Associations between soil lead and childhood blood lead in urban New Orleans and rural Lafourche Parish of Louisiana.

This study evaluates associations between soil lead concentrations (SPb), age of housing, and blood lead levels (BPb) of children in metropolitan New Orleans and Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The database includes over 2,600 SPb and 6,000 BPb samples paired by their median values and pre-1940 housing percentages for 172 census tracts. Associations were evaluated with Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rho test and modeled with the least sum of absolute deviations regression. Census tracts with low SPb are associated with new housing, but census tracts with high SPb are evenly split between old and new housing [Fisher's exact test, p = 8.60 X 10(-13) for the percentage of housing built before 1940 (percent pre-1940 housing) versus SPb]. The p-value for SPb versus BPb is 12 orders of magnitude stronger than the p-value for percent pre-1940 housing versus BPb. Census tracts with low BPb are associated with new housing, but census tracts with high BPb are split evenly between old and new housing (Fisher's exact test, p = 1. 67 X 10(-12) for percent pre-1940 housing versus BPb). Census tracts with high SPb are associated with high BPb and census tracts with low SPb are associated with low BPb (Fisher's exact test, p = 3.18 X 10(-24) for BPb versus SPb). The Spearman's rho test of the association of SPb and BPb in Orleans and Lafourche Parishes yielded a p-value of 6.12 X 10(-24). The least sum of absolute deviations regression model of the data is BPb = 1. 845 + 0.7215 (SPb)0.4. A comparison of the modeled BPb versus observed BPb has an r(2) of 0.552 and a p-value of 2.83 X 10(-23) that this relation was due to chance. If blood lead in children is more closely associated to soil lead than to the age of housing, then primary lead prevention should also include soil lead.     

Spontan pulsierendes Auge

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A three-year prospective study of systemic manifestation in rheumatoid arthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as a systemic disease can attack many other organs in addition to the joints. A variety of pathological lesions of the blood vessels are...     

Image fusion of bone SPECT and CT - a specific diagnostic method in oral and maxillofacial surgery]

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of image fusion of CT (computertomography) and bone SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) in diagnosis of head and neck cancer. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Computer based image fusion has been applied in 39 patients with suspected cancer in the oromaxillofacial region following CT and SPECT without any further hazard for the patients. Afterwards image fusion was set in comparision to simultaneously evaluation of CT and SPECT and histological findings. RESULTS: In 5 out of 39 patients SPECT/CT image fusion obtained more precise anatomical findings in tumour expansion than simultaneously evaluation of CT and SPECT. CONCLUSION: For planning of surgical and radiation therapy of oral and maxillofacial cancer, image fusion of CT/SPECT provides efficient and plastical diagnostic imaging. Particularly in complex anatomical regions like maxilla or base of the skull image fusion could be an additional device, if simultaneous evaluation of CT and SPECT is not clear.     

Cranial ultrasonography in maple syrup urine disease.

We performed serial cranial ultrasonography in four newborns affected by maple syrup urine disease. Symmetric increase of echogenicity of periventricular white matter, basal ganglia (mainly pallidi), and thalami was detected in the acute stage. The degree of ultrasonography abnormalities paralleled the clinical course of the disease.     

Monoclonal antibody against Klebsiella capsular polysaccharide reduces severity and hematogenic spread of experimental Klebsiella pneumoniae pneumonia.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important nosocomial pathogen causing severe pulmonary infections. The majority of clinical Klebsiella isolates produce a high-molecular-weight capsular polysaccharide (CPS) which is one of the dominant virulence factors. In the present study, we examined the potency of a murine immunoglobulin M monoclonal antibody (MAb) with specificity to Klebsiella type 2 CPS to protect rats against experimental Klebsiella pneumonia. The MAb did not prevent the invasion of virulent bacteria into the interalveolar space. However, the resolution of infection was accelerated in MAb-treated animals. This was demonstrated by (i) less severe weight loss and (ii) markedly reduced inflammatory reactions in the lung. The elimination of bacteria was significantly increased not only in the lungs but also in the livers of antibody-treated rats. This was reflected by reduced levels of circulating, soluble CPS and MAb-bound CPS. A mixture of human MAbs with specificity to CPS of clinically important Klebsiella serotypes may prove to be a useful tool for the prevention or supportive treatment of Klebsiella pneumonia.     

Transcription Factor PU.1 Promotes Conventional Dendritic Cell Identity and Function via Induction of Transcriptional Regulator DC-SCRIPT

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A genetic and clinical study of individuals with nonsyndromic retinopathy consequent upon sequence variants in HGSNAT,the gene associated with Sanfilippo C mucopolysaccharidosis

Pathogenic variants in the gene HGSNAT (heparan‐α‐glucosaminide N‐acetyltransferase) have been reported to underlie two distinct recessive conditions, depending on the specific genotype, mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIC (MPSIIIC)—a severe childhood‐onset lysosomal storage disorder, and adult‐onset nonsyndromic retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Here we describe the largest cohort to‐date of HGSNAT‐associated nonsyndromic RP patients, and describe their retinal phenotype, leukocyte enzymatic activity, and likely pathogenic genotypes. We identified biallelic HGSNAT variants in 17 individuals (15 families) as the likely cause of their RP. None showed any other symptoms of MPSIIIC. All had a mild but significant reduction of HGSNAT enzyme activity in leukocytes. The retinal condition was generally of late‐onset, showing progressive degeneration of a concentric area of paramacular retina, with preservation but reduced electroretinogram responses. Symptoms, electrophysiology, and imaging suggest the rod photoreceptor to be the cell initially compromised. HGSNAT enzymatic testing was useful in resolving diagnostic dilemmas in compatible patients. We identified seven novel sequence variants [p.(Arg239Cys); p.(Ser296Leu); p.(Phe428Cys); p.(Gly248Ala); p.(Gly418Arg), c.1543‐2A>C; c.1708delA], three of which were considered to be retina‐disease‐specific alleles. The most prevalent retina‐disease‐specific allele p.(Ala615Thr) was observed heterozygously or homozygously in 8 and 5 individuals respectively (7 and 4 families). Two siblings in one family, while identical for the HGSNAT locus, but discordant for retinal disease, suggest the influence of trans‐acting genetic or environmental modifying factors.