Interaction of a free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, with surrogates of foodborne pathogenic bacteria

Free-living nematodes may harbor, protect, and disperse bacteria, including those ingested and passed in viable form in feces. These nematodes are potential vectors for human pathogens and may play a role in foodborne diseases associated with fruits and vegetables eaten raw. In this study, we evaluated the associations between a free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Escherichia coli, an avirulent strain of Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria welshimeri, and Bacillus cereus. On an agar medium, young adult worms quickly moved toward colonies of all four bacteria; over 90% of 3-day-old adult worms entered colonies within 16 min after inoculation. After 48 h, worms moved in and out of colonies of L. welshimeri and B. cereus but remained associated with E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium colonies for at least 96 h. Young adult worms fed on cells of the four bacteria suspended in K medium. Worms survived and reproduced with the use of nutrients derived from all test bacteria, as determined for eggs laid by second-generation worms after culturing for 96 h. Development was slightly slower for worms fed gram-positive bacteria than for worms fed gram-negative bacteria. Worms that fed for 24 h on bacterial lawns formed on tryptic soy agar dispersed bacteria over a 3-h period when they were transferred to a bacteria-free agar surface. The results of this study suggest that C. elegans and perhaps other free-living nematodes are potential vectors for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including foodborne pathogens in soil.     

A primate model for enteral nutrition by tube

To establish an animal model for the controlled study of enteral nutrition by tube, five adult chair-adapted primates (Macaca fasicularis) had gastrostomy and jejunostomy tubes placed for the delivery of a modified protein isolate diet. Following 7 days of postoperative depletion with a hypocaloric infusion of dextrose (20 kcal, 0 g N/kg/day), the animals were repleted for 10 days with tube feedings (124 kcal, 0.73 g N/kg/day). There was no operative mortality or morbidity and each animal demonstrated conversion to anabolism by significant weight gain, positive nitrogen balance, and net protein synthesis as determined by [15N]glycine protein turnover rates. Significant correlation was found between caloric intake and nitrogen balance at the level of nitrogen provided in this diet (r = 0.88, p less than 0.05). This model was found to be well suited for the surgical and nutritional techniques required for the long-term study of enteral nutrition by tube.     

Regulation of beta 2-adrenergic receptor mRNA and gene transcription in rat C6 glioma cells: effects of agonist, forskolin, and protein synthesis inhibition

The human CDX1 gene has been isolated from a small intestine cDNA library using a murine Cdx1 cDNA probe. The nucleotide sequence of CDX1 is 81% identical to murine Cdx1 and predicts a 265-amino-acid protein with 85% identity to the mouse protein (98% identity, including conservative amino acid changes). The CDX1 locus has been mapped to a cosmid contig from chromosome 5q31-q33, placing CDX1 approximately 100 kb distal to CSFIR. Expression of CDX1 in adults appears to be limited to the intestine and colon by Northern analysis, suggesting a possible role in the terminal differentiation of the intestine. Further analysis of CDX1 should elucidate the function of caudal-type homeobox genes in human development.     

Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland. Diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration cytology

Basal cell adenocarcinoma of salivary gland is a relatively recently described neoplasm. Histopathologic features of these tumors have been published in the literature mainly in the form of case reports. This paper elaborates and describes the diagnostic fine-needle aspiration cytomorphology of two cases of basal cell adenocarcinoma of parotid gland, which, to the author's knowledge, has not been previously reported in the English literature. Fine-needle aspiration specimens in both cases contained cohesive, focally papillary, and filiform groups of neoplastic cells, which were highly reminiscent of basal cell adenoma on low power examination. Higher power, however, revealed significant cytologic atypia and mitotic activity. Differential diagnoses included basal cell adenoma, epithelial rich pleomorphic adenoma, myoepithelial lesions, small cell undifferentiated carcinoma, and metastatic carcinoma among others.     

Angioplasty of the occluded internal carotid artery

PURPOSE: To review patients who have presented with acute strokes from a middle cerebral artery occlusion in whom in addition to the middle cerebral artery thromboembolus, an internal carotid artery occlusion has been present, and in whom angioplasty of these totally occluded internal carotid arteries has bee n successful. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively our experience in treating a cute stroke patients with intracranial, intraarterial urokinase. Six of 27 patients had internal carotid artery occlusions in addition to middle cerebral artery occlusions. Two patients presented with spontaneous carotid dissections for wh ich no further intervention from the ipsilateral internal carotid artery was attempted. In the remaining four internal carotid artery occlusions secondary to atherosclerotic disease, standard guide wires and catheters were negotiated across the level of the internal carotid artery occlusion, which expedited intracranial catheterization for thrombolysis. Subsequently, angioplasty of the internal carotid artery was performed. RESULTS: All four occluded internal carotid arteries could be traversed. No new neurologic deficits occurred. No vascular injuries occurred. No deaths occurred. Four- to 6-month follow-up showed all four internal carotid arteries remained patent. CONCLUSION: In acute occlusions of the internal carotid artery from atherosclerosis, the occluded vessel can sometimes be recanalized with low morbidity. In addition, endovascular access to the intracranial circulation can be expedited by using the recanalized internal carotid artery.     

Tungsten work function engineering for dual metal gate nano-CMOS

A buffer layer technology for work function engineering of tungsten for dual metal gate Nano-CMOS is investigated. For the first time, tungsten is used as a p-type gate material using 1 nm of sputtered Aluminum Nitride (AlN_x) as a buffer layer on silicon dioxide (SiO₂) gate dielectric. A tungsten work function of 5.12 eV is realized using this technology in contrast to a mid-gap value of 4.6 eV without a buffer layer. Device characteristics of a p-MOSFET on silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate fabricated with this technology are presented.