of hypoglycaemia, hypoproteinemia, hypoalbuminaemia, anaemia, hypocholesterolemia and hypocalcaemia in children with PEM when compared to normally nourished children. Key words: PEM; Biochemical nutritional indicators; anthropometry DOI: 10.3126/kumj.v7i2.2705 Kathmandu University Medical Journal (2009) Vol.7, No.2 Issue 26, 129-134

Application of paraffin bait technique to the isolation of Nocardia asteroides from clinical specimens

The principal findings of a study for further evaluating paraffin baiting as a routine laboratory diagnostic procedure in the isolation of Nocardia asteroides, the etiological agent of nocardiosis, are reported.