Repeatability of the Petrifilm HEC test and agreement with a hydrophobic grid membrane filtration method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on beef carcasses

The review highlights recent advances in our understanding of basic mechanisms of reperfusion injury after warm hepatic ischemia. Kupffer cells play a central role as the initial cytotoxic cell type and as a source of many proinflammatory mediators. Subsequently, neutrophils are activated and recruited into the liver. Factors and conditions are outlined that determine whether neutrophils undergo apoptosis without causing damage or migrate out of the sinusoids and attack parenchymal cells. In addition to the inevitable inflammatory response during reperfusion, microcirculatory perfusion failure, due to an imbalance between the actions of vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, also has a serious impact on reperfusion injury. A better understanding of the basic pathophysiology will reveal potential targets for therapeutic interventions and will show us how to avoid risk factors that may aggravate reperfusion injury.     

Adverse effects of medications on urinary symptoms and flow rate: a community-based study

The relationship between urinary symptoms and medication use was investigated in a community-based cross-sectional study involving a random sample of 2115 men 40-79 years of age in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) was generated from a validated self-administered questionnaire. Medication use was assessed by in-person interviews. While 1087 men reported daily medication use, only 136 reported daily use of medications known to affect urinary function adversely, including antidepressants (42), antihistamines (23), and bronchodilators (43). Age-adjusted AUASI scores were higher in men reporting daily use of antidepressants, and the association persisted after additionally adjusting for the Depression and Anxiety subscales of the General Psychological Well-Being Scale (adjusted mean difference, 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.5-3.6; p = 0.008). The adjusted AUASI was also higher among men who took antihistamines daily (adjusted mean difference, 2.3; 95% CI, 0.3-4.3; p = 0.03). Lower age-adjusted urinary flow rates occurred with antidepressants, but not with antihistamines or bronchodilators. Clinicians evaluating men for causes of voiding dysfunction in accordance with the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research practice guideline for the diagnosis and management of benign prostatic hyperplasia should be aware that daily use of antidepressants or antihistamines may be associated with AUASI scores that are two to three points higher than in men not taking these medications.     

N-acetylcysteine attenuates endotoxin-induced leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and macromolecular leakage in vivo

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of N-acetylcysteine on endotoxin-induced leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion, vascular leakage, and venular microhemodynamics. DESIGN: Randomized, blinded, controlled trial. SETTING: Experimental laboratory. SUBJECTS: Thirty male Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS: After pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg; n = 40; group A) or 0.9% saline solution (n = 10; group B) animals were given an intravenous infusion of endotoxin (Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 026:B6; 2 mg/kg/hr) over 120 mins. Animals in the control group (n = 10; group C) received a volume-equivalent infusion of 0.9% saline solution. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Leukocyte adherence, red cell velocity (VRBC), vessel diameters, venular wall shear rate, and macromolecular leakage were determined in mesenteric postcapillary venules using in vivo videomicroscopy at baseline and at 30, 50, 90, and 120 mins after the start of the endotoxin challenge. Endotoxin exposure induced a marked increase in adherent leukocytes (group B: baseline, 391 +/- 24 cells/mm2; 120 mins, 1268 +/- 131 cells/mm2; p < .01). N-acetylcysteine pretreatment attenuated the adherence of leukocytes during endotoxemia (baseline, 366 +/- 28 cells/mm2; 120 mins, 636 +/- 49 cells/mm2; p < .01 vs. baseline; p < .01 vs. group B). Leukocyte adherence in control animals (group C) did not increase significantly. Administration of N-acetylcysteine did not influence the decrease in VRBC observed during endotoxemia. In group B1 VRBC decreased during the infusion of endotoxin from 2.0 +/- 0.2 mm/sec at baseline to 1.1 +/- 0.2 mm/ sec after 120 mins (p < .01 vs. baseline; p < .05 vs. group C), and in group A from 2.2 +/- 0.2 mm/sec to 1.1 +/- 0.1 mm/sec after 120 mins (p < .01 vs. baseline; p < .05 vs. group C). In group C, VRBC remained unchanged (baseline, 1.7 +/- 0.2 mm/sec; at 120 mins, 1.5 +/- 0.2 mm/sec). The venular diameters remained unchanged in all groups during the entire study period. After 120 mins, the venular wall shear rate decreased from 502 +/- 62 secs-1 at baseline to 272 +/- 46 sec-1 in group B (p < .01), and from 563 +/- 45 secs-1 at baseline to 283 +/- 31 secs-1 in group A (p < .01). No differences in venular wall shear rate were observed between these groups. In group C, the venular wall shear rate remained unchanged (baseline, 457 +/- 54 secs-1; at 120 mins, 409 +/- 51 secs-1). Macromolecular leakage, expressed as perivenular/intravenular fluorescence intensity after injection of fluorescence-labeled albumin, increased from 0.29 +/- 0.03 to 0.58 +/- 0.03 (p < .01) during the infusion of endotoxin in group B. In contrast, pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine diminished the extravasation of albumin (baseline, 0.27 +/- 0.01; at 120 mins, 0.37 +/- 0.02; p < .01 vs. baseline; p < .01 vs. group B). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that N-acetylcysteine attenuates endotoxin-induced alterations in leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and macromolecular leakage, suggesting N-acetylcysteine might be therapeutic in the prevention of endothelial damage in sepsis.     

Immunocytochemical localization of vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y in the bovine ovary

The distribution of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) was studied immunocytochemically in bovine ovaries from 3 mo of gestation up to and including puberty, and from adult cows at three stages of the estrous cycle. The appearance of VIP and NPY immunoreactivity of 4.5-6 mo of gestation coincided with the onset of follicular development. In contrast to NPY, VIP was first found in the cortex. Both VIP and NPY immunoreactivity increased with age. From 9 mo of gestation onwards, VIP and NPY were found around blood vessels and non-vascular smooth muscle cells, in the stroma near preantral follicles, and in the theca externa of antral follicles. In addition, VIP-positive cells were observed exclusively in the granulosa layer of the preovulatory follicle at the time of the LH surge. The distribution of VIP- and NPY-immunoreactive fibers in the ovary may point to an effect of these neuropeptides on various physiological processes, including follicle development and ovarian blood flow. In addition, the presence of VIP-positive cells in the granulosa layer of the preovulatory follicle is indicative of a role for VIP in ovulation.     

Studies on the bacterial flora of fish which are potential pathogens for human. Virulence factors of potential human pathogen isolated

Tests for various virulence factors, such as production of haemolysin on sheep blood agar plate, cytotoxin on HeLa cell line and enterotoxin in GM-1 ELISA and suckling mouse assay model, were done among the various strains of Aeromonas spp., Vibrio spp., Plesiomonas shigelloides and Esch. coli isolated from fresh water fish samples. Invasive properties of the isolates were also seen by using Sereny test. Haemolysin production was observed in 85.7% of Aeromonas, all (100%) of Vibrios, 13.3% of Esch. coli and none (0%) of P. shigelloides strains. Cytotoxin production was demonstrated in 60.8% of Aeromonas, 38.4% of Vibrios and none (0%) of P. shigelloides and Esch. coli strains. About 8% of Vibrio spp., were found positive for LT in GM-1 ELISA method whereas, none of the Aeromonas spp., Plesiomonas and Esch. coli. strains were found positive for LT and ST in GM-1 ELISA. By suckling mouse assay model 43.4% strains of Aeromonas were found positive for enterotoxin production whereas, strains of Vibrio spp., Plesiomonas and Esch. coli yielded negative results. Sereny test for invasive property was found negative in all the strains tested. The isolates from fish possess various virulence factors which contributes for pathogenicity in order to cause various diseases to susceptible individual.     

Hepatitis-B virus and schistosomiasis infections in childhood proteinuria

Hepatitis-B surface antigen (HBsAg), circulating anti-schistosomal IgG (CSAb) and circulating specific schistosomal immune complexes (CIC) were detected, using ELISA, in sera of 40 active nephrotic children, 40 active S. mansoni infected cases and 20 apparently normal age-matched controls. The presence of HBsAg cases was significantly higher among nephrotic cases (20%), active S. mansoni cases (17.5%) than controls. Moreover, HBsAg cases were significantly higher in positive CIC S. mansoni cases than negative CIC ones. The mean O.D. readings of CSAb was significantly higher in positive HBsAg nephrotic cases than negatives. At the same time, the anti-schistosomal antibodies were higher in S. mansoni cases with proteinuria than those without. Specific CIC level was significantly higher among nephrotic and schistosomiasis cases than controls. The CIC were significantly higher in schistosomiasis cases with positive HBsAg than those with negative HBsAg and were detected in 80% of cases with proteinuria compared to 37% of cases without proteinuria with a statistically significant difference. On the other hand, CIC level was not influenced, in nephrotic cases, by the presence or absence of HBsAg. It was concluded that the presence of proteinuria was considered as a good monitor of the kidney affection either with schistosomiasis or the nephrotic syndrome or the HBsAg. The detection of CIC can be used as a good monitor too and could be included in methods of early diagnosis and/or following the disease prognosis.     

An experimental and clinical study of Ossocol, a compound of hydroxylapatite and collagen]

Experiments on white rats revealed that introduction of Ossocol, a sponge with a composition of hydroxyl apatite with collagen, into a removed tooth well prevented mandibular atrophy and was conducive to a more smooth defect filling with better compact bone tissue. Ossocol use in 214 patients with bone tissue defects developing after tooth removal, of odontogenic cysts, sequestra, and after radical surgery for periodontal diseases demonstrated a positive effect of this agent on the course of the postoperative period: the defect was more rapidly replaced by bone tissue. No unfavorable local or general reactions to Ossocol implantation were observed.     

Ampicillin resistance mediated by the R plasmid in strains of Shigella flexneri]

Forty Shigella flexneri strains isolated from children attended to at the Children's Hospital of Camagüey during an outbreak of acute diarrheal disease were studied; the minimal inhibitory concentration of ampicillin was determined. 33 strains (82.5%) were resistant to higher concentrations: 8 to 16 micrograms/mL, and 7 were susceptible to 4 micrograms/mL concentrations. Resistance plasmid (R) extraction was carried out in all the isolated strains and a common plasmid was found this plasmid was purified and transferred to Escherichia coli HE 101. Resistance transmission was tested.