Growth, morbidity, and mortality in a cohort of institutionalized HIV-1-infected African children

OBJECTIVE: As a result of the HIV epidemic in Africa, much debate exists on whether institutionalized compared with community-based care provides optimum management of infected children. Previous reports calculated 89% mortality by age 3 years among outpatients in Malawi. No similar data are available for infected children in institutionalized care. We characterized patterns of morbidity and mortality among HIV-1-infected children residing at an orphanage in Nairobi. METHODS: Medical records for 174 children followed over 5 years were reviewed. Mortality was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier methods with adjustment to account for survival in the community before admission. Anthropometric indices were calculated to include mean z scores for weight for length and length for age. Low indices reflected wasting and stunting. Opportunistic infections were documented. RESULTS: Of 174 children, 64 had died. Survival was 70% at age 3 years. Morbidity included recurrent respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis, parotitis, and lymphoid interstitial pneumonitis. No new cases of tuberculosis disease were noted after admission. Mean z scores for length for age suggested overall stunting (z = -1.65). Wasting was not observed (z = -0.39). CONCLUSION: The optimal form of care for HIV-infected children in resource-poor settings may be the development of similar homes. Absence of tuberculosis disease in long-standing residents may have contributed to improved survival. Stunting in the absence of wasting implied that growth was compromised by opportunistic infections and other cofactors.     

Age-associated alterations in CXCL1 chemokine expression by murine B cells

Background  

The CXCL1 chemokines, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (KC), have been shown to play a role in a number of pathophysiological disease states including endotoxin-induced inflammation and bacterial meningitis. While the expression of these chemokines has been identified in a variety of cell types in the mouse, little is known about their expression with murine B-lymphocytes.     

五味子和头孢氨苄对大肠埃希氏菌及金黄色葡萄球菌抑制作用的实验研究

目的 :观察五味子和头孢氨苄对大肠埃希氏菌和金黄色葡萄球菌的抑制作用。方法 :试管稀释法。结果 :五味子水煎剂 (1g/ml,pH =2 .8)对二株受试菌的MBC分别是 6 2 .5g/L和 31.2 5g/L ,而五味子水煎剂调pH为 7 0后 ,其MBC均大于 5 0 0g/L。头孢氨苄对大肠埃希氏菌的MIC和MBC分别是 4 88mg/L和 15 6 2 5mg/L ;对金黄色葡萄球菌的MIC和MBC分别是 2 44mg/L和 78 13mg/L。pH为 7 0的五味子联用头孢氨苄对大肠埃希氏菌的MBC分别为大于 2 5 0g/L和 15 6 2 5mg/L ,部分抑菌浓度指数为 1 5。结论 :pH为 2 8的五味子水煎剂有一定抑制致病菌作用 ;pH为 7 0的五味子水煎剂与头孢氨苄联用 ,两药呈现无关作用。     

Adverse childhood experiences and the development of Down syndrome regression disorder

Down syndrome regression disorder (DSRD) is a clinical symptom cluster of acute or subacute neurocognitive regression in otherwise health persons with Down syndrome. The objective of this study was to evaluate if adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were more prevalent in children with DSRD than those with DS alone. A survey-based, cohort-based study was performed. Caregivers of individuals with DSRD with onset of symptoms between age 10 and 30 years and DS alone were administered the ACEs questionnaire via an online REDCap survey. A total of 159 responses were collected after excluding incomplete surveys and those not meeting criteria for DSRD. Individuals with DSRD were not more likely to experience ACEs (p = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43–1.17). In those with ACEs prior to the onset of symptoms, the median time prior was 7 months (interquartile range: 5–10). Individuals with DSRD were more likely to report three or more ACEs (52, 33%) compared to those with DS alone (39, 22%) (p = 0.02, 95% CI: 1.08–2.87). Exposure to ACEs were not predictive of response to particular therapeutic interventions although those with multiple ACEs 3 months prior to the onset of symptoms was associated with lower response rates to benzodiazepines and immunotherapy (p = 0.02, 95% CI: −3.64–−1.13). This study provides preliminary data that individuals with DSRD experience ACEs at a similar rate to individuals with only DS alone, although three or more ACEs, often preceding the onset of symptoms, was more prevalent in individuals with DSRD.     

Characterization of the Ca2+ responses evoked by ATP and other nucleotides in mammalian brain astrocytes

1. This study was aimed at characterizing ATP-induced rises in cytosolic free calcium ion, [Ca²⁺]_i, in a population of rat striatal astrocytes loaded with the fluorescent Ca²⁺ probe Fura2, by means of fluorescence spectrometry.
2. ATP triggered a fast and transient elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i in a concentration-dependent manner. The responses of the purine analogues 2-methylthio-ATP (2-meSATP), adenosine-5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (ADPβS), as well as uridine-5′-triphosphate (UTP) resembled that of ATP, while α,β-methylene-ATP (α,β-meATP) and β,γ-methylene-ATP (β,γ-meATP) were totally ineffective.
3. Suramin (50 μM) had only a minor effect on the ATP response, whereas pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid (PPADS) (5 μM) significantly depressed the maximum response.
4. Extracellular Ca²⁺ did not contribute to the observed [Ca²⁺]_i rise: removing calcium from the extracellular medium (with 1 mM EGTA) or blocking its influx by means of either Ni²⁺ (1 mM) or Mn²⁺ (1 mM) did not modify the nucleotide responses.
5. Furthermore, after preincubation with 10 μM thapsigargin, the nucleotide-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i increments were completely abolished. In contrast, 10 mM caffeine did not affect the responses, suggesting that thapsigargin-, but not caffeine/ryanodine-sensitive stores are involved.
6. Both application of the G-protein blocker guanosine-5′-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDPβS) (1 mM) and preincubation with pertussis toxin (PTx) (350 ng ml⁻¹) partially inhibited the nucleotide-mediated responses. Moreover, the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U-73122, but not its inactive stereoisomer U-73343 (5 μM), significantly reduced the ATP-evoked [Ca²⁺]_i rise.
7. In conclusion, our results suggest that, in rat striatal astrocytes, ATP-elicited elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i is due solely to release from intracellular stores and is mediated by a G-protein-linked P2Y receptor, partially sensitive to PTx and coupled to PLC.

     

中西医结合治疗再生障碍性贫血——附30例临床观察

目的：探讨中西医结合治疗再生障碍性贫血的疗效。方法：采用中医补肾健脾,益气活血的克障汤,辅以西药综合治疗。结果：本组共治疗再生障碍性贫血３０ 例,经２６ 个月治疗,总有效率８０％ 。结论：中西医结合治疗疗效明显优于单纯使用西药组,早期诊断、早期治疗和坚持长期治疗是本病早日康复的关键。     

氯地滴眼液对家兔眼压及房角组织影响的研究

目的 观察氯地滴眼液对家兔眼压及房角组织影响。方法 用６０只家兔设实验和对照组,以含０．１７５％氯霉素和０．１５％地塞米松的氯地跟液滴眼,每日４次,生理盐水对照。于１／２、１、２、３月测眼压后处死家兔以电镜观察房角组织变化。结果 眼压和房角组织结构与对照组无明显差异。结论 临床应用氯地眼液３月内是安全的。