Spread of Cryptococcus gattii into Pacific Northwest Region of the United States

Cryptococcus gattii has emerged as a human and animal pathogen in the Pacific Northwest. First recognized on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, it now involves mainland British Columbia, and Washington and Oregon in the United States. In Canada, the incidence of disease has been one of the highest worldwide. In the United States, lack of cryptococcal species identification and case surveillance limit our knowledge of C. gattii epidemiology. Infections in the Pacific Northwest are caused by multiple genotypes, but the major strain is genetically novel and may have emerged recently in association with unique mating or environmental changes. C. gattii disease affects immunocompromised and immunocompetent persons, causing substantial illness and death. Successful management requires an aggressive medical and surgical approach and consideration of potentially variable antifungal drug susceptibilities. We summarize the study results of a group of investigators and review current knowledge with the goal of increasing awareness and highlighting areas where further knowledge is required.     

Membrano-proliferative glomerulonephritis associated with metastatic prostate carcinoma--should immunosuppressive therapy be considered?

Sir, Glomerulonephritis in association with malignant disease hasbeen well documented since it was first reported by Lee et al.in 1966 [1]. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common presentationof malignancy-associated glomerulonephritis and has been reportedwith various carcinomas and lymphoproliferative diseases [2].Secondary membranous     

The long term culture of bulk-isolated bovine oligodendroglia from adult brain

Oligodendroglia isolated from adult bovine brain by the method of Farooq et al. could be plated on polylysine-coated plastic dishes with an efficiency of 55–80%, and maintained in culture for as long as 4 months. The addition of cytosine arabinoside to the nutrient medium resulted in cultures that were approximately 90% oligodendroglia and 10% large fibroblasts. From 50 g of white matter 100 − 160 × 10⁶ oligodendroglia, containing approximately 6–10 mg protein, could be obtained in culture. These small round cells started to send out processes at 5 days in vitro and by 2 weeks they formed an extensive network of processes. By immunofluorescence, all cells of this morphology were positive for galactocerebroside (GC) and myelin basic protein (MBP), and negative for glial filament protein and fibronectin. Most of the large flat cells were positive for fibronectin and negative for GC, MBP and glial filament protein. As the cultures aged the oligodendroglia tented to clump and blebs formed on the surface of both perikarya and processes. By 4 months they showed evidence of degeneration and detached from the substrate. Electron microscopic examination showed that the cells had the appearance typical of oligodendroglia in situ. The somata were round to elliptical, with eccentrically placed nuclei, and were larger than freshly isolated cells. They grew directly on the substrate or on the surface of the fibroblasts. In older cultures the cells formed tight nests. The somata were enveloped by sheets of oligodendrocyte cytoplasm, sometimes having a myelin-like appearance. Gap junctions and small desmosomes were seen between oligodendroglial processes and between oligodendroglia and fibroblasts. The cytoplasm was characterized by a prominent Golgi apparatus, many mitochondria and lysosomes, scattered rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosomes, frequent centrioles and an abundance of microtubules. In cells from older cultures large vacuoles were common, and rarely they had multilamellar walls with alternating major and minor dense lines resembling myelin.     

Disposition Kinetics and Urinary Excretion of Sulphadimidine in Normal and Alloxan Diabetic Dogs

Abstract: Disposition kinetics and urinary excretion of sulphadimidine were investigated in 16 dogs following a single intravenous injection (100 mg/kg body weight). Biochemical parameters including blood pH, blood glucose, plasma triglycerides and total plasma proteins of these animals were determined. The animals were injected alloxan (125 mg/kg) intravenously and when blood glucose level exceeded 300 mg%, the biochemical parameters, disposition kinetics and urinary excretion of sulphadimidine were determined again. After alloxan treatment of the dogs, there was a highly significant (P < 0.01) decrease in blood pH, increase in blood glucose and plasma triglycerides levels when compared with the pretreatment values. The alloxan diabetic dogs showed a highly significant (P < 0.01) reduction in elimination half-life (t1/2β) and apparent volume of distribution (Vd_(area) and increase in overall elimination rate constant (k_el), total body clearance (Cl_B) and percentage of sulphadimidine dose excreted in urine. In normal dogs, one-half of the intravenous dose and after alloxan treatment two-third of the dose was eliminated through urinary excretion during 48 hours after injection. This study shows that the metabolic alterations of alloxan induced diabetes in dogs, influence the drug disposition and urinary excretion which indicate the need for the adjustment of dosage regimen in such metabolic disorders.