Effect of simulated stages of the canine oestrous cycle on Escherichia coli binding to canine endometrium.

Pyometra, a prevalent infectious uterine disease that affects intact middle-aged bitches, is typically associated with Escherichia coli. Our hypotheses were (i) that bacterial adhesion to canine endometrium differs between different stages of the oestrous cycle and (ii) that the adhesin FimH facilitates this adhesion. Twelve post-pubertal, ovariectomized greyhound bitches were treated with exogenous hormones to simulate different stages of the oestrous cycle. Tissue samples from each uterus were incubated with a pathogenic E. coli strain carrying the fimH gene, but no other adhesin genes (P4-wt)--or an E. coli strain in which fimH was insertionally inactivated (P4-∆fimH::kan)--or with phosphate-buffered saline as a negative control. After washing, tissue samples were homogenized for quantification of adherent bacteria. The differences in binding to canine endometrium at different stages of the oestrous cycle were not significant. However, the mean difference in binding of the P4-wt and the P4-∆fimH::kan across all stages of the simulated oestrous cycle was significant (p < 0.001 by paired t-test on geometric means). Individual differences in numbers of P4-wt bacteria bound between dogs might suggest genetic variations or epigenetic differences in FimH receptor expression by the endometrium, unrelated to the stage of the oestrous cycle.

Evaluation of a fluorometric screening method for predicting total PAH concentrations in contaminated sediments.

A fluorometric screening method was used to estimate total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (t-PAH) concentrations in sediments collected from the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) in northeastern Minnesota. Sediments were collected as part of a Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (R-EMAP) study to assess sediment quality in the AOC. The screening method was calibrated using a PAH surrogate standard consisting of eight PAHs commonly found in the St. Louis River system, at their approximate proportions. Estimated PAH concentrations were compared to GC/MS measured 'true' PAH concentrations to evaluate the overall predictive power of the screening method. Regression analysis of log transformed estimated versus true PAH concentration yielded an r2 of 0.72 (n = 86). In addition, the rates of false positive and false negative predictions associated with the screening method were determined relative to different sediment effects concentrations (SECs) for total PAHs. In general, the rate of false positive predictions was shown to increase as the SEC criteria value decreased, while false negative rates remained consistently low (below 7%). Methodological recommendations which led to a three-fold reduction in false negatives, and the improved prediction of both high and low PAH samples, are presented.

Effects of anesthesia and open-thorax surgery on coronary vascular reserve in swine.

The coronary reactive hyperemic response was examined in seven pigs under anesthetized and conscious conditions, (i.e., 5 days and 3 and 5 weeks after surgery). Tygon catheters were inserted in the descending aorta of five pigs; transonic flow probes and hydraulic occluders were placed on the left cranial descending and/or left circumflex coronary arteries. Two pigs underwent long-term implantation of similar instruments. The coronary reactive hyperemic response, expressed as repayment of flow deficit, was induced by brief complete coronary artery occlusion for 15 sec. Baseline mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and coronary blood flow were similar in the anesthetized and conscious pigs. There was also no significant difference in repayment of flow deficit between the anesthetized and conscious pigs 5 days after surgery. The repayment of flow deficit (709 +/- 144%) in conscious pigs 5 days after surgery tended to be greater, but was not statistically significant from that observed in the anesthetized pigs (510 +/- 79%). However, at 3 and 5 weeks after surgery, the reactive hyperemic flow and the repayment of flow deficit were numerically greater than those values observed in anesthetized pigs. The difference in reactive hyperemic flow between conscious and anesthetized pigs was statistically significant at week 3. The difference in repayment of flow deficit between conscious and anesthetized pigs was statistically significant at week 5. These results suggest that anesthesia, as well as recent surgery, attenuates coronary vascular reserve. The major factor in the attenuation of coronary reserve appears to be recent surgical manipulation, because repayment of flow deficit was still depressed in conscious pigs during the early phase of recovery from surgery.

Integrated assessment of contaminated sediments in the lower Fox River and Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Samples of sediment and biota were collected from sites in the lower Fox River and southern Green Bay to determine existing or potential impacts of sediment-associated contaminants on different ecosystem components of this Great Lakes area of concern. Evaluation of benthos revealed a relatively depauperate community, particularly at the lower Fox River sites. Sediment pore water and bulk sediments from several lower Fox River sites were toxic to a number of test species including Pimephales promelas, Ceriodaphnia dubia, Hexagenia limbata, Selenastrum capricornutum, and Photobacterium phosphorum. An important component of the observed toxicity appeared to be due to ammonia. Evaluation of three bullhead (Ictalurus) species from the lower Fox River revealed an absence of preneoplastic or neoplastic liver lesions, and the Salmonella typhimurium bioassay indicated relatively little mutagenicity in sediment extracts. Apparent adverse reproductive effects were noted in two species of birds nesting along the lower Fox River and on a confined disposal facility for sediments near the mouth of the river, and there were measurable concentrations of potentially toxic 2,3,7,8-substituted polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) both in the birds and in sediments from several of the study sites. Based on toxic equivalency factors and the results of an in vitro bioassay with H4IIE rat hepatoma cells, it appeared that the majority of potential toxicity of the PCB/PCDF/PCDD mixture in biota from the lower Fox River/Green Bay system was due to the planar PCBs. The results of these studies are discussed in terms of an integrated assessment focused on providing data for remedial action planning.

A comparison of morphine, meperidine, and oxymorphone as utilized in patient-controlled analgesia following cesarean delivery.

Seventy-five patients (n = 75) undergoing elective cesarean delivery during epidural anesthesia were randomly assigned to receive one of three opioid analgesics via patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) when they first complained of pain in the recovery room. Following administration of an analgesic loading dose, patients were allowed to self-administer morphine 1.8 mg, meperidine 18 mg, or oxymorphone 0.3 mg iv every 8 min as required. Data collected during the 24-h observation period included visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores at rest and during movement, VAS patient satisfaction scores, total drug administered, the ratio of attempts/injections, and the incidence of nausea/vomiting, sedation, and pruritus. After adjusting for narcotic potency, no differences in 24-h dose requirements were noted between treatment groups (NS). All patients achieved an excellent level of analgesia at rest (NS); however, onset was most rapid with oxymorphone (P less than 0.05). The percentage of patients reporting severe pain during movement was highest in the meperidine group (P less than 0.05). Oxymorphone was associated with the highest incidence of nausea and vomiting (P less than 0.05), whereas increased sedation and pruritus were noted with morphine. Patient satisfaction with drug effect demonstrated significant negative correlations with resting pain scores and degree of sedation. Whereas morphine is a more commonly utilized PCA analgesic, the excellent analgesia, low incidence of sedation, and high patient satisfaction provided by meperidine and oxymorphone suggested useful alternatives.

Long-term study of flunisolide treatment in perennial rhinitis with special reference to nasal mucosal histology and morphology.

Ten patients with allergic perennial rhinitis completed a 3-month course of reatment with flunisolide nasal spray. Biopsy of the nasal mucosa was carried out before the initiation of treatment and at the end of the treatment period. The flunisolilde was administered as a 0.025% solution twice daily at a total daily dose of 200 micrograms. No histological abnormalities which could have been attributed to the effects of the drug were found in the post-treatment biopsies. Comparison of the pre- and post-treatment histological features showed either that there had been no apparent changes or that there had been a reduction in the oedema and/or cellular infiltration which had been present initially. All except one patient improved clinically and in this case the pre-treatment nasal biopsy demonstrated features of atrophic rhinitis.

Pulmonary blastoma.

A case of pulmonary blastoma is described in a man dying at the age of 50 from hepatic and cerebral metastases. Eleven previously reported cases are reviewed and the histogenesis is discussed. It is concluded that these rare tumours are a distinct form of pulmonary carcinosarcoma in which the epithelial element is an adenocarcinoma. It is this that gives it its characteristic and probably coincidental histological resemblance to foetal lung and the evidence for a blastomatous origin is regarded as insufficient.