Preservation of biomolecules in breast cancer tissue by a formalin-free histology system

Background  

The potential problems associated with the use of formalin in histology, such as health hazards, degradation of RNA and cross-linking of proteins are well recognized. We describe the utilization of a formalin-free fixation and processing system for tissue detection of two important biopredictors in breast cancer – estrogen receptor and HER2 – at the RNA and protein levels.     

Comparative evaluation of two combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccines based on AIK and Edmonston- Zagreb strains of measles virus.

In a previous paper, we have noticed the effectiveness of two further attenuated measles vaccines, i.e. AIK-HDC and Edmonston- Zagreb- HDC. In the present study the same strains are comparatively used for immunization of a limited number of children under 9 months of age. A seroconversion of 100% was observed. Following reimmunization, a significant increase of circulating antibodies for both strains was recorded. Two combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines were also produced by using the same measles strains. The seroconversion following utilisation of MMR prophylactics in susceptible children was 98.8 and 97.3 for AIK and Edmonston- Zagreb strains respectively.     

黄柏及中成药中小檗碱和巴马亭的高效液相色谱法测定

本文以正相高效液相色谱法,用窗口图解技术对色谱条件进行了优化。对黄柏及其中成药中的有效成分——小檗碱、巴马亭的提取、测定条件、标准曲线进行了研究。并对两种含黄柏的中成药样品进行了分析。其中小檗碱的回收率均在97%以上,巴马亭的回收率均在96%以上。     

安宫牛黄丸中小檗碱的HPLC法测定

本文报道用HPLC法测定黄连及含黄连中成药安宫牛黄丸中小檗碱型生物碱。实验结果表明选用硅胶柱为固定相,以醋酸乙酯—甲酸—乙醇(15:3:2)为流动相,能使样品中四种小檗碱型的生物碱获得最佳分离。用此法测得不同厂家生产的安宫牛黄丸中盐酸小檗碱的含量为0.331～0.456%,平均回收率为97.23%,变异系数为1.2%。     

Assessment of workers' exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons in a paint industry.

A factory survey was conducted in a paint industry in Tehran-Iran. The time-weighted average of toluene and xylene concentration in breathing zone and environmental air were monitored by charcoal tube samplers and GC-FID. The results showed that the tank cleaners had the highest exposure to toluene and xylene (1.5-5.4 times of TLV), while the workers in packaging workshops had the lowest. However, environmental concentration did not show significant differences in workshops and their levels were all lower than the TLV.     

Patient phenotypes associated with outcome following surgery for mild degenerative cervical myelopathy: a principal component regression analysis

Background Context

Predictors of outcome after surgery for degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) have been determined previously through hypothesis-driven multivariate statistical models that rely on a priori knowledge of potential confounders, exclude potentially important variables because of restrictions in model building, cannot include highly collinear variables in the same model, and ignore intrinsic correlations among variables.

CRUSH SYNDROME: A HAZARD OF PROLONGED BUS JOURNEYS

SUMMARY Compartment syndrome is a devastating condition, with a high morbidity if it goes unrecognised. We describe a case that progressed to muscle ischaemia and crush syndrome in a man undergoing a prolonged bus journey while under the influence of alcohol — an unusual presentation whose outcome is dependent on early recognition.     

Plasmodium vivax: a cause of malnutrition in young children

We studied the aetiology of malnutrition in a cohort of 1511 children < 10 years old in Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. Malnutrition was categorized using standard anthropometric criteria as: underweight [weight-for-age (WA) Z score < -2], wasting [weight-for-height (WH) Z < -2], or stunting [height-for-age (HA) Z < -2]. On multiple logistic regression analysis, the only factors significantly associated with wasting were age < 5 years [OR (95% CI) 1.8 (1.2-2.9), p = 0.01] and having suffered one or more episodes of clinical P. vivax malaria in the 6 months preceding nutritional assessment [OR 2.4 (1.3-4.4), p = 0.006]. The incidence of P. vivax infection was significantly higher during the 6 months preceding assessment in underweight vs. non-underweight children [incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.6 (1.5-4.4), p < or = 0.0001). These groups had similar incidences of clinical P. falciparum infection during the same period [IRR 1.1 (0.57-2.1) p = 0.8] and of either species during the 6 months following assessment [IRR P. vivax 1.3 (0.9- 2.0) p = 0.2; IRR P. falciparum 1.3 (0.9-1.9) p = 0.2]. In these children, P. vivax malaria was a major predictor of acute malnutrition; P. falciparum was not. Wasting neither predisposed to nor protected against malaria of either species. Although P. vivax malaria is generally regarded as benign, it may produce considerable global mortality through malnutrition.      

Adverse reactions in blood donors with a history of seizures or epilepsy

BACKGROUND: Individuals with epilepsy or seizure disorders are restricted from donating blood because of concern that they are prone to adverse donor reactions such as syncope and convulsions. A study evaluating whether that concern is warranted is reported. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: During a 2-year period beginning in 1987, blood donors in Maryland with a history of seizures were actively recruited by the American Red Cross. Adverse donor reactions were classified as "slight", indicating dizziness and nausea without loss of consciousness; "moderate," denoting syncope; and "severe," indicating convulsive syncope. RESULTS: There were 329,143 satisfactory blood donations; 613 individuals reporting a history of seizures donated blood a total of 723 times. Among donors with seizures, 186 (35.7%) were taking antiepileptic medication, and 61 (8.4%) had had one or more seizures in the preceding year. Individuals with seizures had a low incidence of adverse reactions (3.34%). Although this incidence was slightly higher than that in the entire population (2.24%), the difference was not significant. In particular, the risk of syncope with or without convulsive activity was low for people with seizures (0.21%) and not significantly greater than that in other donors (0.28%). CONCLUSION: Individuals with seizures or epilepsy are not at greater risk for adverse reactions after blood donation, and major restrictions on their participation as blood donors are not warranted.