Expression of the β‐adhesin part of HRgpA in Sprague Dawley rats induces a specific antibody response

The β‐adhesin part of the Porphyromonas gingivalis W50 (ATCC 53978) protease HRgpA was cloned in an eukaryotic expression vector and expressed in COS‐7 cells. The monoclonal antibody MAb (61BG1.3), specific for the hemagglutinating domain of β‐adhesin, recognized the expressed β‐adhesin in the transfected cells both by immunoblot and immunofluorescence. Sprague Dawley rats were immunized intramuscularly with β‐adhesin encoding expression plasmid and expression plasmid without β‐adhesin insert. Skeletal muscle tissue at the site of immunization in the β‐adhesin immunized animals was shown to express this protein. The immunization induced a β‐adhesin‐specific antibody response. Sera from the immunized animals were tested for hemagglutination inhibiting activity. Due to high natural inhibiting activity in all rat sera tested, no increased hemagglutination inhibition was detected in sera from the β‐adhesin immunized animals.     

Multivitamin and alcohol intake and folate receptor alpha expression in ovarian cancer.

Folate receptor alpha (FRalpha) expression in epithelial ovarian cancer may be related to folate intake. We examined this association using multivitamin intake, a proxy for folic acid, and assessed whether the relation was modified by alcohol intake, a folate agonist. Cases (n = 148) with suspected epithelial ovarian cancer, of ages > or = 20 years, were seen at Mayo Clinic, Minnesota, between 2000 and 2004; those with tumor specimens (n = 108) were included in analyses. Outpatient controls (n = 148) without cancer and with at least one ovary intact were matched to cases by age (within 5 years) and state of residence. Multivitamin (> or = 4 pills/wk) and weekly alcohol (> or = 5 drinks) intakes were assessed. Tumor specimens were analyzed immunohistochemically for FRalpha. Multivariable rate ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression. In case-control analysis, the RRs of multivitamin intake with absent/weak/moderate and strong-expressing FRalpha tumors were 0.30 (95% CI, 0.12-0.70) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.24-0.91), respectively. For alcohol, the associations were 0.84 (95% CI, 0.24-2.86) and 1.65 (95% CI, 0.69-3.93), respectively. In case-case analysis, the RR associated with developing strong-expressing versus other FRalpha tumors was 3.13 (95% CI, 1.14-8.65) for multivitamins and 1.58 (95% CI, 0.45-5.60) for alcohol. The data did not support evidence for an interaction between multivitamin and alcohol intake with risk of developing a strong-expressing FRalpha tumor. The association of multivitamin intake with ovarian cancer may depend on FRalpha expression level.     

Traumatic aortic transection.

Traumatic aortic transection is an uncommon but often fatal injury. It is typically a high energy injury and may occur in the multiply injured patient. This injury is often missed. There is evidence that airbags and seat belts protect against these injuries. We present the case of a patient who survived.     

C-reactive protein, leukocyte count and D-dimer monitoring after orthopedic surgery: early diagnosis of infectious or thromboembolic complications. Part two: does d-dimer measurement contribute to the diagnosis of postoperative venous thromboembolism?]

OBJECTIVES: To determine the modification in postoperative D-dimer level as a function of the surgical act and to assess the relevance of this measure for diagnosing thromboembolism. METHOD: A cohort of 179 patients was followed: group 1 comprised 128 patients undergoing lower limb arthroplasty, group 2 comprised 29 patients undergoing lower limb surgery without implant, and group 3 comprised 22 patients undergoing spinal or upper limb surgery. D-dimer level was systematically measured on admission and then once a week for 4 weeks. Doppler ultrasonography was performed on clinical suspicion of deep vein thrombosis. D-dimer levels were compared between patients with and without deep vein thrombosis. RESULTS: D-dimer levels were constantly elevated postsurgery (2- to 6-fold above normal) and returned to normal by week 4 in groups 2 and 3 but remained elevated in group 1 (3-fold above normal). Deep vein thrombosis was suspected in 45 cases and confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography in 10 cases. D-dimer level was not significantly different between patients with deep vein thrombosis and those without. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In the postoperative period, measurement of D-dimer level does not aid in diagnosing thromboembolism since its constant high level obviates any negative predictive value.