Clinical relevance of the utilization of vital Lugol's iodine staining in detection and diagnosis of oral cancer and dysplasia.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess the clinical relevance of the utilization of vital Lugol's iodine staining in detection of oral cancer and dysplastic lesions as well as demarcation of the extent of these lesions.

Materials And Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, hospital-based study was performed in Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital, Sudan. Suspicious oral epithelial lesions indicating incisional biopsy were stained with 10 % Lugol's iodine solution and were clinically designated as "negative" for dysplasia or neoplasia when no unstained lesion (USL) area was observed, or as "positive" when a USL area is observed.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Revaccination of Adults with Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Induces Long-Lived BCG-Reactive NK Cell Responses.

One third of the global population is estimated to be latently infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis We performed a phase I randomized controlled trial of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) before revaccination with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in healthy, tuberculin skin test-positive (≥15-mm induration), HIV-negative South African adults. We hypothesized that preclearance of latent bacilli with IPT modulates BCG immunogenicity following revaccination. Frequencies and coexpression of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-17, and/or IL-22 in CD4 T cells and IFN-γ-expressing CD8 T, γδ T, CD3(+)CD56(+) NKT-like, and NK cells in response to BCG were measured using whole blood intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry.

Sam68 is a regulator of Toll-like receptor signaling.

Recognition of pathogens by Toll-like receptors (TLR) activate multiple signaling cascades and expression of genes tailored to mount a primary immune response, inflammation, cell survival and apoptosis. Although TLR-induced activation of pathways, such as nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), has been well studied, molecular entities controlling quantitative regulation of these pathways during an immune response remain poorly defined. We identified Sam68 as a novel regulator of TLR-induced NF-κB and MAPK activation.

Effects of augmented tenotomy and reattachment in the infantile nystagmus syndrome.

Purpose: To test the hypothesis that augmented tenotomy and reattachment surgery (AT-R), which involves placing an additional suture in each distal tendon during the 4-muscle tenotomy and reattachment (T-R) or other infantile nystagmus syndrome (INS) procedures, could increase the beneficial effects of many types of extraocular muscle (EOM) surgery to treat INS.

Methods: Both infrared reflection and high-speed digital video systems were used to record the eye movements in 4 patients with INS before and after AT-R surgery. Data were analyzed using the eXpanded Nystagmus Acuity Function (NAFX) that is part of the OMtools software.

Kallistatin levels in HIV-infected patients and effects of statin therapy.

Background: Kallistatin, a serine proteinase inhibitor, has vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory properties and is increased in other inflammatory conditions. We measured kallistatin in HIV for the first time, examined its relationship with inflammation, and determined if statin therapy affected levels.

Methods: Kallistatin levels were measured in subjects from a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Factors Affecting Radiologist's PACS Usage.

The purpose of this study was to determine if any of the factors radiologist, examination category, time of week, and week effect PACS usage, with PACS usage defined as the sequential order of computer commands issued by a radiologist in a PACS during interpretation and dictation. We initially hypothesized that only radiologist and examination category would have significant effects on PACS usage. Command logs covering 8 weeks of PACS usage were analyzed.

Obesity-initiated metabolic syndrome promotes urinary voiding dysfunction in a mouse model.

Objective: Accumulating evidences suggests that obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) contribute towards lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) through alterations in the phenotype of bladder and prostate gland. Clinical studies indicate a link between MetS and LUTS. Nevertheless, there is lack of suitable animal model(s) which could illustrate an association linking obesity to LUTS.

Identification of a Small Molecule That Overcomes HdmX-Mediated Suppression of p53.

Inactivation of the p53 tumor suppressor by mutation or overexpression of negative regulators occurs frequently in cancer. As p53 plays a key role in regulating proliferation or apoptosis in response to DNA-damaging chemotherapies, strategies aimed at reactivating p53 are increasingly being sought. Strategies to reactivate wild-type p53 include the use of small molecules capable of releasing wild-type p53 from key, cellular negative regulators, such as Hdm2 and HdmX.

Mannose-Capped Lipoarabinomannan from Mycobacterium tuberculosis Induces CD4+ T Cell Anergy via GRAIL.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell wall glycolipid, lipoarabinomannan, can inhibit CD4(+) T cell activation by downregulating the phosphorylation of key proximal TCR signaling molecules: Lck, CD3ζ, ZAP70, and LAT. Inhibition of proximal TCR signaling can result in T cell anergy, in which T cells are inactivated following an Ag encounter, yet remain viable and hyporesponsive. We tested whether mannose-capped lipoarabinomannan (LAM)-induced inhibition of CD4(+) T cell activation resulted in CD4(+) T cell anergy.

Intestinal Carriage of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms: Current Status of Surveillance Methods.

Carbapenemases have become a significant mechanism for broad-spectrum β-lactam resistance in Enterobacteriaceae and other Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter spp. Intestinal carriage of carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPOs) is an important source of transmission. Isolation of carriers is one strategy that can be used to limit the spread of these bacteria.

ERK Signaling Is Essential for Macrophage Development.

Macrophages depend on colony stimulating factor 1 (also known as M-CSF) for their growth and differentiation, but the requirements for intracellular signals that lead to macrophage differentiation and function remain unclear. M-CSF is known to activate ERK1 and ERK2, but the importance of this signaling pathway in macrophage development is unknown. In these studies, we characterized a novel model of Erk1(-/-) Erk2(flox/flox) Lyz2(Cre/Cre) mice in which the ERK2 isoform is deleted from macrophages in the background of global ERK1 deficiency.

Metabolic syndrome, inflammation and lower urinary tract symptoms: possible translational links.

Background: Epidemiological data suggest that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) may be associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Inflammation has been proposed as a candidate mechanism at the crossroad between these two clinical entities. The aim of this review article is to evaluate the role of MetS-induced inflammation in the pathogenesis and progression of LUTS.

Incubation time of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex sputum cultures in BACTEC MGIT 960: 4weeks of negative culture is enough for physicians to consider alternative diagnoses.

We retrospectively analyzed time to detection of 3747 positive MGIT sputum cultures at a laboratory in a country with heavy burden of tuberculosis. Ninety-nine percent of diagnostic cultures turned positive within 28days, suggesting that physicians may consider alternative diagnoses if sputum cultures remain negative after 4weeks of incubation.

Genome Sequence of a Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 258 Isolate with Prophage-Encoded K. pneumoniae Carbapenemase.

We present the draft genome sequence of a Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing sequence type 258 (ST258) K. pneumoniae strain, ST258_FL. Uniquely, strain ST258_FL harbors two copies of the blaKPC gene on the chromosome, one of which is integrated into a prophage.

Universal tumor screening for Lynch syndrome: Assessment of the perspectives of patients with colorectal cancer regarding benefits and barriers.

Background: Universal tumor screening for Lynch syndrome, the most common form of hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC), has been recommended among all patients newly diagnosed with CRC. However, there is limited literature regarding patient perspectives of tumor screening for Lynch syndrome among patients with CRC who are not selected for screening based on family history criteria.

Methods: A total of 145 patients aged 39 to 87 years were administered surveys assessing perceived risk, patient perspectives, and potential benefits of and barriers to tumor screening for Lynch syndrome.

Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood: Retrospective Genetic Study and Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in 187 Subjects from the US AHCF Registry.

Mutations in ATP1A3 cause Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (AHC) by disrupting function of the neuronal Na+/K+ ATPase. Published studies to date indicate 2 recurrent mutations, D801N and E815K, and a more severe phenotype in the E815K cohort. We performed mutation analysis and retrospective genotype-phenotype correlations in all eligible patients with AHC enrolled in the US AHC Foundation registry from 1997-2012.

First report of an OXA-48-producing multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis strain from Gaza, Palestine.

We report the first multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis strain producing the carbapenemase OXA-48 (Pm-OXA-48) isolated at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, Palestine. Draft genome sequencing of Pm-OXA-48 identified 16 antimicrobial resistance genes, encoding resistance to β-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, phenicols, streptothricin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Complete sequencing of the bla(OXA-48)-harboring plasmid revealed that it is a 72 kb long IncL/M plasmid, harboring carbapenemase gene bla(OXA-48), extended spectrum β-lactamase gene bla(CTX-M-14), and aminoglycoside resistance genes strA, strB, and aph(3')-VIb.

Toll-like receptor 2-dependent extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages drives anti-inflammatory responses and inhibits Th1 polarization of responding T cells.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis survives within macrophages and employs immune evasion mechanisms to persist in the host. Protective T helper type 1 (Th1) responses are induced, and the immune response in most individuals is sufficient to restrict M. tuberculosis to latent infection, but most infections are not completely resolved.

Multicenter evaluation of Candida QuickFISH BC for identification of Candida species directly from blood culture bottles.

Candida species are common causes of bloodstream infections (BSI), with high mortality. Four species cause >90% of Candida BSI: C. albicans, C.

Valacyclovir Decreases Plasma HIV-1 RNA in HSV-2 Seronegative Individuals: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial.

Background: Acyclovir (ACV), a highly specific anti-herpetic drug, acts as a DNA chain terminator for several human herpesviruses (HHVs), including HHV-2 (HSV-2), a common human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 co-pathogen. Several trials demonstrated that HSV-2 suppressive therapy using ACV or its prodrug valacyclovir (valACV) reduced plasma HIV-1 viral load (VL) in HIV-1/HSV-2 coinfected persons, and this was proposed to be due to a decrease in generalized immune activation. Recently, however, we found that ACV directly suppresses HIV-1 ex vivo in tissues free of HSV-2 but endogenously coinfected with other HHVs.

Acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis in an asymptomatic patient.

Acute obstructive suppurative pancreatic ductitis (AOSPD), defined as suppuration from the pancreatic duct without associated pseudocyst, abscess, or necrosis, is a rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. We present the first case of AOSPD in an asymptomatic patient with a polymicrobial infection and review the literature on this rare clinical entity.