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Although many lung allograft recipients achieve longterm survival, there is a lack of published data regarding these patients' functional status and quality of life (QoL). We evaluated all 10-year survivors at our institution and, utilizing the SF-36 questionnaire, compared their QoL to population normative and chronic illness data. Twenty-eight (29%) of 96 patients survived ≥10 years following 11 single, 6 bilateral and 11 heartlung procedures. At the most recent evaluation, median FEV 1 in single and double lung recipients was predicted to be 54% and 74%, respectively. Five (18%) patients had BOS score 0, 13 (46%) BOS 1, 5 (18%) BOS 2 and 5 (18%) BOS 3 and median time to BOS was 7 years. Four (14%) patients required renal replacement therapy. Three patients (11%) developed symptomatic osteoporosis, 2 (7%) post-transplant lymphoma and 1 (4%) an ischaemic stroke. Scores for physical function, role-physical/emotional and general health, but not mental health and bodily pain, were significantly lower compared to normative and chronic illness data. Energy and social-function scores were significantly lower than normative data alone. Long-term survival after lung transplantation is characterized by an absence or delayed development of BOS, low iatrogenic morbidity and preserved mental, but reduced physical health status.

Donor lungs with lower airways colonized with bacteria result in inferior recipient outcome. Bacterial colonization of the donor lower airways could therefore be used as a marker of donor lung injury, but evidence from a prospective study is necessary.

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The epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was studied in an English teaching hospital over an 18 month period. A total of 104 HCV antibody positive patients were referred for further investigation. They were divided into those diagnosed through screening (blood donors and intravenous drug abusers) and those diagnosed for other reasons, and their mean ages, known risk factors for HCV transmission, genotypes, and liver biopsy histology were analysed. Screened patients were significantly younger than the others. No significant difference in age was found between genotypes. Most patients genotyped (69%) were genotype 1. Intravenous drug abusers had a higher proportion of subtype la, and patients who acquired

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A strain isolated from a biopsy sample taken from a slowly spreading skin granulation on a child's hand was found to have properties consistent with its classification in the genus Mycobacterium. An almost complete gene sequence of the 16s rRNA of the strain was determined following the cloning and sequencing of the amplified gene. The sequence was aligned with those available for mycobacteria, and phylogenetic trees were inferred with four tree-making algorithms. The organism, which formed a distinct phyletic line within the evolutionary radiation occupied by rapidly growing mycobacteria, was readily distinguished from members of validly described species of rapidly growing mycobacteria on the basis of its mycolic acid pattern and a number of other phenotypic features, notably its ability to form yellow pigmented colonies when incubated in the light. The name proposed for this new species is Mycobacterium novocastrense. The type strain is DSM 44203.A relatively rapidly growing, weakly acid-alcohol-fast organism was isolated from biopsy tissue of a patient who had received six weeks of antituberculosis therapy. The strain had phenotypic properties consistent with its classification in the genus Mycobacterium, and these set it apart from other rapidly growing mycobacteria. In the present investigation, the organism was the subject of a polyphasic taxonomic study designed to clarify its taxonomic position. The results indicate that the organism represents a new species, for which the name Mycobacterium novocastrense is proposed. MATERIALS AND METHODSOrganism and culture conditions. The organism (strain 73), which was isolated on Lowenstein-Jensen medium (9) after 9 weeks of growth at 36T, was obtained from a biopsy sample taken from a slowly spreading skin granulation on the hand of a six-year-old child. It was then cultivated on Columbia blood agar (4), Lowenstein-Jensen medium (9), MacConkey agar (IS), Middlebrook 7H10 agar (17), and 5% (wt/vol) sodium chloride agar (13) for between 3 and 10 days at 25°C and 36°C. The strain, which was maintained on Middlebrook 7H10 agar (17), was grown at 36°C in all of the remaining tests.Phenotypic characterization. The growth, temperature, and sensitivity studies were carried out on Middlebrook 7H10 agar (17). The Gram (16) and ZiehlNeelsen (20) stains were performed on cells grown for 5 days at 36°C on this medium. Catalase (14) and niacin (12) activity were examined after 10 days, and the production of arylsulfatase (29) was examined after 3 and 14 days. Similarly, iron uptake (27) and Tween hydrolysis (28) were detected after 10 days at 36°C.Extraction and analysis of mycolic acids. Lyophilized biomass from 10-day-old Middlebrook 7H10 agar plates was degraded by alkaline methanolysis (23) and two-dimensional thin-layer chromatography of the methanolysates carried out as described previously (19).Sequencing of genes coding for 16s rRNA (16s rDNA). The biomass of the test strain needed for sequencing was obtained from a 5-day-old Liiwenstein-Jensen (9) slant incubated at 36...