Performance, slaughter characteristics and meat quality of young bulls from Belgian Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus breeds fattened with a sugar-beet pulp or a cereal-based diet

Thirty-six young fattening bulls from three breeds (Belgian Blue, Limousin and Aberdeen Angus) were fattened over 5 months with fattening diets based either on sugar-beet pulp or on cereals. Fattening performance as well as carcass and meat characteristics were measured. There were few relevant effects of the diets on the parameters. The breeds also showed similar fattening features. However, the BB had higher killing-out proportion and their carcasses presented better scores in terms of conformation and fattening. The meat quality of the breeds differed, especially in terms of luminosity, redness and cooking losses. There were also significant influences of breed on the chemical composition of meat; fat content was lowest in Belgian Blue and highest in Aberdeen Angus. Such specificities could help to allocate breeds in appropriate niches in Belgium.

Synthesis and evaluation of a 99mTechnetium labeled chitin-binding protein as potential specific radioligand for the detection of fungal infections in mice

AIM

Radiopharmaceuticals can be used to exploit differences between microorganisms in order to distinguish fungal from bacterial infection. Chitin, abundant in the cell wall of fungi, is not present in mammalian or bacterial cells and therefore represents a highly specific target to localize fungal infection. In this study, we have examined the potential of chitin-binding protein (CBP21) from Serratia marcescens as a specific radiotracer for the detection of invasive fungal infections.

METHODS

CBP21 was labeled with 99mTc via hydrazinonicotinamide (HYNIC) and its characteristics were analyzed. In vitro binding studies with polymorphic chitin forms and microorganisms (fungi as well as bacteria) were performed. In vivo biodistribution of the compound was studied in immunocompromised mice with bacterial and fungal infections in the left and right thigh muscle, respectively, using 99mTc-HYNIC-myoglobin as size-matched control and 67Ga-citrate as positive control. Scintigraphic images were acquired at 1 and 7 h postinjection of the tracer.

RESULTS

99mTc-HYNIC-CBP21 was labeled with a radiochemical yield of 61% and a specific activity of 22.3 MBq/nmol. Highest in vitro binding percentages were found with beta-chitin (86.8+/-2.4%). Binding interactions to fungi were higher than to bacteria (P<0.05). In vivo, best ratios of fungal infection versus bacterial infection were seen at 5 and 7 h (3.6+/-1.2 and 2.9+/-1.4, respectively) postinjection of the tracer. Maximum uptake of the tracer in fungal infections (0.63+/-0.11%ID/g) at 7 h was significantly (P<0.05) higher than uptake seen in bacterial infections (0.34+/-0.11%ID/g) or the uptake of 99mTc-HYNIC-myoglobin (P<0.05) in the same infections (0.35+/-0.11%ID/g, respectively, 0.3+/-0.01%ID/g).

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that 99mTc-HYNIC-CBP21 is able to specifically interact with chitin in vitro. Scintigraphy and postmortem in vivo data indicate that 99mTc-HYNIC-CBP21 is able to distinguish fungal infection from bacterial infection probably due to a specific interaction of the protein with the chitin in the fungal cell wall.

Wound healing after paranasal sinus surgery: neutrophilic inflammation influences the outcome

AIMS

After failure of medical treatment, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) remains the best treatment for chronic sinusitis (CS) and nasal polyposis (NP). The precise mechanisms involved in wound healing after sinus surgery remain unclear. The aim of this study was to explore systematically the different histomorphological processes and cell populations involved in the wound repair of the paranasal mucosa.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Biopsy specimens from patients operated on for CS and NP were collected 1, 2 and 6 months after surgery and compared with baseline and control specimens. A pathologist blinded to biopsy status evaluated the haematoxylin/eosin-stained sections for oedema, fibrosis and inflammatory reaction, and the immunohistochemical preparations for epithelial replication, myofibroblasts, macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils. Samples from NP showed significantly more oedema than those from CS. At baseline, oedema showed a significant correlation with macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils, while fibrosis was inversely correlated with neutrophils. During healing, after a short increase at month 1, oedema decreased. Fibrosis and myofibroblasts showed an inverse relationship. Finally, during the postoperative period, both macrophages and neutrophils were increased when compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of the neutrophilic inflammation appears to influence the formation of fibrosis during wound repair after sinus surgery.

In vitro and in vivo targeting properties of iodine-123- or iodine-131-labeled monoclonal antibody 14C5 in a non-small cell lung cancer and colon carcinoma model

PURPOSE

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) 14C5 is a murine IgG1 directed against a yet undefined molecule involved in cell substrate adhesion found on the surface of malignant breast cancer tissue. mAb 14C5 is able to inhibit cell substrate adhesion and invasion of breast cancer cells in vitro. In normal tissues as well as in the stroma surrounding in situ carcinomas of the breast, no expression of the antigen 14C5 occurs. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo targeting properties of 123I- and 131I-labeled mAb 14C5 as a novel agent for radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Internalization of mAb 14C5 was investigated with 125I-labeled mAb 14C5 and by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Biodistribution studies of 131I-labeled mAb 14C5 and planar gamma imaging were done in nude mice bearing an A549 (non-small cell lung carcinoma) or a LoVo (colon carcinoma) tumor.

RESULTS

Internalization studies with both A549 and LoVo cells showed that 125I-labeled mAb 14C5 is slowly internalized with approximately 30% of the initially bound mAb 14C5 internalized after 2 hours at 37 degrees C. Internalization of mAb 14C5 could be visualized with confocal laser scanning microscopy. In vivo, radioisotope uptake peaked at 24 hours for both tumor models (n = 5) with no significant difference in percentage of injected dose/g tissue (A549 10.4 +/- 0.8 and LoVo 9.3 +/- 0.8). Via planar gamma camera imaging, A549 lung tumors as well as LoVo colon tumors could be clearly visualized.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vitro and in vivo targeting properties of 123I- and 131I-labeled mAb 14C5 are promising and could provide a new antibody-based agent for radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy of patients bearing antigen 14C5-expressing tumors.

Altered gut transcriptome in spondyloarthropathy

BACKGROUND

Intestinal inflammation is a common feature of spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and Crohn's disease. Inflammation is manifested clinically in Crohn's disease and subclinically in SpA. However, a fraction of patients with SpA develops overt Crohn's disease.

AIMS

To investigate whether subclinical gut lesions in patients with SpA are associated with transcriptome changes comparable to those seen in Crohn's disease and to examine global gene expression in non-inflamed colon biopsy specimens and screen patients for differentially expressed genes.

METHODS

Macroarray analysis was used as an initial genomewide screen for selecting a comprehensive set of genes relevant to Crohn's disease and SpA. This led to the identification of 2625 expressed sequence tags that are differentially expressed in the colon of patients with Crohn's disease or SpA. These clones, with appropriate controls (6779 in total), were used to construct a glass-based microarray, which was then used to analyse colon biopsy specimens from 15 patients with SpA, 11 patients with Crohn's disease and 10 controls.

RESULTS

95 genes were identified as differentially expressed in patients with SpA having a history of subclinical chronic gut inflammation and also in patients with Crohn's disease. Principal component analysis of this filtered set of genes successfully distinguished colon biopsy specimens from the three groups studied. Patients with SpA having subclinical chronic gut inflammation cluster together and are more related to those with Crohn's disease.

CONCLUSION

The transcriptome in the intestine of patients with SpA differs from that of controls. Moreover, these gene changes are comparable to those seen in patients with Crohn's disease, confirming initial clinical observations. On the basis of these findings, new (genetic) markers for detection of early Crohn's disease in patients with SpA can be considered.

CARD15 gene polymorphisms in patients with spondyloarthropathies identify a specific phenotype previously related to Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

The association between spondyloarthropathy and Crohn's disease is well known. A risk for evolution to Crohn's disease has already been shown in the subgroup of patients with spondyloarthropathy associated with chronic gut inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the reported polymorphisms in the CARD15 gene, a susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease, are associated with the presence of preclinical intestinal inflammation observed in spondyloarthropathies.

METHODS

104 patients with spondyloarthropathies were studied. All underwent ileocolonoscopy with biopsies between 1983 and 2004. The prevalence of three single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CARD15 gene (R702W, G908R, and 1007fs) was assessed using restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR); the patients were compared with an ethnically matched Crohn's disease population and a control population.

RESULTS

The carrier frequency of R702W, G908R, or 1007fs variants in the spondyloarthropathy populations (20%) was similar to the control population (17%), but increased to 38% in the spondyloarthropathy subgroup with chronic gut inflammation. This frequency was significantly higher than in the other spondyloarthropathy subgroups (p = 0.001) or the control group (p = 0.006), but not different from the Crohn's disease group (49%) (NS). This indicates that CARD15 polymorphisms are associated with a higher risk for development of chronic gut inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

CARD15 gene polymorphisms clearly identify a subgroup of patients with spondyloarthropathies associated with chronic intestinal inflammation.

CARD15 polymorphisms are associated with anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies in caucasian Crohn's disease patients

Carriage of CARD15 gene polymorphisms and the serological marker anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) are two markers for Crohn's disease (CD). Similar phenotypes have been associated with both markers. In the present study we analysed whether both markers were associated with each other and, if so, whether this association could be explained by a direct link or by an indirect association with those phenotypes. Therefore, we included 156 consecutive Caucasian CD patients and assessed the prevalence of the three common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the CARD15 gene. Serum samples were analysed for IgA and IgG ASCA by ELISA. CD patients with CARD15 polymorphisms were more frequently ASCA positive (OR 2.7 (1.4-5.2); P = 0.002) and had higher titres for ASCA IgA (P = 0.005) and ASCA IgG (P < 0.001) compared to patients carrying the wild type polymorphisms. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that this association was independent from ileal disease, penetrating disease and stricturing disease, the need for resective bowel surgery, familial cases, smoking habits and early age at onset. Homozygotes or compound heterozygotes for CARD15 polymorphisms had significantly more frequent ASCA positivity compared to single heterozygotes (OR 9.1 (1.1-74.2), P(c) (corrected P-value) = 0.030). These data indicate that there is a significant association between the carriage of CARD15 polymorphisms and ASCA, independent of the described phenotypes. Moreover, ASCA positivity is more frequent in CD patients carrying 2 CARD15 polymorphisms compared to single heterozygotes.

Neutrophil-derived metalloproteinase-9 predicts healing quality after sinus surgery

BACKGROUND

In a recent study, we have shown that gelatinase-B (metalloproteinase [MMP]-9) in nasal secretions can have both monitoring and predictive value on the healing outcome after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) to treat chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and nasal polyposis (NP). In this work, we aimed to explore the source of MMP-9 and the influence of inflammation on MMP-9 expression and release in nasal tissue and secretions during airway remodelling after surgery.

METHODS

Biopsies from 23 patients operated by FESS for CRS or NP were collected 1, 3, and 6 months after sinus surgery. MMP-9 expression in the paranasal mucosa was correlated with healing quality, with MMP-9 concentrations in nasal fluid, and with histomorphologic findings (edema, fibrosis, alphasmooth muscle actin, CD-68, myeloperoxidase, EG2, and transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta1 stainings).

RESULTS

MMP-9 concentrations in nasal fluid were paralleled by MMP-9 expression inside the extracellular matrix (ECM) after sinus surgery. MMP-9 expression in ECM was significantly correlated with healing quality (r = 0.378, P = .0181), and poor healers presented significantly more edema (P < .05). The amounts of MMP-9 in nasal fluid were significantly and independently predicted by the number of neutrophils (P = .0224) and macrophages (P = .0497) in the tissue. In contrast, MMP-9 expression was not related to fibrosis, number of myofibroblasts, or TGF-beta1 expression in ECM.

CONCLUSIONS

MMP-9 expression is increased in the ECM during wound healing and parallels concentrations of MMP-9 in nasal fluids. Inflammatory cells represent the major source of increased MMP-9 expression, which is linked to poor healing quality.

Organization of secondary lymphoid tissue and local IgE formation to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins in nasal polyp tissue

BACKGROUND

Bilateral nasal polyposis (NP) is characterized by high concentrations of IgE in NP tissue, which show no relation to the atopic status. We aimed to study the relationship between systemic and local IgE formation, nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and nasal polyposis.

METHODS

In serum and nasal tissue homogenates from 24 NP patients and 12 controls, we determined concentrations of total IgE and IgE antibodies to inhalant allergens and S. aureus enterotoxins (SAEs; A,B,C,D,E,TSST) by ImmunoCAP. Tissue cryosections were stained for CD3, CD20, CD38, CD23, FcepsilonRI, IgE and SEA/SEB.

RESULTS

We demonstrated a higher incidence of S. aureus colonization (17/24) and IgE antibodies to SAEs in NP tissue (12/24) compared with controls (3/12 and 0/12, respectively). Total IgE and IgE antibodies in serum and NP tissue were dissociated because of local polyclonal IgE formation in NP tissue. Staining of NP tissue revealed follicular structures characterized by B and T cells, and lymphoid accumulations with diffuse plasma cell infiltration.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated the organization of secondary lymphoid tissue in polyp tissue and a polyclonal hyper-immunoglobulinemia E associated with the presence of IgE antibodies to SAEs, colonization with S. aureus, and tissue eosinophilia in a relevant subgroup of polyp patients.

X linked agammaglobulinaemia and rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Much interest has been shown recently in the pathogenic role of B cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) owing to the marked clinical responses to anti-CD20 treatment in RA.

CASE REPORT

A patient with X linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) presented with an erosive symmetric polyarthritis with histological features of RA, including formation of a destructive pannus. Furthermore, the patient developed subcutaneous nodules that were histologically indistinguishable from rheumatoid nodules. Surprisingly, lymphocytic infiltrates in both the synovium and nodule consisted almost exclusively of CD8+ T cells.

DISCUSSION

Although some peculiar B cell subsets have been described in patients with XLA, no B cell subsets could be demonstrated in synovial tissue or the subcutaneous nodule. This case illustrates that classical RA can develop in the absence of mature B cells.

99mTc-HYNIC Annexin-V imaging of primary head and neck carcinoma

In this study, the potential of 99mTc-HYNIC Annexin-V scintigraphy to visualize primary head and neck carcinoma was assessed and compared with computed tomography (CT) findings and histology. Eighteen patients suspected of having primary head and neck carcinoma underwent a spiral CT scan and 99mTc-HYNIC Annexin-V scintigraphy within 1 week of each other, followed by resection of the suspected lesion. Results obtained by CT and scintigraphy were compared vs. histopathology. The diagnosis was primary head and neck carcinoma in 18 patients, accompanied by lymph node involvement in seven patients. 99mTc-HYNIC Annexin-V uptake was identified in five patients on planar images and in 17 patients on tomographic images (single-photon emission computed tomography, SPECT), corresponding to the pathological regions identified by CT. In the remaining patient, CT and 99mTc-HYNIC Annexin-V scintigraphy were false negative. In 11 patients, SPECT and CT scan were concordant, identifying all primary lesions and two sites of lymph node involvement. In the six remaining patients, CT and SPECT accurately identified the primary lesion, but were discordant with regard to the existence of lymph node involvement. In five of six patients, SPECT failed to identify lymph node involvement, whereas CT scan did not. In the remaining patient, CT scan was false positive for lymph node involvement, whereas SPECT was not. In this series, 99mTc-HYNIC Annexin-V allowed for the visualization of all primary head and neck tumours identified by CT scan, but failed to identify most of the sites of lymph node involvement.

Radiological sacroiliitis, a hallmark of spondylitis, is linked with CARD15 gene polymorphisms in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND

Sacroiliitis is a common extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease but its association with the HLA-B27 phenotype is less evident. Polymorphisms in the CARD15 gene have been linked to higher susceptibility for Crohn's disease. In particular, associations have been found with ileal and fibrostenosing disease, young age at onset of disease, and familial cases.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether the presence of sacroiliitis in patients with Crohn's disease is linked to the carriage of CARD15 polymorphisms.

METHODS

102 consecutive patients with Crohn's disease were clinically evaluated by a rheumatologist. Radiographs of the sacroiliac joints were taken and assessed blindly by two investigators. The RFLP-PCR technique was used to genotype all patients for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the CARD15 gene. Every SNP was verified by direct sequencing. The HLA-B27 phenotype was determined.

RESULTS

Radiological evidence of sacroiliitis with or without ankylosing spondylitis was found in 23 patients (23%), of whom only three were HLA-B27 positive. In contrast, 78% of patients with sacroiliitis carried a CARD15 variant v 48% of those without sacroiliitis (p = 0.01; odds ratio 3.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 11.5)). Multivariate analysis (logistic regression) showed that the association between sacroiliitis and CARD15 polymorphisms was independent of other CARD15 related phenotypes (ileal and fibrostenosing disease, young age at onset of disease, familial Crohn's disease) (p = 0.039).

CONCLUSIONS

CARD15 variants were identified as genetic predictors of Crohn's disease related sacroiliitis. An association was demonstrated between these polymorphisms and an extraintestinal manifestation of Crohn's disease.

Hypercholesterolaemia in a family of rough collie dogs

A family of five privately owned rough collie dogs was referred for corneal lipidosis and also suffered from hypercholesterolaemia. The hypercholesterolaemia was characterised by an increase in the alpha-2 high density lipoprotein-1 band and was due to an increase in the cholesterol content of the very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and possibly the high density lipoprotein-1 fractions. A low-fat and energy-restricted diet did not reduce either total cholesterol or the corneal lipidosis. Corneal lipidosis regressed with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide supplementation. However, the effects of short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides on total cholesterol were transient and variable.

Radiolabeling, biodistribution, and dosimetry of (123)I-mAb 14C5: a new mAb for radioimmunodetection of tumor growth and metastasis in vivo

This study reports on the in vitro evaluation, biodistribution, and dosimetry of (123)I-labeled monoclonal antibody (mAb) 14C5, a new antibody-based agent proposed for radioimmunodetection of tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

METHODS

(123)I-mAb 14C5 was prepared by direct iodination and tested for stability in vitro. Binding assays were performed on human SK-BR-3 and HeLa carcinoma cells to investigate the antigen expression, antibody affinity, and kinetics of tracer binding. For the biodistribution and dosimetry study, 3- to 4-wk-old NMRI mice were injected intravenously with (123)I-mAb 14C5 (148.0 +/- 7.4 kBq per mouse) and killed at preset time intervals. Organs, blood, urine, and feces were counted for radioactivity uptake, and the data were expressed as the percentage injected dose per gram tissue (%ID/g tissue) or %ID. The MIRDOSE3.0 program was applied to extrapolate the estimated absorbed radiation doses for various organs to the human reference adult.

RESULTS

(123)I-mAb 14C5 was obtained in radiochemical yields of 85.0% +/- 2.5% and radiochemical purities were >97%. The iodinated antibody demonstrated good in vitro stability with 93.6% +/- 0.1% of (123)I-mAb 14C5 remaining intact at 24 h after radiolabeling. (123)I-mAb 14C5 bound to SK-BR-3 cells (dissociation constant [K(d)] approximately 0.85 +/- 0.17 nmol/L) and HeLa cells (K(d) approximately 1.71 +/- 0.17 nmol/L) with nanomolar affinity and high specificity, whereas both cell types exhibited a high CA14C5 antigen expression (maximum number of binding sites [B(max)] = 40.6 +/- 5.2 and 57.1 +/- 9.6 pmol/L, respectively). In mice, (123)I-mAb 14C5 accumulated primarily in lungs (20.4 %ID/g), liver (15.1 %ID/g), and kidneys (11.1 %ID/g) within 5 min after injection. A delayed uptake was observed in stomach (12.8 %ID/g) and urinary bladder (8.7 %ID/g) at 3 and 6 h, respectively, after injection. Radioactivity clearance was predominantly urinary, with 44.9 +/- 4.5 %ID excreted during the initial 48 h after administration (cumulative amount). The highest absorbed radiation doses determined for the human reference adult were received by the urinary bladder wall (0.1200-0.1210 mGy/MBq), liver (0.0137-0.0274 mGy/MBq), uterus (0.0196-0.0207 mGy/MBq), and lower large intestine wall (0.0139-0.0258 mGy/MBq). The average effective dose resulting from a single (123)I-mAb 14C5 injection was estimated to be 0.017-0.022 mSv/MBq.

CONCLUSION

(123)I-mAb 14C5 shows good in vitro biologic activity and favorable biodistribution properties for imaging carcinomas of different origin and provides an acceptable radiation dose to the patient.

Cervical smears and human papillomavirus typing in sex workers

OBJECTIVES

Sex workers are at increased risk for sexually transmitted infections (STI), human papillomavirus (HPV) and hence cervical cancer. In Belgium screening for cervical cancer starts at the age of 25, and is at 3 yearly intervals. The aim of this study is to assess risks for abnormal cervical smears and HPV in sex workers and decide whether the current screening policy is sufficient for them.

METHODS

In an outreach programme for sex workers results of 653 smears sampled between 1992 and 2001 were analysed, and compared to a control group matched for age from the general population in 2001. Separately, 99 consecutive samples were typed for HPV and compared to an equal control group, matched for age. Smears and typing were performed according to current techniques.

RESULTS

In the sex worker group 2.6% were diagnosed with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance (AGUS)/atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 15.6% with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), and 2.9% with high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), and in the control group results were 1.4%, 2.9% (p<0.001) and 0.6% (p<0.001) respectively. When considering only those under 25 years, 24.4% should have further follow up. Of the sex workers, 77.4% were positive for one or more types of HPV (55.9% for high risk HPV), in comparison with 27.6% of the control group (14.3% for high risk HPV) (p<0.001). In high risk HPV samples more LSIL and HSIL were found.

CONCLUSION

Abnormal smears and high risk HPV were significantly more prevalent in sex workers than in controls. Current screening policy would miss many sex workers with an abnormal smear who should be referred for further follow up. It is proposed to screen sex workers when they enter prostitution regardless of their age.

Metastatic follicular dendritic cell sarcoma of the stomach: a case report and review of the literature

Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcomas are rare tumours, typically seen in lymph nodes. However, in about one third of the reported cases, a FDC sarcoma presents as an extranodal mass. Involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is extremely rare, and only 3 cases have been described to date. We report on a 40-year-old female patient with a follicular dendritic cell sarcoma located in the stomach and the presence of a metastasis in the liver at the time of diagnosis. Severe asthenia, nausea, back pain and loss of weight were the presenting symptoms. A CT scan of the abdomen and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a tumour mass in the stomach. The diagnosis of a FDC sarcoma was made on histological and immunohistochemical findings. We report the second case of a FDC sarcoma presenting in the stomach. Due to its rarity, a FDC sarcoma seldom enters the differential diagnosis of spindle cells neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice for FDC sarcoma.

Ad libitum feeding following ovariectomy in female Beagle dogs: effect on maintenance energy requirement and on blood metabolites

The aim of this study was (i) to evaluate the effect of ovariectomy on daily energy requirement in Beagle dogs, and (ii) to evaluate the effects of ad libitum feeding with a high energy diet on energy consumption, body weight gain and blood metabolites in these spayed dogs. Four young adult female Beagle dogs were used. Ovariectomy induced a significant decrease of daily energy requirement in dogs. Ad libitum feeding, initiated 6 months after spaying, induced a significant increase in consumption in spayed dogs. This overconsumption was greatest during the first month of ad libitum feeding but continued for the entire 4 months of this period. When fed ad libitum, dogs gained excess body weight without significant effect on plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and insulin, at short term. These data suggest that energy intake should be strictly controlled to avoid excess weight gain in spayed dogs.

Relationship of 99mTc-HYNIC annexin V uptake to microvessel density, FasL and MMP-9 expression, and the number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in head and neck carcinoma

This study reports on the relationship between quantitative (99m)Tc-HYNIC radiolabelled annexin V tumour uptake measurements, Fas ligand (FasL) expression, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression, microvessel density (MVD) and the number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) patients. Twenty-eight patients (24 men and 4 women; mean age 59 years, range 43-83 years) suffering from a primary ( n, number of patients=22) or locally recurrent ( n=6) SCCHN were studied. All patients underwent a spiral CT scan, allowing estimation of lesion size in three dimensions, and (99m)Tc-HYNIC annexin V scintigraphy within 1 week of each other. Biopsies or resection of the suspected primary tumour or local recurrence for histopathological analysis were performed on all patients within a period of 10 days following (99m)Tc-HYNIC annexin V scintigraphy. The percentage uptake of the injected dose of (99m)Tc-HYNIC annexin V in visible tumour lesions on scintigrams divided by the tumour volume, derived from CT, was related to MVD and to histological score (HSCORE) values for MMP-9 and FasL expression as well as to the number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (CD45 staining). Median percentage absolute tumour uptake of the injected dose/cm(3) tumour volume derived from tomographic images was 0.0001% (SD 0.0001%) at 5-6 h p.i. (range: 0.000007-0.0003%). Mean HSCORE for MMP-9 tumour staining was 2.1 (SD 0.84). Mean HSCORE for FasL tumour staining was 2.49 (SD 0.92). At the sites of tumour containing the highest number of vessels, the mean MVD was 20 vessels/field at the hot spot (range 1-73). The median number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes was 500 (range 100-5,000). The percentage absolute tumour uptake of the injected dose/cm(3) tumour volume derived from tomographic images correlated linearly with FasL HSCORES( r=0.47, P=0.02). No correlation was found between the percentage absolute tumour uptake of the injected dose/cm(3) tumour volume derived from tomographic images and MMP-9 HSCORES, MVD or the number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. MVD correlated significantly with MMP-9 HSCORES ( r=0.44, P=0.03).

Caspase inhibition causes hyperacute tumor necrosis factor-induced shock via oxidative stress and phospholipase A2

Dysregulated apoptotic cell death contributes to many pathological conditions, including sepsis, prompting the suggestion that caspase inhibition to block apoptosis could have useful therapeutic applications. Because the cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF, also known as TNF-alpha) is both pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory and is involved in septic shock, we tested whether caspase inhibition would alleviate TNF-induced toxicity in vivo. General caspase inhibition by the protease inhibitor zVAD-fmk exacerbated TNF toxicity by enhancing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, resulting in hyperacute hemodynamic collapse, kidney failure and death. Thus, survival of TNF toxicity depends on caspase-dependent processes. Our results demonstrated the pathophysiological relevance of caspase-independent, ROS-mediated pathways in response to lethal TNF-induced shock in mice. In addition, survival of TNF toxicity seemed to require a caspase-dependent protective feedback on excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and phospholipase A2 activation.

Gut inflammation and spondyloarthropathies

Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are a group of related disorders with common clinical and genetic characteristics. The prototype disease in this group is ankylosing spondylitis; other entities include reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and arthritis in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Over recent years, there has been a special interest in the relation between spondylitis/synovitis and gut inflammation in patients with SpA. Two thirds of patients with undifferentiated SpA show histologic signs of gut inflammation, and a fraction of these patients go on to develop clinically overt Crohn's disease. In this review, the authors will focus on 1) the growing evidence that has been provided that gut inflammation in SpA is immunologically related to Crohn's disease, based on the molecular characterization of the inflammation (lymphocyte homing markers and ligands, T cell cytokines, macrophage markers, and serology); and 2) on the therapeutic implications resulting from this concept. The recent introduction and positioning of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and other types of SpA is, in large part, based on this concept.

Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging of pancreatic VIPoma in a patient with Verner-Morrison syndrome

We describe a rare case of a pancreatic VIPoma diagnosed in a patient presenting with watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and achlorhydria, the so-called WDHA or Verner-Morrison syndrome. Emphasis is placed on the dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR profile of the tumor, characteristics which have not been illustrated previously, to the best of our knowledge.