Caries prevalence, salivary Streptococcus mutans and dietary scores in 13-year-old Swedish schoolchildren

388 13-yr-old schoolchildren from Karlstad, Sweden, participated. Dental caries experience was expressed as number of decayed (D) and filled (F) tooth surfaces (S), and registered on bite-wing radiographs and obtained from records. Salivary Streptococcus mutans counts were determined by a spatula method. A dietary score was calculated for each individual based on an interview concerning the intake frequency of 23 sugar-containing products. Significantly lower DFS values were found in the group with no detectable S. mutans compared to three of the four groups with salivary S. mutans (P less than 0.01). No differences were found between the DFS values of individuals with high, moderate or low dietary scores. There was no statistically significant association between dietary scores and levels of S. mutans. Among the children with no detectable S. mutans, there were higher DFS-values with increasing intake frequency. No relationship between initial caries lesions, S. mutans and diet was found.     

Human Streptococcus agalactiae Isolate in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Streptococcus agalactiae, the Lancefield group B streptococcus (GBS) long recognized as a mammalian pathogen, is an emerging concern with regard to fish. We show that a GBS serotype Ia multilocus sequence type ST-7 isolate from a clinical case of human neonatal meningitis caused disease and death in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).     

Identification and Characterization of Peptide Mimics of Blood Group A Antigen

In order to investigate peptide mimics of carbohydrate blood group A antigen, a phage display 12-mer peptide library was screened with a monoclonal antibody against blood group A antigen, NaM87-1F6. The antibody-binding properties of the selected phage peptides were evaluated by phage ELISA and phage capture assay. The peptides were co-expressed as glutathione S-transferase （GST） fusion proteins. RBC agglutination inhibition assay was performed to assess the natural blood group A antigen-mimicking ability of the fusion proteins. The results showed that seven phage clones selected bound to NaM87-1F6 specifically, among which, 6 clones bore the same peptide sequence, EYWYCGMNRTGC and another harbored a different one QIWYERTLPFTF. The two peptides were successfully expressed at the N terminal of GST protein. Both of the fusion proteins inhibited the RBC agglutination mediated by anti-A serum in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggested that the fusion proteins based on the selected peptides could mimic the blood group A antigen and might be used as anti-A antibody-adsorbing materials when immunoabsorption was applied in ABO incompatible transplantation.     

大鼠黄体萎缩时期黄体细胞中羟自由基的变化研究

本实验以PMSG和hCG处理后黄体细胞萎缩时期大鼠为实验材料，研究黄体萎缩时期黄体细胞羟自由基变化，经HPLC测定hCG注射后7－11天（黄体期）细胞羟自由基含量处于平稳的水平［（0．423±0．08）InM－（0．518±0．117）nM］，而在萎缩期间黄体细胞羟自由基含量明显升高［（0。627±0。098）nM-（0．571±0．18）nM］，从而在一定方面揭示了黄体萎缩时其体细胞生物学性状的改变，为进一步研究黄体萎缩机制提供了线索．     

精神分裂症与血型等因素的相关分析

目的：探讨精神分裂症与血型，家族遗传史，胎次，出生月份之间的关系。方法：用临床常规的正反定型法检测ABO血型，然后调查家族遗传史，胎次和出生月份，并与正常人进行比较。结果：790例精神分裂症患者血型分布A型频率较高，O型频率较低，与3857例正常人比较差异无显著性。家族史阳性与阴性患者的血型分由比较差异无显著性。916例正常的健康人与精神分裂症胎次分布比较差异无显著性，其中独生子女患精神分裂症的比例高于正常人，差异有显著性。精神分裂症患者与正常人出生月份比较除11月份外差异均无显著性。结论：O型血型是精神分裂症的负危险血型，A型血型患精神分裂症的频率较高。但独生子女患精神分裂症风险较大。胎次出生月份与精神分裂症无关。     

Identification of pneumococcal serotypes from culture-negative clinical specimens by novel real-time PCR

Pneumococcal parapneumonic empyema is an increasingly common complication in children. Conventional microbiological cultures indicate bacterial causes in as few as 8% of cases; therefore, there is a vital need for new molecular methods of detection and diagnosis. The development and clinical evaluation of real-time PCR-based assays to detect the pneumococcal capsular wzg gene of all serotypes tested are reported here, and 24 of them have been identified in clinical specimens. Using real-time PCR assays with highly specific TaqMan MGB probes that target DNA sequences within the capsular polysaccharide gene cluster, it was possible to differentiate serotypes  1, 3, 5, 4, 6A, 6B, 7F/A, 8, 9V/A/N/L, 14, 15B/C, 18C/B, 19A, 19F/B/C, 23F and 23A. These assays showed high sensitivity (five to ten pneumococcal DNA equivalents) and they were validated with 175 clinical isolates of known serotypes. The clinical value of this approach was demonstrated by analysis of 88 culture-negative pleural fluids from children diagnosed with parapneumonic empyema in three Spanish hospitals. Pneumococcal DNA was detected in 87.5% of pleural fluids, and serotypes  1, 7F and 3 were responsible for 34.3%, 16.4% and 11.9%, respectively, of cases of parapneumonic empyema in children. Such molecular methods are critical for the diagnosis of invasive pneumococcal disease and continued epidemiological surveillance in order to monitor serotype vaccine effectiveness.     

Adolescent Ratings of Group Process: What They See May Not Be Exactly What We See

Group therapists have long been interested in the concept of group process. However, to date, process research in the adolescent literature has been scant. This study concerned the systematic evaluation of adolescent group member and group leader ratings of group process, using Dimock's coding system. Participants included 7 adolescents (14 years to 16 years, 4 boys and 3 girls) who were referred to a school-based therapy group. Results revealed that group members reported higher levels of task-related behaviors and group building and maintenance behaviors than group leaders, which is a similar pattern noted in the adult literature. Implications of this investigation are discussed.     

The inpatient borderline adolescent in group therapy

Group therapy provides a situation to focus inpatient adolescent borderlines' problems with separation anxiety, symbiotic pairing, and efforts to help them, based on the availability of multiple transferences and shifts in symbiotic pairs that occur between group members, as well as the observations and contributions of the peers and therapist.