Analysis of the strain relatedness of oral Candida albicans in patients with diabetes mellitus using polymerase chain reaction‐fingerprinting

To increase our understanding of Candida pathogenicity, the identification of those strains most frequently associated with infections is of paramount importance. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based methods are extremely effective in differentiating and determining reproducibility, they require minimum starting material and are rapid and simple to perform. In this study, the genetic relatedness of Candida albicans was assessed for two geographically different patient groups (London, UK and Parma, Italy) affected by diabetes mellitus. C. albicans samples from the oral cavities of non‐diabetic healthy subjects were also examined by PCR fingerprinting to evaluate the possible genetic differences among endogenous strains in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus. PCR fingerprinting, with subsequent phylogenetic analysis of C. albicans isolates from the diabetic patients from London and Italy and from the non‐diabetic subjects, revealed that there were significant differences (P < 0.0001) between C. albicans isolates indicative of the distinct ecological niches that occur in the oral cavities of these patient cohorts. The most diverse group comprised the isolates from the diabetic patients in the UK, possibly reflecting the antifungal treatment that these patients had received. Further studies that include isolates from patient cohorts with systemic diseases other than diabetes mellitus, and from more diverse geographic localities are required to explain the relatedness of C. albicans isolates in the mouth.     

间期细胞原位PCR检测B细胞系恶性淋巴瘤

目的：应用原位PCR技术检测B细胞系恶性淋巴瘤。方法：采用免疫球蛋白重链（IgH)基因第三互补决定区（CDR－Ⅲ）的引物，dig-11-dUTP标记物，应用直接原位PCR技术检测Ⅲ-Ⅳ级恶性淋巴瘤的间期淋巴细胞，结果：在初诊的15例恶性淋巴瘤患中，12例检测到IgH基因重排；4例临床表现呈现淋巴瘤性白血病患，治疗后骨髓完全缓解，2例间期细胞原位PCR仍显示有IgH基因重排，6个月复发，结论：间期细胞原位PCR技术能敏感、准确地检测Ⅲ级以上的恶性淋巴瘤，并帮助预测复发，为一有效的基因诊断方法。     

静脉毒瘾者84例HGV感染状况

目的调查庚型肝炎病毒（ＨＧＶ）在静脉毒瘾者中的感染状况。方法采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ）检测８４例静脉毒瘾者血浆标本。ＨＧＶＲＮＡ经热变性法提取后逆转录为ｃＤＮＡ，在ＨＧＶ５′非编码区（５′ＮＣＲ）设计两对引物进行巢式扩增，产物为２３８ｂｐ，并经限制性内切酶ＨｐａⅡ鉴定扩增产物来自ＨＧＶ。结果８４例中有１５例为ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性，阳性率为１７．９％。ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性病例中１１例合并丙型肝炎病毒感染（１１／１５）。结论静脉毒瘾者是ＨＧＶ感染的高危人群；不洁注射是获得ＨＧＶ感染的重要途径。     

犬MC1R基因多态性的研究

目的 利用PCR—RFLP和PCR—SSCP技术分别检测犬MC1R基因中两个序列T105A和R306Ter的基因多态性，为遗传育种、培育出更加优良的实验用犬奠定基础。方法 以224只犬为实验材料，对犬MC1R基因T105A片段和R306Ter片段分别进行PCR-RFLP和PCR—SSCP分析，并且分别对具有RFLP和SSCP多态性的片段进行克隆测序，找出等位基因的差异位点。结果 经对犬MClR基因的PCR-RFLP分析，发现犬MC1R基因的T105A序列具有多态性，表现为三种基因型：AA、AB和BB。通过对具有RFLP多态性的片段进行克隆测序发现MC1R基因在编码第105位氨基酸的密码子处存在由G到A的单碱基突变，该突变导致第105位氨基酸发生由精氨酸向苏氨酸的改变，此外在第207位氨基酸的密码子处还发现由A到G的单碱基突变，并产生了一个HhαI限制性内切酶位点。同时，经过犬MC1R基因的PCR—SSCP分析，发现犬MC1R基因的R306Ter序列具有多态性，表现为三种基因型：CC、CD、DD.通过对具有SSCP多态性的片段进行了克隆测序发现，MC1R基因在编码第306位氨基酸的密码子处存在一个由CGA到TGA的终止突变，而使翻译终止。结论 利用PCR—RFLP和PCR—SSCP分析技术证实犬MC1R基因具有明显的多态性。     

两种鼠蚤成熟过程中组织化学研究Ⅰ糖原和PAS物质

目的：探讨不等单蚤Monopsyllns anisus(Rothchild）和级慢细蚤Leptopsylla segnis(Schoenherr）吸血消化成熟过程中糖原和PAS物质的变化。方法：用高碘酸－希夫反应（Periodic acid-Schiff reaction PAS)法显示未吸血蚤、吸血后不同消化时间蚤体内糖原和PAS物质。结果：2种蚤糖原和PAS物质以脂肪体含量最高。吸血后成蚤消化道各部分PAS反应均有增高，不同消化时间（24、48、72h）不存在显著差异。2种蚤中雌蚤吸血后卵黄细胞发育过程中PAS反应的变化相似，但不等单蚤发育较缓慢细蚤迟缓。结论：吸血将导致2种蚤消化道糖原不同程度的增加。亦能促进雌蚤卵黄细胞的发育。     

Guillain-Barré syndrome in South-West Stockholm, 1973–1991, 3. Clinicoepidemiological subgroups

Using hierarchical cluster analysis, applied to 47 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) incident in South-West Stockholm (SWS) during the period from January 1973 to June 1992, we identified three major clinicoepidemiological subgroups. The first subgroup, 25.5% of the cases (26.7 ± 6.7 years), recorded a peak incidence at ages 20–29 years and presented significant differences from other subgroups, a high proportion of cases with onset at low age preceded by respiratory infection (83.3%) and with normal motor conduction velocity (50.0%). Also found, were less affected biological parameters, a rapidly progressive course and independence in gait at one month after onset. A second subgroup, 27.7% of cases, was severely affected, clinically and functionally. It consisted predominantly of young individuals (22.7 ± 11.1 years), with a high incidence (69.2% of cases) in autumn. A third subgroup, comprising 40.47; of cases, was older (61.1 ± 11.0 years) and, in general, also severely affected. The incidence of this form appeared to be invariant with time.     

Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer在基因差异表达研究中的应用

目的观察Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer 芯片分析系统(以下简称Bioanalyzer)在基因差异表达研究中的应用。方法应用限制性显示技术分别从正常和热休克处理后的酿酒酵母细胞中分离出cDNA片段,然后再用Bioanalyzer和传统的琼脂糖凝胶电泳技术对RD-PCR产物进行检测分析。结果Bioanalyzer能更快速、敏感地分离和显示差异表达的基因片段,并且通过对差异片段进行定量比较,发现了数个表达有明显差异的基因片段。结论Bioanalyzer在基因差异表达研究中具有重要的应用价值。     

Saccadic reaction times in acute and remitted schizophrenics

Summary Schizophrenics are known to have various disturbances of the visuomotor system. Whereas smooth pursuit eye movement disorders have been repeatedly confirmed, there are relatively few reports regarding possible disturbances of the saccadic system. In this study, the saccadic reaction times of 47 schizophrenic inpatients were investigated upon admission and later in the remitted state; 28 age- and sex-matched normal volunteers were tested as controls. Psychopathology and outcome were evaluated according to the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Prognostic Scale. Light stimuli were presented at random direction, location (ranging from 0° to 20°) and duration (800, 1000, and 1200 ms). The eye movements were recorded by electro-oculography. Compared with the control group, schizophrenics revealed prolonged saccadic reaction times, which correlated with pronounced negative symptoms and an unfavourable course of the illness. The saccadic reaction times remained prolonged in schizophrenic patients. These findings suggest attentional deficits in schizophrenics.This article was presented in part at the Symposium on Eye Movements and Psychopathology, Berlin, 23–24 June 1988