West Nile virus quantification in feces of experimentally infected American and fish crows.

To better understand the potential environmental health risk presented by West Nile virus (WNV)-contaminated feces, we quantified the amount of WNV present in the feces of experimentally infected American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and fish crows (Corvus ossifragus). Peak fecal titers ranged from 10(3.5) to 10(8.8) plaque-forming units (PFU)/g for 10 American crows and from 10(2.3) to 10(6.4) PFU/g for 10 fish crows. The presence of infectious WNV in bird feces indicates a potential for direct transmission of WNV. Thus, handlers of sick or dead birds should take appropriate precautions to avoid exposure to fecal material.     

Differences in the Course of Alcohol Withdrawal in Women and Men: A Polish Sample

A retrospective study compared the course of alcohol withdrawal, including delirium tremens, in women and men hospitalized in the Nowowiejski Hospital in Warsaw from 1973 to 1987. Medical records pertaining to 1179 patients were analyzed; 13.8% of these patients were women and 86.2% were men. The study showed that women began intensive alcohol drinking later than men ( p < 0.0001), but the period between the onset of alcohol abuse and the first occurrence of alcohol withdrawal was shorter in women than in men ( p < 0.0001). In the period of heavy drinking before hospitalization, women consumed significantly less alcohol then men ( p < 0.0001); moreover, women drank nonbeverage alcohol less frequently than men ( p < 0.05). Women were hospitalized substantially longer than men ( p < 0.0001), whereas the duration of alcohol withdrawal symptoms at the time of hospitalization was comparable in both groups. Withdrawal seizures were significantly more frequent among men than among women ( p < 0.001). Significant differences in the patients'somatic conditions were not noted between the groups, with the exception of anemia and decreased potassium concentration, which were more frequently observed in women (both p < 0.0001), and of increased concentration of ALT and hypoproteinemia, which were more frequent in men (respectively, p < 0.05 and p < 0.01). Co-existing personality disorders, depressive disorders, and anxiety disorders—as well as abuse of benzodiazepines and barbiturates—were more frequently observed in women ( p < 0.0001). The period between the first hospitalization due to alcohol withdrawal and the time of death was significantly shorter in men than in women ( p < 0.05). The results point to differences in the conditions and the course of alcohol dependence and alcohol withdrawal between women and men.     

Transient demineralization of the hip--case report]

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is an uncommon disorder of unclear etiology. It is often confused with other diagnosis including osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Authors describe a case of transient osteoporosis of the hip of 32 years woman. The symptoms occurred in third trimester of pregnancy. The primary symptoms were right hip pain and decreased range of motion of the right hip. In diagnostic process helpful were clinical examination, X-ray, ultrasonography, MRI and microscopic examination. As a treatment authors used walking on crutches, calcitonin and calcium preparate. After a few months remission of symptoms and normalization in accessory investigations were obtained.     

Characterization of human hepatocytes isolated from non-transplantable livers

INTRODUCTION: The successful use of hepatocytes depends on a reliable demonstration of the functional and morphological integrity of isolated cells. Herein we investigated whether the isolation and cryopreservation of primary human hepatocytes can compromise cell viability and liver-specific characteristics. MATERIAL/METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from encapsulated human liver segments by a modified 2-step perfusion technique. Isolated cells were Percoll-purified, cryopreserved, and stored in liquid nitrogen for 1-12 months. For rapid assessment of fresh and cryopreserve/thawed hepatocyte yield and viability, the cells were stained with trypan blue or labeled with fluorochromes. For immunocytochemical analysis, the cells were labeled with monoclonal antibodies for the presence of the following antigens and chemokines: CD3, CD45Ro, CD45Ra, CD34, CD68, CD90, CD95, CD20, HLA-DR, Ki67, PCNA, Bcl-2, p53, CXCR3, CXCR4, and SDF-1. The cells were tested for several specific functions, such as ureagenesis, energy status, MTT activity, lactate dehydrogenase leakage, and total CYP450 content. RESULTS: Assessment of both freshly isolated (Percoll-purified) and cryopreserved/thawed hepatocytes revealed a low constitutive level of contamination by non-parenchymal cells compared with crude (unpurified) preparations and tissue sections. All viable hepatocytes showed intact morphology and retained CYP450 protein, energy status, and urea synthesis. CONCLUSIONS: Modifications in hepatocyte preparations, such as depletion of dead, damaged, and nonparenchymal cells, improves cell purity, which can be adapted to further evaluation of hepatocyte immunogenicity. These data illustrate the importance and feasibility of human hepatocyte banking.     

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) concentration in serum and pleural fluid of patients with pleural malignancy and pleural tuberculosis

The purpose of this study was comparison of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels in serum and pleural fluid and estimation of this test usefulness in diagnosis of pleural effusions. VEGF levels were measured by ELISA method in 68 patients (45 males and 23 females) aged 19-81 years. By Light's criteria in 16 cases transudate and in 52 cases exudate was recognized. By means of fluid cytology, pleural biopsy, microbiology or thoracoscopy in 10 cases pleural metastases from distant organs, in 15 cases coexisting pulmonary neoplasm, in 11 cases mesothelioma and in 16 cases tuberculosis were determined as a cause of fluid accumulation in pleural space. The mean VEGF levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with exudates than in patients with transudates (3833 pg/ml and 325 pg/ml respectively). Based on likelihood ratios analysis, as a cut off value in differentiation of exudates and transudates a value 700 pg/ml was accepted. The sensitivity of this test was 75% and the specificity 93% and likelihood ratio (LR) 12.5. The mean VEGF level in exudates was seven times higher than mean VEGF level in serum (3833 pg/ml and 573 pg/ml respectively). Mean VEGF levels in malignant exudates (4615 pg/ml) were significantly higher than in tuberculous exudates (2073 pg/ml). As a cut off value in differentiation between malignant and tuberculous exudates a value of 4500 pg/ml was accepted. We conclude that our results suggests the local VEGF production in pleural cavity and the significant role of this cytokine in pleural exudates accumulations and also suggests the usefulness of VEGF estimation in pleural fluid in differentiation transudates from exudates and malignant from tuberculous pleural fluids.     

Immunoglobulins and their relative neutralizing efficiency in cattle immunized with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis — Parainfluenza-3 (IBR-PI-3) virus vaccine

The localization of anti-IBR and anti-PI-3 activity in the serum and nasal secretory immunoglobulins following intranasal immunization of cattle with a mixed vaccine (IBR-PI-3, MLV, TCO) was studied and was found to reside in the nasal secretory IgA, serum IgM and IgG fractions. The computation of their relative virus neutralizing efficiencies from kinetic data revealed their order of neutralizing efficiencies to be IgM greater than IgA greather than IgG.     

Sequential Measurements of Chemokines in Urosepsis and Experimental Endotoxemia

Chemokines are a superfamily of small chemotactic proteins. While increased levels of interleukin-8 have been measured in serum and urine during urinary tract infection, little is known about other chemokines in this condition. Monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)–1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)–1, MIP-1 and interferon- inducible protein (IP)–10 were measured in 30 patients with culture-proven urosepsis during a 3-day follow-up and in 11 healthy humans after intravenous injection of endotoxin (4 ng/kg). Urine and serum levels of MCP-1, MIP-1, and IP-10, but not of MIP-1, were elevated in patients on admission, and decreased after initiation of antibiotic treatment. Endotoxin administration to healthy subjects induced increases in plasma and urine concentrations of all four chemokines. These data indicate that clinical and experimental gram-negative infection in humans is associated with enhanced production of chemokines that act mainly on mononuclear cells and that these chemokines are at least in part locally produced.     

The variability of clinical presentation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with hereditary alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

Four patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin (alpha-1 AT) deficiency are presented: one woman with severe (phenotype PiZ) and 3 men with moderate (phenotype PiMZ) deficiency of alpha-1 AT. The variability of clinical presentation of hereditary emphysema is described. In all patients tobacco smoking history, spirometric and 6-minutes walking tests as well as HRCT of the lung were performed and compared. The influence of smoking on the functional status is underlined.