Tuberculous granulomatous inflammation associated with adenoma of parathyroid gland manifesting as primary hyperparathyroidism

A 36-year-old female presented with generalized bone pain, muscular weakness and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. The biochemical findings and skeletal survey was suggestive of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). CT of neck and thorax showed enlarged multiple lymph nodes in the cervical and superior mediastinal region. With a diagnosis of PHPT she underwent cervical exploration and excision of enlarged right inferior parathyroid gland along with biopsy of nodes were done. Histopathology revealed the features of right parathyroid adenoma with few foci of epithelioid granuloma and granulomatous lymphadenitis. AFB smear and culture sensitivity was negative. A positive PCR for Mycobacterium tuberculosis of the homogenates of parathyroid tumor confirmed tuberculous inflammation within the parathyroid adenoma. To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of parathyroid adenoma associated with tuberculous pathology in a case of PHPT.

Isolated Pneumocystis carinii infection of adrenal glands causing Addison's disease in a non-immunocompromised adult

Pneumocystis carinii is primarily an opportunistic pathogen infecting patients with AIDS and other immunocompromised patients, and ordinarily does not affect immunocompetent persons. We report isolated P. carinii infection of bilateral adrenal glands in a non-immunocompromised adult male, leading to fatal Addisonian crisis. Diagnosis of P. carinii was established on the basis of cytopathology and microbiological tests, using conventional staining techniques and direct immunofluorescence on ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirates and trucut needle biopsy specimen from adrenal glands. P. carinii pneumonia and other fungal infections of the adrenal glands were excluded by appropriate tests. Absence of HIV infection was established by negative ELISA for HIV I and II antibodies and Western blot analysis at the time of presentation and 45 d later. Normal blood total leukocyte and CD4 lymphocyte counts and IgG and IgA levels confirmed the immunocompetent status of the patient. The patient improved with anti-Pneumocystis treatment and corticosteroid replacement, but succumbed to an episode of Addisonian crisis triggered by a diarrheal illness.

Growth of Steptomyces hygroscopicus in rotating-wall bioreactor under simulated microgravity inhibits rapamycin production

Growth of Streptomyces hygroscopicus under conditions of simulated microgravity in a rotating-wall bioreactor resulted in a pellet form of growth, lowered dry cell weight, and inhibition of rapamycin production. With the addition of Teflon beads to the bioreactor, growth became much less pelleted, dry cell weight increased but rapamycin production was still markedly inhibited. Growth under simulated microgravity favored extracellular production of rapamycin, in contrast to a greater percentage of cell-bound rapamycin observed under normal gravity conditions.

Relief from glucose interference in microcin B17 biosynthesis by growth in a rotating-wall bioreactor

Glucose interference in production of microcin B17 by Escherichia coli ZK650 was decreased sevenfold by growth in a ground-based rotating-wall bioreactor operated in the simulated microgravity mode as compared with growth in flasks. When cells were grown in the bioreactor in the normal gravity mode, relief from glucose interference was even more dramatic, amounting to a decrease in glucose interference of over 100-fold.

Electronic spectra of adenine and 2-aminopurine: an ab initio study of energy level diagrams of different tautomers in gas phase and aqueous solution

Ground and lowest two singlet excited state geometries of four tautomeric forms (N9H, N7H, N3H and N1H) of each of adenine and 2-aminopurine (2AP) were optimized using an ab initio approach employing a mixed basis set (6-311 + G* on the nitrogen atom of the amino group and 4-31G basis set on the other atoms). Excited states were generated employing configuration interaction involving single electron excitations (CIS). Subsequently, the different species were solvated in water employing the self-consistent reaction field (SCRF) approach along with the corresponding gas phase optimized geometries. Thus the observed absorption and fluorescence spectra of adenine and 2AP have been explained successfully. It is concluded that both the N9H and N7H forms of 2AP would contribute to absorption and fluorescence spectra. Further, the fluorescence of 2AP would be absorbed by its cation in which both the N9 and N7 atoms are protonated, the fluorescence of which can have an anti-Stokes component. Among the different tautomers of adenine, the N9H form would be present dominantly in the ground state in aqueous solutions but the N7H form would be produced by energy transfer and subsequent fluorescence. The N3H form of adenine appears to be responsible for the observed absorption near 300 nm by its solutions intermittently exposed to ultraviolet radiation. The rings of the different species related to 2AP and adenine remain almost planar in the pi-pi* and n-pi* singlet excited states as in the ground state. The pyramidal character of the amino group is usually less in the pi-pi* excited states than that in the corresponding ground or n-pi* excited states. Molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) maps of the molecules provide useful clues regarding phototautomerism.

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat aorta and main pulmonary artery by the phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein

OBJECTIVE

The dietary phytoestrogens genistein and daidzein have been shown to relax agonist-preconstricted arteries in vitro; the mechanisms of relaxation remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to determine whether the relaxation of phenylephrine (PE)-constricted rat aorta and main pulmonary artery by genistein and daidzein was endothelium-dependent.

METHODS

Effects of endothelial-denudation, and pretreatment with with 100 microM L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and/or 10 microM indomethacin on relaxation of PE (1 microM)-preconstricted contractures by genistein (1-100 microM) and daidzein (3-100 microM) were assessed by measuring isometric force development by rat arterial rings. The effect of L-NAME on relaxation to 17beta-estradiol (10 microM) was also measured in aorta.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Genistein and daidzein caused concentration-dependent relaxation of aorta rings preconstricted with PE (1 microM). The IC50 values were 5.7 microM (n=8, 95% confidence limits 4.3-7.7 microM) and 36.7 microM (n=12, 95% confidence limits 25.7-44.1 microM), respectively. Removal of the endothelium and pretreatment with L-NAME (100 microM) significantly inhibited relaxation at 3, 10 and 30 microM genistein and 10 and 30 microM daidzein. The contracture evoked in rat aorta by depolarization with 75 mM K+ solution was similarly relaxed by genistein in a partially endothelium-dependent manner. 17Beta-estradiol (10 microM) caused a 48.7+/-5.0% (n=11) relaxation of the PE contracture, which was significantly reduced to 25.1+/-5.3% (n=7) by L-NAME. Relaxations brought about by 17beta-estradiol, genistein, and daidzein were not significantly affected by the genomic estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 (10 microM). Similar endothelium-dependent effects of genistein were observed in the main pulmonary artery. The results show that the relaxation of these rat arteries by concentrations of genistein and daidzein which overlap those present in human plasma after ingestion of soybean-containing meals is largely endothelium dependent.

Avirulent mutants of Macrophomina phaseolina and Aspergillus fumigatus initiate infection in Phaseolus mungo in the presence of phaseolinone; levamisole gives protection

To evaluate the role of phaseolinone, a phytotoxin produced by Macrophomina phaseolina, in disease initiation, three nontoxigenic avirulent mutants of the fungus were generated by UV-mutagenesis. Two of them were able to initiate infection in germinating Phaseolus mungo seeds only in the presence of phaseolinone. The minimum dose of phaseoli-none required for infection in 30% seedlings was 2 5 mg/ml. A human pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus was also able to infect germinating seeds of P. mungo in the presence of 5 mg/ml concentration of phaseolinone. Phaseolinone seemed to facilitate infection by A. fumigatus, which is not normally phytopathogenic, by reducing the immunity of germinating seedlings in a nonspecific way. Levamisole, a non-specific immunopotentiator gave protection against infection induced by A. fumigatus at an optimum dose of 50 mg/ml. Sodium malonate prevented the effects of levamisole.

Dynamics of airborne fungal populations in a large office building

The increasing concern with bioaerosols in large office buildings prompted this prospective study of airborne fungal concentrations in a newly constructed building on the Gulf coast. We collected volumetric culture plate air samples on 14 occasions over the 18-month period immediately following building occupancy. On each sampling occasion, we collected duplicate samples from three sites on three floors of this six-story building, and an outdoor sample. Fungal concentrations indoors were consistently below those outdoors, and no sample clearly indicated fungal contamination in the building, although visible growth appeared in the ventilation system during the course of the study. We conclude that modern mechanically ventilated buildings prevent the intrusion of most of the outdoor fungal aerosol, and that even relatively extensive air sampling protocols may not sufficiently document the microbial status of buildings.

Differential block by troglitazone and rosiglitazone of glibenclamide-sensitive K(+) current in rat aorta myocytes

Thiazolidinediones are insulin-sensitising agents effective in controlling type II diabetes. These compounds also cause vasodilation. We evaluated the effects of the thiazolidinediones troglitazone and rosiglitazone on the glibenclamide-sensitive K(+) current in freshly isolated rat aorta myocytes. Troglitazone inhibited this current in a concentration-dependent manner (IC(50) approximately 1 microM). Rosiglitazone had a similar, but much less potent (IC(50) approximately 20 microM) action. Block of the glibenclamide-sensitive K(+) channels, in particular by troglitazone, may potentially affect the response of arteries to hypoxia and to certain endogenous and exogenous vasodilators.

A role for a glibenclamide-sensitive, relatively ATP-insensitive K+ current in regulating membrane potential and current in rat aorta

OBJECTIVE

ATP-sensitive K+ channels have been classified based on their inhibition by cytoplasmic ATP. Recent evidence in vascular smooth muscle has suggested that these channels show weak sensitivity to intracellular ATP. However, it is not known whether these channels regulate the resting K+ conductance in vascular smooth muscles. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to characterize this current in rat aorta myocytes and to examine whether it contributes to setting the membrane potential.

METHODS

The conventional and nystatin-permeablised whole cell patch clamp techniques were used to characterize the effect of glibenclamide on membrane potential and K+ current in enzymatically dispersed rat aorta myocytes.

RESULTS

The mean resting potential measured in current clamp mode using the permeabilized patch approach was -54 +/- 5 mV (n = 8). Glibenclamide (10 microM) caused a reversible 24-mV depolarization in these cells. In symmetrical K+ (135 mM) solution an inward glibenclamide-sensitive (10 microM) current (-4.1 +/- 0.7 pA/pF; n = 5), hereafter termed Iglib, was observed at a membrane potential of -80 mV when cells held at -60 mV were ramped from -80 to +80 mV. In the absence of any nucleotide in the pipette solution, Iglib measured by the conventional whole-cell method was -23.69 +/- 4.65 pA/pF (n = 9). With 1 and 3 mM ATP in the pipette, the average current density was -25 +/- 6.3 pA/pF (n = 8), and -9.4 +/- 2.7 pA/pF (n = 9), respectively. In the absence of ATP, 1 mM GDP significantly (P < 0.01) increased Iglib (-44.8 +/- 8.4 pA/pF; n = 13). Inclusion of 1 mM ATP in the GDP-containing pipette solution had no significant effect on the current amplitude (-56.4 +/- 10.7 pA/pF; n = 7). Iglib fell to -11.0 +/- 2.9 pA/pF (n = 10) if 1 mM GDP and 3 mM ATP were present. In symmetrical K+, the Iglib observed in the presence of 1 mM ATP in the pipette was increased by more than two-fold in the presence of 10 microM levcromakalim. In PSS containing 5 mM K+, a significant glibenclamide-sensitive current was observed at -45 mV membrane potential when cells dialyzed with 1 mM ATP were ramped between -80 to 30 mV.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that Iglib channels in rat aorta myocytes differ from classical KATP channels, being relatively insensitive to intracellular ATP. Iglib therefore appears to have an important role in contributing to the maintenance of the resting potential in rat aortic smooth muscle.

Safety and efficacy of total thyroidectomy in hands of endocrine surgery trainees

BACKGROUND

Fear of a high complication rate of total thyroidectomy, especially in the hands of less experienced surgeons, limits its routine use. The results of total thyroidectomy in the hands of endocrine surgery trainees and consultants were compared to know whether this procedure can be performed effectively and safely by trainees.

METHODS

Medical records of 232 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy from 1990 to 1997 were reviewed. Patients were put into groups A (operated by consultants) and B (trainees). Safety (postoperative hypoparathyroidism, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and hemorrhage) and efficacy (postoperative radioactive iodine uptake) in the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

There were 127 patients in group A and 105 in group B. Rates of occurrence of permanent hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy were comparable in the two groups. Postoperative radioactive iodine uptake in the two groups was not significantly different.

CONCLUSIONS

Total thyroidectomy can be safely and effectively performed by endocrine surgical trainees.

Posttranscriptional control in the expression of the genes coding for high-light-regulated HL#2 proteins

An antibody was raised against the protein HL#2 which is a nuclear-encoded light-stress-induced protein of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The expression of the mRNA and the protein of HL#2 was determined under the influence of high light and methyl jasmonate. The mRNA of HL#2 was induced by high light (1800 &mgr;mol m(-2) s(-1) and 25 degrees C) and the steady-state levels remained elevated for up to 48 h of exposure to high-light stress. In contrast, using an antibody against HL#2 there was no observable change in the level of HL#2 proteins of 18 kDa and 15.5 kDa during the same treatment. These data indicate a pronounced stress-induced control of HL#2 expression at a post-transcriptional level. In the presence of methyl jasmonate (45 &mgr;M), the induction of HL#2 occurred together with that of the two most closely related jasmonate-inducible proteins (JIPs) of 32.6 and 32.7 kDa, as judged by their cross-reactivity with the antibody against HL#2. In contrast to the mRNA and protein levels of early light-inducible proteins (ELIPs) in green barley, those of HL#2 appeared not to be influenced by low temperatures. Therefore, the control of ELIPs and HL#2 by high light fluxes may be measured via the same photoreceptor but must, at least partially, be under the control of two divergent signal transduction chains.

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Evaluation of the activity of receptor-operated Ca2+ channels in rat portal vein in induced hyperthyroidism

The activity of receptor-operated Ca2+ channels (ROCCs) was studied in rat portal vein in L-thyroxine-induced experimental hyperthyroidism. The following parameters were evaluated: 1. NE-stimulated 45Ca influx. 2. CaCl2-induced contractile responses in Ca2+ free NE-stimulated tissues to calculate EC50 value of CaCl2. The NE (10(-6)mol) stimulated 45Ca influx and the mean EC50 value of CaCl2 did not differ significantly in portal veins isolated from hyperthyroid rats as compared to those of euthyroid control rats. The study revealed no significant change in the functional status of ROCCs in experimental hyperthyroidism.

Correlation of cell counts and indices in testicular FNAC with histology in male infertility

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of percentage cell counts and cell indices in testicular fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in male infertility and their correlation with histologic categories as seen in open testicular biopsies.

STUDY DESIGN

Differential cell counts were performed, and cell indices, including spermatic index, Sertoli cell index and sperm-Sertoli cell index, were calculated in testicular fine needle aspiration (FNA) smears in 30 azoospermic males whose open testicular biopsies were classified as normal spermatogenesis in 10 cases, maturation arrest in 5, hypospermatogenesis in 6, Sertoli cell only syndrome in 5 and tubular/peritubular sclerosis in 4.

RESULTS

In normal spermatogenesis, FNA smears showed up to 40% Sertoli cells, and spermatozoa were the predominant spermatogenetic cell type. There was a progressive increase in Sertoli cell percentage and Sertoli cell index and reduction in spermatozon percentage, spermatic index and sperm-Sertoli cell index with increasing severity of reduction in spermatogenesis in different histologic categories. The differences between mean counts and indices in normal spermatogenesis and other histologic categories were statistically significant (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

The percent cell counts and cell indices in testicular FNAC correlate with histologic categories and are useful in evaluating male infertility.

Distribution of Candida albicans genotypes among family members

Thirty-three families (71 subjects) were screened for the presence of Candida albicans in mouthwash or stool specimens; 12 families (28 subjects) were culture-positive for this yeast. An enrichment procedure provided a twofold increase in the recovery of C. albicans from mouthwash specimens. Nine of the twelve culture-positive families had two positive members each, two families had three positive members each, and one family had four positive members. Genetic profiles were obtained by three methods: pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; restriction endonuclease analysis, and random amplification of polymorphic DNA analysis. DNA fingerprinting of C. albicans isolated from one body site three consecutive times revealed that each of the 12 families carried a distinct genotype. No two families shared the same strain, and two or more members of a family commonly shared the same strain. Intrafamily genotypic identity (i.e., each member within the family harbored the same strain) was demonstrated in six families. Genotypes of isolates from husband and wife differed from one another in five families. All three methods were satisfactory in determining genotypes; however, we concluded that restriction endonuclease analysis provided adequate resolving power.