Gangrene Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Gangrene, including details on smoking, treatment, causes, amputation, necrosis.

Transcriptional regulation of hemO encoding heme oxygenase in Clostridium perfringens.

Hassan S, Ohtani K, Wang R, Yuan Y, Wang Y, Yamaguchi Y, Shimizu T

Department of Bacteriology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan.

A Gram-positive anaerobic pathogen, Clostridium perfringens, causes clostridial myonecrosis or gas gangrene in humans by producing numerous extracellular toxins and enzymes that act in concert to degrade host tissues. The ability of infectious bacteria to acquire sufficient iron during infection is essential for the pathogen to cause disease. In the C. perfringens strain 13 genome, a heme oxygenase gene homologue (CPE0214, hemO) was found and its role was examined. The purified recombinant HemO protein showed heme oxygenase activity that can convert heme to biliverdin. hemO transcription was induced in response to extracellular hemin in a dose-dependent manner. The global two-component VirR/VirS regulatory system and its secondary regulator VR-RNA had positive regulatory effects on the transcription of hemO. These data indicate that heme oxygenase may play important roles in iron acquisition and cellular metabolism, and that the VirR/VirS-VR-RNA system is also involved in the regulation of cellular iron homeostasis, which might be important for the survival of C. perfringens in a human host.

Published 11 March 2010 in J Microbiol, 48(1): 96-101.
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Articles on Gangrene published 10 March 2010:

Male Gender and Renal Dysfunction are Predictors of Adverse Outcome in Nonpostoperative Ischemic Colitis Patients.   J Clin Gastroenterol.

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic colitis (IC) spans a broad spectrum from self-limiting illness to intestinal gangrene and mortality. Prognostic factors specifically for nonpostoperative IC were not fully characterized. We aim to focus on nonpostoperative IC in patients with renal dysfunction and try to identify prognostic factors for adverse outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis at a university-affiliated tertiary medical center in Taiwan. From January 2003 to August 2008, 25 men and 52 ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Gangrene published 9 March 2010:

Virulence for chickens of Clostridium perfringens isolated from poultry and other sources.   Anaerobe.

Clostridium perfringens type A is the most common cause of poultry necrotic enteritis (NE). Of the four "major" toxins, type A strains produce only alpha toxin (CPA), which has long been considered a major factor in pathogenesis of NE. We investigated the virulence for poultry of type A strains from a variety of enteric sources. Newly-hatched CornishxRock chicks were fed a low protein diet for one week, a high protein diet for a second week, and then challenged with log-phase cultures ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Gangrene published 8 March 2010:

Bullous pemphigoid presenting as dry gangrene in a revascularized limb.   J Vasc Surg, 51(3): 732-4.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease, and has been associated with many diseases; most autoimmune. It has never previously been associated with a reperfused limb. A 74-year-old female underwent a right femoroanterior tibial polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) bypass for tissue loss and rest pain in the right foot. After surgery she was treated for recurrent infection which exacerbated tissue loss and was eventually diagnosed as BP. There was a delay in diagnosis ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Gangrene published 4 March 2010:

Fournier's gangrene in a female with spinal cord injury: a case report.   Spinal Cord, 48(3): 268-9.

INTRODUCTION: We report the case of a woman with spinal cord injury (SCI) who presented to us with Fournier's gangrene. CASE REPORT: A 60-year-old patient with SCI, ASIA A, neurological level D6, on clean intermittent catheterization presented with rapid necrosis of the perineal region, including the labia and anus, which developed after traumatic catheterizations for clean intermittent catheterization. She required repeated debridement and loop colostomy for management. CONCLUSION: We conclude ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

LONG TERM OUTCOMES OF DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH CRITICAL LIMB ISCHEMIA FOLLOWED IN A THERTIARY REFERRAL DIABETIC FOOT CLINIC.   Diabetes Care.

AbstractObjectives. We describe the long term outcomes of 510 diabetic patients with Critical Limb Ischemia(CLI), seen at the University Hospital of Rome Tor Vergata, a tertiary care clinic, and an active foot ulcer or gangrene. Methods. These patients were seen between 11/02 and 11/07 (mean FU 20+/-13mo.1-66). The Texas Wound Classification(TWC) was used to grade these wounds that were either class C(ischemia) and D(ischemia+infection) and grade 2-3(deep-very deep). This comprehensive ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Gangrene published 2 March 2010:

Analysis of major complications associated with arterial catheterisation.   Qual Saf Health Care.

Introduction Arterial catheterisation is used for continuous haemodynamic monitoring in patients undergoing surgery and in critical care units. Although it is considered a safe procedure, a major complication such as arterial occlusion and limb gangrene can occur. Objective To determine the incidence, outcome and potential to avoid complications associated with arterial catheterisation. Methods The number of arterial catheterisation was determined using an anaesthesiology and critical care ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Gangrene published 26 February 2010:

In situ saphenous vein bypass grafting - still first line treatment? A prospective study comparing surgical results between diabetic and non-diabetic populations.   Vasa, 39(1): 59-65.

Background: This prospective study compares results of infrainguinal revascularisation with autologous vein in diabetic and non-diabetic populations. Patients and methods: 101 patients (diabetics (A) n = 50 and non-diabetics (B) n = 51) were operated upon with an in situ saphenous vein bypass to the popliteal artery below knee or to crural arteries, due to critical ischemia. Data on operative details, morbidity, mortality, secondary interventions and graft patency, were collected prospectively. ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Are histological alterations observed in the gallbladder precancerous lesions?   Clinics (Sao Paulo), 65(2): 143-50.

INTRODUCTION: Gallbladder cancer, which is characterized by rapid progression and a poor prognosis, is a complex disease to treat. Unfortunately, little is known currently about its etiology or pathogenesis. A better understanding of its carcinogenesis and determining risk factors that lead to its development could help improve the available treatment options. METHOD: Based on this better understanding, the histological alterations (such as acute cholecystitis, adenomyomatosis, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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