Novel variants in the promoter region of the CREB gene in schizophrenic patients

Cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) is one of the messenger molecules involved in intracellular signal transduction pathways used by most dopamine and serotonin receptor subtypes. In addition, CREB stimulates the expression of a number of genes, alterations in the expression of which may be associated with schizophrenia. The promoter region of the human CREB gene was therefore analyzed to identify genetic variants that may lead to the modification of CREB expression and contribute to schizophrenia. Eighty unrelated schizophrenics and 100 healthy controls were screened for genetic variants of the CREB gene by SSCP analysis, followed by direct sequencing of PCR products. Two novel variants (-933T-->C and -413G-->A) were found only in schizophrenics. A patient with the -933T-->C variant had unusual clinical characteristics in addition to typical schizophrenic symptoms.     

Frequency of human anti-FVIII antibodies in humanized SCID mice elicited by recombinant deleted factor VIII and by a plasma derived factor VIII

SCID mice were grafted with human PBL (hu-PBL-SCID) from healthy or haemophilia A donors. Those containing human and no murine Ig in their plasma, were injected with 100 U VIII:Ag of a plasma derived (pd) FVIII or recombinant deleted Factor VIII (FVIII ΔII) and with 10 μg of tetanus toxoid as control immunogen. The frequency and the intensity of the humoral specific responses were measured in 253 mice humanized with PBL from 13 different donors. There was no significant difference in the frequency or intensity of the anti-FVIII immune responses to pd FVIII and FVIII ΔII. Neutralizing antibodies were only detected in the plasma of mice humanized with cells from haemophiliacs having FVIII inhibitors in their blood. The immune responses observed in hu-PBL-SCID mice correlated with the immune status of the corresponding human donor.     

Importation and Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant of Concern in Korea,November 2021

In November 2021, 14 international travel-related severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of concern (VOC) patients were detected in South Korea. Epidemiologic investigation revealed community transmission of the omicron VOC. A total of 80 SARS-CoV-2 omicron VOC-positive patients were identified until December 10, 2021 and 66 of them reported no relation to the international travel. There may be more transmissions with this VOC in Korea than reported.     

Contribution of bladder cancer pathology assessment in planning clinical trials

Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease that demonstrates a wide spectrum of histologic features. The modern classification of bladder cancer is largely based on pathologic analysis, which assesses tumor grade, stage, type, size, and other features that are essential for understanding the biological behavior of bladder cancer. Bladder cancers with similar histologic features are likely to show comparable responses to a new therapeutic agent in clinical trial. Furthermore, pathologic analysis also evaluates the quality of tissue samples in clinical trial to ensure the integrity of various molecular tests. In spite of the emerging role of genomic and molecular studies, pathology remains the cornerstone in the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of bladder cancer. Herein, the pathologic considerations for bladder cancer clinical trial planning are reviewed.     

变异型心绞痛患者冠状动脉造影结果分析

目的总结变异型心绞痛患者冠状动脉造影结果,探讨变异型心绞痛的发病机制和治疗方法。方法36例变异型心绞痛患者,用常规方法进行冠状动脉造影,详细记录患者的冠状动脉造影结果及各种临床资料。结果36例患者冠状动脉造影结果示,23例有明确冠状动脉病变,13例患者无明显冠状动脉病变。与临床症状相关的冠状动脉病变中,涉及右冠状动脉病变16例,前降支病变10例,回旋支病变5例。7例患者接受介入治疗,29例患者接受药物治疗,临床随访结果满意。结论大多数变异型心绞痛患者冠状动脉有不同程度的狭窄病变。     

嗜酸粒细胞性支气管炎和哮喘患者咳嗽敏感性的探讨

目的 探讨嗜酸粒细胞性支气管炎(eosinophilic bronchitis,EB)和哮喘患者的咳嗽敏感性与其咳嗽发病机制的关系.方法 采用辣椒素咳嗽激发试验,测定EB、咳嗽变异型哮喘(cough variant cough,CVA)及典型哮喘(Asthma)患者的咳嗽敏感性,并以正常人作为对照.结果 正常对照、EB,CVA和Asthma各组的LogC2分别为1.92±0.35,1.01±0.43,1.07±0.64,2.05±0.59,EB组显著低于正常对照组、CVA及Asthma组(均P＜0.01).对照、EB、CVA和Asthma各组的LogC5分别为2.61±0.40,1.55±0.72,2.34±0.60,2.25±0.48,EB组显著低于对照、CVA及Asthma组(均P＜0.01).结论 EB患者的辣椒素咳嗽敏感性显著升高,提示C纤维末梢敏感性增高是EB咳嗽的发病机制之一.     

中西医结合治疗咳嗽变异性哮喘44例临床观察

目的观察中西医结合治疗咳嗽变异性哮喘的临床疗效。方法将87例患者随机分为两组,对照组43例,采用口服舒喘灵、酮替酚及吸入糖皮质激素等治疗;治疗组44例,在对照组用药的基础上,加服自拟中药止咳定喘汤治疗。结果治疗组临床控制34例,显效7例,有效2例,无效1例,总有效率97.73%,无明显毒副作用;对照组临床控制26例,显效10例,有效2例,无效5例,总有效率88.37%。两组疗效比较,具有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论中西医结合治疗咳嗽变异性哮喘疗效好,安全性高,值得临床推广应用。     

不同程度颅脑损伤患者凝血功能障碍发生情况及对患者预后的影响

目的 探究不同程度颅脑损伤患者凝血功能障碍发生情况及对患者预后的影响。方法 选取2017年9月至2018年8月我院收治的颅脑损伤患者75例,按照患者颅脑损伤程度分为轻度组、中度组和重度组,每组各25例,所有患者均接受3个月治疗,比较治疗后三组患者凝血功能指标水平及预后情况。结果 治疗后,重度组PT为(16.24±2.73)s、APTT为(45.67±2.39)s、TT为(16.15±1.22)s,长于中度组[(15.55±2.52)s、(38.55±2.82)s、(15.65±0.82)s]和轻度组[(11.61±2.13)s、(31.12±1.54)s、(15.35±0.58)s],差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,重度组FIB水平为(1.17±0.33) g/L,低于重度组和轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后,重度组GCS评分为(10.62±1.72)分,低于轻度组和中度组[(14.21±1.93)分、(12.70±1.63)分],重度组ADL评分为(65.31±2.83)分,低于轻度组和中度组[(91.25±3.21)分、(82.62±2.54)分],差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);重度组出现继发脑损伤14例,明显高于中度组的9例和轻度组的3例,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 患者颅脑损伤程度可依据PT和APTT水平进行判定,凝血功能异常程度越大患者颅脑损伤的预后能力越差,借助凝血功能障碍来判断患者颅脑损伤程度的方式值得临床推广应用。     

变异型心绞痛冠状动脉造影特点分析

目的探讨变异型心绞痛与冠状动脉病变的关系。方法观察72例VA病人，均采用标准18导联体表心电图检查或进行24h动态心电图检测，并行冠状动脉造影检查，对冠状动脉有无病变及病变特点做一分析。结果（1）72例VA病人中，CAG检查无异常者26例（36．11％），其中心电图评价痉挛部位发生在右冠状动脉者20例（76．92％），发生率最高，P〈0．05。CAG检查存在同定狭窄者46例（63．89％），其中心电图评价痉挛部位发生在左冠状动脉前降支25例（54．35％），发生率最高P〈0．05。（2）在CAG检查存在同定狭窄者中狭窄程度〉70％且发生于LAD者12例（48．00％），RCA者6例（50．00％），左冠状动脉回旋支者5例（55．56％），并分别与同组比较发生率最高P〈0．05。其中固定狭窄〉70％者3支血管比较LAD发生率最高（52．17％）P〈0．01。结论（1）变异型心绞痛可发生于有狭窄的冠状动脉或正常冠状动脉中，前者多见。（2）血管痉挛部位多为LAD及RCA。在冠状动脉无明显病变的VA中，RCA痉挛发生率高于LAD。在存在冠状动脉固定狭窄的VA中，LAD痉挛发生率最高。（3）冠状动脉痉挛的发生率与冠状动脉狭窄的程度相关。     

Topological analysis of antigenic determinants on a variant surface glycoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei

Nine monoclonal antibodies specific for the variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) of Trypanosoma brucei MITat 1.6 have been produced and characterised as part of a coordinated project to define the three dimensional structure and immunological profile of this and other VSG molecules. Competition radioimmunoassays using all combinations of these antibodies identified five distinct antigenic determinants, showing varying degrees of overlap, on the MITat 1.6 VSG molecule. A map has been constructed of the determinants which have been identified. Immunofluorescent staining of living trypanosomes in suspension revealed that only one of the five determinants is exposed on the surface of intact trypanosomes, the other four being accessible to antibody only after the surface coat has been disrupted or released into solution. Immunoblots, to detect binding of the antibodies to MITat 1.6 VSG transferred from sodium dodecyl sulphate gels to nitrocellulose paper, showed binding of all the monoclonal antibodies, except those recognising the surface of the living trypanosome, to VSG in this form. This suggests the surface determinant may be more conformationally iabile than the others identified. The significance of the existence, and apparent predominance of variant specific antigenic determinants which are cryptic in the intact surface coat is discussed.