Metabolomic discrimination of the edible mushrooms Kuehneromyces mutabilis and Hypholoma capnoides (Strophariaceae, Agaricales) by NMR spectroscopy.

Two edible, cultivable mushroom species of the family Strophariaceae, Kuehneromyces mutabilis (sheathed woodtuft) and Hypholoma capnoides (conifer tuft), were studied using proton nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic approach. The variation in the metabolites of the two species and their metabolic behaviour regarding caps and stipes and different collection sites were analysed by multivariate analysis methods. Altogether 169 cap and stipe samples of the mushrooms were investigated.

Suitability of dried herbarium specimens for NMR metabolomics of mushrooms. A comparison of four species of the genera Kuehneromyces and Hypholoma (Strophariaceae).

Herbarium specimens are a treasure trove for biochemical studies. However, this implies understanding of the chemical changes during the drying and storage of the specimen. We compared herbarium specimens at different ages and fresh samples of four mushroom species (Kuehneromyces mutabilis, Hypholoma capnoides, Kuehneromyces lignicola, Hypholoma fasciculare) of two genera in the family Strophariaceae by using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) spectroscopy combined with principal component analysis (PCA).

Molecular epidemiology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in an immunocompromised host unit.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is increasingly recognized clinically, and repeated isolations from patients on a hematology unit in Turku, Finland, led to an epidemiologic investigation. Isolates were recovered from multiple body sites of 23 patients (n = 180) from 1994 to 1995 and from 29 patients (n = 45) from 1997 to 2002; these plus 2 from the hospital kitchen were identified as S. cerevisiae.

Deep, respiratory tract and ear infections caused by Pseudallescheria (Scedosporium) and Microascus (Scopulariopsis) in Finland. A 10-year retrospective multi-center study.

Deep, respiratory tract and ear infections due to Microascaceae (Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium, Microascus or Scopulariopsis) were studied nationwide in Finland during 1993-2002. The data were based on 52,000 fungal cultures that represented about 50% of all such specimens in Finland and included all Finnish cases of profound immunosuppression. There were 39 cases that were re-evaluated as clinically significant, i.

Occurrence of Scopulariopsis and Scedosporium in nails and keratinous skin. A 5-year retrospective multi-center study.

A 5-year retrospective multicenter study was performed for microascaceous moulds (Microascaceae, Ascomycetes) in Finnish clinical specimens. The files from 1993-1997 of six clinical mycology laboratories in Finland were searched for reports of these fungi, mainly Scopulariopsis and Scedosporium anamorphs in keratinous specimens. From the 521 primary findings, 165 cases were selected for further study based on direct microscopy, colony numbers and accompanying fungi.

Semiquantitative detection by real-time PCR of Aspergillus fumigatus in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and tissue biopsy specimens from patients with invasive aspergillosis.

A real-time PCR method was developed and used to detect Aspergillus fumigatus mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and tissue biopsy specimens. The analytical sensitivity of the assay was one A. fumigatus conidium per reaction, and the assay was linear at least over 4 orders of magnitude above the detection limit.

Relationships of Scopulariopsis based on LSU rDNA sequences.

Relationships between Scopulariopsis species and allied fungi were studied by sequencing a 350 bp gene region of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA). In addition, a limited morphological dataset of nine characters was included in the cladistic analysis. Nineteen mitosporic strains (nine Scopulariopsis, five Wardomyces, three Doratomyces, one Trichurus and one Scedosporium species) and 21 meiosporic strains (14 Microascus, 4 Kernia and 3 Pithoascus species) were studied.

Summer spores of birch rust fungus in Papanicolaou smears from healthy mass screening participants.

Objective: To evaluate the origin and identification of mysterious particles in Papanicolaou smears from healthy, asymptomatic women participating in a local mass screening program.

Study Design: The material consisted of 16,000 cerricovaginal smears studied at the cytology laboratory of Pathology Laboratory of South-Western Finland Ltd. Unidentified particles were found in four apparently independent smears.

Fungal colonization of haematological patients receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy: emergence of azole-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Fungal colonization during cytotoxic chemotherapy was studied in 42 patients with a recent diagnosis of a haematological malignancy. In total, 2759 surveillance cultures were taken from the nostrils, throat, urine, stool and perineal region. Seven hundred and ninety-six positive surveillance cultures (28.

Relatedness of Pseudallescheria, Scedosporium and Graphium pro parte based on SSU rDNA sequences.

Genetic relatedness of 10 strains of opportunistic human pathogenic fungi in the genera Pseudallescheria and Scedosporium and related fungi including Petriella setifera, Graphium tectonae and Ceratocystis fimbriata, were tested by sequencing the entire SSU rDNA. From these molecular data, the imperfect genus Scedosporium can be divided in two, S. prolificans being separable from the S.

Screening for connexin 32 mutations in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease families with possible X-linked inheritance.

The X-linked dominant form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMTX) is associated with mutations in a gene coding for the gap-junction protein connexin 32 (Cx32). We screened 32 CMT families with a pedigree pattern suggestive of X-linked inheritance for the presence of mutations in the coding region of Cx32 by direct sequencing. Five of the families had a CMT1 diagnosis, 24 had a CMT2 diagnosis and 3 patients had an unspecified CMT.

Zonal distribution of transcripts of four hepatic transcription factors in the mature rat liver.

Within the liver acinus the majority of genes are expressed in an ascending or descending gradient from the portal to the central vein. The regulatory factors involved in this spatial pattern of gene expression are still poorly understood. Many liver genes are regulated by liver-enriched transcription factors.

Pulmonary adiaspiromycosis in a two year old girl.

A case of disseminated bilateral pulmonary adiaspiromycosis is reported in a two year old Finnish girl. She recovered from this rare infection after treatment with amphotericin B. She is the first human case of adiaspiromycosis in Scandinavia and she is the youngest child with this disease reported so far.

Value of clinical symptoms, intrathecal specific antibody production and PCR in CSF in the diagnosis of childhood Lyme neuroborreliosis.

Due to the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of Lyme neuroborreliosis laboratory investigations are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Serum and CSF antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) as well as mononuclear CSF pleocytosis are usually present in patients with suspected neuroborreliosis. In some cases, however, the results may be conflicting, causing difficulty for the clinician in making a therapeutic decision.

[Brain tumors in infants].

1975-87 there were 15 infants in the Childrens University Hospital of Zürich, cared for a brain tumor. In 3 cases the first symptoms were already present by birth. In our cases epileptic convulsions were the most common first manifestation of the tumor (40%).

[Carbamyl phosphate synthase deficiency: clinical symptoms, diagnosis and dietary-medicamentous treatment in the neonatal period and infancy].

Carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) catalyses the synthesis of carbamyl-phosphate from ammonia and bicarbonate and is the first step in ureagenesis. The infant described in this report suffered from deficiency of this enzyme. The symptoms started on the 2nd day of life with tachycardia, apathy, irritability and metabolic alcalosis, on the 4th day coma and fits occurred due to hyperammonia (ammonia in the blood max 496 mumol/l, normally up to 150 in newborns).

Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain in congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Ten children (age 2 months to 8 years) with a congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were studied by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a 2.35 Tesla magnet. CMV infection was confirmed by serological investigations and virus culture in the neonatal period.

Bioavailability of sodium valproate suppositories during repeated administration at steady state in epileptic children.

Oral administration of antiepileptic drugs can temporarily be impossible under certain conditions, such as altered states of consciousness, spike-wave stupour, gastro-intestinal disturbances with nausea and vomiting, prior to or during surgery or certain diagnostic procedures, and because of drug refusal in patients with mental retardation or psychiatric problems. Although rectal administration of sodium valproate (NaVPA) has been shown to be a possible alternative route, little is known about the bioavailability and local effects during repeated administration of NaVPA suppositories. These aspects were investigated in 13 epileptic children and adolescents on chronic NaVPA therapy.

Electroencephalogram during and after an acute attack of asthma in children.

EEGs were recorded in 12 children who were admitted to hospital because of an asthmatic attack. One EEG was recorded during the attack, one immediately after, and a third EEG several weeks later. The severity of the attack was classified as moderate in eight children, severe in three and very severe in one child.