Characterization of three new HLA Class I Alleles in Spanish Caucasians,HLA‐A*02:620, HLA‐B*27:150 and HLA‐B*07:05:01:02

Three new HLA class I alleles, HLA‐A*02:620, HLA‐B*27:150 and HLA‐B*07:05:01:02, were described in the Spanish Caucasoid population.     

Effect of fuzzy partitioning in Crohn’s disease classification: a neuro-fuzzy-based approach

Crohn’s disease (CD) diagnosis is a tremendously serious health problem due to its ultimately effect on the gastrointestinal tract that leads to the need of complex medical assistance. In this study, the backpropagation neural network fuzzy classifier and a neuro-fuzzy model are combined for diagnosing the CD. Factor analysis is used for data dimension reduction. The effect on the system performance has been investigated when using fuzzy partitioning and dimension reduction. Additionally, further comparison is done between the different levels of the fuzzy partition to reach the optimal performance accuracy level. The performance evaluation of the proposed system is estimated using the classification accuracy and other metrics. The experimental results revealed that the classification with level-8 partitioning provides a classification accuracy of 97.67 %, with a sensitivity and specificity of 96.07 and 100 %, respectively.     

Fate and transport evaluation of potential leaching risks from cadmium telluride photovoltaics

Fate and transport analysis has been performed to evaluate potential exposures to cadmium (Cd) from cadmium telluride (CdTe) photovoltaics (PV) for rainwater leaching from broken modules in a commercial building scenario. Leaching from broken modules is modeled using the worst-case scenario of total release of Cd, and residential screening levels are used to evaluate potential health impacts to on-site workers and off-site residents. A rooftop installation was considered rather than a ground-mount installation because rainwater runoff is concentrated via building downspouts in a rooftop installation rather than being dispersed across large areas in a ground-mount installation. Fate and transport of Cd from leachate to soil are modeled using equilibrium soil/soil-water partitioning. Subsequent migration to ambient air as windblown dust is evaluated with a screening Gaussian plume dispersion model, and migration to groundwater is evaluated with a dilution-attenuation factor approach. Exposure point concentrations in soil, air, and groundwater are one to six orders of magnitude below conservative (residential soil, residential air, drinking water) human health screening levels in both a California and southern Germany (Baden-Württemberg) exposure scenario. Potential exposures to Cd from rainwater leaching of broken modules in a commercial building scenario are highly unlikely to pose a potential health risk to on-site workers or off-site residents.     

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli to 12 beta-lactam agents and combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors.

The in vitro activities of 12 beta-lactam agents against 100 thermophilic Campylobacter strains were tested. Beta-Lactamase production was detected in 88% of all strains tested. Clavulanic acid was the best inhibitor by susceptibility testing. The beta-lactams which displayed high levels of in vitro activity against Campylobacter isolates were imipenem, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, and cefepime and, to a lesser degree, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and cefotaxime.     

Immunohistochemical localization of pituitary peptides in the rat pyloric antrum mucosa

Several peptides normally produced in the anterior pituitary lobe were searched in rat antral mucosa by immunocytochemistry. Peptides derived from pro-opiomelanocortin were tested: some endocrine cells were immunoreactive with ACTH 17-39 antiserum, and only a few elements were stained with ACTH 1-24 and beta LPH antisera. No immunoreactive cells were observed using alpha MSH, beta MSH and beta endorphine antisera. Using an antiserum against beta endorphin, a few cells and nerve fibres were immunostained. The other pituitary hormones were also tested: numerous antral cells contained immunoreactive GH, and some cells immunoreactive PRL or compounds chemically related to these hormones. No cells were stained with antisera directed against glycoproteic hormones. This work showed that several peptides previously localized in the pituitary gland were found in the antral mucosa. Further studies are needed to identify the cell types containing these peptides and to determine their origin.     

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease. About two observations (author's transl)

After a reminder of clinical symptoms and development of the V.-K.-H. disease, some histological and clinical observations are related. The clinical observations are very characteristic of the V.-K.-H. disease. There are only two notable points: in both observations, a very low lymphocytic reaction to phytohemaglutinin and in the first observation, the presence of an anemia with parallel evolution to the uveitis. The histological examination of the depigmented area shows an infiltrate as described by Perrot, around the involved area in vitiligo. Ultrastructural study identifies 250 angstr?ms wide particles that appear to be particles of alpha-glycogene, well developed amyelinic endings, and lastly, lymphocytoid cells closely joined with dendritic cells having internal granulations. These aspects have already been found in the iris by the Japanese authors, and they evoked an immunological mechanism.     

Peripheral occlusive arterial disease in longstanding diabetes mellitus. A population study

One hundred and seventy-five diabetic patients belonging to the same cohort were investigated. They were all inhabitants of a suburb of Athens and were initially identified during a diabetes detection drive conducted 11 years earlier. The study comprised a full physical examination, answering of a detailed questionnaire--with emphasis on signs of intermittent claudication (IC)--and a 12 lead ECG (analyzed according to the Minnesota code). It was shown that clinical signs of peripheral occlusive arterial disease were significantly associated to male sex, increased duration of diabetes, type of treatment and major ECG signs of coronary heart disease, while increased age, current smoking and existence ease, while increased age, current smoking and existence of hypertension were not significantly associated to POAD.