Abstract. Increased synthesis of hyaluronan (HA) in the renal corticointerstitium has been documented in renal injury, although the functional significance of this is unclear. The aim of the work presented in the current study was to examine the role of HA in monocyte binding by proximal tubular cells (PTC). Using the PTC line HK-2, the authors show that unstimulated cells formed pericellular HA cable-like structures that bound mononuclear leukocytes via their cell surface CD44. Stimulation with bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) led to increased formation of HA cable-like structures and also a dosedependent increase in CD44-dependent binding of radiolabeled
Enterococcusfaecalis and Enterococcusfaecium isolates that are resistant to vancomycin have recently been identified in North America and Europe. Of 155 clinical isolates of enterococci (113 E. faecium and 42 E. faecalis), we found that 98 were resistant, 52 were moderately susceptible, and 5 had intermediate susceptibilities to vancomycin by using broth microdilution susceptibility testing according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) (Approved Standard M7-A2). Using NCCLS disk diffusion methodology (Approved Standard M2-A4), we evaluated the NCCLS supplemental M100-S3 revisions for zone diameter interpretive standards and incubation conditions and found 5.8%o minor errors. A total of 234 isolates, which included an additional 79 E. faecium isolates that were moderately susceptible to vancomycin, were used to evaluate the Vitek GPS-TA card (bioMerieux, Inc., Hazelwood, Mo.) and the Pos MIC type 6 panel (MicroScan; Baxter Health Care Corp., West Sacramento, Calif.) for the detection of vancomycin resistance. The Vitek card was 100% specific and 72% sensitive, whereas the MicroScan panel with the Walk/Away system was 98% specific, with a sensitivity of 93% which increased to 99%v when readings were performed manually. An agar screen plate method was evaluated with vancomycin concentrations of 6, 8, 10, or 12 ,ug/ml; plates were inoculated so as to obtain a final concentration of 105 CFU per spot. This method was found to be 100lo sensitive and specific at all concentrations.
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