Platelet serotonin transporter in coeliac disease

Abstract We investigated a peripheral serotonergic marker, i.e. platelet tritiated imipramine (³H-IMI) binding sites, which are part of the 5-HT transporter complex similar to that present in the brain, in 20 patients affected by coeliac disease (CD), as compared with 20 healthy controls. Platelet membranes and ³H-IMI binding were carried out according to a standardized protocol. The results showed that coeliac patients had significantly lower H-IMI binding sites than controls. This finding would suggest the presence of a dysfunction at the level of the 5-HT transporter that might underline the psychic disturbances frequently observed in coeliac patients.     

前庭神经切断术中内镜技术的应用

目的　探讨经乙状窦后径路行前庭神经切断术 (vestibularneurotomy ,VNT)控制梅尼埃病眩晕症状中 ,辅助应用内镜微创技术的方法及其减轻术中脑组织压迫和减少术后并发症发生率的价值和意义。方法　临床观察乙状窦后径路常规VNT( 12例 )与辅助应用内镜技术VNT( 9例 )的 2组手术患者手术前后症状控制效果、面神经功能及其听觉和前庭生理功能变化结果。结果　常规VNT组患者术后有 2例发生脑水肿 ,需行脱水、降压等处理 ;平均听阈上升>15dB者 2例 ;平衡功能代偿所需时间平均为 ( 2 9.0 0± 9.60 )天。辅助应用内镜的VNT组术后平均听阈上升 >15dB者 2例 ;平衡功能代偿所需时间平均为 ( 2 8.5 6± 7.91)天。 2组术后均未出现面瘫等并发症 ;术后 2年内再发作眩晕 ,常规手术组有 2例 (分别发作 1次和 4次 ) ,内镜手术组有 1例 (发作 2次 )。结论　经乙状窦后径路行VNT是目前普遍采用的一种较为方便、安全的控制或消除梅尼埃病患者眩晕症状手术方法 ,同时能保存听觉功能和面神经完整性 ;手术中辅助应用内镜技术 ,使该手术操作成为微创和安全 ,可有效地减轻对脑组织的压迫和减少术后脑水肿发生 ,未出任何由此而导致的并发症     

Ligation of CD69 induces apoptosis and cell death in human eosinophils cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Peripheral blood (PB) eosinophils rapidly undergo apoptosis and cell death in vitro unless cultured in the presence of cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in which their survival is prolonged for up to 10 days. CD69 is a type II membrane antigen expressed by cytokine-activated, but not freshly isolated, PB human eosinophils. We have examined the effect of ligation of CD69 by specific monoclonal antibody (MoAb) on the viability of human eosinophils cultured with recombinant human (rh)GM-CSF. Eosinophils were purified by immunomagnetic selection and cultured with GM-CSF (10(-10) mol/L). Eighteen hours after the start of culture, a panel of CD69 MoAb or controls (anti-CR3 or isotype-matched control MoAb) were added. Viability was assessed by trypan blue exclusion and apoptosis by morphologic assessment, DNA laddering, and flow cytometric analysis of eosinophil red autofluorescence. Up to 50% of the eosinophils had undergone apoptosis 48 hours after addition of anti- CD69 MoAb compared with less than 10% apoptosis for CR3 or the isotype matched control. The majority of apoptotic eosinophils excluded trypan blue at 48 hours post CD69 ligation. More apoptotic eosinophils were observed at later time-points and this was associated with loss of viability. At 120 hours post-addition of the anti-CD69 MoAb MLR3, 24% +/- 10.6% eosinophils were viable compared with 84% +/- 3.4% for the CR3 control (P < .001). A F(ab)2 fragment of CD69 MoAb P8, also induced apoptosis in GM-CSF cultured eosinophils. A more rapid induction of eosinophil apoptosis was obtained with CD69 MoAb immobilized via their Fc portions on protein-A coated plastic 96 well plates. Ligation of CD69 or CR3 resulted in the release of comparable quantities of eosinophil peroxidase at 48 hours post-ligation. These levels of EPO were consistent with the viability of these cells at 48 hours as assessed by exclusion of trypan blue. Finally, a neutralizing MoAb to TGF beta 1 had no effect on CD69-dependent apoptosis induction nor were there detectable quantities of TGF beta 1 in supernatants from GM-CSF-- cultured eosinophils ligated with CD69 or control MoAb. These results suggest that eosinophils cultured with GM-CSF can be induced to undergo apoptosis as a result of cell signalling mediated by perturbation of CD69. This may represent an important physiologic mechanism for eosinophil removal in vivo.     

Choledochal cyst with large stone cast and portal hypertension

BACKGROUND:Choledochal cysts in adults are more commonly associated with complications such as cystolithiasis,recurrent cholangitis,portal hypertension and malignancy,than in the pediatric age group.METHOD:We report a case of adult choledochal cyst with long-term complication of large stone cast and portal hypertension due to secondary biliary cirrhosis.RESULTS:A 50-year-old patient presented with obstructive jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly.On investigation,she was diagnosed as having a choledochal cyst wit...     

Congenital quadricuspid aortic valve detected on chest CT

A quadricuspid aortic valve is a very rare congenital anomaly, previously detected at autopsy, or more recently, on echocardiography. This case is only the second to be reported following detection on chest CT.     

A novel approach to controlling bacterial contamination on toothbrushes: chlorhexidine coating

Abstract: Purpose: This project was conducted to determine the effectiveness of chlorhexidine‐coated toothbrush filaments in reducing quantities of bacteria. Materials and methods: An Institutional Review Board (IRB)‐approved, two‐group, double‐blind, randomized, post‐test only study was conducted. Sixty‐four individuals utilized control and experimental toothbrushes, for 30 days. At the end of the study toothbrushes were returned and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Microorganisms were detached from the filaments by sonification and vortexing then plated on Mitis Salivarius (MS) (selective) and trypticase soy agar (TSA) 5% Sheep Blood (non‐selective) media. Inoculated plates were incubated aerobically for 24 h at 37°C. After incubation, bacterial colony‐forming units (CFU) were determined. Data were analysed using Wilcoxon and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: Fifty‐nine toothbrushes were returned for analysis; experimental (n = 31) and control (n = 28). Data from TSA media revealed a mean CFU for the control group of 5.41 × 10⁵ compared with 6.28 × 10⁵ for the experimental group. Data from MS agar resulted in a mean CFU for the control group of 4.32 × 10⁵ compared with 4.20 × 10⁵ for the experimental group. Conclusion: Results revealed no statistically significant difference in the quantity of bacteria surviving on toothbrush filaments between control and experimental groups, on both selective and non‐selective media, after 30 days.     

Homozygosity mapping at Alstrom syndrome to chromosome 2p

Alstrom syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by pigmentary retinal degeneration, sensorineural hearing loss, childhood obesity, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and chronic nephropathy. Features occasionally observed include acanthosis nigricans, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, alopecia, short stature and cardiomyopathy. We report here the results of a linkage study in a large French Acadian kindred, as a first step in identifying the molecular basis of Alstrom syndrome. Evidence of a founder effect made if feasible to use a homozygosity mapping strategy to identify the chromosomal location of the Alstrom gene. In a genome- wide screen, haplotype sharing for a region on chromosome 2 was observed in all affected individuals. Two point linkage analysis resulted in a maximum lod score of 3.84 (theta = 0.00) for marker D2S292. By testing additional markers, the disease gene was localized to a 14.9 cM region on chromosome 2p.