Development and Evaluation of a Western Blot Kit for Diagnosis of Human Trichinellosis

We evaluated industrially prepared Western blot strips designed to avoid the cross-reactions observed with indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays used for the serodiagnosis of trichinellosis. The antigen preparations were crude extracts of Trichinella spiralis. The Western blot profile characteristic of trichinellosis was characterized by comparing 60 sera from patients infected by Trichinella to 11 sera from healthy subjects, 51 sera from patients with other proven parasitic diseases (cysticercosis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidosis, fascioliasis, toxocariasis, liver amebiasis, anisakiasis, filariasis, toxoplasmosis, hydatidosis, or malaria), and 23 sera from patients with autoantibodies. Specific 43- to 44-kDa and 64-kDa bands were obtained with all of the sera from 51 patients with acute trichinellosis, in 4 out of 9 patients at the early stages of the disease, and in only 1 control patient, who had suspected anisakiasis and in whom trichinellosis could not be ruled out by muscle biopsy.     

Biopsy of breast microcalcifications using an 11-Gauge vacuum-assisted device: roles and challenges for the pathologist

Stereotactic 11-Gauge vacuum-assisted biopsy provides a valuable tool in the diagnosis of mammographically detected breast microcalcifications. However, this new diagnostic technology presents some limitations and requires a close collaboration between radiologists, pathologists and physicians. The aim of this work is to propose a practical approach in the management of large core biopsies and to summarize the different difficulties faced by the pathologist in the management and histological interpretation of specimens issuing from this device.     

Bi-allelic loss of function variants in SLC30A5 as cause of perinatal lethal cardiomyopathy

Perinatal mortality is a heavy burden for both affected parents and physicians. However, the underlying genetic causes have not been sufficiently investigated and most cases remain without diagnosis. This impedes appropriate counseling or therapy. We describe four affected children of two unrelated families with cardiomyopathy, hydrops fetalis, or cystic hygroma that all deceased perinatally. In the four patients, we found the following homozygous loss of function (LoF) variants in SLC30A5 NM_022902.4:c.832_836del p.(Ile278Phefs*33) and NM_022902.4:c.1981_1982del p.(His661Tyrfs*10). Knockout of SLC30A5 has previously been shown a cardiac phenotype in mouse models and no homozygous LoF variants in SLC30A5 are currently described in gnomAD. Taken together, we present SLC30A5 as a new gene for a severe and perinatally lethal form of cardiomyopathy.Subject terms: Cardiovascular diseases, Development, Medical genetics, Medical genomics     

Evaluation of the professional practices of physicians in transfusion technology and medicine]

The evaluation of the professional practices (EPP) is obligatory for all the physicians since July 1, 2005 for a first five-year period. It represents one of the components of the continuous medical training (CMT). The French Society of Blood Transfusion and National Institute of Blood Transfusion are the promoters of the EPP in transfusion technology and medicine. Initially, the programs of EPP will be conceived and controlled by experts and will relate to their basic activities. During a five years cycle, the physician taking part in a program must validate a specific action and take part in a rolling programme. At the end of the programme, the physician will receive a certificate issued by National Institute of Blood Transfusion and will have to submit it to a committee placed under the responsibility of the regional physicians' committee.     

内洋地黄素拮抗剂上调缺血再灌注损伤大鼠心肌细胞膜钠泵亚基的表达

目的： 观察内洋地黄素特异性拮抗剂地高辛抗血清对心肌缺血再灌注（MIR）损伤大鼠心肌组织内洋地黄素水平、钠泵活性、线粒体总钙浓度以及钠泵各亚基基因表达的影响，探讨内洋地黄素在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用及其机制。方法: 将56只雄性SD大鼠随机分成7组，每组8只。假手术对照组（sham）：丝线穿过左冠状动脉前降支，但不结扎；缺血再灌注组（MIR）：结扎左冠状动脉前降支30 min，再灌注45 min；生理盐水组（NS）、维拉帕米组（Ver）、小剂量、中剂量、大剂量地高辛抗血清组（ADA）：于再灌注前5 min经股静脉分别注射生理盐水、维拉帕米5 mg·kg^-1、地高辛抗血清8.6 mg·kg^-1、 17.3 mg·kg^-1、34.5 mg·kg^-1，容积均为5 mL·kg^-1，5 min内注射完毕，其余同MIR模型组。再灌注结束后，立即取缺血区左室心肌检测心肌匀浆内洋地黄素水平、心肌细胞膜Na+ K+_ATP酶和Ca2+_Mg2+_ATP酶活性、线粒体总钙浓度；分别采用RT-PCR及Western blotting方法和免疫组化方法检测心肌钠泵α₁、α₂、α₃和β₁亚基mRNA及蛋白水平基因表达的改变。结果: 心肌缺血再灌注损伤时，心肌组织内洋地黄素水平明显升高，心肌细胞膜钠泵和Ca2+_Mg2+_ATP酶活性显著下降，线粒体总钙浓度升高，钠泵α₁、α₂、α₃和β₁亚基在mRNA及蛋白水平基因表达均明显下降；维拉帕米除具有降低线粒体总钙浓度外，对其它各项指标无明显影响。地高辛抗血清呈剂量依赖性地显著降低心肌组织内洋地黄素水平，恢复细胞膜钠泵和Ca2+_Mg2+_ATP酶活性，降低线粒体总钙浓度，上调钠泵α₁、α₂、α₃和β₁亚基mRNA及蛋白水平的基因表达。结论: 心肌缺血再灌注促进机体内洋地黄素分泌增加，后者通过下调心肌细胞膜上的钠泵α₁、α₂、α₃和β₁亚基基因表达抑制钠泵活性，进而抑制Ca2+_Mg2+_ATP酶活性，导致线粒体内钙超载，介导心肌缺血再灌注损伤。内洋地黄素特异性拮抗剂地高辛抗血清通过阻断内洋地黄素的生物学作用，上调钠泵各亚基的基因表达，发挥其抗心肌缺血再灌注损伤的作用。     

Reduction of adhesion formation in rabbits by intraperitoneal administration of lazaroid formulations

Adhesion formation is a major source of postoperative morbidity and mortality. In this study, the ability of a variety of lazaroid formulations [the antioxidant 21-aminosteroid PNU74006F (tirilazad) and the non-steroidal 2-methylaminochroman derivative PNU83,836E] to reduce i.p. adhesion formation in three rabbit models was examined. In initial studies, PNU83836E was administered via Alzet miniosmotic pump to the site of injury. In the sidewall and double uterine horn models, PNU83,836E was administered via Alzet miniosmotic pump for the entire postoperative interval. In the sidewall model, there was a dose- dependent reduction in the area of the sidewall injury that was involved in adhesions. In the double uterine horn model, PNU83,836E was administered via Alzet miniosmotic pump to the area of injury for 1, 2, 3 or 7 days. Administration for as little as 24 h after surgery significantly reduced the extent of adhesion formation and the reduction was increased if it was administered for longer. Further studies were conducted in which various lazaroid formulations were administered as a bolus at the end of surgery. In both the sidewall and double uterine horn models, administration of either PNU83,386E (in citrate buffer) or PNU74006F (in cyclodextrin or lipid emulsion vehicles) at the end of surgery reduced adhesion formation. Administration of a bolus of PNU74006F 10 min prior to initiation of surgery with or without additional treatment at the end of surgery further increased its efficacy in the reduction of adhesion formation. Administration of a minimum of 1.5 mg before and after surgery (3 mg total) was required for maximal efficacy. These studies demonstrate that pre- and postoperative administration of either a steroidal (PNU74006F) or non-steroidal (PNU83,836E) lazaroid intraperitoneally reduced the formation and reformation of postoperative adhesions in three animal models.      

Prospects for a Vaccine in Allergic Diseases and Asthma

AbstractAllergen-specific immunotherapy is widely used to treat allergic diseases, andcurrent research is now focusing on the development of therapeutic vaccines actingon the IgE immune response following allergen challenge. The IgE immuneresponse is dependent on genetic and environmental factors; production of IgEresults from complex interactions among B cells, T cells, mast cells, basophils,surface and adhesion molecules and various cytokines. New vaccination methods under investigation involve allergen-specific ornonspecific methodology. Allergen-specific methods currently being developedinclude allergoids, passive saturation of effector cells, plasmid DNA immunisationand antigen-antibody complexes. The mechanisms of immunotherapy usingallergen-specific methods differ with the allergens and the route of immunisationused (parenteral, intranasal, sublingual, oral or bronchial). Many vaccines beingdeveloped at present comprise synthetic, recombinant or highly purified subunitantigens, which although they have increased safety may also be less immunogenic.It is hoped that the addition of adjuvants will overcome this drawback. Methods ofincreasing the dose of allergen while reducing the possibility of an anaphylacticreaction include the use of non-anaphylactic isoforms of the allergens, alteration ofthe tertiary structure of the allergens and construction of minimal allergen-derived Tcell peptides. Nonspecific approaches include humanised anti-IgE antibodies,moderation of the T(H)2 cytokine network and antisenseoligodeoxynucleotide therapy.     

The matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) 5A/6A promoter polymorphism is not associated with ischaemic heart disease: analysis employing a family based approach

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) has been proposed as an important mediator of the atherosclerotic process. The possible role of the functional -1612 5A/6A polymorphism of the MMP-3 gene in the susceptibility to ischaemic heart disease (IHD) was investigated in a well-defined Irish population using two recently described family based tests of association. One thousand and twelve individuals from 386 families with at least one member prematurely affected with IHD were genotyped. Using the combined transmission disequilibrium test (TDT)/sib-TDT and the pedigree disequilibrium test (PDT), no association between the MMP-3 -1612 5A/6A polymorphism and IHD was found. Our data demonstrate that, in an Irish population, the MMP-3 -1612 5A/6A polymorphism is not associated with IHD.     

Histological detection of minimal metastatic involvement in axillary sentinel nodes: a rational basis for a sensitive methodology usable in daily practice.

There is no consensus method for the histological analysis of axillary sentinel nodes (SN). This study aimed to (1) assess the rate of occult metastases in SN using large serial sectioning and immunohistochemistry (IHC), (2) evaluate whether occult metastases were predictive of metastases in the downstream axillary nodes, and (3) specify a methodology of analysis of SN that could be both sensitive and applicable in daily practice. One hundred three patients with breast carcinoma underwent SN biopsy and then axillary dissection. SN free of tumor at standard examination of one section were sectioned at six levels (150-microm intervals) and immunostained for cytokeratin. The number and localization of labeled metastatic cells (occult metastases) were recorded. In 29 of the 103 patients (28%), SN were found to be metastatic after standard examination. The SN of the remaining 74 patients were further analyzed using IHC. Occult metastases were detected in 35 of these patients (47.3%), leading to an overall SN involvement rate of 62% (29+35/103). In 33 of these 35 cases, the plurality and the dispersion of the immunostained cells implied that the screening of only 3 of the 6 levels would have led to the detection of diagnostic positive events. Only one of the 35 patients (2.8%) with occult metastases showed metastatic lymph node in the downstream axilla. In our series of axillary SN, the analysis of one standard histologic section and, when negative, of only three additional sections after IHC revealed >60% of metastasis or occult metastasis. Metastasis detected by standard analysis had a high predictive value of downstream node metastasis, whereas the predictive value of occult metastasis revealed by IHC was poor. The clinical significance of occult metastases in SN needs to be specified by long-term follow-up analysis.     

冠心病家族史青少年载脂蛋白E、B的基因多态性

目的 探讨青少年载脂蛋白E(apolipoprotein E，apoE)、apoB基因多态性对冠心病的遗传易感性。方法 应用聚合酶链反应—限制性片段长度多态性技术，对244名健康汉族大学生(冠心病家族史阳性者109人，阴性者135人)的apoE、apoB XbaI、apoB 3’可变数目串联重复序列(variable number of tandem repeat ，VNTR)基因型进行分析。结果 阳性组的e4、x^ 、VNTR—B(hypervariable element，HVE＞38)等位基因频率显著高于阴性组(P＜0．05)，且与血总胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白—胆固醇、aPoBl00水平升高有显著相关(P＜0．05)。结论 apoE的e4、apoB Xba I的x^ 、apoB3’VNTR的VNTR—B可能为冠心病的重要遗传标记。