scholarly journals A Homologue of aliB Is Found in the Capsule Region of Nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (12) ◽  
pp. 3721-3729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy J. Hathaway ◽  
Patricia Stutzmann Meier ◽  
Patrick Bättig ◽  
Suzanne Aebi ◽  
Kathrin Mühlemann
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
Northern Blotting ◽  
Clonal Population ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Group I ◽  
Invasive Diseases ◽  
Additional Sequence ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
Clonal Population Structure

ABSTRACT The epidemiology, phylogeny, and biology of nonencapsulated Streptococcus pneumoniae are largely unknown. Increased colonization capacity and transformability are, however, intriguing features of these pneumococci and play an important role. Twenty-seven nonencapsulated pneumococci were identified in a nationwide collection of 1,980 nasopharyngeal samples and 215 blood samples obtained between 1998 and 2002. On the basis of multilocus sequence typing and capsule region analysis we divided the nonencapsulated pneumococci into two groups. Group I was closely related to encapsulated strains. Group II had a clonal population structure, including two geographically widespread clones able to cause epidemic conjunctivitis and invasive diseases. Group II strains also carried a 1,959-bp homologue of aliB (aliB-like ORF 2) in the capsule region, which was highly homologous to a sequence in the capsule region of Streptococcus mitis. In addition, strains of the two major clones in group II had an additional sequence, aliB-like ORF 1 (1,968 to 2,004 bp), upstream of aliB-like ORF 2. Expression of aliB-like ORF 1 was detected by reverse transcription-PCR, and the corresponding RNA was visualized by Northern blotting. A gene fragment homologous to capN of serotypes 33 and 37 suggests that group II strains were derived from encapsulated pneumococci some time ago. Therefore, loss of capsule expression in vivo was found to be associated with the importation of one or two aliB homologues in some nonencapsulated pneumococci.

Effects of Rest and Exercise on Cardiac Blood Volume Determinations

1997 ◽  
Vol 36 (08) ◽  
pp. 259-264
Author(s):  
N. Topuzović
Keyword(s):  
Radionuclide Ventriculography ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Peak Exercise ◽  
Volume Determination ◽  
Group I ◽  
Lv Volumes ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
Lv Volume

Summary Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in blood activity during rest, exercise and recovery, and to assess its influence on left ventricular (LV) volume determination using the count-based method requiring blood sampling. Methods: Forty-four patients underwent rest-stress radionuclide ventriculography; Tc-99m-human serum albumin was used in 13 patients (Group I), red blood cells was labeled using Tc-99m in 17 patients (Group II) in vivo, and in 14 patients (Group III) by modified in vivo/in vitro method. LV volumes were determined by a count-based method using corrected count rate in blood samples obtained during rest, peak exercise and after recovery. Results: In group I at stress, the blood activity decreased by 12.6 ± 5.4%, p <0.05, as compared to the rest level, and increased by 25.1 ± 6.4%, p <0.001, and 12.8 ± 4.5%, p <0.05, above the resting level in group II and III, respectively. This had profound effects on LV volume determinations if only one rest blood aliquot was used: during exercise, the LV volumes significantly decreased by 22.1 ± 9.6%, p <0.05, in group I, whereas in groups II and III it was significantly overestimated by 32.1 ± 10.3%, p <0.001, and 10.7 ± 6.4%, p <0.05, respectively. The changes in blood activity between stress and recovery were not significantly different for any of the groups. Conclusion: The use of only a single blood sample as volume aliquot at rest in rest-stress studies leads to erroneous estimation of cardiac volumes due to significant changes in blood radioactivity during exercise and recovery.

A P-Selectin/CD62P Monoclonal Antibody (LYP-20), in Tandem with Flow Cytometry, Detects in vivo Activated Circulating Rat Platelets in Severe Vascular Trauma

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (05) ◽  
pp. 745-749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elza Chignier ◽  
Maud Parise ◽  
Lilian McGregor ◽  
Caroline Delabre ◽  
Sylvie Faucompret ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Platelet Activation ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Vascular Trauma ◽  
Activated Platelets ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
Rat Platelets

SummaryP-selectin, also known as CD62P, GMP140 or PADGEM, is present in platelet a-granules and endothelial cell Weibel-Palade bodies and is very rapidly expressed on the surface of these cells on activation. In this study, an anti P-selectin monoclonal antibody (LYP20) was used, in tandem with flow cytometry, to identify activated platelets at the site of induced vascular trauma or in peripheral blood. Moreover, electron microscopy was performed to characterize sites of vascular trauma and quantify the number of adhering platelets. The same induced vascular trauma was observed to result into animals responding in 2 different ways (Group I, Group II) following the degree of platelet activation. Five rats, out of 14 with induced vascular trauma, had more than half of their circulating platelets expressing P-selectin when drawn at the site of the trauma (67.4% ± 3.44) or in peripheral blood (78.5% ± 2.5) (Group I). In the remaining 9 animals a much smaller proportion of circulating platelets expressed P-selectin when assayed from trauma sites (18% ± 3.34) or in peripheral blood (18.0% ± 4.30) (Group II). Enhanced P-selectin expression by circulating platelets in Group I, compared to Group II, appears to be linked to the degree of activated platelets adhering at sites of trauma (171 ± 15 × 103 platelets versus 48 ± 31 × 103 platelets per mm2). In the 5 control animals, that were not operated on, platelets expressing P-selectin when drawn at the site of a mock trauma (7.0% ± 1.84) or in the peripheral blood (11.2% ± 3.30) showed little activation. In addition, no platelet adhesion was seen on the vascular bed of these animals. Results from this study show that analysis of P-selectin (CD62P) expression, in circulating platelets, is a valuable and rapid marker of platelet activation following severe vascular trauma induced in rats. However, activated platelets were not detected to the same extent in the peripheral blood of all animals having undergone vascular trauma. It is conceivable that platelets, depending on the degree of activation, may be actively sequestered in organs and prevented from circulating. Alternatively, P-selectin may be rapidly endocytosed, or not expressed, by activated circulating platelets depending on the type of agonists implicated in vivo activation.

(Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr Malathi Dayalan ◽  
Dr Sudeshna Sharma ◽  
Dr Shweta Poovani ◽  
Dr Saher Altaf
Keyword(s):  
Myofascial Pain ◽  
Mouth Opening ◽  
Masticatory Muscles ◽  
Matched Pair ◽  
Masticatory Muscle ◽  
Muscle Disorders ◽  
Occlusal Contact ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii

BACKGROUND Masticatory system is a complex functional unit, primarily engaged in chewing, swallowing and breathing functions, and some parts are involved in taste recognition and determination of food consistency. Sophisticated functional performances of speech and emotional expressions are specifically human qualities. Irregularities in occlusion appears to be the precipitating factor in the pathogenesis of myofascial pain dysfunction syndrome. Tek- Scan III records the bite length, number, distribution, timing, duration and the relative force of each tooth contact. It also records the sequence of occlusal contacts in terms of time and the associated force with each occlusal contact. The aim of this study was to treat masticatory muscle disorders with occlusal equilibration, and compare the efficacy of treatment outcomes between selective grinding and stabilization splints using Tek-Scan III. OBJECTIVE Objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of occlusal equilibration achieved through selective griding and stabilization splints using Tek-Scan III. METHODS In this in vivo study, 40 patients with masticatory muscle disorders were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The occlusal discrepancies were analyzed using Tek-Scan III. The selected 40 subjects were then randomly divided into 2 groups based on the treatment they recieved; Group I – Selective grinding group (20) and Group II – Stabilization splint group (20). Comparison of pre-treatment and post treatment results were evaluated in terms of pain, mouth opening, left and right side force percentage as recorded through Tek-Scan III and reduction of disclusion time. Statistical analysis was carried out with Kolmogorov Smirnov test, Wilcoxon matched pair test and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS Wilcoxon matched pairs test demonstrated that there was statistically significant results ( p = 0.0007) in both the groups for reduction of disclusion time, elimination of pain and improved mouth opening. Patients in Group I showed better results as compared to Group II in terms of disclusion time, pain and mouth opening. CONCLUSIONS Occlusal equilibration brought about by reducing the disclusion time using the Tek- Scan III reduced the symptoms of pain in masticatory muscles. Patients in group I (Selective grinding) however showed better results when compared to patients in group II (Stabilization splints).

Correlation of blood rheology with vascular resistance in critically ill patients

1975 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1008-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. M. Scholz ◽  
J. H. Karis ◽  
F. E. Gump ◽  
J. M. Kinney ◽  
S. Chien
Keyword(s):  
Critically Ill ◽  
Blood Viscosity ◽  
Critically Ill Patients ◽  
Peripheral Resistance ◽  
Plasma Viscosity ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Red Cell Deformability ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii

Blood rheologic measurements together with peripheral resistance determinations in vivo were made in 27 critically ill patients. Eighteen of these patients (group I) suffered from violent trauma or operative injury and the other 9 (group II) were patients with generalized sepsis. As a result of fluid therapy all patients underwent hemodilution, resulting in a decrease in blood viscosity. This drop in blood viscosity was counteracted to some extent by an increased plasma viscosity due to elevated fibrinogen levels and a decreased red cell deformability associated with massive transfusions of stored blood. The correlation of vivo hemodynamics with blood rheological data made it possible to separate the relative roles of vascular dimensions and blood viscosity in affecting the total peripheral resistance. This approach permitted us to distinguish varying degrees of vasoconstriction in nonseptic patients in low flow states (group I) and varying degrees of vasodilation in septic patients (group II). This type of analysis serves to elucidate the pathophysiology of hemodynamic alterations in disease and provides a rational basis for devising an effective therapeutic program.

scholarly journals Involvement of the C-Terminal Extension of the α Polypeptide and of the PucC Protein in LH2 Complex Biosynthesis in Rubrivivax gelatinosus

2004 ◽  
Vol 186 (10) ◽  
pp. 3143-3152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne-Soisig Steunou ◽  
Soufian Ouchane ◽  
Françoise Reiss-Husson ◽  
Chantal Astier
Keyword(s):  
Purple Bacteria ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Initiation Site ◽  
Northern Blotting ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Rubrivivax Gelatinosus

ABSTRACT The facultative phototrophic nonsulfur bacterium Rubrivivax gelatinosus exhibits several differences from other species of purple bacteria in the organization of its photosynthetic genes. In particular, the puc operon contains only the pucB and pucA genes encoding the β and α polypeptides of the light-harvesting 2 (LH2) complex. Downstream of the pucBA operon is the pucC gene in the opposite transcriptional orientation. The transcription of pucBA and pucC has been studied. No pucC transcript was detected either by Northern blotting or by reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The initiation site of pucBA transcription was determined by primer extension, and Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of two transcripts of 0.8 and 0.65 kb. The half-lives of both transcripts are longer in cells grown semiaerobically than in photosynthetically grown cells, and the small transcript is the less stable. It was reported that the α polypeptide, encoded by the pucA gene, presents a C-terminal extension which is not essential for LH2 function in vitro. The biological role of this alanine- and proline-rich C-terminal extension in vivo has been investigated. Two mutants with C-terminal deletions of 13 and 18 residues have been constructed. Both present the two pucBA transcripts, while their phenotypes are, respectively, LH2+ and LH2−, suggesting that a minimal length of the C-terminal extension is required for LH2 biogenesis. Another important factor involved in the LH2 biogenesis is the PucC protein. To gain insight into the function of this protein in R. gelatinosus, we constructed and characterized a PucC mutant. The mutant is devoid of LH2 complex under semiaerobiosis but still produces a small amount of these antennae under photosynthetic growth conditions. This conditional phenotype suggests the involvement of another factor in LH2 biogenesis.

scholarly journals Differential Abilities of Capsulated and Noncapsulated Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Diverse agr Groups To Invade Mammary Epithelial Cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 886-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda R. Buzzola ◽  
Lucía P. Alvarez ◽  
Lorena P. N. Tuchscherr ◽  
María S. Barbagelata ◽  
Santiago M. Lattar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Mammary Gland ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Pcr Amplification ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Polymorphism Analysis ◽  
Accessory Gene ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus aureus is the bacterium most frequently isolated from milk of bovines with mastitis. Four allelic groups, which interfere with the regulatory activities among the different groups, have been identified in the accessory gene regulator (agr) system. The aim of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of the different agr groups in capsulated and noncapsulated S. aureus bacteria isolated from mastitic bovines in Argentina and whether a given agr group was associated with MAC-T cell invasion and in vivo persistence. Eighty-eight percent of the bovine S. aureus strains were classified in agr group I. The remainder belonged in agr groups II, III, and IV (2, 8, and 2%, respectively). By restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis after PCR amplification of the agr locus variable region, six agr restriction types were identified. All agr group I strains presented a unique allele (A/1), whereas strains from groups II, III, and IV exhibited more diversity. Bovine S. aureus strains defined as being in agr group I (capsulated or noncapsulated) showed significantly increased abilities to be internalized within MAC-T cells, compared with isolates from agr groups II, III, and IV. agr group II or IV S. aureus strains were cleared more efficiently than agr group I strains from the murine mammary gland. The results suggest that agr group I S. aureus strains are more efficiently internalized within epithelial cells and can persist in higher numbers in mammary gland tissue than S. aureus strains classified in agr group II, III, or IV.

scholarly journals Determination of Maxillary Incisal Edge Position using Canine Visibility as a Guide – An In vivo Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 165-171
Author(s):  
Ankita Piplani ◽  
G. Ganadhipathi ◽  
M. C. Suresh Sajjan
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Adhesive Tape ◽  
Central Incisor ◽  
Upper Lip ◽  
Maxillary Central Incisor ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Incisal Edge ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii

Purpose:  To evaluate the reliability of the visibility of the central incisor & the canine for the cervico incisal positioning of anterior maxillary teeth related to age & sex while the upper lip was in repose in dentate patients & the development of rehabilitation recommendations for edentulous individuals with regard to the location of the maxillary incisal edge Methodology: 308 subjects [152 Males & 156 Females] belonging to the age of 30 to 59 years were selected using a simple stratified random technique. There were three age and sex groups: Group I was 30 to 39 years old, Group II was 40 to 49 years old, and Group III was 50 to 59 years old. The vertical distances (in mm) between the lower border of the upper lip and the right maxillary central incisal edge and canine tip were measured and recorded using adhesive tape marked with millimetres. A single examiner recorded all the measurements and the values were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Men in Groups I and II had maxillary central incisor exposure ranging from +6 to -1mm, whereas males in Group III had exposure ranging from +5 to -2mm. There was an exposure range of +6 to -2 mm in females in Group I, +7 to -2 mm in Group II, and +5 to -2 mm in Group III for the central incisors. While the canine exposure in Group I and II and Group III ranged from +2 to -4mm in females, the exposure ranged from +3 to -3mm in men of all ages. In all groups, females had statistically significant (P0.05) more central incisor and canine exposure than men. Conclusions: The canine visibility was less variable in all the age groups and in both males and females in comparison to the central incisor. When restoring edentulous individuals, the average canine exposure dimension can be employed for cervico-incisal location of the anterior maxillary teeth.

scholarly journals Group I, II, and III mGluR Compounds Affect Rhythm Generation in the Gastric Circuit of the Crustacean Stomatogastric Ganglion

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 1188-1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wulf D. Krenz ◽  
Don Nguyen ◽  
Nivia L. Pérez-Acevedo ◽  
Allen I. Selverston
Keyword(s):  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Stomatogastric Ganglion ◽  
Detectable Effect ◽  
Consistent Difference ◽  
Rhythm Generation ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Group I ◽  
Specific Antagonist ◽  
Group Ii

We have studied the effects of group I, II, and III metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists on rhythm generation by the gastric circuit of the stomatogastric ganglion (STG) of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus. All mGluR agonists and some antagonists we tested in this study had clear and distinct effects on gastric rhythm generation when superfused over combined oscillating or blocked silent STG preparations. A consistent difference between group I agonists and group II and III agonists was that group I agonists acted excitatory. The group I-specific agonists l-quisqualic acid and ( S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, as well as the nonspecific agonist (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid accelerated ongoing rhythms and could induce gastric rhythms in silent preparations. The group II agonist (2S,1′S,2′S)-2-(carboxycyclopropyl)glycine (L-CCG-I) and the group III agonist l(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyric acid (l-AP4) slowed down or completely blocked ongoing gastric rhythms and were without detectable effect on silent preparations. The action of L-CCG-I was blocked partially by the group-II-specific antagonist, (RS)-1-amino-5-phosphonoindan-1-carboxylic acid [(RS)APICA], and the group-III-specific antagonist (RS)-α-methyl-4-phosphonophenylglycine completely blocked the action of l-AP4. Besides its antagonistic action, the group-II-specific antagonist (RS)APICA had a remarkably strong apparent inverse agonist action when applied alone on oscillating preparations. The action of all drugs was dose dependent and reversible, although recovery was not always complete. In our experiments, the effects of none of the mGluR-specific agonists were antagonized or amplified by the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor-specific antagonistd(−)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid, excluding the contamination of responses to mGluR agonists by nonspecific cross-reactivity with NMDA receptors. Picrotoxin did not prevent the inhibitory action of L-CCG-I and l-AP4. We conclude that mGluRs, probably similar to those belonging to groups I, II, and III described in mammals, may play a role as modulators of gastric circuit rhythm generation in vivo.

Reliability of the Heparin Management Test for Monitoring High Levels of Unfractionated Heparin

2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (6) ◽  
pp. 1594-1602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fritz Mertzlufft ◽  
Andreas Koster ◽  
Roland Hansen ◽  
Anne Risch ◽  
Herrmann Kuppe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiopulmonary Bypass ◽  
Storage Time ◽  
Coagulation Factors ◽  
Clotting Time ◽  
Activated Clotting Time ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group Ii ◽  
And Storage

Background The authors assessed the heparin management test in vitro in volunteers and in vivo during cardiopulmonary bypass. Methods In vitro, the heparin management test was analyzed for heparin levels between 0 and 6 IU/ml using variations in hematocrit, platelets, procoagulants, and storage time. The in vivostudies consisted of two groups: In group I (cardiopulmonary bypass &lt;/= 90 min, n = 40), anticoagulation was performed according to the activated clotting time (with or without aprotinin); in group II (cardiopulmonary bypass &gt;/= 180 min, with aprotinin) included use (n = 10) and nonuse of coumadin (n = 10) and anticoagulation according to the automated heparin dose-response assay. Tests were performed in duplicate (whole blood, two heparin management test analyzers) and compared with anti-Xa activity (plasma). Results In vitro, the results of the heparin management test (n = 1,070) correlated well with heparin concentration (r2 = 0.98). Dilution and storage time did not affect the heparin management test; a hematocrit of 60% and reduced procoagulants (10%) prolonged clotting time. In vivo, the correlation (heparin management test vs. anti-Xa) was strong in group I (r2 = 0.97 [with aprotinin] and 0.96 [without aprotinin]; n = 960) and group II without coumadin (r2 = 0.89, n = 516). In group II with coumadin, the overall correlation was r2 = 0.87 and 0.79 (n = 484), although the range varied widely (0.57-0.94, between-analyzer differences 0-47%). Conclusions The results of the heparin management test were influenced by hematocrit, plasma coagulation factors, and the heparin level, but not by use of aprotinin. The heparin management test provided reliable values in vitro in group I, and in group II without coumadin but was less reliable in group II with coumadin.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document