Bone scintigraphy in hereditary mutiple exostoses

A case of hereditary mutiple exostoses is presented. ^99mTc-MDP imaging demonstrated uptake of radiotracer in the lesions.     

Ueber den Einfluss stumpfer Gewalten auf das äussere Ohr,mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Othämatombildung

Ohne ZusammenfassungHierzu Taf. VI.     

Involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. Expression of the T9 antigen on peripheral immunocytes correlates with the severity of the disease

Peripheral lymphocyte cells from patients suffering from Crohn's disease were analyzed for the expression of the "activation" antigens T9 and HLA-DR on their cell surface. It was found that high numbers of "activated" lymphocytes, the majority of which have proven to be T cells, could be detected in patients with active Crohn's disease, whereas in healthy controls and inactive disease only a small subfraction of lymphocytes was positive for these antigens. This difference was highly significant (p = 0.0001). Within the subpopulation of T9-positive cells the ratio between T4- and T8-positive cells is about 1.8 (compared with 2.0 in the total T-cell subset). All HLA-DR-positive, non-B and non-glass-adherent cells could be detected in the T9-positive cell fraction. The presence of T9 antigens was found to correlate with the grade of severity of the disease as assessed by a Crohn's disease activity index. The presence of high amounts of T cells exhibiting this antigen is not restricted to Crohn's disease but is thought to be of importance as a marker for the involvement of the immune system in other maladies as well. Nevertheless, the determination of T9 antigen is expected to provide objective data reflecting the severity of Crohn's disease.     

Characterization of ompA genotypes by sequence analysis of DNA from all detected cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infections during 1 year of contact tracing in a Swedish County

In this study we aimed to characterize the ompA gene by sequencing DNA from all detected cases of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in a Swedish county during 2001, in order to improve the efficiency of contact tracing. Approximately 990 bp of the ompA gene was amplified, and sequence analysis was achieved in 678 (94%) of 725 C. trachomatis-positive cases in this unselected population. The most prevalent genotype was serotype E (39%), followed by F (21%), G (11%), D (9%), K (9%), J (7%), H (2%), B (1%), and Ia (1%). Serotype E was found in five genotype variants, with the reference sequence comprising 96% of all E cases. Serotype D was the most variable, and of seven sequence variants, three were identified as recombinants with serotype E. Altogether 29 genetic variants were detected, and mutations and recombination events are discussed. Clinical manifestations were not associated with genotypes. Sequence variation was linked to sexual networks identified by contact tracing and improved epidemiological knowledge but was of limited benefit.     

Involvement of kinases in glucose and fructose uptake by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Uptake of glucose, fructose, and the nonmetabolizable analog 6-deoxyglucose was measured in wild-type Saccharomyces cerevisiae and two mutant strains, one (hxk1 hxk2) lacking both hexokinase A(P-I) and B(P-II) but containing glucokinase (and hence able to grow on glucose but not fructose) and the other (hxk1 hxk2 glk) also lacking glucokinase (and not able to grow on glucose either). Uptake of the nonmetabolized substances (i.e., 6-deoxyglucose in all three strains, fructose in the two mutants, and glucose in the triple mutant) reached a plateau at or below the external concentration. The kinetic characteristics of uptake were determined from 5-sec incubations by plotting velocity (V) vs. velocity/substrate concentration (V/S) curves. According to such plots, in the wild-type strain uptake had two components, "high affinity uptake" with Km values of ca. 1 mM for glucose and 6 mM for fructose and "low affinity uptake" with Km values of ca. 20 and 50 mM, respectively. The double kinase mutant showed both components for glucose but only the high Km component for fructose, while the triple kinase mutant showed only high Km uptake for both glucose and fructose. Genetic analysis showed that only in strains lacking both hexokinases (hxk1 hxk2) was the low Km system for fructose absent. Low Km uptake was restored to the triple mutant by introduction of the cloned wild-type genes: HXK1 or HXK2, for fructose uptake, and HXK1, HXK2, or GLK1, for glucose uptake. A phosphoglucose isomerase mutant had both low and high Km uptake for glucose. These results indicate the presence of two types of uptake mechanism for glucose and fructose in yeast, the functioning of one of which, the low Km system, is influenced by the cognate kinases.     

Unmet Palliative Care Needs Among Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease: A National Registry Study About the Last Week of Life

Context

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is characterized by high physical and psychological burden, and therefore, more knowledge about the palliative care provided close to death is needed.

Diet-Induced Weight Loss Alters Functional Brain Responses during an Episodic Memory Task

ObjectiveIt has been suggested that overweight is negatively associated with cognitive functions. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a reduction in body weight by dietary interventions could improve episodic memory performance and alter associated functional brain responses in overweight and obese women.Methods20 overweight postmenopausal women were randomized to either a modified paleolithic diet or a standard diet adhering to the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations for 6 months. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine brain function during an episodic memory task as well as anthropometric and biochemical data before and after the interventions.ResultsEpisodic memory performance improved significantly (p = 0.010) after the dietary interventions. Concomitantly, brain activity increased in the anterior part of the right hippocampus during memory encoding, without differences between diets. This was associated with decreased levels of plasma free fatty acids (FFA). Brain activity increased in pre-frontal cortex and superior/middle temporal gyri. The magnitude of increase correlated with waist circumference reduction. During episodic retrieval, brain activity decreased in inferior and middle frontal gyri, and increased in middle/superior temporal gyri.ConclusionsDiet-induced weight loss, associated with decreased levels of plasma FFA, improves episodic memory linked to increased hippocampal activity.Key Words: Functional magnetic resonance imaging, Episodic memory, Obesity, Diet interventions, Hippocampus