Effect of pH on poppy seed 10S protein

The effect of acid pH on the 10S protein of poppy seed has been studied by ultracentrifugation, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, turbidity, and difference, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectra. The protein dissociated into lower molecular weight fractions in the pH range of 4.0 down to 2.5 judged by ultracentrifugation, electrophoresis and turbidity measurements. U.v. difference spectra and fluorescence measurements suggested denaturation of the protein. Thus, both dissociation and denaturation occurred down to pH 2.5. At more acid pH values (pH 1.3), reassociation and refolding probably occurred. Circular dichroism studies showed a large increase in the amplitude of the peak at pH values of 2.8 and 1.3 indicating that unordered structures are formed at acid pH values.     

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with sputum smear-negative pulmonary tuberculosis using a polymerase chain reaction assay

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens of patients suspected of having active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) but who were sputum smear-negative. Patients undergoing investigation for suspected pulmonary TB at the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, and who were sputum smear-negative underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy and BAL. One portion of each lavage specimen was submitted for smear examination for acid-fast bacilli and mycobacterial culture and the other portion assayed by PCR for the presence of a 562-base pair DNA segment belonging to the insertion sequence IS986, unique to the M. tuberculosis complex. As controls, lavage specimens from patients with other lung lesions were also similarly tested. The PCR assay gave a positivity rate of 80.9% (55 of 68) compared with 8.8% of smear examination and 7.4% of culture for detecting M. tuberculosis in BAL specimens. The assay was positive in two of 45 BAL specimens from 35 control subjects. The PCR assay was more sensitive than smear and culture in detecting M. tuberculosis in BAL specimens of patients with sputum smear-negative pulmonary TB.     

Sudoriparous angioma—regression following intravascular aethoxysclerol, a sclerosing agent

We report a case of sudoriparous angioma on the dorsum and plantar aspect of the left foot which increased in size on standing, and which was accompanied by sweating in the overlying epidermis and throbbing pain. The lesion regressed considerably following intravascular injection of 1% aethoxysclerol.     

EFFICACY OF DEXAMETHASONE PULSE THERAPY IN PROGRESSIVE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background. Systemic sclerosis is a disease of unknown etiology for which no specific treatment is effective. Pulse therapy with corticosteroids has been tried for various autoimmune disorders with minimal side effects. We undertook this study to determine the efficacy of dexamethasone pulse therapy in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Methods. Five women with PSS between the ages 30 and 60 years, received 100 mg dexamethasone in 500 mL of 5% dextrose by slow intravenous infusion over 3 hours for 3 consecutive days, once a month. Results. All patients had symptomatic and clinical improvement. The vital capacity improved in three and posttreatment histopathologic regression was seen in two patients. Conclusions. Dexamethasone pulse therapy may provide an additional option for treating systemic sclerosis.     

Occurrence, Predictors, and Outcomes of Post-Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Thrombocytopenia in an Unselected Population

Objectives: We sought to determine the occurrence, predictors, and prognostic impact of post-percutaneous coronary intervention (post-PCI) thrombocytopenia on an unselected real-world patient population.
Background: Thrombocytopenia after PCI has been shown to portend worse prognosis in clinical trials. The significance of post-PCI thrombocytopenia has not previously been examined outside the clinical trial setting.
Methods: The study cohort consisted of 1,302 consecutive patients with normal baseline platelet count (150 × 10⁹/L). Post-PCI thrombocytopenia was defined as nadir platelet count < 100 × 10⁹/L or a drop > 50% from baseline. The primary outcomes were in-hospital and 6-month rates of death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), and the secondary outcomes were bleeding, need for blood transfusion, and length of hospital stay. Logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors.
Results: Post-PCI thrombocytopenia developed in 41 patients (occurrence 3.1%). Independent predictors were baseline creatinine clearance (odds ratio [OR] 1.02 for every unit decrease, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.03, P = 0.001), failed PCI (OR 3.8, CI 1.6–9.4, P = 0.003), and use of intraaortic balloon pump (OR 2.8, CI 1.1–6.8, P = 0.024). All study outcomes were significantly higher in patients with post-PCI thrombocytopenia. Post-PCI thrombocytopenia independently predicted MACE at 6 months (hazard ratio 2.7, CI 1.3–5.5, P = 0.0069) and all the secondary outcomes.
Conclusions: Post-PCI thrombocytopenia occurred in 3.1% of patients in an unselected real-world population and carried a significant detrimental impact on prognosis. Failed PCI was the strongest correlate identified.     

E-Selectin: Sialyl Lewis, a Dependent Adhesion of Colon Cancer Cells, is Inhibited Differently by Antibodies Against E-Selectin Ligands

Recent studies have demonstrated that selectins, a new family of cell-adhesion molecules with similar domain structures, mediate the adhesion of peripheral blood cells to interleukin-1 (IL-1)-activated endothelium. In the present study the authors evaluated the role of E-selectin-Sialyl Lewis x (SLe^x)/Sialyl Lewis a (SLe^a) interaction in mediating in vitro adhesion of two colon cancer cell lines, HT-29 and COLO 201, to human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVEC). Colon cancer cell lines had a strong expression of blood group-related carbohydrate epitopes as evaluated by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. It was established that adhesion of HT-29 and COLO 201 cells to IL-1 stimulated HUVEC was calcium dependent and could be inhibited by a monoclonal antibody directed against E-selectin. Prior incubation of cells with two different antibodies directed against SLe^x and antibodies directed against related Lewis epitopes, Le^x and Le^a, had no significant effect on adhesion. Three antibodies directed against SLe^a differed in their capacity to inhibit the adhesion of HT-29 and COLO 201 cells to HUVEC. Only one antibody directed against the SLe^a structure was effective in inhibiting adhesion of both COLO 201 and HT-29 cells. The difference could not be attributed to titre, the type or number of glycoproteins, or to a difference in the amount of SLe^a present on individual proteins, suggesting that presence and right presentation of SLe^a epitope might be important for adhesion of colon cancer cells. Finally, in the in vitro system used, adhesion of HT-29 and COLO 201 cells to activated HUVEC is mediated predominantly by E-selectin/SLe^a interaction. SLe^x and related epitopes, Le^x and Le^a, seem to have limited relevance for colon cancer cell recognition of E-selectin.