Structural correlates of taste and smell loss in encephalitis disseminata

Background

Olfactory dysfunction in MS patients is reported in the literature. MRI of the olfactory bulb (OB) is discussed as a promising new testing method for measuring olfactory function (OF).Aim of this study was to explore reasons for and optimize the detection of olfactory dysfunction in MS patients with MRI.

Materials and Methods

OB and olfactory brain volume was assessed within 34 MS patients by manual segmentation. Olfactory function was tested using the Threshold-Discrimination-Identification-Test (TDI), gustatory function was tested using Taste Strips (TST).

Results

41% of the MS patients displayed olfactory dysfunction (8% of the control group), 16% displayed gustatory dysfunction (5% of the control group). There was a correlation between the OB volume and the number and volume of MS lesions in the olfactory brain. Olfactory brain volume correlated with the volume of lesions in the olfactory brain and the EDSS score. The TST score correlated with the number and volume of lesions in the olfactory brain.

Conclusion

The correlation between a higher number and volume of MS lesions with a decreased OB and olfactory brain volume could help to explain olfactory dysfunction.     

Placental traits and maternal intrinsic factors affected by parity and breed in goats

The relationship between placental traits and maternal intrinsic factors of Saanen, German Fawn and Damascus goats was investigated. Data was collected from 93 goats. The results of the study demonstrated that there were positive correlations between placental weight (PW) and cotyledon number (CN) (r=0.498, P<0.01), cotyledon weight (CW) (r=0.880, P<0.01), cotyledon density (CD) (r=0.538, P<0.01), cotyledon width (CWI) (r=0.500, P<0.01) cotyledon length (CL) (r=0.414, P<0.01) and cotyledon density (CD) (r=0.278, P<0.05). CN was negatively correlated with placental efficiency (PE) (r=-0.421, P<0.01) and CD (r=-0.325, P<0.05). While expulsion of placenta, right teat length and cotyledon length were affected by parity of doe (P<0.05) birth weight (BW), CN, right teat diameter (RTD), left teat diameter (LTD), CD, and CL were affected by breed (P<0.01). Breed×parity was found significant both for expulsion time of placenta and left teat length (LTL) (P<0.05). Damascus goats had a significantly longer duration of licking and grooming events than others. Saanen was more likely to require birth assistance compared to the German Fawn.     

The protective effect of fish n-3 fatty acids on cerebral ischemia in rat hippocampus

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebral injury after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Fish n-3 essential fatty acids (EFA), contain eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA) and docosahexoenoic acids (DHA), exhibit antioxidant properties. DHA is an important component of brain membrane phospholipids and is necessary for the continuity of neuronal functions. EPA prevents platelet aggregation and inhibits the conversion of arachidonic acid into thromboxane A(2) and prostaglandins. They have been suggested to be protective agents against neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of fish n-3 EFA on oxidant-antioxidant systems and number of apoptotic neurons of the hippocampal formation (HF) subjected to cerebral I/R injury was investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Six rats were used as control (Group I). Cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of both the common carotid arteries combined with hypotension for 45 min, followed by reperfusion for 30 min, in rats either on a standard diet (Group II) or a standard diet plus fish n-3 EFA (Marincap((R)), 0.4 g/kg/day, by gavage) for 14 days (Group III). At the end of procedures, the rats were sacrificed and their brains were removed immediately. The levels of malonedialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in left HF. In addition, the number of apoptotic neurons was counted by terminal transferase dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay in histological samples of the right HF. We found that SOD activities and MDA levels increased in Group III rats compared with Group II rats. On the other hand, CAT activities and NO levels were found to be decreased in Group III rats compared with Group II rats. Additionally, the number of apoptotic neurons was lower in Group III in comparison with Group II rats. The present findings suggest that fish n-3 EFA could decrease the oxidative status and apoptotic changes in ischemic rat hippocampal formation. Dietary supplementation of n-3 EFA may be beneficial to preserve or ameliorate ischemic cerebral vascular disease.     

The cytochrome c maturation components CcmF, CcmH, and CcmI form a membrane-integral multisubunit heme ligation complex

Cytochrome c maturation (Ccm) is a post-translational and post-export protein modification process that involves ten (CcmABCDEFGHI and CcdA or DsbD) components in most Gram-negative bacteria. The absence of any of these components abolishes the ability of cells to form cytochrome c, leading in the case of Rhodobacter capsulatus to the loss of photosynthetic proficiency and respiratory cytochrome oxidase activity. Based on earlier molecular genetic studies, we inferred that R. capsulatus CcmF, CcmH, and CcmI interact with each other to perform heme-apocytochrome c ligation. Here, using functional epitope-tagged derivatives of these components coproduced in appropriate mutant strains, we determined protein-protein interactions between them in detergent-dispersed membranes. Reciprocal affinity purification as well as tandem size exclusion and affinity chromatography analyses provided the first biochemical evidence that CcmF, CcmH, and CcmI associate stably with each other, indicating that these Ccm components form a membrane-integral complex. Under the conditions used, the CcmFHI complex does not contain CcmG, suggesting that the latter thio-reduction component is not always associated with the heme ligation components. The findings are discussed with respect to defining the obligatory components of a minimalistic heme-apocytochrome c ligation complex in R. capsulatus.     

Pheno- and genotypic properties of streptococci of serological group B of canine and feline origin

In the present study streptococci of serological group B isolated from canines (n=48) and felines (n=7) were comparatively investigated with group B streptococci from humans and bovines for cultural, biochemical and serological properties for antibiotic resistancies and by molecular analysis. An identification was performed with group B-specific antiserum, biochemical reactions, by PCR amplification and subsequent endonuclease digestion of the 16S rRNA gene and by amplification of species-specific parts of the 16S rDNA the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region and the CAMP factor gene cfb. Phenotypic similarities of group B streptococci of canine and feline origin with group B streptococci from humans and differences to group B streptococci of bovine origin could be observed in lactose fermentation, serotype patterns, pigmentation, growth properties of the bacteria in fluid medium and soft agar, hemagglutination reactions and in minocycline and tetracycline resistance. A negative hyaluronidase plate test, a hylB amplicon with a size of 4.6 kb and an insertion sequence 1548 could be observed among canine, feline and human group B streptococci of serotype III. The remaining hyaluronidase positive strains, also including all isolates of bovine origin, had a hylB gene with a size of 3.3 kb. Further genotypic differences could be observed in the occurrence of the genes lmb and scpB which appeared generally among canine, feline and human group B streptococci, but less pronounced among bovine isolates of this species. According to the presented data group B streptococci of canine and feline origin seemed to be more related to human than to bovine isolates of this species possibly indicating some epidemiological relation.     

Effects of captopril and losartan on lipid peroxidation,protein oxidation and nitric oxide release in diabetic rat kidney

Increased oxidative stress has an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of renin-anigiotensin system blockage, either by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition or angiotensin receptor blockage, on oxidative stress and nitric oxide release in diabetic rat kidneys. After induction of diabetes, six rats were given captopril, six rats were given losartan, and six rats served as diabetic controls. Six healthy rats were also included. At the end of an 8-week period nitric oxide release, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation were measured in kidney cortices, and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) was determined in 24-h urine samples. Losartan- and captopril-treated diabetic rats had lower levels of UAE than diabetic controls. Diabetic rats had higher levels of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation compared to healthy rats. NO release was significantly lower in diabetic groups than healthy controls. UAE levels showed a positive correlation with lipid peroxidation and a negative correlation with NO release. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation could be one of the protective mechanisms of renin-angiotensin axis inhibition in diabetic kidney tissues.