Ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight--residents accuracy

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of gynecology and obstetrics residents when performing ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight. The total of 400 ultrasonographic estimations of fetal weight and corresponding neonatal weight were collected and divided into 3 groups according to physicians' experience (junior and senior residents, staff physicians). The accuracy of fetal weight estimation correlated positively with the level of physicians'experience. The proportional difference between ultrasound estimation and actual birth weight varied from 8.45% to 6.88% (junior residents 8.45%, senior residents 6.95%, staff physicians 6.88%). The proportion of ultrasonograhic estimates that fell within 10% of birth weight varied from 59.09% to 79.21% (junior residents 59.09%, senior residents 78.44%, staff physicians 79.21%). Senior residents reach a highly acceptable accuracy in ultrasonographic estimation of fetal weight which is comparable to staff physicians.     

Stem cell regenerative potential for plastic and reconstructive surgery

Stem cells represent heterogeneous population of undifferentiated cells with unique characteristics of long term self renewal and plasticity. Moreover, they are capable of active migration to diseased tissues, secretion of different bioactive molecules, and they have immunosuppressive potential as well. They occur in all tissues through life and are involved in process of embryogenesis and regeneration. During last decades stem cells attracted significant attention in each field of medicine, including plastic and reconstructive surgery. The main goal of the present review article is to present and discuss the potential of stem cells and to provide information about their safe utilization in chronic wounds and fistulae healing, scar management, breast reconstruction, as well as in bone, tendon and peripheral nerve regeneration.     

First report of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in two threatened carnivores: the Marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna and the European mink

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Lyme disease is a widespread cosmopolitan zoonosis caused by species belonging to the genus Borrelia. It is transmitted from animal reservoir hosts to humans through hard - ticks of genus Ixodes which are vectors of the disease. CASE PRESENTATION: Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infection was identified in a marbled polecat, Vormela peregusna, and two European minks, Mustela lutreola, from Romania, by PCR. RFLP revealed the presence of a single genospecies, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the Lyme disease spirochetes in the two mentioned hosts.     

Distribution of a novel enzyme of sialidase family among native filamentous fungi

Sialidases (neuraminidases, EC 3.2.1.18) are widely distributed in biological systems but there are only scarce data on its production by filamentous fungi. The aim of this study was to obtain information about sialidase distribution in filamentous fungi from non-clinical isolates, to determine availability of sialidase gene, and to select a perspective producer. A total of 113 fungal strains belonging to Ascomycota and Zygomycota compassing 21 genera and 51 species were screened. Among them, 77 strains (11 orders, 14 families and 16 genera) were able to synthesize sialidase. Present data showed a habitat-dependent variation of sialidase activity between species and within species, depending on location. Sialidase gene was identified in sialidase-positive and sialidase-negative strains. .Among three perspective strains, the best producer was chosen based on their sialidase production depending on type of cultivation, medium composition, and growth temperature. The selected P. griseofulvum Р29 was cultivated in 3L bioreactor at 20 °C on medium supplemented with 0.5% milk whey. The results demonstrated better growth and 2.3-fold higher maximum enzyme activity compared to the shaken flask cultures. Moreover, the early occurring maximum (48 h) is an important prerequisite for future up scaling of the process.     

Nutrient modulation of intestinal gas dynamics in healthy humans: dependence on caloric content and meal consistency

The actions of nutrients on gut transit of liquids and solids have been extensively studied, but the effects of meal ingestion on intestinal gas flow are unexplored. We hypothesized that meals of varying caloric content and consistency modulate gas transit to different degrees. Nine healthy volunteers underwent jejunal perfusion of physiological gas mixtures at 12 ml.min(-1).3 h, with ingestion of nothing (control), water (240 ml), 240-kcal liquid meals, and 240-kcal solid meals at the end of the second hour in separate studies. Gas was quantified from an intrarectal catheter. After an initial lag phase, gas evacuation approached steady state by the end of the fasting period. Solid and liquid caloric meals increased total gas volumes evacuated from 5-40 min after ingestion vs. control studies (P < 0.05). These increases resulted from increased numbers of bolus gas evacuations (P < 0.05), whereas bolus volumes, pressures, and flow rates were similar for all test conditions. Solid and liquid caloric meals elicited similar effects on bolus gas dynamic parameters, whereas water did not affect these measures vs. control (NS, not significant). Both caloric meals and the noncaloric liquid meal increased continuous gas flow, which represented <2% of total gas expulsion. In conclusion, caloric meals promote bolus gas transit in healthy humans, whereas noncaloric liquids have no effect. Solids stimulate early postprandial gas dynamics to the same extent as liquid meals of similar caloric content. Thus modulatory effects of meals on intestinal gas transit depend on their caloric content but not their consistency.     

Are nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 and its structural analogue [ORN9]nociceptin(1‐13)NH2 able to affect brain antioxidant status in control and kainic acid‐treated rats?

In‐vivo effects of nociceptin (N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂) on the levels of lipid peroxidation and cell enzyme (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and non‐enzyme (glutathione) antioxidants in brain of control and kainic acid‐treated rats were studied. N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ effects were compared with those of its structural analogue [Orn⁹]N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂. Kainic acid (25 µg, i.c.v) increased the lipid peroxidation (4 and 24 h after kainic acid treatment) and decreased the glutathione level (1 h after kainic acid injection). We failed to find, any changes in antioxidant enzyme activities, independently of the time of kainic acid treatment. At the background of kainic acid‐effects, N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ and [Orn⁹] N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂, injected 30 min before kainic acid, had no effects on all parameters, tested in brain. In addition, the neuropeptides did not change the antioxidant status in brain of control animals. It might be concluded that N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ and [Orn⁹]N/OFQ(1‐13)NH₂ have neither pro‐ nor anti‐oxidant activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

In vivo investigation of homocysteine metabolism to polyamines by high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry and stable isotope labeling

Polyamines are essential polycations, playing important roles in mammalian physiology. Theoretically, the involvement of homocysteine in polyamine synthesis via S-adenosylmethionine is possible; however, to our knowledge, it has not been established experimentally. Here, we propose an original approach for investigation of homocysteine metabolites in an animal model. The method is based on the combination of isotope-labeled homocysteine supplementation and high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry analysis. Structural identity of the isotope-labeled metabolites was confirmed by accurate mass measurements of molecular and fragment ions and comparison of the retention times and tandem mass spectrometry fragmentation patterns. Isotope-labeled methionine, spermidine, and spermine were detected in all investigated plasma and tissue samples. The induction of moderate hyperhomocysteinemia leads to an alteration in polyamine levels in a different manner. The involvement of homocysteine in polyamine synthesis and modulation of polyamine levels could contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms connected with homocysteine toxicity.     

Enrichment of low molecular weight fraction of serum for MS analysis of peptides associated with hepatocellular carcinoma

A challenging aspect of biomarker discovery in serum is the interference of abundant proteins with identification of disease-related proteins and peptides. This study describes enrichment of serum by denaturing ultrafiltration, which enables an efficient profiling and identification of peptides up to 5 kDa. We consistently detect several hundred peptide-peaks in MALDI-TOF and SELDI-TOF spectra of enriched serum. The sample preparation is fast and reproducible with an average CV for all 276 peaks in the MALDI-TOF spectrum of 11%. Compared to unenriched serum, the number of peaks in enriched spectra is 4 times higher at an S/N ratio of 5 and 20 times higher at an S/N ratio of 10. To demonstrate utility of the methods, we compared 20 enriched sera of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 20 age-matched controls using MALDI-TOF. The comparison of 332 peaks at p < 0.001 identified 45 differentially abundant peaks that classified HCC with 90% accuracy in this small pilot study. Direct TOF/TOF sequencing of the most abundant peptide matches with high probability des-Ala-fibrinopeptide A. This study shows that enrichment of the low molecular weight fraction of serum facilitates an efficient discovery of peptides that could serve as biomarkers for detection of HCC as well as other diseases.