Blocking-ELISA for detection of specific antibodies to the glycoproteins of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)

A blocking ELISA was developed to confirm the specificity of screening tests for anti-HIV-1 antibodies. A murine monoclonal antibody (McAb) raised against recombinant gp160 was used in combination with a commercial technique (ELA-VIA-1). After determining the optimal experimental conditions, the assay was applied to 92 samples presenting different reactivities by Western blot (WB) analysis. All the sera containing antibodies to gp160/gp120 (53) were positive in our assay. The six patients who sero converted showed a low positivity by ELAVIA-1 (optical density near the cutoff value) reacted by blocking-ELAVIA-1 with an McAb binding inhibition greater than 85%. By contrast, negative samples (29) and specimens that exhibited reactivity only against gag-proteins (10) were not detected (McAb binding inhibition smaller than 15%). This sensitive and specific blocking-ELAVIA-1 represents a convenient alternative to WB as a confirmatory test. The technique is time-saving and inexpensive and can easily be integrated with a screening test for diagnostic or epidemiologic studies on HIV-1 infection.     

Repetitive deformation and pressure activate small bowel and colonic mucosal tyrosine kinase activity in vivo

Physical forces like deformation and pressure modulate signaling and phenotype in cultured cells. However, it is more difficult to establish that such phenomena occur in vivo. We studied the effects of 0 to 10 minutes of rhythmic distension with an isotonic electrolyte and polyethylene glycol solution to 30 cm H(2)O pressure on defunctionalized small and large bowel segments in adult male Sprague Dawley rats. Mucosa was harvested at 0, 1, and 10 minutes and assayed for tyrosine kinase activity. Rhythmic distension caused a time-dependent increase in colonic mucosal tyrosine kinase activity, which was statistically significant at 10 minutes (140% +/- 41% increase, n = 5, P <.05). Small bowel tyrosine kinase activity was markedly lower than that observed in the colon, but achieved a statistically significant increase at 5 minutes after initiation of rhythmic distension. (115% +/- 44% increase, n = 5, P <.05).     

Appendicitis and Benign Appendiceal Mucocele Presenting as Large Bowel Obstruction

Introduction

Appendiceal mucocele is most commonly encountered incidentally during appendectomy.

Methods

We report a case of large bowel obstruction presenting as a closed loop with an appendiceal mucocele as the lead point, superimposed on a chronic ileal stricture that had been misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome.

Results

The patient underwent ileocecal resection and primary anastomosis. She did well postoperatively, and her irritable bowel syndrome disappeared.

Conclusions

Appendiceal mucocele can present in a variety of ways, and surgeons should be alert for atypical presentations. Moreover, some patients with intermittent abdominal pain deserve anatomic investigation before being dismissed as having irritable bowel.     

Pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in type 2 diabetes: Implications of inflammation and oxidative stress

Insulin resistance and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction are major pathological mechanisms implicated in the development and progression of type 2 diabetes(T2D). Beyond the detrimental effects of insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress have emerged as critical features of T2D that define β-cell dysfunction. Predominant markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin-1β are consistently associated with β-cell failure in preclinical models...