Lidocaine and pinacidil added to blood versus crystalloid cardioplegic solutions: study in isolated hearts

Abstract Objective: The present study aimed the functional recovery evaluation after long term of cardiac arrest induced by Custodiol (crystalloid-based) versus del Nido (blood-based) solutions, both added lidocaine and pinacidil as cardioplegic agents. Experiments were performed in isolated rat heart perfusion models. Methods: Male rat heart perfusions, according to Langendorff technique, were induced to cause 3 hours of cardiac arrest with a single dose. The hearts were assigned to one of the following three groups: (I) control; (II) Custodiol-LP; and (III) del Nido-LP. They were evaluated after ischemia throughout 90 minutes of reperfusion. Left ventricular contractility function was reported as percentage of recovery, expressed by developed pressure, maximum dP/dt, minimum dP/dt, and rate pressure product variables. In addition, coronary resistance and myocardial injury marker by alpha-fodrin degradation were also evaluated. Results: At 90 minutes of reperfusion, both solutions had superior left ventricular contractile recovery function than the control group. Del Nido-LP was superior to Custodiol-LP in maximum dP/dt (46%±8 vs. 67%±7, P<0.05) and minimum dP/dt (31%±4 vs. 51%±9, P<0.05) variables. Coronary resistance was lower in del Nido-LP group than in Custodiol-LP (395%±50 vs. 307%±13, P<0.05), as well as alpha-fodrin degradation, with lower levels in del Nido-LP group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Del Nido-LP cardioplegia showed higher functional recovery after 3 hours of ischemia. The analysis of alpha-fodrin degradation showed del Nido-LP solution provided greater protection against myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (IR) in this experimental model.

Normal mesenteric lymph ameliorates lipopolysaccharide challenge-induced spleen injury

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of normal mesenteric lymph (NML) from mice on the spleen injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.METHODS: Mice in the LPS and LPS+NML groups received an intraperitoneal injection of LPS (35 mg/kg) and kept for 6 h.. The mice in the LPS+NML group received NML treatment at 1 h after LPS injection. Afterward, the splenic morphology, the levels of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP), cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14), phosphorylation mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and inflammatory mediators in splenic tissue were investigated.RESULTS:LPS injection induced spleen injury, increased the levels of LBP, CD14, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interferon γ (IFN-γ), and decreased the IL-4 content in the spleen. By contrast, NML treatment reversed these changes. Meanwhile, the LPS challenge decreased the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK, extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK and JNK were further decreased by the NML administration.CONCLUSION:rRdThe normal mesenteric lymph treatment alleviated lipopolysaccharide induced spleen injury by attenuating LPS sensitization and production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ.

Mesenteric lymph reperfusion after superior mesenteric artery occlusion shock exacerbates endotoxin translocation in brain

PURPOSE: To determine the role of mesenteric lymph reperfusion (MLR) on endotoxin translocation in brain to discuss the mechanism of brain injury subjected to superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock. METHODS: Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to MLR, SMAO, MLR+SMAO and sham groups. MLR was performed by clamping the mesenteric lymph duct (MLD) for 1 h and then allowing reperfusion for 2 h in the MLR group; SMAO involved clamping the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 1 h, followed by reperfusion for 2 h in the SMAO group; occlusion of both the SMA and MLD for 1 h was followed by reperfusion for 2 h in the MLR+SMAO group rats. RESULTS: SMAO shock induced severe increased levels of the endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide receptor, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Concurrently, MLR after SMAO shock further aggravates these deleterious effects. CONCLUSION: Mesenteric lymph reperfusion exacerbated the endotoxin translocation in brain; thereby increased inflammatory response occurred, suggesting that the intestinal lymph pathway plays an important role in the brain injury after superior mesenteric artery occlusion shock. .

Mesenteric lymph reperfusion exacerbates spleen injury caused by superior mesenteric artery occlusion shock

The intestinal lymph pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of organ injury following superior mesenteric artery occlusion (SMAO) shock. We hypothesized that mesenteric lymph reperfusion (MLR) is a major cause of spleen injury after SMAO shock. To test this hypothesis, SMAO shock was induced in Wistar rats by clamping the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) for 1 h, followed by reperfusion for 2 h. Similarly, MLR was performed by clamping the mesenteric lymph duct (MLD) for 1 h, followed by reperfusion for 2 h. In the MLR+SMAO group rats, both the SMA and MLD were clamped and then released for reperfusion for 2 h. SMAO shock alone elicited: 1) splenic structure injury, 2) increased levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide (NO), intercellular adhesion molecule-1, endotoxin, lipopolysaccharide receptor (CD14), lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α, 3) enhanced activities of NO synthase and myeloperoxidase, and 4) decreased activities of superoxide dismutase and ATPase. MLR following SMAO shock further aggravated these deleterious effects. We conclude that MLR exacerbates spleen injury caused by SMAO shock, which itself is associated with oxidative stress, excessive release of NO, recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, endotoxin translocation, and enhanced inflammatory responses.

Clinicopathologic significance of fascin, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer, and ezrin expressions in colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Background: The over expression of fascin, extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN), and ezrin proteins has been associated with poor prognosis in various carcinomas and sarcomas. However, very few studies have reported the relationship between the expression of fascin, EMMPRIN, and ezrin proteins and the clinico-pathologic parameters of colorectal carcinomas. Aims: The aim was to investigate the relationship between fascin, EMMPRIN, and ezrin proteins in colorectal adenocarcinomas and their correlation with clinico-pathologic parameters. Settings and Design: The expression of fascin, EMMPRIN, and ezrin proteins was studied in 210 colorectal adenocarcinoma patients through immunohistochemical staining. Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining by the avidin-biotin peroxidase method was done. The scoring of each protein expression was done and divided into three groups (negative, low-, and high-expression groups). Statistical Analysis: A chi-square test, and Kendall's tau-b correlation test were used for comparing. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank tests and the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: The percentages of the high-expression group of fascin, EMMPRIN, and ezrin proteins in colorectal adenocarcinomas were 24%, 73%, and 62%, respectively. Weak positive correlations were observed among these protein expressions. An increased expression of the fascin protein was significantly associated with advanced tumor depth and shorter survival times, and a high expression of fascin protein was an independent prognostic factor in univariate and multivariate survival analyses. EMMPRIN and ezrin protein expressions were not associated with the clinico-pathologic parameters. Conclusions: The high expression of fascin protein may be an unfavorable prognostic marker for individual colorectal cancer patients.

Syringocystadenocarcinoma Papilliferum: A Case Report

Syringocystadenocarcinoma papilliferum (SCACP) is a rare form of adenocarcinoma of the skin. This is the malignant counterpart of syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) and usually develops on the scalp in a long-standing lesion identified clinically as SCAP. We describe a 65-yr-old Korean man with a nodule on the right supra-pubic area with a 2-yr duration. Histologically this tumor had a similar overall configuration as in SCAP, but the tumor was asymmetric and poorly circumscribed, extending into the deep dermis and showed cytologic atypia. The tumor cells showed positive reaction to GCDFP-15, but negative reaction to CEA and HMFG-1. We established the diagnosis of SCACP in the patient, and a wide excision was performed to remove the tumor. The patient has been well without relapse or metastasis for 2 yr.

El dilema de la obesidad en ambos sexos / Dilemma of obesity in both sexes

En la obesidad glúteo-femoral, las consecuencias metabólicas son comparativamente escasas y los efectos endocrinos resultan directamente ligados al exceso de tejido adiposo. En la obesidad abdominal -en cambio- la actividad hormonal es muy importante: resistencia a la insulina e hiperinsulinemia, aumento de la actividad de los factores de crecimiento insulin-análogos (IGFs), aumento de la producción de testosterona (T), dihidrotestosterona (DHT) y estradiol (E2) "biodisponibles", por disminución de la proteína ligadora de andrógenos y estradiol (GLAE). Estas condiciones sugieren una posible asociación con el cáncer mamario y/o endometrial. La secreción de la hormona de crecimiento (HC) se reduce significativamente en la obesidad, junto con los factores hipotalámicos, hipofisarios y periféricos que contribuyen a la secreción anormal de la HC, jugando así un importante papel en la conformación corporal y en el balance de energía. La leptina circulante, producto que se expresa en los adipocitos con el gen ob, ejerce un efecto estimulante sobre la HC. Finalmente, una serie de pacientes seleccionados por su obesidad han sido identificados con importantes aumentos en los factores de crecimiento con valores descendidos de las proteínas portadoras de los IGFs. La obesidad abdominal se caracteriza también por la hiperinsulinemia de ayuno y una exagerada liberación de la insulina después de la carga de glucosa.

In the gluteo-femoral obesity, the metabolic consequences are comparative scarce and the endocrine effects are directly linked to the excess of adipose tissue. In abdominal obesity the endocrine effects are very important: insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, increase of IGF-I activity, increase of active androgen production by ovarian estroma, important reduction of sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG) and increasing "bioavailable" estradiol (E2), testosterone (T) and dihidrotestosterone (DHT). In short, obesity and abnormal endocrinology appear to be associated with the development of endometrium and breast cancer in women. Growth hormone (GH) secretion is markedly reduced in obesity, and hypothalamic, pituitary and peripheral factors may contribute to the abnormal GH secretion. GH plays a critical rol in the regulation of body composition and energy balance. The circulating leptin is a product of specific adipocyte ob-gene that exerts stimulating effect on GH release. Furthermore, selected series of obese patients have shown that high free insulin like growth factor (IGF-I) and low IGF-binding proteins generally increased in overweight subjects. Obesity is also characterized by fasting hyperinsulinemia and exaggerated insulin release after a glucose load. Recently it has also demonstrated that leptine plays an important role in the reproductive system at all levels of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis.

Detección de meticilino-resistencia en Staphylococcus aureus: Comparación de métodos convencionales y aglutinación con mrsa-Screen latex / Methicillin resistance detection in Staphylococcus aureus: Comparison between conventional methods and Mrsa-Screen latex agglutination technique

Staphylococcus aureus meticilino-resistente (MRSA) es un patógeno que ha emergido en las últimas cuatro décadas causando tanto infecciones nosocomiales como de la comunidad. La rápida y precisa detección de MRSA es relevante para guiar una apropiada terapia antibiótica y evitar la diseminación nosocomial de MRSA.En este trabajo se evaluó la eficiencia de métodos convencionales para la detección de meticilino-resistencia como difusión por discos, CIM en medio sólido, screening de oxacilina, y el nuevo test de aglutinación MRSA-Screen latex sobre 100 aislamientos de S. aureus, 79 mecA positivos y 21 mecA negativos. El test de aglutinación MRSA-Screen latex (Denka Seiken, Niigata, Japón) detecta la presencia de la PLP-2a, producto del gen mecA en cepas de S. aureus. La detección del gen mecA por PCR se utilizó como gold standard para comparar los resultados de los diferentes métodos. La sensibilidad y especificidad fueron 97 y 100 % para el método de difusión, 97 y 95 % para la CIM en medio sólido, 100 y 100 % para el screening de oxacilina y 100 y 100 % para MRSA-Screen latex. Todos los métodos presentaron alta sensibilidad y especificidad, pero el “MRSA-Screen latex” mostró la ventaja de poder brindar un resultado confiable, equivalente a la PCR, en sólo 15 minutos.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant pathogen that has emerged over the last four decades, causing both nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Rapid and accurate detection of methicillin resistance in S. aureus is important for the use of appropriate antimicrobial therapy and for the control of nosocomial spread of MRSA strains. We evaluated the efficiency of conventional methods for detection of methicillin resistance such as the disk diffusion, agar dilution, oxacillin agar screen test, and the latex agglutination test MRSA-Screen latex, in 100 isolates of S. aureus, 79 mecA positive and 21 mecA negative. The MRSA-Screen latex (Denka Seiken, Niigata, Japón), is a latex agglutination method that detects the presence of PLP-2a, product of mecA gene in S. aureus. The PCR of the mecA gene was used as the “gold standard” for the evaluation of the different methods tested. The percentages of sensitivity and specificity were as follows: disk difusión 97 and 100 %, agar dilution 97 and 95 %, oxacillin agar screen test 100 and 100 %, and MRSA-Screen latex, 100 and 100 %. All methods presented high sensitivity and specificity, but MRSA-Screen latex had the advantage of giving a reliable result, equivalent to PCR, in only 15 minutes.

Immunohistochemical observation of heart-type fatty acid binding-protein in early myocardial ischemia / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#The sensitivity of heart-type fatty acid binding-protein (H-FABP) in the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial ischemia was explored.@*METHODS@#The changes of H-FABP staining in normal, infarcted and suspected ischemia of myocardial cells were studied by immunohistochemistry.@*RESULTS@#There was no depletion in normal control group, and obvious depletion was observed in myocardial infarcted group. Among 9 suspected myocardial ischemia group, 3 cases showed obvious depletion and 3 cases showed vague depletion for H-FABP, there were obvious depletion of Mb in 4 suspected myocardial ischemia cases and vague depletion in 2 cases for Mb. It is indicated that H-FABP can be used to diagnose early myocardial ischemia.@*CONCLUSION@#H-FABP is quite sensitive and useful for the diagnosis of early myocardial ischemia.

Analysis of polymorphic regions of Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein of Korean isolates

The present study was designed to investigate polymorphism in Duffy binding protein (DBP) gene of Plasmodium vivax isolates of Korea. Thirty samples were obtained from P. vivax patients in Yonchon-gun, Kyonggi-do in 1998. The PCR products of the samples were subjected to sequencing and hybridization analyses of the regions II and IV of P. vivax DBP gene. Two genotypes, SK-1 and SK-2, were identified on the basis of amino acid substitution and deletion. The genotype of 10 isolates was SK-1 and that of 20 isolates was SK-2. Most of the predicted amino acids in the region II of DBP gene were conserved between the Korean isolates and Belem strain except for 4-5 amino acid substitutions. In the region IV of DBP, a 6-bp insert that was shown in the Sal-1 allele type was found in SK-1, and a 27-bp insert that was shown in the Papua New Guinea allele type was found in SK-2. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that two genotypes of P. vivax coexist in the endemic area of Korea.

Colonic adenocarcinoma metastatic to the thyroid gland: a case report with immunohistochemical investigation

Clinically evident metastases of carcinomas to the thyroid gland are rare, particularly from a colorectal primary tumor. We present a case of colonic adenocarcinoma metastatic to the thyroid gland with histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings. A 68-year-old woman with a history of Dukes' stage B colon carcinoma presented a mass in the thyroid gland. The tumor was confirmed to be metastatic adenocarcinoma from the colon. The immunohistochemical findings demonstrated positive staining for cytokeratin 20, low-molecular-weight cytokeratin, villin and carcinoembryonic antigen, but stains were negative for cytokeratin 7 and thyroglobulin.

Penicillin-binding proteins of pathogenic Yersinia species

As PBPs de Yersinia pestis, Y. enterocolitica e Y. pseudotuberculosis crescidas a 28ºC ou a 37ºC foram detectadas após marcaçäo com [3H]-benzilpenicilina e fluorografia dos géis de poliacrilamida. Cada amostra apresentou um perfil único de PBPs composto por 3 a 6 proteínas com peso molecular variando entre 120.000 e 43.000. Incubaçäo a 37ºC resultou em mudanças significativas nos perfis de PBPs das 3 espécies estudadas. As possíveis implicaçöes destes resultados na açäo dos antibióticos ß-lactâmicos e na fisiologia destas bactérias

Binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin-aflatoxin B1 to polystyrene microtiter plates: importance of hapten to carrier protein molar ratio.

Binding characteristics of bovine serum albumin-aflatoxin B1 conjugates with high (1:54), medium (2:25) and low (1:9) hapten to carrier molar ratios, to the polystyrene microtiter plates are influenced by the stoichiometry of the hapten (Aflatoxin B1) to the carrier protein (bovine serum albumin). Conjugates with optimal hapten to carrier molar ratios (1:25) showed a better binding capacity to the polystyrene microtiter plate as compared to the conjugates with the high molar ratios in a non-competitive ELISA for aflatoxin B1. Denaturation of the conjugate with molar ratio of 1:54 in order to enhance its binding capacity, however, did not result in any significant improvement.

Immunohistochemical localization of riboflavin carrier protein in testicular cells of mammals.

Using specific polyclonal antibodies against chicken riboflavin carrier protein (cRCP), immunocytochemical localization of riboflavin carrier protein was carried out in testicular sections and isolated cells of mammals. A positive reaction was observed in the developing germ cells of rat testis, especially in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells such as pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids and spermatozoa. In addition both the somatic cells of the testis, viz. Leydig and Sertoli cells with vital function in germ cell proliferation and differentiation, displayed a moderate to strong staining reaction. This was further confirmed using in utero X-irradiated rat testis devoid of germ cells. Different types of cells isolated from testis when subjected to immunostaining showed similar patterns of reaction as in the intact tissue. Mature spermatozoa from different mammals (rat, bull and monkey) exhibited strong staining reaction in their head regions localized mainly in acrosomal caps. It is suggested that the testicular riboflavin carrier protein has a role in cell to cell communication and may be crucial during development of germ cells especially at the meiotic and post-meiotic stages.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for riboflavin carrier protein and modified protein: application for epitope analysis.

Rabbit antibodies to native riboflavin carrier protein (RCP), are to a large extent directed towards the conformational epitopes and antibodies to disulphide bond reduced carboxymethylated riboflavin carrier protein (RCM-RCP) to the sequential epitopes. Taking advantage of this premise and in order to map the epitopes of RCP recognized by the antibodies, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were validated for RCP and RCM-RCP using the Avidin-Biotin system. The usefulness of these assays were illustrated when antigenicity of peptides derived from RCM-RCP following trypsinization were examined. Two major (T1,T2) and one minor peptide (T3) fractions were obtained when the tryptic peptides were fractionated on DEAE-cellulose. RCP has a blocked N-terminal. Tryptic peptides (T1 and T2) on microsequencing revealed the absence of an N-terminal amino acid, indicating that these fragments emanate from the N-terminal region of RCP. In support of this observation is the finding that antipeptide antibody to cRCP (10-24) of cRCP interacted with T1 as well as T2 indicating the presence of the sequential epitope (10-24) of cRCP in these fragments. In RCP-ELISA, only T2 displaced RCP and peptides T1 and T2 displaced RCM-RCP in RCM-RCP ELISA. Differences in the ability of these fragments (T1 and T2) to displace RCP and RCM-RCP reflect the subtle changes in the spatial structures of these epitopes in RCP and RCM-RCP.