Evaluation of the Du Pont HERPCHEK herpes simplex virus antigen test with clinical specimens.

The HERPCHEK herpes simplex virus (HSV) antigen test (Du Pont, Billerica, Mass.) is a biotinstreptavidin-amplified enzyme-linked immunoassay for the detection of HSV antigen directly in clinical specimens. In a total of 200 mucocutaneous specimens, predominantly lesions from nongenital sites, HERPCHEK had a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 99% compared with the shell vial tissue culture method which uses primary rabbit kidney cells. Five false-negative results by HERPCHEK were found with specimens that contained a low percentage of positive cells by the direct immunoperoxidase stain used in a tissue culture method (1 to 9%). The absorbance values of the clinical specimens by the HERPCHEK test do not correlate well with the percentage of positive cells. Our results indicate that the HERPCHEK HSV antigen test, when performed with specimens from lesions, is a sensitive and specific test as compared with shell vial culture.     

Three-dimensional modeling of the anatomy of the heart and great vessels

Summary The anatomic constraints imposed on a total artificial heart (TAH) require specific anatomic studies. A thoracic anatomic study was performed with a scanning device equipped with three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction software on 15 male patients, between the ages of 41 to 63 years (52 ± 6 years). All were candidates for heart transplantation. The 3-D reconstructions of the cardiovascular structures obtained from surgical anatomy data specific to TAH implantation allowed a volumetric measurement of these structures. A modeling diagram of these structures permitted reproducible quantitative measurements of the 35 geometrical parameters which characterized shape, orientation, and position of these structures within the thorax. Most of the measured parameters were characterized by low variability (coefficient of variation from 10 to 25%).

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Modélisation tridimensionnelle de l'anatomie du cur et des gros vaisseaux

Résumé Les contraintes anatomiques imposées au cur artificiel total (CAT) nécessitent des études anatomiques spécifiques. Une étude anatomique thoracique a été réalisée avec un scanner doté d'un logiciel de reconstruction tridimensionnelle (3-D) chez 15 patients, tous de sexe masculin, agés de 41 à 63 ans (52 ± 6 ans), et candidats à une transplantation cardiaque. Les reconstructions 3-D des structures cardio-vasculaires réalisées selon les données de l'anatomie chirurgicale propre à l'implantation du CAT ont permis la mesure volumétrique de ces structures. Un schéma de modélisation de ces structures a permis des mesures quantitatives reproductibles de 35 paramètres géométriques caractéristiques de la forme, de l'orientation, de la position de ces structures dans le thorax. Les résultats de ces mesures ont pu être exprimés en termes statistiques. La plupart des paramètres mesurés étaient caractérisés par une faible variabilité (coefficients de variations de 10 à 25%).

     

血管内皮生长因子反义基因转染对高转移人巨细胞肺癌细胞系生 …

目的 探讨反义血管内皮生长因子（ＶＥＧＦ）基因转染在抑制恶性肿瘤生长和转移的抗肿瘤血管基因治疗中的意义。方法 利用基因重组技术构建正义和反义ＶＥＧＦ１２１ ｃＤＮＡ真核表达载体,用脂质体法转染高转移性人巨细胞肺癌细胞（ＰＧ）,经Ｎｏｒｔｈｅｍ杂交和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ印迹免疫化学检测ＶＥＧＦ ｍＲＮＡ和蛋白质的表达水平,并对转染前后细胞进行体外生长和裸鼠体内生长转移等多项生物学行为实验,结果 转染反义转     

Sequence of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivirus RNA-5

The sequence is presented of RNA-5 of Echinochloa hoja blanca tenuivirus, a second tenuivirus associated with rice cultivation in Latin America (after rice hoja blanca virus). The RNA is 1334 nucleotides long and contains in the complementary sense RNA a single long open reading frame. The deduced amino acid sequence of this open reading frame shows that it encodes a highly basic and hydrophilic 44 kD protein (pc5) with about 50% similarity to the pc5 protein of maize stripe virus (MStV). This and other features of the RNA are discussed.The GenBank accession number of the sequence reported in this paper is L47430.     

Cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic studies of a case of interstitial deletion of proximal 15q

A 4-month-old child with multiple anomalies was determined to have an interstitial deletion of chromosome 15, i.e., del(15) (q12q14). The deletion appears not to be a typical deletion of 15q12 such as seen in Angelman and Prader-Willi syndromes, but appears to be more distal, involving either loss of all of 15q12 and part of 15q14, or part of 15q12 and most of 15q14. In either case, 15q13 is missing. Fluorescent in situ hybridization with probes for 15 centromere (D15Z), pericentromeric satellite sequences (D15Z1), and chromosome 15 painting probes shows the deleted chromosome to involve only 15 and no other acrocentric chromosome. Hybridization with probes for the AS and PWS loci (D15S11 and GABAB3, Oncor) show both sites to be intact in the deleted 15. The case is compared with two other reports with overlapping interstitial deletions of proximal 15q, neither of which shows typical features of Angelman or Prader-Willi syndromes.     

Normal aging decreases regional homogeneity of the motor areas in the resting state

Our knowledge about aging modulation of the central motor system remains sparse and contradictory. In the current study, we used functional MRI (fMRI) to study the aging influence on regional homogeneity of the motor-related brain areas in the resting state. We found that regional homogeneity in extensive motor regions, like the cingulate motor area, cerebellum, primary motor cortex, premotor area, supplementary motor area, thalamus, globus pallidus and putamen was significantly decreased in aged subjects. Our study indicates that normal aging process may disrupt the function of motor areas in the resting state, which may contribute to the declined motor ability in aged population.     

Optimization of 3-D hepatocyte culture by controlling the physical and chemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices

Hepatocytes are anchorage-dependent cells sensitive to microenvironment; the control of the physicochemical properties of the extra-cellular matrices may be useful to the maintenance of hepatocyte functions in vitro for various applications. In a microcapsule-based 3-D hepatocyte culture microenvironment, we could control the physical properties of the collagen nano-fibres by fine-tuning the complex-coacervation reaction between methylated collagen and terpolymer of hydroxylethyl methacrylate-methyl methacrylate-methylacrylic acid. The physical properties of the nano-fibres were quantitatively characterized using back-scattering confocal microscopy to help optimize the physical support for hepatocyte functions. We further enhanced the chemical properties of the collagen nano-fibres by incorporating galactose onto collagen, which can specifically interact with the asialoglycoprotein receptor on hepatocytes. By correlating a range of collagen nano-fibres of different physicochemical properties with hepatocyte functions, we have identified a specific combination of methylated and galactosylated collagen nano-fibres optimal for maintaining hepatocyte functions in vitro. A model of how the physical and chemical supports interplay to maintain hepatocyte functions is discussed.     

蛋白转导域介导BCR/ABL抗原对CML患者T细胞的活化作用

目的：研究蛋白转导域(PTD)介导的BCR／ABL抗原对慢性髓细胞白血病(CML)患者T细胞的特异性活化作用。方法：利用基因工程技术，将PTD基因与CML b3a2 bcr／abl基因融合并原核表达。将纯化的PTD—BCR／ABL融合蛋白与CML患者外周血单个核细胞(PBMC)体外共孵育，用流式细胞仪分别检测CD4^ 、CD8^ T细胞上活化抗原CD25的表达。结果：终浓度为100mg／L的PTD—BCR／ABL抗原体外刺激4d后，10例CML患者中，5例表现为CD8^ T细胞活化，2例表现为CD4^ T细胞活化，其中有1例CD8^ 和CD4^ T细胞同时活化；而作为对照的BCR／ABL抗原刺激组无一例表现为CD8^ 或CD4^ T细胞活化。结论：PTD能将外源性BCR／ABL抗原转导入抗原呈递细胞内，加工呈递后激活抗原特异性CD8^ 及CD4^ T细胞，为CML特异性CD8^ 、CD4^ T细胞的体外活化及细胞免疫治疗开辟一条新的途径。     

Extended epidemic of nosocomial urinary tract infections caused by Serratia marcescens

In recent years a significant increase in the incidence of Serratia marcescens infections was noted at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan. A review of laboratory (1991 to 2002) and infection control (1995 to 2002) records showed the possibility of an extended epidemic of nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by S. marcescens. Therefore, in 1998 and 1999, 87 isolates were collected from patients with such infections and examined and another 51 isolates were collected in 2001 and 2002. The patients were mostly elderly or the infections were associated with the use of several invasive devices. S. marcescens was usually the only pathogen found in urine cultures in our study. Neither prior infections nor disseminated infections with the organism were observed in these patients. Resistance to most antibiotics except imipenem was noted. Two genotyping methods, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and infrequent-restriction-site PCR, were used to examine the isolates. A total of 12 genotypes were identified, and 2 predominant genotypes were found in 72 (82.8%) of the 87 isolates derived from all over the hospital. However, 63.9% of the isolates of the two genotypes were from neurology wards. A subsequent intervention by infection control personnel reduced the infection rate greatly. The number and proportion of the two predominant genotypes were significantly reduced among the 51 isolates collected in 2001 and 2002. Thus, a chronic and long-lasting epidemic of nosocomial UTIs caused by S. marcescens was identified and a successful intervention was carried out. Both a cautious review of laboratory and infection control data and an efficient genotyping system are necessary to identify such a cryptic epidemic and further contribute to the quality of patient care.