Spontaneous disruption of mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery

We report a case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery requiring an urgent surgical treatment. A 62-yr-old woman presented with fever and dyspnea. Previously, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received right hemicolectomy and one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. On echocardiogram, pericardial effusion was noted and emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. CT scan revealed aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta and innominate artery, and thrombi surrounding those structures. Patch repair of the defect in the ascending aorta and ringed Goretex graft to bypass the innominate and ascending aorta were performed. We believe that this is the first case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery.     

抗人大肠癌单链抗体的构建、表达及其体内外生物学活性的检测

目的 将抗人大肠癌单克隆抗体ND-1(mAb)的VR和VL基因进行重组，构建和表达ND－1scFv，并对其在体内外的生物学活性进行检测。采用RT－PCR技术，从能够分泌mAb ND-1的鼠杂交瘤细胞中扩增VH和RL基因，通过重叠延伸拼接PCR在VH和VL基因间引入连接短肽，体外构构建ND－1scFv基因，并在大肠杆菌中表达。采用间接免疫荧光（IFA）EY IF工IMPG-1scFv的免疫学活性。用^99Tc^m标记ND－1scFv后，将偶联物给予荷瘤裸鼠，观察其在动物体内的显像及生物学分布。结果 SDS－PAGEW显示，重组蛋白Mr为30000，同预期结果一致。IFA及ELISA检测表明，ND－1scFv保留了与亲本抗体相近的免疫学活性，对表达相应抗原的靶细胞具有行异结合活性。体内放射免疫实验显示，^99Tc^m-ND-1scFv在荷瘤小鼠体内的生物学分布，呈明显的肿瘤积聚趋向，注入体内1h血中T／NT即在2．61。结论 获得免疫学活性良好的ND－1scFv，对荷瘤动物体内肿瘤的定位快速，准确，可望成为有效的肿瘤诊断和治疗的导向载体。     

男性抢劫罪犯的人格特征及其与父母教养方式的相关性研究

目的：通过对男性抢劫罪犯的人格特征，父母教养方式及二者之间的相关性的分析。探讨早期教育及家庭因素对人格发展的影响，从而为干预和预防犯罪提供依据。方法：使用“艾森克人格问卷”“父母养育方式问卷”对113名男性抢劫罪犯及97名正常男性进行对照分析。结果：EPQ显示抢劫罪犯的精神质与神经均高于对照组，而EMBU显示父母偏爱、拒绝，过度保护、处罚严厉等各因子分均明显高于对照组，而父母的惩罚、严厉、拒绝等与精神质、神经质呈显著负相关。结论，不正确的父母养育方式是人格偏差，以致于从事犯罪的危险因素。     

Chorioamnionitis and colonization of the newborn infant with genital mycoplasmas.

To study the role of Mycoplasma hominis and T-mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum) in chorioamnionitis, we obtained culture from 249 puerperal women and their babies. The placentas were examined histologically. Infants whose placentas showed inflammation (chorioamnionitis) had cultures positive for T-mycoplasmas more frequently (37.5 per cent) than those with normal placentas (19.0 per cent) (P = 0.021). Colonization with M. hominis was found in 16.0 per cent of the babies and was not significantly associated with chorioamnionitis. Material colonization with mycoplasmas was more frequent (73.4 per cent) and was not correlated with placental inflammation. We conclude that a substantial proportion of cases of chorioamnionitis may be caused by prenatal infection with T-mycoplasmas. The fact that these organisms are not highly virulent could explain the frequent finding of inflammed placentas from otherwise normal pregnacies. No adverse clinical effects of the placental lesions or of mycoplasmal colonization could be detected in this small study.     

Fryns syndrome phenotype caused by chromosome microdeletions at 15q26.2 and 8p23.1

Background: Fryns syndrome (FS) is the commonest autosomal recessive syndrome in which congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a cardinal feature. It has been estimated that 10% of patients with CDH have FS. The autosomal recessive inheritance in FS contrasts with the sporadic inheritance for the majority of patients with CDH and renders the correct diagnosis critical for accurate genetic counselling. The cause of FS is unknown. Methods: We have used array comparative genomic hybridisation (array CGH) to screen patients who have CDH and additional phenotypic anomalies consistent with FS for cryptic chromosome aberrations. Results: We present three probands who were previously diagnosed with FS who had submicroscopic chromosome deletions detected by array CGH after normal karyotyping with G-banded chromosome analysis. Two female infants were found to have microdeletions involving chromosome band 15q26.2 and one male had a deletion of chromosome band 8p23.1. Conclusions: We conclude that phenotypes similar to FS can be caused by submicroscopic chromosome deletions and that high resolution karyotyping, including array CGH if possible, should be performed prior to the diagnosis of FS to provide an accurate recurrence risk in patients with CDH and physical anomalies consistent with FS.     

Tetanus toxin fragment C expressed in live Salmonella vaccines enhances antibody responses to its fusion partner Schistosoma haematobium glutathione S-transferase

Tetanus toxoid has been used widely as an adjuvant. The atoxic fragment C from tetanus toxin (TetC) is potently immunogenic when expressed in Salmonella vaccine strains and has been used as a fusion partner for antigens (Ag). However, there has been no formal comparison of the immunomodulatory impact of TetC on its fusion partners. In this study, we have addressed this important issue. The protective 28-kDa glutathione S-transferase (GST) from Schistosoma haematobium (Sh28GST) was expressed either as a fusion to TetC or as the full-length Sh28GST alone in a nonvirulent aroA-attenuated strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The Sh28GST proteins were soluble and stably expressed in Salmonella, as evaluated by Western blotting with TetC and/or Sh28GST antisera. Mice were immunized orally with a single dose of the live recombinant Salmonella. The constructs were stable in mice but, dramatically, only the strain expressing the TetC-Sh28GST fusion elicited significant antibody (Ab) responses directed against Sh28GST as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An analysis of the isotype profiles showed that these mice also produced anti-Sh28GST immunoglobulin A and GST-neutralizing assays revealed high levels of neutralizing Abs in sera. These are important correlates of protection in schistosomiasis. In addition, stimulation of spleen cells from immunized mice with Sh28GST Ag showed that both strains, expressing Sh28GST alone or the TetC-Sh28GST fusion, were able to stimulate the secretion of Th1-related cytokines (gamma interferon and interleukin 2) to comparable levels. Thus, TetC has modulated the immune responses generated against its fusion partner, Sh28GST, by markedly enhancing the Ab responses elicited. These results have important implications in the rational development of live vaccines.     

Detection of early antibodies in human immunodeficiency virus infection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, and radioimmunoprecipitation.

A current concept of the serological response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in humans is that antibodies to core antigens (p55, p24, and p15) are detectable earlier during initial stages of antibody production than antibodies against envelope antigens (gp160, gp120, and gp41). Comparative studies of Western blot (immunoblot), radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) during initial antibody production are limited to case reports and have not resolved the issue. Thirty of the 37 participants who are part of a prospective study had at least one specimen that was negative for anti-gp41 but had one or more other bands on Western blot. Twenty-seven of these 30 specimens were reactive for anti-gp120/160 in the RIPA. Of the same 30 specimens, kits from Bionetics identified 2 (7%), ElectroNucleonics 4 (13%), Abbott 13 (43%), Du Pont 25 (83%), and Genetic Systems 25 (83%). All participants had evidence of serological progression by Western blot, including a gp41 band, on subsequent visits; the ELISA kits of all manufacturers identified these later specimens with greater accuracy. These data show that the RIPA detects anti-envelope antibodies that may be not detectable by Western blot and that the production of anti-envelope antibodies approximately parallels the production of anti-core antibodies. The false-negative results by ELISA would permit transmission of HIV by blood transfusion from donors in early stages of infection. The sensitivity of licensed ELISA kits should be improved to identify antibody as soon as possible after infection.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyanhydride for local BCNU delivery carriers

p-Carboxyphenoxy propane (CPP) prepolymer consisting of 4 units and sebacic acid (SA) prepolymer consisting of about 10 units were synthesized by reacting CPP and SA in the presence of excess acetic anhydride, respectively. Polyanhydride, poly(CPP-SA) copolymers were copolymerized by a melt polycondensation process with a mixture of CPP and SA prepolymer. Copolymers of average molecular weight up to 110,000 g/mol were achieved. The crystallinity of poly(CPP-SA) copolymers was decreased by the addition of the CPP homopolymer segment to SA homopolymer. Poly(CPP-SA) copolymers gradually degraded for period of 10 days. No large difference of weight loss observed according to molecular weight variation of poly(CPP-SA) copolymers. BCNU release from wafers fabricated by poly(CPP-SA) showed a sustained release pattern with no initial burst and delay of drug release.