Role of cell-mediated immunity in the resistance to experimental sporotrichosis in mice

The in vitro activity of several new imidazoles, cloconazole, sulconazole, butoconazole, isoconazole and fenticonazole, were compared with those of amphothericin B, flucytosine, and three azoles: econazole, miconazole and ketoconazole against isolates of pathogenic Candida. A total of 186 clinical isolates of 10 species of the genus Candida and two culture collection strains were tested by an agar-dilution technique. Isoconazole was the most active azole, followed by butoconazole and sulconazole. Differences between some of the species in their susceptibility to the antifungal agents were noted. Sulconazole and cloconazole had the highest activity in vitro against 106 isolates of C. albicans. Butoconazole and isoconazole were also very active against isolates of C. albicans, and were the most active azole compounds against 80 isolates of Candida spp.     

Mechanism of peptidoleukotriene-induced increases in pulmonary transvascular fluid filtration

We examined the effects of leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) and D4 (LTD4) (1 microgram) on the pulmonary vascular filtration coefficient, a measure of vessel wall conductivity to water, and the alterations in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) in isolated-perfused guinea pig lungs. We also assessed whether LTC4 and LTD4 increased the permeability to albumin in cultured monolayers of pulmonary artery endothelial cells. In Ringer-perfused and blood-perfused lungs, LTC4 resulted in increases in pulmonary arterial pressure (Ppa) and the pulmonary capillary pressure (Pcap) measured as the equilibration pressure after simultaneous pulmonary arterial and venous occlusions. Pulmonary venous resistance (Rv) increased to a greater extent than arterial resistance (Ra) in both Ringer-perfused and blood-perused lungs challenged with LTC4. The greater increase in PVR in blood-perfused lungs corresponded with a greater elevation of lung effluent thromboxane B2 (TxB2) concentration. The LTC4-stimulated increase in PVR was prevented by pretreatment with meclofenamate (10(-4) M). LTD4 also induced rapid increases in Ppa and Pcap in both Ringer-perfused and blood-perfused lungs; however, Ppa decreased before stabilizing at a pressure higher than base line. The increases in Rv with LTD4 were greater than Ra. The LTD4-stimulated increases in Ra and Rv also paralleled the elevation in TxB2 concentration. As with LTC4, the increases in Ppa, Pcap, PVR, and TxB2 concentration were greater in blood-perfused than in Ringer-perfused lungs. Pretreatment with meclofenamate reduced the magnitude of the initial increase in Ppa, but did not prevent the response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Emphysema—Is Exercise Beneficial?

Following a six-week program of training in a series of exercises, a significant number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema showed decided improvement in functional activity. Subjective improvement also was noted and kept the patient motivation high.Preliminary observations indicated that the improvement could be maintained long after the end of the training period.     

DETERMINATION OF GUSTATORY SUCROSE THRESHOLD IN WATER BY USE OF A LINEAR SUCROSE GRADIENT

A novel experimental method was developed which allows the determination of the threshold concentration of sucrose by use of a linear sucrose gradient in water. With this method a continuous tasting of the test-liquid is possible. A panel of 15 persons experienced in taste-testing was used. Three gradients of different steepness were applied: 0 to 1.5% (w/w) sucrose in 2 min (I), 3 min (II) and 4 min (III). The results of the new method were compared with those of the standard method (DIN). With gradients I and II we found values which were significantly higher than those of the standard method (I: 0.49% (w/w); II: 0.46% (w/w); DIN: 0.31% (w/w)), whereas with gradient III the same threshold value was found as with the DIN-Method (III: 0.32% (w/w)).     

应用气-质联用仪测定三种螺旋藻中的甾醇成分

应用GLC/MS联用仪对室内培养的钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina platensis (Nordstedt) Geitler)、极大螺旋藻(S.maxima (Stechell & Gardiner) Geitler)和盐泽螺旋藻(S.subsalsa Oerst)的甾醇成分进行了测定。从钝顶螺旋藻和盐泽螺旋藻中共分出11个相同的甾醇组分:胆甾醇、胆甾烷醇、芸苔甾醇、麦角甾醇、海绵甾醇、菜子甾醇、豆甾醇、24-乙基-Δ~(5,7,22)-胆甾醇、β-谷甾醇、异岩藻甾醇和4α,23,24-三甲基Δ~(5,22)-胆甾醇;从极大螺旋藻中只分离出8个甾醇组分。其中胆甾醇含量最高。4α,23,24-三甲基-Δ~(5,22)-胆甾醇为蓝藻中首次报导。     

ANOXIA AND BRIGHTNESS DISCRIMINATION

1. Brightness discrimination has been studied with individuals breathing oxygen concentrations corresponding to 7 altitudes between sea level and 17,000 feet. The brightnesses were 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 millilambert involving only daylight (cone) vision. 2. At these light intensities, brightness discrimination begins to deteriorate at fairly low altitudes. The deterioration is obvious at 8,000 feet, and becomes marked at 15,000 feet, where at low brightness, the contrast must be increased 100 per cent over the sea level value before it can be recognized. 3. The impairment of brightness discrimination with increase in altitude is greater at higher altitudes than at lower. The impairment starts slowly and becomes increasingly rapid the higher the altitude. 4. Impairment of brightness discrimination varies inversely with the light intensity. It is most evident under the lowest light intensities studied, but shows in all of them. However, it decreases in such a way that the deterioration is negligible in full daylight and sunlight. 5. The thresholds of night (rod) vision and day (cone) vision are equally affected by anoxia. 6. The quantitative form of the relation between brightness discrimination ΔI/I and the prevailing brightness I remains the same at all oxygen concentrations. The curve merely shifts along the log I axis, and the extent of the shift indicates the visual deterioration. 7. The data are described in terms of retinal chemistry. Since anoxia causes only a shift in log I it is shown that the photochemical receptor system cannot be affected. Instead the conversion of photochemical change into visual function is impaired in such a way that the conversion factor varies as the fourth power of the arterial oxygen saturation.     

Focus: Preventive Medicine: Undiagnosed Hypertension and Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes among Overweight and Obese Marshallese Participants in a Diabetes Prevention Program

Hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are major public health issues that disproportionately affect minority communities, including Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). Minority communities are also more likely to have undiagnosed hypertension and T2D. Marshallese Pacific Islanders have been shown to have high proportions of diagnosed and undiagnosed hypertension and T2D. Using survey and biometric data collected from 378 overweight/obese Marshallese Pacific Islander adults, this study documents the prevalence of hypertension and T2D, as well as the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and T2D. The study also examines associations between undiagnosed hypertension and undiagnosed T2D and age group, sex, health care access (defined by foregone care due to cost and health insurance status), and body mass index (BMI). Among participants with blood pressure readings indicative of hypertension, 68.4% were undiagnosed, and among participants with HbA1c indicative of T2D, 31.6% were undiagnosed. A quarter of participants (24.5%) had blood pressure and HbA1c measures indicative of both undiagnosed hypertension and undiagnosed T2D. Undiagnosed hypertension was significantly associated with age group (p’s<0.0001) and sex (p=0.028). Undiagnosed T2D was significantly associated with age group (p’s<0.05), forgone care due to cost (p=0.018), health insurance status (p=0.035), and BMI (p=0.001). Participants in this study had high proportions of undiagnosed hypertension and undiagnosed T2D. These findings will be immediately useful for those working to address hypertension and T2D disparities among Marshallese and other NHPI populations.