The epidemiological situation of bacterial meningitis is increasing dramatically. There is no doubt that the lack of proper animal models has hampered the achievement of effective prophylactic and ...therapeutic means. We report the characterization of the experimental disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in mice, taking into account its importance as an etiological agent of such a type of meningitis. The high resistance of C57BL/6, CBA/ J and BALB/cJ mice to Hib infection was proven. LD50 of Hib using trypsin or iron dextran as virulence enhancement factors (VEF), both being similar and more than 1000 times lower than that without any VEF, were determined. Lesions of CNS compatible with meningitis were found in about one third of specimens. Hair bristling, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, depression and prostration were the most characteristic symptoms. The proportion of animals which die is highest on the first day, lower on the second and almost zero after 48 h of infection. Water and food intake was higher in control than in infected animals; nevertheless, there were no differences in body weight increase among the mice after 5 days post-infection. Microorganisms were isolated from CSF and blood after 6 h of infection and positive results remained according to the size of the inoculum. Despite the acuteness of the experimental disease, antibiotic treatment with internationally recommended drugs was shown to be effective. Similar results were achieved when hyperimmune serum vs. Hib was applied.
We report a video-electroencephalogram study of a 50-year-old woman who developed a clinical picture consisting of stereotyped periodic eye opening followed by eye closing, with or without swallowing ...movements, after a prolonged cardiopulmonary arrest. These movements were associated with a burst-suppression pattern on the electroencephalogram. Published with video sequences.
As transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) determines important neurotrophic and neuroprotective actions, we postulated serum TGF-beta1 levels could be low in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and ...TGF-beta1 genetic variation could be associated with AD risk through modulating serum TGF-beta1 levels.
TGF-beta1 (-800) (rs 1800468), (-509) (rs 1800469) and (+869) (rs 1982073) polymorphisms were genotyped in 412 AD patients and 406 controls. We measured serum TGF-beta1 levels (by ELISA) in 63 AD patients and compared them with 77 age- and gender-matched non-demented controls.
Serum TGF-beta1 levels were not different in AD patients than in controls. Distribution of the allele and genotype frequencies of TGF-beta1 polymorphisms did not differ between AD patients and controls. There was no significant correlation between serum TGF-beta1 levels and TGF-beta1 polymorphisms.
Serum TGF-beta1 concentration is not a potential biomarker for AD, and TGF-beta1 genetic variants (-800, -509, and +869) are not risk factors for AD.
Cholesterol regulates the production of amyloid beta (Aβ), which is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with high cellular cholesterol promoting and low cellular cholesterol ...reducing Aβ in vitro and in vivo. High density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a central role in the removal of excess cholesterol from cells, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a crucial protein involved in the regulation of HDL levels. Two common polymorphisms in the promoter region (C-629A) and exon 14 I405V of the CETP gene are associated with CETP activity and HDL levels. To investigate if these sequence variants in CETP might be of importance in mediating susceptibility to AD, independently or in concert with apolipoprotein E (APOE) straight epsilon4 allele, we studied a sample of 286 Spanish AD patients and 315 healthy controls. In APOE straight epsilon4 carriers, homozygous for the CETP (-629) A allele had approximately a three times lower risk of developing AD (odds ratio 2.33, 95% CI 1.01-5.37), than homozygous and heterozygous carriers of the CETP (-629) C allele (odds ratio 7.12, 95% CI 4.51-11.24, P for APOE straight epsilon4/CETP (-629) AA genotype interaction < 0.001). Our data suggest that CETP behaves as a modifier gene of the AD risk associated with the APOE straight epsilon4 allele, possibly through modulation of brain cholesterol metabolism.
Cholesterol regulates the production of amyloid beta (Abeta), which is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), with high cellular cholesterol promoting and low cellular cholesterol ...reducing Abeta in vitro and in vivo. High density lipoprotein (HDL) plays a central role in the removal of excess cholesterol from cells, and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is a crucial protein involved in the regulation of HDL levels. Two common polymorphisms in the promoter region (C-629A) and exon 14 I405V of the CETP gene are associated with CETP activity and HDL levels. To investigate if these sequence variants in CETP might be of importance in mediating susceptibility to AD, independently or in concert with apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon4 allele, we studied a sample of 286 Spanish AD patients and 315 healthy controls. In APOE epsilon4 carriers, homozygous for the CETP (-629) A allele had approximately a three times lower risk of developing AD (odds ratio 2.33, 95% CI 1.01-5.37), than homozygous and heterozygous carriers of the CETP (-629) C allele (odds ratio 7.12, 95% CI 4.51-11.24, P for APOE epsilon4/CETP (-629) AA genotype interaction < 0.001). Our data suggest that CETP behaves as a modifier gene of the AD risk associated with the APOE epsilon4 allele, possibly through modulation of brain cholesterol metabolism.
Megarrecto y megacolon idiopático Molina Infante, J.; Hernández Alonso, M.; Pérez Gallardo, B. ...
Revista española de enfermedades digestivas,
05/2009, Letnik:
101, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Megarrecto y megacolon idiopático Molina Infante, J.; Hernández Alonso, M.; Pérez Gallardo, B. ...
Revista española de enfermedades digestivas,
05/2009, Letnik:
101, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Objective. In this study the biomass of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to remove lead, mercury and nickel in the form of ions dissolved in water. Materials and methods. Synthetic ...solutions were prepared containing the three heavy metals, which were put in contact with viable microorganisms at different conditions of pH, temperature, aeration and agitation. Results. Both individual variables and the interaction effects influenced the biosorption process. Throughout the experimental framework it was observed that the biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae removed a higher percentage of lead (86.4%) as compared to mercury and nickel (69.7 and 47.8% respectively). When the pH was set at a value of 5 the effect was positive for all three metals. Conclusions. pH was the variable that had a greater influence on the biosorption of lead on the biomass of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The affinity of the heavy metals for the biomass followed the order Pb>Hg>Ni. Key words: Bioremediation, heavy metals, biomass, contaminant removal, bioaccumulation (Source: DECS). Objetivo. En este estudio se utilizo la biomasa de la levadura Saccharomyces cerevisiae para retener plomo, mercurio y niquel en forma de iones disueltos en agua. Materiales y metodos. Se prepararon soluciones sinteticas que contenian los tres metales pesados, las cuales se pusieron en contacto con el microorganismo en forma viable a diferentes condiciones de pH, temperatura, aireacion y agitacion. Resultados. Tanto las variables individuales como los efectos de interaccion influyeron sobre el proceso de biosorcion. A traves de todos los experimentos, se observo que la biomasa de Saccharomyces cerevisiae elimino un mayor porcentaje de plomo (86.4%) en comparacion al mercurio y al niquel (69.7 y 47.8% respectivamente). Cuando el pH se fijo en valor de 5, el efecto fue positivo para los tres metales. Conclusiones. El pH fue la variable que tuvo una mayor influencia en la biosorcion de plomo sobre la biomasa de Saccharomyces cerevisiae. La afinidad de los metales pesados por la biomasa siguio el orden Pb>Hg>Ni. Palabras clave: Biorremediacion, metales pesados, biomasa, remocion de contaminantes, bioacumulacion (Fuente: DECS).
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