Demonstration of a functional apical sodium hydrogen exchanger in isolated rat gastric glands.

Previous studies have shown that gastric glands express at least sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) isoforms 1-4. Our aim was to study NHE-3 localization in rat parietal cells and to investigate the functional activity of an apical membrane NHE-3 isoform in parietal cells of rats. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry showed expression of NHE-3 in rat stomach colocalizing the protein in parietal cells together with the beta-subunit of the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

Blood borne transit of CJD from brain to gut at early stages of infection.

Background: In Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and other related transmissible spongiform encephalopathies it is critical to understand the various pathways by which the infectious agent spreads to different organs.

Methods: We injected a CJD agent into mice, either intracerebrally (ic) or intraperitoneally (ip) and monitored the progressive appearance of abnormal PrP in peripheral tissues over time.

Results: Abnormal PrP was detected in lymphoreticular tissues of the gastrointestinal tract as early as 28 to 32 days after infection by both routes.

Gap junctional channels regulate acid secretion in the mammalian gastric gland.

Gap junction channels are regarded as a primary pathway for intercellular message transfer, including calcium wave propagation. Our study identified two gap junctional proteins, connexin26 and connexin32, in rat gastric glands by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence. We demonstrated a potential physiological role of the gap junctional channels in the acid secretory process using the calcium indicator fluo-3, and microinjection of Lucifer Yellow.

The stomach divalent ion-sensing receptor scar is a modulator of gastric acid secretion.

Divalent cation receptors have recently been identified in a wide variety of tissues and organs, yet their exact function remains controversial. We have previously identified a member of this receptor family in the stomach and have demonstrated that it is localized to the parietal cell, the acid secretory cell of the gastric gland. The activation of acid secretion has been classically defined as being regulated by two pathways: a neuronal pathway (mediated by acetylcholine) and an endocrine pathway (mediated by gastrin and histamine).

Neuroinvasion by a Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease agent in the absence of B cells and follicular dendritic cells.

With the potential spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to people as a variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), it becomes critical to identify cells in the periphery that carry infection. Initial work with scrapie agents suggested that B cells were central vectors for neuroinvasion. Subsequent studies indicated that B cells played an indirect role by promoting the development of follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) that accumulate abnormal prion protein (PrP).

Expression of p53 and p21waf1/cip1 in gastric carcinoma: lack of inter-relationship or correlation with prognosis.

Aims: The cell cycle regulators p53 and p21waf1/cip1 are expressed variably in human cancers. We investigated their expression in gastric carcinoma and determined their inter-relationship and prognostic significance.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine their expression in material from 100 resected specimens of gastric carcinoma, and comparison was then made of the degree of expression between each, with conventional clinicopathological indices and with survival.

Changing therapy for gastrinoma.

Objective: The author analyzed potential survival determinants in gastrinoma to characterize a possible uniform staging system and to determine whether complete surgical resection improves expected survival.

Summary And Background Data: Gastrinoma is an indolent yet malignant neuroendocrine tumor. The associated gastric acid hypersecretion can be controlled medically.

Rapid and reliable identification of Staphylococcus aureus by a latex agglutination test.

A latex slide agglutination test detecting clumping factor and protein A simultaneously is recommended for rapid and reliable routine identification of Staphylococcus aureus. Strains (836) of staphylococci isolated from clinical specimens were examined, all S. aureus strains identified by conventional methods were correctly differentiated by the latex test, and no false-positive results occurred with other staphylococci.

[Protein-A-hemagglutination test, a reliable method for rapid identification of S. aureus (author's transl)].

369 staphylococcal strains isolated from clinical material were examined for tubeagglutination with sensitized sheep red cells in a standardized assay to study its reliability for routine identification of S. aureus. Colonies isolated from blood agar plates correlated in 99.