Protective efficacy induced by Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guèrin can be augmented in an antigen independent manner by use of non-coding plasmid DNA.

Tuberculosis caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or M. bovis remains one of the most important infectious diseases of man and animals, and continues to inflict a huge cost in both health and financial terms. The current vaccine, BCG demonstrates variable efficacy and so a more robust vaccine strategy to either replace or supplement BCG is required.

Efficacy of ultrasound in removal of intraradicular posts using different techniques.

The efficacy of ultrasound in removing cast metal posts was evaluated in this in vitro study using one or two ultrasound units and ultrasonic vibration for various lengths of time. The crowns of 30 healthy maxillary canines were removed, the roots were embedded in acrylic resin blocks, and the root canals were treated endodontically. The canals were prepared and their impressions were taken with self-curing acrylic resin.

Advances in medical therapy of inflammatory bowel disease.

The past few years have seen increased knowledge and optimism on the use of biological therapy in Crohn's disease. Important lessons have been learned from the expanding clinical experience with infliximab, fuelling belief that current treatment will continue to evolve as therapy is aimed at specific targets within the immune cascade. Several other studies of agents that target tumour necrosis factor-alpha revealed mixed and sometimes disappointing results.

Quantum interference in atomic vapor observed by four-wave mixing with incoherent light.

Pairs of pulses from an incoherent source are used to investigate the time-resolved four-wave mixing response of atomic rubidium when a two-photon resonance is involved in the nonlinear process. By varying the relative polarization of the pulse pairs, we are able to select the quantum pathways and clearly distinguish optical and quantum interferences.

The order of prime-boost vaccination of neonatal calves with Mycobacterium bovis BCG and a DNA vaccine encoding mycobacterial proteins Hsp65, Hsp70, and Apa is not critical for enhancing protection against bovine tuberculosis.

Priming neonatal calves at birth with a Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and boosting with a DNA vaccine consisting of plasmids encoding mycobacterial antigens Hsp65, Hsp70, and Apa or the reverse prime-boost sequence induced similar levels of protection against experimental challenge with Mycobacterium bovis. When M. bovis was isolated from a thoracic lymph node following challenge, the two groups of calves given the prime-boost regimen had significantly lower numbers of M.

Prognostic significance of MMP-1 and MMP-3 functional promoter polymorphisms in colorectal cancer.

Purpose: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) belongs to a large group of proteases capable of breaking essentially all components of the extracellular matrix. They are implicated in all steps of tumorogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis. Among them, metalloproteinase type 1 (MMP-1) is implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis in different types of cancers including colorectal cancer in which its expression was correlated with poor prognosis.

A heterologous DNA priming-Mycobacterium bovis BCG boosting immunization strategy using mycobacterial Hsp70, Hsp65, and Apa antigens improves protection against tuberculosis in mice.

Tuberculosis is responsible for >2 million deaths a year, and the number of new cases is rising worldwide. DNA vaccination combined with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) represents a potential strategy for prevention of this disease. Here, we used a heterologous prime-boost immunization approach using a combination of DNA plasmids and BCG in order to improve the efficacy of vaccination against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice.

Additive genetic relationships between heifer pregnancy and scrotal circumference in Nellore cattle.

To estimate heritability (h2) for yearling heifer pregnancy and to estimate the genetic correlation between heifer pregnancy and scrotal circumference, 18,145 records of Nellore heifers exposed to breeding at an age of approximately 14 mo and 25,466 records of contemporary young bulls were analyzed. Heifer pregnancy was considered as a categorical trait, with the value 1 (success) assigned to heifers that were pregnant after rectal palpation approximately 60 d after the end of a 90-d breeding season and the value 0 (failure) otherwise. A single-trait animal model for heifer pregnancy and a two-trait animal model including heifer pregnancy and scrotal circumference were used.

Thymidylate synthase gene polymorphism predicts toxicity in colorectal cancer patients receiving 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: The target enzyme for 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is thymidylate synthase (TS). The TYMS gene encoding this enzyme is polymorphic, having either double (2R) or tri-tandem (3R) repeats of a 28-bp sequence in the promoter region and a 6-bp variation in the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR). TS expression predicts response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy, and the expression seems to be determined by the TYMS gene promoter.

Impact of GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 and NAT2 genotypes on KRAS2 and TP53 gene mutations in colorectal cancer.

Which carcinogens are of influence in the development of human colorectal cancers remains a question; one answer could be the finding that specific polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are related to particular mutations in cancer genes. KRAS2 and TP53 gene mutations as well as genotypes for GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1 and NAT2 were determined in an exploratory series of 165 stable colorectal cancers. Mutations in KRAS2 and TP53 were found in 34% and 57.

[Hypomelanosis of Ito - case report].

OBJECTIVES: The authors report a case of hypomelanosis of Ito (HI), a rare neurocutaneous syndrome with neurological and chromosomal alterations associated with cutaneous involvement and recurrent pneumonia. CASE REPORT: A male patient, age 1 year and 11 months, was admitted with bilateral bronchopneumonia to the São Vicente de Paulo Hospital. Examination revealed hypochromic maculas on the skin, compatible with HI, and a delay in neuropsychomotor development.

A DNA prime-Mycobacterium bovis BCG boost vaccination strategy for cattle induces protection against bovine tuberculosis.

The variable efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (Mycobacterium bovis BCG) in protecting humans and cattle against tuberculosis has prompted a search for a more effective vaccination regimen. A prime-boost strategy was investigated in cattle naturally sensitized to environmental mycobacteria by using a combination of three DNA vaccines coding for Hsp 65, Hsp 70, and Apa for priming, followed by a boost with BCG prior to experimental challenge with virulent M. bovis.

Laparoscopic gastric banding: a minimally invasive surgical treatment for morbid obesity: prospective study of 500 consecutive patients.

Objective: To evaluate early and late morbidity of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity and to assess the efficacy of this procedure by analyzing its results.

Summary Background Data: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is considered the least invasive surgical option for morbid obesity. It is effective, with an average loss of 50% of excessive weight after 2 years of follow-up.

Amoxicillin and ampicillin are not transferred to gastric juice irrespective of Helicobacter pylori status or acid blockade by omeprazole.

Background: The effects of proton pump inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori infection on the distribution of drugs used for the eradication of the bacteria are poorly understood.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 7-day administration of 20 mg of omeprazole on the pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin and ampicillin in the plasma, saliva and gastric juice of individuals with and without H. pylori infection.

Genetic evaluation of the probability of pregnancy at 14 months for Nellore heifers.

To estimate the heritability for the probability that yearling heifers would become pregnant, we analyzed the records of 11,487 Nellore animals that participated in breeding seasons at three farms in the Brazilian states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul. All heifers were exposed to a bull at the age of about 14 mo. The probability of pregnancy was analyzed as a categorical trait, with a value of 1 (success) assigned to heifers that were diagnosed pregnant by rectal palpation about 60 d after the end of the breeding season of 90 d and a value of 0 (failure) assigned to those that were not pregnant at that time.

Increased primary resistance to recommended antibiotics negatively affects Helicobacter pylori eradication.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of two commonly employed treatments for Helicobacter pylori infection and the impact of bacterial resistance to antibiotics on eradication rate.

Methods: Ninety-two consecutive H. pylori-positive patients with active peptic ulcer disease were randomly enrolled to receive a 7-day treatment with either lansoprazole 30 mg plus amoxicillin 1 g and clarithromycin 500 mg [all twice a day (b.

Transfer of clarithromycin to gastric juice is enhanced by omeprazole in Helicobacter pylori-infected individuals.

Background: The effects of proton-pump inhibitors and Helicobacter pylori infection on the distribution of drugs employed for the eradication of H. pylori are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 7-day oral administration of 20 mg omeprazole on the distribution of clarithromycin in the gastric juice of individuals with H.

Intraembryonic, but not yolk sac hematopoietic precursors, isolated before circulation, provide long-term multilineage reconstitution.

The relative contribution of yolk sac and intraembryonic precursors to hematopoiesis has been a matter of long-standing controversy. As reconstitution activity has so far only been found in embryonic tissues after the onset of circulation, the origin of reconstituting cells could not be formally established. Here, we separated yolk sac and intraembryonic splanchnopleura prior to circulation and maintained the explants in organ culture before transfer.

Prevalence of peptic lesions in asymptomatic, healthy volunteers.

Aim: To investigate the presence of lesions of the upper gastrointestinal tract of asymptomatic, healthy volunteers undergoing clinical pharmacology studies.

Material And Methods: A series of 53 volunteers (45 male, 23 Helicobacter pylori negative and 30 Helicobacter pylori positive) underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Helicobacter pylori status was assessed using two methods (rapid urease test and histology) from antral and corpus biopsies.

Cyclooxygenase selectivity of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs in humans: ex vivo evaluation.

We have recently described a novel assay to assess ex vivo the activity and selectivity on cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (EC 1.14.99.

Dental anomaly: dens evaginatus (talon cusp).

Dens evaginatus is a developmental anomaly characterized by the occurrence of an extra cusp shaped as a tubercle projecting from the palatal or buccal surfaces (talon cusp). In the anterior dentition, dens evaginatus is more commonly found in the maxilla and on the palatal surface of the tooth. The authors present a case of dens evaginatus in a maxillary central incisor, in which the evagination was removed and routine endodontic treatment was performed.

Development of an experimental model of liver cirrhosis in rabbits.

1. The aim of the present study was to develop an experimental model of liver cirrhosis in rabbits using CCl4 and phenobarbital. 2.