A Case of Pylephlebitis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Sepsis and Liver Abscess Secondary to Diverticulitis / 대한소화기학회지

Pylephlebitis, or suppurative thrombophlebitis of the portal venous system, is a rare condition occurring secondary to abdominal infections such as diverticulitis. Pylephlebitis can be diagnosed via ultrasonography or CT scan, and is characterized by the presence of a thrombus in the portal vein and bacteremia. However, the diagnosis may be delayed due to the vague nature of the clinical symptoms, causing morbidity and mortality due to pylephlebitis to remain high. Early diagnosis and immediate antibiotic therapy are important for favorable prognosis. Therefore, pylephlebitis should be considered in the differential diagnosis for cases of nonspecific abdominal pain and fever. We report a case of pylephlebitis secondary to diverticulitis, associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis. Such cases have not been widely reported.

Magnetic nanoparticle based purification and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monoclonal antibody against enrofloxacin

Monoclonal anti-enrofloxacin antibody was prepared for a direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and purification system using monoclonal antibody (mAb) coupled magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The IC50 values of the developed mAb for enrofloxacin (ENR), ciprofloxacin, difloxacin, sarafloxacin, pefloxacin, and norfloxacin were 5.0, 8.3, 9.7, 21.7, 36.0, and 63.7 ng/mL, respectively. The lowest detectable level of ENR was 0.7 ng/mL in the prepared ELISA system. To validate the developed ELISA in the food matrix, known amounts of ENR were spiked in meat and egg samples at 10, 20 and 30 ng/mL. Recoveries for ENR ranged from 72.9 to 113.16% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 2.42 to 10.11%. The applicability of the mAb-MNP system was verified by testing the recoveries for ENR residue in three different matrices. Recoveries for ENR ranged from 75.16 to 86.36%, while the CV ranged from 5.08 to 11.53%. Overall, ENR-specific monoclonal antibody was prepared and developed for use in competitive to ELISAs for the detection of ENR in animal meat samples. Furthermore, we suggest that a purification system for ENR using mAb-coupled MNPs could be useful for determination of ENR residue in food.

Extensive Bilateral Lemierre Syndrome due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in a Patient with Lung Adenocarcinoma / 결핵및호흡기질환

Lemierre syndrome (LS) is a septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) following an oropharyngeal infection. LS is commonly caused by normal anaerobic flora and treated with appropriate antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy. Although the incidence of disease is very rare, 15% cases of LS are fatal even in the antibiotic era because of disseminated septic thromboemboli. We reported a case of extensive bilateral LS due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in a 63-year-old female with lung adenocarcinoma. Initial examination revealed a retropharyngeal abscess; hence, intravenous ceftriaxone and steroid were initiated empirically. However, pulmonary thromboembolism developed and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis was identified in the bacterial culture. Despite intensive antibiotic and anticoagulation therapies, extensive septic thrombophlebitis involving the bilateral IJV and superior vena cava developed. Adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis and superior vena cava stenting were performed and the patient received antibiotic therapy for an additional 4 weeks, resulting in complete recovery.

Toxic effects of methylmercury, arsanilic acid and danofloxacin on the differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells into neural cells

This study was performed to assess the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury, arsanilic acid and danofloxacin by quantification of neural-specific proteins in vitro. Quantitation of the protein markers during 14 days of differentiation indicated that the mouse ESCs were completely differentiated into neural cells by Day 8. The cells were treated with non-cytotoxic concentrations of three chemicals during differentiation. Low levels of exposure to methylmercury decreased the expression of GABAA-R and Nestin during the differentiating stage, and Nestin during the differentiated stage. In contrast, GFAP, Tuj1, and MAP2 expression was affected only by relatively high doses during both stages. Arsanilic acid affected the levels of GABA(A)-R and GFAP during the differentiated stage while the changes of Nestin and Tuj1 were greater during the differentiating stage. For the neural markers (except Nestin) expressed during both stages, danofloxacin affected protein levels at lower concentrations in the differentiated stage than the differentiating stage. Acetylcholinesterase activity was inhibited by relatively low concentrations of methylmercury and arsanilic acid during the differentiating stage while this activity was inhibited only by more than 40 microM of danofloxacin in the differentiated stage. Our results provide useful information about the different toxicities of chemicals and the impact on neural development.

Development of a monoclonal antibody against deoxynivalenol for magnetic nanoparticle-based extraction and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Monoclonal antibody (mAb, NVRQS-DON) against deoxynivalenol (DON) was prepared. DON-Ag coated enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and DON-Ab coated ELISA were prepared by coating the DON-BSA and DON mAb. Quantitative DON calculation ranged from 50 to 4,000 ng/mL for DON-Ab coated ELISA and from 25 to 500 ng/mL for DON-Ag coated ELISA. 50% of inhibitory concentration values of DON, HT-2, 15-acetyl-DON, and nivalenol were 23.44, 22,545, 5,518 and 5,976 ng/mL based on the DON-Ab coated ELISA. Cross-reactivity levels of the mAb to HT-2, 15-acetyl-DON, and nivalenol were 0.1, 0.42, and 0.40%. The intra- and interassay precision coefficient variation (CV) were both <10%. In the mAb-coated ELISA, mean DON recovery rates in animal feed (0 to 1,000 microg/kg) ranged from 68.34 to 95.49% (CV; 4.10 to 13.38%). DON in a buffer solution (250, 500 and 1,000 ng/mL) was isolated using 300 microg of NVRQS-DON and 3 mg of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The mean recovery rates of DON using this mAb-MNP system were 75.2, 96.9, and 88.1% in a buffer solution spiked with DON (250, 500, and 1,000 ng/mL). Conclusively we developed competitive ELISAs for detecting DON in animal feed and created a new tool for DON extraction using mAb-coupled MNPs.

Zearalenone Affects Immune-Related Parameters in Lymphoid Organs and Serum of Rats Vaccinated with Porcine Parvovirus Vaccine

Rats were administered zearalenone (ZEA) via gavage at dosages of 0, 1, 5, and 30 mg/kg for 36 days. On treatment day 8, inactivated porcine parvovirus vaccine (Vac) was injected intraperitoneally. Antibody production against porcine parvovirus was then measured as a function of ZEA treatment. Compared to the vaccine alone, ZEA treatment, with or without Vac, decreased the serum level of IgG. The level of IgM decreased in all ZEA groups at day 22, but the decrease was sustained only in the medium-dose ZEA group at day 36. The level of IgA was unchanged in the Vac only and ZEA groups at day 22, but was decreased in the 5 mg/kg ZEA plus Vac group compared to the Vac only group at day 36. The level of IgE was decreased by all doses of ZEA at day 22, but was unaffected in ZEA plus Vac groups compared to the Vac only group. The levels of IL-1 in the thymus and spleen; INF-gamma in serum; IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10 in the thymus; and IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the spleen decreased after ZEA administration. Furthermore, the levels of IL-1beta in the spleen and mesenteric lymph node, IL-1beta in the thymus, IL-2 in the thymus and spleen, IL-6 in the thymus, IL-10 and IFN-gamma in the spleen, and GM-CSF and TNF-alpha in the thymus decreased after vaccination in rats exposed to ZEA. In conclusion, these results suggest that ZEA exposure via drinking water can cause an immunosuppressive effect by decreasing immunoglobulins in serum and cytokines in lymphoid organs.

Method and proficiency test for analysis of toxic metals in livestock products by ICP/MS / 대한수의학회지

The analytical method of trace toxic metals in livestock products was confirmed and validated through certified reference material (CRM) and the international proficiency tests. There are some difficulties to determine low levels of toxic metals in livestock products because of interferences due to the matrix. The recoveries of CRM (NIST 1577c) ranged from 73.9 to 119% for lead and from 86.4 to 111% for cadmium in bovine liver. The international proficiency tests were carried out with the milk powder and cocoa powder samples including metals provided by Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS(R), UK). The test samples were prepared by microwave digestion using solution of HNO3 : H2O2 : H2O (v/v/v = 5 : 2 : 4) and analyzed by ICP/MS. The analytical result of cadmium in milk powder was 121 microg/kg with -0.3 of the z-score compared to the assigned value of 131 microg/kg by FAPAS(R). The analytical results of lead and cadmium in cocoa powder were 29.2 microg/kg and 97.6 microg/kg, respectively, which satisfied the assigned values of 34.2 microg/kg for lead and 126 microg/kg for cadmium by FAPAS(R). It is verified that the analytical method is accurate and reliable to determine trace lead and cadmium in livestock products by microwave digestion and ICP/MS.

Production of a highly group-specific monoclonal antibody against zearalenone and its application in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against zearalenone (ZEN) was produced using ZEN-carboxymethoxylamine and -BSA conjugates. Antibody produced by one clone showing a very high binding ability was selected and found to have a higher affinity for ZEN compared to a commerciall ZEN antibody. We developed two direct competitive ELISA systems using the selected antibody (ZEN-coated and anti-ZEN antibody-coated ELISA). Quantitative ranges for the anti-ZEN antibody-coated ELISA and ZEN-coated ELISA were from 25 to 750 ppb and from 12.5 to 100 ppb, respectively. The detection limit of both methods as measured with standard solutions was 10 ppb. The intra-plate and inter-well variation of both ELISAs were less than 10%. The IC50 values for alpha-zearalenol, beta-zearalenol, alpha-zearalanol, and beta-zearalanol compared to ZEN were 108.1, 119.3, 114.1, and 130.3% for the ZEN-coated ELISA. These values were 100.7, 120.7, 121.6, and 151.6% for the anti-ZEN antibody-coated ELISA. According to the anti-ZEN antibody-coated ELISA, the average recovery rates of ZEN from spiked animal feed containing 150 to 600 ng/mL of ZEN ranged from 106.07 to 123.00% with 0.93 to 2.28% coefficients of variation. Our results demonstrate that the mAb developed in this study could be used to simultaneously screen for ZEN and its metabolites in feed.

Molecular identification of the vaccine strain from the inactivated oil emulsion H9N2 low pathogenic avian influenza vaccine

In order to control the H9N2 subtype low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI), an inactivated vaccine has been used in Korea since 2007. The Korean veterinary authority permitted the use of a single H9N2 LPAI vaccine strain to simplify the evolution of the circulating virus due to the immune pressure caused by the vaccine use. It is therefore important to determine the suitability of the vaccine strain in the final inactivated oil emulsion LPAI vaccine. In this study, we applied molecular rather than biological methods to verify the suitability of the vaccine strain used in commercial vaccines and successfully identified the strain by comparing the nucleotide sequences of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes with that of the permitted Korean LPAI vaccine strain. It is thought that the method used in this study might be successfully applied to other viral genes of the LPAI vaccine strain and perhaps to other veterinary oil emulsion vaccines.