Improved detection of amyloid in fat pad aspiration: an evaluation of Congo red stain by fluorescent microscopy

Amyloid fat pad aspiration specimens for cases with a clinical suspicion of amyloid typically are stained with Congo red and examined by brightfield microscopy. Congophilia with apple-green birefringence by polarization microscopy (PM) is considered diagnostic for amyloid. Examination of Congo red-stained slides by fluorescent microscopy (FM) is considered by some to be a more sensitive detection method. In this study, we assessed the utility of this technique in cytopathology archival slides from abdominal fat pad aspirations previously stained with Congo red dye. Seventy-eight cases of abdominal fat pad aspirations collected during the last 5 yr and stained with the Congo red procedure were obtained from archival files. Additionally, 20 adipose tissue material slides prepared from the surgical pathology specimens were examined as controls. One representative smear was examined in each case using FM equipped with rhodamine excitation/absorption (540/570 nm) filters. Relevant clinical information was obtained in all cases. Twelve cases (15.4%) of the 78 fat pad aspiration cases were reported originally as positive by Congo red stain using polarization and apple-green birefringence as diagnostic criteria. On review, four cases were deemed unsatisfactory. By FM examination 29 of the 74 (39.2%) cases were reclassified as positive for amyloid. The results were confirmed by immunohistochemical stain for amyloid P protein and electron microscopy. A number of similar distinct fluorescence and immunohistochemical patterns were recognized in the positive cases. Minimally weak fluorescence in the adipose tissue was observed in the control cases. The use of FM in Congo red-stained fat pad smears can improve the detection of amyloid in cytology preparations.     

Handling of biological samples in the determination of the anti-neoplastic drug mitomycin C

A study to ascertain suitable conditions for handling biological samples from patients, treated with the antibiotic mitomycin C (MMC), with the objective of improving the accuracy and reliability of the determination is described. Situations frequently occurring in medical practice are simulated to optimize procedures for reliable and reproducible sampling, sample treatment and determination of MMC. Continuation of drug partitioning in whole blood after sampling can be prevented by immediate cooling in ice before the separation of plasma from cells. The adjustment of the pH of urine samples is shown to be particularly important since a low urinary pH causes decomposition of MMC; moreover, it may decrease extraction recovery. Furthermore, long-term exposure of samples to daylight induces drug decomposition. Frozen storage of plasma and urine samples for periods greater than 3 weeks is to be avoided as this results in a considerable drop in MMC concentration. Repeated cycles of freezing and thawing are shown to have no effect upon the analytical results (6 cycles tested). The analysis of extracts of biological samples may take place up to at least 24 h after their preparation without measurable loss of analyte.     

Partial cytochrome oxidase deficiency without subsarcolemmal accumulation of mitochondria in chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia

Chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO) associated with proximal myopathy and/or craniosomatic abnormalities is a rare syndrome in which morphological mitochondrial changes have been found in some fibres (subsarcolemmal accumulation of mitochondria or "ragged red" fibres). We report a 14-year-old boy with CPEO and a mild proximal myopathy without these characteristic "ragged red" fibres. Histochemistry of skeletal muscle showed a mosaic of fibres without detectable cytochrome oxidase activity, while other mitochondrial enzymes were normal. The total cytochrome oxidase activity and cytochrome aa3 concentration in muscle mitochondrial fractions were only 40% of normal. This case is unique in that a biochemical defect was not accompanied by morphological abnormalities and may represent an early stage of CPEO before the development of morphological changes, or alternatively, a new variant of the disease.     

一起赤潮后海产品麻痹性贝类毒素衰减结果分析

目的 以2017年漳州沿海一起赤潮引起的麻痹性贝类毒素(paralytic shellfish poisoning,PSP)中毒事件为研究起点,研究贝类海产品中的PSP在自然条件下的衰减情况。方法 在漳浦佛昙和龙海港尾海域采集牡蛎和贻贝进行PSP检测。结果 2017年6月8日相关海域海产品最大毒素总毒力为21 056.7 μg/kg,2017年6月26日海产品PSP总毒力值衰减86%以上,2017年7月20日海产品PSP总毒力值衰减97%以上,2018年12月所有海产品中PSP均未检出。结论 本次赤潮发生后,漳浦佛昙和龙海港尾两个海域贝类海产品约需45天净化周期方可食用,相关海域约需18个月净化至贝类毒素完全消失。     

新疆和田红葡萄体外抑制肿瘤作用的研究

目的：研究和田红葡萄体外抑瘤效果。方法：采用体外细胞培养方法观察和田红葡萄与红葡萄皮的醇提液对四株细胞株。即：正常小鼠成纤维细胞株（3T3）、胃癌细胞株（MGC－803,NKM）和肝癌细胞株（Q3）细胞存活率及蛋白质含量影响。结果：（1）和田红葡萄醇提液与和田红葡萄皮醇提液都显著抑制NKM和Q3存活（P＜0．01）,后者对MGC－803存活率亦显著影响（P＜0．01）,最强作用浓度0．01g/ml。两种醇提液作用于NKM、Q3、MGC－803的抑制率分别为11．0％、14．0％、24．0％。葡萄皮醇提液抑瘤效果强于葡萄醇提液（P＜0．05）;（2）两种醇提液皆对细胞蛋白质含量无影响（P＞0．05）;（3）葡萄醇提液促进3T3生长作用较葡萄皮醇提液强（P＜0．05）。结论：和田红葡萄可能具有一定的体外抑癌作用。     

Intraosseous Regional Administration of Vancomycin in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty Does Not Increase the Risk of Vancomycin-Associated Complications

BackgroundPeriprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a rare but major complication. Owing to an increasing antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing PJI, vancomycin has been investigated as a prophylactic agent. Intraosseous regional administration (IORA) of vancomycin achieves significantly higher local tissue concentrations than systemic administration. There are limited data on IORA of vancomycin with respect to vancomycin-associated complications.MethodsSingle-surgeon retrospective review of primary TKA was performed between January 2015 and May 2019. All patients received 500 mg of IORA of vancomycin after tourniquet inflation and 3 × 1 g intravenous cefazolin in 24 hrs. Preoperative data collected included age, gender, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). We documented in-hospital complications and complications requiring readmission within 12 months. Primary outcome measures were the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), ‘red man syndrome’ (RMS), and neutropenia. The secondary outcome measure was PJI incidence.ResultsWe identified 631 primary TKAs in 556 patients, of which 331 received IORA. The mean age was 67.7 ± 8.7 years, and 57.8% were women. CKD was prevalent in 17.2% of the cohort. AKI occurred in 25 (3.9%) cases. After controlling for covariates, CKD was the only significant predictor of AKI (odds ratio = 3.035, P = .023). RMS and neutropenia were not observed in this cohort. The 90-day PJI rate was 0%, and the 1-year PJI rate was 0.2%.ConclusionsLow-dose IORA of vancomycin in addition to standard intravenous systemic cefazolin prophylaxis in TKA is safe without significant adverse effects of vancomycin such as AKI, RMS, or neutropenia.     

膝胸卧位红光照射联合肛提运动对产后痔急性发作的疗效

目的 探讨膝胸卧位红光照射联合肛提运动对产后痔急性发作的改善效果.方法 将68例经阴道分娩并发产后痔急性发作的产妇按入院时间分为对照组36例、观察组32例.两组产妇产后给予相同的产褥期知识宣教、母婴护理指导等常规护理措施,在此基础上,对照组采用屈膝侧卧位配合红光照射,观察组给予膝胸卧位红光照射联合肛提运动.观察两组产后24 h和产后5d痔疼痛程度、肛周水肿程度、治疗效果、治疗过程舒适度.结果 干预后两组疼痛评分、肛周水肿程度、治疗效果比较,差异有统计学意义(均P＜0.01);两组治疗过程舒适程度差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 产后痔急性发作的产妇应用膝胸卧位红光照射配合肛提运动能有效减轻产妇疼痛及肛周水肿程度,治疗效果较好.     

人参总皂甙对造血生长因子产生的影响

本文应用造血祖细胞体外培养术和白细胞介素（ＩＬ）生物活性检测术，观察经人参总皂甙（ＴＳＰＧ）刺激的小鼠脾细胞、腹腔巨噬细胞和成纤维细胞培养上清液的集落刺激因子（ＣＳＦ）、ＩＬ－２和ＩＬ－６生物活性。结果表明：ＴＳＰＧ刺激组的ＣＳＦ和ＩＬ－６活性均显著高于对照组，ＴＳＰＧ刺激的脾细胞培养上清液的ＩＬ－２活性明显高于对照组，而ＴＳＰＧ刺激的巨噬细胞和成纤维细胞培养上清液的ＩＬ－２活性与对照组无显著性差     

孕妇外周血中胎儿有核红细胞数量与妊娠高血压综合征的关系

目的 探讨孕妇外周血中胎儿有核红细胞数量（fetal nucleated red blood cells，FNRBC）数与妊娠高血压综合征的关系。方法 对128名孕龄32～42周，年龄24～35岁的孕妇外周血进行单密度梯度离心，对分离后的细胞进行制片、染色，显微镜下进行FNRBC计数，比较组间差异。结果 38名正常妊娠组孕妇外周血中FNRBC数目为（6．4667±2．5141）个／5ml，36名轻度妊高征组孕妇外周血中FNRBC数目为（9．5300±2．3286）个／5ml，28名中度妊高征组孕妇外周血中FNRBC数目为（13．7100±4．0286）个／5ml，26名重度妊高征组孕妇外周血中FNRBC数目为（31．5000±9．4086）个／5ml。四组间比较P值均小于0．05。结论 妊高征组孕妇外周血FNRBC数目明显升高，为妊高征的临床预测和评估提供了一条新思路。     

儿童臀肌挛缩症免疫发病机理的研究

本文对４１例儿童臀肌挛缩症患者外周血及３２例儿童臀肌挛缩症臀肌进行了系统的免疫学研究。结果表明：儿童臀肌挛缩症患者免疫调节功能紊乱，红细胞免疫功能低下，臀肌组织免疫复合物沉积，臀肌小血管数目减少及管壁损伤。由此认为免疫病理因素是儿童臀肌挛缩症的主要发病机理。