Doppler echocardiography: Applications, limitations and future directions

On the basis of principles that are similar to (but differ slightly from) those that underlie M mode and two dimensional techniques, pulsed Doppler echocardiography permits evaluation of intracardiac blood flow noninvasively. This technique is helpful in the diagnosis and management of patients with valvular and congenital heart disease, and in some circumstances provides information not available from M mode or two dimensional imaging. Despite several notable limitations, pulsed Doppler echocardiography is a useful diagnostic technique whose clinical application is likely to increase as future technologic improvements occur.     

Treatment of hairy cell leukemia with recombinant alpha 2 interferon

Nine patients with progressive hairy cell leukemia were treated with subcutaneous injections of recombinant alpha 2 interferon (2 to 10 X 10(6) U/m2) three times weekly. Eight patients completed at least eight weeks of treatment and were evaluable; one patient with refractory thrombocytopenia died of an intracerebral hemorrhage after two doses of interferon. Seven of eight patients responded, with responses occurring as early as two weeks. Four patients also had resolution of their monocytopenia. No complete responses were seen with up to 30 weeks of treatment. Bone marrow biopsies demonstrated improvement in all eight patients. No unforeseen toxicity occurred, but most patients had transient myelosuppression during the first few weeks of treatment. Recombinant alpha 2 interferon is effective in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, with acceptable toxicity.     

Up-regulation of CD81 (target of the antiproliferative antibody; TAPA) by reactive microglia and astrocytes after spinal cord injury in the rat

We examined the expression of CD81 (also known as TAPA, or target of the antiproliferative antibody) after traumatic spinal cord injury in the rat. CD81, a member of the tetraspanin family of proteins, is thought to be involved in reactive gliosis. This is based on the antiproliferative and antiadhesive effects of antibodies against CD81 on cultured astrocytes, as well as its up-regulation after penetrating brain injury. CD81 expression following dorsal hemisection of the spinal cord was determined immunohistochemically at time points ranging from 1 day to 2 months postlesion (p.l.). In the unlesioned cord a low background level of CD81 was observed, with the exception of the ependyma of the central canal and the pia mater, which were strongly CD81-positive. One day p.l., CD81 was diffusely up-regulated in the spinal cord parenchyma surrounding the lesion site. From 3 days onward, intensely CD81-positive round cells entered the lesion site, completely filling it by 7 days p.l. Staining with the microglial markers OX-42 and Iba1 revealed that these cells were reactive microglia/macrophages. At this time, no significant CD81 expression by GFAP-positive reactive astrocytes was noted. From the second week onward, CD81 was gradually down-regulated; i.e., its spatial distribution became more restricted. The CD81-positive microglia/macrophages disappeared from the lesion site, leaving behind large cavities. After 2 months, astrocytes that formed the wall of these cavities were strongly CD81-positive. In addition, CD81 was present on reactive astrocytes in the dorsal funiculus distal from the lesion in degenerated white matter tracts. In conclusion, the spatiotemporal expression pattern of CD81 by reactive microglia and astrocytes indicates that CD81 is involved in the glial response to spinal cord injury.     

Guidelines for the laboratory diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in East European countries

The present guidelines aim to provide comprehensive information regarding the laboratory diagnosis of infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in East European countries. These recommendations contain important information for laboratory staff working with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and/or STI-related issues. Individual East European countries may be required to make minor national adjustments to these guidelines as a result of lack of accessibility to some reagents or equipment, or laws in a specific country.     

Erratum: Reciprocity of exposure time and irradiance on energy density during photoradiation on wound healing in a murine pressure ulcer model

In this original published article, Dr. Peter, Sr's name was misprinted. It should be Timothy A. Peter, Sr.