A capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for species-specific detection of Bothrops venoms

A direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing affinity purified antivenom antibodies specifically recognizing the homologous venom, was developed for species-specific detection of bothropic venom. The method is based on a two-step affinity purification of the specific antibodies. A species monovalent antivenom is adsorbed onto a venom adsorbent containing heterologous venoms from the Bothrops, Crotalus and Lachesis genera. The species-specific antibodies obtained, are then adsorbed onto a second venom adsorbent containing only the homologous venom for the removal of non antivenom antibodies. Venom concentrations of 0.1 and 1,000 ng/ml were specifically identified for Bothrops jararacussu and B. alternatus venom respectively.     

碱离子水饮用后血小板聚集率的的变化(附30例报告)

目的:报告30例饮用豪斯牌碱离子水前、后血小板聚集率的变化。方法:饮用碱离子水前、后(2～3月,>3～6月)作比浊法血小板聚集试验,以1分钟、5分钟及5分钟内最大聚集率(Max％)为指标,同时检测部分血粘度指标及凝血因子,并用自动生化仪检测血糖、血脂、主要电解质及部分肝、肾功能。结果:饮碱离子水后,血小板聚集率明显下降,而以疾病组(Max>80％)下降尤为明显,P均<0.001。饮碱离子水后血小板聚集率的下降,部分可能与损伤的血管内皮得到修复有关。主要电解质及部分肝、肾功能无明显异常改变。结论:由于心、脑血管血栓性疾病患者血小板聚集率多明显升高,饮碱离子水后血小板聚集率明显下降,且长期饮用对主要电解质及部分肝、肾功能无明显异常改变,作者认为碱离子水使用方例、安全、有效、价廉,因而对心、脑血管血栓性疾病防治方面可能是一种积极的辅助方法,值得临床进一步探索。     

Diagnosis and surgery of brachial plexus injuries

The surgical outcome of traumatic injuries of the brachial plexus (BP) depends on the following parameters: 1) accurate preoperative diagnosis of cervical root avulsion; 2) time interval between injury and surgery; 3) delicate handling of the nerve tissue; and 4) postoperative physiologic training. This report is based on a 15-year experience in brachial plexus surgery and is supported on the grounds of two major studies. In a prospective study, the authors controlled for the reliability of preoperative radiologic diagnosis by myelo-CT and MRI scans for 40 patients, to evaluate the integrity of the intraspinal cervical roots after brachial plexus injury. Surgical inspection via a cervical hemilaminectomy proved the accuracy of 85 percent and 52 percent of CT myelography and MRI, respectively. Retrospective statistical analyses were carried out of the long-term surgical results of 54 patients with traumatic injuries of the BP who received a grafting procedure between cervical roots C5 or C6 and the musculocutaneous nerve. Patients operated on up to 6 months after trauma showed a better result than patients operated on later than 12 months after trauma (p<0.05). In contrast, grafting between cervical root C5 or C6 and the use of different sural-graft sizes to reconstruct the musculocutaneous nerve demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the final outcome.     

Platelet function abnormalities in a family with recurrent arterial thrombosis

Three young family members with recurrent arterial thrombosis underwent investigation for lipid or coagulation abnormalities. Lipoprotein electrophoresis, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, and routine coagulation studies were unremarkable. By contrast, testing of platelet function showed enhanced platelet aggregability to epinephrine and collagen in two of the subjects. In addition, release of 14C-serotonin by adenosine diphosphate and epinephrine was increased over control values in these same two patients. The third subject demonstrated decreased platelet aggregation and lowered 14C-serotonin release, but was symptomatic with rest pain at the time of testing. The ongoing in vivo thrombosis in the third subject may account for hypocoagulable platelets by in vitro testing. These abnormally sensitive platelets identified by platelet function testing may be associated with a familial "hypercoagulability" syndrome. Definition of the hemostatic abnormality in these individuals provided a rational basis for pharmacological therapy with antiplatelet drugs, which appeared to be successful.     

The use of tapioca as coverage in viral titration]

Virus titration is an important step required on viral vaccines quality control. "Plaque assay", which employs several types of overlay media, is usually used on viral titrations. In this paper we describe the use of Tapioca as an overlay media. Firstly, the toxicity of Tapioca was tested on Vero cells inoculated or not with the Yellow Fever virus (YF) 17DD vaccine strain. Secondly, different batches of the 17DD virus using the Tapioca and Karaya gum as the overlay on Vero cells were tested when higher titres were obtained using Tapioca. Tapioca was also shown to be a suitable overlay to be used in thermostability and plaque reduction neutralization tests. Other systems could benefit from the use of Tapioca as an overlay, since it was possible to titer Measles virus in Vero cells. Tapioca is a cheap Brazilian product, is locally available, easy to use, and reliable. Its use is suggested.     

Chronic immobilization-induced stress increases plasma testosterone and delays testicular maturation in pubertal rats

We investigated whether chronic stress, applied from prepuberty to early puberty, interferes with the spermatogenic and androgenic testicular functions. Male pubertal rats (40 days old) were immobilized 6 h per day for 15 days. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone, prolactin and testosterone were significantly augmented following immobilization, whereas plasma luteinizing hormone decreased and follicle-stimulating hormone was not altered. Acute immobilization (5 min) increased prolactin and testosterone levels in control rats but caused a significantly higher increase in these hormones when superimposed on chronic stress. A lower extent of testicular maturation was observed in pubertal rats immobilized from prepuberty.     

Reduced levels of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I and binding protein-3 in patients with shunted hydrocephalus

OBJECTIVE: Children with hydrocephalus are characterised by slow linear growth in prepuberty, accelerated physical maturation during puberty, and reduced final height. We aimed to study the possible roles of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) in this growth pattern. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and fourteen patients with shunted hydrocephalus (62 males) aged 5 to 20 years, of whom 17 had spina bifida (six males), and 73 healthy controls (38 males) were studied. Anthropometric measures, body mass index, and body fat mass were assessed and the stage of puberty was determined. Serum growth hormone and plasma IGF-I and IGFBP-3 concentrations were measured. RESULTS: The patients comprised 44 (26 males) who were prepubertal and 70 (36 males) pubertal or postpubertal, while 32 of the controls (19 males) were prepubertal and 41 (19 males) pubertal or postpubertal. The prepubertal children with hydrocephalus had lower IGF-I (p = 0.002) and IGFBP-3 concentrations (p < 0.001) than the controls, and the pubertal children had four times lower basal growth hormone concentrations (p < 0.001). There was a correlation between height SD score and IGF-I levels in the total patient population (r = 0.23; p = 0.01). Peripheral IGF-I concentrations peaked at pubertal stages 2-3 in the female patients and at stage 4 in the controls. The prepubertal patients on antiepileptic treatment, carbamazepine in most cases (73%), had higher IGF-I (p = 0.01) and IGFBP-3 concentrations (p = 0.03) than those who had never been treated with antiepileptic drugs, but still lower IGFBP-3 levels than the controls (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that reduced growth hormone secretion may contribute to the pattern of slow linear growth and reduced final height observed in these patients.