Differences in genomic architecture between two distinct geographical strains of the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum reveal potential phenotype basis

The Chinese (SjC) and Philippine (SjP) strains of the blood fluke Schistosoma japonicum have been shown to present clearly different phenotypes in fecundity, pathology, drug sensitivity and immunology. We used microarray based comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) to investigate structural differences in the genomes of the two strains and identified seven distinct regions of the S. japonicum genome that present differential aCGH representing either deletion or duplication regions in SjP. Within these regions, genes predicted to be associated with the recognised phenotypic differences were identified and that may provide new insights into the biology and evolution of the two strains, with implications for the epidemiology and control of schistosomiasis japonica in China and the Philippines.     

关节镜下经髌腱入路空心拉力螺钉复位固定治疗胫骨髁间嵴撕脱骨折*

目的探讨在关节镜下经髌腱入路,利用空心拉力螺钉复位固定胫骨髁间嵴撕脱骨折(TEFx)的安全性和有效性。方法选取2014年1月-2015年12月23例TEFx的患者,均在关节镜下经髌腱入路,用空心拉力螺钉复位固定。术前Meyers-McKeever分型:Ⅱ型8例,Ⅲ型10例,Ⅳ型5例;男17例,女6例;年龄16～53岁,平均27.8岁。术前前抽屉试验、Lachman试验均阳性。比较术前术后的视觉模拟评分(VAS)、Lysholm、Tegner和国际膝关节文献委员会(IKDC)评分评价患侧膝关节功能。结果 23例患者均得到随访,随访时间30～40个月,平均36个月。术后即刻X线片示TEFx均复位良好,术后3个月骨折均愈合。无1例感染、关节僵硬、伸直受限、复位丢失及神经血管损伤等并发症。最终随访患侧膝关节活动度均恢复正常,前抽屉试验、Lachman试验均阴性。VAS评分术前(4.8±1.2)分,最终随访为(1.2±0.8)分,术前术后比较,差异有统计学意义(t=18.72,P=0.003);Lysholm评分术前为(50.8±6.2)分,最终随访为(90.8±5.4)分,术前术后比较,差异有统计学意义(t=-42.64,P=0.000);Tegner评分术前为(4.0±1.0)分,最终随访为(5.1±1.2)分,术前术后比较,差异有统计学意义(t=-16.82,P=0.005);IKDC主观评分术前为(52.5±7.4)分,最终随访为(91.5±5.7)分,术前术后比较,差异有统计学意义(t=-40.58,P=0.000)。结论膝关节镜下经髌腱入路空心拉力螺钉内固定治疗TEFx具有微创、操作简捷、固定可靠和恢复快的优点。     

Glycoprotein IIb-IIIa complex and Ca2+ influx into stimulated platelets

Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations [( Ca2+]i) in platelets stimulated with aggregating agents were measured with the fluorescent indicator dye quin 2. Ca2+ influx, but not intracellular mobilization, in response to adenosine diphosphate (ADP), platelet aggregating factor (PAF-acether), and sodium arachidonate was significantly inhibited by monoclonal antibodies against the glycoprotein (GP) IIb-IIIa complex; inhibition of thrombin-stimulated influx was inhibited to a lesser extent and reached statistical significance only at thrombin concentrations of 0.1 U/mL and below. Anti-GP Ib and HLA-ABC monoclonal antibodies had no effect on Ca2+ influx in response to any agonist. Thrombasthenic platelets gave normal [Ca2+]i responses to ADP and thrombin, which were not inhibited by an anti-GP IIb-IIIa antibody. It is suggested that Ca2+ influx in response to weak agonists occurs predominantly via a channel closely adjacent to the GP IIb-IIIa complex, but that higher concentrations of thrombin and A23187 also stimulate influx via another pathway.     

Abnormal clonogenic potential of T cells from multiple myeloma patients

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from multiple myeloma patients are defective in both proportion and absolute numbers of OKT4+ cells and have a normal proportion but reduced absolute number of OKT8+ cells. To assess the functional capabilities of the T cells in myeloma patients, we cloned the T cells in PBLs using limiting dilution conditions in which 100% of OKT4+ and OKT8+ T cells in normal PBLs are able to form a clone. In contrast, the OKT8+ cells from PBLs of five of seven multiple myeloma patients were severely compromised in their clonogenic potential; only 7% to 25% of OKT8+ T cells appeared to give rise to a clone. Clonogenic potential of the OKT4+ cells in patients was more nearly normal. Analysis of two multiple myeloma patients with abnormally low numbers of T cells in PBLs revealed the existence of abnormalities in the progenitors of T cell clones. In both patients, two to three times as many T cell clones were observed as would have been expected based on the number of PBLs cultured at limiting dilution, indicating that OKT4-8- cells in PBLs are capable of giving rise to OKT4+ and, at lower frequency, to OKT8+ clonal progeny in vitro. We conclude that purely quantitative assessment of T cell subsets should be interpreted with caution, since proportionately normal numbers of OKT8+ cells in patient PBLs are seriously compromised in their ability to give rise to clonal progeny in vitro, and since there appears to be a OKT4-8- population of T cells in PBLs that are committed to become OKT4+ or OKT8+ T cells, but are unable to do so in vivo.