Cytoplasmic expression of the CD3 antigen as a diagnostic marker for immature T-cell malignancies

The expression of cytoplasmic CD3 (CyCD3) was analyzed in 45 leukemias, five thymus cell samples, five peripheral blood (PB) samples, and ten cell lines. All T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALL) that did not express surface membrane CD3 (SmCD3) appeared to express CyCD3. Furthermore, the majority of SmCD3+ T-ALL also expressed CyCD3. Analogous results were obtained with thymus cell samples in that about 95% of the thymocytes expressed CyCD3 whereas 60% to 75% of the thymocytes also expressed SmCD3. In normal peripheral blood only prominent SmCD3 expression was found. These data indicate that immature T cells express CyCD3 only, that the combined expression of CyCD3 and SmCD3 is characteristic for intermediate differentiation stages, and that mature T cells express prominent SmCD3. All (precursor) B cell leukemias, acute myeloid leukemias, and non-T cell lines tested did not express CyCD3. On the basis of these data, we conclude that CyCD3 expression is restricted to the T cell lineage and can be used as a diagnostic marker for immature SmCD3- T cell malignancies. Therefore, we evaluated which fixative is optimal for CyCD3 staining, and we determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting which anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) can be used for the detection of CyCD3. In our opinion, acid ethanol was the best fixative for the cytocentrifuge preparations. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CyCD3 can be easily detected by use of MoAbs raised against denaturated CD3 chains such as those of the SP series (SP-6, SP-10, SP-64, and SP-78). In addition we tested 22 anti-CD3 MoAbs of the Oxford CD3 panel that were raised against native SmCD3, and it appeared that only four (UCHT1, VIT-3b, G19-41 and SK7/Leu-4) of them were able to detect CyCD3. In Western blot analysis all four MoAbs recognized the CD3- epsilon chain only.     

Co-activation: its association with weakness and specific neurological pathology

Background  

Net agonist muscle strength is in part determined by the degree of antagonist co-activation. The level of co-activation might vary in different neurological disorders causing weakness or might vary with agonist strength.     

Cross-cultural validity of four quality of life scales in persons with spinal cord injury

Background  

Quality of life (QoL) in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) has been found to differ across countries. However, comparability of measurement results between countries depends on the cross-cultural validity of the applied instruments. The study examined the metric quality and cross-cultural validity of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (LISAT-9), the Personal Well-Being Index (PWI) and the 5-item World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment (WHOQoL-5) across six countries in a sample of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).     

Similar fecal immunochemical test results in screening and referral colorectal cancer

AIM: To improve the interpretation of fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results in colorectal cancer (CRC) cases from screening and referral cohorts. METHODS: In this comparative observational study, two prospective cohorts of CRC cases were compared. The first cohort was obtained from 10 322 average risk subjects invited for CRC screening with FIT, of which, only subjects with a positive FIT were referred for colonoscopy. The second cohort was obtained from 3637 subjects scheduled for elective colonoscopy with a positive FIT result. The same FIT and positivity threshold (OC sensor; ≥ 50 ng/mL) was used in both cohorts. Colonoscopy was performed in all referral subjects and in FIT positive screening subjects. All CRC cases were selected from both cohorts. Outcome measurements were mean FIT results and FIT scores per tissue tumor stage (T stage). RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen patients with CRC were included in the present study: 28 cases obtained from the screening cohort (64% male; mean age 65 years, SD 6.5) and 90 cases obtained from the referral cohort (58% male; mean age 69 years, SD 9.8). The mean FIT results found were higher in the referral cohort (829 ± 302 ng/mLvs 613 ± 368 ng/mL,P = 0.02). Tissue tumor stage (T stage) distribution was dif-ferent between both populations [screening population: 13 (46%) T1, eight (29%) T2, six (21%) T3, one (4%) T4 carcinoma; referral population: 12 (13%) T1, 22 (24%) T2, 52 (58%) T3, four (4%) T4 carcinoma], and higher T stage was significantly associated with higher FIT results (P 0.001). Per tumor stage, no significant difference in mean FIT results was observed (screening vs referral: T1 498 ± 382 ng/mL vs 725 ± 374 ng/mL, P = 0.22; T2 787 ± 303 ng/mL vs 794 ± 341 ng/mL, P = 0.79; T3 563 ± 368 ng/mLvs 870 ± 258 ng/mL,P = 0.13; T4 not available). After correction for T stage in logistic regression analysis, no significant differences in mean FIT results were observed between both types of cohorts (P = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Differences in T stage distribution largely explain differences in FIT results between screening and referral cohorts. Therefore, FIT results should be reported according to T stage.     

Systematic review on the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence on the quality of sleep

Aim. The aim of the present study is to review the effects of caffeine abstinence on the quality of sleep. Background. Insomnia is a common problem and abstinence from caffeine is the most popular component in sleep hygiene advice. However, there have been inconsistent results relating to the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence in improving sleep. Design. Systematic review. Methods. We browsed several electronic databases and reference lists of articles about the correlation of caffeine consumption and sleep deprivation. We selected the articles according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Two reviewers assessed the quality of trials, which were selected according to the Jadad quality assessment scale. We included the trials scoring three or above in the systematic review and extracted their data. We assessed the heterogeneity of the studies before we considered whether or not to combine the studies’ results. Results. Three randomised control trials fulfilled the selection criteria among which two trials scored ≥3 on the Jadad scale. We included these two trials in our systematic review. The designs and outcome measurements of these two trials were not homogeneous, therefore, we did not combine their results. Instead, we conducted a critical appraisal. In one trial, caffeine abstinence was associated with significant lengthening of sleep duration (p < 0·01) and better sleep quality (p < 0·05). In another trial, subjects had less difficulty falling asleep on days when they drank decaffeinated coffee (p < 0·05). Conclusions. The results showed that caffeine abstinence for a whole day could improve sleep quality. Thus, health practitioners were recommended to include caffeine abstinence in the instructions for sleep hygiene. Relevance to clinical practice. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of caffeine abstinence in improving sleep quality. It provides evidence for the practice of including caffeine abstinence in sleep hygiene advice.     

Skin wound healing,ischemia-reperfusion injury and nerve regeneration: Similarities in the sequential events and molecular basis

Skin wound healing, ischemia-reperfusion injury and nerve regeneration are three important topics for the hand surgeon. The events and molecular basis for each of these three topics are very complex, and previous review articles have discussed each topic separately. The present review demonstrates and comments on the similarities in the sequential events and molecular basis among skin wound healing, ischemia-reperfusion injury and nerve regeneration.     

甲醛存在下阿米卡星的单扫描示波极谱法测定

研究了在Britton-Robinson(pH8.0)介质中,阿米卡星(AMK)甲醛衍生物的单扫描示波极谱行为,并对其电极反应机理作了研究。在选定条件下,AMK浓度在6.0×10^-7～5.0×10^-5mol·L^-1范围内与峰电流呈线性,相关系数为0.9998,检测限为2.4×10^-7mol·L^-1。方法无需前处理即可用于针剂、尿及血清样品中痕量AMK测定,回收率90%～110%,相对标准偏差小于4.1%。