The cytologic diagnosis of Mycobacterium kansasi tuberculosis by fluorescence microscopy of Papanicolaou-stained specimens

The cytologic diagnosis of Mycobacterium kansasi tuberculosis by fluorescence microscopy of Papanicolaou-stained specimens
The sensitivities of (i) Papanicolaou fluorescence, (ii) auramine rhodamine fluorescence, and (iii) Ziehl-Neelsen staining were compared for their ability to detect the atypical mycobacterium Myco. kansasi in cytological samples. Ninety-two cases were investigated, and the sensitivities of the three methods of detection were found to be 36.9%, 12.0%, and 20.7%, respectively. The control groups consisted of 30 specimens from cases of bronchial carcinoma and 30 of pneumonia. All cases were proved by microbiology. No false-positive results were recorded using Papanicolaou fluorescence. An important but coincidental finding arising from this study was that infection by the atypical mycobacterium Myco. kansasi causes cytological patterns corresponding to those normally associated with acute pneumonia and not to tuberculosis.     

2,4-D-Induced Changes in the K+ Uptake of Wheat Roots at Different pH Values

The effects of an auxin herbicide, 2,4-D, at a concentration of 0.01 mM, on the K⁺ uptake and efflux of excised roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Rannaya) were investigated at different pH values. The K⁺ movement was monitored with a K⁺ (⁸⁶Rb) tracer. In parallel experiments the ATPase activities of microsomal fractions were determined by the inorganic phosphate liberation method. 2,4-D inhibited the K⁺ uptake especially at low pH, irrespective of whether Ca²⁺ was present or not. No marked changes were observed in the K⁺ efflux properties at pH values above 4. The inhibitory effect on K⁺ uptake exhibited a correlation with the hydrocarbon solubility of the herbicide, but not with the 2,4-D-induced decrease of the ATPase activity. It is suggested that 2,4-D exerts a non-specific effect on the lipid-protein interactions, giving rise to a generalized alteration of the transport barrier properties of the plasma membrane even at as low a concentration as 0.01 mM.     

Effect of acetylcholine on growth and isoperoxidases of the lentil(Lens culinaris) root

The effects of acetylcholine (Ach) on growth, the total peroxidase activity and the isoperoxidase spectrum of the roots ofLens culinaris were studied and compared with actual and earlier results obtained with an auxin (IAA) treatment. The general growth and peroxidase activity patterns of Ach treated roots and IAA treated ones showed many important similarities.     

The appearance of pollen in the lower airways

Whether pollen do reach the broncho-alveolar part of the respiratory tract to trigger a bronchospasm or not, has been studied for over a long period and many methods have been used.

We assesed this question by the method of broncho-alveolar lavage and came to the conclusion that pollen do incidentally penetrate into the lower airways. It is probably not an event which happens very frequently and certainly not massively.     

Subtidal macrozoobenthic community resilience to change following natural mouth breaching of the temporarily open/closed East Kleinemonde Estuary,South Africa

The East Kleinemonde Estuary, on the south-east coast of South Africa, typically opens for only short periods, usually <10 days. During a nine-month study in 2006, marine influence persisted for a near-continuous period of three months. This provided an opportunity to explore potential changes in the structure and pattern of the subtidal estuarine macrozoobenthic community. Salinity changes were minimal after mouth opening, decreasing by c. 4 and 8 in the lower and upper estuary, respectively. Salinity decrease was due to river dominance over tidal influence. Two biotic assemblages, structured by sediment characteristics, typified the community throughout the study: a sand-associated group near the mouth and a mud-associated group upstream. Amphipods were proportionally the most abundant group within each assemblage and on each sampling occasion. At the species level, high variability typified the community, with no trends or patterns observed. However, species richness declined from 27–30 to 23 after mouth opening. The number of species returned to former levels at the time of the final survey and just before final mouth closure. An analysis of the subtidal macrozoobenthos in the East Kleinemonde and other temporarily open/closed estuaries (TOCEs) of similar size in the bioregion indicated that communities were typically composed of relatively few, broadly tolerant euryhaline species with no species unique to TOCEs.     

The effects of immersive garden experience on the health care to elderly residents with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment living in nursing homes after the COVID-19 pandemic

Elderly patients living in long-term care facilities have been restricted from leaving to comply with social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to a worsening of disorders, such as anxiety and depression. This study aims to understand the health benefits of an immersive garden experience to elderly nursing home residents with mild-to-moderate cognitive impairments. Virtual reality devices were used to provide immersive garden experiences for the residents who were unable to go outside. The heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) data of the participants of the participants were collected using biofeedback instruments, and changes in the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) and the standard deviation of the NN interval (SDNN) values caused by immersive garden experiences were discussed. The results show that the immersive garden experiences were beneficial to these elderly residents. Within 6 min of completing the experiment, we found that the heart rates of participants had dropped slightly, while SDNN and HF values continued to rise. SDNN values before and after the experiment demonstrated a statistically significant improvement. Furthermore, participants expressed their satisfaction with the video intervention program. The results indicated that nursing homes can provide immersive landscape experiences to help increase HRV and SDNN of their elderly residents. This will not only help these residents recall beautiful memories of their past, but will also improve their quality of life.

     

High-level expression of the Endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase F2 gene in E.coli: one step purification to homogeneity

The Endo F2gene was overexpressed in E.coli as a fusion protein joined to the maltose-binding protein. MBP-Endo F2was found in a highly enriched state as insoluble, inactive inclusion bodies. Extraction of the inclusion bodies with 20% acetic acid followed by exhaustive dialysis rendered the fusion protein active and soluble. MBP-Endo F2was digested with Factor Xaand purified on Q-Sepharose. The enzyme was homogeneous by SDS-PAGE, and appeared as a single symmetrical peak on HPLC. Analysis of the amino-terminus demonstrated conclusively that recombinant Endo F2was homogeneous and identical to the native enzyme.