Time-dependent loss of surface complement regulatory activity during storage of donor blood

The survival of transfused red cells (RBCs) diminishes with time of in vitro storage in blood banks, but the molecular mechanisms underlying the slow but incessant deterioration are incompletely understood. To investigate the possibility that impaired resistance to autologous complement attack could play a role in this phenomenon, packed RBCs stored for variable periods were assayed for decay-accelerating factor (DAF) and CD59, two glycoinositol-phospholipid (GPI)-anchored, membrane- associated complement regulatory proteins that function physiologically to protect blood cells from autologous complement activation on their surfaces. Immunoradiometric and flow cytometric assays employing DAF and CD59 monoclonal antibodies showed that levels of both surface proteins gradually declined over 6 weeks. Digestion analyses with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, an enzyme that releases GPI-anchored proteins from cell surfaces, showed that DAF and CD59 molecules with GPI anchors containing unacylated inositol were preferentially lost. These findings suggest: 1) that DAF and CD59 molecules with acylated GPI anchors are more stable in RBC membranes than are molecules with unacylated GPI anchors, and 2) that DAF and CD59 loss may participate with other membrane alterations that occur during in vitro storage in compromising the survival of transfused cells.     

Striated intramural gallbladder lucencies on US studies: predictors of acute cholecystitis

Ultrasound scans of 51 consecutive patients with gallbladder wall thickening were reviewed, and specific sonographic features were correlated with surgical and clinical follow-up. Two patterns of thickening were identified as specific indicators of the presence or absence of acute cholecystitis. "Striated" wall thickening, consisting of several alternating, irregular, discontinuous, lucent and echogenic bands, was seen in eight of 13 patients (62%) with acute cholecystitis. This pattern was not encountered in any of the patients who did not have acute cholecystitis. Conversely, "three-layer" thickening, consisting of a single circumferential lucent zone between two relatively uniform echogenic layers, was seen in only one of 13 patients (8%) with acute cholecystitis but in 11 of 38 patients (29%) with other diagnoses. Other abnormalities, including the presence of intramural echogenic foci and wall irregularities, were more frequently seen in patients with acute cholecystitis but were not as helpful. Use of these features may suggest or help exclude a diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in those patients in whom the cause of gallbladder wall thickening is otherwise not apparent.     

Speech-controlled generation of radiology reports

Voice entry has been successfully employed to generate radiology reports with a word recognizer with a 1,000-word lexicon capacity. About 50% of reports were able to be dictated with a single 900-word lexicon. This was split into five sections by anatomic or subspecialty application. Each was augmented to 900 words. By switching from one lexicon to another, it was possible to dictate more than 70% of reports. With exclusive use of three lexicons in subspecialty areas (gastrointestinal radiology, neuroradiology, and mammography), and with further modification of the respective vocabulary, it has been possible to employ the system 88% of the time. Twelve percent of cases included wording that was beyond the scope of the lexicon. Computer subsets that allow different translations of some words when used in different contexts have been used. Some of these are used as triggers that will print whole lines, sentences, or even complete reports. Dictation times with voice entry take about 20% longer. Recognition reliability has been greater than 95%.     

Delayed hepatic CT scanning: increased confidence and improved detection of hepatic metastases

Fifty oncologic patients with suspected hepatic metastases were prospectively evaluated by dynamic sequential hepatic computed tomography (DSHCT) and by delayed iodine hepatic computed tomography (DICT) scanning. DICT scanning was performed 4-6 hours following administration of 60 g of intravenous iodine. Both techniques were evaluated for lesion definition relative to the adjacent hepatic parenchyma and for numbers of metastases detected. Metastases were detected by both techniques in 26 patients. Fifteen patients (58%) had lesions better defined by DICT. DICT scanning detected more metastases in seven of these 15 patients. In eight patients (31%), there was no difference between the two techniques in numbers of masses detected or lesion definition. In three cases (11%), metastases were more confidently identified on the initial or DSHCT scan. DICT scanning, as described, is useful in defining and detecting hepatic metastases, especially where there is questionable hepatic involvement or better quantification of size is necessary.     

Malignant uveal melanoma and simulating lesions: MR imaging evaluation

Twenty-one patients with intraocular disease were studied by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT). In 13 cases, malignant uveal melanoma was considered the likely diagnosis. Both imaging methods were accurate in determining the location and size of uveal melanomas. MR imaging was superior for the assessment of possible associated retinal detachment, for assessment of vitreous change, and for differentiating uveal melanoma from choroidal hemangioma and choroidal detachment. A case of retinal gliosis could not be differentiated from uveal melanoma by either technique. Uveal melanomas appeared as hyperintense lesions on T1-weighted images and as hypointense lesions on T2-weighted images. High signal intensity of the vitreous was observed in patients with vitritis and in those who were thought to have protein leaking into the vitreous as a result of impairment of the retinal-blood barrier.     

脊柱骨巨细胞瘤误诊1例

发生于骶骨以上的脊柱骨巨细胞瘤罕见[1],关于其CT表现仅见零星个案报道。我院误诊1例,报告如下。患者男性,20岁。胸背部疼痛2月,加重伴双下肢麻木10天入院。病史中无明显咳嗽、潮热、盗汗现象。外院X线及CT提示第5胸椎体结核伴椎旁冷脓肿形成。专科检查:胸椎活动受限,尤以屈曲位为明显,第5胸椎处叩压痛明显,局部无明显畸形及包块,剑突平面以下痛觉略减退,双下肢踝阵挛阳性,双膝反射、踝反射亢进。实验室检查:肝功、肾功、电解质、CEA、AFP及血、尿常规均无异常,入院时ESR:41mm/h,1周后复查ESR:16mm/h,2周后复查ESR:37mm/h。影像表…     

HLA‐C/KIR genotypes in oral lichen planus patients infected or non‐infected with hepatitis C virus

Oral Diseases (2011) 17 , 309–313 Objectives: Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and resembles graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) both clinically and histologically. The killer cell immunoglobulin‐like receptor (KIR) genes encode a family of receptors expressed on NK and T cells and are supposed to play a significant role in GVHD and HCV infection. The aim of this study was to analyze the association among OLP, HCV infection and variants in KIR gene expression. Methods: A total of 81 patients with OLP (36 HCV+ve and 45 HCV?ve) and 217 healthy controls (HCV?ve) were typed for the presence of eight KIR genes and of HLA‐Cw* alleles by polymerase chain reaction‐sequence specific primer. Results: There were no significant differences in the frequency of the KIR genes and HLA‐C1/C2 group alleles between cases and controls. We only found a significant difference in the frequency of the gene KIR2DL2 between HCV+ve and HCV?ve OLP patients. Conclusions: The present data suggest that OLP is not associated with particular KIR genes or with HLA‐Cw* alleles in patients without HCV infection. Contrarily, the role of the genes in OLP‐HCV+ve patients remains unclear and might warrant further researches.