Femoral anteversion related to side differences in hip rotation: Passive rotation in 1, 140 children aged 8-9 years

We assessed whether the range of passive hip motion is reliable for predicting abnormal femoral ante-version. We measured the passive medial and lateral rotation in extension in both hips of 1, 140 children between 8 and 9 years of age. The children were divided into 3 groups: group 1: difference between lateral and medial rotation less than 10° group 2: medial rotation more than 10° greater than the lateral; group 3: lateral rotation more than 10° greater than the medial. Group 1 comprised 90% of the children, whereas 8% belonged to group 2 and 2% to group 3.

The angle of femoral neck anteversion was measured in 57 children from the first group, in 67 from the second and in 24 children from the third group, using biplane radiography. The mean anteversion angles in the 3 groups were 24°, 36° and 14°, respectively. To predict an abnormally high anteversion angle (above mean +2SD), the difference between medial and lateral rotation must be 45° or more, whereas an abnormally low anteversion angle (lower than mean -2SD) could be predicted when the lateral rotation was at least 50° higher than the medial rotation.     

GGA1 acts as a spatial switch altering amyloid precursor protein trafficking and processing

The beta-amyloid (Abeta) precursor protein (APP) is cleaved sequentially by beta-site of APP-cleaving enzyme (BACE) and gamma-secretase to release the Abeta peptides that accumulate in plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD). GGA1, a member of the Golgi-localized gamma-ear-containing ARF-binding (GGA) protein family, interacts with BACE and influences its subcellular distribution. We now report that overexpression of GGA1 in cells increased the APP C-terminal fragment resulting from beta-cleavage but surprisingly reduced Abeta. GGA1 confined APP to the Golgi, in which fluorescence resonance energy transfer analyses suggest that the proteins come into close proximity. GGA1 blunted only APP but not notch intracellular domain release. These results suggest that GGA1 prevented APP beta-cleavage products from becoming substrates for gamma-secretase. Direct binding of GGA1 to BACE was not required for these effects, but the integrity of the GAT (GGA1 and TOM) domain of GGA1 was. GGA1 may act as a specific spatial switch influencing APP trafficking and processing, so that APP-GGA1 interactions may have pathophysiological relevance in AD.     

大鼠胸腺降黑素受体的鉴定及生物学特性

应用放射配体结合法证实大鼠胸腺内存在降黑素特异结合部位，该结合位点可以满足特异结合部位的基本条件：１．低结合容量；２．高亲和力；３．可饱和性；４．可逆性；５．对降黑素高度特异性。此外，该特异结合位点具昼夜节律；亚细胞分布的研究表明以细胞核含量最高，线粒体次之，并具有年龄依赖性降低，以出生时最高。     

Conservative management of early endometrial adenocarcinoma with repeat curettage and hormone therapy under assistance of hysteroscopy and laparoscopy

We report a rare case of early-stage endometrial adenocarcinoma in a 22 year old nullipara with polycystic ovaries undergoing conservative treatment. Pretreatment evaluation including tumour grade, depth of myometrial invasion, tumour size, hormone receptor status and flow cytometric analysis indicated a favourable prognosis. The patient underwent repeat endometrial curettage and a 6 month period of therapy with megestrol acetate and tamoxifen. A combination contraceptive pill was then prescribed to ensure withdrawal of the menstrual cycle thereafter. Now, 1 year after the last curettage, there is no evidence of disease. During the treatment period, hysteroscopy allowed for a more precise approach in panoramically examining the tumour nest in the endometrial cavity, and the subsequent endometrial response to hormone therapy. Laparoscopy using bulldog clamps applied to the isthmic portion of the Fallopian tubes prevented i.p. spread of endometrial tissue from retrograde regurgitation during hysteroscopy. Laparoscopic ovarian electrocautery resulted in the reduction of abnormal hypervascularization on the surface of polycystic ovaries postoperatively but caused a peri-ovarian adhesion complication. It is interesting that this case posed a unique opportunity to demonstrate the tumour regression under the assistance of laparoscopy and hysteroscopy.      

Sequence-based typing of ade B as a potential tool to identify intraspecific groups among clinical strains of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Sequence analysis of an 850-bp fragment internal to the aspecific drug efflux gene ade B revealed 11 sequence types (STs) among a collection of 50 multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) strains, including members of pan-European clones I, II, and III. The delineation of STs conformed with the intraspecific grouping of these strains previously determined by different DNA fingerprinting methods. Larger strain collections need to be screened to further explore the potential of sequence-based ade B typing as a universal tool for the monitoring of MDRAB clones.     

Distribution of tetracycline resistance genes in genotypically related and unrelated multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains from different European hospitals

The presence of tetracycline (TET) resistance genes was investigated in 49 genotypically related and unrelated multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB) strains from European hospitals including representatives of pan-European clones I and II. Except for one strain, all MDRAB strains displayed resistance to tetracycline (MIC range of 16 to > 512 microg/ml) but were susceptible (MIC < 4 microg/ml) or exhibited intermediate resistance (MIC of 4-8 microg/ml) to minocycline (MIN). In 37 strains, either tet(A) or tet(B) was detected and one of these strains possessed both tet(A) and tet(M). In addition, all MDRAB strains contained the aspecific efflux gene adeB irrespectively of whether they harbored tet genes or not. Repetitive DNA element (rep)-PCR fingerprinting using the (GTG)5 primer [(GTG)5-PCR] revealed that strains previously assigned to pan-European clones I and II were grouped into two separate clusters. In addition, these clusters also contained strains that had not been typed previously, indicating that (GTG)5-PCR is a valuable method for recognizing putative new members of MDRAB clones. Most, but not all, members of clones I and II were linked to the presence of either tet(A) or tet(B) and displayed different levels of TET resistance with MIC values of 32 to > 512 microg/ml and > 512 microg/ml, respectively. Of these two genes only tet(B) encodes an efflux of both TET and MIN, which was reflected by the relatively high MIC values for MIN (4 microg/ml) shown by the majority of the tet(B)-carrying clone II strains as opposed to the low MIC values for MIN (< 1 microg/ml) displayed by most tet(A)-containing clone I strains. Collectively, our phenotypic and genotypic resistance data support the therapeutic evaluation of second-generation tetracyclines like MIN as promising agents for treating MDRAB infections.     

Persistent genetic isolation in outport Newfoundland

The historical development of genetic isolation has been evaluated for three outport Newfoundland study areas. An attempt was made to ascertain all livebirths in each study area, and determine the parentage of each. Data from records of baptism and marriage were used for this, supplemented with other historical and ethnographic information. Parent-offspring migration was used as a measure of genetic exchange between subpopulations within study areas, and gene flow into the study areas. Currently, 1-8% of parents originate outside the study areas; these rates are low compared to earlier periods, and compared to present-day rates for European isolate populations. Average kinship was estimated, to measure genetic relatedness within and between subpopulations of each area and the potential for random inbreeding; these values, which are minimum estimates, are now at historically high levels. Increased migration into the study areas, which would decrease average kinship, is not likely. Thus, any regionally or locally elevated frequencies of deleterious alleles will persist, and must be taken into account in providing genetic counseling and evaluating the utility of local screening programs.     

War wounds to the foot

Thirty-nine patients with foot injuries were admitted to the Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery in Lovran during the war against Croatia. All of them were soldiers wounded by antipersonnel mines. All of the patients were treated using the same protocol. Primary wound care included debridement, necrectomy, and three-dimensional external fixation with or without Kirschner wires. External fixation facilitated postoperative wound care, prevented vicious contracture position, and made fracture healing possible with early weight bearing.