The prevalence of Vibrio spp. in drinking water and environmental samples in Vellore South India.

The prevalence of Vibrio cholerae in drinking water, lakes and sewage outfalls during July and August 1996 in Vellore, India was determined. Drinking water samples were collected on single occasions from 12 sites in different geographic areas of the town where cholera had been reported. Samples of water, plankton and sediment were collected from fixed sites at three lakes on three occasions separated by at least 3 days during the course of the study. Samples from open sewers were taken from two representative sites in four areas of the town. Bacteria isolated from samples were identified by standard biochemical tests and isolated strains of V. cholerae tested for their ability to agglutinate O1 and O139 antisera. Water samples from lakes were also tested for the presence of V. cholerae O1 and O139 by fluorescent antibody staining. Non-O1, non-O139 strains of V. cholerae were detected in 41% of drinking water samples and 100% of water, sediment and plankton samples from the test lakes. Eighty-seven per cent of open sewers sampled contained viable non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae. Fluorescent antibody staining gave positive results for V. cholerae O1 and O139 for all water samples from the three lake sites. Strains of Aeromonas spp. were isolated from 58% of drinking water samples and from 66% of sediment, 77% of plankton and 55% of water samples from lakes. All open sewers sampled contained Aeromonas spp. PCR amplification employing specific primers demonstrated that none of the non-agglutinating V. cholerae isolates contained the ctx operon. The non-O1, non-O139 V. cholerae isolates showed different patterns of antibiotic resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and trimethoprim.     

Interleukin-12 is associated with the in vivo anti-tumor effect of mistletoe extracts in B16 mouse melanoma

Viscum album (VA) preparations consist of aqueous extracts of different types of lectins of mistletoe. VA exert cytotoxic and immunomodulatory properties that may be relevant for the inhibition of tumor growth. We addressed the effects of VA preparation VA Qu FrF on growth of B16F1 melanoma implanted in mice and on proliferation and cytokine synthesis of splenocytes. In C57BL6 mice, inhibition of tumor growth by VA was associated with an enhancement of splenocyte proliferation and with an up-regulation of IL-12 secretion. In IL-12-deficient strain of mice the inhibition of melanoma growth by VA and the splenocyte proliferation were abrogated. Results from the present study strongly suggest a crucial role of IL-12 in the anti-tumor properties of VA extracts.     

The development of USP botanical dietary supplement monographs, 1995-2005

The development of USP botanical dietary supplement monographs by the Subcommittee on Natural Products (1995-2000) and the Dietary Supplements-Botanicals Committee of Experts (2000-2005) of the USP is described in this review. Featured details include the USP as an organization, focusing upon its history, mission, and publication of the United States Pharmacopeia-National Formulary (USP-NF); the formulation and composition of botanical dietary supplement monographs and related general chapters, as well as appropriate admission criteria; and a summary of the accomplishments of the Committees (1995-2005).     

Ultrasound evaluation of female genital tract anomalies: A review of 64 cases

Sixty-four patients with an ultrasound diagnosis of an anomaly of the female genital tract were studied retrospectively to determine the accuracy and usefulness of sonographic examination of these anomalies in the pregnant (64%) and the nonpregnant (36%) patient. Ultrasound diagnoses in 46 patients with follow-up included: (1) bicornuate/septate uterus in 21 cases, (2) uterus didelphys in 18 cases, (3) cervical and vaginal atresia in three cases, (4) obstructed lower but normal upper genital tract in two cases, and (5) abnormal-appearing uterus in two cases. Ultrasound diagnosis was compared with hysterosalpingographic and/or surgical findings in 43 patients and with physical examination in three patients. Scan results were classified as diagnostic in 26%, confirmatory in 63%, and incorrect in 11%. Ultrasound is a reliable clinically useful method of studying genital tract anomalies in gynecologic patients.     

Rescuing CD4+CD25+ regulatory T-cell functions in rheumatoid arthritis by cytokine-targeted monoclonal antibody therapy

CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in controlling the development of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, despite an increased number of Tregs, the persistence of inflammation in the rheumatoid joints suggests that Tregs are unable to suppress ongoing disease, perhaps due to an inhibition of their functions by pro-inflammatory cytokines. Treatment of RA patients with anti-TNF-alpha monoclonal antibodies such as infliximab and adalimumab has been found to induce and restore the functions of Tregs. Thus, manipulation of the pro-inflammatory environment in the inflamed synovia via neutralization of inflammatory cytokines by monoclonal antibodies could represent a novel therapeutic strategy for restoring the suppressive functions of Tregs and induction and/or expansion of Tregs in order to reinforce tolerance mechanisms.