Construction of artificial virus-like particles exposing HIV epitopes,and the study of their immunogenic properties

One of the major problems in the development of successful recombinant vaccines against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is that of correct identification of a safe and effective vaccine delivery system with which to induce protective immunity using soluble protein antigens. An original method for constructing artificial immunogens in the form of spherical particles with yeast dsRNA in the center and hybrid proteins exposing epitopes of an infectious agent on the surface is reported. The dsRNA and the proteins were linked with spermidine-polyglucin-glutathione conjugates. Particles exposing HIV-1 epitopes were constructed, and their immunogenicity tested.     

水体中克雷伯菌属的分布及其在水源性急性肠道感染中的价值

俄罗斯不同气候地区不同功能水体中克雷伯菌属广泛分布。克雷伯菌属可见于遭受生物、化学污染的集中供水的地表水源,无防护的地下蓄水层,缺乏有效清洁、消毒系统的饮用水。研究表明,水体中的克雷伯菌属具有致病性和毒性,对现代药物和消毒剂(氯、紫外线)具有抗性,很容易穿透进入地下蓄水层。克雷伯菌属细菌有很强的致病性(粘附力、侵袭力、磷酸酯酶、卵磷脂酶、脱氧核糖核酸酶、溶血活性),含有致病性遗传标记cnf-1。克雷伯菌属(100 CFU/dm³)可引起急性肠道感染。在不检测总大肠菌群的情况下,检测水体尤其是饮用水中的克雷伯菌属,可以评估所用水的流行病学危险。     

Risk factors for development of dehydration in children aged under five who have acute watery diarrhoea: a case-control study

Objective: To identify risk factors for development of dehydration in under five year olds with acute watery diarrhoea.Design: Hospital based unmatched case-control study.Setting: Diarrhoea Treatment Unit, Government Medical College Hospital, Nagpur, India.Participants: The study included 387 cases of diarrhoea having severe or moderate dehydration and 387 controls suffering from diarrhoea with mild or no dehydration.Risk factors: The study included infancy, female sex, religion, residing in urban slums or rural area, under nutrition, cessation of breast feeding during diarrhoeal episode, fluid intake decreased/stopped during diarrhoea, ORS not received, home available fluids (HAF) not received, both ORS and HAF not received, non-washing of hands by mother before preparation of food, after defaecation, after disposal of faeces, history of measles in the previous six months, frequency of stools >8/d, frequency of vomiting more than twice per day and temperature more than 99°F, as risk factors for development of dehydration.Statistical analysis: Univariate analysis included OR, 95% CI for OR and Chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was carried out by unconditional multiple logistic regression (MLR).Results: This study identified the significance of infancy, religion, severe undernutrition, non-washing of hands by mother before preparation of food, frequency of stool >8/d, frequency of vomiting >2/d, history of measles in previous six months, withdrawal of breast feeding during diarrhoea, withdrawal of fluids during diarrhoea and not giving ORS, HAF or both during diarrhoea, in the outcome of development of moderate or severe dehydration.Conclusions: Timely intervention in the preventable risk factors included in this study may prevent the development of moderate or severe dehydration in the children suffering form acute watery diarrhoea.     

The effect of testosterone and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone on the hormone level of hypothyroid rats]

The levels of thyroid and sex hormones, TSH and PRL were studied in thyroidectomized (6 weeks) noncastrated rats and in castrated rats receiving testosterone propionate (1 mg/kg) or dehydrotestosterone (0.2 mg/kg) or their mixture to reveal the hormonal nature of disorder of sexual function in hypothyrosis. The results obtained show that all disorders of sex function in hypothyroid rats with a different androgenic status have a different hormonal basis.     

Cyclosporin nephrotoxicity in heart and lung transplant patients

Twenty-two patients with heart, lung or heart and lung transplants maintained on cyclosporin for periods ranging from 3 months to 10 years developed renal insufficiency which was investigated by renal biopsy. The histopathological changes were: (i) severe vascular and glomerular damage due to thrombotic microangiopathy (TM); (ii) a form of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS); (iii) glomerular ischaemia. Rather than being separate entities, these changes appeared to represent a spectrum of pathology, some biopsies showing all three forms of glomerular injury. In all cases the glomerular changes were accompanied by arteriolar and arterial pathology, and we identified novel ultrastructural changes in the arteriolar endothelial basal lamina. Tubular atrophy was a consistent feature, the severity of which reflected the severity of the glomerular sclerosis, and which appeared to be a consequence of glomerular loss. Our findings are consistent with the nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporin being mediated chiefly via damage to preglomerular vessels and glomerular capillary endothelium. From an analysis of the clinical aspects of these cases, the effects of cyclosporin appear to be to some extent idiosyncratic, and therefore not entirely preventable, but strict monitoring of blood cyclosporin levels is essential to minimize the risk of permanent renal damage. Monitoring urinary protein in addition to plasma creatinine may detect the onset of FSGS, as proteinuria precedes creatinine elevation.      

Blood transfusion practices in military medicine

Background: This observational study was conducted in a small, 45 bed border static hospital, located in a field area, where no blood bank facilities were available. The present study was conducted to elucidate the blood transfusion practices of this hospital.