Immunohistochemical evidence for the occurrence of similar epithelial phenotypes during lung development and radiation-induced fibrogenesis

PURPOSE: Processes of fibrosis, wound healing and tissue regeneration have in common the fact that proliferation and differentiation of cells involved in the restoration of normal-tissue architecture resemble to a certain degree the embryonic development of the corresponding tissue. The present review focuses on the phenotypic changes of alveolar epithelial cells during fibrogenesis and describes similarities in the expression pattern of epithelial antigens during lung development. METHODS: For comparative studies, immunohistochemical investigations of different experimental fibrosis models were performed. RESULTS: For several epithelial proteins, such as the CD44 adhesion molecule, the enzymes carbanhydrase II and cathepsin D, as well as the lectin galectin-3, a transient epithelial immunoreactivity have been detected. What all four examples have in common is that a part of the foetal antigenic profile reappears under conditions of injury and during the development of pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The re-expression of foetal antigens in fibrotic samples with a spatio-temporal pattern, as detected by immunocytochemical techniques, indicates that some mechanisms or factors exist, which similarly regulate the differentiation of the epithelium during ontogenesis and in the remodelling process during fibrogenesis.     

The Relationship Between Cerebral Blood Flow Velocities and the Amount of Blood Clots in Computed Tomography After Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

127 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) were analyzed for the relationship between the amount of blood clots as detected by initial computed tomography (CT) up to 48 hours after SAH and changes of blood flow velocities as measured using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). All patients were operated on within 72 hours after SAH. Patients who presented with remarkable brain oedema or with pathological intracranial pressure (ICP) due to mass effects of a haematoma, and who were in a poor neurological condition classified according to Hunt-Hess as grade V were excluded from this study. Serial TCD examination of the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) and anterior cerebral arteries (ACA) started within 48 hours after SAH and were performed daily up to three weeks. A statistically significant correlation between blood load designated according to Fisher's grading as group CT I-CT IV and mean flow velocities (MFV) was found in groups CT I, II, and III. High values of MFV in MCA examinations were noted in patients with severe SAH (group CT III)--161 cm/s, and low values in patients without SAH (group CT I)--119 cm/s. Patients with haematocephalus and/or haematoma without a mass effect (group CT IV) had lower blood flow velocities than patients with severe SAH (group CT III) but values were higher than in patients without SAH (group CT I). The number of days for which MFV in the MCA was > 120 cm/s and was statistically (p < 0.05) correlated with the amount of blood clots as observed in the respective CT (in group CT I, II, and III). MFV values in the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) were lower than those obtained in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in all groups. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences were noted between groups CT I and CT III (first and third week) and between groups CT I and CT IV (third week). If the SAH was extensive in the CT scan, pathological values of MFV > 90 cm/s were observed in ACA, and this was more pronounced in group CT III than in group CT IV. Blood flow velocities obtained via TCD were registered to compare side-to-side differences and particularly high differences were observed in patients with severe SAH. It is concluded that the amount of blood clots in the initial computed tomography after SAH is significantly correlated with cerebral blood flow velocity measurements by TCD.     

First-trimester combined screening for Down syndrome: prediction of low birth weight, small for gestational age and pre-term delivery in a cohort of non-selected women

OBJECTIVE: To establish the relationship between the first-trimester screening markers [pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A), free human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta (beta-hCG), nuchal translucency (NT)], the Down syndrome (DS) risk estimate, and the adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA) and pre-term delivery. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including 1,734 non-selected singleton pregnancies consecutively enrolled into the programme of first-trimester combined screening for DS in a 12-month period at a single centre. Data from the Prenatal Patient Registry in ASTRAIA were combined with the Danish National Newborn Screening Registry and Danish Birth Registry. RESULTS: There was a significant relation between low PAPP-A MoM, low beta-hCG MoM, increased risk estimate for DS and low birth weight and SGA. Low PAPP-A MoM and increased NT showed a significant relation to pre-term and spontaneous pre-term delivery. Low PAPP-A MoM showed a significant relation to early pre-term delivery. CONCLUSION: First-trimester screening markers exhibited a significant relation to low birth weight, SGA and to some extent, to pre-term and early pre-term delivery. The screening performance of individual markers was poor.     

Experimental radiofrequency ablation near the portal and the hepatic veins in pigs: differences in efficacy of a monopolar ablation system

BACKGROUND: We sought to compare the efficacy of a monopolar radiofrequency ablation system in vivo near the portal vein and the hepatic veins in porcine liver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiofrequency ablation of healthy livers near the portal vein and the hepatic veins was performed in 10 pigs with a multitined expandable electrode. Volumes and diameters of zones of ablation were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Volumes (16.0 +/- 5.5 mL, P = 0.001) and diameters (4.0 +/- 0.7 cm, 3.3 +/- 0.7 cm, 3.0 +/- 0.6 cm, P 相似文献   

恩替卡韦与拉米夫定治疗HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎的对照研究

Ⅱ期临床试验已经证实恩替卡韦是一种治疗HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎有效和可选择的抗病毒药物。采用双盲法将648例未曾接受过核苷类药物治疗的HBeAg阴性慢性乙型肝炎随机分配进入恩替卡韦（0．5mg／d）治疗组或拉米夫定（100mg／d）治疗组，疗程至少52wk。     

Escherichia coli tetracycline efflux determinants in relation to tetracycline residues in chicken

ObjectiveTo screen for Escherichia coli (E. coli) resistant to tetracycline, followed by identification of tet efflux genes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, detection of tetracycline residues in chicken livers and kidneys were conducted using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS).MethodsStrains of E. coli were isolated from samples of chicken colon and screened for tetracycline resistance. Tetracycline genes conferring resistance (Tc^r) were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline (97.9%).ResultsPCR analysis indicated that Tc^r E. coli R-plasmids contained tet(A), tet(B) and a combination of both efflux genes. None of the isolates contained other efflux tet genes tet (C, D, E and Y). High performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS), a sensitive technique, was used to detect residues of chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), doxycycline (DC) in chicken livers and kidneys. The samples containing tetracycline residues were at 0.13-0.65 pg/μL levels.ConclusionsTetracycline and other antibiotics are commonly used in the poultry and meat production industry for prevention of microbial infections. Multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria in Oman have increased to alarming levels, threatening public health, domestic and may have adverse effect on environment.     

Assessment of personal airborne exposures and surface contamination from x-ray vaporization of beryllium targets at the National Ignition Facility

This article presents air and surface sampling data collected over the first two years since beryllium was introduced as a target material at the National Ignition Facility. Over this time, 101 experiments with beryllium-containing targets were executed. The data provides an assessment of current conditions in the facility and a baseline for future impacts as new, reduced regulatory limits for beryllium are being proposed by both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Department of Energy. This study also investigates how beryllium deposits onto exposed surfaces as a result of x-ray vaporization and the effectiveness of simple decontamination measures in reducing the amount of removable beryllium from a surface. Based on 1,961 surface wipe samples collected from entrant components (equipment directly exposed to target debris) and their surrounding work areas during routine reconfiguration activities, only one result was above the beryllium release limit of 0.2 µg/100 cm² and 27 results were above the analytical reporting limit of 0.01 µg/100 cm², for a beryllium detection rate of 1.4%. Surface wipe samples collected from the internal walls of the NIF target chamber, however, showed higher levels of beryllium, with beryllium detected on 73% and 87% of the samples during the first and second target chamber entries (performed annually), respectively, with 23% of the samples above the beryllium release limit during the second target chamber entry. The analysis of a target chamber wall panel exposed during the first 30 beryllium-containing experiments (cumulatively) indicated that 87% of the beryllium contamination remains fixed onto the surface after wet wiping the surface and 92% of the non-fixed contamination was removed by decontaminating the surface using a dry wipe followed by a wet wipe. Personal airborne exposures assessed during access to entrant components and during target chamber entry indicated that airborne beryllium was not present in workers' breathing zones. All the data thus far have shown that beryllium has been effectively managed to prevent exposures to workers during routine and non-routine work.     

Outcomes of ceftriaxone use compared to standard of therapy in methicillin susceptible staphylococcal aureus (MSSA) bloodstream infections

Background Standard of care therapy (SOCT) for the treatment of methicillin susceptible staphylococcal aureus (MSSA) infections requires multiple daily infusions. Despite questionable efficacy due to high protein binding, ceftriaxone (CTX) is frequently used for treatment of MSSA at Hines VA Hospital. Objective The objective of this study was to determine clinical and microbiological outcomes in patients with MSSA bacteremia treated with CTX compared to SOCT. Setting This retrospective study was conducted at the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital which is a comprehensive health care center serving the veteran population of the greater metropolitan Chicago and northwest Indiana regions and is institutionally affiliated with the Loyola University Medical Center. The Hines VA provides medical care to over 56,000 veterans and operates approximately 500 hospital beds, including acute care and nursing home beds. Method We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with MSSA bacteremia treated at Hines VA Hospital between January 2000 and September 2009. Patients who received either SOCT or CTX for >50 % of the treatment course and for the appropriate duration were included. Patients who were on multiple antibiotics concurrently or who received <14 days of therapy were excluded. Main outcome measure The primary outcome of this study is to compare clinical outcomes of patients with MSSA bacteremia who were treated with CTX compared to those who received standard of care agents. Results Ninety-three patients with MSSA bacteremia were included in the analysis. Fifty-one were treated with SOCT and 42 with CTX. There were no differences in microbiological cure between SOCT (94.1 %) and CTX (95.2 %) (p = 0.812). Clinical cure was similar between groups (74.5 % for SOCT, 83.3 % for CTX) (p = 0.303). CTX was used more often to treat Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia associated with osteomyelitis whereas endocarditis and central line associated infections were treated more frequently with SOCT (p = 0.01). More patients treated with CTX were managed in the ambulatory setting (64 vs. 24 %; p = <0.001). There was a trend toward a longer hospital stay with SOCT. Conclusion Clinical outcomes for MSSA bacteremia did not differ significantly between patients treated with CTX and SOCT. Findings suggest that CTX may be an alternative for outpatient management of MSSA bacteremia.