Demographic,health behavioral,and self‐management abilities associated with disease severity among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: An exploratory study

This study aimed to identify the association between demographic characteristics, health behaviors, self‐management abilities, and disease severity among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The study was conducted from January to December 2015 in 4 hospitals in China. The DOSE index was assessed by grade of dyspnea (D), airflow obstruction (O), current smoking status (S), and frequency of exacerbation in the last year (E). Self‐management abilities were assessed by the COPD self‐management scale. DOSE index associations with demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and self‐management abilities were examined with multiple regression analysis. In total, 100 participants were recruited into the study. In univariate analysis, higher symptom management, lower daily life management, and lower self‐efficacy in self‐management abilities were significantly related to higher DOSE index. In multiple regression analysis, physical activity, body mass index, and gender were negatively related to DOSE index. The study highlighted the importance of physical activity, nutritional status, and gender difference in managing disease severity in COPD. Professional nurses should develop individualized intervention programs and specifically increase physical activity for men and poor nutritional status for patients with COPD.     

Expression of a single major histocompatibility complex locus controls the immune complex locus controls the immune response to poly-L-(tyrosine, glutamic acid)-poly-DL-alanine—poly-L-lysine

Genetic control of the immune response linked to the major histocompatibility (H-2) complex in the mouse has been described for synthetic polypeptide antigens and for low doses of native proteins. The phenomenon is well documented(1,2). Extensive screening of intra-H-2 crossover-derived recombinant strains has localized H-2-linked immune response (Ir) genes to the I-immune response region of the H-2 complex (3). For most antigens, Ir genes are autosomal, dominant, and they segregate as single loci. It is not known whether these crossover-defined loci respresent single genes with multiple alleles or clusters of tightly linked genes (4). In 1972, Stimpfling and Durham (5) postulated that two interacting loci within the H-2 complex were required for the response to the alloantigen, H-2.2 (6), and, in 1975, Dorf et. al. (7) observed a responder phenotype in a recombinant derived from two strains which were nonresponders to the synthetic linear terpolymer, L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L-phenylaline (GLPhe). Analysis of additional recombinants and complementation tests with F(1) hybrids clearly demonstrated that genes in two intra-I-region loci controlled the immune response to GLPhe. Subsequently, requirement for genes mapping in two intra-I-region loci were reported for porcine LDH(B)(8), the alloantigen Thy-1.1 (9), and for the synthetic terpolymers L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L-tyrosine and L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L- leucine (6,10). Demonstration that responses to both synthetic polypeptide and native protein antigens can be controlled by genes in two distinct I-region loci prompted speculation that the phenotypic expression of two I-region genes is a general phenomenon which may provide the key for understanding the mechanism of Ir gene function and cellular collaboration in the immune response. Benacerraf and Dorf (10) have shown that Ir gene complementation is often more effective in the cis than in the trans configuration. This concept is further supported by the data reported for GLPhe (10-12) which indicate that both of the complementing genes must be expressed in each of the cell types participating in the interaction. Failure to detect complementation for the majority of antigens under H-2-linked Ir-gene control might be attributed to the limited number of available intra-I- region recombinant strains.     

The guinea pig I region. I. A structural and genetic analysis

The Ia antigens of the guinea pig have been shown to play a central role in the regulation of the immune response. We have previously partially characterized the chemical structure of these antigens. In this communication, we further characterize the structure of the five Ia antigens already described, as well as two new Ia antigens. Evidence is presented which shows that these seven Ia antigens can be organized into three distinct groups, each with a characteristic structure. The Ia.2 determinant of strain 2 and the Ia.3 and Ia.5 determinants of strain 13 animals are found on molecules composed of a 25,000 dalton chain and a 33,000 dalton chain in noncovalent association, or else are individually expressed on nonlinked 33,000 and 25,000 dalton molecules. The Ia.4 and Ia.5 determinants of strain 2 and the Ia.7 determinant of strain 13 are borne on 58,000 dalton molecules in which two chains are linked by disulfide bonds. The Ia.1 and Ia.6 determinants of strain 13 are found on a molecule of 26,000-27,000 daltons. Ia.6 of strain 2 has yet to be definitively assigned. Furthermore, in strain 13 animals the Ia.3 and Ia.5 determinants are borne on the same molecule, as are the Ia.1 and Ia.6 determinants. In strain 2 animals, the Ia.4 and Ia.5 determinants are found on the same molecule. On the basis of chemical structure, we have divided the guinea pig I region into three subregions. The accompanying paper presents evidence of associations between particular Ia genes and Ir genes.     

Reduction of human immunodeficiency virus-infected cells from donor blood by leukocyte filtration

Several filters for leukocyte removal were evaluated in terms of their ability to reduce the cell-associated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load in units of blood either inoculated in vitro with lymphocytes from a chronically infected cell line or collected directly from seropositive donors. Filtration of the experimentally inoculated units of blood resulted in a 5.9 log 10 mean reduction (95% confidence interval:7.4-4.5) of tissue culture infectious units (TCIU) as assayed by end-point titration using the coculture assay. Filtration of the units of blood from anti-HIV positive donors lowered the infectivity by over 2 logs, as detected by the coculture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. However, residual cell-associated virus was detected in the majority of experiments. Clinical studies are warranted to determine if leukocyte filtration of blood will reduce the risk of transfusion transmitted viral infections.     

人脐静脉间充质干细胞原代培养换液频度与细胞增殖生长的关系

目的:体外分离培养人脐静脉内皮及内皮下间充质干细胞,观察采用不同的换液频度与细胞增殖和生长的关系。方法:实验于2006-03/11在辽宁医学院解剖学实验室完成。①选取正常健康产妇顺产或剖宫产的新生儿脐带,由辽宁医学院附属第一医院提供,产妇及其家属均知情同意。②根据更换细胞培养液时间的不同,分为接种后每24h,48h,72h更换培养液组。③无菌条件下将脐带用预热的磷酸盐缓冲液充分洗涤去血渍,从脐静脉一端插入留置针,用预热的磷酸盐缓冲液冲净静脉腔血,止血钳夹闭另一端,采用胶原酶消化法分离人脐静脉内皮及内皮下细胞,取消化30min的细胞悬液进行贴壁培养,以1×108L-1密度接种于24孔培养板中,每孔的细胞数和培养液量相同,按实验设计分组的时间方法更换培养液。④各组自培养24h开始,每天分别取各组细胞4孔,以噻唑蓝比色法测定生长曲线。并采用免疫细胞化学方法对分离的细胞进行表面抗原鉴定。结果:①间充质干细胞的形态学观察:原代培养1周,细胞以梭形细胞为主。传代培养2h细胞开始贴壁变形,24h基本完成贴壁,48h可见部分已贴壁的细胞开始分裂增殖,细胞形态多样,呈椭圆形、梭形、三角形等。5～7d贴壁细胞可见多核的成纤维细胞样。在细胞生长增生过程中,接种后每24h更换培养液组细胞增殖明显,生长状态均最好;接种后每48h更换培养液组次之;接种后每72h更换培养液组细胞增殖较慢,细胞生长状态也较差。②生长曲线:接种后每24h更换培养液组的细胞生长增殖较快,比接种后每48h及72h更换培养液组达到的同样细胞数平均提前2～3d(P<0.05);接种后每48h及72h更换培养液组之间差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。③间充质干细胞表面抗原特性:免疫细胞化学分析显示CD166呈阳性,vWF呈阴性。结论:胶原酶消化法体外分离获得的人脐静脉内皮及内皮下细胞数量高、活性佳。更换培养液的频度不同,细胞的增殖生长过程和形态变化时间不同,接种后每24h更换培养液更有利于间充质干细胞的增殖生长和纯化。     

Harm Reduction Behaviors Among Young Polysubstance Users at Raves

ABSTRACT. Background: Raves may be considered recreational settings in which drug use and health risks related to polydrug use are higher than in others. Harm reduction behaviors implemented by ravers are of particular relevance in reducing such risks. This study analyzes harm reduction behaviors and their relationship to raver polysubstance use patterns. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 248 ravers recruited at underground raves in Andalusia (Spain). A questionnaire was developed to collect information about their sociodemographics, drug use, and harm reduction behaviors. Results: The results show that ravers employ harm reduction behaviors for minimizing drug-related harm. Nevertheless, only a small minority of the participants frequently employed harm reduction behavior for polysubstance use as well. Ravers identified as high polysubstance users protected themselves significantly less than those identified as low polysubstance users. Conclusions: This study provides empirical information that may be useful for harm reduction intervention in a hidden and hard-to-reach population like rave attendees. The results point to the need to inform and increase harm reduction behavior specifically aimed at polysubstance use by ravers, especially among more frequent users. Future directions for research are also suggested.