Nutritional status of HIV-1 seropositive patients in the Free State Province of South Africa: anthropometric and dietary profile.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional intake and status of HIV-1 seropositive patients, as well as the relationship between malnutrition and disease stage.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Settings: The Immunology Clinic at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Modification of the carbohydrate composition of sulfite pulp by purified and characterized beta-xylanase and beta-xylosidase of Aureobasidium pullulans.

Both beta-xylanase and beta-xylosidase were purified to homogeneity from a xylose-grown culture of Aureobasidium pullulans. Cellular distribution studies of enzyme activities revealed that beta-xylanase was an extracellular enzyme, during both the exponential and stationary phases, whereas beta-xylosidase was mostly periplasmic associated. The beta-xylanase exhibited very high specificity for xylan extracted from Eucalyptus grandis dissolving pulp, whereas the beta-xylosidase was only active on p-nitrophenyl xyloside and xylobiose.

Comparative activity of eighteen antimicrobial agents against anaerobic bacteria isolated in South Africa.

The in vitro activity of 18 antimicrobial agents was determined against 378 anaerobic bacteria isolated in Bloemfontein, South Africa, during 1996/97. Against the gram-positive isolates, MICs of penicillin and cefoxitin were >0.5 microg/ml and >16 microg/ml, respectively, for five and three strains of non-perfringens Clostridium spp.

Serological survey for antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis and E. chaffeensis in dogs from the Bloemfontein area, South Africa.

Sera from 161 dogs in the Bloemfontein area in South Africa were tested for the presence of antibodies reactive with Ehrlichia canis and E. chaffeensis by indirect fluorescent antibody testing. Overall, 68 (42%) of the dogs had significant antibody titres (> or = 1/64) against E.

Hairy cell leukaemia in the Bloemfontein academic hospitals.

Objectives: To study the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of patients diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) in the Bloemfontein Academic Hospitals during the past 21 years.

Design: Retrospective study. All HCL patients diagnosed from 1975 to 1996.

Nutritional status of HIV-1 seropositive patients in the Free State Province of South Africa--laboratory parameters.

Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status of HIV-1 seropositive patients with regards to laboratory parameters; the correlation between nutrient intake and actual values of nutrients, as well as the relationship between malnutrition and disease progression.

Design: A cross sectional study.

Setting: The Immunology Clinic at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in the Bloemfontein academic hospitals.

Objective: To study the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in the Bloemfontein academic hospitals during the past 21 years.

Design: Descriptive, retrospective study of clinical records of all CLL patients diagnosed at the Haematology clinics of the Universitas and Pelonomi Hospitals in Bloemfontein from 1975 to 1996.

Methods: Age, sex and race distribution of CLL patients were analysed.

Purification and characterization of a metalloprotease from Chryseobacterium indologenes Ix9a and determination of the amino acid specificity with electrospray mass spectrometry.

The heat-stable protease from Chryseobacterium indologenes Ix9a was purified to homogeneity using immobilized metal affinity chromatography. The enzyme was characterized as a metalloprotease with an approximate relative molecular mass of 24,000, a pH optimum of 6.5, and a high temperature optimum (50 degrees C).

Prevalence of nim genes in anaerobic/facultative anaerobic bacteria isolated in South Africa.

This study investigated the prevalence of nim genes (proposed to encode a 5-nitroimidazole resistance product) in 64 anaerobic/facultative anaerobic bacteria. Employing universal nim gene primers, 458-bp amplified fragments were recorded as presumptive positives in 22/64 strains at an annealing temperature of 52 degrees C and 15/64 strains at 62 degrees C, of which seven were propionibacteria. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of nimA genes in Propionibacterium spp.

Oxylipin formation in fungi: biotransformation of arachidonic acid to 3-hydroxy-5,8-tetradecadienoic acid by Mucor genevensis.

The soil fungus Mucor genevensis was shown to convert exogenous arachidonic acid to the oxylipin 3-hydroxy-5Z,8Z-tetradecadienoic acid (3-HTDE) as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. This metabolite was only found in the aqueous supernatant together with free linoleic acid, but not in the final fungal biomass. In contrast, the corresponding primary arachidonic acid metabolite (3R)-hydroxy-(5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid (3-HETE), which has been earlier shown to be produced by the yeast Dipodascopsis uninucleata, could not be detected.

Determination of fluspirilene in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation.

An ultra-sensitive method for the determination of fluspirilene in plasma was established, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The samples were extracted with hexane/isoamyl alcohol, separated on a Phenomenex Luna C18 5 mu 150 x 2.1 mm column with a mobile phase consisting of methanol-water-acetic acid (600:400:1) at a flow-rate of 0.

Comparison of the fatty acid compositions in intraepithelial and infiltrating lesions of the cervix: part III, saturated and unsaturated fatty acid profiles.

The purpose of the third part of this study is to construct a basic lipid model (this includes information regarding total and free saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents, as well as total and free fatty acid saturation and double bond indexes, and comparisons of total and free n-3, n-6, n-7 and n-9 fatty acids in normal epithelial tissue, and intraepithelial and infiltrating lesions of the cervix) which, together with the individual total and free fatty acid profiles given in parts I and II of this study, should provide an understanding of the turnover of total and free acids, especially essential fatty acids, during cervical carcinogenesis. Such information can serve as a sound basis for further studies in an attempt to access this disease process. We observed an increase in monounsaturated fatty acid values in cancer tissue compared with normal tissue and a decrease of saturated fatty acid values in cancer tissue compared with normal tissue.

Comparison of the fatty acid compositions in intraepithelial and infiltrating lesions of the cervix: part II, free fatty acid profiles.

In the second part of this study, the emphasis is on the free fatty acids during cervical carginogenesis, since they may reflect active cell metabolism during this disease process. Lipids were extracted from biopsies of normal epithelial tissue (N) (n=36), cervical intraepithelial lesions (CIL) (n=47), and infiltrating lesions (Ca) (n=47) of the cervix. Samples, from which the free fatty acid compositions were determined, were saponified, methylated and analysed by GLC.

Comparison of the fatty acid compositions in intraepithelial and infiltrating lesions of the cervix: part I, total fatty acid profiles.

In the first part of this study, the possible role of essential total fatty acids and their metabolites during cervical carcinogenesis was investigated. Since membrane lipids play a key role in cell proliferation and differentiation, disturbances in the fatty acid compositions of cell membranes and the modulation of membrane fatty acid compositions received attention in several in vitro studies. There are, however, no reported studies where the actual total and free (unesterified) fatty acid compositions have been determined during the different stages of cervical carcinogenesis.

Predation of livestock ticks by chickens as a tick-control method in a resource-poor urban environment.

The possible use of chickens as predators of livestock ticks was studied. Chickens were allowed to scavenge for 3 h among tick-infested cattle in a typical township backyard during the milking period. Boophilus decoloratus, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi and Otobius megnini were recovered from the crops and gizzards at necropsy.

Identification of classical Propionibacterium species using 16S rDNA-restriction fragment length polymorphisms.

The phenotypic identification of the classical propionibacteria is essentially still problematic and alternative techniques for the identification of the various species are required. A rapid and sensitive technique for the routine identification of the classical propionibacteria, based on the amplification of 16S rRNA genes using the polymerase chain reaction and the subsequent restriction endonuclease digestion of the PCR products, was previously described. Although this technique enabled differentiation between the various classical species examined it was only evaluated on a limited number of type and reference strains.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in serum samples using the polymerase chain reaction.

Conventional methods for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections have serious limitations. To determine whether amplification of M. tuberculosis DNA in serum by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) might be a useful additional diagnostic tool, we tested 329 clinical specimens using primers specific for the IS6110 insertion sequence of the M.

Correlation among total lymphocyte count, absolute CD4+ count, and CD4+ percentage in a group of HIV-1-infected South African patients.

Depletion of CD4+ T cells is one of the hallmarks of progression of HIV-1 infection. However, measurement of the CD4+ T-cell count is expensive and often unavailable in less developed areas. Previous studies have suggested that the total lymphocyte count (TLC) can be used to predict a low absolute CD4+ T-cell count.

Tick diversity, abundance and seasonal dynamics in a resource-poor urban environment in the Free State Province.

The objectives of this study were to determine the diversity, seasonal dynamics and abundance of ticks infesting cattle in urban, small-scale farming communities in and around Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu in the eastern Free State Province, South Africa. A total of ten cattle, ear-tagged for individual identification, were investigated monthly at each of five localities. Adult ticks were removed from the right hand side of each animal and placed in containers filled with 70% ethanol.

Individual host variations in tick infestations of cattle in a resource-poor community.

Relative resistance levels of cattle against tick infestations in the communal grazing area of Botshabelo in the south-eastern Free State were determined. The objective was to establish whether differences in resistance can be exploited to contribute to tick control methods used by small-scale farmers in resource-poor environments. Ten cows (Bos taurus crosses) between the ages of 18 months and four years were used and tick counts were conducted once a month over a period of 12 months to compare their total tick burdens.

Epidemiology of tick-borne diseases of cattle in Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu in the Free State Province.

A seroepidemiological study was conducted on 151 cattle from the Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu areas in the central Free State Province of South Africa, two areas where small scale, peri-urban cattle farming is practised. An indirect fluorescent antibody test was used to test for Babesia bigemina and B. bovis antibodies.

Urinary excretion of diethylstilbestrol in the ostrich.

Stilboestrol tablets (20 x 1 mg) were given to 4 ostriches. Urine was collected over a period of 8 days and stored frozen at-20 degrees C pending analysis. Analyses were performed on a gas chromatograph-mass selective detector for the presence of parent compound and/or metabolites.

In vitro activities of 15 antimicrobial agents against clinical isolates of South African enterococci.

The activities of a panel of currently available antibiotics and the investigational agents LY 333328, linezolid, CL 331,002, CL 329,998, moxifloxacin (BAY 12-8039), trovafloxacin, and quinupristin-dalfopristin against 274 clinical isolates of enterococci were determined. No vancomycin resistance or beta-lactamase production was observed. Except for 12 isolates (all non-Enterococcus faecalis) showing reduced susceptibility to quinupristin-dalfopristin (MIC, >/=4 microg/ml), the new agents exhibited promising in vitro antienterococcal activity.

Phenolic Compounds from Cyclopia intermedia (Honeybush Tea). 1.

The processed leaves and stems of Cyclopia intermedia contain 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, the isoflavones formononetin, afrormosin, calycosin, pseudobaptigen, and fujikinetin, the flavanones naringenin, eriodictyol, hesperitin, and hesperidin, the coumestans medicagol, flemichapparin, and sophoracoumestan B, the xanthones mangiferin and isomangiferin, the flavone luteolin, and the inositol (+)-pinitol.

The incidence of Weeksella- and Bergeyella-like bacteria in the food environment.

Eighty-five catalase- and oxidase-positive Gram-negative rods and cocci susceptible to penicillin G were isolated from a variety of food sources. The phenotypic relationships of these isolates with reference cultures of Bergeyella-like, Chryseobacterium, Empedobacter, Myroides, Moraxella, Sphingobacterium and Weeksella-like strains were examined by numerical taxonomy. Seventy-three isolates were recovered in five groups; 80% of the isolates clustered in groups 1, 2 and 3 and produced indole, bearing a strong resemblance to Weeksella and Bergeyella.