Hb FM-Fort Ripley: Confirmation of autosormal dominant inheritance and diagnosis by PCR and direct nucleotide sequencing

We describe a normal neonate who presented at four days of age with asymptomatic cyanosis. There was no evidence of cardiac or pulmonary abnormality and an extended family history included 13 other affected family members with asymptomatic cyanosis lasting one to three months. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and direct nucleotide sequencing of the proband's Gγ chain gene revealed the mutation at codon 92 (CAC→TAC) previously shown in haemoglobin FM-Fort Ripley (α₂γ₂^{Gγ 92 (F8) His→Tyr}). This is the first family with Hb FM-Fort Ripley reported so far. It demonstrates autosomal dominant inheritance of this condition and incomplete penetrance. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Should we screen for globin gene mutations in blood samples with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) greater than 80 fL in areas with a high prevalence of thalassaemia?

AIMS: To investigate whether it is worthwhile, in areas where thalassaemia is common, to screen for globin gene mutations in subjects with a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) above 80 fL, especially in partners of known thalassaemia carriers. METHODS: Blood samples from 95 subjects with MCV between 80 and 85 fL were screened for the presence of alpha globin gene mutations and the haemoglobin (Hb) E mutation. RESULTS: Thirty four subjects harboured globin gene mutations. Of these, 31 had deletions of one alpha globin gene, one had Hb Constant Spring, and three had Hb E mutations. CONCLUSION: Based on the above figures and known prevalence rates of thalassaemia carriers, it would seem worthwhile to screen for globin gene mutations in partners of known thalassaemia carriers, regardless of MCV, to identify pregnancies at risk of Hb H disease or Hb E/beta thalassaemia.     

Comparison of haemoglobin H inclusion bodies with embryonic zeta globin in screening for alpha thalassaemia.

AIMS--To compare the haemoglobin (Hb) H inclusion test with immunocytochemical detection of embryonic zeta chains in screening for alpha thalassaemia. METHODS--Blood samples from 115 patients with relevant clinical history and hypochromic microcytic indexes were screened using the HbH inclusion test and the Variant Hemoglobin Testing System (BioRad, Hercules, CA, USA). RESULTS--The HbH inclusion test was positive in 61 of 115 cases, three of whom had HbH disease confirmed by electrophoresis. The remaining 58 had alpha thalassaemia 1. All three HbH cases and 56 of 58 cases of alpha thalassaemia 1 expressed embryonic zeta chains, giving a specificity of 96.7%. Fifty four of 115 cases had a negative HbH inclusion test, of whom 50 had beta thalassaemia trait and three had iron deficiency. No diagnosis was reached for the remaining patient. CONCLUSION--The immunocytochemical test is as sensitive as the HbH inclusion test in screening for alpha thalassaemia. The presence of zeta chains is highly specific for alpha thalassaemia 1 incorporating the (--/SEA) deletion. The specificity and simplicity of the immunocytochemical test make it the test of choice in screening for alpha thalassaemia.     

Dynamic and static phantoms for evaluation of digital subtraction angiographic systems

Two types of phantoms were developed with which to evaluate the overall performance of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) systems. A dynamic phantom, called a "fish bone" phantom, consists of polyethylene tubes that simulate blood vessels with various lesions, such as stenoses, ulcers, and aneurysms. With this phantom, washout curves were obtained representing the relationship between iodine content and time. It will be useful for qualitative assessment of DSA images, evaluation of different image-processing schemes, and studies of blood flow analysis. A static phantom, called a "C-D" phantom, can be used for measurement of quantitative contrast-detail (C-D) diagrams and for daily monitoring of DSA systems. This was constructed of tubes of seven different diameters (2.15-0.28 mm) and 14 different concentrations of contrast medium (100%-1.1% Renografin-76 [meglumine and sodium diatrizoate]). The C-D diagrams were determined from an observer performance study using C-D phantom images obtained at four different DSA settings.     

Parenting Interventions and Secondary Outcomes Related to Maternal Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders can have far reaching negative impact on both maternal mental health and child growth and development. Multimodal group...     

The Development of a Multilevel Intervention to Optimise Participant Engagement with an Obesity Prevention Programme Delivered in UK children’s Centres

Prevention Science - Poor participant engagement threatens the potential impact and cost-effectiveness of public health programmes preventing meaningful evaluation and wider application. Although...     

脑星形细胞瘤中神经细胞黏附分子与PCNA的表达及其关系

目的 :研究人脑星形细胞瘤中神经细胞黏附分子 (neuralcelladhesionmolecule ,NCAM)的表达情况及其与肿瘤增殖活性 (PCNA)的相关性。方法 :收集人脑星形细胞瘤标本 48例 ,行SP法染色。结果 :正常脑组织NCAM全部表达 ,星形细胞瘤中I～II级、III级、IV级组阳性表达率分别为 95 % (1 9/ 2 0 ) ,3 8 9% (7/ 1 8)和 2 0 % (2 / 1 0 ) ,阳性细胞表达程度随肿瘤恶性程度的增高反而降低。其表达程度与PCNA免疫反应分数 (IRS)呈负相关 (r =- 0 .6 5 7,P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :随人脑星形细胞瘤恶性程度的增高 ,NCAM表达下调 ,提示NCAM表达减少参与肿瘤的生物恶性发展。     

The Liver Retransplantation Risk Score: a prognostic model for survival after adult liver retransplantation

High-risk combinations of recipient and graft characteristics are poorly defined for liver retransplantation (reLT) in the current era. We aimed to develop a risk model for survival after reLT using data from the European Liver Transplantation Registry, followed by internal and external validation. From 2006 to 2016, 85 067 liver transplants were recorded, including 5581 reLTs (6.6%). The final model included seven predictors of graft survival: recipient age, model for end-stage liver disease score, indication for reLT, recipient hospitalization, time between primary liver transplantation and reLT, donor age, and cold ischemia time. By assigning points to each variable in proportion to their hazard ratio, a simplified risk score was created ranging 0–10. Low-risk (0–3), medium-risk (4–5), and high-risk (6–10) groups were identified with significantly different 5-year survival rates ranging 56.9% (95% CI 52.8–60.7%), 46.3% (95% CI 41.1–51.4%), and 32.1% (95% CI 23.5–41.0%), respectively (P < 0.001). External validation showed that the expected survival rates were closely aligned with the observed mortality probabilities. The Retransplantation Risk Score identifies high-risk combinations of recipient- and graft-related factors prognostic for long-term graft survival after reLT. This tool may serve as a guidance for clinical decision-making on liver acceptance for reLT.     

Longer Term Outcomes Following High Tibial Osteotomy for Osteoarthritis: A Prospective,Multi-Centre Observational Study Comparing Tomofix and OPTY-LINE Devices

PurposeAssessing surgical accuracy and patient-recorded outcome measures for patients fitted with either the OPTY-LINE intramedullary realignment system or the Tomofix plate for medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO).Patients and methodsTwo matched case series of patients with symptomatic medial compartment osteoarthritis without other significant knee pathology. One group comprised of 19 patients receiving the Tomofix plate, whereas another comprised of 12 patients receiving the OPTY-LINE intramedullary nail. Patella-centred long leg alignment radiographs were assessed to calculate surgical accuracy in all cases. Patients completed knee injury osteoarthritis outcome scores (KOOS) and osteotomy surgery patient satisfaction questionnaires pre-operatively and at 24 months post-surgery.ResultsAbsolute surgical accuracy at 2 years post-surgery was a mean 4.2 [standard deviation 3.7] for OPTY-LINE versus 9.2 [SD 7.8] for Tomofix (p = 0.11, Mann–Whitney U test). On average, patients in either the OPTY-LINE or Tomofix cohort reported at least a minimal perceptible clinical improvement—minimum average improvement of 15—for all five KOOS themes. No significant difference in change of KOOS scores over time or patient satisfaction levels were observed between the two cohorts.ConclusionThe OPTY-LINE device for HTO performs to a similar level as the Tomofix device. Surgical accuracy data are promising for OPTY-LINE, but does not seem to readily translate into difference in patient-reported outcomes compared to Tomofix. Even longer follow-up periods, to measure survival rates, and true randomised trials on larger samples can elucidate if there is a benefit for using one device over the other.     

生长年限对滇重楼中甾体皂苷活性成分和生物量积累的影响

目的 探究云南重楼Paris polyphylla var.yunnanensis（滇重楼）根茎中甾体皂苷活性成分和生物量积累随生长年限的变化状况,以期为滇重楼的质量控制提供科学依据。方法 以7、8、9、11、12、13、14、15年生滇重楼为研究对象,采用HPLC法和直接称重法测定不同年限滇重楼根茎中8种甾体皂苷（重楼皂苷Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅵ、Ⅶ、Ⅲ、H、V和纤细薯蓣皂苷）含量和生物量。结果 8种甾体皂苷活性成分线性关系良好（R²≥0.999 5）,精密度、重复性、稳定性和加样回收率的RSD值均小于3%,验证了该方法的可行性;随着年限的增长,滇重楼根茎生物量呈逐渐增长的趋势,其生长发育可分为增长缓慢期（第1～4年）、增长快速期（第5～10年）和增长平缓期（第11年后）3个阶段,其中7年生滇重楼根茎生物量增长最快,平均年增长量达（31.843±14.225）g;滇重楼根茎中8种甾体皂苷成分含量在不同生长年限的变化呈随机波动、无规律,《中国药典》2020版规定的3个指标成分重楼皂苷Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅶ含量之和与8种甾体皂苷总和的变化趋势一致;用4个主成分对不同年限滇重楼药材进行综合评价,结果显示7年生样品在所有样品中的综合得分位于前7名。结论 建立了同时测定滇重楼中8种甾体皂苷活性成分含量的方法,可用于滇重楼的质量评价;滇重楼并非种植年限越长越好,建议以7年生滇重楼采收入药为最佳。