Neutralization Susceptibility of B Subtype Variant B' Primary HIV-1 Isolates

Susceptibility to autologous and heterologous neutralization of primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 isolates belonging to subtype B, to the B'-variant of subtype B or to subtype F from infected individuals residing in Rio de Janeiro was assayed. A lower infectivity of the B'- and F isolates when compared to the classical B-subtype HIV-1 isolates was observed. Comparisons of neutralization susceptibilities were carried out for 19 B-subtype, 11 B'-variant and two F-subtype HIV-1 isolates with plasma from autologous and heterologous samples. Frequency of autologous neutralization was slightly lower for B-subtype isolates in comparison to B'-variant isolates. Heterologous intra-subtype neutralization was significantly lower for B-subtype than for the B'-variant or the F-subtype isolates. While B-subtype isolates were neutralized by most anti-F-subtype plasma, F-subtype isolates, although most susceptible to F-subtype antibodies, were highly susceptible to neutralization by anti-B-subtype antibodies. Cross-neutralization for B'-variant and B-subtype isolates was not as extensive as observed for B- and F-subtype isolates. However, the results presented indicate a quite extensive cross-neutralization between Brazilian HIV-1 isolates.     

Angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism is not associated with diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND.: There is agreement that a family history of hypertension (HT),is a predictor for the risk of diabetic nephropathy (DN) inpatients with type 2 diabetes, and possibly also type 1 diabetes.It follows that genes related to the risk of hypertension mustalso be considered candidate genes for DN. The 235T allele ofthe angiotensinogen gene was found to be related to primaryHT. METHODS.: To examine whether it is predictive for DN as well, we examinedthe angiotensinogen gene polymorphism in 230 healthy local controls,423 patients with type 1 diabetes (n=180 with DN; n=243 withoutDN) and 663 patients with type 2 diabetes (n=310 with DN; n=353without DN). The angiotensinogen gene M235T polymorphism wasdetermined using PCR amplification. RESULTS.: The following results were obtained (i) no significant differenceof genotype distribution (type 1: MM/MT/TT(%) 27.6/57.2/15.2vs. 27.2/56.1/16.7 (P=0.92); type 2: MM/MT/TT (%) 31.7/48.2/20.1vs. 32.9/46.8/20.3 (P=0.93)) or allele frequencies (type 1:M 0.56 vs. 0.55 (P=0.795); type 2: M 0.56 vs. 0.56 (P=0.86))was found, between diabetic patients with or without DN, (ii)no difference was found between normotensive and hypertensivediabetic patients. CONCLUSION.: The data argue against a role of the angiotensinogen gene M235Tpolymorphism in the manifestation of diabetic nephropathy orhypertension in diabetic patients.     

染料激光虹膜透切术56例疗效分析

用国产ＷＤ－Ｌ９２型染料激光机，对５６例，６１眼施行激光虹膜透切术。其中４０眼行周边虹膜透切术，完全切穿率为９２．５％；９例白内障术后瞳孔上移行光学虹膜切除术疗效满意。对其它一些病例也取得一定疗效。认为染料激光具有输出功率大，能量及光斑可调的优点，易一次击穿虹膜，应用于虹膜透切术疗效肯定。     

LONGEVITY AMONG ETHNIC GROUPS IN ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

As part of a multicenter V.A. Cooperative Study, 437 male veteranswith varying stages of alcoholic liver injury were followedover a 4.5 year period. Their ethnic distribution consistedof 256 Caucasians, 109 black Afro-Americans, 63 Puerto RicanHispanics, and 9 Native American Indians. Survival analysesrevealed significant differences between groups (P = 0.0002):66% of Afro-Americans were still living at 42 months; Caucasianswere intermediate with 40% survival; and only 28% of Hispanicswere alive. The number of Native American Indians enrolled wastoo small to draw conclusions but none of those enrolled survivedbeyond 24 months. Survival regression analysis of 30 clinical,laboratory, histologic and nutritional parameters, revealedthe following significant risk factors: clinical severity (P< 0.0001), histologic severity (P < 0.0001), race (P =0.001), age (P = 0.002), BUN (P = 0.01) and ALT (P = 0.02).These analyses indicated that ethnicity, independent of othervariables, is significantly associated with outcome from thedisease.     

Effect of prone positioning on the survival of patients with acute respiratory failure

BACKGROUND: Although placing patients with acute respiratory failure in a prone (face down) position improves their oxygenation 60 to 70 percent of the time, the effect on survival is not known. METHODS: In a multicenter, randomized trial, we compared conventional treatment (in the supine position) of patients with acute lung injury or the acute respiratory distress syndrome with a predefined strategy of placing patients in a prone position for six or more hours daily for 10 days. We enrolled 304 patients, 152 in each group. RESULTS: The mortality rate was 23.0 percent during the 10-day study period, 49.3 percent at the time of discharge from the intensive care unit, and 60.5 percent at 6 months. The relative risk of death in the prone group as compared with the supine group was 0.84 at the end of the study period (95 percent confidence interval, 0.56 to 1.27), 1.05 at the time of discharge from the intensive care unit (95 percent confidence interval, 0.84 to 1.32), and 1.06 at six months (95 percent confidence interval, 0.88 to 1.28). During the study period the mean (+/-SD) increase in the ratio of the partial pressure of arterial oxygen to the fraction of inspired oxygen, measured each morning while patients were supine, was greater in the prone than the supine group (63.0+/-66.8 vs. 44.6+/-68.2, P=0.02). The incidence of complications related to positioning (such as pressure sores and accidental extubation) was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although placing patients with acute respiratory failure in a prone position improves their oxygenation, it does not improve survival.     

中国东北地区未经抗病毒治疗的HIV/AIDS患者HIV毒株的耐药基因变异研究

目的　研究我国东北地区未接受抗逆转录病毒治疗的HIV AIDS患者HIV毒株的逆转录酶和蛋白酶耐药变异情况 ,为开展大规模临床抗病毒药物治疗提供本底数据。方法　RT PCR和套式PCR扩增HIVpol区基因 ,双脱氧法测定逆转录酶和蛋白酶基因序列 ,与国际耐药数据库比对辨别耐药变异。结果　 (1) 5 3例患者毒株亚型分析结果 :B′亚型 4 7例 ,B′ C亚型 4例 ,A、B亚型各 1例 ;(2 )未发现逆转录酶和蛋白酶原发耐药变异存在 ,但发现存在逆转录酶抑制剂继发变异 :M4 1L(1.9% )、I6 3M (1.9% )、L74I (1.9% )、S6 8G (1.9% )、V75L (3.8% )、V10 6I (1.9% )、I135L T (5 .7% )、V179D (7.5 % )和V189I (1.9% ) ,无症状感染者RT继发耐药变异出现率为 11.8% ,而艾滋病患者为5 2 .6 % (P <0 .0 1)。存在大量蛋白酶耐药继发变异V77I (88.7% )、L6 3P (86 .8% )、E35D (81% )、A71V(2 4 .5 % )、R4 1K (15 .1% )、L10I (9.4 % )、R5 7K (9.4 % )、D6 0E (9.4 % )、N37D (5 .7% )、G16E (3.8% )、I15V (1.9% )、M36I (1.9% )、K5 5R (1.9% )和L89M (1.9% )。未发现明显的亚型特异性耐药变异。结论　在中国东北地区未接受抗逆转录病毒治疗的HIV AIDS患者中未发现毒株逆转录酶和蛋白酶耐药原发变异 ,但大量继发耐药变异的存在提     

PTSD症状自评量表的信效度初步评价

目的：编制创伤后应激障碍症状自评量表。方法：根据诊断标准和Kubany的痛苦事件量表相结合来编制量表；在284名大学生、87名受灾居民和70名消防官兵中进行信度和效度检验。结果：量表的一致性系数为0．88-0．94，重测信度为0.83-0．88，与SCL90的焦虑、抑郁和恐怖因子的相关性在0．73以上，与DSM-IV的诊断符合率在90％以上。结论：量表有很好的信效度．可以用于评估创伤后应激障碍的症状及其严重程度。