Gene expression of nutrient transporters in the small intestine of chickens from lines divergently selected for high or low juvenile body weight.

Nutrient transporters in the small intestine are responsible for dietary nutrient assimilation; therefore, the expression of these transporters can influence overall nutrient status as well as the growth and development of the animal. This study examined correlated responses to selection in the developmental gene expression of PepT1, EAAT3, SGLT1, and GLUT5 in the small intestine of chickens from lines divergently selected for 48 generations for high (HH) or low (LL) 56-d BW and their reciprocal crosses (HL and LH). Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected from male and female chicks on embryonic d 20, day of hatch with no access to feed, and d 3, 7, and 14 posthatch. Total RNA was extracted, and nutrient transporter expression was assayed by real-time PCR using the relative quantification method. In comparing male and female HH and LL chicks, there was a mating combination x age x sex interaction for PepT1 expression (P < 0.001), a main effect of sex for EAAT3 (P < 0.05) and SGLT1 (P < 0.001) expression, and an age x sex interaction for SGLT1 expression (P < 0.001). These results demonstrate a sexual dimorphism in the capacity to absorb nutrients from the intestine, which has implications for the poultry industry with regard to diet formulations for straight-run and sex-separate grow-out operations. Results from comparing male LL, LH, HL, and HH chicks indicate that selection for high or low juvenile BW may have influenced the gene expression profiles of these nutrient transporters in the small intestine, which may contribute to the overall differences in the growth and development of these lines of chickens.

A non invasive wearable sensor for the measurement of brain temperature.

As the thermoregulation centres are deep in the brain, the cerebral temperature is one of the most important markers of fever, circadian rhythms physical and mental activities. However due to a lack of accessibility, the brain temperature is not easily measured. The axillary, buccal, tympanic and rectal temperatures do not reflect exactly the cerebral temperature. Nevertheless the rectal temperature is used as probably the most reliable indicator of the core body temperature. The brain temperature can be measured using NMR spectroscopy, microwave radiometry, near infrared spectroscopy, ultra-sound thermometry. However none of those methods are amenable to long term ambulatory use outside of the laboratory or of the hospital during normal daily activities, sport, etc. The brain core temperature "BCT" sensor, developed by the Biomedical Microsensors dpt of LPM at INSA-Lyon is a flexible active sensor using "zero-heat-flow" principle. The sensor has been used for experimental measurement: brain temperature during mental activity, and in hospital for the study of circadian rhythms. The results are in agreement with the measurement by the rectal probe. There are 2 versions of this sensor: a non ambulatory for the use in hospitals, and an ambulatory version using teletransmission. We are working for improving the autonomy of the ambulatory version up to several days. This wearable biomedical sensor (WBS) can be used for circadian assessment for chronobiology studies and in medical therapies.

Comparative postcranial body shape and locomotion in Chlorocebus aethiops and Cercopithecus mitis.

Body weight and length, chest girth, and seven postcranial limb segment lengths are compared between two guenon species, Chlorocebus (Cercopithecus) aethiops (vervets) and Cercopithecus mitis (blue monkeys), exhibiting different habitual locomotor preferences. The subjects, all adults, were wild caught for a non-related research project (Turner et al. [1986] Genetic and morphological studies on two species of Kenyan monkeys, C. aethiops and C. mitis. In: Else JG, Lee PC, editors. Primate evolution, proceedings of the Xth International Congress of Primatology, Cambridge. London). The morphological results are interpreted within the context of previously published observations of primate locomotion and social organization. The sample is unique in that the body weight of each individual is known, allowing the effects of body-size scaling to be assessed in interspecific and intersexual comparisons. C. mitis has a significantly (P < 0.05) greater body weight and trunk length than C. aethiops. A shorter trunk may function to reduce spinal flexibility for ground-running in the latter. Proximal limb segments (arm and thigh) are significantly greater in C. mitis, reflecting known adaptations to committed arboreal quadrupedal locomotion. By contrast, relative distal limb segments (forearm, crus, and foot) are significantly longer in C. aethiops, concordant with a locomotor repertoire that includes substantial terrestrial quadrupedalism, in addition to arboreal agility, and also the requisite transition between ground and canopy. Although normally associated with arboreal monkeys, greater relative tail length occurs in the more terrestrial vervets. However, because vervets exploit both arboreal and terrestrial habitats, a longer tail may compensate for diminished balance during arboreal quadrupedalism resulting from the greater "brachial" and "crural" indices that enhance their ground quadrupedalism. Most interspecific differences in body proportions are explicable by differences in locomotor modalities. Some results, however, contradict commonly held "tenets" that relate body size and morphology exclusively to locomotion. Generally associated with terrestriality, sexual dimorphism (male/female) is greater in the more arboreal blue monkeys. A more intense, seasonal mating competition may account for this incongruity.

Dual-head gamma camera coincidence imaging in pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of dual-head camera imaging with 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) in the identification of malignant pancreatic lesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifteen (15) patients with pancreatic masses (7 females and 8 males, mean age 52 10 years) have been studied prospectively. After a 12-hour fasting patients received 120 MBq of FDG and were imaged in a dual-head camera equipped with coincidence detection. The final diagnosis was obtained by histology (biopsy or surgery in 13 patients) or follow-up (in 2 patients). RESULTS: Nine patients showed FDG uptake, all had pancreatic cancer proven on histological examination. Six patients had no tracer uptake: two had chronic pancreatitis, 1 had insulinoma, 1 had gastrinoma and two had pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Overall sensitivity was 69%, specificity was 100% and accuracy was 73%. CONCLUSION: Dual-head camera FDG images seem potentially useful in the characterization of the nature of pancreatic lesions. However, a negative study does not rule out malignancy in this patient population.

Imagen por coincidencia en gammacámara de doble cabezal en cáncer pancreático / Dual-Head gamma camera coincidence imaging in pancreatic cancer

Objetivo. Evaluar la utilidad de la realización de imagen con, 2-flúor-2 desoxi-D-glucosa-18F (FDG) em gammacámara de doble cabezal en la identificación de lesiones pancreáticas malignas. Materiales y métodos. Hemos estudiado en carácter prospectivo 15 pacientes con masas pancreáticas (7 mujeres y 8 hombres, edad promedio 52 ñ 10 años). Después de un ayuno de 12 horas los pacientes recibieron 120 MBq de FDG y se les realizó imágenes en una cámara de doble cabezal equipada con detección por coincidencia. El diagnóstico final se obtuvo por histología (biopsia o cirugía en 13 pacientes) o por seguimiento (en 2 pacientes).Resultados. Nueve pacientes mostraron captación de FDG, todos tuvieron cáncer pancreático probado con base en examen histológico. Seis pacientes no tuvieron captación del radiofármaco: dos pancreatitis crónicas, 1 insulinoma, 1 gastrinoma y dos adenocarcinomas pancreáticos. La sensibilidad global fue del 69 por ciento, la especificidad fue 100 por ciento y la exactitud fue del 73 por ciento. Conclusión. Las imágenes realizadas com FDG en cámara de doble cabezal equipada com detección por coincidencia parecen potencialmente útiles en la caracterización de lesiones pancreáticas, mientras que un estudio negativo no descarta totalmente malignidad (AU)

Structural and mutational analysis of the PhoQ histidine kinase catalytic domain. Insight into the reaction mechanism.

PhoQ is a transmembrane histidine kinase belonging to the family of two-component signal transducing systems common in prokaryotes and lower eukaryotes. In response to changes in environmental Mg(2+) concentration, PhoQ regulates the level of phosphorylated PhoP, its cognate transcriptional response-regulator. The PhoQ cytoplasmic region comprises two independently folding domains: the histidine-containing phosphotransfer domain and the ATP-binding kinase domain. We have determined the structure of the kinase domain of Escherichia coli PhoQ complexed with the non-hydrolyzable ATP analog adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imino)triphosphate and Mg(2+). Nucleotide binding appears to be accompanied by conformational changes in the loop that surrounds the ATP analog (ATP-lid) and has implications for interactions with the substrate phosphotransfer domain. The high resolution (1.6 A) structure reveals a detailed view of the nucleotide-binding site, allowing us to identify potential catalytic residues. Mutagenic analyses of these residues provide new insights into the catalytic mechanism of histidine phosphorylation in the histidine kinase family. Comparison with the active site of the related GHL ATPase family reveals differences that are proposed to account for the distinct functions of these proteins.

Antibiotic susceptibility profile of group B streptococcus acquired vertically.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the contemporary antibiotic susceptibility profile of vertically acquired group B streptococcal isolates. METHODS: Susceptibility to ampicillin, penicillin G, erythromycin, clindamycin, cefazolin, and gentamicin was assessed by two methods, minimal inhibitory concentration and disc diffusion. RESULTS: The susceptibility profiles of 119 colonizing and eight invasive strains of group B streptococcus isolated from January 1996 to September 1997 at two hospitals in Birmingham, Alabama-University of Alabama at Birmingham and Cooper Green-were studied. Minimal inhibitory concentration determinations indicated that all colonizing strains were susceptible or moderately susceptible to ampicillin and penicillin G. Resistance was noted by at least one strain to each of the other antibiotics; all were resistant to gentamicin, whereas 27 (21%) were resistant to erythromycin, five (4%) to clindamycin, and one (1%) to cefazolin. All of the eight invasive strains were susceptible or moderately susceptible to ampicillin, penicillin G, clindamycin, and cefazolin; one (13%) was resistant to erythromycin, and all were resistant to gentamicin. Disc diffusion results generally were concordant with minimal inhibitory concentration results, although by disc diffusion fewer isolates were classified as susceptible, and more as moderately susceptible, to ampicillin and penicillin G than by minimal inhibitory concentration. CONCLUSION: Universal susceptibility of group B streptococcus to members of the penicillin family supports the continued use of penicillin G or ampicillin for early onset neonatal group B streptococcal disease prevention. For patients allergic to beta-lactam agents, clindamycin (4% resistance) may be a better alternative than erythromycin (21% resistance).

[Carcinoid tumors of the common bile duct: report of a case]. / Tumor carcinóide de ducto biliar comum: relato de um caso.

The authors discuss an uncommon case in the literature of a carcinoid tumor of in the bifurcation of common hepatic duct. The tumor was surgically resected and the duct was reconstructed by Y of Roux's technic. The patient had a good evolution and no tumoral lesion was found in post operative exams during the last six months. The authors present a literature review and discuss diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

[Gallbladder emptying evaluation in chronic calcifying pancreatitis, by means of a scintilographic study with Tc-99m DISIDA]. / Avaliação do esvaziamento da vesícula biliar em portadores de pancreatite crônica calcificante, através do estudo cintilográfico com Tc-99m DISIDA.

The aim of this study was to analyze the gallbladder motor function in chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients. Gallbladder emptying was evaluated in 11 patients, without and with addition of pancreatic extract and in ten controls. The results were compared and analyzed statistically. The ejection fraction (EF) of the gallbladder (GB) at 30, 45 and 60 minutes were calculated by using Tc-99m DISIDA scintigraphy. The EF of GB at 60 minutes was significantly higher in the controls when compared to patients, although the results between patients were similar without and with addition of pancreatic extract. The results suggest that the delay in the GB emptying does not depend on the eventual alteration in the intestinal phase of the vesicular stimulation, but it probably results from a mechanic factor, which depends on the chronic pathological process located in the head of the pancreas.

Detection of genitourinary tract Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women by ligase chain reaction assay.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of a ligase chain reaction assay of cervical swabs and voided urine with those of cervical swab tissue culture for the detection of genitourinary tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnant women. METHODS: Infection with C trachomatis was assessed in cervical swabs by culture and in both cervical swabs and voided urine specimens by a ligase chain reaction assay specific for C trachomatis plasmid DNA. The matched cervical swab and voided urine specimens were collected from 462 women during routine visits to prenatal clinics. Standard criteria that defined infection included: 1) a positive cervical culture result or 2) a negative culture but a positive ligase chain reaction result in either the urine or cervical specimen that was confirmed by supplementary testing. Test performance was assessed by determination of sensitivity and specificity, and differences in paired results were determined using McNemar analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of genitourinary C trachomatis infection was 6.1% (n = 28) by cervical culture (sensitivity 30.1%; specificity 100%), 18.2% (n = 84) by ligase chain reaction of cervical swabs (sensitivity 90.3%; specificity 100%), and 16.9% (n = 78) by ligase chain reaction of urine (sensitivity 83.9%; specificity 99.5%). Relative to the number of women with a positive culture or a confirmed ligase chain reaction-positive cervical swab, the sensitivity and specificity were 82.8% and 97.9%, respectively, for ligase chain reaction of urine and 96.6% and 100%, respectively, for ligase chain reaction of cervical swabs. Ligase chain reaction of cervical swabs and urine detected 89.3% and 82.1%, respectively, of women with a positive cervical culture. CONCLUSIONS: Ligase chain reaction assay of cervical or urine specimens detected considerably more pregnant women with C trachomatis infection of the genitourinary tract than did cervical culture. Ligase chain reaction testing of urine is a simple and effective means of screening pregnant women for genitourinary tract infection with C trachomatis.

[Complications of chronic pancreatitis in São Paulo (Brazil)]. / Complicações das pancreatites crônicas em São Paulo.

Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) presents distinctive characteristics in different geographical areas. With the purpose of evaluating the clinical characteristics, particularly in relation to the frequency and etiopathogeny of the complications in São Paulo, in comparison to other centers, 545 patients with this disease were analyzed, retrospectively, 493 (90.5%) of these patients were males and 52 (9.5%) females, with ages ranging from 8 to 88 (38.2 +/- 9.3 years). The diagnosis of CP was based on criteria previously adopted by the Pancreas Group of Gastroenterology Studies of the Medical School of São Paulo. The principal etiologic factors were represented by: chronic alcoholism in 509 of the 545 patients (93.4%), hereditary factors in four (0.7%), malnutrition in three (0.5%), metabolic alterations in three (0.5%) and obstruction to the pancreatic flow in two patients (0.3%). In 24 (4.4%) of the 545 patients, the etiologic factor could not be established, due to the idiopathic nature of the disease. Of the 509/545 patients (93.4%) presenting chronic ethylism, alcoholic consumption was characterized by: a) mean age alcoholic consumption was initiated: 19.5 +/- 6.5 years; b) mean daily alcoholic consumption in grams of pure ethanol: 358.6 +/- 282.0 g/d; c) mean time of alcoholic consumption: 19.8 +/- 8.8 years, and d) mean age of the appearance of clinical symptoms: 34.9 +/- 9.8 years. The clinical complications were always investigated in accordance with the pre-established protocol; the principal complications observed were represented by: gastrointestinal compression (3.3%), jaundice (24%), cysts (35.9%), cavity effusions (13.3%), pancreatic necrosis (4.7%), abscesses (3.6%), digestive hemorrhage of pancreatic origin (2.3%) and fistulae (1.1%). The incidence of these complications, particularly cysts, cavity effusions and pancreatic necrosis, was greater in the patients studied than in those observed in other regions, probably due to the presence of more intense and frequent anatomopathologic lesions found in these patients, possibly resulting from the greater consumption of alcohol compared to patients with this disease in other centers. The etiopathogenic mechanisms for the complications were individually analyzed and interpreted.

Secretory, endoscopic and histopathologic changes and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastroduodenal mucosa in patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis.

Aiming at establishing the prevalence of peptic ulcer in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis and an eventual correlation with gastric acid secretion and endoscopic and histopathologic alterations as well as the presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastroduodenal mucosa, thirty patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis (Group I) and ten control subjects (Group II) were prospectively studied. After upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed. Group I was subdivided according to the lack (Subgroup Ia) or a presence (Subgroup Ib) of peptic ulcer. The prevalence of peptic ulcer in these patients was 23.33% clearly higher than that reported in the general population. Baseline and stimulated acid secretion as well as baseline gastrinemia among the subgroups and groups were similar. There was no statistically significant difference in the other parameters evaluated. Due to the increased prevalence of asymptomatic peptic ulcer in patients with chronic alcoholic pancreatitis. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is suggested as a diagnosis routine and follow-up of this group of patients.

Surgical treatment of pancreatic ascites and pancreatic pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Massive ascites and pleural effusions are uncommon but well-documented complications of chronic pancreatitis. The present study reviews the results of surgical management of pancreatic ascites and pleural effusions of pancreatic origin. PATIENTS AND MATERIALS: From forty-nine patients with chronic pancreatitis presenting with ascites and/or pleural effusion of pancreatic origin, 31 were surgically treated. RESULTS: Nineteen had ascites only, ten pleural effusions and two presented with both conditions. Diagnosis of the internal pancreatic fistula was based on the findings of high amylase levels and elevated albumin content of the peritoneal and pleural exudates. Failure of medical therapy was the indication of surgical treatment in all patients. Thirteen were submitted to internal pancreatic drainage, 17 to external drainage and one to distal pancreatic resection. Eight of 17 externally drained patients were reoperated for intraperitoneal abscesses (2), infected pseudocyst (1), pain recurrence (3) and pancreatic fistula (2); whereas reoperation occurred in only one of the 13 patients submitted to internal drainage (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Internal pancreatic drainage was the ideal surgical treatment for patients with pancreatic ascites and/or pleural effusion that did not respond to medical treatment. When this was not feasible external drainage was successfully used as an alternative to pancreatic resection.

[Hepatic chemoembolization for the treatment of carcinoid syndrome]. / Quimioembolização hepática para o tratamento da síndrome carcinóide.

Clinical manifestation of carcinoide syndrome are often difficult to control with medical treatment and so present a large problem for doctors. In the majority of cases, such manifestations are seen in patients with hepatic metastases. In such cases the control of the problem can be achieved by local hepatic treatment. A 57 year old patient with carcinoide syndrome for a year, with extensive hepatic tumor from a carcinoide tumor, whose origins were not lokted, had a urinary excretion 5-hidroxi-indolacetic = 73 mg in 24 hours, he used cyproheptadin, loperamida and metisergida without showing improvement. In light of the failure of medical treatment and the impossibility of surgery he was given into hepatic chemoembolization (QEH) with lipiodol, doxorrubicin (1.0 mg/Kg) and mitomicin (10.0 mg) twice. Clinical control with absolute recovery of "flushing" and diarrhea were achieved, a dose of 5-HIAA U (5.5 mg) after the first application. Transitory alterations of the aminotransferasis alkaline phosphates and leucocytosis. Besides the post embolization syndrome that regressed in 20 days, there were no complications recurring after treatment. The period of recovery was more than 9 months. We can then conclude that hepatic chemoembolization is an efficient treatment to control carcinoid syndrome.

The usefulness of human placental lactogen and keratin immunohistochemistry in the assessment of tissue from purported intrauterine pregnancies.

This study compared conventional light microscopy with immunohistochemistry in the histopathologic diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy in curettings in which fetal parts and chorionic villi were absent. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of the curettings, which were from 50 consecutive patients in whom incomplete abortion had been diagnosed clinically, were circulated to four pathologists who graded their diagnoses with a confidence score. Immunohistochemical examination using a standard streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase method with anti-HPL and antikeratin antisera was performed. The pathologists in the maternity hospitals achieved a high level of diagnostic confidence compared with those working in the general hospitals. However, there were erroneous diagnoses by the one pathologist in the former group and none by the latter. Critical path analysis showed that the best performing pathologist could accurately diagnose all but two of the cases that had been diagnosed with a degree of doubt by the other pathologists without recourse to immunohistochemical examination. These results suggest that immunohistochemistry may be used discriminately in uncertain cases or if relatively inexperienced pathologists are reporting.

Delta F508 genotype does not predict disease severity in an ethnically diverse cystic fibrosis population.

OBJECTIVE: As part of a study to determine population-based frequencies of CFTR mutations in an ethnically diverse, midwestern cystic fibrosis (CF) population, clinical histories were studied in 119 CF patients. METHODOLOGY: We sought to examine the association between genotype as characterized by the delta F508 and 11 other commonly occurring mutations and clinical parameters including age at diagnosis, clinical presentation, sweat chloride level, chest roentgenogram score, clinical scores, pulmonary function test results, percent weight for height, and presence of associated CF complications. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis of CF was significantly associated with homozygosity for delta F508 (mean age at diagnosis +/- SE: 1.7 +/- 0.3 years for delta F508/delta F508 vs 3.9 +/- 0.9 years for delta F508/other and other/other; P = .03). No other age-adjusted clinical parameter was significantly associated with delta F508 or any other genotype. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that in this sample of CF patients, delta F508 genotype is not predictive of disease severity. The lack of association between disease severity and genotype in this ethnically diverse sample may reflect the presence of more severe undetected mutations in our sample, or the effects of modifying genes at other, non-CF loci.

Immunohistologic demonstration of endothelial disruption in acute atherosis in pre-eclampsia.

Acute atherosis is a vasculopathy described in maternal vessels in the uterus in pre-eclamptic pregnancies. We wished to document whether, and to what extent, endothelial disruption was present in acute atherosis. Using a standard streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistologic method, we found extensive endothelial disruption in 5 cases of acute atherosis. In 2 cases, there was aneurysmal formation associated with the acute atherosis and endothelial disruption in these 2 cases was focal and less extensive. All acute atherosis lesions were related to thrombosis. None of the women had taken aspirin. We suggest that studies on the maternal uteroplacental vasculature in women who have had aspirin during pregnancy should be performed.

[Cavity effusions in patients with chronic pancreatitis]. / Derrames cavitários em portadores de pancreatite crônica.

In Brazil, the incidence of IPF due to alcohol-induced CP seems to be higher than in other countries. The authors analysed some general, epidemiologic, laboratory and radiologic features in 98 patients with CP, all of them alcoholics, divided in two groups: 49 patients without IPF (I) and 49 patients with IPF (II). The authors first analysed the following parameters in each group and then comparatively in both groups: age, sex, race, smokers and daily consumption of cigarettes, daily consumption of alcoholic beverages, years of alcohol consumption, and mortality. The authors concluded that pancreatic fistula plays in effusions the main role, secondary to cysts disruption or necrosis of the main pancreatic duct.

Ethnic heterogeneity and cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) mutation frequencies in Chicago-area CF families.

The identification of a common mutation, delta F508, in the CFTR gene allowed, for the first time, the detection of cystic fibrosis (CF) carriers in the general population. Further genetic studies revealed > 100 additional disease-causing mutations in this gene, few of which occur on > 1% of CF chromosomes in any ethnic group. Prior to establishing counseling guidelines and carrier risk assessments, we sought to establish the frequencies of the CFTR mutations that are present in CF families living in the Chicago area, a region notable for its ethnic heterogeneity. Our sample included 283 unrelated CF carriers, with the following ethnic composition: 78% non-Ashkenazi Caucasians, 5% Ashkenazi, 9% African-American, 3% Mexican, 0.3% Native American, and 5% mixed ancestry. When a panel of 10 mutations (delta F508, delta I507, G542X, G551D, R553X, S549N, R1162X, W1282X, N1303K, and 1717-1G-->A) was used, detection rates ranged from 75% in non-Ashkenazi Caucasians to 40% in African-Americans. These data suggest that the goal of screening for 90%-95% of CF mutations may be unrealistic in this and other, similar U.S. populations.