Epidemiology of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in cats in Poland.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a well-known coagulase-positive staphylococcus that is mainly associated with the asymptomatic colonization of the skin of pets and mucous membranes. Little is still known about the occurrence of S. pseudintermedius in cats. The current study aimed to characterize the isolates of S. pseudintermedius from sick and healthy cats. This was achieved by examining their antibiotic resistance properties, biofilm formation, and genotype differences. Six hundred and seventy-six cats were swabbed (595 healthy and 81 sick cats). Thirty-five distinct S. pseudintermedius isolates from 27 cats were isolated. The prevalence of S. pseudintermedius in healthy and sick cats was 2.49% and 7.61%, respectively. In comparison, MRSP (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) prevalence was 0.12% and 2.98%, respectively. Cats were more frequently colonized with S. pseudintermedius when kept with dogs, regardless of their health condition, with this result being statistically significant. Multidrug resistance was detected in 50%, and 38.46% of S. pseudintermedius isolates from healthy and sick cats, respectively. In contrast, genetic multidrug resistance was detected in 59% and 46.15% cases, respectively. Seven from eight isolated MRSPs were multidrug-resistant. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) assigned isolates to 19 types, of which 16 types submitted for the first time to the PubMLST database. The most frequently detected STs (sequence types) were 551 and 71. ST71 and ST551 were mainly isolated from cats with clinical signs of infection. All were MRSPs, regardless of cats' health. These isolates were characterized with the most frequent antibiotic resistance at the phenotypic and genotypic level.

Identification of linear epitopes on the flagellar proteins of Clostridioides difficile.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is an opportunistic anaerobic bacterium that causes severe diseases of the digestive tract of humans and animals. One of the possible methods of preventing C. difficile infection is to develop a vaccine. The most promising candidates for vaccine antigens are the proteins involved in the adhesion phenomena. Among them, the FliC and FliD are considered to be suitable candidates. In this paper, the FliC and FliD protein polypeptide epitopes were mapped in silico and by using PEPSCAN procedure. We identified four promising epitopes: 117QRMRTLS123, 205MSKAG209 of FliC and 226NKVAS230, 306TTKKPKD312 of FliD protein. We showed that 117QRMRTLS123 sequence is not only located in TLR5-binding and activating region, as previously shown, but forms an epitope recognized by C. difficile-infected patients' antibodies. 205MSKAG209 is a C. difficile-unique, immunogenic sequence that forms an exposed epitope on the polymerized flagella structure which makes it a suitable vaccine antigen. 226NKVAS230 and 306TTKKPKD312 are well exposed and possess potential protective properties according to VaxiJen analysis. Our results open the possibility to use these epitopes as suitable anti-C. difficile vaccine antigens.

Nasal carriage of various staphylococcal species in small ruminant lentivirus-infected asymptomatic goats.

The study was carried out in Polish goat population to estimate the prevalence of the nasal cavity infection with various staphylococcal species including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), investigate the potential permissive role of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection and determine the level of clonality of S. aureus nasal isolates. Nasal swabs and blood samples were collec-ted from 1300 clinically healthy adult goats from 21 Polish goat herds. Blood samples were serological-ly screened for SRLV. Staphylococci were isolated from nasal swabs and identified using classical microbiological methods, MALDI-TOF, multiplex-PCR, and their clonality was assessed using PFGE. Antimicrobial resistance was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration and by demonstration of the presence of the mecA gene encoding the multiplex-PCR PBP2a protein and of the five main types of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec. The apparent prevalence of staphylococ-cal and S. aureus infection of the nasal cavity was 29.1% (CI 95%: 26.9%, 31.5%) and 7.3% (CI 95%: 6.1%, 8.8%), respectively. No relationship was found between the SRLV-infection and the presence of any staphylococcal species including S. aureus (p=0.143). Only 9.8% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and 5.9% to chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin. All tested isolates proved to be phenotypically and genotypically sensitive to methicillin, which yielded the appar-ent prevalence of MRSA of 0% (CI 95%: 0%, 7.0%). S. aureus isolates show high genetic similarity within goat herds, however vary considerably between herds. Goats do not appear to be an important source of S. aureus for humans in Poland.

Prevalence of Staphylococcus Species Colonization in Healthy and Sick Cats.

Staphylococcus is one of the most frequently isolated genera of opportunistic bacteria in animals and human beings. Staphylococci in mammals mostly inhabit the skin and mucous membranes. The objectives of the study were to investigate the distribution of staphylococcal species in healthy and sick cats in order to find diagnostic markers. The risk factors associated with colonization were also explored. Isolates from healthy (n=520) and sick cats (n=67) were identified at the species level using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Swabs from conjunctival sacs, nares, skin, anus, and wounds were investigated using this technique. The diversity of the Staphylococcus species was high: 26 and 17 species in healthy and sick cats, respectively, and predominantly coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were isolated. The most frequently observed were S. felis and S. epidermidis in healthy cats, whereas S. felis and S. haemolyticus were most often found in sick animals. S. aureus strains were only isolated from healthy cats, whereas the only coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) which occurred in the sick cats group was S. pseudintermedius. The sick, more frequently than the healthy animals, were colonized with S. pseudintermedius and S. haemolyticus and the relationship was statistically significant. Mostly, regardless of the state of their health, similar Staphylococcus species were isolated from cats; therefore, particular attention should be paid during the interpretation of diagnostic results.

Correction to: Advanced glycation end products as a source of artifacts in immunoenzymatic methods.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake in the author group section. Author A. Bronowicka-Szydelko's surname was inadvertently interchanged to "Szydelko-Bronowicka".

Advanced glycation end products as a source of artifacts in immunoenzymatic methods.

The most abundant proteins in the arteries are those of extracellular matrix, ie. collagen and elastin. Due to their long half-lifes these proteins have an increased chance to undergo glycation. The aim of this study was to determine relationship between the content of the main extracellular matrix proteins and the advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in arteries. In this study 103 fragments of aorta were analyzed by ELISA and immunobloting for the content of collagens type I, III and IV and elastin and the content of advanced glycation end-products (AGE). A negative correlation between the content of collagens type III and IV and AGE (r = -0,258, p = 0,0122, and a weak negative correlation between collagen type III and age of the sample donor (r = 0,218, p = 0,0262) were demonstrated. This result comes as a surprise and it contradicts an intuitive assumption that with more glycation substrate, i.e. matrix proteins, more AGE products are expected. We have concluded that the results of the ELISA tests must have been influenced by the glycation. As a consequence, either modified protein molecules were not being recognized by the antibodies, or the glycation, and formation of crosslinks have blocked access of the antibodies to the antigen. It will conceal the effect of the linear dependence between the result (absorbance/densitometry) from the quantity of protein to which the antibody is directed.

Glycation of Matrix Proteins in the Artery Inhibits Migration of Smooth Muscle Cells from the Media to the Intima.

Formation and growth of atherosclerotic plaques have serious clinical consequences. One mechanism that occurs during atherogenesis is migration of smooth muscle cells from the middle layer of the artery to the intima, where they proliferate and are transformed into foam cells. This degenerative process is accompanied by glycation, by which proteins are modified and change the biomechanical and biochemical properties. The aim of the study was to determine whether glycation of collagen and elastin building the walls of blood vessels alters the adhesion and rate of myocyte migration. In vitro experiments included migration assays and immunocytochemical staining with anti α-actin, ß-catenin anti-collagen type IV antibodies. It turns out that there is a tendency to decrease the number of cells that had migrated through the barrier consisting of glycated proteins as compared to the control. Adversely, the morphology of the cells cultured in the presence of glycated substrates is changed. The lower intensity of ß-catenin staining indicates lower adhesiveness of such cells. It is proposed that glycation inhibits migration of smooth muscle cells from the media to the intima, which represents part of the anti-atherogenic mechanism.

Expression of advanced glycation end-products and NFκB in chick embryos exposed to dioxins and treated with acetylsalicylic acid and α-tocopherol.

Dioxins have adverse and multifaceted effect on body functions. They are known to be carcinogens, immunotoxins, and teratogenic agents. In vivo, transformation of dioxins occurs after their interaction with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and leads to formation of proinflammatory and toxic metabolites. The aim of this study was to verify whether α-tocopherol (vitamin E) and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), could reduce the damage caused by the action of dioxins. Fertile chicken eggs were injected with a solution of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), followed by the injection of α-tocopherol or acetylsalicylic acid. Organs such as heart and liver were dissected from the chick embryos at d 13 and 19 of development and subjected to immunohistochemical analysis of presence of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) in tissues. The AGEs were used as the marker for exposure to dioxins, since it is well established that their level increases in dioxin-damaged tissues. Formation of AGEs was evaluated in embryos exposed to dioxin and treated with vitamin E and/or ASA (against dioxin-exposed, untreated controls). We have found that TCDD causes developmental disorders and increases the level of AGEs in chick embryo tissues. The use of such pharmacological agents as vitamin E, ASA, and combination of ASA and vitamin E, inhibited formation of the AGEs in 13-day-old embryos and reduced the AGEs level in embryos after 19 d of the development.

Application of zwitterionic detergent to the solubilization of Klebsiella pneumoniae outer membrane proteins for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a frequent cause of nosocomial respiratory, urinary and gastrointestinal tract infections and septicemia with the multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae being a major public health concern. Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are important virulence factors responsible for the appropriate adaptation to the host environment. They constitute of the antigens being the first in contact with infected organism. However, K. pneumoniae strains are heavily capsulated and it is important to establish the OMPs isolation procedure prior to proteomics extensive studies. In this study we used Zwittergent Z 3-14® as a detergent to isolate the OMPs from K. pneumoniae cells and resolve them using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). As a result we identified 134 protein spots. The OMPs identified in this study are possible candidates for the development of a protein-based vaccine against K. pneumoniae infections.

Increase in serum platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB reflects lymph node involvement in esophageal cancer patients independently from platelet count.

AIM: To evaluate clinical significance and diagnostic utility of increase in serum PDGF-BB (sPDGF-BB) in esophageal cancer, which have not been addressed yet despite the relevance of PDGF axis in this cancer type. METHODS: Immunoenzymatically assessed sPDGFBB was related to clinicopathological features, and inflammatory, angiogenic, and lymphangiogenic indices in 84 patients with esophageal cancer and 47 controls. Its diagnostic utility was evaluated by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS: sPDGF-BB was significantly higher in esophageal cancer patients than controls (3.76 vs. 2.66 µg/l, p = 0.0001) and corresponded with the disease advancement. Of evaluated clinicopathological features, lymph node metastases and distant metastases were independently associated with an increase in sPDGF-BB; however, only the association with lymph node metastases persist adjustment to platelets. In univariate analysis, sPDGF positively correlated with platelets (r=0.70, p < 0.0001), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A (r=0.50, p < 0.0001), VEGF-C (r=0.57, p < 0.0001), white blood cells (r=0.32, p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (r=0.34, p = 0.004), IL-6 (r=0.35, p = 0.003), and IL-8 (r=0.45, p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, VEGF-C and platelets were independently associated with sPDGF-BB explaining 61% in its variability. With >2.845 µg/l cut-off, over 76% of patients had elevated sPDGF-BB. Its accuracy as lymph node metastases marker was 75%, sensitivity and specificity corresponding with >3.029 µg/l cut-off were 84 and 61%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: sPDGF-BB owns potential as a possible lymph node metastases marker and might be considered as a diagnostic tool in preliminary evaluation of esophageal cancer patients identifying those likely to be burdened with lymph node metastases, the disease recurrence monitoring, and/or preselecting patients for PDGF-directed cancer therapies.

An impact of the diet on serum fatty acid and lipid profiles in Polish vegetarian children and children with allergy.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vegetarian diet has become an increasing trend in western world and in Poland. The frequency of allergies is growing, and the effectiveness of vegetarian diet in allergic diseases is a concern for research. We aimed to study an effect of vegetarian diet on lipid profile in serum in a group of Polish children in Poland and to investigate lipid parameters in healthy vegetarian children and in omnivorous children with diagnosed atopic disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Serum lipid profiles (triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, fatty acids) were assessed in groups of children: healthy vegetarians (n=24) and children with diagnosed atopic diseases (n=16), with control group of healthy omnivores (n=18). Diet classification was assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS: No differences were observed in serum triglycerides, LDL cholesterol and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids level in all groups. In the group of Polish vegetarian children, we recorded high consumption of vegetable oils rich in monounsaturated fatty acid, and sunflower oil containing linoleic acid. This observation was associated with higher content of linoleic acid in serum in this group. Among polyunsaturated n-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid revealed significantly (P<0.05) lower levels in allergy vs vegetarian groups. In case of eicosapentaenoic acid (n-3 fatty acid), the allergy group showed higher levels of this compound in comparison to vegetarians. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly higher concentration of linoleic acid in vegetarian children in comparison to allergy group indicated possible alternative path of lipid metabolism in studied groups, and in consequence, some elements of vegetarian diet may promote protection against allergy.

The role of complement activity in the sensitivity of Salmonella O48 strains with sialic acid-containing lipopolysaccharides to the bactericidal action of normal bovine serum.

Sialic acids are important constituents of animal tissue glycoconjugates and are also present in the antigens of some bacterial strains. Capsular polysaccharides with sialic acid (NeuAc) have been extensively studied with regard to sensitivity to the bactericidal action of serum, whereas little is known in this regard about lipopolysaccharides (LPS) which contain NeuAc. Strains of Salmonella O48, able to infect animals and containing the same structures of LPS with NeuAc, were examined for their susceptibility to the bactericidal action of normal bovine serum (NBS). The strains showed varied sensitivity to the bactericidal action of NBS, which indicates that the expression of LPS containing NeuAc residues is not critical for the strains' resistance to the serum's activity. In this study the mechanisms of complement activation responsible for killing serum-sensitive Salmonella O48 rods by NBS were also established. Three such mechanisms were distinguished: activation of the classical/lectin pathways, important (decisive) in the bactericidal mechanism of complement activation, parallel activation of the classical/lectin and alternative pathways, and independent activation of the classical and lectin or the alternative pathway.

The influence of strain, sex and age on selected biochemical parameters in blood serum of Buffalo and Wistar rats.

The objective of the study was to determine interval values of biochemical parameters in the most commonly applied experimental model among different species, i.e. rats. Blood analysis of experimental animals is done in different research fields. They are important especially in experiments in pharmacology, pathophysiology, experimental surgery, toxicology and for monitoring experimental disorders in laboratory animals. In this paper, basic biochemical markers in the blood serum of Buffalo and Wistar rats are also compared in relation to the animals' age and sex. The values were obtained using the latest available measurement methods and the above-listed checkpoints were considered. The biochemical markers show variability between the particular groups of animals related to their age, sex, and strain. The obtained data may be used to create a model of interval values of biochemical parameters for the Buffalo and Wistar rat strains. This study is necessary to enhance our understanding on basic parameters in these animals which are often used in different medical experiments.

Photo-oxidative action in cervix carcinoma cells induced by HPD - mediated photodynamic therapy.

UNLABELLED: Photodynamic therapy leads to oxidative stress through the generation of free radicals. Oxidative stress causes damage to cellular macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. AIM: To examine the hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) - mediated photodynamic effect on cervical adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa. METHODS: The HpD localization in HeLa cells was analyzed by confocal microscopy with epi-fluorescence system. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) was estimated by measurement of the concentration of malondialdehyde, protein degradation - by modified Ellman's method, superoxide dysmutase (SOD) - using Ransod Kit. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was detected by immunocytochemical staining. RESULTS: The HpD was distributed all over the cytoplasm with preferential localization in the inner side of the plasma membrane and around the nuclear envelope. The process of photosensitizer distribution was time dependent. PDT-HpD increased the level of malonodialdehyde (MDA), SOD activity and the expression of iNOS in HeLa cells. However, PDT induced the decrease in the level of protein-associated thiol groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed the important role of PDT-mediated oxidative stress in HeLa cells. HpD-PDT might be alternative and less invasive approach for treatment of patients with cervical cancer resistant for standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Intermittent pneumatic compression in stable claudicants: effect on hemostasis and endothelial function.

AIM: Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) increases systemic fibrinolytic activity but may also injure endothelial cells and thereby induce coagulation. The safety and utility of IPC in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) therefore remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to determine whether IPC is associated with coagulation activation and endothelial cell damage, platelet factor 4 (PF4), thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), total nitrate and nitrite level and von Willebrand factor (VWF) concentration. METHODS: PF4, TAT, total nitrate, nitrite level and VWF were analyzed before and after first, 5th, 15th session (1 hour/day) of IPC and then 3 weeks after completion of therapy in 25 claudicants and compared to 11 healthy volunteers of similar age and sex. RESULTS: PF4, a measure of platelet activation/secretion, was significantly higher in claudicants (55+/-50 IU/mL) compared to healthy controls (22+/-14 IU/mL) (P<0.05). In PAD patients PF4 has decreased steadily and significantly throughout the time of compressive therapy (to 33+/-42 IU/mL) and further more at the end of the follow-up period (23+/-26 IU/mL). TAT concentration was low in PAD patients but further decreased during IPC therapy. There was a tendency of nitrite and nitrate concentration to increase during the course of IPC therapy, but in PAD patients it did not reached statistical significance (P=0.2), while in healthy controls this increase was significant (up to 79+/-14 mmol/L, P<0.05) and persisted 3 weeks after completion of IPC (up to 82+/-7 mmol/L, P<0.05). VWF antigen concentration remained stable in claudicants during IPC therapy and 3 weeks later but significantly decreased during IPC therapy (after fifth and fifteenth IPC session, P=0.04) and stayed decreased 3 weeks after treatment termination in control group. Pain-free walking distance (PWD) had increased continuously during treatment period from 55+/-23 to 63+/-32 meters after fifth IPC treatment, to 81+/-43 (P<0.05) after the last session of therapy, and slightly decreased to 77+/-28 meters 3 weeks after completion of IPC. CONCLUSIONS: IPC is safe for PAD patients, does not activate coagulation, but decreases platelet activation and improves endothelial health; this coincides with significant prolongation of walking distance.

Even a mild anemia is related to tumor aggressiveness mediated by angiogenic factors.

UNLABELLED: Esophagogastric cancers have high recurrence rates with lymph nodes being a common pattern. Pre-treatment anemia has been reported an independent prognostic factor of treatment failure regardless of treatment strategy, particularly associated with poor locoregional control. A causative relationship between anemia - tumor hypoxia - tumor aggressiveness mediated by angiogenesis up-regulation is advocated, yet remains controversial. AIM: To determine whether and how the pre-treatment anemia is associa-ted with various aspects of disease aggressiveness and to evaluate the possible involvement of angiogenesis mediators. METHODS: In 111 esophagogastric cancer patients we investigated the association of pre-treatment hemoglobin concentration and anemia presence with cancer-related, patients-related features and laboratory parameters including angiogenic factors: vascular endothelial growth factors A and C, interleukin-8 and midkine. Serum levels of angiogenic factors were assessed with immunoenzymatic tests. RESULTS: Histology, disease stage, regional metastasis and dissemination in general, malnutrition and angiogenesis represented by midkine were found to correlate with anemia presence and hemoglobin concentration, while tumor extension, patient's age and sex accounted only for anemia presence. A tendency towards hemoglobin correlation with VEGF-A and Il-8 was also observed. Midkine, tumor histology and malnutrition were found to exert an independent effect on pre-treatment hemoglobin concentration and anemia presence in esophagogastric cancer patients. Hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL was found an optimal cut-off value for discrimination between localized and disseminated cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Even a mild pre-treatment anemia is associated with cancers metastasizing especially to regional lymph nodes, which seems to be mediated by some of studied angiogenic factors.

Respiratory insufficiency related to COPD accelerates systemic inflammation, under-nutrition, and angiogenesis in esophageal malignancies.

UNLABELLED: A number of esophageal cancer patients suffer from respiratory insufficiency due to the coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). AIM: To test the hypothesis that COPD-related systemic hypoxemia may result in accelerated inflammation, malnutrition, and angiogenesis in esophageal cancer patients. METHODS: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, transferrin, interleukin-1, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, TNF-alpha, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB), and midkine and patient BMI and weight-loss rate were determined and compared with blood oxygenation status (pO(2), SaO(2)) in 35 esophageal cancer patients and 42 controls. RESULTS: The incidence of cachexia tended to be higher in patients with systemic hypoxemia (67% vs 40%, p = 0.169). Mean SaO(2) level was also significantly decreased in cachectic patients (90.3 vs 93.3%, p = 0.026) and pO(2) exhibited a similar trend (58.0 vs 63.4 mmHg, p = 0.120). Transferrin (234 vs 316 mg/dl, p = 0.005) and albumin (31.9 vs 37.1 mg/dl, p= 0.002) concentrations were reduced and CRP was elevated (129.9 vs 54.7 mg/l, p = 0.004) in hypoxemic patients and correlated with pO(2) (r = 0.47, p = 0.016; r= 0.48, p = 0.012; r = -0.37, p = 0.064) and SaO(2) (r = 0.52, p = 0.006; r = 0.53, p = 0.006; r = -0.40, p= 0.042). Interleukin-6 (9.97 vs 2.21 pg/ml, p = 0.005) and midkine (2101 vs 944 pg/ml, p < 0.001) were elevated and PDGF-BB was decreased (12.2 vs 17.3 pg x 10(-6)/PLT, p = 0.014) in hypoxemic compared with normoxemic patients. Interleukin-6 and midkine negatively correlated with pO(2) (r = -0.44, p = 0.016; r = -0.42, p = 0.011) and SaO(2) (r = -0.54, p = 0.003; r = -0.57, p < 0.0001) and PDGF-BB correlated positively (r = 0.53, p = 0.003; r = 0.44, p = 0.020). Interleukin-8 level was affected by pO(2) (r = -0.55, p = 0.015) and SaO(2) (r= -0.55, p = 0.018) only in hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: COPD-related systemic hypoxemia negatively affects the status of esophageal cancer patients by accelerating inflammation, under-nutrition, and angiogenesis.

Impact of systemic hypoxemia on cancer aggressiveness and circulating vascular endothelial growth factors A and C in gastroesophageal cancer patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency.

AIM: Due to the common etiologic factor, a considerable number of esophagogastric cancer patients suffer from respiratory insufficiency in course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, primary to cancer. Systemic hypoxemia may account for poor oxygenation of tumor tissue-a main driving force of tumor neoangiogenesis. We hypothesized that in cancer patients with respiratory insufficiency, systemic hypoxemia may be related to enhanced aggressiveness of cancer on one side and to the elevation of angiogenic factors on the other. METHODS: The levels of vascular endothelial growth factors A and C were determined with immunoenzymatic methods in patients diagnosed with esophagogastric cancer with or without co-existing respiratory insufficiency in course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in healthy controls. Blood gasometry and hemoglobin levels of cancer patients were related to cancer histology and TNM status, and to circulating vascular endothelial growth factors A and C. RESULTS: Patients with systemic hypoxemia had higher incidence rates of locally advanced tumors. Partial oxygen pressure and blood oxygen saturation were significantly lowered in patients with T4 cancers as compared to less advanced ones. Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor A, but not C, was more elevated in esophagogastric cancer patients with co-existing respiratory insufficiency, as compared to those without respiratory insufficiency. Vascular endothelial growth factor A was also strongly related to the extension of primary tumor. CONCLUSION: Our results show that systemic hypoxemia in esophagogastric cancer patients is associated with the extension of primary tumor and that this effect might be mediated by the up-regulation of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor A.

Structure and serological analysis of the Hafnia alvei 481-L O-specific polysaccharide containing phosphate in the backbone chain.

The lipopolysaccharide was extracted from cells of Hafnia alvei 481-L bacterial strain and, after mild acid hydrolysis, the O-specific polysaccharide was isolated and characterised. On the basis of chemical analyses and NMR spectroscopic studies of the polysaccharide and oligosaccharides obtained after Smith degradation, or hydrogen fluoride treatment, it was found that the repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide is a phosphorylated hexasaccharide: [see text]. The biological repeating unit of the H. alvei 481-L O-antigen has galactose phosphate at the nonreducing terminus. Serological tests indicate that this strain represents an individual serotype in the H. alvei genus.