A longitudinal study of Bayou virus, hosts, and habitat

What is currently known about the ecology of North American hantaviruses has come largely from studies on Sin Nombre virus (SNV). We conducted a longitudinal study of Bayou virus (BAYV), the second-leading agent of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the United States. Antibodies to hantavirus were detected from Oryzomys palustris (most commonly infected species), Sigmodon hispidus, Peromyscus leucopus, Reithrodontomys fulvescens, and Baiomys taylori. However, only O. palustris had viral RNA in tissues and excreta, suggesting that antibodies detected in other species may have resulted from spill-over infection. Seroprevalence rates averaged around 16% for O. palustris and varied seasonally. The heaviest males exhibited the highest levels of seroprevalence. Seroprevalence was higher in coastal prairie (20.0%) than old-fields (10.5%) and was associated with host abundance. These patterns are similar to those of SNV and can be used in identification of potentially at-risk areas.     

Neuroendocrine, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of pineal region tumors

Abstract: Thirteen patients with tumors in the pineal region were submitted to pre- and post-operative blood sampling (08:00, 14:00, 20:00, and 02:00 hr) for three or four consecutive days. A single cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was collected at surgery, and melatonin levels determined. In all patients, serum and CSF beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (βHCG), carcino embryonic antigen (CEA), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were measured. Histology revealed four pineocytomas, one pineoblastoma, four germinomas, one immature teratoma, one pilocytic astrocytoma, one lymphoma, and one meningioma. Serum and CSF levels of serological biomarkers were normal, except for one of the germinoma cases. In most patients, alteration either in the circadian rhythm or in the melatonin concentration was observed before surgery. In benign neoplasms the circadian rhythm was conserved. In pineoblastoma, lymphoma, and three out of four germinomas, melatonin concentrations were undetectable. In one case of germinoma, melatonin levels were high, with the circadian rhythm being abolished. According to conventional histology, all germinomas were similar. Therefore, in a rare case of pineal germinoma with high melatonin levels, the tissue was subjected to an in depth investigation (immunohistochemical and ultrastructural) in order to determine the pathology and the possible differences from the other typical germinomas. Results were compared to those provided from other pineal neoplasms. Electron microscopy examination detected the presence of clusters of intermediate filaments and numerous electrondense granules only in the case of a germinoma producing melatonin.     

Longitudinal study of progestins, mineralocorticoids, and glucocorticoids throughout human pregnancy

The maternal adrenal cortex seems to be involved in the adaptation to pregnancy. To study in detail adrenocortical secretion during pregnancy, we measured plasma aldosterone, corticosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, progesterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycortisol, cortisol, and cortisone simultaneously by RIA after extraction and automated Sephadex LH-20 chromatography of 10 normal pregnant women longitudinally throughout pregnancy at weeks 8-10, 14-17, 21-24, 28-32, and 38 as well as at the time of admission to the delivery room. The mean plasma progesterone and 17-hydroxy-progesterone concentrations increased from 37.2 +/- 6.5 (+/- SE) and 8.2 +/- 1.0 nmol/L, respectively, in early gestation to maximum levels of 138.0 +/- 25.7 and 22.8 +/- 2.2 nmol/L at week 38 (P less than 0.01). Plasma glucocorticoid levels rose 2- to 3-fold (P less than 0.01) from weeks 8-10 (corticosterone, 18.5 +/- 5.4; 11-deoxycortisol, 1.9 +/- 0.2; cortisone, 24.2 +/- 4.2; cortisol, 195.5 +/- 37.6 nmol/L) to week 38 (corticosterone, 42.9 +/- 11.2; 11-deoxycortisol, 4.6 +/- 0.5; cortisone, 71.5 +/- 13.6; cortisol, 420 +/- 63 nmol/L). Similarly, plasma mineralocorticoid levels increased 5- to 7-fold (P less than 0.01) from weeks 8-10 (11-deoxycorticosterone, 0.69 +/- 0.12; aldosterone, 0.41 +/- 0.08 nmol/L) to maximum levels at week 38 (5.3 +/- 0.9 and 2.1 +/- 0.3 nmol/L, respectively). At the time of admission to the delivery room, plasma 11-deoxycortisol, corticosterone, and cortisol concentrations were higher (P less than 0.02) than at 38 weeks, but plasma progestin and mineralocorticoid concentrations were not. We conclude that the source of the elevated maternal corticosteroid levels in pregnancy in addition to the estrogen-mediated rise in corticosteroid-binding globulin is the maternal adrenal cortex itself. The peak glucocorticoid levels at admission to the delivery room reflect increased maternal and fetal stress with the onset of labor.     

Histological study of alcoholic, nonalcoholic, and obstructive chronic pancreatitis.

Pancreatic tissue obtained from 26 patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis (ACP), nine patients with nonalcoholic idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (NAICP), and seven patients with obstructive chronic pancreatitis (OCP) was studied in an attempt to determine whether clinical or etiologic differences have a morphologic counterpart. Histologically it was easy to distinguish ACP from OCP occurring distal to an obstruction of the pancreatic duct. Nine patients with NAICP showed histological features similar to those found in ACP. Plugs and calcifications were found as frequently in NAICP as in ACP, suggesting that NAICP, whatever the etiology, is truly pancreatolithiasis, which leads to slowly progressive fibrosis and acinar atrophy in the obstructed pancreatic lobule. Nerve fibers were found to be more numerous in all disease categories. Inflammatory foci of lymphocytes associated with nerves were observed in 57 and 35% of cases with OCP and ACP, respectively, but only in one patient with NAICP. These findings may constitute a pathological basis for the existing clinical data showing that NAICP frequently runs a pain-free course.     

Tanfelam: synthesis, study of ovicidal activity, and acute toxicity

The papers describes the synthesis of N-(2-piperidinoethyl)-N-tosyl-n-anisidine (Tanfelam) which showed a 100% ovicidal activity when tested by the Harada and Mori methods (in vitro inhibited N.brasiliensis hatching and development test). Tanfelam has been transferred for in-depth tests.     

A clinical, immunological, and histological study of neuritic leprosy patients

An assessment has been made of 108 neuritic leprosy patients to find out if the number of affected nerves and the clinical presentations of these patients give any indication of the underlying severity (classification) of the disease. Detailed clinical recordings, skin smears, lepromin testing with Dharmendra antigen, and a leukocyte migration inhibition test (LMIT) using sonicated Mycobacterium leprae antigens were done in these patients. Nerve biopsies of available affected nerves were taken in 39 patients. The results show that neuritic leprosy patients also have a spectrum. However, none of the clinical parameters, including the number and distribution of affected nerves, the immune response and the nerve histology, were found to be inter-related. Further, even though all of the patients were skin-smear negative, a significant proportion showed lepromatous histology and nearly two thirds had a moderate-to-heavy bacterial load within the nerves.     

Clinicopathological,treatment, and prognosis study of 43 gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas

AIM To provide more information and therapeutic methods about gastric neuroendocrine carcinomas(G-NECs) which occur rarely but are highly malignant and clinically challenging.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics, treatments, and prognosis of 43 G-NEC patients at our hospital between January 2007 and December 2014. The diagnosis was based on the 2010 World Health Organization criteria.RESULTS Forty-three G-NECs containing 39 small cell carcinomas and 4 large cell NECs with Ki67 60% were included in this study, accounting for only 0.95% of all gastric carcinomas. The median patient age was 62 years (range, 33-82) and the male-to-female ratio was 4.4:1. All patients underwent surgery, including 38 curative resections and 5 palliative resections. Among these 43 patients, nearly half(48.84%) of these tumors were located in the cardiac region of the stomach, regional lymph node metastasis was found in 31 cases(72.09%), and liver metastasis was found in 6 cases(13.95%). Follow-up information was got for 40 patients. Twentythree die of this disease with a median survival of 31 mo(range 1-90). The 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 5-year survival rate was 77.50%, 57.04%, 44.51%, and 35.05%, respectively. Survival was better in patients with tumor located in the cardiac region of the stomach, less than 7 lymph nodes metastasis and no liver metastasis. Five patients did not undergo postoperative chemotherapy, and the median survival time for these patients was 15 mo. For the remaining 34 patients who received postoperative chemotherapy, the median survival time was 44 mo and those received etoposide, cisplatin, and Paclitaxel survived the best. One patient with resected liver metastasis who received postoperative Capecitabine plus Oxaliplatin and Paclitaxel systemic chemotherapy plus octreotide LAR(30 mg intramuscularly, every 4 wk, for 2 years) has survived for 74 mo with no recurrence.CONCLUSION G-NECs are mostly nonfunctioning, which lead to a delay in detection. Local and/or distant metastases were noticed in most patients when diagnosed, and they required postoperative medical treatment. Adjuvant etoposide, cisplatin plus Paclitaxel systemic chemotherapy is recommended for these patients.     

Comparative study of a new antihistamine, mequitazine, and placebos]

In a double-blind trial lasting 2 weeks, a new, long-acting antihistamine, Mequitazine, and a placebo, were compared. 115 allergic patients participated in this experiment (mequitazine n = 56, placebo n = 59). Therapeutic results and the effect on diurnal alertness were evaluated by means of a questionnaire filled in daily by the patients. Whether considering the day by day results or the results of the entire treatment period, statistically, Mequitazine (10 mg/24 hrs) is very significantly more active than the placebo. The daytime drowsiness induced by Mequitazine is statistically no greater than that induced by the placebo, whether analyzed on a day by day basis or over the entire treatment period (P = 0.23). The side effects, 8 for Mequitazine, 5 for placebo, are mild and did not lead to discontinuation of the treatment in the Mequitazine group.     

A controlled study of clopamide, clorexolone, and hydrochlorothiazide in diabetics

The hyperglycemic effects of clopamide 30 mg/day, clorexolone 25 mg/day and hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/day were compared in a double-blind trial. The subjects were 18 established diabetics with mild hypertension or diabetic retinopathy. In the 15 patients not receiving insulin, clopamide and clorexolone caused a considerable elevation of the mean blood glucose, but hydrochlorothiazide at the dose used had no significant effect. Clopamide, clorexolone and, to a lesser extent, hydrochlorothiazide lowered the plasma potassium, blood pressure and body weight, and raised the blood urea. In the three insulin-dependent patients the changes in blood glucose were small and not statistically significant, although the changes in most other variables were similar to those described for the remainder of the group. The clinical and metabolic implications of these findings are discussed.     

Comparative study of the abuse liability of alprazolam, lorazepam, diazepam, methaqualone, and placebo

Subjective effects of two benzodiazepines--alprazolam and lorazepam--were compared with two drugs of known abuse potential--diazepam and methaqualone--and placebo. This double-blind, crossover trial tested 30 casual recreational sedative users in a seminaturalistic setting. Methaqualone was more euphoriant and less sedative than the benzodiazepines. Diazepam and lorazepam were more euphoriant than placebo; alprazolam's euphoriant effect did not differ from these treatments. On other measures of abuse liability the benzodiazepines rated similarly, diazepam rating highest.     

Thyroid and celiac disease: clinical, serological, and echographic study

Objective: We sought to reevaluate the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction and thyroid autoimmunity in 47 patients with celiac disease; 91 healthy subjects were studied as controls. Both patients and controls were from Sardinia, Italy.
Methods: Diagnosis of celiac disease was made on the basis of clinical history, presence of positive antigliadin IgA (AGA-A) and IgG (AGA-G) antibodies, antireticulin antibodies (ARA), antiendomysium antibodies (EMA), and was confirmed by jejunal biopsy. HLA class II typing for DQB1 and DQA1 alleles was performed in 36/47 celiac patients. Thyroid was evaluated by palpation and echography; serum free thyroid hormones (FT4, FT3), thyrotropic hormone (TSH), and antithyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (anti-TPO) were assayed by radioimmunoassays.
Results: The prevalence of anti-TPO was higher in celiac patients (29.7%) than in healthy controls (9.6%) (   p < 0.001  ) and thyroid echography frequently displayed (42.5%) a hypoechogenic pattern. Five anti-TPO–positive celiac patients were hypothyroid (two overt, three subclinical). A higher but not significantly different prevalence of anti-TPO (3/ 7 = 42.8%) was found in celiac patients displaying the DQB1*0502 genotype, when compared with the remaining patients (8/29 = 27.6%).
Conclusions: An elevated prevalence of clinical and subclinical autoimmune thyroid autoimmunity was found in Sardinian celiac patients, especially in those displaying the DQB1*0502 genotype; this finding could be related to a particular genetic background of the Sardinian population.     

Population-based case-control study of measles, mumps, and rubella and inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND: Previous controversy was generated over the hypothesis that a paramyxovirus such as measles or vaccination against such viruses might be causally associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine if Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) subjects are more likely to be seropositive for measles, mumps, or rubella than controls. METHODS: Using our population-based University of Manitoba IBD Research Registry we recruited CD (n = 235) and UC (n = 137) subjects ages 18-50 years for a study involving detailed questionnaires and venipuncture. We accessed the population-based databases of Manitoba Health (single provincial health insurer) to get age-, gender-, and geography-matched non-IBD controls (n = 310). We used a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure serum antibodies. RESULTS: Seropositivity for measles and mumps was similar in controls (98.1%, 78.4%, respectively) as in CD (96.2%, 72.3% respectively) and in UC (95.5%, 74.6%, respectively). However, controls were significantly more likely to be seropositive for rubella (98.1%) than were CD cases (91.0%, P < 0.0002) or UC cases (93.3%, P = 0.01). Males accounted for the significantly lower rates of seropositivity to rubella with CD. While we determined that significantly more controls than CD were vaccinated, we cannot be sure if the increased rate of rubella seropositivity in controls is secondary to wildtype or vaccine-associated infection. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest there is no association of having acquired measles, mumps, or rubella (by natural infection or through vaccination) and CD or UC. If anything, these data may suggest some protective effect of having acquired rubella infection or vaccine against acquiring CD.