Classification of medically important clostridia using restriction endonuclease site differences of PCR-amplified 16S rDNA.

Restriction maps were constructed of enzymically amplified 16S rRNA genes (rDNA) isolated from eight Clostridium species. Using maximum parsimony, a dendrogram was constructed from these and published 16S rRNA sequence data. Two distinct clusters were identified: cluster I contained C.

Chondrosarcoma presenting as an anterior mediastinal mass.

We describe a chondrosarcoma presenting as an anterior mediastinal mass. The tumour was unusual in that it simulated more commonly occurring mediastinal tumours. There was relatively little destruction of the anterior chest wall and very little calcification within the lesion.

Gallstone dissolution by methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) via percutaneous transhepatic cholecystostomy.

Dissolution of gallbladder stones with MTBE appears to be an effective and safe treatment for patients with symptomatic gallstones who are unfit for surgery. However, the procedure is tedious and the stone recurrence rate is as yet unknown.

Hepatocellular carcinoma with cardiac cirrhosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a recognized complication of hepatic cirrhosis, most commonly associated with alcohol excess, haemochromatosis and chronic hepatitis B infection. Long-standing hepatic venous congestion may cause cirrhosis. A search of the literature has not revealed a case of hepatocellular carcinoma complicating cardiac cirrhosis.

An evaluation of the Breath-Taker peak flow meter.

This study was designed to evaluate the Breath-Taker peak flow meter, recently released by the Asthma Foundation of Victoria. The performance characteristics of five Breath-Taker units were compared with those of five Wright and five mini-Wright peak flow meters. The between-unit reproducibility of each type of peak flow meter was measured using an explosive decompression device with a peak flow reproducibility of better than 1%.

Doppler diagnosis in cases of acute stroke.

Ultrasound techniques are employed increasingly for the evaluation of patients with cerebrovascular disease. We determined the accuracy of carotid Doppler ultrasonography, which incorporated spectral analysis and periorbital directional Doppler assessment, by comparison with conventional or digital-subtraction arteriography in 93 patients (186 vessels). We also reviewed our experience with the Doppler technique in consecutive patients who were admitted to hospital with established carotid-territory stroke.

Problems in the assessment of magnesium depletion in the rat by in vivo 31P NMR.

Prior in vitro studies, utilizing 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) to measure the chemical shift (sigma) of beta-ATP and lengthening of the phosphocreatine spin-spin (T2) relaxation time, suggested an assessment of their efficacy in measuring magnesium depletion in vivo. Dietary magnesium depletion (Mg2+ decreases) produced markedly lower magnesium in plasma (0.44 vs 1.