European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases - We compared the performance of an in-house-developed flow cytometry assay for intracellular cytokine staining (FC-ICS) and a... 相似文献
This article begins by challenging the widely held view in neoliberal discourse that there is a necessary trade-off between higher efficiency and lower reduction of inequalities: the article empirically shows that the liberal, U.S. model has been less efficient economically (slower economic growth, higher unemployment) than the social model in existence in the European Union and in the majority of its member states. Based on the data presented, the authors criticize the adoption of features of the liberal model (such as deregulation of their labor markets, reduction of public social expenditures) by some European governments. The second section analyzes the causes for the slowdown of economic growth and the increase of unemployment in the European Union--that is, the application of monetarist and neoliberal policies in the institutional frame of the European Union, including the Stability Pact, the objectives and modus operandi of the European Central Bank, and the very limited resources available to the European Commission for stimulating and distributive functions. The third section details the reasons for these developments, including (besides historical considerations) the enormous influence of financial capital in the E.U. institutions and the very limited democracy. Proposals for change are included. 相似文献
Ureteral herniation is a rare entity. We report the first case of extraperitoneal ureteral herniation in a pediatric en bloc renal graft causing obstructive uropathy. A 70-year-old, obese patient with an en bloc renal transplant was found to have ureterohydronephrosis in the right renal graft on magnetic resonance imaging. Nephrostomy with insertion of a double-J catheter confirmed the presence of a ureteral loop within the inguinal tract. Surgery confirmed herniation of the ureter through the internal inguinal ring, crossing over the spermatic cord. We performed release, resection, ureteral reimplantation and hernioplasty. Four months later, renal function was normal and urinary tract dilation had diminished. This case illustrates an unusual cause of obstructive uropathy in a transplanted kidney. Apart from obesity, two other factors may have contributed to its development: presence of a redundant ureter, and the fact that the ureter had been placed over, rather than under, the spermatic cord. 相似文献
Arsenic pollution has become increasingly severe. It occurs as the result of geological processes and different human activities. Arsenic toxicity at the respiratory level occurs mainly by inhalation of products of coal combustion. The aim of this study was to evaluate sodium arsenite (As3+) toxicity in murine alveolar macrophages (AMs) in vitro and its association with the alterations in cell metabolism.
No changes in viability, apoptosis or cell area were detected in AMs treated with As3+ concentrations up to 2 μM for 24–96 h. A marked decrease in these end-points was observed for As3+ concentrations ranging from 2.5 μM to 10 μM.
Regarding the dynamics of the endo-exocytic process triggered by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cell incorporation, no variations were detected for As3+ concentrations lower than 2 μM while higher concentrations markedly modified this response.
MTT specific activity, as a measure of cell metabolic activity, was not modified irrespective of the As3+ concentration assayed. However, nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) specific activity, as a measure of superoxide anion generation, is responsive but only to low As3+ doses.
Although this study focuses on lung macrophages, the effects of As3+ described herein may also apply to the response of macrophages residing in other organs.
Arsenite modifies the metabolic and the oxidative status of AMs in vitro. When macrophages are in an As3+ rich medium, they exhibit a reduction in respiratory burst levels and lose their intrinsic capacity to respond to toxicants. 相似文献
Laparoscopic pancreatic surgery (LPS) has seen significant development but much of the knowledge refers to small and benign
pancreatic tumors. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and long-term outcome of the laparoscopic approach
in patients with benign, premalignant, and overt malignant lesions of the pancreas. This study, currently, is the largest
single center experience worldwide. One hundred twenty-three consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic pancreatic surgery
from April 1998 to April 2007, 20 patients with cysts or pseudocysts for acute and chronic pancreatitis, laparoscopic pancreatic
drainage was performed, and were excluded from the analysis. The 103 patients were divided based on preoperative diagnosis:
group I, inflammatory tumors for chronic pancreatitis (eight patients); group II, cystic pancreatic neoplasms (29 patients);
group III, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (10 patients); group IV, neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors (NETs) (43 patients);
and group V ductal adenocarcinoma (13 patients). The median tumor size was 5.3 cm. Pathologic data include R0 or R1 resection (transection margins on the specimen were inked). Perioperative data, postoperative complications, and resection
modalities were compared using statistical analysis. Long-term outcomes were analysed by tumor recurrence and patient survival.
The overall conversion rate was 7%. Laparoscopic distal pancreatic resection was performed in 82 patients (79.6%). Laparoscopic
spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (Lap SPDP) was performed in 52 patients (63.7%), but with splenic vessels preservation
in 22% and without splenic vessels preservation in 41.5%. Laparoscopic en-bloc splenopancreatectomy (Lap SxDP) was performed
in 30 patients (36.6%) and laparoscopic enucleation (Lap En) in 20 patients (19.4%). There was no mortality. The overall complication
rate was 25.2, 16.7, and 40% after Lap SPDP, Lap SxDP, and Lap En, respectively. The overall morbidity rate was significantly
higher (p > 0.05) in the group of Lap SPDP without splenic vessels preservation comparing with Lap SPDP with splenic vessels preservation
because of the occurrence of splenic complications (20.6%). The overall pancreatic fistulas was 7.7, 10, and 35% after Lap
SPDP, Lap SxDP, and Lap En, respectively; the severity of fistula was significantly higher in the Lap En group (p > 0.05). The mean hospital stay was within 1 week in all groups, except in the group of ductal adenocarcinoma, which is 8 days.
In this series, 27 patients (26.2%) had malignant disease. R0 resection was achieved in 90% of ductal adenocarcinoma and 100% for other malignant tumors. The median survival for ductal
adenocarcinoma patients was 14 months. This series demonstrates that LPS is feasible and safe in benign-appearing and malignant
lesions of the pancreas. 相似文献
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to radiographically quantify bone density and bone height preservation in tooth extraction alveolus filled with xenograft. STUDY DESIGN: The maxillary and mandibular fourth deciduous molars and fourth premolars of 6 minipigs were removed. Randomly, in 3 animals the right side was used as the test side and in the other 3 animals the left side was the test side. Intraoral radiographs were performed to compare the condition at the initial time and 3 months later. Measurements of bone height and bone density were performed using KS300 (Zeiss) software. RESULTS: After 3 months, there was a statistically significant smaller bone height loss for the test group. The test group presented a statistically greater bone density immediately after tooth extraction. However, after 3 months there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that treatment of postextraction alveolus with xenograft can preserve bone height initially but differences in bone density compared to when no xenograft is used are not sustained. 相似文献
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) compatibility has no clinically significant impact in cadaveric liver transplantation. Less is known regarding living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Our prior analysis of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) database suggested a higher graft failure rate in patients who underwent LDLT from donors with close HLA match. We further investigated the effect of HLA-A, -B, and -DR matching on 5-yr graft survival in adult LDLT by analyzing OPTN data regarding adult LDLT performed between 1998 and 2005. We evaluated associations between 5-yr graft survival and total, locus-specific, and haplotype match levels. Separate analyses were conducted for recipients with autoimmune (fulminant autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis secondary to autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis) or nonautoimmune liver disease. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to evaluate interactions and adjust for potential confounders. Among 631 patients with available donor/recipient HLA data, the degree of HLA match had no significant effect on 5-yr graft survival, even when analyzed separately in recipients with autoimmune vs. nonautoimmune liver disease. To be able to include all 1,838 adult LDLTs, we considered a first-degree related donor as substitute for a close HLA match. We found no difference in graft survival in related vs. unrelated pairs. In conclusion, our results show no detrimental impact of close HLA matching on graft survival in adult LDLT, including in recipients with underlying autoimmune liver disease. 相似文献