Cervical internal carotid artery dissecting hemorrhage: diagnosis using MR

Two men underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the internal carotid artery (ICA) 12 and 16 days after spontaneous dissection of this vessel. One underwent follow-up MR imaging 7 weeks later. T1-weighted images were obtained in both cases, and T2-weighted images were obtained in one patient. In both cases, the MR findings corresponded to the angiographic abnormalities. On both the T1- and T2-weighted images, there was a hyperintense lesion expanding the wall and narrowing the lumen of the ICAs. Follow-up MR imaging showed complete resolution of the mural lesion. Axial images best demonstrated the anatomic and MR signal alterations. The hyperintensity of the lesion on both T1- and T2-weighted images indicated a short T1 and a long T2 as expected in a subacute hematoma. High-resolution MR imaging, therefore, can specifically demonstrate a thrombosed carotid dissection noninvasively at least as early as 12 days. The potential to diagnose carotid dissection in the acute phase using high-field-strength MR imaging and its importance for the prevention of embolic strokes are also discussed.     

Occult cerebral vascular malformations: high-field MR imaging

Occult cerebral vascular malformations (OCVMs) have characteristic appearances on high-field magnetic resonance (MR) images. These consist of circumscribed regions of low intensity, most prominent on T2-weighted images and representing hemosiderin deposits. Interspersed within most of these lesions are multiple areas of various signal intensity patterns, which correspond to hematomas in different stages of evolution and to fibrous regions containing calcium as well as hemosiderin. Forty-six lesions were found in 19 patients (34 supratentorial and 12 infratentorial). The supratentorial lesions tended to be subcortical or periventricular. Computed tomography depicted 24 of the 46 lesions demonstrated by high-field MR. Comparison of images obtained with both low-field MR (0.12 T and 0.35 T) and high-field MR (1.5 T) revealed that high-field MR imaging was superior in depicting OCVMs. High-field MR appears to be both sensitive and specific for OCVMs and may obviate the need for possible biopsy of these lesions.     

Kell blood group activity of gram-negative bacteria

To understand better the relationships between blood-group antigens and bacterial constituents, examples of 23 gram-negative bacteria (representing the 10 genera Citrobacter, Edwardsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Serratia, and Shigella) were tested for the presence of Kl-like antigens by hemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) assays against both IgG and IgM anti-Kl. Saline-suspended whole organisms, cell-free culture media, and disrupted organisms were used to test for such antigens in, on, and secreted by the microorganisms examined. Disrupted organisms of an isolate of Shigella sonnei nonspecifically inhibited IgG anti-Kl as well as IgG antibodies of the specificities Kpb, Fya, S, and c. However, only Escherichia coli 0125:B15, subtype 12808, had specific K1-like activity (no activity with other IgG [(k, Kpb, Jka, Fya, S, c] and IgM [A, B, M, P1] antibodies). Disrupted organisms inhibited IgM but not IgG anti-K1 in the HAI assay. A second subtype, E. coli 0125:B15, subtype 12809, exhibited no K1-like activity. These findings support the report of K1 activity in cell-free broth cultures of E. coli 0125:B15 (subtype unspecified). Thus, although not all E. coli 0125:B15 possesses K1-like activity, the finding of such activity in at least one E. coli subtype confirms the idea that bacterial components may play a role in the production of naturally occurring antibodies directed against non-ABO red cell antigens.     

Anaphylaxis after treatment with recombinant factor VIII

BACKGROUND: Treatment of hemophilia patients with recombinant factor VIII concentrates has not previously been associated with anaphylaxis. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A 5-week-old boy with severe hemophilia A developed dyspnea, cyanosis, hypotension, and a diffuse urticarial rash following treatment with a recombinant factor VIII (Recombinate). To identify the cause of anaphylaxis in this patient, the vial lot was examined for the presence of endotoxin, and a checkerboard immunoblotting technique was used to test serum and/or plasma samples from the patient and mother for the presence of antibodies (IgA, IgG, IgE, and IgM) to Recombinate-related antigens (recombinant factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, human serum albumin, Chinese hamster ovary proteins, bovine serum albumin, mouse monoclonal anti-human factor VIII, polyethylene glycol 3350), and to ethylene oxide, the agent used to sterilize the infusion equipment. RESULTS: No immune response directed against the Recombinate-related antigens or ethylene oxide that could be associated with the anaphylactic reaction was identified. Endotoxin was not present upon rabbit pyrogen testing of the therapeutic product. CONCLUSION: These studies failed to show any association between Recombinate and the onset of the allergic reaction. This seems to be the first reported case of anaphylaxis following the infusion of a recombinant form of factor VIII concentrate.     

Survivin与Caspase-3在妊娠期高血压疾病患者胎盘组织中的表达及意义

目的：研究凋亡相关蛋白Survivin（生存素）和Caspase-3（半胱氨酸蛋白酶-3）在妊娠高血压疾病（HDCP）患者胎盘细胞中的表达情况,探讨其与HDCP发生发展的相关性,为进一步明确HDCP的发病机制提供研究依据。方法：随机选取60例HDCP患者（其中子痫前期轻度28例,子痫前期重度32例,分别为轻度组、重度组）胎盘组织和30例健康孕妇（对照组）胎盘组织,采用免疫组化S—P法检测胎盘组织中Sur-vivin和Caspase-3的表达,并用图像分析系统对染色结果进行分析。结果：①Survivin在重度组表达显著低于轻度组及对照组,差异有显著性（P〈0.01）;轻度组与对照组比较,无显著性差异（P〉0.05）;②Caspase-3表达在轻度组与重度组显著高于对照组,差异均有显著性（P〈0.01）;重度组高于轻度组,差异有显著性（P〈0.01）。③Survivin与Caspase-3在两组胎盘组织中表达呈负相关（R=-0.413,P〈0.01）。结论：在HDCP患者胎盘组织中Survivin表达下调、Caspase-3表达上调,HDCP的发病机制可能与Survivin及Cas-pase-3表达变化有关。     

乌审旗3000名妇女宫颈癌筛查结果分析

目的：了解乌审旗妇女宫颈癌及癌前病变的发病现状,探讨子宫颈液基细胞学（Thinprep paptest,TCT）结合阴道镜检查的诊断价值。方法：对3 000名乌审旗妇女进行TCT筛查,对TCT阳性（细胞学TBS分类为不典型鳞状细胞以上）的妇女进行阴道镜及镜下多点活组织检查（活检）,分析TCT阳性者的阴道镜检查及活检结果,比较TCT阳性者中不同年龄段患者的活检结果。结果：3 000名受检者中,TCT阳性537例（17.9%）,其中经活检证实为宫颈上皮内瘤变（cervical intraepthelial neoplasia,CIN）190例（6.3%）,宫颈浸润癌2例（0.07%）,537例TCT阳性者中,阴道镜检查正常264例（49.2%）,其中活检结果为CIN34例,阴道镜的假阴性率为12.9%,异常273例（50.8%）,其中活检结果为湿疣34例,CIN或浸润癌158例,阴道镜与活检的诊断符合率达70.3%（192/273）。TCT为轻度鳞状上皮内病变、高度鳞状上皮内病变、鳞状细胞癌的病例与活检的诊断符合率分别为50.4%,88.3%和2/2,假阳性率则分别为49.6%、11%和0。537例TCT阳性者中,2030岁组、3140岁组,4147岁组的CIN检出率分别为33.7%、44.5%2、6.7%（P〈0.05）。结论：乌审旗妇女CIN的发生率高,是宫颈癌的高发人群。TCT结合阴道镜检查是较好的宫颈癌筛查手段之一。     

不明原因慢性咳嗽诊治现状及分析

目的:研究和探讨不明原因慢性咳嗽的诊治现状。方法:对我院呼吸科门诊2006年1月~2008年12月间诊治的138例不明原因慢性咳嗽患者的病因诊断、治疗情况进行分析研究,对相关数据进行统计学处理。结果:138例不明原因慢性咳嗽按病因分类,鼻后滴流综合征(PNDS)最多,占35.5%,咳嗽变异型哮喘(CVA)占27.5%,胃—食管返流性咳嗽(GERC)占12.3%,嗜酸粒细胞性支气管炎(EB)占10.9%,变应性咳嗽(AC)占8.7%,感冒后咳嗽占5.1%。其中116例被误诊,误诊率84.1%,确诊后121例经治疗1~8周治愈,治愈率87.7%。结论:不明原因慢性咳嗽易被疏忽和误诊,明确病因诊断,规范治疗是关键。     

Activation of MAP kinase-activated protein kinase 2 in human neutrophils after phorbol ester or fMLP peptide stimulation

In response to extracellular stimulation, one of the earliest events in human neutrophils is protein phosphorylation, which mediates signal transduction and leads to the regulation of cellular functions. Mitogen- activated protein (MAP) kinases are rapidly activated by a variety of mitogens, cytokines, and stresses. The activated MAP kinases in turn regulate their substrate molecules by phosphorylation. MAP kinase- activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2, a Ser/Thr kinase, has been shown to be phosphorylated by p38 MAP kinase both in vivo and in vitro. Phosphorylation of the Thr-334 site of MAPKAP kinase 2 results in a conformational change with subsequent activation of the enzyme. To better define the role of MAPKAP kinase 2 in the activation of human neutrophils, its enzymatic activity was measured after stimulation by either a phorbol ester (phorbol myristate acetate [PMA]), a potent protein kinase C activator, or the tripeptide fMLP, which is a chemotactic factor. The in vitro kinase assays indicate that both PMA and fMLP stimulated a transient increase in the enzymatic activity of cellular MAPKAP kinase 2. The induced kinase activation was concentration-dependent and reached a maximum at 5 minutes for PMA and 1 minute for fMLP. To identify potential substrate molecules for MAPKAP kinase 2, a highly active kinase mutant was generated by mutating the MAP kinase phosphorylation site in the C-terminal region. The replacement of threonine 334 with alanine resulted in a marked augmentation of catalytic activity. Analysis of in vitro protein phosphorylation in the presence of the active kinase indicates that a 60-kD cytosolic protein (p60) was markedly phosphorylated and served as the major substrate for MAPKAP kinase 2 in human neutrophils. Based on the MAPKAP kinase 2 phosphorylation site of Hsp27, a competitive inhibitory peptide was synthesized. This competitive inhibitory peptide specifically inhibited MAPKAP kinase 2 enzymatic activity, as well as the in vitro and in vivo kinase-induced p60 phosphorylation. To assess the contribution of MAPKAP kinase 2 in neutrophil function, the oxidative burst response after manipulation of endogenous kinase activity was measured. Intracellular delivery of the competitive inhibitory peptide into human neutrophils reduced both PMA- and fMLP- stimulated superoxide anion production. Thus, the results strongly suggest that MAPKAP kinase 2 is involved in the activation of human neutrophils.