Detection of canine echinococcosis by coproantigen ELISA

ObjectiveTo study the canine echinococcosis by coproantigen ELISA method.MethodsDuring the present investigation experimental infection was established using evaginated worms of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). To check cross reactivity two pups were infected with Taenia hydatigena (T. hydatigena). In order to detect the presence of antigen, hyperimmune sera were raised against excretory-secretory products of adult worms E. chinococcus granulosus. Faecal sample collected either from experimentally infected pups or from other sources were heated at 70 °C to detect heat stable soluble antigen.ResultsPups harbouring less than 104 worms showed negative results. Samples collected from 14 days onwards from experimentally infected animals harbouring more than 104 worms showed positive value. The maximum positive samples were detected in samples collected from in and around slaughter house and the least number of samples were detected positive maintained by dog squad.ConclusionsThe affinity purified IgG exhibited promising results for detection of canine echinococcosis by indirect ELISA.     

Oral and general health-related quality of life among young patients with haemophilia

Summary.  The clinical diagnosis of dental diseases may indicate their cause and prognosis, however it gives little information about resulting levels of impairment from the patients' perspective. In this study, we aimed to investigate oral and general health-related quality of life (OHRQoL-HRQoL) in patients with haemophilia; and to test whether haemophiliacs would have worse or better OHRQoL compared with the general population. Data were collected from haemophiliacs (age range 14–35; mean 23 ± 6.58, n  = 71) and age/sex-matched controls (age range 14–35; mean 21.00 ± 6.45, n  = 60) through face-to-face interviews including nine questions and using oral health impact profile (OHIP)-14, oral health-related quality of life-UK (OHQoL-UK), short-form general measure of health (SF)-36 to measure self-rating oral health status, perceived dental treatment needs, tooth brushing frequencies, OHRQoL-HRQoL. In the field of self-rating oral health status, perceived dental treatment needs, tooth brushing frequencies and OHIP, OHQoL-UK, SF-36 scores – except the subscales including vitality, role emotional and mental health – the control group is in better conditions compared with the haemophilia group. At the same time, both the two groups are in good conditions in dental attendance, vitality, role emotional and mental health. Life quality is related with the perceived discrepancy between the reality of what a person has and the concept of what that person wants, needs or expects. In order to eliminate the dilemma in the field of health, we should facilitate the haemophiliacs' lives by serving the health care in a multidisciplinary view.     

Synergistic inhibition of platelet activation by plasmin and prostaglandin I2

Endothelial cell prostacyclin (PGI2) inhibits platelet activation by raising platelet cyclic AMP. Previously, platelet activation was also shown to be blocked by plasmin formed by endothelium-derived tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). We have now studied interactions between PGI2 and plasmin in the control of platelet function. PGI2 and plasmin cause synergistic inhibition of thrombin- and ADP-induced aggregation of washed platelets. Inhibition by PGI2 is similarly potentiated by TPA added to platelet-rich plasma to generate plasmin. Thrombin-stimulated rise in platelet cytosolic Ca2+, measured by fura2 fluorescence, and thromboxane A2 formation, measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), are likewise synergistically inhibited by PGI2 and plasmin. Plasmin neither increases nor potentiates PGI2-stimulated increases in platelet cyclic AMP. Thus, PGI2 and plasmin cause synergistic inhibition of platelet activation by both cyclic AMP-dependent and independent mechanisms. This interaction between two different endothelium-derived products may play an important role in localizing the hemostatic plug to a site of vascular injury by preventing further thrombin-mediated accrual of platelets.     

Activated natural killer cells and interleukin-2 promote granulocytic and megakaryocytic reconstitution after syngeneic bone marrow transplantation in mice

Purified populations of natural killer (NK) cells were obtained from mice with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). SCID spleen cells were cultured and activated with recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL- 2) in vitro. The activated NK cells were then transferred with syngeneic BALB/c bone marrow cells (BMC) and rhIL-2 into lethally irradiated syngeneic recipients to determine their effect on long-term hematopoietic reconstitution. On analysis, the transfer of rhIL-2- activated NK cells along with BMC resulted in significant increases in splenic and BM hematopoietic progenitor cells when compared with those for mice not receiving NK cells. Histologic and flow cytometric analysis showed a marked increase in granulocytic and megakaryocytic lineage cells present in the spleens of the mice receiving activated NK cells. Analysis of the peripheral blood indicated that the transfer of activated NK cells with BMC also significantly improved platelet and total white blood cell counts, with increases in segmented neutrophils. Erythroid recovery was not affected. Finally, lethally irradiated mice receiving activated NK cells and rhIL-2 along with limiting numbers of syngeneic BMC showed a marked increase in survival rate. These results show that the use of populations enriched for activated NK cells after syngeneic BM transplantation (BMT) has a profound enhancing effect on engraftment primarily affecting megakaryocytic and granulocytic cell reconstitution. Therefore, the transfer of activated NK cells and rhIL- 2 may be of clinical use to promote hematopoietic reconstitution after BMT.     

Atypical respiratory complications of dengue fever

In last decade, dengue has emerged as one of the most important vector born disease. With increasing cases, uncommon presentations and complications are now commonly recognized. Here, we report two cases of rare pattern of respiratory involvement in dengue: acute respiratory distress syndrome and bronchiolitis with respiratory failure.     

The contribution of activated factor XIII to fibrinolytic resistance in experimental pulmonary embolism

BACKGROUND: The resistance of thrombi to fibrinolysis induced by plasminogen activators remains a major impediment to the successful treatment of thrombotic diseases. This study examines the contribution of activated factor XIII (factor XIIIa) to fibrinolytic resistance in experimental pulmonary embolism. METHODS AND RESULTS: The fibrinolytic effects of specific inhibitors of factor XIIIa-mediated fibrin-fibrin cross-linking and alpha2-antiplasmin-fibrin cross-linking were measured in anesthetized ferrets with pulmonary emboli. Five experimental groups were treated with heparin (100 U/kg) and/or tissue plasminogen activator (TPA, 1 mg/kg) and the percent (mean+/-SD) lysis of emboli was determined: (1) control, normal factor XIIIa activity (14.1+/-4. 8% lysis); (2) inhibited factor XIIIa activity (42.7+/-7.4%); (3) normal factor XIIIa activity+TPA (32.3+/-7.7%); (4) inhibited factor XIIIa activity+TPA (76.0+/-11.9%); and (5) inhibited alpha2-antiplasmin-fibrin cross-linking+TPA (54.7+/-3.9%). Inhibition of factor XIIIa activity increased endogenous lysis markedly (group 1 versus 2; P<0.0001), to a level comparable to that achieved with TPA (group 2 versus 3; P<0.05). Among groups receiving TPA, selective inhibition of factor XIII-mediated alpha2-antiplasmin-fibrin cross-linking enhanced lysis (group 3 versus 5; P<0.0005). Complete inhibition of factor XIIIa also amplified lysis (group 3 versus 4; P<0.0001) and had greater effects than inhibition of alpha2-antiplasmin cross-linking alone (group 4 versus 5; P<0.0005). No significant fibrinogen degradation occurred in any group. CONCLUSIONS: Factor XIIIa-mediated fibrin-fibrin and alpha2-antiplasmin-fibrin cross-linking both caused experimental pulmonary emboli to resist endogenous and TPA-induced fibrinolysis. This suggests that factor XIIIa may play a critical role in regulating fibrinolysis in human thrombosis.     

Perianal anatomy in non-abused preschool children

The purpose of this study was to describe the normal variation in perianal anatomy in preschool children, selected for non-abuse, and to compare the findings in two examination positions. A letter of invitation was sent to 3773 children, after which 305 children (103 boys and 202 girls) were recruited. Inclusion in the study was based on self-selection, whereby parents who did not suspect any occurrence of sexual abuse of their child gave informed consent to participate. The mean age of the children was 5.63 y (range: 5.13-6.75). An anal examination was performed in the left lateral position (LLP) and the prone knee-chest position (KCP), for approximately 30 s each. A colposcope and a camera were used. All data were systematically analysed for gender differences, and a paired sample test was used to compare findings in LLP and KCP. Venous congestion in LLP and external anal dilatation in both positions were significantly more common in girls, while midline depressions and smooth areas (both positions) were significantly more common in boys. External and total anal dilatation, midline smooth areas and depressions and the occurrence of a prominent anal verge were significantly more common in the KCP. The finding of total anal dilatation was rare. CONCLUSION: We observed several gender and position differences in perianal anatomy, and most of these findings seem to be related to structure and tone in the anal muscles.