Effects of blood and virus-infected blood on protein expression in the midgut of the dengue vector Aedes albopictus.

Although the mosquito midgut is the primary site of bloodmeal storage and the first line of defence against pathogenic infection, little is known about its proteic composition at a time when an increasing number of proteins are reported to impair viral infection. Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae) is an important vector of the dengue virus. We compared 2-dimensional protein profiles of the adult midgut in this species, taking into account bloodmeal status. The comparison of profiles from sugar-fed and blood-fed females showed that a considerable number of proteins were present in both midguts. In addition, one set of proteins was present only after sugar intake and another set only after blood intake. The comparison of profiles of blood-fed midguts and dengue virus-2 infected blood-fed midguts revealed that at least six proteins were present only in the infected midguts. These results are discussed in the context of the identification of midgut proteins involved in the dengue virus infection process.

Purification and characterization of intracellular alpha-L-rhamnosidase from Pseudomonas paucimobilis FP2001.

alpha-L-Rhamnosidase was extracted and purified from the cells of Pseudomonas paucimobilis FP2001 with a 19.5% yield. The purified enzyme, which was homogeneous as shown by SDS-PAGE and isoelectric focusing, had a molecular weight of 112,000 and an isoelectric point of 7.1. The enzyme activity was accelerated by Ca2+ and remained stable for several months when stored at -20 C. The optimum pH was 7.8; the optimum temperature was 45 degrees C. The Km, V(max) and k(cat) for p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside were 1.18 mM, 92.4 microM x min(-1) and 117,000 x min(-1), respectively. Examination of the substrate specificity using various synthetic and natural L-rhamnosyl glycosides showed that this enzyme had a relatively broader substrate specificity than those reported so far.

Ruptured aneurysms of the sinus of Valsalva.

Sixteen patients underwent operation for ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva (RASV) between 1979 and 1992. The age ranged from nine to 57 years (mean 31.8 years). Four patients were asymptomatic and 12 symptomatic and among symptomatic patients, five patients underwent emergency operation. Associated congenital anomalies were subpulmonary ventricular septal defect in 11 patients and infundibular pulmonary stenosis in one patient. Aortic regurgitation (AR) was mild in four, moderate in two, and severe in five. Surgical approach for RASV was a double incision for 12 patients (incision of ascending aorta and pulmonary artery, seven; that of ascending aorta and right ventricle, five), and single incision in four (pulmonary artery, three; right ventricle, one). Concomitant aortic surgery was performed in seven patients: aortic valve replacement (AVR), six and aortic valvuloplasty, one. One patient with emergency operation after cardiac arrest died one day after operation, while four emergency and 11 elective patients were uneventful after operation. In a follow up period of a mean of 90.3 months, there were no leaks of VSD closure and no recurrence of aneurysm. In 10 patients without AVR, mild AR remained in two, while the others showed no AR. The New York Heart Association functional class after operation was class I for 14 and class II for one. It seems that RASV requires early examination and operation to prevent an acute deterioration of symptoms and AR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Clinical experience with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy MFL-5000 for urinary stone].

A Dornier MFL 5000, a new generation extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter, was installed in our hospital and the first Japanese clinical experience has been collected between July and November in 1989. We report our experience with the first 35 patients with 45 stones who were treated in 42 treatments using ESWL. We followed up 3 weeks. No invasive anesthesia was performed except 2 cases of epidural anesthesia. A double J catheter was installed in 2 patients, a ureteral catheter in 4 patients, and PNL was performed in 2 patients before ESWL. We did not use a PNL or a TUL in the postoperative treatment. In the 3 week followed up period, 29 patients (82.9%) were completely free from stone fragments. No serious complications were observed after ESWL. We conclude that the DORNIER MFL 5000 is effective for renal and ureteral stones without serious complications.

[Chronological changes in bacteria isolated from the urinary tract and their drug sensitivities].

Statistical studies were performed on bacterial strains isolated from the urine of patients with various urological disease in our Urological Department between January, 1983 and December, 1987. In 1987, sensitivity tests of antibiotics to various pathogens were carried out. From the outpatients, 5,725 bacterial strains were isolated. S. epidermidis was isolated most frequently (23.8%), followed by Enterococcus species (16.5%), E. coli (14.7%), Streptococcus species (12.6%), Proteus species (5.3%), other GNR (4.6%), P, aeruginosa (4.5%), Klebsiella species (4.4%), and others. From the inpatients, 4,747 bacterial strains were isolated. Enterococcus species was isolated most frequently (23.1%), followed by S. epidermidis (18.7%), Fungi (12.9%), P. aeruginosa (8.0%), other GNR (6.8%), Streptococcus species (5.4%), Enterobacter species (4.8%), E. coli (4.1%), S. aureus (4.1%) and others. Annual change of distribution of organisms indicated that S. aureus from outpatients had a tendency to increase and Streptococcus species had a tendency to decrease. Whereas from inpatients, E. coli, other GNR, Pseudomonas species and Enterobacter species had a tendency to increase, and Streptococcus species, P. aeruginosa, Proteus species and Klebsiella species had a tendency to decrease. S. epidermidis showed a high sensitivity to minocycline and cephalothin, and Enterococcus showed a high sensitivity to ampicillin and minocycline, but did not show good sensitivity to cefoperazone and latamoxef. E. coli showed a high sensitivity to all drug we tested. P. aeruginosa showed a high sensitivity to gentamycin and norflaxacin, but did not show good sensitivity to other many drugs we tested.