Characterization of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis pncA gene mutations in clinical isolates from the Ukraine

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis cases in the Ukraine are increasing. Pyrazinamide (PZA) is critically important for first- and second-line tuberculosis (TB) treatment regimes. However, PZA drug susceptibility testing is time consuming and technically challenging. The present study utilized Next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify mutations in the pncA gene from clinical isolates and to assess the prevalence of pncA gene mutations in MDR/XDR-TB patients. Clinical isolates were inactivated in molecular transport media and shipped from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to San Antonio, TX. Whole-genome and targeted pncA gene sequencing was carried out using Illumina MiSeq instrumentation. Mutations were noted in 67 of 91 (74%) clinical isolates comprising substitutions, insertions, and deletions in the pncA coding and upstream promoter region. Of 45 mutation types, there were 11 novel, i.e., to date unknown, pncA mutations identified of which 3 were confirmed PZA resistant. Seven isolates contained mixed base mutations, whereas 4 harbored doubled mutations. Data reported here further support use of NGS for pncA gene characterization and may contribute in significant fashion to PZA therapy, especially in MDR- and XDR-TB patients.     

马缨丹根的化学成分研究

从马缨丹(Lantana camara L.)根的乙醇提取物中分离鉴定出六个寡糖(Ⅰ～Ⅵ)和六个环稀醚萜葡萄糖甙(Ⅶ～Ⅻ),即水苏糖(Ⅰ),毛蕊花糖(Ⅱ),筋骨草糖(Ⅲ),毛蕊花四糖(Ⅳ),α-D-半乳糖-(1[→6-)α-D-半乳糖-(1]₃→6-)D-葡萄糖(Ⅴ),α-D-半乳糖-(1[→6-)α-D-半乳糖-(1]₄→6-)D-葡萄糖(Ⅵ),黄夹子苦甙(Ⅶ),8-表马钱素(Ⅷ),山栀子甙甲酯(Ⅸ),黄夹苦甙(Ⅹ),lamiridoside(Ⅺ)和京尼平甙(Ⅻ)。Ⅴ和Ⅵ是新化合物,分别命名为马缨丹糖A(lantanose A)和马缨丹糖B(lantanose B),其余均首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Hemorrhagic intracranial malignant neoplasms: spin-echo MR imaging

Twelve patients with 15 separate, spontaneously hemorrhagic, intracranial malignant lesions (seven primary gliomas, eight metastatic lesions) were examined with spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging at 1.5 T, and with computed tomography. The signal intensity patterns of these lesions, as seen on both short repetition time (TR)/short echo time (TE) and long-TR/long-TE spin-echo pulse sequences, were compared with the previously described appearance at 1.5 T of non-neoplastic intracerebral hematomas. The images of hemorrhagic intracranial malignancies showed notable signal heterogeneity, often with identifiable nonhemorrhagic tissue corresponding to tumor; diminished, irregular, or absent hemosiderin deposition; delayed hematoma evolution; and pronounced or persistent edema, compared with non-neoplastic hematomas. The demonstration of these characteristics in the appropriate clinical setting may suggest malignancy as the cause of an intracranial hematoma.     

高效液相色谱法测定生物样品中萘哌地尔浓度

以美托洛尔为内标,建立了HPLC-UV测定大鼠血浆、尿、粪、胆汁及肝脑组织匀浆中药物浓度的方法。流动相为甲醇、乙腈、水及0.2mol·L^-1醋酸钠缓冲液,以C₁₈柱分离,紫外检测波长232nm,生物样品在不同条件下经两次乙醚处理可获得良好分离。血浆样品最低检测浓度为5ng·ml^-1,日内RSD和日间RSD为3.17～10.88%,平均回收率为79.35～95.72%。本法简便、灵敏、可靠,经大鼠单次灌胃20mg·kg^-1后血药浓度的测定验证,可满足临床前药代动力学研究的需要。     

Immunochemical studies on Tn erythrocyte glycoprotein

Glycoproteins were extracted from membranes of erythrocytes that displayed Tn polyagglutination and were compared chemically and immunologically with glycoproteins of group O, MN cells. Tn glycoprotein had lower than normal NANA : protein and sugar : protein ratios, as revealed by direct analysis and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and displayed slower immunoelectrophoretic mobility than glycoproteins of group O, MN cells. Agglutination of Tn cells by Salvia sclarea lectin was inhibited by Tn glycoprotein but not by O, MN glycoprotein. Tn and MN glycoproteins were equally potent inhibitors of influenza virus HA. Our findings indicate than Tn-specific determinants are part of the glycophorin molecule.