Pregnancy-associated glycoprotein and decreased polymorphonuclear leukocyte function in early post-partum dairy cows

High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels can be used to predict cardiovascular disease risk in women. To better understand variability in HDL cholesterol levels, the authors examined the relation with three domains (body size and type, sex hormone status, and carbohydrate metabolism) in a cross-sectional population-based 1993-1994 study of 402 premenopausal women from Tecumseh, Michigan. They found that these domains explained 27% of the total variation in HDL cholesterol levels; waist-to-hip ratio was the term that explained the highest proportion of variability (6% after fat mass, sex hormone binding globulin, and insulin levels were added to the model). In analyses restricted to women whose body mass index was > or = 32 kg/m2, which constituted 19% of this population, neither body mass index nor fat mass was a significant predictor of variability in HDL cholesterol levels. Significant variables were insulin levels, waist-to-hip ratio, and smoking. This finding suggests that there is a saturation of the relation between increasing fat mass and lower HDL cholesterol levels, as evidenced by the lack of a relation between the two among the heaviest women. Meanwhile, among the heaviest women, increasing insulin levels and a higher waist-to-hip ratio remained predictors of low levels of HDL cholesterol.     

Infiltrative subcutaneous malignant fibrous histiocytoma: a comparative study with deep malignant fibrous histiocytoma and an observation of biologic behavior

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether duplex ultrasound arterial mapping (DAM) can reliably replace standard arteriography (SA) in the preoperative assessment of candidates for popliteal and infrapopliteal bypasses. This is the report of a two-phase study undertaken at our institution from July 1997 to May 1998. Carefully performed DAM averted the need for preoperative SA (51 of 58 procedures). The results of this study can be used as an impetus to initiate larger, multicenter protocols to further evaluate this newer noninvasive approach for patients presenting with severe lower-limb ischemia.     

Improved detection of HIV-2 proviral DNA in dually seroreactive individuals by PCR

OBJECTIVE: To improve the detection rate of HIV-2 proviral DNA in primary uncultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HIV-2-seroreactive and HIV-1-HIV-2 dually seroreactive individuals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two newly designed HIV-2 PCR primer pairs in the long terminal repeat (LTR) gag and gag-pol regions and a previously described env and LTR HIV-2 PCR primer pairs were tested on samples from 66 confirmed HIV-2-seropositive individuals (The Gambia, 40; C?te d'Ivoire, 17; Guinea-Bissau, nine), 209 dually seroreactive individuals (The Gambia, 82; C?te d'Ivoire, 127), 24 genetically characterized isolated HIV-1 strains (group M subtypes A-H and group O), one simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) strain cpz, 10 HIV-2 isolates (subtype A, B and unidentified), two SIVsm isolates, and 10 seronegative samples. RESULTS: All HIV-2 primers evaluated showed 100% specificity since there was no amplification observed with 24 HIV-1, one SIVcpz and 10 seronegative samples. One single copy of the HIV-2 genome could be detected with all outer primer pairs as well as all inner primer pairs on one PCR round used. Sensitivity of primers (at least one of the four primer pairs was positive) to HIV-2-seropositive samples was 100% (all nine) in Guinea-Bissau, 71% (12/17) in C?te d'Ivoire, 100% (all 20) in Gambian AIDS patients, and 85% (17/20) in Gambian pregnant women. Doubling the PBMC of dually seroreactive individuals from 7.5 x 10(4) to 1.5 x 10(5) in the PCR revealed the presence of both HIV-1 and 2 proviral DNA in 72% (92/127) in C?te d'Ivoire and 72% (59/82) in The Gambia. By doubling the number of PBMC, HIV-2 detection in dually seroreactive individuals by PCR was increased from 65 to 77% in C?te d'Ivoire and from 67 to 83% in The Gambia. CONCLUSIONS: The use of 1.5 x 10(5) primary uncultured PBMC and the newly designed HIV-2 primer pairs allowed us to document the highest percentage (72%) ever reported of HIV-1-HIV-2 dual infections amongst HIV-1-HIV-2 dually seroreactive individuals in C?te d'Ivoire and The Gambia. Improved detection of HIV-2 proviral DNA, rather than exposure to both viruses, infection with only one virus, or infection with a unique third virus containing epitopes common to both HIV-1 and HIV-2, contributes to a more accurate monitoring of the prevalence of HIV-1-HIV-2 dual infections.     

Etomidate does not alter recovery after anoxia of evoked population spikes recorded from the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices

BACKGROUND: Etomidate is an anesthetic agent that reduces the cerebral metabolic rate and causes minimal cardiovascular depression. Its ability to improve recovery after anoxia or ischemia is equivocal. An in vitro neuronal preparation was used to examine the action of etomidate on electrophysiologic and biochemical parameters during and after anoxia. METHODS: The Schaffer collateral pathway was stimulated, and a postsynaptic evoked population spike was recorded from the CA1 pyramidal cell layer of rat hippocampal slices. Etomidate or propylene glycol, its solvent, was present 15 min before, during, and 10 min after anoxia. Adenosine triphosphate, sodium, and potassium concentrations were measured at the end of anoxia in tissue treated with etomidate, propylene glycol, or with no added drugs. RESULTS: Etomidate did not alter recovery after 6 min of anoxia. The population spikes from untreated slices recovered to 32% of their preanoxic amplitude, and slices treated with 0.5, 3, and 30 microg/ml etomidate recovered to 24%, 35%, and 13%, respectively. Slices treated with propylene glycol, equivalent to that in 3 and 30 microg/ml etomidate, recovered to 46% and 12%, respectively, and this was not significantly different from untreated slices. Etomidate did not attenuate the decrease in adenosine triphosphate concentrations during anoxia. The increase in sodium and the decrease in potassium during anoxia were significantly attenuated by 30 but not by 3 microg/ml etomidate. CONCLUSIONS: A range of etomidate concentrations did not significantly alter recovery of the evoked population spike after anoxia in rat hippocampal slices. A high concentration of etomidate did attenuate the increase in sodium and the decrease in potassium during anoxia.     

A determinant for central nervous system persistence localized in the capsid of Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus by using recombinant viruses

The demyelinating process in Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infection in mice requires virus persistence in the central nervous system. Using recombinant TMEV assembled between the virulent GDVII and less virulent BeAn virus cDNAs, we now provide additional evidence supporting the localization of a persistence determinant to the leader P1 (capsid) sequences. Further, recombinant viruses in which BeAn sequences progressively replaced those of GDVII within the capsid starting at the leader NH2 terminus suggest that a conformational determinant requiring homologous sequences in both the VP2 puff and VP1 loop regions, which are in close contact on the virion surface, might underlie persistence.     

Variations in systemic and pulmonary endothelin-1 in horses with recurrent airway obstruction (heaves)

Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is an asthma-like condition of the horse that represents a major cause of morbidity and loss of performance. The exact pathogenesis of asthma in man is unclear but the role of endothelin (ET) is currently under investigation, thus sparking interest in the bronchoconstrictive and vasoconstrictive properties of endothelin in the equine-specific disease entity. In this study, we investigated the levels of ET-1 in systemic blood, as well as in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) from horses with RAO. We also studied how these values might correlate with those of lung function tests and pulmonary artery pressure. Five horses with RAO were evaluated both in remission and in crisis and compared to five control horses. RAO horses had significantly (P<0.05) higher systemic ET-1 levels than control horses. They also had a negative arteriovenous ET-1 difference that may correspond to a net uptake of ET-1 in the lung. RAO horses in crisis had increased amounts of immunoreactive ET in BAL fluid compared to normal control subjects. Additionally, the reduction in lung function seen in RAO horses in crisis was significantly correlated with lower epithelial lining fluid ET-1 levels. Our results demonstrate that endothelin may contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma.     

Serologic evolution of neurocysticercosis patients after antiparasitic therapy. Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru

Neurocysticercosis is the main cause of acquired epilepsy in developing countries and is an emerging disease in the United States. Introduction of the immunoblot assay provided a new tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of neurocysticercosis. This study analyzed the relationship between clinical characteristics of cerebral infection (number and type of lesions) plus the baseline response on immunoblot and the changes observed after therapy. Reaction to all 7 diagnostic bands was associated with severe infection (more lesions). Seventeen patients (35%) had no active lesions on computed tomography (CT) 3 months after therapy and were considered cured. Although most cured patients remained seropositive after 1 year, 3 became seronegative before 9 months. In these 3 cases, the lesions had resolved on CT at 3 months. Persistent seropositivity does not necessarily indicate active infection. Serologic follow-up will be clinically helpful only in rare cases in which early antibody disappearance occurs.     

Management of the dysplastic hip

Small contained bone defects can be managed by cement either with or without screws. Larger contained defects should be managed using morsellized allograft bone. Uncontained bone defects can be managed with implant supplements or structural grafts depending on the size and location of the defect. In the salvage situation, custom implants and arthrodesis may need to be considered.