A rapid microagglutination test for the diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1) infection

A rapid microagglutination test has been developed which can be performed in 30 minutes. Ninety-seven percent of 96 patients diagnosed as having Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1) infection by indirect immunofluorescence were also detected by the rapid microagglutination test.     

<Emphasis Type=Italic>CYP2C19</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>ABCB1</Emphasis>gene polymorphisms are differently distributed according to ethnicity in the Brazilian general population

Background  

Recent studies have reported the clinical importance of CYP2C19 and ABCB1 polymorphisms in an individualized approach to clopidogrel treatment. The aims of this study were to evaluate the frequencies of CYP2C19 and ABCB1 polymorphisms and to identify the clopidogrel-predicted metabolic phenotypes according to ethnic groups in a sample of individuals representative of a highly admixtured population.     

Differential expression of CD11b/CD18 (Mo1) and myeloperoxidase genes during myeloid differentiation

During the course of differentiation of early human myeloid cells toward monocytes and granulocytes, cell surface expression of the cell adhesion molecule, CD11b/CD18 (Mo1) increases dramatically and expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO), a bacteriocidal enzyme, decreases markedly. Using the inducible promyelocytic cell line HL-60 as a model, we studied the mRNA expression of these genes. Differentiation of these cells along both a monocytic and a granulocytic pathway demonstrated that the mRNA levels of the two subunits of CD11b/CD18 increased in a pattern temporally and quantitatively similar to the increase in cell surface expression of this heterodimer. In contrast, the expression of MPO mRNA decreased in a temporal and quantitative pattern similar to the known decrease in MPO protein during differentiation, suggesting that regulation of these myeloid-specific proteins may occur at the level of mRNA expression. These findings have important implications with regard to the nature of the block in differentiation in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia and the regulation of myeloid gene expression.     

Accuracy of three cone-beam CT devices and two software systems in the detection of vertical root fractures

Objectives :The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of vertical root fracture (VRF) detection using three tomography devices and two software systems in teeth with different endodontic fillings.Methods:The sample consisted of 45 premolars divided into 3 groups: No filling (NF, n=15); Gutta percha (GP, n=15) and Metallic Post (MP, n=15). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were acquired in Kodak 9000 3D, Orthopantomography 300 (OP300) and PreXion 3D devices, before and after induced root fractures. Two oral radiologists analyzed all images using InVivoDental and e-Vol DX software systems. The analysis was repeated after 15 days in 30% of the sample. Data analysis compared receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, as well the areas under the ROC curves. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value were calculated according to each tomographic device and software. Intra- and interexaminer reliability were tested using the Kappa coefficient.Results:The highest accuracy was seen in the image set from the PreXion 3D, using InVivo (0.96) or e-Vol DX (0.92) in image analysis. The OP300 device presented a similar performance of the PreXion 3D in teeth with different endodontic fillings. When using e-Vol DX, the accuracy of Kodak 9000 3D improved from 0.62 to 0.74.Conclusions:The PreXion 3D device is the most accurate when detecting VRF, with a performance similar to the OP300 in endodontic filled teeth. Kodak 9000 3D is indicated for teeth without fillings, with better accuracy using e-Vol DX software.     

A clinicopathological study of loop recession in strabismus

This communication reports the histological structure of loop recessions of extraocular muscles from seven patients. In all cases the loops formed pseudotendons in which the typical histological structure was well established by four months. Subsequently, moulding of these pseudotendons occurred with improved alignment of collagen and decrease in vascularity. By three and a half years after the operation the pseudotendon had acquired a very close resemblance to true tendon.     

Predicting hemolytic disease of the newborn: a comparison of the monocyte monolayer assay and the chemiluminescence test

The ability of the monocyte monolayer assay (MMA) and the chemiluminescence test (CLT) to predict the clinical significance of alloantibodies associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) was assessed by the use of 22 well-characterized antisera– predominantly anti-D–from alloimmunized pregnant women. Seventeen sera were obtained before delivery from women whose infants were antigen positive for the antibody specificities identified in the maternal serum. With testing of these 17 sera by MMA, 10 results were in agreement with the presence or absence of HDN, but there were 5 false- positive and 2 false-negative results. With the CLT, 16 results were in agreement with the presence or absence of HDN, and there was 1 false- negative result. Five sera were obtained from women whose infants were antigen negative for the antibody specificities identified in the maternal serum. The CLT and the MMA were both subject to false-positive results with these sera. These results suggest that the CLT may be more valuable than the MMA as a noninvasive test for predicting the clinical significance of alloantibodies in HDN.