Fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis as a measure of fungal biomass in soil.

The fatty acid methyl esters of lipids extracted from an agricultural soil in the preharvest period of soybean or middle growth cycle from wheat were characterized and quantified by gas-liquid chromatography. The fatty acids 18:2omega6 and 16:1omega5 were used as markers of saprotrophic and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. In parallel, biomass estimation through plate counts in selective media for cellulolytic and saprotrophic fungi was also performed all throughout a soybean crop or middle growth cycle of wheat.

Screening of basidiomycetes for antimicrobial activities.

As a part of a screening programme developed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of basidiomycetes, 317 isolates representing 204 species collected in Spain were screened against a range of human clinical pathogens and laboratory controls. Extracts from 45% of the isolates, representing 109 species, showed antimicrobial activity. Antibacterial activity was more pronounced than antifungal activity.

Association between M467T and 114 C-->A variants within the SLC3A1 gene and some phenotypical traits in cystinuria patients from Spain.

Cystinuria is an inherited metabolic disease characterized by an abnormal urinary excretion of cystine and dibasic amino acids. Formation of renal calculi, recurrent infections and renal failure are the main complications of this disease. The SLC3A1 gene, which codes for a dibasic amino acid transporter protein, is involved in the pathogenesis of cystinuria.

[Genetic and molecular study of cystinuria in the Valencian community].

Background: The aim of this study has been to know the prevalence of the four most common mutations reported in SLC3A1 gene involved in human cystinuria, and to estimate the association with different phenotypic manifestations of this disease in population of the Valencian Community, Spain.

Patients And Methods: We have carried out a cross-sectional study with a control group in 16 families with one or more members diagnosed as cystinuric patients. 149 subjects (38 cystinuric patients, 39 relatives and 72 controls) were studied.

Genetic and phenotypic aspects of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency in Spain: molecular survey by regions.

We present an extensive study of the genetic diversity of phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency in the Spanish phenylketonuria population. We have analysed 195 PKU patients by DGGE analysis identifying 67 different mutations which represent 89% of the total mutant chromosomes. Seventeen mutations first described in Spain have not yet been detected elsewhere; ten of these are reported here for the first time.

Reference values of urinary excretion of cystine and dibasic aminoacids: classification of patients with cystinuria in the Valencian Community, Spain.

Objective: Cystinuria is an autosomal-recessive disorder of the kidneys and small intestine affecting a luminal transport mechanism shared by cystine, ornithine, arginine, and lysine. Three different types of cystinuria can be distinguished according to the excretion of these amino acids in urine samples. We propose cutoff values from our population as references and we present a classification of cystinuric patients using quantitative amino acid chromatography in first morning urine samples.

Executive dyscontrol: an important factor affecting the level of care received by older retirees.

Objectives: To examine the relative contributions of Executive Control Function (ECF), general cognition, mood, problem behavior, physical disability, demographic variables, and the number of prescribed medications to the level of care received by older retirees.

Design: Multivariate regression and discriminant modeling.

Setting: A single Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in San Antonio, Texas.

Inhibition of fungal sphingolipid biosynthesis by rustmicin, galbonolide B and their new 21-hydroxy analogs.

The mode of action of the known antifungal macrolides rustmicin (1) and galbonolide B (2) has been determined to be the inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis. A large scale fermentation and isolation process was developed for production of large quantities of rustmicin. New 21-hydroxy derivatives of both compounds were isolated from pilot scale fermentations and were also produced by biotransformation of rustmicin and galbonolide B.

Left anterior descending coronary artery bypass grafting through minimal thoracotomy.

Background: In recent years, minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting has emerged as a valid tool for revascularization in a select group of patients with severe lesions of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Here we report the clinical results using two devices designed by us to facilitate the harvesting of the left internal mammary artery up to its origin and to occlude and stabilize the left anterior descending coronary artery while placing the anastomosis.

Methods: From January 1996 to January 1998, 122 patients underwent minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting in the Department of Cardiac Surgery, Favaloro Foundation.

Variations in blood levels of aminoglycosides related to in vitro anticoagulant usage.

Aminoglycosides (AMG) remain an important therapeutic modality for the treatment of gram-negative infections. Adequate AMG levels have been associated with a lower risk of toxicity. Because AMG levels cannot be predicted with confidence, drug concentrations need to be measured.

Anonymous testing of newborn infants for HIV antibodies as a basis for estimating prevalence of HIV in childbearing women: the 1991-1994 study in Spain.

During 1991-1994, anonymous screening of newborn infants for maternal antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was carried out in three regions of Spain: Valencia, Galicia and Sevilla. The newborn infants whose heel-stick blood eluates were satisfactory for HIV antibody tests were a consecutive series of 104 876, representing 99.3% of all newborn infants undergoing routine metabolic screening and estimated as comprising at least 98% of all births in the three regions.

[The treatment of incipient diabetic nephropathy (2nd of 2 parts)].

Besides diabetic patients are controlled with glycosylated hemoglobins not exceeding 7% and the normalization of blood pressure with some hypotensive drugs, it has been noted the important role of protein restriction in diet in order to retard nephropathy progression. For some years, various aldose reductase inhibitors (ARIs) have been used, which avoid the accumulation of sorbitol in tissues as well as complications. Platelet antiaggregants are also used for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, but at a lower level.

[Considerations on the treatment of incipient diabetic nephropathy (lst of 2 parts)].

Diabetic nephropathy is the third cause of renal failure after pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis. Lately, many efforts have been made for the early identification (on the silent stage) of patients with a high risk of developing this disease. On these initial stages, therapeutic attitude has changed very much, emphasizing nowadays the importance of glucose levels control, avoiding maintained conditions of hyperglycemia and maintaining blood pressure within the limits, by using the therapeutic store available, basically calcium antagonists and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors.

Biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by natural soil microflora and pure cultures of imperfect and lignolitic fungi.

The biodegradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons by natural soil microflora and seven fungi species, including imperfect strains and higher level lignolitic species, is compared in a 90-day laboratory experiment using a natural, not-fertilized soil contaminated with 10% crude oil. The natural microbial soil assemblage isolated from an urban forest area was unable to significantly degrade crude oil, whereas pure fungi cultures effectively reduced the residues by 26-35% in 90 days. Normal alkanes were almost completely degraded in the first 15 days, whereas aromatic compounds (phenanthrene and methylphenanthrenes) exhibited slower kinetics.

The discovery of australifungin, a novel inhibitor of sphinganine N-acyltransferase from Sporormiella australis. Producing organism, fermentation, isolation, and biological activity.

Potent antifungal activity was detected in fermentation extracts of Sporormiella australis and two related components were isolated from solid fermentations using silica gel and high speed countercurrent chromatography. The most active antifungal component, australifungin, contained a unique combination of alpha-diketone and beta-ketoaldehyde functional groups. Australifungin exhibited broad spectrum antifungal activity against human pathogenic fungi with MICs against Candida spp.

Aminoglycoside-associated nephrotoxicity in extrahepatic obstructive jaundice.

Experimental data demonstrate that biliary obstruction increases renal sensitivity to gentamicin. In the present study the incidence of and risk factors for aminoglycoside nephrotoxicity were prospectively studied in patients with extrahepatic obstructive jaundice. Two hundred and thirty-seven hospitalized adult patients were classified into three groups.

[Neurologic complications induced by the treatment of the acute renal allograft rejection with the monoclonal antibody OKT3].

The treatment of the acute renal allograft rejection with the monoclonal antibody orthoclone OKT3 produces both systemic and neurologic alterations. In a series of 21 patients with an acute renal allograft rejection treated with this monoclonal antibody, 20 with a renal allograft transplantation and one with a renal and pancreatic allograft transplantation, 29% referred headache associated with fever and vomiting, and 14.2% presented severe neurological alterations induced by the treatment.

Improved identification of heterozygotes for phenylketonuria using blood neopterin and biopterin.

A novel approach that combines information provided by the metabolism of pteridines and that of phenylalanine has been applied to the detection of heterozygotes for phenylketonuria. Phenylalanine, tyrosine, biopterin and neopterin have been measured in serum from normal controls and heterozygotes for classical phenylketonuria, before and after a phenylalanine oral load. Significant differences in neopterin and biopterin mean values in fasting serum and in the mean increase of biopterin induced by the phenylalanine load were found between groups.

Separation and identification of sugars and maltodextrines by thin layer chromatography: Application to biological fluids and human milk.

A monodimensional thin layer chromatography method to separate several sugars of clinical interest is described. The separation and identification of 14 sugars (L-fucose, D-galactose, D-glucose, lactose, N-acetylglucosamine, D-maltose, D-manose, L-sorbase, fructose, D-xylose, glucuronic acid, N-acetyllactosamine, 3' and 6' sialyllactose) and maltodextrines (G(2)-G(8)) is possible by using two different eluents mixtures, as well as two different detection reagents. The method has been applied to separate sugars, maltodextrines and oligosaccharides in several biological fluids (blood, urine and faeces), in an infant milk and in human milk.