A role for decorin in cutaneous wound healing and angiogenesis

Decorin is known to influence tissue tensile strength and cellular phenotype. Therefore, decorin is likely to have an impact on tissue repair, including cutaneous wound healing. In this study, cutaneous healing of both excisional and incisional full‐thickness dermal wounds was studied in decorin‐deficient (Dcn^?/?) animals. A statistically significant delay in excisional wound healing in the Dcn^?/? mice occurred at 4 and 10 days postwounding and, in incisional wounds at 4, 10, and 18 days when compared with wild‐type (Dcn^?/?) controls. Fibrovascular invasion into polyvinylalcohol sponges was significantly increased by day 18 in Dcn^?/? mice relative to Dcn^+/+ mice. The 18‐day sponge implants in the Dcn^?/? mice showed a marked accumulation of biglycan when compared with the corresponding implants in Dcn^+/+ mice. Thus, regulated production of decorin may serve as an excellent therapeutic approach for modifying impaired wound healing and harmful foreign body reactions.     

Femoral component fixation with and without intramedullary plug A 6-year follow-up

A total of 113 patients underwent a cemented total hip replacement (THR) operation involving femoral component fixation either without the use of a distal intramedullary plug (n = 57, group 1) or with the plug (n =56, group 2). We studied the femoral component fixation radiographically at on average 6 years after THR. The cement coating was assessed as technically good in 86% and 95% of groups 1 and 2, respectively. There was radiographically diagnosable loosening of the femoral component at the follow-up in 25 cases in which stems were inserted without the intramedullary plug, and in 6 cases in those with the plug (P < 0.0008), and the mean subsidence of the femoral component was 5 mm in group 1 and 1.5 mm (P < 0.0003) in group 2, respectively. Osteolytic changes around the femoral component were noticed in both groups in equal numbers and with no statistical difference. The use of a distal intramedullary plug in the cementation of the femoral stem results in a better cement coating, reduces femoral component subsidence and ameliorates the loosening rates.     

Follow up of growth and steroids in premature adrenarche

In a follow up study of 34 patients with premature adrenarche we examined serum adrenal androgen levels and growth. The majority (28/34) showed an upward bend in the growth curve which, at the mean age of 2.3 years, preceded other signs of adrenarche on average by 3.8 years. Pubertal growth spurt was missing or reduced in 50% of the patients (8/16), however, final height did not differ from that expected from parental heights. Adrenal androgens did not remain elevated at adolescence. The mean age at menarche for all the girls was 0.5 years younger than in the general population.Conclusion Our findings imply that premature adrenarche may start earlier than previously recognized. Compared to ordinary growth these children seen to use a greater part of their potential for adult height already at that early age.     

Effects of endothelin-1 on epithelial ion transport in human airways

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) exerts many biological effects in airways, including bronchoconstriction, airway mucus secretion, cell proliferation, and inflammation. We investigated the effect of ET-1 on Na absorption and Cl secretion in human bronchial epithelial cells. Addition of 10(-7) M ET-1 had no effect on the inhibition of the short circuit current (Isc) induced by amiloride, a Na channel blocker. Addition of 10(-7) M ET-1 to the apical bath in the presence of amiloride increased Isc in cultured human bronchial epithelial cells studied in Ussing chambers. No effect was observed when ET-1 was added to basolateral bath, indicating that the involved ET-1 receptors are likely present only in the apical membrane of the cells. Use of Cl-free solutions and bumetanide reduced the ET-1-induced increases in Isc, indicating that ET-1 stimulates Cl secretion. The ET-1-induced increase in Isc was prevented by exposure to the ETB receptor antagonist BQ-788 but not to the ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123. ET-1 did not raise intracellular Ca levels, but increased the intracellular concentration of cAMP. These findings indicate that ET-1 is a Cl secretagogue in human airways and acts presumably through apically located ETB receptors and activation of the cAMP pathway.     

Synthetic env gp41 peptide as a sensitive and specific diagnostic reagent in different stages of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for serum antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), based on the synthetic pentadecapeptide SGKLICT-TAVPWNAS, a segment of the transmembrane glycoprotein (gp41) of the virus, was developed and tested for sensitivity and specificity. Sera of 152 individuals at various stages of HIV-1 infection, including two prospectively and six retrospectively studied patients exposed to HIV-1 but seronegative on initial testing in whole-virus EIA and immunoblotting, were screened with the gp41 peptide antibody EIA. The reference population consisted of 1,000 healthy HIV-1 antibody-negative blood donors. In addition, five individuals with antibodies to HIV-2 were studied. Antibodies to the synthetic peptide were detected in 100% of those with asymptomatic infection. Only one patient with LAS failed to react in the peptide EIA. Patients with HIV-2 infection did not react in this test. The peptide antibodies appeared rapidly after infection, were detectable at the time when seroconversion was observed by immunoblotting, and preceded reactivity in whole-virus EIA. Sera of seven patients with verified HIV-1 infection did not react with gp41 in immunoblotting, although antibodies were readily detectable in the gp41 peptide EIA.     

Haplotype analysis in gelsoiin-related amyloidosis reveals independent origin of identical mutation (G654A) of gelsolin in Finland and Japan

Familial amyloidosis, Finnish type (FAF) (gelsolin-related amyloidosis) is an autosomal dominant form of systemic amyloidosis characterized by corneal lattice dystrophy and peripheral polyneuropathy. The accumulating protein in FAF consists of fragments of gelsolin, an actin-modulating protein. The gelsolin mutation G654A has been found in both Finnish and Japanese patients. To study the origin of the gelsolin mutation in these patients we performed haplotype analysis in 10 Finnish and 2 Japanese FAF families. Poymorphic DNA markers GSN, D9S103, AFMa061xd9, and AFMa139xb9 revealed a uniform disease haplotype in all the disease-associated chromosomes of the Finnish FAF families, which was different from the one observed in the Japanese families. The present results and the previously detected gelsolin mutation G654T in Czech and Danish FAF patients suggest that nucle otide 654 may represent a mutation hot spot in the gelsolin gene. The DNA markers studied here will be useful in future genealogical analyses of FAF. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

European seroepidemiology network 2: Standardisation of assays for seroepidemiology of varicella zoster virus.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the European Sero-Epidemiology Network (ESEN2) is to harmonise the serological surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases in Europe. OBJECTIVE: To allow comparison of antibody prevalence in different countries by standardising results into common units. STUDY DESIGN: For varicella zoster virus (VZV), a reference laboratory established a panel of 148 samples, characterised by indirect enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence, and complement fixation test. Fifty-seven samples were also studied by the fluorescence antibody to membrane antigen test. The geometric mean of the antibody activity (GMAA) obtained from four ELISA determinations was used to characterise each sample of the panel as positive (GMAA: >100 mIU/ml), equivocal (GMAA: 50-100 mIU/ml) or negative (GMAA: <50 mIU/ml) for antibody to VZV (anti-VZV). Thirteen laboratories, using five different ELISA tests, tested the panel. RESULTS: Agreement with the reference laboratory was above 85% in all cases, and the R(2) values obtained from regression analysis of the quantitative results were always higher than 0.87. Finally, the regression equations could be used to convert national values into a common unitage. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that results for anti-VZV obtained by different ELISA methods can be converted into common units, enabling the comparison of the seroprevalence profiles obtained in the participant countries.     

Coding haplotype analysis supports HCR as the putative susceptibility gene for psoriasis at the MHC PSORS1 locus

PSORS1, near HLA-C, is the major genetic determinant of psoriasis. We present genetic and structural evidence suggesting a major role for the HCR gene at the PSORS1 locus. Genotyping of 419 families from six populations revealed that coding single-nucleotide polymorphisms of HCR formed a conserved allele HCR*WWCC that associated highly significantly with psoriasis and with the HLA-Cw6 allele in all populations. Because of strong linkage disequilibrium between HLA-Cw6 and HCR*WWCC, the two genes could not be genetically distinguished by this sample size. However, the variant HCR allele was predicted to differ in secondary structure from the wild-type protein. HCR protein expression in lesional psoriatic skin differed considerably from that observed in normal skin. These results provide strong evidence for the HCR*WWCC allele as a major genetic determinant for psoriasis, probably by a mechanism impacting on keratinocyte proliferation.     

Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopical investigation in elderly patients with iron deficiency anaemia

Iron deficiency anaemia is frequently observed in male adults and postmenopausal women due to chronic occult bleeding, usually from the gastrointestinal tract. Practically, as endoscopical investigation of the gastrointestinal system is an invasive procedure, iron replacement treatment was generally started without investigation of the underlying aetiology even in first-line health institutions. This study evaluates the role of endoscopy in the investigation of the aetiology of anaemia in 95 patients (51 males, 44 females), aged 64.9+/-12.5 years (range 50-90 years). All patients having iron deficiency anaemia were investigated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy. Upper and lower gastrointestinal pathologies were seen in 10 (10.6%) and 55 (57.8%) patients, respectively. However, no gastrointestinal lesion was found in 30 (31.6%) patients with iron deficiency anaemia. Out of the 95 patients, 16 (16.9%) had erosive gastritis, 15 (15.8%) duodenal ulcer, 8 (8.4%) gastric ulcer, 7 (7.3%) gastric tumours, 7 (7.3%) oesophagitis. 5 (5.4%) colon tumours, 3 (3.2%) haemorrhoids, 2 (2.1%) non-tropical sprue, 1 (1%) colonic polyp, and 1 (1%) colitis. In the majority of elderly patients with iron deficiency anaemia, upper gastrointestinal system disease was found. In 12 (12.7%) patients in the study group, malignancies were detected. In elderly patients with iron deficiency anaemia, the aetiology should be highlighted before giving iron supplementation.