Toxoplasma gondii infection in pork produced in France.

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite in pork produced in France, and to determine infection risk factors. An innovative survey was designed based on annual numbers of slaughtered pigs from intensive and outdoor farms in France. A total of 1549 samples of cardiac fluids were collected from pig hearts to determine seroprevalence using a Modified Agglutination Test. Of those, 160 hearts were bio-assayed in mice to isolate live parasites. The overall seroprevalence among fattening pigs was 2·9%. The adjusted seroprevalence in pigs from intensive farms was 3·0%; the highest in sows (13·4%); 2·9% in fattening pigs and 2·6% in piglets. Adjusted seroprevalence in fattening animals from outdoor farms was 6·3%. Strains were isolated from 41 animals and all were genotyped by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism as type II. Risk-factor analysis showed that the risk of infection was more than three times higher for outdoor pigs, and that sows' risk was almost five times higher than that of fattening animals. This study provides further evidence of extensive pork infection with T. gondii regardless of breeding systems, indicating that farm conditions are still insufficient to guarantee 'Toxoplasma-free pork'.

The role of the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels in pinacidil-induced vasodilatation of the human saphenous vein in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases cardiovascular complications. Diabetic vascular dysfunction is associated with the reduced activity of the different smooth muscle potassium (K+) channels. Thus, the objective of our study was to investigate the role of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels in the relaxant effect of potassium channel opener, pinacidil on the human saphenous vein (HSV) obtained from the patients with and without T2DM. The rings of HSV without the endothelium, obtained from the patients who had undergone coronary bypass surgery, were mounted in an organ bath system and isometric tension was recorded. The relaxation of HSV, precontracted with phenylephrine, was produced by pinacidil. The expression of KATP subunits (Kir6.1, Kir6.2 and SUR2B) was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Pinacidil produces comparable effects on HSV in patients with and without T2DM. The suppression of pinacidil effect and its maximal relaxation by glibenclamide, selective blocker of KATP channels, was more pronounced on HSV in patients without T2DM. All three types of KATP subunits are expressed on the smooth muscle cells of HSV. While there are no differences in the expression of Kir6.1 and Kir6.2, the expression of SUR2B is lower in HSV in patients with T2DM. Pinacidil produced comparable KATP-dependent and -independent relaxation of the HSV in patients with/without T2DM. According to the effect of glibenclamide and the applied molecular analysis, presented findings demonstrated that diabetes mellitus was associated with the reduced expression of SUR2B subunit in the vascular smooth muscle of HSV.

Factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection in confined farrow-to-finish pig herds in western France: an exploratory study in 60 herds.

BACKGROUND: Infection by Toxoplasma gondii postnatally can occur after ingestion of contaminated meat or water (tissue cysts/oocysts). In Europe, percentage of meat borne infections is estimated between 30 and 63 %, out of which pork makes the most important source. The aim of this study was to (i) investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii in intensive pig farms from western France; and (ii) identify the risk factors associated with seropositivity. METHODS: Data were collected between November 2006 and February 2008 in 60 intensive farrow-to-finish farms, where sera were taken from 3595 fattening pigs, weaned and suckling piglets. Information about three classes of potential seropositivity risk factors were obtained through a questionnaire concerning: (i) breeding characteristics; (ii) farm management; and (iii) husbandry and hygiene. The modified agglutination test (MAT) was used for detection of specific anti T. gondii antibodies in pig sera, starting from 1/6 dilution. RESULTS: The overall proportion of seropositive animals was 6.9 %, but the proportion of herds with at least one positive pig was 100 %. Multivariate logistic mixed model showed an increased seropositivity risk in weaned compared to suckling piglets, and a decreasing risk for mid-sized and large farms. The presence of a Danish entry facility, that clearly separates clean and dirty areas, had a protective effect on T. gondii seropositivity as well. CONCLUSIONS: The observed proportion of herds with at least one T. gondii seropositive animal provides further evidence that even in confined conditions of pig breeding, infection occurs, and is common. The highest risk for acquiring T. gondii is at the end of weaning period. Smaller confined pig farms demonstrate higher T. gondii seropositivity levels. This study also showed that Danish entry on farm buildings provides effective protection against T. gondii.

[Multidisciplinary investigations in dead persons suspicious of AIDS]. / Multidisciplinarna istrazivanja kod osoba umrilih pod sumnjom na ejds (AIDS).

The background of AIDS is the deregulation of the cellular immune system caused by HIV infection. AIDS has proved to be entirely different from any previous known diseases. It affects practically all the tissues and organs of the human body. Clinical and autopsy diagnoses are confronted with an incomparable diversity of inflammatory, vascular, degenerative and neoplastic changes. Thanks to clinical and pathological researshes, the medical knowledge of AIDS has rapidly progressed. The Institute of Forensic Medicine is, for now, the unique medical institution organized to perform obligatory autopsies of drug-addicts, to detect the other cases suspect of HIV infection or some AIDS indicative diseases. The aim of this study is to establish the basis for multidisciplinary investigations of AIDS and to solve very important problems such as: a) to accept the diagnostic criteria for correct diagnosis of AIDS, with or without laboratory evidence of HIV infection; b) to recognize the early stadium of clinico-pathological entities associated with HIV infection; c) to improve the "indicator" of AIDS disease for daily medical practice.