Involvement of fusion activity of ultraviolet light-inactivated sendai virus in formation of target antigens recognized by cytotoxic T cells

Mice inoculated with ultraviolet light-inactivated Sendai virus mount a cell- mediated immune response to the virus. Cytotoxic T cells specific for Sendai virus can be obtained by in vitro secondary stimulation of primed spleen cells with syngeneic stimulator cells coated with UV-inactivated Sendai virus. Neither in vivo nor in vitro stimulation alone is sufficient to generate specific cytotoxic T cells. Sharing of the H-2 haplotype between cytotoxic T cells and target cells is required for the Sendai virus-specific lysis to occur. The fusion (F) glycoprotein of Sendai virus has been implicated in target antigen formation (20). Ethanol treatment of Sendai virus causes complete inactivation of the cell-fusion and hemolytic activities of the envelope, but does not affect the antigenicity of the F glycoprotein; furthermore, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase activities of the envelope HANA glycoprotein are also left intact after ethanol treatment. Target cells can be prepared by coating them with various numbers of UV-inactivated Sendai virus that have been treated with ethanol or, as a control, phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The amount of virus adsorbed to target cells during the cytotoxicity reaction time using either ethanol-treated or untreated (PBS "treated") virions is essentially identical, but target cells coated with ethanol-treated Sendai virus fail to serve as targets for cytotoxic T cells. These results indicate that fusion activity of the Sendai virus envelope is essential to the formation of the target antigen and that virus adsorption to cell surfaces without fusion of the envelope with cell membranes is not sufficient to allow killing by virus-specific cytotoxic T cells.     

分蘖葱头和薤白对花生四烯酸代谢系列的干扰作用

分蘖葱头Allium cepa L.var.aagrogatum Don.(ACAD)和薤白(小根菜)Allium macrostemon Bunge(AMB)均为百合种植物,药用其鳞茎。江漫涛等证明分蘖葱头精油中含有甲基烯丙基三硫(MATS),二甲基噻吩,正丙基烯丙基二硫,甲基正丙基三硫等成分。薤白精油中含有乙烯撑二甲硫、MATS、二甲基三硫等成分。其主要有效成分均为MATS。并探讨了它们对血小板聚集的抑制作用还发现,薤白能有效地抑制实验性动脉粥样硬化的形成。为了进一步阐明分蘗葱头及薤白的作用机理,我们研究了它们对于花生四烯酸(AA)     

隐神经-大隐静脉营养血管远端蒂复合瓣移植修复小腿、踝足部创伤

目的:在显微解剖学基础上,观察隐神经-大隐静脉营养血管远端蒂复合瓣移植修复小腿、踝足部创伤的临床效果。方法:选择2004-05/2007-04由解放军南京军区福州总医院骨科、解放军第97医院骨科、解放军第107医院骨科采用隐神经-大隐静脉营养血管远端蒂复合瓣移植修复小腿、踝足部组织缺损48例,患者对治疗均知情同意。其中皮瓣修复小腿、踝周及足部的创面感染、缺损23例;肌皮瓣修复小腿上段、下段的溃疡、骨髓炎和骨钢板外露12例,跟骨内侧骨髓炎5例;骨皮瓣修复伴有胫骨缺损和跟骨骨不连的创面8例。术后定期随访,观察隐神经-大隐静脉营养血管远端蒂皮瓣移植修复术后的存活情况及骨皮瓣的骨愈合、功能情况。结果:48例患者术后均有程度不同的皮瓣肿胀,其中3例皮瓣远侧边缘少量坏死,经换药愈合;皮瓣部分坏死植皮1例。伤口Ⅰ期愈合44例,Ⅱ期愈合4例。所有病例经5￣15个月随访,创面及骨不连修复,外形满意。结论:隐神经-大隐静脉营养血管远端蒂皮瓣、复合瓣用于外伤造成的小腿远端骨缺损、骨不连、大的死腔以及踝足部的缺损创面修复,具有快捷方便,抗感染力强,成活率高和愈合快的优点。     

Familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 in Slovakia: are differences in prevalence of familial defective apolipoprotein B-100 explained by ethnicity?

The objective of this study was to examine frequency of familial defective apo-B-100 (FDB, R3500Q mutation) in probands with the phenotype of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in the general population of 40-year-old subjects in Slovakia and to characterize their lipid and clinical criteria and to compare the frequency of FDB with other populations. We identified 35 patients with FDB among 362 probands with clinical diagnosis of FH and two cases of FDB in the 40-year-old cohort of 2323 subjects from general Slovak population. Probands with FDB differed from those with FH only in plasma triglyceride concentrations (1.84+/-1.4 mmol/l versus 1.45+/-0.98 mmol/l, respectively, p<0.01). Evaluation of personal history of premature atherosclerosis did not show any differences (11.4% in FDB versus 20% in FH, p<0.16). The FDB patients had similar manifestation of xanthomatosis as the FH patients (17.1% versus 8.25%, p<0.25). The frequency of FDB of 9.7% found in the FH patients is among the highest of those reported to date. The frequency of R3500Q mutation of 0.09% found in Slovak 40-year-old subjects did not differ significantly from published population molecular data. Our comparison of estimated FDB frequencies with those which were found by DNA analysis demonstrated that estimated frequencies were not only wider in range, but also significantly higher than those which were assessed by the analysis. The definitive answer to the prevalence of FDB and its biochemical and clinical characteristics requires screening of unbiased samples of the general population from different ethnic groups based on molecular genetic methods.     

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in Portugal

Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is characterised clinically by an increased level of circulating LDL cholesterol that leads to lipid accumulation in tendons and arteries, premature atherosclerosis and increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Although Portugal should have about 20,000 cases, this disease is severely under-diagnosed in our country, this being the first presentation of Portuguese data on FH. A total of 602 blood samples were collected from 184 index patients and 418 relatives from several centres throughout Portugal. Fifty-three different mutations were found in 83 index patients, 79 heterozygous and 4 with two defective LDLR alleles. Additionally, 4 putative alterations were found in 8 patients but were not considered mutations causing disease, mainly because they did not co-segregate with hypercholesterolaemia in the families. Three unrelated patients were found to be heterozygous for the APOB(3500) mutation and two unrelated patients were found to be heterozygous for a novel mutation in PCSK9, predicted to cause a single amino acid substitution, D374H. Cascade screening increased the number of FH patients identified genetically to 204. The newly identified FH patients are now receiving counselling and treatment based on the genetic diagnosis. The early identification of FH patients can increase their life expectancy and quality of life by preventing the development of premature CHD if patients receive appropriate pharmacological treatment.     

Splenic abscess due to Staphylococcus lentus: a rare entity

Splenic abscess is an unusual condition, most often seen in immunocompromised patients. Splenic abscesses are due to aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi and parasites, Staphylococcus aureus being the most common aetiological agent. We describe a case of splenic abscess in an alcoholic patient due to Staphylococcus lentus, a rare aetiology included in the microbiology of this disease.     

Prevalence of sleep-related symptoms in a primary care population - their relation to asthma and COPD.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to clarify the association between obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS)-related symptoms and physician-diagnosed asthma and COPD. METHODS: 1501 subjects aged 19-90 years completed a structured questionnaire and underwent spirometry and respiratory physician assessment in 10 primary care centres. RESULTS: Frequent snoring was reported in 45.6%, breathing pauses during sleep in 11.0%, and excessive daytime sleepiness in 6.7% of the sample. COPD patients were more likely to report frequent snoring (OR=1.34; 95% CI:1.04-1.71), breathing pauses (OR=1.46; 95% CI:1.01-2.10), and excessive daytime sleepiness (OR=2.04; 95% CI:1.33-3.14). In contrast, there was no significant association between asthma patients and OSAHS-related symptoms. Gender differences were recognised as well. CONCLUSIONS: The increased likelihood for OSAHS-related symptoms in COPD patients, in contrast to patients with asthma, designates them as a target group for the screening of OSAHS in primary care.