Search

Traditional herbal cures and remedies have played an important historical role in the treatment of a variety of illnesses and diseases in Northern Ireland for the last three hundred years. Recently, these have been reviewed in the publication by Linda Ballard from the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra, Co. Down, which details the variety of local plants used and for what purpose. From this publication and another related publication, we note the description of several plant species that consistently appear in traditional cures and remedies, particularly used to treat infections and infectious diseases. Unfortunately, although these plants have strong associations with the local historical evidence base, there are very limited and mainly no formal publications in the medical/scientific evidence base, examining their scientific background and clinical efficacy.

Conventional methods for purifying PCR-grade fungal genomic DNA typically require cell disruption (either physical or enzymatic) coupled with laborious organic extraction and precipitation stages, or expensive column-based technologies. Here we present an easy and extremely rapid method of preparing yeast and mould genomic DNAs from living cultures using Whatman FTA filter matrix technology. Aqueous suspensions of yeast cells or hyphal fragments and conidia (in the case of moulds) are applied directly (or after freeze-thawing) to dry FTA filters. Inoculated filters are then subjected to brief microwave treatment, to dry the filters and inactivate the organisms. Filter punches are removed, washed rapidly, dried and placed directly into PCR reactions. We show that this procedure inactivated all of the 38 yeast and 75 mould species tested, and generated PCR-grade DNA preparations in around 15 minutes. A total of 218 out of 226 fungal isolates tested liberated amplifiable DNA after application to FTA filters. Detection limits with yeast cultures were approximately 10 colony-forming units per punch. Moreover, we demonstrate that filter punches can be recovered after PCR, washed and used in fresh PCR reactions without detectable cross-contamination. Whatman FTA technology thus represents a cheap, ultra-rapid method of fungal genomic DNA preparation, and also potentially represents a powerful fungal DNA archiving and storage system.

A total of 100 currency notes of various denominations in circulation were randomly studied for bacterial, fungal and protozoal contamination. All except four notes yielded one or more bacteria. Bacterial culture yielded single isolate in 33 notes, two in 44 notes, three in 12 notes and four in 7 notes. The predominant bacterial isolate was Bacillus sps followed by Coagulase negative Staphylococci and Micrococcus sps. Other bacteria that are either potential or confirmed pathogens included K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas sps and S. typhi. Only two notes were positive for Acid fast bacilli. 28 samples did not yield any fungal growth. Overall 118 fungal isolates were isolated, of which 34 could not be identified. All the fungi isolated were saprophytes. Saline and Iodine wet mount did not reveal any parasitic forms. We recommend that currency notes must be handled with caution.

Objective To determine the prevalence of fiber contaminants, to provide morphologic descriptions of various fiber types and to try to understand the significance of their presence in cervical smears. Study design Fibers from cotton swab tips, hair, cardboard slide transporters, Cytobrush bristles and three commercial brands of tampons were smeared onto glass slides, Papanicolaou stained and examined. Then a prospective study of consecutively screened cervicovaginal smears from 1,368 women was undertaken to identify fiber contaminants. Results Fibers were identified in 178 cases (13%). In 120, the fibers were considered extrinsic, commonly having the microscopic features of cardboard. In 58, the fibers were considered to be intrinsic to the smear because of their presence in the same plane and alignment as the cells, an associated inflammatory cell reaction, and adherent or absorbed cellular products, occasionally hemosiderin. The most common intrinsic fibers were cotton and rayon. No statistically significant relationship was identified for the presence of intrinsic fibers and patients' ages, stated menstrual dates or pathologic lesions. Conclusion Fiber contaminants are commonly present in cervicovaginal smears, usually do not originate in the patient (are "extrinsic") and have no pathologic significance. Knowledge of the microscopic features of fiber contaminants enables them to be identified confidently and distinguished from fungal hyphae and other filamentous pathogens.