Detection, Isolation, and Molecular Characterization of Escherichia albertii from Wild Birds in West Japan.

Escherichia albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Several outbreaks of E. albertii have occurred, particularly in Japan. Although birds have been considered as one of the most important reservoirs of this bacterium, information regarding its prevalence in birds is still scarce. We performed a survey of E. albertii in wild birds in Japan and examined the characteristics of these isolates. E. albertii-specific genes were detected in five cloacal swabs from 156 birds by PCR. Four E. albertii strains were isolated from a swallow with two different E. albertii strains and two pigeons in a flock using XRM-MacConkey agar. These isolates were assigned to biogroup 3, showed no resistance to any tested antimicrobials, and were classified into two EAO-genotypes (EAOg2 and EAOg33) and were untypable. Similar to clinical E. albertii strains, these isolates carried virulence genes, including eae (n = 4), paa (n = 4), Eccdt-I (n = 2), and stx2f (n = 1), as well as Eacdt. Furthermore, stx2f genes in a strain were located on an inducible bacteriophage, which can confer the ability to produce Stx2f in E. coli. In conclusion, Japanese wild birds carried E. albertii at levels similar to the reported prevalence in birds. These isolates may have the potential to cause gastroenteritis in humans.

Internet communication of outpatients with Asperger's disorder or schizophrenia in Japan.

INTRODUCTION: There is insufficient information about the Internet usage of psychiatric patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the usage of Internet communication among subjects with Asperger's disorder (AD) or schizophrenia. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was carried out in Japan among 29 outpatients with AD, 32 outpatients with schizophrenia, and 97 age-matched normal volunteers. This study limited the participants to young male adults (20- to 39-year-olds) using the Internet. RESULTS: People with a diagnosis of AD prefer personal computers to mobile phones as their Internet terminal, have an inclination to use anonymous media, and tend to think that they can communicate more correctly through the Internet than face-to-face communication. People with a diagnosis of schizophrenia employ the Internet to a degree almost similar to controls, and tend to rely on unknown persons, but also sometimes feel hurt when communicating on the Internet. Moreover, their sensitivity to the risks of the Internet tends to decrease with the aggravation of their psychotic symptoms. DISCUSSION: It may be important to pay attention to the excessive use of some limited media by people with a diagnosis of AD. Providing people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia with sufficient information about the risks of the Internet is also important.

Surgical repair of severe mitral valve regurgitation complicated by incomplete cor triatriatum.

A 69-year-old woman with exertional dyspnea was referred emergently to our hospital for further evaluation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe mitral valve regurgitation and moderate tricuspid regurgitation, which were thought to be the main cause of her heart failure. An electrocardiogram showed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Mitral and tricuspid repair and pulmonary vein isolation were scheduled. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed a fibromuscular diaphragm and multiple ostia in the left atrium, strongly suggesting cor triatriatum. After left atriotomy, an incomplete transverse membrane was identified in the chamber. The membrane was resected and the mitral valve was repaired; then a tricuspid annuloplasty was performed, and the pulmonary veins were isolated bilaterally. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital anomaly, and in some cases is associated with mitral regurgitation. In patients with severe mitral regurgitation, we recommend preoperative transesophageal echocardiography to obtain a correct diagnosis. We should evaluate carefully moderate to severe mitral regurgitation without pulmonary hypertension or left atrial dilatation taking cor triatriatum into consideration. .

Distribution of L1cam mRNA in the adult mouse brain: In situ hybridization and Northern blot analyses.

Previous immunohistochemical analysis revealed a wide distribution of L1cam-positive neural and nonneural structures in adult mouse brain. Although there were numerous punctate immunoreactive nerve terminals, only a few immunoreactive neuronal cell somata were present (Munakata et al. [2003] BMC Neurosci. 4:7). To explore the distribution of L1cam mRNA-containing cells, which are interpreted to be L1cam-producing cells, we performed in situ hybridization histochemistry with an antisense L1cam cRNA probe. L1cam mRNA was distributed widely from the olfactory bulb to the upper cervical cord with an uneven localization pattern in adult brain. All positive cell somata with silver grains after emulsion autoradiography were neuronal, and no grains were detected on nonneural cells in the present study. A high density of signals for neuronal L1cam mRNA was found in the thalamus, mammillary body, and hippocampus. In addition, strong hybridization signals were localized in various nuclei: main and accessory olfactory bulb, compact part of the substantia nigra, pontine gray matter, tegmental reticular nucleus, Edinger-Westphal nucleus, trigeminal motor nucleus, locus coeruleus, mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus, raphe nuclei, facial nucleus, ambiguus nucleus, dorsal motor vagal nucleus, and inferior olivary nucleus. Some long projection neurons such as the pyramidal, mitral, principal neurons of several cranial nuclei, and presumably monoaminergic cells containing noradrenalin, dopamine, and serotonin, expressed high levels of L1cam.