Gallibacterium anatis-secreted metalloproteases degrade chicken IgG.

Gallibacterium anatis (previously named Pasteurella haemolytica-like) is considered a normal inhabitant of genital and upper respiratory tracts of healthy chickens, but it is also associated with different pathological conditions. Secreted metalloproteases from field and reference G. anatis cultures were obtained by methanol precipitation and were characterized. Proteins of molecular mass higher than 100 kDa showing proteolytic activity were observed in 10% polyacrylamide gels copolymerized with 1% bovine casein. They were active at alkaline pH, and inhibited by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Their activity was stable at 50 degrees C, but partially inhibited at 60 degrees C, and totally inhibited at higher temperatures. Secreted proteins were able to degrade chicken IgG after 24 h of incubation, and cross-reacted with a polyclonal antibody against purified protease from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Secreted metalloproteases could play a role in infections caused by G. anatis.     

Maximized combined modality treatment of an unselected population of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. Final results of a pilot study compared with a treatment-dependent prognosis index.

BACKGROUND: In an attempt to raise the survival of an unselected and representative population of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer patients, a pilot study of an integrated four-modality treatment was conceived. Final endpoints were compliance, loco-regional control, survival (after complete 5-year follow-up), and a concept of trial assessment using the treatment-dependent prognostic index TPI. PATIENTS: Eighty-seven consecutive patients with histologically proven untreated stages I-IV disease presented in the period between 1997 and 1999 of whom 14 had to be considered uncurable and 73 were fit to be treated with the intention of achieving a cure. METHODS: All patients received one cycle of neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy with 150 mg/m(2) cisplatin (systemically neutralized with sodium thiosulphate), and, if possible, by consecutive treatment applying both surgery of the primary tumour and the neck lymphatics, as well as by adjuvant radiation over 5 weeks (51.3 Gy) plus concurrent chemotherapy (weekly systemic docetaxel 25 mg/m(2)). RESULTS: Ninety per cent of all cases and 96% of the patients treated with curative intention received more than one modality due to study design. Patient non-compliance in the group treated with curative intention has been 18/73 (=25%), and protocol compliance has been 32/73 (=44%). The locoregional control rate for all cases was 71% (62/87 patients) and for the patients treated with curative intention 83.5% (61/73 patients). Thirteen/fourteen non-curable patients died after a mean period of 4 months. After a median observation time of 5 years, the final absolute survival of the unselected population was 53%, and of the patients treated with curative intention 62% (especially, 70% and 50% for patients with operable stages III and IV, respectively). CONCLUSION: The multimodality regimen as presented proved feasible and showed high objective and relative survival rates in comparison with known data from tumour registries of unselected populations. Intra-arterial chemotherapy should be considered a valuable addition to treatment. The potential of survival benefit from this multimodality regimen in comparison with the prognosis index TPI should be investigated in further studies.     

A Spanish version of the Family Assessment Device

Introduction  

This paper presents the results of a study on the psychometric properties of an authorized Spanish version of the McMaster Family Assessment Device, a self-report measure of family functioning.     

Aneurisma de aorta abdominal infrarrenal en asociación con riñón en herradura: aportación de un caso

We review the association between surgically resolvable aortic disease and horseshoe kidney with a discussion of diagnostic problems and therapeutic options.Male patient 81 years of age with horseshoe kidney and an abdominal aortic aneurysm that was discovered by chance in an abdominal ultrasound during a check-up for his prostate condition.A retroperitoneal approach was used in order to resect the aneurysm and perform an aorto-aortic bypass with no complications occurring. Two years after the diagnosis, the patient is still asymptomatic from a vascular point of view.The co-presence of horseshoe kidney and aortic disease needing surgical correction is infrequent, but it significantly increases the technical complexity of aortic reconstruction. A literature review is included.