首发重度抑郁症患者血清中促炎物质水平的检测

目的：探讨首发重度抑郁症患者血清中促炎物质IL-1α、IL-6、IL-18、肿瘤坏死因子（ TNF-α）以及血清总补体活性（ CH50）水平的变化,以期对首发抑郁症的诊断有所帮助。方法采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HAMD）对首发抑郁症患者进行抑郁评分,采用酶联免疫吸附法（ELISA）检测49例首发重度抑郁症组患者和40例体检健康人正常对照组其血清中IL-1α、IL-6、IL-18、TNF-α及CH50的水平。结果首发重度抑郁症患者血清中IL-6、IL-18、TNF-α及CH50水平与正常对照组差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）,而IL-1α则无明显差异（P＞0．05）;在首发重度抑郁症男女性别分组中,血清中IL-1α水平差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）,IL-6、IL-18、TNF-α及CH50水平差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。结论细胞因子IL-6、IL-18、TNF-α及CH50可能参与或伴随首发重度抑郁症的发生和发展,可以作为首发重度抑郁症的辅助诊断指标。     

Anticomplementary activity in serum samples from patients with acute parvovirus B19 infection.

Of 65 serum samples submitted for diagnostic purposes which proved to be anti-complementary by complement fixation test, 49 were parvovirus B19 IgM positive. Forty four of the 49 serum samples were from patients with arthropathy. Acute parvovirus B19 infection should be suspected when a patient has symptoms of disease of the joints and the serum is anticomplementary.     

Heterogeneity of the IgE response to allergenic determinants of cefaclor in serum samples from patients with cefaclor-induced anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Beta-lactam antibiotics, such as cefaclor, may cause IgE-mediated anaphylactic reactions. However, the clinically available serologic test has not been widely accepted, and the antigenic determinants of these drugs are unclear. OBJECTIVE: To describe 4 cases of anaphylaxis caused by cefaclor in which a specific IgE response to cefaclor was demonstrated. METHODS: Four patients with anaphylaxis to cefaclor and 35 nonatopic controls never exposed to cefaclor were studied. Skin tests and oral challenges with this drug were performed. The specific IgE response to the antigenic determinant of cefaclor-human serum albumin (HSA) conjugate was compared in each patient. The serum specific IgE to cefaclor-HSA conjugate was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Also, ELISA inhibition studies using various concentrations of cefaclor-HSA, HSA alone, and free cefaclor were performed, as were hapten inhibition studies using cefaclor, cephalexin, cefadroxil, ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and cefotaxime. RESULTS: Three patients showed high levels of serum specific IgE to cefaclor-HSA and marked inhibition patterns to free cefaclor and cefaclor-HSA conjugate on ELISA inhibition testing. Hapten inhibition testing in 3 individual serum samples showed 2 different patterns. In patient 3, significant dose-dependent inhibitions (up to 92%) were noted with additions of free cefaclor and cefaclor-HSA conjugate, and lesser inhibitions (up to 74%) were noted with cephalexin, which shares the aminobenzyl side chain. In patients 1 and 2, marked dose-dependent inhibitions were noted only with additions of cefaclor-HSA conjugate and free cefaclor, whereas minimal inhibitions were noted with the other 5 compounds. CONCLUSIONS: The specific IgE response to cefaclor-HSA conjugate in patients with cefaclor anaphylaxis occurs against the hapten, in which heterogeneity of the antigenic determinant was noted to depend on the individual.     

Detection of IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus in serum samples from patients with hepatitis E virus infection

A newly developed assay for IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus (IgA anti-HEV) was used to study 145 serum samples collected during an outbreak of an enterically transmitted hepatitis that occurred in 3 villages in the lower Shebeli region of Southern Somalia between January, 1988 and November, 1989. A total of 52.4% of the afflicted patients were found positive for IgA anti-HEV, and 73.1% of these were also positive for IgM. Both antibodies disappeared during the convalescence period. Similar results were also seen in serum obtained from sporadic cases of acute waterborne hepatitis in Pakistan. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Interpretation of serum aluminum values in dialysis patients

To determine the significance of serum aluminum levels in dialysis patients, the authors retrospectively analyzed a series of patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). All patients had always been treated with a dialysate containing negligible amounts of aluminum. The serum aluminum levels of hemodialysis and CAPD patients were not significantly different, not related to age or sex, and not affected by the presence of diabetes or vitamin D intake. The most important determinant of serum aluminum level in the hemodialysis patients was the current dose of aluminum-containing phosphate-binding medication. This relationship was most striking in the compliant patients. In hemodialysis patients, after an increase during the first one to two years, the aluminum levels plateaued. Aluminum levels remained stable more than five years in CAPD patients. Red blood cell mean corpuscular volume was negatively correlated with serum aluminum level. In 28 dialysis patients who had bone biopsy, aluminum levels were positively correlated to histochemical aluminum staining and bone aluminum content. A level greater than 100 ng/mL was a reliable indicator of aluminum-associated osteomalacia, although a lower level did not exclude the presence of low turnover bone disease or mixed uremic osteodystrophy--two disorders possibly related to aluminum. In the presence of a high serum aluminum, elevated levels of immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were useful in detecting the presence of hyperparathyroidism; low levels of iPTH did not allow the authors to distinguish between other subtypes of uremic osteodystrophy.     

Enzyme immunoassay detection of antigen-specific immunoglobulin g antibodies in longitudinal serum samples from patients with cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that causes diarrheal illness in a wide range of mammalian hosts, including humans. Characteristic serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses to antigens in the 27- and 17-kDa size ranges have been shown to develop after infection, and several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot assay formats have been used to measure these IgG levels in human serum. Using a collection of serial samples from laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis patients, we compared the results obtained by using two new ELISAs with those obtained with two different Western blot assays. When assayed with the large-format Western blot, 97% of the 67 patients had a demonstrable antibody response on at least one occasion. The Cp23 ELISA correctly identified 93% of the samples that had a 27-kDa response by Western blot and 100% of the negative samples. The Triton antigen ELISA detected 77% of the samples that had a 17-kDa response by Western blot and 88% of the negative samples. The sensitivity of the Triton antigen assay was higher for samples collected between 16 and 92 days after the onset of symptoms (96%). The minigel-format Western blot did not compare favorably with the large-format blot for the detection of antibodies to the 27-kDa antigen (71% sensitivity). A half-life of about 12 weeks was estimated for antibodies to both the 27- and 17-kDa antigens. We believe the Cp23 and Triton antigen ELISAs will be useful in epidemiologic studies of the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in the population.     

Assessment of specific antibodies to F protein in serum samples from Chinese hepatitis C patients treated with interferon plus ribavarin

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) alternate reading frame protein or F protein of the HCV 1b genotype is a double-frameshift product of the HCV core protein. In order to assess the presence of antibodies specific for F protein and their clinical relevance in sera from HCV patients, we produced recombinant F protein and core protein of the HCV 1b genotype in Escherichia coli. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed using purified recombinant HCV core, F protein, and a 99-residue synthetic F peptide (F99). The seroprevalences of anticore, anti-F protein, and anti-F99 synthetic peptide were 95%, 68%, and 36%, respectively, in 168 HCV patients. The prevalence of anti-F antibodies did not correlate with viral load, genotype, or alanine aminotransferase level. Interferon combination therapy induced a decline in the level of anti-F antibodies in 55 responders (P < 0.01). Thirteen responders (24%) lost their anti-F recombinant protein antibodies, and 17 (31%) lost their anti-F synthetic peptide antibodies, whereas no decrease was observed for the 17 nonresponders. These changes were significant between responders and nonresponders (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, no change was found in the anticore antibody titer of the 72 treated patients. The percentage of anti-F-protein-negative patients (15/15 [100%]) who achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) was higher than that of the anti-F-positive patients (70%) (P < 0.05). Based on these findings, HCV F protein elicits a specific antibody response other than the anticore protein response. Our data also suggest that the presence and level of anti-F antibody responses might be influenced by the treatment (interferon plus ribavirin) and associated with an SVR in Chinese hepatitis C patients.     

Determination of ionized serum calcium, potassium, and sodium levels in fresh and frozen samples from cats

In order to determine the influence of pH and storage (7 days at ?18 °C) on ionized calcium, potassium, and sodium measurement in feline serum, blood samples from 66 healthy adult cats were obtained based on aerobic method via jugular venipuncture. From each sample, the serum aliquot was divided into two samples: the first sample was processed 30 min after blood collection, and the second was frozen at ?18 °C and stored for 7 days before being processed. For each serum sample, ionized calcium, potassium, and sodium were measured together with the pH. Significant differences between fresh and frozen serum samples were found for ionized calcium concentration (the average values were 4.630?±?0.043 and 4.183?±?0.058 mg/dl, respectively) and pH (the average values were 7.352?±?0.007 and 7.519?±?0.010, respectively). Sodium and potassium serum concentration showed no significant difference between fresh and frozen serum samples. For all parameters, there was no significant difference between males and females between the fresh and frozen serum samples, and therefore, the results for both genders were analyzed together.     

Strongyloides stercoralis: detection of parasite-derived DNA in serum samples obtained from immunosuppressed patients

Parasitology Research - Strongyloidiasis is an important neglected disease, which is life threatening in immunocompromised patients. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of Strongyloides...     

Use of single voided urine samples to estimate quantitative proteinuria

Quantitation of urinary protein excretion is used extensively for diagnostic and prognostic purposes and to assess the effects of therapy. The method most commonly used to measure urinary protein relies on 24-hour urine collections, which are time consuming, cumbersome, and often inaccurate. We reasoned that the urinary protein/creatinine ratio in a single voided urine sample should correlate well with the quantity of protein in timed urine collections. In a study of 46 specimens we found an excellent correlation between the protein content of a 24-hour urine collection and the protein/creatinine ratio in a single urine sample. The best correlation was found when samples were collected after the first voided morning specimen and before bedtime. We conclude that the determination of the protein/creatinine ratio in single urine samples obtained during normal daylight activity, when properly interpreted by taking into consideration the effect of different rates of creatinine excretion, can replace the 24-hour urine collection in the clinical quantitation of proteinuria. In the presence of stable renal function, a protein/creatinine ratio of more than 3.5 (mg/mg) can be taken to represent "nephrotic-range" proteinuria, and a ratio of less than 0.2 is within normal limits.     

Abnormalities of fibrinolytic parameters in patients with myeloproliferative diseases

Thrombotic events are common in patients with myeloproliferative disorders. Since abnormalities in the fibrinolytic system have been reported in patients with thrombotic phenomena, we have evaluated fibrinolytic parameters in 48 polycythaemia vera (PV) patients, 25 myelofibrosis (MF) patients and 30 healthy controls. The following parameters were determined: plasminogen, α2-antiplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PA-1). High levels of t-PA antigen were found in the 2 patients groups-mean of 8.2 ng/ml and 8.7 ng/ml for the PV and MF patients respectively as compared to a mean of 4.3 ng/ml in the controls. Significant difference was also found between the mean levels of PA-1 in the PV and MF groups - 14.8 U/ml and 16 U/ml respectively and the control group-7.3 U/ml. No differences in PAI, t-PA, plasminogen and α2-antiplasmin were found when PV patients with and without a history of thrombotic complications were compared. Our findings suggest that abnormalities of the fibrinolytic system are a common feature in patients with myeloproliferative disorders. However, no correlation could be made between these parameters and the occurence of thrombotic events.     

Comparative reactivity of serum samples from Argentinean HIV-infected patients with V3 peptides from subtype B or BF recombinants

To analyze humoral cross-reactivity to V3 peptides from subtype B and BF recombinant forms, plasma samples from 50 HIV-1-infected patients were characterized by sequencing fragments of the env and pol genes. An in-house EIA was performed using peptides corresponding to the 15 central amino acids of the V3 loop of gp120 from subtypes B (MN, SF2) and F1 and a consensus peptide from Argentinean BF recombinants. No differences were found with respect to the infecting subtype, but significant differences were found among the peptides. Reactivity was higher against the MN and BF peptides in both groups infected with subtype B (n = 28) and BF (n = 22) recombinants than against subtype F1 and SF2 peptides.     

Prognostic values of serum IP-10 and IL-17 in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

Objective: To identify patients at high risk of relapse after anti-tuberculosis (TB) therapy or with poor long-term outcomes. Methods: Fifty-one patients with pulmonary TB: 7 were classified as high association with both cavitations on initial chest radiography and positive sputum smear/cultures after two months of anti-TB treatment (HA group); 19 medium association (MA, one risk alone); and 25 low association (LA, neither risk). Serum interferon (IFN)-γ-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and C-reactive protein levels were investigated. Results: There was a trend towards higher serum IP-10 levels (p = 0.042) for HA patients throughout the 6-month treatment period. Month-2 IP-10 levels were higher in the HA than in the MA/LA group (656.2 ± 234.4 vs. 307.6 ± 258.5 pg/ml, adjusted p = 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic curves showed that the risk of relapse was well-captured by month-2 IP-10 levels at a cut-off value of 431 pg/ml (AUC=0.857, 95% CI 0.75–0.97, p = 0.003). Month-2 serum IL-17 levels were lower in non-survivors than survivors (15.7 ± 2.9 pg/ml vs. 24.6 ± 8.2 pg/ml, p = 0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a month-2 serum IL-17 level of ≤ 17 pg/ml (p = 0.026) was independently associated with all-cause mortality. Conclusions: Serum IP-10 and IL-17 levels after 2 months of anti-TB treatment may be biomarkers for estimating risk of both cavitation and delayed sputum conversion, and for predicting long-term mortality, respectively.     

聚合酶链反应杂交ELISA对肝炎患者血清HCV RNA的测定和分析

目的 应用丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）聚合酶链反应杂交酶联法（HCV－PCR－H ELISA）152份各型肝炎血清进行HCV RNA测定和分析。方法 利用标记生物素的寡核苷酸引物对患者血清进行PCR扩增,扩增产物与结合在微孔反应板的HCV特异探针快速杂交,通过抗生物素－酶联反应判定结果。结果 152份肝炎患者中,HCV RNA的检出率为57．9％（88／152）,其中抗－HCV阳性组的检出率为81．8％（72／88）。抗－HCV与HCV RNA的总符合率为78．9％（120／152）。对5例丙型肝炎患者应用α干扰素治疗者追访显示,HCVRNA的消长与抗病毒药物疗效一致。结论 HCV－PCR－H ELISA方法简便、稳定、敏感、特异,为半定量指标,可应用于HCV感染的临床诊断和抗病毒药物疗效判定。     

Detection of Slit2 promoter hypermethylation in tissue and serum samples from breast cancer patients

Promoter hypermethylation has been shown to be a common mechanism for inactivation of tumor suppressor genes in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Slit2 promoter hypermethylation in both the tumor and serum samples of breast cancer patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast carcinoma (IBC). The methylation status of Slit2 was investigated in 210 tissue samples (15 breast with no pathological findings, 26 DCIS, and 169 IBC samples) and 123 corresponding serum samples (15 breast with no pathological findings, 26 DCIS, and 82 IBC samples) using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical staining for Slit2 was also performed using tissue microarray blocks to determine whether Slit2 promoter hypermethylation correlated with loss of Slit2 expression. Slit2 promoter hypermethylation was not detected in breast tissue and serum samples from patients with no pathological findings. DCIS or IBC showed a statistically higher frequency of Slit2 promoter hypermethylation compared to breast with no pathological findings in both the tissue and serum samples; however, there were no statistically significant differences between DCIS and IBC samples. Similar Slit2 promoter hypermethylation patterns were seen in the tissue samples and corresponding serum specimens (p < 0.001). Slit2 promoter hypermethylation was associated with loss of Slit2 expression. These results suggest that Slit2 promoter hypermethylation appears to be responsible for functionally silencing Slit2 expression. Slit2 promoter hypermethylation may be considered as a possible serum marker for early detection of breast cancer.     

Quantitative assessment of serum NV-F virus DNA concentrations in samples from patients coinfected with hepatitis B or C virus

A novel hepatotropic virus, named NV-F virus, was recently identified. The clinical information for this virus is still scarce. Using PCR assay, NV-F viral DNA (NV-F-DNA) was detected in 12 of 50 (24%) hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients (HCV-coinfected [HCVCI] group), 34 of 250 (13.6%) hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients (HBV-coinfected [HBVCI] group), and 28 of 100 (28%) non-A-to-E (NAE) hepatitis patients. Basic clinical parameters were not significantly different among the three groups. By use of a PCR-based quantitative assay, the NV-F-DNA concentration was found to be above the detection limit (1.2 x 10(5) copies/ml) in 12/12 (100%) HCVCI patients, 14/34 (41.2%) HBVCI patients, and 4/28 (14.3%) NAE patients. The median serum NV-F-DNA concentration was 9.3 x 10(5) copies/ml in HCVCI patients, but it was below the detection limit in HBVCI and NAE patients (P values were 0.0045 and 0.0001, respectively). Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified the presence of anti-HCV as an independent factor for NV-F-DNA concentrations (beta = 6.2 x 10(9); P = 0.0245). In HBVCI patients, the NV-F-DNA concentration was inversely correlated with the HBV DNA concentration. The median NV-F-DNA concentration was below the detection limit in patients with HBV DNA concentrations above 1.4 x 10(5) copies/ml, but it was 1.58 x 10(6) copies/ml in patients with HBV DNA concentrations below 1.4 x 10(5) copies/ml (P = 0.030). In conclusion, NV-F-DNA concentrations were higher in HCVCI patients. A reciprocal relationship was found between NV-F-DNA and HBV DNA concentrations in HBVCI patients, indicating the presence of viral interference between these two DNA viruses.     

Cardiac dysrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Relation to serum potassium level and prior diuretic therapy

A series of 676 patients with acute myocardial infarction were evaluated with regard to initial serum potassium level, prior diuretic therapy and occurrence of cardiac dysrhythmias during their first 24 hours in a coronary care unit. Serious dysrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, and asystole) were significantly more frequent in hypokalemic patients. In this regard no differences were observed between patients on or off prior diuretic therapy.