Differentiation of three serovars of Malassezia furfur

Malassezia furfur strains were isolated from the clinically normal skin of 10 volunteers by swabbing four different sites (forehead, ear, back and chest). The strains could be divided into three basic groups on the basis of cultural characteristics. Both unabsorbed and absorbed specific rabbit antisera were prepared against nine of the strains, and both species and group specific antigens could be demonstrated. Serologically, three group specific surface antigens could be identified which corresponded to the three groups identifiable on cultural characteristics. The relevance of these findings to previous in vitro results is discussed.     

Three dimensional typological studies using scanning electron microscopy for characterization of Termitomyces pellets obtained from submerged growth conditions

There are gaps in existing understanding of fungal pellet growth dynamics. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological characterization of the biomass organization of Termitomyces pellets for seven species: T. microcarpus (TMI1), T. albuminosus (TAL1, TAL2), T. striatus (TSTR), T. aurantiacus (TAUR), T. heimii (THE1, THE2), T. globulus (TGLO) and T. clypeatus (TCL1, TCL2, TCL3, TCL4, TCL5). We assessed the utility of SEM for morphological and structural characterization of Termitomyces spp. in three dimensional (3D) pellet form to identify ideal pellet morphology for industrial use. Typological classification of Termitomyces species was based on furrows, isotropy, total motifs and fractal dimensions. The pellets formed were entangled and exhibited highly compacted mycelial mass with microheterogeneity and microporosity. The mean density of furrows of Termitomyces species was between 10,000 and 11,300 cm/cm², percentage isotropy was 30?80 and total motifs varied from 300 to 2500. TGLO exhibited the highest furrow mean density, 11243 cm/cm², which indicated a compact, cerebroid structure with complex ridges and furrows, whereas TAL2 exhibited the lowest furrow density. TMI1a exhibited a high percentage isotropic value, 74.6, TSTR exhibited the lowest, 30.9. Total motif number also was used as a typological classification parameter. Fractal values were 2.64?2.78 for various submerged conditions of Termitomyces species. TAL1 exhibited the highest fractal dimension and TAL2 the lowest, which indicates the complexity of branching patterns. Three-dimensional SEM image analysis can provide insight into pellet micromorphology and is a powerful tool for exploring topographical details of pellets.     

Adverse effects of tempol on hidrosaline balance in rats with acute sodium overload

We studied the effects of tempol, an oxygen radical scavenger, on hydrosaline balance in rats with acute sodium overload. Male rats with free access to water were injected with isotonic (control group) or hypertonic saline solution (0.80 mol/l NaCl) either alone (Na group) or with tempol (Na-T group). Hydrosaline balance was determined during a 90 min experimental period. Protein expressions of aquaporin 1 (AQP1), aquaporin 2 (AQP2), angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) were measured in renal tissue. Water intake, creatinine clearance, diuresis and natriuresis increased in the Na group. Under conditions of sodium overload, tempol increased plasma sodium and protein levels and increased diuresis, natriuresis and sodium excretion. Tempol also decreased water intake without affecting creatinine clearance. AQP1 and eNOS were increased and Ang II decreased in the renal cortex of the Na group, whereas AQP2 was increased in the renal medulla. Nonglycosylated AQP1 and eNOS were increased further in the renal cortex of the Na-T group, whereas AQP2 was decreased in the renal medulla and was localized mainly in the cell membrane. Moreover, p47-phox immunostaining was increased in the hypothalamus of Na group, and this increase was prevented by tempol. Our findings suggest that tempol causes hypernatremia after acute sodium overload by inhibiting the thirst mechanism and facilitating diuresis, despite increasing renal eNOS expression and natriuresis.     

Bacterial-fungal biofilms in flowing water photo-processing tanks

A complex seven species model community, including bacteria and fungi, was selected from organisms isolated from the walls of an industrial flowing water system. Growth rates of the species were determined in single and mixed batch culture growth. The rates were found to be significantly higher in mixed culture for Pseudomonas alcaligenes and Flavobacterium indologenes and higher in single culture for Xanthomonas maltophilia , Rhodotorula glutinis and Fusarium solani , whereas no significant difference was recorded for Alcaligenes denitrificans and Fusarium oxysporum . All species attached to PVC in single and mixed culture to form biofilms. Xanthomonas maltophilia , Alc. denitrificans , Ps. alcaligenes and F. solani biofilm cell densities cm^-2 were significantly higher than attachment of the component species in mixed culture. Statistical analyses showed a significant difference in rate of colonization between single and mixed cultures for some species. No significant difference was noted between mixed culture cell densities cm^-2 at laminar flows of Reynolds number 2·7 and 5·4.     

Fasting protects against the side effects of irinotecan but preserves its anti-tumor effect in Apc15lox mutant mice

Irinotecan is a widely used topoisomerase-I-inhibitor with a very narrow therapeutic window because of its severe toxicity. In the current study we have examined the effects of fasting prior to irinotecan treatment on toxicity and anti-tumor activity. FabplCre;Apc^15lox/+ mice, which spontaneously develop intestinal tumors, of 27 weeks of age were randomized into 3-day fasted and ad libitum fed groups, followed by treatment with a flat-fixed high dose of irinotecan or vehicle. Side-effects were recorded until 11 days after the start of the experiment. Tumor size, and markers for cell-cycle activity, proliferation, angiogenesis, and senescence were measured. Fasted mice were protected against the side-effects of irinotecan treatment. Ad libitum fed mice developed visible signs of discomfort including weight loss, lower activity, ruffled coat, hunched-back posture, diarrhea, and leukopenia. Irinotecan reduced tumor size in fasted and ad libitum fed groups similarly compared to untreated controls (2.4 ± 0.67 mm and 2.4 ± 0.82 mm versus 3.0 ± 1.05 mm and 2.8 ± 1.08 mm respectively, P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical analysis showed reduced proliferation, a reduced number of vascular endothelial cells, and increased levels of senescence in tumors of both irinotecan treated groups. In conclusion, 3 days of fasting protects against the toxic side-effects of irinotecan in a clinically relevant mouse model of spontaneously developing colorectal cancer without affecting its anti-tumor activity. These results support fasting as a powerful way to improve treatment of colorectal carcinoma patients.     

MIDAS: software for analysis and visualisation of interallelic disequilibrium between multiallelic markers

Background  

Various software tools are available for the display of pairwise linkage disequilibrium across multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms. The HapMap project also presents these graphics within their website. However, these approaches are limited in their use of data from multiallelic markers and provide limited information in a graphical form.     

Fine needle aspiration cytology of breast cylindroma in a woman with familial cylindromatosis: a case report

BACKGROUND: That sweat gland type tumors occur occasionally in the breast is not surprising, as the breast and cutaneous sweat glands are embryologically related. Cylindromas present most commonly as solitary and sporadic dermal nodules on the face and scalp. Cases of multiple cylindromas are dominantly inherited, and the neoplasms are referred to as "turban tumors" when multiple lesions cover the scalp. Primary cylindroma of the breast has been reported once in the past. To the best of our knowledge, the fine needle aspiration cytology of primary breast cylindroma and its occurrence in the setting of familial cylindromatosis have not previously been reported. CASE: A 59-year-old woman presented with an ill-defined left breast mass. She had a personal and family history of dermal cylindromas on the head and face. Fine needle aspiration cytology demonstrated small, uniform cells with oval nuclei and finely granular cytoplasm, with some cells arranged around conspicuous cylinders of dense, acellular material. Excisional biopsy was recommended to exclude adenoid cystic carcinoma. Tissue biopsy revealed a benign cylindroma arising in breast parenchyma. CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology of cylindroma very closely mimics that of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Although extremely rare, primary breast cylindroma is another entity to be included in the cytologic differential diagnosis of bland, basaloid cells associated with globular, extracellular material, a finding most commonly associated with adenoid cystic carcinoma.     

Evaluation of the in vitro genetic toxicity of 4-(2, 4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid

The herbicide 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)butyric acid (2,4-DB) is principally used in the USA on peanuts, soybeans and alfalfa. In Europe, it is used on undersown spring barley and grassland (with clover). The genetic toxicity in vitro of the dimethylamine salt of 2,4-DB was examined by employing a range of end points including gene mutation in bacteria (Ames test) and mammalian cell cultures (CHO/HGPRT assay), cytogenetic abnormalities in mammalian cells (CHO/chromosomal aberration assay), and induction of DNA damage and repair in rat hepatocytes. There were no indications of genotoxic potential for 2,4-DB in the first three of these assays. One of the two criteria for a positive response in the UDS assay was exceeded but the increases did not exceed the second criteria for a positive response. The test material was therefore evaluated as weakly active in this assay. The weight of the evidence clearly indicates that 2, 4-DB is not genotoxic to mammals and are consistent with the reported lack of carcinogenic potential for 2,4-DB in both mice and rats.