Developmental pattern of GFAP and vimentin gene expression in rat brain and in radial glial cultures

In the present study we analyze the events which occur during the early stages of astrogliogenesis by examining the pattern of both GFAP and vimentin gene expression and their corresponding immunoreactive proteins during rat brain development. This study was carried out “in vivo” (whole brain) and “in vitro” (primary culture of radial glia) using immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and Northern blot analysis. Our results demonstrate that although GFAP immunostaining appeared late in gestation and at day 5 in radial glia cultures, GFAP mRNA expression was first detected, at very low levels, on fetal (F) day 15 and increased to F21. During postnatal development a striking increase in GFAP and its encoding messenger occurs. In contrast, the levels of vimentin and its mRNA expression were very high during the fetal stage (F15 to F21). Thereafter vimentin expression declined during postnatal (P) development until P21 and then remained constant at adult levels. In contrast, an increase in vimentin expression was observed in glial cells throughout the entire culture period. The biological significance of the developmental patterns of GFAP and vimentin expression in astroglial cells during brain development is discussed. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Transient hemifacial spasm associated with subarachnoid brainstem cysticercosis: A case report

The authors present the case of a 69 year old woman who developed bladder incontinence and confusion. A CT scan showed severe hydrocephalus and calcifictions, prompting a ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. On the day after operation the patient presented left hemifacial spasm. MR revealed a subarachnoid cysticercus rostral to the pons, and surgical excision was proposed. She refused surgery and was placed on prednisone. Brainstem auditory responses were absent on the left side 2 months after shunting and were still abnormal 53 months later. The hemifacial spasm disappeared 3 months after shunt placement and has not recurred in 5 years of follow-up.     

Somal size of immunolabeled pyramidal cells in the prefrontal cortex of subjects with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Although the somal volume of Nissl-stained deep layer 3 pyramidal cells is reduced in prefrontal cortex area 9 of subjects with schizophrenia, the subset of large pyramidal cells immunoreactive (IR) for nonphosphorylated neurofilament protein (NNFP) is not. Consequently, we hypothesized that the somal volume of another subset of pyramidal cells immunoreactive for neuronal calcium binding protein-1 (Necab-1) is significantly reduced in schizophrenia. METHODS: We labeled Necab-1-IR pyramidal neurons using immunoperoxidase techniques and estimated the mean somal volume in deep layer 3 of area 9 in 13 matched pairs of control and schizophrenic subjects. Identical studies were conducted for pyramidal neurons immunoreactive for neuronal nuclear protein (Neu-N), which is present in all neurons. RESULTS: In subjects with schizophrenia, neither the mean somal volume of Necab-1-IR pyramidal neurons nor of Neu-N-IR pyramidal neurons was significantly different from control subjects. In addition, the mean somal volume of Neu-N-IR cells was larger than that of Nissl-stained cells in both subject groups, and the magnitude of this difference was greater for the subjects with schizophrenia. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that immunoperoxidase techniques are associated with an overestimation of the volume of labeled neurons. This confound appears to interact with disease state, and thus obscures differences between diagnostic groups.     

Disseminated Bartonella infection following liver transplantation.

Bartonella henselae has not only been identified as the causative agent of cat scratch disease, but it is also associated with other significant infectious syndromes in the immunocompromised population. We describe two cases of B. henselae associated diseases in liver transplant recipients who both had contact with cats. The first recipient developed localized skin manifestation of bacillary angiomatosis in association with granulomatous hepatitis. He tested positive for Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against B. henselae. The second patient developed axillary lymphadenopathy, with biopsy showing necrotizing granulomatous inflammation and polymerase chain reaction studies were positive for B. henselae DNA. Her serology for bartonellosis showed a fourfold rise in antibody titers during her hospitalization. Both patients responded to treatment with Azithromycin in combination with Doxycycline. These were the only cases within a series of 467 consecutive liver transplants performed in 402 patients performed during a 4-year period. Although bartonellosis is a rare infection in liver transplantation recipients, it should always be included in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with fever, central nervous system (CNS) symptoms, skin lesions, lymphadenopathy, and hepatitis especially if prior contact with cats is reported.     

Effects of splenic artery occlusion on portal pressure in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

The specific contribution of splenic blood inflow to portal hypertension in patients with cirrhosis is still unclear. In this study, we investigated this contribution by assessing the hemodynamic effects of transient splenic artery occlusion. In 15 cirrhotic patients, portal pressure gradient (PPG) was measured just before inserting a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS), in baseline conditions, for 15 minutes after splenic artery occlusion and 5 minutes after recovery. Splenic artery occlusion caused a significant decrease in PPG (range, -4% to -38%, median -20%, P < 0.001) which promptly returned to baseline values after recovery of the splenic inflow. The decrease in PPG showed a significant correlation with spleen volume (r = 0.70, P < 0.005), liver volume (r = -0.63; P < 0.01), and spleen/liver volume ratio (r = 0.82, P < 0.001). Seven out of eight patients with a spleen/liver volume ratio greater than 0.5 had a marked decrease in PPG (>20%), whereas none of patients with a ratio lesser than 0.5 had a marked PPG response. In conclusion, in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension, splenic artery occlusion causes a significant reduction in portal pressure (PPG). The drop in PPG is directly related to spleen volume and indirectly related to liver volume. The spleen/liver volume ratio accurately predicts the drop in PPG and may be used to identify patients who could obtain a significant advantage from surgical and nonsurgical procedures decreasing splenic inflow.     

Early and late onset Clostridium difficile-associated colitis following liver transplantation

Clostridium difficile colitis (CDC) remains a serious and common complication after liver transplantation (LT). Four hundred and sixty-seven consecutive LTs in 402 individuals were performed between 1998 and 2001 at our center. Standard immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate, and steroids. CD toxins A and B were detected by using a rapid immunoassay or enzyme immunoassay. CDC was diagnosed in 32 patients (5-1999 days post-LT), with 93.8% (30/32) of patients developing CDC during the first year post-LT; three individuals had CDC more than 3 years post-LT, one of which also had early CDC. All patients presented with abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. Patients who developed CDC within 1-year post-LT were significantly more likely to have a hemorrhagic, biliary, or infectious complication. Patients who developed CDC within 28 days post-LT had a significantly higher model end-stage liver disease score. Treatment consisted of fluid and electrolyte replacement and metronidazole and no patients developed toxic megacolon, required colonic resection, or died from CDC. CDC represents a potentially severe complication following LT. Most cases occur early post-LT. Development of a hemorrhagic, biliary, or infectious complication is associated with the development of CDC.     

Reproductive toxicity of Aroclor-1254: Effects on oocyte, spermatozoa, in vitro fertilization, and embryo development in the mouse

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been reported to adversely affect reproduction in laboratory and wild animals. The present study was undertaken to determine the toxic potential of Aroclor-1254 (A-1254) on in vitro fertilizing ability of oocytes and epididymal sperm and on preimplantation embryo development in the mouse. A-1254 was added to the IVF medium at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 μg/mL. Cumulus masses containing the oocytes were obtained from superovulated B6D2F1 mice and were placed in the culture medium containing A-1254 to which epididymal sperm, capacitated in a medium without A-1254, were added. The IVF rate was assessed 20 to 24 h after insesemination. A-1254 significantly reduced the mean percent ova fertilized even at 0.1 μg/mL. Incubation of the cumulus masses in various concentrations of A-1254 for 6 h, followed by insemination with sperm capacitated in the presence of A-1254, also significantly reduced the IVF rate. Capacitation of sperm in A-1254-containing medium, followed by co-culture with untreated oocytes, failed to affect the IVF rate. No significant effect on sperm motility was observed following exposure to 1 and 10 μg/mL of A-1254. Estradiol-17 β also reduced the IVF rate, however, the effect of A-1254 was more severe compared to the estradiol treatment. Furthermore, addition of A-1254 to the embryo culture medium was associated with a significant decrease in embryo growth at 48 h and 96 h. These results demonstrate adverse effects of A-1254 on oocytes, IVF, and embryonic development in the mouse.     

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis caused by quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli: could steroid therapy play a role?

Prophylaxis with norfloxacin has been shown to be effective in preventing spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in liver cirrhosis. This therapy is associated with the appearance of quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli. However, only four cases of SBP caused by quinolone-resistant E. coli have been reported so far. We present four cases of quinolone-resistant E. coli SBP in three patients receiving oral quinolones, and who were on corticosteroid therapy to treat associated disorders.