White Protein Research Articles

Follow-up of acute pyelonephritis: what causes the diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging recovery to lag clinical recovery?

To analyze with diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) the evolution and progress to resolution of acute pyelonephritis (APN) foci over a period of 3months after onset. 30 women (age 22-51years) with clinical, laboratory (white blood cell and C-reactive protein), and DW-MRI (4b-values 0, 50, 600, 1000s/mm2) diagnosis of APN were prospectively enrolled. Two double-blinded radiologists evaluated the number of APN foci, and for each of them dimension (D), absolute diffusion coefficient (ADC), and its ratio R to the ADC of unaffected parenchyma. Signature of radiological recovery was focus no longer visible (DW-) and ADC of its site not inferior to the ADC of the unaffected parenchyma, i.e., R≥0.9. Clinical and DW-MRI follow-ups (FU) were performed at 1 and 3months. At the acute stage (t 0), 187 APN foci were found, with ADC0=1.3±0.2×10-3mm2/s, R 0=0.65±0.12, and D 0=14±7.5mm. By the 1-month FU (t 1), all patients had no symptoms and physiological laboratory values; despite this, only 80 (43%) foci were solved, increasing to 138 (74%) by at the 3-month FU. The ROC curve (AUC ≥ 0.80) identified R 0≤0.6 and D 0>15mm as forecast of slow radiologic resolution. About 80% of foci unsolved at 1month but with R 1≥0.8 and D 1≤10mm reached solution at 3months. DW-MRI recovery of APN foci does not always coincide with clinical recovery. The evolution of an APN focus is shaped by its initial values R 0 and D 0. About half of the foci still visible at 1 month reached radiological resolution in the two following months.

Measurement of white blood cells count, immunoglobulins and complement proteins in patients with scabies in Erbil- Iraq

The present study was conducted from November 2014 to March 2015. Seventy four patients aged from six to forty five years old were examined. The present study aims to determine white blood cell counts, antibody response and some complement components levels changes in the serum of patients with scabies. Immunological reaction to scabies evaluated were including leucocyte count, which was significantly increased, and Immunologic reactions mediated by immunoglobulins including IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE. All of them were significantly increased except IgA. Concerning complement protein levels (C3 and C4) non-significant changes were seen in their levels. None of these reactions have been shown to eliminate all mites from the skin surface in patients who followed by the clinic reports, but locally these reactions may prevent the epidemic multiplication of scabies' organisms on the skin surface.

Differential Effects of Cod Proteins and Tuna Proteins on Serum and Liver Lipid Profiles in Rats Fed Non-Cholesterol- and Cholesterol-Containing Diets.

Fish muscles are classified into white and red muscles, and the chemical composition of the two fish muscles have many differences. Few reports have assessed the health-promoting functions of white fish muscle proteins (WFP) and red fish muscle proteins (RFP). We therefore evaluated the mechanisms underlying the alteration of lipid profiles and cholesterol metabolism following the intake of WFP prepared from cod and RFP prepared from light muscles of tuna. Male Wistar rats were divided into six dietary groups: casein (23%), WFP (23%), and RFP (23%), with or without 0.5% cholesterol and 0.1% sodium cholate. Compared to the WFP-containing diet, the RFP-containing diet supplemented with cholesterol and sodium cholate significantly increased serum and liver cholesterol contents. However, in the RFP groups, an alteration in cholesterol metabolism including an increased tendency to excrete fecal sterols and hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase was related to the reduction of hepatic cholesterol contents. This phenomenon might be related to the tendency of an increased food intake in RFP-containing diets. These results highlight the differential effects of WFP and RFP on serum and liver lipid profiles of Wistar rats fed non-cholesterol- or cholesterol-containing diets under no fasting condition.

The prognostic efficacy of beta2-microglobulin in acute pulmonary embolism

Our aim was to prospectively assess the prognostic value of beta2- microglobulin (b2-M) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a prospective study of 109 patients admitted in a pulmonary clinic due to acute PE. A panel of inflammatory markers including b2-M white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined for each patient. In this preliminary study, baseline b2-M levels significantly correlated with the impairment of oxygenation and with all the parameters that are used for the early risk stratification of patients. In multivariate analysis, patients’ age and baseline b2-M levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. These findings require further prospective validation.

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Predictor of Endoscopic Damage in Caustic Injuries

Context: The endoscopic degree of injuries is the main finding for further management of caustic ingestions. However, if endoscopy cannot be performed quickly, clinicians decide on treatment and follow-up goals according to the signs and symptoms of the patient. The aim of this study was to determine the association of white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP) and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with the degree of caustic injury and to evaluate whether NLR is able to predict the severity of injuries. Materials and methods: A retrospective evaluation was made of a total of 190 patients with a mean age of 38.6 years. WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte and CRP values and endoscopic findings of all patients at hospital admission were retrieved from hospital files. The association between WBC, NLR, CRP and endoscopic findings was evaluated. Results: Endoscopy was normal in 28 of 119 patients (23.5%) and most patients (42 of 119 (35.3%) had only gastric involvement. NLR was significantly higher in patients with injuries than normal patients (p=0.010), whereas WBC and CRP not. NLR was also significantly higher in patients with both esophagus and gastric injuries compared to patients with no organ involvement (p<0.001). NLR, WBC and CRP were weakly correlated to the grade of involvement. In the ROC analysis, the AUC value was 0.914 (95% CI (0.85-0.96, p<0.001)) and the cut-off value for NLR was 8.71 with sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91.7% for discriminating injuries as grade 0-1-2 from 3-4. Conclusions: Higher NLR values showed widespread and severe involvement of caustic ingestion. NLR also seems to be a more reliable method to make a distinction between severe and mild injuries. It is an easily derived and inexpensive marker of inflammation and might guide the management of patients before endoscopic evaluation in emergency departments.

Prognostic Value of White Blood Cell Count, C-reactive protein, and Pentraxin-3 Levels in Patients with Acute Paraquat Poisoning

Prognostic Value of White Blood Cell Count, C-reactive protein, and Pentraxin-3 Levels in Patients with Acute Paraquat Poisoning

Endovascular Technique of a Stent Device Combined With a Direct Aspiration Catheter for Endovascular Treatment and Pathological Examination of Clots in Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

The initial treatment of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is intravenous heparin, however, a novel endovascular technique combining a stent retriever and an aspiration catheter has achieved rapid, safe, and effective revascularization. A 21-year-old man was transferred to our emergency department and diagnosed with CVST. Because of venous congestion due to massive thrombosis and clinical deterioration, endovascular intervention was opted for. A combination technique using a stent device (Solitaire) and a direct aspiration catheter (Penumbra) was used, which achieved recanalization with good anterograde venous flow. The combination therapy is safe and effective for CVST because of the favourable prognosis and low risk of complications reported in all 4 patients to date. Pathological examination of clots suggested that venous vasculitis is implicated in thrombus formation, fever, and raised white blood cell and C-reactive protein counts seen in CVST.

Aetiology of Febrile Illnesses Presenting to a District Hospital

Little attention has been given to the patterns of diseases in children admitted to a hospital. We retrospectively studied 874 children (477 male, 397 female) who were hospitalised consecutively during a ten months period to determine the incidence and types of their illness with an emphasis on patterns and causes of fever. Respiratory symptoms of cough and wheezing were the single most common presenting cause of admission (20.3%). Fever (defined as one temperature record of >38.0°C or two successive record of 37.8°C) was the second most common presenting cause (15.8%) leading to admission, and within this group fever without focus was most common. Overall, fever was recorded in 35.9% of the study group. Urinary tract infection was the most common bacterial infection. Children with bacterial infections were usually febrile while the majority of those with presumed viral infections were afebrile. The mean body temperature in children with bacterial infections was significantly higher than in those with presumed viral infections. Overall, febrile children stayed significantly longer in hospital and underwent more laboratory tests compared with afebrile children. Although white blood count and C-reactive protein tended to be higher in bacterial than in presumed viral infections, both tests were sometimes normal in serious bacterial infections and abnormally high in presumed viral diseases. Mild hyponatraemia (<135 mmol/L) was a common laboratory finding in febrile illness, and severe hyponatraemia (<130 mmol/L), was more common in bacterial diseases. It is concluded that febrile illnesses are common and only second to respiratory diseases as the leading cause of hospitalisation. Children with bacterial infection are usually febrile and those with high fever should be evaluated for serious bacterial diseases. Those children who present with fever without focus should be evaluated for an underlying urinary tract infection and bacteraemia.

Physiological, haematological and biochemical shifts in police working dogs during a riot control exercise

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological, haematological and biochemical shifts that occur in police working dogs during a riot control exercise. The animals (n=17) used were dogs from the Guarda Nacional Republicana (Portuguese Gerndarmerie Unit). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were measured and blood samples collected, both before (T0) and immediately after (T1) the exercise. Blood lactate (BL) and blood glucose concentration levels were immediately measured using handheld portable devices and from the blood samples the following parameters were determined: red blood cells, haematocrit, white blood cells, platelets, urea, creatinine, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, Ca2+, Na+, K+ and Cl-. Results were submitted to a paired T-test and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to compare different variables. Significant increases occurred in RT (P&lt;0.01), RR (P&lt;0.01), lymphocytes (P&lt;0.05) and creatinine (P&lt;0.05). Other measured parameters showed non-significant variations and no correlation was found between BL and HR and RT – the parameters that can be easily monitored during exercise. The present results consist, to the authors’ knowledge, the first description of the physiological, haematological and biochemical shifts in police working dogs during a riot control exercise. They provide valuable information for the monitoring and future evaluations of this type of work that many police working dogs undergo throughout the world and set a starting point for future studies.

Flow cytometric white blood differential using CytoDiff™ in the diagnosis of neonatal early-onset infection

Objective: Neonatal early-onset infection is a life-threatening disease, requiring early diagnosis and treatment. Newborns at risk are identified by a combination of risk factors, clinical signs of infection and laboratory parameters such as white blood cell count and C-reactive protein (CRP). This method is labor-intensive, time consuming and has a variable reproducibility. New reliable diagnostic markers are needed to identify neonatal infection. This study presents additional leukocyte differential parameters produced by the automated flow cytometry and processing software using CytoDiff™ reagent (Beckman Coulter) in newborns suspected for early-onset infection.Methods: An analytic prospective observational case–control study was performed in which 185 newborns were included and retrospectively allocated into two groups, “infection likely” and “infection unlikely”. Leukocyte parameters of the CytoDiff™ technique were compared with microscopic slide differentiation and routine tests.Results: We showed significant lower numbers of monocytes, CD16(−) monocytes and lymphocytes (including T+/NK-lymphocytes) in neonates suspected for early-onset infection using CytoDiff™ technique. The manual counting did not demonstrate changes with respect to the number of monocytes in these neonates.Conclusions: The automated routine CytoDiff™ leukocyte differential provides an interesting additional diagnostic tool, next to routine laboratory diagnostics, in the diagnosis of neonatal early-onset infection.

Clinical Features of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders.

Background:Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) was long believed to be an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis (MS). This study aimed to describe the clinical features of patients with MS and NMOSD to assist in differential diagnoses in clinical practice.Methods:Data including the patients’ serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tests, image findings, and clinical information from 175 patients with MS or NMOSD at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University from November 2012 to May 2014 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to detect the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) autoantibodies in CSF and serum. Cell-based assays were used to detect aquaporin-4-antibody (AQP4-Ab). The Chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables. Wilcoxon rank sum test was performed to analyze the continuous variables.Results:Totally 85 MS patients (49%) and 90 NMOSD patients (51%) were enrolled, including 124 (71%) women and 51 (29%) men. Fewer MS patients (6%) had autoimmune diseases compared to NMOSD (19%) (χ2 = 6.9, P < 0.01). Patients with NMOSD had higher Expanded Disability Status Scale scores (3.5 [3]) than MS group (2 [2]) (Z = −3.69, P < 0.01). The CSF levels of white cell count and protein in both two groups were slightly elevated than the normal range, without significant difference between each other. Positivity of serum AQP4-Ab in NMOSD patients was higher than that in MS patients (MS: 0, NMOSD: 67%; χ2 = 63.9, P < 0.01). Oligoclonal bands in CSF among NMOSD patients were remarkably lower than that among MS (MS: 59%, NMOSD: 20%; χ2 = 25.7, P < 0.01). No significant difference of MOG autoantibodies was found between the two groups.Conclusion:The different CSF features combined with clinical, magnetic resonance imaging, and serum characteristics between Chinese patients with MS and NMOSD could assist in the differential diagnosis.

Analysis of clinical and imaging characteristics of tabes dorsalis

Objective To analyze the characteristics of clinical symptoms and imaging features of tabes dorsalis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory examinations, imaging features, electrophysiological manifestations, treatment and prognosis of 3 patients with tabes dorsalis diagnosed in our hospital and 7 patients reported in literatures. Results The initial symptoms of 10 patients with tabes dorsalis included unsteady gait, pricking or lightning pain in abdomen and numbness of limbs (especially in both legs and feet). In addition to the above symptoms, the most common clinical features also included urination disorders, weakened or disappeared reflexes at knee and ankle, disorders of deep and shallow sensation, Romberg sign positive and heel-knee-tibia test instability. Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA) in serum of all patients was positive, and the titer of rapid plasma reagin (RPR) in serum was 1∶ 8-256. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test showed increased white blood cell and protein. TPPA in CSF was also positive, and the titer of RPR in CSF was 1∶1-8. No obvious specificity of imaging changes was found except spinal disc degeneration. Some patients showed abnormal somatosensory-evoked potential (SEP) with prolonged latency and decreased amplitude of bilateral P100 waves, and the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) of most patients was normal. Six patients were improved after penicillin treatment. Conclusions Due to its complicated clinical manifestations and non-specific imaging changes, tabes dorsalis is prone to be misdiagnosed. A clear diagnosis depends on clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory examinations, imaging and electrophysiological manifestations. Only a minority of patients show imaging changes which are proved significant for the diagnosis of tabes dorsalis. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2016.07.006

Protease activity in the egg yolk during the development of Meleagris gallopavo (Galliformes: Phasianidae) embryos

The egg white and egg yolk are the two main sources of nutrients for the developing avian embryo. Egg white ultimately reaches egg yolk before being consumed by the embryo. Previously, in the turkey Meleagris gallopavo, we showed that the major egg white transfer into the yolk through the amnion and intestinal lumen of the embryo started on day 17 and became obvious on day 19. We also suggested that the transferred egg white and endogenous yolk proteins undergo digestion at late developmental stages. However, the protease activity throughout development and the type of activated proteases are completely unexplored in the yolk of turkey eggs. Here, we measured the general proteolytic activity in the egg yolk during different developmental stages using casein as a substrate. Furthermore, we determined the type of activated proteases by employing different types of protease inhibitors. Protease activity in the egg yolk was basal throughout development until day 19 when activity significantly increased, remaining high thereafter. Moreover, acidic aspartic protease(s) were primarily activated in the yolk. Our results suggest that the transferred egg white and endogenous yolk proteins are mostly degraded by the aspartic proteases that become highly activated late in development.

COMBINING ABILITY FOR YIELD AND COMPONENT CHARACTERS IN WHITE GRAIN QUALITY PROTEIN MAIZE

Combining ability for yield and yield components were carried out in a 8×8 diallel cross of white grain quality protein maize (QPM) to determine the general combining ability (GCA) of the parents and specific combining ability (SCA) of the crosses. Significant mean sum of squares due to GCA and SCA were observed for all the characters studied. Higher magnitude of SCA variance than GCA variance clearly indicated the predominance of non-additive gene action for all the traits. The parental lines P4, P7 and Q6 were found to be the best general combiner for yield components and these parents could be used as donor parents in hybridization to improve traits like days to tasseling, days to silking, plant height, ear height, ear length, ear diameter, grains per ear and 1000 grain weight by accumulation of favorable genes. The significant positive SCA along with high mean yield, the crosses Q5 × P7, P7× Q6 and P7× Q2 could be used for commercial variety development, after verifying their performance over locations.

The Protective Role of Anise Oil in Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity Produced in Favism

ABSTRACTThe metabolic disease favism is an acute hemolytic anemia. Anise oil was obtained from Pimpinella anisum L. seeds (family Apiaceae). The objective of this study was to establish the protective effect of anise oil in favism disorders. Forty-eight male albino rats were divided into six groups: group 1 orally administrated 1 mL distilled water, group 2 orally received 300 mg/kg anise oil, and group 3 orally administrated 100 mg/kg anethole over a seven-day period, group 4 favism-induced rats, group 5 orally administrated 300 mg/kg anise oil and group 6 orally administrated 100 mg/kg anethole once a day over a seven-day period prior to favism induction. The result obtained revealed that oral administration of either anise oil or anethole into normal rats over a seven-day period did not induce any change. Following favism induction, hemoglobin, hematocrit, red and white blood cell counts, serum glucose, blood glutathione, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, total protein, globulin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases levels were significantly decreased, while serum alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin showed significant increase. Pretreatment with either anise oil or anethole into favism-induced rats prevented these changes. Favism also induced deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and prior treatment of anise oil maintained liver DNA content. These results were supported by histopathological evaluation. In conclusion, anise oil pretreatment into favism-induced rats decreased the favism disorders, and this effect was related to the anethole ingredient of the oil.

Expression and Distribution of the Guanine Nucleotide-binding Protein Subunit Alpha-s in Mice Skin Tissues and Its Association with White and Black Coat Colors.

Guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-s (Gnαs) is a small subunit of the G protein-couple signaling pathway, which is involved in the formation of coat color. The expression level and distribution of Gnαs were detected by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the underlying mechanisms of coat color in white and black skin tissues of mice. qPCR and western blot results suggested that Gnαs was expressed at significantly higher levels in black mice compared with that of white mice, and transcripts and protein possessed the same expression in both colors. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated Gnαs staining in the root sheath and dermal papilla in hair follicle of mice skins. The results indicated that the Gnαs gene was expressed in both white and black skin tissues, and the expression level of Gnαs in the two types of color was different. Therefore, Gnαs may be involved in the coat color formation in mice.

Effects of female sexual chemosignals on mucosal immunity in BALB/c and C57BL/6 male mice

The immune response to immunogenic stimuli depends on various factors like cytokine context, way of entry, and immune status of the organism. In mice, female chemosignal entry into the male organism via the respiratory system causes activation of the mucosal immune response, which leads to the development of enhanced resistance to infections and is of adaptive value. However, the activation of mucosal immunity depends on the genetic predispositions of the immune response. BALB/c and C57BL/6 are prototypically Th2- and Th1-type mouse strains, respectively, therefore, they can serve as perfect model organisms for studying mechanism of lung mucosal immune activation in response to female chemosignals. Respiratory tract mucosal immune response to intranasal application of LPS, urea solution, saline and female urine used as a chemosignal was investigated in BALB/c and C57BL/6 male mice. Application of both female urine and LPS increased total white blood cell count and protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in BALB/c, but not in C57BL/6 male mice, suggesting an important role of Th2 pathway in lung mucosal immune response. At the same time, urine application provoked a significantly lower plasma corticosterone elevation than LPS. Thus, sexual signals associated with infection risks provide genotype-dependent mobilization of innate immunity without significant activation of physiological stress mechanisms.

Diagnostic Value of White Blood Cell and C-Reactive Protein in Pediatric Appendicitis.

Background. Acute appendicitis (AA) associated with acute phase reaction is the most prevalent disease which requires emergency surgery. Its delayed diagnosis and unnecessarily performed appendectomies lead to numerous complications. In our study, we aimed to detect the role of WBC and CRP in the exclusion of acute and complicated appendicitis and diagnostic accuracy in pediatric age group. Methods. Appendectomized patient groups were constructed based on the results of histological evaluation. The area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) was performed to examine diagnostic accuracy. Results. When WBC and CRP were used in combination, based on cut-off values of ≥13.1 × 103/μL for WBC counts and ≥1.17 mg/dL for CRP level, diagnostic parameters were as follows: sensitivity, 98.7%; specificity, 71.3%; PPV, 50.6%; NPV, 99.5%; diagnostic accuracy, 77.6%; LR(+), 3.44; LR(−), 0.017. AUC values were 0.845 (95% CI 0.800–0.891) for WBC and 0.887 (95% CI 0.841–0.932) for CRP. Conclusions. For complicated appendicitis, CRP has the highest degree of diagnostic accuracy. The diagnosis of appendicitis should be made primarily based on clinical examination, and obviously more specific and systemic inflammatory markers are needed. Combined use of cut-off values of WBC (≥13100/μL) and CRP (≥1.17 mg/L) yields a higher sensitivity and NPV for the diagnosis of complicated appendicitis.

Effect of an Indigenous Probiotic (&lt;i&gt;Shewanella algae&lt;/i&gt;) Isolated from Healthy Shrimp (&lt;i&gt;Penaeus monodon&lt;/i&gt;) Intestine on &lt;i&gt;Clarias gariepinus&lt;/i&gt;

The efficacy of Shewanella algae , isolated from healthy shrimp ( Penaeus monodon ) intestine, as a biocontrol agent against Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Clarias gariepinus was evaluated. Spread plated technique was employed for bacterial isolation. The bacterial isolates were screened for in vitro antimicrobial activity against pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila using agar well diffusion assay. The most active isolate (B2) was identified using phenotypic and molecular methods. The safety of the indigenous probiotic (B2) and the pathogenicity of the Aeromonas hydrophila on Clarias gariepinus were investigated. Feeding experiment was designed to evaluate the in vivo antibacterial efficiency of the most active strain using three groups of fish ( Shewanella algae - supplemented feed group, control infected and control non-infected groups). At the end of the experiment, five fish from each group were randomly selected for haematological and serum biochemical response investigation. The parameters analysed were haemoglobin, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), lymphocytes, monocytes, total protein and albumin. A total of four genera belonging to Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Vibrio and Proteus which were isolated from shrimp intestine had antagonistic ability against Aeromonas hydrophila with zone of inhibition of 8.0 ± 0.0 mm, 10.0 ± 0.0 mm, 8.0 ± 0.0 mm and 8.0 ± 0.0 mm respectively. Molecular analysis conducted on the most active isolate (B2) revealed that it is closely related to Shewanella algae strain KJ-W32 gi: 385880930. The virulence test carried out on Clarias gariepinus using Aeromonas hydrophila which was injected intraperitoneally, showed 50% lethal dose value at 6.4 x 104 cfu ml-1. The result from the probiotic trial showed that fish fed with incorporated Shewanella algae strain KJ-W32 exhibited better resistance to pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila than the control infected fish. The mortality rate during the in vivo challenge experiments observed for Shewanella algae - supplemented feed group, control infected and control non -infected fish groups were 0%, 50% and 5% respectively. Fish fed with supplemented diet showed better haematological and serum biochemical performance than those fed with normal fish feed. The study showed that Shewanella algae strain KJ-W32 is beneficial to Clarias gariepinus . Therefore, this indigenous bacterium could be used as effective biocontrol agent for management of aeromonasis in aquaculture.

The Usefulness of T1-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images for Diagnosis of Acute Leukemia Manifesting Musculoskeletal Symptoms prior to Appearance of Peripheral Blood Abnormalities.

The patients with acute leukemia occasionally present with musculoskeletal symptoms initially, including bone pain, joint pain, muscular pain, and functional impairment. Without abnormal findings of peripheral blood cell counts or smear, the correct diagnosis tends to be delayed. Magnetic resonance imaging is often performed to examine musculoskeletal abnormalities; it can simultaneously reveal the bone marrow composition with high anatomical resolution and excellent soft tissue contrast. We present 4 pediatric patients who were initially diagnosed with acute pyogenic osteomyelitis or arthritis, based on the elevated white blood cell counts and/or C-reactive protein in addition to the localized high signal intensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Finally, they were diagnosed with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia by bone marrow examination. The period between the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms and the diagnosis of leukemia ranged from 20 days to 6 months. In all cases, the T1-weighted magnetic resonance images taken prior to detection of peripheral blood abnormality revealed diffuse low signal intensity of the bone marrow in regions adjacent or contralateral to localized musculoskeletal symptoms. These findings should raise the suspicion of leukemia even without abnormalities in peripheral blood.