Incidence of listeriosis in Barcelona,Spain, in 1990

A population-based register of cases of listeriosis admitted to acute-care hospitals has been established in Barcelona, Spain, in order to estimate the basal incidence of sporadic cases and to facilitate epidemiological surveillance of potential epidemics. Eleven acute-care hospitals reported all cases of listeriosis to a central unit following a standardized protocol. During 1990, 31 patients with listeriosis were identified, 18 of whom were residents of the city, resulting in an annual incidence of 10.95 cases per million inhabitants. Twelve of the 31 cases occurred in the period from July to September 1990, ten of them being community-acquired. The incidence of listeriosis was higher in elderly ( 65 years) and immunosuppressed persons. Forty-two percent of the cases were considered to be nosocomial infections. The overall mortality rate was 51.6 %. The incidence of listeriosis in the present study is one of the highest reported in the literature. A high sensitivity of the reporting system with good case identification techniques, or demographic and environmental characteristics related toListeria monocytogenes infection in our area, might be possible reasons for this geographic variation.C. Balado, Department of Microbiology, Hospital de la Creu Roja; J. Bosch, Department of Microbiology, Hospital de la Maternitat; J.M. Campos, Department of Microbiology, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Esplugues de Llobregat; G. Domingo, Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Militar; E. Gimeno, Department of Microbiology, Institut d'Urologia i Andrologia; M. Morta, Department of Microbiology, Laboratori Municipal; L. Viñas, Department of Microbiology, Institut Universitari Dexeus.     

广西环江县毛南族老年女性头发中钙等6种元素的含量

目的了解广西环江县毛南族老年女性头发中6种元素的含量。方法采用原子吸收光谱法检测132例毛南族老年女性头发中钙、锌、锰、铜、铝、锶6种元素的含量,并用SPSS统计软件进行统计分析。结果①钙、锌、锰、铜、铝、锶6种元素的含量(μg/g)的平均值分别为:608.08±190.92、126.28±21.27、4.69±2.10、10.64±2.09、25.05±12.81、2.71±1.71。②钙、锌、铜的含量随年龄增长而下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),锰、铝、锶元素的含量各年龄组间,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论环江毛南族老年女性头发中钙、锌、铜元素含量有明显的年龄差异,锰、铝、锶元素的含量无年龄差异。     

Mutations in gyrA,gyrB, parC,and parE in quinolone-resistant strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Mutations in the genes for the subunits GyrA and ParC of the target enzymes DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV are important mechanisms of resistance in quinolone-resistant bacteria, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The target enzymes also consist of the subunits GyrB and ParE, respectively, though their role in quinolone-resistance has not been fully investigated. We sequenced the quinolone-resistance-determining regions (QRDR) of gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE in 25 ciprofloxacin-resistant strains from Bangladesh (MIC 4-->32 mg/l) and 5 susceptible strains of N. gonorrhoeae. All the resistant strains had three or four mutations. Two of these were at positions 91 and 95 of gyrA. Fourteen strains had an additional mutation in parC at position 91, and 17 strains had an additional mutation in parE in position 439. No alterations were found in gyrB. The five susceptible strains had identical DNA sequences. Data indicate that the mutations detected in the QRDR of gyrA and parC may be important in the development of quinolone resistance. According to transformation experiments we assume that the alteration in parE is not related to a high degree of quinolone resistance. There was no correlation between ciprofloxacin MICs and pattern or number of mutations in the target genes.     

Secretion of salivary immunoglobulin a in relation to age,saliva flow,mood states,secretion of albumin,cortisol, and catecholamines in saliva

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) is one characteristic humoral factor of the local immune system in the upper respiratory tract. Epidemiological studies emphasize the importance of secretory IgA in the protection from infections of the upper respiratory tract. However, due to high interindividual variability of secretion of salivary IgA, it remains difficult to define normal ranges. This series of studies focused on identification of factors influencing basal secretion of salivary IgA. The results indicate a significant relationship between age and salivary IgA concentration. Children below 7 years have lower salivary IgA concentration than children above 7 years or adults. Furthermore, a significant inverse relationship between saliva flow and salivary IgA concentration was found. Gender, mood states, salivary albumin, salivary catecholamines, and salivary cortisol were not associated with salivary IgA. It can be concluded that for defining normal ranges of salivary IgA, age and saliva flow have to be considered.     

Differences in Intraepithelial Lymphocytes in the Proximal,Middle, Distal Parts of Small Intestine,Cecum, and Colon of Mice

We have previously reported the regional differences in the intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) present in the small intestine of mice. In this study, we further investigated these differences on the basis of our previous findings and studied the entire intestine, including the cecum and colon. Most of the significant differences in phenotypic compositions were found between the small and large intestines, although some differences were found among the different parts of the small and large intestines. In particular, the composition of the subsets in αβ T cells and γδ T cells clearly differed between the small and large intestines. For example, in αβ T cells, the percentages of double negative (DN) and CD8αα⁺ cells were higher in the large intestine, that of CD8αβ⁺ cells was higher in the small intestine, and those of CD4⁺ and CD4⁺ CD8αα⁺ double positive (DP) cells were higher in the distal part of the small intestine. In γδ T cells, the percentage of CD8αα⁺ cells was higher in the small intestine and that of DN cells was higher in the large intestine. These results indicate that the differences between IELs in the small and large intestines are discontinuous.     

HLA, A, B, C, DR, C4, Bf in insulin-dependent diabetics in the Tunisian population

There is no doubt that the autoimmune process in human disease depends on genetic factors. Varying associations were noticed between HLA DR and autoimmune disorders. The frequency of HLA-A-B and DR antigens as well as the Bf and C4 allotypes have been investigated in insulinodependant diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and compared to that of healthy controls in Tunisian population. An increase of A30, DR3, DR4, BfF1, C4AQ0 and C4BQ0 and decrease of B40, DR2, DR5 and DR6 were found in diabetes when compared to the value observation controls. The strongest association was noticed with HLA, DR3 and DR4. The prospective role of DR2 and DR5 antigens were also confirmed. Examination of HLA, Bf and C4 alleles. Two supratypes associated with IDDM have been observed among the Tunisian patients.     

Overexpression of peroxiredoxins I, II, III, V, and VI in malignant mesothelioma

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a recently characterized group of thiol-containing proteins with efficient antioxidant capacity, capable of consuming hydrogen peroxide in living cells. Altogether six distinct Prxs have been characterized in mammalian tissues. Their expression was investigated in histological samples of mesothelioma and in cell lines established from the tumours of mesothelioma patients. Four cases with histopathologically healthy pleura from non-smokers were used as controls. Healthy pleural mesothelium was negative or very weakly positive for all Prxs. In mesothelioma, the most prominent reactivity was observed with Prxs I, II, V, and VI. Prx I was highly or moderately expressed in 25/36 cases, the corresponding figures for Prxs II-VI being 27/36 (Prx II), 13/36 (Prx III), 2/36 (Prx IV), 24/36 (Prx V), and 30/36 (Prx VI). Positive staining was observed both in the cytosolic and the nuclear compartment, with the exception of Prx III, which showed no nuclear reactivity. The staining pattern of Prxs III and V was granular. Immunoelectron microscopic localization of Prxs was in accordance with the immunohistochemical findings, showing diffuse cytoplasmic localization for Prxs I, II, IV, and VI and distinct mitochondrial labelling for Prxs III and V. There was no significant association between the extent of staining and different Prxs. It appeared that Prxs may not have prognostic significance, but being prominently expressed in most mesotheliomas these proteins, at least in theory, may play a role in the primary drug resistance of this disease.     

Advances in mechanisms of asthma, allergy, and immunology in 2010

2010 was marked by rapid progress in our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation and asthma. Studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology described advances in our knowledge of cells associated with allergic inflammation (mast cells, eosinophils, dendritic cells, and T cells), as well as IgE, cytokines, receptors, signaling molecules, and pathways. Studies used animal models, as well as human cells and tissues, to advance our understanding of mechanisms of asthma, eosinophilic esophagitis, food allergy, anaphylaxis and immediate hypersensitivity, mast cells and their disorders, atopic dermatitis, nasal polyposis, and hypereosinophilic syndromes. Additional studies provided novel information about the induction and regulation of allergic inflammation and the genetic contribution to allergic inflammation. Critical features of these studies and their potential effects on human atopic disorders are summarized here.     

Epidemiology of Schistosoma haematobioum in Ruruma Location,Kilifi, District,Kenya

A study of the distribution of S. haematobium in Ruruma Location of Kilifi District, Kenya, was undertaken between December 1988 and June 1990. Schistosomiasis haematobia was found to be highly endemic with prevalence rates of upto 85%. The distribution of prevalences of infection in this location is very varied ranging from 1.6% in the East to 85% in the Southwest. Prevalences of infection were also noted to be lower in those areas closer to the main roads than farther away, a pattern that coincided also with the distribution of piped water in the area. Gross haematuria, observed by naked eye, did not give a similar picture as that of infection prevalences. Certain areas with high infection rates had relatively low levels of haematuria and vice versa. Thus, gross haematuria alone cannot be used (even in a broad sense) to categorize to compare levels of endemicity of S.heaematobium in this area.     

Advances in mechanisms of asthma, allergy, and immunology in 2011

2011 was marked by rapid progress in the identification of basic mechanisms of allergic disease and the translation of these mechanisms into human cell systems. Studies published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology this year provided new insights into the molecular determinants of allergenicity, as well as the environmental, cellular, and genetic factors involved in sensitization to allergens. Several articles focused on mechanisms of allergen immunotherapy and the development of novel strategies to achieve tolerance to allergens. Additional studies identified substantial contributions from T(H)17-type cells and cytokines to human disease pathogenesis. Finally, new therapeutic applications of anti-IgE were identified. The highlights of these studies and their potential clinical implications are summarized in this review.     

Occurrence of cyclopia, myelomeningocele, deafness, and abducens paralysis in siblings

As holoprosencephaly without chromosome defect may be associated with other CNS-related anomalies such as mental retardation, mental illness, facial paralysis, endocrine disorders, deafness, spina bifida, and myelomeningocele, we present a family in which one girl had a myelomeningocele, a brother had orbital hypotelorism, facial and cerebral asymmetries, cerebral palsy, abducens paralysis, and inner ear deafness. A 3rd pregnancy was terminated at 16 weeks; the fetus had cyclopia. A common cause is discussed in these cases and in those families in which holoprosencephaly and additional malformations occur among different generations.     

Distribution of sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, chlorine, potassium, calcium and iodine in mammalian thyroid gland.

Anhydrous specimen preparation techniques and X-ray microanalysis were used to study the elemental composition of the rat thyroid follicular cells and colloid in the follicular lumen. Analysis were performed in morphologically defined follicular cells and adjacent colloid. Use of semithin cryosections allowed us to selectively analyze cell nucleus and dense vesicles in the cytoplasm of follicular cells. The analytical results indicate that the basolateral and apical cell membrane of follicular cells act differently in the transport of iodine and other ions, thus creating ionic gradient in the follicular lumen as compared to that found in the follicular cells. High potassium levels were found in the colloid. This finding indicates an active secretion of potassium from the apical plasma membrane into the follicular lumen. High sulphur and calcium levels were also found in the colloid. Dense vesicles found in the cytoplasm of follicular cells varied in size and had different elemental composition.     

GH-, PRL-, POMC-, beta-TSH-, beta-LH-, beta-FSH-mRNA in gonadotroph adenomas of the pituitary by in situ hybridization in comparison with immunostaining and clinical data

In situ hybridization (ISH) enables the visualization of specific mRNA for pituitary hormones. Our collection consists of 40 surgically removed pituitary adenomas that were classified as follicle stimulating hormone/luteinizing hormone (FSH/LH) cell adenomas by structure and by immunostaining (IH) for all pituitary hormones. All forty adenomas were regarded as clinically inactive. The aim of our study was to examine nonfunctioning adenomas by ISH for demonostration of mRNAs for all pituitary hormones. The results were compared with proliferation markers, invasiveness and clinical data. ISH detected signals for all pituitary hormones at a range of 30% for prolactin (PRL) to 85% for proopiomelanocortin (POMC). mRNA for β-FSH was detected in 70% and β-LH mRNA in 43% of adenomas. Thirty-three percent of adenomas revealed negative mRNA detection for β-LH but positive hormone content. The majority of adenomas (75%) expressed more than two mRNAs simultaneously, mostly the combination of POMC mRNA together with β-FSH mRNA and one to four others. Comparison with clinical data showed no significant differences except for one adenoma with a high Ki-67 index (>2.1% positive nuclei). This adenoma showed very high signals for PRL and β-TSH mRNA.