Influence of commercial sanitizers on lipopolysaccharide production by Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076

The effect of typical sanitizers on the composition and toxicity of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) produced by Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076 was analyzed. Salmonella Enteritidis was propagated up to the late exponential phase in the presence of commercial sanitizing solutions. LPS was extracted and derivatized with trifluoroacetylation, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and the chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate assay were used to assess the ultrastructure and toxicity of the LPS. The viability and debris formation during growth were evaluated to verify the bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects of the sanitizers and to assess sanitizer effects on LPS formation. The LPSs produced were quantified at 1.7 x 10(4), 1.2 x 10(4), 3.6 x 10(3), and 9.6 x 10(4) [KDO] x OD(620nm)(-1) for the controls and the organisms grown in the presence of a chlorinated sanitizer, a heavy-duty alkaline cleaner, and a phenolic hand wash solution, respectively. In response to these treatments, the short-chain polysaccharide fractions of the LPSs in the Salmonella Enteritidis cells increased. This finding suggests that this organism increases the low-molecular-weight fraction of the LPS in relation to the high-molecular-weight fraction to survive these unfavorable conditions. The cumulative change in the LPS in response to the sanitizers influenced the toxicity of the LPS; however, this change could not be related to an individual compound within any of the assessed fractions.

Bagasse-assisted bioremediation of ammonia from shrimp farm wastewater

Development of new economically feasible ecofriendly products from agricultural wastes or byproducts for shrimp farm wastewater treatment is the objective of our continued research. Ammonia is a nitrogenous toxicant, which is commonly found in wastewater from shrimp farms. In the present study, we explored the possibility of the use of simply and inexpensively prepared bagasse products so that this abundant crop byproduct could be used to remove ammonia from shrimp farm wastewater. Bagasse, a natural highly fibrous lignocellulosic byproduct of sugarcane, was converted into five different products. Experimental results have shown that ammonia is efficiently removed from wastewater by four bagasse products with a dose of 1 to 6 g/L within 24 hours. The effect of bagasse products on other water quality parameters and growth kinetics of biofilm bacteria onto bagasse fiber have also been studied. Efficacies of products were compared by using statistical analysis. Products developed from bagasse are useful and economical.

The influence of sanitizers on the lipopolysaccharide composition of Escherichia coli O111

This study focused on the influence of typical sanitizers on the composition of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) produced by the verocytotoxin-producing (VTEC) Escherichia coli O111. We also aimed to cast light on the applicability of O-antigen-based serotyping and endotoxin based Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) assays applied in the food industry for the identification and quantification of Gram-negative bacteria. E. coli O111 was propagated in the presence of three typical commercially applied sanitizing solutions that included a Clean in Place (CIP) chlorinated sanitizer (bacteriocidal), heavy-duty alkaline sanitizer (bacteriocidal) and a phenolic hand wash solution (bacteriostatic). After the required growth phase was reached the LPS from both the intact cells and debris was extracted and methanolysed followed by trifluoroacetylation. Subsequently GC-MS analysis and the chromogenic LAL assay were applied to assess both the ultra-structure and the toxicity of the extracted LPS. The viability and debris formation during growth was also evaluated to verify the bacteriocidial and static effect of the applied sanitizers as well as to assess its relationship with LPS formation. The total LPS produced was quantified at 1.3 x 10(6) [KDO] x OD(620 nm)(-1) for the control samples, 6.5 x 10(3) [KDO] x OD(620 nm)(-1) for E. coli grown in the presence of CIP chlorinated sanitizer and 2.1 x 10(5) and 2.85 x 10(6) [KDO] x OD(620 nm)(-1) for the organisms grown in the presence of heavy-duty alkaline sanitizer and phenolic hand wash solution respectively (KDO = 2-keto-3-deoxy-octulosonic acid). A negative correlation (gamma(2)= -0.880) between the [KDO] and Delta viability was evident and indicated that E. coli O111 responds to factors that hinder viability by producing more LPS in its outer membrane. Subsequent assessment of the LPS ultra-structure revealed a definite change in both the total assessed saccharide and lipid fractions. The cumulative change of the LPS in response to the sanitizers further appeared to influence the toxicity of the LPS as the latter change could not be related to an individual compound within any of the assessed fractions. This emphasised the fact that the quantity of LPS obtained from E. coli O111 in this study, did not seem to determine the toxicity of the organism. From the results we further propose a coefficient that could be applied to describe the response of E. coli O111 LPS to sanitizers and caution against the application of serotyping (based on the O-antigen) and the LAL assay to quantify and identify E. coli O111 obtained from food strata where the possibility of sanitizer contamination exists.

Henoch-Schönlein's purpura in adults versus children/adolescents: A comparative study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the possible differences in etiological and clinical factors between children/adolescents (< or = 20 years) and adults (> 20 years) with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).

METHODS

A retrospective-cum-prospective study of consecutive patients with HSP who presented to our teaching hospital over 5 years. Patients were classified as having HSP according to the criteria proposed by Michel et al and the ACR criteria.

RESULTS

102 patients (43 of all patients being male and 59 female) were classified as having HSP; 20 of the patients were adults (mean age 32.1 +/- 11.7 years) and 82 were children/adolescents (mean age 6.2 +/- 2.6 years). We were unable to identify any precipitating event in 40% of the adults and 37% of the children/adolescents. The frequency of previous drug treatment and of previous upper respiratory tract infection was similar in both groups. At symptom onset, palpable purpura was the chief clinical manifestation in both groups. However, renal involvement, in all its aspects, was more frequent and severe in adults. Adults also had a higher frequency of diarrhoea (with or without occult blood) and leucocytosis, but a lower frequency of thrombocytosis. The frequency of joint manifestations, nausea, vomiting, malena/hematochezia and intussuseption was equal in both groups. Adults required more aggressive therapy, and had a longer hospital stay (10.2 vs. 4.3 days). The outcome was relatively worse in adults, with complete recovery in 18 adults (90%) compared to 81 children/adolescents (98.8%) after a mean +/- SD follow up of 2.8 +/- 1.7 and 2.4 +/- 1.3 years, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In adulthood, HSP is a more severe clinical syndrome, with a higher frequency of diarrhoea and renal involvement. Adults also require aggressive treatment more frequently and have a longer hospital stay.

Nodavirus infection causes mortalities in hatchery produced larvae of Lates calcarifer: first report from India

Larvae (15 to 21 d post hatch, dph) of the Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer (Bloch) suffered heavy mortalities (60 to 90%) during the hatchery-rearing phase. Darkened and moribund larvae showed no evidence of bacterial or parasitic infections. Tissue sections of brain and spinal cord showed clear necrotic vacuolation. Electron microscopy revealed membrane-bound viral particles in the cytoplasm of the nerve cells. The viral particles measured 28 to 30 nm in diameter. Primer sets, designed for the amplification of the RNA2 segment of the piscine nodavirus coat protein gene, were used in the RT-PCR analysis of moribund larvae of 20 and 21 dph which produced the amplified product of 430 bp. The clinical manifestations, pathology and electron microscopy observations supported by the RT-PCR analysis suggest that the nerve necrosis was due to nodavirus infection in the larvae. This is the first report of piscine nodavirus infection from the Indian sub-continent.

Anaesthetic considerations in a patient with right heart thrombi-in-transit

This is a case report of a patient with underlying pulmonary thromboembolism who was diagnosed as having a large, mobile right heart thrombi while undergoing treatment with low-molecular weight heparin. She underwent emergency embolectomy with exploration of the right heart under a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Soon after induction of anaesthesia, the patient had an episode of severe hypotension, which responded to inotropes. Large, serpiginous thrombi were found in the right atrium extending into the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries, which were evacuated. She was weaned off CPB on inotropic support and was extubated uneventfully on the 4th POD. Postoperatively, she was started on anticoagulant therapy and also underwent placement of a Greenfield inferior vena caval (IVC) filter to prevent further thromboembolic episodes.

Relations of serum interleukin 18 levels to serum lipid and glucose concentrations in an apparently healthy adult population

AIM

To investigate the associations between serum interleukin (IL) 18 concentrations and indices of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in healthy adults.

METHODS

Fasting serum concentrations of IL-18, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols were measured in 570 apparently healthy adults.

RESULTS

Univariate linear and partial regression analyses showed that the serum IL-18 concentration was positively correlated with serum triglyceride and glucose concentrations in both obese and diabetic subjects after controlling for the confounding effects of age, sex, and body mass index.

CONCLUSION

IL-18 may be associated with obesity and glucose intolerance.

SSPE - the continuing challenge: a study based on serological evidence from a teritary care centre in India

PURPOSE

To assess the prevalence of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).

METHODS

In the period June 96 to December' 98 an analysis for measles virus (MV) antibody was carried out on 103 serum-CSF pairs received from patients clinically suspected of SSPE. Measles antibody was detected in an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IIF) test.

RESULTS

Antibody to measles was detectable in 49 (48%) of the serum-CSF pairs tested, a diagnostic criterion for SSPE. Antibody titers ranged from 20 to 1280 in serum and neat to 32 in CSF. The serum: CSF ratio ranged from 5:1 to 80:1. Of the 49 patients diagnosed to have SSPE, 36 were males and 13 females, and the age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of SSPE ranged from 5 to 26 years. Ten of the SSPE patients gave a history of measles vaccination.

CONCLUSIONS

Inadequate vaccine coverage and quality of vaccine used continue to have an impact on occurrence of SSPE.

Thoracoscopic management of chylothorax complicating esophagectomy

BACKGROUND

Chylothorax is a relatively uncommon complication of esophageal surgery that may lead to severe respiratory, nutritional, and immunologic deficiencies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between 1992 and 2000, 3 of 316 patients (0.9%) undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy for carcinoma developed postoperative chylothorax. Two of them had previously been treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation, and one had been submitted to esophagogastric resection through a left thoracotomy. After a 2-week trial of total parenteral nutrition and drainage, two patients underwent thoracic duct ligation via thoracotomy. In the last patient, the operation was completed by thoracoscopy. The azygos vein and the periaortic tissue above the diaphragm were encircled en bloc by a right-angled clamp, and a roticulating endostapler was applied.

RESULTS

Reoperation was successful in all patients. The postoperative hospital stay was 4 days.

CONCLUSION

Thoracoscopy is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of chylothorax complicating esophagectomy. Given the minimal trauma to the patient, early thoracoscopic reoperation can be advocated in patients with high-output chyle loss in order to reduce the hospital stay.

Suppression of parathyroid hormone secretion in hemodialysis patients: comparison of paricalcitol with calcitriol

Paricalcitol was introduced recently as an effective alternative to calcitriol for the suppression of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in patients with end-stage renal disease. An international, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, comparative study of intravenous paricalcitol and calcitriol was performed. Results from 38 patients at dialysis units affiliated with the Northwestern University Medical School (Chicago and Evanston, IL) are reported here while a report of the full clinical trial is being completed. Results were evaluated in terms of obtaining the following end points: decrease of at least 50% in baseline PTH concentration and the occurrence of hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. Paricalcitol therapy was started at a dose of 0.04 microgram/kg and increased by 0.04 microgram/kg increments every 4 weeks to a maximum allowable dose of 0.24 microgram/kg or until there was at least a 50% decrease in serum PTH concentration. Calcitriol therapy was started at a dose of 0.01 microgram/kg and increased by 0.01 microgram/kg increments every 4 weeks to a maximum allowable dose of 0.06 microgram/kg or until there was at least a 50% decrease in serum PTH concentration. Mean baseline serum PTH, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations were similar. Reductions in PTH occurred more rapidly in subjects administered paricalcitol compared with calcitriol, with no difference in serum calcium levels throughout the study between groups. The percentage of subjects experiencing severe hyperphosphatemia (serum phosphorus >8.0 mg/dL) was greater in those administered calcitriol compared with paricalcitol. In conclusion, our data suggest that paricalcitol reduces PTH levels more rapidly, with fewer episodes of hyperphosphatemia, than intravenous calcitriol.

A pilot study on the role of cytomegalovirus & human herpesvirus-6 infections in Indian bone marrow transplant recipients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Studies from Western transplant centers have shown the importance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in infections among immunosuppressed post-transplant patients (both solid and bone marrow transplant recipients). Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infection is also important. Since such data are lacking from India, we carried out a pilot study to investigate the role of these two viruses in infections among Indian allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients.

METHODS

A total of 21 BMT patients who developed acute graft versus host disease (GVHD), two patients who developed chronic GVHD, and eight recipients who did not develop GVHD but had skin rash/elevated liver enzymes, persistent cytopaenia or interstitial pneumonitis with a high clinical suspicion of possible CMV association were studied for markers of CMV and HHV-6 infections.

RESULTS

CMV DNAemia was documented in 9 (42.8%) and CMV IgM in 4(19%) of the 21 patients with acute GVHD. HHV-6 DNAemia was not seen in any patient with acute GVHD but 2 (9.5%) had HHV-6 IgM. Of the 2 patients with chronic GVHD, 1 was positive for CMV DNA and IgM, and both were negative for HHV-6 markers. The lower incidence of CMV DNAemia in our recipients may be attributable to the presence of neutralizing antibody (anti gB/AD-1) among the 17 CMV and HHV-6 DNAemia negative recipients, 4(23.5%) had neutralizing antibodies (S/N ratio > or = 5). Of the 13 CMV DNAemia positive recipients, only one (7.7%) was positive for neutralizing antibodies. Among the 5 neutralizing antibody (S/N ratio > or = 5) positive recipients, 4 (80%) were negative for CMV DNAemia. The one nPCR positive was revealed only at high DNA (> 0.1 microgram) input indicating low CMV signal strength.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

The present study shows the use of DNAemia in detecting CMV infections among BMT recipients. All recipients had high avidity CMV IgG (AI > 50%) confirming CMV reactivation or reinfection in these patients. There was evidence from this study suggesting that neutralizing antibodies may play a role in controlling CMV reactivation. We found no significant HHV-6 association with GVHD in Indian allogeneic BMT recipients.

Characterization of antibody response to human cytomegalovirus in Indian renal transplant patients

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in seroendemic transplant populations is due to reactivation of the virus, or reinfection. In this context, the antibody response is likely to influence presentation, clinical severity and outcome of the disease, and may provide a diagnostic and prognostic marker. This study was carried out in Indian renal transplant patients and healthy adults to characterize the antibody response to cytomegalovirus.

METHODS

Thirty three transplant recipients with CMV illness (symptomatology with IgM and/or nPCR positive status), 20 recipients who were asymptomatic in the 6 months of follow up after transplantation and 62 healthy controls were investigated for markers of CMV infection. These individuals were tested for IgG avidity and neutralizing antibody by ELISA techniques.

RESULTS

All 53 transplant recipients were found to have an IgG avidity index of > 50 per cent. Antibody to a CMV envelope glycoprotein gB/AD-1 (putative neutralizing antibody) was expressed as S/N ratio and was > or = 5 in asymptomatic (65%) and symptomatic (27%) immunosuppressed renal transplant recipients. However, none of the 53 CMV IgG positive healthy controls were positive for neutralizing antibodies S/N ratio > or = 5 (S/N ratio = sample mean OD/mean OD of 3 negative controls in each run). We observed the simultaneous presence of CMV PCR signal in leukocytes and neutralizing antibody (S/N ratio > or = 5) in the plasma in 22 (41.5%) of the 53 renal transplant recipients.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS

In this study among the immunosuppressed transplant patients we observed an association between symptomatic disease and the relative absence of neutralizing antibodies. The neutralizing antibodies are less frequently demonstrable among controls; while appearance in a higher proportion of asymptomatic recipients especially in association with high IgG avidity (> 90%) is suggestive of its role in control of CMV disease despite reactivation as evidenced by DNAemia while on immunosuppressive therapy.

Fine structure of the skin cells of a stenohaline freshwater fish Cyprinus carpio exposed to diluted seawater

Seawater diluted to half (1.750% salinity) is lethal for adult carps after 3 h and 15 min. At lower salinities (0.350%-0.875%), the fish survived for longer periods, but only 0.175% salinity was innocuous. In carps, adapted to 0.175% salinity, the secretory activity of pavement cells was very high and their external ridges flattened or even disappeared. Mucus secretion was conspicuous, characterized by holocriny of old cells and apparition of young ones in large numbers. The intracellular mucus droplets often coalesced. Pavement cells and mucus cells were disconnected from their neighboring tissue fabric and were sloughing off. Mitotic figures of filament cells were frequent, suggesting high turnover. Club cells appeared near the epidermal surface. The number of pinocytotic vesicles of the basal cell layer markedly decreased, indicating a possible decrease in dermis-epidermis molecular transfers. Leucocytes, mainly lymphocytes penetrated into the epidermis, where also rodlet cells appeared. The low salinity tolerance of the carp might be related among other possible factors to the absence of chloride cells in the skin.

Unusual association of Kikuchi's disease and dengue virus infection evolving into systemic lupus erythematosus

Kikuchi's disease is a histologically alarming self-limiting condition typically affecting the lymph nodes of young females. A 13-year-old girl was presented with fever, skin rash and cervical lymphadenopathy. On examination she was found febrile, mild pallor was present and she had lymphadenopathy. Liver was palpable. Cervical lymph node biopsy showed histiocytic necrotising lymphadenitis (Kikuchi's disease). Dengue virus serology for IgG blot showed evidence of seroconversion in serial samples. She was treated with antibiotics and fluconazole and cyclosporin A. During hospitalisation she developed retinal vasculitis. She was reviewed after one month and showed rashes of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This case can be described to be a triggering event by dengue viral infection causing abnormal immune response leading initially to Kikuchi's disease and later on to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) gonadotropic beta subunits (I and II) cDNA sequences and expression during oogenesis

We have cloned two cDNAs from the pituitary gland of blue gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus), coding for the beta subunits of the gonadotropin hormones GtH-I and GtH-II. The two cDNAs were sequenced and subjected to sequence analysis. We have found that the deduced amino acid sequences of both cDNAs were most similar to their striped bass counterparts. The beta GtH-I subunits of blue gourami and striped bass shared 73% of their residues, and the beta GtH-II subunits 84%. The cloning of the cDNAs of beta GtH-I and beta GtH-II has enabled us to measure the expression of their respective mRNAs in the pituitaries of female blue gourami at different stages of the reproductive cycle. The highest levels of beta GtH-I and beta GtH-II mRNA were found in specimens classified as high vitellogenic and in females that were at the final stages of oocyte maturation.

Allylmalonamide as a bivalent linker: synthesis of biantennary GM3-saccharide--keyhole limpet hemocyanin glycoconjugate and the immune response in mice

A biantennary GM3-saccharide (sialyllactoside) derivative (4) was constructed using allylmalonic acid as a bivalent linker, both carboxylic acids of which were condensed with 3-aminopropyl lactoside (2) prior to enzymatic sialylation with a fusion enzyme. While ozonolysis of its allyl group generated a saccharide having a terminal aldehyde (6), we were unable to couple 6 directly to protein by reductive amination. However, extension of the spacer by means of introducing a maleimide group to 6 through its aldehyde group to give 7 enabled the latter to be successfully coupled to thiolated proteins. The average ratios of saccharide to protein were observed to be 35 in KLH conjugate (13) and 9-12 in HSA conjugates (14 and 15). The antisera obtained by immunizing mice with the biantennary sialyllactoside-KLH conjugate (13) together with MPL adjuvant were analyzed by ELISA. Using several structurally related saccharide-HSA conjugates as screening antigens, it was concluded that anti-sialyllactoside antibodies, both IgG and IgM, were effectively raised. This was further supported by competitive inhibition experiments using lactoside (1), sialyllactoside (8) and biantennary sialyllactoside (4) as inhibitors.