Construction of recombination-deficient strains of Streptococcus gordonii by disruption of the recA gene

Degenerate oligonucleotide primers were used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a region of the recA sequence of Streptococcus gordonii Challis. The resulting PCR fragment was cloned into the suicide vector pAM6199 and introduced into strain Challis, giving rise to recombination-deficient strains in which the recA gene was specifically inactivated.     

Metastatic parathyroid carcinoma in the MEN2A syndrome

We report a patient with a metastatic parathyroid carcinoma and medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. This patient represents a variation of the multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome (MEN) type 2A. There was no evidence of a phaeochromocytoma. The case illustrates the difficulties that may be encountered in localising the source of PTH secretion; the patient underwent four unsuccessful exploratory operations of the neck and mediastinum before further investigations revealed a single metastatic deposit of parathyroid carcinoma involving the first thoracic vertebra. PCR amplification and sequencing of the RET oncogene from the metastatic parathyroid carcinoma and genomic DNA revealed a heterozygous mutation (Cys634Tyr) in exon 11, as has previously been described to occur in MEN 2A. In addition, loss of tumour heterozygosity was demonstrated at loci from chromosomes 1, 2, 3p, 13q and 16p. This represents the first report of a parathyroid carcinoma in a MEN2A patient, in which the multiple allelic deletions are consistent with the generalised losses observed in aggressive tumours.     

Analysis of immunoglobulin-synthesizing cells in human dental periapical lesions by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry

The iron status of 22 children and adolescents with Crohn's disease (mean age: 13 years) was evaluated. Eleven patients were suffering from active disease with inflammation, identified by at least one abnormal value for serum orosomucoid, C-reactive protein or sedimentation rate (group I). Eleven patients were in clinical remission and showed no biological evidence of inflammation (group II). Hemoglobin and red cell indices, erythrocyte protoporphyrin, serum iron, transferrin, serum ferritin and basic red cell ferritin were determined in all patients. The usual indicators of iron status, particularly serum ferritin, were affected by the inflammatory processes, but basic red cell ferritin appeared to be independent of inflammation. Basic red cell ferritin can therefore be considered to be a reliable indicator of iron status in children and adolescents with Crohn's disease.     

Ultrasound evaluation of piglet diaphragm function before and after fatigue

Clinically, a noninvasive measure of diaphragm function is needed. The purpose of this study is to determine whether ultrasonography can be used to 1) quantify diaphragm function and 2) identify fatigue in a piglet model. Five piglets were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium and halothane and studied during the following conditions: 1) baseline (spontaneous breathing); 2) baseline + CO2 [inhaled CO2 to increase arterial PCO2 to 50-60 Torr (6.6-8 kPa)]; 3) fatigue + CO2 (fatigue induced with 30 min of phrenic nerve pacing); and 4) recovery + CO2 (recovery after 1 h of mechanical ventilation). Ultrasound measurements of the posterior diaphragm were made (inspiratory mean velocity) in the transverse plane. Images were obtained from the midline, just inferior to the xiphoid process, and perpendicular to the abdomen. M-mode measures were made of the right posterior hemidiaphragm in the plane just lateral to the inferior vena cava. Abdominal and esophageal pressures were measured and transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) was calculated during spontaneous (Sp) and paced (Pace) breaths. Arterial blood gases were also measured. Pdi(Sp) and Pdi(Pace) during baseline + CO2 were 8 +/- 0.7 and 49 +/- 11 cmH2O, respectively, and decreased to 6 +/- 1.0 and 27 +/- 7 cmH2O, respectively, during fatigue + CO2. Mean inspiratory velocity also decreased from 13 +/- 2 to 8 +/- 1 cm/s during these conditions. All variables returned to baseline during recovery + CO2. Ultrasonography can be used to quantify diaphragm function and identify piglet diaphragm fatigue.     

Transthyretin amyloidosis: a new mutation associated with dementia

NaCl-tolerant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains LC-10 (Lactobacillus casei) and LP-15 (Lact. plantarum) and NaCl were used as additives to sorghun (Sorghum bicolor). Numbers of LAB were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in all the additive-treated silages than in the control silage at an early stage of ensiling. During the fermentation process, addition of NaCl or LAB effectively inhibited the growth of aerobic bacteria and clostridia, but not yeasts. All the additive-treated silages had significantly (P < 0.05) lower pH, ammonia nitrogen content, dry matter loss and gas production but significantly (P < 0.05) higher lactic acid content and residual water soluble carbohydrates compared with the control silage. The improvement in silage quality was in the order: LAB > NaCl > control. Yeast counts were high in all additive-based silages and they increased during the exposure of the silages to air. As a result, these silages suffered aerobic deterioration, whereas the control silage was stable. The results confirmed that the NaCl or LAB improved fermentation quality but did not prevent aerobic deterioration of the silage.     

Presentation and treatment of spontaneous aortocaval fistula

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm into the inferior vena cava is rare. The clinical presentation is highly variable, and the diagnosis can be difficult, often being made only at operation. The aortocaval fistula results in a large left-to-right shunt, which can cause cardiac failure. Once the diagnosis is made, treatment is by surgical closure of the fistula and repair of the aneurysm with a graft. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of a single surgeon's experience with aortocaval fistula complicating abdominal aortic aneurysms. RESULTS: Over a 15-year period, we had five patients with spontaneous aortocaval fistula who were treated operatively. Preoperative diagnosis was made in two, suspected in one, and not made in two, one of whom died (the only perioperative death in the series). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous aortocaval fistulas are uncommon, and their preoperative recognition is difficult. Hematuria in association with an abdominal aortic aneurysm should raise the suspicion of an aortocaval fistula. Surgical correction is possible, with survival rates comparable to those associated with rupture of aneurysms into the retroperitoneum. Early operative control of the fistula is important to optimize the preload to the heart.     

Hepatic and splenic sarcoidosis: ultrasound and MR imaging

Two polypeptide antigens with molecular sizes of 34,000 daltons (34 kDa) and 38 kDa were separated from heated cells of a human clinical treponeme strain G7201 and Treponema denticola ATCC 35404, respectively. The rabbit polyclonal antisera against these antigens were produced and examined for their immunological reactions with the two heated antigens or intact spirochetal cells. Immunoblot analysis showed that the 34-kDa protein was also detected in T. denticola ATCC 35404 and ATCC 33520, and the 38-kDa protein was detected only in the two ATCC strains. Immunoelectron microscopy using the two rabbit antisera and protein A-gold complexes demonstrated that the 38-kDa protein antigen was present on the axial flagella of two T. denticola strains, and that the 34-kDa protein was located in the axial flagella of the G7201 cell, but neither in axial flagella nor on outer envelopes of the two ATCC strains cells, suggesting that the native 34-kDa axial flagellar protein of the G7201 strain may be different from that of T. denticola in terms of immunological reactivity.