Microbacterium aerolatum sp. nov., isolated from the air in the 'Virgilkapelle' in Vienna.
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Three rod-shaped, Gram-positive strains were isolated from the air of the chapel 'Virgilkapelle' in Vienna. A representative of these three strains, strain V-73T, shared the highest 16S rDNA sequence similarities with members of the genus Microbacterium, in particular Microbacterium foliorum, Microbacterium testaceum, Microbacterium esteraromaticum, Microbacterium keratanolyticum and Microbacterium arabinogalactanolyticum. The strains displayed almost identical biochemical and physiological characteristics and showed no differences in their protein patterns obtained after SDS-PAGE. On the basis of Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectra and genomic fingerprints, the three strains were grouped together and separated from the other relevant members of the genus Microbacterium. The chemotaxonomic characteristics analysed, including polar lipids, quinone systems, cell wall composition and fatty acid profiles, were in good agreement with the characteristics described for the genus Microbacterium. The G+C content of the DNAs was determined to be in the narrow range 69.3-69.7 mol %. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization, biochemical/physiological characterization, ERIC-PCR-generated genomic fingerprints and FT-IR spectra demonstrated that the three isolates represent a novel species of the genus Microbacterium. The name Microbacterium aerolatum sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, of which strain V-73T (= DSM 14217T = CCM 4955T) is the type strain. (+info)
Advances in bone tumour treatment in 30 years with respect to survival and limb salvage. A single institution experience.
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We analysed 721 patients with primary malignant bone tumours treated in a single institution with regard to diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. From 1965 to 1974, 154 patients were treated, of whom 17% had no surgery, 36% underwent resection and 46% underwent amputation. Margins of resection were intralesional in 21%, 72% of patients received chemotherapy and overall survival rate was 24%. From 1975 to 1984, 174 patients were treated, of whom 12% had no surgery, 54% underwent limb salvage procedures and 34% underwent amputation or resection-replantation. Margins of resection were intralesional in 16% 67% of patients received chemotherapy and overall survival rate was 46%. From 1985 to 1994, 393 patients were treated, of whom 7% had no surgery, 77% underwent limb salvage procedures - mainly with endoprostheses - and 15% underwent amputation or resection-replantation. Margins of resection were intralesional in 12%, 68% of patients received chemotherapy and overall survival rate was 62%. Advancements in the treatment of primary malignant bone tumours justify limb salvage procedures in combination with highly effective polychemotherapy in specialised centres and has resulted in an overall survival rate of more than 60%. (+info)
Clinical course and the role of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome in pediatric patients, 1997-2000, in Germany and Austria: a prospective study.
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Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is mainly associated with foodborne infections by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). From January 1997 through December 2000, 394 children with HUS were evaluated in a prospective multicenter surveillance study in Germany and Austria (incidences, 0.7/100,000 and 0.4/100,000 children <15 years old, respectively). Blood leukocytosis was associated with increased detection of STEC in stool cultures (P<.01) and a more severe disease course. Risk of death was associated with cerebral involvement (P<.01). Most strikingly, non-O157:H7 STEC were detected in 43% of stool cultures of patients with HUS: O26 was detected in 15%, sorbitol-fermenting O157:H(-) in 10%, O145 in 9%, O103 in 3%, and O111 in 43%. Patients with O157:H7 serotypes required dialysis for a longer time and had bloody diarrhea detected more frequently, compared with patients with non-O157:H7 serotypes (P<.05). This large study in children with HUS underlines the rising importance of non-O157:H7 serotypes, and, despite increased public awareness, the number of patients remained unchanged. (+info)
Brachybacterium fresconis sp. nov. and Brachybacterium sacelli sp. nov., isolated from deteriorated parts of a medieval wall painting of the chapel of Castle Herberstein (Austria).
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From two samples of microbial biofilms, damaging the mural paintings at the Saint-Catherine chapel of Castle Herberstein (Austria), four and nine coryneform bacteria were isolated, respectively. A polyphasic taxonomic study of these isolates, including morphological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characterization, REP-PCR fingerprinting, 16S rDNA sequence analysis, DNA base ratio and DNA-DNA hybridizations, allocated them to the genus Brachybacterium. The isolates of the two samples both represent new species, for which the names Brachybacterium fresconis sp. nov. and Brachybacterium sacelli sp. nov. are proposed. The respective type strains are LMG 20336T (= DSM 14564T) and LMG 20345T (= DSM 14566T). (+info)
Halococcus dombrowskii sp. nov., an archaeal isolate from a Permian alpine salt deposit.
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Several extremely halophilic coccoid archaeal strains were isolated from pieces of dry rock salt that were obtained three days after blasting operations in an Austrian salt mine. The deposition of the salt is thought to have occurred during the Permian period (225-280 million years ago). On the basis of their polar-lipid composition, 16S rRNA gene sequences, cell shape and growth characteristics, the isolates were assigned to the genus Halococcus. The DNA-DNA reassociation values of one isolate, strain H4T, were 35 and 38% with Halococcus salifodinae and Halococcus saccharolyticus, respectively, and 65.8-67.8% with Halococcus morrhuae. The polar lipids of strain H4T were C20-C25 derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate. Whole-cell protein patterns, menaquinone content, enzyme composition, arrangements of cells, usage of carbon and energy sources, and antibiotic susceptibility were sufficiently different between strain H4T and H. morrhuae to warrant designation of strain H4T as a new species within the genus Halococcus. It is proposed that the isolate be named Halococcus dombrowskii, and the type strain is H4T (= DSM 14522T = NCIMB 13803T = ATCC BAA-364T). (+info)
Polymorphic CAG repeats in the androgen receptor gene, prostate-specific antigen polymorphism and prostate cancer risk.
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As the development of prostate cancer is androgen-dependent, it has been hypothesized that variation in transcriptional activity by the androgen receptor (AR) related to polymorphic CAG repeats in exon 1, influences prostate cancer risk. The AR regulates gene transcription by binding to androgen-response elements (AREs) in target genes, such as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). In the ARE-I sequence of the PSA gene an adenine to guanine polymorphism is described. It has been hypothesized that the AR binds the two PSA alleles (A and G) with differing affinities and may, thereby, differentially influence prostate cancer risk. To examine the role of the polymorphisms in the AR and PSA genes in prostate cancer susceptibility, we conducted a case-control study of Austrian Caucasians with 190 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients and 190 age-matched control men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods using DNA from peripheral white blood cells. Logistic regressions were performed to calculate odds ratios (OR) and confidence limits (CL) and to control for possible confounders. Our data provide no evidence for an association between prostate cancer and CAG repeat length. However, we found a significant influence of the ARE-I PSA polymorphism on prostate cancer risk, when calculating the combination of the A/G and G/G genotypes relative to subjects with the A/A genotype (OR = 0.63; 95% CL 0.39-0.99; P = 0.048), suggesting that the G allele has a protective effect. In a case analysis according to Gleason score, the PSA G/G genotype was significantly more frequent in patients with Gleason score >7 (35.1%) than in patients with Gleason score <7 (21.5%), providing evidence that the PSA G/G genotype is associated with more advanced disease at time of diagnosis. However, the ambivalent role of the PSA during prostate carcinogenesis needs further investigation. (+info)
Cost effectiveness of combined spa-exercise therapy in ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trial.
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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost effectiveness and cost utility of a 3-week course of combined spa therapy and exercise therapy in addition to standard treatment consisting of antiinflammatory drugs and weekly group physical therapy in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients. METHODS: A total of 120 Dutch outpatients with AS were randomly allocated into 3 groups of 40 patients each. Group 1 was treated in a spa resort in Bad Hofgastein, Austria; group 2 in a spa resort in Arcen, The Netherlands. The control group stayed at home and continued their usual activities and standard treatment during the intervention weeks. After the intervention, all patients followed weekly group physical therapy. The total study period was 40 weeks. Effectiveness of the intervention was assessed by functional ability using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Function Index (BASFI). Utilities were measured with the EuroQoL (EQ-5D(utility)). A time-integrated summary score defined the clinical effects (BASFI-area under the curve [AUC]) and utilities (EQ-5D(utility)-AUC) over time. Both direct (health care and non-health care) and indirect costs were included. Resource utilization and absence from work were registered weekly by the patients in a diary. All costs were calculated from a societal perspective. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients completed the diary. The between-group difference for the BASFI-AUC was 1.0 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.4-1.6; P = 0.001) for group 1 versus controls, and 0.6 (95% CI 0.1-1.1; P = 0.020) for group 2 versus controls. The between-group difference for EQ-5D(utility)-AUC was 0.17 (95% CI 0.09-0.25; P < 0.001) for group 1 versus controls, and 0.08 (95% CI 0.00-0.15; P = 0.04) for group 2 versus controls. The mean total costs per patient (including costs for spa therapy) in Euros (euro;) during the study period were euro;3,023 for group 1, euro;3,240 for group 2, and euro;1,754 for the control group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per unit effect gained in functional ability (0-10 scale) was euro;1,269 (95% CI 497-3,316) for group 1, and euro;2,477 (95% CI 601-12,098) for group 2. The costs per quality-adjusted life year gained were euro;7,465 (95% CI 3,294-14,686) for group 1, and euro;18,575 (95% CI 3,678-114,257) for group 2. CONCLUSION: Combined spa-exercise therapy besides standard treatment with drugs and weekly group physical therapy is more effective and shows favorable cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios compared with standard treatment alone in patients with AS. (+info)
Molecular validation of the modified Vienna classification of colorectal tumors.
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Although the Vienna classification has been introduced to resolve discrepancies in histological diagnoses of colorectal tumors between Western and Japanese pathologists, practical applications of this classification scheme have been problematic because invasion of the lamina propria of tumor cells is often difficult to recognize. Therefore, the following refinements of the classification criteria are needed: category 3, low-grade adenoma/dysplasia; category 4, intramucosal borderline neoplasia; 4-a, high-grade adenoma/dysplasia; 4-b, well-differentiated adenocarcinoma; category 5, definite carcinoma; 5-a, intramucosal moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma; and 5-b, submucosal carcinoma. We attempted to test whether molecular genetic alterations are related to the modified classification scheme and whether they may help to further categorize the various intramucosal neoplasia grades of colorectal tumors. Two-hundred-thirty-two colorectal tumors were examined using flow cytometric analysis of DNA content, polymerase chain reaction microsatellite assays, and single-strand conformational polymorphism assays to detect abnormalities of DNA content, chromosomal allelic loss, and Ki-ras and p53 gene mutations. Microsatellite instability (MSI) was also examined. Frequencies of genetic alterations and DNA aneuploid states increased with an increase in the grade assigned according to the modified Vienna classification. MSI was a rare event in colorectal adenomas and their frequency of MSI did not correlate with tumor grade. The combined genetic and DNA ploidy data support the conclusion that analysis of genetic alterations and DNA aneuploid states may help in appropriate categorization of colorectal tumors according to the modified Vienna scheme. In addition, MSI-positive tumors may represent a specific subtype of colorectal adenomas. (+info)