Pre-existing medical conditions associated with Vibrio vulnificus septicaemia.

Vibrio vulnificus (Vv) can result in severe disease. Although pre-existing liver disease is a recognized risk factor for serious infection, the relative importance of other comorbidities has not been fully assessed. We analysed reports of Vv infections submitted to CDC from January 1988 to September 2006 in order to assess the role of pre-existing conditions contributing to severe outcomes. A total of 1212 patients with Vv infection were reported. Only patients with liver disease [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 5.1)] were more likely to become septic when exposure was due to contaminated food. Patients with liver disease (aOR 4.1), a haematological disease (aOR 3.2), or malignancy (aOR 3.2) were more likely to become septic when infection was acquired via a non-foodborne exposure. As such, patients with these pre-existing medical conditions should be advised of the risk of life-threatening illness after eating undercooked contaminated seafood or exposing broken skin to warm seawater.

Micro-RNAs in thyroid neoplasms: molecular, diagnostic and therapeutic implications.

Micro-RNAs (miRNAs) belong to a class of small non-coding messenger RNA species that have emerged as potent regulators of a variety of biological processes including oncogenesis. They serve as master regulators with a single miRNA capable of regulating as many as 100 different target genes. Thyroid carcinomas encompass a wide spectrum ranging from well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas to poorly differentiated and anaplastic carcinoma. Currently, a considerable degree of interobserver variability exists in the morphological diagnosis of certain types of thyroid carcinomas especially the follicular pattern neoplasm. The prediction of progression of these differentiated carcinoma to more aggressive forms like poorly differentiated and anaplastic types is of considerable interest to physicians and pathologists for determining prognosis and making therapeutic decisions. Several investigators have proposed a more cohesive approach to thyroid cancer diagnosis incorporating molecular and proteomics based tools in addition to the conventional morphological diagnosis. In this context, miRNAs serve as an important diagnostic tool, and several studies have demonstrated their utility as class identifiers especially in the context of follicular thyroid carcinoma, papillary thyroid carcinoma and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Larger studies and/or meta-analyses could further delineate their role in predicting cancer progression and prognosis. In the same vein, miRNAs and their target genes could be targeted for novel therapeutics in the future.

A radiotracer probe to study metal interaction with human lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes.

The electrophilic Ag+ ion was found to destroy completely the enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme LDH-1 while other transition metal ions reduced its activity in varying degrees. A radiotracer probe involving 110mAg-labeled silver ion was used to understand the mechanism of denaturation of LDH and also to determine the number of active sites, if any, for substrate binding with the enzyme. Purified LDH-l was reacted with 110mAg-labeled silver ion and the mixture was passed through the sephadex G-75-120 gel to separate the 110mAg-LDH complex that might be formed during the reaction. The resulting elution curve revealed that a stable complex was formed. From the total radioactivity of 110mAg bound LDH, the specific activity of labeled Ag+ and the amount of LDH used the ratio of the number of moles of Ag+ reacted with 1 mol of LDH was computed. This was found to be approximately 4.0, indicating that there are four binding sites in LDD, probably one on each subunit. Kinetic studies of LDH catalysis of L-P reaction in the presence and absence of Ag+ ion suggest that silver ion is involved in competitive inhibition and that the interaction conforms to the "lock-and-key" model. The inhibition of catalysis by other metals is presumably of a noncompetitive type.

Tetracycline asthma--a case report.

A mechanic working in the antibiotic capsuling section of a pharmaceutical company developed asthmatic attacks 1 year after starting work. His occupation involved exposure to a variety of chemical agents including tetracycline. He developed immediate weal and flare reaction to the intradermal test and an immediate (type 1) asthmatic response to intradermal, inhalation and oral challenge tests with tetracycline. On leaving the tetracycline plant he became symptom free.