Early detection of antibodies against rDNA-produced HIV proteins with a flow cytometric assay

There is evidence that some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals have prolonged periods of seronegativity. A flow cytometric immunoreactive bead (IRB) assay is described for quantitative, simultaneous, and early detection of antibodies to HIV. Polystyrene beads of four diameters, each size coated with a different HIV recombinant DNA-produced protein (p24, p31, gp41, or gp120), bound anti- HIV antibodies detected with fluorescent antiglobulin. The IRB assay was performed on a panel of blood donor samples, many giving consistently false-positive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and indeterminant Western blot (WB) results. The IRB assay proved as sensitive and more specific than currently licensed EIA and WB tests. Results on serial samples from eight HIV-infected individuals indicated that quantitation of anti-p24 by IRB assay may be useful in monitoring disease progression. Sequential pre- and post-EIA seroconversion sera from 35 HIV-infected homosexual men were tested by the IRB assay using IgM- and IgG-specific fluorescent probes. All 35 cases were IRB assay positive for at least one rDNA-p either before (17 of 35, 49%) or at the time of EIA positivity. Eleven cases (31%) initially had only IgM anti-HIV, primarily to gp41 (17%). In two individuals, the IgM response was detected at least 18 months before EIA seroconversion. The IRB assay is a widely applicable analytic procedure, potentially useful in pretransfusion anti-HIV screening of blood.     

Chloride transport in primary cultures of rabbit colonocytes at different stages of development

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Ontogeny of colonic Cl- transport and its regulation has been characterized inadequately. The aim of this report was to study developmental changes in Cl- transport in primary cultures of rabbit distal colonocytes. METHODS: Colonocytes from newborn (7-9 days old), weanling (25-28 days old), and adult (6 months old) rabbits were cultured for 24 hours on a collagen IV matrix, and Cl- transport was measured using the fluoroprobe 6-methoxyquinolyl acetoethyl ester. RESULTS: Cl- permeabilities were dependent on [Cl-]o with maximal rates (in millimoles per liter per second) at [Cl-]o = 75 mmol/L (newborns; 0.15 +/- 0.04; weanlings; 0.2 +/- 0.02; and adults, 0.32 +/- 0.06). Influx was inhibited significantly by the Cl- channel (50 mumol/L diphenylamine-2-carboxylate) and the Na(+)-K(+)- 2Cl- cotransport (10 mumol/L furosemide) inhibitors. The adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent secretagogues, prostaglandin E1 (1 mumol/L), forskolin (1 mumol/L), and 8-bromo-cAMP (100 mumol/L), and the protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-13 dibutyrate (1 mumol/L), increased Cl- influx significantly in all groups with adults showing greatest stimulation. However, taurodeoxycholate (0.025-1 mmol/L) had an effect only in the adult and the guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) activators STa and 8-bromo-cGMP had no effect. CONCLUSIONS: Rabbit distal colonocytes possess inhibitor-sensitive Cl- permeabilities even in neonates. However, the ontogeny of their regulation depends on the secretagogue-signaling pathway. (Gastroenterology 1996 Dec;111(6):1541-50)     

Chronic lymphoid leukaemia: clinico-haematological correlation and outcome in a single institution in Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Sixty patients were prospectively studied with the aim of analyzing the clinical and laboratory features and outcome of patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) in a major referral center in Niger Delta region of Nigeria for 10 years (1995-2005). The peripheral blood, bone marrow cytology, clinical features and stage at diagnosis were studied. Treatment modalities, response to treatment and survival outcome of the patients were analysed. Sixty patients (15 men and 45 women) were seen, with female preponderance (M : F ratio,1 : 3). The CLL incidence was 36.4% of total leukaemias. The median age was 56 years with peak age group at 51-60 years while 15% were below 40 years. Major clinical findings include lymphadenopathy (91.7%), anaemia (58.3%), abdominal swelling (58.3%), and splenomegaly (50%) with 53 patients (88.3%) presenting as International (Binet) stage B and C while only seven patients (11.7%) were seen in stage A. The least clinical presentation includes Richter's syndrome in 3.3% of cases and herpes Zoster skin manifestations in two patients (3.3%). There was a strong association between the blood counts at diagnosis and outcome of therapy. The 2-year survival for young (<55 years) and older (>55 years) CLL patients was 27.2% and 28.9%, respectively, which is still very poor because of a number of strong limiting factors. CLL is not rare in Southern Nigeria and its presentations are similar to cases seen worldwide. Contrary to existing literature a female predominance was observed in this study with majority of patients seeking medical intervention late. It is therefore recommended that future research into the genetic make up/HLA typing of patients of African descent is needed to clarify some of the differences observed.     

Propranolol in acute migraine: a controlled study

Propranolol is an established agent in migraine prophylaxis. Uncontrolled studies have suggested an action in the acute attack. We present the first double-blind placebo controlled study of propranolol in 27 unselected patients with common (migraine without aura) and classical (migraine with aura) migraine. There were 23 pairs of headaches in the 14 patients who completed the study. No difference was found, when the data were analysed by headache pair or by patient, in severity duration and subjective assessment of efficacy between those treated in an attack with propranolol 40 mg and placebo.     

国际间合作遏制青光眼:2008年3月6日第一届"世界青光眼日"

众所周知,青光眼是全球第二位可治疗的致盲性眼病.作为不可逆盲的重要原因,其防治已成为重要的公共卫生问题,其在世界各国致盲眼病的排名不断攀升[1].尽管在发展中国家及发达国家,白内障和年龄相关性黄斑变性分别是首位的致盲原因,但在发达国家有一半的青光眼患者不知道自己患有青光眼[2],发展中国家中则有超过90%的青光眼患者对自己的疾病一无所知,甚至从未听说过青光眼.尽管对青光眼危险因素的理解有所进步,但对这一状况的改善并不明显.青光眼尽管可以发生于任何年龄,但在老年人更常见,其患病率随着年龄增长而增加.预计到2020年,全世界将有7960万人患有青光眼,其中1120万人最终可能发展为双眼盲[1].     

A simple monthly means chart system for monitoring sperm concentration

A simple, robust monthly means chart system for monitoring sperm concentration was developed and used in our andrology laboratory. The system relied on the central limit theorem to allow estimation of chart limits without resorting to data transformation procedures. Once the chart was drawn up, the arithmetic mean of sperm concentration was determined monthly and plotted. Monthly means which fell outside 2 SE from the baseline mean were investigated. Initial experience with this chart system suggests that it provides a simple and useful quality assurance method which should be applicable to other semen variables such as motility and sperm morphology.