Electrophoretic karyotyping ofCandida albicans strains isolated from premature infants and hospital personnel in a neonatal intensive care unit

Electrophoretic karyotyping was used to compare DNA probes of yeasts isolated from blood of preterm neonates (n=66) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and from the hands of healthy hospital personnel (n=10). The yeasts were identified asCandida albicans using standard laboratory methods. DNA was extracted from yeasts and isolation of identical DNA strains from the pairs nurse-neonate suggested that one nurse transmitted one yeast strain by her hands to three neonates. Four neonates harbored two identical strains originating from two nurses,i.e. each nurse transmitted the same strain to two neonates. In the additional 7 cases transmission of 1 yeast strain by 1 nurse, to 1 neonate was observed. Our data suggest that nonperinatal nosocomial transmission ofC. albicans occurs in neonates. possiblyvia cross-contamination being transferred on hands of health care workers The importance of careful hand washing of staff (health care workers) and other infectioncontrol procedures (to prevent the nosocomial transmission of pathogens in the NICU environment) is emphasizeded.     

Cutaneous candidosis in immunosuppressed patients

One-hundred patients with candidosis of the skin, mucous membranes and nail plates (confirmed by cultivation) were examined. Topical or systemic antimycotic treatment was successful in 58 patients. After a complete evaluation, 42 patients were found to suffer from factors supporting candidosis —diabetes mellitus (12), anemia (3) and various local factors (10 patients); 27 patients showed a deficiency in cell-mediated immunity. In addition to intensive antimycotic therapy, successful treatment is affected by the actual immunity level and can be ensured by efficient immunomodulation treatment of immuno-deficiency.     

Tex261 modulates the excitotoxic cell death induced by N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation

N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor is a calcium-permeable ionotropic glutamate receptor and plays a role in many neurologic disorders such as brain ischemia through its involvement in excitotoxicity. We have performed differential display PCR to identify changes in gene expression that occur in the hippocampus of the mouse brain after intraperitoneal injection of NMDA and identified a gene, Tex261 as an inducible gene by NMDA stimulation in vivo. Tex261 mRNA was gradually induced in response to NMDA and reached about 4.5-fold at 24 h. When HEK 293 cells are transfected with NMDA receptors, the cells die in a manner that mimics excitotoxicity in neurons. HEK 293 cells transfected with the combination of Tex261 and the NMDA receptors NR1/NR2A produced the greater cell death compared with the cells transfected with the NMDA receptors alone. These findings suggest that Tex261 modulates the excitotoxic cell death induced by NMDA receptor activation.     

Anatomical description of the renal arteries and veins in the European rabbit

The aim of this study was to describe origin, localisation and variations of renal arteries and veins in the rabbit. The study was carried out on 40 adult European rabbits. We prepared corrosion casts of the rabbit arterial and venous system. Spofacryl was used as the casting medium. In 75% of cases the origin of arteriae renales was located at the level of the third lumbar vertebra and in remaining 25% of cases arteria renalis dextra branched off at the level of the second lumbar vertebra. In 10% of cases we observed that the number of arteria renalis sinistra was doubled. We recorded also in one case the presence of arteria renalis accessoria for ren dexter. In 10% of cases we observed that the number of vena renalis sinistra was doubled. In 5% of cases two venae renales sinistrae arose from the kidney and subsequently, about 1 cm from opening to vena cava caudalis, they united to form a single vein. In 5% of cases two venae renales sinistrae arose from the kidney and subsequently, approximately 1 cm away from hilus renalis, they united. The obtained variations of the number of renal arteries were partially homologous to the human, but variations of renal veins were localized on the other side as in human.     

Central effects of ghrelin on serum growth hormone and morphology of pituitary somatotropes in rats

Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue receptor, was originally purified from rat stomach; subsequently, ghrelin neurons were found in the arcuate nuclei of rats. Central effects of the peptide on GH release, however, remain to be clarified. The aim of the present study was to determine the morphologic features of GH-producing pituicytes and serum GH concentration after central administration of ghrelin. Five injections of rat ghrelin or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; n = 10 rats/group) were given every 24 hrs (1 microg of ghrelin in 5 microl of PBS) into the lateral cerebral ventricle of male rats. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in absolute and relative pituitary weights occurred in ghrelin-treated rats versus controls (58% and 41%, respectively). Morphometric parameters (i.e., the volume of GH cells, volume of their nuclei, and volume density) all significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 17%, 18%, and 19%, respectively, in the ghrelin-treated group versus controls. Terminal serum concentration of GH was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 15% with ghrelin treatment. The results clearly document that daily nanomolar doses of ghrelin into the lateral cerebral ventricle stimulate GH cell proliferation and promote GH release. Thus, achieving pharmacologic control of central ghrelin receptors is a promising modality to modulate the actions of GH.     

Antineoplastic effects of clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum L.) in the model of breast carcinoma

It is supposed that plant functional foods, rich in phytochemicals, may potentially have preventive effects in carcinogenesis. In this study, the anticancer effects of cloves in the in vivo and in vitro mammary carcinoma model were assessed. Dried flower buds of cloves (CLOs) were used at two concentrations of 0.1% and 1% through diet during 13 weeks after the application of chemocarcinogen. After autopsy, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of rat mammary carcinomas were performed. Moreover, in vitro evaluation using MCF‐7 cells was carried out. Dietary administered CLO caused the dose‐dependent decrease in tumour frequency by 47.5% and 58.5% when compared to control. Analysis of carcinoma cells in animals showed bcl‐2, Ki67, VEGFA, CD24 and CD44 expression decrease and Bax, caspase‐3 and ALDH1 expression increase after high‐dose CLO administration. MDA levels were substantially decreased in rat carcinomas in both CLO groups. The evaluation of histone modifications revealed increase in lysine trimethylations and acetylations (H4K20me3, H4K16ac) in carcinomas after CLO administration. TIMP3 promoter methylation levels of CpG3, CpG4, CpG5 islands were altered in treated cancer cells. An increase in total RASSF1A promoter methylation (three CpG sites) in CLO 1 group was found. In vitro studies showed antiproliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects of CLO extract in MCF‐7 cells (analyses of cytotoxicity, Brdu, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase‐7, Bcl‐2 and mitochondrial membrane potential). This study showed a significant anticancer effect of clove buds in the mammary carcinoma model in vivo and in vitro.