Hazard identification and exposure assessment for bacterial risk assessment of informally marketed milk in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: Animal-source foods are important causes of food-borne illness, and milk and dairy products can contain pathogenic microorganisms.

Objective: We conducted a stochastic assessment of the risk of ingesting milk contaminated with specific microbial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus spp.) in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.

Pulmonary hypertension associated with diffuse deposition of pentosidine in pulmonary arterioles.

Diabetes induces advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that per se are not only a major cause of oxidative stress but also reduce the plasticity of connective tissue by pathological collagen cross-linking. We describe a case of severe pulmonary hypertension manifesting as a major diabetic complication. Impaired pulmonary arteriolar plasticity attributed to pentosidine, together with increased circulation volume by hyperosmotic pressure and reduction in myocardial compliance by multiple patchy fibrosis, may contribute to the clinical manifestation of severe pulmonary hypertension.

Cdx2 expression and its promoter methylation during metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence in Barrett's esophagus.

Aim: To examine how the expression of caudal type homebox transcription factor 2 (Cdx2) is regulated in the development of malignancy in Barrett's esophagus.

Methods: Cdx2, mucin (MUC) series (MUC2, MUC5AC and MUC6), p53 and E-cadherin expression in Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma specimens were examined by immunostaining. Isolated clusters of cells from (1) MUC2 and Cdx2-positive intestinal metaplastic mucosa; (2) MUC5AC and MUC6-positive, and MUC2 and Cdx2-negative high-grade dysplasia (HD), or intramucosal adenocarcinoma (IMC); and (3) MUC5AC, MUC6 and Cdx2-positive poorly-differentiated invasive adenocarcinoma (PDA) were analyzed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction using sets of primers for detecting methylation status of the Cdx2 gene.

[Ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block for high-risk patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans in lower limb surgery--a report of nine cases].

Most patients with arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) have severe complications such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease. They receive long-term antithrombotic therapy which is a contraindication to neuraxial anesthesia. In this retrospective study, we reviewed nine high-risk patients with ASO (revised cardiac risk index more than three) who underwent an urgent lower limb surgery under ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block (PNB).

[Two cases showing the absence of motor evoked potentials without developing postoperative paraplegia following thoracoabdominal aortic repair--role of epidural cooling, spinal drainage and aorto-iliac side-arm conduit distal perfusion].

We describe two cases which developed loss of motor evoked potentials from bilateral lower limbs following thoracoabdominal aortic repair. Paraplegia was suspected in both cases; however, one case of Crawford type 2 aneurysm showed transient left leg monoplegia with a sensory deficit and the other case of aortic pseudoaneurysm showed no neurologic dysfunction postoperatively. We employed epidural cooling and spinal drainage for spinal protection and distal perfusion was provided through aorto-iliac side-arm conduit.

Large-scale survey of mitochondrial D-loop of the red-crowned crane Grus japonensis in Hokkaido, Japan by convenient genotyping method.

The Red-crowned Crane, Grus japonensis, is an endangered species of crane that has two separate breeding populations, one in the Amur River basin (continental population) and the other in eastern or northern Hokkaido, Japan (island population). So far, only two haplotypes (Gj1 and Gj2) have been identified in the mitochondrial D-loop in island population, whereas seven haplotypes have been found in continental population (Gj3-Gj9). We developed a rapid and inexpensive method of extensive genotyping of D-loop haplotypes in Red-crowned Cranes, based on amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) PCR assay.

Scrotal cutaneous verruciform xanthoma with monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 immunohistochemical study: a case report.

Introduction: Verruciform xanthoma is a rare, benign lesion characterized by hyperkeratosis and aggregates of foam cell macrophages. Here, we describe a case of verruciform xanthoma on the scrotum, in which the immunohistochemical localization of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, a chemokine of the C-C or beta family that has been shown to induce the recruitment of monocytes for injured tissue, was analyzed to determine which cells release chemoattractants for macrophages.

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old Japanese man with a well-defined nodule on the left scrotum was admitted to the hospital.

DNA damage profiles induced by sunlight at different latitudes.

Despite growing knowledge on the biological effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on human health and ecosystems, it is still difficult to predict the negative impacts of the increasing incidence of solar UV radiation in a scenario of global warming and climate changes. Hence, the development and application of DNA-based biological sensors to monitor the solar UV radiation under different environmental conditions is of increasing importance. With a mind to rendering a molecular view-point of the genotoxic impact of sunlight, field experiments were undertaken with a DNA-dosimeter system in parallel with physical photometry of solar UVB/UVA radiation, at various latitudes in South America.

Associations of antimicrobial use with antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter coli from grow-finish pigs in Japan.

To determine associations between antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter coli, 155 isolates were obtained from the feces of apparently healthy grow-finish pigs in Japan. In addition, data on the use of antibiotics collected through the national antimicrobial resistance monitoring system in Japan were used for the analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors to antimicrobial resistance in C.

Biological sensors for solar ultraviolet radiation.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is widely known as a genotoxic environmental agent that affects Earth ecosystems and the human population. As a primary consequence of the stratospheric ozone layer depletion observed over the last decades, the increasing UV incidence levels have heightened the concern regarding deleterious consequences affecting both the biosphere and humans, thereby leading to an increase in scientific efforts to understand the role of sunlight in the induction of DNA damage, mutagenesis, and cell death. In fact, the various UV-wavelengths evoke characteristic biological impacts that greatly depend on light absorption of biomolecules, especially DNA, in living organisms, thereby justifying the increasing importance of developing biological sensors for monitoring the harmful impact of solar UV radiation under various environmental conditions.

Risk assessment of staphylococcal poisoning due to consumption of informally-marketed milk and home-made yoghurt in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.

The objectives of the study were twofold: to prove that participatory risk assessment can be applied to informally-marketed foods, and to assess the risk of staphylococcal poisoning through consumption of raw milk and home-made yoghurt in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Rapid urban appraisals were combined with conventional interviews to identify and quantify formal and informal milk value chains and to collect information on consumers' food preparation and consumption behavior. Milk was sampled in 170 dairy farms and 5 milk collection centers and microbiological tests were conducted.

Efficient synthesis of a novel m-phenylene derivative as a selective EP4 agonist inducing follicular growth and maturation in the ovary.

An efficient and straightforward synthesis of a novel m-phenylene derivative has been developed. The optically pure dibromo compound was selected as a starting material. Through a protocol involving the Prins reaction and two steps of the Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction, the basic skeleton was constructed with appropriate alpha and omega side chains.

Herd prevalence of bovine brucellosis and analysis of risk factors in cattle in urban and peri-urban areas of the Kampala economic zone, Uganda.

Background: Human brucellosis has been found to be prevalent in the urban areas of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. A cross-sectional study was designed to generate precise information on the prevalence of brucellosis in cattle and risk factors for the disease in its urban and peri-urban dairy farming systems.

Results: The adjusted herd prevalence of brucellosis was 6.

Factors associated with antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli in zoo animals.

Factors associated with the carriage of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli isolates were analysed among zoo animals. An association was observed between selection of amoxicillin as the first-line therapy and a significantly higher percentage of resistance to ampicillin (54.5%) from 11 animals treated with antimicrobials, compared with isolates from 32 untreated animals (9.

Spatial epidemiology of hospital-diagnosed brucellosis in Kampala, Uganda.

Background: A retrospective case-control study was undertaken to examine the spatial risk factors for human brucellosis in Kampala, Uganda.

Methods: Information on age, sex and month of diagnosis was derived from records from plate agglutination tests undertaken at Mulago Hospital, Kampala. Information on Parishes (LC2s) where patients reside was sourced from the outpatient registration book.

Retrospective analysis of spontaneous recovery from neuromuscular blockade produced by empirical use of rocuronium.

Purpose: A train-of-four ratio (TOF ratio) of >0.9 should be the clinical cut-off to avoid residual paralysis. However, it is not rare to extubate patients without measurement of the TOF ratio, although the safe interval from the last administration of rocuronium assuring a TOF ratio of >0.

Effects of climatic elements on Campylobacter-contaminated chicken products in Japan.

Japanese weather data for areas that produced Campylobacter spp.-positive chicken products were compared with those for areas producing negative samples. Regarding samples produced during the period of rising temperature (spring and summer), the mean weekly air temperatures for Campylobacter-positive samples were higher than those for negative samples for the period of the week in which the samples were purchased (18.

Evidence-based identification of the most important livestock related zoonotic diseases in Kampala, Uganda.

Urban and peri-urban livestock farming in developing countries plays an important role in food security in cities; however it brings with it zoonotic risks. The present study was conducted to identify the most important livestock farming-related zoonotic diseases among the human population in urban and peri-urban areas of Kampala, Uganda and to assess the risks from such farming. A framework for identifying livestock farming-related significant zoonoses was developed.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome with limb myoclonus following intravenous administration of methylergometrine.

Neurological deficits associated with methylergometrine have been reported primarily as a result of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes (RCVS). RCVS are characterized by reversible multifocal vasoconstrictions of the cerebral arteries heralded by acute severe headache with or without neurological deficits. Here, we present the first case of suspected RCVS with transient limb myoclonus following the intravenous administration of methylergometrine during cesarean section.

[Case of cardiac arrest due to coronary spasm during laparoscopic distal gastrectomy].

We describe a 50-year-old man who developed ventricular arrhythmia followed by cardiac arrest during laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. Preoperatively, there were no findings suggesting an ischemic heart disease. Anesthesia was maintained using sevoflurane combined with epidural anesthesia.

Proteolytic release of the receptor for advanced glycation end products from in vitro and in situ alveolar epithelial cells.

Although the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been used as a biological marker of alveolar epithelial cell injury in clinical studies, the mechanism for release of soluble RAGE from lung epithelial cells has not been well studied. Therefore, these studies were designed to determine the mechanism for release of soluble RAGE after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. For these purposes, alveolar epithelial cells from rat lungs were cultured on Transwell inserts, and LPS was added to the apical side (500 μg/ml) for 16 h on day 7.

Co-administration of ephedrine prevents reductions in cardiac output and systemic oxygen delivery secondary to lung compression maneuvers during one-lung ventilation, without reducing arterial oxygenation.

Purpose: We previously showed that compression of the nondependent lung during one-lung ventilation (OLV) in patients undergoing esophagectomy improves arterial oxygenation but impairs cardiac output (CO) and systemic oxygen delivery (DO(2)). The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the combination of nondependent lung compression and ephedrine improves arterial oxygenation without compromising DO(2).

Methods: Twenty patients undergoing esophagectomy through a right thoracotomy were studied.

How human brucellosis incidence in urban Kampala can be reduced most efficiently? A stochastic risk assessment of informally-marketed milk.

Background: In Kampala, Uganda, studies have shown a significant incidence of human brucellosis. A stochastic risk assessment involving two field surveys (cattle farms and milk shops) and a medical record survey was conducted to assess the risk of human brucellosis infection through consumption of informally marketed raw milk potentially infected with Brucella abortus in Kampala and to identify the best control options.

Methodology/principal Findings: In the cattle farm survey, sera of 425 cows in 177 herds in the Kampala economic zone were sampled and tested for brucellosis using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CELISA).

Alendronate is more effective than elcatonin in improving pain and quality of life in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Unlabelled: A randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the short-term effects of alendronate (ALN) and ECT on pain and quality of life (QOL) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Back pain and QOL [Short-Form Health Survey (SF-8)] significantly improved at 1, 3, and 6 months in both groups, with greater improvements in the ALN group than in the ECT group. These results suggested that ALN reduced back pain and improved QOL more markedly than ECT in postmenopausal osteoporotic women with back pain.