Prebiotics in infant milk formulas: new perspectives

In recent years it has become accepted that healthy human intestinal microflora may play an important part in priming the infants' systemic and mucosal immunity. Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota is a topical area of nutritional sciences and the main focus of many current functional foods such as non-digestible oligosaccharides (NDOs). Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and trans-β-galacto-oligosaccharides (TOS) have been claimed to benefit the health of the colon by selectively stimulating the growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (prebiotic effect). It could be of clinical interest to manipulate colonic flora because it is supposed that specific bacteria in the gut microbial microflora could promote potentially antiallergenic processes and play a key part in atopic disease prevention. Supporting this view is the finding that analysis of the composition of the intestinal bacterial populations showed different microbial patterns between healthy and allergic individuals. Assuming that non-digestible TOS and FOS can affect the intestinal ecosystem beneficially, the opportunity for gut flora manipulation arises in bottle-fed infants. New preterm and term infant milk formulas, supplemented with a mixture of TOS and FOS as prebiotic ingredients induced a significantly higher colonization of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In the future, selective manipulation of the intestinal microbiota might be an approach to novel prophylactic and therapeutic intervention strategies of atopy, by redirecting allergic Th-2 responses in favour of Th-1 responses.     

Intranasal delivery of interleukin-4 attenuates chronic cognitive deficits via beneficial microglial responses in experimental traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is commonly followed by long-term cognitive deficits that severely impact the quality of life in survivors. Recent studies suggest that microglial/macrophage (Mi/MΦ) polarization could have multidimensional impacts on post-TBI neurological outcomes. Here, we report that repetitive intranasal delivery of interleukin-4 (IL-4) nanoparticles for 4 weeks after controlled cortical impact improved hippocampus-dependent spatial and non-spatial cognitive functions in adult C57BL6 mice, as assessed by a battery of neurobehavioral tests for up to 5 weeks after TBI. IL-4-elicited enhancement of cognitive functions was associated with improvements in the integrity of the hippocampus at the functional (e.g., long-term potentiation) and structural levels (CA3 neuronal loss, diffusion tensor imaging of white matter tracts, etc.). Mechanistically, IL-4 increased the expression of PPARγ and arginase-1 within Mi/MΦ, thereby driving microglia toward a global inflammation-resolving phenotype. Notably, IL-4 failed to shift microglial phenotype after TBI in Mi/MΦ-specific PPARγ knockout (mKO) mice, indicating an obligatory role for PPARγ in IL-4-induced Mi/MΦ polarization. Accordingly, post-TBI treatment with IL-4 failed to improve hippocampal integrity or cognitive functions in PPARγ mKO mice. These results demonstrate that administration of exogenous IL-4 nanoparticles stimulates PPARγ-dependent beneficial Mi/MΦ responses, and improves hippocampal function after TBI.     

Hepatitis B virus genotype D strains from Estonia share sequence similarity with strains from Siberia and may specify ayw4

The genotypes and subtypes of 205 HBV isolates collected during 1989-2002 in Estonia and 14 other regions of the former USSR were determined by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the S gene. The in Europe prevailing genotypes, A and D, were also circulating in the whole territory of the former USSR including Estonia and accounted for 18.5 and 81% of the strains, respectively. All genotype A strains specified adw2, and a single genotype C strain specified adrq+. Most genotype D strains specified ayw3 and ayw2, although, three strains from Estonia and Siberia specified ayw4. Due to unique substitutions, Ser122 and Ala127, four strains could not be classified according to the subtype. One strain specifying ayw3 encoded Leu143 and Ala145 and was possibly an immune "escape" mutant. At phylogenetic analysis 93% of the Estonian genotype D strains belonged to a cluster specifying mainly ayw3 and were more similar to isolates from Siberia and the Far-East of Russia than to isolates originating from Central Russia which belonged to another cluster of strains specifying mainly ayw2. This pattern might be explained by part of the Estonian population, has roots east of European Russia, based on linguistic evidence. Eight dominant HBV strains represented by identical S gene sequences were identified, one within genotype A and seven within genotype D, three of which included isolates from Estonia and Siberia. Some of these strains were collected over a period of at least 13 years indicating there are genetically stable variants of HBV that remain conserved over decades.     

ISOENZYME CHANGES OF LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE IN PSORIATIC ERYTHROCYTES

SUMMARY. The distribution of LDH-isoenzyme fractions in erythrocytes in psoriasis was investigated. The results indicate a shift of enzymatic activity towards the anodic isocomponents LD₂ and LD₁ and thus to enhanced energy production by oxidation in psoriatics as compared with normal controls. The authors claim that these findings support their previous reports describing metabolic deviation with enhanced glucose-degradation through the oxidative processes of the pentose (hexosemonophosphate) cycle.     

Phenotypic markers and BCL-1 gene rearrangements in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B study

The markers, CD11b, CD11c, CD14, CD21, CD23, CD25, CD38, and FMC7 were correlated with morphologic and other laboratory and clinical characteristics of 127 patients with untreated CD5+ chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Only CD38 and CD21 were significantly associated with atypical CLL morphology. The integrin associated markers CD11b and CD11c were associated with lower leukocyte count (white blood cell count [WBC]) and lower Rai stage. By contrast, the activation antigen CD23 was associated with a higher WBC, higher Rai stage, younger age group, and the presence of lymphadenopathy. Therefore, we conclude that CD23 positivity may reflect a more aggressive form of CLL, and CD11b and CD11c positivity a less aggressive form. The BCL-1 gene rearrangement was present in 5 of 84 (6%) CLL cases examined and was associated with atypical morphology and surface expression of CD11b. Patients with a BCL-1 gene rearrangement may represent a CLL subset or possibly a different B-cell disease.     

Prevalence of Schistosoma japonicum infection of Oncomelania quadrasi snail colonies in 50 irrigated and rain-fed villages of Samar Province, the Philippines

A cross-sectional survey of Oncomelania quadrasi, the intermediate host for Schistosoma japonicum, was conducted between 2004 and 2005 in 50 villages of the Province of Samar, the Philippines. The villages were classified as rain-fed (25) or with some man-made irrigation system (25). The primary objective was to identify all snail colony sites in the 50 villages and to compare snail population density and S. japonicum infection prevalence between the two types of villages. The presence of snail colonies was surveyed along streams, springs, various canals and swampy areas or grass land. A total of 198 colony sites were identified out of the 845 sites surveyed. Of these, a sufficient number of O. quadrasi snails were identified to measure density and infection in 147 sites. Density of O. quadrasi was remarkably uniform across habitats and there were no significant differences across habitats and between village type. The prevalence of infected snails showed more variability among habitats. Indeed, there was an interaction between the type of habitat and the type of village with irrigated villages being associated with a prevalence proportion ratio of 5.76 (1.31, 25.42) as compared to rain-fed villages among streams and springs. No such association was found among other habitats. The results suggest that once a suitable habitat exists, O. quadrasi populations establish and reach a plateau density. These results are discussed in light of possible ecological measures of control.     

Interleukin-4 improves white matter integrity and functional recovery after murine traumatic brain injury via oligodendroglial PPARγ

Long-term neurological recovery after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is strongly linked to the repair and functional restoration of injured white matter. Emerging evidence suggests that the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4) plays an important role in promoting white matter integrity after cerebral ischemic injury. Here, we report that delayed intranasal delivery of nanoparticle-packed IL-4 boosted sensorimotor neurological recovery in a murine model of controlled cortical impact, as assessed by a battery of neurobehavioral tests for up to five weeks. Post-injury IL-4 treatment failed to reduce macroscopic brain lesions after TBI, but preserved the structural and functional integrity of white matter, at least in part through oligodendrogenesis. IL-4 directly facilitated the differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into mature myelin-producing oligodendrocytes in primary cultures, an effect that was attenuated by selective PPARγ inhibition. IL-4 treatment after TBI in vivo also failed to stimulate oligodendrogenesis or improve white matter integrity in OPC-specific PPARγ conditional knockout (cKO) mice. Accordingly, IL-4-afforded improvements in sensorimotor neurological recovery after TBI were markedly impaired in the PPARγ cKO mice compared to wildtype controls. These results support IL-4 as a potential novel neurorestorative therapy to improve white matter functionality and mitigate the long-term neurological consequences of TBI.     

Incidence,and Gender,Age and Ethnic Distribution of Sarcomas in the Republic of Suriname from 1980 to 2008

Objective:

We report on the incidence and the gender, age and ethnic distribution of sarcomas diagnosed between 1980 and 2008 in the multi-ethnic Republic of Suriname.

Methods:

Total and average yearly number of cases, crude rates, as well as relevant population data were derived from the records of the Pathologic Anatomy Laboratory and the General Bureau of Statistics, respectively, and stratified according to gender, age groups 0–19, 20–49 and 50+ years, and the largest ethnic groups (Hindustani, Creole, Javanese and Maroons).

Results:

Between 1980 and 2008, 258 sarcomas were diagnosed in Suriname, ie at a frequency of nine per year and an annual rate of two per 100 000. Overall, there was 0.9 male per female, two to four cases per year in each age group, and one to three patients in each ethnic group. Soft-tissue sarcomas comprised approximately 80% of overall cases, with a male/female ratio that was approximately 0.5; almost 90% of patients were older than 20 years; more than one-third was Creole. Leiomyosarcoma, fibrosarcoma and liposarcoma were most frequently encountered (90 cases), particularly above 20 years of age, while leiomyosarcomas seemed, additionally, more common in women and Creoles or Maroons. The most numerous bone tumours were primitive neuroectodermal tumour/Ewing tumour and osteosarcoma (37 cases). They were more common in males, the youngest age group, and Hindustanis and Creoles.

Conclusions:

The incidence of sarcomas in Suriname, and their gender, age and ethnic distribution in general, seemed comparable with international data. The main exception might be leiomyosarcoma which might have a predilection for Afro-Surinamese.     

Carpal avascular necrosis: MR imaging

The authors evaluated the use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in diagnosis of avascular necrosis (AVN) of carpal bones by examining 21 patients with wrist pain and two healthy volunteers. MR images were compared with conventional radiographs in every case and with bone scintigrams in 18 cases. MR imaging was slightly less sensitive than bone scintigraphy in depicting AVN, but in patients who were imaged with long repetition time (TR)/long echo time (TE) sequences in addition to short TR/short TE sequences, MR imaging was found to be more specific. While the authors believe that bone scintigraphy remains the screening test of choice for patients with wrist pain and normal plain radiographs, MR imaging promises to add significant diagnostic information in cases in which bone scans are abnormal.