Detection of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) tax Sequences in New York City Blood Donors Seronegative for HTLV Types 1 and 2

A potential public health concern is the reported detection of the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) tax gene in the lymphocytes of up to 11% of a low-risk group of New York City blood donors (NYBD). This study aimed to independently confirm the prevalence of HTLV tax sequences in 293 NYBD. All NYBD tested negative for antibodies to HTLV types 1 and 2 and HTLV Tax. HTLV tax sequences were not detected in the NYBD lymphocytes. These data demonstrate the lack of HTLV-1 tax in this group of NYBD at low risk for HTLV infection.     

Primärer maligner intraluminaler Tumor der Aorta

Primary malignant tumors of the aorta are only rarely reported. We describe here our findings in a 55-year-old patient who was referred to us with progressive renal insufficiency. At angiography, right renal artery occlusion and high-grade stenosis of the left renal artery was found in this patient, who had undergone aortobiliacal reconstruction for acute Leriche syndrome 5 months previously. Histological evaluation of thrombotic material revealed an intraluminal malignant tumor to be the underlying cause. This diagnosis was then confirmed in samples harvested during angiography. CT scan showed an extension beginning 2 cm proximal to the celiac trunk. The patient was treated by thoracoabdominal resection of the aorta, including the paraaortal tissue, left side nephrectomy, and adrenalectomy. A thoracoabdominal aortic prosthesis was inserted up to the iliacal bifurcations and the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries reimplanted. Right nephrectomy followed 3 weeks later. The postoperative course was uneventful.     

Structure-function studies of the C3a-receptor: C-terminal serine and threonine residues which influence receptor internalization and signaling

The anaphylatoxic peptide C3a is a pro-inflammatory mediator generated during complement activation, whose specific G protein coupled receptor is expressed on granulocytes, monocytes, mast cells, activated lymphocytes, and in the nervous tissue. We have generated RBL-2H3 cell clones stably expressing mutants of the human C3a-receptor (C3aR) with combined alanine (Ala) substitutions of ten C-terminal serine (Ser) or threonine (Thr) residues, which may represent putative phosphorylation sites to characterize their role in ligand-induced C3aR internalization and signaling. Ser475/479 and Thr480/481 as well as Ser449 seemed not to be involved in ligand-induced receptor internalization. Either directly or by a conformational change they even "inhibit" C3aR internalization. In contrast, mutants with Ala substitutions at Ser465/470 and Thr463/466 were poorly internalized, and Thr463 seemed to be the most important C-terminal Thr or Ser residue directly effecting receptor internalization. However, it is likely that other C3aR regions additionally participate in this negative feed-back mechanism since even mutants with multiple Ala substitutions still internalized to a limited degree. Interestingly, in a mutant with a single exchange of Ser449 to Ala, the signal transduction assessed by a Ca(2+) assay and [(35)S]GTP gamma S-binding on HEK cells transiently co-transfected with G-alpha 16 or G-alpha O, respectively, was severely impaired, indicating that this residue of C3aR is involved in G protein coupling.     

Detection of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) tax sequences in New York City blood donors seronegative for HTLV types 1 and 2

A potential public health concern is the reported detection of the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) tax gene in the lymphocytes of up to 11% of a low-risk group of New York City blood donors (NYBD). This study aimed to independently confirm the prevalence of HTLV tax sequences in 293 NYBD. All NYBD tested negative for antibodies to HTLV types 1 and 2 and HTLV Tax. HTLV tax sequences were not detected in the NYBD lymphocytes. These data demonstrate the lack of HTLV-1 tax in this group of NYBD at low risk for HTLV infection.     

Administration of prostacyclin after liver transplantation: a placebo controlled randomized trial

The shortage of suitable organs for liver grafts is responsible for the use of marginal donors for liver transplantation (OLT). If these liver grafts function poorly initially after OLT, a supportive therapy is necessary. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) on postoperative liver graft function after OLT. A total of 30 adult recipients of primary OLT were randomized to either receive PGI2 (4 ng/kg per min body weight, n = 15) or a placebo for 6 d. To evaluate regional splanchnic oxygenation a fiberoptic pulmonary-artery catheter was inserted into a hepatic vein and the difference between mixed venous oxygen content and hepatic venous oxygen content was determined (deltaO2). Measurements were performed directly after transplantation and at 6, 12, 24 and 48 h postoperatively. A significant correlation between deltaO2 and the level of transaminases (ALT/AST) was observed 24 and 48 h after transplantation (p < 0.05). PGI2 treatment induced a significant decrease in deltaO2 after 24 and 48 h after reperfusion (p < 0.05). Peak AST levels tended to be lower in the PGI2 treatment group (418 +/- 99 vs. 638 +/- 156 U/L, p < 0.1). These results suggest that administration of PGI2 after OLT improves hepatic-splanchnic oxygenation and may thereby reduce reperfusion injury after OLT.     

The Effect of Therapist Presence On a Desensitization Program For Test Anxiety

This study investigated the effect of varying degrees of therapist presence on outcome measures of a test anxiety program on systematic desensitization. Three treatments, which included face-to-face administration by a therapist, some therapist involvement, and fully automated administration were compared to a waiting list control group. It was found that all three treatments were effective when compared to the control group in terms of reduction of reported anxiety as measured by the STABS. It was noted that clients who used the automated program were more likely to terminate prematurely. It was concluded that, while all of the treatments may be effective in a laboratory setting, the presence of a counselor would seem to be important for the use of this type of program in a service agency.     

Tactile Sensibility of Single‐Tooth Implants and Natural Teeth Under Local Anesthesia of the Natural Antagonistic Teeth

Introduction and Aim: The term osseoperception describes the capability of developing a subtle tactile sensibility over dental implants. The present clinical study aims at clarifying the question of how far tactile sensibility is to be attributed to the periodontium of the natural opposing tooth of the implant. Material and Method: Thirty‐two subjects with single‐tooth implants with natural opposing teeth were included in this clinical, single‐blind, split‐mouth study. The natural antagonistic tooth of the implant and the corresponding natural contralateral tooth were anesthetized with a locally infiltrated articaine anesthetic. In a computer‐assisted and randomized way, copper foils of varying thickness (0–100 µm) were placed interocclusally between the single‐tooth implant and the natural opposing tooth, and between the contralateral pair of natural opposing teeth in order to investigate the active tactile sensibility according to the psychophysical method of constant stimuli and evaluate it statistically by the Weibull distribution. Results: The average tactile sensibility of the implants with anesthetized antagonists at the 50% value calculated by means of the Weibull distribution was 20 ± 11 µm with a support area (90%–10% value) of 77 ± 89 µm. For the pair of natural teeth, the tactile sensibility at the 50% value was 16 ± 9 µm with a support area of 48.4 ± 93 µm. This resulted in an average intraindividual difference of 3.5 ± 7 µm at the 50% value and 29 ± 93 µm in the support area. The statistical calculations demonstrated an equivalent tactile sensibility (50% value) of the single‐tooth implant and the contralateral natural control tooth with the natural antagonists being anesthetized in each case (double t‐test, equivalence limit ± 8 µm, P < 0.01, power >80%). Conclusion: Apparently, the active tactile sensibility of single‐tooth implants with natural opposing teeth is not only to be attributed to the periodontium of the opposing tooth but also to a perception over the implant itself. This could support the hypothesis according to which the implant may have a tactile sensibility of its own.