Diurnal variation in urinary oxalate

The diurnal variation in urinary oxalate concentration and output was measured in 10 catheterised males. There was an increase in urinary oxalate concentration and output during the day and evening and an early morning decrease. It is thought that the daytime increase is related to dietary oxalate. These data suggest an elevated urinary oxalate excretion is more likely to occur during the day and a 24-hour urine collection may mask this effect.     

Prevalence of antibodies to Trypanosoma cruzi among solid organ donors in Southern California: a population at risk

Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas' disease, is endemic in parts of Mexico, South America, and Central America. Transmission of T. cruzi infection by solid organ transplantation has been reported in Latin America and recently in the United States. To determine the prevalence of T. cruzi antibodies in Southern California organ donors, 404 samples from deceased organ donors between May 2002 to April 2004 were screened using a qualitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EIA) and confirmed with an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) available through the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Six donors were initially reactive by EIA. Three donors were repeatedly reactive after repeat testing and were sent to the CDC for confirmation. One donor (0.25%) had an IFA-confirmed reactivity to anti-T. cruzi antibodies. In areas where there is a high number of immigrants from T. cruzi endemic countries, screening for anti-T. cruzi donor antibodies may be beneficial.     

Enhancement of human erythroid progenitor cell growth by media conditioned by a human t-lymphocyte line

Recent studies have shown that soluble factors elaborated by human T lymphocytes enhance erythroid burst formation by human peripheral blood null cells. This study demonstrates that media conditioned by a long- term T lymphocyte line augmented the growth of erythroid colonies in vitro in the presence of erythropoietin (Ep). ATCC.CCl 119 (CCRF-CEM) was derived from a patient with ALL of T-lymphoblast origin. Cells from the stocks used in these experiments maintained T-cell characteristics as determined by histochemical and rosetting techniques. Increased numbers of 16 day BFU-E were seen when Ficoll-Hypaque separated peripheral blood leukocytes were cultured in the presence of a 10% (v/v) concentration of CCL 119 conditioned medium (CM). CM increased the number of BFU-E even when Ep or fetal calf serum were not growth limiting. CM also increased the number of late BFU-E observed in cultures of nonadherent bone marrow cells. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells were depleted of E-rosetting cells, only small numbers of BFU-E grew. Addition of 119 CM increased the numbers of BFU- E in E-rosette-depleted cultures. CM from B-cell, macrophage, or other T-cell lines tested did not stimulate BFU-E growth as consistently. These studies indicate that CM obtained from ATCC.CCL 119 cells contained burst-promoting activity, one of the factors required for proliferation of early erythroid progenitors.     

Bacteria and gallstone nucleation

This preliminary study reports for the first time that there might be a possible association between bacteria and the aetiology of some cholesterol calculi. The gall-bladder biles from 225 cholecystectomy patients underwent bacteriological and microscopic study. Cholesterol calculi from 13 patients (10.2%) were observed to be associated with gall-bladder bile profusely infected with at least one bacterial species that was shown to possess beta-glucuronidase activity, an enzyme that is thought to promote calcium bilirubinate precipitation in bile. Concomitantly, the associated gall-bladder bile was 'high' in calcium bilirubinate precipitation and the precipitate was also detected in the centre of the gallstones. Moreover, in approximately half of these patients (six of 13), the cholesterol gallstones' nuclear areas also contained calcium palmitate, which is also thought to be due to bacterial activity. The results also support the hypothesis that bacteria with active beta-glucuronidase (for example, Escherichia coli) can significantly influence the aetiology of brown pigment gallstones. In contrast, bacteria were observed to have no role in black pigment gallstone formation, as their associated gall-bladder biles were always observed to be sterile.     

起搏分析仪测定的兔离体心脏损伤电流与主动电极导线稳定性的关系

目的探讨损伤电流(COI)与主动起搏电极导线稳定性的关系,为临床上判断起搏电极导线固定的可靠性提供依据。方法 Langendorff法灌流离体兔心,应用起搏分析仪采集并记录电极接触、半旋入及全旋入心内膜时产生的腔内心电图,观察COI变化特征,比较三者的COI持续时间及大小,分析COI与电极固定牢靠度的相关性。结果螺旋电极COI大小,即R波起始后80 ms时的ST段振幅(ST80ms)、ST80ms/R及ICEG时程随时间的延长而逐渐减小(P<0.01)。全旋入电极COI持续时间为30.05±11.38 min,半旋入电极持续5.49±2.41 min,接触电极则在1.04±0.47 min内迅速消失(P<0.01)。全旋入电极在大部分时点产生的COI最大,接触电极最小,半旋入电极介于二者之间(P<0.001)。COI大小与水平相匀速牵拉导线至脱离心内膜所需拉力呈正相关(n=24,r=0.762 5,P<0.001)。结论 COI大及持续时间长均提示电极固定良好。     

Risk factors for adult-onset asthma: A 14-year longitudinal study

Background and objectives:   Few longitudinal studies have examined the risk factors and natural history of adult-onset asthma. This study assessed the subject characteristics and lifestyle factors that predicted the new diagnosis of asthma in adulthood and how these factors changed over time in those who developed asthma compared with those who do not.
Methods:   The study enrolled 1554 adults from the Busselton Health Study seen in 1981 and again in 1994–1995 who initially reported never having had doctor-diagnosed asthma. Questionnaire measures were used to assess doctor-diagnosed asthma, respiratory history and tobacco smoking. Height, weight and spirometric measures of lung function were measured. Atopy was assessed by skin prick tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for adult-onset asthma and changes over time.
Results:   Reported wheeze, rhinitis, chronic cough, smoking and lower levels of lung function in 1981 each predicted asthma diagnosis by 1994–1995. Neither initial skin-prick reactivity nor newly positive skin-prick tests at follow up were associated with adult-onset asthma. Those diagnosed with asthma were more likely to have new wheeze, new rhinitis, new habitual snoring, weight gain and excess decline in lung function.
Conclusions:   Adult-onset asthma has risk factors that are distinct from those observed in childhood asthma. The presence of upper airway symptoms including rhinitis, as well as lifestyle factors, such as smoking, predicts those at greatest risk. However, neither pre-existing atopy nor new atopy as measured by skin prick tests was associated with adult-onset asthma.