Pulmonary Toxocariasis Mimicking Invasive Aspergillosis in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

A 45-year-old-male who had underlying ulcerative colitis and presented with fever and dry cough. Initially, the patient was considered to have invasive aspergillosis due to a positive galactomannan assay. He was treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole. Nevertheless, the patient deteriorated clinically and radiographically. The lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic pneumonia, and ELISA for Toxocara antigen was positive, leading to a diagnosis of pulmonary toxocariasis. After a 10-day treatment course with albendazole and adjunctive steroids, the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. Pulmonary toxocariasis may be considered in patients with subacute or chronic pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotic agents, particularly in cases with eosinophilia.     

Aggregation of erythrocytes and their membranes flexibility in patients with cancer-associated anemia: Mechanisms of changes under the influence of epoetin alfa

The relationships between the red blood cell (RBC) membrane elasticity and RBC aggregation in healthy individuals and in patients with anemia of malignant tumors treated with human erythropoietin drug epoetin alfa (EA) were analyzed. It was found that prior to the treatment of patients, incubation of RBCs with EA was accompanied by an increase of RBC deformability and the reduction of their aggregation (RBCA). In these circumstances the two characteristics of the RBC microrheology correlated negatively with each other (r =–0.734, p < 0.05). In contrast, aggregation and deformability of RBCs from healthy individuals increased under the influence of EA and positively correlated with each other (r = 0.580, p < 0.05). After a 4-week treatment of patients with EA, aggregation response of the patients’ RBCs was increased by 29% (p < 0.05) and was close to that of healthy RBCs. This change of the RBC aggregation response may be connected with an alteration of the sensitivity of the membrane cationic channel to EA and an increase of the cell deformability. This possibility was supported by experiments with the use of Ca²⁺-channel blocker verapamil and Ca²⁺-chelating agent EDTA. Under these conditions a decrease of the RBC aggregation varied from 40 to 50% (p < 0.05). It was suggested that the effectors of calcium regulatory cascade upon exposure to EA may be membrane integrin receptors of type IIb–IIIa. This assumption was confirmed by experiments employing the inhibitors of these receptors (tirofibam and integrelin) and a preparation of monoclonal antibodies against IIb–IIIa receptors (monafram), which produced a significant decrease (20–30%, p < 0.05) of the RBC aggregation. Thus, our findings suggest that the altered aggregation response of RBCs in anemic patients with malignant tumors can be restored by the correction of anemia with epoetin alfa.     

First isolation of Rickettsia monacensis from a patient in South Korea

A Rickettsia sp. was isolated from the blood of a patient with an acute febrile illness using the shell vial technique; the isolate was named CN45Kr and was identified by molecular assay as Rickettsia monacensis , which was first recognized as a pathogen in Spain. Sequencing analysis showed that the gltA sequence of the isolate was identical to that of Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The ompA‐ 5mp fragment sequence showed 100% identity to those of R. monacensis and Rickettsia sp. In56 and ompA‐3pA In56 and 100% identity to that of Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The ompB sequence was found to have 99.9% similarity to that of R. monacensis IrR/Munich. This study confirms the pathogenicity of this agent and provides additional information about its geographic distribution.

     

利用锌特异性探针HL~1示踪植物细胞外Zn~(2+)的分布

以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和谷子(Setaria italic)为研究材料,利用锌特异性探针HL1,使用荧光分光光度仪、等温滴定热量测定仪(ITC200)和倒置荧光显微镜等仪器探究了该化学探针的特性以及植物细胞外游离Zn~(2+)的分布。结果表明,当HL1与不同元素溶液混合时,只与Zn~(2+)特异性结合,在紫外光(UV)激发下,发射出波长为500 nm的蓝色荧光;生成物的平衡解离常数KD=7.02×10–4 mol·L–1,具有很好的稳定性。拟南芥叶片中的Zn~(2+)分布于细胞间隙及叶表皮毛的外周和表层,且叶表皮毛的荧光强度具有明显的浓度依赖性;谷子叶片中的Zn~(2+)分布在细胞间隙以及维管组织。拟南芥根中的Zn~(2+)分布于根的伸长区,且荧光强度也明显地表现出与浓度相关。由此推断,根伸长区与Zn~(2+)运输有关,叶的维管组织是植物细胞外运输Zn~(2+)的主要途径,细胞间隙和叶表皮毛是植物储存Zn~(2+)的主要区域。HL1适用于检测细胞外Zn~(2+)的分布。     

Tumorigenic transformation of NIH 3T3 cells by the autocrine synthesis of transforming growth factor alpha

A variety of cancer cells overexpress transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha), a mitogenic peptide. A cDNA sequence coding for the full-length human TGF alpha precursor protein was subcloned into a retroviral expression vector and introduced into clone 7 NIH 3T3 cells, which have low numbers of endogenous epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs). The autocrine synthesis of TGF alpha by these cells resulted in their focal transformation. In contrast, control NIH 3T3 cells treated in a paracrine manner with exogenous, saturating concentrations of the mature form of TGF alpha, though stimulated to divide, remained morphologically untransformed. The addition of saturating quantities of soluble, mature TGF alpha to NIH 3T3 cells expressing the transferred TGF alpha gene actually suppressed their growth and focal transformation. The transformation induced by the TGF alpha gene remained an EGFR-dependent process, since the degree of transformation was correlated with EGFR expression in NIH 3T3 cells and since NR6 cells, which are Swiss 3T3 cells devoid of endogenous EGFRs, were transformed by the TGF alpha vector only when exogenous EGFR genes were also introduced. When inoculated into nude mice, the TGF alpha-expressing cells rapidly gave rise to tumors that grew progressively, whereas control cells did not form tumors. We conclude that in certain circumstances autocrine TGF alpha can be more oncogenic than paracrine and that paracrine TGF alpha can suppress this effect.     

Cdk5与大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤时细胞凋亡的关系

目的利用大鼠可逆性大脑中动脉栓塞模型（MCAO），研究周期素依赖性蛋白激酶5（cyclin dependent kinase5，Cdk5）对视网膜母细胞瘤蛋白（Rb）的磷酸化作用与细胞凋亡的关系。方法线栓法制作大鼠MCAO模型，随机分为再灌注0、3、6、9、24h组。通过免疫组化染色观察缺血侧大脑Cdk5和磷酸化Rb的数量和变化，TUNEL标记法检测凋亡神经元数量和变化，Western blot检测不同再灌注时间Cdk5蛋白水平的表达。结果缺血侧cdk5随再灌注时间增加而增加，24h达到高峰；再灌注6h出现磷酸化的视网膜母细胞瘤蛋白（pRb），并随再灌注时间增加而增加，24h达到高峰。缺血侧凋亡阳性细胞变化趋势与Cdk5基本一致。缺血侧Cdk5蛋白的表达随再灌注时间增加而增加，缺血对侧无明显变化。结论大鼠局限性脑缺血再灌注损伤可以诱导Cdk5数量和激酶活性增加，通过底物磷酸化作用引起神经细胞凋亡。     

Optimized fed-batch fermentation of L-β-hydroxy isobutyric acid by Yarrowia lipolytica

Yarrowia lipolytica KCCM50506, which transforms isobutyric acid to L-#-hydroxy isobutyric acid (L-#-HIBA), was screened. Chemostat cultures were carried out in jar fermentors at dilution rates of 0.02 h^у to 0.12 h^у. L-#-HIBA fermentation-regulating factors were determined to be specific growth rate, and concentrations of glucose and isobutyric acid in fermentor from analysis of steady-state data. The specific productivity of L-#-HIBA increased as the specific growth rate increased, apparently as a growth-associated type of product formation. A fed-batch culture was carried out under optimum conditions where the concentrations of glucose and isobutyric acid in the fermentor were maintained at 23 g l^у and 9 g l^у, respectively. The concentrations of cells and L-#-HIBA obtained at the end of fermentation were 20 g l^у and 49 g l^у, respectively, corresponding to 2.0 and 2.7 times more than concentrations in batch culture.     

CXCR4的抑制性多肽对乳腺癌细胞CXCR4和HER-2表达及HERCEPTIN药物敏感性的影响

目的 探讨CXCR4抑制性多肽对人乳腺癌细胞株SKBR3膜受体HER-2和CXCR4的蛋白表达及其对Herceptin药物敏感性的影响.方法 抑制性多肽、Herceptin单独或联合处理乳腺癌SKBR3细胞24、48h后,用MTT法观测SKBR3细胞的增殖抑制效应;Weatern blot和免疫纽化法检测SKBR3细胞中CXCR4和HER-2蛋白表达;RT-PCR检测HER-2、CXCR4 mRNA的表达,流式细胞仪检测细胞周期的变化.结果 多肽和Herceptin可不同程度地下调人乳腺癌细胞SKBR3中CXCR4和HER-2的蛋白表达.多肽对细胞生长抑制不明显,与Herceptin联合用药后,生长抑制率高于对照组和Herceptin单独用药组(P<0.001),48h生长抑制率为57.94%±5.3,且呈时问依赖(P<0.05),Herceptin单独作用SKBR3-细胞,细胞周期阻滞于G0/GI期,并且S期的比例减少,与多肽联合作用后,细胞周期又进一步阻滞于G2/M期,S期细胞进一步降低.结论 抑制性多肽能不同程度地下调膜受体HER-2和CXCR4的表达,提高人乳腺癌细胞株SKBR3对Herceptin药物的敏感性.