Transferrin Phenotype and Level of Carbohydrate-deficient Transferrin in Healthy Individuals

Elevated concentrations of carbohydrate-deficient components of transferrin (CDT) in serum may be used as a sensitive and specific marker of regular, high alcohol consumption. When determined by a new, simplified assay, CDT values are nearly normally distributed in low- or non-alcohol-consuming control populations. The importance of transferrin phenotype for this normal variation was analyzed in 100 healthy, European men and women with no or negligible alcohol intake. No significant relation was found between phenotype and CDT value in this population. The three rare B-variants found had low CDT levels, and one subject, examined outside the study, with a rare D-variant indicated that D-variants may result in false-positive CDT values. Moreover, women tended to have somewhat higher values than men, in whom CDT levels were weakly correlated with age. Other as yet undefined biological factors are clearly responsible for the major part of the normal variation of CDT values in nonalcoholic individuals.     

HLA‐DPB1 allelic frequency of the Pumi ethnic group in south‐west China and evolutionary relationship of Pumi with other populations

A sequencing‐based typing of the HLA‐DPB1 gene was carried out in 51 unrelated healthy individuals from the Yunnan Pumi ethnic minority. A total of 18 DPB1 alleles, in which DPB1*0501 (52.0%) and DPB1*0402 (15.7%) greatly predominated, were found, of which alleles DPB1*20011, 2201, 3601, 3701, 3801, 4901, 5001 and 8001 were recorded for the first time in the Chinese population. This may be because the typing methods used in previous genotyping of Chinese populations were of lower sensitivity than that used in our study. A dendrogram constructed by the maximum likelihood method showed that the Pumi ethnic minority belongs to the Asian/Australasian cluster and has the closest relationship to Trobriander, implying an unusual relationship between Australasian and South China populations. However, the Yi ethnic minority, which also comes from the ancient Qiang, did not show a very close relationship with the Pumi. This is probably because the Pumi were historically assimilated by local south‐west China populations.     

Variation at 10 protein coding loci in the mbenzele pygmies from the central african republic and a comparison with microsatellite data

Ten protein coding loci (6‐PGD, A1‐AT, ACP1, CaII, ESD, GC, GPX1, Hbβ, PGM1, and TF) were analyzed in the Mbenzele Pygmies from the Central African Republic. The frequency data were used to calculate the genetic distances between Mbenzele Pygmies and other African groups. In the principal coordinate plot of F_ST genetic distances, the Mbenzele cluster together with other Pygmies of the western cluster, the Biaka from C.A.R., Gielli from Cameroon, and Babinga from Congo. By contrast, they are considerably distanced from other Pygmy groups of the eastern cluster (Twa from Rwanda, Mbuti from Zaire). Genetic distances obtained using protein loci were compared with those based on microsatellite loci. The two distance matrices are insignificantly correlated (r = 0.268; one tail probability = 0.332), and the main difference is in the higher genetic affinity between the Mbenzele and Biaka Pygmies observed at the protein level. Although reasons underlying the discrepancy between inter‐populational variation at protein and DNA loci are not established with certainty, the comparison suggests that the genetic distance between the Mbenzele and Biaka Pygmies at microsatellite loci could have been shaped by genetic drift. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:9–14, 2002.© 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Benign osteoblastoma of the occipital bone: Case report and literature review

We present a case of benign osteoblastoma of the occipital bone. Benign osteoblastoma is an uncommon primary bone tumor, which usually involves the vertebrae and the long bones. This tumor rarely develops in the calvaria, showing a preference for the temporal and frontal bones when it does. To the best of our knowledge, this case is only the eighth reported case of benign osteoblastoma confined to the occipital bone. A 20‐year‐old male presented with a mild tender mass lesion of the occipital area, just below the lambda. Plain X‐ray films and CT scans demonstrated an osteolytic mass surrounded by the sclerotic rim within the diploic space. MRI proved to be effective for the evaluation of the intracranial and intraosseous extensions of the tumor. However, it was very difficult to formulate a differential diagnosis against other osteoblastic tumors, or osteoid osteoma, in view of its radiological appearance. The final diagnosis was obtained by careful consideration of the histopathological characteristics of the tumor combined with its clinical and radiological features. Although generally regarded as benign, a complete resection is preferred over conventional curettage as this can guard against possible recurrence and malignant transformation.     

Enzyme immunoassay of histamine in foods

A competitive enzyme immunoassay of histamine in foodstuffs has been developed using a monoclonal antibody against a histamine‐benzoquinone adduct. In this assay, histamine present in food samples was treated with 1,4‐benzoquinone to form histamine‐benzoquinone by a simple and quick reaction and a histamine‐benzoquinone‐horse‐radish peroxidase conjugate was used as the labelled hapten. The apparent association constant (K_a) of the antibody used was 3.6 ×10⁶ l/mol and Gibbs’ energy of the immune complex formation has been estimated to find the optimal incubation time of the assay. The method enabled determination of histamine in fish, cheese, wine and beer at a concentration as low as 7 ng/ml with an accuracy of ± 15%. The recovery of the immunoassay was 88.9–114%. Cross‐reactivities of histidine, tyramine, tryptamine and its derivatives were lower than 0.001% and did not affect the assay.     

Self‐reflection and self‐practice in training of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: an overview

The present paper deals with a developing training element in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), the self‐practice of therapeutic techniques and the self‐exploration of the person of the therapist. Initially, the current status of this training element in CBT is discussed, and a short note on its terminology is presented. Then an overview of the most important objectives of self‐practice and self‐reflection in CBT, and the concepts and methods of practice of this element is given. The concepts focus on two major aims, the self‐exploration of the person of the therapist within and beyond his or her therapeutic practice, and the self‐application of therapeutic techniques (= self‐practice). In the second part of the paper empirical studies related to the outcome of self‐reflection and self‐practice on the development of the therapist and her or his therapeutic practice are reviewed. The few empirical studies show that trainees experience in their own view substantial professional and personal gains from this training tool, with the professional impact being more important than the personal one. The most important outcomes evaluated by subjective data from the trainees are improvements in self‐insight and self‐awareness and a better understanding of the therapist's role and the therapeutic change process. Additionally, a better understanding of CBT methods and of general therapeutic skills, such as empathy and role‐taking‐competencies, are reported by the trainees. The paper comes to the conclusion that self‐exploration and self‐practice are important components of CBT training. Consequences and recommendations for its integration into training courses for CBT are discussed as well as the necessity for more research in this area. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Infantile autism—fragile X: Molecular findings support genetic heterogeneity

Twenty-two members of 18 families with autism have been examined for the presence of mutations and abnormal methylation in the FMR-1 region at Xq27.3. All patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of infantile autism. A characteristic pattern of insertion and methylation were detected after Southern blot analysis in 7 autistic individuals expressing the fragile site at Xq27.3. Normal DNA patterns were observed in 15 autistic boys cytogenetically negative for the fragile site. The results indicate a lack of involvement of the FMR-1 region in infantile autists negative for fragile X expression. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.