Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in Latin America: The Second Report of the LAGID Registry

This is the second report on the continuing efforts of LAGID to increase the recognition and registration of patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases in 12 Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela. This report reveals that from a total of 3321 patients registered, the most common form of primary immunodeficiency disease was predominantly antibody deficiency (53.2%) with IgA deficiency reported as the most frequent phenotype. This category was followed by 22.6% other well-defined ID syndromes, 9.5% combined T- and B-cell inmunodeficiency, 8.6% phagocytic disorders, 3.3% diseases of immune dysregulation, and 2.8% complement deficiencies. All countries that participated in the first publication in 1998 reported an increase in registered primary immunodeficiency cases, ranging between 10 and 80%. A comparison of the estimated minimal incidence of X-linked agammaglobulinemia, chronic granulomatous disease, and severe combined immunodeficiency between the first report and the present one shows an increase in the reporting of these diseases in all countries. In this report, the estimated minimal incidence of chronic granulomatous disease was between 0.72 and 1.26 cases per 100,000 births in Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay and the incidence of severe combined immunodeficiency was 1.28 and 3.79 per 100,000 births in Chile and Costa Rica, respectively. However, these diseases are underreported in other participating countries. In addition to a better diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency diseases, more work on improving the registration of patients by each participating country and by countries that have not yet joined LAGID is still needed. Latin American Group for Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases     

Cremation of Leadless Pacemaker

Cremation of implanted cardiac electronic devices can be associated with explosion from rapid gas formation causing potential hazard to the crematoria staffs and facilities. We present four patients who had undergone cremation with a leadless pacemaker (Micra^TM, Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) left inside their bodies. There was neither reported explosion nor damage to the cremation chamber during the cremation process. In this small series, cremation of Micra^TM is not associated with noticeable explosion.     

SURVIVAL, GROWTH AND FLAGELLATION OF LEISHMANIA DONOVANI IN THE PRESENCE OF CONTAMINATION WITH BACTERIA

Department of Medicine. Peiping Union Medical College. Peiping. Oiina. The presence of iable and infective Leishmania donovatai in the oral and na_al secretions of thirteen out of fourteen patients suffering from Kala-azar (1,2) has led us to alter our concept concerning the re- sistance of this parasite to bacterial contamination. The accepted be- lief that Leishmania donovani is a delicate organism and that it cannot survive in the presence of common bacteria wa. challenged by our stu- dies on patients suffering from kala-azar. The experiments reported in this communication were designed to test more specifically the exact relationship which exists in vitro between Leishmania donovani and some of the common bacteria with which they may be associated in the mammalian host.     

CUGBP1在人肺腺癌组织和细胞中的表达

目的比较分析CUGBP1基因在人肺腺癌组织和细胞内表达的特点,及其CUGBP1表达水平与癌细胞增殖活性的关系。方法以人肺腺癌组织标本和人肺腺癌细胞株A549为研究对象,应用免疫组化、WesternBlot、RT—PCR方法检测人肺腺癌组织、细胞内CUGBP1蛋白和基因的表达,并分析其特点。结果CUGBP1基因主要在人肺腺癌组织的细胞核呈强阳性表达,在所有类型腺癌组织中80％以上的癌巢细胞CUGBPl基因呈阳性表达,阳性表达率明显高于正常对照组,差异有显著性（t=100．01,P＜0．001）。95％以上的A549细胞CUGBP1表达呈阳性,且CUGBP1表达量明显低于LPS组,差异有显著性（t=407．53,P＜0．001）。结论CUGBPl基因在人肺腺癌癌巢细胞和A549细胞的胞核内高表达;炎性刺激可增强人肺腺癌细胞株A549的增殖和CUGBPl基因表达;CUGBP1基因可能成为人肺腺癌的早期诊断和增殖状态判断的新指标。     

The Cryopreserved Homograft Valve in the Pulmonary Position: Early Results and Technical Considerations

Since September, 1985, 20 patients have undergone implantation of a homograft valve in the pulmonary position (16 pulmonary, 4 aortic). There were 11 primary operations and 9 reoperations. In 7 of 11 primary operations the homograft valve was utilized as a composite conduit with a short Dacron extension. In four of five reoperations for a failed porcine valved conduit, a composite homograft conduit was used. Four patients underwent implantation of a free homograft in a previously repaired right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Age ranged from 15 days to 22 years. There was one operative death (5%), a seven-week-old infant with truncus arteriosus. Long-term follow-up ranges from 1 to 30 months. Clinical performance has been satisfactory in 18 of 19 patients. One patient undergoing free implantation of a pulmonary valve in the RVOT required replacement at 18 months with a porcine valve. In this patient, pulmonary insufficiency was caused by distortion of the annulus secondary to dilatation and pulmonary hypertension. Nine of 18 survivors do not require medication. Eleven of 18 have trivial to mild pulmonary insufficiency murmurs without symptomatology. The homograft valve is extremely useful in reconstruction of the right heart, however, early insufficiency murmurs have been noted. Distortion of the valve annulus may contribute to the early onset of a benign insufficiency murmur. Residual distal obstruction or pulmonary hypertension may be a contraindication to the use of a free homograft in the orthotopic position.