Serodiagnosis of invasive amebiasis using a recombinant Entamoeba histolytica protein

One hundred eight serum samples from 106 patients were examined by Western blot analysis for the presence of antibodies to a recombinant fusion protein containing the sequence of the newly described serine-rich Entamoeba histolytica protein (SREHP). Among patients with invasive amebiasis from Durban, Republic of South Africa; San Diego, Calif; Mexico City, Mexico; and St Louis, Mo, 53 (82%) of 65 had antibodies to SREHP. In contrast, only one patient (2%) of 43 without acute invasive amebiasis had antibodies to SREHP. The predictive value of a positive test for anti-SREHP antibodies in the detection of acute invasive amebiasis was most marked when analyzed in the patients from Durban, where 11 (92%) of 12 patients who were seropositive for SREHP had acute invasive amebiasis vs 17 (65%) of 26 patients who had a positive serologic diagnosis as determined by agar gel diffusion. The use of a serologic test based on the recombinant SREHP fusion protein may be a useful adjunct to the diagnosis of acute invasive amebiasis in endemic regions.     

肺下野结核性空洞的X线表现：附27例分析

27例肺下野结核空洞,右侧15例,左侧12例,中内带居多。类圆形空洞25例,空洞直径1.5～6.8cm。薄壁空洞12例,厚壁空洞15例。22例为干性空洞,5例空洞内有液面。均按正规化疗方案治疗后空洞闭合。结合临床对肺下野结核性空洞的特点和鉴别诊断进行讨论。     

二羧乙基锗倍半氧化物的抗大鼠实验性胃溃疡作用及其作用机理研究

二羧乙基锗倍半氧物(Dicarboxyethyl GermaniumSesquioxide,DEG)是人工合成的有机锗化合物。它能对抗Shay幽门结扎性溃疡的形成,使胃液中PGE_2含量增加,胃蛋白酶活性和游离酸度明显降低。DEG还能对抗消炎痛型,五肽胃泌素型和酒精型溃疡的形成,促进醋酸型溃疡的愈合,但对应激型和利血平型溃疡无对抗作用。DEG的主细胞分泌功能比对照组明显减弱。实验结果表明,DEG的抗溃疡作用可能与增加胃内PGE_2含量、抑制胃液分泌和促进蛋白质合成有关。     

Seasonal variation in the content of a febrifugine and isofebrifugine alkaloid mixture in aerial parts of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hydrangea macrophylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Otaksa</Emphasis>, with special reference to its antimalarial activity

Febrifugine and isofebrifugine alkaloid mixtures extracted from the leaves and buds of Hydrangea macrophylla var. Otaksa, collected during different months, in Japan, were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Leaves collected during the flowering season, namely from June to August, contained 0.16–0.31 mg/g of the alkaloid mixture, whereas those collected from September to December had less than 0.03 mg/g of the mixture. However, extracts of buds harvested from October to February contained a consistently larger amount (more than 0.49 mg/g) of the alkaloids. Hot-water extracts from the leaves and buds collected during different seasons were evaluated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium yoelii 17XL in mice. The extract of leaves collected in August demonstrated high antimalarial activity, and all mice that received the extract survived the infection. In contrast, the extract of leaves collected in December showed little activity. The extract of buds collected in December cleared parasites, but with subsequent mortality to mouse. The present results show that the amount of antimalarial agent—febrifugine and isofebrifugine mixture—in H. macrophylla var. Otaksa is both part- and season-dependent, suggesting that the choice of plant parts and their harvesting season are important factors worth considering in the pharmacological use of medicinal plants.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bcl11b</Emphasis>mutations identified in murine lymphomas increase the proliferation rate of hematopoietic progenitor cells

Background  

The telomeric region of mouse chromosome 12 has previously shown frequent allelic loss in murine lymphoma. The Bcl11b gene has been identified and suggested as a candidate tumor suppressor gene within this region. In this study, we aimed to elucidate whether Bcl11b is mutated in lymphomas with allelic loss, and whether the mutations we detected conferred any effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis.     

Cardiac imaging in the evaluation of patients presenting to the emergency department with chest pain

Conclusions  Despite the utility and benefits that each imaging modality has to offer, it is easy to see why there is still no perfect choice for a noninvasive cardiac imaging modality to assist in the management of chest pain patients. All of the current imaging techniques have their own significant strengths and weaknesses when compared with other modalities. SPECT and echocardiography are wellestablished technologies that can directly assess the presence of myocardial ischemia and its functional consequence on RF; newer and more expensive techniques such as MDCT and CMR can directly assess coronary anatomy and have just started to be evaluated in the acute chest pain setting. There are no studies that directly compare these technologies, and more data are clearly needed before the question of whether anatomic imaging versus perfusion/function imaging is the better approach can be answered. Other comparisons such as relative safety, availability, logistics, and cost-effectiveness between the various technologies are also lacking. Of all of the imaging modalities discussed, MCE is the only portable technology. The images do not require expensive software or other technology for offline processing before interpretation, and any trained cardiologist can read the study at the bedside or, potentially, over the Internet, providing near-instantaneous results in the acute cardiac setting, where time is of the essence. MCE is also relatively cheap compared with other technologies, a potential advantage for payors but not necessarily for payees. How reimbursement rates and fee structures eventually affect clinical practice is also unknown. Despite these and other questions that need to be answered before any one technique will be used exclusively, the future of noninvasive cardiac imaging remains an exciting and ever-changing field. The adaptation of any one of these techniques into its proper role in the ED Journal of Nuclear Cardiology Wyrick and Wei 753 Volume 13, Number 6;749-55 Cardiac imaging in patients with chest pain will take considerably more time and effort in terms of research, money, and time-tested clinical experience.     

糖尿病患者甘油三酯/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇比值水平与胰岛素抵抗的关系

目的探讨血清甘油三酯/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(TG/HDL-C)比值水平与胰岛素抵抗的关系。方法对146例2型糖尿病患者测定空腹胰岛素(FINS)、空腹血糖(FBG),TG,HDL-C,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)水平,计算TG/HDL-C比值,并按TG/HDL-C和FBG水平分组,比较组间差异与胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)的关系。结果糖尿病组TG/HDL-C比值水平(2.531±3.741)显著高于正常对照组(0.898±0.487),差异有显著性(t=4.279,P<0.001)。TG/HDL-C比值增高组HOMA-IR(3.291±2.004)明显高于TG/HDL-C比值正常组(2.403±1.789),差异有显著性(t=2.796,P<0.01)。血糖水平>10 mmol/L组HOMA-IR(3.575±2.216)明显大于血糖水平≤10mmol/L组(2.384±1.584),差异有显著性(t=3.760,P<0.001)。结论糖尿病患者TG/HDL-C比值水平与胰岛素抵抗存在着密切的相关性。     

新兵训练对女性月经的影响

目的探讨新兵训练对女性月经的影响。方法女性新兵200名,参加队列和体能训练3个月,分别记录训练前、训练中、训练后的月经、体质量状况及心理评估。结果新兵训练中的月经周期异常率、经期异常率和痛经发生率均明显高于新兵训练前,体质量明显减轻,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。新兵训练结束转入正常部队生活1年后,月经周期异常率、经期异常率、痛经发生率均有明显下降(P<0.05)。结论新兵训练对女性月经有明显影响,其影响是功能性、暂时性和可逆性的,并非器质性损害。     

Anatomical Course of the Superficial Branch of the Radial Nerve and Clinical Significance for Surgical Approaches in the Distal Forearm

Abstract 10 embalmed cadaver forearms and wrists were dissected to determine the anatomical course of the superficial branch of the radial nerve in the distal forearm. The superficial radial nerve bifurcated in two branches at a mean of 54,7 mm proximal to the radial styloid. From the styloid process of the radius, the mean distance to the closest dorsal branch of the superficial radial nerve was 3,5 mm and the mean distance to the closest volar branch was 9,8 mm. The mean distance between the closest branch of the superficial radial nerve and Lister?s tubercle was 16,4 mm. The crossing point between the nerve and the cephalic vein was located at a mean of 54,3 mm proximal to the styloid process. At the level of styloid process the mean distance between the closest dorsal branch of the superficial radial nerve and the first dorsal compartment was 15,2 mm and between the closest volar branch and the first dorsal compartment 4,4 mm. Detailed knowledge of anatomic characteristics of the superficial branch of the radial nerve may help prevent injury during operations and treat traumatic lesions of the nerve. Because of great variations in the course of the superficial radial nerve we could not define an absolute safe zone for surgical procedures on the distal forearm. Iatrogenic lesions of the superficial radial nerve are described complications of percutaneous procedures. Therefore open surgical approaches are recommended. Daniela Klitscher and Lars Peter Müller contributed equally to this work.