Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.     

HCV的检测方法

从发现丙型肝炎病毒以来 ,丙肝的检测技术发展迅速 ,灵敏度和特异性都有明显的提高 ,方法学在不断改进完善。笔者就近年来丙型肝炎的实验室检测方法作简要的综述     

LightCycler实时监测PCR定量分析血清HBV DNA

目的 检验LightCycler实时监测PCR（real-time detection PCR,RTD-PCR)对血清中HBV DNA定量检测的灵敏性和可重复性，探讨HBV血清标志物与HBV DNA定量的关系。方法 HBV定量按深圳匹基公司乙肝PCR荧光检测试剂盒使用说明，对乙肝标志物已明确的773例血清中HBV DNA定量结果进行统计分析。结果 实时监测PCR对血清中HBV DNA定量检测的灵敏性高，可检测低至1000拷贝／ml血清；可重复性好，批间误差＜20％；各种标志物类型的血清HBV DNA含量分布情况表明，HBV血清标志物中HBeAg与HBV DNA含量有明显的关系，一般HBeAg阳性血清HBV DNA含量较高，但也有相当一部分例外。结论 LightCycler实时监测PCR对血清中HBV DNA定量检测灵敏性高可重复性好；仅根据HBV血清标志物往往不能确定乙肝患者HBV DNA复制水平的高低，HBV DNA定量检测具有十分重要的临床意义。     

Spinal MRI in vacuolar myelopathy, and correlation with histopathological findings

We correlated MRI features with histopathological findings in an HIV-positive patient with vacuolar myelopathy. On MRI symmetrical nonenhancing high-signal areas in the posterior columns on T2-weighted images result from extensive vacuolation visible on histological sections. Received: 18 November 1997 Accepted: 23 March 1997     

HIV neuropathogenesis and therapeutic strategies

Abstract Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-l neuropathogenesis can be divided into three important components: (i) virus entry into the nervous system; (ii) the role of viral proteins and/or cellular products in neural tissue damage; and (iii) the mechanisms of neuronal injury/death. Both blood derived macrophages or trafficking HIV-1 infected T-lymphocytes have been implicated in viral entry to the central nervous system (CNS). The major cell type harboring productive HIV-1 infection in the nervous system is the perivascular macrophage/ microglia. The HIV-1 infection of brain astrocytes, restricted to the expression of regulatory gene products, may cause astrocyte dysfunction and contribute to neuronal injury or to disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Studies of cerebrospinal fluid and postmortem tissues reveal chronic inflammation/immune activation in the nervous system during the later stages of HIV-1 infection associated with disruption of BBB integrity. Blood-brain barrier damage may underlie the white matter pallor described in HIV-1 infection and could result in further entry into the CNS of toxic viral or cellular products, or additional HIV-1 infected cells. The HIV infected and activated macrophages/microglia produce excessive amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, and platelet activating factor. These products are directly toxic to human neurons in vitro. The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein, gp 120 may stimulate the release of toxic factors from brain macrophages. Blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA; or AMPA) glutamate receptors can antagonize candidate toxins of both viral and cellular origin. It has been postulated that (weak) excitotoxicity leads to oxidative stress in neurons and ultimately to apoptosis. Neuronal apoptosis occurs in the brains of both children and adults with HIV-1 infection. This understanding of HIV neuropathogenesis implies that therapeutic strategies should include: (i) anti-retroviral medications to decrease systemic and CNS virus load, and possibly to prevent perinatal transmission of HIV; (ii) anti-inflammatory compounds to decrease the chronic immune activation in microglia and allow the restoration of BBB integrity; and (iii) neuroprotective compounds to reduce neuronal injury and apoptotic death.     

110例嗜酸细胞增多性非变应性鼻炎的液氮冷冻治疗

１１０例嗜酸细胞增多性非变应性鼻炎的液氮冷冻治疗山西医学院第二附属医院（０３０００１）牛玉梅，刘学仁按Ｍｇｇｉｎｄ将常年性鼻炎分为三类：一类常年性变态反应性鼻炎；二类非变态反应性鼻炎伴鼻分泌物嗜酸细胞增多综合征也叫嗜酸细胞增多性非变态反应性鼻炎（Ｅｏｓｉｎｏｐｈｉｌｉｃｎｏｎａｌｌｅｒａｉｃｒｈｉｎｉｔｓ，ＥＮＲ）；三类自主神经性常年性鼻炎［１］。我们将ＥＮＲ中找不到致敏物，而与冷热空气有关与情绪无关的１１０例患者进行了液氮冷冻治疗。临床资料８０２例常年性鼻炎患者进行皮肤激发试验。４３７例找出了致敏物，进行特异性过敏诱因脱敏治疗或抗过敏药物治疗。３６５例试验阳性，其中有１３５例与冷热空气有关。ｌｌ０例行冷冻治疗。１ｌ０例中男５０例，女６０例；年龄最大６５岁，最小１６岁。１１０例均有间歇性的连续喷嚏发作，浆液性或粘液性鼻分泌物增多和鼻粘膜非充血性肿胀引起的堵塞，无因吸入致敏原诱发症状的病史；血清ＩｇＥ值不升高，特异性皮肤试验结果为阳性；鼻分泌物中嗜酸细胞阳性。方法：先将鼻腔内喷入１％地卡因溶液３次粘膜表面麻醉，用卷好的４厘米长、０．４～０．６厘米粗的棉棒沾上液氮在鼻镜直视下迅速插入鼻腔内。时间约１分钟左右（冷     

谷朊粉废水提取物在肉制品中的应用

介绍了一种从谷朊粉废水中提取戊聚糖的工艺,由此工艺得到的产品(戊聚糖质量分数约70%,蛋白质质量分数约20%)能较好地保持戊聚糖的特性.研究了其它添加剂(卡拉胶)对戊聚糖的乳化性,戊聚糖对肉制品持油、持水性以及其质构的影响.谷朊粉废弃水提取物与卡拉胶的复配产品在添加量(质量分数)为6%时能使肉制品有较好的持油性和相应的质构.     

Naturally occuring antibodies against nerve growth factor in human and rabbit sera: comparison between control and herpes simplex virus-infected patients

Antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) in sera were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), by their isolation after passage of sera through NGF immunoadsorbent columns and by their specificity to bind and immunoprecipitate mouse NGF as well as to stain by immunohistochemical methods cellular sites of NGF synthesis. Increased levels of anti-NGF antibodies were found in sera of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected patients but not in HSV-inoculated rabbits. As HSV latency is known to be promoted by NGF in vitro, these results may suggest that anti-NGF antibodies modulate the cytokine function of NGF and thus might play a role in HSV infection. The biological function of circulating antibodies against NGF, in general, is now open to future investigation.