Preventive action of food seasoning spices mixture on fructose-induced lipid abnormalities

High fructose feeding in rats induces insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. The present study was undertaken to determine the hypolipidemic effect of food seasoning spices mixture on fructose-fed insulin resistant rats. Male Wistar rats received a daily diet containing either 60% fructose or 60% starch. They were administered with the spices mixture at three different doses (10 mg, 30 mg or 50 mg/day/rat) orally 15 days later. At the end of 45 days of the experimental period fructose-fed rats displayed elevated plasma glucose and insulin levels and dyslipidemia which included elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol and increased very low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Alterations in tissue lipid levels were also observed. Simultaneous treatment with spices mixture along with fructose diet resulted in the normalization of plasma glucose and insulin levels and restoration of lipid levels in plasma and tissues. The insulin potentiating action of the active principles in these spices may contribute to the hypolipidemic effect of spices mixture in high fructose-fed rats.     

Mammary presentation of adult-type "juvenile" xanthogranuloma

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXG) is a benign histiocytic disorder of infants and childhood. Approximately 15% of cases occur in adults. Adult JXG characteristically affect patients in their 20s and 30s; however, about 5% of patients are older than 60 years. Adult JXGs rarely regress spontaneously, and reports of concomitant extracutaneous lesions are rare. Herein, we report an exceptional case of adult xanthogranuloma in a 74-year-old woman who presented with ipsilateral breast masses and also found to have prior cutaneous lesions. This is the first reported case of cutaneous and extracutaneous adult JXG where the latter manifested in the breast as a spindle cell xanthogranuloma. Histologically, the lesion was composed predominantly of spindle cells with associated multinucleated giant cells and a chronic inflammatory cell infiltrate. Spindle cells were immunoreactive for various histiocytic markers and negative for cytokeratins, S-100, CD34, factor XIIIa, and CD1a. In the breast, the morphologic features of JXG evoked several entities in the differential diagnosis, including spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma, inflammatory pseudotumor, fibromatosis, myofibroblastoma, and phyllodes tumor. With the aid of immunohistochemical stains and appropriate clinical history, the correct diagnosis of extracutaneous adult JXG manifesting as a spindle cell xanthogranuloma can be made.     

Taurine prevents fructose-diet induced collagen abnormalities in rat skin

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of taurine administration on the content and characteristics of skin collagen in high-fructose-fed rats. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups of six each: a control group (CON) and a taurine-supplemented control group (CON+TAU), a high fructose diet-fed group (FRU), and a taurine supplemented fructose diet-fed group (FRU+TAU). After 30 days, collagen was isolated from the skin, and its physicochemical properties were studied. RESULTS: Fructose administration caused an accumulation of collagen and extensive cross-linking. This was evidenced by increases in glycation, fluorescence, and peroxidation in collagen samples. The physicochemical properties of collagen, like shrinkage temperature, aldehyde content, solubility pattern, and susceptibility to denaturing agents, were altered in the fructose-fed rats. The sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) pattern of collagen from fructose-fed rats showed and elevated beta component of Type I collagen. Simultaneous administration of taurine alleviated these changes. CONCLUSION: The positive influence of taurine on both collagen content and its properties suggests a potential mechanism for the ability of taurine to delay diabetic complications.     

Concurrent outbreak of leptospirosis and dengue in Mumbai, India, 2002

This prospective study was undertaken to investigate the possibility of a concurrent outbreak of leptospirosis and dengue and to describe the clinical illnesses. From 20 June to 14 November 2002, children who presented to our hospital with a suspected diagnosis of leptospirosis or dengue were admitted. In every child with suspected leptospirosis, a screening latex agglutination test was carried out to detect anti-Leptospira antibodies. The diagnosis of leptospirosis was confirmed by a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test or microagglutination test. The diagnosis of dengue was confirmed by a positive IgM antibody capture ELISA test. Clinical features in the leptospirosis and leptospirosis-negative groups, and dengue and dengue-negative groups were analysed. Of 90 children screened, 15 (16.7 per cent) had leptospirosis. Two children with Weil's disease died and the remaining 13 responded well to intravenous penicillin. Five clinical features were significantly associated with leptospirosis, namely conjunctival suffusion (p=0.007), haemorrhage (p=0.020), abdominal pain (p=0.011), hepatosplenomegaly (p=0.044), and oedema (p=0.007). As the number of these five features concomitantly present increased, the chances of the child having leptospirosis also increased significantly (p<0.0001). Of 90 children screened, 16 (17.8 per cent) had dengue. All responded well to the treatment and went home. Two clinical features were significantly associated with dengue, namely arthralgia (p=0.020) and thrombocytopenia (p=0.001). If both these features were present, the chances of the child having dengue increased significantly (p=0.001). Our study shows that a concurrent outbreak of leptospirosis and dengue had occurred in the slums of Mumbai city.     

Evidence for polar positional information independent of cell division and nucleoid occlusion

We present evidence that, in Escherichia coli, polar positional information is present at midcell independent of known cell division factors. In filamented cells, IcsA, which is normally polar, localizes at or near potential cell division sites. Because the cell pole is derived from the septum, the sites to which IcsA localizes in filaments correspond to future poles. IcsA localization to these sites is independent of FtsZ, MinCDE, septation, and nucleoid occlusion, indicating that positional information for the future pole is independent of cell division and chromosome positioning. Upon IcsA localization to these sites, septation is inhibited, suggesting that IcsA recognition of this polar positional information may influence cell division.     

Analysis of an isolate of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mungbean yellow mosaic virus</Emphasis> (MYMV) with a highly variable DNA B component

Summary. One DNA A (KA30) and five different DNA B components (KA21, KA22, KA27, KA28 and KA34) of a geminivirus, Mungbean yellow mosaic virus–Vigna (MYMV-Vig) were cloned from a pooled sample of field-infected Vigna mungo plants from Vamban, South India. MYMV-Vig DNA A (KA30) and one of the DNA B components (KA27) exhibited 97% and 95% sequence identities, respectively, to those of MYMV reported from Thailand. However, the DNA B components KA21, KA22, KA28 and KA34 exhibited only 71 to 72% sequence identity to MYMV DNA B. Co-existence of multiple DNA B components in field-infected V. mungo was proved by Southern and PCR analyses. Each of the five DNA B components was infective together with the DNA A upon agroinoculation. Agroinoculation with mixed cultures of Agrobacterium with partial dimers of DNA A and all five DNA Bs proved that all five DNA B components can co-infect a single V. mungo plant.A. S. K. and R. V. contributed equally to this work.     

A retrospective evaluation of digital wound imaging to predict response to hyperbaric oxygen treatment

As new wound care treatments become available, correct initial treatment selection and dynamic modification of regimens, based on wound response to treatment, must be applied to improve outcomes and reduce cost. One alternative is wound morphometry using digital wound images to evaluate wound response to treatment in realtime. To determine whether wound area measurements taken during the first 3 weeks of hyperbaric oxygen treatment predict eventual treatment response and how demographic and disease factors impact hyperbaric oxygen treatment response, a retrospective study using digital wound images, demographic data, and available clinical laboratory values was conducted. Participants included 29 wound care patients with nonhealing wounds of the lower extremities receiving treatment at a hyperbaric wound care facility. Conventional wound care (ie, debridement, dressing changes, and topical agents) plus hyperbaric oxygen treatment (100% oxygen breathing at 2.4 atmospheres absolute for 90 minutes) given once every weekday for up to 20 weeks was provided. Graphical analysis of normalized wound area over time revealed two groups: minimal responders (n=13) and robust responders (n=16). Minimal response was characterized by delayed onset of wound area reduction and virtual cessation of reduction by week 3. Robust response was continuous, sustained, and resulted in average wound area reduction of 80% by end of treatment, compared to 47% in minimally responsive patients. Age, blood glucose, and serum creatinine significantly affected the wound healing response to hyperbaric oxygen treatment (P<0.05). Digital images obtained during the first 3 weeks of treatment predicted if a patient is minimally responsive to hyperbaric oxygen treatment with 100% accuracy. Area measurements obtained in this manner can be used to identify patients minimally responsive to hyperbaric oxygen treatment, enabling rapid assessment of treatment response to make timely changes in therapy in order to optimize treatment outcomes.     

Fructose diet-induced skin collagen abnormalities are prevented by lipoic acid

Nonenzymatic glycation of proteins, leading to chemical modification and cross-linking are of importance in the pathology of diabetic complications. We studied the effect alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on the content and characteristics of the protein collagen from skin of high-fructose fed rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups of 6 each. Two groups of rats were fed with a high fructose diet (60 g/100 g diet) and administered either LA (35 mg/kg b.w., i.p) (FRU+LA) or 0.2 ml vehicle (saline) (FRU) for 45 days. The other 2 groups were fed with control diet containing starch (60 g/100 g diet) and administered either saline (CON) or lipoic acid (CON+LA). The rats were maintained for 45 days and then sacrificed. Plasma glucose, insulin, fructosamine, protein glycation, and blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) were measured. Collagen was isolated from skin and the physicochemical properties of collagen were studied. Fructose administration caused accumulation of collagen in skin. Extensive cross-linking was evidenced by enhanced glycation and AGE-linked fluorescence. Increased peroxidation and changes in physicochemical properties such as shrinkage temperature, aldehyde content, solubililty pattern, susceptibility to denaturing agents were observed in fructose-fed rats. SDS gel pattern of collagen from these rats showed elevated beta component of type I collagen. These changes were alleviated by the simultaneous administration of LA. Administration of LA to fructose-fed rats had a positive influence on both quantitative and qualitative properties of collagen. The results suggest a mechanism for the ability of LA to delay diabetic complications.     

An immunohistochemical method that distinguishes free from complexed SNAP-25

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF) attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complexes composed of target (t-) SNAREs syntaxin and SNAP-25 and vesicle SNARE synaptobrevin play an essential role in neurosecretion. It is hypothesized that a transient intermediate complex between the t-SNAREs is formed during the assembly of the ternary complex. The existence of the t-SNARE binary complexes in vivo, however, has not been demonstrated. By using an affinity absorption scheme with preformed syntaxin-SNAP-25 complexes, we isolated antibodies capable of distinguishing free SNAP-25 from those associated with syntaxin. By semiquantitative immunohistochemistry, we estimated that, in cultured cerebellar neurons, the majority of SNAP-25 existed as complexes. Compared with the cultured neurons, PC12 cells expressed significantly less syntaxin, and we found that SNAP-25 was primarily in free forms. In contrast, a PC12 line that stably expressed a recombinant syntaxin showed a marked increase in SNAP-25 complexes. By using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) techniques, we observed FRET between cyan fluorescence protein-syntaxin and yellow fluorescence protein-SNAP-25 fusion proteins expressed in COS-7 and PC12 cells, suggesting a physiological interaction between syntaxin and SNAP-25. Our results demonstrate that, unlike what was previously hypothesized, syntaxin and SNAP-25 exist preferably as stable binary complexes in neurons. These findings offer novel insight into the mechanisms underlying the initiation and regulation of SNARE complex assembly.