Thoracic outlet syndrome: evaluation with CT

Diagnosis of the thoracic outlet syndrome is often difficult, particularly in patients without osseous abnormalities on plain radiographs. The radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) findings were reviewed from 27 patients with thoracic outlet syndrome and 21 normal subjects. The plain radiographs and CT scans were assessed by two independent observers without awareness of the clinical history. Fifteen patients with thoracic outlet syndrome had osseous abnormalities (anomalous cervical ribs; abnormally long, drooping C-7 transverse processes) identifiable on plain radiographs. CT did not provide further diagnostic information in the patients with abnormal radiographs. Eight of 12 patients (66%) with normal plain radiographs had abnormal findings on CT scans, consisting of impingement of the C-7 transverse process on the scalene triangle or anteromedial aspect of the middle scalene muscle. Only two of 21 control patients (9.5%) displayed this CT abnormality (P less than .01). CT may be useful in patients with symptoms suggestive of thoracic outlet syndrome and no osseous abnormalities on plain radiographs.     

骨髓间充质干细胞的分化潜能及临床应用价值

目的:观察人的骨髓间充质干细胞多分化潜能及在糖尿病治疗领域的价值。方法:实验于2005-07/2006-07在青岛大学医学院附属医院内分泌科完成。骨髓来源于非造血系统疾病的16岁儿童胸骨骨髓血(查体以排除造血系统疾病,结果显示为健康体质),经得家属同意。Percoll淋巴细胞分层液分离骨髓间充质干细胞,取第3代细胞,等密度接种于培养瓶中,经CD44抗体、CD45抗体、CD34抗体鉴定。取其第4代细胞,诱导其向脂肪细胞及神经细胞分化,利用碱性成纤维细胞生长因子预处理先获得巢蛋白阳性细胞,分别用两种方法诱导其向胰岛祖细胞的转化:化学物质诱导和共培养法诱导,免疫荧光检测胰岛祖细胞标志-胰十二指肠同源异型盒基因(蛋白的表达,电化学发光法检测其是否表达胰岛素)。胶原酶消化法获取胰腺间充质干细胞,鉴定,用添加碱性成纤维细胞生长因子的无血清低糖DMEM使其增殖。将胰腺间充质干细胞接种于底层已接种骨髓间充质干细胞的6孔板共培养,共培养法诱导骨髓间充质干细胞向胰岛祖细胞的初步转化。结果:成脂诱导及成神经诱导可获得油红O染色阳性细胞以及巢蛋白阳性细胞。化学法向胰岛祖细胞诱导后可检测到PDX-1免疫反应阳性细胞。共培养法诱导也可获得PDX-1免疫反应阳性细胞。新生儿胰腺具有巢蛋白、CK-19阳性的胰腺间充质干细胞,体外高糖诱导可形成胰岛样细胞团。结论:骨髓间充质干细胞在体外具有诱导分化为脂肪细胞、神经元样细胞及胰岛祖细胞的潜能。新生儿胰腺间充质干细胞向胰岛细胞分化过程中所分泌的一些物质对骨髓间充质干细胞向胰岛祖细胞的转化具有促进作用。     

Fingerspelling, signed language, text and picture processing in deaf native signers: the role of the mid-fusiform gyrus

In fingerspelling, different hand configurations are used to represent the different letters of the alphabet. Signers use this method of representing written language to fill lexical gaps in a signed language. Using fMRI, we compared cortical networks supporting the perception of fingerspelled, signed, written, and pictorial stimuli in deaf native signers of British Sign Language (BSL). In order to examine the effects of linguistic knowledge, hearing participants who knew neither fingerspelling nor a signed language were also tested. All input forms activated a left fronto-temporal network, including portions of left inferior temporal and mid-fusiform gyri, in both groups. To examine the extent to which activation in this region was influenced by orthographic structure, two contrasts of orthographic and non-orthographic stimuli were made: one using static stimuli (text vs. pictures), the other using dynamic stimuli (fingerspelling vs. signed language). Greater activation in left and right inferior temporal and mid-fusiform gyri was found for pictures than text in both deaf and hearing groups. In the fingerspelling vs. signed language contrast, a significant interaction indicated locations within the left and right mid-fusiform gyri. This showed greater activation for fingerspelling than signed language in deaf but not hearing participants. These results are discussed in light of recent proposals that the mid-fusiform gyrus may act as an integration region, mediating between visual input and higher-order stimulus properties.     

Commentary on the safety of red cells preserved in extended-storage media for neonatal transfusions

Red cells preserved in extended-storage media are the standard product dispensed by many regional blood centers. When the red cells are intended for neonatal transfusion, concern exists about the safety of the relatively high quantities of additives present in these media. Definitive studies to address these concerns are not available. Therefore, to estimate the effects of additives and to delineate circumstances in which they might be harmful, the quantities transfused in defined clinical settings were calculated, and the following recommendations are offered for transfusing infants less than 4 months of age. First, red cells preserved in extended-storage media should present no substantive risks when used for small-volume (approximately 10 mL/kg) transfusions of premature infants and can be used without additional processing. Second, the risks of the most premature neonatal patients or those with severe renal and/or hepatic insufficiency cannot be defined clearly, and, because data are not available to ensure safety for these infants, removal of the additive medium and resuspension of the red cells in saline or albumin solution immediately before transfusion are recommended. Third, following a similar rationale, it seems prudent to avoid using entire units of red cells preserved in extended-storage media in massive transfusion settings (e.g., exchange transfusion, cardiac surgery, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). In these settings, the preservative medium should be removed and the red cells resuspended in the fluid that is most appropriate for the procedure that is planned. It must be emphasized that these recommendations are based on calculations and hypothetical settings, not actual data. Accordingly, they are tentative and should be altered as definitive information becomes available.     

Transfusion-related acute lung injury caused by an NB2 granulocyte- specific antibody in a patient with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

HLA and granulocyte-specific antibodies have been implicated in the production of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). Reported here is a case that suggests that the patient's preexisting condition may play an important role in determining whether TRALI develops upon transfusion of blood products containing anti-white cell (WBC) antibodies. A 29-year-old woman with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) underwent an uneventful 1.5-volume plasma exchange, which was followed by the transfusion of 2 red cell (RBC) units. At the end of the second RBC transfusion, the patient developed clinical signs and symptoms of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema. Serologic studies demonstrated that the serum from the second RBC donor had no HLA antibodies but did have a granulocyte-specific antibody (anti-NB2) that caused the agglutination of the recipient's granulocytes, which were NB2 positive. Serum from the donor of the first RBC unit and serum from the donors of units used in the exchange had no HLA or granulocyte-specific antibodies that reacted with the recipient's WBCs. Because the donor implicated in this reaction had a history of 21 blood donations, none of which had been associated with a transfusion reaction, we suggest that the patient's preexisting condition played a significant role in this episode of TRALI, owing to the granulocyte-specific antibody.     

Neurotensin receptor-1 inducible palmitoylation is required for efficient receptor-mediated mitogenic-signaling within structured membrane microdomains

Neurotensin receptor-1 (NTSR-1) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that has been recently identified as a mediator of cancer progression. NTSR-1 and its endogenous ligand, neurotensin (NTS), are co-expressed in several breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer tumor samples. Based on our previously published study demonstrating that intact structured membrane microdomains (SMDs) are required for NTSR-1 mitogenic signaling, we hypothesized that regulated receptor palmitoylation is responsible for NTSR-1 localization and signaling within SMDs upon NTS stimulation. Site-directed mutagenesis and pharmacological strategies were utilized to assess NTRS-1 post-translational modifications in an over-expression cell model (HEK293T) as well as a native breast cancer cell model (MDA-MB-231). NTSR-1 palmitoylation was confirmed by multiple chemical and fluororadiographic methodologies. NTSR-1 glycosylation was confirmed by pharmacological (tunicamycin) and chemical (PGNaseF and O-type glycosidase) approaches. Physiological correlates including cell viability (MTS assay), apoptosis (caspase 3/7 assay) and ERK phosphorylation were utilized to assess the consequences of NTRS-1 palmitoylation. The interaction between palmitoylated NTRS-1 and Gαq/11 within SMDS was confirmed with immunopreciptation analysis of detergent-free isolated fractions of caveolin-rich microdomains. We identified dual-palmitoylation at Cys381 and Cys383 of endogenously-expressed NTSR-1 in MDA-MB-231 breast adeno-carcinomas as well as exogenously-expressed NTSR-1 in HEK293T cells (which do not normally express NTSR-1). Pharmacological inhibition of NTSR-1 palmitoylation in MDA-MB-231 cells as well as NTSR-1-expressing HEK293T cells diminished NTS-mediated ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. Additionally, NTSR-1 mutated at Cys381 and Cys383 showed diminished ERK1/2 stimulation and reduced ability to protect HEK293T cells against apoptosis induced by serum starvation. Mechanistically, mutated C381,383S-NTSR-1 showed reduced ability to interact with Gαq/11 and diminished localization to structured membrane microdomains (SMDs), where Gαq/11 preferentially resides. We also demonstrated that only glycosylated isoforms of NTRS-1 localize within SMDs by palmitotylation. Collectively, our data establish palmitoylation as a novel pharmacological target to inhibit NTSR-1 mitogenic signaling in breast cancer cells.     

Detection of meticillin‐resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in newborn infants using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Objective: Meticillin‐resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization on neonatal units is a common and important clinical problem. Effectiveness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting MRSA nasal colonization of infants was evaluated and compared to culture‐based methods. The effect of skin decolonization in affected infants was studied. Methods: Paired nasal swabs were collected from infants in our neonatal unit over a 12‐month period (September 2007–2008). Colonization with MRSA was determined with a commercially available PCR method and compared to culture. Results: A total of 696 paired nasal swabs were taken. Three infants were colonized at the beginning and were included. There were positive PCRs in 12 infants. Five infants cultured MRSA from a nasal swab at the same time. No infants were culture‐positive when PCR was negative (sensitivity 100%, specificity 99% compared to culture). PCR results were available within 24 h. Five infants were PCR+ and isolated meticillin‐sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. This organism gave a false‐positive PCR result. Two infants transferred in on broad‐spectrum antibiotics were PCR+ and negative by culture. Decolonization led to negative nasal PCR and culture in 4/5 infants to discharge. Conclusions: PCR methods are sensitive and specific for detection of MRSA colonization in newborn infants of all gestations with results 1–2 days before culture.     

Oral pilocarpine HCl stimulates labial (minor) salivary gland flow in patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Pilocarpine HCl has been shown to stimulate parotid and submandibular gland salivary flow. The purpose of this study was to determine whether this cholinergic-muscarinic drug also stimulates labial (minor) salivary gland (LSG) flow and to relate that with whole unstimulated salivary (WUS) flow rateS. Subjects diagnosed with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS-1; n = 9) or secondary Sjögren's syndrome (SS-2; n = 9) were enrolled in this study after meeting stringent enrollment criteria. An age-gender matched control group was also enrolled. The labial saliva was collected in a standardized manner on Per-iopaper® for 5 min and the volume was analysed by the Periotron®.Whole unstimulated salivary samples were collected for 5 min by the method of Mandel and Wot-man (1976).Each subject was dosed with pilocarpine HCl (5 mg; tablets; p.o.).After 60 min the LSG flow as well as the WUS flow was determined again as previously. The results indicated a significant (>180%) increase in both labial salivary gland flow as well as whole salivary flow in the SS-1 and SS-2 subjects (mean ± S. e.m.): [SS-1: WUS = 0.1080 ± 0.03 vs 0.2242 ± 0.03 ml per 5 min; LSG = 93.1 ± 22.2 vs 167.8 ± 15.9 μl/5 min; P < 0.001; SS-2: WUS = 0.1384 ± 0.02 vs 0.2775 ± 0.09 ml per 5 min; LSG = 97.7 ± 20.2 vs 182.8 ± 17.9 μl per 5 min; P < 0.001]. These results indicate a significant increase in labial salivary gland flow as well as whole salivary flow as stimulated by pilocarpine HCI in Sjögren's syndrome patients.