Not Just Myocarditis: Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) and Overlap Myositis With Anti-Ku Positivity in a Young Male With Shortness of Breath.

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by high levels of anti-U1 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) antibodies and overlapping clinical features of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and polymyositis (PM). Anti-Ku antibodies have been associated with overlap syndromes, which can present with symptoms such as Raynaud's phenomenon, arthritis, and myositis.  A 19-year-old male athlete presented with myositis, notable for cardiac involvement.

Patient and Physician Global Assessments of Disease Status in Systemic Sclerosis.

Global assessments of disease by both patients and physicians are widely used in clinical studies of systemic sclerosis (SSc). They are commonly secondary end points in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and are considered important items in composite measures of treatment response. A comprehensive literature review was conducted of the formats, wording, and clinimetric properties of the patient global assessment of disease status (PtGA) and physician global assessment of disease status (PhGA) used in RCTs of SSc.

Autoantibody profiles delineate distinct subsets of scleromyositis.

Objective: Scleromyositis remains incompletely characterized owing in part to its heterogeneity. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of autoantibody profiles to define subsets of scleromyositis.

Methods: Subjects with scleromyositis from a prospective cohort were divided into three groups based on autoantibody profiles: subjects with SSc-specific autoantibodies (anti-centromere, -topoisomerase 1, -RNA polymerase III, -Th/To, -fibrillarin), subjects with SSc-overlap autoantibodies (anti-PM/Scl, -U1RNP, -Ku) and subjects without SSc-related autoantibodies.

Risk Factors Associated with Clostridium difficile Infection in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background And Aim: Clostridium difficile infection [CDI] is a significant concern in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]. Risk factors and consequences associated with CDI in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients are important to characterize. The aim of this research was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on risk factors and outcomes associated with CDI in IBD patients.

Management of inflammatory bowel disease with infection.

Aim: To address the management of () infection (CDI) in the setting of suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-flare.

Methods: A systematic search of the Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE databases by independent reviewers identified 70 articles including a total of 932141 IBD patients or IBD-related hospitalizations.

Results: In those with IBD, CDI is associated with increased morbidity, including subsequent escalation in IBD medical therapy, urgent colectomy and increased hospitalization, as well as excess mortality.

Clinical and serologic correlates of anti-PM/Scl antibodies in systemic sclerosis: a multicenter study of 763 patients.

Objective: Anti-PM/Scl autoantibodies are found in polymyositis, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic autoimmune disease overlap syndromes. PM-1α is a major epitope of the PM/Scl complex, and antibodies against PM-1α can be detected using a validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and identify the clinical correlates of anti-PM-1α antibodies in a large cohort of patients with SSc.

Probing the constitutive activity among dopamine D1 and D5 receptors and their mutants.

Dopamine D1 and D5 receptors are prototypical cell-surface seven-transmembrane (TM) G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) mediating elevation of intracellular cAMP levels. The high level of constitutive activity of D5 receptor mediating intracellular cAMP production is one of the functional hallmarks distinguishing the closely related D1-like dopaminergic subtypes (D1 and D5). D1-like subtypes share over 80% identity within their TM regions.

Multiplex PCR method for detection of three Aeromonas enterotoxin genes.

A novel multiplex PCR method using three sets of specific primers was developed for the detection of the cytotoxic (act), heat-labile (alt), and heat-stable (ast) enterotoxin genes in Aeromonas spp. This assay was used to characterize 35 reference strains as well as 537 food-borne isolates. A total of seven gene pattern combinations were encountered, including act, alt, act/alt, act/alt/ast, act/alt/148-bp amplicon, alt/ast, and alt/148-bp amplicon.

Role of the extracellular amino terminus and first membrane-spanning helix of dopamine D1 and D5 receptors in shaping ligand selectivity and efficacy.

Transmembrane (TM) helices of human D1-like dopaminergic receptors (hD1R and hD5R) harbor the same residues implicated in ligand binding and activation of catecholamine G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Yet, hD1R and hD5R naturally display the distinct functional properties shared by wild type and constitutively active mutant GPCRs, respectively. Interestingly, we show in the present study that a class of synthetic phenylbenzazepine agonists containing a methyl on the azepine ring exhibited lower affinity for the more constitutively activated hD5R.

Thermal resistance of Salmonella serovars isolated from raw, frozen chicken nuggets/strips, nugget meat and pelleted broiler feed.

Raw, frozen chicken nuggets/strips available at retail and prepared at home before consumption have been identified as a significant risk factor in contracting food-borne salmonellosis. Cases of salmonellosis from consumption of these products may be due, in part, to Salmonella strains originating in broiler feed. In this study the thermal resistances of Salmonella strains isolated from chicken nuggets and strips, chicken nugget/strip meat and broiler feed were determined to assess whether they exhibited enhanced thermal resistance.

Occurrence and characterization of Salmonella from chicken nuggets, strips, and pelleted broiler feed.

Raw, frozen chicken nuggets and strips have been identified as a significant risk factor in contracting foodborne salmonellosis. Cases of salmonellosis as a result of consuming partly cooked chicken nuggets may be due in part to Salmonella strains originating in broiler feed. This study was undertaken to determine the occurrence and characterize the strains of Salmonella contaminating chicken nuggets, strips, and pelleted feeds, in an attempt to demonstrate whether the same Salmonella strains present in broiler feed could be isolated from raw, frozen chicken nuggets and strips available for human consumption.

Evaluation of the BAX gel and fluorometric systems for the detection of foodborne Salmonella.

The present study compared the sensitivity of the BAX automated fluorometric and the recently discontinued BAX gel electrophoresis systems with a standard culture method to detect Salmonella in 333 high-moisture and 171 low-moisture foods. A total of 95 naturally contaminated foods, including 63 high-moisture and 32 low-moisture foods, were detected by the standard culture method. No contaminated samples were identified exclusively by the BAX systems.

Survival of Listeria spp. on raw whole chickens cooked in microwave ovens.

The prevalence of microwave ovens in North American homes has increased dramatically within the last decade. Although microwave ovens are primarily used for reheating of foods, they are now more commonly being applied to the cooking of raw foods. Although cooking of raw foods, according to manufacturers' instructions targets an organoleptically acceptable end product, the process does not address the microbiological safety of the cooked food.

Performance Assessment of the GENE-TRAK Colorimetric Probe Assay for the Detection of Foodborne Salmonella spp.

A performance assessment of the GENE-TRAK colorimetric probe assay using pure cultures and naturally contaminated foods and animal feeds underlined the high sensitivity and specificity of this DNA-rRNA diagnostic system. The probe effectively identified 110 (100%) strains of Salmonella spp. and yielded no false-positive reactions in the examination of 61 pure cultures of nonsalmonellae.

Recovery of Salmonella spp. from refrigerated preenrichment cultures of dry food composites.

Refrigerated preenrichment 72 h and selective enrichment cultures arising from 25 g analytical units of dry foods can be used to increase the analytical flexibility and productivity of laboratories for the detection of foodborne Salmonella spp. by AOAC method 994.04.

Salmonella and the international food trade.

Non-typhoid Salmonella spp. continue to figure prominently in many national epidemiological registries as the leading cause of bacterial foodborne disease. Although Salmonella enterocolitis is generally a self-limiting illness that may require fluid and electrolyte replacement, the disease can spread systemically and degenerate into a chronic condition such as reactive arthritis, osteomyelitis, cardiac inflammation or neural disorders.

Detection of Salmonella in dry foods using refrigerated pre-enrichment and enrichment broth cultures: summary of collaborative study.

A collaborative study was conducted to compare the productivity of refrigerated pre-enrichment and enrichment broth cultures with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration culture methods for detection of Salmonella.

Detection of Salmonella in dry foods using refrigerated pre-enrichment and enrichment broth cultures: interlaboratory study.

An interlaboratory study was performed in 11 laboratories to validate the use of pre-enrichment and tetrathionate brilliant green (TBG35) and selenite cystine (SC35) enrichment cultures refrigerated 72 h at 2-5 degrees C for greater analytical flexibility in the detection of Salmonella in dry foods. Productivities of refrigerated pre-enrichment and enrichment cultures were compared with that of the AOAC/Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) procedure using 4 food types: whole egg powder, milk chocolate, animal feed, and instantized skim milk powder. Uninoculated and inoculated samples were included in each food group.

Undefined and Defined Bacterial Preparations for the Competitive Exclusion of Salmonella in Poultry - A Review.

During the past two decades, there have been many studies on the efficacy of competitive exclusion for the control of Salmonella in poultry. Undefined preparations of cultured fecal or cecal microflora generally reduce the prevalence of infected chicks upon challenge with a standard dose of Salmonella under laboratory conditions; in contrast, results under field conditions are more variable. The protective capacity of undefined cultures can be affected by several factors including the source of microflora, method for protective culture administration, presence of poultry feed additives, in-laboratory or natural environmental challenge, and hygienic practices on the farm.

A multistate outbreak of Salmonella javiana and Salmonella oranienburg infections due to consumption of contaminated cheese.

Objective: To determine the source of an outbreak of Salmonella javiana and Salmonella oranienburg infections.

Design: Laboratory-based statewide surveillance for Salmonella infections and two separate case-control studies.

Setting: Community- and industry-based studies conducted from May through October 1989.

Antibiotic Resistance of Agricultural and Foodborne Salmonella Isolates in Canada: 1986-1989.

A total of 689 Salmonella cultures isolated during 1986-1989 from Canadian agricultural products and from imported fish, shellfish, and reptiles were examined for resistance to a test panel of 11 antibiotics. The incidence of antibiotic resistance in strains from all sources seemingly increased during the study period, whereas the occurrence of resistance within individual sample categories fluctuated annually. Although poultry figured as a major reservoir of resistant salmonellae (53.

Inadequacy of Small Transfer Volume and Short (6 h) Selective Enrichment for the Detection of Foodborne Salmonella.

The propensity of short (6 h) selective enrichment combined with a preenrichment to enrichment transfer volume ratio of 1:100 to provide greater method brevity could not be demonstrated. Inoculation of tetrathionate brilliant green (35 and 43°C), Rappaport-Vassiliadis (43°C), and selenite cystine (35°C) enrichment broths (9.0 ml) with 0.

A comparison of standard cultural methods for the detection of foodborne Salmonella.

The sensitivity of the standard cultural method of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 6579 and ISO 3565 combined) was compared to that of the Health Protection Branch (HPB) procedure for the detection of foodborne Salmonella. Of 195 foods tested, 84 (43.1%) were found to contain salmonellae by one or more cultural conditions.