Dexamethasone reduces infectious bursal disease mortality in chickens

Very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) causes high mortality in chickens but measures to reduce the mortality have not been explored. Chickens (8–9 weeks) were treated with 3 agents before and during vvIBDV inoculation. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the mortality of infected chickens (40.7% vs. 3.7%; p < 0.001), but treatment with aspirin or vitamin E plus selenium did not affect the mortality. The bursa of Fabricius appeared to have shrunk in both dead and surviving chickens (p < 0.01). The results indicate that dexamethasone can reduce mortality in vvIBDV-infected chickens and may provide therapeutic clues for saving individual birds infected by the virus.

Dexamethasone reduces infectious bursal disease mortality in chickens

Very virulent infectious bursal disease virus (vvIBDV) causes high mortality in chickens but measures to reduce the mortality have not been explored. Chickens (8–9 weeks) were treated with 3 agents before and during vvIBDV inoculation. Dexamethasone treatment reduced the mortality of infected chickens (40.7% vs. 3.7%; p < 0.001), but treatment with aspirin or vitamin E plus selenium did not affect the mortality. The bursa of Fabricius appeared to have shrunk in both dead and surviving chickens (p < 0.01). The results indicate that dexamethasone can reduce mortality in vvIBDV-infected chickens and may provide therapeutic clues for saving individual birds infected by the virus.

Shikonin Induces Apoptotic Cell Death via Regulation of p53 and Nrf2 in AGS Human Stomach Carcinoma Cells

Shikonin, which derives from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, has been traditionally used against a variety of diseases, including cancer, in Eastern Asia. Here we determined that shikonin inhibits proliferation of gastric cancer cells by inducing apoptosis. Shikonin's biological activity was validated by observing cell viability, caspase 3 activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and apoptotic marker expressions in AGS stomach cancer cells. The concentration range of shikonin was 35–250 nM with the incubation time of 6 h. Protein levels of Nrf2 and p53 were evaluated by western blotting and confirmed by real-time PCR. Our results revealed that shikonin induced the generation of ROS as well as caspase 3-dependent apoptosis. c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) activity was significantly elevated in shikonin-treated cells, thereby linking JNK to apoptosis. Furthermore, our results revealed that shikonin induced p53 expression but repressed Nrf2 expression. Moreover, our results suggested that there may be a co-regulation between p53 and Nrf2, in which transfection with siNrf2 induced the p53 expression. We demonstrated for the first time that shikonin activated cell apoptosis in AGS cells via caspase 3- and JNK-dependent pathways, as well as through the p53-Nrf2 mediated signal pathway. Our study validates in partly the contribution of shikonin as a new therapeutic approaches/ agent for cancer chemotherapy.

Osteochondral Autograft from the Ipsilateral Femoral Head by Surgical Dislocation for Treatment of Femoral Head Fracture Dislocation: A Case Report

As anatomical reduction of the articular surface of femoral head fractures and restoration of damaged cartilage are essential for good long-term results, many treatment options have been suggested, including fixation of the fracture using various surgical exposures and implants, as well as arthroscopic irrigation and debridement, bone marrow stimulating techniques, osteochondral allograft, autograft, and autogenous chondrocyte implantation. We report a case of osteochondral autograft harvested from its own femoral articular surface through surgical hip dislocation. The osteochondral graft was harvested from the inferior non-weight-bearing articular surface and grafted to the osteochondral defect. One year later, the clinical and radiological results were good, without the collapse of the femoral head or arthritic change. This procedure introduced in our case is considered convenient and able to lessen surgical time without morbidity of the donor site associated with the harvest.

Osteochondral Autograft from the Ipsilateral Femoral Head by Surgical Dislocation for Treatment of Femoral Head Fracture Dislocation: A Case Report

As anatomical reduction of the articular surface of femoral head fractures and restoration of damaged cartilage are essential for good long-term results, many treatment options have been suggested, including fixation of the fracture using various surgical exposures and implants, as well as arthroscopic irrigation and debridement, bone marrow stimulating techniques, osteochondral allograft, autograft, and autogenous chondrocyte implantation. We report a case of osteochondral autograft harvested from its own femoral articular surface through surgical hip dislocation. The osteochondral graft was harvested from the inferior non-weight-bearing articular surface and grafted to the osteochondral defect. One year later, the clinical and radiological results were good, without the collapse of the femoral head or arthritic change. This procedure introduced in our case is considered convenient and able to lessen surgical time without morbidity of the donor site associated with the harvest.

Unstable Simple Elbow Dislocation Treated with the Repair of Lateral Collateral Ligament Complex

BACKGROUND: Unstable simple elbow dislocation (USED) repair is challenged by the maintenance of joint reduction; hence, primary repair or reconstruction of disrupted ligaments is required to maintain the congruency and allow early motion of the elbow. We evaluated the effectiveness and the outcome of lateral collateral ligament (LCL) complex repair with additional medial collateral ligament (MCL) repair in cases of USED. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 cases of diagnosed USED without fractures around the elbow that were treated with primary ligament repair. In all cases, anatomical repair of LCL complex with or without common extensor origin was performed using suture anchor and the bone tunnel method. Next, the instability and congruency of elbow for a full range of motion were evaluated under the image intensifier. MCL was repaired only if unstable or incongruent elbow was observed. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) and radiographic outcomes on last follow-up images. RESULTS: All cases achieved a stable elbow on radiographic and clinical results. LCL complex repair alone was sufficient to obtain the stable elbow in 17 of 21 cases. Four cases required additional MCL repair after restoration of the LCL complex. The overall mean MEPS was 91 (range, 70 to 100): excellent in 12 cases, good in 7 cases, and fair in 2 cases. All 17 cases with LCL complex repair only and 2 of 4 cases with additional MCL repair had excellent or good results by MEPS. CONCLUSIONS: USED requires surgical treatment to achieve a congruent and stable joint. If the repair of lateral stabilizer such as LCL complex acquires enough joint stability to maintain a full range of motion, it may not be necessary to repair the medial stabilizer in all cases of USED.

Establishment of a live vaccine strain against fowl typhoid and paratyphoid / 대한수의학회지

To develop a live vaccine strain against fowl typhoid and paratyphoid caused by Salmonella serovar Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum (Salmonella Gallinarum) and Salmonella serovar Enteritidis (Salmonella Enteritidis), respectively, several nalidixic acid resistant mutants were selected from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) rough strains of Salmonella Gallinarum that escaped from fatal infection of a LPS-binding lytic bacteriophage. A non-virulent and immunogenic vaccine strain of Salmonella Gallinarum, SR2-N6, was established through in vivo pathogenicity and protection efficacy tests. SR2-N6 was highly protective against Salmonella Gallinarum and Salmonella Enteritidis and safer than Salmonella Gallinarum vaccine strain SG 9R in the condition of protein-energy malnutrition. Thus, SR2-N6 may be a safe and efficacious vaccine strain to prevent both fowl typhoid and paratyphoid.

Distribution and Study on Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) of spvR Gene in Korean Isolates of Salmonella / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: The Salmonella virulence plasmid (spv) genes (spvR, A, B, C and D) on the large virulence plasmids of pathogenic Salmonella serotypes can replace the virulence of the whole plasmid. Recently, virulence plasmid-negative pathogenic Salmonella isolates were isolated. However, positive rates of spv genes among Korean Salmonella serotypes have been obscure. spv genes are conserved in compared to other virulence genes but there are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) conserved in only certain serotype. Such SNPs are useful for differentiation and understanding evolution of certain serotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salmonella serotypes isolated from live stocks [Salmonella typhimurium (ST, 26), S. enteritidis (SE, 10), S. gallinarum (SG, 40) and S. pullorum (SP, 53)] were used for colony-PCR. A primer set covering single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at 625th nucleotide of spvR was designed. The nucleotide sequences of amplicons were determined by cyclic sequencing method and RFLP was performed by using MseI. RESULTS: All isolates of SE, SG and SP, including four plasmid-negative isolates, showed specific amplicons but not all of ST (19/26, 73%) were positive to spvR. Based on the nucleotide sequence of 625th nucleotide and PCR-RFLP, SE, SG and SP [A(625)] and ST [G(625)] could be differentiated. CONCLUSION: spvR can be used as a molecular marker to detect virulent SE, SG, SP and the SNP may be useful for differentiation of SE, SG, SP and ST. According to the SNP study SE may be evolutionarily closer to SG and SP than ST.

Distribution and Study on Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) of spvR Gene in Korean Isolates of Salmonella / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: The Salmonella virulence plasmid (spv) genes (spvR, A, B, C and D) on the large virulence plasmids of pathogenic Salmonella serotypes can replace the virulence of the whole plasmid. Recently, virulence plasmid-negative pathogenic Salmonella isolates were isolated. However, positive rates of spv genes among Korean Salmonella serotypes have been obscure. spv genes are conserved in compared to other virulence genes but there are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) conserved in only certain serotype. Such SNPs are useful for differentiation and understanding evolution of certain serotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Salmonella serotypes isolated from live stocks [Salmonella typhimurium (ST, 26), S. enteritidis (SE, 10), S. gallinarum (SG, 40) and S. pullorum (SP, 53)] were used for colony-PCR. A primer set covering single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at 625th nucleotide of spvR was designed. The nucleotide sequences of amplicons were determined by cyclic sequencing method and RFLP was performed by using MseI. RESULTS: All isolates of SE, SG and SP, including four plasmid-negative isolates, showed specific amplicons but not all of ST (19/26, 73%) were positive to spvR. Based on the nucleotide sequence of 625th nucleotide and PCR-RFLP, SE, SG and SP [A(625)] and ST [G(625)] could be differentiated. CONCLUSION: spvR can be used as a molecular marker to detect virulent SE, SG, SP and the SNP may be useful for differentiation of SE, SG, SP and ST. According to the SNP study SE may be evolutionarily closer to SG and SP than ST.