A randomized, parallel study of the safety and efficacy of 45 mg primaquine versus 75 mg bulaquine as gametocytocidal agents in adults with blood schizonticide-responsive uncomplicated falciparum malaria [ISCRTN50134587]

Background  

The WHO recommends that adults with uncomplicated P. falciparum successfully treated with a blood schizonticide receive a single dose of primaquine (PQ) 45 mg as a gametocytocidal agent. An earlier pilot study suggested that 75 mg of bulaquine (BQ), of which PQ is a major metabolite, may be a useful alternate to PQ.     

Behandlung von Mittelhandfrakturen

The major goal in the treatment of metacarpal fractures is to restore the normal function of the hand. Radiological criteria and the clinical extent of displacement should be individually considered when taking the decision for or against conservative treatment. Internal fixation techniques must protect soft tissue structures. Small screws and plates have proven effective for head and shaft fractures, whereas intramedullary splinting is favoured for neck fractures. In instable and displaced fractures of the base of the first metacarpal, surgery is regularly performed to restore the bony shape and articular surface. To prevent functional impairments, early mobilization is desirable both during conservative treatment and following internal fixation.     

Phylogeny and Disease Association of Shiga Toxin�Cproducing Escherichia coli O91

The diversity and relatedness of 100 Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli O91 isolates from different patients were examined by multilocus sequence typing. We identified 10 specific sequence types (ST) and 4 distinct clonal groups. ST442 was significantly associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome.     

利福昔明：有效维持肝性脑病缓解

肝性脑病是的一种慢性消耗性的肝硬化并发症。利福昔明（rifaximin）,一种口服的抗生素,治疗急性肝性脑病的疗效已有报道,但其预防此病疗效未知。     

Zur Kultur von Tumorgewebe in vitro

Ohne ZusammenfassungMit 2 Textabbildungen.     

Enhanced transcription factor DNA binding and gene expression induced by arsenite or arsenate in renal slices

Although the kidney represents a target for the accumulation and toxicity of arsenic, little is known about the molecular targets of arsenic in this organ. Therefore, these studies were designed to examine the molecular impact of arsenite [As(III)] and arsenate [As(V)] at low (nanomolar) concentrations. Precision-cut rabbit renal cortical slices were challenged with As(III) or As(V) for up to 8 h. Neither form of the metal induced overt cytotoxicity as assessed by intracellular K+ levels over this time period at concentrations from 0.01-10 microM. In addition, no alterations in the expression of Hsp 60, 70, or 90 were observed. However, induction of heme oxygenase-1 (Hsp 32) was seen following a 4-h challenge with As(III), but not with As(V). As(III) and As(V) induced DNA binding of AP-1 at 2- and 4-h exposure; following a 6-h exposure there was no difference. Although no alteration in the DNA binding activity of ATF-2 was induced by As(III) or As(V), both forms enhanced the DNA binding activity of Elk-1. Enhanced DNA binding activity of AP-1 and Elk-1 correlated with increased gene expression of c-fos, but not c-jun, at 2 h. c-myc gene expression was also induced by As(III) and As(V), albeit at a later time point (6 h). These results suggest that acute arsenic challenge, by either As(III) or As(V), is associated with discrete alterations in the activity of signaling pathways and gene expression in renal tissue.      

Identification and purification of human T-lymphocyte colony-enhancing factor, TLCEF: increased production by phorbol myristate acetate.

T-lymphocyte colony-enhancing factor (TLCEF), a growth factor for a minute subpopulation of T lymphocytes, is produced, along with other factors, by conditioned media (CM) of mononuclear cells following stimulation with T mitogens, such as phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). A combination of PHA and a co-mitogen, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), has been shown to have a synergistic effect on the production of TLCEF, yielding levels of activity eight to fifteen times higher than those obtained with either PHA or PMA alone. TLCEF was purified by ammonium sulphate, fractionation hydrophobic interaction chromatography on phenyl-Sepharose and gel filtration. The last step of this purification procedure yielded two peaks of activity purified 13,000- and 29,000-fold, respectively. The first peak eluted from the column with an average molecular weight of 125,000, whereas the second peak was retained on the gel, probably due to non-specific interactions with it. The purified fractions contained none of the following activities: T-cell growth factor (TCGF), colony-stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), interleukin-3 (IL-3) and interferon. TCGF activity, which is known to be unstable at high degrees of purification, was already lost after the ammonium sulphate fractionation step, most probably because of the low protein and albumin concentrations (0.33 and 0.11 mg/ml, respectively). TLCEF is thus a more stable immunoregulatory factor than TCGF and has a much higher apparent molecular weight.     

Human chorionic gonadotrophin-beta gene sequences in women with disorders of HCG production

Women with recurrent abortion, primary unexplained infertility, and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) manifest disordered human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) secretion. Mutations in the HCG beta/luteinizing hormone (LH) beta gene complex could cause aberrant HCG production in these disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine whether HCG beta gene deletions occur in women with recurrent abortion or primary unexplained infertility, and whether HCG beta gene duplications are present in women with GTN. DNA was extracted from 10 patients with unexplained recurrent abortion, 10 patients with unexplained primary infertility, 12 patients with GTN, three partners of women with GTN, and 30 controls. Southern blots were constructed and hybridized with DNA probes for HCG beta-5 and the LH beta gene. No gene deletions were identified in patients with recurrent abortion or primary unexplained infertility. Likewise, no gene duplications were identified in women with GTN. A previously described Mbol restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was identified in both patients and controls. A new Pstl RFLP was also characterized, but was present in patients and controls. Deletion/duplication mutations in the HCG beta/LH beta gene complex do not appear to be common causes of aberrant HCG production in humans with these disorders.