Empirically derived pain-patient MMPI subgroups: Prediction of treatment outcome

Fifty-seven male chronic pain patients admitted to an inpatient multimodal pain treatment program at a Midwestern Veterans Administration hospital completed the MMPI, Profile of Mood States (POMS), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS), Rathus Assertiveness Schedule (RAS), activity diaries, and an extensive pain questionnaire. All patients were assessed both before and after treatment, and most also were assessed 2–5 months prior to treatment. No significant changes occurred during the baseline period, but significant improvements were evident at posttreatment on most variables: MMPI, POMS, TSCS, RAS, pain severity, sexual functioning, and activity diaries. MMPI subgroup membership, based on a hierarchical cluster analysis in a larger sample, was not predictive of differential treatment outcome. Possible reasons for comparable treatment gains among these subgroups, which previously have been shown to differ on many psychological and behavioral factors, are discussed.This paper originally was presented at the Fourth World Congress on Pain, Seattle, Washington, September, 1984.     

Application of Serum-Free Culture Medium for Preparation of A-NK Cells

To compare the differences between proliferation and cytotoxicity of adherent natural killer （A-NK） cells cultured with serum-free medium AIMV and standard serum-containing medium in vitro, and also observe the assisting effect of IL-12 on the activation and the morphology character of IL-2-treated A-NK cells, cellular proliferation was evaluated by MTT method in vitro. The morphology of the target cells killed by A-NK cells was observed through electroscope. All of the A-NK cells cultured in serum-free medium AIMV could rapidly proliferate and keep high cytotoxicity compared with that in standard serum-containing medium. A-NK cells activated by both moderate-dose IL-2 and IL-12 were superior to the high-dose IL-2-treated A-NK cells. These data indicated that serum-free medium AIMV could replace standard serum-containing medium for culturing A-NK cells, and moderate-dose IL-2 and IL-12 could reduce side effects caused by high-dose IL-2. The study provided a new experimental basis for experimental and clinical preparation of A-NK cells. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology.     

Quantification of HIV-1 p24 by a highly improved ELISA: an alternative to HIV-1 RNA based treatment monitoring in patients from Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire.

BACKGROUND: Quantification of HIV-1 RNA remains difficult to implement in Africa. Simple and inexpensive tests for antiretroviral treatment (ART) monitoring are needed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an HIV-1 p24 ELISA, which combines efficient virus disruption, heat-denaturation and signal amplification, in a West African setting. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-six HIV-1 infected patients from Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire, were tested for p24, HIV-1 RNA, and CD4+ count at baseline, and twice within 8 months after ART initiation. RESULTS: All patients responded to ART with a minimal HIV-1 RNA drop of 0.5 log(10) at first follow-up. Forty-one (47.7%) then rebounded >0.5 log(10) or persisted above 1000 copies/mL by week 24. The predicted baseline concentration of p24 corresponding to 100,000 copies/mL of HIV-1 RNA, above which ART is recommended, was 4546 fg/mL (95% confidence interval 3148-6566). A prediction model of virologic failure, occurring after an initial response to ART, correctly classified 84% of patients using baseline p24, p24 change on therapy, and achievement of undetectable p24 as explanatory variables. The model and further bootstrap evaluation suggested a good ability to discriminate between sustained or failing virologic response to ART. CONCLUSION: HIV-1 p24 and RNA based-ART monitoring in a low-resource country dominated by HIV-1 CRF02 AG appeared comparable.     

The trypanosome alternative oxidase exists as a monomer in Trypanosoma brucei mitochondria

The bloodstream forms of African trypanosomes solely depend on trypanosome alternative oxidase (TAO), for respiration. Similar to alternative oxidases (AOXs) found in plants and fungi, TAO is a membrane-bound diiron protein. Here, we investigated if TAO exists as a dimer like plant AOXs, or as a monomer like that of fungi. We have found that TAO forms a homo-dimer on a regular SDS-PAGE in the absence of any reducing agent and exists as a monomer under reducing condition. However, TAO does not form a dimer upon treatment of mitochondria with diamide. TAO was found as a higher molecular mass complex on a Blue-native gel after solubilization with digitonin. In the detergent soluble form, TAO activity was stimulated under reducing and inhibited under oxidizing condition. However, these conditions have no effect on the TAO activity in the mitochondria. Moreover, chemical cross-linking analysis revealed that TAO could not be cross-linked when present in the mitochondria. Together, it suggests that like certain other hydrophobic membrane proteins, TAO forms a dimer or oligomer when solubilized with detergents, and the TAO-dimer is SDS-resistant. However, it exists as a monomer in Trypanosoma brucei mitochondria.     

Suppression of the paternal IgA-f and IgA-g allotypes in heterozygous rabbits suppressed for the paternal IgM allotype

The injection of neonatal rabbits of genotype a¹n^{8 1}g^{7 4}/a²n^{8 2}f⁷¹g⁷⁵with anti-n81 antiserum suppressess the expression of the paternal f73 and g74 IgA allotypes; the expression of the maternal 171 IgA allotype is enhanced but the expression of the g75 allotype is not significantly enhanced. The concentrations of these allotypes in serum correlated with the immunofluorescent analyses of cellular ratios in gut sections. Allotype suppression of IgA with an anti-IgM reagent supports the concept that the IgM bearing cells are the precursors of the IgA secreting cells.     

妊娠高血压患者血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的测定及其临床意义

本文测定了３０例正常育龄妇女，２８例正常妊娠以及３６例妊娠征患者血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的水平，结果发现，轻度妊高生与正常妊娠相比，血浆中ＣＧＲＰＫ是有下降但不显著（Ｐ〉０．０５）。中重度妊高征与正常妊娠相比，差异有非常显著性，因此推测，妊娠状态下血浆中降钙素基因相关肽的减少可能是妊娠高血压症产生的重要原因之一。     

颈深筋膜及筋膜间隙的计算机三维重建

目的 :对颈深筋膜及深筋膜间隙进行计算机三维重建以显示其立体结构。方法 :用生物塑化技术制作薄层断面标本 ,在SGI工作站上 ,采用双线提取筋膜及间隙轮廓的方法对颈深筋膜及其间隙进行了三维重建。结果 :重建出咽后间隙、颈动脉间隙和内脏间隙及颈部的大血管和重要器官。重建结构均能单独显示、任意搭配显示或总体显示 ,可在三维空间位置上绕任意轴旋转任意角度。结构 :用双线法提取筋膜及间隙轮廓 ,能重建出筋膜间隙并能同时清楚显示间隙内的结构 ,为筋膜间隙的计算机三维重建提供了一种新的方法