Serologic test for syphilis as a surrogate marker for human immunodeficiency virus infection among United States blood donors

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the usefulness of the serologic test for syphilis (STS) in preventing the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C viruses, and human T- lymphotropic virus via the transfusion of seronegative, infectious window-period blood. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Demographic and laboratory information on blood donations made between January 1992 and June 1994 in 18 American Red Cross regions was analyzed. It was assumed that the same proportion of HIV-positive and HIV-infectious window- period donations reacted on STS and were negative on other screening tests (hepatitis B and C viruses and human T-lymphotropic virus). This proportion multiplied by the estimated number of HIV-infectious window- period donations is the number of post-screening HIV-infectious donations removed by STS. RESULTS: Of 4,468,570 donations, 12,145 (0.27%) were STS positive and 377 (0.008%) were HIV positive. Among donations that were negative on other screening tests, STS-reactive donations were 12 times more likely to be HIV positive (odds ratio = 11.9; 95% CI = 5,26). However, of an estimated 13 infectious window- period donations, 0.2 would have been removed because of a reactive STS, at a cost of over $16 million. CONCLUSION: STS is a poor marker and a costly strategy for preventing post-screening HIV infections and other blood-borne diseases.     

Polycystic Kidney Disease Re-evaluated: A Population-based Study

A genetic register of all known cases of autosomal dominantpolycystic kidney disease occurring in South and Mid-Wales hasbeen established. In a population of 2.1 million, 209 familieswith affected members were identified, 303 of whom are currentlyalive, 70 on renal replacement therapy. An additional 551 caseswould be predicted amongst family members at 50 per cent and25 per cent risk, giving an apparent prevalence of 1:2459 inthe general population. Five possible new mutations were seenwhere adults with phenotypic autosomal dominant polycystic kidneydisease had both parents alive, age > 55 years with no cystsvisible on ultrasound. The take-on rate for renal replacementtherapy increased during 1970–79 but has apparently reacheda plateau of 4.8 cases per million population per year overthe last 8 years, despite a rapidly increasing acceptance ofuraemic patients as a whole (72/10⁶/year in 1988–89).Considerably more patients with autosomal dominant polycystickidney disease aged over 50 years were started on treatmentin 1980–89 than in 1970–79, but the survival overallimproved with time. All cases of autosomal dominant polycystickidney disease reaching end-stage renal disease are now beingtreated, but the apparent clinical prevalence of this conditionin our region is less than half the supposed gene frequency,suggesting that undiagnosed cases have a benign prognosis.     

Electron microscopic evidence of persistent chlamydial infection following treatment

Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the female and male genital tracts are often asymptomatic and, thus, tend to become persistent. In the persistent state the typical Chlamydia life cycle is arrested and standard antibiotic regimens do not always eradicate this infection. We sought to relate treatment failures in men and women with persistent chlamydial genital tract infections to electron microscopic evidence of chlamydial persistence and with atypical morphological forms of the organism. Of 16 patients with chlamydial persistence following azithromycin treatment, morphological variants of this organism were observed by electron microscopy from one endocervical sample and one male urethral sample. We document the presence of intracellular inclusions containing only reticulate bodies, extracellular monomembrane and polymembrane phagosomes containing elementary bodies and reticulate bodies with abnormal outer membranes in the process of dividing extracellularly. These observations parallel previous in vitro studies of chlamydial persistence under adverse conditions. This capacity of C. trachomatis to undergo atypical morphological alterations in vivo may contribute to its persistence and relative resistance to antibiotics.     

经胸乳径路腔镜甲状腺手术180例的临床研究

目的探讨经胸乳径路腔镜甲状腺手术技巧及其并发症的防治。方法回顾分析2005年3月至2009年12月经胸乳径路腔镜甲状腺手术180例患者的临床资料。结果本组178例腔镜甲状腺手术顺利完成,2例中转开放手术,其中1例为结节性甲状腺肿,因甲状腺体积大,空间狭小中转开放手术,另1例为原发性甲状腺功能亢进,因粘连严重、创面广泛渗血中转开放手术。全组手术时间70～190 min,平均110 min。术中出血量5～75 ml。术后出现皮肤瘀斑2例,抽搐1例,均于2周后恢复正常。声音嘶哑1例,1个月后恢复正常。住院时间3～6 d,平均4.5 d。结论经胸乳径路腔镜甲状腺手术是一种极富技巧性的手术,甲状旁腺损伤和喉返神经损伤是其严重并发症,规范手术操作能有效减少并发症的发生。     

鞍区Rathke囊肿的MRI诊断价值

目的探讨鞍区Rathke囊肿的MRI表现及其诊断价值。方法回顾性分析5例经手术病理证实的鞍区Rathke囊肿的MRI资料。结果 5例囊肿均由鞍内向鞍上延伸,呈哑铃型,边界清楚,囊壁菲薄。囊液T1WI低信号T2WI高信号3例,T1WIT2WI囊液均为高信号2例,囊壁见线样增强1例。结论典型鞍区Rathke囊肿的MRI表现具有一定的特征性,术前正确诊断有可能,但需密切结合临床,并与垂体瘤、颅咽管瘤鉴别。     

Cancer: A reproductive strategy of "ultra-selfish" genes?

A hypothesis is presented in which the process of "malignant transformation" which ultimately results in the rapidly dividing tumor(s)(cells) causing "cancer", is regarded as an evolved reproductive strategy of "ultra-selfish" (proto-)(onco-)genes, already present in the genome, or introduced by a virus.     

酶联免疫吸附试验中HBsAg室内质控参考品的制备和应用

目的建立室内质控参考品以鉴别诊断试剂的质量和控制操作误差,提高乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原的检测准确度。方法以国家标准品为标准制备灵敏度系列参考品、特异性参考品及精密性参考品。检测其稳定性,并进行同厂家、不同批号试剂的比较及不同厂家、三批试剂的比较。结果制备的室内质控参考品在-20℃与4℃保存3～4周检测结果无统计学差异。采用同一厂家、不同批号的HBsAg诊断试剂检测室内质控参考品,结果无统计学差异。采用不同厂家、同一批号的HBsAg诊断试剂检测结果有统计学差异。结论我们建立的室内质控参考品适宜作HBsAg室内质控,提醒我们在更换试剂厂家时应特别注意室内质控参考品的变化。