Pili of Vibrio cholerae non-O1.

Pili of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 strain S7 were purified and characterized. The pili of S7 were morphologically, electrophoretically, and immunologically (as far as polyclonal antibody was used) indistinguishable from the 16-kilodalton pili of V. cholerae O1 strain 82P7. The purified pili and organisms had D-mannose- and L-fucose-resistant hemagglutinin. The hemagglutinating activity of the purified pili was inhibited by the Fab fraction of antipilus antibody, but the hemagglutinating activity of live organisms was not inhibited completely. The purified pili or Fab fraction of antipilus antibody did not inhibit the adhesion of V. cholerae non-O1 to rabbit intestines. Therefore, the pili were not regarded as a colonization factor of V. cholerae non-O1. A total of 148 V. cholerae non-O1 and O1 clinical isolates were screened for the presence of S7 pili by using an agglutination test with anti-S7 pilus serum; 12 of 49 V. cholerae non-O1 strains and 25 of 99 V. cholerae O1 strains were positive for agglutination. These agglutination reactions were not correlated with adhesion of the organisms to intestines.     

Identity of hemolysins produced by Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and V. cholerae O1, biotype El Tor.

Hemolysins purified from non-O1 Vibrio cholerae (non-O1 hemolysin) and a Vibrio cholerae O1, biotype El Tor (El Tor hemolysin) were investigated for their homology. The hemolysins were isolated from the culture supernatant fluids by ammonium sulfate precipitation and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 columns. The purified hemolysins gave single bands with an identical mobility on conventional polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. The molecular weights of the non-O1 and El Tor hemolysins were estimated to be about 60,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and the amino acid compositions of the hemolysins were very similar. The specific activities of the hemolysins were identical, and both hemolysins were neutralized to the same extent with antisera against the homologous and heterologous hemolysins. Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion tests with both hemolysins and antihemolysin serum gave a common (fused) precipitin line. These data indicate that the non-O1 hemolysin is biologically, physicochemically, and immunologically indistinguishable from the El Tor hemolysin.     

Effects of transfusion on gastrointestinal anastomotic wound healing and leukocyte function in rats

BACKGROUND: This study was done to investigate the effects of blood transfusion on gastrointestinal anastomotic wound healing and leukocyte function. METHODS: Closed-colony male Wistar rats were divided into five groups in a group-mixed fashion and underwent laparotomy (the CONT and WB groups) or gastrectomy and gastroduodenostomy (the GAST, GAST/WB and GAST/LDRWB groups). Immediately, they received 3 ml of saline (the CONT and GAST groups) or blood from Wistar donors (the WB and GAST/WB groups, whole blood; the GAST/LDRWB group, a transfusion of irradiated and leukocyte-depleted whole blood). The animals were killed 7 days after surgery. RESULTS: The GAST/WB group had a higher incidence of anastomotic abscess, a lower level of factor XIII and a lower maximum breaking strength than the GAST group. Gastrectomy decreased L-DCL (luminol-dependent chemiluminescence) more than whole-blood transfusion. In the GAST/WB group, L-DCL was severely reduced, while in the GAST/LDRWB group it was roughly equivalent to the level in the GAST group. CONCLUSIONS: Whole-blood transfusion increased the incidence of anastomotic abscess and impaired anastomotic wound healing, and these might relate to the reduction of L-DCL. Irradiated and leukocyte-depleted transfusion can improve these effects.     

Effects of habu (Trimeresurus flavoviridis) venom on isolated and perfused hearts of rats

Crude habu venom decreased coronary perfusion pressure and produced a small increase in myocardial tension of isolated and perfused rat hearts. Indomethacin infusion depressed the fall in perfusion pressure caused by the venom, without affecting the increase in tension. Heated venom decreased perfusion pressure, but did not increase myocardial tension. These results suggest that crude habu venom has coronary vasodilating and positive inotropic effects, possibly through actions of a phospholipase A2 and a heat-labile component, respectively.     

Blood transfusion causes deterioration in liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in rats.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the effects of blood transfusion on liver regeneration and function after hepatectomy in rats. METHODS: Inbred male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a sham operation or a 70% hepatectomy (PHx) and were randomly divided into seven groups according to transfusion type: groups I and II underwent a sham operation and received saline (I) or whole blood (II). Groups III to VII underwent PHx with saline (III), whole blood (IV), irradiated/leukocyte-depleted whole blood (V), plasma (VI), or autologous blood (VII). The liver regeneration rate, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index, serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) activity, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and activated transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta(1)) were measured 6 and 24 h and 5 days after PHx. RESULTS: The liver regeneration rate and PCNA labeling index were lower in groups IV and V than in the other groups. Serum liver enzymes 6 h after PHx were worst in groups IV and V. PNP activity increased most in group IV, 6 and 24 h after PHx. The HGF values 6 h after PHx in all the transfused groups were lower than in group III. The activated TGF-beta(1) level 6 h after surgery was highest in group IV. CONCLUSION: Whole blood or irradiated/leukocyte-depleted whole blood impaired liver regeneration after PHx, probably through the production of activated TGF-beta(1) and HGF outside the liver, and plasma or autologous blood reduced the deleterious effects.     

Six cases of rhabdomyolysis induced by dehydration

Rhabdomyolysis results from a variety of causes. We experienced 6 cases of rhabdomyolysis induced by dehydration in psychoneurosis patients or seniors. We should know dehydration as a risk factor for rhabdomyolysis especially in psychoneurosis patients or seniors.     

An inverse correlation of VZV skin-test reaction,but not antibody,with severity of herpes zoster skin symptoms and zoster-associated pain

BackgroundCell-mediated immunity (CMI) has been considered to be related to the development of herpes zoster (HZ). However, there have been no large-scale prospective studies on the relationship between VZV-specific CMI and severity of HZ.ObjectiveWe carried out a large-scale prospective cohort study to clarify the relationship between immunological factors for varicella-zoster virus (VZV) and the clinical severity of HZ.MethodsWe carried out a cohort study on VZV immunity in a population living on an island cluster, Shozu County in Japan, and examined the people who developed HZ during a median follow-up period of 2 years, with a focus on the relationship between cell-mediated and humoral immunity and the severity of skin lesions and zoster-associated pain. A total of 12,522 people over the age of 50 were enrolled in this study, and 258 registrants were diagnosed as HZ. CMI was measured by VZV skin test, and humoral immunity was assessed with serological tests (neutralization test, immunoadherence hemagglutination test, and gpELISA test) for VZV-specific antibodies.ResultsCMI to VZV assessed by VZV skin test showed a significant inverse relationship to the severity of HZ skin lesions, and also to the severity of acute and subacute pain. Furthermore, weak response to the VZV skin test was associated with a high risk of post-herpetic neuralgia. In contrast, VZV-specific antibody titer was not associated with the severity of skin lesions and zoster-associated pain.ConclusionVZV-specific CMI, but not humoral immunity, may play a key role in controlling the severity of HZ skin lesions and zoster-associated pain.     

Single oral administration of the novel CXCR4 antagonist, KRH-3955, induces an efficient and long-lasting increase of white blood cell count in normal macaques, and prevents CD4 depletion in SHIV-infected macaques: a preliminary study

We evaluated the long-term effects of the single oral administration of a new CXCR4 antagonist, KRH-3955, on elevation of white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil and lymphocyte counts in normal cynomolgus monkeys. In the monkeys treated with 0, 2, 20, 200 mg/kg of the compound, WBC, neutrophil and lymphocyte counts increased dramatically at 2 days after treatment. This effect was dose-dependent, and these cell counts remained elevated 15 days after drug treatment. Since neutrophils are the most abundant WBCs in circulation and bone marrow neutrophil exhaustion impairs the response to bacterial infections, it is intriguing to exploit this pharmacological increase of neutrophils as a tool to address its influence on viral infections in vivo. The SHIV infection studies using the SHIV-KS661c/cynomolgus monkey model showed that a single oral administration of KRH-3955 (100 mg/kg) approximately 24 h before virus exposure did not prevent infection, although it did prevent CD4 cell depletion in 3/3 monkeys. Furthermore, single oral administration of the drug 2 weeks before viral exposure rescued CD4 cells in 1/3 monkeys. This prevention of CD4 cell depletion was observed in both blood and lymphoid tissues. These results show that natural course of the SHIV infection is modulated by artificial increase of neutrophils and lymphocytes caused by KRH-3955 in the cynomolgus monkey model.     

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the stomach: clinicopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the stomach is an uncommon disease. Because of its rarity, the clinicopathological features are unclear, and there is no consensus on the optimal treatment strategy. This study included five consecutive patients with gastric NEC who underwent surgery from July 2001 to August 2011. Clinical presentation, tumor location, tumor morphology and size, pathology and immunohistochemistry results, and treatment outcome were analyzed retrospectively and discussed. The study cohort of four men and one woman ranged in age from 52 to 84 years, with a median age of 72 years. Positive rates of neuroendocrine markers were 40 % for chromogranin A, 60 % for synaptophysin, 60 % for CD56, 40 % for neuron-specific enolase, and 100 % for p53 protein. Median number of lymph node metastases per patient was 10, with severe lymphatic and venous infiltration, and high Ki-67 labeling index (60–90 %) reported for all patients. Median tumor size was 6 cm. Stage IV disease was diagnosed in three patients; the other two patients showed stage IIIA tumors. After a mean follow-up of 29.8 months, two of the five patients had died of the disease. Although rare, gastric NECs deserve particular attention because of their strong malignant potential associated with an extremely poor prognosis. Such carcinomas demand an aggressive surgical approach followed by chemotherapy and multimodality adjuvant therapy.