Axenic cultivation of Trichomonas vaginalis in a serum-free medium

Mammalian serum or bovine serum albumin are essential for Trichomonas vaginalis cultivated under axenic conditions. Unfortunately, these components inhibit several biological properties of these parasites. PACSR is a serum replacement, free of bovine serum albumin. used for axenic cultivation of Entamoeba histolytica. We show that PACSR is also useful for axenic cultivation of T. vaginalis. Tubes containing 5.5 ml PEHP, or TYI basal media, plus 8% PACSR (v/v), were inoculated with 10(3) trichomonads/ml from 3 strains (GT-3, GT-13, and GT-15) and incubated at 36.5 C for 72 hr. Depending on the strain, cultures grown in PEHP plus PACSR reached densities of 50% (GT-13), 63% (GT-3), or 82% (GT-15) as compared to controls grown in PEHPS. On the other hand, yields of GT-3, GT-13, and GT-15 maintained in TYI plus PACSR were, respectively, 53%, 57%, and 67% among those of cultures grown in TYI-S-33. In all experiments, PEHPS and TYI-S-33 contained 8% bovine serum. Yields reached in PEHPS were 2.07+/-0.275 to 4.83+/-4.41 x 10(6) trichomonads/ml, whereas in TYI-S-33, densities were 1.68+/-0.315 to 4.16+/-8.07 x 10(6) trichomonads/ml. In conclusion, PACSR added to PEHP or TYI media is useful for axenic cultivation of T. vaginalis in the absence of serum or bovine serum albumin. PACSR could be useful in performing analyses of biological properties that are inhibited by serum or any of its components.     

Tuberculosis of the chest wall: CT findings

To assess the CT features of tuberculosis of the chest wall, the CT findings in four patients with documented tuberculous chest wall infection were reviewed. Two patients were Caucasian and two were of Chinese origin. All had normal immune status. In two cases tuberculosis involved the ribs, in one the costal cartilage, and in one the sternoclavicular joint. Computed tomography demonstrated osseous and cartilaginous destruction (in four), soft tissue masses with calcification (in two), and rim enhancement following intravenous contrast medium administration (in two). Underlying pleuroparenchymal tuberculosis was present in two cases. Tuberculosis of the chest wall is characterized by bone or costal cartilage destruction and soft tissue masses that may demonstrate calcification or rim enhancement with or without evidence of underlying lung or pleural disease.     

Mitogen activation of human peripheral T lymphocytes induces the formation of new cyclic AMP response element-binding protein nuclear complexes

A large body of evidence indicates that experimental agents which raise cellular cAMP levels inhibit T cell growth and division. By contrast, many studies have reported that mitogen activation of T cells increases cAMP levels, implying a positive physiological role for cAMP in the activation process. In the present study we demonstrate that mitogen activation of human peripheral T lymphocytes induces nuclear factors that form complexes with cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB). Four complexes are identified by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay, two of which are induced by mitogen activation. All four complexes contain CREB and are bound to the cAMP response element (CRE) core sequence (TGACGTCA), as indicated by antibody and oligonucleotide competition experiments. Binding of the four complexes to CRE is prevented by dephosphorylation of nuclear extracts and is restored by rephosphorylation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase or endogenous kinases. Similar complexes are detected in nuclear extracts of Jurkat cells. Mitogen induction of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay complexes is not accounted for by protein phosphorylation or by induction of CREB. Rather, the data indicate that mitogen increases the levels of a nuclear factor(s) that dimerizes with CREB. Induction of new CREB complexes implies a physiological role for cAMP in mitogen activation of T lymphocytes.     

Maternal-fetal glucose metabolism and fetal growth retardation. Is there an association?

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that in normotensive pregnancies decreased maternal glucose response leads to relative fetal hypoglycemia and hypoinsulinemia, which result in delayed fetal growth. STUDY DESIGN: We enrolled patients with and without risk factors for growth retardation. Each underwent an oral glucose tolerance test with both glucose and insulin evaluation. Cord blood was obtained for glucose and insulin evaluation. RESULTS: The normotensive pregnancies at risk had lower maternal glucose levels (index, 91 vs. 116 mg/dL; P < .05), a trend toward lower maternal insulin levels (index, 398 vs. 483 muIU/mL; P = NS) and normal maternal insulin/glucose ratios. We found no differences, however, in the fetal metabolic parameters (glucose 83 vs. 78 mg/dL, insulin 17 vs. 24 muIU/mL; P = NS). CONCLUSION: Maternal glucose metabolism is altered in nonhypertensive pregnancies, with a risk of delayed fetal growth; however, the fetal glucose response may remain normal in the face of fetal growth retardation.     

Adaptive filtering for high resolution magnetic resonance images

We present a study of least mean square (LMS) based adaptive filters for high resolution magnetic resonance (MR) images to improve signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while maintaining sharp edges. Five variations of a new technique that senses the type of noise or the presence of an edge in the filtering window, called adaptive filtering with noise estimation (AFEN) are presented and compared with the basic two-dimensional LMS (TDLMS) algorithm, adaptive filtering with a mean estimator (AFLME), a two-dimensional averaged LMS (TDALMS) algorithm, and a two-dimensional median weighted LMS (TDMLMS) algorithm. Although TDLMS, TDALMS, and TDMLMS filters give better SNR improvement when applied uniformly to an image, they significantly blur edges. The AFLME and AFEN filters both show approximately a factor of 2 SNR improvement with much better retention of edges, with AFEN showing slightly better performance for both SNR and edge sharpness in phantom and in vivo inner ear images.     

Cryotherapy of periocular squamous cell carcinoma in the horse

Squamous cell carcinoma around the eyes of 3 horses was treated with liquid nitrogen, using cryotherapy probes as the method of application. In 2 cases, there was complete regression of the tumor; in the 3rd case, remission and relief of discomfort were temporary.     

Impact of clinical history and electrophysiologic characterization of accessory pathways on management strategies to reduce sudden death among children with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether the clinical and electrophysiologic criteria developed in adults also identify children with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome at risk for sudden death. BACKGROUND: In adults with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a shortest RR interval <220 ms during atrial fibrillation is a sensitive marker for sudden death. However, because reliance on the shortest RR interval has a low positive predictive value, the clinical history has assumed a pivotal role in assessing risk. This approach has not been evaluated in children. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 60 children 相似文献   

Sizing of cables in randomly-filled trays with consideration forload diversity

A method for demonstrating increased ampacity of cables in trays with loading diversity is given. Ampacity tables for sizing cables in randomly-filled cable trays are provided in NEMA WC 51-1986 based on a model developed by J. Stolpe which ensures that the maximum cable temperature does not exceed the insulation rating (typically 90°C) under worst-case conditions. The Stolpe model intentionally disregards the reduced heating effect of deenergized or lightly-loaded cables to ensure that all possible hot spot conditions are enveloped. Other methods have been proposed to credit loading diversity in order to justify increased ampacity. However, since they involve certain assumptions about the heat distribution within the cable mass, these methods may fail to identify individual overloaded conductors. This paper describes a simple method which considers the performance of individual conductors while providing a means of increasing ampacity as a result of loading diversity