We evaluated the ability of a PCR assay to identify Mycobacterium
tuberculosis complex (MTBC) from positive BACTEC® 12B broth
cultures. A total of 107 sputum samples were processed and inoculated
...into Ogawa slants and BACTEC® 12B vials. At a growth index (GI)
> 30, 1.0 ml of the 12B broth was removed, stored, and assayed with
PCR. Molecular results were compared to those obtained by phenotypic
identification methods, including the BACTEC® NAP method. The
average times required to perform PCR and NAP were compared. Of the 107
broth cultures evaluated, 90 were NAP positive, while 91 were PCR
positive for MTBC. Of particular interest were three contaminated
BACTEC® 12B broth cultures yielding microorganisms other than
acid-fast bacilli growth with a MTBC that were successfully identified
by PCR, resulting in a mean time of 14 days to identify MTBC before NAP
identification. These results suggest that PCR could be used as an
alternative to the NAP test for the rapid identification of MTBC in
BACTEC® 12B cultures, particularly in those that contained both
MTBC and nontuberculous mycobacteria.
The pharmacokinetics of two new sustained-release (SR) products of diltiazem, Dilapress 120 mg tablets and Dilapress 240 mg tablets, was analysed and characterized in three different studies, in ...comparison to the following diltiazem SR formulations: Cardizem Retard, Cardizem SR, and Cardizem CD. Dilapress 120, designated for twice-daily dosing, was found to be bioequivalent to Cardizem SR and to Cardizem Retard with mean (+/- SD) relative bioavailability values of 99 +/- 27% and 113 +/- 38%, respectively. Dilapress 240, designed for once-a-day treatment, was found to have a slower absorption rate than Cardizem SR and its extent of absorption was 56 +/- 19% relative to that of Cardizem SR. However, the bioavailability of Dilapress 240 relative to that of Cardizem CD was 118 +/- 46%, indicating that the bioavailability of Cardizem CD relative to that of Cardizem SR was only 54 +/- 29%. Diltiazem is partially available due to a saturable liver first-pass effect. A high dose of Cardizem SR may partially escape this first-pass effect and, thus, achieve a higher extent of absorption than a slower SR product. Consequently, SR products of diltiazem designed for once-daily treatment may not reach the saturation stage in the liver first-pass effect process that diltiazem is susceptible to. Consequently, a twice-daily SR product of diltiazem cannot serve as a reference for extent of absorption assessments of a once-daily SR product.
We present two cases of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) with bilateral intra-abdominal testes and review the world's literature with special attention to diagnosis and surgical management.
...Two consecutive cases of PMDS with bilateral intra-abdominal testes from our institution are presented with detailed descriptions of the presentation, physical examination, laboratory profiles, surgical findings, and treatment undertaken. Follow-up at 1 year postoperatively is included.
Bilateral orchiopexy was accomplished in both the cases. In one case this was possible after division of the persistent Mullerian structures in the midline to achieve testicular mobility. In a subsequent case, splitting of the Mullerian complex did not provide adequate mobilization and microvascular autotransplantation was performed with an excellent surgical outcome.
Bilateral intra-abdominal testes in the setting of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome are a rare entity and controversy remains as to the ideal surgical treatment. Our two cases represent the first reported examples of open single-stage bilateral orchiopexy with division of the Mullerian complex and preservation of the vas deferens (1-year-old boy) and microvascular autotransplantation (5-year-old boy).
M. tuberculosis-positive cultures were obtained from 228 patients seen in our service and drug sensitivity assays were carried out from January 1992 to December 1994. A survey of the medical records ...of these patients showed resistance to one or more drugs in 47 (20.6%), 25 of whom (10.9%), who reported previous treatment, were considered to have acquired resistance. Among the antecedents investigated, only previous treatment and alcoholism were the factors independently associated with the occurrence of resistance. The survival of patients with resistant strains was lower than that of patients attacked by non-resistant M. tuberculosis. We conclude that in the present series M. tuberculosis resistance to tuberculostatic agents was predominantly of the acquired type.No período de janeiro de 1992 a dezembro de 1994, foram obtidas culturas positivas para M. tuberculosis e foram realizados testes de sensibilidade a drogas em 228 pacientes atendidos no Centro de Referência DST/AIDS-SP. Através da revisão dos prontuários de todos os casos verificamos resistência a uma ou mais drogas em 47(20.6%), dos quais 25(10.9 %), que relatavam tratamento pregresso, foram considerados como portadores de resistência adquirida. Dos antecedentes investigados, somente os fatores tratamento prévio e alcoolismo foram independentemente associados à ocorrência de resistência. A sobrevivência dos pacientes portadores de cepas resistentes foi menor que a dos pacientes acometidos por M. tuberculosis não resistentes. Concluimos que nesta casuística a resistência do M. tuberculosis aos tuberculostáticos foi predominantemente do tipo adquirida.
We have obtained the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of Cu2+bound in a tetragonal single crystal of hen egg-white lysozyme. A part of this spectrum has been shown to originate from Cu2+ions ...bound at the site designated as B by Teichberg et al. Teichberg, V. I., Sharon, N., Moult, J., Smilansky, A. & Yonath, A. (1974) J. Mol. Biol. 87, 357-368. The values of the spin hamiltonian parameters that describe this part of the spectrum are reported. The implications of these values with respect to the chemical nature and configuration of ligands are discussed. The other features of the spectrum are also described.
From the reactions between M2(O2CtBu)4 and 9,10-anthracenedicarboxylic acid in toluene, the dicarboxylate bridged complexes M2(O2CtBu)32(mu-9,10An(CO2)2), have been obtained as microcrystalline ...yellow (M = Mo) and red (M = W) powders. The powders are soluble in THF forming intense red (M = Mo) and green (M = W) solutions. The electronic absorption spectra in 2-MeTHF have been recorded as a function of temperature (2-298 K) and show a small bathochromic shift on cooling. The electronic structures have been investigated by molecular orbital calculations employing density functional theory on the model compounds (HCO2)3M22(mu-9,10-An(CO2)2) where the M4 unit is constrained to lie in a plane. These reveal a minimum energy, gas-phase structure wherein the plane of the anthracene is twisted by ca. 54 degrees with respect to its 9,10-carboxylate units for both Mo and W. The results of these calculations are correlated with the electronic absorption spectral data and the electrochemical measurements (CV and DPV) of the first and second oxidation waves. The EPR spectra of the radical cations formed by single-electron oxidation with Cp2Fe(+)PF6- in a THF-CH2Cl2 solvent mixture show that the complexes are valence trapped at ambient temperature on the EPR timescale. These results are discussed in the light of recent studies of dicarboxylate-linked MM quadruple bonds.
Relata-se o primeiro caso de isolamento de Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (P. brasiliensis) em sangue de paciente HIV positivo, 28 anos, sexo masculino, natural de Nova Londrina que, ao exame físico e ...ultrassonográfico, apresentava esplenomegalia febril a esclarecer. Para estabelecer o diagnóstico etiológico, hemoculturas em triplicata foram realizadas para pesquisa de bactérias aeróbias, micobactérias e fungos. As hemoculturas para bactérias aeróbias e micobactérias foram negativas e P. brasiliensis foi isolado de duas hemoculturas, na fase leveduriforme em ágar BHI, 20 dias após a semeadura, a partir do meio de Negroni. O paciente classificado, segundo o "Centers for Disease Control (CDC)", no grupo IV devido a uma pneumocistose pulmonar, interrompeu o tratamento por problemas particulares na segunda dose de anfotericina B, sendo tratado alternativamente com 800 mg/dia de cetoconazol. O óbito ocorreu um ano após o isolamento do P.brasiliensis em hemocultura.A case of an AIDS-patient with positive blood culture for Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is reported. The patient was a 29 years old male born in Nova Londrina (Paraná State, Brazil) who presented splenomegaly and fever of unknown origin. Three blood cultures were performed, each one of them for aerobic bacteria, mycobacteria and fungi. Cultures for aerobic bacteria and mycobacteria were negative. However, the yeast phase P. brasiliensis was isolated from two cultures in BHI agar, 20 days after inoculation in Negroni medium. The patient was classified in group V according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) criteria for AIDS, due to a Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Treatment was discontinued due to an individual decision of the patient on the second dose of amphotericin B. This antibiotic was replaced by ketoconazole in the daily dose of 800 mg. The patient died one year after the isolation of P. brasiliensis on blood culture.
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