The Turner syndrome research registry: Creating equipoise between investigators and participants

To address knowledge gaps about Turner syndrome (TS) associated disease mechanisms, the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States created the Turner Syndrome Research Registry (TSRR), a patient‐powered registry for girls and women with TS. More than 600 participants, parents or guardians completed a 33‐item foundational survey that included questions about demographics, medical conditions, psychological conditions, sexuality, hormonal therapy, patient and provider knowledge about TS, and patient satisfaction. The TSRR platform is engineered to allow individuals living with rare conditions and investigators to work side‐by‐side. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept, architecture, and currently available content of the TSRR, in anticipation of inviting proposals to utilize registry resources.     

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of ovary with heterologous element: a case report

Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are uncommon tumors of ovary accounting for about 1% of sex cord stromal tumors. They constitute between 0.1% to 0.5% of all the primary ovarian neoplasms. The majority of reported cases are moderately or poorly differentiated combined Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors. A rare case of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor with heterologous element in a 14 year girl is described. The heterologous component comprised smooth muscle, an uncommon element, that was seen in 60 to 70% of the tumor area. The epithelial element of the tumor consisted of solid, tubular and foci of retiform pattern. Both these features imply a poor prognosis.     

Development and validation of a simple sensitive enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for GH determination in buffalo plasma

A simple and highly sensitive enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for GH determination in buffalo plasma on microtitreplates using biotin-streptavidin amplification system and the second antibody coating was developed. Biotin was coupled to GH and used to bridge between streptavidin-peroxidase and immobilized antiserum in competitive assay. The EIA was carried out directly in 100 microL buffalo plasma. The GH standards ranging from 0.05 ng/well/100 microL to 12.8 ng/well/100 microL were prepared in hormone free plasma collected from an aged (> 15 years) senile buffalo. The sensitivity of the EIA procedure was 50 pg/well GH. which corresponded to 0.50 ng/mL plasma; the 50% relative binding sensitivity was seen at 800 pg/well/100 microL. Plasma volumes for the EIA, viz., 25, 50, and 100 microL did not influence the shape of standard curve, even though a slight drop in the OD450 was seen with higher plasma volumes. For the biological validation of the assay, 12 Murrah buffalo calves were used. Six of these were administered synthetic bovine growth hormone-releasing factor (10 microg/100 kg body weight, i.v., and the remaining six animals were administered sterile normal saline and kept as controls. Jugular blood samples were collected at -60, -45, -30, -15, -10, -5, 5, 10, 15, and 30 min and, thereafter, at an interval of 15 min using an indwelling jugular catheter, beginning 1 h prior to GRF injection up to 8 h post treatment. In all animals, a peak of GH was recorded within 5 to 20 min of GRF administration, which confirms the biological validation of the EIA. To confirm homogeneity of buffalo GH with bovine GH, a parallelism test was conducted between the buffer standard curve of bovine GH and GH measured from serial dilution of buffalo plasma containing a high level of endogenous growth hormone.     

Glycolipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Strain H37Rv Are Potential Serological Markers for Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis

A simple and cost-effective diagnostic tool (TB Screen Test) for the screening of patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis and for differentiation of those individuals from individuals without tuberculosis, other common infections, and healthy controls has been developed. The serological responses of purified mycobacterial glycolipid antigens were examined by a liposome agglutination assay. The assay was able to detect very low antiglycolipid antibody concentrations in the infected individuals. The sera from the tuberculosis patient group had significantly higher concentrations of antiglycolipid antibody than the sera from uninfected control subjects, with 94% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity. Glycolipids of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv antigens were isolated, purified, and characterized. After interchelation with liposome particles, these purified antigens specifically bound to the antiglycolipid antibodies present in the sera of patients with tuberculosis, resulting in the formation of a blue agglutination. This protocol clearly differentiates healthy controls and M. bovis BCG-vaccinated subjects from those with active tuberculosis. The resultant diagnostic tool, the TB Screen Test, is more economical and rapid (4 min) than other currently available products and can be used for the mass screening of a heavily afflicted population.     

Reaction of chitosan with genipin and its fluorogenic attributes for potential microcapsule membrane characterization

This study investigates the fluorogenic characteristics of the chitosan-genipin reaction for applications in microencapsulation research. Results showed that the chitosan-genipin reaction generated a colored and fluorescent product, with optimal excitation and emission wavelengths at 369 and 470 nm, respectively. Furthermore, it was found that reaction conditions affected the fluorescence intensity of the product. Mixture at the ratio of 4:1 (chitosan: genipin by weight) fluoresced the most. It also fluoresced stronger if the reaction occurred at higher temperature, with the intensity of 10.4 x 10(5) CPS at 37 degrees C, 5.9 x 10(5) CPS at 20 degrees C, and 2.5 x 10(5) CPS at 4 degrees C. As well, the fluorescence of the mixture developed gradually over time, attaining the emission maxima of 2.9 x 10(5), 7.6 x 10(5), and 10.0 x 10(5) CPS in 1, 6, and 18 h, respectively. Chitosan-coated alginate microcapsules were prepared without prior labeling, to which subsequent genipin treatment was applied in order to examine the potential of using genipin in microcapsule characterization. Chitosan bound to the alginate beads interacted with genipin, from which the resultant fluorescent signals allowed for clear visualization of the chitosan coating under confocal laser scanning microscopy. The relative fluorescence intensity across the chitosan membrane was found to be considerably higher than the controls (175 vs. 50). The membrane thickness measured was 29.2 +/- 7.3 microm. These findings demonstrate a convenient and effective way of characterizing chitosan-based microcapsules using genipin as a fluorogenic marker, a technique that will be useful in microcapsule research and other biomedical applications.     

Pkd2 haploinsufficiency alters intracellular calcium regulation in vascular smooth muscle cells

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease is a multiorgan disease and its vascular manifestations are common and life-threatening. Despite this, little is known about their pathogenesis. Somatic mutations to the normal PKD allele in cystic epithelia and cyst development associated with the unstable Pkd2(WS25) allele suggest a two-hit model of cystogenesis. However, it is unclear if this model can account for the cardiovascular pathology or if haploinsufficiency alone is disease-associated. In the present study, we found a decreased polycystin-2 (PC2, protein encoded by Pkd2 gene) expression in Pkd2( +/-) vessels, roughly half the wild-type level, and an enhanced level of intracranial vascular abnormalities in Pkd2 (+/-) mice when induced to develop hypertension. Consistent with these observations, freshly dissociated Pkd2 (+/-) vascular smooth muscle cells have significantly altered intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. The resting [Ca(2+)](i) is 17.1% lower in Pkd2 (+/-) compared with wild-type cells (P=0.0003) and the total sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) store (emptied by caffeine plus thapsigargin) is decreased (P<0.0001). The store operated Ca(2+) (SOC) channel activity is also decreased in Pkd2 (+/-) cells (P=0.008). These results indicate that inactivation of just one Pkd2 allele is sufficient to significantly alter intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis, and that PC2 is necessary to maintain normal SOC activity and the SR Ca(2+) store in VSMCs. Based on these findings, and the fact that [Ca(2+)](i) signaling is essential to the regulation of contraction, production and secretion of extracellular matrix, cellular proliferation and apoptosis, we propose that the abnormal intracellular Ca(2+) regulation associated with Pkd2 haploinsufficiency is directly related to the vascular phenotype.     

Reduction of FK-506 requirements by combination with polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase in orthotopic rat liver transplantation

Reperfusion after ischemia results in endothelial cell injury and Kupffer cell activation. Inflammatory cytokines thus released can induce major histocompatibility complex antigens and increase the immunogenecity of the graft. An orthotopic rat liver allotransplant model was used to test the hypothesis that prevention of reperfusion injury by infusion of polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD) would result in long-term allograft survival in the presence of subthreshold immunosuppressive dosages. ACI rats were used as donors, and Lewis strain rats as recipients. Orthotopic liver transplantation was initially performed to identify a subthreshold dose of the immunosuppressant FK-506, which would be unable to extend survival longer than control untreated rats with this strain combination. After testing three intramuscular FK-506 doses of 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 mg/kg, it was observed that an FK-506 dose of 0.04 mg/kg/day for 14 days was unable to extend survival longer than in untreated recipients. This dose of FK-506 was used in combination with PEG-SOD at doses of 1000, 3000, 10,000, or 30,000 units. Recipient animals were treated intravenously with PEG-SOD as a loading dose to facilitate tissue penetration on day 1, and beginning on the day of transplantation, every 2 days for the duration of the study. Results of histologic studies and mean survival time were compared in untreated recipients and in rats treated with PEG-SOD plus 0.04 mg/kg/day FK-506. Mean survival time was increased significantly in these animals (p < 0.007) to 40.6 ± 25.6 days as compared with either untreated rats (10.0 ± 2.7 days) or rats treated with 0.04 mg/kg FK-506 alone (13.7 ± 4.2 days). Histologic examination demonstrated a significant reduction in the cellular infiltrate in rats treated with PEG-SOD plus FK-506, as compared with recipients treated with either agent alone or left untreated. Our results therefore suggest a potential approach to reducing immunosuppression in transplantation. (J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL 1995;95:1276-81.)     

Artificial cell microcapsules containing genetically engineered E. coli DH5 cells for in-vitro lowering of plasma potassium, phosphate, magnesium, sodium, chloride, uric acid, cholesterol, and creatinine: a preliminary report

Lowering of plasma Mg, P, Na, Cl, uric acid, cholesterol, and creatinine is required in renal failure and other diseases. In this preliminary report, we studied the ability of artificial cells microencapsulated genetically engineered E. coli DH5 cells in lower K, Mg, P, Na, Cl, uric acid, cholestrol, creatinine, and billirubin from plasma in-vitro. Result shows that this novel approach has the ability to significantly lower these metabolites from the plasma in-vitro.