Expression of the Tn antigen on erythroid cells from a patient with Tn syndrome

Summary In order to examine expression of the Tn antigen on erythroid cells from a patient with Tn syndrome, we applied a selective two phase liquid culture system for human erythroid progenitors in peripheral blood. The cells were analyzed with flow cytometry employing an anti-Tn antibody and a lectin ofVicia villosa which recognizes only the Tn determinant. In the second phase, the Tn antigen was expressed on the cultured cells from the patient on day 3 and Tn-positive cells reached 62.7% on day 9. On the other hand, Tn-positive cells were not detected in the volunteer's cultured cells. When the patient's cells were co-cultured with the cells from a healthy voluteer, the percentage of Tn-positive cells was much lower than the expected value, suggesting that the normal cells suppressed the expression of Tn antigen on the patient's cells.     

Biological coagulation findings in third-generation oral contraceptives

An increased risk of venous thrombosis has been demonstrated in women receiving oral contraceptives (OCs). This risk has been primarily associated with the oestrogen content, but recent studies showed that the progestogen may also play a role. A higher risk was found with the so-called third-generation (desogestrel, gestodene) as compared with the second-generation progestogens (levonorgestrel). The risk was approximately two-fold. These unexpected results have been the subject of many debates, and bias--such as selection bias--has been suggested. The existence of bias cannot be completely excluded, but the thrombotic risk seems however to be slightly higher with the third-generation progestins. Haemostatic changes have been observed during OC intake. Both coagulation and fibrinolytic activity are increased: the beneficial profibrinolytic effect may counterbalance the deleterious procoagulant effect. This may explain that the absolute risk of venous thromboembolism is low during OC treatments. Some women who have pre-existing haemostatic abnormalities such as deficiency in antithrombin or activated protein C resistance with factor V Leiden, may be at a higher risk. The biological plausibility of the increased risk related to the third-generation progestogens has been explored. Theoretically, this could be due to an increased coagulation or to a lack of increased fibrinolysis as compared with second-generation progestogens. The only difference presently reported with third-generation OCs is a decreased sensitivity to activated protein C, possibly resulting in a hypercoagulability of greater magnitude. The selection bias suggested in epidemiological studies may also exist for the latter study, as women taking third- or second-generation OCs were not randomized. The possible increased risk related to third-generation OCs should not change the known general contra-indications. Practical guidelines are proposed for women with personal or family history of venous thromboembolism, and for those with a congenital cause of thrombophilia.     

Multidimensional Chromatographic and Hyphenated Techniques for Hydrophilic Copolymers, 1

Summary: The chromatographic analysis of hydrophilic copolymers is complicated due to the fact that in most cases aqueous eluents must be used. In aqueous eluents different polar and ionic effects may disturb the selective interactions between the macromolecules and the stationary phase making it impossible to separate such copolymers with regard to chemical composition. Therefore, 2D chromatography combining a separation according to composition with a separation according to molar mass has been applied mostly to polymers that are soluble in organic solvents. The present contribution describes experimental approaches to analyze such hydrophilic copolymers by 2D‐chromatography. For a model polymer system resulting from the copolymerization of methacrylic acid and a poly(ethylene glycol) macromonomer, it is shown that different analytical techniques including SEC, LC‐CC, MALDI‐TOF MS and 2D chromatography can be used to analyze the different parameters of molecular heterogeneity of such copolymers.

2D separation of poly(MPEG‐MM 2), 1^st dimension: LC‐CC, 2^nd dimension: SEC.     

血液灌流对硫线磷和硫酸阿托品的吸附作用

Objective To study on adsorption effect of cadusafos and atropine sulfate by hemoperfusion.Method Hemoperfusions were performed for sheep blood samples with cadusafos and atropineby through imitated extracorporeal closed circulating perfusion apparatus.Residual cadusafos was determined by gas chromatography and residual atropine was determined by high performance liquid chromatography.Result Dose of adsorption agent was 0.5,1.0 and 1.5 g,respectively.Two hours after hemoperfusion with membrane coated activated charcoal,clearance rate of cadusafos in 3 groups all exceeded 90%.and clearance rate of atropine sulfate was 61.9%,84.9%,88.9%,respectively.One and a half hours after hemoperfusion with HA230 absorption resin,clearance rate of eadusafos in 3 groups all exceeded 90%,and clearance rate of atropine sulfate was 88.0%,97.2%,98.4%,respectively.Three hours after hemoperfusion with membrane coated activated charcoal,The concentration ratio of cadusafos and atropine sulfate in blood promoted to 10.1 times,and the ratio was 6.7 times after hemoperfusion with HA230 absorption resin.Conclusion It suggested that cadusafos were mostly removed from blood after 1.5～2.0hours hemoperfusion with membrane activated charcoal or HA230 absorption resin.The concentration ratio of cadusafos and atropine sulfate in blood will increased after hemoperfusion.     

采用纱球进行口腔护理的效果观察

目的探寻有效的口腔护理方法,取得更好的清洁口腔及洁牙效果。方法随机对53例有口腔护理适应症、意识清醒的患者,用纱球或棉球分别作左或右侧牙齿及口腔粘膜的清洁护理,并按同一标准进行效果评价。结果53例患者,以纱球擦洗侧,效果好的为42例,一般为11例,差为0例。以棉球擦洗侧,效果好为13例,效果一般为40例,差为0例,两组效果比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论以纱球作口腔护理的清洁效果明显优于棉球的清洁效果。     

Packing and Uniaxial Alignment of Liquid Crystalline Oligofluorenes

Summary: Liquid crystalline oligomers of 9,9‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)fluorene of defined degree of polymerization 4, 5, 6, and 7 were investigated by X‐ray diffraction in the non‐oriented and in the aligned state. The diffraction data give evidence for a smectic B type phase for all of the oligomers. Quenching below the glass transition does not change the structure of the liquid crystalline phase. This allows to align spin‐coated films of these oligomers on rubbed polyimide substrates to give monodomain films. These are stable against thermal disordering below T_g, e.g. at room temperature. The degree of alignment is characterized by the dichroic spectra and polarized fluorescence spectra. Dichroic ratios and polarization ratios increase substantially with the chain length and values as high as D = 23 and P = 41 are obtained for the heptamer. The type of packing of the oligomers in the LC phase is discussed based on the X‐ray single crystal structure of models. In one such model the packing of the 2‐ethylhexyl side chains could be fully resolved, while the other model reveals the torsional angle between adjacent fluorene units in the same molecule as 144.2° which corroborates earlier work based on fiber diffraction of corresponding polyfluorenes.

     

IgA hybridomas: A method for generation in high numbers

An immunization regimen has been developed which yields a high frequency of hybridomas producing IgA isotype, antigen-specific antibody when spleen cells from immunized mice are fused with non-immunoglobulin secreting murine myeloma cells. Germfree BALB/c mice were carrier-primed with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) by gastric intubation (GI) for 2 consecutive days followed 1 week later by GI with trinitrophenyl (TNP)-haptenated SRBC. After 7 days, spleen cells were fused with non-immunoglobulin secreting myeloma cells (X63-Ag8.653), and 2–3 weeks later, culture wells were scored for hybrid clones. Of 240 culture wells plated, 157 wells (65.4%) exhibited clones producing anti-TNP antibodies as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 50 specific cell lines were established, of which 27 clones (54%) produced IgA isotype anti-TNP antibodies, while the anti-TNP antibodies produced by the remaining 23 clones were approximately equally distributed between the IgM and IgG isotypes. The IgA and IgM monoclonal antibodies were more effective in hemagglutinating TNP-SRBC than were IgG isotype antibodies. This study describes a method for production of a high number of antigen-specific IgA hybridomas which will allow production of IgA monoclonal antibodies to important antigens on mucosally-associated pathogens, and thus allow elucidation of functions of IgA antibody at mucosal surfaces.     

Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of An Athletic Trainer-Directed Spit (Smokeless) Tobacco Intervention for Collegiate Baseball Athletes: Results After 1 Year

Context: Athletes in the United States are at high risk for using spit (smokeless) tobacco (ST) and incurring its associated adverse health effects.Objective: To examine whether an athletic trainer-directed ST intervention could decrease initiation and promote cessation of ST use among male collegiate baseball athletes.Design: Stratified, cluster-randomized controlled trial.Setting: Fifty-two California colleges.Patients or Other Participant(s): A total of 883 subjects in 27 intervention colleges and 702 subjects in 25 control colleges participated, as did 48 certified athletic trainers.Intervention(s): For college athletic trainers and associated dental professionals, a 3-hour video conference, and for collegiate athletes, an oral cancer screening with feedback and brief counseling during the preseason health screenings, athletic trainer support for cessation, and a peer-led educational baseball team meeting.Main Outcome Measure(s): The subjects' ST use over 1 year was assessed by self-report. At the end of the study, the certified athletic trainers were mailed a survey assessing their tobacco use and perceptions and behavior related to tobacco control in the athletic environment. We used multivariable logistic regression models for clustered responses (generalized estimating equations) to test the difference between groups in ST-use initiation and cessation and to identify significant overall predictors of noninitiation and cessation of ST use.Results: Of the 1585 athletes recruited, 1248 (78.7%) were followed up at 12 months. In addition, 48 of the 52 athletic trainers (92%) responded to the 1-year follow-up survey. The ST-use initiation (incidence) was 5.1% in intervention colleges and 8.4% in control colleges (generalized estimating equation odds ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval = 0.35-0.99). Predictors of ST noninitiation were low lifetime tobacco and monthly alcohol use (odds ratio = 1.98, 95% confidence interval = 1.40- 2.82) and athletic trainers' report that the baseball coach supported ST-use prevention activities (odds ratio = 1.43, 95% confidence interval = 1.11-1.83). Although at 1 year, cessation of ST use was relatively high in both groups (36%), we noted no significant difference between the groups (odd ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval = 0.70-1.27).Conclusions: The intervention was significantly effective in preventing incident ST use but did not significantly increase cessation beyond that seen in the control group. The latter finding is inconsistent with previous studies and may be explained by spillover of the intervention to control colleges, other anti-tobacco activity in control colleges, and/or the small sample of dependent ST users enrolled in the study.     

Biochemical characterization of I-Ak proteins from mutant antigen-presenting B-cell--B-lymphoma hybridomas

Chemically induced mutants of an I-Ak,d expressing antigen-presenting B-cell--B-lymphoma hybridoma have recently been generated by immunoselection in vitro and were found to possess alterations in some of their serologically and functionally defined I-Ak region dependent functions. In order to identify at the structural level the origin of the differences in serological and functional properties of these mutants, I-Ak molecules from several of these mutant hybridomas were compared biochemically to wild-type I-Ak polypeptides by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and high-pressure liquid chromatographic tryptic peptide analyses. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis indicated that no major structural alterations, resulting in changes in mol. wt or charge, had occurred in the Ak alpha or Ak beta polypeptides from the mutant cells. Likewise, Ak alpha peptide maps of the mutants were indistinguishable from the normal Ak alpha peptide maps. However, two of the three mutants studied did exhibit one additional peptide in their Ak beta peptide maps. These results suggest that the major deficiencies in T-cell-activating functions of these mutants are a result of a limited alteration in the Ak beta polypeptide primary structure.     

Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the central nervous system and the responses of galanin-containing neuronal pathways to injury

Radioimmunoassay and immunocytochemistry were used to study the distribution of galanin, a novel 29 amino acid porcine intestinal peptide, in the central nervous system of the rat and pig. The pattern of distribution was similar in the two species, with the highest concentrations of galanin-like immunoreactivity found in the neurohypophysis, hypothalamus and sacral spinal cord. Immunocytochemical studies of these regions localized galanin-like immunoreactivity to cell bodies in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus, to fibres in the pars nervosa and to numerous cell bodies and fibres in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. On both gel and high pressure liquid chromatography, galanin-like immunoreactivity in rat and pig nervous tissue eluted as a single peak in a position similar to purified procine intestinal galanin standard. Surgical and pharmacological manipulations in the rat suggest the presence of galanin in afferent fibres. An increase of galanin-like immunoreactivity was observed in the sacral spinal cord of the rat following thoracic spinal cord transection. Thus galanin-like immunoreactivity in the brain is mainly localized in the hypothalamopituitary region. The decrease of galanin-like immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, following dorsal rhizotomy and pre-treatment of rats with capsaicin, indicates that many of the fibres, which are of small diameter, may well be derived from spinal sensory neurones.