Histoplasma capsulatum in the environment of sporadic histoplasmosis cases

Conclusions 1. Acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in adults is demonstrated to be associated with exogenous sources of infection in one-half of a series of cases. 2. No exogenous sources of infection were found in chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis in adults by methods comparable to those used in acute pulmonary histoplasmosis. 3. The significance of these findings for the pathogenesis of the three clinical forms of histoplasmosis is discussed. 4. In acute pulmonary histoplasmosis in adults, the isolation ofH. capsulatum from the environment at sites of exposure aided in specific diagnosis.Two acute pulmonary histoplasmosis cases were reported previously (2–3).     

Bilateral detection thresholds in dextrals and sinistrals reflect the more sensitive side of the nose, which is not lateralized [published erratum appears in Chem Senses 1998 Dec;23(6):761]

Several fundamental questions remain enigmatic concerning human olfactorysensitivity, including (i) whether detection threshold differences existbetween the two sides of the nose (and, if so, whether such differences areinfluenced by handedness) and (ii) whether bilateral (i.e. binasal)stimulation leads to lower thresholds than unilateral stimulation (and, ifso, whether the degree of facilitation is inversely related to generalolfactory ability). In this study, and well-validated single staircaseprocedure was used to establish bilateral and unilateral detectionthresholds for the cranial nerve I stimulant phenyl ethyl alcohol in 130right- and 33 left-handed subjects. No differences in sensitivity betweenthe left and right sides of the nose were observed in either group.Bilateral thresholds were lower, on average, than unilateral thresholdswhen the latter were categorized in terms of left and right nares. However,the bilateral thresholds did not differ significantly from those of theside of the nose with the lower threshold. Overall smell ability, asmeasured by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, didnot interact with any of the test measures. These data imply that (i) theleft and right sides of the nose do not systematically differ in detectionthreshold sensitivity for either dextrals or sinistrals and (ii) if centralintegration of left:right olfactory threshold sensitivity occurs, itseffects do not exceed the function of the better side of the nose.     

Blood pressure regulates the activity and function of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter in vascular smooth muscle

The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) is one of several transporters that have been linked to hypertension, and its inhibition reduces vascular smooth muscle tone and blood pressure. NKCC1 in the rat aorta is stimulated by vasoconstrictors and inhibited by nitrovasodilators, and this is linked to the contractile state of the smooth muscle. To determine whether blood pressure also regulates NKCC1, we examined the acute effect of hypertension on NKCC1 in rats after aortic coarctation. In the hypertensive aorta (28-mmHg rise in mean blood pressure), an increase in NKCC1 activity (measured as bumetanide-sensitive (86)Rb efflux) was apparent by 16 h and reached a plateau of 62% greater than control at 48 h. In contrast, there was a slight decrease in NKCC1 activity in the hypotensive aorta (21% decrease in mean blood pressure). Measurement of NKCC1 mRNA by real-time PCR revealed a fivefold increase in the hypertensive aorta compared with the hypotensive aorta or sham aorta. The inhibition by bumetanide of isometric force response to phenylephrine was significantly greater in the hypertensive aorta than in the control aorta or hypotensive aorta. We conclude that NKCC1 in rat aortic smooth muscle is regulated by blood pressure, most likely through changes in transporter abundance. This upregulation of NKCC1 is associated with a greater contribution to force generation in the hypertensive aorta. This is the first demonstration that NKCC1 in vascular smooth muscle is regulated by blood pressure and indicates that this transporter is important in the acute response of vascular smooth muscle to hypertension.