Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become a significant threat to public health. Although broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment option for CDI, its use has evident limitations. Probiotics have been proved to be effective in the treatment of CDI and are a promising therapeutic option for CDI. In this study, 4 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), namely, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR5), Lactococ-cuslactis (SL3), Bifidobacterium breve (BR3), and Bifidobacterium lactis (BL3) were evaluated for their anti-C. difficile activity. Co-culture incubation of C. difficile (106 and 1010 CFU/ml) with each strain of LAB indicated that SL3 possessed the highest antimicrobial activity over a 24-hr period. The cell-free supernatants of the 4 LAB strains exhibited MIC50 values between 0.424 mg/ml (SL3) and 1.318 (BR3) mg/ml. These results may provide a basis for alternative therapies for the treatment of C. difficile-associated gut disorders.
Bacteria ; Bifidobacterium ; Clostridium ; Clostridium difficile ; Coculture Techniques ; Complementary Therapies ; Lactic Acid ; Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Probiotics ; Public Health ; Pyridines ; Sprains and Strains ; Thiazoles

No abstract available.
Brain Stem* ; Cysticercus* ; Granuloma*

The authors present a case of cervical syringomyelia associated with cerebellar mixed oligoastrocytoma in an 18-month-old boy who was normally delivered at full-term. The child presented with an increasing incidence of vomiting and irritability, and a poor truncal control. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed cerebellar vermian tumor with an obstructive hydrocephalus and a small-sized syringomyelia at the 6th cervical vertebral level. The tumor was completely removed via suboccipital craniectomy. Histologically, the tumor consisted of mixed oligo-astrocytoma. The cervical syringomyelia was conservatively managed with no specific operative treatment. At two months postoperatively, magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine showed a remarkable reduction in size of the syringomyelic cavity.
Astrocytoma ; Brain ; Cerebellar Neoplasms ; Child ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Incidence ; Infant ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Spine ; Syringomyelia* ; Vomiting

Isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency is an uncommon disorder for which the pathogenetic mechanism has not yet been identified. It has been reported that isolated ACTH deficiency (ICD) may be accompanied by deficiencies in other pituitary hormones; impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion was noted in 20 to 30% of ICD patients. Here, we describe a female patient with isolated ACTH deficiency accompanied by empty sella syndrome presenting as hypoglycemia, which was confirmed via various endocrine tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sella turcica. The patient's symptoms improved rapidly with prednisolone therapy and, during follow-up, her previously impaired GH response to provocative stimuli and high TSH levels were corrected by glucocorticoid replacement alone. However, treatment failed to normalize plasma IGF-1 levels, suggesting that physiological cortisol levels are necessary for a normal plasma GH response to provocative stimuli.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Empty Sella Syndrome ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Plasma ; Prednisolone ; Sella Turcica

Background: Nitric oxide(NO) has been reproted to play an important role in macrophage-mediated microbicidal capacity for a variety of intracellular pathogens. NO generation is used as an indicator of microbicidal function of macrophages. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose is to investigate the production of NO rom macrophages phagocytized with Mycobacterium leprae or M. leprae phenolic glycolipid-1(PGL-1) for the purpose of elucidating the pathogenesis of leprosy. METHODS: We used a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. Macrophages were incubated with dead M. leprae or PGL-1, respectively and then treated with interfer n-gamma(IFN-r) and/or tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-a). The release of NO was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring nitrite. RESULTS: M. Leprae and PGL-1 failed to stimulnte NO secretion execept at high bacteria-to-cell rations(50:1)and at the higheat concentrat,ion(100pg/ml) of PGL-1. IFN-r or IFN-r plus TNF-a markedly stimulated macrophages phagocyt,ized with M. leprae or PGL-1 to release NO . CONCLUSION: Defective IFN-r-dependent NO production of macrophages may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of leprosy.
Cell Line ; Cytokines* ; Leprosy ; Macrophages* ; Mycobacterium leprae* ; Mycobacterium* ; Necrosis ; Nitric Oxide* ; Phenol*

The author has examined the effect of cortical spreading depression(CSD) on the changes in extracellular concetration of aspartate and glutamate in the neocortex of anesthetized rats using microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The rats were prepared by halothane anesthesia and artificial ventilation. Rats were placed in a stereotaxic frame, and craniotomies were performed over the frontal and parietal cortexes on one side. The CSD was elicited by local application of KCI-soaked small pellets to the frontal cortex. The CSD was monitored by the changes of direct current(DC) potential in the parietal cortex. The microdialysis probe was implanted in the anterior part of the parietal cortex. Amino acids were analyzed by HPLC and fluorescence detection. Baseline concentration of the aspartate was 34.9+/-15.9nM and that of glutamate was 189.8+/-29.1nM(mean standard deviation). The perfusate for analysis was obtained 30 minutes after the beginning of the 300mM KCl induced CSD. Aspartate was found to increase to 146+/-55% baseline, glutamate up to 173+/-30% baseline(mean standard deviation). The increment of glutamate was statistically significant(p<0.05). Then 2M KCI-doaked pellets were applied for more frequent CSD amd the samples were collected. Aspartate increased up to 258+/-97% baseline, glutamate up to 174+/-57% baseline(mean standard deviation), The increment of glutamate and aspartate accompanying 2M KCI induced CSD were also statistically significant(p<0.05). These data suggest that the excitatory amino acids were released during the CSD and this may explain the various aspects of CSD that could contribute to the secondary neuronal damage in the compromised nerve cell.
Amino Acids ; Anesthesia ; Animals ; Aspartic Acid* ; Cerebral Cortex* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cortical Spreading Depression* ; Craniotomy ; Excitatory Amino Acids ; Fluorescence ; Glutamic Acid* ; Halothane ; Microdialysis ; Neocortex ; Neurons ; Rabeprazole ; Rats* ; Ventilation

A 51-year-old female patient with right lower motor weakness and left side motor weakness is presented. MRI signal revealed a butterfly brain mass. Angiography showed stenosis of left side internal carotid artery at the supraclinoid portion and Moyamoya vessel, collateral circulation to mass via posterior circulation and contralateral was observed.
Angiography ; Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Butterflies ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Collateral Circulation ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Moyamoya Disease*

No abstract available.
Brain* ; Krukenberg Tumor* ; Neoplasm Metastasis*

We report a case of multiple cerebral infarcts, which developed after intra-arterial(IA) carboplatin therapy in a patient with glioblastoma who had received surgery with conventional and intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). A 31-year-old male patient presented with one-month history of worsening headaches and visual dimness. Seven years previously, he had been subjected to a subtotal resection of anaplastic astrocytoma in the right occipital lobe, followed by external radiation therapy with a total dose of 5580cGy. Carboplatin was given at an initial dose of 300mg/m2. Before and after the infusion of carboplatin, solumedrol(500mg/day) was given for seven days, with the dosage being gradually reduced over the next five days. In addition, 20% mannitol(100ml) was infused over a 15-minute period before chemotherapy, and the fluid volume of electrolyte was adjusted to maintain an optimal urine output. The patient underwent five cycles of IA carboplatin therapy. Careful attention should be given during IA carboplatin chemotherapy to patients who are also being treated with IORT.
Adult ; Astrocytoma ; Carboplatin* ; Drug Therapy ; Glioblastoma ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Occipital Lobe

Glioblastomas rarely occur in the posterior fossa. The authors present clinical and pathological findings in a 59-year-old female patient with a glioblastoma growing primarily in the cerebello-pontine angle. The patient presented with a 1-month history of diplopia. Neurological examination revealed right-sided trigeminal and abducens nerve paresis. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed a well-enhancing mass at cerebello-pontine angle. Following near total removal via petrosal approach, the pathological examination revealed a glioblastoma. To the authors knowledge, this represents the first case of glioblastoma arising at cerebello-pontine angle, probably originating from the most proximal part of abducens nerve.
Abducens Nerve ; Diplopia ; Female ; Glioblastoma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Neurologic Examination ; Paresis