Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; complications ; microbiology ; Liver ; microbiology ; Male ; Mycoses ; complications ; Spleen ; microbiology ; Young Adult

IS901 RFLP analysis of 36 Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (MAA) isolates from 15 pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) and two goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) from four pheasant farms was performed. Using this method, six different IS901 RFLP types (E, F, G, M, Q, and V) were identified. The distribution of IS901 RFLP profiles was tightly linked to individual flocks. Matching IS901 RFLP profiles observed in the present study indicate MAA transmission between pheasants and goshawks in the same locality. In two flocks, different pheasants within a flock as well as in various organs of five individual pheasants were found to have two distinct IS901 RFLP profiles.
Animals ; Bone Marrow/microbiology ; *Galliformes ; Intestines/microbiology ; Liver/microbiology ; Mycobacterium avium/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Genetic ; *Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Poultry Diseases/*microbiology ; Spleen/microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Avian/*microbiology

Human brucellosis has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, which includes endocarditis, a focal complication that is uncommon yet responsible for the majority of associated deaths. The most successful treatment outcomes of Brucella endocarditis have been reported with usage of both antimicrobial agents and surgery. However, there are few reports on the treatment of Brucella endocarditis using antibiotics only. We report the first case in Korea of Brucella endocarditis with aortic valve vegetations and an accompanying splenic abscess, which were treated successfully with antibiotic therapy alone.
Abscess/*microbiology ; Animals ; Aortic Valve/microbiology ; *Brucella abortus ; Brucellosis/*diagnosis ; Cattle ; Dairying ; Endocarditis/*microbiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*microbiology ; Spleen/microbiology ; Zoonoses

OBJECTIVETo understand the epidemic status of Rickettsia in Xinyang areas of Henan province.

METHODSSamples including liver, spleen, kidney from mouse and chigger mites from Xinyang areas and serum samples were detected by nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA).

RESULTSIn 62 viscus samples from mice organs, the positive rates were 16.13%, 8.06% and 6.45% for Orientia tsutsugamushi, R. typhii and Spotted fever group rickettsiae respectively. In blood clots samples from mice, the positive rates were 8.06%, 6.45% and 1.61 % for O. tsutsugamushi, R. typhii and Spotted fever group rickettsiae respectively. Three out of 26 mouse serum samples were positive for the predicted fluorexcent intensity O. tsutsugamushi.

CONCLUSIONUsing nested-PCR and IFA methods, O. tsutsugamushi, R. typhii and Spotted fever group rickettsiae were detected in the captured mice living in Xinyang areas of Henan province. Results showed that there were intensive natural reserviors of Rickettsia in Henan province, suggesting that the risk of outbreak of Rickettsia in these areas was high.

Animals ; China ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Kidney ; microbiology ; Liver ; microbiology ; Mice ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rickettsia ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; Scrub Typhus ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Spleen ; microbiology

The ralationship between traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and intestinal microecology is increasingly being given more and more attention. Combined with the devolopment of intestinal microecology disciplines, effects of TCM on regulation of intestinal microecology have been gradually explained. Both clinical studies and animal experiments have confirmed that TCM can maintain the balance of intestinal microecology and regulate the intestinal flora. The author arrangemented the documents related to Chinese herbal compound adjusting intestinal flora in the recent ten years, summarized that the Chinese herbal compound which can strength spleen and replenish Qi, relax bowels and regulate Qi, dissipate dampness and check diarrhea, clear away heat and toxic materials, promote digestion and relieve stasis had certain regulation effects on intestinal microecology, providing basis for revealing the TCM essence of intestinal microecology.
Animals ; Digestion ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; drug effects ; Humans ; Intestines ; drug effects ; microbiology ; physiology ; Spleen ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the potential role of intestinal bifidobacteria in the pathogenesis of gut-origin bacteria/endotoxin translocation in scalded rats.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted with 30% III degree scalding on the back were employed as the model with the rats undergoing sham injury as the control. The intestinal bacteria/endotoxin translocation and the changes in cecal mucosal microflora were determined by routine methods. And the plasma IL-6 concentration was measured with ELISA.

RESULTSThe incident of bacterial translocation into internal organs increased markedly in scalded rats (P = 0.001). The plasma LPS levels on 1, 3 and 5 postburn days (PBDs) in scalded rat group were much higher than those in sham injury group. The number of bifidobacteria decreased sharply 20 - 250 fold, the fungi increased 5 - 60 fold and E. coli increased 0.5 - 30 fold in the caecal mucosal microflora in the scalding group. The ratio of bifidobacteria to E. coli in the scalding group (4 - 800:1) was much lower than that in the sham injury group (25000:1). Furthermore, the plasma IL-6 level increased evidently in the scalding group. It was indicated by further analysis that compared with the rats without bacterial translocation, the bifidobacteria decreased 120 fold, the fungal number increased 50 fold and the E. coli number increased 30 fold in the scalded rats. The bifidobacterial number in the caecal mucosal microflora was negatively correlated with the plasma concentrations of IL-6 and LPS (P < 0.01) in the scalding rat group, and the plasma concentration of IL-6 was significantly and positively correlated with that of LPS.

CONCLUSIONSevere scalding injury could lead to an the imbalance of intestinal microflora and the increased intestinal translocation of bacteria and LPS. The decrease of the ratio and number of bifidobacteria in the caecal mucosal microflora might be a contribute to the occurrence of postburn intestinal bacteria/endotoxin translocation.

Animals ; Bacterial Infections ; blood ; microbiology ; Bacterial Translocation ; physiology ; Bifidobacterium ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Burns ; microbiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Escherichia coli ; isolation & purification ; physiology ; Female ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Intestines ; microbiology ; Kidney ; microbiology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; metabolism ; Liver ; microbiology ; Lymph Nodes ; microbiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spleen ; microbiology ; Time Factors

Abscess ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; surgery ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; isolation & purification ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Spleen ; pathology ; surgery ; Splenic Diseases ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

We report a case of a 61-year-old man who presented with a cough and abdominal discomfort. CT scan of the chest showed two lesions across both lungs, and an abdominal CT scan revealed multiple hypodense lesions in the spleen with cystic lesions on the splenic hilum. Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy found creamy yellowish discharge through a fistula between the stomach and splenic hilum. Under fluoroscopic guidance, forceps was inserted into the fistula tract, and forcep biopsy was done. The pathology was consistent with tuberculosis, and a nine-month anti-tuberculosis medication regimen was started. Imaging performed three months after finishing medication indicated improvement of splenic lesions, and the gastro-splenic tract was sealed off. This case is a very rare clinical example of secondary splenic tuberculosis with a gastro-splenic fistula formation in an immunocompetent patient.
Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use ; Fluoroscopy ; Gastric Fistula/pathology ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spleen/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Splenic Diseases/*diagnosis/diagnostic imaging/pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Splenic/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Am80 on innate immune response of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) W83-induced periodontitis in mice.

METHODSTwenty-five mice were randomly divided into five groups, control group, PgW83-induced periodontitis group (periodontitis), Am80 (10 µg/d) treatment group (low-dose group), Am80 (50 µg/d) treatment group (middle-dose group), Am80 (100 µg/d) treatment group (high-dose group). The distance of alveolar bone resorption in each mouse was observed and measured by a dissecting microscope. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the level of serum anti-Pg specific IgG. The mRNA expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleuking-12 (IL-12) in gingival tissues, draining lymph node and spleen were detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The measurement data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe resorption rate in Am80 group [(121 ± 10)%] and high-dose of Am80 group [(108 ± 8)%] was significantly different with that in periodontitis mice [(133 ± 10)% ] (P < 0.05). The serum levels of anti-Pg specific IgG of the Am80 groups of different doses (0.437 ± 0.083, 0.566 ± 0.012, and 0.386 ± 0.078) were significantly lower than that of the periodontitis group (1.151 ± 0.433) (P < 0.001). Real-time quantitative PCR assay showed that after Am80 treatment, the IL-12 mRNA levels in the gingival tissues, lymph nodes and spleen of mice were reduced to 1.107 ± 0.088, 0.806 ± 0.220, and 0.668 ± 0.756, which were all significantly different with those in periodontitis (P < 0.01). Similarly, the relative expression of IFN-γ mRNA levels in gingival tissue, lymph nodes and spleen of mice were reduced to 8.898 ± 0.427, 16.654 ± 5.995, and 1.482 ± 0.033, which were significantly different with periodontitis (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSAm80 can reduce the extent of inflammation and alleviate alveolar bone resorption by modulating innate immune response.

Alveolar Bone Loss ; pathology ; Animals ; Benzoates ; pharmacology ; Gingiva ; immunology ; Immunity, Innate ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Mice ; Periodontitis ; blood ; immunology ; microbiology ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; immunology ; Tetrahydronaphthalenes ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of intestinal microflora alteration on specific and nonspecific immune function and hematopoietic function of mice.

METHODSSixty BALB/C mice were divided at random into two groups, experimental group and control group, with 30 mice in each. The mice in the experimental group were given kanamycin 50 mg while those in the control group were given distilled water intragastrically everyday for consecutive 10 days. After the 10 day treatment all the mice were sacrificed, and the cecal contents were collected for quantitative analysis of the intestinal bacterial flora. Certain indexes of immune function, including phagocytosis rate of macrophages, number of T lymphocytes positively stained by esterase and serum interleukin 2 (IL-2) content, and the weight of the spleen, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor etc. as indexes of hematopoietic function were determined.

RESULTSIn the group, the quantity of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). The number of PFC (plaque forming cells), the phagocytosis rate of macrophage, the number of T lymphocytes with positive NANE staining, the level of IL-2 significantly decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). The weight of the spleen in the experimental group decreased when compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). Levels of IL-3, GM-CSF, the total number of WBC and the proportion of neutrophil remarkably decreased as compared to that in the control group (P < 0.01). Analysis of the correlations between normal microflora, immunologic and hematopoietic indexes showed that marked positive correlations between the quantity of Bifidobacteria and each immune index including the levels of IL-3 and GM-CSF. There was a positive correlation between IL-2 and IL-3, IL-2 and GM-CSF as well.

CONCLUSIONThe application of antibiotics may cause changes in the structure and quantity of intestinal microflora. The dysbacteriosis may decrease the immune function of organism. The dysbacteriosis may decrease the hemopoietic function. The dysbacteriosis, the decrease in immune and hematopoietic function may affect one another. The balance in microecosystem should be emphasized and antibiotics should be applied rationally to reduce the side effects such as dysbacteriosis.

Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Esterases ; biosynthesis ; Feces ; microbiology ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; analysis ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Intestines ; drug effects ; microbiology ; Kanamycin ; pharmacology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; physiology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Models, Animal ; Organ Size ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; pathology ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism