Case report: cutaneous manifestations of cryptococcosis.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis usually is associated with concurrent systemic infection and actually may develop before clinical manifestations of cryptococcal meningitis become apparent. It is rare for a cryptococcal infection to be localized only to the skin. A case of cutaneous cryptococcosis is described in an immunocompromised patient who initially had a rash and a positive serum cryptococcal antigen titer, but no central nervous system involvement. The papular pustular skin lesions disappeared after 8 weeks of therapy with amphotericin B, which was stopped secondary to progressive azotemia. Less than 2 months after therapy, the skin lesions recurred, again without evidence of systemic disease. Treatment with oral fluconazole resulted in a gradual resolution of the cutaneous lesions. The pathogenesis of cryptococcosis is discussed, with emphasis on the management of cutaneous cryptococcosis.

Morphological alterations of small intestinal epithelium of calves caused by feeding soybean protein.

Sixteen male Holstein calves were fed milk replacer (14% solids) containing 23% crude protein from: 100% milk protein; or 66% soybean protein concentrate plus 34% milk protein as the only nutrients at 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 12, and 12% body weight from 1 to 7 wk of age, respectively. Eight calves were sensitized to soybean by feeding 66% soybean protein concentrate plus 34% milk protein for 21 d and eight were not sensitized by feeding 100% milk protein. Afterward, each calf received one of the diets for 10 d followed by the other diet for an additional 10 d. During the 2nd wk of the initial period each calf was surgically fitted with a duodenal cannula for biopsy of intestinal mucosa. Biopsies were taken at surgery and on the last day of each period. Feeding 66% soybean protein concentrate plus 34% milk protein resulted in lower body weight gain, decreased feed efficiency, higher rectal temperatures, increased diarrhea, and villus atrophy. Diminished villi size supports other studies reporting allergic reaction to soybean protein and was associated with the poor performance observed in calves fed soybean protein.

Glucagon influence on gluconeogenesis and oxidation of propionic acid and threonine by perfused ovine liver.

An in situ ovine liver perfusion technique was developed and used to study glucagon effects on utilization of simultaneously infused propionic acid and amino acids. Physiological amounts of propionic acid and amino acids (hydrolyzed casein) were infused into livers along with carbon-14 propionic acid or carbon-14 threonine with and without glucagon. Glucagon (5 mg) caused a 75% increase of glucose synthesis and a 19% increase of labeled carbon dioxide production from carbon-14 propionic acid. There also was a decrease of perfusate urea nitrogen when glucagon was present. Glucagon caused a 76% decrease of carbon-14 threonine utilization by ovine livers, and labeled carbon dioxide production from carbon-14 threonine was only 38% of control when glucagon was infused. From these results, glucagon caused an increase of use of propionic acid and a decrease of use of threonine for energetic pathways in sheep liver. Therefore, glucagon directly or indirectly may mediate amino acid sparing by ruminant liver.

Acetate and propionate production in the cecum and proximal colon of lambs.

A modified single-injection isotope dilution technique measured acetate and propionate production rates in the cecum and proximal colon of 14 lambs fed a forage (hay) or high corn (concentrate) diet. The modified isotope dilution appeared to have merit. Volatile fatty acid pool sizes were stable and apparently absorption of fermentation products occurred to prevent end product inhibition. Propionate pool sizes were greater (P less than .01) while acetate pool sizes were not significantly greater when lambs received the concentrate diet. Apparent acetate production was higher (P less than .05) in lambs fed the concentrate diet than in forage-fed lambs (239.4 vs 189.5 mmol/d, respectively). Apparent propionate production was also greater (P less than .01) when lambs were fed the concentrate diet rather than the forage diet (431.4 vs 180.7 mmol/d, respectively). These results indicate that acetate and propionate produced in the cecum and proximal colon may be a considerable source of energy and glucose precursors for the growing lamb.

Plasma magnesium levels as influenced by cold exposure in fed or fasted sheep.

Eight ewes weighing about 52 kg were used in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments replicated with temperature reversal to determine the effect of cold exposure on plasma Mg, Ca, free fatty acids (FFA), glucose and insulin concentrations and on renal clearance of Mg and Ca. Closely sheared ewes were fed a complete mixed diet at either 1.5% of body weight with no pretreatment fast or fed ad libitum followed by fasting 3 days before initiation of temperature treatments. Fasting superimposed on cold exposure reduced (P less than 0.01) plasma Mg at 1 hour after exposure to cold, and this effect continued during the cold treatment period, whereas Mg concentration was not significantly affected in fed sheep. Plasma FFA measured across temperature treatments was increased (P less than 0.01) by fasting. FFA measured across dietary treatments was only slightly increased by cold exposure. Plasma glucose levels of fasting sheep were lower (P less than 0.05) than those of fed sheep; however, levels rose (P less than 0.05) after exposure to cold. A tendency for plasma insulin to increase after cold stress was observed. Renal clearances of Mg and Ca were markedly reduced (P less than 0.01) by fasting, but clearance was not changed by cold stress. These results suggest that exposure to cold (2-5 degrees) and a deficient dietary intake synergistically reduce plasma Mg in sheep.

Renal function and magnesium clearance in young and old cows given potassium chloride and sodium citrate.

Six young (3 yr old) and six old (8 to 11 yr old) cows were used to examine renal function, KCl and sodium citrate effects on Mg clearance rate and the relation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) to Mg reabsorption. The treatments were 1.5 g KCl/kg body weight (BW) and 1.5 g Na citrate/kg BW. Inulin and p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) clearance rates were used as measures of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), respectively, in control cows on each treatment day. Creatinine clearance rate was also used as a measure of GFR in all cows. Magnesium loading (2.4 mg/kg BW) through continuous intrajugular infusion of MgCl2 facilitated the measurement of changes in Mg clearance rate and reabsorption due to treatment. Inulin and creatinine clearance rates were not different as measures of GFR, and there were no differences in ERPF between young and old cows. Old cows had lower (P less than .05) GFR, creatinine to PAH clearance ratios and tubular reabsorption of Mg than young cows. Intraruminal infusion of KCl and Na citrate increased (P less than .05) the GFR. Potassium chloride increased plasma K concentration (P less than .001), plasma K clearance rate (P less than .002), plasma Na clearance rate (P less than .03), plasma Mg concentration (P less than .05), net tubular reabsorption of Mg (P less than .02), maximum tubular reabsorption of Mg (P less than .002) and plasma PTH concentration (P less than .03). Plasma Mg clearance rate was increased only by Na citrate (P less than .05). These results suggest a possible relationship between age, renal function, Mg antagonists and PTH in Mg homeostasis and in the etiology of hypomagnesemic tetany.

Carbohydrate fermentation in the large intestine of lambs.

In one of two experiments, six 4-mo-old wethers fitted with ileal and cecal cannulas were fed three levels of concentrate (0, 40 or 80% corn) with forage in a replicated 3 X 3 Latin square design. Chromic oxide was fed as a marker. Quantities of starch recovered at the ileum and digested in the large intestine increased (P less than .05) with increased starch intake. Quantities of acid detergent fiber (ADF) recovered at the ileum increased with increased ADF intake; however; ADF digestion (grams) in the large intestine was highest (P less than .05) when the 80% corn diet was fed. Cecal total VFA concentrations, butyrate molar proportions and lactic acid concentrations were highest (P less than .05), and cecal acetate to propionate (C2:C3) ratios and pH values were lowest, in lambs fed 80% corn. In Exp. 2, 14 wethers (4-mo-old) were fed a forage (alfalfa hay) or a concentrate (80% corn) diet containing chromic oxide as a marker. Digesta grab samples were obtained by surgical procedure. The amounts of starch recovered at the abomasum and ileum and the amounts digested in the rumen, small intestine and large intestine were greater (P less than .05) when lambs were fed the concentrate. Large intestinal total VFA concentrations and butyrate molar proportions were higher (P less than .01) when the concentrate diet was fed; pH values were lower (P less than .01). Lambs fed the concentrate diet had lower (P less than .01) large intestinal and ruminal C2:C3 ratios of VFA.

Immunologic studies of arylsulfatase A in normal and metachromatic leukodystrophy liver.

Purified human liver arylsulfatase A on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis at pH 4.0 is separated into two protein forms with enzymatic activity and two distinct inactive subunits. All of these components were immunologically distinguishable using different antisera preparations. In late infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy, only one of the two inactive subunits was immunologically detected, whereas in the juvenile form of metachromatic leukodystrophy, both inactive subunits were antigenically present.

Separation of beta-galactosidases and beta-glucosidases from human liver.

Various fractions obtained from normal human liver homogenates by gel chromatography and selective adsorption and elution from insolubilized concanavalin A were compared as to their beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase activities. The high-molecular-weight acidic beta-galactosidase form was converted into the smaller major form by sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment. Electrophoresis and electrofocusing on acrylamide slabs revealed, in addition to the two major isoenzyme forms (acid and neutral), another five minor bands with enzymatic activity.