Characterization of corticosteroid receptors in natural killer cells: comparison with circulating lymphoid and myeloid cells

Lymphocytes mediating natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities are relatively refractory to the changes in circulatory traffic and intrinsic function induced in other cell types by in vivo and in vitro corticosteroids (CS). To investigate if such drug resistance could be attributed to differences in the CS receptor number of affinity (Kd) of these cells, these characteristics were determined in purified populations of large granular lymphocytes (LGL), monocytes, neutrophils (PMN), and T cells. All cell types displayed a single class of CS receptor of uniform affinity; however, LGL resembled monocytes and PMN in receptor number and Kd while T cells had significantly fewer sites per cell with lower Kd. These studies suggest that the unresponsiveness of NK activity to CS is not secondary to differences in CS receptor capacity or affinity.     

Ecology of dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi in swimming pools and polluted and unpolluted streams

The biodiversity and richness of keratinophilic fungal communities including dermatophytes were assessed in three stream sites and three swimming pools in the Nablus district in Palestine, using hair baiting (HBT) and surface dilution plate (SDP) techniques, over 8- and 6-month periods, respectively. The effect of wastewater effluent and selected ecological factors on these fungi in relation to species diversity and population densities were also considered. Fifty keratinophilic fungal species were recovered from the aquatic habitats studied, of which 42 were recovered from stream sites and 22 from swimming pools. Of these fungi 6 were either dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes) or dermatophyte related species (Chrysosporium merdarium, Ch. tropicum, Ch. keratinophilum and T. terrestre). The most frequently isolated species in the three pools were Acremonium strictum and Cladosporium cladosporioides, using Sabouraud dextrose agar medium (SDA). The most abundant species were Acr. strictum, and Aspergillus flavus. However, only 4 species were isolated using the SDA medium amended with 5-flurocytosine (5-FC). The most frequent and abundant species in the three stream sites using SDA medium were Geotricum candidum, and Penicillium chrysogenum. The most frequent species in the three sites using the 5-FC medium, was Paecilomyces lilacinus. Using HBT, the most abundant and frequent species in the three stream sites were G. candidum, and Pa. lilacinus, on SDA medium, and Pa. lilacinus, and Gliocladium nigrovirens on the 5-FC medium. The 5-FC medium was more suitable for the isolation of dermatophytes and closely related species than the SDA medium; 6 were recovered on 5-FC, whereas only one on the SDA medium. Variation in the levels of keratinophilic fungal populations from the three stream sites sampled 5 times over an 8-month period, followed comparable fluctuation patterns. Wastewater affected fungal population densities with the highest levels in the un-polluted stream sites, and lowest in the heavily polluted sites. Swimming pools, polluted and un-polluted stream sites were found to be rich in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi.     

First volumetric records of airborne Cladosporium and Alternaria spores in the atmosphere of Al Khor (northern Qatar): a preliminary survey

Aerobiologia - Daily monitoring of airborne fungal spores was carried out for the first time in Al Khor city, Qatar, using a Hirst type 7-day recording volumetric spore trap, from May 2017 to May...     

Highlighting Levels of Indoxyl Sulphate among Critically Ill Patients with Acute Nephrotoxicity; Correlations Between Indoxyl Sulphate Levels and Patients’ Characteristics

Background:Many animal studies suggested that the uremic toxin indoxyl sulphate can add to renal damage following induced nephrotoxicity and this effect has not been proved in patients with such complication. Methods:This is a prospective, case-control, and an observational study conducted on 74 critically ill patients with acute nephrotoxicity. It was designed to measure serum levels of indoxyl sulphate on the day of enrollment and over the course of their illness using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV) and to test the correlation between these levels and patient’s demographics, clinical characteristics, physiological variables, and their outcomes.Results:Critically ill patients with acute nephrotoxicity had significantly higher total (tIS) and free (fIS) indoxyl sulphate than healthy controls and significantly lower than patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Although, no correlation was found between tIS or fIS and mortality, among survivors, tIS, fIS, creatinine and eGFR were independently associated with no renal recovery.Conclusion:Serum indoxyl sulphate levels were elevated in critically ill patients with acute nephrotoxicity. There is an association between high levels of indoxyl sulphate and no renal-recovery outcome among survivors of acute nephrotoxicity. Early removal of indoxyl sulphate from patients’ blood may improve their outcomes.Key Words: HPLC, Indoxyl sulphate, Mortality, Prognosis, Toxic acute kidney injury     

Influence of the ionic form of mineral salts on growth of faba bean andRhizobium leguminosarum

Summary The nodulation and growth of faba bean plants (Vicia faba cultivar Giza 2) at 2 months' age were studied in pot trials using an alluvial clay soil (pH 7.9). Chlorides, carbonates and sulphates of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ were added at 20 mEq/100 g soil and the tolerance ofRhizobium leguminosarum (biovar.viceae, Strain F-15) grown on pure culture medium, salinized with the same salts, was then tested. Salts were generally inhibitory towards plant and bacterium. Number and characteristics of plant root-nodules, dry weight of plants (shoots and roots), N content in plants and the bacterial colony count decreased. Chlorides were the most inhibitory in soil and carbonates the most in culture medium, whilst sulphates were the least inhibitory in either case. Na⁺ gave maximum inhibition, whereas Mg²⁺ was the least detrimental. Formation of effective nodules on roots of the plants grown in the salinized soil was very poor, butR. leguminosarum showed possible tolerance when grown on salinized culture medium.

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Influence de la forme ionique des sels minéraux sur la croissance de la fève faba et de Rhizobium leguminosarum

Résumé La nodulation et la croissance des plants de fève faba (Vicia faba cultivar Giza 2) agés de 2 mois ont été étudiés dans des essais en pots en utilisant un sol argileux alluvial (pH 7.9). On a ajouté les chlorures, carbonates et sulfates de Na⁺, K⁺ et Mg²⁺ à la dose de 20 mEq par 100 g de sol. On a testé ensuite la tolérance deRhizobium leguminosarum (biovar.viceae, souche F-15), cultivé en milieu de culture pure, salinée avec les mêmes sels. Les sels sont d'une manière générale inhibiteurs vis à vis de la plante et de la bactérie. Le nombre et les caractéristiques des nodules radiculaires de la plante, le poids sec des plantes (pousses aériennes et racines), le contenu azoté dans les plantes et le nombre de colonies bactériennes décroissent. Les chlorures sont le plus inhibiteurs dans le sol et les carbonates le sont dans le milieu de culture tandis que les sulfates sont le moins inhibiteurs dans les deux cas. Na⁺ est le plus inhibiteur, tandis que Mg²⁺ est le moins nocif. La formation de nodules effectifs sur les racines de plants cultivés dans le sol saliné est très pauvre, maisR. leguminosarum démontre une tolérance possible lorsqu'il est précultivé dans un milieu de culture saliné.

     

Evaluation of the synergistic antimicrobial effect of folk medicinal plants with clindamycin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains

Antibiotic resistance has become a major worldwide priority, and identifying natural antimicrobial compounds may help overcome this problem. In this study, ethanolic extracts of 12 plants commonly used in traditional medicine were tested against two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 33591 and ATCC 43300) in terms of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Furthermore, the effect of combining plant extracts with clindamycin antibiotic was also investigated using the checkerboard method. Among the tested plants, Camellia sinensis, Thymus vulgaris, Rosmarinus officinalis and Salvia officinalis exhibited potent inhibitory activity against both strains with MICs ranges (125–500 µg ml⁻¹). Synergistic activity was confirmed for the four plants combined with clindamycin with fractional inhibitory concentration index <0·5. However, no antagonistic activity was found for these combinations. Our findings suggest that using an antibiotics-plants combination might be a successful technique to reduce antibiotic consumption, which would overcome the antibiotics resistance or delay its onset.     

Ecology of dermatophytes and other keratinophilic fungi in swimming pools and polluted and unpolluted streams

The biodiversity and richness of keratinophilic fungal communities including dermatophytes were assessed in three stream sites and three swimming pools in the Nablus district in Palestine, using hair baiting (HBT) and surface dilution plate (SDP) techniques, over 8- and 6-month periods, respectively. The effect of waste water effluent and selected ecological factors on these fungi in relation to species diversity and population densities were also considered. Fifty keratinophilic fungal species were recovered from the aquatic habitats studied, of which 42 were recovered from stream sites and 22 from swimming pools. Of these fungi 6 were either dermatophytes (Microsporum gypseum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes) or dermatophyte related species (Chrysosporium merdarium, Ch. tropicum, Ch. keratinophilum and T. terrestre). The most frequently isolated species in the three pools were Acremonium strictum and Cladosporium cladosporioides, using Sabouraud dextrose agar medium (SDA). The most abundant species were Acr. strictum, and Aspergillus flavus. However, only 4 species were isolated using the SDA medium amended with 5-flurocytosine (5-FC). The most frequent and abundant species in the three stream sites using SDA medium were Geotricum candidum, and Penicillium chrysogenum. The most frequent species in the three sites using the 5-FC medium, was Paecilomyces lilacinus. Using HBT, the most abundant and frequent species in the three stream sites were G. candidum, and Pa. lilacinus, on SDA medium, and Pa. lilacinus, and Gliocladium nigrovirens on the 5-FC medium. The 5-FC medium was more suitable for the isolation of dermatophytes and closely related species than the SDA medium; 6 were recovered on 5-FC, whereas only one on the SDA medium. Variation in the levels of keratinophilic fungal populations from the three stream sites sampled 5 times over an 8-month period, followed comparable fluctuation patterns. Waste water affected fungal population densities with the highest levels in the un-polluted stream sites, and lowest in the heavily polluted sites. Swimming pools, polluted and un-polluted stream sites were found to be rich in pathogenic and potentially pathogenic fungi.This revised version was published online in October 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.