Rapid, accurate genotyping of the common -alpha(4.2) thalassaemia deletion based on the use of denaturing HPLC

AIMS: To develop an alternative assay for specific genotyping of the -alpha(4.2) thalassaemia deletion based on the DNA sequence features surrounding the breakpoint. METHODS: The 5' and 3' ends of the breakpoint regions of the -alpha(4.2) allele and the normal homologous segments were sequenced in Chinese individuals. A sequence haplotype composed of four single nucleotide variations within the X2/X1 box of the -alpha(4.2) breakpoint region was found in all of the 10 Chinese -alpha(4.2) thalassaemia alleles studied. Based on these findings, a novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) assay was developed for rapid genotyping of the -alpha(4.2) allele instead of traditional Southern blotting or Gap-PCR. This method involves amplification of the alpha globin target sequence encompassing these four polymorphic sites, followed by a partially denaturing HPLC analysis using the transgenomic WAVE DNA fragment analysis system. RESULTS: The three major genotypes (-alpha4.2/alphaalpha, -alpha(4.2)/--SEA, and alphaalpha/alphaalpha) could be distinguished through the characteristic chromatograms generated by the WAVE system. The accuracy of this technique was evaluated blindly, and the results were 100% (40 of 40) concordant with the genotypes previously characterised by Southern blotting or Gap-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study validates the PCR/DHPLC approach as a simple, rapid, highly accurate, and cost effective method, potentially adaptable for use in epidemiological surveys, genetic screening, and diagnosis of silent alpha+ thalassaemia and Hb H disease.     

Primary papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst

We report a case of papillary carcinoma arising in a thyroglossal duct cyst, presenting with an anterior neck mass of a 31-year-old woman. The tumor was judged to be a primary lesion on the basis of intraoperative examination of the thyroid and pathologic findings of the mass. One year later, a small nodular mass in the left thyroid gland and lymph node enlargement of the right cervical lymph node were noted by follow-up imaging studies. Total thyroidectomy, right modified radical neck dissection and central neck dissection were performed. The thyroid gland revealed nodular hyperplasia without evidence of malignancy. On the other hand, the dissected neck lymph nodes revealed metastatic papillary carcinoma. Taken together, these findings suggested the tumor was a primary papillary carcinoma arising in the thyroglossal duct cyst.     

The Plasmodium circumsporozoite protein is involved in mosquito salivary gland invasion by sporozoites

Plasmodium sporozoites develop in oocysts on the midgut wall of the mosquito and are released into the hemocoel. Approximately 15-20% of oocyst sporozoites will successfully attach to and invade salivary glands, their target organ. We have previously shown that the major surface protein of sporozoites, the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, binds specifically to salivary glands and not to other mosquito organs exposed to circulating hemolymph. In addition, a peptide from the N-terminal portion of CS protein inhibits binding of the protein to the glands. In this study, we have extended these findings and show that both the protein and the peptide can inhibit sporozoite invasion of salivary glands.     

吗氯贝胺与米帕明治疗抑郁症多中心双盲对照试验

目的 :以经典抗抑郁药物米帕明为阳性对照药采用随机双盲双模拟方法对吗氯贝胺和米帕明治疗抑郁症的疗效和安全性进行研究。方法 :共纳入病人 2 0 0例 ,分别口服吗氯贝胺 3 0 0 -60 0mg d或米帕明75 -2 5 0mg d。结果 :两组病人Hamilton抑郁量表 (HAMD)以及Hamilton焦虑量表 (HAMA)总分在治疗结束时均显著下降 (P <0 0 0 1)。两组之间疗效无显著差异 (p >0 0 5 )。治疗结束时HAMD减分率分别为吗氯贝胺组 0 74± 0 2 4,米帕明组 0 74± 0 2 4(P >0 0 5 ) ;有效率吗氯贝胺组 79 4% ,米帕明组 85 4% (P >0 0 5 )。吗氯贝胺组有 10种不良反应发生频率显著低于米帕明组 ,主要是抗胆碱能、中枢神经系统及心血管系统不良反应。吗氯贝胺的疗效指数也显著高于米帕明组。结论 :吗氯贝胺是一种安全有效的抗抑郁药物     

Multiple imputation technique applied to appropriateness ratings in cataract surgery

Missing data such as appropriateness ratings in clinical research are a common problem and this often yields a biased result. This paper aims to introduce the multiple imputation method to handle missing data in clinical research and to suggest that the multiple imputation technique can give more accurate estimates than those of a complete-case analysis. The idea of multiple imputation is that each missing value is replaced with more than one plausible value. The appropriateness method was developed as a pragmatic solution to problem of trying to assess "appropriate" surgical and medical procedures for patients. Cataract surgery was selected as one of four procedures that were evaluated as a part of the Clinical Appropriateness Initiative. We created mild to high missing rates of 10%, 30% and 50% and compared the performance of logistic regression in cataract surgery. We treated the coefficients in the original data as true parameters and compared them with the other results. In the mild missing rate (10%), the deviation from the true coefficients was quite small and ignorable. After removing the missing data, the complete-case analysis did not reveal any serious bias. However, as the missing rate increased, the bias was not ignorable and it distorted the result. This simulation study suggests that a multiple imputation technique can give more accurate estimates than those of a complete-case analysis, especially for moderate to high missing rates (30 - 50%). In addition, the multiple imputation technique yields better accuracy than a single imputation technique. Therefore, multiple imputation is useful and efficient for a situation in clinical research where there is large amounts of missing data.     

癌光啉对动物移植瘤的光化学诊治作用

本文报道了肿瘤光化学诊治新药癌光啉(PsD-007)对三种动物移植瘤(S_(180)肉瘤、Lewis肺癌、U_(14)宫颈癌)的实验性光化学诊治效果,初步探讨了辐照光能量和药物剂量与肿瘤实验性诊治效果的关系。作者采用“透镜光阑”法改善辐射光斑内功率密度分布的不均匀性。提供了一种能比较客观地评价药物对动物移植瘤的光动力学治疗效价的模型体系。     

IBA损伤老化鼠脑Meynert核的AD模型动物研究

目的研究定位损伤脑胆碱能系Alzheimer病(AD)模型大鼠学习能力及相关脑神经肽免疫组化改变.方法用兴奋性毒素鹅膏蕈氨酸(IBA)定位损伤大鼠脑右侧Meynert核,观察模型动物学习能力改变(Y型迷宫法),并用分光光度法和免疫组化染色法观察动物脑胆碱酯酶(AchE)活性和皮层及海马β-淀粉样肽前体(β-APP)、生长抑素(SOM)及P物质(SP)的表达情况.结果模型组老化大鼠经损伤后,学习能力及脑AchE活性显著低于对照组(P均＜0.05).β-APP在额叶皮层和海马的表达均升高,而S()M表达则显著减少,用IBA及β-AP25-35同时损伤鼠脑时,可显示脑皮质区SP表达增加(P均＜0. 01).单独用IBA注射无效.结论IBA损伤老化大鼠脑Meynert核建立的动物模型,显示胆碱能系统损伤,学习能力障碍,β-APP过表达而神经肽SOM表达降低,一定条件下SP表达增加,与AD病人某些临床和病理特征基本一致.     

重组血管生成抑制因子r—K4K5的分离纯化与功能鉴定

目的 分离纯化r-K4K5,探讨r-K4K5对牛毛血管内皮（BCE）细胞、鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜（CAM）新生血管生成及实验性人肺腺癌SPC-A1生长的抑制作用。方法 通过盐析、凝胶过滤提纯r-K4K5,BCE细胞在含r-K4K5的DMEM中培养24、48、72h后分别计数;孵化7d的鸡胚加r-K4K5后继续孵育72h,观察新生血管生成;已经接种入SPC-A1肺腺癌组织的荷瘤裸小鼠（Balb/c,nu/nu）,瘤旁注射r-K4K5继续饲养,观察肿瘤生长变化。结果 r-K4K5抑制BCE细胞增殖,48～72h作用明显;r-K4K5处理的CAM组中直径小于50um的小血管明显减少;高剂量r-K4K5治疗的荷瘤裸小鼠组,平均瘤重与对照组比较有统计学意义。结论 r-K4K5能够抑制BCE细胞增殖,抑制鸡胚CAM新生血管生成,抑制实验性人SPC-A1肺腺瘤生长。