Prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases in collagen synthesis

Collagens are the most abundant proteins in the extracellular matrix. They provide a framework to build organs and tissues and give structural support to make them resistant to mechanical load and forces. Several intra‐ and extracellular modifications are needed to make functional collagen molecules, intracellular post‐translational modifications of proline and lysine residues having key roles in this. In this article, we provide a review on the enzymes responsible for the proline and lysine modifications, that is collagen prolyl 4‐hydroxylases, 3‐hydroxylases and lysyl hydroxylases, and discuss their biological functions and involvement in diseases.     

Congenital esophageal cysts in adults

Sixteen adult patients with congenital esophageal cysts were operated on between 1957 and 1979. Preoperatively, 7 patients (44%) were asymptomatic and the cyst was found incidentally on a routine chest roentgenogram. Esophageal symptoms were present in only 3 patients (19%), whereas most symptomatic patients had precordial sensations or arrhythmias. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in only 1 patient. After enucleation of the cyst, preoperative symptoms were alleviated in all patients and short-term results were excellent. However, long-term follow-up 13.2 +/- 5.6 (+/- standard deviation) years later revealed moderate reflux in 9 (64%) of the surviving 14 patients. During esophagoscopy, macroscopic esophagitis was found in 12 (92%) of 13 patients. On histological examination of specimens obtained by forceps biopsy, esophagitis was present in 10 (77%) of 13 patients and included Barrett esophagus in 2. We conclude that, despite excellent early results, long-term follow-up of patients who undergo operation for congenital esophageal cysts is indicated because of the increased incidence of reflux esophagitis.     

Internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint: a histochemical study.

The purpose of this study was to correlate histologic findings in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condyles and discs with their macroscopic appearance at surgery. The 24 patients with internal derangement of the joint included 20 women and 4 men (mean age, 37 years; range, 18 to 61 years). The tissue lesions varied in degree from mild soft-tissue fraying and bone remodeling to extensive resorption and new cartilage and bone formation with high phosphatase enzyme activities, and even to loss of articular soft tissue and breakdown of cortical bone. Reactions may arise in the hard tissues before they occur in the articular surface layers.     

Strain gauge plethysmography in the assessment of venous reflux after subfascial closure of perforating veins: a prospective study of twenty patients

Doppler ultrasonography and strain gauge plethysmography were used prospectively to study the hemodynamic changes in 20 patients' (5 men and 15 women) legs operated on by means of subfascial closure for insufficiency of perforating veins. In 10 patients (50%) the valves of the deep veins were incompetent as verified by Doppler ultrasonography, and deep vein thrombosis had previously been diagnosed in seven patients. After subfascial ligature, strain gauge plethysmography showed no changes in arterial flow, venous capacity, or in venous emptying rate. However, both venous reflux flow and reflux volume were significantly lowered (p less than 0.01) after surgery as compared to values before operation. The clinical objective results were good in all cases. In two of four patients with fair subjective results the arterial flow was pathologically high, which probably implies the presence of microscopic arteriovenous fistulas. It is concluded that strain gauge plethysmography can quantitate the change in deep venous reflux after ligation of perforating veins.     

Terminal deletion of chromosome 4p (4p16.3) shows a breakpoint between loci linked to Huntington disease

A 15-year-old boy with a terminal deletion of the short arm of chromosome 4 is described. The patient has a mild clinical phenotype that is incompatible with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Careful neurological examination including CT scan did not show any signs of Huntington disease. The chromosomal breakpoint was analyzed by means of polymorphic DNA probes localized close to the tentative Huntington (HD) locus. The breakage has occurred between D4S43 and D4S90 loci and thus deletes part of the chromosomal candidate regions for the HD locus. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Comparison of four different sampling methods for detecting pharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in children.

Samples from 96 children with acute respiratory infection were obtained simultaneously with nasal, nasopharyngeal, and oropharyngeal swabs and by nasopharyngeal aspiration and were cultured on chocolate and blood agar plates. The rates of isolation of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae detected by the four sampling methods were compared. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were optimal for the detection of both S. pneumoniae (isolation rate, 33%) and H. influenzae (isolation rate, 31%). When a nasopharyngeal aspirate is not available, such as for healthy children or children with no obtainable secretions, the nasopharyngeal swab seems optimal for the detection of both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae among children younger than 13 months of age. Among older children, similarly, the nasopharyngeal swab seems optimal for the detection of S. pneumoniae; however, for H. influenzae, the oropharyngeal swab seems optimal.     

Effects of propofol emulsion and thiopentone on T helper cell type-1/type-2 balance in vitro

We have earlier found increased percentages of T helper cells (CD4-positive lymphocytes) in the blood circulation after propofol infusion anaesthesia. Cytokines interferon-γ (IFNγ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) are important in the differentiation of T helper cells into subtypes T helper type-1 (Th1) and type-2 (Th2). To study the effects of propofol emulsion, its solvent Intralipid^® and thiopentone on Th1/Th2 balance, measurements of IFNγ and IL-4 production by mononuclear leucocytes were carried out in vitro . As IL-2 has a central role in immune responses to surgery, its production was also measured. Concanavalin A-stimulated mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of propofol emulsion at 3.5 or 10 μg.ml⁻¹, Intralipid^® 35 or 100 μg.ml⁻¹, or thiopentone 3 μg.ml⁻¹. Cytokine production was measured from the conditioned media of mononuclear cell cultures. Decreased IFNγ (p <0.001) and IL-4 concentrations (p < 0.01) were found in the presence of thiopentone, but IL-2 production was unaffected. By contrast, propofol emulsion or Intralipid^® had no effects on IFNγ, IL-2 or IL-4 concentrations. Propofol 10 μ.ml⁻¹ increased the IFNγ/IL-4 ratio from the control value median 243 (162–562) (25th–75th percentile) to 363 (195–1028) (p < 0.01), but thiopentone decreased it to 145 (60–214) (p < 0.01). These findings show that propofol and thiopentone have different effects in vitro on Th1/Th2 balance and suggest that they have different modulating effects on the immune response.     

Evaluation of five monoclonal antibody-based kits or reagents for the identification and culture confirmation of herpes simplex virus.

Five immunofluorescence (IF) kits or reagents (Bartels [Bartels Immunodiagnostic Supplies, Inc., Bellevue, Wash.], Imagen [CellTech Diagnostics, Ltd., distributed by Analytab Products, Plainview, N.Y.], Ortho [Ortho Diagnostics Systems, Inc., Raritan, N.J.], Syva [Syva Co., Palo Alto, Calif.], Whittaker [Whittaker Bioproducts, Walkersville, Md.]) were evaluated for typing and laboratory confirmation of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Of 101 clinical isolates tested by each kit or reagent, results for 97 of them were in agreement. Identification of the four isolates with discordant results was performed by restriction endonuclease analysis of the viral DNA. The sensitivity and specificity of the Imagen and Bartels kits were 100%. For the Ortho, Syva, and Whittaker kits or reagents, the HSV type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV type 2 (HSV-2) sensitivities were 97.4 and 100%, 100 and 100%, and 97.4 and 100%, respectively, and the specificities were 100 and 97.4%, 100 and 92.4%, and 100 and 97.4%, respectively. There was one false-positive HSV-2 isolate identified by each of the Ortho and Whittaker kits or reagents. Three false-positive HSV-2 isolates occurred by staining with Syva, giving the erroneous indication of dual isolates. Several isolates stained with Imagen and Whittaker reagents displayed dull IF patterns. A dull green background occurred in ca. one-third of the HSV-2 isolates tested with the Ortho kit. The intensities of IF staining by the Bartels and Syva kits were satisfactory; however, the latter displayed a specificity of 92.7%. A total of 38 and 63 specimens were finally designated as HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively. Identification of each isolate with the Bartels kit was consistently interpretable and is recommended as the typing and confirmatory assay of choice.     

Occupational allergic contact dermatitis and composition of acrylates in dentin bonding systems

Background Dentin-bonding systems contain sensitizing acrylates. They are increasingly used in dentistry, but only few cases of allergy have been encountered. Objective This study reports observations on eleven patients sensitized by acrylates in dentin-bonding compounds. Furthermore, the composition of dentin-bonding products was analysed and compared with the information given in the material safety data sheets. Methods Patch testing was performed to reveal allergic contact dermatitis, and chamber provocation tests to reveal possible respiratory sensitivity. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to analyse the chemical composition of the bonding products. Results The most common sensitizer in our material of eleven patients was 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (2-HEMA). Another putative sensitizer, BIS-GMA, used in dentin adhesives, did not cause sensitization. The typical allergic dermatitis localized to the fingertips (pulpitis). Seven of the eleven patients also developed paresthesia of the fingertips. One patient with positive patch test reactions to (meth)acrylates had pharyngitis hut no skin symptoms. One patient was sensitized because she had been patch tested with too high a concentration (undiluted) of dentin-bonding components. Material safety sheets gave inaccurate or wrong information about the contents. Conclusion Dentin-bonding acrylates are strong sensitizers, and even a single exposure may sensitize.