美国国家骨髓库20年回顾:成人无关供者造血干细胞移植

自1987年起,美国国家骨髓库(NMDP)提供了>30 000份URD-HCT,其中70%以上的受者是患有恶性血液病或获得性血液疾病的成人.在此期间发生很大变化,包括无偿捐献队伍的扩大、PBSCs采集、脐血库(UCB)的加入、HLA分型技术的进步、新药物的使用、低强度预处理(RIC)以及移植后免疫调节等.本文就过去20年NMDP成人受者HCT的数据及分析作一介绍.     

美国国家骨髓库20年回顾:成人无关供者造血干细胞移植

自1987年起,美国国家骨髓库(NMDP)提供了>30 000份URD-HCT,其中70%以上的受者是患有恶性血液病或获得性血液疾病的成人.在此期间发生很大变化,包括无偿捐献队伍的扩大、PBSCs采集、脐血库(UCB)的加入、HLA分型技术的进步、新药物的使用、低强度预处理(RIC)以及移植后免疫调节等.本文就过去20年NMDP成人受者HCT的数据及分析作一介绍.     

美国国家骨髓库20年回顾:成人无关供者造血干细胞移植

自1987年起,美国国家骨髓库(NMDP)提供了>30 000份URD-HCT,其中70%以上的受者是患有恶性血液病或获得性血液疾病的成人.在此期间发生很大变化,包括无偿捐献队伍的扩大、PBSCs采集、脐血库(UCB)的加入、HLA分型技术的进步、新药物的使用、低强度预处理(RIC)以及移植后免疫调节等.本文就过去20年NMDP成人受者HCT的数据及分析作一介绍.     

Increased transforming growth factor-β1 and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in rats with congenital hydronephrosis

OBJECTIVES: Most of our knowledge concerning renal obstruction has been derived from experimental animal models, and it is not yet well defined in spontaneous hydronephrosis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the roles of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and apoptosis in congenital hydronephrotic kidneys in comparison with experimental models. METHODS: We made histological studies on kidneys from 6-week-old Wistar-Imamichi rats with congenital unilateral hydronephrosis as well as surgical models of complete or partial unilateral ureteral obstruction. The severity of hydronephrotic kidneys was evaluated on routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained sections, and the tubulointerstitial fibrosis analyzed morphometrically on Masson's trichrome stained sections. Renal tubular atrophy was assessed on periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stained sections, and tubular cell apoptosis assessed with TUNEL technique. The renal TGF-beta1 level was determined by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: We observed a significant loss of kidney weight with profound compensatory growth of the contralateral kidney in rats with congenital hydronephrosis. Most of the hydronephrotic kidneys were markedly enlarged with dilatation of the collecting system, renal parenchymal thinning, tubular atrophy, interstitial infiltration and fibrosis. The renal TGF-beta1 level was markedly elevated in hydronephrotic kidneys as compared with normal controls (326.01 +/- 30.64 pg/mg protein vs 227.81 +/- 11.07 pg/mg protein, P < 0.01). The tubular apoptotic score in hydronephrotic kidneys was also significantly higher than normal controls (2.17 +/- 0.50/HPF [high power field]vs 0.14 +/- 0.04/HPF, P < 0.01). The increased TGF-beta1 and apoptotic status paralleled the histological changes of tubulointerstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Similar findings were also obtained in experimental obstructive models. CONCLUSION: In comparison with surgical models of partial and complete ureteral obstruction, our data provide solid morphological and molecular evidences of renal obstruction in rats with congenital hydronephrosis.     

Conformations of cyclic octapeptides

Stereoisomers of cyclo(Gly-Pro-Phe-Ala-Asn-Ala-Val-Ser) were synthesized. NMR studies of their solution conformations, focusing on peptide N-H solvent exposure, were made. These indicated that a single proline residue in the cyclic octapeptide ring is insufficient constraint to stabilize the backbone conformations that were previously established for cyclo(Gly-Pro-Phe-Ala)₂.     

Myocardial perfusion imaging with positron emission tomography and single photon emission computed tomography: frequency and causes of disparate results

The purpose of this study was to compare rubidium-82 PET withthallium-201 SPECT imaging in 150 patients. Both techniquesfollowed a single dipyridamole-handgrip stress, and images weredisplayed using the same 3-dimensional format and quantitativecolour scale. Coronary arteriography was employed to assignthe correct diagnosis in situations of disparity. Results of PET and SPECT were at least partially concordantin 110 patients (73%), although 22 had more than one defect.A reversible perfusion defect was identified in 60 patients,but the scans were concordant in only 20 (33%). These disparitieswere chiefly due to false-negative SPECT imaging (22 patients,55%), and probable delayed thallium redistri bution (13 patients,33%). No patients had ischaemia correctly identified by SPECTin the presence of normal PET imaging. Persistent defects wereidentified in 91 patients, some of whom also had reversibledefects, and the results were consistent in 54 (59%). Otherthan the delayed thallium redistribution group, the major categoriescausing disparities were false-positive (6 patients, 16%), andfalse negative SPECT (8 patients, 22%), attributable to attenuationand scatter. PET appears able to identify smaller, less ischaemic areas subtendedby milder coronary stenoses. The availability of a true restingscan with Rb-PET enhances the discrimination between ischaemiaand infarction. Attenuation correction, and the high energyphotons of positron annihilation, yield more accurate evaluationof inferior wall defects and greater specificity in the presenceof soft tissue attenuation.     

Metrizamide myelography: blood and cerebrospinal fluid response

Cerebrospinal fluid and blood were examined for immunologic factors before and after metrizamide myelography in 13 patients who underwent lumbar myelography and seven patients who underwent thoracic myelography. Clinical symptoms were also recorded. The results were consistent with a toxic reaction to the contrast medium, rather than an immunologic one.     

A Major Antigenic Domain of Hantaviruses is Located on the Aminoproximal Site of the Viral Nucleocapsid Protein

Hantavirus nucleocapsid protein has recently been shown to be an immunodominant antigen in hemorrhagic with renal syndrome (HFRS) inducing an early and long-lasting immune response. Recombinant proteins representing various regions of the nucleocapsid proteins as well as segments of the G1 and the G2 glycoproteins of hantavirus strains CG18-20 (Puumala serotype) and Hantaan 76-118 have been expressed in E. coli. The antigenicity of these proteins was tested in enzyme immunoassays and immunoblots. These studies revealed that human IgG immune response is primarily directed against epitopes located within the amino acid residues 1 to 119 of the amino terminus of viral nucleocapsid proteins. This fragment was recognized by all HFRS patient sera tested (n=128). The corresponding enzyme immunoassays proved to be more sensitive than the indirect immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, the majority of bank vole monoclonal antibodies raised against Puumala virus reacted specifically with this site. A recombinant G1 protein (aa 59 to 401) derived from the CG 18-20 strain was recognized by 19 out of 20 sera from HFRS patients.     

Strategies to prevent HIV transmission among heterosexual African-American women

Background  

African-American women are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 60% of all cases among women in the United States. Although their race is not a precursor for HIV, the socioeconomic and cultural disparities associated with being African American may increase their risk of infection. Prior research has shown that interventions designed to reduce HIV infection among African-American women must address the life demands and social problems they encounter. The present study used a qualitative exploratory design to elicit information about strategies to prevent HIV transmission among young, low-income African-American women.