Changes in the drug susceptibility pattern were observed in Vibrio cholerae O1 isolated in the Lao People's Democratic Republic during 1993 to 2000. In this study, 50 V. cholerae O1 strains were selected during this period for studying the presence of class I integron and SXT constin. Twenty-four streptomycin-resistant strains out of 26 isolated before 1997 contained a class I integron harboring the aadA1 gene cassette. Twenty-four strains isolated after 1997 contained an SXT constin (a large conjugative element). Twenty of the strains were resistant to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, while four strains were susceptible to the antibiotic tested. The resistance genes included in the SXT constins were floR, tetA, strAB, and sulII, which encode resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, streptomycin, and sulfamethoxazole, respectively. The antibiotic resistance gene cluster was found to be deleted in the four susceptible strains. SXT LAOS did not contain dfrA1 or dfr18, which confer resistance to trimethoprim in SXT ET and SXT MO10 , respectively. A hot spot region of SXT LAOS was sequenced, and we identified two novel open reading frames showing homology to sO24 (exonuclease) and sO23 (helicase) of the genomic island associated with the multidrug resistance region of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104. Analysis of SXT LAOS showed that there is a continuous flux of genes among V. cholerae SXT constins which should be carefully monitored.

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Calcium oxalate is a major component of renal stones, and its urinary concentration plays an important role in stone formation. Even a small increase in urinary oxalate has a significant impact on calcium oxalate saturation. Although primary hyperoxaluria is relatively uncommon, patients with calcium oxalate stones have some degree of hyperoxaluria. To understand the underlying causes of such hyperoxaluria, the processes of oxalate synthesis and excretion must be clarified. This article focuses on the determination of oxalate, calculation of its saturation, and the hyperoxaluric syndromes with special reference to metabolic precursors of oxalate, including ascorbic acid, glyoxylate, and glycolate.

This electrophysiological study demonstrated that the subcoeruleus nucleus and nucleus raphe magnus are involved in both urine storage and penile erection, and that their physiological functions are reciprocally controlled; so that erection leads to inhibition of micturition.

This electrophysiological study demonstrated that the subcoeruleus nucleus and nucleus raphe magnus are involved in both urine storage and penile erection, and that their physiological functions are reciprocally controlled; so that erection leads to inhibition of micturition.