Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis: absence of contact sensitivity to glucocorticoids, oestrogen and 17-α-OH-progesterone

Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis is a rare condition, characterized by recurrent premenstrual exacerbations of a dermatosis, in which sensitivity to progesterone can be demonstrated. The sensitizing mechanism is unknown. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that cross-sensitivity between steroid groups could induce allergy to endogenous progesterone in these patients. 5 patients with autoimmune progesterone dermatitis and 1 with oestrogen-sensitive dermatitis have been patch tested with a corticosteroid series, conjugated oestrogen 1% in petrolatum (pet.), and 17-α-OH-progesterone 2% pet. There were no immediate or delayed reactions at 2 and 4 days to any steroid group. We have therefore been unable to demonstrate steroid cross-sensitivity, or a use for 17-α-OH-progesterone in the investigation of oestrogen - and progesterone-sensitive dermatoses.     

A Series of Serological Tests for the Detection of Antigens and Specific Antibodies in Deep-Seated Candidosis: Experimental Aspects/Eine Gruppe von Antigen- und Antikörpertests zur Serodiagnose von tieflokalisierten Candida-Mykosen: Experimentelle Aspekte

Summary: We describe a series of six serological tests for the diagnosis of deep-seated candidosis. The array comprises two commercial tests (antigen test, Ramco Inc., and antibody test, Roche), as well as four enzyme immunoassays which have been developed in this laboratory: an antigen test for detection of Candida-proteinase, the corresponding assays for monitoring of anti-proteinase antibodies, and two assays for monitoring of IgG and IgM against heterogenous metabolic antigens of C. albicans. The highly sensitive and specific proteinase antigen-test tolerates samples with high concentration of serum proteins. Proteinase antigen was detected in 10 out of 11 normal mice after intravenous infection with C. albicans blastospores. The proteinase antigen peaked between the second and fourth day after infection. A rise in corresponding antibodies was observed in all animals. No proteinase antigen was detected in sera of healthy human individuals; anti-proteinase antibody titers in these sera amounted up to 1:8000. In related ELISAs, using metabolic fungal antigens, titer values of specific IgG and IgM amounted to 5120 and 1280, respectively. The six tests were carried out in an comparative study under diagnostic conditions, the results of which are the subject of a forthcoming communication. Zusammenfassung: Ein Satz von sechs serologischen Tests für die Diagnostik der tiefen Candida-Mykosen wird vorgestellt. Die Gruppe schließt zwei kommerziell vertriebene Testbestecke ein (Latex-Agglutinationstest zum Antigennachweis, Ramco Inc., und Hämagglutinationstest zum Antikörpernachweis, Roche). Vier weitere Enzymimmuntests wurden von uns entwickelt: Ein Antigentest zum Nachweis von sekretorischer Candida-Protease, ein entsprechender Test zum Nachweis von Antikörpem gegen Candida-Protease, und zwei Assays zum Nachweis von IgG-bzw. IgM-Antikörpem gegen heterogene metabolische Antigene von C. albicans. Der empfindliche spezifische Protease-Antigentest toleriert hohe Konzentrationen unspezifischer Serumproteine und kann deshalb auf Serumproben in geringer Verdünnung (z. B. 1:20) angewandt werden. Protease-Antigen war in 200 fach verdünnten Seren von 10 aus 11 intravenös infizierten NWNI-Mäusen nachweisbar. Die höchste Antigen-Konzentration trat zwischen dem 2. und 4. Tag nach Infektion auf; die Serum-Halbwertszeit von gereinigter Protease in der Maus betrug etwa 60 nun. Ein Anstieg korrespondierender Antikörper war in alien infizierten Tieren zu beobachten. Auch im Serum gesunder Probanden waren Antiprotease-Antikörper bis zu einem Titer von 1:8000 nachweisbar; der Protease-Antigentest fiel hingegen immer negativ aus. Die Titer von Antikörpern gegen metabolische Candida-Antigene erreichten in derselben Gruppe von Seren Werte von 1:5120 bzw. 1:1280. Die sechs Tests wurden unter diagnostischen Bedingungen verglichen; Ergebnisse dieser Studie sind Gegenstand einer weiteren Mitteilung.     

华支睾吸虫对自然感染动物模型猫肝脏/胆管及生理生化指标的影响

目的 了解自然状态下猫感染华支睾吸虫的现状及该病对肝脏／胆管及生理生化指标的影响。方法 观察活猫的精神状态，处死后肝脏形态及切开后的眼观形态；通过病理切片观察肝脏、胆管及胆囊的病理变化；测定血常规及肝脏功能指标。结果 7.3％的肝脏（8／218，218为阳性猫）表面有明显的黄豆粒大小的肿瘤；94％（205／218）的肝脏质地变硬，结缔组织增生；29．8％（25／218）肝脓肿，肝色较黄，小叶结构模糊：54．1％（118／218）胆管内上皮细胞增生，淋巴细胞浸润；感染猫血红细胞显著降低（P〈0．01），血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶显著升高（P〈0．05）。结论 华支睾吸虫对肝脏、胆管及胆囊造成了严重伤害，很可能是肝癌、胆管癌的诱因之一。     

Psychological Assessment of the Headache Patient

Most clinicians agree that psychological factors are important considerations in the evaluation and treatment of headache patients. There has been a lack of systematic research, however, that has examined the relationship between these variables. Attention to such factors may become a greater concern as the frequency of a patient's headaches increases, there is increased disability secondary to headaches, and/or there is an inadequate response to usually effective treatment. In addition, there is no consensus as to the proper method to assess psychopathology in headache patients.     

A longitudinal study of age-associated memory impairment

An 8-year longitudinal study of elderly people has provided data concerning age-associated impairment (AAMI). In 1985 a random sample of 146 persons aged 65 years or more, living in their own homes, were assessed using the Guild Memory Test the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) and other ratings. After excluding 21% of the sample because they scored less than 24 on the MMSE, and another 34% who fulfilled other exclusion criteria, some 48% of the remainder (22% of the total sample) clearly fulfilled NIMH criteria for AAMI and a further 36% (16% of the total sample) were recorded as forgetful. The NIMH criteria are appropriate for certain research purposes but not in assessing prevalence of memory disorders. Follow–up interviews were conducted after 2, 4, 6 and 8 years. The mortality rate and development of dementia among those fulfilling criteria for AAMI appeared similar to the other non-demented groups of subjects; the mortality rate of those with MMSE scores below 24 was significantly higher. Guild test results at 2-yearly intervals showed considerable changes; half of those scoring least well who were retested showed improvement.     

2002年广州地区淋球菌对4种抗生素耐药性结果分析

目的了解广州地区2002年淋球菌对抗生素的耐药性及产青霉素酶淋球菌(PPNG)和高水平耐四环素淋球菌(TRNG)的流行状况。方法用琼脂稀释法测定四环素、壮观霉素、头孢三嗪和环丙沙星4种抗生素对100株淋球菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)及用纸片碘量法检测β-内酰胺酶。结果100株淋球菌检出PPNG 15株(15%)、TRNG 28株(28%),环丙沙星耐药率高达98%,高度耐药株(MIC≥16 mg/L)32株(32%),未发现对头孢三嗪、壮观霉素的耐药菌株,但头孢三嗪的敏感性有所下降。结论目前广州地区流行的淋球菌菌珠耐药状况仍然严重,尤以环丙沙星为甚,但对壮观霉素和头孢三嗪仍较敏感。此外,有必要持续监测球菌的耐药性。     

大黄提取液对脱矿釉质中钙溶出量的影响

目的 观察大黄提取液对脱矿釉质中钙溶出量的影响.方法 用不同浓度的大黄提取液和去离子水处理牙面后进行脱矿,ASCA生化分析仪对釉质脱矿后的脱矿液进行钙离子浓度的检测.结果 2 mg/ml和4 mg/ml大黄提取液处理后釉质钙溶出量<去离了水(P<0.01)、<1 mg/ml大黄提取液组(P<0.05),>2%氟化钠组但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).1 mg/ml大黄提取液处理后釉质钙溶出量>2%氟化钠组(P<0.01),<去离子水组但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 2mg/ ml和4 mg/ml大黄提取液具有抑制脱矿釉质中钙溶出作用:2mg/ml大黄提取液为抑制钙溶出的起始有效浓度.     

Repeatability of the C‐100 colour vision test

Background: The C‐100 colour vision test has been shown to have a high validity for diagnosing the type of red‐green colour vision defect, however, there is little information on the repeatability of the test. This study examines the repeatability of the C‐100 in classifying the colour vision defect as either protan or deutan. Methods: The C‐100 was administered on two occasions to 58 subjects with congenital red‐green colour vision defects: The sessions were separated by a minimum period of 10 days. Results: The repeatability of the C‐100 was high with a kappa coefficient of agreement for diagnosis of 0.96. The few discrepancies were misclassifying protans as deutans. Conclusion: The C‐100 is a highly repeatable test in terms of separating protans from deutans. However, if a discrepancy occurs, it is more likely to be a protan misclassified as a deutan rather than vice versa.     

A recycling framework for the construction of Bonferroni‐based multiple tests

In this paper we describe Bonferroni‐based multiple testing procedures (MTPs) as strategies to split and recycle test mass. Here, ‘test mass’ refers to (parts of) the nominal level α at which the family‐wise error rate is controlled. Briefly, test mass is split between different null hypotheses, and whenever a null hypothesis is rejected, the part of α allocated to it may be recycled to the testing of other hypotheses. These recycling MTPs are closed testing procedures based on raw p‐values associated with testing the individual null hypotheses, and the class of such MTPs includes, for example, serial and parallel gatekeeping, fallback and Holm procedures. Graphical displays and a concise algebraic notation are provided for such MTPs. This recycling approach has pedagogical advantages and may facilitate the tailoring of MTPs for different purposes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.