Association of human polyomavirus JC with peripheral blood of immunoimpaired and healthy individuals

JC virus (JCV) infection is regularly asymptomatic in healthy individuals. In contrast, in immunocompromised individuals, highly activated virus replication may lead to PML. Peripheral blood cells (PBCs) are found to habor JCV DNA in healthy and diseased individuals and it is discussed that they might be responsible for dissemination of the virus to the central nervous system (CNS) during persistence. To better understand the role of JCV DNA in PBCs for persistent infection and pathogenesis, the authors characterized the extent of JCV infection in Ficoll-gradient purified blood cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs]) of healthy and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. Virus activation in PBMCs from healthy JCV-infected individuals was found at a rate of 0% to 38% at low polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sensitivity. In progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) patients, a stronger signal was found, indicating increased virus activation. JCV DNA was regularly detected in T and B lymphocytes and in monocytes at low levels. However, granulocytes were shown to be the predominant reservoir of JCV DNA harboring high copy numbers. Although the overall distribution of viral genomes holds true for the population studied, in the individual, a markedly changed pattern of distribution can be found.     

Changes in Escherichia coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in tuberculosis patients and in relation to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in Thyolo,Malawi

In Thyolo district, Malawi, an operational research study is being conducted on the efficacy and feasibility of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in preventing deaths in HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis (TB). A series of cross-sectional studies were carried out to determine i) whether faecal Escherichia coli (E.coli) resistance to co-trimoxazole in TB patients changed with time and ii) whether the resistance pattern was different in HIV positive TB patients who were taking co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Co-trimoxazole resistance among E.coli isolates in TB patients at the time of registration was 60% in 1999 and 77% in 2001 (p<0.01). Resistance was 89% among HIV-infected TB patients (receiving co-trimoxazole), while in HIV negative patients (receiving anti-TB therapy alone) it was 62% (p<0.001). The study shows a significant increase of E.coli resistance to co-trimoxazole in TB patients which is particularly prominent in HIV infected patients on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis. Since a high degree of plasmid-mediated transfer of resistance exists between E.coli and the Salmonella species, these findings could herald limitations on the short and long term benefits to be anticipated from the use of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in preventing non-typhoidal salmonella bacteraemia and enteritis in HIV infected TB patients in Malawi.     

Design and implementation of a telemedicine system using Bluetooth protocol and GSM/GPRS network, for real time remote patient monitoring.

This paper introduces the design and implementation of a generic wireless and Real-time Multi-purpose Health Care Telemedicine system applying Bluetooth protocol, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). The paper explores the factors that should be considered when evaluating different technologies for application in telemedicine system. The design and implementation of an embedded wireless communication platform utilising Bluetooth protocol is described, and the implementation problems and limitations are investigated. The system is tested and its telecommunication general aspects are verified. The results showed that the system has (97.9 +/- 1.3)% Up-time, 2.5 x 10(-5) Bit Error Rate, 1% Dropped Call Rate, 97.4% Call Success Rate, 5 second transmission delay in average, (3.42 +/- 0.11) kbps throughput, and the system may have application in electrocardiography.     

White plaque of the dorsal tongue

A case of oral lichen planus has been discussed. The causes, associated conditions, laboratory tests, and treatment were addressed. The use of cyanoacrylate "super glue" may have acted as a contactant and promoted the patient's localized lichenoid process. No additional treatment was provided other than confirmation of clinical suspicions. The most important factor was ruling out the possibility of a dysplastic or a malignant process. Should the patient become symptomatic, the treatment would probably start out with kaolin and pectin (Kaopectate) lidocaine/benadryl rinses. Should supportive therapy fail, alternative regimens including topical to systemic corticosteroids would be considered.     

Reelin-immunoreactivity in the hippocampal formation of 9-month-old wildtype mouse: effects of APP/PS1 genotype and ovariectomy

Reelin, an extracellular matrix protein has an important role in the migration, correct positioning and maturation of neurons during development. Though it is generally down-regulated in the postnatal period, expression of this large glycoprotein continues in the adult brain in some cell populations. In the present study, we examined the distribution of reelin-immunoreactivity (-ir) in the hippocampal formation of 9-month-old wildtype mice (WT). Then, reelin-ir in normal mice was compared to that of transgenic mice (APP/PS1) carrying mutated human APP and PS1 genes, which are linked to the familial form of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The APP/PS1 mice were additionally burdened with a second risk factor for AD, namely depletion of circulating gonadal hormones by ovariectomy (APP/PS1 + OVX). The analyses revealed that in adult WT reelin-ir is expressed by Cajal-Retzius cells and a subgroup of interneurons throughout the hippocampal formation. In addition, layer II projection neurons in the lateral entorhinal subfields are reelin-ir. Interestingly, ovariectomy decreases the number of reelin-ir cells in the hilus in WT mice, whereas AD-related genotype alone induces only a non-significant reduction. Unexpectedly, additional stress, e.g., depletion of gonadal hormones, does not aggravate the slight reduction in the reelin cell number in the APP/PS1 mice. We propose that the changes in normal reelin-ir are linked to disturbances in repair mechanisms in which APP/PS1 and gonadal hormones are involved and which are perturbed in neurodegenerative conditions, namely AD.     

Muscle spindles in denervated and reinnervated m. soleus of the rat. I. Changes in number, distribution and length of muscle spindles]

After a transient or permanent unilateral denervation of the soleus muscle of the rat the number, distribution and length of muscle spindles were determined. The results were compared with those of the contralateral innervated muscle and with the data received from investigating soleus muscles of normal uninjured rats. Denervation (with or without reinnervation) reduces the number of muscle spindles by nearly 50%. The typical uniform distribution of muscle spindles in the muscle remains almost unchanged. The remaining muscle spindles grow longer. The same findings are observed in the contralateral still innervated muscles, too. Consequently a comparison of the denervated (reinnervated) muscle exclusively with its contralateral muscle does not show different counts of muscle spindles. Therefore in such investigations the contralateral muscle is of dubious value as a mean of control. As regards number, distribution and length of muscle spindles there exist only small differences between the various strains of rats.     

Chronic methamphetamine and its withdrawal modify behavioral and neuroendocrine circadian rhythms

Chronic methamphetamine (MA) administration via the drinking water not only induced hyperactivity, but phase delayed the rat rest-activity cycle under entrained conditions. The minimum and/or maximum of the rhythms in eating, drinking, body weight, core body temperature and plasma/urine corticosterone were delayed. The different phase shifts of peak and trough values can also be a result of modulation in the wave form of the rhythms. The fall, but not the rise, of nocturnal pineal melatonin secretion occurred 4 hours earlier in MA-treated rats than in controls: this pattern was still present 1 week after withdrawal, but no longer after 4 weeks withdrawal. Neither chronic MA nor its withdrawal had any effect on plasma thyrotropin. These patterns after chronic MA intake fall into two groups: those rhythms whose peak and/or trough are delayed and those that are not. We thus interpret chronic MA application as modulating the eating rhythm (though not directly through rhythmic MA levels in the CNS), and that this in turn changes all food-dependent rhythms. In contrast, the circadian rhythms of melatonin and thyrotropin remain independent.     

Green light attenuates melatonin output and sleepiness during sleep deprivation

Melatonin output covaries with sleepiness, with both peaking early morning. Bright white light suppresses this output, but it is not known if such treatment ameliorates nighttime sleepiness during sleep deprivation. However, sleep-deprived subjects find such light irritating. Humans are particularly sensitive to green light, and melatonin output is more readily suppressed by this hue. A pilot study using different green light regimens showed that sleep-deprived subjects well tolerated 2,000 lux green light given 10 min hourly, and that this dose reduced nighttime melatonin output. The main study gave this light treatment vs. a low intensity red/green light control, from 1900 hr for 11 hr, to two groups of subjects (n = 6 each) sleep deprived for 36 hr. Urine was collected at 6-hr intervals during sleep loss and on a baseline day. Vigilance performance, subjective sleepiness, and oral temperature were monitored during sleep loss. The experimental condition suppressed urine 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (aMT6s) output between 0000 hr and 0600 hr, and increased it 0600-1200 hr; but there was no change in total 24-hr values. The control condition had no such effects. The oral temperature rhythm remained unchanged. Vigilance and subjective sleepiness were improved significantly relative to control values during 0000-0600 hr; these improvements were maintained somewhat over the 0600-1200-hr period, contrary to what one might expect if the delayed melatonin surge at this time was increasing sleepiness. Although the bright green light helped counteract sleepiness, any causal link with changes in melatonin output seem tenuous.