Recent Studies on Invasive Fungal Diseases in Children and Adolescents: an Update

The improved survival of fragile pediatric hosts such as those afflicted with primary or acquired immune deficiencies, prematurity, and surgical pathology – mainly gastrointestinal and trauma – has resulted in an increased number of children susceptible to invasive fungal infections. These infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Newer, safer antifungal agents allow for preventive and empiric strategies in the management of patients at risk, such as premature infants, patients receiving chemotherapy, and bone marrow or solid-organ transplant recipients. Improved radiological and molecular techniques result in earlier diagnosis of fungal infections, allowing for preemptive therapy in these patients, minimizing exposure to antifungal agents and the risk of emergence of resistant fungal strains. A better understanding of the differences in pharmacokinetics between children and adults will allow for better utilization of existing antifungal agents and improved outcomes.     

Early Cretaceous Ferns From Lacustrine Limestones At Las Hoyas, Cuenca Province, Spain

A brief outline is presented of the geological conditions prevailing in the hard-water lake that produced the Las Hoyas fossiliferous site in the Serranía de Cuenca (north-east central Spain). The corresponding Barremian laminated limestones contain varied fossil remains including plants. The fern component of the assemblage is described in the present paper. Ten taxa are referable to the families Matoniaceae, Dicksoniaceae and Schizaeaceae, whilst eight are unclassified. A new species of Dicksoniaceae is described: Coniopteris laciniata. Three species, Pelletixia valdensis, Cladophlebis albertsii, and Sphenopteris fontainei, are recorded here for the first time outside the English Wealden; one species, Acrostichopteris foliosa, is new to the Barremian of Europe. The fern assemblage from the Las Hoyas site is most similar to that of the English Wealden. The xeromorph character of some species is noted.   Although the specimens from Las Hoyas are generally small, even tiny, most are still identifiable leaf fragments preserved as imprints on platy limestone. Epidermal detail has been obtained from a few impressions. Some rather delicate remains, such as indusia, a crozier with pinnules, and fragments of Pelletixia valdensis occur, thus suggesting limited residence time in water.     

Agricultural practices for enhanced human health

Phytochemicals in vegetables are known to be responsible for protective effects against many human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and different types of cancer. Environmental conditions and physiological factors may modify the amounts of these compounds present in vegetables and fruits, but also crop management strategies could increase the production of phytochemicals. Therefore, the effects of mineral nutrition, soil composition and water content on the production of phytochemicals have been considered in the development of different fertilisation strategies, efficient water management and techniques such as grafting. Finally, the contents of health-promoting compounds in vegetables and fruits depend both quantitatively and qualitatively on their genetic bases. Thus, conventional breeding and genetic modification have been developed as new methodologies to enhance the nutritional properties of plants. M. C. Martínez-Ballesta, L. López-Pérez, M. Hernández, C. López-Berenguer, N. Fernández-García contributed equally.     

In vitro Culture of Medicago arborea L. Anthers: Initial Response

High production of viable somatic embryos was obtained from cultured anthers in the second phase of meiosis, using microscopic level observations of tetrads. The medium with the greatest embryogenic efficiency was H6, composed of Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 2 mg l⁻¹ of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.5 mg l⁻¹ of kinetin. All (100%) of the somatic embryos obtained germinated and produced 63% green and 37% albino seedlings. In general, embryogenic calli had a higher ion concentration than non-embryogenic calli, with the exception of calcium whose concentration was higher in non-embryogenic calli. The calli induced in the different media differed in their sucrose and starch compositions. The most embryogenic medium H6-induced calli with the highest sucrose concentration and the lowest starch concentration, before visible embryos were observed. In the leaves of the albino seedlings, sucrose concentrations were very high while those of starch were very low. Ion concentrations were also lower in albino plants than in the leaves of green seedlings, with the exception of calcium, whose concentration was higher. Most of the albino individuals were homozygous, even when their progenitors were heterozygous, thereby confirming their haploid nature.     

Atorvastatin modifies the protein profile of circulating human monocytes after an acute coronary syndrome

Aggressive treatment with high‐dose atorvastatin reduces more effectively the incidence of cardiovascular events than moderate statin therapy. The mechanism of this benefit has not been fully elucidated. In order to know the potential effects of statin treatment on the protein expression of circulating monocytes in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, a proteomic analysis of these cells was carried out by 2‐DE and MS. Twenty‐five patients with non‐ST‐elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) were randomized, the fourth day after admission, to receive ATV 80 mg/dL (n = 14) or conventional treatment (CT) (n = 11), for two months. Blood was withdrawn at the end of the treatment, and monocytes were extracted for proteomic analysis and their protein expression patterns determined. Age, sex, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, body mass index, presence of hypertension, diabetes, and smoking status were not significantly different between the two groups of patients. The expression of 20 proteins was modified by intensive ATV. Among the most relevant results stand out the normalization by intensive ATV treatment of the expression of proteins that modulate inflammation and thrombosis such as protein disulfide isomerase ER60 (PDI), Annexin I, and prohibitin, or that have other protective effects as HSP‐70. Thus, this approach shed light at the molecular level of the beneficial mechanisms of anti‐atherothrombotic drugs.     

Comparative analysis of insect control by nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide in museum, archive and herbarium collections

An investigation of insect control using non-toxic methods was carried out in museums, archives and herbaria in different climatic regions. The efficacy of using modified atmospheres including nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide to eliminate insect families was evaluated. Analyses were performed on eight different species, and all their development stages, in the families Cerambicidae, Anobiidae, Dermestidae and Lyctidae in the Coleoptera. The modified atmospheres were used in several treatment systems, i.e. plastic bags of low permeability, a fumigation vacuum chamber and a fumigation bubble, and the most appropriate conditions for disinfestation of ancient objects were assessed. An argon atmosphere achieved the best results for insect elimination with a short exposure time. Different species of Coleoptera were found to be resistant to carbon dioxide. From this study, a model of insect control was used in situ for art and historical collections.     

C-Terminal Protein Characterization by Mass Spectrometry using Combined Micro Scale Liquid and Solid-Phase Derivatization

A sample preparation method for protein C-terminal peptide isolation has been developed. In this strategy, protein carboxylate glycinamidation was preceded by carboxyamidomethylation and optional α- and ϵ-amine acetylation in a one-pot reaction, followed by tryptic digestion of the modified protein. The digest was adsorbed on ZipTip_C18 pipette tips for sequential peptide α- and ϵ-amine acetylation and 1-ethyl-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide-mediated carboxylate condensation with ethylenediamine. Amino group-functionalized peptides were scavenged on N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated agarose, leaving the C-terminal peptide in the flow-through fraction. The use of reversed-phase supports as a venue for peptide derivatization enabled facile optimization of the individual reaction steps for throughput and completeness of reaction. Reagents were exchanged directly on the support, eliminating sample transfer between the reaction steps. By this sequence of solid-phase reactions, the C-terminal peptide could be uniquely recognized in mass spectra of unfractionated digests of moderate complexity. The use of the sample preparation method was demonstrated with low-level amounts of a model protein. The C-terminal peptides were selectively retrieved from the affinity support and proved highly suitable for structural characterization by collisionally induced dissociation. The sample preparation method provides for robustness and simplicity of operation using standard equipment readily available in most biological laboratories and is expected to be readily expanded to gel-separated proteins.     

Nedocromil sodium in allergen-induced bronchial responses and airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic sheep

We examined the effects of nedocromil sodium, a new drug developed for the treatment of reversible obstructive airway disease, on allergen-induced early and late bronchial responses and the development of airway hyperresponsiveness 24 h after challenge in nine allergic sheep. On occasions greater than 2 wk apart the sheep were treated with 1) placebo aerosol (buffered saline) before and 3 h after antigen challenge, 2) an aerosol of nedocromil sodium (1 mg/kg in 3 ml buffered saline) before antigen challenge and placebo 3 h after challenge, and 3) placebo aerosol before and nedocromil sodium aerosol 3 h after challenge. Early and late bronchial responses were determined by measuring specific lung resistance (sRL) before and periodically after challenge. Airway responsiveness was assessed by determining from dose-response curves the carbachol concentration (in % wt/vol) that increased sRL to 5 cmH2O/s. In the placebo trial, antigen challenge resulted in early and late increases in sRL over a base line of 353 +/- 32 and 131 +/- 17% (SE), respectively. Both early and late increases in sRL were blocked (P less than 0.05) when the sheep were pretreated with nedocromil sodium. When nedocromil was given after the early response, the late response was reduced significantly. Eight of nine sheep developed airway hyperresponsiveness 24 h after antigen challenge. In these eight sheep, carbachol concentration before antigen challenge was 2.6 +/- 0.3%, 24 h later carbachol concentration was significantly lower (1.8 +/- 0.3%). Both nedocromil sodium treatments blocked (P less than 0.05) this antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Subcutaneous rabies vaccination of pigtail macaques

Abstract: Nonhuman primates housed in outside cages in rabies enzootic areas should be vaccinated against rabies because of the risk of exposure to rabid wildlife. This article reports that vaccination with an inactivated rabies vaccine for domestic animals induced levels of neutralizing antibodies against rabies in pigtail macaques (Macaca nemestrina) without causing adverse reactions.