Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii infection in HIV-seropositive patients by identification of P carinii in pleural fluid.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common pulmonary complication of AIDS and is typically diagnosed by the identification of P carinii organisms in sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, or tissue obtained with transbronchial biopsy. We describe two HIV-seropositive patients with pleural effusions in whom the diagnosis of P carinii infection was made by examination of pleural fluid. Pleural effusions associated with PCP are very unusual but can provide a source of diagnostic material particularly in those HIV patients who have development of a spontaneous pneumothorax and require chest tube insertion.

The human mast cell chymase gene (CMA1): mapping to the cathepsin G/granzyme gene cluster and lineage-restricted expression.

Genes encoding T-cell-receptor alpha/delta chains, neutrophil cathepsin G, and lymphocyte CGL/granzymes are closely linked on chromosomal band 14q11.2. The current work identifies the human mast cell chymase gene (CMA1) as the fourth protease in this cluster and maps the gene to within 150 kb of the cathepsin G gene.

Effect of aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis on the clinical severity and diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

To determine if the use of aerosolized pentamidine prophylaxis decreases the clinical severity or the sensitivity of diagnostic tests for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP), we conducted a retrospective matched cohort comparison study of patients admitted to San Francisco General Hospital with PCP from August 1, 1989, to June 30, 1990. Patients who had received pentamidine prophylaxis during at least the 2 months prior to the diagnosis of PCP were matched with patients who had not received the drug. Matching was based on the number of prior episodes of PCP, sex, age, and risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Genetic mapping of the minB locus in Escherichia coli K-12.

The minB (minicell production) locus of Escherichia coli K-12 was mapped by transduction using bacteriophage P1. minB is located at min 25.6, between purB (min 25.