The most common cause of an increase of the hematocrit is secondary to elevated erythropoietin levels. Erythrocytosis is assumed to cause higher blood viscosity that could put the cardiovascular system at hemodynamic and rheological risks. Secondary erythrocytosis results from tissue hypoxia, and one can hardly define what cardiovascular consequences are caused by chronic erythrocytosis or hypoxia. Herein, a novel transgenic (tg) mouse line is characterized that is erythrocytotic because of chronic overexpression of the human erythropoietin gene. These mice grow up well, reaching a hematocrit of about 0.80 in adulthood. Blood volume of adult tg mice was markedly increased by 75%. Unexpectedly, blood pressure was not elevated and cardiac output was not decreased. Still, the adult tg mice showed features of cardiac dysfunction with increased heart weight. In vivo, high-frequency echocardiography revealed marked ventricular dilatation that was confirmed by histologic examination. Furthermore, by transmission electron microscopy, a prominent intracellular edema of the cardiomyocytes was seen. Exercise performance of the tg mice was dramatically reduced, unmasking the severity of their compromised cardiovascular function. In addition, life expectancy of the tg mice was significantly reduced to 7.4 months. Our findings suggest that severe erythrocytosis per se results in cardiac dysfunction and markedly reduced life span. (Blood. 2001;97:536-542)

The sex pheromone system of Enterococcusfaecalis is a unique, highly efficient plasmid collection mechanism for this species. A crucial role in this system is played by an adhesin called aggregation substance which enables the cell-cell contact between donor and recipient strains. The existence of the amino acid motif Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser in the adhesin prompted us to look for a possible binding of E. faecalis cells expressing aggregation substance to eucaryotic cells. We were able to show that the adhesin mediated binding to cultured renal tubular cells (porcine cell line LLC-PK1) via light microscopic, electron microscopic, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based studies. Synthesis of the adhesin was induced by some component(s) of serum. These data are interpreted to mean that aggregation substance is an adhesin mediating not only cell-cell contact between different E. faecalis strains but also binding of E. faecalis to eucaryotic cells, and therefore it might contribute to virulence.

No abstract

Six medical students inhabiting a centuries-old, rat-infested house in Lübeck, in northern Germany, were suffering from itching papules and seropapules. Prior to these patients' visit to our institute, their conditions had been diagnosed as pediculosis, scabies, or pulicosis and treated unsuccessfully with the antiparasitic agent lindane (0.3%). The final diagnosis, tropical rat mite dermatitis, was based on the identification of the arthropod Ornithonyssus bacoti, which has an unsegmented body with eight legs. No treatment was recommended, and the dermatitis disappeared within 2 weeks. Measures taken to prevent reinfestation included extermination of the rats and treatment of the rooms of the house with the acaricide benzyl benzoate. Because the mite O. bacoti spends a relatively short time on a host and penetrates the skin for feeding only, the application of an antiparasitic agent is not necessary. If indicated, treatment should be symptomatic.