Presence of the genes regarding adherence factors of Escherichia coli isolates and a consideration of the procedure for detection of diarrheagenic strain

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are differentiated from non-pathogenic members with enterotoxin production, enteroinvasiveness and serotyping. However, the serotypic members are rarely sufficient to reliably identify a strain as diarrheagenic on E. coli. Recently, there are many definite articles which the adhesive E. coli strain against intestinal epithelial cells is enterovirulent. In this study, 1,748 E. coli isolates of diarrheagenic and non-diarrheagenic categories which belonged to EHEC, ETEC, EIEC EPEC and non-EPEC were examinated by PCR method for the presence of eaeA, aggR and bfpA regarding adherence factor genes, and astA of EAST1. The strains examined were recognized to variable carrying geno-patterns, and a large number of EHEC, EPEC and non-EPEC had carried either eaeA or aggR genes. In EHEC isolates, a carrying pattern with the most high frequency was only eaeA, and this type was recognized in the isolates of serotype O157, O26 and O111. EPEC and non-EPEC isolates were recognized eaeA or aggR which harboring with astA or not. Of 508 EPEC isolates from human, a total of 137 isolates (27.0%) carried aggR, and a total of 74 isolates (14.6%) had eaeA, while of the 91 isolates from non-human were recognized aggR and eaeA with 2.2% (2 isolates) and 12.1% (11 isolates), respectively. Also, of 266 non-EPEC isolates from human, a total of 16 isolates (6.0%) carried aggR, and a total of 58 isolates (21.8%) had eaeA. On the other hand, 22 (7.0%) of 316 isolates examined from non-human had eaeA, however no isolate had aggR. Thirteen isolates of EIEC and 218 ETEC isolates were screened, and only 6 ETEC isolates had either eaeA or aggR. The astA gene was recognized in the isolates of all categories, and ETEC strains had more frequently. The bfpA gene was recognized with more frequently in a serotype O157: H45, which is obtained from human with diarrhea, however, this strain was not recognized a member of the EPEC serotype. There is no diagnostic system for the strain of E. coli that cause diarrheal diseases, therefore more laboratories are unable to identify them. The authors had confirmed which PCR technique is a useful simple and rapid method for the detection of adherence factor genes on E. coli strains. From the these results, we showed a differentiation method using PCR technique which have relation with adherence factor, enterotoxin-production and invasiveness, and we firmly believe that application of the procedure is a reasonable and useful method for the identification of diarrheagenic E. coli.     

Study of mechanism and effect of sodium 5-hydroxydecanoate on experimental ischemic ventricular arrhythmia

We investigated the effects of sodium 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) on experimentally induced ischemic arrhythmia and its mechanisms of action by biochemical and electrophysiological techniques. 5-HD, at the single dose of 200 mg/kg (p.o.) or at the one week multiple doses of 3 to 100 mg/kg (p.o.), suppressed the incidence of ventricular fibrillation induced by coronary ligation in rats. 5-HD at the dose of 3 or 10 mg/kg (i.v.) elevated the ischemically decreased ventricular fibrillation threshold in the coronary ligated dogs. In isolated rat heart, 5-HD suppressed the K+ release from ischemic myocardium at the doses of 10(-5) to 10(-3) M. 5-HD at the dose of 10(-4) M decreased the open state probability of ATP regulated K+ channel in isolated myocardial cell of guinea pig. Contents of high-energy-phosphate compounds were markedly decreased in ischemic myocardium of rats, and they were not affected by 5-HD. These results demonstrate the efficacy of 5-HD against experimental ischemic ventricular arrhythmia. Its antiarrhythmic action may be attributed, at least in part, to the suppression of K+ release from ischemic myocardium by possibly inhibiting the ATP regulated K+ channel.     

Bone status assessment in preterm and term infants by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

We assessed the bone status of preterm and term infants by measuring their bone mineral density (BMD) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Thirty neonates weighing 699–3590 g were selected as subjects. Infants with multiple anomalies or severe chronic lung disease were excluded. Using the corrected term age (35–48 weeks), we measured their lumbar spinal BMD (L1–L4) by DXA. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and skeletal alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) were measured at the same time. In addition, we compared the BMD values with growth parameters and chemical markers. The term BMD correlated significantly with the birth weight (r = .90), height (r = .85), and gestational age (r = .76). The birth weight correlated more closely with the BMD than with the weight at the time of BMD measurement. The B-ALP level showed an inverse correlation with BMD (r = −0.41). The preterm infants apparently acquired lower BMDs during intrauterine life. The inverse correlation of B-ALP with BMD may be found only in the neonatal period. The BMD measured by DXA and the B-ALP level are very useful parameters for assessing bone status in infants, including extremely low birth weight infants. Received: Aug. 21, 1997 / Accepted: Nov. 6, 1997     

Studies on the mechanism of defective natural killer cytotoxicity in patients with multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma patients in the advanced or remission stage exhibit significantly lower natural killer (NK) activity than normal subjects. Single-cell assay showed that the number of active NK cells was the same for all patients. The maximum killing potential (Vmax) in advanced patients was lower than in normal subjects. These results suggest that defective NK activity in advanced patients is due to a reduced recycling capacity.     

Release of endogenous GABA from the cat red nucleus slices

The release of endogenous γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from the cat red nucleus was studied in a slice preparation. Potassium-induced depolarization caused a release of GABA in a calcium-dependent manner. The release of GABA was also induced by veratrine and blocked by tetrodotoxin. The demonstration of release satisfies one of the important criteria for identification of GABA as the inhibitory neurotransmitter.     

The Occurrence of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Shortly after the Cessation of Human Growth Hormone Therapy

We encountered a case of a 21-year-old man who had developedacute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) shortly after the cessationof approximately six years' human growth hormone treatment forpituitary dwarfism. The patient had also been treated with thyroidpreparations and methylandrostanolone, a kind of anabolic steroid.Factors relating to the onset of ALL in this case are discussed.     

Induction of heme oxygenase-1 inhibits monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA expression in U937 cells

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress-inducible isoform of HO with potential cytoprotective effects. Monocyte activation/migration mediated by monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is one of the earliest and important events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We examined the effect of HO-1 on the production of lysophosphatidylcholine (Lyso-PC)-induced MCP-1 in the human promonocytic cell line U937. Increased HO-1 induction by hemin resulted in a significant decrease in the Lyso-PC-mediated induction of MCP-1 mRNA expression. SnPP (IX), the specific inhibitor of HO-1 enzymatic activity, prevented the hemin-mediated attenuation of MCP-1 mRNA expression. These results suggest that HO-1 may work as an anti-atherogenic agent through the attenuation of MCP-1 production.     

Evaluation of a community-based health education program for salt reduction through media campaigns

PURPOSE: To provide the strategies, achievement and evaluation of a community health education program for salt reduction with media campaigns. METHODS: The intervention community was Kyowa town (A district of Chikusei city, census population in 1985 = 16,792) where we have systematically conducted a community-based blood pressure control program since 1981, and health education on reduction of salt intake since 1983 for primary prevention of hypertension. The education program was performed through media campaigns including use of banners, signboards, posters, and calendars with health catchphrases. We also used catchphrase-labeled envelopes when sending documents from the municipal health center to individuals. Health festivals were held annually to enhance health consciousnesses and to improve health behavior. Some of the posters and calligraphy were painted or drawn by elementary schoolchildren as part of their education. The program was evaluated by repeated questionnaires and examination of salt concentrations of miso soup and dietary salt intake. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 1988, the prevalence of persons who were aware that health consultation including blood pressure measurements were available at the town office increased from 65% to 84%. The prevalence of those who knew the salt intake goal (10 g or less/day) increased from 47% to 63% and that of those who reported to reduce salt intake also increased from 38% to 58%. As for salt concentrations of miso soup, the proportion with less than 1.1% increased from 47% to 66% between 1985 and 2004. Age-adjusted mean salt intake for persons aged 40-69 years declined from 14 g to 11 g in men and from 12 g to 10 g in women between 1982-1986 and 2000-2004. CONCLUSION: A long-term systemic education program through media campaigns proved feasible with the cooperation of community leaders, schools and food associations.