Nonuniform Cardiac Denervation Observed by 11C-meta-Hydroxyephedrine PET in 6-OHDA-Treated Monkeys

Parkinson's disease presents nonmotor complications such as autonomic dysfunction that do not respond to traditional anti-parkinsonian therapies. The lack of established preclinical monkey models of Parkinson's disease with cardiac dysfunction hampers development and testing of new treatments to alleviate or prevent this feature. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of developing a model of cardiac dysautonomia in nonhuman primates and preclinical evaluations tools. Five rhesus monkeys received intravenous injections of 6-hydroxydopamine (total dose: 50 mg/kg). The animals were evaluated before and after with a battery of tests, including positron emission tomography with the norepinephrine analog 11C-meta-hydroxyephedrine. Imaging 1 week after neurotoxin treatment revealed nearly complete loss of specific radioligand uptake. Partial progressive recovery of cardiac uptake found between 1 and 10 weeks remained stable between 10 and 14 weeks. In all five animals, examination of the pattern of uptake (using Logan plot analysis to create distribution volume maps) revealed a persistent region-specific significant loss in the inferior wall of the left ventricle at 10 (P<0.001) and 14 weeks (P<0.01) relative to the anterior wall. Blood levels of dopamine, norepinephrine (P<0.05), epinephrine, and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (P<0.01) were notably decreased after 6-hydroxydopamine at all time points. These results demonstrate that systemic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine in nonhuman primates creates a nonuniform but reproducible pattern of cardiac denervation as well as a persistent loss of circulating catecholamines, supporting the use of this method to further develop a monkey model of cardiac dysautonomia

Infekcje dermatofitowe u osob powracajacych z tropiku

Over the years 1996-1997 mycological examination were performed in 367 persons with cutaneous lesions, returning from the tropics. Fungal infection was diagnosed in 141 patients. Twenty nine (42.65%) of the cases were of single-focal, 32 (47.06%) of bifocal and 7 (10.29%) of multifocal nature. One hundred forty one isolates included 50 (35.6%) moulds 23 (16.3%) yeast - like fungi and 68 (48.1%) dermatophytes. Genus classification of the dermatophytes was as follows: Microsporum - 16 (23.5%), Epidermophyton - 15 (22.1%), Trichophyton - 37 (54.4%). Over the years 1996-1997 the following dermatophyte species were isolated: M audouini, M. ferrugineum, M canis, T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum, T. tonsurans, T. violaceum, E. floccosum. Microsporum genus was isolated from persons returning from East, West and Central Africa, and from South Europe, Trichophyton genus was isolated from persons returning from Asia and South America

DERMATOPHYTE INFECTIONS IN PERSONS RETURNING FROM THE TROPICS

Over the years 1996-1997 mycological examination were performed in 367 persons with cutaneous lesions, returning from the tropics. Fungal infection was diagnosed in 141 patients. Twenty nine (42.65%) of the cases were of single-focal, 32 (47.06%) of bifocal and 7 (10.29%) of multifocal nature. One hundred forty one isolates included 50 (35.6%) moulds 23 (16.3%) yeast - like fungi and 68 (48.1%) dermatophytes. Genus classification of the dermatophytes was as follows: Microsporum - 16 (23.5%), Epidermophyton - 15 (22.1%), Trichophyton - 37 (54.4%). Over the years 1996-1997 the following dermatophyte species were isolated: M audouini, M. ferrugineum, M canis, T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum, T. tonsurans, T. violaceum, E. floccosum. Microsporum genus was isolated from persons returning from East, West and Central Africa, and from South Europe, Trichophyton genus was isolated from persons returning from Asia and South America

RECTOSCOPIC VIEW OF LARGE INTESTINE MUCOSA OF PATIENTS WITH CANDIDA INFECTION

Mycotic infections are an increasing diagnostic and therapeutic problem in pathology of the alimentary tract. The work shows the results of research on the large intestine candidosis. The following invasive factors were isolated: Candida albicans, C. guilliermondi, C. pseudotropicalis, C. tropicalis. Rectoscopic views were described. In severe C. albicans infections HIV test were performed. Four patients were HIV positive

Blona sluzowa jelita grubego w obrazie rektoskopowym u osob z inwazja Candida

Mycotic infections are an increasing diagnostic and therapeutic problem in pathology of the alimentary tract. The work shows the results of research on the large intestine candidosis. The following invasive factors were isolated: Candida albicans, C. guilliermondi, C. pseudotropicalis, C. tropicalis. Rectoscopic views were described. In severe C. albicans infections HIV test were performed. Four patients were HIV positive

Infekcje Toxocara w swietle materialow wlasnych

Toxocarosis clinical forms wers diagnosed according to KRAUS et al. (1995). There were three forms: l) asymptomatic - marked by hypereosynophilia and ELISA positive serologic reaction, 2) minor - with cutaneous, pulmomary and pseudorheumatic lesions, 3) major – with hepatosplenomegaly and multifocal inflammatory lesions of organ or sight. Over the years of 1994-1997 in Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases clinic of the Voivodship Specialist Hospital of Łódź we found and treated 137 Toxocara canis cases. Among them 63 (46.0%) asymptomatic, 57 (42.6%) minor and 17 (12.4%) major forms were diagnosed. The disease was detected in 80 (58.4%) adults and 57 (41.6%) children. Seventy six patients lived i towns and 61 in country. Minor form patients had the symptoms as follows: skin allergy, large joints lesions, augmentation in lymph nodes. Radiology examinations revealed pulmonary lesions. Using ultrasonography there was found hepatosplenomegaly and changes echogenity in patiems with major form. Biochemical tests showed elevation in hepatic enzymes activity. Lesions of organ of sight were multifocal and usually included uveitis, retinitis, inflammation of anterior chamber and inflammation of vitreous body

OWN CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS OF TOXOCARA INFECTIONS

Toxocarosis clinical forms wers diagnosed according to KRAUS et al. (1995). There were three forms: l) asymptomatic - marked by hypereosynophilia and ELISA positive serologic reaction, 2) minor - with cutaneous, pulmomary and pseudorheumatic lesions, 3) major – with hepatosplenomegaly and multifocal inflammatory lesions of organ or sight. Over the years of 1994-1997 in Infectious, Parasitic and Tropical Diseases clinic of the Voivodship Specialist Hospital of Łódź we found and treated 137 Toxocara canis cases. Among them 63 (46.0%) asymptomatic, 57 (42.6%) minor and 17 (12.4%) major forms were diagnosed. The disease was detected in 80 (58.4%) adults and 57 (41.6%) children. Seventy six patients lived i towns and 61 in country. Minor form patients had the symptoms as follows: skin allergy, large joints lesions, augmentation in lymph nodes. Radiology examinations revealed pulmonary lesions. Using ultrasonography there was found hepatosplenomegaly and changes echogenity in patiems with major form. Biochemical tests showed elevation in hepatic enzymes activity. Lesions of organ of sight were multifocal and usually included uveitis, retinitis, inflammation of anterior chamber and inflammation of vitreous body

Xylose donor transport is critical for fungal virulence.

Cryptococcus neoformans, an AIDS-defining opportunistic pathogen, is the leading cause of fungal meningitis worldwide and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. Cryptococcal glycans are required for fungal survival in the host and for pathogenesis. Most glycans are made in the secretory pathway, although the activated precursors for their synthesis, nucleotide sugars, are made primarily in the cytosol. Nucleotide sugar transporters are membrane proteins that solve this topological problem, by exchanging nucleotide sugars for the corresponding nucleoside phosphates. The major virulence factor of C. neoformans is an anti-phagocytic polysaccharide capsule that is displayed on the cell surface; capsule polysaccharides are also shed from the cell and impede the host immune response. Xylose, a neutral monosaccharide that is absent from model yeast, is a significant capsule component. Here we show that Uxt1 and Uxt2 are both transporters specific for the xylose donor, UDP-xylose, although they exhibit distinct subcellular localization, expression patterns, and kinetic parameters. Both proteins also transport the galactofuranose donor, UDP-galactofuranose. We further show that Uxt1 and Uxt2 are required for xylose incorporation into capsule and protein; they are also necessary for C. neoformans to cause disease in mice, although surprisingly not for fungal viability in the context of infection. These findings provide a starting point for deciphering the substrate specificity of an important class of transporters, elucidate a synthetic pathway that may be productively targeted for therapy, and contribute to our understanding of fundamental glycobiology