Antibiotic resistance,biofilm production ability and genetic diversity of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from nosocomial infections in southwestern Iran

Molecular Biology Reports - This study was aimed to evaluate the antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, and genetic diversity of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) strains...     

Plasma cholesterol-lowering and transient liver dysfunction in mice lacking squalene synthase in the liver

Squalene synthase (SS) catalyzes the biosynthesis of squalene, the first specific intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. To test the feasibility of lowering plasma cholesterol by inhibiting hepatic SS, we generated mice in which SS is specifically knocked out in the liver (L-SSKO) using Cre-loxP technology. Hepatic SS activity of L-SSKO mice was reduced by >90%. In addition, cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver slices was almost eliminated. Although the hepatic squalene contents were markedly reduced in L-SSKO mice, the hepatic contents of cholesterol and its precursors distal to squalene were indistinguishable from those of control mice, indicating the presence of sufficient centripetal flow of cholesterol and/or its precursors from the extrahepatic tissues. L-SSKO mice showed a transient liver dysfunction with moderate hepatomegaly presumably secondary to increased farnesol production. In a fed state, the plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly reduced in L-SSKO mice, primarily owing to reduced hepatic VLDL secretion. In a fasted state, the hypolipidemic effect was lost. mRNA expression of liver X receptor α target genes was reduced, while that of sterol-regulatory element binding protein 2 target genes was increased. In conclusion, liver-specific ablation of SS inhibits hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and induces hypolipidemia without increasing significant mortality.     

Effects of anaerobic processing of soybean seeds on the properties of tofu

Oxygenation of lipids during the processing soybeans affects the flavor properties of soy products. We prepared tofu under anaerobic conditions and then evaluated its sensory properties and the compositions of volatiles and oxidized lipids. Anaerobic processing resulted in tofu with less intense richness (kokumi) concomitant with reductions in the amounts of oxidized lipids and volatile compounds.     

Predicting the epidemic sizes of influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B: a statistical method

Background

The epidemic sizes of influenza A/H3N2, A/H1N1, and B infections vary from year to year in the United States. We use publicly available US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) influenza surveillance data between 1997 and 2009 to study the temporal dynamics of influenza over this period.

Methods and Findings

Regional outpatient surveillance data on influenza-like illness (ILI) and virologic surveillance data were combined to define a weekly proxy for the incidence of each strain in the United States. All strains exhibited a negative association between their cumulative incidence proxy (CIP) for the whole season (from calendar week 40 of each year to calendar week 20 of the next year) and the CIP of the other two strains (the complementary CIP) from the start of the season up to calendar week 2 (or 3, 4, or 5) of the next year. We introduce a method to predict a particular strain''s CIP for the whole season by following the incidence of each strain from the start of the season until either the CIP of the chosen strain or its complementary CIP exceed certain thresholds. The method yielded accurate predictions, which generally occurred within a few weeks of the peak of incidence of the chosen strain, sometimes after that peak. For the largest seasons in the data, which were dominated by A/H3N2, prediction of A/H3N2 incidence always occurred at least several weeks in advance of the peak.

Conclusion

Early circulation of one influenza strain is associated with a reduced total incidence of the other strains, consistent with the presence of interference between subtypes. Routine ILI and virologic surveillance data can be combined using this new method to predict the relative size of each influenza strain''s epidemic by following the change in incidence of a given strain in the context of the incidence of cocirculating strains. Please see later in the article for the Editors'' Summary     

Inhibition of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase improves allergic nasal blockage in guinea pigs

Although it has been suggested that prostaglandin (PG) D(2) is involved in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis, whether the inhibition of hematopoietic PGD(2) synthase (H-PGDS) shows beneficial effects on allergic rhinitis has been unclear. We evaluated the effects of a selective H-PGDS inhibitor, TFC-007, on nasal symptoms on Japanese cedar pollen-induced allergic rhinitis of guinea pigs. Sensitized animals were challenged with the pollen once a week. TFC-007 (30mg/kg, p.o.) given once before a challenge almost completely suppressed PGD(2) production in the nasal tissue early and late after the challenge. Although pre-treatment did not affect the incidences of sneezing and early phase nasal blockage, late phase nasal blockage was partially but significantly attenuated; however, nasal eosinophilia was not suppressed. In contrast, when TFC-007 was given once 1.5h after the challenge, the late phase response was not affected. Collectively, PGD(2) produced by H-PGDS early after an antigen challenge can participate in the induction of late phase nasal blockage, although the mechanism may be independent of eosinophil infilatration. The strategy for H-PGDS inhibition may be beneficial for allergic rhinitis therapy.     

Investigation by imaging mass spectrometry of biomarker candidates for aging in the hair cortex

Background

Human hair is one of the essential components that define appearance and is a useful source of samples for non-invasive biomonitoring. We describe a novel application of imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) of hair biomolecules for advanced molecular characterization and a better understanding of hair aging. As a cosmetic and biomedical application, molecules whose levels in hair altered with aging were comprehensively investigated.

Methods

Human hair was collected from 15 young (20±5 years old) and 15 older (50±5 years old) volunteers. Matrix-free laser desorption/ionization IMS was used to visualize molecular distribution in the hair sections. Hair-specific ions displaying a significant difference in the intensities between the 2 age groups were extracted as candidate markers for aging. Tissue localization of the molecules and alterations in their levels in the cortex and medulla in the young and old groups were determined.

Results

Among the 31 molecules detected specifically in hair sections, 2—one at m/z 153.00, tentatively assigned to be dihydrouracil, and the other at m/z 207.04, identified to be 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid (DHMA)—exhibited a higher signal intensity in the young group than in the old, and 1 molecule at m/z 164.00, presumed to be O-phosphoethanolamine, displayed a higher intensity in the old group. Among the 3, putative O-phosphoethanolamine showed a cortex-specific distribution. The 3 molecules in cortex presented the same pattern of alteration in signal intensity with aging, whereas those in medulla did not exhibit significant alteration.

Conclusion

Three molecules whose levels in hair altered with age were extracted. While they are all possible markers for aging, putative dihydrouracil and DHMA, are also suspected to play a role in maintaining hair properties and could be targets for cosmetic supplementation. Mapping of ion localization in hair by IMS is a powerful method to extract biomolecules in specified regions and determine their tissue distribution.     

Involvement of the acyl chain of ceramide in carbohydrate recognition by an anti-glycolipid monoclonal antibody: the case of an anti-melanoma antibody,M2590, to GM3-ganglioside

The effect of the chain length of the fatty acid residue of the ceramide moiety of ganglioside G_M3 on the binding ability of monoclonal antibody M2590, which is specific for the carbohydrate structure of G_M3-ganglioside, was examined by means of a direct binding assay on thin layer chromatography plates (TLC immunostaining) and a quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Derivatives of G_M3 with a long fatty acid chain reacted with the M2590 antibody, but those with a short fatty acid chain showed no reaction in either assay system. These results suggested that the acyl fatty acid moiety of the ganglioside played an important role in the formation or maintenance of the antigenic structure of the carbohydrate moiety of the ganglioside.     

Trichinella spiralis and breast carcinoma--a case report

Authors report about a patient with recurrent ductal invasive breast carcinoma and trichinosis. The patient underwent mastectomy of the left breast with evacuation of the axilla because of the cancer. Radiation therapy was received. An infestation with Trichinella spiralis was diagnosed two years after The patient was treated with mebendazole. A local recurrence of the tumor was found on the chest wall six years after the surgery. Tumor excision was performed. Histological analysis pointed at a ductal invasive carcinoma with numerous parasites of Trichinella spiralis present within both the muscle and the tumor tissue. The finding of parasites in the tumor tissue witnesses in favor of infestation, and the parasite morphology preserved in the tumor shows at the protective effects of the cysts, i.e. preventing parasite necrosis.