Streptococcus sanguis bacteremia and colorectal cancer: A case report

Streptococcus sanguis, usually considered a nonpathogen of the oral cavity, was isolated from blood cultures from a patient who was subsequently found to have a cecal adenocarcinoma. Further studies are needed to determine if Streptococcus sanguis infections have diagnostic implications similar to those of Streptococcus bovis. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

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Rechtsprechung aktuell

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Cocaine and dopamine differentially protect [3H]mazindol binding sites from alkylation by N-ethylmaleimide.

The binding of cocaine, d-amphetamine and dopamine to the site on the dopamine transporter labeled by [3H]mazindol was investigated in rat striatal membranes. N-Ethylmaleimide inhibited about 95% of the specific binding of 5 nM [3H]mazindol in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect of 10 mM N-ethylmaleimide was completely prevented by cocaine (EC50 of 3 microM), but neither 300 microM dopamine nor d-amphetamine afforded any significant protection. On the other hand, high concentrations of cocaine, d-amphetamine and dopamine provided similar protection against inhibition by 0.1 mM N-ethylmaleimide. Taken together these data support the hypothesis that a significant portion of the cocaine binding domain on the transporter is distinct from that of either dopamine or amphetamine. This distinction may be sufficient to allow properly designed drugs to prevent cocaine binding without inhibiting DA transport.     

AIDS-free survival and overall survival in HIV infection: the new CDC classification system (1993) for HIV disease and AIDS

The clinical history of 1538 HIV positive patients was analyzed on the basis of the new CDC classification system of HIV disease and AIDS. This classification system combines three CD4 cell categories (1, 2, and 3) with three clinical categories (A, B, and C) into nine subgroups AI–C3. We examined the overall survival for all subgroups and the AIDS-free survival for subgroups Al–B3. AIDS-free survival for patients in subgroups Al, A2, and B1 was considerably longer than survival in patients from subgroups A3, B2, and B3 (P < 0.0001). According to these findings, the new CDC classification system could be simplified into three stages, stage I and II comprising the above mentioned six subgroups, and stage III comprising clinical AIDS defining categories C1, C2, and C3. These three stages correspond to different periods in the management of HIV positive patients, i.e., period of observation, period of prophylaxis, and period of treatment.Abbreviations AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - CDC Centers for Disease Control - HIV Human immunodeficiency virus Correspondence to: E.B. Helm     

Release of parathyroid hormonelike peptides by fetal rat long bones in culture

We observed that culture medium conditioned with fetal rat long bones stimulated cyclic AMP production by canine renal cortical membranes. This cyclase-stimulating activity (CSA) was retained by an ultrafiltration membrane with a molecular weight cutoff of 5000; three biologically active peaks with an approximate molecular weight of 18,000-25,000, 9000-12,000, and 4000-6000 were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The biologic activity was destroyed by trypsin digestion. The stimulation of adenylate cyclase by the medium and by the three peaks was inhibited by [N-leu8,18,Tyr34]parathyroid hormone-(3-34)-amide and by [Tyr34]parathyroid hormone-(7-34)amide. Preincubation of the bone culture medium and of the three peaks with an antibody raised against human parathyroid hormone-(1-34) did not decrease the biologic activity more than incubation with nonimmune serum. However, the biologic activity of the three active peaks was significantly suppressed after preincubation with an antiserum directed against the N-terminal region of the parathyroid hormone-related peptide of malignancy. The release of CSA into the bone culture medium was enhanced by parathyroid hormone induction and by 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. It was decreased by calcitonin. We conclude that fetal murine bones in culture release peptides that stimulate the adenylate cyclase of renal cortical membranes. These peptides are antigenically similar to the parathyroid hormone-related peptide of malignancy. Their release from bones is modulated by hormones that control bone resorption.     

Disposition of oral and intravenous pravastatin in MRP2-deficient TR- rats.

The aim of this study was to characterize the role of the efflux transporter Mrp2 (Abcc2) in the pharmacokinetics of orally and intravenously administered pravastatin in rats. Eight Mrp2-deficient TR- rats and eight wild-type rats were given an oral dose of 20 mg/kg pravastatin. Four TR- animals and four wild-type animals were studied after intravenous administration of pravastatin (5 mg/kg). The TR(-) rats showed a 6.1-fold higher mean area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) of pravastatin (p < 0.001) after oral administration and a 4.7-fold higher AUC (p < 0.01) after intravenous administration of pravastatin as compared with the wild-type animals. The mean systemic (total) clearance of pravastatin was 4.6-fold higher (39.2 versus 8.50 l/h/kg, p < 0.001) and the mean V 4.3-fold higher (14.1 versus 3.29 l/kg, p < 0.01) in the wild-type rats. The mean renal clearance of pravastatin in the TR(-) rats was 16.5-fold increased as compared with the wild-type animals (0.695 versus 0.042 l/h/kg, p < 0.05). The increased systemic exposure to oral pravastatin in the TR- rats was associated with a greater inhibitory effect on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, as shown by smaller lathosterol to cholesterol concentration ratios. These results suggest that the reduced biliary pravastatin excretion in the Mrp2-deficient TR- rats is partly compensated for by increased urinary excretion of pravastatin. Furthermore, intestinal Mrp2 does not appear to play a major role in the oral absorption of pravastatin in normal rats.