Effect of various stabilizing agents on Imperata cylindrica grass pollen allergen extract

BACKGROUND: Allergen extracts are unstable, heat labile or susceptible to proteases. Stability of allergen extracts is important for proper diagnosis and therapy of allergic disorders. OBJECTIVE: The present study was undertaken to determine the preservation and stabilization conditions of Imperata cylindrica (Ic) grass pollen extract. METHODS: The Ic extract was kept with 0.1 mepsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), 0.75 m sucrose, 5% glycerol, 0.03% human serum albumin (HSA) or 0.4% phenol for different time periods. The extracts were stored for 3, 6 and 12 months each at 4 degrees C, 4 degrees C with daily exposure to room temperature (RT) for 1 h, and RT. The quality of extracts was analysed by SDS-PAGE, Western blot, ELISA, ELISA inhibition and skin test. RESULTS: Extracts kept with EACA and sucrose retained most of the protein bands followed by glycerol as determined by SDS-PAGE and Western blot during all storage periods and conditions in comparison with standard extracts. The extracts kept with HSA, phenol and without preservative (WP) showed protein degradation below 33 kDa after 3 months storage at all conditions. However, a 67-kDa allergen was stable in these extracts. EACA extract required 75 to 120 ng of protein for 50% inhibition in IgE binding under different conditions, whereas standard extract required 70 ng for the same. ELISA also demonstrated high allergenic reactivity of EACA extract. ID test on allergy patients with EACA extract demonstrated same allergenic potency as that of standard extract. CONCLUSION: EACA is the best preservative/stabilizing agent of Ic pollen extract, followed by sucrose and glycerol. Ic extract kept with phenol, HSA and without preservative showed degradation within 3 months. EACA preserved extract is equally potent as that of standard extract up to 1 year's storage.     

The intraocular pressure and diabetes--a correlative study

In the present study 60 diabetics were examined for intraocular pressure, scleral rigidity and facility of outflow. The intraocular pressure was found higher than in the general population except in patients with proliferative retinopathy. There was no marked difference in scleral rigidity in diabetics. The facility of outflow was lower in diabetic patients.     

Long term performance of silicone insulated and polyurethane insulated cardiac pacing leads.

The long term performance of various pacing leads in use for at least one year is reported from one centre. Between January 1975 and December 1990, 1056 cardiac pacing leads were implanted in 881 patients (mean age 57 +/- 13 years). Eight hundred and three leads were silicone insulated (SI) and 253 leads were polyurethane insulated (PUI). Leads from different manufacturers were used (Medtronic, CPI, Telectronics). The average duration of follow up was 56.6 +/- 77 months (range 12-221 months) for SI and 47.1 +/- 24 months (range 12-99 months) for PUI leads. Overall lead failure occurred more often in the PUI group (n = 46, 18.2%) compared to SI group (n = 93, 11.3%, p < 0.025). Majority of lead failures occurred in the first 36 months after implantation. In particular, Medtronic models 6971, 6972 (urethane) and 6901 (silicone) showed higher rate of complications (25.5%, 26.3% and 44.5% respectively).     

Cardiac Surgery in Nonagenarians

A bstract Objectives and Background : The purpose of this study was to document our initial experience with patients 90 years of age and older and to determine whether cardiac surgery is justified in this age group. Cardiac surgery in octogenarians has proven to be a successful and worthwhile procedure. A small group of nonagenarians with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) and aortic valve disease refractory to medical therapy have been considered for surgery. Methods : Fourteen patients aged 90 or more underwent cardiac surgery for symptomatic CAD or aortic valvular disease refractory to medical therapy. Eight patients underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and six patients underwent aortic valve replacement (AVR). All patients were in NYHA Class IV preoperatively. Results : Hospital mortality occurred in one patient (7%). Hospital morbidity occurred in 10 patients (71%) and included 7 cardiac, 5 neurological, 1 gastrointestinal, 1 infectious, and 1 pulmonary event. All survivors left the hospital symptomatically improved. The mean length of stay was 26 days. Four CABG patients went on to die at a mean of 2 years and 2 months, and 3 remain alive at a mean of 2 years and 4 months. Three AVR patients expired at a mean of 3 years and 4 months, and 3 remain alive at 4 years and 1 month. Conclusions : Cardiac surgery in carefully selected nonagenarians is justified and can be performed with acceptable results.     

用丝裂霉素C行青光眼加强手术：滤过泡无血管化及经结膜渗漏和滤过泡裂孔的发生

目的：前瞻性研究青光眼术中应用丝裂霉素C（MMC）对于结膜滤过泡高危因素如无血管化、经结膜的渗漏（TCO）和滤过泡裂孔的影响。方法：一位观察者对进行了青光眼手术联合MMC的125例连续患者的125只眼进行为期2年的前瞻性研究，这些患者最初都成功地建立了滤过通道。巩膜瓣切开前将MMC置于该区，多数患者MMC0．2g／L持续2min。青光眼手术包括小梁切除术、深巩膜切除术和联合手术。将干燥的荧光素试纸置于滤过泡的无血管区，以观察房水外流[点渗漏（PL）或未流出（TCO）]。     

Humalog Mix25 improves 24-hour plasma glucose profiles compared with the human insulin mixture 30/70 in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of Humalog Mix25 (Humalog Mix75/25 in the USA) (Mix25) and human insulin 30/70 (30/70) on the 24-hour inpatient plasma glucose (PG) profile in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). DESIGN: A randomised, open-label, 8-week crossover study. Study insulins were injected twice daily, 5 minutes before breakfast and dinner. SETTING: Four-week outpatient (dose-adjustment) treatment phase, and 3-day inpatient (test) phase. PATIENTS: Twenty-five insulin-treated patients with T2DM (ages 40-66 years), mean (+/- standard error of the mean) (SEM) HbA1c 7.7% +/- 0.23%, and body mass index (BMI) 29.3 +/- 0.83 kg/m2. OUTCOME MEASURES: 24-hour PG profiles, PG excursions after meals, PG area under the curve (AUC), and 30-day hypoglycaemia rate. RESULTS: The 2-hour PG excursions following breakfast (5.5 +/- 0.34 v. 7.2 +/- 0.34 mmol/l, p = 0.002) and dinner (2.4 +/- 0.27 v. 3.4 +/- 0.27 mmol/l, p = 0.018) were smaller with Mix25 than with 30/70. PG AUC between breakfast and lunch was smaller with Mix25 than with 30/70 (77.6 +/- 3.8 v. 89.5 +/- 4.3 mmol/h/ml, p = 0.001). PG AUC between lunch and dinner, dinner and bedtime, and bedtime and breakfast did not differ between treatments. Pre-meal and nocturnal PG were comparable. The postprandial insulin requirement for lunch meals was supplied equally by the two insulin treatments. The thirty-day hypoglycaemia rate was low (Mix25 0.049 +/- 0.018 v. 30/70 0.100 +/- 0.018 episodes/patient/30 days, p = 0.586) for both treatments. CONCLUSION: In patients with T2DM, Mix25 improved the 24-hour PG profile with lower postprandial PG excursions than with human insulin 30/70.