A highly adherent phenotype associated with virulent Bvg+-phase swine isolates of Bordetella bronchiseptica grown under modulating conditions

The ability of Bvg(-)-phase and Bvg(+)-phase Bordetella bronchiseptica swine isolates, grown under modulating or nonmodulating conditions, to adhere to swine ciliated nasal epithelial cells was determined. When virulent strains were cultivated at 37 degrees C in the Bvg+ phase, numerous adherent bacteria (approximately eight per cell, depending on the strain used) were observed. However, when such strains were grown under modulating conditions (23 degrees C), a significant increase in the level of attachment was seen, suggesting that B. bronchiseptica produces a Bvg-repressed adhesin under these conditions. bvg mutant strains, including an isogenic bvgS mutant, adhered minimally. Western blots indicated that two putative B. bronchiseptica adhesins, filamentous hemagglutinin and pertactin, were not detectable in cultures displaying the highly adherent phenotype. Several proteins apparent in Western blots obtained by using bacterial extracts enriched in outer membrane proteins derived from B. bronchiseptica grown at 23 degrees C were not present in similar extracts prepared from an isogenic bvgS mutant grown at 23 degrees C or from the parent strain grown at 37 degrees C. Adherence of bacteria cultivated at 23 degrees C was almost completely abolished by pretreatment of organisms at 60 degrees C; adherence was reduced by 57% when bacteria were pretreated with pronase E. Temperature shift experiments revealed that the heightened level of adhesion that occurs following growth at 23 degrees C was maintained for up to 18 h when bacteria were subsequently incubated at 37 degrees C. We propose that a Bvg-repressed adhesin, expressed only by modulated bvg+ strains of B. bronchiseptica, may play a key role in the initial colonization of naturally infected swine.     

A genome-wide search for susceptibility genes in human systemic lupus erythematosus sib-pair families

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune multisystem inflammatory disease characterized by the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. Previous genetic studies have suggested associations with HLA Class II alleles, complement gene deficiencies, and Fc receptor polymorphisms; however, it is likely that other genes contribute to SLE susceptibility and pathogenesis. Here, we report the results of a genome-wide microsatellite marker screen in 105 SLE sib-pair families. By using multipoint nonparametric methods, the strongest evidence for linkage was found near the HLA locus (6p11-p21) [D6S257, logarithm of odds (lod) = 3.90, P = 0.000011] and at three additional regions: 16q13 (D16S415, lod = 3.64, P = 0.000022), 14q21-23 (D14S276, lod = 2.81, P = 0.00016), and 20p12 (D20S186, lod = 2.62, P = 0.00025). Another nine regions (1p36, 1p13, 1q42, 2p15, 2q21-33, 3cent-q11, 4q28, 11p15, and 15q26) were identified with lod scores >/=1.00. These data support the hypothesis that multiple genes, including one in the HLA region, influence susceptibility to human SLE.     

Upregulation of HLA class-I gene transcription in K562 cells by analogs of splenopentin (SP-5)

The carotenoid composition of fruits of Rosa canina (Rosaceae) was determined comparatively by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in total extracts and in three different fractions derived from previous separation of the total fruit extract on alumina columns. Both chromatographic analyses revealed as major carotenoids: beta-carotene, lycopene, beta-chryptoxanthin, rubixanthin, zeaxanthin and lutein. The distribution of these compounds was reproducible by TLC and by HPLC. The I-III fractions eluted successively from alumina columns by increasing the polarity of the solvents were analysed also by TLC and HPLC. In all situations, carotenoids were better separated and identified by gradient HPLC systems than by isocratic HPLC or TLC.     

Simian sarcoma-associated virus fails to infect Chinese hamster cells despite the presence of functional gibbon ape leukemia virus receptors

We have sequenced the envelope genes from each of the five members of the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) family of type C retroviruses. Four of the GALVs, including GALV strain SEATO (GALV-S), were originally isolated from gibbon apes, whereas the fifth member of this family, simian sarcoma-associated virus (SSAV), was isolated from a woolly monkey and shares 78% amino acid identity with GALV-S. To determine whether these viruses have identical host ranges, we evaluated the susceptibility of several cell lines to either GALV-S or SSAV infection. GALV-S and SSAV have the same host range with the exception of Chinese hamster lung E36 cells, which are susceptible to GALV-S but not SSAV. We used retroviral vectors that differ only in their envelope composition (e.g., they contain either SSAV or GALV-S envelope protein) to show that the envelope of SSAV restricts entry into E36 cells. Although unable to infect E36 cells, SSAV infects GALV-resistant murine cells expressing the E36-derived viral receptor, HaPit2. These results suggest that the receptors present on E36 cells function for SSAV. We have constructed several vectors containing GALV-S/SSAV chimeric envelope proteins to map the region of the SSAV envelope that blocks infection of E36 cells. Vectors bearing chimeric envelopes comprised of the N-terminal region of the GALV-S SU protein and the C-terminal region of SSAV infect E36 cells, whereas vectors containing the N-terminal portion of the SSAV SU protein and C-terminal portion of GALV-S fail to infect E36 cells. This finding indicates that the region of the SSAV envelope protein responsible for restricting SSAV infection of E36 cells lies within its amino-terminal region.     

Reproducibility and validity of oral visual inspection by trained health workers in the detection of oral precancer and cancer

A randomized intervention trial is in progress in Kerala, India, to evaluate the effectiveness of oral visual inspection by trained health workers (HWs) in the prevention of oral cancer. Fourteen health workers with college graduation as the basic qualification were trained in oral visual inspection to identify oral cancers and precancers among the participants of the screening trial and to refer them for further confirmation and management. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of the screening test provided by the health worker against the reference oral visual findings of three physicians. A total of 2069 subjects who had already been examined were re-examined by the health workers and physicians. The sensitivity and the specificity of the oral visual inspection were 94.3% and 99.3% respectively. There was moderate agreement between the findings of the initial and the repeat mouth examinations carried out by the health workers, which were on average 6 months apart. There was almost perfect agreement (kappa = 0.85) between the findings of the health workers and the physicians in identifying the different types of oral precancerous lesions. The findings of our study indicate that it is possible to train resource persons to perform the oral cancer screening test as accurately as doctors, although experience appears to be a crucial component of health workers' accuracy. The efficacy of such an approach to reduce the incidence of and mortality from oral cancer, however, remains to be proven.     

Molecular cloning, expression, and functional significance of a cytochrome P450 highly expressed in rat heart myocytes

A cDNA encoding a P450 monooxygenase was amplified from reverse transcribed rat heart and liver total RNA by polymerase chain reaction using primers based on the 5'- and 3'-end sequences of two rat pseudogenes, CYP2J3P1 and CYP2J3P2. Sequence analysis revealed that this 1,778-base pair cDNA contained an open reading frame and encoded a new 502 amino acid protein designated CYP2J3. Based on the deduced amino acid sequence, CYP2J3 was approximately 70% homologous to both human CYP2J2 and rabbit CYP2J1. Recombinant CYP2J3 protein was co-expressed with NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase in Sf9 insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. Microsomal fractions of CYP2J3/NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase-transfected cells metabolized arachidonic acid to 14,15-, 11,12-, and 8, 9-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and 19-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid as the principal reaction products (catalytic turnover, 0.2 nmol of product/nmol of cytochrome P450/min at 37 degrees C). Immunoblotting of microsomal fractions prepared from rat tissues using a polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant CYP2J2 that cross-reacted with CYP2J3 but not with other known rat P450s demonstrated abundant expression of CYP2J3 protein in heart and liver. Immunohistochemical staining of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded rat heart tissue sections using the anti-CYP2J2 IgG and avidin-biotin-peroxidase detection localized expression of CYP2J3 primarily to atrial and ventricular myocytes. In an isolated-perfused rat heart model, 20 min of global ischemia followed by 40 min of reflow resulted in recovery of only 44 +/- 6% of base-line contractile function. The addition of 5 microM 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid to the perfusate prior to global ischemia resulted in a significant 1.6-fold improvement in recovery of cardiac contractility (69 +/- 5% of base line, p = 0.01 versus vehicle alone). Importantly, neither 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid nor 19-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid significantly improved functional recovery following global ischemia, demonstrating the specificity of the biological effect for the 11, 12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid regioisomer. Based on these data, we conclude that (a) CYP2J3 is one of the predominant enzymes responsible for the oxidation of endogenous arachidonic acid pools in rat heart myocytes and (b) 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid may play an important functional role in the response of the heart to ischemia.     

Precursor lesions of Wilms' tumor in Indian children: a multiinstitutional study

BACKGROUND: Studies regarding different ethnic populations of children with Wilms' tumor (WT) in the U. S. have shown differences between age and gender incidence and the type of its precursor lesions (nephrogenic rests). To the authors' knowledge there are few reports in the literature regarding nephrogenic rests in a large number of cases from other parts of the world. METHODS: In this study, histopathology sections from 127 WTs were pooled from the archives of 4 institutions in northern India and studied for the incidence of nephrogenic rests. Their incidence also was cross-correlated with patient age gender, and tumor morphology. RESULTS: Significantly, the complete absence of perilobar nephrogenic rests was observed in all cases. Intralobar rests were associated with 45.3% of WTs and were observed predominantly with a triphasic histologic pattern and a relatively lower incidence of anaplasia compared with reports in the Western literature (1.5% vs. 4.5%). A lower median age of 2.5 years with a peak in the first 2 years of life was consistent with reported studies in Asian children. The male gender preponderance was in contrast to the equal male to female ratio reported in Western cases. CONCLUSIONS: The type of nephrogenic rests present in Indian children was noted to be different from that in children reported in the Western literature. Differences also existed with regard to the age and gender incidence of children with WT and its morphologic pattern, possibly due to the different genetic nature of the tumor. However, this theory requires confirmation by large epidemiologic and genetic studies.     

What does the left atrial v wave signify during balloon commissurotomy of mitral stenosis?

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative method of therapy that can be administered in oral, topical, or injectable forms. It emphasizes the importance of using many herbs that are combined in different formulations for each individual patient. Among some segments of the patient population, it has become increasingly popular as a mode for treating dermatologic diseases. As a result, it is now worthwhile for dermatologists throughout the West to gain some familiarity with this method. Yet, dermatologists are largely unfamiliar with TCM and may possess some misconceptions. We attempt to give a general overview of TCM through the discussion of different clinical studies involving various TCMs. Some proposed mechanisms of action of TCM are also presented. A discussion of adverse effects, including hepatotoxic effects and the need for close monitoring is discussed. A warning regarding the possible contamination of TCMs is also included. Since it is not possible to discuss the application of TCM for every skin disorder, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are used as the prototype in illustrating the use of TCM. In the future, perhaps a better understanding of TCM will be gained through more systematic analysis and controlled studies with a placebo arm. It is our hope that this article will provide an overview of the efficacy, mechanism of action, as well as adverse effects of TCM.