Apparent absence of Lyme borreliosis in Zimbabwe.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I Nilsson.
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Biopsy and serum specimens were obtained from 95 patients undergoing endoscopy at the University of Zimbabwe Medical School. Common presenting features were epigastric pain, bleeding and dyspepsia. Ulcers were detected in 16 patients (17%), and were more common in men (24%) than in women (7%). Histological examination of biopsies showed that all 95 patients had spiral-shaped organisms that were indistinguishable microscopically from Helicobacter pylori, though the numbers of organisms varied considerably. There was evidence that the degree of inflammation in the mucosa was related to the numbers of H. pylori-like organisms (HPLO) present. Fifty-one biopsy specimens (55%) gave a positive rapid urease test (RUT), with colour change occurring within 4 h. In all but one case, the gastric mucosa from these patients contained moderate to numerous HPLO. We defined the 'gold standard' of H. pylori-associated gastritis as the presence of both moderate to numerous HPLO and moderate to severe inflammation in the gastric mucosa. Using these criteria, RUT had a sensitivity of 67% and a specificity of 68%. Sera from 92 patients were tested for immunoglobulin G antibodies reactive with a glycine-extract antigen of H. pylori, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera giving an indeterminate reaction in the ELISA were also tested by Western blotting. In all, 36 sera (39%) gave a positive ELISA or Western blot reaction. There was poor correlation between serology and RUT results, with only 57% of biopsy specimens from seropositive patients giving a positive RUT, compared with 45% from seronegative patients. Positive serology was found in only 35 patients (61%) with histological evidence of H. pylori-associated gastritis, and the specificity of the test was only 54%. When used in combination with the RUT result, however, 79% of patients with a positive RUT and positive serology had histological evidence of H. pylori-associated gastritis. There was a general trend for increased seroprevalence in patients with mild to moderate atypia. These findings indicate that serology, using an antigen derived from the type strain of H. pylori, is unreliable in detecting H. pylori infection in Zimbabwe. Current studies are aimed at characterizing antigens from organisms isolated from Zimbabwean patients.
Strategies for finding novel structures of therapeutical interest are discussed. The rationale for the selection of the two scaffolds N4-(m-aminophenyl)-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid E and N4-(o-aminophenyl)-piperazine-2-carboxylic F is described. The synthesis of the appropriate precursors to scaffold E and F and their use in solid-phase chemistry are described. A 160-member library was produced combining these novel piperazine scaffolds with eight sulfonyl chlorides/acid chlorides and 10 amines. The compound library prepared was analyzed using LC-MS, showing the expected base peak in all wells at an average purity of 82%.
An integrated SPF herd with 320 sows was found infected with Salmonella Yoruba during an annual control among sows, aiming to verify freedom from Salmonella infections. It is believed that the infection was introduced to the herd by purchase of feed. The herd performed an age segregated rearing system. Sows and piglets were reared at a central farm, while growers (25-100 kg body weight) were reared at sub-estates. The growers were free from the infection, and as a consequence a specially designed eradication program was designed. Farrowing and weaning were defined as periods of risk for sows and piglets, respectively. Consequently sows were isolated and individually tested for presence of Salmonella one week before and one week after farrowing. The offspring were tested one week post weaning. To verify freedom from disease among piglets they were also tested another time before transfer to the uninfected sub-estates. Piglets with undefined status regarding Salmonella were denoted animals at risk and not transferred to the sub-estates. Instead they were transferred to a third estate, rented to house pigs at risk. The program was successful. It allowed full production during performance, and the herd was declared free from S. Yoruba seven and a half months after the initial diagnosis.
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OBJECTIVE: To study the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), fulfilling the 1993 European classification criteria compared with three different control groups. METHODS: Serological tests investigating the presence of antibodies against H. pylori were performed by Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA) and confirmed by immunoblot (IB). The samples were tested for antibodies against cytotoxin-associated-protein A (CagA). The three control groups included were: one simultaneously collected age-matched group of orthopaedic outpatients without rheumatological disease, a random primary care patient sample from the same geographic region and a group of age-matched blood donors. RESULTS: 45% of the SS patients (n = 164) were EIA-positive for H. pylori and 30% were positive in the confirming IB assay. 23% had antibodies to the CagA protein. We found a clear and statistically significant increase in seroprevalence with increasing age. These estimates were lower compared to the control group of orthopaedic patients but similar to those in the other two control groups, thus showing the importance of multiple control groups in case control studies. In the group of SS patients there were no significant associations between a positive EIA, IB or CagA for H. pylori and the presence of abnormal serum levels of autoantibodies (ANA, anti-SSA, anti-SSB, rheumatoid factor (RF)) or an abnormal lip biopsy. CONCLUSION: Swedish patients with primary SS do not have higher H. pylori seroprevalence rates than controls. Neither was H. pylori seropositivity associated with the presence of immunological markers of SS such as circulating autoantibodies or a lip biopsy with abnormal focus score.
Fetal antigen 1 (FA1) is a circulating glycoprotein containing six epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats. FA1's larger membrane-bound precursor is defined by the cDNAs referred to as either human delta-like (dlk) or human adrenal specific cDNA, pG2. In rodents FA1 has also been studied under the names of preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref-1), and zona glomerulosa-specific factor (ZOG). FA1 is abundantly expressed in fetal tissues, but in the mature cells of the adult organism the tissue presence of the protein seems to be restricted to neuroendocrine tissues. The present study demonstrates FA1 localisation in endocrine tissues of the adult female rat in which the protein was found present in the medulla and the zona glomerulosa of the cortex of the adrenal glands, in the pars distalis of the adenohypophysis, and in the ovarian granulosa lutein cells. No staining was found in the pancreas, which is in contrast to what has been described in the human.
A metabolic route of omeprazole involving glutathione has been established through identification of endproducts excreted in the urine of rats after oral administration of 400 mumol/kg of a mixture of [3H]- and [14C]omeprazole. The labeled positions enabled facile tracing of metabolites that were formed through fission of omeprazole, producing [3H]pyridine and [14C]benzimidazole metabolites. The structures of the metabolites were established by HPLC thermospray MS and MS/MS. Two of the metabolites were isolated and characterized by 1H NMR studies. The fact that the N-acetylcysteine derivative of the benzimidazole was one of the endproducts indicated that the initial reaction involved glutathione. Three metabolites reflecting the fate of the pyridine moiety were identified. Their proposed formation route is via initial reduction to the pyridylmethylthiol compound followed by S-methylation and S-oxidation to the corresponding sulfoxide or sulfone. The quantity of metabolites formed via the glutathione route identified in urine was about 10% of the dose given, both in male and female rats. The male and female rats excreted the same cleaved metabolites and approximately equal quantities thereof.
Thirty-five (34 evaluable) consecutive postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor positive (greater than or equal to 10 fmol/mg) or unknown advanced breast cancer were treated with high dose toremifene in a phase II study. All patients had progressed during prior adjuvant or palliativ antiestrogen treatment. The dose of toremifene was 240 mg per day. No complete or partial responders were registered. Nine patients (26%) were considered to have stable disease (NC). The time to progression for these patients was 5-27+ months with a mean time of twelve months and median time of eight months. Two patients are still on treatment after twelve and 24 months respectively. There seems to be a relationship with receptor value; however, there are two few patients for a safe statistical analysis. The side effects were insignificant. The conclusion is that the efficiency of toremifene as second line hormonal treatment is restricted, although it may be one additional choice.
The effects of eledoisin on the intestinal smooth muscle of ruminants are reported. The results obtained on isolated in vitro preparations from cattle suggest a direct effect of the peptide on the smooth muscle of the different intestinal sections examined. The observations made during in vivo experiments on sheep suggest that eledoisin produces its effects by also affecting the autonomic nerve supply to the intestine of these animals.