Characterization of Hprt mutations in cDNA and genomic DNA of T-cell mutants from control and 1,3-butadiene-exposed male B6C3F1 mice and F344 rats

A multiplex PCR procedure for analysis of genomic DNA mutations in the mouse hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Hprt) gene was developed and then used with other established methods for the coincident identification of large- and small-scale genetic alterations in the Hprt gene of mutant T-cell isolates propagated from sham- and 1,3-butadiene (BD)-exposed mice and rats. The spectra data for RT-PCR/cDNA analysis and multiplex PCR of genomic DNA from Hprt mutants were combined, and statistical analyses of the mutant fractions for the classes of mutations identified in control versus exposed animals were conducted. Under the assumption that the mutant fractions are distributed as Poisson variates, BD exposure of mice significantly increased the frequencies of (1) nearly all types of base substitutions; (2) single-base deletions and insertions; and (3) all subcategories of deletions. Significantly elevated fractions of G:C-->C:G and A:T-->T:A transversions in the Hprt gene of BD-exposed mice were consistent with the occurrence of these substitutions as the predominant ras gene mutations in multiple tumor types increased in incidence in carcinogenicity studies of BD in mice. BD exposure of rats produced significant increases in (1) base substitutions only at A:T base pairs; (2) single-base insertions; (3) complex mutations; and (4) deletions (mainly 5' partial and complete gene deletions). Future coincident analyses of large- and small-scale mutations in rodents exposed to specific BD metabolites should help identify species differences in the sources of deletion mutations and other types of mutations induced by BD exposures in mice versus rats.     

Emergency department visits for asthma: the role of frequent symptoms and delay in care.

BACKGROUND: Use of the emergency department (ED) for asthma care is a costly form of health care that is largely preventable. However, little is known about how to reduce the number of people using the ED for asthma care. OBJECTIVE: To identify modifiable factors related to ED visits for asthma among a diverse nonelderly adult population. METHODS: This study used cross-sectional data from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey. A total of 4,359 adult respondents ages 18 to 64 years who reported being diagnosed as having asthma and experiencing symptoms in the past year were included. Any ED visits due to asthma in the previous 12 months among all nonelderly respondents with asthma, with stratification by those with daily or weekly symptoms and with less frequent symptoms, were examined. RESULTS: Adults with daily or weekly asthma symptoms, with fair or poor health status, and who delayed care for asthma because of cost or insurance issues were more likely to visit the ED for asthma. Stratification of the study population into those with daily or weekly symptoms and those with less frequent symptoms revealed that delay in care due to cost or insurance issues and fair or poor health status remained significant for both groups. Latinos and women were more likely to visit the ED in the severe asthma group, whereas Asian, African American, and uninsured adults were more likely to visit the ED in the group with less severe asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that to prevent ED visits for asthma, it is important to control asthma symptoms. However, it is equally if not more important to reduce delays in receiving asthma care.     

川崎病休克综合征合并心力衰竭1例临床病例分析及文献复习

目的 探讨川崎病休克综合征 (Kawasaki Disease Shock Syndrome,KDSS) 合并心力衰竭的临床特征。方法 分析 1例KDSS合并心力衰竭患儿的临床资料,并复习相关文献。结果 KDSS在川崎病中不常见,但表现严重,在急性期可以导致循环衰竭,表现为心动过速、毛细血管充盈时间延长、四肢末端发凉、脉搏细弱、尿量减少或意识障碍等而发生全身循环衰竭,早期识别,及时给予人免疫球蛋白和激素等综合治疗可明显改善患者休克的状况。结论 KDSS是川崎病中少见但较为严重的临床并发症,早期识别及综合的临床治疗方法是减少KDSS的有效措施。     

烧伤诊疗信息管理系统的开发

系统主要以烧伤科病房管理为主，包括病人的诊治和用药管理。通过计算机对病人的用药及诊治进行分析、统计和查询。     

Measurement of human cytomegalovirus loads by quantitative real-time PCR for monitoring clinical intervention in transplant recipients

Quantitative monitoring of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is helpful in determining appropriate antiviral management of transplant recipients. Quantitative PCR technologies have demonstrated accuracy in measuring systemic HCMV loads. A total of 298 consecutive whole-blood specimens submitted to the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 15 February to 31 October 1999 were included in the study. In addition to a qualitative colorimetric microtiter plate PCR assay (MTP-PCR) and a semiquantitative pp65 antigenemia assay, each specimen was measured for HCMV loads by a quantitative PCR assay performed on an ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection System (TaqMan). Compared to results of the MTP-PCR, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 70.5, 97.5, 87.8, and 92.8% for the antigenemia assay and were 96.7, 92.0, 75.6, and 99.1% for the TaqMan assay, respectively. There was a high correlation between antigenemia values and HCMV loads as determined by the TaqMan (r = 0.989; P < 0.001). Antigenemia values of 0, 1 to 10, 11 to 100, 101 to 1,000, and over 1,000 positive cells per 2 x 10(5) leukocytes corresponded to median HCMV loads measured by TaqMan of 125, 1,593, 5,713, 16,825, and 5,425,000 copies/ml, respectively. Corresponding to antigenemia values of 1 to 2, 10, and 50 positive cells per 2 x 10(5) leukocytes, HCMV viral loads of 1,000, 4,000, and 10,000 copies/ml are proposed as cutoff points for initiating antiviral therapy in patient groups with high, intermediate, and low risk of CMV diseases.     

天然角蛋白自身反应性B细胞亚群及功能的分析

目的:明确天然角蛋白反应性B细胞的亚群及解剖定位,初步分析其分泌天然抗角蛋白自身抗体(anti-keratinautoantibody,AKautoAb)的能力。方法:取SPF级C57BL/6小鼠的脾细胞和腹腔细胞,荧光抗体染色后用流式细胞仪分析角蛋白反应性B细胞亚群。将脾脏和腹腔淋巴细胞体外培养后,用ELISA分析AKautoAb的滴度,用ELISPOT法分析分泌AKautoAb的B细胞数。结果:腹腔中几乎所有结合角蛋白的B细胞均为B-1a细胞,脾脏中结合角蛋白的B细胞以边缘带B细胞为主。腹腔细胞中分泌AKautoAb的细胞数显著多于脾细胞,其培养上清中AKautoAb的滴度显著高于脾细胞。结论:角蛋白反应性B细胞存在于3个成熟B细胞亚群:B-1细胞、滤泡B细胞和边缘带B细胞,其中CD5 的B-1a细胞具有活跃的分泌AKautoAb的能力。     

脑缺血大鼠海马超微结构的形态定量研究

对大鼠双侧颈总动脉夹闭2小时,经透射电镜观察海马,用Weibel氏形态定量法分别测量了海马1区和3区的线粒体和突触的表面积密度(Svi)、表面积—体积比(Si/Vi),并与对照组进行了比较。结果表明:缺血时海马1区受损较严重,表现为线粒体体积缩小,数量减少,Svi下降;突触数量有增多的趋势,但突触的Svi与Si/Vi变化不明显。缺血组海马3区受损较轻,线粒体和突触的结构基本正常,其Svi、Si/Vi与对照组差别不显著,提示了3区对缺血有较强的耐受性。     

小儿热性惊厥的脑电图

本文对296例小儿热性惊厥脑电图进行分析。结果:小儿热性惊厥脑电图(EEG)异常率48.65％,主要以阵性高幅慢波为主(77.78％)。小儿癫痫脑电图异常率(89.61％)。主要以阵发性棘慢波和局灶性改变为主(62.78％)。二周后EEG复查热性惊厥EEG大部分恢复正常(83.35％)。而小儿癫痫EEG未有恢复正常的。热性惊厥发作次数愈多,发作持续时间愈长EEG改变愈明显,二周后脑电图恢复正常的愈少。这对小儿热性惊厥的诊断和预后判定有重要价值。