Nationwide outbreak of listeriosis due to contaminated meat

We used molecular subtyping to investigate an outbreak of listeriosis involving residents of 24 US states. We defined a case as infection with Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b yielding one of several closely related patterns when subtyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Patients infected with strains yielding different patterns were used as controls. A total of 108 cases were identified with 14 associated deaths and four miscarriages or stillbirths. A case-control study implicated meat frankfurters as the likely source of infection (OR 17.3, 95% CI 2.4-160). The outbreak ended abruptly following a manufacturer-issued recall, and the outbreak strain was later detected in low levels in the recalled product. A second strain was recovered at higher levels but was not associated with human illness. Our findings suggest that L. monocytogenes strains vary widely in virulence and confirm that large outbreaks can occur even when only low levels of contamination are detected in sampled food. Standardized molecular subtyping and coordinated, multi-jurisdiction investigations can greatly facilitate detection and control of listeriosis outbreaks.     

Immunoaffinity purification, stabilization and comparative characterization of listeriolysin O from Listeria monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a and 4b.

We developed a simple and highly effective procedure for stabilizing the haemolytic activity of listeriolysin O (LLO) from Listeria monocytogenes after immunoaffinity purification. The haemolytic activity of LLO was stabilized by eluting it directly into tubes containing an alkaline buffer (5 mM lysine, 140 mM KCl, 50% ethylene glycol, pH 11.5). The purified LLO retained 100% of its haemolytic activity after 6 weeks of storage at -20 degrees C. LLO purified from a strain of L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a (ATCC 43249) and LLO purified from a strain of L. monocytogenes serotype 4b (F 2365) isolated from a Mexican-style cheese, showed no significant differences in pH and temperature stability. When incubated in buffers at pH values from 4 to 12 at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C, LLO from serotypes 1/2a and 4b retained maximal haemolytic activity at pH 8 after 4 h of incubation. LLO from both serotypes lost their haemolytic activity after incubation at 50 degrees C for 25 min.     

Post-traumatic abnormalities of the pubic bone simulating malignancy

Three cases are presented in which unusual healing patterns of pubic features simulated malignant processes. Consideration of trauma as an etiologic factor in such cases may obviate the need for extensive clinical and histologic evaluation.     

皮炎消净饮I号冲剂治疗异位性皮炎的实验研究

目的：研究皮炎消净饮I号冲剂（PYXJY1）治疗异位性皮炎（AD）的作用机理。方法：①动物实验：二硝基氯苯（DNCB）所致豚鼠耳肿试验,致敏处真皮内单核细胞和淋巴细胞聚集试验;醋酸所致小鼠腹腔毛细血管通透性增加试验。②实验室检测：单克隆抗体免疫荧光标记法检测AD患有治疗前后的CD4／CD8（TH／Ts）水平。结果：PYXJY1可明显抑制二硝基氯苯所致豚鼠耳肿胀及其真皮内单核细胞和淋巴细胞聚集,抑制醋酸所致小鼠腹腔毛细血管通透性的增加,作用与氢化可的松相似。使AD患者升高的CD4／CD8降低至正常。结论：PYXJY1具有良好的抗炎和迟发变态反应作用,并可调节AD患者CD4／CD8水平,对AD有较好的治疗效果。     

Altered Ig levels and antibody responses in mice deficient for the Fc receptor for IgM (FcμR)

Cell surface Fc receptor for IgM antibody (FcμR) is the most recently identified member among FcRs. We determined the cellular distribution of mouse FcμR and the functional consequences of Fcmr disruption. Surface FcμR expression was restricted to B-lineage cells, from immature B to plasma cells, except for a transient down-modulation during germinal center reactions. Fcmr ablation had no significant effect on overall B- and T-cell development, but led to a reduction of marginal zone B cells and an increase in splenic B1 B cells. Preimmune serum IgM in mutant mice was significantly elevated as were natural autoantibodies. When immunized with live attenuated pneumococci, mutant mice mounted robust antibody responses against phosphorylcholine, but not protein, determinants compared with wild-type mice. By contrast, upon immunization with a hapten-carrier conjugate, nitrophenyl-coupled chicken γ-globulin (NP-CGG), the mutant mice had a diminished primary IgG1 response to both NP and CGG. These findings suggest that FcμR has an important role in IgM homeostasis and regulation of humoral immune responses.     

hs-CRP is a potential predictor of no-reflow in patients with AMI after emergency PCI

The paper aims to determine whether the inflammation,a powerful risk factor that has been demonstrated for the development of coronary artery disease,plays a role in no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).Methods We prospectively analyzed 656 patients with AMI after primary PCI.Based on post-PCI angiography data,patients were divided into two groups:the no-reflow group (TIMI=2,n =60) and the reflow group (TIMI=3,n =596).Results Our results showed that the inflammatory factors including leukocyte count (×109/L) (10.90±4.04 vs.9.12±2.98 P =0.002),hs-CRP (5.04±0.71 vs.4.70±0.75 P =0.001) and other factor platelet count (×109/L) (210.96±33.42 vs.196.41±46.06 P =0.033) in no-reflow group are significantly higher than those in reflow group,major adverse cardiac events happened in the patients with no-reflow are higher than in reflow patients no matter in hospital or at the end of follow-up.We also found the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) dramatically decreased (58.65±9.34 vs.51.29±11.38,P＜0.001) and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) significantly increased (49.94±6.75 mm vs.54.66±6.68mm,P＜0.001) in no-reflow patients at the end of follow-up.Conclusions Our results suggest that inflammation factors function in no-reflow phenomenon,and no-reflow is a serious complication after primary PCI which predicts poor left ventricular systolic functional recovery and mortality in patients with AMI.(J Geriatr Cardiol 2008;5:217-222)     

Lipid peroxidation and cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory activities of acidic aqueous extracts of some dietary supplements

The botanical supplement market is growing at a fast pace with more and more people resorting to them for maintaining good health. Echinacea, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, Siberian ginseng, grape seed extract, kava kava, saw palmetto and St John's wort are some of the popular supplements used for a variety of health benefits. These supplements are associated with various product claims, which suggest that they possess cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme and lipid s inhibitory activities. COX enzymes are found to be at elevated levels in inflamed and cancerous cells. To test some of the product claims, selected supplements were analysed for their ability to inhibit COX-1 and -2 enzymes and lipid peroxidation in vitro. The supplements were extracted with acidified water (pH 2) at 37 degrees C to simulate the gastric environment. The supplements tested demonstrated varying degrees of COX enzyme inhibition (5-85% for COX-1 and 13-28% for COX-2). Interestingly, extracts of garlic (Meijer), ginkgo (Solaray), ginseng (Nature's Way), Siberian ginseng (GNC, Nutrilite, Solaray, Natrol), kava kava (GNC, Sundown, Solaray) and St John's wort (Nutrilite) selectively inhibited COX-2 enzyme. These supplements also inhibited lipid peroxidation in vitro (5-99%). The results indicated that the consumption of these botanical supplements studied possess health benefits.