Isolation of Corynebacterium group D2 from two dogs with urinary tract infections.

Corynebacterium group D2 was isolated from two dogs with urinary tract infections. The isolates were resistant in vitro to all tested antibacterial drugs except vancomycin. One dog was successfully treated with this antibiotic, while the other died before treatment could be initiated.     

Immune complexes in early arthritis. L Detection of immune complexes before rheumatoid arthritis is definite

Fifty-three patients with early arthritis were studied longitudinally for up to 3 years. During this time, 24 developed sufficient features for definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be diagnosed. The other (arthralgia patients) differed from the RA patients as, in the majority, C-reactive protein and ESR were normal and anti-nuclear antibodies or rheumatoid factors were rarely found. Moreover, in time their signs and symptoms improved or disappeared. Circulating immune complexes were detected in both groups of patients by the platelet aggregation test whereas complexes detected by abnormal Clq-binding activity were found mainly in the RA patients. Platelet-aggregating complexes were usually present in the first samples studied and disappeared in the arthralgia patients with recovery from their symptoms. In the RA patients, Clq-binding complexes appeared simultaneously or later than platelet-aggregating complexes but both tests were positive several months before RA could be diagnosed. These results suggest that immune complexes are one of the first immunological abnormalities to appear in patients with arthritis. Although the constituent antigen and antibody of complexes detected by either test are unknown, their possible nature is discussed.     

Transmissible ileal hyperplasia of hamsters. II. Ultrastructure.

The ultrastructure of developing ileal lesions was characterized in weanling hamsters with experimentally induced transmissible ileal hyperplasia (TIH). The primary lesion was mucosal hyperplasia with progressive replacement of mature villus columnar absorptive cells by undifferentiated crypt-type cells. The undifferentiated, mitotically active cells expanded onto villus walls from their normal location in crypts by Day 10 and reached villus tips by Day 14. Aggregates of slightly curved, 0.3 X 1.5 mu, rod-shaped bacteria were detected in the apical cytoplasm of crypt epithelium by Day ;. They replicated intracellularly and accumulated in progressively greater numbers in hyperplastic cells. Active penetration of cells by intralumenal bacteria was not seen. The appearance and distribution of TIH-associated antigen, demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, was identical to that observed for intracellular bacteria. Hyperplastic, bacteria-laden crypt epithelium penetrated adjacent supporting tissues. Dilated crypts with flattened epithelium ruptured and released organisms into surrounding tissues. Pyogranulomatous inflammation began at 17 to 25 days and preceded or accompanied penetration of the muscle layers by expanding crypts. Macrophages and neutrophils in inflammatory lesions contained many phagocytized bacteria. In some advanced lesions mature, bacteria-free absorptive cells and goblet cells reappeared. These observations support the hypothesis that intestinal bacteria cause TIH.     

Somatization among older primary care attenders

BACKGROUND: The importance of somatization among older primary care attenders is unclear. We aimed to establish the prevalence, persistence and associations of somatization among older primary care attenders, and the associations of frequent attendance. METHOD: One hundred and forty primary care attenders over 65 years were rated twice, 10 months apart, on measures of somatization, psychiatric status, physical health and attendance. RESULTS: The syndrome of GMS hypochondriacal neurosis had a prevalence of 5% but was transient. Somatized symptoms and attributions were persistent and associated with depression, physical illness and perceived poor social support. Frequent attenders (top third) had higher rates of depression, physical illness and somatic symptoms, and lower perceived support. CONCLUSION: Somatization is common among older primary care attenders and has similar correlates to younger primary care somatizers. Psychological distress among older primary care attenders is associated with frequent attendance. Improved recognition should result in benefits to patients and services.     

Expression of a novel combination of fast and slow troponin T isoforms in rabbit extraocular muscles

Summary The properties of extraocular muscles (EOMs) are quite different from those of the trunk and limb. Here we show that there is a novel pattern of troponin T (TnT) expression in EOMs which most likely contributes to the fine control of ocular movement and may reflect their innervation by cranial motoneurons. Three regions of the muscle were analysed to distinguish the TnT isoforms present in the fast singly-innervated fibres from those in the multiply-innervated fibres. More than 95% of the TnT in the singly-innervated fibres is TnT_3f, which exhibits the most graded response to changes in calcium concentration during activation (Schachatet al., J. molec. Biol. 198, 551–4). In multiply-innervated fibres, which exhibit tonic contractures, the slow troponin T TnT_2s is expressed. While neither TnT_3f nor TnT_2s is unique to EOM, this pattern is unusual in two respects: first, both TnT_3f and TnT_2s are minor components of the trunk and limb musculature, and second, most muscles express several fast and both slow TnT species. Although EOM occupies a highly specialized physiological niche, its unusual physiology is not reflected in the presence of new TnT isoforms but in the expression of a different ratio of the known species of TnT.     

A pilot study of erythrocyte choline flux and content in affective disorders

Choline influx and choline content were measured in healthy volunteers (N = 36), patients with unipolar affective disorder (N = 28), and bipolar patients before and during treatment with lithium (N = 14, N = 13 respectively). Erythrocyte choline content was not found to be significantly elevated in any of the groups studied, except in patients taking lithium. Choline influx into the erythrocytes of healthy controls was found to decrease with increasing age, while choline influx into lithiated erythrocytes increased with increasing age in patients. An inverse relationship between erythrocyte choline influx and content was found to exist only in the erythrocytes of elderly healthy volunteers (greater than or equal to 60 years old).     

A general practice records audit of the process of care for people with epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: The appropriateness of epilepsy as a topic for general practice audit activity has been emphasized, but few audits have been undertaken to data and those that have are small scale. Historically, management of epilepsy has been a neglected area, and services for people with epilepsy remain generally poor. AIM: The study was designed to examine the process of care for people with epilepsy through a region-wide audit of general practitioner records. METHOD: General practitioners in 31 randomly selected general practices in one UK health region undertook a notes audit for all patients identified as having active epilepsy (patients who had had seizures in the last 2 years, or were currently seizure-free but on antiepileptic medication). A standard pro forma was used to collect information relating to diagnosis, drug treatment, and primary and secondary care contacts. RESULTS: Recording of information in the notes was generally good, but poor for some key items essential to the effective management of the condition; results suggest that a number of recommendations about provision of care for epilepsy are not being met: in particular, EEG and CT investigations often appear poorly directed; prescribed antiepileptic therapy is not always optimal; significant numbers of patients are being treated in hospital by non-neurologists; there is little evidence of any regular review being undertaken by general practitioners of their patients with epilepsy; and counselling about the non-clinical aspects of epilepsy often appears inadequate. CONCLUSIONS: Despite recommendations in a number of recent reports, gaps and inconsistencies in epilepsy care persist, both at the primary and secondary level. The means by which such shortcomings can be reduced (e.g. by specialist epilepsy nurses working across the primary-secondary care interface) should now be systematically examined. The study has highlighted a need for evidence-based guidelines which span the primary-secondary care interface and clarify the contribution of the various practitioners involved in the provision of care for people with epilepsy.     

Pathogenesis of infection with a virulent allotropic variant of minute virus of mice and regulation by host genotype.

Neonates of various inbred strains of mice expressed three susceptibility phenotypes in response to infection with the lymphocyte-specific variant of minute virus of mice (MVMi). MVMi caused asymptomatic infections in C57BL/6 (B6) mice, lethal infections with intestinal hemorrhage in DBA/2 mice, and lethal infections with renal papillary hemorrhage in BALB/c, SWR, SJL, CBA, and C3H (H) mice. Sequential virus titration, histology, in situ hybridization with a full-length MVMi genomic probe, and immunohistochemistry for viral capsid antigen were used to compare the pathogenesis of MVMi infection in B6 and H mice. Peak infectious virus titers in heart, lung, liver, spleen, kidney and intestine did not differ between strains but brains of B6 mice, unlike H mice, were refractory to infection. Lesions in H mice consisted of renal papillary infarcts and accelerated involution of hepatic erythropoietic foci. No lesions were seen in B6 mice. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry indicated that three cell types were primary targets of MVMi; endothelium, lymphocytes, and hepatic erythropoietic precursors. Renal papillary infarcts in H mice were associated with virus replication in endothelial nuclei of the vasa recta. In contrast to the parity of infectious virus titers between strains, fewer cells in target organs of B6 mice were labeled with the MVMi probe then were labeled in H mice and fewer cells expressed viral capsid antigen. These results indicate (a) that the allotropic variants of minute virus of mice may be useful tools to dissect molecular mechanisms of parvovirus virulence, (b) that the virulence of MVMi for neonatal mice does not reside in its lymphotropism, and (c) that genetic susceptibility to lethal MVMi infection may result from overproduction of noninfectious virus products.     

Genetics of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases

Bacteria have adapted to the introduction of aztreonam, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone and other oxyimino-β-lactams by altering existing plasmid-mediated class A and class D β-lactamases so as to expand their spectrum of activity. In the TEM and SHV families of extended-spectrum β-lactamases, relative activity toward oxyimino-substrates increases with the number of amino acid substitutions but at the price of lowered intrinsic efficiency, so that compensatory up-promoter events are often associated with increased enzyme expression. Another new mechanism of resistance is the capture on plasmids of normally chromosomal genes fromEnterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii orPseudomonas aeruginosa, which upon transfer can provideKlebsiella pneumoniae orEscherichia coli with resistance to α-methoxy-β-lactams, such as cefoxitin or cefotetan, as well as to oxyimino-β-lactams.     

Effects of Anthocyanin on Intestinal Health: A Systematic Review

Intestinal health relies on the association between the mucosal immune system, intestinal barrier and gut microbiota. Bioactive components that affect the gut microbiota composition, epithelial physical barrier and intestinal morphology were previously studied. The current systematic review evaluated evidence of anthocyanin effects and the ability to improve gut microbiota composition, their metabolites and parameters of the physical barrier; this was conducted in order to answer the question: “Does food source or extract of anthocyanin promote changes on intestinal parameters?”. The data analysis was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines with the search performed at PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases for experimental studies, and the risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE tool. Twenty-seven studies performed in animal models were included, and evaluated for limitations in heterogeneity, methodologies, absence of information regarding allocation process and investigators’ blinding. The data were analyzed, and the anthocyanin supplementation demonstrated positive effects on intestinal health. The main results identified were an increase of Bacteroidetes and a decrease of Firmicutes, an increase of short chain fatty acids production, a decrease of intestinal pH and intestinal permeability, an increase of the number of goblet cells and tight junction proteins and villi improvement in length or height. Thus, the anthocyanin supplementation has a potential effect to improve the intestinal health. PROSPERO (CRD42020204835).