Isolation of Bdellovibrio as biological therapeutic agents used for the treatment of Aeromonas hydrophila infection in fish

Fourteen strains of Bdellovibrio-like organisms were isolated from cultured fish ponds using Aeromonas hydrophila J-1 as host, one of them formed large plaques after 48 h of incubation at 28 degrees C on a double layer plate, designated as Bdellovibrio C-1. The Bdellovibrio was confirmed by electron microscopy and PCR amplification of Bdellovibrio-specific 16S rDNA. The optimum temperature for the growth of BdC-1 was between 15-37 degrees C and with optimal activity at temperatures of 25-30 degrees C. The ability of BdC-1 to lyse A. hydrophila was similar in the pH range of 6.5 to 8.5. It can lyse 23 Gram-negative bacterial strains comprising three genera of fish pathogens and one strain of Escherichia coli but cannot lyse Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus subtillis and Staphylococcus aureus. Immersion of fish in water containing different concentrations of BdC-1 was used in protection against an experimental infection of A. hydrophila J-1. Results show that the mortality of groups immersed with BdC-1 was lower than the group without BdC-1. These results suggest that it may be possible to use Bdellovibrio to control the disease caused by A. hydrophila.

Terahertz spectroscopy of plasmonic fractals

We use terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to study the transmission properties of metallic films perforated with aperture arrays having deterministic or stochastic fractal morphologies ("plasmonic fractals"), and compare them with random aperture arrays. All of the measured plasmonic fractals show transmission resonances and antiresonances at frequencies that correspond to prominent features in their structure factors in k space. However, in sharp contrast to periodic aperture arrays, the resonant transmission enhancement decreases with increasing array size. This property is explained using a density-density correlation function, and is utilized for determining the underlying fractal dimensionality, D(<2). Furthermore, a sum rule for the transmission resonances and antiresonances in plasmonic fractals relative to the transmission of the corresponding random aperture arrays is obtained, and is shown to be universal.

Shape of disorder-broadened Landau subbands in graphene

In this Letter, we calculate the density of states of graphene under a highly uniform magnetic field and white-noise random potential. We discover that the disorder-broadened zero-energy Landau band has a Gaussian shape and its width is proportional to the random potential variance and the square root of magnetic field. We also use the Wegner-type calculation to justify our simulation results.

Effects of Celecoxib and Nimesulide on the Proliferation of Ectopic Endometrial Stromal Cells in vitro

The effects of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors on the proliferation of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in vitro were investigated. Ectopic endometrial stromal cells were treated with either celecoxib or nimesulide for 24 and 48 h. The results showed that (i) both celecoxib and nimesulide inhibited the proliferation of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in vitro in a time- and dose-dependent manner; (ii) the expression of prostaglandin E2 was significantly inhibited by both celecoxib and nimesulide in a dose-dependent manner; (iii) the percentage of apoptotic cells was significantly higher for cells treated with celecoxib or nimesulide than for untreated cells; and (iv) the percentage of the cells in the G0/G1 phase increased after the cells were treated with either agent in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest that celecoxib and nimesulide inhibited proliferation of ectopic endometrial stromal cells by inducing apoptosis and blocking the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase.

The dielectric properties of Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)Cr(x)Ti(1-x)O(3) thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

Ba(0.6)Sr(0.4)Cr(x)Ti(1-x)O(3) (BSCT) films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition with the value of x varying from 0 mol% to 2.0 mol%. X-ray diffraction analysis detected an increase in the lattice parameters, which could be due to the characteristics of the growth process. Dielectric properties and tunability of the BSCT films were measured. The dissipation factors of the films decreased with increasing Cr-concentration. The highest figure of merit (FOM) value of 33.3 was obtained in 1.0 mol%-doped BSCT film. As a result, the effect of Cr doping is positive.

Combined subtemporal and retrosigmoid keyhole approach for extensive petroclival meningioma surgery: report of experience with 7 cases

OBJECTIVE

Resection of petroclival meningiomas offers great challenges to the neurosurgeons. Our experience of 7 cases using a combined subtemporal and retrosigmoid keyhole approach surgery was evaluated for the treatment of extensive petroclival meningiomas.

METHODS

From July 2002 to July 2005, resections of 7 petroclival meningiomas, which involved both supra- and infratentorial regions, were performed via a combined subtemporal and retrosigmoid keyhole approach. The extent of tumor resection was evaluated by MRI 3 months after surgery, and postoperative complications were investigated.

RESULTS

The maximum diameter of the tumors ranged from 3.4 to 6.0 cm (mean: 4.4 cm). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 3 cases, giving a GTR rate of 43%. Subtotal resection (STR) was carried out in 4 cases. Neurological status remained intact in one case, while others presented with cranial nerve deficits (VII, VI, V, III and lower CN). No death was reported in the cases during the postoperative period.

CONCLUSION

The combined keyhole approach is suitable for the treatment of extensive petroclival meningiomas. It provides easy and quick access to the supra- and infratentorial juxtaclival region without any petrous bone drilling. Complications related to the approach can be minimized.

Circulating FGF-21 levels in normal subjects and in newly diagnose patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus

Fibroplast growth factor (FGF-21) is a recently discovered metabolic regulator. Its pathophysiologic role in humans remains unknown. In this study, we have investigated whether or not plasma FGF-21 level was different in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non-diabetic controls. We also assessed associations between plasma FGF-21 body composition and several metabolic parameters. Fasting FGF-21 levels were significantly increased in patients with T2DM compared with controls (1.82+/-0.65 VS. 1.53+/-0.60 microg/L, P<0.05). In T2DM patients, fasting plasma FGF-21 correlate negatively with fasting blood glucose ( R= -0.31, P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that FBG, plasma insulin and HOMA (IS) were independent influencing plasma FGF-21 levels. The present work suggests a potential role for FGF-21 in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and T2DM.

Use of pyrosequencing to identify point mutations in domain V of 23S rRNA genes of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis

A pyrosequencing assay was used for the rapid characterization of linezolid-resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. The assay identified base substitutions in copies of the 23S rRNA gene and determined the percentage of alleles with the mutation. Modifications of the assay were necessary to identify all mutations in the 23S rRNA genes of S. epidermidis that were associated with linezolid resistance. A C2534T mutation was identified in S. epidermidis that was not previously reported in a linezolid-resistant isolate.

Evaluation of a micro carrier weighted coagulation flocculation process for the treatment of combined sewer overflow

Modified bench scale jar tests were conducted to evaluate a treatment strategy for combined sewer overflow (CSO) generated during wet-weather conditions in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Alum and an anionic polymer (Polymer A-3330) were used as a primary coagulant and coagulant aid, respectively. Commercially available silica sand was employed as the micro carrier. Under the operating conditions optimized in the study, alum dose of 9.7 - 17.8 mg l(-1) as Al3+ and polymer dosage of 1.0 - 1.8 mg l(-1) were observed to be the most effective in solids removal. Addition of the micro carrier (MC) up to 3 g l(-1) significantly increased the settleability of suspended solids, and about a five-fold increase in settleability was observed with 3 g l(-1) MC. In the size range of < 300 microm and at 3 g l(-1) concentration, the effect of MC size on the performance of the process was observed to be insignificant. Using the developed process, suspended solids and BOD removal efficiencies of > 98% and > 60%, respectively, were obtained with wet-weather flow after 8 minutes of settling, under both low and high suspended solids conditions.

Intestinal tight junction in allograft after small bowel transplantation

INTRODUCTION

In the intestinal physical barrier, tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells play a central role. There is increasing evidence that rejection after small bowel transplantation promotes intestinal barrier injury to allografts. Our aim was to study the morphological changes of tight junctions in allografts during rejection.

METHODS

Small bowel transplantation was performed using the F344 to Lewis rat model. Animals were divided into three groups: isogeneic controls, acute rejection group, and chronic rejection group. Allograft rejection was characterized by hemotoxylin and eosin staining of mucosal tissue sections. Tight junctions in grafts were investigated by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Acutely rejected allografts showed severe mucosal injury and completely loosened tight junctions, while chronically rejected allografts revealed less mucosal injury and remained with partial integrity of their tight junctions.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated for the first time the morphological alterations of tight junctions in allograft mucosa during acute and chronic rejections, suggesting disruption of tight junctions was relative to the intestinal inflammatory processes.