Clarithromycin and prednisolone inhibit cytokine production in chronic rhinosinusitis

Objectives. Long-term, low-dose macrolide therapy is effective in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. The mechanism of its anti-inflammatory effect and how this differs from corticosteroids remains unclear. The effect of clarithromycin and prednisolone on interleukin-5, interleukin-8, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor production by cultured chronic sinusitis nasal mucosa was examined in the study. Study Design and Methods. Nasal mucosa was obtained from 11 patients with chronic sinusitis. This tissue was cultured for 24 hours in the presence of clarithromycin or prednisolone at a variety of concentrations. Cytokine levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results. Clarithromycin and prednisolone each produced significant reductions in interleukin-5, interleukin-8, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor production. There was no significant difference between the effects of clarithromycin and prednisolone. Conclusion: Macrolide antibiotics are capable of inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine production in vitro and are as potent as prednisolone. This mechanism is likely to be at least partly responsible for the clinical efficacy of macrolide antibiotics in chronic rhinosinusitis. Key Words. Macrolide, prednisolone, sinusitis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cytokine.

Effects of dietary level of protein, lysine and methionine and strain of bird on production and egg yolk cholesterol

The effects of dietary level of protein (151, 181 g/kg), lysine (nil, 10g L-lysine hydrochloride/kg) and methionine (nil, 5g DL-methionine/kg) on the production performance and egg yolk cholesterol of two strains of birds were studied for 12 weeks. Birds fed on the high protein diet had higher body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), rate of lay, egg weight and mass and yolk weight and mass. A high lysine diet decreased feed intake and improved FCR. High dietary level of methionine increased egg yolk cholesterol. There were differences between strains of laying bird in feed intake, rate of lay, egg and yolk weights and egg cholesterol content. It is concluded that strain of bird and dietary level of protein and lysine influenced the production performance of birds. Whilst, egg yolk cholesterol was not reduced by any of the factors studied.

NAD-glycohydrolase production and speA and speC distribution in group A streptococcus (GAS) isolates do not correlate with severe GAS diseases in the Australian population

Streptococcus pyogenes isolates from a tropical region and a subtropical region of Australia with high and low incidences of severe streptococcal diseases, respectively, were analyzed for speA, speB, and speC gene distributions and NAD-glycohydrolase expression. No direct correlation of these characteristics with a propensity to cause invasive diseases was observed.

Dry matter production and allocation in Eucalyptus cloeziana and Eucalyptus argophloia seedlings in response to soil water deficits

Effects of soil water availability on seedling growth, dry matter production and allocation were determined for Gympie ( humid coastal) and Hungry Hills ( dry inland) provenances of Eucalyptus cloeziana F. Muell. and for E. argophloia Blakely ( dry inland) species. Seven-month-old seedlings were subjected to well-watered (100% field capacity, FC), moderate (70% FC) and severe (50% FC) soil water regimes in a glasshouse environment for 14 wk. There were significant differences in seedling growth, biomass production and allocation patterns between species. E. argophloia produced twice as much biomass at 100% FC, and more than three times as much at 70% and 50% FC than did either E. cloeziana provenance. Although the humid provenance of E. cloeziana had a greater leaf area at 100% FC conditions than did the dry provenance, total biomass production did not differ significantly. Both E. cloeziana provenances were highly sensitive to water deficits. E. argophloia allocated 10% more biomass to roots than did E. cloeziana. Allometric analyses indicated that relative biomass allocation patterns were significantly affected by genotype but not by soil water availability. These results have implications for taxon selection for cultivation in humid and subhumid regions.

The over-production of US sports and the new International Division of Cultural Labor

This article focuses on how US professional sports utilize the New International Division of Cultural Labor to supplement an overly costly local labor pool and over-supplied local market. We argue that while the classic problem of over-production is slowly eroding the sealed-off nature of US culture, the forces of its hyper-protectionist capitalism continue to characterize sports, precluding equal exchange.

Production of proteinases by psychrotrophic bacteria in raw milk stored at low temperature

Raw milk samples from two different sources were stored at 2degreesC, 4degreesC and 7degreesC for 10 days and the growth of psychrotrophic bacteria, production of proteinase and proteolysis in the milks were measured during storage. Peptide analyses by the fluorescamine method and RP-HPLC were used in determination of proteolysis and proteinase activity. The average times taken for the psychrotroph counts to reach 10(7) cfu/mL at 2degreesC, 4degreesC and 7degreesC were approximately 9, 7 and 4 days, although there was considerable variation in growth rates in the different milks. There was little correlation between psychrotroph counts and either proteolysis or proteinase activity levels. At 2degreesC, no milk stored showed significant proteolysis by the fluorescamine method after 10 days' storage, but significant proteinase activity could be measured in some of these milks at 8 and 10 days. RP-HPLC analysis was a more sensitive means of detecting peptides than the fluorescamine method.

A comparison of the effects of propofol and thiopental on tear production in dogs

The tear film plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of the ocular suface. During general anesthesia, tear production is considerably reduced, which requires care to prevent adverse effects that result in diseases of these structures. Studies comparing the effects of induction of anaesthesia with thiopental and propofol on tear production have not been carried out yet. Because these drugs are used in veterinary medicine, we decided to evaluate the tear production in 30 dogs undergoing experimental surgery as well as routine procedures at the veterinary hospital of Federal University of Viçosa. Patients were divided into two groups of equal number. All animals were sedated with clorpromazine and maintained with isoflurane in diluted oxygen. Group 1 was induced with thiopental whereas group 2 with propofol. Schirmer tear test 1 was performed before sedation (T0), 15 minutes after sedation (T1) and 10 minutes after induction of anesthesia (T2) with the drug chosen for one of the groups. There was a significant decrease in tear production for both drugs, but no significant statistical differences were found between them. Thus, considering the results and the way in which the study was conducted, we suggest protecting the cornea and conjunctiva of patients during anesthesia using any of the drugs here evaluated.

Influence of the N/K ratio on the production and quality of cucumber in hydroponic system

The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of fruits and the nutritional status of cucumber CV. Aodai cultivated in nutrient solutions with different N:K ratios. The hydroponic cultivation was initially performed, during the vegetative growth, in nutrient solution with 1:2.0 mmol L-1 N:K, and, later, during fruit setting, in four different nutrient solutions with N:K (w/w) at the ratios 1:1.4, 1:1.7, 1:2.0 and 1:2.5. An additional treatment with a nutrient solution containing the ratio 1:2.2 (w/w) N:K during the vegetative growth and N:K 1:1.4 (w/w) during fruit setting, both with 10% ammonium (NH4+) was included. The treatments were arranged in a randomized design with six replicates. Irrigation was carried out with deionized water until seed germination, and then with nutrient solution until 30 days after germination, when plants were transplanted. Plants in the hydroponic growing beds were irrigated with the solutions for vegetative growth, and, after 21 days, the solutions were replaced by solutions for fruit setting. At 45 and 60 days after transplanting, the fresh weight, length, diameter, volume and firmness of the fruit were evaluated, and, at 45 days after transplanting, the macronutrient concentrations in the leaves were determined. The use of different N:K ratios during fruit setting influenced the cucumber production. The ratio of 1.0:1.7 N: K (w/w), with 10% of N in the form of ammonia, is recommended for the whole cycle.

Production of cabbage grown in pots containing legumes' root and shoot

Roots effect is not generally considered in studies assessing the performance of crops in response to green manuring. However, such effect can contribute to a better understanding of crop rotation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of root and shoot of two legumes on the production of cabbage. The experiment was conducted in pots of 10 liters containing substrate of 2:1 soil/sand. The experiment was arranged in a factorial scheme (2x3 + 2) in a randomized block design with five replicates using two legume species (Crotalaria juncea L. and Canavalia ensiformis L), three plant parts (root, shoot, or whole plant), and two additional treatments (mineral fertilization with 100% and 50% of the recommended dose of N for growing cabbage). Pots with legume treatments received mineral fertilizer with 50% of the recommended dose of N for growing cabbage. The experimental plot consisted of a pot containing one plant of cabbage. Legumes were grown in pots and harvested at 78 days. The root biomass was determined in extra pots. Production was assessed using head fresh and dry weight. The application of the whole plant of both legume species reduced cabbage production. However, root or shoot of both legume species was equivalent to 50% of mineral N fertilization required for the cultivation of cabbage.

Production of basic potato seed minitubers in substrate and different nitrogen rates

The optimal dose of nitrogen (N) in potato crop depends on the production system. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal dose of N for the production of basic potato seed minitubers and evaluate the effect of N rates on physiological and nitrogen indices in the youngest fully developed leaf (fourth leaf) and in the oldest leaf of the plants at 60 days after planting. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Departamento de Fitotecnia da Universidade Federal de Viçosa. The treatments consisted of five N rates (0, 45, 90, 180 and 360 mg dm-3), with 10% of each dose applied at planting and the remainder through irrigation water, daily, for 30 days. The nitrogen rates positively influenced the physiological indices (length, width, leaf area, number of leaves, fresh mass and dry mass) and nitrogen (level and content of N and N-NO³ in the dry mass and SPAD) both in the fourth leaf and in the oldest leaf. Likewise, the N rates positively influenced the number and mass of harvested tubers. The largest number (5.44 tubers/plant) and the maximum mass of tubers (243.5 g/plant) were obtained with 360.0 and 332.9 mg N dm-3, respectively. Therefore, the mass and number of tubers were not optimized by the same N rate. The critical SPAD index was 38.8 in the fourth leaf, which was more sensitive to the effect of N rates than the oldest leaf.

Comparison of pupil diameter and tear production in dogs treated with acepromazine, tramadol and their combination

Some ophthalmic surgeries require induction of mydriasis, however, drugs traditionally used for this purpose significantly reduces tear production. To evaluate the effect of acepromazine and tramadol, used alone or in combination, on pupil diameter, tear production, heart and respiratory rate, systolic blood pressure and rectal temperature, these drugs were administered to seven clinically normal dogs divided into three experimental groups (G1 - acepromazine; G2 - tramadol; G3 - tramadol + acepromazine) that differed only in the sedation protocol. Parameters were measured in four experimental moments. Miosis occurred in G1, in addition to reduced tear production and respiratory rate. No significant changes were found in the parameters assessed in G2, whereas in G3, there was decrease in tear production of the right eye, decrease in the respiratory rate and rectal temperature. Tramadol proved to be a drug suitable for pre-anesthetic procedures that require the maintenance of pupil diameter and keeps the tear production within normal parameters. However, the use of acepromazine alone or in combination with tramadol requires protection of the patient's eye surface to prevent the occurrence of undesirable ophthalmic changes.