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Evidence from past studies suggests that loblolly pine may be tolerant of Al. The experiments described in this manuscript were initiated to examine Al tolerance and Al accumulation in the pine root and the degree of Al accumulation in fungal hyphae when pine roots were colonized with the ectomycorrhizaPisolithus tinctorius. The experiments used lumogallion staining and confocal microscopy to localize Al in root and fungal structures. The results clearly showed that loblolly pine seedlings were highly resistant to Al. A decrease in primary root extension could not be detected until Al+3 activities approached 40 µmol L−1, and extension was suppressed only 30% at an Al+3 activity of 580 µmol L−1. This contrasted with the response of the Al-sensitive‘check’ species soybean, where primary root extension was severely restricted at Al+3 activities lower than 5 µmol L−1. Tissue Al measurements and lumogallion fluorescence of longitudinal sections of the pine root tip indicated that tolerance was associated with both Al exclusion from the tip region and compartmentalization of absorbed Al in peripheral cell areas outside of the meristem. In lateral roots colonized with ectomycorrhizae, lumogallion fluorescence showed that large amounts of Al accumulated at the fungal mantle and in areas with the Hartig net. At higher magnification, lumogallion indicated substantial Al accumulation inside hyphae. Little Al could be detected in lateral root cells. The results show that pine possesses multiple mechanisms that can contribute to Al tolerance in acid field soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The sensitivity and predictive values of exercise ECG testing using ST-T criteria after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) are low, precluding its routine use for screening for restenosis. The predictive value of QRS duration criteria during exercise testing (ET) ECG after PTCA for future coronary events has not been reported. The aim of the study was to compare QRS duration changes with ST-T criteria during ET, as a predictor of coronary events after PTCA.Methods: A prospective study of 206 consecutive patients who underwent ET at a mean of 34 +/- 14 days after their first PTCA, and were the followed for a mean of 23 +/- 9 months. Patients were divided by QRS duration into two groups-Q1: ischemic response (QRS duration prolongation of more than 3 ms relative to the resting duration), and Q2: normal response (QRS duration shortening or without change from resting duration). Patients were also divided by their ST-T response, S1: ischemic response, and S2: normal response.Results: During follow-up 52 patients (58%) experienced restenosis or MI, or underwent CABG-Q1: 44 (85%), Q2: 8(15%) (P < 0.0002), S1: 8 (15%), S2: 44 (85%), (P < 0.641), two patients died-Q1: 1 (1%) and Q2: 1 (1%). For QRS and ST-T, the relative risk of having at least one of the coronary events was 4.02 (CI 2.1-9.9) versus 1.13 (CI 0.8-2.9), respectively. The sensitivity for future coronary events was 85% and 52% and the specificity was 48% and 98% for the QRS and ST-T criteria, respectively.Conclusion: QRS prolongation during peak ET ECG after PTCA is a more sensitive marker than ST-T criteria for detection of patients at risk for later coronary events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of the anaemia of predialysis patients with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is likely to become a widely accepted practice during the coming years. We estimated the impact on health care expenditures with the example of the French population of end-stage renal disease patients. Using retrospective data, we calculated the percentage of predialysis patients with advanced chronic renal failure who would be eligible for treatment according to two different criteria based on haemoglobin and clinical condition, the total duration of treatment, and the total amount of rHuEpo delivered. We estimate that the total cost of treating French predialysis patients could vary between 2.2 and 6.5 million Swiss francs, or 50 000 to 140 000 Swiss francs per million population, using rHuEpo dosage from 50 to 150 IU/kg week. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Progressive hereditary nephritis is subdivided into Alport's syndrome (with extrarenal involvement) and hereditary nephritis without deafness. Three modes of inheritance have been described: X-linked dominant, autosomal dominant, and autosomal recessive. We reviewed the mode of inheritance in 48 kindred with hereditary nephritis (41 with Alport's syndrome and 7 with hereditary nephritis without deafness). It was presumed X-linked dominant in 34 Alport's syndrome and 6 hereditary nephritis without deafness, autosomal dominant in five hereditary nephritis and one hereditary nephritis without deafness, and autosomal recessive in two Alport's syndrome. We studied the cumulative renal survival of 149 patients, 128 (76 males, 52 females) with Alport's syndrome and 21 (10 males, and 11 females) with hereditary nephritis without deafness. Major prognostic factors were the patient's sex (median renal survival in males and females being respectively 32 versus 61 years in Alport's syndrome and 34 versus 57 years in hereditary nephritis without deafness), and the mode of inheritance (median renal survival in males being 25 years in X-linked dominant Alport's syndrome versus 51 years in autosomal dominant Alport's syndrome). The presence of hearing loss in the kindred or in the patient himself did not appear as a significant prognostic factor. We conclude that Alport's syndrome and hereditary nephritis without deafness are predominantly X-linked dominant diseases with the same renal outcome, and that in Alport's syndrome the patient's sex and the mode of inheritance are two independent prognostic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Compares the effects of antihypertensive regimens on patients with chronic renal failure in France. Comparison of the efficacy between angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers; Administration of treatment following randomization; Measurement of supine blood pressure using mercury sphygmomanometer. INSET: Clinical implications.