Corticosterone strongly increases the affinity of dorsal raphe 5-HT1A receptors

The effects of corticosterone (10 mg/kg, s.c., 6 h) on dorsal raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptors have been studied in adrenalectomized rats with or without porcine galanin modulation. Adrenalectomy diminishes 5-HT1A autoreceptors affinity. Corticosterone increases 5-HT1A autoreceptor agonist affinity (+90%, p<0.001) in adrenalectomized rats. Galanin (10 nM) increases dorsal raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptor density (+65%, p<0.05) and its Kd value (+248%, p<0.05) only in adrenalectomized rats treated with corticosterone. Dorsal raphe glucocorticoid receptors activation by corticosterone may therefore lead to an increased signalling of 5-HT1A autoreceptors that may become counteracted by galanin receptor activation. Glucocorticoids, by enhancing dorsal raphe 5-HT1A autoreceptor function, may therefore cause reduced 5-HT neuronal activity and thus lead to a depressive state.     

Comparison of the classic Glucksberg criteria and the IBMTR Severity Index for grading acute graft-versus-host disease following HLA-identical sibling stem cell transplantation. International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry.

Acute graft-versus-host disease (AGVHD) severity is usually graded (grades 0-IV) by the pattern of organ involvement using the classic Glucksberg-Seattle criteria (GSC). Recently, the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry (IBMTR) developed a new Severity Index by regrouping the patterns of organ involvement into five Indexes (0-D) that appeared more predictive of transplant-related mortality (TRM) and transplant failure (TF, relapse or TRM). We studied the predictive value of both grading systems of TRM, TF and GVHD-related mortality (GTRM) in a series of 114 consecutive patients > or = 12 years old allografted from a histocompatible sibling at our institution, 100 of whom were evaluable for AGVHD. The IBMTR Severity Index showed better incremental prediction of TRM (relative risks (RR) of 1, 1.5, 1.4, 2 and 2.5 for Indexes 0, A, B, C and D), TF (RRs of 1, 1.6, 1.6, 2 and 2.3, respectively) and GTRM (RRs of 1, 2.2 and 4.8 for Indexes B, C and D) than the GSC. With the GSC different outcomes for TRM and TF were found only from grade 0 to I-II and 0 to IV or I-III to IV, but not from I-II to III. The GSC also appeared less predictive of GTRM (RRs of 1, 0.4 and 2.9 for grades II, III and IV). In our relatively small patient sample, the new IBMTR Severity Index appeared more predictive of transplant outcome than the GSC, especially between no AGVHD, early Indexes (A-B) and advanced Indexes (C-D).     

In vitro activity of 79 antimicrobial agents against Corynebacterium group D2.

Corynebacterium group D2 (CGD2) is involved in urinary tract infections in patients with underlying predisposing factors. This microorganism is highly resistant to a number of antimicrobial agents. We tested the activities of 79 antimicrobial agents against CGD2. beta-Lactams, aminoglycosides, and macrolides were ineffective. Fluorinated quinolones showed irregular activities, ofloxacin being the most active one. Doxycycline, rifampin, and mainly glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin) were the most active antibiotics against CGD2.     

Liver Transplantation Consequential to Caroli's Syndrome: A Case Report

Caroli's disease is a rare condition that includes fibrocystic malformations of the bile duct. It consists of multifocal congenital dilatations of the intrahepatic bile ducts, which may be diffuse or limited, presenting in sack form that produces cystic structures which communicate with the biliary tree. Herein we have presented the case of a 44-year-old woman with recurrent cholangitis consequential to Caroli's syndrome. The distinctive feature of this case was that it was the first and only liver transplantation performed to date for this cause at our center among 700 procedures that had been performed over 19 years. The hepatectomy sample from the liver transplantation showed large cystic dilatations at the level of segments VII and VIII. The pathological study reported congenital dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, associated with congenital hepatic fibrosis (Caroli's syndrome). Caroli's syndrome is a complex association of conditions which usually presents together with polycystic kidney lesions. Orthotopic liver transplantation is still the only therapeutic option for diffuse, uncontrollable cases or those with significant portal hypertension, as well as being the final option in the other cases in the event of a lack of response to other therapeutic options or as an alternative to them.     

Fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of thyroid cancer and thyroid disease

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) performed for diffuse and nodular goiter in the past 5 years, was evaluated in 1399 cases. Surgery was performed on the basis of FNAB cytologic diagnosis that was positive or suggestive of malignancy and/or a suggestive clinical history. Surgery also was performed in cases of cold nodules with negative FNAB results that did not respond to 6 months of suppressive thyroxine therapy. A correlation of cytologic findings with histologic findings was possible in 415 patients who underwent surgery: the evaluation of FNAB results yielded better results when suspicious cytologic findings were considered to be positive (2.4% false-negative, 86.3% sensitivity) rather than negative (6.5% and 65.7%, respectively). FNAB has become a useful procedure in the study and diagnosis of thyroid diseases. It is a simple, rapid diagnostic procedure that may be used to expedite the management of malignant lesions.     

A pleiotropic, posttherapy, enoxacin-resistant mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

An enoxacin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant (G49) isolated during patient therapy was characterized in detail. The G49 mutant was cross resistant to several classes of antibiotics including quinolones, beta-lactams, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, but not imipenem or aminoglycosides. Compared with its paired pretherapy isolate G48, this mutant had several alterations in outer membrane proteins including a complete loss of the major porin protein OprF and a substantially altered lipopolysaccharide profile. Revertants were selected at a frequency of approximately 1% after enrichment for OprF+ cells on low-salt proteose peptone no. 2 medium. Ninety-seven of these OprF+ revertants were as susceptible to carbenicillin and norfloxacin as the pretherapy isolate. One of these revertants was characterized in more detail and shown to be indistinguishable in all properties from the pretherapy isolate. It is proposed that the multiple-antibiotic-resistance (Mar) phenotype of this mutant resulted from a single pleiotropic mutation.