A high frequency of viral agents yet absence of Borrelia burgdorferi is seen within the myocardium of subjects with normal left ventricular systolic function: an electron microscopy study.

A wide range of viral agents is associated with the development of acute myocarditis and its possible chronic sequela, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). There is also increasing evidence that Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) is associated with DCM in endemic regions for Bb infection. This study sought to use electron microscopy to prospectively analyze the presence of viruses and Bb within the myocardium of 40 subjects with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and 40 patients with new-onset unexplained DCM during the same time period.

Electron microscopy in the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis in hospitalised children in the Czech Republic.

Our study has been aimed at demonstrating the main role of viruses in the aetiology of acute gastroenteritis in children less than 5 years old and at pointing out the diagnostic potential of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis. A prospective study was conducted to analyse the aetiology of diarrhoeal diseases in children less than 5 years of age admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases between September 2006 and December 2008. All children were tested by faecal culture, latex agglutination and electron microscopy.

Reactivity of Langerhans cells after application of different chemicals--an ultrastructural analysis.

The goal of this study was to investigate changes in epidermal Langerhans cells after application of different chemicals (acetone, 60% alcohol, 5% nickel sulphate, iodisole, and 0.1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene) on the skin of volunteers. The skin of eight volunteers was treated with acetone, 60% alcohol, iodisol, 5% nickel sulphate, and 0.

The role of electron microscopy in the rapid diagnosis of viral infections--review.

Electron microscopy (EM) allows fast visualization of viruses in a wide range of clinical specimens. Viruses are grouped into families based on their morphology. Viruses from various families look distinctly and these morphological variances are the basis for identification of viruses by EM.

Presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in endomyocardial biopsies in patients with new-onset unexplained dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) represents the third most common cause of heart failure and the most frequent cause of heart transplantation. Infectious, mostly viral, and autoimmune mechanisms, together with genetic abnormalities, have been reported as three major causes of DCM. We hypothesized that Lyme disease (LD), caused by spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb), might be an important cause of new-onset unexplained DCM in patients living in a highly endemic area for LD such as the Czech Republic.

[Viral gastroenteritis in children].

Unlabelled: PURPOSE OF THE TRIAL: To establish the involvement of viruses in the aetiology of diarrhoeal disorders in children, the incidence of individual viruses in various age groups and in different seasons, the impact of the aetiological agent on the clinical picture, the severity of the disorder, therapy and duration of hospital stay. The significance of intestinal viruses as nosocomial pathogens,a comparison of the sensitivity of latex agglutination and electron microscopy in the diagnosis of rotaviruses and adenoviruses.

Patients And Method: 496 children, aged 3 weeks to 15 years, admitted in 2002 to the 1st Dpt of Infectious Diseases of the Bulovka Teaching Hospital with a diarrhoeal disorder, were examined to establish the aetiology of their complaint.

Interaction of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato with Epstein-Barr virus in lymphoblastoid cells.

Since the possibility of interruption of latent EBV infection has been suggested by the induction of the lytic virus cycle with chemical substances, other viruses, and by immunosuppression, we hypothesized that the same effect might happen in B. burgdorferi sensu lato infection as happens in Lyme disease patients with positive serology for both agents. We have observed EBV replication in lymphoblastoid cells after superinfection with B.

Therapeutic effect of heat shock on T-cell lymphoma in inbred Sprague-Dawley rat.

Anticancer effect of heat shock, either alone or in combination with the drug PMEDAP, and cold water immersion stress were studied in an in vivo model of s.c. transplanted rat T-cell lymphomas in an inbred Sprague-Dawley rat line (SD/cub).

9-[2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl]-2,6-diaminopurine (PMEDAP)--a potential drug against hematological malignancies--induces apoptosis.

Antitumor activity of the acyclic nucleotide analogs PMEDAP, PMEA, and PMEG was studied on a model of a spontaneous T-cell lymphoma in inbred SD/cub rats. Significant therapeutic effects were recorded after a treatment with 16 daily doses of PMEDAP at 5 mg/kg applied to the vicinity of the growing lymphoma. Identical administration of PMEA, or PMEG at a daily dose of 0.

Polymerase chain reaction for detection of guinea pig adenovirus.

Lack of in vitro cultivation methods has inhibited the development of rapid, reliable diagnostic procedures for adenovirus-associated necrotizing bronchopneumonia in guinea pigs. Because polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques are well established for human adenoviruses, primers for the amplification of guinea pig adenovirus DNA were evaluated. The DNA for PCR was purified from the lung tissue of spontaneously infected and healthy guinea pigs.

The effect of an antiphlogistic incorporated in liposomes on experimentally induced inflammation.

The antiphlogistic Ibuprofen incorporated in liposomes caused a decrease of the inflammatory edema induced by Carrageenan in the distal part of the rat's hind leg after both the intramuscular and percutaneous administration. The antiphlogistic effect of free Ibuprofen in the cream was weaker. Intramuscular administration of empty liposomes slowed down in the initial stages the development of inflammation and slightly diminished the size of edema.

Electron microscopic demonstration of the penetration of liposomes through skin.

To verify the penetration of liposomes through skin, we have used liposomes with encapsulated protein G-gold conjugate in a gel vehicle. Skin samples were examined 2, 4, 24, 48, and 72 h after liposome application. Our findings show that the penetration of liposomes through skin depends mainly on their size.

Electron microscopic demonstration of the interaction of liposomes and cells in vitro.

We have investigated the interaction of liposomes with the continuous cell lines P388D1 and L-132 and mouse peritoneal macrophages. To distinguish the liposomes from other vesicular structures, we have used liposomes with incorporated protein G and gold. A heterogeneous mixture of multilamellar liposomes 30 nm up to 1000 nm in size has been employed.

Treatment of transplanted spontaneous rat T-cell leukaemia with local administration of recombinant murine interleukin-2.

Spontaneous rat CD4+CD8-T-cell leukaemia transplanted in syngeneic recipients served as an experimental model system for IL-2 therapy. As a source of IL-2, supernatants from in vitro cultured plasmacytoma cell line X63-m-IL2 secreting constitutively recombinant murine IL-2 were utilized. Administration of IL-2, s.

Interaction of virulent and non-virulent Yersinia enterocolitica strains and an epithelial and a phagocytic cell lines.

Morphological alterations of HEp-2 and P338D1 cells were detected as result of Yersinia virulent strains action only. A non-virulent strain caused none of these alterations even 24 h post infection (p.i.

[Construction of recombinant vaccinia viruses].

Expression system based on vaccinia virus (VV) is used both for recombinant protein production in vitro and as an alive vaccine. The article summarizes various strategies for recombinant VV construction, and describes preparation of recombinants expressing various forms of S and C genes of hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is shown, that the CV-1 cells infected with these recombinants synthesized the MS (middle) and the LS (large) polypeptides of the surface antigen (HBsAg) and the nucleocapsid antigen (HBcAg) polypeptide and the polypeptide HBeAg.

Electron microscopy of Langerhans cells and Borrelia burgdorferi in Lyme disease patients.

To investigate dermal and epidermal involvement in the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi and to analyze the role of Langerhans cells and keratinocytes, 14 cases of erythema chronicum migrans and two controls were studied by means of electron microscopy, using negative staining and sectioning techniques. Using immunoelectron microscopy and histochemistry, positive results for B. burgdorferi were disclosed in 5 cases of erythema chronicum migrans and 3 cases of neuroborreliosis which were confirmed by cultivation.

Electron-microscopic demonstration of virus particles in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Retrovirus-like particles were detected by the negative staining method in supernatants of lymph node and spleen cell suspensions prepared from Sprague-Dawley rats with spontaneous acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Similar particles were found in supernatants of cell suspensions from a lymphoma that developed after inoculation of lymph node and spleen cell suspension prepared from animals with spontaneous ALL into the subcutis of Sprague-Dawley recipients. On ultrathin sections, budding forms of the virus particles were seen as a dot at the periphery of neoplastically transformed cells.

Vaccinia virus recombinants co-expressing hepatitis B virus surface and core antigens.

Using the Praha strain of vaccinia virus (VV) two double recombinant VVs expressing the surface and capsid HBV proteins (HBsAg and HBcAg) under the control of the P7.5 promoter were constructed. In the first construct the gene coding for HBsAg was inserted into the HindIII J fragment (TK gene) and the gene coding for HBcAg was inserted into the HindIII M fragment (host range, K1L gene) of the VV genome.

Cytostatic effect of 9-(2-phosphonomethoxyethyl) adenine (PMEA). II. Lymphoblastic leukemia in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Two cases of spontaneous acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the inbred strain of Sprague-Dawley (Prague) rats have been observed. Since its reliable transplantability in syngeneic recipients was established, leukemic animals were used to test the cytostatic effect of PMEA. The treatment resulted in a significant prolongation of survival time of the treated animals.

Some aspects of the presence of surface--associated acid mucosubstances on larval Taenia saginata infecting suitable and unsuitable hosts.

The coat of acid mucosubstances occurring on the bladder surface was studied in Cysticercus bovis (larvae of Taenia saginata) developing in specific (cattle) and nonspecific (some other ruminants) intermediate hosts. In cysticerci developing in nonspecific intermediate hosts, this coat is absent or poorly developed even at the time when it is completely formed on the bladder surface of C. bovis from cattle.

Cysticercus bovis: pinocytosis in the Cysticercus tegument.

The authors have found that pinocytosis occurs in the tegument of C. bovis from the fourth week after infection. Electron-lucid bladders surrounded by plasma membrane were encountered in the distal cytoplasm.

Some diagnostic, biologic and morphologic characteristics of Francisella tularensis strains isolated from the ticks Ixodes ricinus (L.) in the Prague agglomeration.

Four infectious agents were isolated from the ticks Ixodes ricinus (L.) collected in the recreational area and park-forest of Prague. On the basis of cultivation, staining, biochemical, serologic properties, pathogenicity for animals and histological tests they were identified as Francisella tularensis with the following features: they are short, gram-negative rods of approximate dimensions of 0.