Multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for the identification and quantitation of major vaginal lactobacilli

Lactobacilli play a key role in promoting vaginal health. Depletion of these bacteria is associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV), the most common vaginal disorder. Here we describe the development and laboratory validation of a novel single-tube multiplex TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the identification and quantitative assessment of the four major vaginal Lactobacillus species: L. crispatus, L. jensenii, L. gasseri, and L. iners. The assay utility was evaluated by the analysis of lactobacilli in non-cultured clinical vaginal swab specimens collected from BV patients and healthy individuals. As confirmed by the assay, L. crispatus, L. jensenii, and to a lesser extent L. gasseri, are common in the vagina of healthy women, whereas L. iners dominance is associated with BV. The major assay limitation was preferential detection of dominant Lactobacillus species in samples with mixed lactobacilli resulting in lower sensitivity for minor species. The multiplex qPCR assay described here is an advance in the detection and quantitation of the major vaginal lactobacilli, potentially facilitating the molecular diagnosis of BV and post-therapy restoration of the vaginal microflora.     

Multicenter Experience of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in WHIM Syndrome

Journal of Clinical Immunology - WHIM (warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis) syndrome is a rare disease, caused by CXCR4 gene mutations, which incorporates features of...     

BK virus nephropathy in a pediatric patient after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

We report the case of a seven‐yr‐old Caucasian girl who presented with progressive deterioration of renal function 13 months after HSCT for myelodysplastic syndrome. BK virus nephropathy was suspected and confirmed. After reduction of immunosuppression and treatment with IVIG, leflunomide, ciprofloxacin, and cidofovir, clearance of BK virus from blood was achieved, and further progression or renal failure was prevented. We believe that BK virus nephropathy should be considered in cases of renal function deterioration in all immunocompromised patients.     

Changes in the Cytokine Profile and Reduced Function of Lymphocyte Subpopulations in Subacute Tetrachloromethane Poisoning

Experiments on outbred albino rats showed that subacute poisoning with tetrachloromethane in a total dose of 1.0 LD₅₀ appreciably decreased blood concentrations of cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10), reduced the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio in comparison with the control, and suppressed the immune reactions, which attests to greater damage to Th1 compared to Th2 lymphocytes. Translated from Byulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 147, No. 1, pp. 55-57, January, 2009     

Effect of NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME on occlusion and reperfusion arrhythmias in cats

On the model of occlusion/reperfusion arrhythmia in cats it was shown that repeated injections of the NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME decreased the incidence of occlusion arrhythmias (to 40%), eliminated reperfusion-induced ventricular fibrillation, and drastically reduced the latency of occlusion arrhythmias. A single injection of L-NAME (20 mg/kg) immediately before ligation of the coronary artery did not decrease the incidence of occlusion and reperfusion arrhythmias. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 5, pp. 509–511, May, 1999     

Characteristics of the set-up of the lymphocyte blast transformation reaction using whole blood]

The authors analyze the specific features of the technique of lymphocyte blastogenesis test (LBGT) with whole blood and of interpreting its results in examinations of healthy donors, patients with hypogammaglobulinemia, chronic bronchitis or pneumonia, and bronchial asthma. The suggested LBGT variant is a sensitive and reproducible technique fit for assessing the immunity status, making use of small volumes (up to 0.1 ml) of the blood; it is recommended for clinical examinations and mass immunologic screenings.     

Antiarrhythmic activity of ajmaline obtained from Rauwolfia serpentina biomass grown in tissue culture

The conventional experimental techniques showed that ajmaline derived from Rouwolfia serpentina Benth. biomass grown in tissue culture was effective in arresting canine ventricular arrhythmias induced by coronary occlusion, strophanthin and epinephrine, displaying antiarrhythmic effects in aconitine-induced intoxication of rats and substantially elevating the threshold of ventricular fibrillations in cats. The antiarrhythmic activity of ajmaline produced by the biotechnological technique was identical to that of ajmaline derived from the natural root of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth, which allows one to recommend that the agent in question should be clinically tested as an antiarrhythmic.     

Control of bleeding caused by thrombocytopenia associated with hematologic malignancy: an audit of the clinical use of recombinant activated factor VII.

This paper presents an analysis of 24 cases in which recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) was used in the management of hemorrhage in patients with thrombocytopenia associated with hematologic malignancies. This is the largest case aggregation to date and focuses on preliminary experience in the off-label use of this hemostatic agent. Data were extracted from the international, Internet-based registry, www.haemostasis.com, accessed in September 2003. The search results were manually cross-checked against monthly summary reports. The physicians providing the cases were contacted individually to approve the use of their cases, supply any information missing from the database, and validate the data already held. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, B-cell or T-cell lymphoma, or aplastic anemia received rFVIIa at total doses of between 18 and 1040 mug/kg body weight. Bleeding stopped in 11 of 24 (46%) patients, markedly decreased in 8 of 24 (33%) patients, and decreased in 4 of 24 (17%) patients. In most patients, the response was achieved within 2.5 hours of administration of rFVIIa. The use of rFVIIa was generally well tolerated -- 1 case of ischemic stroke was considered to be possibly related to rFVIIa administration, but this has yet to be confirmed. A review of these 24 cases submitted to the www.haemostasis.com database suggests that rFVIIa is beneficial in the management of hemorrhage in patients with thrombocytopenia and hematologic malignancies. This warrants further investigation in rigorously controlled clinical trials.