Longitudinal study of viruses associated with canine infectious respiratory disease

In this investigation a population of dogs at a rehoming center was monitored over a period of 2 years. Despite regular vaccination of incoming dogs against distemper, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2), and canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), respiratory disease was endemic. Tissue samples from the respiratory tract as well as paired serum samples were collected for analysis. The development of PCR assays for the detection of CPIV, canine adenovirus types 1 and 2, and canine herpesvirus (CHV) is described. Surprisingly, canine adenovirus was not detected in samples from this population, whereas 19.4% of tracheal and 10.4% of lung samples were positive for CPIV and 12.8% of tracheal and 9.6% of lung samples were positive for CHV. As reported previously, a novel canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV) was detected in this population (K. Erles, C. Toomey, H. W. Brooks, and J. Brownlie, Virology 310:216-223, 2003). Infections with CRCoV occurred mostly during the first week of a dog's stay at the kennel, whereas CPIV and CHV were detected at later time points. Furthermore, the evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to CPIV and an immunofluorescence assay for detection of antibodies to CHV is described. This study shows that CPIV is present at kennels despite vaccination. In addition, other agents such as CHV and CRCoV may play a role in the pathogenesis of canine respiratory disease, whereas CAV-2 and canine distemper virus were not present in this population, indicating that their prevalence in the United Kingdom is low due to widespread vaccination of dogs.     

Comparison of a new rapid test (TestPack Rotavirus) with standard enzyme immunoassay and electron microscopy for the detection of rotavirus in symptomatic hospitalized children.

We compared a new, rapid, qualitative test for rotavirus (TestPack Rotavirus; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.) with another enzyme immunoassay (Pathfinder Rotavirus; Kallestad Laboratories, Inc., Austin, Tex.) and electron microscopy to determine its clinical utility in a population of symptomatic hospitalized children. In the first part of the study, 100 frozen stool samples were tested. The results after resolution with a blocking reagent showed a sensitivity of only 50% and a specificity of 88% for TestPack Rotavirus. In the second part of the study, we tested TestPack Rotavirus on 100 fresh, unfrozen samples. The results (sensitivity/specificity) were as follows: TestPack Rotavirus, 95/90%; Pathfinder Rotavirus, 84/98%; direct electron microscopy, 63/100%. Although it was not as sensitive or specific as immune electron microscopy, TestPack Rotavirus was more sensitive than direct electron microscopy or Kallestad Pathfinder Rotavirus. TestPack Rotavirus represents a rapid, qualitative method for the detection of rotavirus in stools of symptomatic children.     

Development of capture assays for different modifications of human low-density lipoprotein

Antibodies to malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL), copper-oxidized LDL (oxLDL), Nepsilon(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML)-modified LDL, and advanced glycosylation end product (AGE)-modified LDL were obtained by immunization of rabbits with in vitro-modified human LDL preparations. After absorption of apolipoprotein B (ApoB) antibodies, we obtained antibodies specific for each modified lipoprotein with unique patterns of reactivity. MDA-LDL antibodies reacted strongly with MDA-LDL and also with oxLDL. CML-LDL antibodies reacted strongly with CML-LDL and also AGE-LDL. oxLDL antibodies reacted with oxLDL but not with MDA-LDL, and AGE-LDL antibodies reacted with AGE-LDL but not with CML-LDL. Capture assays were set with each antiserum, and we tested their ability to capture ApoB-containing lipoproteins isolated from precipitated immune complexes (IC) and from the supernatants remaining after IC precipitation (free lipoproteins). All antibodies captured lipoproteins contained in IC more effectively than free lipoproteins. Analysis of lipoproteins in IC by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that they contained MDA-LDL and CML-LDL in significantly higher concentrations than free lipoproteins. A significant correlation (r=0.706, P<0.019) was obtained between the MDA concentrations determined by chemical analysis and by the capture assay of lipoproteins present in IC. In conclusion, we have developed capture assays for different LDL modifications in human ApoB/E lipoprotein-rich fractions isolated from precipitated IC. This approach obviates the interference of IC in previously reported modified LDL assays and allows determination of the degree of modification of LDL with greater accuracy.     

Pentoxifylline treatment of mice with chronic pulmonary tuberculosis accelerates the development of destructive pathology

It is well established in animal models that production of the cytokine tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is essential to the proper expression of acquired specific resistance following infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This gives rise to an apparent state of chronic disease which over the next 100-200 days is characterized by slowly worsening pathological changes in the lung. To determine whether continued TNF-alpha production was harmful during this phase mice were treated with a TNF-alpha inhibitor, pentoxifylline. It was observed that although this therapy did not alter the numbers of bacteria recovered from the lungs of the infected mice, tissue damage within the lung was accelerated. These data thus demonstrate that production of TNF-alpha, already known to be important during the early expression of resistance to tuberculosis, remains important and beneficial during the chronic stage of the disease.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 expression in rat plantaris muscle

All three forms of recombinant low voltage-activated T-type Ca²⁺ channels (Ca_v3.1, Ca_v3.2 and Ca_v3.3) exhibit a small, though clearly evident, window T-type Ca²⁺ current ( I _Twindow) which is also present in native channels from different neuronal types. In thalamocortical (TC) and nucleus reticularis thalami (NRT) neurones, and possibly in neocortical cells, an I _Twindow-mediated bistability is the key cellular mechanism underlying the expression of the slow (< 1 Hz) sleep oscillation, one of the fundamental EEG rhythms of non-REM sleep. As the I _Twindow-mediated bistability may also represent one of the cellular mechanisms underlying the expression of high frequency burst firing in awake conditions, I _Twindow is of critical importance in neuronal population dynamics associated with different behavioural states.     

A pharmacological and histological examination of the microcirculation of the rat subcutaneous air-pouch: microcirculation of the rat air-pouch

The effects of histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on plasma protein extravasation in the rat subcutaneous air-pouch have been studied. Both histamine and 5-HT produced increases in plasma protein extravasation which were inhibited by specific receptor antagonists. Plasma protein extravasation induced by PGE2 was partially inhibited by either a 5-HT receptor antagonist (methysergide) or by a combination of H1 and H2 receptor antagonists (mepyramine and cimetidine). A combination of all three antagonists further reduced plasma protein extravasation. These results suggest that PGE2 increases vascular permeability indirectly via the degranulation of mast cells. This supposition was confirmed by histological evidence of extensive mast cell degranulation following the injection of PGE2 but not following histamine, 5-HT or saline injection. Using a technique of vascular labelling, following the intravenous injection of Monastral blue dye, plasma extravasation induced by histamine, 5-HT or PGE2 was observed to be restricted to post-capillary venules and was not observed in arterioles or capillaries. Electron microscopic examination of the tissue revealed the presence of monastral blue particles trapped between endothelial cells. These findings suggest that the microcirculation of the rat subcutaneous air-pouch behaves in an analogous manner to that of other tissues.     

An investigation into the relationship between salivary cortisol,stress, anxiety and depression

This study examined the relationship between indices of self-reported emotional distress and absolute versus change in cortisol levels. Fifty-four women attending a diagnostic breast clinic completed scales measuring stress, anxiety and depression and provided five saliva samples over the course of a single day for the measurement of cortisol. No significant relationships were evident between absolute cortisol levels and the distress measures. Analysis of the change in cortisol levels revealed a non-linear interaction effect between stress and anxiety and time of day. There was a non-linear relation between time of day and cortisol levels, but the extent of the non-linearity was dependent upon levels of stress and anxiety, not depression. A relationship was apparent between indices of distress and change in cortisol levels, but not absolute levels of the hormone.     

Gentamicin-mediated suppression of Hurler syndrome stop mutations restores a low level of alpha-L-iduronidase activity and reduces lysosomal glycosaminoglycan accumulation

Hurler syndrome is the most severe form of a lysosomal storage disease caused by loss of the enzyme alpha-L-iduronidase (encoded by the IDUA gene), which participates in the degradation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) within the lysosome. In some populations, premature stop mutations represent roughly two-thirds of the mutations that cause Hurler syndrome. In this study we investigated whether the aminoglycoside gentamicin can suppress stop mutations within the IDUA gene. We found that a Hurler syndrome fibroblast cell line heterozygous for the IDUA stop mutations Q70X and W402X showed a significant increase in alpha-L-iduronidase activity when cultured in the presence of gentamicin, resulting in the restoration of 2.8% of normal alpha-L-iduronidase activity. Determination of alpha-L-iduronidase protein levels by an immunoquantification assay indicated that gentamicin treatment produced a similar increase in alpha-L-iduronidase protein in Hurler cells. Both the alpha-L-iduronidase activity and protein level resulting from this treatment have previously been correlated with mild Hurler phenotypes. Although Hurler fibroblasts contain a much higher level of GAGs than normal, we found that gentamicin treatment reduced GAG accumulation in Hurler cells to a normal level. We also found that a reduced GAG level could be sustained for at least 2 days after gentamicin treatment was discontinued. The reduction in the GAG level was also reflected in a marked reduction in lysosomal vacuolation. Taken together, these results suggest that the suppression of premature stop mutations may provide an effective treatment for Hurler syndrome patients with premature stop mutations in the IDUA gene.