Aprotinin does not inhibit the release of PGI2 or vWF from cultured human endothelial cells.

The release of prostacyclin (PGI2) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was examined to determine if aprotinin had any effects on these endothelial cell reactions. These end-points were chosen to indicate if this serine protease inhibitor caused alterations in the control of haemostatic function by endothelium, in the light of the improvement in haemostasis seen in patients given aprotinin therapy at the time of open heart surgery. Stimuli used to promote secretion of prostacyclin and vWF were human alpha-thrombin, histamine, protamine sulphate, poly-L-lysine and phorbol myristate acetate. Aprotinin (30 microMs) had no significant effect on the basal or stimulated release of PGI2 or vWF from HUVEC.     

Surface topography of enamel and dentine from primary teeth following infrared Nd-YAG laser irradiation: An in vitro study

Data on the effects of laser radiation on primary teeth are scarce. This study investigates the effects of exposing sound enamel, photo-initiated sound enamel, sound dentine and carious dentine of extracted primary teeth to a pulsed neodymium-yttrium aluminium garnet laser (Nd-YAG, wavelength 1.06 μm, pulse length 15μs). Each type of tissue was exposed to three fiuences. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of the irradiated areas revealed that the most marked changes were produced in carious dentine, followed in ranking order by sound dentine, photo-initiated enamel and sound enamel. Evidence of thermal damage to the hard tissues peripheral to the fibre-optic tip, and considerable inter-sample variation were found. The experimental evidence obtained in this in vitro study does not support the clinical use of pulsed laser at 1.06 μm wavelength for cutting primary enamel and dentine.     

Establishment and characterization of a chronic infectious mononucleosislike syndrome in common marmosets

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was inoculated into two species of marmosets. Successful infection was established in the majority of the animals of one species, Callithrix jacchus, as evidenced by the development of high, persistent levels of antibody against virus-specific capsid and early nonstructural proteins. Antibodies also were produced against the major membrane antigen and, in some animals, against EBV nuclear antigen (EBNA) 2 but not against EBNA 1. This is the antibody profile normally noted in individuals with chronic infectious mononucleosis (IM). EBV-induced lymphoproliferation was not seen, and EBV-specific proteins were not detected in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of infected animals. Hence, EBV infection in C. jacchus apparently does not generally include extensive B-cell involvement. However, the marmosets clearly are useful as a model for EBV primary infection and also possibly for chronic IM.     

Terminal coma affects messenger RNA detection in post mortem human temporal cortex.

In situ hybridization histochemistry has been used to study the amount of M1 muscarinic receptor mRNA in temporal cortex from subjects with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, where the duration of terminal coma was known. Total polyadenylated mRNA and glutamate decarboxylase activity were also measured. Both muscarinic receptor mRNA and enzyme activity showed a significant decline with increasing duration of terminal coma, but were not related to diagnosis. Polyadenylated mRNA signal did not show an association with coma. These data indicate the need to consider the nature of the terminal illness in post mortem studies of mRNA as well as for neurochemical research.     

Antenatal Screening for HPA-la by Flow Cytometry

Summary: regnant women who attended antenatal clinics at King George V Hospital, the Birth Centre or were referred by obstetricians from February to July. 1996 were screened for the platelet antigen HPA-la by flow cytometry. Forty out of 2300 (1.7%) were found to be negative for this antigen . Of the 28 women followed throughout their pregnancy, none developed antibody to HPA-la. Platelet counts performed on samples from 17 babies born to 17 of these mothers were all normal. This study proves the simplicity and rapidity of flow cytometry for platelet antigen screening. The results were comparable with the Solid Phase Red Cell Adherence (SPRCA) method and with PCR. The lack of a plentiful supply of specific antibody and the rarity of fetomaternai alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FMAIT) argue against the introduction of routine screening for maternal HPA-la status at the present time.     

The relevance of Chlamydia trachomatis in acute epididymitis in young men

Young men presenting to a General Surgical Unit with acute epididymitis underwent microbiological investigation, including culture for Chlamydia trachomatis. The results were compared with similar investigations in an asymptomatic control population and with patients presenting to the Department of Genito-urinary Medicine with urethral discharge. Chlamydia trachomatis was cultured from 15% of patients with acute epididymitis and a further 15% had serological evidence of exposure to Chlamydia. Nearly 50% of patients attending the Genito-urinary clinic grew Chlamydia from the urethra. The background prevalence of Chlamydia in the control population was low. It is necessary to identify the significant minority of young men with acute epididymitis associated with chlamydial infection, because of the risk of pelvic inflammation and infertility in their female partners. At present this can only be achieved by submitting all young men with acute epididymitis to full microbiological investigation.