Nasotracheal enterococcal carriage and resistomes: detection of optrA-, poxtA- and cfrD-carrying strains in migratory birds,livestock, pets,and in-contact humans in Spain

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - This study determined the carriage rates and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes of enterococci from...     

In vivo labeling of sigma receptors in mouse brain with [3H]4-phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)piperidine

4-Phenyl-1-(4-phenylbutyl)piperidine(4-PPBP) is a very potent ligand for σ (Sigma) receptors. The present study was undertaken to evaluate [³H]4-PPBPas a radioligand for in vivo labeling of cerebral σ receptors. After intravenous administration of [³H]4-PPBP to mice, there is high uptake of radioactivity in the brain. The regional distribution of radioactivity in the brain 2 h after intravenous injection of [³H]4-PPBP parallels the in vitro binding of the radioligand in rat brain (pons/medulla > cerebellum ≥ prefrontal cortex ≥ parietal cortex > hypothalamus > olfactory tubercle ≥ thalamus > hippocampus > striatum). Pretreatment with haloperidol (2 mg/kg) significantly decreases the radioactivity measured in the brain 30–120 min after injection of [³H]4-PPBP. Pretreatment with unlabeled 4-PPBP or ifenprodil also significantly decreases radioactivity in the brain 2 h after injection of [³H]4-PPBP, in a dosedependent manner. The in vivo binding of [³H]4-PPBP in the brain also is significantly inhibited by SL 82.0715, BMY 14802, 1,3-di-o-tolylguanidine (DTG), and (+)-enantiomers of pentazocine, SKF 10,047, and 3-PPP, but not by the corresponding (?)-enantiomers, consistent with stereoselectivity of inhibition obtained in in vitro binding studies. In contrast, pretreatment with dizocilpine and spiperone does not inhibit in vivo binding of [³H]4-PPBP. The results indicate that [³H]4-PPBP would be a suitable radioligand for in vivo labeling of σ receptors in brain. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

1 This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America

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The ultrastructure of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy in eyes with secondary angle closure glaucoma

Background: The present study was performed to investigate the ultrastructure of deep retinal layers and choroid corresponding to the parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy in eyes with secondary angle-closure glaucoma. Methods: The glaucomatous eyes included two eyes enucleated due to iris ring melanoma with high intraocular pressure and one eye with neovascular glaucoma enucleated due to ocular pain. The control eyes included one eye enucleated due to choroidal malignant melanoma with normal intraocular pressure and one eye enucleated during surgery for supramandibular carcinoma. These eyes were studied with light and electron microscopy. Results: In the region of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy of glaucomatous eyes, the retinal pigment epithelial cells showed degenerative changes, such as loss of basal in foldings and microvilli, degenerated mitochondria, vacuolar degeneration and irregular distribution of melanin granules. The photoreceptors were decreased in number in this area of glaucomatous eyes. The lumen of the choriocapillary vessels adjacent to the optic nerve was collapsed. Conclusion: These results elucidate the fine structures of deep retina and choroid in the region of parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy of glaucomatous eyes, and suggest that the reduced choroidal perfusion might be the pathogenetic mechanism of glaucomatous parapapillary chorioretinal atrophy.     

Comparison of augmented and non-augmented anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction combined with high tibial osteotomy

In a follow-up study 27 patients were evaluated after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL-)reconstruction combined with high tibial osteotomy because of chronic rupture of the ACL, cartilaginous lesions of the medial compartment and varus malalignment. They were divided into two groups. In 14 patients (non-LAD group) ACL reconstruction was performed using the central third of the autologous patellar tendon modified according to Eriksson-Trillat. Thirteen patients (LAD group) underwent repair with the same technique, but a Kennedy ligament augmentation device (LAD) in hot dog technique and fixed over the top was added. The postoperative treatment was the same in both groups. All patients were examined according to IKDC criteria. KT-1000 arthrometer testing at maximum manual traction was performed. Although the mean follow-up interval was more than double in the non-LAD group (non-LAD: 127 months vs LAD: 58 months), the subjective and clinical results, IKDC evaluation and KT-1000 arthrometer testing results were similar, showing no statistically significant difference. Further, no complications due to the use of LAD occurred. In this study no evident functional or clinical advantage from the augmentation performed could be shown.Investigation performed at the Department of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Basle, Switzerland. No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. Funds were received in total or partial support of the research or clinical study presented in this article. The funding sources were SUVA Assurance, Lucerne, and the science fund of the University Hospital Basle     

Sauerstoffverbrauch und Alterung in Langzeitkulturen von Linsenepithel

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe der beschriebenen Technik gelang es, Linsenepithelien über 40 Passagen zu züchten; zugleich fanden morphologische Alterungsveränderungen und Sauerstoffverbrauch der Zellen im Warburg-Apparat Beachtung. Vergleichbare Untersuchungen sind derzeit nicht bekannt. Morphologisch überwogen Alterationen wie Vergrößerung des Zelleibes neben bekannten Degenerationszeichen. Der Sauerstoffverbrauch von 2 l pro Stunde pro 10⁵ Zellen zeigte sich in konstanter Höhe bis zur 39. Passage und sank dann abrupt auf etwa ein Viertel. Nachdem die Zellen ohne ersichtlichen Grund danach plötzlich starben, liegt die Folgerung nahe, daß der aerobe Stoffwechsel der Linsenepithelien unabhängig von ihrem Alter und ohne sich signifikant abzeichnenden Tagesrhythmus mit ihrem Überleben verbunden erscheint.

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Oxygen consumption and aging in longterm cultures of lens epithelia

By means of the described technique lens epithelia were cultured in 40 subcultures; at the same time, both the morphological aging processes and oxygen consumption of the cells, were observed using the Warburg respirometer. To date comparable studies are not available. Morphologically, cell enlargement took place in conjunction with signs of degeneration. Oxygen consumption of 2 l per hour per 10⁵ cells ±0.8 remained at a constant level without any significant diurnal rhythm up to subculture 39 and then suddenly fell to about one-fourth of the initial value. As the cells died of an unknown cause, it was concluded that the aerobic metabolism of lens epithelia seemed to be linked to survival without being age related.

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Herrn Prof. Dr. E. Schreck, dem damaligen Direktor der Klinik, in Dankbarkeit zum 70. Geburtstag     

Circulating growth factor levels are associated with tumorigenesis in neurofibromatosis type 1.

PURPOSE: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is characterized by systemic development of neurofibromas. Early clinical diagnosis can be ambiguous, and genetic diagnosis can be prohibitively difficult. Dysregulation of a number of growth factors has been suggested to be a mechanism of pathogenesis. This study was performed to assess the contribution of circulating growth factors for diffuse tumorigenesis and the diagnostic value of circulating growth factor identification in serum. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The growth stimulation of neurofibroma-derived cells by serum from NF1 patients was tested, and serum growth factor levels in a cohort of NF1 patients (n = 39) between the ages of 7 and 70 years were analyzed. RESULTS: Concentrations of midkine (MK) and stem cell factor, but not epidermal growth factor, were substantially increased in serum of NF1 patients when compared with healthy controls. Within the NF1 group, MK levels increased dramatically at puberty from an average of 0.79 ng/mL in patients <18 years to 1.18 ng/mL in patients >18 years old. Stem cell factor and MK concentrations above a defined threshold in serum of NF1 patients are of diagnostic benefit for 96% of patients in the cohort tested. Furthermore, serum from NF1 patients enhanced proliferation of human neurofibroma-derived primary Schwann cells and endothelial cells substantially better than normal serum. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced circulating growth factor levels contribute to diffuse tumorigenesis in NF1 and may provide the basis for molecular diagnosis.     

Analysis of concerted expression of angiogenic growth factors in acute myeloid leukemia: expression of angiopoietin-2 represents an independent prognostic factor for overall survival.

PURPOSE: Bone marrow neoangiogenesis plays an important pathogenetic and possible prognostic role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin family represent the most specific inducers of angiogenesis secreted by AML blasts. We therefore correlated expression of angiogenic factors with clinical variables. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We investigated the expression of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), and the receptor Tie2 by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in a cohort of 90 patients younger than 61 years with de novo AML entered into the German AML Süddeutsche H?moblastose Gruppe Hannover 95 trial. Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed using clinical and gene expression variables. RESULTS: Univariate analysis of overall survival indicated the following variables as prognostic factors: good response on a day-15 bone marrow examination after initiation of induction chemotherapy, karyotype, and high Ang2 expression. In multivariate analysis, only bad response and log Ang2 expression remained of statistical significance, with a hazard ratio of 3.51 (95% CI, 1.91 to 6.47) and 0.75 (95% CI, 0.61 to 0.91), respectively. Subgroup analysis suggested that the prognostic impact of Ang2 expression was especially evident in cohorts with low VEGF-C and Ang1 mRNA levels. CONCLUSION: These results show that expression of Ang2 represents an independent prognostic factor in AML. Additional research into interactions of angiogenic cytokines in the pathogenesis of bone marrow angiogenesis in AML is warranted.     

Effectiveness of averaging strategies to reduce variance in retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measurements using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography

Background

Automated detection of subtle changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) over time using optical coherence tomography (OCT) is limited by inherent image quality before layer segmentation, stabilization of the scan on the peripapillary retina and its precise placement on repeated scans. The present study evaluates image quality and reproducibility of spectral domain (SD)-OCT comparing different rates of automatic real-time tracking (ART).

Methods

Peripapillary RNFLT was measured in 40 healthy eyes on six different days using SD-OCT with an eye-tracking system. Image brightness of OCT with unaveraged single frame B-scans was compared to images using ART of 16 B-scans and 100 averaged frames. Short-term and day-to-day reproducibility was evaluated by calculation of intraindividual coefficients of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for single measurements as well as for seven repeated measurements per study day.

Results

Image brightness, short-term reproducibility, and day-to-day reproducibility were significantly improved using ART of 100 frames compared to one and 16 frames. Short-term CV was reduced from 0.94?±?0.31 % and 0.91?±?0.54 % in scans of one and 16 frames to 0.56?±?0.42 % in scans of 100 averaged frames (P?≤?0.003 each). Day-to-day CV was reduced from 0.98?±?0.86 % and 0.78?±?0.56 % to 0.53?±?0.43 % (P?≤?0.022 each). The range of ICC was 0.94 to 0.99. Sample size calculations for detecting changes of RNFLT over time in the range of 2 to 5 μm were performed based on intraindividual variability.

Conclusion

Image quality and reproducibility of mean peripapillary RNFLT measurements using SD-OCT is improved by averaging OCT images with eye-tracking compared to unaveraged single frame images. Further improvement is achieved by increasing the amount of frames per measurement, and by averaging values of repeated measurements per session. These strategies may allow a more accurate evaluation of RNFLT reduction in clinical trials observing optic nerve degeneration.