Evidence for the presence of a type III secretion system in diffusely adhering Escherichia coli (DAEC).

Diffusely adhering Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains (DAEC) represent a potential cause of diarrhoea in infants, and the detection of type three secretion system (TTSS) genes in DAEC would substantiate their pathogenic nature. In this work, four isolates of DAEC, recovered from stools of diarrhoeic children, were analysed by PCR, in order to detect the presence of TTSS genes. Primers targeted to the escC, escJ, escN and escV, some of the most conserved TTSS genes in enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EPEC and EHEC), were used in order to verify the occurrence of homologous genes in our DAEC isolates. By this approach, we were able to characterise DNA fragments corresponding to putative escJ and escN genes in all DAEC isolates. Furthermore, DNA fragments homologous to the escC and escV genes were also amplified from all isolates. Besides the similarity found among the DAEC esc homologues with EPEC and EHEC esc genes, the nucleotide sequence analysis of the flanking regions of the amplified DNA fragments suggests that the putative DAEC esc genes are organised in the same manner as observed in EPEC and in EHEC strains. The results described here provide strong evidence for the presence of a TTSS in the DAEC strains analysed, implicating a pathogenic nature of these isolates.     

Suppression by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense of the capacities of human T lymphocytes to express interleukin-2 receptors and proliferate after mitogenic stimulation.

We studied the suppressive effects induced in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by purified blood forms of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. The parasite was found to markedly impair lymphocyte proliferation (measured in terms of [3H]thymidine incorporation). The extent of this effect increased with parasite concentration and was not due to mitogen absorption, depletion of medium nutrients, or PBMC killing by the parasite. Significant reductions in interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) expression, determined by flow cytometric analysis, were also observed in PHA-stimulated PBMC cultured in the presence of T. b. rhodesiense as evidenced by marked decreases in the surface density of the receptor. Concomitant decreases in the percentage of IL-2R+ cells were recorded in approximately half of the experiments. A discrete, dimly stained subpopulation of IL-2R+ cells were consistently demonstrable whether or not a reduction in the percentage of IL-2R+ cells occurred. Living, but not glutaraldehyde-fixed, parasites suppressed IL-2R expression. In kinetic studies, a low but reproducible level of suppression of IL-2R was demonstrable as early as 6 h after PHA stimulation; the extent of this effect became considerably more pronounced as additional culture time elapsed. Levels of IL-2 biological activity in cocultures of T. b. rhodesiense with PHA-stimulated PBMC were comparable with or higher than those present in control cultures lacking the parasite. Therefore, insufficient levels of this cytokine would be an unlikely explanation for the noted suppression of IL-2R expression and lymphoproliferation. These effects of T. b. rhodesiense could represent an important component of the mechanism by which immunosuppression develops in African sleeping sickness.     

Effect of maternal administration of thyrotropin-releasing hormone or DN1417 on functional and morphologic fetal rabbit lung maturation and duration of survival after premature delivery

Though maternal treatment with thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) for prevention of hyaline membrane disease has been utilized, precise mechanisms of TRH in accelerating fetal lung maturation remain unclear. We studied the effect of maternally administered TRH or DN1417 (an analog of TRH) on functional and morphologic fetal rabbit lung maturation and the duration of survival after premature delivery. Because DN1417 retains the neurotransmitter but not the neuroendocrine effects of TRH, this study enables us to determine which of these effects was responsible for enhancement of lung maturation. TRH or DN1417 (0.2 mg/kg/dose) or saline was injected intravenously into New Zealand White rabbit does 48, 36, 24, 12 and 2 h prior to sacrifice on day 27 of gestation. Functional pulmonary maturity was assessed by pressure-volume hysteresis, and morphologic maturity was assessed by histologic technique. Maternal administration of TRH or DN1417 enhanced both functional and morphologic fetal lung maturation as well as the duration of neonatal survival after premature delivery. We propose that the effect of TRH in fetal lung maturation is due to neurotransmitter rather than neuroendocrine effects.     

The MMPI and premenstrual syndrome: profile fluctuations between best and worst times during the menstrual cycle

The MMPI was administered during the patient-perceived best time of the menstrual cycle and during the patient-perceived worst time of the cycle in order to examine the stability of MMPI profile configurations. Subjects were 214 women who were referred to two metropolitan outpatient premenstrual syndrome (PMS) clinics for moderate to severe premenstrual complaints. This sample was selected from 1,849 intake files after screening by strict selection criteria for PMS. The results indicate that there are wide fluctuations in profile patterns between the best and worst times of the menstrual cycle for a large number of patients. Caution in using the MMPI is strongly advised.     

Relationship specific IgE and IgG4 antibody to food allergen and other allergic factors in 0-year old allergic children

We investigated the relation IgE and IgG4 antibody to food allergen and other allergic factors in 94 0-year old allergic children. And then, we compared this result data with the data of allergic children over 2-years old reported before. In 0-year old children, IgE antibody to food allergen and IgE RAST score to egg white were related more tightly to IgE RIST. And the tightness of these factors was 4 times as strong as those in allergic children over 2-year old. This fact was suggested the polyclonal production and induction of IgE antibody in infant children. And IgG4 antibody to food allergen was related tightly to eosinophil counts in 0-year old allergic children. The tightness of 2 factors was about 2 times as strong as those in allergic children over 2-years old. The fact was suggested the necessity of investigation of relationship between 2 factors.     

Facial reanimation after acoustic neuroma excision: the patient's perspective

Facial reanimation after acoustic neuroma excision is currently accomplished using a variety of surgical techniques. A multi-institutional survey of patient perceptions of facial reanimation success was accomplished by mailing a questionnaire to 809 randomly selected members of the Acoustic Neuroma Association. Four hundred sixty patients who underwent 296 reanimation procedures responded. Facial to hypoglossal nerve anastomosis, tarsorrhaphy, and upper eyelid implants were most frequently performed. The patient's estimations of initial deficit, spontaneous recovery, and overall satisfaction with the reanimation procedures are discussed.     

Antigenuria after immunization with Haemophilus influenzae oligosaccharide CRM197 conjugate (HbOC) vaccine

We tested the urine of 30 infants 6 weeks to 7 months of age after they received standard 10-micrograms (0.5-ml) doses of HbOC (HibTITER) Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib) conjugate vaccine for the presence of Hib antigenuria using a commercially available latex particle agglutination assay (Directigen). Urines were collected within 1 hour, from 1 to 3 hours, at 24 hours and at 3, 6 and 9 days after vaccine administration and reactions were quantitated from 0 to 3+. In contrast to previous studies in older children which showed little or no antigenuria following HbOC vaccination, our study shows that in infants intense Hib antigenuria is evident within 2 to 3 hours and persists 3 days after vaccine administration and that less intense antigenuria may be detected in some infants for several days. With efficacious vaccines now being used in 2- to 6-month-old infants, invasive Hib disease may soon be limited to infants of this age just before their seroconversion. It should be recognized that antigenuria occurs for several days after vaccination with Hib conjugate vaccines and that it could be erroneously interpreted as evidence of invasive Hib infection.