Correlation of in vitro susceptibility testing results for amoxicillin-clavulanate and ampicillin-sulbactam using a panel of beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae

Laryngospasm occurring after tracheal extubation in children is potentially dangerous. This study uses acupuncture with bloodletting at the Shao Shang (L 11) or Shang Yang (Li 1) acupoints to investigate whether this technique can prevent or treat laryngospasm. Seventy-six patients were randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the acupuncture group (n = 38) were treated with bilateral Shao Shang acupunctures at the end of the operation. Patients in the control group (n = 38) were not. The incidence of laryngospasm in the acupuncture group (5.3%) was less than that in the control group (23.7%) (p < 0.05). If laryngospasm developed, patients were immediately treated with acupuncture at either the Shao Shang or Shang Yang acupoints. As judged by an increase in peripheral oxygen saturation, the laryngospasm was relieved within 1 min of acupuncture in all patients. It is concluded that acupuncture with bloodletting at the Shao Shang acupoint may prevent and treat laryngospasm occurring after tracheal extubation in children.     

hSK4, a member of a novel subfamily of calcium-activated potassium channels

The gene for hSK4, a novel human small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel, or SK channel, has been identified and expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. In physiological saline hSK4 generates a conductance of approximately 12 pS, a value in close agreement with that of other cloned SK channels. Like other members of this family, the polypeptide encoded by hSK4 contains a previously unnoted leucine zipper-like domain in its C terminus of unknown function. hSK4 appears unique, however, in its very high affinity for Ca2+ (EC50 of 95 nM) and its predominant expression in nonexcitable tissues of adult animals. Together with the relatively low homology of hSK4 to other SK channel polypeptides (approximately 40% identical), these data suggest that hSK4 belongs to a novel subfamily of SK channels.     

Metabolites of phencyclidine

The results of the animal experiment demonstrate that oxidative hydroxylation is the major mode of metabolism of phencyclidine. It is evident that this process takes place in all three rings of the molecule. Hydroxylation of the piperidyl moiety probably also accounts for the formation of the N-dealkylated metabolites. Metabolism of phencyclidine in humans appears, at least in part, to be similar to that in the rat. Hydroxylation is still the principal mode in the case of humans though of a lesser extent. Metabolites hydroxylated in the phenyl moiety as well as dihydroxy derivatives of phencyclidine have so far not been observed in humans. Furthermore, most of the monohydroxy metabolites exist as conjugates in the human urine. It should also be pointed out that no metabolites have yet been detected in human blood samples.     

Contagious mastitis

Contagious mastitis is defined. The major mastitis pathogens are Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium bovis, Mycoplasma sp, and Streptococcus dysgalactiae. These pathogens are discussed relative to prevalence, virulence factors, pathology, and control. These control measures include milking time hygiene, segregation, culling, vaccination, and treatment.     

Molecular epidemiology of malaria in Yaoundé, Cameroon. III. Analysis of chloroquine resistance and point mutations in the multidrug resistance 1 (pfmdr 1) gene of Plasmodium falciparum

It has been postulated that chloroquine resistance may be associated with a single point mutation at codon 86 of the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 (pfmdr 1) gene. Using a simple and rapid molecular technique involving polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism, the frequency of the Asn-to-Tyr mutation associated with chloroquine resistance was established among 129 clinical isolates obtained from indigenous patients in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The results showed that 110 of 129 isolates display a mutant codon. The other clinical isolates had either a pure wild-type Asn-86 codon (n = 12) or mixed Asn/Tyr alleles (n = 7). In vitro drug assays were performed to compare the genotype and phenotype in 102 clinical isolates. Of these isolates, 86 displayed pure Tyr-86 mutant codon; 48 (56%) mutant isolates were chloroquine-resistant (50% inhibitory concentration [IC50] > 100 nM), as expected, but 38 (44%) mutant isolates were chloroquine-sensitive (IC50 < 100 nM). Three chloroquine-resistant isolates and seven chloroquine-sensitive parasites carried a wild-type Asn-86 codon. Mixed alleles were found in six isolates (four chloroquine-sensitive and two chloroquine-resistant isolates). Our results did not confirm previous observations on the possible association between chloroquine resistance phenotype and genotype based on the pfmdr 1 gene.     

A leukocyte homologue of the IL-8 receptor CXCR-2 mediates the accumulation of macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions of LDL receptor-deficient mice

Cancer complicating pregnancy is uncommon, with an incidence of approximately 1 in 1000 pregnancies. The obstetrician attending 250 deliveries per year would need to accumulate 40 years of clinical experience to encounter two to three cases of PABC. The increases in the size, weight, vascularity, and density of the breasts associated with pregnancy make the detection of mass lesions difficult both clinically and mammographically. Most of the benign lesions seen in pregnancy are the same ones seen in the nongravid state. Most cases of PABC present as painless masses, and as many as 90% of these masses are detected by breast self-examination. Women with PABC generally have more advanced disease with larger tumors, a higher percentage of inoperable lesions, and a higher percentage of nodal involvement. Because most PABC presents with a palpable mass, the role of imaging modalities in the evaluation of these patients remains limited. Fine-needle aspiration cytology is the initial procedure of choice for evaluating breast masses during pregnancy and lactation. Therapeutic abortion does not improve survival. The general principle is to treat the cancer and to allow the pregnancy to proceed. No studies have shown an adverse effect of a subsequent pregnancy even in patients with positive axillary nodes and patients in whom pregnancy occurs earlier than 2 years after treatment.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the putative ultraviolet-sensitive visual pigment of goldfish

A cDNA full length encoding a putative ultraviolet (UV)-sensitive visual pigment of goldfish was isolated. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 64% identity to those of human blue and chicken violet, and less identity (40-49%) to those of other vertebrate visual pigment. The mRNA is localized in the miniature short single cone cells, which are known to have a sensitivity maximum in the near UV-region.