KCNJ11 activating mutations in Italian patients with permanent neonatal diabetes

Permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus (PNDM) is a rare condition characterized by severe hyperglycemia constantly requiring insulin treatment from its onset. Complete deficiency of glucokinase (GCK) can cause PNDM; however, the genetic etiology is unknown in most PNDM patients. Recently, heterozygous activating mutations of KCNJ11, encoding Kir6.2, the pore forming subunit of the ATP-dependent potassium (K(ATP)) channel of the pancreatic beta-cell, were found in patients with PNDM. Closure of the K(ATP) channel exerts a pivotal role in insulin secretion by modifying the resting membrane potential that leads to insulin exocytosis. We screened the KCNJ11 gene in 12 Italian patients with PNDM (onset within 3 months from birth) and in six patients with non-autoimmune, insulin-requiring diabetes diagnosed during the first year of life. Five different heterozygous mutations were identified: c.149G>C (p.R50P), c.175G>A (p.V59M), c.509A>G (p.K170R), c.510G>C (p.K170N), and c.601C>T (p.R201C) in eight patients with diabetes diagnosed between day 3 and 182. Mutations at Arg50 and Lys170 residues are novel. Four patients also presented with motor and/or developmental delay as previously reported. We conclude that KCNJ11 mutations are a common cause of PNDM either in isolation or associated with developmental delay. Permanent diabetes of non autoimmune origin can present up to 6 months from birth in individuals with KCNJ11 and EIF2AK3 mutations. Therefore, we suggest that the acronym PNDM be replaced with the more comprehensive permanent diabetes mellitus of infancy (PDMI), linking it to the gene product (e.g., GCK-PDMI, KCNJ11-PDMI) to avoid confusion between patients with early-onset, autoimmune type 1 diabetes.     

Blinded, Externally Controlled Multicenter Evaluation of Light Microscopy and PCR for Detection of Microsporidia in Stool Specimens

The quality parameters for the detection of microsporidia in identical sets of 50 stool samples were determined for six laboratories where technicians used light microscopy and for six laboratories where technicians used PCR. The average overall sensitivities were 67% (89% for patient samples only) for the PCR laboratories and 54% (80% for patient samples only) for the light microscopy laboratories. Specificities were 98 and 95%, respectively. Differences in results were most apparent between the individual laboratories rather than between the two major methods used.     

Antimicrobial resistance of Acinetobacter spp. in Europe

Bacteria of the genus Acinetobacter are ubiquitous in nature. These organisms were invariably susceptible to many antibiotics in the 1970s. Since that time, acinetobacters have emerged as multiresistant opportunistic nosocomial pathogens. The taxonomy of the genus Acinetobacter underwent extensive revision in the mid-1980s, and at least 32 named and unnamed species have now been described. Of these, Acinetobacter baumannii and the closely related unnamed genomic species 3 and 13 sensu Tjernberg and Ursing (13TU) are the most relevant clinically. Multiresistant strains of these species causing bacteraemia, pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections and surgical wound infections have been isolated from hospitalised patients worldwide. This review provides an overview of the antimicrobial susceptibilities of Acinetobacter spp. in Europe, as well as the main mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance, and summarises the remaining treatment options for multiresistant Acinetobacter infections.     

The Turner syndrome research registry: Creating equipoise between investigators and participants

To address knowledge gaps about Turner syndrome (TS) associated disease mechanisms, the Turner Syndrome Society of the United States created the Turner Syndrome Research Registry (TSRR), a patient‐powered registry for girls and women with TS. More than 600 participants, parents or guardians completed a 33‐item foundational survey that included questions about demographics, medical conditions, psychological conditions, sexuality, hormonal therapy, patient and provider knowledge about TS, and patient satisfaction. The TSRR platform is engineered to allow individuals living with rare conditions and investigators to work side‐by‐side. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept, architecture, and currently available content of the TSRR, in anticipation of inviting proposals to utilize registry resources.     

以头晕为主诉的无症状性脑梗死患者焦虑状态的临床分析

目的:探讨以头晕为主诉的无症状性脑梗死(ACI)患者的情绪状态及临床体验并观察抗焦虑/抑郁治疗的疗效.方法:对98例ACI患者采用汉密尔顿焦虑抑郁量表进行筛查,并根据ICD-10的诊断标准做出诊断后,给予抗焦虑/抑郁药物治疗和支持性心理治疗,以治疗前后的汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)的减分率和临床症状缓解程度来评定疗效.结果:处于焦虑状态的ACI患者,医检证实均有脑血管系统的轻微病损,头晕史0.5～7年,有心悸、气短、眩晕发作、失眠等自诉躯体症状,67.55%伴有高血压;经帕罗西汀和支持性心理治疗,100%显效,临床症状缓解.结论:以头晕为主诉的ACI患者,若经改善脑血流循环治疗无效者,则应实施抗焦虑/抑郁药物治疗和支持性心理治疗,可望获得良好疗效.     

IL-15真核表达质粒的构建及对乙肝疫苗诱导的体液免疫应答的影响

目的 研究两种不同的IL-15真核表达质粒对乙肝蛋白疫苗诱导的免疫应答的影响。方法：构建IL-15真核表达质粒(简称pIL-15)和含有IL-12信号肽的IL-15真核表达质粒(简称pIL-2s-15)，CTLL-2细胞增殖实验验证两种质粒真核表达产物的生物学活性。将这两种质粒分别与HBsAg共免疫BALB／C小鼠，用ELISA法检测小鼠血清抗-HBs IgG及IgGl、IgG2a亚类的效价。结果：与HBsAg蛋白疫苗共免疫时，pIL-15可使HBsAg诱导的抗-HBsIgG效价升高，显著高于载体pcDNA3．1与HB—sAg共免疫对照组，pIL-2s-15对HBsAg诱导抗-HBsIgC效价没有明显影响。与HBsAg pcDNA3．1组相比，HBsAg pIL-2s-15组和HBsAg pIL-15组诱生的抗HBsIgG2a亚类均升高，但前者IgG2a／IgG1比值最高，与HBsAg pcDNA3．1组相比差别有显著性；HBsAg pIL-15组IgG2a／IgG1比值与HBsAg pcDNA3．1组相比差别无显著性。结论 pIL-15真核表达质粒可增强蛋白疫苗诱导的体液免疫应答，pIL-2s-15真核表达质粒则主要使免疫应答趋向Th1型。     

Acute inflammatory response to endotoxin in mice and humans

Endotoxin injection has been widely used to study the acute inflammatory response. In this study, we directly compared the inflammatory responses to endotoxin in mice and humans. Escherichia coli type O113 endotoxin was prepared under identical conditions, verified to be of equal biological potency, and used for both mice and humans. The dose of endotoxin needed to induce an interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in plasma of approximately 1,000 pg/ml 2 h after injection was 2 ng/kg of body weight in humans and 500 ng/kg in mice. Healthy adult volunteers were injected intravenously with endotoxin, and male C57BL/6 mice (n=4 to 12) were injected intraperitoneally with endotoxin. Physiological, hematological, and cytokine responses were determined. Endotoxin induced a rapid physiological response in humans (fever, tachycardia, and slight hypotension) but not in mice. Both mice and humans exhibited lymphopenia with a nadir at 4 h and recovery by 24 h. The levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-6 in plasma peaked at 2 h and returned to baseline levels by 4 to 6 h. IL-1 receptor antagonist RA and TNF soluble receptor I were upregulated in both mice and humans but were upregulated more strongly in humans. Mice produced greater levels of CXC chemokines, and both mice and humans exhibited peak production at 2 h. These studies demonstrate that although differences exist and a higher endotoxin challenge is necessary in mice, there are several similarities in the inflammatory response to endotoxin in mice and humans.     

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia recurrence in HIV patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy: secondary prophylaxis

The incidence and risk factors for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) recurrence were evaluated in 451 HIV-infected patients enrolled in the French Hospital Database on HIV who started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) while receiving secondary PCP prophylaxis after a first episode occurring between January 1995 and December 1998. There were 18 episodes of recurrent PCP. On HAART, the CD4+ cell count increased to above 200 x 106/L in 274 patients, 51 of whom stopped PCP prophylaxis. None of these patients had PCP recurrences during 363 person-years (PY) of follow-up after the CD4+ cell count had reached 200 x 106/L (incidence rate [IR], 0.00 cases/100 PY; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.00-0.82), and 37 PY of follow-up after the CD4+ cell count had reached 200 x 106/L and PCP prophylaxis had been discontinued (IR, 0.00 cases/100 PY; 95% CI, 0.00-7.84). The CD4+ cell count remained < 200 x 106/L in 177 patients; 9 patients stopped PCP prophylaxis, and 6 of these had a disease recurrence. Multivariate Cox analysis (time censored when CD4+ cell count > 200 x 106/L) showed that discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis (relative hazard [RH], 25.95; p <.0001) was associated with recurrence, whereas higher CD4+ cell counts during follow-up (RH, 0.39/50 x 106/L increment; p <.002) were protective.