Antibody and memory B cell responses to the dengue virus NS1 antigen in individuals with varying severity of past infection

To further understand the role of NS1-specific antibodies (Abs) in disease pathogenesis, we compared neutralizing antibody levels (Nabs), NS1-Ab levels, IgG antibody subclass profiles and NS1-specific memory B-cell responses (Bmems) in individuals, with varying severity of past dengue. Nabs (Neut50 titres) were assessed using the Foci Reduction Neutralization Test (FRNT) and in-house ELISAs were used to assess NS1-Abs and NS1-Ab subclasses for all four DENV serotypes in individuals with past DF (n = 22), those with past DHF (n = 14) and seronegative (SN) individuals (n = 7). B-cell ELISpot assays were used to assess NS1-specific Bmem responses. 15/22 (68.18%) individuals with past DF and 9/14 (64.29%) individuals with past DHF had heterotypic infections. Neut50 titres were found to be significantly higher for DENV1 than DENV2 (p = 0.0006) and DENV4 (p = 0.0127), in those with past DHF, whereas there was no significant difference seen in titres for different DENV serotypes in those with past DF. Overall NS1-Ab to all serotypes and NS1-specific IgG1 responses for DENV1, 2 and 4 serotypes were significantly higher in those with past DHF than individuals with past DF. Those with past DHF also had higher IgG1 than IgG3 for DENV1 and DENV3, whereas no differences were seen in those with past DF. Over 50% of those with past DF or DHF had NS1-specific Bmem responses to >2 DENV serotypes. There was no difference in the frequency of Bmem responses to any of the DENV serotypes between individuals with past DF and DHF. Although the frequency of Bmem responses to DENV1 correlated with DENV1-specific NS1-Abs levels (Spearman r = 0.35, p = 0.02), there was no correlation with other DENV serotypes. We found that those with past DF had broadly cross-reactive Nabs, while those with past DHF had higher NS1-Ab responses possibly with a different functionality profile than those with past DF. Therefore, it would be important to further evaluate the functionality of NS1-specific antibody and Bmem responses to find out the type of antibody repertoire that is associated with protection against severe disease.     

心脏直视手术围术期自体血回输335例的监护

0　引言　自体输血是采集患者体内血或回收自体失血,再输回同一患者,献血者与受血者为同一个体,既可以节约临床用血,减少患者费用,更重要是可以避免或减少同种输血传播感染性疾病.我科对335例体外循环心内直视手术患者实行自体血回输,收到较好的社会效益和经济效益.1　临床资料　1998-09/1999-02,我科心脏直视手术共445例,围术期采用自体输血335例,其中先心病226例,瓣膜手术59例,复杂心内畸形37例,冠心病、大血管13例,占同期体外循环心内直视手术75%.患者主要适应证:心脏及大血管外科手术,术前一般情况尚好,无肝、肾、呼吸功能障碍;术前检查…     

Evidence for the involvement of the nitric oxide–cGMP pathway in the antinociception of morphine in the formalin test

The effect of inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis and guanylate cyclase on the peripheral antinociceptive effect of morphine was assessed by using the formalin test in the rat. Saline, N^G-monomethyl-

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-arginine, a nitric oxide synthesis inhibitor (50 μg) and methylene blue, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor (500 μg), did not exhibit any antinociceptive activity. However, morphine (10 μg) produced a significant antinociceptive effect in phases 2a and 2b, which was reduced by pretreatment with either N^G-monomethyl-

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-arginine or methylene blue. These results suggest that the local administration of morphine induces antinociception by the activation of the

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-arginine–nitric oxide–cGMP pathway.     

Nasal rhinosporidiosis in children

Rhinosporidiosis is a rare fungal disease resulting from infection by Rhinosporidium seeberi. There seems to be a relationship between the disease and agriculture, suggesting that Rhinosporidium lives in soil, and many authors agree that water is a necessary medium of transmission. The sites of infection are the nose (most common), eye, nasopharynx, penile urethra and external ear. Nasal cases generally present obstruction, epistaxis, watery or mucopurulent discharge, presence of tumoral pedunculated polypoid mass, generally with septal implantation. Histological examination presents characteristic sporangia in large numbers and in the submucosa a granulomatous host response. The treatment is by surgical excision (recurrence occurs in 10% of cases), and medical treatment used diaminodiphenylsulfone or Amphotericin B to avoid recurrent cases. We present a case of Rhinosporidiosis in a 10 years-old child, female, with 3 months history of nasal obstruction, epistaxis and presence of nasal mass in left nasal cavity that was submitted to surgical excision.     

Effects of diazepam or haloperidol on convulsion and behavioral responses induced by bilateral electrical stimulation in the medial prefrontal cortex

1. Effects of diazepam (DZP) or haloperidol (HAL) on convulsions and behavioral responses (locomotion, circling, spying and head shaking) induced by bilateral electrical stimulation in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were examined. 2. Male Wistar rats were electrically stimulated (ten 30-sec trains, 60 Hz, 80-100 microA) bilaterally in the mPFC and their behavior was simultaneously observed in an open field in daily session. 3. DZP and HAL dose-response curves (0, 0.5, 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before electrical stimulation session) were determined after a baseline of behavioral responses was established. 4. DZP dose-dependently decreased head shaking and convulsions, had no effect in circling and spying behaviors, and increased locomotion except at the highest dose. HAL reduced locomotion, circling and spying behaviors in a dose-dependent manner, but did not affect convulsions or head shaking. 5. These results demonstrated that convulsion and behavioral responses induced by electrical activation of the mPFC were modified by DZP or HAL. Therefore, the mPFC is involved in the mediation of neural and/or behavioral activity that may be implicated in some central effects of psychoactive drugs.