Groups IP Research Articles

Characterization of Anti-Interferon-γ Antibodies in HIV-Negative Patients Infected With Disseminated Talaromyces marneffei and Cryptococcosis.

BackgroundFew reports of Talaromyces marneffei (TM) or cryptococcosis infections among HIV-negative patients with high-titeranti–IFN-γautoantibodies (nAIGAs) have been published. We investigated the clinical manifestations of patients with nAIGAs and TM infections.MethodsHIV-negative adults (≥18 years) were enrolled if they haddisseminated TM infection (group 1; further divided into nAIGAs positive [group 1P] and negative [group 1N]); cryptococcosis(pulmonary cryptococcosis and/or cryptococcosis of the brain)(group 2); pulmonary tuberculosis (group 3); and healthy controls (group 4) with nAIGAs detected. Complete histories, physical examinations, and routine clinical laboratory tests were obtained at baseline.ResultsOverall, 88 participants were in the four groups (20,13,23, and 32 in groups 1 to 4, respectively). Significant differences occurred between groups with higher nAIGAs titers (P < 0.001), and higher total white-cell and absolute neutrophil counts (P < 0.001) in group1. Lungs (90.0%), lymph nodes (60.0%), skin (55.0%), and bones (50.0%) were most common sites of involvement. Significant differences in total white-cell and absolute neutrophil counts occurred between groups IP and 1N.Patients with recurrent TM infections, particularly group 1P, had higher initial nAIGA titer. ConclusionsPatients with persistent infection who died tended to have positive initial nAIGA titer. It suggests that nAIGAs may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of TM infections, and may be associated with more severe, refractory infection.

Lesions of velogenic viscerotropic Newcastle disease virus infection were more severe in broilers than pullets

ABSTRACT This study compared the pathologic effects of velogenic Newcastle disease (ND) virus in broilers and pullets using the normal pathogenic dose of the virus following an earlier report that challenge of the two types of chickens with a low dose of the virus caused mortalities in broilers but none in pullets. One hundred and twenty chickens (10 weeks old) were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 30 each): inoculated intramuscularly with velogenic viscerotropic ND virus (vvNDV) pullets – IP, uninfected pullets – UP, infected broilers – IB and uninfected broilers – UB. Anorexia, depression, ruffled feathers, green diarrhoea, tucking of the head under their wings, droopy wings and prostration were observed on days 2 and 3 post inoculation (PI) in groups IP and IB respectively. Mortality in IP and IB was 100%. Weight loss was significant (P < 0.05) by day 4 PI in both IP and IB when compared with their controls. Percentage weight loss in IP and IB were 20.26% and 38.66%, respectively. Proventricular, intestinal and caecal tonsil haemorrhages were significantly (p < 0.05) more severe in group IB than IP. Histopathology showed more severe necrosis and depletion of the lymphocytes in the bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen of group IB than IP. The above observations show that the lesions of vvNDV infection may be more severe in IB than IP.

Comparison of dimensional accuracy of conventionally and digitally manufactured intracoronal restorations

Statement of problemAdvances have been made in digital dentistry for the fabrication of dental prostheses, but evidence regarding the efficacy of digital techniques for the fabrication of intracoronal restorations is lacking. PurposeThe purpose of this in vitro study was to compare the dimensional accuracy of intracoronal restorations fabricated with digital and conventional techniques. Material and methodsA sound mandibular molar tooth received a standard onlay preparation, and onlays were fabricated with 1 of 3 fabrication techniques. In group CC, the onlays were made after conventional impression and conventional fabrication of a resin pattern. In group CP, the onlays were made after conventional impression and 3-dimensional (3D) printing of the pattern. In group IP, the onlays were made after intraoral scanning, and 3D printing produced the resin pattern. Ten specimens in each group (N=30) were evaluated. Glass-ceramic restorations were fabricated using the press technique. The replica technique was used to assess the marginal fit. Each replica was assessed at 8 points. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the marginal discrepancy among the 3 groups. The Tukey honest significant differences test was applied for pairwise comparisons of the groups (α=.05). ResultsNo significant differences were noted in the marginal discrepancy at the gingival margin among the 3 groups (P=.342), but significant differences were noted among the 3 groups in the pulpal (P=.025) and lingual (P=.031) areas. Comparison of the absolute discrepancy among the 3 groups revealed that only groups CC and CP were significantly different (P=.020) from each other. ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this in vitro study, the conventional method yielded more accuracy than the 3D printing method, and no differences were found between the methods which used the 3D printer (groups CP and IP).

The Effect of Four Anaesthetic Protocols for Maintenance of Anaesthesia on Trans-Diaphragmatic Pressure in Dogs

The diaphragm is the main inspiratory muscle and the main indicator of diaphragmatic contractility is the trans-diaphragmatic pressure (Pdi). The aim of this clinical study was to determine the effect of four different anaesthetic protocols on Pdi in anaesthetized healthy dogs. Eighty client-owned dogs were recruited in this clinical study. All the animals received dexmedetomidine and morphine as premedication and propofol for induction. Anaesthesia was maintained with one of four protocols: isoflurane (I), isoflurane with CRI of propofol (IP), isoflurane with CRI of fentanyl (IF), and isoflurane with CRI of ketamine (IK). When the surgical plane of anaesthesia was achieved, two balloon catheters were inserted, one into the stomach and one into the mid-third of the oesophagus for Pdi measurement. Pdi value was the highest in groups I (14.9±4.7 mmHg) and IK (15.2±3.5 mmHg) and the lowest in groups IP (12.2±3.2 mmHg) and IF (12.0±5.9 mmHg). There was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.029) between groups IK and IF. PE’CO2 was statistically significantly higher (p<0.0005) in group IF (7.7±0.8 kPa) than in group IK (6.5±0.7 kPa). Isoflurane alone or isoflurane with ketamine for the maintenance of anaesthesia seem to better preserve the respiratory function and the diaphragmatic contractility than isoflurane with either propofol or fentanyl in dogs. Therefore, the use of isoflurane or isoflurane with ketamine may be of benefit when animals with respiratory problems have to be anaesthetized.

Protracted induction of parturition enhances placental maturation, but does not influence incidence of placental retention in cows

As the etiopathology of retained placenta is still not resolved in cattle, we compared the effects of protracted induction of parturition (PIP) and conventional induction of parturition (SIP) on placental maturation and the occurrence of retained placenta. PIP was induced in 13 cows by administration of 1.3 mg dexamethasone im twice daily between Days 268 and 273 of gestation and 40 mg dexamethasone im on Day 274 of gestation. For SIP, 10 cows received a single injection of 40 mg dexamethasone on Day 274 of gestation. A third group (SPON, n = 11) served as a nontreated control group. Within 2 hours after birth, two placentomes were extracted from the uterus and used for assessment of placental maturation by histology and immunohistochemistry. Incidence of retained placenta was lower (P < 0.05) in group SPON (9%) compared with groups PIP (54%) and SIP (70%). Staining with Masson's trichrome and pan-cytokeratin indicated a higher degree of atrophy and flatness of the maternal crypt epithelium in cows with physiological release of fetal membranes (REL) compared with cows with retained placentae (RET). Staining with anti-caspase-3 ratified the observations as more apoptotic cells were detected in groups SPON and PIP compared with group SIP; however, data were not statistically significant. Additionally, the expressions of the potent vasodilators endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were evaluated. Both eNOS and iNOS were only expressed in chorionic tissue. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a major vasoconstrictor, showed positive staining in maternal crypt epithelium and in chorionic epithelium. No differences were found for iNOS and eNOS and ET-1, neither among the experimental groups nor between RET and REL cows. These findings indicate that a PIP results in increased placental maturation, but does not influence the incidence of placental retention in cows. The expression of vasoactive substances does not seem to be related to the placental separation process.

Effects of a protracted induction of parturition on the incidence of retained placenta and assessment of uterine artery blood flow as a measure of placental maturation in cattle

The objectives of the present study were to compare the effects of a protracted and a conventional induction of parturition on the incidence of retained placenta, and to evaluate the suitability of transrectal Doppler sonography of the uterine arteries as a noninvasive method for the assessment of placental maturation. Protracted induction of labor (PIP) was precipitated in 13 cows by the administration of 1.3 mg dexamethasone im twice daily between Days 268 and 273 of gestation, and 40 mg dexamethasone im on Day 274 of gestation. For conventional induction of labor (SIP), 10 cows received 40 mg dexamethasone on Day 274 of gestation. A third group was not treated and served as control (SPON; N = 11). Blood flow volume (BFV) and resistance index in the uterine arteries were measured with Doppler sonography once a day from Day 268 of gestation until labor. After each ultrasonographic examination, blood samples for determination of steroid hormones were taken. Incidence of retained placenta was lower (P < 0.05) in group SPON (9%) compared with groups PIP (54%) and SIP (70%). In the last 7 days before parturition uterine BFV and resistance index did not change (P > 0.05) and did not differ between groups SPON, PIP, and SIP (P > 0.05). Resistance index was higher (P < 0.001) in cows with retained placenta compared with cows with released placenta, and BFV did not differ (P > 0.05) between them. Total estrogen concentrations increased by 283% (P < 0.001) in group PIP and by 60% (P < 0.05) in group SPON between Days −7 and −1 before parturition. They stayed constant (P > 0.05) until Day −2 in group SIP, but increased (P < 0.05) after the high dosage of dexamethasone within 1 day by 140%. Total estrogen levels were higher (P < 0.05) in cows with released placenta than in cows with retained placenta. In conclusion, a protracted compared with a short induction of labor results in higher estrogen levels before term, but does not affect incidence of placental retention. Neither alterations in placental maturation nor changes in steroid hormones influenced uterine blood supply. Therefore, Doppler sonography of uterine arteries is unsuitable to investigate the process of placental maturation induced by glucocorticoids in cows. Nevertheless, disturbances in the placental maturation process in cows with retained fetal membranes after parturition can be detected before parturition by a higher uterine blood flow resistance in the uterine arteries.

Effects of etomidate on blood cortisol, insulin, and glucose levels and PONV rates in smokers

To observe differences in the effects of etomidate, used for anesthesia induction, on surgery-induced endocrine response and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) among nonsmokers and smokers. Materials and methods: Eighty adult patients with ASA I-II risk status were randomly divided into 2 groups: smokers (Group I, n = 40) and nonsmokers (Group II, n = 40). Patients were then further divided into subgroups according to the drug used for anesthesia induction, either propofol (Group IP and Group IIP) or etomidate (Group IE and Group IIE). Blood cortisol, insulin, glucose, and white blood cell (WBC) levels were measured and PONV scores were recorded. Results: Blood cortisol values were significantly lower in Group IE and Group IIE compared to Group IP and Group IIP during the 1st and 2nd hours after induction. By the 8th hour, blood insulin levels had increased significantly compared to the baseline values in Groups IE, IP, and IIP. Blood glucose levels were significantly higher in Group IIE compared to both Group IP and Group IIP. There was no significant difference between the WBC levels of the different groups. PONV scores were significantly higher in Group IIE compared to the other groups. Conclusion: We determined that the use of etomidate causes a lower stress response and more PONV compared to propofol, while smoking increases the stress response and decreases PONV.

The volatile profile of longissimus dorsi muscle of heifers fed pasture, pasture silage or cereal concentrate: Implication for dietary discrimination

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different diets on beef meat volatile organic compounds (VOC). Seven heifers grazed pasture for twelve months (group P); 8 heifers received grass silage ad libitum indoors for six months and then were switched to pasture for six months (group SiP); 8 heifers received grass silage ad libitum indoors for six months and then switched to pasture and also offered 0.5 of the diet dry matter of concentrate for six months (group SiPC); 8 heifers received concentrate for twelve months (group C). The muscle longissimus dorsi was sampled at slaughter and subjected to VOC analysis by SPME-GC-MS. Some aldeyhdes, ketones and furans deriving from lipid oxidation were affected by the treatments. Skatole, 3-undecanone, cuminic alcohol and 1-butanol, 2-methyl allowed the discrimination between animals fed concentrate from animals fed non-concentrate diets. Germacrene D, a terpenoid, was a marker of grass feeding.

Donor Site Morbidity and Return to the Preinjury Activity Level after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Ipsilateral and Contralateral Patellar Tendon Autograft

Aim To compare the donor site morbidity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using ipsilateral and contralateral bone–patellar tendon autograft. Study Design Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2 Patients and Method Between 1997 and 1999, 100 patients underwent anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with autologous bone–patellar tendon graft. The reconstructions were performed using ipsilateral bone–patellar tendon graft in 52 patients (group Ip) and contralateral bone–patellar tendon graft in 48 patients (group Co). Group Co consisted of 2 subgroups: group Co-D consisted of the donor knees (n = 48) and group Co-ACL consisted of the anterior cruciate ligament–reconstructed knees (n = 48). Mean follow-up was 39.2 months. Donor site morbidity was evaluated with a questionnaire, computerized historical data, KT-2000 arthrometer measurements, the Cincinnati score, and the Tegner score. Results KT-2000 arthrometer evaluation showed a mean side-to-side difference of 0.6 mm in both groups. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups concerning the Cincinnati and Tegner scores. With regard to local tenderness, a significantly higher rate was found in group Ip (59.6%) and group Co-D (58.3%) compared with group Co-ACL (6.3%). In groups Ip and Co-D, high statistically significant differences were also found according to kneeling pain (69.2% and 70.8%, respectively) and knee-walking pain (76.9% and 70.8%, respectively) compared with group Co-ACL (6.3% and 10.4%, respectively). With regard to numbness, there was no statistical significance between the rates of all 3 groups: group Ip = 75%, group Co-D = 85.4%, and group Co-ACL = 64.6%. There was one rupture of the patellar tendon and one patient with chronic patellar tendinitis, both in the donor knee of group Co-D. Conclusion The contralateral bone–patellar tendon graft appears to present no advantage over the ipsilateral graft, as all symptoms concerning donor site morbidity are shifted from the injured into the healthy knee, and return to activity is not more rapid.

Relationship between levels of urinary type IV collagen and renal injuries in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Because type IV collagen is synthesized by podocytes and mesangial cells, we investigated the relationship between levels of urinary type IV collagen (uIV) and renal injuries in patients with IgA nephropathy. uIV was measured by a highly sensitive one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay prior to renal biopsy. Patients with IgA nephropathy were classified into four grades (grade 1 = good prognosis, grade 2 = relatively good prognosis, grade 3 = relatively poor prognosis, and grade 4 = poor prognosis) by the prognostic criteria of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan. Levels of uIV in grade 4 were significantly higher than those in grades 1-3. These levels tended to increase gradually due to progression of renal injuries. The grades were further divided into two groups: group I (good or relatively good prognoses) and group II (relatively poor or poor prognoses). Patients with proteinuria of <1.0 g/day were defined as groups Ip and IIp. The levels of uIV in group II were significantly higher than those in group I, and those in group IIp were significantly higher than those in group Ip. It appears that the level of uIV can be a useful marker for detection of renal injuries in IgA nephropathy.

Elicitation, modification, and conditioning of the rabbit nictitating membrane response by electrical stimulation in the spinal trigeminal nucleus, inferior olive, interpositus nucleus, and red nucleus.

Elicitation of responses by electrical brain stimulation (EBS) was related to the synaptic distance of the target nucleus from the accessory abducens. Specifically, responses to EBS in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (TRIG) and red nucleus (RN) increased as a positive function of stimulation parameters. Responding to EBS in the interpositus nucleus (IP) was lower, and responding to EBS in the inferior olive (IO) was negligible. EBS in the TRIG, IP, and RN nuclei was then paired with a tone conditioned stimulus (CS). The CS modified responses for EBS in RN and TRIG but not IP. CS-EBS pairings yielded conditioned response (CR) acquisition, in which Groups TRIG, IP, and RN reached asymptotes of 90%, 70%, and 43% CRs, respectively. Thus, contrary to previous findings, EBS in the efferent pathway can support CR acquisition. The results are discussed with respect to the role of projections from the RN to the cerebellar cortex and the TRIG nucleus.

Pulsatile reperfusion does not modify global myocardial ischemic injury

In an attempt to arbitrate the reputed clinical efficacy of pulsatile flow during reperfusion in minimizing ischemic injury, 32 mongrel dogs supported by normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass were subjected to 30 minutes (Groups IC and IP) or 60 minutes (Groups IIC and IIP) of global myocardial ischemia. The effect of pulsatile flow (P) initiated during 30 minutes of reperfusion on the recovery of myocardial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate (CP) stores, coronary blood flow, and myocardial water content (MWC) was compared to the effect of linear reperfusion (C) in another group of animals. ATP stores, which significantly decreased to 43% and 53% of preischemic levels (Groups IC and IP, respectively, p less than 0.01) and 36% and 31% of control values (Groups IIC and IIP, respectively. p less than 0.001), did not increase with either pulsatile or linear reperfusion. CP stores, depleted 97% during ischemia in all groups, returned to preischemic levels regardless of the mode of reperfusion flow. Coronary blood flow measured 30 minutes after aortic unclamping was not significantly different from control flow in any group. MWC significantly decreased during ischemia from 80.5% +/- 0.8% to 76.5% +/- 1.1% in Group IC and from 81.8% +/- 1.2% to 76.8% +/- 0.8% in Groups IP (p less than 0.05) and returned to preischemic levels with reperfusion. However, following 60 minutes of ischemia, pulsatile reperfusion prevented the significant increase in MWC that accrued after linear reperfusion (80.7% +/- 1.5% to 84.0% +/- 0.7%, p less than 0.05). These data indicate that pulsatile reperfusion initiated after an ischemic injury that results in a 50% or greater depletion of myocardial ATP stores does not restore myocardial nucleotide levels or enhance coronary blood flow, although the pathological increase in MWC may be avoided.