A case of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with cryptococcal meningitis which was successfully cured by the administration of massive dose of amphotericin B

A case of SLE with moderately deteriorated renal function due to lupus nephritis developed cryptococcal meningitis. Long term administration of amphotericin B (cumulative dose 5 g) combined with 5-flucytosine eradicated this fungal infection. Throughout amphotericin B administration urinary excretions of Na and K, as well as plasma HCO3 concentration were monitored, and, Na, K and HCO3 were supplemented orally and intravenously so much as to replace their urinary losses. Neither prominent water-electrolyte disturbance nor severe azotemia, which are the most serious side effects of amphotericin B, did not ensue. This case study indicates that sufficient water.electrolytes supplementation is important to prevent the nephrotoxicity of amphotericin B.     

The production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by rat basophilic leukemia cells with triggering IgE receptor

We evaluated cytotoxic factor released from rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL) sensitized with anti-ovalbumin (OVA) mouse serum after incubation with OVA. The cytotoxic activity of this factor was completely blocked by anti-mouse tumor necrosis factor-alpha (mTNF-alpha) specific antibody. Therefore, we concluded that by triggering the IgE receptor, RBL could produce and release TNF-alpha.     

Traumatic laceration of a saphenous vein graft: successful surgical repair

Traumatic laceration of a saphenous vein grafted for coronary artery bypass is extremely rare. Successful surgical repair of a laceration was performed in a 64-year-old man who developed retrosternal hematoma from a saphenous vein graft after blunt injury to the chest.     

Interferon treatment of HEp-2 cells alters the adhesive ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Previous studies have shown that interferons specifically interact with HEp-2 cells and reduce invasiveness by Salmonella and Shigella. In this study an effect of interferons on the adhesiveness of a strictly extracellular bacterium was demonstrated. HEp-2 cells were treated with human leukocyte interferon, recombinant interferon alpha-A or recombinant interferon gamma and the adhesiveness of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the cells was examined using a light microscopy method. A recent isolate and a variant of the same strain subcultivated for 12 months were used. Treatment of cells with human leukocyte interferon or recombinant interferon alpha-A reduced the adhesiveness of both variants. When recombinant interferons were used a dose dependent effect was observed, whereas the effect after treatment with human leukocyte interferon was not dose dependent. Adhesiveness of the bacteria to HEp-2 cells was reduced after subcultivation of the bacteria but was reconstituted by adding an extracellular filtrate from the recent isolate. This extracellular filtrate inhibited the effect of human leukocyte interferon on the adhesiveness of bacteria in the cell cultures. The human leukocyte interferon effect on bacterial adhesiveness was neutralized by anti-interferon globulin. Treatment of HEp-2 cells with recombinant human gamma interferon caused an enhanced adhesiveness of the recent isolate, but reduced the adhesiveness of the subcultivated variant strain.     

The efficacy of a tissue adhesive agent (BI 0.022) in urinary tract surgery--application to pyelo- and ureterolithotomy

To evaluate the effect of a tissue adhesive agent (BI 0.022) on renal pelvic and ureteral surgery, the adhesive was applied for 44 patients with urolithiasis. The conventional suture method was performed in 87 patients as a control. The tissue adhesive is composed of fibrinogen, thrombin, factor XIII, aprotinin and CaCl2. The number of sutures for closure of the incision made on the rental pelvis and the ureter was significantly reduced by the use of the tissue adhesive (p less than 0.01). There was no tendency of increase in urinary leakage following the application of the method in comparison with the control. Furthermore, it was noteworthy that 10 in cases with less than a 1 cm ureteral incision were completely closed by the use of the adhesive agent. This tissue adhesive agent should be valuable for renal pelvic and ureteral surgery as a simple substitute for the conventional suture method.     

Auxotrophic mutants of the yeast Trichosporon adeninovorans

We have isolated and characterized auxotrophic mutants of Trichosporon adeninovorans, strain PAR-4 to get genetic markers that cover the entire nuclear genome of this thermotolerant yeast of technological interest. The nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis yielded mutants at a high frequency. We detected a broad spectrum of auxotrophic phenotypes in the random mutant samples. Obviously, strain PAR-4 is a haploid or hyperhaploid yeast. In correspondence we determined a low DNA content per cell. In contrast to NG1), UV light was an inefficient mutagen. UV survival curves were without the typical shoulder indicating suppression of repair of UV-induced lethal lesions. Thus, the response of PAR-4 to UV was different from those of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other yeasts.