High-density lipoprotein subfractions,apolipoproteins and antipyrine clearance in normal subjects

Summary Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) subfractions HDL₂ and HDL₃, apolipoproteins, and plasma antipyrine clearance (AP-CL) rate, an index of liver microsomal enzyme activity, were determined in 21 healthy subjects. High HDL cholesterol and HDL₂ cholesterol concentrations and HDL cholesterol/cholesterol and HDL₂/HDL₃ cholesterol ratios were associated with high AP-CL. Phenobarbital enhanced antipyrine elimination and increased the apolipoprotein A-I/A-II ratio. Subjects who had high AP-CL had a more antiatherogenic HDL subfraction and apolipoprotein profile than those with low AP-CL.     

非放射性HBV－DNA探针在乙型肝炎病毒检测中的应用

以地高辛甙元随机引物法标记ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ探针，以此探针检测慢性乙型肝炎患者的血清、肝组织，同时以ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测血清ＨＢｅＡｇ、ＨＢｃＡｂ。结果：血清ＮＢｅＡｇ阳性率２７％（１０／３７），血清ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ检出率５７．１％（２０／３５），两者有显著性差异。血清ＨＢｃＡｂ阳性率７８．４％（２９／３７），肝组织ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ检出率８３．８％（３１／３７），两者无显著性差异。血清与肝组织ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ检出率有显著性差异。提示：血清ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ检测是较ＨＢｅＡｇ更为准确客观反映血液带毒状况的指标。而准确反映肝脏带毒状况的指标是肝组织ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ检测。当ＨＢｅＡｇ阴转，血清ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ阴性而肝组织ＨＢＶ－ＤＮＡ阳性时，需注意肝硬化及肝癌的发生。     

多粘菌素B琼脂糖层析柱清除体液中内毒素

用多粘菌素B琼脂糖亲和层析法清除内毒素,结果表明:5ml多粘菌素B层析柱的总吸附内毒素能力为450 μg,用此法可完全清除体液或各种液体中的内毒素,对血清及腹水中的内毒素也有明显的吸附作用,而其他各种主要成分(除内毒素外)经过处理后无明显改变。去氧胆酸是一种强有力的去污剂,可使已饱和的柱子复活,复活率达85％左右。该方法有简便,可靠,吸附能力大,柱子的复活率高等优点。本方法的建立为内毒素血症的治疗展示了新的前景。     

短暂性脑缺血发作患者血浆中TXB2和PGF1α含量检测

本文用放射免疫法测定47例短暂性脑缺血发作(TIA)患者血浆中血栓素B_2(TXB_2)和6酮-前列腺F_(1α)(PGF_(1α))的含量。结果发现TIA患者血浆中TXB_2含量增高,PGF_(1α)降低;头颅CT或MRI示有小灶性梗塞者及TIA发作持续时间长于30min者TXB_2升高和PGF_(1α)降低更显著。治疗3个月后,血浆PGF_(1α)显著增高。TXB_2和PGF_(1α)在体内的失平衡是急性脑血管疾病发病的重要机理之一。     

The normally expressed κ immunoglobulin light chain gene repertoire and somatic mutations studied by single-sided specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR); frequent occurrence of features often assigned to autoimmunity

The expressed human κ light chain gene repertoire utilized by healthy individuals was studied by two different single-sided specific PCR techniques to avoid bias for certain V genes. A total of 103 rearranged κ sequences from peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy individuals were cloned from cDNA and assigned to the Vκ and Jκ germ-line genes with the closest overall homology. The use of cDNA rather than genomic DNA focused the analysis on activated B cells rich in mRNA. Accordingly, the sequences represented the applied repertoire and almost all were somatically mutated. V genes from the Jκ-proximal duplication unit of the κ locus were almost exclusively used. A total of 65% of the sequences could be assigned to four or five genes: A27 (humkv325), L6 (Vg), L2 (humkv328), and A3 and/or A19. N additions and P nucleotides were quite common and found in 32% and 21% of the sequences, respectively. Extended CDR3s more than nine residues in length were found in 18% of the sequences, and in 71% of cases this was due to insertion of an extra proline residue. This proline was usually explained from the germ-line sequences involved. These results are in good agreement with those of previous repertoire studies using potentially V-gene-biased techniques. Thus, it is clear that restricted V-gene usage, common N and P additions, and extended CDR3 regions are normal features and not, as has been claimed, characteristics of pathological autoantibodies.     

Die operative Behandlung von Außenknöchelfrakturen mit der Krallenplatte

Ohne Zusammenfassung      

Current prevalence of hepatitis A,B and C in a well-defined area in rural Crete,Greece

A seroepidemiological study was carried out in a geographically well-defined area in rural Crete in order to determine the prevalence of A, B and C hepatitis markers in the local population. Serum samples were obtained from 257 subjects (94 males, 163 females), aged 15 years and over, who visited the primary health care services of the Spili Health Centre between July 1993 and March 1994, and from 164 subjects (83 males, 81 females) randomly selected from households in three neighbouring villages of the study area. In samples obtained from the Spili Health Centre, antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) were detected in 234/244 (95.9%) subjects, antibodies to hepatitis B virus core antigen (HBcAb) were detected in 63/257 (24.5%) subjects and antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were detected in 28/257 (10.9%) subjects. The corresponding figures for those randomly selected from the villages were 135/154 (87.7%), 16/164 (9.8%) and 5/164 (3%) respectively. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in three (1.2%) subjects from the first group, while none of those recruited from the villages were positive for HBsAg. Interestingly, hepatitis markers were closely associated with age. No subjects under the age of 15 years showed evidence of prior hepatitis A infection and approximately 20% of those between 15 and 44 years of age were also negative. By contrast, practically all subjects older than 44 years were anti-HAV positive. Similarly, the majority of all those who were anti-HCV positive were older subjects. Seroepidemiology of hepatitis in this well-defined population seems to be different from other parts of Greece, at least for hepatitis B and C viruses. There is a very low prevalence of HBsAg and a very high incidence of anti-HCV. Low exposure to HAV, as found in other parts of the country, was also found in the younger generation in this rural area of Crete.     

The growth and development of vegan children

The results of prospective study on the growth and diets, estimated from 7-day weighed food intake records, of 20 life vegan children (aged 5.8–12.8 years) are presented. The growth and development of the children were normal but they tended to be lighter in weight and exceptionally lean compared with standards. Heights were around the median of the Tanner-Whitehouse standards but were lower than the medians recently proposed by the Department of Health. Energy intakes were similar to those reported in children of the same age in the general population, but dietary fibre intakes were very high which may have influenced the digestible energy. Sugar provided an average 15.6% of the dietary energy and this was supplied mainly by fruit and fruit juice. Mean fat intakes were close to the dietary reference values. Daily intakes of essential nutrients generally met the amounts recommended, with the exceptions of calcium and vitamin B₁₂. Many children received supplementary sources of vitamin B₁₂ and only two children had intakes below the lower recommended nutrient intake. Intakes of saturated fatty acids were low and those of linoleic acid were high. The ratio of linoleic/α-linolenic acid was high. As docosahexaenoic acid is absent from vegan diets, it is suggested that vegans should use oils with a lower ratio of linoleic/α-linolenic acid. Future studies should also consider the influence of a vegan diet on retinal function. None of the children was immunized against whooping cough and 11 had not been immunized against polio: 16 of the children had suffered from whooping cough. Future studies need to take into account factors other than diet when assessing the health of vegans. The results of this study show that children can be successfully reared on a vegan diet providing sufficient care is taken to avoid the known pitfalls of a bulky diet and vitamin B₁₂ deficiency.