Disseminierte Erythemata nodosa

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Distinct genotypic distribution of cytomegalovirus (CMV) envelope glycoprotein B (gB) in a Cuban cohort of patients with different CMV diseases

To investigate the association between human CMV glycoprotein B (gB) genotypes and CMV disease, we retrospectively analysed 73 biological samples from 56 Cuban patients with different CMV-related diseases using a multiplex nested PCR for detection of the reported 5 CMV gB genotypes. All 4 main genotypes 1 to 4 were found in the clinical samples while no genotype 5 was detected. Among the individuals analysed, genotype gB-2 was the most prevalent (38%) followed by gB-1 (30%) and mixed infections (16%) being mainly detected among immunosuppressed patients (7 out of 9), although there was no association between mixed infections and CMV rejection in transplant recipients. Genotype gB-4 was the least frequent (5 patients), which was almost exclusively detected in mixed infections (4 out of 5, p<0.0001). Genotype gB-1 was more frequently detected in AIDS patients (47%) although it was not statistically significant, while 68% of transplant patients showed mixed infections (p<0.05). This study represents the first report of human CMV gB genotypes in Cuban patients; however, the study is limited by the small number patients, thus making it difficult to draw firm conclusions about the distribution of CMV genotypes in Cuba. Nevertheless, this preliminary report has allowed us to identify that the main 4 CMV genotypes are present in the Cuban population, with genotypes 2 and 1 being the most frequent strains.     

Iktusreaktionen und Pyodermien

Tourists in the tropics often develop reactions to bites or stings of mosquitoes, fleas, mites, ants, bedbugs, beetles, larva, millipedes, spiders and scorpions. In addition, they may have fresh or salt water exposure to sponges, corals, jellyfish and sea urchins with resultant injury and inflammation. Bacterial skin infections (pyodermias) can follow bites or stings as well as mechanical trauma. The most common bacteria involved in skin infections are staphylococci and streptococci. For tourists, bacterial infections are often complicating a pruritic bite reaction and scratching. It is important to know the cause of the bite reaction and pyoderma in order to take appropriate therapeutic measures.     

SMaRT technology enables gene expression repair in skin gene therapy

In this issue, Wally et al. (2008) report successful gene expression repair by spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing (SMaRT), a novel achievement in molecular medicine. In their model, SMaRT was able to replace a mutation of the plectin gene in epidermolysis bullosa simplex with muscular dystrophy. This approach is particularly attractive for skin gene therapy of dominant-negative mutations present in a number of blistering genodermatoses.     

Establishment and characterization of a childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, PER-255, with chromosome abnormalities involving 7q32-34 in association with T-cell receptor- beta gene rearrangement

A human leukemia cell line, PER-255, was established from the bone marrow of a 5-year-old boy with features typical of lymphomatous T- acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). The leukemic origin of cell line PER-255 is indicated by its cytochemical and immunologic similarity to the patient's fresh leukemic cells, which correspond to immature cortical thymocytes. Southern blot analysis showed that the IgJH genes were in germline configuration, whereas both alleles of the T-cell receptor-beta (TCR-beta) gene were rearranged in PER-255 cells, with identical rearrangements present in the patient's leukemic cells. Cytogenetic analysis of the cell line revealed a single abnormal clone with the karyotype 46,XY,t(7;10)(q32-34;q24),t(9;12) (p22;p12-13). Reciprocal translocations involving chromosome bands 7q32-36, containing the gene for the TCR-beta chain, have been reported for a number of tumors of T-cell origin. Translocations involving the 7q32-36 region appear to be nonrandomly associated with childhood T-ALL, whereas abnormalities of 9p and 12p have been reported to be nonrandomly involved in ALL but not specifically associated with the T- cell phenotype.     

An 11 base pair duplication in exon 6 of the SMN gene produces a type I spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) phenotype: further evidence for SMN as the primary SMA-determining gene

The gene for autosomal recessive spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been mapped to 5q12 in a region that contains repeated markers and genes. Three cDNAs that detect deletions in SMA patients have been reported. One of these, the survival motor neuron (SMN) cDNA, is encoded by two genes (SMNT and SMNC) which are distinguished by base changes in exons 7 and 8. Exon 7 of the SMNT gene is not detectable in approximately 95% of SMA cases, due either to deletion or sequence conversion. There is limited information on the mutations in SMA patients that have detectable SMNT, these are critical for confirmation of SMNT as the SMA gene. Using SSCP analysis of the SMN exons we screened our SMA patients that possess at least one intact SMNT allele for mutations in SMNT. We identified one type I SMA patient with an 11 bp duplication in exon 6 which causes a frameshift and premature termination of the deduced SMNT protein. Dosage and SSCP analysis of SMNT in this family indicated that the father contributed a SMNT-deleted allele to the affected child whereas the mother passed on the 11 bp exon 6 duplication SMNT allele. Analysis of RNA by RT-PCR conclusively demonstrated that the 11 bp duplication is associated with the SMNT locus and not SMNC. This mutation provides strong support for SMN as the SMA-determining gene and indicates that disruption of SMNT on its own is sufficient to produce a severe type I SMA phenotype.      

非痴呆老年人认知功能的差异性:从成功老化到轻度认知损伤

目的：对非痴呆的自诉记忆力减退的老年人,就其总体认知水平而言可能存在相对同源的不同亚型进行初步探讨。方法：对34例调查者进行临床记忆量表等17种神经心理测验,将结果进行Q型聚类分析。结果：15例调查者被诊断为轻度认知损伤,占44％;聚类分析产生6类新样本。结论：在正常老化与早期阿尔茨海默病这一过渡期内,老年人的认知状态是不均质的,其中既有成功老化,也有一般老化,尤其是还存在着具有痴呆发病危险性的认知损伤。