Randomised,double blind,placebo controlled trial of penicillin V and amoxycillin in treatment of acute sinus infections in adults.

OBJECTIVES--To compare the effectiveness of penicillin V and amoxycillin with placebo in treatment of adult patients with acute sinusitis. DESIGN--Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial. SETTING--Norwegian general practice. SUBJECTS--130 adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute sinusitis confirmed by computed tomography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Subjective status after three and 10 days of treatment, difference in clinical severity score between day 0 and day 10 as evaluated by the general practitioner, difference in score from computed tomography on day 0 and day 10, and duration of sinusitis. RESULTS--Amoxycillin and penicillin V led to significantly faster and better recovery than placebo. By day 10, 71 patients receiving antibiotic treatment- (86%) considered themselves to be recovered or much better compared with 25 (57%) receiving placebo. The mean (95% confidence interval) reductions in clinical severity scores by day 10 were 5.4 (5.0 to 5.8) for penicillin V, 5.5 (4.9 to 6.0 for amoxycillin, and 3.4 (2.8 to 4.0) for placebo. For the antibiotic groups combined the number of patients with the greatest degree of improvement on computed tomography (scale 0-16)-that is, score 5-16 on day 10-was 31/83 (37%) compared with 10/44 (23%) receiving placebo. The median duration of the sinusitis was nine days in the amoxycillin group, 11 days in the penicillin V group, and 17 days in the placebo group. CONCLUSION--Penicillin V and amoxycillin are significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of acute sinusitis.     

Estimates of relatedness and inbreeding in goose strains from DNA fingerprints

The purpose of this study was to determine if DNA fingerprints (DFPs) could be used to estimate relatedness and inbreeding of strains of geese and to compare three methods of calculating relatedness indices. Strains included a control and selected strain from each of the Chinese and Synthetic (Chinese, Hungarian and Pilgrim) breeds. DFP patterns for each strain were based on individual DNA samples from six females, or on pooled DNA from 15 females different from those used for individual samples. Three relatedness indices were used, namely, genetic distance, modified Rogers distance and band sharing. All relatedness indices showed a closer relationship of strains within than between breeds. Correlation coefficients among relatedness indices were higher based on pooled DNA (r ≥|0·97|) than those based on individual DNA (r ≥|0·741). Inbreeding estimates were higher for selected compared with control strains. It appears that the use of DFPs to estimate relatedness, regardless of index used, and inbreeding can be valuable for studying geese where there is a limited breeding history.     

Growth and reproduction of an estuarine population of the colonial hydroidCordylophora caspia (Pallas) in the northern Baltic Sea

Growth and reproduction of the colonial hydroidCordylophora caspia were monitored during the breeding season in natural conditions. In 1987, a life history study was carried out on the upright stems of the main stolon. Mean size of uprights varied cyclically. The first peak coincided with the peak number of sexual hydranths, after which the mean upright length decreased, possibly indicating somatic costs of sexual reproduction. Extrinsic factors like flooding may also have contributed to cyclical changes in upright size. In 1988 and 1989, colonies were reared on experimental plates in the estuary. In 1988, colonies grew until mid July, after which they regressed to a dormant condition and then started growing again in mid August. Predation and space competition are discussed as possible causes for this dormancy in the middle of the growing season. In 1989, colonies grew continually, with the exception of a decline in colony biomass and number of feeding hydranths at the end of July, just following the peak of sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction started in the early stages of colonial development for all years. During early summer,C. caspia allocated resources simultaneously in colonial growth and sexual reproduction. However, sexual reproduction had a clear peak in mid summer, and thereafter sexual reproduction ceased while colonial growth continued.     

malvolio, the Drosophila homologue of mouse NRAMP-1 (Bcg), is expressed in macrophages and in the nervous system and is required for normal taste behaviour.

We report the sequence, expression pattern and mutant phenotype of malvolio (mvl), the Drosophila homologue of mammalian natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (NRAMPs). In the mouse, this novel transporter is encoded by Bcg, a dominant gene that confers natural resistance to intracellular parasites. mvl was identified in a screen for mutants that affect taste behaviour. We show that loss-of-function as well as insertional mutants in mvl display defects in taste behaviour with no alterations in the physiology of the sensory neurons. Activity of the reporter enzyme beta-galactosidase, that reflects the expression pattern of mvl, is seen in mature sensory neurons and in macrophages. The conceptual translation of the mvl cDNA shows a striking similarity (65% identity) with human NRAMP with almost complete identity in a conserved consensus motif found in a number of ATP-coupled transporters. Based on its phenotype and expression pattern as well as its structural similarities to NRAMPs and a nitrate transporter in Aspergillus nidulans, we discuss a possible role for MVL in nitrite/nitrate transport and its implications.     

Inhibition of low pH evoked activation of airway sensory nerves by capsazepine, a novel capsaicin-receptor antagonist.

Low pH is a well known sensory irritant in pathological conditions such as inflammation. The mechanisms underlying this low pH effect were therefore studied in the guinea pig. Acid exposure caused marked nasal irritation via a specific subset of sensory nerves sensitive to capsaicin. Furthermore, acid caused bronchoconstriction via release of neuropeptides from capsaicin sensitive afferents. Interestingly, capsazepine, a recently developed competitive capsaicin receptor antagonist, selectively inhibited these responses to low pH. Ruthenium red, which blocks the cation channel associated with the capsaicin receptor, had effects similar to those of capsazepine. Therefore, acid irritation of the airway mucosa may involve capsaicin-receptor mechanisms and capsazepine represents a novel protective agent.     

Melanins production from enkephalins by tyrosinase.

Leu-enkephalin and Met-enkephalin are oxidized in vitro by mushroom and sepia tyrosinase giving rise to synthetic melanins whose production is dependent on incubation time and on enzyme concentration. The Enk-melanins formed are acid-insoluble brownish or reddish pigments showing a continuous absorbance in the visible region when dissolved in basic solution. The presence of the amino acid chain makes them fully soluble in pH 7.4 0.05 M phosphate buffer and methanol.