The human major histocompatibility complex class Ib molecule HLA-E binds signal sequence-derived peptides with primary anchor residues at positions 2 and 9

Human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen E (HLA-E) and mouse major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib antigen, Qa-1, share the same substitutions at two normally conserved positions 143 and 147, which are likely to affect binding of the C terminus of peptides. Qa-1 is able to bind a peptide derived from the leader sequence of H-2 D and H-2 L molecules. We developed a peptide binding assay in vitro to compare the binding specificity of HLA-E with the mouse MHC class Ib molecule Qa-1. We demonstrate that HLA-E binds, although poorly, the peptide which binds to Qa-1 and that it also binds nonamer signal sequence-derived peptides from human MHC class I molecules. Using alanine and glycine substitutions, we could define primary anchor residues at positions 2 and 9 and secondary anchor residues at position 7 and possibly 3.     

Auditory brainstem responses after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Are they useful for outcome prediction?

We evaluated whether we could predict the neurologic outcome in 55 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients using auditory brainstem responses (ABR). ABR patterns were classified into one of 3 types by evaluation of 5 components: type 1, with all 5 components; type 2, lack of at least one response between the 2nd and 5th components; type 3, with only the first component or no response. The relation between the ABR patterns on the 3rd day following resuscitation and the neurologic outcome on hospital discharge was evaluated. The specificity that the 5 awake patients had type-1 ABR was 38%. The sensitivity that the 10 brain dead patients had type-3 ABR was 60%. In the type-1 ABR patients, the negative predictive value that the patients were awake was 100%. In the type-3 ABR patients, the negative predictive value that the patients became brain dead was 90.9%. These results suggest that ABR on the 3rd post-resuscitation day may not be useful for predicting if patients are awake or become brain dead, although the loss of components may be a sign of morbidity, and the presence of the 2nd or later components indicates possible future prevention of brain death.     

Treatment of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin

Summary Fourteen patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy were treated with high-dose intravenous gammaglobulin (IVGG). Ten received 10 g/day of IVGG and 4 received 400 mg/kg of body-weight/day of IVGG for 5 consecutive days. Improvement of spastic paraparesis was observed in 10 within 7 days of the commencement of IVGG. The therapeutic effects were sustained for more than 3 weeks in some patients. There were no side effects. Analysis of factors of relevance to the clinical improvement with IVGG showed that the beneficial response was preferentially found in patients having a high CSF titre of anti-HTLV-I antibodies, a high CSF IgG level and a marked brain MRI abnormality.     

Active production of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM antibody in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy

We investigated the presence of anti-human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) IgM in sera and cerebrospinal fluid from patients with HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM) by Western blot analysis. Analyses of 36 serum samples revealed that most patients (31/36; 86.1%) had anti-HTLV-I IgM, whereas only four of 23 (17.4%) HTLV-I carriers had it. In studies of cerebrospinal fluid, anti-HTLV-I IgM was detected in 24 of 36 (66.7%) HAM patients, whereas none was detected in nine HTLV-I carriers. The differences were statistically significant (p less than 0.01). These results suggest that persistent active replication of HTLV-I occurs in the central nervous system as well as in the peripheral blood of HAM patients, and may contribute to the development of HAM.     

肠瘘患者腔静脉导管感染的回顾性分析

目的了解肠瘘患者腔静脉导管感染的发生率、细菌菌谱及药敏情况。方法对1998年1月至2001年4月收治的使用腔静脉导管进行全肠外营养(TPN)的肠瘘患者进行回顾性分析。结果216例肠瘘患者,共进行了358次腔静脉置管,腔静脉导管尖端培养阳性的有88次(24.6%),腔静脉导管平均使用时间为(16.9±13.0)d。88次腔静脉导管感染的尖端共培养出95株细菌,其中革兰阴性菌54株,占56.8%;其次为革兰阳性菌35株,占36.8%;真菌6株,占6.4%。根据药物敏感试验结果及临床表现,有16例患者更换了抗生素,4例改用抗真菌药物,所有患者均治愈。结论对于肠瘘患者,腔静脉感染仍是实施静脉营养的主要并发症之一,革兰阴性细菌感染最常见。     

TAXUS支架治疗急性冠状动脉综合症的疗效评价

目的评价紫杉醇洗脱冠状动脉支架(TAXUStmBoston公司产品)应用于急性冠状动脉综合症病人的临床疗效及安全性。方法自2003年5月至2004年12月接受TAXUS支架治疗的94例急性冠状动脉综合症患者,观察术后即刻效果、术后6个月心脏性死亡、心肌梗塞、再次血管重建及冠状动脉造影复查情况。病例中包括ST段抬高的急性心肌梗塞27例,非ST段抬高的急性心肌梗死8例,不稳定心绞痛59例。结果支架植入成功率为99%,术中和随访期间无死亡,术后1例出现亚急性血栓,1例晚期血栓致心肌梗塞,另有5例随访中进行了血管重建术,6个月主要心脏不良事件(MACE)发生率7.4%。术后6～7个月23例的冠状动脉造影复查再狭窄率为13.0%(支架内为8.6%),靶病变重建率为2.7%。结论应用TAXUS支架治疗急性冠状动脉综合症是安全和有效的,支架内再狭窄率明显低于普通金属支架。     

Warfarin or Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin Therapy does not Prolong Pig-To-Primate Cardiac Xenograft Function

Microvascular thrombosis is a prominent feature in cardiac delayed xenograft rejection (DXR). We investigated the impact of warfarin or low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) anti-coagulation on xenograft function using a heterotopic pig-to-primate model. Donor hearts were from CD46 transgenic pigs and baboon immunosuppression included tacrolimus, sirolimus, anti-CD20 and TPC, an alpha-galactosyl-polyethylene glycol conjugate. Three groups of animals were studied. Group 1 (n = 9) was treated with warfarin, Group 2 (n = 13) with LMWH and Group 3, received no anti-coagulant drugs. The median duration of xenograft function was 20 days (range 3-62 days), 18 days (range 5-109 days) and 15 days (range 4-53 days) in Groups 1 to 3 respectively. Anti-coagulation achieved the targeted international normalized prothrombin ratio (INR) and anti-factor Xa levels consistent with effective in vivo therapy yet, no significant impact on median xenograft function was observed. At rejection, a similar histology of thrombosis and ischemia was apparent in each group and the levels of fibrin deposition and platelet thrombi in rejected tissue was the same. Anti-coagulation with warfarin or LMWH did not have a significant impact on the onset of DXR and microvascular thrombosis. However, a role for specific anti-coagulant strategies to achieve long-term xenograft function cannot be excluded.     

心脏起搏器安置术后电极脱位的预防护理

介绍了心脏起搏器安置术后电极脱位的类型、发生率、发生原因及处理,重点综述了安置心脏起搏器术后预防电极脱位的护理。     

强心通脉灵对大鼠急性心肌梗死后心室重构的影响

目的探讨强心通脉灵对急性心肌梗死(AMI)大鼠心室重构(VR)的干预机制。方法选择Wistar大鼠85只,随机分为强心通脉灵大剂量组(QXLmax组)12只、强心通脉灵小剂量组(QXLmin组)14只、卡托普利组11只、模型组15只和假手术组13只,采取冠状动脉结扎造成AMI模型,术后均予口服给药治疗,模型组及假手术组予以相应的生理盐水。4周后处死,放射免疫法测血浆血管紧张素Ⅱ(AngⅡ)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)含量,计算左心室质量指数,光镜下观察心尖组织病理形态学改变,采用ABC染色测TGF-β1的表达量。结果模型组及各给药组AngⅡ水平较高,各给药组较模型组有下降趋势,其中QXLmax组较卡托普利组及QXLmin组更低。模型组及各给药组SOD水平较假手术组降低,QXLmax组及QXLmin组较模型组有升高趋势,左心室质量指数模型组较假手术组显著升高,各给药组较假手术组有升高趋势,QXLmax组较QXLmin组及卡托普利组低。卡托普利组及QXLmin组健存心肌细胞周围胶原组织明显减少,QXLmax组病理改变最轻,偶有少量胶原纤维增生。TGF-β1表达QXLmax组较QXLmin组及卡托普利组低(P<0.01)。结论强心通脉灵可降低AMI后大鼠血浆AngⅡ水平,增加SOD活性,降低左心室质量指数及心肌组织TGF-β1表达,从而平稳AMI后VR的进程。