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PubMed2002

[The protective effects and its underlying mechanism of 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxy-pyrimidine on postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect and its underlying mechanism of 2,4-diamino-6-hydroxy-pyrimidine (DAHP), an inhibitor of GTP-cyclohydrolase I (GTP-CHI), on postburn Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) sepsis in rats. METHODS: Fifty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups, i.e. normal control, scalding control, postburn sepsis group and DAHP treatment group. Tissue samples from liver, kidneys, lungs and heart were aseptically taken, and in which the GTP-CHI and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) contents and the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) were determined. Furthermore, biopterin (BH(4)) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in these tissue were also measured. RESULTS: After the scalding injury followed by bacterial challenge, the GTP-CHI gene expression and biopterin levels were significantly increased in all tissue sampled, and so were iNOS mRNA expression and NO (P < 0.01), especially in liver and lungs. The expressions of GTP-CHI mRNA and iNOS mRNA and the production of BH(4) and NO in all tissue were evidently inhibited by the pretreatment with DAHP (P < 0.05 approximately 0.01). At the same time, the TNFalpha expression was also obviously decreased. In addition, The mortality at 6 hr in rats of DAHP treatment group was decreased. CONCLUSION: The prognosis of the scalding rats complicated by sepsis caused by G(+) bacteria could be improved by DAHP pretreatment, which might be related to the inhibition of the production of BH(4) and NO by DAHP.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Burns treatment for children and adults: a study of initial burns first aid and hospital care.

AIM: To assess the adequacy of initial burns first aid treatment in the community and its subsequent impact on treatment outcome. METHODS: Four-month prospective study of consecutive burn patients presenting to Middlemore Hospital. Patients were interviewed to determine initial burns first aid treatment (BFAT) and assessed as "adequate" or "inadequate", then compared with subsequent treatment. Inpatient care was wound debridement with/without dressings (DO/DB) or split skin grafting (SSG). RESULTS: 40.5% of total 121 patients received adequate BFAT, 59.5% did not, p = <0.001. 50% Caucasians received adequate BFAT, compared with 25% Maori and 33% Pacific Island people, p = 0.084. 15.7% of adequate BFAT patients received DO/DB and 6.6% had SSG, compared with 23.4% and 19.3% respectively for inadequate BFAT, p = 0.03. Scald burns occurred most frequently, 4% adequate BFAT scald patients required SSG compared with 20% of inadequate BFAT scald patients, p = 0.003. Maori and Pacific Island people were over-represented as inpatients (collectively 34.8%) when compared to Caucasian (24.8%) or other ethnic groups, p = 0.25. 38% of all patients were children under 10 with inadequate BFAT tendency compared with adults, p = 0.067. Hospital stay decreased among adequate BFAT paediatric patients, p = 0.016. CONCLUSIONS: A public education strategy is required to improve BFAT, targeting at-risk communities. Following this, the study should be repeated to determine the effectiveness of the campaign and any resultant change in community behaviour.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Analysis of heat transfer in skin tissues subjected to hot water].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze heat transfer process in skin tissues subjected to hot water and thus to predict the extent of scald. METHOD: Basing on Pennes' Bio-heat Equation, a model for characterizing the damage process in tissues was presented and used for its analysis. RESULT: Temperature distribution in the tissues during the process and the time of beginning of scald were numerically obtained. It was found that the effects of different initial temperature distribution, convection coefficients between the hot water and the tissue surfaces, and the temperature of the hot water are significant. CONCLUSION: The transient heat transfer behavior in multi-layer tissues subjected to hot water can be predicted by the present model. It is useful in the clinical diagnosis and therapy for the scald caused by hot water.

Burns↗
PubMed2003

[Studies on use and residue levels of pesticides in fruit and vegetable in Tianjin Area and its control measures].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pesticide abuse on fruits and vegetables in Tianjin Area, to detect pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables, to study the methods for reducing pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. METHODS: (1) A questionnaire on the pesticide application during growing fruit and vegetable was administered to 185 farmers in Tianjin Area. (2) According to the information from the questionnaire survey, fruit and vegetable samples were collected in four seasons around the year and measured for organophosphorus pesticide residues by gas chromatography. (3) Fruit and vegetable samples contained pesticide residue were treated by scald, immersion in 0.15% and 0.30% detergent solution, immersion in pure water, peeling and cutting root and pesticide residues were measured before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The percentage of pesticide abuse in growing fruit and vegetable was 65.00% in Tianjin area, and 31.60% of the fruits and vegetable samples collected in summer were positive for high toxic organophosphorus pesticides. Significant decrease of pesticide residue in fruit and vegetable was found by scald, immersion in 0.15% and 0.30% detergent solution, as well as peeling and cutting root, and over 80.00% pesticide residue in the samples could be reduced by scald. CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to strengthen pesticide abuse control and market surveillance and inspection, in order to reduce the harmful effects of pesticide residue in fruit and vegetables to human health.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed2004

Alcohol involvement in burn, submersion, spinal cord, and brain injuries.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol is involved in many injuries, but estimates of this involvement vary considerably. Most information pertains to deaths although most injuries are nonfatal. MATERIAL/METHODS: The portion of fatal and nonfatal injuries involving alcohol was determined from a comprehensive Oklahoma surveillance system that tracks persons killed or hospitalized due to burns, submersions, spinal cord injuries (SCIs), and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Logistic regression was used to determine factors that explain the percentage of alcohol involvement in fatal versus nonfatal cases. RESULTS: The victim was alcohol involved in 17% of fire burns, 4% of scald burns, 24% of submersions, 34% of SCIs, and 41% of TBIs where involvement was known. Large differences existed in total alcohol involvement between age and gender groups and between fatal and nonfatal cases of fire burns (31% vs.11%) and submersions (33% vs. 6%). Large differences also existed in victim alcohol involvement between fatal and nonfatal cases of intentional SCIs (0% vs. 48%) and TBIs (38% vs. 70%). Those who imbibed during the day were not at excess risk of scald injury, but they were twice as likely to suffer a serious fire burn, 3 times as likely to suffer a spinal cord injury, 3.5 times as likely to suffer a submersion injury, and 2 to 4 times as likely to suffer a TBI. These excess risks persisted for all age groups between 15 and 64, with the excess risk especially high for underage drinkers aged 15 to 20. In contrast, people aged 65 and older did not appear to be at excess risk on days that they imbibed. CONCLUSIONS: A large percentage of fatal and nonfatal injuries as classified by diagnosis group involve alcohol. People who had been drinking were substantially more likely to suffer serious nonfatal and fatal injuries other than scald burns.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Effects of extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibition by AG126 on tissue tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and multiple organ dysfunction in rats with postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERKs) inhibition by AG126 on tissue tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and multiple organ dysfunction in rats with postburn Staphylococcus aureus sepsis and its potential signal regulating mechanism. METHODS: To reproduce postburn sepsis model, male Wistar rats were inflicated with 20% total body surface area third-degree scald followed by Staphylococcus aureus challenge. 34 rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: normal control group (n = 6), scald control group (n = 6), postburn sepsis group (n = 12), and AG126 treatment group (n = 10). Tissue samples from the liver, kidneys and lungs were collected to determine phosphorylated ERKs by Western blot analysis, and TNF-alpha mRNA expression as well as its protein levels. RESULTS: It was revealed that phosphorylated ERKs in the liver, lungs, and kidneys from postburn septic animals were up-regulated rapidly at 0.5 - 2.0 hours, being 1.94-fold (P < 0.05), 2.86-fold (P < 0.01), and 1.41-fold at 2.0 hours compared to normal controls, respectively. Treatment with AG126 could significantly reduce phosphorylated ERKs in lung tissue by 70.6% (P < 0.01) at 2.0 hours postburn sepsis, and almost completely inhibited ERKs activation in the liver and kidneys at various time points. Meanwhile, both TNF-alpha mRNA and protein expressions in the liver, lungs, and kidneys were significantly decreased in AG126-treated group following septic challenge (P < 0.05 or 0.01). In addition, 2.0 hours after Staphylococcus aureus infection, treatment with AG126 markedly improved hepatic and renal function parameters, including serum ALT, AST, Cr, as well as BUN levels (P < 0.05 or 0.01), together with significant decrease in pulmonary myeloperoxidase activity, compared to those without AG126 treatment. CONCLUSION: These data suggested that ERKs signal transduction might be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic inflammatory response and multiple organ dysfunction in postburn gram-positive bacterial sepsis. Early treatment with AG126 could significantly down-regulate TNF-alpha mRNA expression as well as protein levels in vital organs and attenuate multiple organ dysfunction induced by scald injury combined with Staphylococcus aureus challenge.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Burn injury in children.

The authors have analyzed the data files of 580 child patients up to 15 years of age who were hospitalized at the Burn Center of the FNsP Hospital in Ostrava in the years 1999 - 2003. The authors focused on mechanisms of burn injury in relation to the age of a child as well as extent, depth, localization, and local treatment of the injury. The data file was divided to four age groups: up to two years of age, 2 - 5 years of age, 5 - 10 years of age, and 10 - 15 years of age. As regards the mechanisms of injury, the authors have analyzed scalding by hot liquids, burns due to contact with a hot object, burns due to electric current, explosion, and injury caused by burning clothing. Injury by scalding prevails to a very significant degree in the youngest children. In the second age group the incidence of burn following contact with hot objects increases, as does the percentage of children injured by burning of clothing in children aged 5 - 10. The older children have increased prevalence of injuries caused by explosions. The greatest average extent of an injury is from burning of clothing. Most of the areas are burned deeply, localized in more areas of the body, and almost half of the cases required surgical intervention. Scalding comes second in terms of average extent of an injury. More than half of the injured areas are superficial, and areas of injury are different in the individual age groups. We addressed about a fifth of the cases surgically. The explosion of combustible materials caused a smaller extent of injury, on average, taking third place. The injuries were predominantly superficial, most commonly involving the head, trunk, and upper extremities. In none of the cases it was necessary for us to operate. Burn injuries caused by contact with hot objects are of a smaller extent. More than half of the burned areas are deep, localized most commonly in the upper extremities. Surgical intervention was necessary in more than half the cases. In terms of average extent of an injury, the smallest burn injuries are caused by electric current. However, these injuries are deep, and surgical intervention was necessary in all cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Protective effects of taurine on myocardial injury in severely burned rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of taurine on myocardial injury in severely scalded rats. METHODS: A total of 130 healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the control group (C, without burns), the burn group (B, subjected to a 30% TBSA III degree scalding) and the treatment group (T, treated with intraperitoneal injection of taurine (400 mg/kg) immediately after scald injury). The plasma and myocardial tissue samples in B and T groups were harvested at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 postburn hours (PBH) for the determination of the contents of cardiac troponin T (cTnT), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and angiotensin II (AngII) in plasma, and the contents of TNF-alpha, AngII and calcium ion in myocardial tissue. The morphological change in the myocardial tissue was observed with transmission electronic microscope (TEM) and was compared with that in C group. The changes in the plasma TNF-alpha and AngII were analyzed in relation to that of plasma cTnT. RESULTS: The plasma cTnT content in B group at 3 PBH was markedly higher than that in C group (0.16 +/- 0.03 microg/L) (P < 0.01), and it peaked (6.32 +/- 0.41) at 12 PBH and remained at high level at 48 PBH. While the plasma MDA content and the calcium ion level in B group were evidently higher than those in C group during 3 to 48 PBH (P < 0.01). The TNF-alpha contents in plasma and myocardial tissue during 6 to 48 PBH were significantly higher than those in C group (P < 0.01). The AngII contents in plasma and myocardial tissue during 3 to 24 PBH were obviously higher than those in C group (P < 0.01). All the indices in T group were significantly lower than those in B group (P < 0.01). Histological examination revealed that there was myocardial damage in various degrees during early postburn stage in B group, such as focal dissolution and fragmentation of myofilament, mitochondrial edema, myocyte sarcoplasmic protrusions like piano keys. But all the above changes in T group were evidently ameliorated to near normal. There was close positive correlation between the change in the concentrations of plasma content of TNF-alpha and AngII and cTnT in B group (r = 0.87 and 0.82, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The production of TNF-alpha, MDA, cTnT, AngII and high calcium ion level of myocardiocytes in severely burned rats can be inhibited by taurine, which was beneficial in the management of myocardial injury after severe burns.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed2005

[Relationship between nuclear factor-kappaB activity and kidney injury in rats with postburn sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) activity and kidney injury in rats with postburn sepsis. METHODS: Rats subjected to 30% full-thickness scald injury, followed by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were used in the present study. Fifty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, postburn sepsis 1, 2, 6, 12, 24 hours groups, and sepsis with NF-KappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment 1, 2, and 6 hour groups. NF-KappaB activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) protein expression, and renal function were determined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA), and automatic biochemistry analyzer, respectively. RESULTS: NF-KappaB activity in kidney was markedly enhanced and reached its peak 1 hour after scalding and injection of LPS (all P<0.01), and was decreased remarkably after the administration of PDTC. PDTC could suppress the elevated plasma TNF-alpha protein expression (both P<0.01), but not renal TNF-alpha levels. PDTC could not reduce blood urea nitrogen and blood creatinine contents, which were increased after scalding followed by LPS challenge. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the treatment with NF-KappaB inhibitor PDTC could down-regulate the NF-KappaB activity in kidney, but it could not protect the renal function in rats with postburn sepsis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Factors affecting mortality and epidemiological data in patients hospitalised with burns in Diyarbakir, Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Burns continue to be responsible for significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In this study we aimed to determine the factors affecting mortality and epidemiological data by examining the records of burned patients. METHOD: The hospital records of 980 patients who were hospitalised in the Burns Unit at Dicle University Hospital (DUH) between June 1994 and July 1999 were examined for factors affecting mortality. Factors evaluated included gender, age, burn type, degree and extent of burn, prognosis and length of hospitalisation (LH). We investigated the relationship (if any) between the demographic data, degree and extent of burns and mortality and morbidity rates. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 325 males (33.2%) and 655 females (66.8%). Of the patients 738 (75.3%) were children (age under 15 years), 217 (22.1%) were younger adults (age 15-50 years), and 25 (2.6%) were older adults (age over 50 years). The mean age was 11.2 +/- 14.01 years (range 15 days-95 years). Of the burns 618 (63.1%) were scalds, 199 (20.3%) burns from a flame and 163 (16.6%) electrical burns. The mean extent of burn was 24.3 +/- 14.5% (range 1-95%). Seven hundred and eighty-seven (80.3%) of the study group made a full recovery, 131 (13.4%) were discharged from hospital after partial recovery, and 62 (6.3%) died. The mean LH was 11.33 +/- 8.8 days (range 1-67 days). There was a positive correlation between burn extent and mortality (r = 0.35, p < 0.0001) and between age and type of burn (r = 0.60, p < 0.0001). While scalds had the highest frequency among children, flame and electrical burns were most common in the adult and older adult groups. There was also a positive correlation between degree and type of burn (r = 0.32, p = 0.0001), scalds tending to be more superficial while flame and electrical burns were generally more serious. Deaths of patients with extensive burns usually occurred in the first 5 days following injury due to acute renal failure and hypovolaemic shock, while deaths from moderate and minor burns usually occurred after 7 days and were due to wound infection and sepsis. CONCLUSION: We found positive correlations between age and type of burn, degree and type of burn, and the extent of burn and mortality. The overall mortality rate for our unit was 6.3%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Effect of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway on inflammatory reaction in intestine and its barrier function in rats with postburn sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway inhibition on intestinal nuclear factor-KappaB (NF-KappaB) activity and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) release as well as plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in rats with postburn sepsis. METHODS: Rats were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness scald injury, followed by intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic postburn sepsis. Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group, sepsis group, sepsis with proteasome inhibitor N-Acetyl leucinyl leucinyl norleucinal (ALLN) treatment group and sepsis with NF-KappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment group. NF-KappaB activity, TNF-alpha protein content, and plasma DAO activity were determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and spectrophotometric method, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that NF-KappaB activity was markedly activated and reached its peak 1 hour after scalding and injection of LPS in each group (all P<0.01), then reduced gradually. Both ALLN and PDTC could decrease intestinal NF-KappaB activity at 1 hour and 2 hours after injury. TNF-alpha release was reduced by ALLN at 1 hour after injury (P<0.01). Plasma DAO activity was significantly elevated after scalding and injection of LPS (P<0.01). Pretreatment with PDTC or ALLN could not lower the activity of DAO. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that early treatment with inhibitor of ubiquitin-proteasome pathway might decrease the intestinal inflammatory reaction, but exert no effect on intestinal barrier function in rats with postburn sepsis.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗
PubMed1986

Protein dynamics in skeletal muscle after trauma: local and systemic effects.

Injury is attended by accelerated skeletal muscle proteolysis. Accurate definition of this hypercatabolic response and its mediation is requisite for specific therapy. We measured protein dynamics in the incubated and intact epitrochlearis and soleus muscles excised from both forelimbs and both hindlimbs of rats 4 days after injury by either a single hind limb scald (90 degrees C water for 3 seconds; metabolic rate (MR) + 15%, urinary urea nitrogen (UUN) + 10%) or a 5% excision (dorsal skin removed to fascia; MR + 40%, UUN + 90%). Protein synthesis (3H phenylalanine incorporation) increased only in the injured soleus from the scalded hind limb (+100%). Actin and myosin breakdown (3-methylhistidine release) increased in all muscles tested and was consistently larger in epitrochlearis than in soleus muscles. Breakdown of the mixed protein pool (tyrosine release) increased but less so than 3-methylhistidine and did not reach significance in the uninjured soleus muscle of scalded rats. With respect to fiber type, white fiber epitrochlearis muscle demonstrated a more pronounced elevation of both measures of breakdown but at a lower metabolic rate than did red fiber soleus muscle. Increasing MR was associated with a linear increase in soleus proteolysis but no further change in epitrochlearis breakdown. We conclude that protein breakdown is increased in skeletal muscle distant from injury; however, even when metabolic stress is severe, synthesis is unchanged. Muscles of different fiber composition are not equally labile. Furthermore, myofibrillar protein is more labile than the mixed protein pool.

Actins↗
PubMed1977

Burn epidemiology: a basis for burn prevention.

An appreciation of the causes of burn injury is essential in order to direct burn prevention programs. Toward this goal, 1,564 patients treated at the UCI Burn Center were studied. There were 699 patients admitted acutely and 865 outpatients. The most common cause of thermal injury in both adults and children was scalding. In children scald burns accounted for 42% of the total number of children treated. In children under 4 years old scalds caused 75% of all burn injuries, most in the kitchen. Flammable liquids were responsible for the majority of the severe burns in the adult group (19% of acute admissions). Housefires, while accounting for only 5% of the adults treated, were responsible for 44% of the adult deaths. Continued public education in safety practices at home especially in the kitchen and bath, and with automobiles and outdoor stoves and fires is recommended, as well as planned escapes from homes and use of smoke detectors.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

[Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni as a surface contaminant of fresh and chilled pig carcasses (author's transl)].

An investigation was carried out into the occurrence of Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni on the surfaces of fresh and chilled pig carcasses. Swabs were taken of the water in the scald-tank, from cut surfaces, and from cut surfaces of carcasses that had been stored at 5 degrees C for 4 days. A total of 310 swabs was investigated, of which 10 were from the scald-tank, 100 from livers, 100 from cut surfaces, and 100 from cut surfaces of carcasses stored at refrigeration temperature. A specific enrichment process was employed for isolation of the bacteria. Campylobacter fetus subsp. jejuni was isolated from 43% of the liver swabs, from 56% of those from the cut surfaces, and from 32% of swabs from the cut surfaces of carcasses stored at refrigeration temperature. Campylobacter bacteria were not, however, isolated from the scald-tank. The high level of contamination found in this investigation is considered to create a possible source of Campylobacter infection for animal and Man.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1976

Insulin secretion after injuries of differing severity in the rat.

The effects on insulin secretion of injuries of differing severity have been studied in the rat. The injuries used were dorsal scalds to 20% and 40% of the body surface area, and a 4-h period of bilateral hind-limb ischaemia. These injuries resulted in 48 h mortality rates of 0/10, 7/10 and 5/10 respectively. Rats were studied 1-5-2 h after scalding or removal of tourniquets. The blood glucose concentration was markedly raised after all these injuries, and the plasma insulin concentration was also raised, so that the insulin to glucose ratio in any group did not differ significantly from that in non-injured controls. Injection of glucose (0-5 g/kg i.v.) induced a rise in insulin concentration in all groups, although the insulin to glucose ratio after the lethal 40% scald was lower than in control rats. It was concluded that in the rat normal insulin secretion is maintained even after lethal injuries, although some suppression of the insulin response to exogenous glucose may occur. Insulin resistance is more important in the rat than impairment of insulin secretion even at an early stage after injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Staphylococcal exfoliative toxin B specifically cleaves desmoglein 1.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and its localized form, bullous impetigo, show superficial epidermal blister formation caused by exfoliative toxin A or B produced by Staphylococcus aureus. Recently we have demonstrated that exfoliative toxin A specifically cleaves desmoglein 1, a desmosomal adhesion molecule, that when inactivated results in blisters. In this study we determine the target molecule for exfoliative toxin B. Exfoliative toxin B injected in neonatal mice caused superficial epidermal blisters, abolished cell surface staining of desmoglein 1, and degraded desmoglein 1 without affecting desmoglein 3 or E-cadherin. When adenovirus-transduced cultured keratinocytes expressing exogenous mouse desmoglein 1 or desmoglein 3 were incubated with exfoliative toxin B, desmoglein 1, but not desmoglein 3, was cleaved. Furthermore, cell surface staining of desmoglein 1, but not that of desmoglein 3, was abolished when cryosections of normal human skin were incubated with exfoliative toxin B, suggesting that living cells were not necessary for exfoliative toxin B cleavage of desmoglein 1. Finally, in vitro incubation of the recombinant extracellular domains of desmoglein 1 and desmoglein 3 with exfoliative toxin B demonstrated that both mouse and human desmoglein 1, but not desmoglein 3, were directly cleaved by exfoliative toxin B in a dose-dependent fashion. These findings demonstrate that exfoliative toxin A and exfoliative toxin B cause blister formation in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and bullous impetigo by identical molecular pathophysiologic mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Staphylococcal epidermolysins.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Staphylococcal epidermolysins are the major causative toxins of bullous impetigo and staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. This disease is characterized by the splitting of the epidermis between two cell layers resulting in exfoliation. It predominantly affects newborn babies and exposes them to secondary infections. This leads to the risk of epidemics, especially in nurseries. With only an experimental model which consists of skin injections in newborn mice and the recent determination of three-dimensional structures, the essential function of these toxins remained controversial, split between that of specific proteases and that of superantigens. RECENT FINDINGS: Staphylococcal epidermolysins now constitute a family of toxins, with the recent characterizations of two new serotypes: ETC and ETD. They may be secreted by sensitive or methicillin-resistant strains. Four molecules were also identified in Staphylococcus hyicus responsible for exudative epidermitis in swine. While different observations suggested a proteolytic action to these toxins, the histological parallel made with pemphigus foliaceus greatly helped in the characterization of the targets for epidermolysins ETA, ETB, ETD: desmoglein-1, a desmosome-constitutive protein, and incidentally melanocyte-stimulating hormones, which accounts for the blisters observed clinically. SUMMARY: The growing complexity in staphylococcal toxins has to be taken into account both for their association with diseases and for diagnosis purposes. Even though cases of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in adults are rare, they raise further questions about the pathogenic features of the disease such as individual sensitivity and distribution of the toxins into the body.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Use of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to distinguish clinically important strains of Staphylococcus intermedius from the skin of dogs.

AIMS: To use multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to determine the genetic structure of Staphylococcus intermedius from normal skin of dogs and those isolated from a variety of disease conditions and to distinguish clinically important strains in dogs. METHODOLOGY: The diversity amongst 129 isolates of S intermedius from the skin and mucosa of 32 healthy dogs and 120 isolates from diseased sites in 120 individual dogs was examined using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. Associations among ETs were examined to determine the diversity of isolates. RESULTS: Twenty two ETs were distinguished comprising 21 containing isolates from diseased sites and 11 containing isolates from normal dogs. The majority of isolates (171 of 249; 69% were located in two ETs (ET1 and ET 4), that were not distinguishable phenotypically. ET 1 contained 94 isolates (54 isolates from healthy dogs and 40 isolates from diseased sites) and ET 4 contained 77 isolates (46 from healthy dogs and 31 isolates from diseased sites). Further, 77.5% of isolates from healthy dogs were present in ET 1 and ET 4 and 59% of isolates from diseased dogs belonged to the same two ETs. There was only a small difference in genetic diversity among isolates taken from healthy dogs (11 ETs; H = 0.182) and those isolates taken from clinical specimens from diseased dogs (21 ETs; H = 0.218). Of the 21 ETs from diseased sites, ET 16 contained all six isolates from Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome in racing Greyhounds. CONCLUSIONS: The small difference in genetic diversity between isolates from the skin and mucosa of healthy dogs and isolates from various diseases, as well as the presence of the majority of isolates in two ETs, is consistent with the role of S intermedius as an opportunistic pathogen. The confinement of all Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome isolates within one ET is confirmation of this entity as a distinct disease of dogs.

Animals↗