Abstract
Objective: Investigate the latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection as a biomarker of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis.
Methods: Latent CMV infection was diagnosed in healthy individuals ...with PCR-evidence of CMV DNA in peripheral leucocytes. Oxidative stress and atherosclerosis were measured by mitochondrial DNA oxidative damage index (mtDNAΔCT) and intima media thickness (IMT).
Results: The CMV DNA positive subjects had a higher mean mtDNAΔCT and greater IMT than subjects in the control group.
Conclusions: Presence of CMV DNA in leucocytes, as a marker of latent CMV infection, was associated with increased levels of oxidative stress and subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy adults.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Because the outcomes and sequelae after different types of brain injury (BI) are variable and difficult to predict, investigations on whether enhanced expressions of BI-associated biomarkers (BIABs), ...including transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light chain (NF-L), tissue transglutaminases (tTGs), beta-amyloid precursor proteins (AbetaPP), and tau are present as well as whether impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is present have been widely used to help delineate pathophysiological mechanisms in various BIs. Larvae of Toxocara canis can invade the brain and cause BI in humans and mice, leading to cerebral toxocariasis (CT). Because the parasitic burden is light in CT, it may be too cryptic to be detected in humans, making it difficult to clearly understand the pathogenesis of subtle BI in CT. Since the pathogenesis of murine toxocariasis is very similar to that in humans, it appears appropriate to use a murine model to investigate the pathogenesis of CT.
BIAB expressions and UPS function in the brains of mice inoculated with a single dose of 250 T. canis embryonated eggs was investigated from 3 days (dpi) to 8 weeks post-infection (wpi) by Western blotting and RT-PCR.
Results revealed that at 4 and 8 wpi, T. canis larvae were found to have invaded areas around the choroid plexus but without eliciting leukocyte infiltration in brains of infected mice; nevertheless, astrogliosis, an indicator of BI, with 78.9~142.0-fold increases in GFAP expression was present. Meanwhile, markedly increased levels of other BIAB proteins including TGF-beta1, S100B, NF-L, tTG, AbetaPP, and tau, with increases ranging 2.0~12.0-fold were found, although their corresponding mRNA expressions were not found to be present at 8 wpi. Concomitantly, UPS impairment was evidenced by the overexpression of conjugated ubiquitin and ubiquitin in the brain.
Further studies are needed to determine whether there is an increased risk of CT progression into neurodegenerative disease because neurodegeneration-associated AbetaPP and phosphorylated tau emerged in the brain.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Here we report identification of a novel member of the thiol protease superfamily in the yellow fever mosquito,Aedes aegypti. It is synthesized and secreted as a latent proenzyme in a sex-, stage-, ...and tissue-specific manner by the fat body, an insect metabolic tissue, of female mosquitoes during vitellogenesis in response to blood feeding. The secreted, hemolymph form of the enzyme is a large molecule, likely a hexamer, consisting of 44-kDa subunits. The deduced amino acid sequence of this 44-kDa precursor shares high similarity with cathepsin B but not with other mammalian cathepsins. We have named this mosquito enzyme vitellogenic cathepsin B (VCB). VCB decreases to 42 kDa after internalization by oocytes. In mature yolk bodies, VCB is located in the matrix surrounding the crystalline yolk protein, vitellin. At the onset of embryogenesis, VCB is further processed to 33 kDa. The embryo extract containing the 33-kDa VCB is active toward benzoyloxycarbonyl-Arg-Arg-para-nitroanilide, a cathepsin B-specific substrate, and degrades vitellogenin, the vitellin precursor. Both of these enzymatic activities are prevented by trans-epoxysuccinyl-l-leucylamido-(4-guanidino)butane (E-64), a thiol protease inhibitor. Furthermore, addition of the anti-VCB antibody to the embryonic extract prevented cleavage of vitellogenin, strongly indicating that the activated VCB is involved in embryonic degradation of vitellin.
Abstract In this study, we investigated the distribution of genes encoding various carbapenemases as well as their association with carbapenem resistance in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter genomic ...species from Taiwan. A total of 129 imipenem-non-susceptible and 79 imipenem-susceptible isolates were examined, of which 185 (88.9%) were Acinetobacter baumannii. Among the 185 A. baumannii isolates, imipenem non-susceptibility was more common in isolates with IS Aba1–blaOXA-51-like (72/75; 96%), blaOXA-58-like (33/33; 100%) or blaOXA-24-like (7/7; 100%) than in isolates with only blaOXA-51-like (4/72; 5.6%). A metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) gene was present in two isolates of imipenem-resistant A. baumannii , and blaOXA-58-like was also present in these isolates. A total of 18% and 1% of imipenem-non-susceptible isolates of A. baumannii were resistant to tigecycline and colistin, respectively. Among the 23 isolates of non- baumannii Acinetobacter spp., blaOXA-58-like and MBL genes were widely disseminated in the imipenem-resistant isolates, and isolates with blaOXA-58-like and MBL genes had higher imipenem minimum inhibitory concentrations than those with blaOXA-58-like alone. Although the rate of non-susceptibility to colistin was 26.7% among the imipenem-non-susceptible isolates of non- baumannii Acinetobacter , 93.3% and 100% were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and tigecycline, respectively. In conclusion, different isolates of imipenem-non-susceptible A. baumannii and non- baumannii Acinetobacter contained different carbapenemases and had different antimicrobial susceptibilities.
Background and Purpose To investigate the clinical and molecular epidemiology of the imipenem-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus–Acinetobacter baumannii (IRAcb) complex during an outbreak in an ...intensive care unit (ICU). Methods Forty-six clinical and 11 environmental isolates of the IRAcb complex were collected from the ICU of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan between December 2003 and March 2004. These isolates were genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Carbapenemase genes and their associated genetic structures were analyzed using PCR. Clinical data obtained from the patients were also reviewed and analyzed. Results The isolates were identified at the genomic species level as A. baumannii (42 clinical and five environmental isolates) and Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU (four clinical and six environmental isolates). Both species were comprised of two pulsotypes, but those of A. baumannii were closely related (83% similar). IS 1008- ΔIS Aba3 - blaOXA-58-like and IS Aba1 - blaOXA-51-like were identified in 22 and 21 clinical isolates of A. baumannii , respectively (one isolate contained both). The IS Aba3 -bracketed blaOXA-58-like gene was detected in all isolates of Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU. Patient transfers between different sections of the ICU were important factors that contributed to the spread of the two pulsotypes of A. baumannii . However, among the A. baumannii isolates identified, only those carrying IS 1008- ΔIS Aba3 - blaOXA-58-like could be found in the environment, indicating an additional route of transmission. The prior use of carbapenem or cefepime was associated with the subsequent infection with A. baumannii carrying the IS Aba1 - blaOXA-51-like gene, while prior piperacillin/tazobactam use was associated with the subsequent infection with A. baumannii carrying the IS 1008- ΔIS Aba3-blaOXA-58-like gene. Conclusion A. baumannii isolates carrying different carbapenemase genes and their associated genetic structures might be transmitted or selected in different ways.
Propylthiouracil (PTU) is a thioamide drug used clinically to inhibit thyroid hormone production. However, PTU is associated
with some side effects in different organs. In the present study, the ...acute and direct effects of PTU on testosterone production
in rat Leydig cells were investigated. Leydig cells were isolated from rat testes, and an investigation was performed on the
effects of PTU on basal and evoked-testosterone release, the functions of steroidogenic enzymes, including protein expression
of cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450 scc ) and mRNA expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Rat Leydig cells were challenged with hCG, forskolin,
and 8-bromo-cAMP to stimulate testosterone release. PTU inhibited both basal and evoked-testosterone release. To study the
effects of PTU on steroidogenesis, steroidogenic precursor-stimulated testosterone release was examined. PTU inhibited pregnenolone
production (i.e., it diminished the function of P450 scc in Leydig cells). In addition to inhibiting hormone secretion, PTU also regulated steroidogenesis by diminishing mRNA expression
of StAR. These results suggest that PTU acts directly on rat Leydig cells to diminish testosterone production by inhibiting
P450 scc function and StAR expression.
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•Different dissociated species and ion species in the plasma was shown by using isomers while it has same chemical compounds of C3H2F6.•More CF2 and H, and less F related to the ...formation of a fluorocarbon polymer layer on the surface lead lower etch rate HFC-236fa, HFC-236ea, and HFC-236ca consequently.•Etch selectivity and etch profile was also affected as well as aspect ratio dependent etching (ARDE).•It eventually shows that the chemical branch structure of the compound affected the plasma properties and surface polymer formation affected high aspect ratio contact (HARC) etch characteristics significantly depending on the chemical branches in the compounds of C3H2F6.
In this study, using three isomers (1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236fa), 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ea), 1,1,2,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane (HFC-236ca)) having the same chemical composition of C3H2F6, effects of chemical branch structure of three C3H2F6 isomers on the plasma characteristics and etch characteristics of high aspect ratio ACL patterned SiO2 were investigated. During the etching of SiO2 and amorphous carbon layer (ACL) using the three isomers mixed with oxygen, different etch characteristics and plasma characteristics were observed. In the plasmas, more CF2 and H but, less F were related to the formation of a fluorocarbon polymer layer on the surface, while lower high mass ion species such as C3HF4+ and, C3H2F5+ were related to the ion bombardment in the order of HFC-236fa, HFC-236ea, and HFC-236ca consequently leading to a lower SiO2 etch rate. Therefore, when C3H2F6 was used, even with the same chemical composition, the chemical branch structure of the compound affected the plasma properties and etch characteristics significantly depending on chemical branches in the compound. We believe that, for other hydrofluorocarbon compounds mixed with a critical oxygen flow rate, plasma properties and SiO2 etch characteristics can be estimated through properties of chemical branches attached in these compounds.
Abstract We report a case of nasal myiasis caused by Sarcophaga spp., noted during hospitalization. A 74-year-old man was admitted with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. The patient underwent ...coronary arterial bypass surgery and was then mechanically ventilated by means of a nasotracheal tube for the next 8 days. After extubation, a total of seven maggots were retrieved from both nostrils. The larvae were removed and reared to mature flies, which were identified as Sarcophaga peregrina . From the clinical course and the fly’s life cycle, it was concluded that the infestation was hospital-acquired.
Bla(OXA-51-like), the intrinsic carbapenemase gene in Acinetobacter baumannii previously found only in this species, was detected in a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter genomic species 13tU. this ...study aimed to characterize this gene in the isolate. Genomic species identification was confirmed by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis and sequence analysis of 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer, rpoB and recA. The bla(OXA-51-like) gene, with an upstream ISAba1 insertion, was plasmid-encoded and the surrounding sequences suggested that its origin was from A. baumannii. Transformation of Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU AtCC 17903 with recombinant plasmid bearing ISAba1-bla(OXA-51-like) from the isolate increased the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of meropenem and imipenem 256-fold. This is the first report of bla(OXA-51-like) in an organism other than A. baumannii. This plasmid-borne bla(OXA-51-like) gene with an upstream ISAba1 insertion confers a high level of carbapenem resistance to Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU.
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