The possibilities and limitations of direct digital radiography, ultrasound and computed tomography in diagnosing pleural mesotelioma

The goal of this study was to compare the possibilities and limitations of direct digital radiography of the chest (DDR), the use of ultrasound of the chest (US) and single slice computed tomography of the chest (CT) in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma. The study was conducted during the course of one year, on 80 patients who were successively referred to a specialized institution, under clinical suspicion of mesothelioma. The method of investigation was the comparison of findings, obtained by the reviewed methods of examination, with the pathohistologic results of a biopsy performed on each patient. The findings that were obtained by the enumerated methods were classified according to the radiologic signs that were found in each individual patient. We evaluated following radiological findings (signs), on each of the investigated methods: plaques, localized and generalized pleural thickenings, calcifications of the pleura, pleural effusions, parapneumonic effusions, pleural empyema, (round) atelectasis, pneumothorax, tumor mass or node, inflammatory infiltrate, elevation of the hemidiaphragm and osteolysis. The results of these were compared with pathohistologic findings and analyzed by means of standard statistical methods. The highest sensitivity was found for CT (94.4%), followed by US (92.6%), and by DDR (90.7%). The highest specificity was obtained with DDR (46.2%), followed by CT (35.5%) and US (23.8%). The comparison of these methods showed 90% diagnostic accuracy for DDR in relation to CT CT as an individual method best satisfied most of the criteria for diagnosing mesothelioma. No pathognomonic radiologic sign for mesothelioma was found.     

Stenotic occlusive lesions of internal carotid artery in diabetic patients

Diabetes deteriorates atherosclerotic changes in the arteries. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence and localization of stenotic atherosclerotic lesions of the internal carotid artery (ICA) in patients with diabetes. A prospective analysis of angiography findings was carried out in 150 diabetic and 150 non-diabetic patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia using double-blind angiogram readings by two independent investigators. The degree of stenosis was determined using the North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial (NASCET) criteria. Stenoses of the proximal arterial segment accounted for the majority of extracranial ICA stenoses, being more frequent in diabetic (left ICA 50.7%, right ICA 58.0%) than in the non-diabetic patients (left ICA 29.3%, right ICA 32.7%). Diabetic patients revealed a more significant rate of unilateral tandem ICA stenoses (14.0-21.3%), as well as a statistically significantly higher prevalence of intracranial ICA stenoses (left ICA 24.0% and right ICA 17.3%) than did non-diabetic patients (left and right ICA 3.3% each). Our results confirm that there is a morphological basis in ICA for increased incidence of ICA lesions in patients with diabetes as compared to those without it. Data on the incidence of stenotic ICA lesions in diabetes suggest the importance of assessing overall ICA status using digital subtraction angiography. Such an assessment is a precondition for an optimal therapeutic approach, especially in diabetic patients who are at an increased risk of cerebrovascular disease.     

Beyond oil degradation: enzymatic potential of Alcanivorax to degrade natural and synthetic polyesters

Pristine marine environments are highly oligotrophic ecosystems populated by well-established specialized microbial communities. Nevertheless, during oil spills, low-abundant hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria bloom and rapidly prevail over the marine microbiota. The genus Alcanivorax is one of the most abundant and well-studied organisms for oil degradation. While highly successful under polluted conditions due to its specialized oil-degrading metabolism, it is unknown how they persist in these environments during pristine conditions. Here, we show that part of the Alcanivorax genus, as well as oils, has an enormous potential for biodegrading aliphatic polyesters thanks to a unique and abundantly secreted alpha/beta hydrolase. The heterologous overexpression of this esterase proved a remarkable ability to hydrolyse both natural and synthetic polyesters. Our findings contribute to (i) better understand the ecology of Alcanivorax in its natural environment, where natural polyesters such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are produced by a large fraction of the community and, hence, an accessible source of carbon and energy used by the organism in order to persist, (ii) highlight the potential of Alcanivorax to clear marine environments from polyester materials of anthropogenic origin as well as oils, and (iii) the discovery of a new versatile esterase with a high biotechnological potential.     

The effect of proprioceptive training on neuromuscular function in patients with patellar pain

Eight patients with patellar pain underwent knee proprioceptive training. The maximal knee extension torque associated with the Vastus Lateralis EMG signal increased (p 0.001 and 0.039). Although muscle balance was not improved, all the patients improved their clinical scores.     

Contamination of malt barley and wheat by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum from the crop years 2001-2003 in eastern Croatia

This study investigated infection levels with Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum in malt barley and wheat in eastern Croatia. The contamination was surveyed over three consecutive crop years (2001–2003) on five locations for barley and three wheat cultivating locations. F. graminearum loads reached levels of potentially serious threat for the commercial production of malting raw materials in both cereals (up to 29.1%). On the other hand, the mean percentage of kernels infected with F. culmorum was low to medium (up to 6.1%). The fungal invasions for years and locations were affected by meteorologic and other environmental factors and the pattern seemed to be consistent with species-specific optimal conditions reported by other authors.     

The effect of proprioceptive training in patients with recurrent dislocation of the patella

Eleven patients with recurrent dislocation of the patella were subjected to knee proprioceptive training. Patients exhibited a gain in their Lysholm and Activity scores (p 0.03 and 0.009). No patient needed operative procedure.     

Microbial community composition and trophic role along a marked salinity gradient in Laguna Puilar,Salar de Atacama,Chile

The geological, hydrological and microbiological features of the Salar de Atacama, the most extensive evaporitic sedimentary basin in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, have been extensively studied. In contrast, relatively little attention has been paid to the composition and roles of microbial communities in hypersaline lakes which are a unique feature in the Salar. In the present study biochemical, chemical and molecular biological tools were used to determine the composition and roles of microbial communities in water, microbial mats and sediments along a marked salinity gradient in Laguna Puilar which is located in the “Los Flamencos” National Reserve. The bacterial communities at the sampling sites were dominated by members of the phyla Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria. Stable isotope and fatty acid analyses revealed marked variability in the composition of microbial mats at different sampling sites both horizontally (at different sites) and vertically (in the different layers). The Laguna Puilar was shown to be a microbially dominated ecosystem in which more than 60% of the fatty acids at particular sites are of bacterial origin. Our pioneering studies also suggest that the energy budgets of avian consumers (three flamingo species) and dominant invertebrates (amphipods and gastropods) use minerals as a source of energy and nutrients. Overall, the results of this study support the view that the Salar de Atacama is a heterogeneous and fragile ecosystem where small changes in environmental conditions may alter the balance of microbial communities with possible consequences at different trophic levels.