Identification of the swine pathogen Serpulina hyodysenteriae in rheas (Rhea americana)

Recently intestinal spirochetes were isolated from rheas in Ohio and Iowa with a necrotizing typhlocolitis. These intestinal spirochetes, strains R1 and NIV-1, were characterized and compared with other intestinal spirochetes, including strains of S. hyodysenteriae. Both rhea spirochetes were indole positive, strongly beta-hemolytic, grew under a 1% O2:99% N2 atmosphere, and were morphologically similar to spirochetes in the genus Serpulina. Analysis of rRNA gene restriction patterns (ribotypes), and immunoblots of whole cell proteins, indicated both spirochetes were similar to Serpulina hyodysenteriae strains from swine. Comparisons of nearly complete sequences (> 1458 bases) of the 16S rRNA gene of the two rhea spirochetes with S. hyodysenteriae strains confirmed that rhea spirochetes R1 and NIV-1 were strains of S. hyodysenteriae. These results indicate that S. hyodysenteriae has a broader host range than previously recognized.     

An immune complex selective affinity column utilizing site-specific attachment of bovine conglutinin

Established leukemic cell lines have been useful models for studying the biology of leukemia. Analysis of the actions of differentiating agents on leukemic cell lines in vivo has been limited by an inability to unambiguously distinguish host hematopoietic elements from differentiated leukemic cells. In order to identify and quantify leukemic cells during in vivo studies, a derivative of the murine myelomonocytic leukemia cell line WEHI-3B D+, which stably expresses beta-galactosidase, was constructed utilizing retroviral vector gene transfer. This cell line, termed WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8, demonstrated in vitro growth and differentiation properties similar to the parental cell line. WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 expressed high levels of beta-galactosidase following prolonged in vitro growth and following differentiation in suspension cultures and clonogenic assays. In vivo, WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 was leukemogenic and high level expression of beta-galactosidase was maintained. Quantification of tissue involvement with WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 leukemia was performed utilizing staining with the fluorogenic beta-galactosidase substrate fluorescein di-beta-galactoside and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. In vivo differentiation efficiency following granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration was determined using a simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic staining procedure. Results indicate that treatment of mice inoculated with WEHI-3B D+/lacZ 2.8 cells with G-CSF administration causes detectable but limited differentiation.     

The electrophysiological effects of tetraphenylphosphonium on vascular smooth muscle

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether luteal secretion of inhibin-a is altered in the perimenopausal transition and to evaluate whether luteal inhibin secretion is correlated with other markers of ovarian reserve such as FSH and inhibin-b. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Reproductive Endocrinology Laboratories at The Ohio State University. PATIENT(S): Twenty-five women 39-52 years of age with regular menstrual cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Daily urine samples were monitored (LH predictor kit) to identify the day of ovulation. Blood samples obtained on days 6 and 8 after the LH surge and on day 3 of the subsequent follicular phase were assayed for FSH, E2, progesterone. inhibin-a, and inhibin-b. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum levels of inhibin-a, inhibin-b, FSH, E2, and progesterone. RESULT(S): Luteal phase inhibin-a and follicular phase inhibin-b were correlated inversely with age in perimenopausal women. In addition, luteal phase inhibin-a and follicular phase inhibin-b levels were correlated inversely with follicular phase FSH levels. CONCLUSION(S): Both luteal phase inhibin-a and follicular phase inhibin-b levels are correlated inversely with age during the fifth decade of life. These findings suggest that corpus luteum function is altered during the perimenopausal transition. Moreover, these direct measures of ovarian function may be more sensitive indicators of "ovarian reserve" than indirect indicators such as pituitary FSH secretion.     

Strategic Assessment of Lisbon’s Accessibility and Mobility Problems from an Equity Perspective

Accessibility planning with reference to sustainability and equity principles has been advocated as the best approach to deal with the urban mobility complexity. It has enabled the development of more sustainable and fair policies in relation to access provision. However, despite this paradigm shift, many planning initiatives in practice are still focused on assessing alternatives and proposing solutions, instead of centering on the understanding and assessment of problems as the primary activity of planning. Therefore, in order to contribute for the problem-oriented paradigm in the accessibility planning, this work proposes a strategic assessment methodology for unequal and inequitable distribution problems of accessibility and mobility. This methodology relies on spatial analysis techniques and allows the characterization of accessibility and mobility conditions, as well as the diagnosis of accessibility and mobility problems and their causal relationships. It was applied for the case of Lisbon and the results of the performed assessment allowed an intelligent reading of the problems considered. Specifically, it was found that Lisbon presents an unequal and inequitable distribution of job accessibility and mobility by private car and public transport, and also that job accessibility, along with other transportation, land-use and socioeconomic variables, impact the mobility levels of its citizens.     

Comparison of three different methods for measuring classical pathway complement activity

A 30-year-old man was referred as an acute case for keratitis. Two days earlier he had had photorefractive keratectomy for myopia at another clinic; a bandage contact lens was placed over the eye, but prophylactic antibiotics were not prescribed. The keratitis was treated with gentamicin sulfate (Garamycin) and chloramphenicol eyedrops. Scrapings from the cornea showed nonhemolytic streptococci. Two and a half months later, visual acuity was finger counting because of gross distortion of the corneal contour. The combination of a bandage contact lens and the lack of prophylactic antibiotics may have been the source of bacterial keratitis.     

大型水轮发电机组轴系临界转速模拟试验研究

针对大型水轮发电机组轴系临界转速难以实际测定的现实问题,从理论分析的角度出发,抓住水力机组轴系结构的基本特点,提出采用较为简单的模拟结构,试验研究水力机组轴系固有频率及其振型特征。初步研究结果已在理论分析和实际机组中得到验证。     

Immunomodulatory effect of a polysaccharide-enriched preparation of Codonopsis pilosula roots

1. A polysaccharide-enriched fraction (CPPS) was prepared from Codonopsis pilosula root extract utilizing a procedure that entailed extraction with aqueous buffer and precipitation with ethanol. 2. After administration of CPPS in drinking water to C57BL/6 mice at a dosage of 10 mg/L for 4 weeks, the splenocytes exhibited lowered mitogenic responses to Concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The in vitro production of reactive nitrogen intermediates was inhibited. 3. However, when oral administration of CPPS was prolonged to 8 weeks, there was a potentiation of ConA-stimulated and LPS-stimulated mitogenic responses. 4. When tested under in vitro conditions, CPPS augmented the mitogenic response of splenocytes to ConA. However, there was no effect on the pinocytic activity of mouse macrophages, nor was there any proliferative activity on mouse melanoma B16 cells.     

Microcarrier enhanced survival of human and rat fetal ventral mesencephalon cells implanted in the rat striatum

The transplantation of tissue containing dopamine-producing cells into the mammalian central nervous system is an emerging treatment for Parkinson's disease, despite relatively poor survival of implanted tissue. Recent evidence has suggested that Cytodex microcarriers enhance the survival of dopaminergic rat chromaffin cells transplanted into the rat striatum in the absence of immunosuppression. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the survival of rat and human fetal ventral mesencephalic neurons (VM) implanted alone or after attachment to microcarriers in the striatum of rats without immunosuppression. Rat fetal VM neurons demonstrated enhanced survival in the rat striatum when transplanted on microcarriers, compared to their transplantation alone during the 3-mo period examined in the present study. Transplants of human fetal VM neurons on microcarriers also survived remarkably well in the rat striatum without systemic immunosuppression. In contrast, human fetal VM cells transplanted alone into the rat striatum did not survive without systemic immunosuppression. There was no evidence of TH fiber sprouting in the vicinity of any transplant site. These data indicated that Cytodex microcarriers provide enhanced survival of both rat allograft and human xenograft fetal mesencephalic cells in the rat striatum without the necessity of systemic immunosuppression, perhaps by inducing a unique neuron-glia environment.