Experimental pneumococcal meningitis: impaired clearance of bacteria from the blood due to increased apoptosis in the spleen in Bcl-2-deficient mice

Necrotic and apoptotic neuronal cell death can be found in pneumococcal meningitis. We investigated the role of Bcl-2 as an antiapoptotic gene product in pneumococcal meningitis using Bcl-2 knockout (Bcl-2(-/-)) mice. By using a model of pneumococcal meningitis induced by intracerebral infection, Bcl-2-deficient mice and control littermates were assessed by clinical score and a tight rope test at 0, 12, 24, 32, and 36 h after infection. Then mice were sacrificed, the bacterial titers in blood, spleen, and cerebellar homogenates were determined, and the brain and spleen were evaluated histologically. The Bcl-2-deficient mice developed more severe clinical illness, and there were significant differences in the clinical score at 24, 32, and 36 h and in the tight rope test at 12 and 32 h. The bacterial titers in the blood were greater in Bcl-2-deficient mice than in the controls (7.46 +/- 1.93 log CFU/ml versus 5.16 +/- 0.96 log CFU/ml [mean +/- standard deviation]; P < 0.01). Neuronal damage was most prominent in the hippocampal formation, but there were no significant differences between groups. In situ tailing revealed only a few apoptotic neurons in the brain. In the spleen, however, there were significantly more apoptotic leukocytes in Bcl-2-deficient mice than in controls (5,148 +/- 3,406 leukocytes/mm2 versus 1,070 +/- 395 leukocytes/mm2; P < 0.005). Bcl-2 appears to counteract sepsis-induced apoptosis of splenic lymphocytes, thereby enhancing clearance of bacteria from the blood.     

Determinants and Inequities in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Care Access Among Im/Migrant Women in Canada: Findings of a Comprehensive Review (2008–2018)

Given growing concerns of im/migrant women’s access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, we aimed to (1) describe inequities and determinants of their engagement with SRH services in Canada; and (2) understand their lived experiences of barriers and facilitators to healthcare. Using a comprehensive review methodology, we searched the quantitative and qualitative peer-reviewed literature of im/migrant women’s access to SRH care in Canada from 2008 to 2018. Of 782 studies, 38 met inclusion criteria. Ontario (n?=?18), British Columbia (n?=?6), and Alberta (n?=?6) were primary settings represented. Studies focused primarily on maternity care (n?=?20) and sexual health screenings (n?=?12). Determinants included health system navigation and service information; experiences with health personnel; culturally safe and language-specific care; social isolation and support; immigration-specific factors; discrimination and racialization; and gender and power relations. There is a need for research that compares experiences across diverse groups of racialized im/migrants and a broader range of SRH services to inform responsive, equity-focused programs and policies.

     

Time-resolved fluorometric assay for the detection of endostatin in chromatographically separated extracts of natural peptides

We present a heterogeneous non-competitive immunological detection assay for peptide and protein antigens from crude extracts of biological sources. This time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) has been designed in a solid-phase mode using 96-well microtiter plates. Using the rare-earth metal europium as a fluorescent marker, a highly sensitive, selective and efficient procedure was developed. This technique prevents from interferences of intrinsic protein fluorescence which is highly important for antigen measurement in complex matrices. The TR-FIA has been applied for the detection of circulating forms of the potential anti-tumor agent endostatin, a C-terminal fragment of collagen XVIII, and its close homolog collagen XV (restin) from hemofiltrate. Endostatin was detected with a limit of detection of 3 ng (150 fmol/well) and a broad dynamic range from 10-1000 ng/well.     

Intramedullary epidermoid cyst. A case report

The authors add to the literature a case report of a 32-year-old man with an intramedullary epidermoid cyst at the level of D 3/4, that was successfully operated on. There are several previous reports in the literature, but only five of these include MRI studies.     

Molekulare Aspekte und diagnostische Wertigkeiten von Pilzallergenen

Zusammenfassung. Die Klonierung, Sequenzierung und Produktion von hochreinen Allergenen bietet die Möglichkeit, perfekt standardisierte Allergenpräparate herzustellen. Die Entwicklung eines neuen Klonierungssystems, das auf filamentösen Phagen basiert, führte zu einer schnellen Isolierung und Charakterisierung von Aspergillus fumigatus-Allergenen. Die auf diesem Weg rekombinant hergestellten Proteine wurden serologisch und klinisch geprüft und ihr routinemä-ßiger Einsatz im ImmunoCAP-System evaluiert. Es gelang eine quantitative Übereinstimmung zwischen Hauttestergebnissen und Serologie nachzuweisen, welche das Potential rekombinanter Allergene in der Diagnostik allergischer Krankheiten aufzeigt. Darüber hinaus trägt die Charakterisierung der Pilzallergene wesentlich zum Verständnis der moiekularen Natur der allergieauslösenden Komponenten bei Zum jetzigen Zeitpunkt können, abgesehen von Proteinen mit unbekannten biologischen Funktionen, die Pilzallergene in zwei Klassen eingeteilt werden: 1. Spezies-spezifische sezcrnierte Allergene und 2. cytoplasmatische, hoch konservierte Proteine. Diese letztgenannten Pilzallergene zeigen auch zu Proteinen aus phylogenetisch weit entfernten Organismen weitreichende Sequenzhomologien. Neben der daraus zu erwartenden IgE-Kreuzreaktivität findet man in einigen Fällen auch eine Kreuzreaktivität mit den homologen humanen Proteinen, was auf Autoimmunreaktionen, bei Pilzalleigien hindeutet. Summary. Cloning, sequencing and production of highly pure recombinant allergens allows to produce perfectly standardised allergen preparations. The development of a new cloning system based on filamentous phage allowed the fast isolation and characterisation of allergens from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The produced recombinant allergens were tested in serological and clinical studies as well as for their performance for routine assessments in the ImmunoCAP-system. Thereby, a perfect correlation between skin test results and serology was found showing the potential of recombinant allergens for the diagnosis of allergic diseases. Moreover, the characterisation of fungal allergens substantially contributes to our understanding of the molecular nature of proteins involved in the elication of allergic reactions. Apart from allergenic proteins with unknown biological function, fungal allergens can be subdivided into two classes: 1. Species-specific, secreted proteins and 2. cytoplasmic, even in phylogenetically distant organisms, well conserved proteins. These fungal allergens show extended sequence similarity, a high level of IgE cross-reactivity and in some cases also cross-reactivity with homologous human proteins indicating autoimmune reactions involved in fungal allergy.     

Human cornea construct HCC-an alternative for in vitro permeation studies? A comparison with human donor corneas.

Transcorneal in vitro permeation studies of ophthalmic drugs are normally performed with either excised animal corneas or latterly corneal cell culture models. A good correlation between these models and excised animal corneas regarding permeation behaviour of drugs has already been shown. However, comparisons between corneal in vitro models containing human cells and excised human corneas do not exist yet. Therefore in the present study the transcorneal permeation of six different model drugs (pilocarpine hydrochloride, befunolol hydrochloride, hydrocortisone, diclofenac sodium, clindamycin hydrochloride and timolol maleate) across our previously described three-dimensional organotypic human cornea construct (HCC) was tested using Franz diffusion cells and compared with permeation data obtained from human donor corneas. The HCC showed a similar permeation behaviour compared with human donor cornea for all substances. The permeabilities (permeation coefficients P) of the human cornea equivalent versus the human donor cornea were the same in the case of diclofenac, clindamycin, timolol, but marginally decreased for hydrocortisone and slightly increased for pilocarpine and befunolol. These small differences of permeation coefficients were expressed as factors and only varied from 0.8 to 1.4. The results indicate that the HCC may be an alternative for in vitro permeation studies and appropriate for predicting drug absorption into the human eye.     

In search of the Holy Grail of Rodent control: Step-by-step implementation of safe and sustainable-by-design principles on the example of rodenticides

The field of chemical rodent control has seen no major developments in the last decades, even though anticoagulant rodenticides (AR), the mainly used substances to manage mice and rats, are known environmental pollutants and candidates for substitution under the European Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012. Moreover, recent political developments in Europe and the USA demand more safety and sustainability in the management of chemicals, reinforcing the need for environmentally friendly substances. In this concept study, we present a step-by-step approach to improve the environmental properties of rodenticides. Repurposing of existing pharmaceuticals, the use of enantiomerically pure rodenticides, or the improvement of the formulation by microencapsulation can help to alleviate environmental problems caused by AR in the short term. Modification of the chemical structures or the development of prodrugs as medium-term strategies can further improve environmental properties of existing compounds. Ultimately, the development of new substances from scratch enables the utilisation of so far ignored modes of actions and the application of modern safe and sustainable-by-design principles to improve target specificity and reduce the negative impact on non-target organisms and the environment. Overall, our concept study illustrates the great potential for improvement in the field of chemical rodent control when applying available techniques of green and sustainable chemistry to known or potential rodenticides. Most promising in the medium term is microencapsulation that would allow for the use of acutely acting substances as it could circumvent bait shyness. On a longer timescale the de novo design of new rodenticides, which is the only method that can combine a high target specificity with good environmental properties, is the most promising approach.