Latent microsporidial infection in immunocompetent individuals - a longitudinal study

Background

Microsporidia (Fungi) have been repeatedly identified as the cause of opportunistic infections predominantly in immunodeficient individuals such as AIDS patients. However, the global epidemiology of human microsporidiosis is poorly understood and the ability of microsporidia to survive and multiply in immunocompetent hosts remains unsolved.

Aims

To determine the presence of latent microsporidia infections in apparently healthy humans in the Czech Republic, the authors tested sera, urine and stool originating from fifteen persons within a three month period examined on a weekly basis.

Methods

Sera, stool and urine samples originating from fifteen HIV-negative people at risk with occupational exposure to animals, aged 22–56 years, living in the Czech Republic were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) for the presence of specific anti-microsporidial antibodies, standard Calcofluor M2R staining for the detection of microsporidian spores in all urine sediments and stool smears and molecular methods for the microsporidial species determination.

Results

Specific anti-microsporidial antibodies were detected in fourteen individuals, asymptomatic Encephalitozoon spp. infection was found in thirteen and E. bieneusi infection was detected in seven of those examined. While E. hellem 1A and E. cuniculi II were the major causative agents identified, seven different genotypes of E. bieneusi were recorded.

Conclusions

These findings clearly show that exposure to microsporidia is common and chronic microsporidiosis is not linked to any clinical manifestation in healthy population. Moreover, our results indicate much higher incidence of microsporidial infections among an apparently healthy population than previously reported. These results open the question about the potential risk of reactivation of latent microsporidiosis in cases of immunosupression causing life-threatening disease.     

Utilization of heat-dried Pseudomonas aeruginosa biomass for voltammetric determination of Pb(II)

In this research, thermally dried Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells were used as a biological material for the construction of a microbial biosensor. The preparation, optimization and application of the developed microbial biosensor, which analyzed Pb(II), are presented. The method was based on stripping of adsorbed metal ions from the modified electrode surface. Modified carbon paste electrodes were preconcentrated at open circuit, and then electrochemically measured by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse stripping voltammetry (DPSV) techniques. It was found that the thermally dried cells were capable of adsorbing Pb(II) ions from aqueous solutions and could determine the ions prominently at optimum experimental conditions. Many important parameters to acquire the best electrochemical response were carried out, including effect of different electrolyte solutions, pH, deposition potential, deposition time, ionic strength, preconcentration time, and effect of interference ions. Finally, a calibration graph was obtained with a linear range from 1.0×10(-6) to 2.0×10(-5) M Pb(II) (R(2)=0.9916) and detection limit was found as 6.0×10(-7) M Pb(II) by using 3×S(b)/m formula. Other analytical properties of the developed microbial biosensor were also investigated. The suggested usage format of P. aeruginosa for the determination of Pb(II) does not require complicated immobilization procedure, easy to handle, and not time consuming.     

A karyotypic study on Silene sect. Sclerocalycinae in Turkey

The karyology of fifteen taxa of Silene sect. Sclerocalycinae from Turkey has been investigated. Karyotype analyses has been carried out and the chromosome number of Silene caramanica, S. peduncularis, S. armena, S. laxa, S. swertiifolia, S. caesarea, S. sclerophylla, S. haradjianii and S. lycaonica have been determined for the first time. For all the taxa studied, the diploid chromosome number and the basic chromosome number were found to be 2n=24 and x=12, respectively. Except for S. chlorifolia and S. doganii, the karyomorphology of the taxa studied is here described for the first time. S. laxa was found to have the smallest chromosomes whereas the largest ones were observed in S. haradjianii. Silene chlorifolia had the highest A₁ index and S. bupleuroides subsp. bupleuroides had the highest interchromosomal asymmetry coefficient (A₂).     

Neuronal and glial cell lines as model systems for studying P2Y receptor pharmacology

Investigation of the role of extracellular nucleotides in nervous system has been one of the main topics of the P2Y receptor research throughout the years. In parallel to numerous studies on primary culture systems, various neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines have been used to model in vitro the processes mediated by extracellular nucleotides. In this review article, a survey of expression profiles of G protein-coupled P2Y receptor subtypes in nervous-system-derived cell lines is presented, by analysing the receptor expression at the mRNA, protein, and functional level. The variability of receptor expression profiles in established cell lines is further discussed, bringing forward some general properties for neuronal and glial malignant cell lines.     

Glutathione S-Transferase M1, T1, P1 Genotypes and Risk for Development of Colorectal Cancer

The glutathione S-transferase (GST) supergene family is an important part of cellular enzyme defense against endogenous and exogenous chemicals, many of which have carcinogenic potential. The present investigation was conducted to detect a possible association between polymorphisms at the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genes and the interaction with cigarette smoking and colorectal cancer incidence. We examined 181 patients with colorectal cancer and 204 controls. DNA was extracted from whole blood, and the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms were determined using a real-time polymerase chain reaction and fluorescence resonance energy transfer with a Light-Cycler instrument. Associations between specific genotypes and the development of colorectal cancer were examined by use of logistic regression analysis to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The GSTM1 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.06–2.46). Also the risk of colorectal cancer associated with the GSTT1 null genotype was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.10–2.59). Statistically no differences were found between patients with colorectal cancer and control groups for the GSTP1 Ile/Ile, Ile/Val and Val/Val genotypes. In addition, the frequencies of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion genotypes differed significantly between the cases and controls for current smokers; the GSTT1 null genotype especially is associated with a greater risk of colorectal cancer (OR = 2.44, 95% CI: 1.24–4.81). The GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletions were associated with an increased risk of developing a transverse or rectal tumor (OR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.15–3.00; OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.02–2.84; respectively). The glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms were not associated with risk in patients stratified by age. The risk of colorectal cancer increased as putative high-risk genotypes increased for the combined genotypes of GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and either GSTP1 valine heterozygosity or GSTP1 valine homozygosity (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.02–7.11). In conclusion, the results obtained in this study clearly suggest that those susceptibility factors related to different GST polymorphic enzymes are predisposing for colorectal cancer.     

56例卵巢上皮性交界性肿瘤的临床和病理分析

目的：探讨卵巢交界性上皮肿瘤（OBT）的临床及病理特征,以供临床和病理借鉴.方法：收集病理快速冰冻切片和石蜡切片确诊的交界性上皮性卵巢肿瘤患者56例,术前均行超声检查及CA125测定.结果：56例OBT中以粘液性肿瘤最多,为33例,占58.9%,浆液性肿瘤23例占41.1%.其中以Ⅰ期多见,手术包括保守性手术治疗交界性肿瘤,预后良好.冰冻切片诊断卵巢交界性上皮肿瘤的总体准确率为64.2%.结论：诊断OBT需根据临床症状、肿瘤标记物及影像学综合判断,术中冰冻切片检查有一定帮助,但最后诊断还是应主要依据病理切片.为提高快速冰冻切片诊断的准确率,应做连续切片.     

大鼠附睾蛋白质组的提取和二维液相色谱分离

背景与目的：提取犬鼠附睾液蛋白并建立一种利用二维液相色谱法分离附睾蛋白组的方法。方法：分离提取犬鼠附睾液蛋白。样品利用起始缓冲液置换后,进行一维色谱聚焦分离,然后收集pH8．5—4．0之间的组份进行二维反相离压液相色谱分离,最后将获得的二维UV图通过ProteoVue软件转换成PI／UV图谱。结果：成功提取了附睾液蛋白,并通过二维液相色谱成功建立了大鼠头体尾部附睾液蛋白的二维PI／UV图谱,收集了一维色谱聚焦分离的pH8．5—4．0区间的20个组份,并将每个组份进行二维色谱分离后转换为PI/UV图谱。结论：为进一步全面研究附睾蛋白功能和体液差异蛋白质组研究打下了基础。     

PPAR‐β facilitating maturation of hepatic‐like tissue derived from mouse embryonic stem cells accompanied by mitochondriogenesis and membrane potential retention

Relatively little is known about mitochondria metabolism in differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells. Present research focused on several elements of cellular energy metabolism in hepatic‐like tissue derived from mouse ES cells. We demonstrated that mitochondrial location patterns and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) existed in subsequent differentiation of the tissue. Mitochondriogenesis appeared at the early stage and kept a normal ΔΨ_m in differentiated mature hepatocytes. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐α (PPAR‐α) expression was transitorily increased at the beginning, and kept a relatively low level later, which accompanied by expression of PPAR‐γ coactivator (PGC)‐1α, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. PPAR‐β expression showed robust up‐regulation in the late differentiation course. Enhanced co‐expressions of PPAR‐β and albumin with catalysis of UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) were observed at mature stage. While PPAR‐γ expression changed little before and after differentiation. Mitochondriogenesis could be accelerated by PPAR‐α specific agonist WY14643 and abolished by its antagonist GW6471 at the early stage. Neither of them affected mitochondrial ΔΨ_m and albumin generation in the differentiated hepatocytes. Furthermore, maturation of hepatic‐like tissue and mitochondriogenesis in hepatocyte could be efficiently stimulated by PPAR‐β specific agonist L165041 and abolished by PPAR‐β specific antagonist GSK0660, but not affected by PPAR‐γ specific agonist GW1929. In conclusion, the derived hepatic tissue morphologically possessed cellular energy metabolism features. PPAR‐α seemed only necessary for early mitochondriogenesis, while less important for ΔΨ_m retention in the mature tissue derived. The stimulation of PPAR‐β but not ‐γ enhanced hepatogenesis, hepatocytes maturation, and mitochondriogenesis. PPAR‐β took an important role in cellular energy metabolism of hepatogenesis. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 498–508, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

The effects of Se phytotoxicity on the antioxidant systems of leaf tissues in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings

A hydroponic experiment was carried out in a growth chamber to investigate the impact of Selenium (Se) levels on physiological and biochemical characteristics of a barley cultivar. Membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO), proline accumulation and antioxidant activities of some enzymes of barley seedlings under Se toxicity were investigated. Significant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) content, and a stimulation of catalase (CAT, 1.11.1.6), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, 1.11.1.11), glutathione reductase (GR, 1.6.4.2), and glutathione S-transferase (GST, 2.5.1.18) activities were recorded in barley seedlings subjected to 2, 4, 8, 16 ppm Se. Superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) activity was not altered significantly. Plant height and chlorophyll content of the seedlings were also affected significantly in a dose dependent manner by Se treatment. Considerable amount of proline accumulation was also observed in response to Se treatment. The results indicated that increases in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes were not sufficient to protect cell membrane against Se toxicity.