OUTBREAK OF BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS AMONG TROOPS AT AN ARMED FORCES STATION

A large number of microfilaria (MF) positive cases were reported at a Military Hospital in 1994. The epidemiological investigations included mass night blood survey, detection of sector breeding places and entomological studies. Control measures were instituted concurrently and this included treatment of positive cases, sector control measures, personal protection and health education. The mass blood survey was continued in 1995 as well to find the outcome of control measures. A total of 215 MF positive cases were detected in 1994 with MF rate of 9.63. The only MF species identified was Wuchereria bancrofti. 203% cases were in the station for less than six months. 71.3% of MF positive cases were asymptomatic. As per state health authorities, Culex quinquefasciatus was the known vector for spread of the disease in the region. However, in present study, it could not be implicated as dissection of over 200 mosquitoes of this species was negative for filarial parasite. Our study stresses the importance of close monitoring of the disease by night blood surveys and effective integrated vector control measures.KEY WORDS: Control, Epidemiology, Filariasis     

Mutation rate at the hprt locus in human cancer cell lines with specific mismatch repair-gene defects

Spontaneous mutation rates at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) locus were measured in human cancer cell lines defective in the mismatch repair (MMR) genes hMLH1, hPMS2, or GTBP, as well as in a cell line carrying mutations in both hMLH1 and hPMS2. The mutation rate was determined by quantitating mutant frequency increases within a single culture as a function of cell division. These MMR- deficient cell lines exhibited a 50- to 750-fold increase in mutation rate relative to a MMR-proficient cancer cell line. From lowest to highest, the spontaneous mutation rates relative to the MMR-gene defects studied here are as follows: hMLH1- < GTBP- < hPMS2- < hMLH1- / hPMS2-. In addition, a cell line in which MMR was restored by chromosome transfer exhibited a mutation rate 12-fold below the MMR- deficient parental cell line. These data support the notion that MMR plays an important role in controlling the rate of spontaneous mutation and suggest that different MMR-gene defects may vary in their ability to repair different types of DNA mismatches, thus leading to measurable quantitative differences in spontaneous mutagenesis. Furthermore, a difference in mutation rates was observed between a hPMS2-defective cell line (3.1 x 10(-5) mutations/cell/generation) and two hMLH1- defective cell lines (4.0 x 10(-6) and 7.3 x 10(-6) mutations/cell/generation). Assuming the hPMS2- and hMLH1-gene products only function in the proposed hMutL alpha heterodimer, then defects in either gene should yield comparable mutation rates. These data suggest that hPMS2 plays a critical role in MMR, while additional hMLH1 homologues or hPMS2 alone may function to partially complement defects in hMLH1.      

Stent placement in coeliac and superior mesenteric arteries to restore vascular perfusion following aortic dissection

The main trunks of both coeliac and superior mesenteric arteries were sheared off the abdominal aorta by an anterior dissection that spared the renal arteries. Both vessels were cannulated and a Walstent inserted across the false lumen to restore normal coeliac and superior mesenteric perfusion. This produced a successful haemodynamic and angiographic result with improvement in the patient's clinical condition.     

A new spontaneous mouse mutation of Hoxd13 with a polyalanine expansion and phenotype similar to human synpolydactyly

Human synpolydactyly (SPD) is an inherited congenital limb malformation caused by mutations in the HOXD13 gene. Heterozygotes are typically characterized by 3/4 finger and 4/5 toe syndactyly with associated duplicated digits; hands and feet of homozygotes are very small because of a shortening of the phalanges, metacarpal and metatarsal bones. Here we describe the phenotype and molecular basis of a spontaneous mutation of Hoxd13 in mice that provides a phenotypically and molecularly accurate model for human SPD. The new mutation, named synpolydactyly homolog (spdh), is a 21 bp in-frame duplication within a polyalanine- encoding region at the 5'-end of the Hoxd13 coding sequence. The duplication expands the stretch of alanines from 15 to 22; the same type of expansion occurs in human SPD mutations. spdh/spdh homozygotes exhibit severe malformations of all four feet, including polydactyly, syndactyly and brachydactylia. The phenotype of spdh is much more severe than that exhibited by mice with a genetically engineered, presumably null, disruption of Hoxd13. Thus spdh probably acts in a dominant-negative manner and will be valuable for examining interactions with other Hox genes and their protein products during limb development. Homozygous mice of both sexes also lack preputial glands and males do not breed; therefore, spdh/spdh mice may also be valuable in studies of reproductive physiology and behavior.      

LCR-dependent gene expression in beta-globin YAC transgenics: detailed structural studies validate functional analysis even in the presence of fragmented YACs

Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) transgenesis is associated with a high frequency of deletions in the integrated transgenes. To determine the impact of these rearrangements on the ability to derive structure- function relationships using YACs, transgenic mice were generated with 248 or 155 kb beta-globin locus YACs. The transgenics were examined for structural integrity of the YAC using an approach of structural analysis that unambiguously demonstrates intactness of YAC transgene copies. Globin gene expression per copy of each integrated transgene and the profiles of globin gene expression during development were determined. Diverse deletion patterns were observed in one or more integrated YACs in all the 248 and most of the 155 kb transgenic lines we analyzed. However, when the structure of the major regulatory element of the beta-globin locus, the locus control region, was preserved, the genes of the beta-globin locus functioned normally and globin transgenes of both the 248 and 155 kb beta-YACs were expressed in a position-independent, copy number-dependent manner. Furthermore, the globin genes of both beta-YACs displayed normal developmental regulation. We conclude that YACs can be used for analysis of structure- function relationships of large genes or multigene loci in spite of the tendency for rearrangements and deletions of the integrated transgenes. However, detailed structural evidence for integrity and continuity of locus sequences is required for correct interpretation of functional data.      

用(+)-FLEC手性试剂自动柱前衍生高效液相色谱法拆分麻黄碱类药物对映体

报道了以(+)-FLEC作为手性衍生化试剂,用反相高效液相色谱技术分离麻黄碱类药物对映异构体的方法。dl-麻黄碱、dl-伪麻黄碱、dl-去甲麻黄碱、dl-去甲伪麻黄碱先与(+)-FLEC形成衍生物后,经过一ODSHypersil柱分离,以水和乙腈为流动相梯度洗脱.二极管阵列检测器在266nm检测。该法从样品衍生化到最终报告全部自动完成。上述各对对映体均达到基线分离,分离度R均大于1.5,方法灵敏度高,最低检出限达10pmo1,保留时间和峰面积的上现性较好,RSD分别为1.1/和3.0%。     

Retrievable Gunther Tulip inferior vena cava filter: Experience in 317 patients

The aim of our study was to assess our experience with the retrievable Gunther Tulip (GT) inferior vena cava (IVC) filter, with regard to its insertion, efficacy, ease of placement and retrieval, and associated complications. Between November 2001 and October 2005, 322 GT filters were placed in 317 patients. Insertion indications included the following: pulmonary embolus (PE) prophylaxis in trauma patients (n = 232), PE prophylaxis in perioperative patients (n = 27), PE prophylaxis in moribund intensive care unit patients (n = 22), recent PE (n = 48), extensive deep venous thrombosis (n = 66), contraindication to anticoagulation (n = 63), anticoagulation complication (n = 8) and deep venous thrombosis with failed anticoagulation (n = 8). Some patients had more than one indication for caval filter placement. Two hundred and five attempted retrievals have been carried out, with 15 failures. Our successful retrieval rate is 92%. Nineteen filters were originally inserted permanently. There have been three minor complications associated with insertion and five with retrieval. The mean time from filter insertion to attempted retrieval was 76.95 days. The ideal filter implantation time gives the patient the benefit of PE protection, while avoiding the long‐term risks associated with caval filters. Although GT retrieval times have lengthened considerably, our data suggest that this is at the expense of successful retrieval rates.