The Current Role of Calcineurin Inhibitors in Posttransplant Immunosuppression?

It is important to determine when to use and when to avoid calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs). CNIs are associated with kidney dysfunction in some, but not all, transplant recipients. CNI-sparing protocols have their own drug-specific limitations. Two major clinical series suggest the benefit of routine CNI-sparing approaches, but our review suggests weaknesses in both. Ongoing studies are needed to determine which subgroups of recipients will benefit from CNIs.     

Case Report: Second case of a successful pregnancy in maternal isovaleric acidaemia

Summary: A female patient with isovaleric acidaemia had a successful outcome from pregnancy.     

Bacteroides forsythus ATCC43037菌体蛋白与人类唾液酸性富脯蛋白的相互作用

目的：探讨福赛类杆菌与人类唾液富脯蛋白相互作用的蛋白分子。方法：Western—blot方法。将人工合成唾液富脯蛋白用生物素标记，福赛类杆菌全菌蛋白凝胶电泳，半干转移至纤维膜上，观察二者的相互作用。结果：富脯蛋白能与分子量为85KD、65KD、60KD、以及49KD的福赛类杆菌蛋白发生结合。结论：福赛类杆菌存在与人类唾液富脯蛋白相互结合的粘附素。     

Denervation pattern of three mimic muscles in Bell's palsy.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the presence and grade of denervation in three mimic muscles in facial nerve palsy. METHODS: The frontalis, orbicularis oculi (OO), and mentalis muscles were explored in 54 patients with Bell's palsy, after 30 days from the beginning of symptoms. Concentric needle electromyography, including fibrillation detection, was performed in the three muscles on the affected side. Compound muscle action potentials (CMAP) were recorded on both sides and a CMAP ratio was calculated from each muscle. The House-Brackman scale was used to assess the initial clinical evaluation and the follow-up until recovery. RESULTS: Fibrillation was recorded in 32 patients on the 30th day after the onset and was present in 100% of mentalis and in 90% of frontalis, but in only 34% of OO, a statistically significant difference. The grade of fibrillation in OO was also statistically lower from those in the other two muscles. The 32 patients were grouped according to the presence (A) or not (B) of fibrillation in OO. In group A, CMAP ratios (affected/normal side) did not differ significantly among the three muscles. However, in group B they were significantly greater in OO and frontalis than in mentalis. In between-group comparison, group B muscles had significantly higher CMAP ratios, lower degree of fibrillation, and better functional recovery. CONCLUSION: In facial palsy, the presence and grade of fibrillation in OO are lower than in frontalis and mentalis muscles and prognosis is more favorable for the non-fibrillating OO group of patients.