Gingival histoplasmosis: An atypical presentation of African histoplasmosis in three baboons (Papio spp).

Gingival lesions as the sole manifestation of African histoplasmosis (Histoplasma capsulatum var. duboisii) have never been reported in baboons. Grossly, lesions can be indistinguishable from bacterial ulcerative gingivitis or gingival hyperplasia.

Leukoreduction of packed red blood cells attenuates proinflammatory properties of storage-derived microvesicles.

Background: Leukoreduction prior to packed red blood cell (pRBC) storage is not a universally accepted practice. Our laboratory has previously shown that microvesicles (MVs) accumulate in pRBC units during storage and play an important role in lung injury after resuscitation. Currently, the effect of leukoreduction on MV formation in stored pRBC units is unknown.

Macrophage-derived chemokine (CCL22) is a novel mediator of lung inflammation following hemorrhage and resuscitation.

Resuscitation of patients after hemorrhage often results in pulmonary inflammation and places them at risk for the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Our previous data indicate that macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) is elevated after resuscitation, but its direct role in this inflammatory response is unknown. Macrophage-derived chemokine signaling through the C-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4) is implicated in other pulmonary proinflammatory conditions, leading us to hypothesize that MDC may also play a role in the pathogenesis of lung inflammation following hemorrhage and resuscitation.