Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of aquatic bacteria: quality control disk diffusion ranges for Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida ATCC 33658 at 22 and 28 degrees C

Quality control (QC) ranges for disk diffusion susceptibility testing of aquatic bacterial isolates were proposed as a result of a multilaboratory study conducted according to procedures established by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Ranges were proposed for Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida ATCC 33658 at 22 and 28 degrees C for nine different antimicrobial agents (ampicillin, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, florfenicol, gentamicin, oxolinic acid, oxytetracycline, ormetoprim-sulfadimethoxine, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole). All tests were conducted on standard Mueller-Hinton agar. With >/=95% of all data points fitting within the proposed QC ranges, the results from this study comply with NCCLS guidelines and have been accepted by the NCCLS Subcommittee for Veterinary Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. These QC guidelines will permit greater accuracy in interpreting results and, for the first time, the ability to reliably compare susceptibility test data between aquatic animal disease diagnostic laboratories.     

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis: focus on radiographic features in adulthood

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) is a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disorder (less than 80 cases reported), characterized by multiple nodular lesions on the skin and musculoskeletal involvement, very debilitating because most adolescents and adults become bedridden. Only 10 cases have been reported on JHF in adulthood. We report the case of a 34-year-old male patient in whom clinical and histological findings were consistent with a mild JHF and focus on the radiographic features. The main purpose of this report is to increase the information available related to the radiographic manifestations and prognosis of JHF.     

Drosophila ammonium transporter Rh50 is required for integrity of larval muscles and neuromuscular system

Rhesus glycoproteins (Rh50) have been shown to be ammonia transporters in many species from bacteria to human. They are involved in various physiological processes including acid excretion and pH regulation. Rh50 proteins can also provide a structural link between the cytoskeleton and the plasma membranes that maintain cellular integrity. Although ammonia plays essential roles in the nervous system, in particular at glutamatergic synapses, a potential role for Rh50 proteins at synapses has not yet been investigated. To better understand the function of these proteins in vivo, we studied the unique Rh50 gene of Drosophila melanogaster, which encodes two isoforms, Rh50A and Rh50BC. We found that Drosophila Rh50A is expressed in larval muscles and enriched in the postsynaptic regions of the glutamatergic neuromuscular junctions. Rh50 inactivation by RNA interference selectively in muscle cells caused muscular atrophy in larval stages and pupal lethality. Interestingly, Rh50-deficiency in muscles specifically increased glutamate receptor subunit IIA (GluRIIA) level and the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials. Our work therefore highlights a new role for Rh50 proteins in the maintenance of Drosophila muscle architecture and synaptic physiology, which could be conserved in other species.     

ICD-10 hospital discharge diagnosis codes were sensitive for identifying pulmonary embolism but not deep vein thrombosis

ObjectiveTo estimate the sensitivity of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth revision (ICD-10) hospital discharge diagnosis codes for identifying deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE).Study Design and SettingWe compared predefined ICD-10 discharge diagnosis codes with the diagnoses that were prospectively recorded for 1,375 patients with suspected DVT or PE who were enrolled at 25 hospitals in France. Sensitivity was calculated as the percentage of patients identified by predefined ICD-10 codes among positive cases of acute symptomatic DVT or PE confirmed by objective testing.ResultsThe sensitivity of ICD-10 codes was 58.0% (159 of 274; 95% CI: 51.9, 64.1) for isolated DVT and 88.9% (297 of 334; 95% CI: 85.6, 92.2) for PE. Depending on the hospital, the median values for sensitivity were 57.7% for DVT (interquartile range, IQR, 48.6–66.7; intracluster correlation coefficient, 0.02; P = 0.31) and 88.9% for PE (IQR, 83.3–96.3; intracluster correlation coefficient, 0.11; P = 0.03). The sensitivity of ICD-10 codes was lower for surgical patients and for patients who developed PE or DVT while they were hospitalized.ConclusionICD-10 discharge diagnosis codes yield satisfactory sensitivity for identifying objectively confirmed PE. A substantial proportion of DVT cases are missed when using hospital discharge data for complication screening or research purposes.     

血清CA125对卵巢上皮性癌的诊断及临床分期的价值

目的 探讨血清CA125对卵巢上皮性癌的诊断及临床分期的价值.方法 选择卵巢上皮性癌住院患者(38例)、卵巢良性肿瘤患者(38例)及卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿患者(46例),均取空腹静脉血,用电化学发光免疫分析法测定血清CA125水平.结果 血清CA125水平在卵巢上皮性癌组显著升高为(974.74±749.66)U/mL,高于卵巢良性肿瘤组的(24.73±19.95)U/mL及卵巢子宫内膜异位囊肿组的(84.05±70.51) U/mL,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),血清CA125对卵巢上皮性癌的灵敏度为79.55%,特异度为90.63%.卵巢上皮性癌各期的血清CA125水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),Ⅰ期最低,Ⅳ期最高.结论 血清CA125水平对卵巢上皮性癌的诊断及其临床分期有重要价值.     

The 1.3-A resolution structure of Nitrosomonas europaea Rh50 and mechanistic implications for NH3 transport by Rhesus family proteins

The Rhesus (Rh) proteins are a family of integral membrane proteins found throughout the animal kingdom that also occur in a number of lower eukaryotes. The significance of Rh proteins derives from their presence in the human red blood cell membrane, where they constitute the second most important group of antigens used in transfusion medicine after the ABO group. Rh proteins are related to the ammonium transport (Amt) protein family and there is considerable evidence that, like Amt proteins, they function as ammonia channels. We have now solved the structure of a rare bacterial homologue (from Nitrosomonas europaea) of human Rh50 proteins at a resolution of 1.3 A. The protein is a trimer, and analysis of its subunit interface strongly argues that all Rh proteins are likely to be homotrimers and that the human erythrocyte proteins RhAG and RhCE/D are unlikely to form heterooligomers as previously proposed. When compared with structures of bacterial Amt proteins, NeRh50 shows several distinctive features of the substrate conduction pathway that support the concept that Rh proteins have much lower ammonium affinities than Amt proteins and might potentially function bidirectionally.     

Complete resolution of universal calcinosis in a patient with juvenile dermatomyositis using pamidronate

A 14-year-old girl with juvenile dermatomyositis developed extensive and debilitating calcinosis, unresponsive to colchicine, while muscle involvement subsided. Pamidronate (2 mg/kg/year) produced dramatic improvement of pain and function within 2 months and calcinosis had completely resolved by 2 years. No new calcifications have been noted with a 5-year follow-up.