The use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Mycoplasma hominis antibodies in infertile women serum samples

BACKGROUND: Besides Chlamydiae trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis may also cause infertility due to damage of the Fallopian tubes. Therefore serum samples from infertile women were analyzed for antibodies to M. hominis. METHODS: Sera from 304 infertile women were investigated for seropositivity to M. hominis by immunoblotting and a developed ELISA. Women were classified into groups based on the type of infertility: infertile due to lack of passage in Fallopian tubes (TFI, tubal factor infertility), an infertile male partner (MFI, male factor infertility) and unexplained infertility (UFI, unexplained factor infertility). Three M. hominis isolates were used in the immunoblotting analysis and clear differences in patient immunoprofiles were observed between two isolates. For the ELISA we used a mixture of Triton X-114 extracted membrane proteins from those two M. hominis isolates as antigen. RESULTS: Ninety-seven sera (32%) were seropositive to M. hominis when tested by the ELISA. There was a significant correlation between TFI and seropositivity to M. hominis (P = 0.0015, OR = 2.21, CI = 1.35-3.61). We compared the seropositivity of 304 patients to M. hominis with the presence of antibodies against two other bacteria Chlamydiae trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium and there was no statistical correlation between those bacteria and M. hominis. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that M. hominis may be an independent predictor of TFI.     

Life style related to blood pressure and body weight in adolescence: Cross sectional data from the Young-HUNT study,Norway

Background  

The associations between physical activity, unhealthy dietary habits and cigarette smoking and blood pressure, overweight and obesity are well established in adulthood. This is not the case for similar associations in adolescence. Thus, the purpose of this study is to examine how physical activity, smoking status and dietary habits were related to overweight, obesity and blood pressure in a population of Norwegian adolescents.     

A Single Baseline Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography Could Be Sufficient for Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease Conversion in Mild Cognitive Impairment

ObjectiveBaseline amyloid burden in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been linked to conversion to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the comparison of baseline and longitudinal changes in amyloid burden for predicting AD remains unresolved. The objectives of this study aimed to compare the prognostic ability of baseline and longitudinal changes in amyloid burden in MCI patients. MethodsSeventy-five individuals with MCI were recruited and examined annually by clinical interviews for a mean follow-up of 24 months (range, 11.6–42.0). [18F]Florbetaben positron emission tomography (PET) scans were performed. T1-weighted 3D volumes were acquired for co-registration, and to define regions of interest. We examined whether baseline and longitudinal amyloid burden changes can improve AD conversion by Cox proportional hazard model analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. ResultsCox proportional hazards model analysis showed that baseline amyloid burden was significantly associated with increased risk of conversion to AD (hazard ratio [HR]=10.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15–85.39; p=0.04), but longitudinal amyloid burden changes was not (HR=0.2; 95% CI, 0.02–1.18; p=0.07). When predicting AD, longitudinal amyloid burden changes had better ROC accuracy of 65.2% (95% CI, 48.4–82.0) than baseline amyloid burden of 59.6% (95% CI, 40.3–79.0), without statistical significance in pairwise comparison. ConclusionA single baseline amyloid PET could be sufficient in the prediction of AD conversion in MCI.     

TO KNOW OR NOT TO KNOW: LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENETIC PRIVACY AND DISCLOSURE OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S GENETIC PROFILE

Learning to Heal: The Development of American Medical Education, Ludmerer, K.M. (Basic Books, New York, 1985) 346 pages, $21.95.     

Acute, painful, and swollen testicle as the presenting feature in polyarteritis nodosa

A 74-year-old man presented with spiking fever, myalgias, and a painful left testicle. A diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) was made. Corticosteroids, in combination with cyclophosphamide, induced clinical remission.     

Clinical Significance of Early Recurrences of Atrial Tachycardia After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Early Recurrence After AF Ablation. Background: Atrial tachycardia (AT) commonly recurs within 3 months after radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it remains unclear whether early recurrence of atrial tachycardia (ERAT) predicts late recurrence of AF or AT. Methods: Of 352 consecutive patients who underwent circumferential pulmonary vein isolation with or without linear ablation(s) for AF, 56 patients (15.9%) with ERAT were identified by retrospective analysis. ERAT was defined as early relapse of AT within a 3‐month blanking period after ablation. Results: During 21.7 ± 12.5 months, the rate of late recurrence was higher in patients with ERAT (41.1%) compared with those without ERAT (11.8%, P < 0.001). In a multivariable model, positive inducibility of AF or AT immediately after ablation (65.2% vs 36.4%, P = 0.046; odd ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.0–14.6) and the number of patients who underwent cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation (73.9% vs 42.4%, P = 0.042; odd ratio, 4.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1–19.5) were significantly related to late recurrence in the ERAT group. The duration of ablation (174.3 ± 62.3 vs 114.7 ± 39.5 minutes, P = 0.046) and the procedure time (329.3 ± 83.4 vs 279.2 ± 79.7 minutes, P = 0.027) were significantly longer in patients with late recurrence than in those without late recurrence following ERAT. Conclusions: The late recurrence rate is higher in the patients with ERAT compared with those without ERAT following AF ablation, and is more often noted in the patients who underwent CTI ablation and had a prolonged procedure time. Furthermore, inducibility of AF or AT immediately after ablation independently predicts late recurrence in patients with ERAT. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 1331‐1337, December 2010)