Twenty-six unclassified Campylobacterlike strains previously isolated from 15 chicken carcasses and caecal contents, together with two more strains isolated from chicken faeces on a different occasion, were identified as Helicobacter pullorum using various phenotypic identification methods. API Campy identification kits and a 16-test identification scheme developed for campylobacters failed to identify these bacteria, or identified them as Campylobacter spp. Eighteen strains (including the two isolated on a different occasion) were chosen for examination using a more comprehensive probabilistic identification scheme. Using this method, 14 of the 18 strains were identified as H. pullorum with ID scores ×95% ; two strains were also identified as H. pullorum with lower ID scores. Of the remaining two strains, one was not identified with this scheme and the other was misidentified to the H. acinonyx pylori complex. Whole cell protein profiling by SDS-PAGE confirmed the identity of these isolates as H. pullorum, affirming the value of a polyphasic approach for accurately identifying campylobacteria. The comparatively high prevalence of H. pullorum in poultry determined in this study (60%) suggests that routine isolation and identification methods should be amended to enable a thorough evaluation of its role in human gastroenteritis and avian hepatitis. Some phenotypic characters useful in identifying poultry campylobacteria are presented which could be utilized, along with other technique(s), for improved differentiation of the campylobacteria that are found in poultry.

Mast cells and eosinophils may play a role in the pathophysiology of chronic cough in nonasthmatics. It is unknown, however, whether degranulation of these cells occurs in the airways of such patients.Thirty-five nonsmoking patients referred with a chronic nonproductive cough (mean cough duration 76.2 months) were evaluated using a comprehensive diagnostic protocol. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell differentials and BAL histamine, tryptase and eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) concentrations were determined. Ten nonsmoking healthy volunteers served as controls.Diagnostic subgroups were identified: eight postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS), seven cough variant asthma (CVA), seven gastro-oeseophageal reflux (GOR), seven dual aetiology and six idiopathic. Nonasthmatic coughers (NAC) were characterized as those patients without bronchial hyperresponsiveness on histamine challenge and whose cough had either responded to therapy for PNDS or GOR or failed to improve with antiasthma therapy. There was a significant increase in both eosinophil and mast cell numbers (p<0.05) and in histamine levels (p=0.027) when NAC patients were compared with controls. Tryptase and ECP levels were elevated in 7 of 23 and 6 of 23 NAC patients, respectively.In conclusion, airway inflammatory cell numbers are not only increased but also activated, suggesting an important role for airways inflammation in the pathophysiology of chronic nonproductive cough. Eur Respir J 1999; 13: 59±65.

Cadherin is an adhesion molecule and a superfamily of calcium-mediated membrane glycoproteins. E-cadherin is the prototype of the class E-cadherin that links to catenins to form the cytoskeleton. Recent evidence has shown that E-cadherin not only acts as an adhesive, but also plays important roles in growth development and carcinogenesis. It has been recently viewed as an invasion as well as a growth suppressor gene. This review summarizes the recent discoveries on E-cadherin and its role in gastric cancer. In particular, our work on E-cadherin in gastric cancer, including its relation with Helicobacter pylori and clinical applications, are described in detail.

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