Combination of ECMO and cytokine adsorption therapy for severe sepsis with cardiogenic shock and ARDS due to Panton–Valentine leukocidin—positive <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> pneumonia and H1N1

Sepsis-induced cardiogenic shock in combination with severe acute respiratory failure represents a life-threatening combination that is often refractory to the conventional methods of treatment. We describe the case of a 33-year-old patient who developed acute cardiovascular collapse and ARDS secondary to superinfection of Panton–Valentine leukocidin—positive Staphylococcus aureus and H1N1 pneumonia who underwent successful combination therapy for severe sepsis-related cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and cytokine adsorption therapy.     

Strain‐dependent induction of allergic rhinitis without adjuvant in mice

BACKGROUND: To date, no murine models have been reported to show the induction of both antigen-specific IgE and nasal eosinophilia, two of the major hallmarks of allergic rhinitis, after local sensitization in the absence of adjuvants, a phenomenon which reflects natural exposure. In this report, we attempted to establish a murine model representing an initiation of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: BALB/c, CBA/J, and C57BL/6 mice were sensitized intranasally to Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen (SEA) solely. After repeated sensitization, serum Ab titers, nasal eosinophilia, and cytokine production by nasal lymphocytes were determined. RESULTS: BALB/c mice produced SEA-specific IgE after repeated sensitization. High-dose sensitization to SEA induced IgE production in CBA/J mice, while C57BL/6 mice did not show the production throughout the period observed, suggesting that IgE production was regulated genetically. BALB/c mice also exhibited nasal eosinophilia after the nasal challenge. In addition, nasal lymphocytes sensitized with SEA intranasally produced significant amount of IL-5 in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that intranasal sensitization with SEA in the absence of adjuvants induces a Th2 immune reaction, reflecting the hallmarks of the initiation of allergic rhinitis both in vivo and in vitro, which is genetically regulated.     

胃肠胰胰岛淀粉样多肽的定位和表达

胰岛淀粉样多肽(islet armyloid polypeptide,IAPP)是1986年瑞典学者Westermarket al[1,2 ]从胰岛素瘤患者的瘤组织,糖尿病猫及Ⅱ型糖尿病患者胰岛淀粉样沉积物中分离出来的一种多肽,几乎在同时,英国生物化学家Cooper et al[3,4]也从Ⅱ型糖尿病患者的胰岛淀粉样沉积物中分离出该肽.IAPP又称为amylin.对IAPP的分子结构、基因表达和生理作用等已有许多报道[5].近年来,在IAPP定位、表达及胃肠胰IAPP免疫反应(immunoreactive,IR)细胞定位、发生、发育方面的研究报道,为探讨IAPP的生理作用及疾病状态下的改变,提供了形态学依据,现综述如下.     

血液采集和单采期间不良反应的发生率:一项单中心研究

通常认为异体血液采集的献血者发生不良反应和损伤的发生率低,但自体献血者不良反应发生率的数据则自相矛盾,单采不良反应的发生率和预测献血者反应的因素还知之甚少。 本文分析了作者输血中心1998年1月到2001年6月记录的血液和单采献血者的所有不良反应。作者对发生不良反应与未报告任何不良反应的献血者之间的人口统计学和身体特征进行比较,以便确定不良反应预测因素的存在。     

Posturography reflects clinical imbalance in Parkinson's disease

Assessment of imbalance in idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) usually relies on semi‐quantitative ratings. Posturography has been proposed as an objective means to assess imbalance but its relationship to clinical disequilibrium is questionable. In this study static and dynamic posturography was performed in 58 patients with IPD and 29 healthy controls. In patients, posturography was related to performance in established clinical tests (pull‐test and tandem gait). Posturography did not differentiate between controls and patients with impaired pull‐test (IPDimb, n = 28). Patients with normal pull‐test (IPDstab n = 30) had lower sway than controls in static (P = 0.042) and dynamic posturography (P = 0.001) and also differed from patients with impaired pull‐test in static (P = 0.007) and dynamic (P < 0.001) conditions. In patients with side‐steps in tandem gait (n = 21), sway in static and dynamic posturography was increased. Sway measures did not differentiate between patients with pull‐test scores 1 and 2 or one and >1 side step in tandem‐gait, respectively. Results of ANOVA showed that variance of static posturography was related to performance in tandem‐gait (P < 0.0001) but not to pull‐test performance (P = 0.91). In contrast, dynamic posturography was related to both, tandem‐gait (P = 0.012) and pull‐test (P = 0.03). Posturographic sway is increased in patients with IPD with disturbance of tandem gait and pull‐test. Posturographic measures did not distinguish between different degrees of deficits in clinical tests. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society     

Mini-Exon Genotyping of Leishmania Species in Khuzestan Province,Southwest Iran

Background

Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease cause by Leishmania genus. Anthroponotic and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis are endemic in Iran. The aim of this study was to identify the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis by mini-exon gene in five regions of Khuzestan Province, southwest of Iran.

Methods

From 2007 to 2008 in this cross-sectional study, cutaneous samples were collected from patients referred to Health Centers and Hospitals of the Khuzestan Province for cutaneous leishmaniasis diagnosis and cultured in Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle (NNN) and RPMI 1640. The propagated promastigotes were harvested and Leishmania species of cutaneous leishmaniasis were identified by RFLP and DNA sequencing of the PCR generated fragments.

Results

L. major and L. tropica were the causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis by predominantly of L. major species. The alignment of the mini-exon sequencing isolates with reported sequencing of L. major and L. tropica revealed 92%-99% identity.

Conclusion

Our study showed that mini-exon PCR-RFLP was useful method to identify the causative species of cutaneous leishmaniasis.     

Prevalence of Linguatula serrata Nymphs in Mesenteric Lymph Nodes of Cattle and Buffaloes Slaughtered in Ahvaz Abattoir,Iran

Background

Linguatula serrata, one of the parasitic zoonoses, inhabits the canine respiratory system (final hosts). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of L. serrata nymphs in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of cattle and buffaloes (intermediate hosts) that were processed in the Ahvaz, Iran abattoir.

Methods

During November 2010 to March 2011, 223 animals (119 cattle and 104 buffaloes), in different sex and three age groups (<2, 2–< 3 and 3-> 3 years old) were sampled randomly at Ahvaz abattoir. Up to 35 grams of their mesenteric lymph nodes were examined separately for nymphal stages of L. serrata by digesting the samples with acid- pepsin method, collected the nymphs and counted under stereomicroscope.

Results

Overall 37(16.6%) of 223 animals were infected with L. serrata nymphs in their mesenteric lymph nodes. Prevalence of the infection in cattle and buffaloes were 16.8% and 16.3% respectively. The number of collected nymphs of MLNs was ranged from 1 to 16. No significant differences were seen in the infection rates between males and females (sexes) and age groups in the cattle and buffaloes (P <0.05).

Conclusion

Linguatula serrata has an active life cycle in the studied area and a zoonotic potential for transmission between animal and human. Avoiding use of raw MLNs to dogs can help reduce the infection.     

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME REPRODUCTIVE PARAMETERS AND BIOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF BLOOD SERUM IN RAMS

The objective of the present study was to describe the relationship between some reproductive parameters, hormonal levels, and some biochemical properties of blood serum in rams under the Afyon province conditions. The total protein and globulin were positively (P?<?0.01) correlated with sperm motility and sperm concentration in all of rams. Total lipid was negatively (P?<?0.05) correlated with sperm motility and concentration in Daglic, and it was positively (P?<?0.01) correlated with percentage of abnormal spermatozoa in Chios rams. Total lipid and cholesterol was positively (P?<?0.01) correlated with triiodothyronine in all of rams and was negatively (P?<?0.05) correlated with testosterone in Daglic rams. Percentage of abnormal spermatozoa were negatively (P?<?0.01) correlated with alanine amino transaminase (ALT) level, but were positively (P?<?0.01) associated with aspartate amino transaminase (AST) level and AST/ALT ratio in all of rams.