Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infections by shell vial assay and conventional cell culture during antiviral prophylaxis

A total of 3,552 specimens for conventional cytomegalovirus (CMV) culture and shell vial assay for CMV immediate-early antigen were obtained during a prospective randomized trial for prophylaxis of CMV disease after liver transplantation. Prophylaxis with ganciclovir for 2 weeks and then high-dose acyclovir for 2.5 months was compared with high-dose acyclovir alone for 3 months. During the first 12 weeks after transplantation, when the patients were on prophylaxis, there were significantly more clinical samples positive by the shell vial assay and negative by standard culture in comparison with the number of samples obtained from weeks 13 to 24, after prophylaxis was discontinued, that were positive by the shell vial assay and negative by standard culture. In contrast, significantly fewer samples were positive by both the shell vial assay and standard culture during the first 12 weeks compared with the number obtained 13 to 24 weeks after transplantation that were positive by both methods. Samples positive by the shell vial assay only were obtained significantly more frequently from patients with asymptomatic than symptomatic CMV infections, while samples positive by both methods were obtained significantly more often from patients with symptomatic CMV infection. It was concluded that antiviral prophylaxis with high-dose acyclovir or ganciclovir and then high-dose acyclovir and asymptomatic CMV infection are associated with a decrease in the level of CMV isolation by standard cell culture in comparison with that by the shell vial assay.     

Localized dissection of the abdominal aorta. Diagnosis and surgical treatment

Abdominal aortic dissection is a rare pathology. As far as we are concerned, only 59 cases have been reported in the English literature. In the last two years, two cases were treated at our Institution. Both were males, over 70 years of age. They were evaluated with ultrasonography, angiography (1 case) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging which showed localised dissection of the abdominal aorta with aneurysmal dilatation. They underwent surgical treatment with good results. At 1 and 2 years from operation both patients are alive and well. A postoperative ultrasonography didn't show any residual dissection.     

Shape and Size-Tailored Pd Nanocrystals to Study the Structure Sensitivity of 2-Methyl-3-butyn-2-ol Hydrogenation: Effect of the Stabilizing Agent

Uniform Pd nanocrystals of cubic, octahedral and cube-octahedral shapes were synthesized via a solution-phase method using two stabilizers: poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and di-2-ethylhexylsulfoccinate (AOT) and tested in the hydrogenation of 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol. The AOT-stabilized Pd nanocrystals were found to be an order of magnitude more active, but less selective than those stabilized by PVP. This could be attributed to a stronger interaction of PVP with surface Pd by adsorbed N-containing groups. The results obtained were rationalized applying a two-site Langmuir?CHinshelwood kinetic model that allowed predicting 3?C4?nm cubic or octahedral nanocrystals stabilized by AOT as the optimum active phase ensuring the highest production rate of target MBE.     

Millennium-long damage to building materials in London

Damage functions from a range of sources are used to estimate deterioration of carbonate stone, iron and copper, in addition to the rate of blackening of stone surfaces in London across the period 1100-2100 CE. Meteorological and pollution input is available for only a relatively short part of this span, so non-instrumental weather records and modelled pollution are utilised for historic values, while future climate is adapted from the HadCM3A2 model output and pollution assessed from likely regulatory trends. The results from the different damage functions compare reasonably well showing comparable changes in damage rates with time. A potential square-root dependence of change in deposition velocity of SO₂ to limestone suggests a possible overestimate of damage when pollution is high. Deterioration is especially intense from the 1700s. It is difficult to be certain whether the corrosion of copper accelerated as early as this or it developed in the 20th century. Nevertheless all the functions predict a decline in copper corrosion from the end of the 20th century. A blackening function was developed to relate elemental carbon concentration and the colour of deposited particulate matter to blackening rate, which suggests that soiling was particularly rapid in the late 19th century. The increase and subsequent decrease in damage to building materials is interpreted in terms of a Kuznets curve. The centuries where pollution controlled damage to durable building material seems to be over. Weathering, in a changing climate may have the greatest impact in the future.     

Recombinant human erythropoietin in the anemia associated with multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: dose finding and identification of predictors of response

Previous phase I-II clinical trials have shown that recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) can ameliorate anemia in a portion of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Therefore, we performed a randomized controlled multicenter study to define the optimal initial dosage and to identify predictors of response to rHuEpo. A total of 146 patients who had hemoglobin (Hb) levels < or = 11 g/dL and who had no need for transfusion at the time of enrollment entered this trial. Patients were randomized to receive 1,000 U (n = 31), 2,000 U (n = 29), 5,000 U (n = 31), or 10,000 U (n = 26) of rHuEpo daily subcutaneously for 8 weeks or to receive no therapy (n = 29). Of the patients, 84 suffered from MM and 62 from low- to intermediate-grade NHL, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia; 116 of 146 (79%) received chemotherapy during the study. The mean baseline Hb level was 9.4 +/- 1.0 g/dL. The median serum Epo level was 32 mU/mL, and endogenous Epo production was found to be defective in 77% of the patients, as judged by a value for the ratio of observed-to-predicted serum Epo levels (O/P ratio) of < or = 0.9. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed to evaluate treatment efficacy. The median average increase in Hb levels per week was 0.04 g/dL in the control group and -0.04 (P = .57), 0.22 (P = .05), 0.43 (P = .01), and 0.58 (P = .0001) g/dL in the 1,000 U, 2,000 U, 5,000 U, and 10,000 U groups, respectively (P values versus control). The probability of response (delta Hb > or = 2 g/dL) increased steadily and, after 8 weeks, reached 31% (2,000 U), 61% (5,000 U), and 62% (10,000 U), respectively. Regression analysis using Cox's proportional hazard model and classification and regression tree analysis showed that serum Epo levels and the O/P ratio were the most important factors predicting response in patients receiving 5,000 or 10,000 U. Approximately three quarters of patients presenting with Epo levels inappropriately low for the degree of anemia responded to rHuEpo, whereas only one quarter of those with adequate Epo levels did so. Classification and regression tree analysis also showed that doses of 2,000 U daily were effective in patients with an average platelet count greater than 150 x 10(9)/L. About 50% of these patients are expected to respond to rHuEpo. Thus, rHuEpo was safe and effective in ameliorating the anemia of MM and NHL patients who showed defective endogenous Epo production. From a practical point of view, we conclude that the decision to use rHuEpo in an individual anemic patient with MM or NHL should be based on serum Epo levels, whereas the choice of the initial dosage should be based on residual marrow function.     

A study of the contamination by ochratoxin A of green and roasted coffee beans

A study was performed to evaluate the contamination by ochratoxin A in coffee beans. Twenty-nine samples of green coffee were collected from large lots of material by representative sampling. The analyses of green coffee samples showed a significantly high contamination percentage (58%) ranging from 0.2 to 15 micrograms/kg. Naturally and artificially contaminated samples were roasted at different operation times (5-6 min) to verify the percentage of destruction of the mycotoxin. The percentage ranged from 48% to 87% and from 90% to 100% in artificially and naturally contaminated samples respectively. The beverages prepared from artificially contaminated coffee using the most common types of coffee makers showed no residues of ochratoxin A.     

Ganciclovir resistance as a result of oral ganciclovir in a heart transplant recipient with multiple human cytomegalovirus strains in blood

The etiologic spectrum of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) has not been well defined in Vietnam. Cohort and case-control studies were performed on all adult and pediatric AES patients admitted to the Neurology Service of Bach Mai Hospital between June 5 and August 3, 1995. Among pediatric AES patients, 31 (67%) of 46 had acute Japanese encephalitis (JE), compared with only two (6%) of 33 adult AES patients (P < 0.0001). For confirmed JE cases, serum specimens obtained 15-21 days after symptom onset had the highest mean anti-JE IgM signal-to-noise (P/N) ratios (8.08 + 1.09 SE). A serosurvey of adult household members did not reveal any cases of recent subclinical JE infection, although 26% had evidence of past JE infection. The use of bed netting was nearly universal but did not appear to reduce the risk of AES or JE. Given the high incidence of JE, particularly among children, Vietnam seems well suited for the development of a targeted JE vaccination strategy.     

Brazilian Solar Resource Atlas CD-ROM

The Brazilian Solar Resource Atlas CD-ROM is intended to be a tool for solar system design, delivering information that relies on a large interactive database, including, also, a modern device for calculating the solar radiation collected by planes inclined at different tilt angles or tracking the sun around one or two axes. The spatial distribution of the daily solar radiation, monthly and yearly averaged, that hits Brazil is presented in 13 colored maps, together with the methodological procedures used for harmonizing the information and designing the maps. A map containing the location of pyranometric and actinographic terrestrial stations, the information which was used for designing the maps, is also presented. The period of collected data runs from 1978 to 1990. Similarly, the atlas contains 13 colored maps, including daily insolation, monthly and yearly averaged, in addition to the map containing the location of the heliographic stations. The CD-ROM stores a database that includes over 500 stations located in Brazil and on the borders of its neighboring countries. The information is given either as daily, monthly average global solar radiation, or daily, monthly average insolation. A search device is included in the database, allowing to navigate over the maps or to select a desired location. The information may be printed as a report. The CD-ROM also includes a software to perform the following calculations: solar radiation estimates on a fixed plane at any inclination on North-South orientation; estimates of solar radiation collected by a plane tracking the sun about one or two axes; generation of synthetic series based on Markov’s Transition Matrixes.