Design of a multiplex PCR method for detection of toxigenic-pathogenic in Vibrio cholerae

ObjectiveTo study virulence and regulatory genes (hlyA, ctxB, tcpI) in clinical strains of Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), simultaneously.MethodsThree important genes, tcpI, hlyA and ctxB were used for detection of toxigenic and pathogenic V. cholera by chain reaction assay method.ResultsAccording to the results of the PCR, the incidence of hlyA, tcpI, and ctxB genes in clinical isolates was obtained as 94.7% (72 sample), 90.8% (69 sample), and 92.1% (70 sample), respectively. Five strains possessed all genes except ctxB, six strains possessed all genes except tcpI, four strains possessed all genes except hlyA, one strain possessed only hlyA and 60 strains contained a combination of three genes, Including hlyA, ctxB and tcpI.ConclusionsResult show that this method could be reliable to detect toxigenic-pathogenic strains of V. cholerae in Iran.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection without cirrhosis

AIM:To investigate and characterise patients with chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection presenting with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the absence of cirrhosis.METHODS:Patients with chronic hepatitis C infection without cirrhosis presenting with HCC over a 2-year period were identified.The clinical case notes,blood test results and histological specimens were reviewed to identify whether additional risk factors for the development of HCC were present.RESULTS:Six patients(five male,one female) with chro...     

Minimizing femoral artery access complications during percutaneous coronary intervention: A comprehensive review

Major bleeding complications after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) increase patient morbidity, prolong the hospital stay and costs, and are associated with reduced survival. Transfemoral access is still preferred at many centers given its familiarity and ease of use and is necessary in cases where large bore access is needed. Multimodality imaging with fluoroscopy, ultrasonography, and angiography can facilitate proper puncture of the common femoral artery. A proper technique (which includes femoral artery puncture and vascular access site closure) associated with adequate pharmacotherapy (both during PCI and peri‐procedural, for the treatment of the underlying coronary artery disease) has been shown to reduce the risk of bleeding and vascular complications associated with femoral artery access. Avoiding the use of arterial sheaths >6 French may further reduce the risk of bleeding. Data with vascular closure devices as a bleeding avoidance strategy are evolving but when used appropriately may further reduce the risk of bleeding and vascular access complications, and in this regard are synergistic with bivalirudin. Randomized trials to confirm these recommendations are needed. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

补肾补骨汤治疗绝经后骨质疏松症的疗效及分子机制

目的:明确补肾补骨汤(BuShenBuGuTang,BSBGT)治疗绝经后骨质疏松症的分子机制。方法:SD成年雌鼠分为阴性对照组、去势组、中药治疗组和雌激素治疗组4组,12周后检测4组骨密度、骨形态计量学参数及I型胶原的变化并比较各组间差异。体外实验采用大鼠骨髓基质细胞的原代培养体系,加用不同药物处理后,用半定量RT-PCR方法检测破骨细胞分化因子和护骨因子的变化情况。结果:补肾补骨汤对SD大鼠上述3项指标的维持具有明显的效果,而且在体外可明显地抑制破骨细胞分化因子的表达和促进护骨因子的表达。结论:补肾补骨汤对于绝经后骨质疏松症有明显的治疗作用,是通过调节破骨细胞分化因子和护骨因子的表达和分泌而发挥作用的。     

Ontogeny of gonadotrophin and inhibin secretion in normal girls through puberty based on overnight serial sampling and a comparison with normal boys

We measured luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) by immunofluorometric assays and alpha-inhibin by radioimmunoassay in serum sampled every 10 min throughout the night (2100-0500 h) from 44 normal girls. Mean overnight LH values rose log- linearly from a mean of 0.2 IU/l in prepubertal girls to 3.0 IU/l in late pubertal girls. Log2 mean overnight FSH rose rapidly through early puberty and then remained constant; mean FSH rose from 1.0 IU/l in prepubertal girls to approximately 2.8 IU/l in Tanner III-V girls. Mean overnight inhibin increased through puberty, rising from 151 ng/l in prepubertal girls to 432 ng/l in fully pubescent girls. Within each of the first three Tanner stages, LH differed approximately 100-fold between the smallest and largest mean concentrations but differed <10- fold within stages IV or V. Such within-pubertal stage variability was less pronounced for FSH, which differed approximately 16-fold among Tanner I subjects and 4-10-fold at later stages, and for inhibin, which varied approximately 4-fold within each Tanner stage. The frequency of LH pulses during overnight sampling increased significantly during puberty, but the frequency of FSH and inhibin pulses remained constant. We compared the results from girls to those from 50 normal boys [Manasco et al. (1995) J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 80, 20462052]. At each pubertal stage, girls had approximately the same mean overnight LH values as boys; girls had higher mean overnight FSH, particularly during Tanner stages II-IV; and boys had mean overnight alpha-inhibin immunoreactivity approximately 1.5 times that of girls at each pubertal stage. Still, hormone concentrations for individuals of both sexes intergraded at each pubertal stage.      

Cytological clues in the distinction between phyllodes tumor and fibroadenoma

BACKGROUND:

Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) sensitivity in discriminating between phyllodes tumor and its benign mimicker fibroadenoma (FA) remains low. Because a preoperative categorization of phyllodes tumor is crucial for their appropriate management, the authors undertook this study in an effort to improve the outcome of FNA by identifying reliable distinguishing features.

METHODS:

FNA smears from 15 and 12 histologically proven cases of phyllodes tumor and FA, respectively, were reviewed. The stromal and epithelial components were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. A group of cytological features that may distinguish between phyllodes tumor and FA were identified. Their value and reproducibility in categorizing phyllodes tumor cases were tested.

RESULTS:

Three major cytological features were exclusively seen in all of, or the vast majority of, the phyllodes tumor cases; fibromyxoid stromal fragments with spindle nuclei (90%), fibroblastic pavements (93%), and appreciable number of spindles cells of fibroblastic nature among dispersed cell population (100%). The identification of these features improved the pick‐up rate of phyllodes tumor from 40% to 100% and had substantial (κ = 0.56‐0.73) interobserver and almost perfect (κ = 0.83) intraobserver reproducibility. There was no significant difference in the epithelial component characteristics between phyllodes tumor and FA. The frequency and degree of atypia in the dispersed cell population correlated well to the histological grade of phyllodes tumor.

CONCLUSIONS:

FNA has proven to be a reliable test in differentiating between phyllodes tumor and FA with high sensitivity and good reproducibility. The importance of training and continuing education is emphasized. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.