Outcomes of Bronchial Artery Embolization for Life-Threatening Hemoptysis in Patients with Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis.

Bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is an important treatment option for short-term control of hemoptysis in patients with simple aspergilloma (SA). However, there are no data on the outcomes of BAE in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). In this study, the clinical characteristics and outcomes of BAE were investigated and compared in patients with CPA and SA.We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 64 patients (55 [86%] with CPA and 9 [14%] with SA) who underwent BAE for life-threatening hemoptysis. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of BAE in CPA patients were compared to those of patients with SA.The most common angiographic abnormality was hypervascularity (n = 60, 94%), followed by contrast extravasation (n = 50, 78%) and systemic-pulmonary shunt (n = 48, 75%), with similar incidence rates in both groups. Immediate success was achieved in 41 (64%) BAE procedures, but it was incomplete in 23 (36%) cases due to difficulty with the approach and/or overuse of contrast medium. Clinical failure of BAE was observed in only one (2%) patient. Complications following BAE were observed in four (6%) patients. Recurrence of hemoptysis was seen in a total of 33 patients (52%) within a median of 2.0 (0.3-10.0) months, and repeat BAE was performed in 25 (76%) of these cases. In comparing the outcomes of patients with CPA and SA, there were no differences in the rates of success of initial BAE, incomplete embolization, or clinical failure in the two groups. However, recurrence of hemoptysis tended to be higher in patients with CPA (55%) than in those with SA (33%). In addition, antifungal medications following BAE were more commonly prescribed in the CPA group (56%) compared to the SA group (0%).BAE was a safe and effective procedure for the management of life-threatening hemoptysis in patients with CPA. However, recurrence of hemoptysis was common, especially in patients with CPA. Therefore, definitive treatment for CPA following successful BAE should be considered to ensure the long-term success of the embolization in these patients

Antimicrobial Activities of Diallyl Disulfide Against Fish Pathogenic Bacteria

As a major pathogen for fish, the antimicrobial activity of Diallyl Disulfide (DADS) was examined for the following bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, A. salmonicida ssp. masoucida, A. salmonicida ssp. salmonicida, Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio vulnificus, V. paraheamolyticus and L. anguillarum. About 10 ug mL(-1) and more of DADS formed a clear inhibitory zone to all pathogenic bacteria in a disk diffusion test. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) values were in the ranges of 160-640 and 640-1280 ug mL(-1) of DDS, respectively. The most sensitive pathogen to DDA was V. vulnificus (160 ug mL(-1) for MIC and 640 ug mL(-1) for MBC) followed by E. tarda (320 ug mL(-1) for MIC and 640 ug mL(-1) for MBC). These results suggest bioavailability of DADS for controlling bacterial pathogens in aquaculture.N

Antimicrobial Activity of Thymol against Pathogenic Gram-negative Bacteria of Fishes

This work investigated the antimicrobial effects of thymol in vitro against seven species of Gram-negative fish pathogenic bacteria namely, Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. masoucida, A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, A. hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio vulnificus, V parahaemolyticus and V anguillarum using disk diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) tests. In the disk diffusion test, thymol inhibited growth of all bacteria including those known to be resistant to amoxicillin or lincomycin or both. MIC or MBC of thymol against all bacteria were in the range of 0.01 mg/ml to 0.32 mg/ml. The most sensitive was A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida (0.01 mg/ml for MIC and 0.02 mg/ml for MBC), followed by A. salmonicida subsp. masoucida (0.04 mg/ml for MIC and 0.08 mg/ml for MBC). Based on the present results, thymol has the potential of controlling bacterial pathogens in the aquaculture industry.N

Pathogenicity of Streptococcus parauberis to olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Streptococcus parauberis (stain SNUFPC-050803), isolated from diseased olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus in Jeju Island, Korea, was evaluated for its pathogenicity to healthy juvenile flounder (29.3 g in average body weight). When challenged with the isolate by intraperitoneal injection with tenfold serial dilutions of 4.5 x 10 - 10(6) CFU/fish, the cumulative mortality ranged from 10% to 80% within 14 days except for 4.5 x 10 CFU/fish and control with no mortality. Disease signs were hemorrhage around the mouth, eyes and pectoral fins, pale and friable liver with hepatomegaly and ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity. These signs were similar to those of naturally affected fish. S. parauberis was reisolated and identified by PCR method, which confirmed the pathogenicity of the bacterium to olive flounder.Y

Analysis of brain connectivity during nitrous oxide sedation using graph theory

Nitrous oxide, the least potent inhalation anesthetic, is widely used for conscious sedation. Recently, it has been reported that the occurrence of anesthetic-induced loss of consciousness decreases the interconnection between brain regions, resulting in brain network changes. However, few studies have investigated these changes in conscious sedation using nitrous oxide. Therefore, the present study aimed to use graph theory to analyze changes in brain networks during nitrous oxide sedation. Participants were 20 healthy volunteers (10 men and 10 women, 20-40 years old) with no history of systemic disease. We acquired electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings of 32 channels during baseline, nitrous oxide inhalation sedation, and recovery. EEG epochs from the baseline and the sedation state (50% nitrous oxide) were extracted and analyzed with the network connection parameters of graph theory. Analysis of 1/f dynamics, revealed a steeper slope while in the sedation state than during the baseline. Network connectivity parameters showed significant differences between the baseline and sedation state, in delta, alpha1, alpha2, and beta2 frequency bands. The most pronounced differences in functional distance during nitrous oxide sedation were observed in the alpha1 and alpha2 frequency bands. Change in 1/f dynamics indicates that changes in brain network systems occur during nitrous oxide administration. Changes in network parameters imply that nitrous oxide interferes with the efficiency of information integration in the frequency bands important for cognitive processes and attention tasks. Alteration of brain network during nitrous oxide administration may be associated to the sedative mechanism of nitrous oxide.Y