Seroprevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Detectable Antibodies in Equids in Alabama

A cross-sectional serological survey was carried out to screen the equine population of the nonendemic state of Alabama for the presence of detectable antibody titers against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. A second objective was to determine the association of detectable titers with risk factors such as exposure to ruminants or previous travel to endemic states. A total of 342 equine serum samples from 40 Alabama counties were analyzed using the synergistic hemolysis inhibition test (SHI). The prevalence of detectable antibody titers (≥1:8) was 52.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47%–57.9%). Titers ≥1:128 were detected in 2.63% (95% CI, 1.2%–4.9%), and titers ≥1:512 were detected in 0.3% (95% CI, 0%–1.6%) of the sampled population. In the final generalized linear model, age (P < .001), breed (P = .023), and contact with cattle (P = .05) were associated with increasing SHI titers. Contact with goats was associated in the initial but not in the final analysis (P = .19). Previous travel was not associated with increasing SHI titer (P = .97). The results demonstrated a high prevalence of low detectable titers and low prevalence of titers ≥ 1:128 in a nonendemic population. Further evaluation of SHI cutoff titers and accuracy is warranted to reduce the risk of a false positive diagnosis.     

抗体形成细胞介导的溶血空斑和溶血试验

研究了用绵羊红细胞免疫大鼠，其脾脏中抗体形成细胞中，免疫后第４天平均有８２３个抗体形成细胞。免疫后第３天细胞介导的溶血平均为２２．９９％，免疫后第４天为９２．４５％。讨论了溶血空斑法的条件并与溶血法作了比较。     

Presumed immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia in two foals with Rhodococcus equi infection

Objective – To describe the clinical presentation, case management, and outcome in 2 foals with Rhodococcus equi infection associated with presumptive severe immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia. Series Summary – Two foals diagnosed with R. equi pneumonia on the basis of tracheal wash cultures, thoracic radiographs, and thoracic ultrasonography were concurrently diagnosed with hemolytic anemia. Both foals required whole blood transfusions, and were treated with the antimicrobial combination of rifampin and a macrolide (eg, clarithromycin, erythromycin, or azithromycin). Dexamethasone was used to prevent further hemolysis in both foals, and to treat acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome in 1 of the foals. Both foals survived, and required prolonged antimicrobial therapy. New or Unique Information Provided – Although extra‐pulmonary disorders are commonly diagnosed in foals infected with R. equi, hemolytic anemia is rarely described. Dexamethasone is considered the treatment of choice for immune‐mediated hemolytic anemia, but may be contra‐indicated in foals with severe bacterial infections. In these foals, a relatively low dose and short duration of dexamethasone was utilized in an attempt to minimize immune suppression, although early discontinuation in 1 foal precipitated a second hemolytic crisis.     

全自动换血治疗G-6-PD缺陷症并发急性溶血的疗效观察

目的 :观察全自动换血治疗危重G 6 PD缺陷症并发急性溶血的疗效。方法 :对 1 0例危重G 6 PD缺陷症并发急性溶血采用全自动换血治疗。结果 :总胆红素由换血前 (5 33.1 4± 1 1 5 .6 5 ) μmol/L下降至换血后 (2 95 .5 0± 88.5 1 )μmol/L ,换出率是 4 4 .5 7% ,血红蛋白增加 34.1 2 % ,红细胞增加 4 3.30 % ,换血过程无明显不良反应。结论 :全自动换血是抢救危重G 6 PD缺陷症并发急性溶血的简单、实用、安全、有效的方法     

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats. I. Evaluation of two serological diagnostic tests

The bacterial agglutination test (BAT) and the hemolysis inhibition test (HIT) were employed and evaluated.The threshold value between positive and negative antibody titres in BAT and HIT was determined on the basis of titration results for sera from 25 adult goats infected with Corynebacterium pseudotuber-culosis (positive), and sera from 25 adult goats from a herd in which caseous lymphadenitis did not occur (negative).Antibody titres were expressed as logio to the reciprocal value of the highest positive serum dilution in both tests. Positive titre (T) in BAT was stipulated as T ≥ 2.1 and in HIT as T > 0.6. The sensitivity and specificity was 0.96 in both tests in the material used. Twenty-three of the 25 goats infected with G. pseudotuberculosis were positive in both BAT and HIT.The reproducibility in both tests was described by the use of correlation coefficient and coefficient of variation. The values were estimated using duplicate determination of titres of 155 serum samples. Correlation coefficients were 0.87 for BAT and 0.95 for HIT. Coef-ficients of variation were 26.4 % for BAT and 14.1 % for HIT. The coefficient of variation was related to titres. It was highest for BAT at low titres.It was concluded that both tests can be used for seroepidemio-logical investigations of C. pseudotuberculosis infection in goats.     

不同疏水性氨基酸对α-螺旋抗菌肽生物学活性的影响

天然抗菌肽具有较强的杀菌能力,但其较高的细胞毒性会使肽的细胞选择性降低。为了提高抗菌肽的选择特异性,本研究拟探讨不同疏水性氨基酸对α-螺旋抗菌肽生物学活性的影响及其抑菌机制。笔者采用α-螺旋肽GRX_2RX_3RX_2RG作为模板,分别以疏水性氨基酸色氨酸(Try,W)、苯丙氨酸(Phe,F)、缬氨酸(Val,V)、丙氨酸(Ala,A)、亮氨酸(Leu,L)和异亮氨酸(Ile,I)来替换X位置,得到了一系列富含疏水氨基酸的肽GW、GF、GV、GI、GA和GL。本研究检测了抗菌肽的二级结构、溶血活性、抑菌活性、盐离子活性,并对其抑菌的作用机制进行了研究。结果表明:通过CD光谱试验检测出GF、GI、GA和GL在细胞膜模拟环境中均表现出典型的α螺旋结构,而GV只在TFE中呈现α螺旋结构;溶血试验结果表明,GV和GA在浓度为128μmol·L^-1未表现出溶血活性,而其他肽均表现出较高的溶血活性;抑菌试验发现GV的最小抑菌浓度(MIC)的几何平均值为3.7μmol·L^-1,并具有最高的治疗指数(TI);盐离子稳定性试验表明,在NH_4^+、Zn²⁺和Fe³⁺中GV对大肠杆菌25922(E.coli ATCC 25922)的抑菌能力较稳定。进一步通过扫描电镜和内膜通透性试验对抗菌肽GV的抑菌机制进行分析,结果观察到GV能够通过穿透E.coli ATCC 25922和金黄色葡萄球菌29213(S.aureus ATCC 29213)促使细胞内容物流出而导致细菌死亡,以及通过时间和剂量依赖的方式穿透细菌内膜。综合以上结果,富含Val的GV具有较高的细胞选择性和成为高效抗菌药物的发展潜力。     

The effect of hemolysis on plasma antithrombin activity as determined by a chromogenic method

BACKGROUND: The concentration of free hemoglobin (Hgb) in plasma can markedly affect the outcome of laboratory tests by interfering with the spectrophotometric absorbance of biochemical tests read at wavelengths within the absorbance range of Hgb (400-440 nm). Little is known about the effects of hemoglobinemia on antithrombin (AT) activity in human plasma samples, and we are unaware of data for canine plasma samples. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the degree of interference by Hgb on plasma AT activity and to determine if the interference is proportional to the concentration of plasma Hgb. METHODS: Two pools of test plasma, designated AT100 and AT70, were prepared. Hemolysate was prepared by washing and freeze-thawing packed red cells in a small volume of saline, followed by collection of the filtrate. Solutions of decreasing Hgb concentration were prepared and added to the test plasma pools to create a series of samples with final calculated and measured Hgb concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 g/L. AT activity, expressed as a percentage of normal human plasma, was determined using a functional chromogenic assay. RESULTS: Increasing concentrations of Hgb resulted in a linear decrease in AT activity. Using linear regression analysis on the 70% and 100% plasma pools, the slopes for samples containing <1.5 g Hgb/L were not significantly different from zero. Slopes for samples containing Hgb concentrations >or=1.5 g/L were significantly (P > .0001) different from zero for both plasma pools, indicating interference with the assay. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest it may be possible, using a conversion equation, to accurately determine AT activity in hemolyzed samples, facilitating evaluation of coagulation status in patients with intravascular hemolysis.     

双心室心脏泵内部流动非定常数值模拟

为了研究某新型离心式双心室人工心脏泵内部血液流动特性,采用CFD技术对泵设计工况下的内部流场进行数值模拟分析,获得了该心脏泵内部速度、湍流动能和切应力分布规律,同时得到了泵进口流量、作用在不同过流部件的轴向力和径向力变化情况,并对蜗壳处的压力脉动进行分析.研究结果表明:该型双心室心脏泵内部流场没有出现明显的流动死水区,满足心脏泵的抗血栓要求;泵内压力和切应力分布规律相似,整体分布均匀,满足抗溶血性能的要求;由于心脏泵的整体设计为对称结构,很好地平衡了左右叶轮的轴向力;较小的泵整体结构的径向力和转矩有利于心脏泵抵御瞬态的径向负荷;左右两泵蜗壳处的压力脉动呈现明显的正弦周期性变化规律,均含有6个波峰和6个波谷,且各监测点处压力脉动的主频为叶片通过频率,这是由于叶轮和蜗壳的动静干涉作用.     

皂角苷对大菱鲆血细胞的溶血作用

通过显微观察初步测定了不同浓度皂角苷(2.5、5、12.5、25、50、125 mg/L)融解大菱鲆红细胞的时间及其对白细胞的裂解作用;比较了4℃与20℃条件下,不同浓度皂角苷(2.5、5、12.5、25、50 mg/L)在体外对大菱鲆血细胞的溶血活性;用不同浓度的皂角苷溶液浸浴大菱鲆,得出皂角苷对大菱鲆的半致死浓度;同时分析了不同浓度皂角苷(0、5、25、45 mg/L)浸泡大菱鲆后血液中乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活力变化。结果显示,显微观察实验中红细胞溶血时间与皂角苷浓度呈对数负相关(R2=0.982 5),皂角苷对大菱鲆白细胞也具有细胞裂解作用;50mg/L的皂角苷在20℃条件下5 min即可导致血细胞100%溶血,而4℃时处理相同时间仅为42.2%;皂角苷对大菱鲆的24 h半致死浓度(24h LC50)为64.85 mg/L。本研究的结果从细胞水平上初步评价了皂角苷的溶血毒性,为其安全使用提供了理论支持。