Parvovirus H-1 infection of human glioma cells leads to complete viral replication and efficient cell killing

The extremely poor prognosis of malignant gliomas requires the investigation of other than standard therapies, i.e., the application of oncolytic viruses. In our study, we evaluated the effects of the oncosuppressive parvovirus H-1 on different established glioblastoma cell lines of rat and human origin and on short-term/low-passage cultures of human glioblastoma cells. We observed an efficient and dose-dependent killing of all glioma cell cultures at low multiplicities of infectious particles (MOI) per cell. Southern blot analysis of viral DNA amplification, RT-PCR analysis of viral RNA expression and Western blot analysis of the expression of viral structural (VP-1/VP-2) and nonstructural (NS-1) proteins demonstrated the biosynthesis of these viral macromolecular components in all of the cultures. Moreover, all the glioma cells were proficient for the production of infectious H-1 virus particles. The amount of virus production differed between a several fold increase of the input virus titer in most of the short-term/low-passage cultures up to 1,000-fold in one short-term glioma and in the rat cells. Glioma cells lines and, more importantly, short-term/low-passage cultures of human glioblastomas were found to be highly susceptible target cells for H-1 virus mediated cytotoxicity. The formation of fully infectious progeny particles in infected glioma cells offers the chance for the induction of secondary rounds of infection resulting in an advanced cytotoxic effect. These advantageous characteristics of H-1 virus infection of glioma cells, combined with the known low toxicity of H-1 virus in nontransformed cells, make parvovirus H-1 a promising candidate for oncolytic glioma therapy.     

Risk factors in miscarriage: a review

Miscarriage is one of the most frequent problems in human pregnancy. The most widely accepted definition is that proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1977. The incidence among clinical pregnancies is about 12-15% but including early pregnancy losses it is 17-22%. The only two etiologic factors recognized by all authors are uterine malformations and parental balanced chromosomal rearrangements. There have been many other suggested risk factors. In this revision we discuss these.     

Time for a "vision zero" concerning premature death from ischaemic heart disease?

OBJECTIVE: To study the trend in premature mortality (before 75 years of age) from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) in a Swedish primary health care district compared to communities of similar demographic situation and all Sweden. DESIGN: Mortality from IHD in men and women was compared between the community of Habo and other Swedish communities of similar size and all Sweden for the period 1984-96. SETTING: The community of Habo in Sweden with about 9600 inhabitants. INTERVENTION: Intensified efforts by the local primary health care organisation, in co-operation with the community, in respect of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention since the beginning of the 1980s. RESULTS: Mortality from IHD has decreased significantly both in Habo and in Sweden during these years. The decrease has been more prominent in Habo than in Sweden as a whole and other Swedish communities of similar demographic situation. CONCLUSION: With increased and purposeful efforts in primary and secondary prevention, in co-operation between the community and primary health care, it is possible to substantially decrease mortality from IHD in the community.     

Diet Quality Index as a predictor of short-term mortality in the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort

The Diet Quality Index (DQI) was developed to measure overall dietary patterns and to predict chronic disease risk. This study examined associations between DQI and short-term all-cause, all-circulatory-disease, and all-cancer mortality in the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort, a cohort of US adults aged 50-79 years enrolled in a prospective study. After 4 years of follow-up (1992-1996), there were 869 deaths among 63,109 women and 1,736 deaths among 52,724 men. All study participants reported being disease free at baseline in 1992-1993. In age-adjusted Cox models, a higher DQI, which was indicative of a poorer quality diet, was positively related to all-cause and all-circulatory-disease mortality rates in both women and men and to cancer mortality in men only. However, in fully adjusted Cox models, only circulatory disease mortality was clearly positively related to DQI and only in women (medium-low-quality diet vs. highest-quality diet: rate ratio = 1.86, 95% confidence interval: 1.19, 2.89). Although trend tests indicated significant positive relations between DQI and all-cause mortality, effects were small (rate ratios 相似文献   

Gastric bezoar

Bezoar consist of the accumulation of different substances in the digestive tract. We present the clinical case of a girl with gastric trichobezoar discovered in a postoperatory follow-up to an appendicectomy. Ultra-sound images and oesophagus-gastric transit are fundamental points in the diagnosis. Endoscopy was useful in confirming the diagnosis and in ruling out associated ulcus, frequent in these patients. Surgical treatment is the choice in big bezoar but laser, prokinetics and enzymatic dissolutions have also been used. Theses patients should undergo psychological control.     

Determinants of DNA yield and quality from buccal cell samples collected with mouthwash.

Buccal cells are becoming an important source of genomic DNA in epidemiological studies, but little is known about the effect of different sampling conditions on DNA quality and yield. We used a mouthwash protocol to collect six daily buccal cell samples from 35 healthy volunteers. Twenty-four individuals (six men and 18 women) correctly completed the protocol and were included in paired analyses to determine whether "swish" time (30 s versus 60 s), toothbrushing before collection, or lag time between collection and DNA extraction (1 day versus 5, 10, or 30 days at room temperature) would affect sample quality and yield. Total DNA, human-specific DNA (hDNA), degradation of DNA, and ability to amplify by PCR were determined. hDNA yield did not significantly vary by "swish" time. However, toothbrushing 1 h before sample collection reduced the amount of hDNA by nearly 40% (34 microg versus 21 microg; P = 0.06). Median hDNA yields for samples that were held for 1, 5, 10, and 30 days before extraction were 32 microg (range, 4-196), 32 microg (2-194), 23 microg (3-80), and 21 microg (5-56), respectively. The 10- and 30-day samples had significantly less hDNA than those processed after 1 day (P = 0.01). PCR success rates for beta-globin gene fragments of length 268 bp, 536 bp, and 989 bp were 94% or better, and high molecular weight DNA (>23 kb) was found in all but one sample. These results suggest that buccal cells should be collected before brushing teeth and processed within 5 days of collection to maximize hDNA yield.