High-sensitivity PCR detection of parvovirus B19 in plasma

Parvovirus B19 (B19) is a human pathogen transmitted to susceptible individuals via respiratory secretions and contaminated blood or blood products. B19 levels in pooled plasma of less than 10(4) genome equivalents/ml may not be infectious, while those greater than 10(7)/ml are capable of transmitting infection. A World Health Organization (WHO) B19 DNA international standard has been recently introduced. The purpose of the present work was to develop a PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) calibrated against the WHO B19 DNA international standard which could easily and reliably detect B19 DNA levels in plasma above 10(4) IU/ml (6.5 x 10(3) genome equivalents/ml). A B19 PCR-ELISA system was developed which uses a dinitrophenylated oligonucleotide probe to detect immobilized biotinylated amplicons following single-round PCR amplification. The level of B19 DNA (in international units per milliliter) in individual and pooled plasma specimens was evaluated. Proteinase K treatment of plasma was found to be sufficient to quantitatively release B19 DNA. The B19 PCR-ELISA had a sensitivity of detection of 1.6 x 10(3) IU/ml B19 DNA and a dynamic range extending from 8 to 1,000 IU of B19 DNA (equivalent to 1.6 x 10(3) to 2 x 10(5) IU of B19 DNA/ml). Furthermore, the antibody profile of pooled plasma products was determined in terms of B19 immunoglobulin G (IgG) (in international units per milliliter). The B19 IgG level was found to be 64.7 +/- 17.5 IU/ml (mean +/- standard deviation). The B19 PCR-ELISA, which is calibrated against the B19 DNA international standard, may have an application for the rapid screening of plasma minipools for B19 DNA, thereby leading to an improvement in blood product safety.     

Do H2-receptor antagonists inhibit gastric secretion induced by cholinergic agonists?

The effect of experimental design on the ability of metiamide to inhibit gastric secretion induced by histamine, bethanechol and carbachol has been investigated in the Heidenhain pouch dog. All three secretagogues can be inhibited by metiamide to an extent depending on the experimental design.     

Essential tremor, nystagmus and duodenal ulceration. A "new" dominantly inherited condition.

The familial occurrence of essential tremor combined with (congenital) nystagmus, duodenal ulceration and a narcolepsy-like sleep disturbance caused by an autosomal dominant gene with high penetrance and fairly uniform expressivity is reported in a family of Swedish-Finnish ancestry. Twelve of 17 affected family members had essential tremor which began between 30-40 years of age and which could be controlled temporarily by alcohol; this resulted in alcoholism in several affected individuals. The most severly affected persons showed cerebellar signs which may reflect a possible pathogenetic relationship of the syndrome to the genetic cerebellar atrophies. Nystagmus, observed in 12 of 17 affected family members (eight of whom were also affected with tremor) usually was congenital and accompanied by refractive errors. Duodenal ulcers occurred almost exclusively in individuals with the neurological syndrome, and preceded its onset in some cases. The ulcer disease therefore seems to be a component manifestation of the syndrome and is interpreted as a pleiotropic effect of the gene which also causes the nystagmus, tremor and sleep disturbance.     

Laitinen's stereo-adapter: application to the fractionated cerebral irradiation under stereotaxic conditions

Radiosurgery is a technique which provides a single high dose of radiation very precisely to an intracranial lesion. The volume of tissue treated is small enough to avoid undue biological damage. This treatment requires very sophisticated apparatus and often considerable modifications in the treatment apparatus. The authors have closen to elaborate a system which makes it possible to deliver conventional fractionated irradiation, using a non-invasive stereotactic head frame called "Laitinen stereo-adapter". By fractionating the dose, most benign or low-grade malignant brain tumours can be treated, whatever their volume. The stereo-adapter and the target localization process are described. It can be used with C.T. scanning, angiography or M.R.I. The treatment apparatus is a linear accelerator delivering a 10 M.V. photon beam and treatment is made in the precise positioning of the target localization. The geometrical accuracy of the repeated mountings was studied in a preliminary study, showing a mean discrepancy of less than 1 mm in the three space planes. The geometrical accuracy of the radiation treatment was also studied on a phantom and the precision evaluated at less than 1 mm. The addition of extra collimators with a precollimation system decreased the lateral penumbra to 2-3 mm. Careful dosimetry was performed for each collimator. The use of non-coplanar arcs makes it possible to obtain a steep dose fall off outside the target volume. The dose planning calculations were compared to photodensitometry and thermoluminescent measurements, showing a good correlation. Each technical point will be discussed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

NFP programs provide consumer choice, benefit hospital

Now that principles of NFP have been established specific programs are necessary to disperse information and to teach techniques. The hospital-based NFP program offers the community a needed service and benefits the hospital.     

Predictive testing for BRCA1 and 2 mutations: a male contribution.

BACKGROUND: Management strategies for women carrying BRCA1 and 2 mutations are becoming clearer and predictive testing for a known family mutation is commonly undertaken. Implications for men are not as clear and they participate less frequently. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six men from 10 extended families underwent predictive testing. Their motivation, reaction and outcome were studied. Subjects had appropriate pre- and post-test counselling. Informed consent was obtained before predictive testing for known deleterious mutations. DNA analysis followed standard procedures. RESULTS: Eighteen tested positive and eight negative. Four had adverse psychological reactions and three reneged on their commitments to impart results. The spouse of another man had an adverse psychological reaction to the disclosure of his positive result. Two, already suffering from prostate cancer, were phenocopies and paternal lineage transmission was unexpectedly determined in another. Risk was removed from 33 offspring and confirmed for 56. CONCLUSIONS: Complex themes associated with genetic testing are confirmed and the spectrum extended. Men appear to understand the importance of participating in this process. Methods of avoiding adverse reactions merit further study along with other aspects of the process.     

Knowledge and attitudes about otitis media risk: implications for prevention

OBJECTIVES: To investigate maternal knowledge and attitudes about otitis media (OM) risk, to estimate the prevalence of risk factors in the first year of life, and to identify barriers to the reduction of risk factors (eg, formula feeding, day care attendance, and exposure to passive smoke). METHODS: Questionnaires mailed to a systematic sample of 504 Minnesota women >/=18 years old identified through 1994 birth certificates. RESULTS: Eighty percent returned a completed survey. According to maternal report, 29% of infants (age 8 to 13 months) had recurrent OM (>/=3 episodes) and 2% had tympanostomy tubes. Forty-six percent attended day care, 29% had >/=1 smoking parent, and 49% breastfed for 相似文献   

Prolonged effects of repeated social defeat stress on mRNA expression and function of mu-opioid receptors in the ventral tegmental area of rats.

Social defeat stress alters the activity of mesocorticolimbic dopamine projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA), a process that has been implicated in the development of sensitization and drug-seeking behavior. We showed previously that acute brief social defeat stress increased short-term expression of mu-opioid receptor mRNA in the VTA. The present study assessed the presence and functional significance of mu-opioid receptor mRNA expression 1 week after the last episode of social defeat stress. Social defeat stress was induced in intruder rats during short confrontations with an aggressive resident rat, and subsequent exposures behind a protective screen once a day for 5 days. Regional mu-receptor mRNA levels were assessed by in situ hybridization histochemistry, and the amount of mRNA labeling was measured in the VTA and the substantia nigra (SN). Expression of mu-opioid receptor mRNA was significantly higher in defeated rats relative to handled control animals in the VTA, but not in the SN. In an additional group of rats, bilateral local intra-VTA injection of the selective mu-opioid receptor agonist DAMGO (1.0 microg per side) was performed 7-10 days after the last defeat stress or handling control procedure. Baseline motor activity did not differ between control and stressed rats. Intra-VTA DAMGO significantly increased locomotor activity in stressed rats compared to handled control rats. These results suggest that repeated social stress upregulates VTA mu-opioid receptors and can produce locomotor activation via stimulation of these receptors. This locomotor effect is probably the consequence of enhanced disinhibition of mesolimbic dopamine neurons.