Distribution and characterization of integrons in various serogroups of Vibrio cholerae strains isolated from diarrhoeal patients between 1992 and 2000 in Kolkata, India.

A total of 133 clinical strains of Vibrio cholerae comprising 44 strains of O1, 45 strains of O139 and 44 strains of non-O1, non-O139 serogroups isolated from hospitalized patients in Kolkata, India, from 1992 to 2000 was examined for the presence of class 1, 2 and 4 integrons. By PCR and DNA sequencing, seven strains of O1, one strain of O139 and six strains of non-O1, non-O139 serogroups were found to contain class 1 integron-harbouring genes aadA1, aadA2 (encoding resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin), blaP1 (resistance to beta-lactams), aar-3 (resistance to rifampicin), aacA4 (resistance to kanamycin and gentamicin), and dfrA1 and dfrA15 (resistance to trimethoprim). Most strains produced one or two bands using primers specific for the amplification of the variable region where the antibiotic-resistance genes are located, and their sizes ranged from 700 to 1250 bp.

Clinical and MRI features of Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis positive for NMO-IgG.

This study investigates the relation between the serological status of NMO (neuromyelitis optica)-IgG and the clinical and MRI features in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis. Serum NMO-IgG was tested in 35 Japanese patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, including 19 with the optic-spinal form of multiple sclerosis (OSMS), three with the spinal form of multiple sclerosis (SMS), and 13 with the conventional form of multiple sclerosis (CMS), which affects the brain. NMO-IgG was detected in 14 patients, 12 with OSMS and 2 with CMS.

High prevalence of Streptococcus pneumoniae with mutations in pbp1a, pbp2x, and pbp2b genes of penicillin-binding proteins in the nasopharynx in children in Japan.

Objective: To evaluate the resistances of Streptococcus pneumoniae to beta-lactams developed by stepwise alterations in high-molecular-weight penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) with a reduced binding affinity of beta-lactams. Among the numerous mutations in pbp genes that alter the affinity for beta-lactams, the decreased affinity of PBP1A, 2X and 2B is especially important in the development of resistances to beta-lactams.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Evaluation of serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from otitis media patients by multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

The increasing difficulty in the management of pneumococcal acute otitis media in parallel with increases in antimicrobial-resistant strains has led to much interest in pneumococcal capsular types for the adoption of effective prevention by vaccines. This study shows that multiplex polymerase chain reaction is a valuable and expeditious method for the capsular typing of pneumococci. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction method accurately detects the majority of serotypes and serogroups frequently isolated from pediatric patients with acute otitis media, allowing the characterization of the colonization patterns for further implications of pneumococcal vaccines.

Relevance of callosal and periventricular MRI lesions to oligoclonal bands in multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between callosal or periventricular lesions, and the presence of oligoclonal IgG bands (OB) or the IgG index in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Materials And Methods: Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was studied in 34 Japanese clinically definite MS cases. Sagittal 2-mm fast fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) imaging was added to the routine MRI studies.

An autopsied case of neuromyelitis optica with a large cavitary cerebral lesion.

We report a case of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) with a large cerebral lesion. The patient had an episode of fever and consciousness disturbance with a tumefactive frontal white matter lesion at age 43, and then repeated bilateral optic neuritis and transverse myelitis until she died at age 63. Histopathological examinations revealed that marked tissue destruction, cavities and inflammatory changes typical of NMO were seen in the cerebrum as well as the optic nerves and spinal cord.

Intractable hiccup and nausea with periaqueductal lesions in neuromyelitis optica.

Intractable hiccup and nausea (IHN) was found in eight of 47 cases of relapsing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) (17%) but in none of 130 cases of multiple sclerosis (MS). IHN resolved with methylprednisolone. In six cases, MRI detected linear medullary lesions involving the pericanal region, the area postrema, and the nucleus tractus solitarius.

Periodic episodes of aphasia as an unusual manifestation of partial status epilepticus.

Recurrent episodes of aphasia due to partial status epilepticus is an uncommon clinical entity. We report here a 78-year-old-woman with episodic aphasia which occurred periodically. During the ictal period, she was conscious, but had difficulty in speech and could not comprehend verbal commands.

Tonsillitis index: an objective tool for quantifying the indications for tonsillectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis.

This report is a preliminary exploration of the concept of a "Tonsillectomy Index" (TI) as an objective tool for quantifying the indications for tonsillectomy for recurrent acute tonsillitis (AT). The TI is derived by multiplying the number of episodes of AT by the number of years during which the episodes of AT occurred. Our objective in this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between the natural history of AT, the immunological functions of tonsils and our proposed TI.

MS Across Continents: Challenging our Knowledge of MS in Asia and the Middle East. Report from the 2nd MS Forum Pan-Asian Conference, 19-20 November 2004, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Multiple sclerosis in Asia and the Middle East shares many similarities with the disease seen in Caucasian populations, but there are notable and important differences. These need to be characterized and defined to enable correct diagnosis. Classifying and diagnosing MS in Asian and Middle Eastern populations were themes of the 2nd MS Forum Pan-Asian conference.

Genomic sequence and receptor for the Vibrio cholerae phage KSF-1phi: evolutionary divergence among filamentous vibriophages mediating lateral gene transfer.

KSF-1phi, a novel filamentous phage of Vibrio cholerae, supports morphogenesis of the RS1 satellite phage by heterologous DNA packaging and facilitates horizontal gene transfer. We analyzed the genomic sequence, morphology, and receptor for KSF-1phi infection, as well as its phylogenetic relationships with other filamentous vibriophages. While strains carrying the mshA gene encoding mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (MSHA) type IV pilus were susceptible to KSF-1phi infection, naturally occurring MSHA-negative strains and an mshA deletion mutant were resistant.

Evaluation of mutations in penicillin binding protein-3 gene of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae isolated from the nasopharynx of children with acute otitis media.

Conclusion: Younger children tend to harbor more resistant strains because they are exposed to these pathogens more often through contacts with siblings or attendance at day-care centers and are frequently treated with antibiotics. The high prevalence of BLNAR strains should be taken into account in the treatment of AOM in young children.

Objective: Non-beta-lactamase-producing ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) strains with mutations in penicillin-binding protein (PBP) genes of Haemophilus influenzae have been prevalent recently among younger children.

Current status of antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes in Japan: report of a countrywide surveillance study.

The growing number of macrolide-resistant strains of Streptococcus pyogenes is an increasing problem worldwide. In this study, we evaluated 62 clinical isolates of S. pyogenes obtained from the upper respiratory tract.

Increase of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae-expressing mefE or ermB gene in the nasopharynx among children with otitis media.

Objective: To evaluate prevalence of macrolide resistant strains and the genotypes of the resistance among Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from the nasopharynx of children with otitis media.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Methods: A total of 858 S.

Guided bone regeneration membrane made of polycaprolactone/calcium carbonate composite nano-fibers.

In this study, new type of guided bone regeneration (GBR) membranes were fabricated by polycaprolactone (PCL)/CaCO3 composite nano-fibers with two different PCL to calcium carbonate (CaCO3) ratios (PCL:CaCO3=75:25 wt% and 25:75 wt%). The composite nano-fibers were successfully fabricated by electrospinning method and CaCO3 nano-particles on the surface of nano-fibers were confirmed by energy disperse X-ray (EDX) analysis. In order to achieve mechanical stability of GBR membranes, composite nano-fibers were spun on PCL nano-fibrous membranes which has high tensile strength, i.

A recombinant P4 protein of Haemophilus influenzae induces specific immune responses biologically active against nasopharyngeal colonization in mice after intranasal immunization.

Outer membrane protein P4, together with P6, is highly conserved among all typeable and nontypeable strains of Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae). Thus, the protein is an attractive antigen for the inclusion in a vaccine against nontypeable H.

CSF-chemokines in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy: CXCL10 up-regulation and therapeutic effect of interferon-alpha.

We measured four chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) with ELISA. CXCL10/IP-10, a T cell type 1 (Th1)-associated chemokine, was significantly elevated in HAM/TSP compared with controls, and the values were even significantly higher in HAM/TSP than in multiple sclerosis (MS) in which CXCL10/IP-10 up-regulation was previously reported. Among Th2-associated chemokines, CCL17/TARC and CCL11/Eotaxin in HAM/TSP were not different from those in controls.

Oligoclonal IgG bands in Japanese patients with multiple sclerosis. A comparative study between isoelectric focusing with IgG immunofixation and high-resolution agarose gel electrophoresis.

A low prevalence of oligoclonal IgG bands (OB) has been reported as a unique feature of Japanese multiple sclerosis (MS) as compared with Western MS. We compared the frequency of OB between isoelectric focusing (IEF) and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) in 59 Japanese patients with clinically definite MS [39 with conventional form of MS (CMS) and 20 with optic-spinal form of MS (OSMS)]. The frequency of IEF-OB in total MS was 54%, whereas that of AGE-OB was only 17%.

A serum autoantibody marker of neuromyelitis optica: distinction from multiple sclerosis.

Background: Neuromyelitis optica is an inflammatory demyelinating disease with generally poor prognosis that selectively targets optic nerves and spinal cord. It is commonly misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis. Neither disease has a distinguishing biomarker, but optimum treatments differ.

Chemokine profile in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease.

We analyzed the concentrations of four chemokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH), an autoimmune uveomeningitis syndrome against melanocyte-associated proteins, with ELISA. CSF-CXCL10/IP-10 and CSF-CCL17/TARC were significantly elevated in VKH than in controls. In the majority of VKH cases and controls, CSF-CXCL10 was higher than serum-CXCL10, and CSF-CCL17 was lower than serum-CCL17.

Ibudilast, a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, regulates Th1/Th2 balance and NKT cell subset in multiple sclerosis.

We investigated the immunoregulatory effects of ibudilast, a nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, at a clinically applicable dose (60 mg/day p.o. for four weeks) in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.