ABSTRACT
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common infection in immunocompromised patients. However, it can also cause severe infections in otherwise healthy individuals. We describe pseudomonal bacteraemia in a 6-month-old boy with significant obstruction of the nasopharynx by pseudomonal debris, which we termed pseudomembranous nectrotising pharyngitis. To prevent aspiration and suffocation, early recognition and removal of the obstruction by endoscopy is recommended.
Subject(s)
Bacteremia/microbiology , Pharyngitis/diagnosis , Pharyngitis/microbiology , Pseudomonas Infections/microbiology , Ulcer/microbiology , Airway Obstruction/microbiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Bacteremia/drug therapy , Child, Preschool , Fissure in Ano/microbiology , Humans , Male , Nasopharynx/microbiology , Oral Ulcer/microbiology , Pharyngitis/drug therapy , Pseudomonas Infections/drug therapy , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
We compared concentrations of nucleotide substrates and activities of enzymes of nucleotide metabolism in pig and human blood, heart, and kidney. The most important difference was lower ecto-5-nucleotidase (ESN) activity in both pig hearts and kidney. Furthermore, higher hypoxanthine, inosine, adenine, and uracil, but lower uridine and uric acid concentrations were observed in pig blood as compared to human. A twofold increase in UTP concentration has been observed in pig hearts following 4 h perfusion with human blood. Purine metabolism is an important target for genetic and pharmacological manipulation during xenotransplantations.
Subject(s)
Purines/metabolism , Transplantation, Heterologous/methods , 5'-Nucleotidase/metabolism , Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism , Animals , Animals, Genetically Modified , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Humans , Kidney/metabolism , Myocardium/metabolism , Species Specificity , Swine , Uridine Triphosphate/metabolismABSTRACT
Plasma membrane proteins were extracted either from epididymal spermatozoa after incubation with ventral prostate gland secretion or from spermatozoa recovered from uteri of females mated with surgically treated males belonging to the following groups: TX (excision of all accessory sex glands, ASG), VPX (bilateral excision of ventral prostate), VP (bilateral excision of all ASG except the ventral prostate), and SH (sham-operated). Incubation of spermatozoa with ventral prostatic secretion resulted in an 11-fold increase in glycoprotein content of the plasma membrane, but total protein concentration remained unchanged. The in vivo study indicated that interactions of ASG secretions and spermatozoa were complicated by the presence of uterine secretions. Glycoprotein content was reduced in the presence of ventral prostatic secretions. SDS-PAGE profiles showed that both uterine and ASG secretions could modify proteins on the sperm surface. Enrichment of a 25-kD subunit was apparently effected by uterine secretions and further promoted by combined secretions of the ampullary gland, coagulating gland, dorsolateral prostate, and seminal vesicle, but was reduced by the ventral prostate. A number of other protein subunits appeared to be specifically modified by the ventral prostate, while other ASG secretions were also shown to alter the effects of the ventral prostate on the sperm surface.
Subject(s)
Membrane Glycoproteins/isolation & purification , Membrane Glycoproteins/physiology , Prostate/metabolism , Proteins/physiology , Spermatozoa/physiology , Animals , Cell Membrane/chemistry , Copulation , Cricetinae , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Exudates and Transudates , Female , Genitalia, Male/physiology , Male , Mesocricetus , Prostatectomy , Proteins/isolation & purification , Reference Values , Spermatozoa/chemistry , Uterus/metabolismABSTRACT
Plasma membrane proteins were extracted either from epididymal sperm after incubation with ampullary gland secretion or from uterine sperm derived from surgically treated males belonging to the following groups: TX, excision of all accessory sex glands (ASG); AGX, bilateral excision of ampullary glands; AG, excision of all ASG except ampullary glands; and SH, sham-operated. Total membrane protein, glycoprotein, and SDS-PAGE of individual polypeptide subunits were quantified. After incubation with ampullary gland secretion, both protein and glycoprotein concentrations of epididymal sperm membrane were increased. The protein profile was also significantly altered, with the removal of the 43- and 71-kD subunits and the addition of the 36- and 50-kD subunits. The in vitro results confirmed this proteolytic effect of ampullary gland and other ASG on the 43- and 71-kD subunits, despite a reduction in membrane protein concentration. Modification of the 17-, 20-, 25-, 28-, 56-, and 66-kD proteins were also observed. This report is the first demonstration that the ampullary gland is capable of modifying proteins on the sperm surface.
Subject(s)
Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Spermatozoa/metabolism , Vas Deferens/metabolism , Animals , Cricetinae , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Epididymis/metabolism , Female , In Vitro Techniques , Male , MesocricetusABSTRACT
An immunochemical test for fecal occult blood has been evaluated. It has been found to be specific for human hemoglobin and to be reproducible, accurate and four times more sensitive than chemical occult blood tests. Storage of prepared slides at -20 degrees C prevented reduction in sensitivity. To determine the effect of blood from the upper gastrointestinal tract, six volunteers ingested 100 ml of their own blood. Positive chemical, but no positive immunochemical tests were produced. In 20 healthy subjects, challenge with red meat and vegetables with high peroxidase content increased the positivity rate of chemical tests but had no effect on the positivity rate of the immunochemical test. The immunochemical method for fecal occult blood has advantages over chemical testing in that it is specific for human blood and for lower gut bleeding. Its increased sensitivity should result in a high detection rate of colorectal neoplastic lesions. However, this same increased sensitivity may also reduce its effectiveness in bowel cancer screening because of positive results in patients with trivial blood loss from non-neoplastic colonic sources.
