Chagas' disease diagnosis: evaluation of several tests in blood bank screening

Blood transfusion is one of the principal routes of transmission of Chagas' disease, a major endemic disease in Latin America. Methods for blood screening are not accurate and may yield false results that lead to high social and economic costs. This study compares two methods of diagnosing Chagas' disease (indirect immunofluorescence and hemagglutination) and several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with regard to specificity and sensitivity, by using human sera with known serologic and parasitologic characteristics, as well as samples with discrepant results on conventional serologic tests. An ELISA using recombinant antigens showed no cross-reactivity with sera that were positive for other diseases. All evaluated ELISAs performed well, and their use may lead to a reduction of more than 50 percent in the number of discordant sera. Further improvements are needed in view of the complexity of the serologic diagnosis of Chagas' disease.     

Gene expression of IQGAPs and Ras families in an experimental mouse model for hepatocellular carcinoma: a mechanistic study of cancer progression

IQGAPs genes play critical role in either induction or suppression of cancer and its progression, however the relationship between Ras genes and these genes are still unclear. In this study, we tried to understand the mechanistic action of IQGAPs genes and its correlation with Ras genes in mouse hepatic cancer model. The genetic expressions of IQGAP1, IQGAP2, IQGAP3, Hras, Kras, Nras, Mras, Caspase3, and BAX were followed in both hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver cells of Balbc mice. Genotoxic agent diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatic cancer model was induced in male mice and recorded the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma by morphological and histological changes in the liver. It was observed that mRNA expressions of IQGAP1, Hras, Kras, Nras, Mras, Caspase3, and BAX genes were highly elevated in hepatocellular carcinoma cells when compared with normal liver cells, additionally their expressions increased by concentrating the dose of DEN. While, the expressions of IQGAP2 and IQGAP3 were significantly decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma cells when compared with normal liver cells, as well as their expressions decreased more with increasing the dose of DEN. It was concluded from this study that IQGAP1 has a strong signaling relationship with Ras genes in induction of cancer and it is considered as a key gene for induction or suppression of the hepatocellular carcinoma.     

脊髓损伤后早期小鼠肠道功能的变化

目的探讨脊髓损伤后短期内小鼠肠道功能的变化。方法将105只昆明种小鼠随机分为正常组(A组,n=30)、假手术组(B组,n=30)和模型组(C组,n=45)。A组不作处理,B组仅暴露脊髓,不夹持。C组采用动脉瘤夹夹持T10处脊髓,复制脊髓损伤模型。分别于术后12 h、24 h、48 h测定小鼠回肠肌电慢波及平滑肌收缩力,并做回肠HE染色。结果脊髓损伤后12 h、24h、48 h,C组小鼠肌电频率和振幅低于A组和B组(P0.05),收缩力振幅低于A组和B组(P0.05),但24 h、48 h后收缩力频率高于A组和B组(P0.05)。C组各时间点肠黏膜评分均较A组和B组高(P0.05)。结论小鼠脊髓损伤后早期,肠道平滑肌肌电活动减弱,收缩力减小,肠黏膜轻度损伤。     

应用游离全厚皮片Ⅰ期修复眼部皮肤缺损

目的探讨游离全厚皮片Ⅰ期修复眼部皮肤缺损的临床应用效果。方法 33例患者眼部皮肤肿瘤切除后,采用游离全厚皮片Ⅰ期修复皮肤缺损。结果在所有患者中,有32例患者切口Ⅰ期愈合,缺损愈合满意,功能恢复良好,无明显畸形。1例患者术后游离全厚皮片边缘出现缺血坏死,经对症处理后延期愈合。结论合理设计的游离全厚皮片修复眼部较大皮肤缺损可获得良好的效果。     

脊髓性肌萎缩伴呼吸窘迫1型1例回顾性研究

目的报道国内首例脊髓性肌萎缩伴呼吸窘迫1型(SMARD1)病例,探讨SMARD1的诊断和鉴别诊断。方法回顾性分析1例女性4岁10个月患儿的病史、体格检查、辅助检查以及基因检测结果,并结合文献进行讨论。结果患儿出生1个月,因"双侧髋关节发育不良"行支架矫正治疗1个月后发现四肢肌无力,下肢重于上肢、远端重于近端。2岁时出现膝关节和肘关节变形,4岁10个月时出现呼吸窘迫、呼吸衰竭。患儿血常规、生化、SMN基因检测均正常。肌酸激酶轻度升高。肌电图检查提示骨骼肌神经源性损害。胸部X线平片示右侧膈肌明显上移。免疫球蛋白μ结合蛋白2(IGHMBP2)基因检测发现纯合无义突变c.1813C>T,确诊为SMARD1。结论 SMARD1属于婴儿型脊髓性肌萎缩变异型的一种,以出生6周至6个月出现对称性四肢远端肌无力以及不可逆的膈肌麻痹、呼吸衰竭为临床特点。IGHMBP2基因检测是诊断SMARD1的主要手段。