Penicillin-binding proteins in the pathogenic intestinal spirochete Brachyspira pilosicoli

Penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of slightly different molecular masses (94, 62 or 68, 42 or 50, 25, and 22 kDa) were identified in one human and two porcine Brachyspira pilosicoli strains. Identification of PBPs of B. pilosicoli provides a basis for characterization of the genes encoding these proteins among pathogenic intestinal spirochetes of humans and animals.     

Intussusceptions arising from two different sites in a child with cystic fibrosis

Abdominal pain is common in individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). We report on a 17-year old boy with CF and two recognized intussusceptions: the first colonic intussusception was presumed due to distal intestinal obstruction syndrome, and the second enteric one due to polypoid lesions containing heterotopic gastric mucosa. The presentation, pathology, management, and a literature review of intussusception in CF are discussed.     

Intrauterine fetal transfusion

The incidence of perinatal death resulting from rhesus Rh isoimmunization has dropped dramatically since the introduction of Rh immunoglobulin. However, Rh sensitization continues to be one of the leading causes of fetal anemia. Our patient is a 38-year-old woman; she gives a history of 2 uneventful pregnancies followed by 5 consecutive stillbirths. Investigations revealed an anti-D titre of 1/2048 and anti-C titre of 1/256. Ultrasound examination revealed fetal ascites at 18 weeks gestation. The fetus had a total of 9 successful intrauterine transfusions. She was delivered by an elective cesarean section at 34 weeks gestation; outcome was a healthy female baby weighing 2060 g. Examination at 9 month of age showed normal growth and neurodevelopment.     

Leiomyoma of the vagina: an unusual presentation

Vaginal leiomyomas are rare. They usually arise from the anterior vaginal wall. We report a case of a vaginal leiomyoma arising from the right lateral wall that presented as a gluteal swelling with pus discharging per vagina, creating a clinical dilemma in diagnosis. Preoperative imaging and biopsy may help to rule out malignancy. The size of the tumor necessitated abdominoperineal approach and hysterectomy for better surgical access. To the best of our knowledge such a clinical presentation of a vaginal leiomyoma has not been reported in the literature.     

How safe is same-day discharge after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy?

Background

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is associated with low morbidity and mortality and a short length of stay. Studies on the safety of same-day discharge after LSG are limited.

ASK1 is a novel molecular target for preventing aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death

Journal of Molecular Medicine - Aminoglycoside antibiotics are lifesaving medicines, crucial for the treatment of chronic or drug resistant infections. However, aminoglycosides are toxic to the...     

Genetic analysis of interactions with eukaryotic rRNA identify the mitoribosome as target in aminoglycoside ototoxicity

Aminoglycoside ototoxicity has been related to a surprisingly large number of cellular structures and metabolic pathways. The finding that patients with mutations in mitochondrial rRNA are hypersusceptible to aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss has indicated a possible role for mitochondrial protein synthesis. To study the molecular interaction of aminoglycosides with eukaryotic ribosomes, we made use of the observation that the drug binding site is a distinct domain defined by the small subunit rRNA, and investigated drug susceptibility of bacterial hybrid ribosomes carrying various alleles of the eukaryotic decoding site. Compared to hybrid ribosomes with the A site of human cytosolic ribosomes, susceptibility of mitochondrial hybrid ribosomes to various aminoglycosides correlated with the relative cochleotoxicity of these drugs. Sequence alterations that correspond to the mitochondrial deafness mutations A1555G and C1494T increased drug-binding and rendered the ribosomal decoding site hypersusceptible to aminoglycoside-induced mistranslation and inhibition of protein synthesis. Our results provide experimental support for aminoglycoside-induced dysfunction of the mitochondrial ribosome. We propose a pathogenic mechanism in which interference of aminoglycosides with mitochondrial protein synthesis exacerbates the drugs' cochlear toxicity, playing a key role in sporadic dose-dependent and genetically inherited, aminoglycoside-induced deafness.     

Age-Related Trends in Phalangeal Bone Mineral Density in Sri Lankan Men and Women Aged 20 Years or More

To establish normative reference values and to study the age-related trends in phalangeal bone mineral density (BMD), 4504 male and 5215 female volunteers aged 20 yr or more were recruited from 7 provinces from October 2004 to October 2005. Subjects suffering from diseases and those who were taking medications, which could affect BMD were excluded from the analysis (n = 530). Phalangeal BMD was measured in the nondominant hand using an AccuDXA. Men and women were categorized to age groups of 20–29 (1087 men and 1079 women), 30–39 (1122 men and 1146 women), 40–49 (1148 men and 1455 women), 50–59 (810 men and 1111 women), 60–69 (250 men and 335 women), and 70 yr or more (87 men and 94 women). Mean BMDs (SD) of men in above categories were 0.595 (0.057), 0.603 (0.061), 0.591 (0.066), 0.576 (0.069), 0.558 (0.077), and 0.522 (0.079) g/cm², respectively. The corresponding BMDs (SD) in women were 0.495 (0.057), 0.506 (0.062), 0.502 (0.064), 0.462 (0.072), 0.406 (0.072), and 0.340 (0.055) g/cm², respectively. Peak BMD was seen in 30–39-age category in both sexes. Women after 50 yr lost BMD at a rate of 0.006 (standard error 0.0003) g/cm²/yr, whereas the corresponding value in men was 0.002 (standard error 0.0001) g/cm²/yr. These data provide normative reference data for the calculation of T-score and Z-score for phalangeal BMD in Sri Lankan men and women aged more than 20 yr.