Fumonisins as a possible contributory risk factor for primary liver cancer: A 3-year study of corn harvested in Haimen, China, by HPLC and ELISA

Employing HPLC fluorometry, gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and a novel enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody, 40 corn samples, each collected in 1993 from agricultural stocks for human consumption in Haimen (Jiangsu County) and Penlai (Shandong Province), high- and low-risk areas for primary liver cancer (PLC) in China, respectively, were analysed for fumonisins (FBs), aflatoxins (AFs) and trichothecenes. Levels and positive rates of FBs and deoxynivalenol (DON) were significantly higher in Haimen than in Penlai. ELISA of the 40 corn samples harvested in the two areas in 1994 revealed that FB contamination levels and rates in these areas were comparable to those observed in 1993 in Haimen. ELISA analysis of 1993 and 1994 products revealed a wide occurrence of AFB₁ but the positive rates as well as levels were not significantly different between these areas. ELISA of the same sample number of corn harvested in 1995 revealed that FB contamination in Haimen was significantly higher than in Penlai. These 3-yearly surveys of corn samples (240 in total) demonstrated that corn harvested in Haimen was highly contaminated with FBs and that the contamination level, as well as positive rate in 1993 and 1995, were 10–50-fold higher than those in Penlai, suggesting FBs as a risk factor for promotion of PLC in endemic areas, along with the trichothecene DON. Co-contamination with AFs, potent hepatocarcinogens, was assumed to play an important role in the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

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.