Enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells as a model for in vitro studies of diarrhoeagenic Providencia alcalifaciens invasion

The entry of Providencia alcalifaciens into the enterocyte-like cell line Caco-2 compared to HEp-2 was studied. Of the 22 P. alcalifaciens strains, 13 and 21 were invasive for Caco-2 and HEp-2 cells, respectively. In contrast to HEp-2 cells, P. alcalifaciens was internalised by Caco-2 cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis. Tyrosine kinases play an important role in P. alcalifaciens uptake, also microfilaments and microtubules are engaged in this process. Inhibition of endosome acidification by ammonium chloride did not seem to have any significant effect on P. alcalifaciens invasion. Similarly to Shigella flexnerii, the invasion of Caco-2 cells by these bacteria occurred more effectively through the basolateral pole than through the apical surface of these cells. Plasmid DNA analysis showed the presence of plasmids of 5-172 kb in 13 strains regardless of their invasive ability. The presence of extracellular bacterial protein, most likely a kind of an invasin, is required for the invasion of Caco-2 and HEp-2 cells.     

革兰阴性杆菌产CTX-M型超广谱β-内酰胺酶调查研究（首次发现产blaCTX-M-14的斯氏普罗威登斯菌）

目的调查某院临床分离的革兰阴性（G^-）杆菌产CTX-M型超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）株的流行情况，并确定其基因型。方法收集2004年10月--2005年7月临床标本分离的多重耐药G^-杆菌233株，按美国临床实验室标准化研究所（CLSI）推荐的方法进行ESBLs表型确证试验，聚合酶链反应（PCR）法对表型阳性株进一步进行CTX-M酶基因型的扩增，对PCR产物测序并确定其基因型。结果从大肠埃希菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、阴沟肠杆菌、产气肠杆菌、弗劳地柠檬酸杆菌和斯氏普罗威登斯菌中检出CTX-M型ESBLs，首次从斯氏普罗威登斯菌中检出CTX-M-14型ESBLs。结论该地区多种G肠杆菌科细菌携带CTX-M型ESBLs，斯氏普罗威登斯菌也能产生CTX-M型ESBLs。     

Oxalate-degrading Providencia rettgeri isolated from human stools

BACKGROUND: Oxalate-degrading bacteria are thought to metabolize intestinal oxalate and thus decrease the urinary excretion of oxalate by reducing its intestinal absorption. METHODS: We have isolated several novel oxalate-degrading bacteria from human stools. Oxalate degrading bacteria were investigated to characterize their protein profiles with antibodies against oxalyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase (65 kDa) and formyl-coenzyme A transferase (48 kDa) purified from Oxalobacter formigenes. RESULTS: One of these isolates was identified as Providencia rettgeri, which showed two proteins (65 kDa and 48 kDa) on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) that were not found in non-oxalate-degrading P. rettgeri. Antibodies reacted with the 65 and 48 kDa proteins from the P. rettgeri strain on Western blotting. An Oxalobacter formigenes formyl-coenzyme A transferase gene probe reacted with chromosomal DNA from P. rettgeri on Southern blotting under high stringency conditions, while an Oxalobacter formigenes oxalyl-coenzyme A decarboxylase gene probe did not react under the same conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The mechamism of oxalate degradation by P. rettgeri appears to be similar to that of Oxalobacter formigenes. This is the first report of a facultative oxalate-degrading organism that is one of the Enterobacteriaceae.     

Wrist drop in an arcade dancing game: Unusual sudden bilateral radial palsy

Bilateral simultaneous radial palsy is uncommon, and the few cases reported in the literature are due to compressive injuries, such as in the use of axillary crutch or birthing bar during labor. We present a patient who developed a severe bilateral palsy after playing in a dancing simulator machine. The patient's position during the game was a combination of wrist extension, elbow flexion, retroversion of arms and a degree of minor torsion of both upper limbs. This mechanism has not been reported as a cause of neuropathic damage. An underlying neuropathy was suspected, and most acquired causes of neuropathy were excluded. A sequence analysis showed a novel point mutation in NM_000304.3(PMP22):c.83G>A (p.Trp28Ter), an heterozygous pathogenic variant. Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by recurrent painless entrapment neuropathies; no case of bilateral simultaneous radial paralysis has been reported previously.     

Insight on ALPPS – Associating Liver Partition and Portal Vein Ligation for Staged Hepatectomy – mechanisms: activation of mTOR pathway

Background

ALPPS procedure has been introduced to increase the volume of future liver remnant. The mechanisms underlying the accelerated regeneration observed with ALPPS are unknown. It was hypothesized that AMPK/mTOR is activated as an integrating pathway for metabolic signals leading to proliferation and cell growth. Our aim was to analyze increase in liver volume, proliferation parameters and expression of AMPK/mTOR pathway-related molecules in patients undergoing ALPPS.