Carotenoid and mineral content of different morphotypes of Centella asiatica L. (Gotukola)

Six morphotypes of Centella asiatica designated G(1), G(2), G(3), G(7), G(8) and G(12) were analyzed for carotenoid content, proximate components and selected dietary minerals. Potassium was found to be the major element present in C. asiatica and the content in G(1) and G(3) (6,165.0?±?125.8?mg/100?g dry weight) was significantly (P?0.05) differences in calcium content among the morphotypes were observed. The imported variety G(7) had significantly higher (P?相似文献   

Proteome-wide analysis of HIV-specific naive and memory CD4+ T cells in unexposed blood donors

The preexisting HIV-1–specific T cell repertoire must influence both the immunodominance of T cells after infection and immunogenicity of vaccines. We directly compared two methods for measuring the preexisting CD4⁺ T cell repertoire in healthy HIV-1–negative volunteers, the HLA-peptide tetramer enrichment and T cell library technique, and show high concordance (r = 0.989). Using the library technique, we examined whether naive, central memory, and/or effector memory CD4⁺ T cells specific for overlapping peptides spanning the entire HIV-1 proteome were detectable in 10 HLA diverse, HIV-1–unexposed, seronegative donors. HIV-1–specific cells were detected in all donors at a mean of 55 cells/million naive cells and 38.9 and 34.1 cells/million in central and effector memory subsets. Remarkably, peptide mapping showed most epitopes recognized by naive (88%) and memory (56%) CD4⁺ T cells had been previously reported in natural HIV-1 infection. Furthermore, 83% of epitopes identified in preexisting memory subsets shared epitope length matches (8–12 amino acids) with human microbiome proteins, suggestive of a possible cross-reactive mechanism. These results underline the power of a proteome-wide analysis of peptide recognition by human T cells for the identification of dominant antigens and provide a baseline for optimizing HIV-1–specific helper cell responses by vaccination.Only one candidate HIV vaccine, a canarypox vectored gp120 with a protein boost, has shown any efficacy (Rerks-Ngarm et al., 2009). The limited protection correlated with induction of nonneutralizing antibodies to the VI/V2 region of the virus Envelope protein (Env; Rerks-Ngarm et al., 2009; Haynes et al., 2012). This modest success has stimulated efforts to design vaccines that generate more efficient neutralizing antibodies, together with potent CD4⁺ T cell responses capable of providing help to B cells and cytotoxic T cells (Burton et al., 2012). Understanding how the magnitude and specificity of these helper T cells can be optimized will be critical to the design of an effective vaccine.Primary immune responses are probably influenced strongly by the preexisting repertoire of B and T cells. However, characterization and quantification of these repertoires is difficult due to the extremely low number of circulating naive precursor cells (Jenkins et al., 2001; Su et al., 2013). Previous studies of naive CD4⁺ T cell repertoires in humans and mice have relied on magnetic beads to enrich MHC tetramer binding cells (Moon et al., 2007; Kwok et al., 2012; Su et al., 2013). However, although this approach gives precise information on responses to particular MHC-peptide epitopes, it does not measure the total repertoire and misses previously unknown epitopes. An alternative T cell library technique requires no prior knowledge of donor HLA type or epitope specificity (Geiger et al., 2009). The method presorts circulating T cells into naive and memory subsets which are seeded at limiting dilution before polyclonal expansion in the presence of PHA, allogeneic feeder cells, and IL-2. Individual cultures are then screened for proliferative responses to a protein or series of peptides representing the pathogen of interest (Geiger et al., 2009). Combined with epitope mapping and the Poisson distribution, the T cell library technique can provide quantitative data on the specificity of the entire preexisting naive and memory repertoire.The existence of HIV-1–specific memory cells in seronegative donors was originally suggested by studies of highly exposed HIV-1 seronegative (HESN) donors. It has been shown that 25–61% of HESNs have demonstrable HIV-1–specific memory cells, probably primed by exposure to the virus. Surprisingly, HIV-1–specific CD4⁺ T cells were also detected in 24–44% of unexposed donors (Ritchie et al., 2011), although it was not clear whether the latter came from cross-reactive memory T cells or naive T cells primed in vitro. More recently, the existence of low frequency (1–10/million) memory CD4⁺ T cells, specific for a known HIV-1 Gag epitope, was demonstrated by HLA DR4 tetramers in 50% of HIV-1 unexposed HLA DR4⁺ adults (Su et al., 2013), but it was not clear how generalizable the HIV-1 result was beyond the single epitope–HLA DR4 combination.The present study first validates the library technique by direct comparison with the tetramer enrichment method for measuring precursor T cell frequencies. We then use the T cell library technique to provide the first proteome-wide analysis of the frequencies and specificities of preexposure HIV-1–specific naive and memory CD4⁺ T cells in a HLA diverse population of HIV-1 unexposed donors.     

The Maximum Depth of an Atracurium Neuromuscular Block Antagonized by Edrophonium to Effect Adequate Recovery

Background: The inability of edrophonium to rapidly reverse a deep nondepolarizing neuromuscular block may be due to inadequate dosage or a ceiling effect to antagonism of neuromuscular block by edrophonium. A ceiling effect means that only a certain level of neuromuscular block could be antagonized by edrophonium. Neuromuscular block greater than this could not be completely antagonized irrespective of the dose of edrophonium administered. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a ceiling effect occurred for antagonism of an atracurium-induced neuromuscular block by edrophonium and, if so, the maximum level of block that could be antagonized by edrophonium.

Methods: In 30 adult patients, atracurium was administered to maintain a constant neuromuscular block. The level of block varied between patients. Evoked adductor pollicis twitch tension was monitored. Incremental doses of edrophonium were administered while the infusion of atracurium continued. Increments were given until adequate recovery occurred, as defined by a train-of-four (TOF) ratio greater or equal to 70%, or until no further antagonism of the block could be achieved. The probability of being able to effect adequate recovery by antagonism with edrophonium was determined using a logistic regression model. Cumulative dose-response curves were constructed using the logit transformation of the neuromuscular effect versus the logarithm of the cumulative dose of edrophonium.

Results: In 14 patients with a block of 25-77% depression of the first twitch response, antagonism by edrophonium to a TOF ratio greater or equal to 70% was possible, whereas in 16 patients with a 60-92% depression of T1, a TOF ratio > 70% was not achievable, indicating that a ceiling effect for antagonism by edrophonium occurred. A block of 67 plus/minus 3% (mean plus/minus SE) had a 50% probability of adequate antagonism. In patients in whom block was antagonized to a TOF ratio < 70%, 95% of the peak antagonistic effect occurred with an edrophonium dose of 0.8 plus/minus 0.33 mg *symbol* kg sup -1 (mean plus/minus SD).     

On the relation between ocular torsion and visual perception of line orientation

A recent study by Poljac et al. [Poljac, E., Lankheet, M. J. M., & van den Berg, A. (2005). Perceptual compensation for eye torsion. Vision Research, 45(4), 485-496] concluded that there was complete perceptual compensation for ocular torsion, although they did not directly measure ocular torsion. Using a similar eccentric-gaze paradigm to induce changes in torsion, which were directly measured, we found inconsistent torsional eye movements at eccentric fixation, and also failed to detect a significant relationship between ocular torsion and the perception of line orientation. We then used a stimulus known to induce large changes in ocular torsion: on-centre yaw rotation. This stimulus induced a consistent change in the torsional position of the eye which positively correlated to subjects' visual perception of horizontal.     

Giant inguinoscrotal hernia presenting with acute renal failure: a case report and review of literature

We present a case of a giant inguinoscrotal hernia. The patient presented with acute renal failure secondary to obstructive uropathy caused by a large inguinoscrotal hernia. It was treated by reduction of its contents through a right transverse abdominal incision below the arcuate line. The hernial sac contained loops of small bowel along with its mesentery, appendix, caecum and ascending colon. The defect was repaired using Marlex mesh.     

Accuracy, reproducibility, and variability of hand-held dynamometry in motor neuron disease.

A spring-loaded device that "breaks" at preset forces was used to assess readings obtained by hand-held dynamometry by three raters with varying experience in the method. Overall accuracy (3%), but not reproducibility or variability, was improved by greater experience. Readings obtained jointly by three raters had 53% greater variability than those obtained by a single rater. Nine muscle groups in 19 patients with motor neuron disease were assessed at 10 sessions (three replications per session) over six days by the experienced rater. Muscle force was expressed relative to that of 22 matched normal controls. The reproducibility was good with a mean % difference of 13.2 and repeatability coefficient of 2.17 kg-force for readings six days apart; the overall correlation coefficient was 0.98. The mean coefficient of variation (CV) of 10 readings was 9.9%. The poorer reproducibility and greater variability seen in clinically weaker muscles may account for differences in patients with bulbar palsy and classical amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; the degree of spasticity had no effect. The rater was estimated to contribute 37% of the total variability when testing patients. The use of a composite score by combining normalised dynamometry readings of eight limb muscles improved mean % difference to 6.7 and mean CV to 5.8%. The reproducibility and variability of hand-held dynamometry readings obtained by a single rater compare well with those of fixed devices. Readings from single raters, irrespective of experience, have similar reproducibility and variability. If, however, multiple raters are used in longitudinal assessments of individual patients, as occurs in clinical trials, the variability of their combined readings should be estimated when calculating the same size required.