Bacteriocin BacSp222 and Its Succinylated Forms Exhibit Proinflammatory Activities Toward Innate Immune Cells .

Purpose: The zoonotic opportunistic pathogen 222 produces BacSp222 - an atypical peptide exhibiting the features of a bacteriocin, a virulence factor, and a molecule modulating the host inflammatory reaction. The peptide is secreted in an unmodified form and, additionally, two forms modified posttranslationally by succinylation. This study is a comprehensive report focusing on the proinflammatory properties of such molecules.

Cationic protein 8 plays multiple roles in Galleria mellonella immunity.

Galleria mellonella cationic protein 8 (GmCP8) is a hemolymph protein previously identified as an opsonin and an inhibitor of fungal proteases. In this work, we showed its bactericidal activity toward Pseudomonas entomophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus thuringiensis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli and against yeast-like fungi Candida albicans. The activity against E.

Structure, Biosynthesis, and Biological Activity of Succinylated Forms of Bacteriocin BacSp222.

BacSp222 is a multifunctional peptide produced by 222. This 50-amino acid long peptide belongs to subclass IId of bacteriocins and forms a four-helix bundle molecule. In addition to bactericidal functions, BacSp222 possesses also features of a virulence factor, manifested in immunomodulatory and cytotoxic activities toward eukaryotic cells.

Isolation, Identification, and Bioinformatic Analysis of Antibacterial Proteins and Peptides from Immunized Hemolymph of Red Palm Weevil .

Red palm weevil ( Olivier, 1791, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a destructive pest of palms, rapidly extending its native geographical range and causing large economic losses worldwide. The present work describes isolation, identification, and bioinformatic analysis of antibacterial proteins and peptides from the immunized hemolymph of this beetle. In total, 17 different bactericidal or bacteriostatic compounds were isolated via a series of high-pressure liquid chromatography steps, and their partial amino acid sequences were determined by N-terminal sequencing or by mass spectrometry.

Choline Supplementation Sensitizes to Apolipophorin III.

The growth of can be inhibited by apolipophorin III (apoLp-III) which is an insect homologue of human apolipoprotein E., and choline-cultured cells are considerably more susceptible to apoLp-III than bacteria grown without choline supplementation. In the present study, the interactions of apoLp-III with intact cells cultured without and with exogenous choline were analyzed to explain the basis of this difference.

Low Temperature Hot Corrosion Screening of Single Crystal Superalloys.

Single crystal superalloys were screened in Type II molten (Na,K)-sulfate hot corrosion re-coat tests in air +300 ppm SO₂ at 700 °C. They exhibited large 20⁻40 mg/cm² weight changes, repeated spallation, and non-protective, 25⁻50 μm thick corrosion layers after 300 h of testing. Scale cross sections revealed dual outer Ni(Co)O and inner Al(Cr)S-rich corrosion layers.

Efficacy and safety of early comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation following the implantation of cardioverter-defibrillator.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is current the main approach to prevent sudden cardiac death. It was demonstrated that patients with ICD are characterised by worse quality of life (QOL) and exercise capacity and are prone to depressive symptoms. Thus, comprehensive rehabilitation is indicated in ICD recipients.

Class II MHC antigen presentation defect in neonatal monocytes is not correlated with decreased MHC-II expression.

Neonates are at increased risk of infections compared to adults. To dissect the mechanisms that contribute to neonatal immune deficiency, we compared MHC-II antigen processing and presentation by monocytes from umbilical cord blood and unrelated adult controls. Antigen-specific, co-stimulation-independent murine T hybridoma cells were used to detect peptide:HLA-DR complexes.

Concentration of carbon monoxide (CO) in postmortem human tissues: effect of environmental CO exposure.

We studied how carbon monoxide (CO) is distributed within the human body through quantitation of CO concentrations in postmortem tissue samples from fatalities including possible CO exposure. Stored, frozen tissues were diced, sonicated in water, and 0.01-8.

Phagosomal processing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen 85B is modulated independently of mycobacterial viability and phagosome maturation.

Control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection requires CD4 T-cell responses and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) processing of M. tuberculosis antigens (Ags). We have previously demonstrated that macrophages process heat-killed (HK) M.

Investigation of sudden infant deaths in the State of Maryland (1990-2000).

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has recorded a significant decline in the deaths of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the state of Maryland since 1994. However, infants who died of accidental or non-accidental injuries remained consistent during the same time period. This report focuses on the epidemiological characteristics and scene investigation findings of infant victims who died suddenly and unexpectedly in Maryland between 1990 and 2000.

Autopsy study of motorcyclist fatalities: the effect of the 1992 Maryland motorcycle helmet use law.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the impact of Maryland's all-rider motorcycle helmet law (enacted on October 1, 1992) on preventing deaths and traumatic brain injuries among motorcyclists.

Methods: Statewide motorcyclist fatalities occurring during seasonally comparable 33-month periods immediately preceding and following enactment of the law were compared.

Results: The motorcyclist fatality rate dropped from 10.

Failure to detect elevated levels of carboxyhemoglobin in infants dying from SIDS.

Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels were determined in stored blood samples from 91 infants diagnosed to have died from the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (0.59+/-0.41%, excluding one outlying value of 10.

Elevated C-reactive protein values and atherosclerosis in sudden coronary death: association with different pathologies.

Background: Elevations in serum C-reactive protein measured by high-sensitivity assay (hs-CRP) have been associated with unstable coronary syndromes. There have been no autopsy studies correlating hs-CRP to fatal coronary artery disease.

Methods And Results: Postmortem sera from 302 autopsies of men and women without inflammatory conditions other than atherosclerosis were assayed for hs-CRP.

Pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage of the head diagnosed by computerized axial tomography: a postmortem study of ten medical examiner cases.

In this report, we describe ten cases of pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage on computer axial tomography (CT) scan of the head. A pseudo-subarachnoid hemorrhage is a false positive finding by CT of the head in which the scan is interpreted as being positive for a subarachnoid hemorrhage not substantiated by subsequent neuropathologic findings. This study is a retrospective review of postmortem cases brought into the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Maryland over a three-year period (from 1997 to 2000).

Distribution of triazolam and alpha-hydroxytriazolam in a fatal intoxication case.

The case of a 77-year-old woman who was found dead in her bathtub with her head clearly above the water line is presented. The decedent had a medical history of depression, liver disease, spinal stenosis, and diabetes mellitus. An empty medication bottle of triazolam was found in the trashcan.

Lung tissue concentrations of nicotine in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Objective: To compare lung concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and controls.

Design/methods: We measured lung tissue concentrations of nicotine and cotinine in SIDS (n = 44) and non-SIDS cases (n = 29) stratified according to household smoking status.

Results: When all the SIDS and non-SIDS cases were compared regardless of smoking status, there was a significantly higher nicotine concentration in the SIDS cases than in the non-SIDS cases, (P =.

Traditional risk factors and the incidence of sudden coronary death with and without coronary thrombosis in blacks.

Background: Blacks have a high rate of sudden coronary death (SCD). We determined the rate of SCD in men and women 30 to 69 years of age in a 6-year period recorded at a state Medical Examiner's Office.

Methods And Results: In a subset of 327 whites and 130 blacks, hearts were systematically studied to determine the extent of coronary disease, presence and type of thrombus (acute rupture, acute erosion, stable plaque), and heart weight.

Citalopram distribution in postmortem cases.

This is a report of the analytical findings in 13 cases investigated by either the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland or the Bexar County (San Antonio, TX) Medical Examiner's Office in which citalopram, a highly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor used therapeutically as an antidepressant, was identified. In 8 of the 9 cases in which both blood and urine specimens were received, the urine citalopram concentration exceeded the blood concentration, indicating that urine is an appropriate specimen for screening citalopram use. The average liver to blood citalopram concentration ratio was 6.

Decreasing incidence of sudden death due to undiagnosed primary central nervous system tumors.

Context: Although most fatal brain tumors are diagnosed well before a patient's death, occasionally medical examiners and coroners encounter cases in which the presence of a primary tumor of the central nervous system (CNS) was not suspected prior to death. Analysis of such cases can shed light on specific pitfalls hindering the diagnosis of brain tumors. In addition, by analyzing the incidence of these cases in a large autopsy series, one can draw conclusions about the evolving effectiveness of medical diagnosis.

Palliative pain therapy at the end of life and forensic medicine issues.

An 83-year-old woman with a history of Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer died at home while receiving palliative pain therapy with oral morphine from her family for metastatic breast cancer. Allegations of mistreatment were made, and this case was ultimately referred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland. An autopsy failed to identify any injuries or residual cancer, leaving no anatomic explanation for the pain that had been presumed to be metastatic breast carcinoma involving bone.

A rapid postmortem cardiac troponin T assay: laboratory evidence of sudden cardiac death.

Postmortem examination may be useful in establishing the cause of sudden unexpected death. In many instances, however, limitations of staffing, budget, and time may force the pathologist to triage cases to external examination rather than autopsy. A rapid assay for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) to document suspected cardiac-related deaths may optimize the use of the time and resources of the autopsy pathologist.

Fatal methadone poisoning in children: Maryland 1992-1996.

The prevention of accidental poisoning by prescribed an over-the-counter medication has been successfully addressed by the use of child-resistant containers. Nevertheless. accidental methadone poisoning in children remains a problem.