Typical MMPI-2 Profiles of Multiple-DWI Individuals

We identified the typical personality profile of individuals with multiple driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) offenses using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Multiple DWI offenders were recruited from outpatient clinics between January 2009 and September 2013. All participants were administered the MMPI-2 and also completed a questionnaire soliciting demographic information. A hierarchical cluster analysis was performed using Ward’s method. The multiple-offenders-I group (n?=?9) had relatively high (although still within normal) scores on the D and Pd scales. The multiple-offenders-II group (n?=?50) had low scores on both the Ma and Si scales and a V-shaped profile on the validity scales. Some multiple offenders may have poorer emotional adjustment, characterized by tendencies toward psychopathic deviance, mania, and depression, as well as psychopathological characteristics typically associated with patients with alcohol-use disorder.     

The molecular basis of beta-thalassemia in Lebanon: application to prenatal diagnosis

A study of the molecular lesions of beta-thalassemia in Lebanon revealed the presence of eight different mutations in 25 patients with Cooley's anemia. The IVS1 position 110 mutation predominated with a frequency of 62% and was almost invariably associated with Mediterranean chromosome haplotype I. Five other mutations commonly found in the Mediterranean area occurred with frequencies of 2% to 8%. In addition a G----C substitution in IVS1 position 5 (a lesion previously found in Chinese and Asian Indians) was demonstrated in a patient with Mediterranean haplotype IX. A new mutation at codon 29 was found in two other patients with haplotype II. The characterization of these beta-thalassemia mutations should allow the implementation of a prenatal diagnosis program in that country.     

筛选心肌缺血再灌注大鼠差异表达基因

目的：利用抑制性消减杂交技术，筛选出大鼠心肌缺血再灌注的差异表达基因，以期通过基因线索探讨其损伤机制。方法：实验于2006—03／10在中山大学中山医学院完成。①实验分组：Sprague-Dawley雄性大鼠40只，随机分为手术组，对照组，每组20只。②实验干预：手术组结扎左冠状动脉，心电图出现急性心肌梗死改变90min后，去除结扎线，再灌注60min，建立心肌缺血再灌注大鼠模型。对照组仅穿线不结扎，余同手术组。③取缺血区心肌，提取Total RNA，构建cDNA文库，利用抑制性消减杂交技术筛选差异表达基因，测序，登录Genbank寻找同源性基因。结果：共获得124个阳性结果，56个为高表达基因，68个为低表达基因，其中发现5个新的cDNA片段。其中能量代谢、物质运输、信号转导相关差异表达基因分别占所有差异表达基因的39．25％，15．89％，15．89％，并且主要变化为下调。结论：抑制性消减杂交技术是一种高效的筛选差异基因的方法。心肌缺血再灌注后基因变化涉及多种功能的基因，以能量代谢、物质运输、信号转导相关基因下调明显。     

Structural and Immunological Characteristics of a 28-Kilodalton Cruzipain-Like Cysteine Protease of Paragonimus westermani Expressed in the Definitive Host Stage

A complete cDNA sequence encoding a 28-kDa cruzipain-like cysteine protease of adult Paragonimus westermani, termed Pw28CCP, was isolated from an adult cDNA library. The cDNA contained a single open reading frame of 975 bp encoding 325 amino acids, which exhibited the structural motif and domain organization characteristic of cysteine proteases of non-cathepsin Bs including a hydrophobic signal sequence, an ERFNIN motif, and essential cysteine residues as well as active sites in the mature catalytic region. Analysis of its phylogenetic position revealed that this novel enzyme belonged to the cruzipain-like cysteine proteases. The sequence of the first 13 amino acids predicted from the mature domain of Pw28CCP was in accord with that determined from the native 28-kDa enzyme purified from the adult worm. Expression of Pw28CCP was observed specifically in juvenile and adult worms, with a location in the intestinal epithelium, suggesting that this enzyme could be secreted and involved in nutrient uptake and immune modulation. The recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli was used to assess antigenicity by immunoblotting with sera from patients with active paragonimiasis and from those with other parasitic infections. The resulting sensitivity of 86.2% (56 of 65 samples) and specificity of 98% (147 of 150 samples) suggest its potential as an antigen for use in immunodiagnosis.