Type II secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) is a cardiovascular risk factor. We recently found depositions of sPLA2 in the necrotic center of infarcted human myocardium and normally appearing cardiomyocytes adjacent to the border zone. The consequences of binding of sPLA2 to ischemic cardiomyocytes are not known. To explore a potential effect of sPLA2 on ischemic cardiomyocytes at a cellular level we used an in vitro model. The cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 or adult cardiomyocytes were isolated from rabbits that were incubated with sPLA2 in the presence of metabolic inhibitors to mimic ischemia-reperfusion conditions. Cell viability was established with the use of annexin V and propidium iodide or 7-aminoactinomycin D. Metabolic inhibition induced an increase of the number of flip-flopped cells, including a population that did not stain with propidium iodide and that was caspase-3 negative. sPLA2 bound to the flip-flopped cells, including those negative for caspase-3. sPLA2 binding induced cell death in these latter cells. In addition, sPLA2 potentiated the binding of C-reactive protein (CRP) to these cells. We conclude that by binding to flip-flopped cardiomyocytes, including those that are caspase-3 negative and presumably reversibly injured, sPLA2 may induce cell death and tag these cells with CRP.
OBJECTIVE: To compare Auxacolor with API 20 C Aux for identification of yeasts. METHODS: A total of 206 isolates belonging to 25 species was used in this study. Conventional yeast identification methods were used as a reference. RESULTS: With API 20 C Aux, the correct identification rate was 89.3% after 2 days, while 94.7% of the strains were correctly identified after 3 days. One of 14 strains of Candida tropicalis and 10 of 16 strains of Trichosporon cutaneum were not correctly identified. With Auxacolor, the percentages of correct identification after 1 and 2 days were 60.1% and 69.4%, respectively. Most strains of 11 of the 20 species considered in the system were correctly identified, including several of the most frequent yeast species. Several less commonly encountered yeast species were not correctly identified. Suggestions for improvement of the Auxacolor system are given. CONCLUSIONS: For the most frequent yeast species, Auxacolor, after adaptation and correction of the identification table, provides a useful alternative to API 20 C Aux. For less frequently encountered yeast species, the use of API 20 C Aux is preferable.
A patient suffering from generalized granuloma annulare associated with mild hypothyroidism due to an atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis is presented. Treatment with thyroxine resulted in the restauration of a euthyroid state. Subsequently disappearance of the antithyroid antibodies along with a progressive decrease in the number of the skin lesions was noticed. The association between generalized granuloma annulare and autoimmune thyroiditis has been reported once previously in the literature, but it might be of more frequent occurrence.
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