Detection of HIV-1 DNA in Leukocytes Using a Commercially Available Assay

Recently, an assay for detection of proviral HIV-1 DNA in leukocytes became commercially available. This assay (Amplicor HIV-1 test, Roche Diagnostic Systems) multiplies HIV-1 DNA up to a detectable level, using the polymerase chain reaction. We studied performance of this assay on 74 samples from HIV-1-infected patients and on 41 samples from healthy blood donors. Twice a negative control sample appeared to be erroneously reactive. However, sensitivity and specificity on the patient and donor samples both were 100%. To avoid false-positive results, we advise to repeat initially reactive samples if no other data confirm HIV-infection.     

食管超声多普勒监测急性高容量血液稀释对血液动力学的影响

目的　应用经食管超声多普勒血液动力学监测仪 ,观察全麻下急性高容量血液稀释(HHD)的血液动力学和氧供 (DO2 )变化。方法　选择 1 5例ASAI～II级择期行非心脏手术患者。麻醉诱导插管后持续监测心输出量 (CO)、每搏量 (SV)、心脏指数 (CI)、血流峰速度 (PV)、血流加速度(Acc)和左室射血时间指数 (LVETi) ,每隔 5分钟输入MAP值后计算出系统血管阻力 (SVR)值。麻醉平稳和各项监测完成后 1 0min ,在 30min内输注 6 %羟乙基淀粉 (HES) 2 0ml/kg。记录 6 %HES输注前、输注 1 5和 30min时的各项监测数据 ,并抽取动脉血液样本行血气分析并计算DO2 。结果　与HHD前相比 ,血气各参数 (pH、PaO2 、PaCO2 、BE)均无明显差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ,而 6 %HES输注 1 5和30min血红蛋白 (Hb)含量、红细胞比积 (Hct)均明显下降 (P <0 0 5和P <0 0 1 )。 6 %HES输注 1 5和 30min时的CaO2 比HHD前明显下降 (P <0 0 5 ) ,而DO2 显著增加 (P <0 0 5 )。与HHD前测量值相比 ,6 %HES输注 1 5min ,CO、SV、CI、PV和Acc明显升高 ,SVR显著降低 (P <0 0 5 ) ;6 %HES输注 30min ,SV、PV和Acc进一步升高 (P <0 0 1 ) ,而CO、CI和SVR与 6 %HES输注 1 5min时无明显变化。MAP、HR和LVETi在HHD期间无明显变化。结论　术前输注 6 %HES 2 0ml     

Molecular genetic studies in alpha-thalassemia]

A group of 5,000 patients, suspected of haemolytic anaemia, were investigated with molecular genetic methods for deletion types of alpha-thalassemia. In 776 (15.6%) patients a deletion of one or more alpha-globin genes was found. The same group of patients was also investigated for abnormal haemoglobins and beta-thalassaemia. In about 30% of the patients either an alpha-thalassaemia, an abnormal haemoglobin, a beta-thalassaemia, or a combination was diagnosed. In a group of patients with a haemoglobinopathy, the frequency of alpha-thalassaemia was much higher (i.e. 33%) than in individuals without haemoglobinopathy. Preselection of the patients based on the presence of microcytic erythrocytes and/or a decreased ADW0.5 of the erythrocytes gave a high incidence of false-negative and false-positive results. Therefore, haemoglobin examination should not be restricted to protein chemistry, but should include molecular genetic investigations for deletion types of alpha-thalassaemia.     

Genetic mapping ofPim-1 putative oncogene to mouse chromosome 17

Pim-1 is a putative oncogene activated in T-cell lymphomas induced by Moloney and AKR mink cell focus forming (MCF) viruses. We have determined the chromosomal localization of the Pim-1gene in mice by Southern blot analysis of DNAs obtained from a panel of mouse-Chinese hamster somatic cell hybrids. The Pim-1gene was localized on chromosome 17, a chromosome frequently aberrant in T-cell lymphomas. Two chromosomal regions, containing sequences homologous to regions within the Pim-1locus, were localized on chromosome 6 and 16.     

Hepatitis C infection and viremia in Dutch Hemophilia patients

Serum samples from 316 patients visiting the Dutch National Hemophilia Center were collected from 1979 to 1993 and stored at ?30°C. Patients were placed into three different groups: (1) patients ever treated with large pool non-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-safe concentrate (n=179); (2) patients treated with cryoprecipitate (n = 125); and (3) patients treated exclusively with HCV-save concentrate (n=12). In order to examine the prevalence of HCV infection in the different treatment groups serum samples were tested retrospectively for anti-HCV antibody using second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA-2). Significant differences in the prevalence of HCV infection were found between these 3 groups (group 1: 99%, group 2: 66%, group 3: 0%). The safety of currently administered clotting products is demonstrated in 57 patients who remained without HCV markers between 1989 and 1993. To examine the natural course of HCV infection fresh-frozen plasma samples were obtained recently from a subgroup of 277 hemophilia patients for HCV-RNA detection by a well-validated cDNA-PCR assay. In contrast to other reports, no evidence was found for seronegative HCV carriers. None of 52 patients without anti-HCV had detectable HCV-RNA. Of 225 patients with anti-HCV, 182 (81%) were HCV-RNA positive. None of 39 anti-HCV positive patients with a negative HCV-RNA reaction had serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels above 50 U/l, whereas 44% of HCV-RNA positive patients had persistently elevated ALT levels above 50 U/l. These results indicate that 20% of hemophilia patients who have been infected with HCV in the past eliminated the virus or have viral replication below the detection limit of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) without biochemical evidence of liver damage. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, inc.     

Early SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections within 60 Days and Implications for Retesting Policies

Illustrated by a clinical case supplemented by epidemiologic data, early reinfections with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.1 after infection with Delta variant, and reinfection with Omicron BA.2 after Omicron BA.1 infection, can occur within 60 days, especially in young, unvaccinated persons. The case definition of reinfection, which influences retesting policies, should be reconsidered.     

cDNA cloning of small nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA-associated proteins

Clinical Rheumatology - cDNA cloning has been a highly successful tool in elucidating the structure of U- and Y-RNA associated proteins. Whereas sera from autoimmune patients have often been...