Red cell autoantibody production in utero: a case report

BACKGROUND: Autoantibody production by the fetus is thought to be extremely unlikely. Only one possible case of in utero autoantibody production against red cells by the fetus has previously been described. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A case of apparent red cell IgG autoantibody production in utero is reported. RESULTS: This was established by a positive direct antiglobulin test in a newborn infant without evidence of maternal alloantibodies or autoantibodies. There was no evidence of clinically significant hemolysis at the infant's birth. After 6 weeks, his direct antiglobulin test remained strongly positive. The infant thrived without evidence of hemolysis, and after 6 months the direct antiglobulin test was negative. CONCLUSION: The production of autoantibodies to red cells in utero is possible, though rare. This did not result in apparent hemolysis in this patient.     

Image-directed percutaneous biopsies with a biopsy gun

Core tissue for histologic study is believed by many pathologists to be more diagnostic than material from needle aspiration. Recently, a biopsy "gun" has been introduced, which simplifies core biopsies. With this device, 182 biopsies of multiple anatomic sites were performed with ultrasonic, computed tomographic, and fluoroscopic guidance and 18-gauge needles. High-quality histopathologic specimens were obtained in 177 of the biopsies, and diagnostic target tissue was obtained in 167. Only three significant complications occurred: one bleeding complication that required transfusion and two cases of pneumothorax that necessitated placement of chest tubes. The biopsy gun eliminated the disjointed movements of conventional "skinny" needle biopsies, and none of the samples demonstrated significant "crush" artifact or obscuring blood, problems that are commonly associated with manual biopsy techniques. Patient discomfort was decreased with this system compared with that of manual biopsies, and the total procedure time was reduced. Because of these distinct advantages, the authors now use the biopsy gun exclusively for all percutaneous biopsies and recommend that other institutions consider the use of this biopsy method.     

Prevention of postsurgical tissue adhesion by anti-inflammatory drug-loaded pluronic mixtures with sol-gel transition behavior

Sol-gel transition temperature-controllable Pluronic F127/F68 mixtures including mildly crosslinked alginate and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen) were prepared to evaluate their potential as tissue adhesion barrier gels. The sol-gel transition temperatures of the Pluronic mixtures could be controlled by adjusting F127/F68 ratio and polymer concentration. The mildly crosslinked alginate with still flow property provided the residence stability of Pluronic mixture gels in the body. Ibuprofen was loaded in Pluronic mixtures to reduce inflammatory response in the body and, thus, to prevent tissue adhesion. The gelation temperatures of the Pluronic mixtures were not affected by the alginate but lowered by the addition of ibuprofen. The in vitro drug release behavior and in vivo peritoneal tissue adhesion of the Pluronic mixtures with the sol-gel transition just below body temperatures were investigated. The drug release behavior from the ibuprofen (1 wt%)-loaded Pluronic mixture gels at 37 degrees C was examined using a membrane-less dissolution model. The drug in the mixture gels was released continuously up to about 45-65% of the total loading amount during the first 7 days. For in vivo evaluation of tissue anti-adhesion potential, the Pluronic mixtures with/without drug were coated on the peritoneal wall defects of rats and their tissue adhesion extents and tissue reactions (inflammatory response, granulation tissue formation, and toxicity in organs) were compared. It was observed that ibuprofen has a positive effect for the peritoneal tissue anti-adhesion. The Pluronic F127/F68/alginate/ibuprofen mixture gel (25 wt% of F127/F68 [7/3], 1 wt% ibuprofen) was highly effective for the prevention of peritoneal tissue adhesion and showed a relatively low inflammatory response and non-toxicity, and thus can be a good candidate material as a coatable or injectable tissue adhesion barrier gel.     

Births of normal daughters after MicroSort sperm separation and intrauterine insemination, in-vitro fertilization, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection

The world's first deliveries of normal babies after use of flow cytometric separated human sperm cells (MicroSort) for preconception gender selection are reported. Offspring were of the desired female gender in 92.9% of the pregnancies. Most of these pregnancies and births were achieved after simple intrauterine insemination.      

Mouse homologues of the human AZF candidate gene RBM are expressed in spermatogonia and spermatids, and map to a Y chromosome deletion interval associated with a high incidence of sperm abnormalities

An RNA-binding motif (RBM) gene family has been identified on the human Y chromosome that maps to the same deletion interval as the 'azoospermia factor' (AZF). We have identified the homologous gene family (Rbm) on the mouse Y with a view to investigating the proposal that this gene family plays a role in spermatogenesis. At least 25 and probably >50 copies of Rbm are present on the mouse Y chromosome short arm located between Sry and the centromere. As in the human, a role in spermatogenesis is indicated by a germ cell-specific pattern of expression in the testis, but there are distinct differences in the pattern of expression between the two species. Mice carrying the deletion Yd1, that maps to the proximal Y short arm, are female due to a position effect resulting in non-expression of Sry ; sex-reversing such mice with an Sry transgene produces males with a high incidence of abnormal sperm, making this the third deletion interval on the mouse Y that affects some aspect of spermatogenesis. Most of the copies of Rbm map to this deletion interval, and the Yd1males have markedly reduced Rbm expression, suggesting that RBM deficiency may be responsible for, or contribute to, the abnormal sperm development. In man, deletion of the functional copies of RBM is associated with meiotic arrest rather than sperm anomalies; however, the different effects of deletion are consistent with the differences in expression between the two species.      

No association between VNTR polymorphisms of dopamine transporter gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese children.

Dopamine transporter (DAT) gene is implicated in the pathogenesis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previously a meta-analysis concluded no association between the variable-number-of-tandem-repeats (VNTR) polymorphisms of the DAT gene and ADHD. However, significant heterogeneity was present among studies and no conclusion can be drawn about the association in any single ethnicity given the small number of studies. There were also conflicting results in Chinese populations. We therefore perform the present study to investigate the association in Chinese children in Hong Kong. In this prospective family-based and case-control study during January to June 2004, we recruited consecutive Chinese children diagnosed with ADHD by DSM-IV criteria, their family members, and sex-matched controls admitted for acute upper respiratory infection, excluding those with perinatal brain insults, mental retardation, or neurological deficits. VNTR polymorphisms of the DAT gene were determined by standard PCR followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Sixty-four ADHD cases (52 boys, 12 girls), their family members and 64 normal controls were recruited. The 10-repeat allele (92.6%) and the 10/10 repeat genotype (85.2%) were the most prevalent. Both family-based and case-control analyses showed no association between the DAT gene polymorphisms and ADHD (transmission dysequilibrium test: P = 0.99; odds ratio of 10-repeat allele = 0.89 (95%CI 0.35-2.28), P = 0.81; odds ratio of 10/10 repeat genotype = 0.69 (95%CI 0.26-1.84), P = 0.46). We concluded that VNTR polymorphism of the DAT gene is not associated with ADHD in Chinese children, and further studies are needed to clarify the polygenic and environmental influences for pathogenesis of ADHD.     

Epstein-Barr virus-associated smooth muscle tumor in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated smooth muscle tumor (SMT) is a recognized but uncommon disease that is found to occur in patients with immunocompromised conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). These tumors may be multifocal and located at unusual sites, such as the brain and liver. This report describes the case of 2 AIDS patients with EBV-associated SMT and highlights the features and outcome of this rare but potentially important tumor in human immunodeficiency virus management.     

Immune responses to the expressed products of the CSP antige n gene of Plasmodium falciparum southern China isolate FCC1/HN in Hela cell

Objective To construct a eukaryotic expression system with pcDNA3-PfCSP/Hela for the Circ umsporozoite protein (CSP) gene of Plasmodium falciparum (P.falciparum), t o observe the immune responses in BALB/c mice induced by the expressed proteins .Methods The recombinant plasmid pcDNA3-PfCSP was transformed into the Hela cell line. The expressed protein was isolated and analyzed by using SDS-PAGE and used for immunization of BALB/c mice by subcutaneous, intravenous, and intraperitone al adminstration.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), Dot-ELISA, Wester n blot, T lymphocyte proliferation test, natural killer cell(NKC) activity assay , and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell detection were used for observation of humoral an d cellular immune responses.Results Immune sera strongly reacted with the expressed protein, antibody titer was up to 1∶6400 as detected by ELISA.Western blot analysis revealed a specific b and at 38.3 Kda.When the spleen cells of normal and immunized BALB/c mice we re specifically stimulated with expressed protein, the optical densities were 0 .12±0.03 and 0.34±0.04, respectively.The latter were significantly highe r than the former (P<0.01).We used the MTT colorimetric assay to measure NKC activity of mice spleen.The results showed that the NKC activity of immuni zed BALB/c mice was remarkably higher than that of the controls (P<0.05). CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells were detected by using monoclonal antibody immunofluor escence methods.The results showed that the percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells of immunized group were significantly higher than that of control group ( P<0.05).Conclusions The humoral and cell-mediated immune responses and elevated NKC activity to pr oducts made with a eukaryotic expression system could be specifically detected i n BALB/c mice.These findings indicate that the expressed protein could enhance the immune function in mice.     

消痔灵和强的松龙混合液治疗鼻息肉

0　引言　我科 1996 / 1998分别应用消痔灵与强的松龙混合液、消痔灵液、强的松龙液行鼻息肉内 ,鼻息肉蒂部注射治疗鼻息肉各 5 0例 ,并设对照组为鼻腔滴入及口服类固醇激素 5 0例 ,合计 2 0 0例 ,观察并对比其疗效 .1　对象和方法1.1　对象　男 12 8例 ,女 72例 ,年龄 8～ 78(平均 38)岁 ,病程 32 a～ 45 (平均 4.5 ) a.其中在本次治疗前做过一次鼻息肉摘除术后复发的 2 7例 ,做过 2次或 2次以上手术的 12例 .主要症状为鼻塞、流脓涕、头痛及嗅觉减退 .全部病例治疗前均行鼻窦 X线拍片 ,其中上颌窦炎 12 5例、筛窦炎 5 8例、蝶窦炎 2例、…