Vitamin D binding protein polymorphism protects against development of blastomycosis.

Blastomycosis is an uncommon endemic fungal infection. It is presumed that in the endemic regions, the number of exposed individuals is significantly greater than those in whom clinical manifestations develop. We conducted a case-control study of individuals with clinical blastomycosis and controls with similar exposure but who did not develop disease. A genetic association was observed between the Gc-2 allele of vitamin D binding protein and reduced susceptibility to blastomycosis in a Canadian cohort. The Gc-2 allele can affect increased antimicrobial activity of macrophages. It may be possible to mimic this mechanism of protection by vitamin D supplementation.

A three-year review of emergency department admissions--Op HERRICK 4 to 9.

OBJECTIVES: This paper describes the key themes in presentations to the Emergency Department (ED) of the UK Field Hospital throughout the three-year period of April 2006 to April 2009 (Op HERRICK 4-9). METHODS: Electronic ED attendance records held in the Operational Emergency Department Attendance Register (OpEDAR) were analysed with validation by Defence Analytical Services Agency and commentary by ADMEM clinical staff. RESULTS: This paper discusses absolute numbers of emergency department attendances ofwhich there were 11,158 recorded over the studyperiod. It does not compare them to personnel at risk or operational tempo. Ofthese attendances, 59.7% (n=6666) were U.K. military. Explosive injuries (15.2%, n=1699), particularly Improvised Explosive Devices, increased throughout the period as did gunshotwounds (7.3%, n=809). Battle injuries represented 23.3% (n=2,602) attendances and had a fatality rate of 10.9%. 38.8% (n=4327) of attendances were non-battle injuries and had a fatality rate of 0.4%. There were no fatalities in the 34.1% (n=3,800) attendances for disease. 315 fatalities were recorded (this figure relates to all attendances - not just UK personnel) with 90.2% (n=284) due to battle injuries. 59.4% (n=187) were due to explosives and 28.9% (n=91) due to gunshot wounds. CONCLUSIONS: Over the period, the hospital's workload was characterised by an increase in explosive and gunshot injuries. In this role, the hospital met its obligation of responding to traumatic battle injury in support of fighting power and morale. Equally, the hospital faced a high proportion of attendances for non-battle injury and illness, and by patients from the local population. Extrapolation of data enables accurate medical planning and pre-deployment training and facilitates preparation for current operations.

Identification and gene expression of the bovine C-type lectin Dectin-1.

C-type lectin receptors (CTLR) are cell-surface signalling molecules that recognize a range of highly conserved pathogen molecules and instigate the appropriate immune response. Here, we report the cloning, sequencing, mapping and expression pattern of the bovine C-type lectin domain family 7, member A (CLEC7A; synonyms CLCSF12, Dectin-1). We identified two isoforms, similar to the human system, with a long and short neck. Overall, the organization of the two bovine CLEC7A genes is similar to that of humans and mice. The CLEC7A gene maps on Bos taurus chromosome 5 (BTA5). mRNA transcripts for CLEC7A were detected in bone-marrow cells, monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells and NK cells, but not in CD4(+) T-cells or CD21(+) B-cells. The increased knowledge of the genomic organization of the bovine CTLR genes may promote our understanding of their evolution and help in the identification of bovine genes underlying disease-resistance traits.

Subcellular distribution of [3H]-dexamethasone mesylate binding sites in Leydig cells using electron microscope radioautography.

The present view is that glucocorticoid hormones bind to their cytoplasmic receptors before reaching their nuclear target sites, which include specific DNA sequences. Although it is believed that cytoplasmic sequestration of steroid receptors and other transcription factors (such as NFKB) may regulate the overall activity of these factors, there is little information on the exact subcellular sites of steroid receptors or even of any other transcription factors. Tritiated (3H)-dexamethasone 21-mesylate (DM) is an affinity label that binds covalently to the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), thereby allowing morphological localization of the receptor at the light and electron microscope levels as well as for quantitative radioautographic (RAG) analysis. After injection of 3H-DM into the testis, a specific radioautographic signal was observed in Leydig cells, which correlated with a high level of immunocytochemically demonstrable GR in these cells at the light-microscope level. To localize the 3H-DM binding sites at the electron microscope (EM) level, the testes of 5 experimental and 3 control adrenalectomized rats were injected directly with 20 microCi 3H-DM; control rats received simultaneously a 25-fold excess of unlabeled dexamethasone; 15 min later, rats were fixed with glutaraldehyde and the tissue was processed for EM RAG analysis combined with quantitative morphometry. The radioautographs showed that the cytosol, nucleus, smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER), and mitochondria were labeled. Since the cytosol was always adjacent to tubules of the sER, the term sER-rich cytosol was used to represent label over sER networks, which may also represent cytosol labeling due to the limited resolution of the radioautographic technique. Labeling was highest in sER-rich cytosol and mitochondria, at 53% and 31% of the total, respectively. Cytosol (exclusively of all organelles) and nucleus showed comparatively weak labeling, at 9% and 7%, respectively. This study thus clearly establishes with the electron microscope, the localization of glucocorticoid binding sites using DM. It remains to be determined whether or not these DM binding sites represent bona fide glucocorticoid receptors or nonreceptor proteins that bind DM. Whereas the functional significance of the subcellular distribution of DM is not known, the labeling of the cytosol may represent localization of the steroid and GR in their traditional compartment. The steroid antagonistic properties of DM may have prevented the DM-GR complexes from translocating to the nucleus. However, the significant labeling of the sER-rich cytosol and mitochondria was unexpected and raises intriguing questions that are being addressed in current studies.

Covalent affinity labeling, radioautography, and immunocytochemistry localize the glucocorticoid receptor in rat testicular Leydig cells.

The presence and distribution of glucocorticoid receptors in the rat testis were examined by using 2 approaches: in vivo quantitative radioautography and immunocytochemistry. Radioautographic localization was made possible through the availability of a glucocorticoid receptor affinity label, dexamethasone 21-mesylate, which binds covalently to the glucocorticoid receptor, thereby preventing dissociation of the steroid-receptor complex. Adrenalectomized adult rats were injected with a tritiated (3H) form of this steroid into the testis and the tissue was processed for light-microscope radioautography. Silver grains were observed primarily over the Leydig cells of the interstitial space and to a lesser extent, over the cellular layers which make up the seminiferous epithelium, with no one cell type showing preferential labeling. To determine the specificity of the labeling, a 25- or 50-fold excess of unlabeled dexamethasone was injected simultaneously with the same dose of (3H)-dexamethasone 21-mesylate. In these control experiments, a marked reduction in label intensity was noted over the Leydig as well as tubular cells. Endocytic macrophages of the interstitium were non-specifically labeled, indicating uptake of the ligand possibly by fluid-phase endocytosis. A quantitative analysis of the label confirmed the presence of statistically significant numbers of specific binding sites for glucocorticoids in both Leydig cells and the cellular layers of the seminiferous epithelium; 86% of the label was found over Leydig cells, and only 14% over the cells of the seminiferous epithelium. These binding data were confirmed by light-microscope immunocytochemistry using a monoclonal antibody to the glucocorticoid receptor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)