Isolates are classified into five groups based on capsular antigen (capA, B, D, E and F). Recently, a new valuable PCR-based method was introduced to determine the epidemiological correlation between P. multocida infection and existence of virulence genes including tbpA, pfhA, toxA and hgbB. However, this method is tedious and laborious. Thus, in the current study, we designed a reliable multiplex PCR method for rapid detection of virulence genes in P. multocida. Eighty seven strains of P. multocida isolated from various clinically healthy and infected hosts were examined by uniplex PCR method for each virulence associated
buy Autophagy Compound Library genes. Based on our improved and simplified multiplex PCR method, rapid detection of four virulence genes was accomplished. It is proposed that its implementation may benefit the epidemiological investigations. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“From cultures of thermophilic soil fungus Humicola grisea var thermoidea, a delta-lactam derivative (3-(2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-oxoethyl)-5,6-dihydropyridin-2( 1H)-one) that
displayed anti-allergic activity was isolated, which was predicted by in silico computational chemistry approaches. The in vitro anti-allergic activity was investigated by beta-hexosaminidase hypoxia-inducible factor cancer release assay in rat basophilic leukaemia RBL-2H3 cells. The delta-lactam derivative exhibited similar anti-allergic activity (IC50 = 18.7 +/- 6.7 mu M) in comparison with ketotifen fumarate (IC50 = 15.0 +/- 1.3 mu M) and stronger anti-allergic activity than azelastine (IC50 = 32.0 mu M). Also, the MTT cytotoxicity assay with RBL-2H3 cells showed that delta-lactam does not display Compound Library cytotoxicity at concentrations lower than 50 mu M. This study suggests that the delta-lactam derivative has the potential to be used as a lead compound in the development of anti-allergic drugs for clinical use in humans.”
“Objective: Acquiring contemporary data on prevalence and natural history of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is essential
in the effort to optimise modern screening programmes. The primary aim of this study was to determine the fate of a 65-year-old male population 5 years following an invitation to an aortic ultrasound (US) examination.
Methods: In this population-based cohort-study, men were invited to US examination at age 65, and were re-invited at age 70. Mortality, AAA repair, and risk factors were recorded. An AAA was defined as a diameter >= 30 mm, and a sub-aneurysmal aorta as 25-29 mm.
Results: In 2006-2007, 3,268 65-year-old men were invited, and 2,736 (83.7%) were examined. After 5 years, 24 had completed AAA repair (6 died within 0-4 years), an additional 239 had died, and 194 had moved. Thus, 2,811 70-year-old men were re-invited, and 2,247 (79.9%) were examined. The AAA prevalence increased from 1.5% at 65 to 2.4% (95% Cl: 1.8 to 3.0) at 70, and of sub-aneurysmal aortas from 1.