A microsporidian parasite Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common microorganism recognized in AIDS patients, and slow scientific progress is attributed to our inability to propagate the parasite. We report upon the development of a system of propagation using the pig biliary system. The parasite spores were continuously detected in the bile samples post onset of spore shedding in the gall bladder, which suggests that this organism maintain persistent infection in the biliary system and that the hepatobiliary tree may represent a reservoir of infection. In conclusion the biliary tree is an adequate niche for the propagation of E. bieneusi. This work has also resulted in the development of a procedure of ultrasound-guided cholecystocentesis for aspirating biles. This is a simple and non-surgical procedure, and creates no signs of clinical complications in the livers and the gall bladders after dozens of separate attempts. Thus, this is a very useful and safe technique for the aspiration of bile from live animals.
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections/*parasitology ; Animals ; Bile/parasitology ; Biliary Tract/*parasitology ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Enterocytozoon/*growth & development/physiology ; Feces/parasitology ; Gallbladder/parasitology/ultrasonography ; Immunosuppression/veterinary ; Microsporidiosis/*parasitology ; Paracentesis/methods/veterinary ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Specimen Handling/methods/veterinary ; Spores, Protozoan/isolation & purification/physiology ; Swine

Two cases of pseudoxanthoma elasticum associated with angioid streaks in both eyes were presented and the literatures were reviewed. The affected sisters were 15 and 18 years female among the five siblings. They had pin head sized yellowish maculopapular eruptions on the sides of the neck and axillae, and also visual distubance of the both eyes. They seemed to be autosomal recessive inberitance in their family background. There were no other complications.
Angioid Streaks ; Axilla ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Neck ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum* ; Siblings

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

We encountered a rare condition of rice body in subacromial and subdeltoid spaces in a patient with unremarkable medical history. Although it is uncommon, there have been continued reports on its formation in certain type of infective and inflammatory arthritis. However, except for a traumatic event, evaluation yielded no known and conceivable cause for his chronic inflammatory bursitis. Relatively typical findings for rice body on magnetic resonance imaging have been described, and in our case the imaging prompted us to schedule early removal, which is generally accepted as the management of choice to prevent further progression of symptoms. The symptoms of the shoulder showed significant improvement, and a close follow-up schedule has been recommended for observation of recurrence and development of any foreseeable underlying cause.
Appointments and Schedules ; Arthritis ; Bursitis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Recurrence ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint

ABSTRACT The effects of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) on the Ca2+ -dependent ourward K+-cur-rent [IK(ca)] were studied using whole-cell and single-channel patch-clamp techniques. Depolarization (pipette potential range from - 20 to - 120 mV)induced a outward Ik(ca) with a conductance of about 40 pS in the cultural aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR and WKY. 10 ?mol ? L-1 CPA significantly enhanced these currents and prolonged the mean open time of the channels. This effect of CPA was completely blocked by glybenclamide, a K+-channel block-er. In the whole cell recording experiments, CPA increased the amplitude of outward K+-current. This effect of CPA was Ca2+-dependent and completely blocked by glybenclamide. There was no any significant difference between the effects of CPA in SHR and in WKY. These results suggest that the functional change of vascular smooth muscle in SHR doesn't appear to be related to Ik(ca).

No abstract available.
Embryonic Structures* ; Humans*

A wide variety of malignancies, including carcinoma of the lung, breast, prostate thyroid and kidney, frequently metastasize to bone. Patient suffering pathological fracture secondary to these metastases are frequently referred to the orthopaedic surgeon for care and management. In such cases, operative intervention with rigid fixation and early ambulation offer much in terms of over-all patient management. One case of breast careinoma metastatic to right proximal femur, neck and femoral head of segmental resection and restoration by special segmental femoral prosthesis with Giliberty Bipolar Endoprosthesis was presented. This technique provides an effective means of restoring the structural integrity of proximal femur and of preserving physiologic function of the joint.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast ; Early Ambulation ; Femur ; Fractures, Spontaneous ; Head ; Humans ; Joints ; Kidney ; Lung ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prostate ; Prostheses and Implants ; Thyroid Gland

We investigated whether maternal antibodies (mAbs) elicited by dams immunized with recombinant vaccine candidates against avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) can passively confer protective immunity to chicks. In the present study, pBP244 plasmids carrying selected antigens of APEC were transformed into Salmonella Typhimurium JOL912, which was used as a vaccine candidate against APEC. The hens were immunized with the vaccine candidates using prime or booster doses. The levels of IgG and sIgA specific to the selected antigens increased significantly following prime immunization. To evaluate the persistence of passively transferred mAbs, the levels of IgY and IgA were determined in egg yolks and whites, respectively. The eggs from the immunized group showed consistently increased levels of IgY and IgA until week 16 post-laying (PL) and week 8 PL, respectively, relative to the control group. The presence of mAbs was observed in chicks that hatched from the hens, and titers of plasma IgY were consistently raised in those from the immunized hens by day 14 post-hatching. Further, chicks from the immunized hens were protected from challenge with a virulent APEC strain, whereas those from non-immunized hens showed acute mortality.
Antibodies* ; Egg Yolk ; Eggs ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Immunization ; Immunization, Passive ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mortality ; Ovum ; Plasma ; Plasmids ; Salmonella typhimurium ; Salmonella*

The search for ideal brucellosis vaccines remains active today. Currently, no licensed human or canine anti-brucellosis vaccines are available. In bovines, the most successful vaccine (S19) is only used in calves, as adult vaccination results in orchitis in male, prolonged infection, and possible abortion complications in pregnant female cattle. Another widely deployed vaccine (RB51) has a low protective efficacy. An ideal vaccine should exhibit a safe profile as well as enhance protective efficacy. However, currently available vaccines exhibit one or more major drawbacks. Smooth live attenuated vaccines suffer shortcomings such as residual virulence and serodiagnostic interference. Inactivated vaccines, in general, confer relatively low levels of protection. Recent developments to improve brucellosis vaccines include generation of knockout mutants by targeting genes involved in metabolism, virulence, and the lipopolysaccharide synthesis pathway, as well as generation of DNA vaccines, mucosal vaccines, and live vectored vaccines, have all produced varying degrees of success. Herein, we briefly review the bacteriology, pathogenesis, immunological implications, candidate vaccines, vaccinations, and models related to Brucella.
Adult ; Animals ; Bacteriology ; Brucella* ; Brucellosis ; Cattle ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolism ; Models, Animal ; Orchitis ; Vaccination ; Vaccines* ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Vaccines, DNA ; Vaccines, Inactivated ; Virulence

INTRODUCTIONRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) in young patients is uncommon but thought to represent a distinctive clinical entity from older patients with different clinico-pathologic features and outcomes. We evaluated the association of age at the time of diagnosis with pathological staging, histological parameters, disease recurrence and overall survival (OS) following radical or partial nephrectomy for non-metastatic RCC in native kidneys.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA retrospective review of 316 patients with RCC after nephrectomy at a single institution between January 2001 and June 2008 was performed. Eligible patients included all histologically proven primary non-metastatic RCC treated by radical or partial nephrectomy. They were categorised into group A (≤ 40 years at diagnosis) and B (> 40 years). Differences in clinical parameters were analysed using the Mann Whitney U test. The prognostic potential of age at diagnosis was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan Meier method.

RESULTSThere were 33 patients in group A and 283 patients in group B. There were more non-clear cell tumours in the younger group (30% vs 14%, P <0.05). No statistical differences were found in the stage and grade of both groups. At a median follow-up time of 41 months, the younger group had a higher metastatic rate (18% vs 10.5%, P <0.05), lower 5-year cancer-specific survival (82% vs 98%, P <0.05) and lower 5-year OS (82 % vs 95%, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONYounger patients were more likely to have non-clear cell RCC with higher disease recurrence and lower OS. They should not be assumed to have similar features and outcomes as screen-detected early RCC in older patients.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Statistics, Nonparametric ; Survival Analysis