A critical assessment of allergen component-based in vitro diagnosis in cherry allergy across Europe

BACKGROUND: Food allergy to cherry occurs throughout Europe, typically with restricted oral reactions in the central and northern parts but with frequent systemic reactions in the Mediterranean region. Previous studies have demonstrated insufficient sensitivity of commercially available cherry extract reagents in the diagnosis of cherry allergy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance of specific IgE tests based on recombinant cherry allergens in comparison with an extract-based assay and to skin prick test (SPT). A secondary objective was to analyse the frequency of systemic reactions in cherry-allergic subjects across Europe, including the largest population of LTP-sensitized subjects from central Europe studied to date. METHODS: A total of 186 subjects from central Europe and Spain were studied. Serum IgE was analysed with ImmunoCAP tests carrying rPru av 1, 3 and 4, combined and separately, and cherry extract. RESULTS: Among the central European cherry allergics, the mix of rPru av 1, 3 and 4 had a sensitivity of 95%, compared with 65% for cherry extract, and the IgE binding capacity of the recombinant mix was considerably higher. The sensitivity of the two tests was more comparable in the Spanish population, 95% and 86%, respectively. The recombinant allergen ImmunoCAP equalled SPT in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Consistent with previous reports, major geographic differences in sensitization pattern and prevalence of systemic reactions were found. A significantly higher rate of systemic reactions was found in Spanish patients sensitized to Pru av 3 whereas German patients sensitized to LTP only had oral allergy syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant cherry allergen ImmunoCAP is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool, clearly superior to any diagnostic method based on cherry extract. Three cherry allergens are sufficient for detecting sensitization in 95% of cherry-allergic subjects. Systemic reactions are common in LTP-sensitized individuals but seem to require at least one additional causative factor.     

Changes in activity of neutral proteases in tissues of ground squirrels in the dynamics of hibernation

Total activities of neutral proteases in the cerebral, hepatic, and myocardial tissues of ground squirrel vary during hibernation: in autumn (before hibernation) activities of the enzymes in the brain and myocardium start increasing, while in the liver they do not change. A common feature for all tissues is minimum activity of active neutral proteases in the middle of hibernation month 1 bout, while the maximum activity is recorded before awakening. Translated from Byulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 146, No. 9, pp. 278–280, September, 2008     

两种拟除虫菊酯对地面游离蚤的现场灭效试验

本文报道作者对新加坡利农有限公司生产的两种拟除虫菊酯:阿尔发特3％乳油(氯氰菊酯)及虫赛死2.5％乳油(溴氰菊酯)对地面游离蚤的现场灭效试验。结果氯氰菊酯的校正灭蚤率为89.14％;溴氰菊酯为82.09％。说明该公司生产的这两种拟除虫菊酯对居民区蚤类有较好的杀虫效果,可在控制家鼠鼠疫灭蚤中推广使用。     

高速铁路软土地基处理对策及效果分析

介绍了沪宁段铁路沿线的软土分布特征,将沿线软土地基分为4类,并从技术和经济两方面,分别对各类软土地基的处理进行了分析和比较,提出了相应的处理建议。     

泽兰有效部分对血小板聚集和血栓形成的影响

目的 研究泽兰有效部分L．F04：对血小板聚集和血栓形成的影响，探讨其活血化瘀作用机制。方法用高分子右旋糖酐静脉推注造成大鼠血瘀证模型，观察泽兰L.F04对二磷酸腺苷(ADP)诱导的大鼠体内血小板聚集以及体内动静脉旁路血栓、体外旋转环内血栓形成的影响。结果 L．F04 0．408，0．204g／kg对模型组大鼠ADP诱导的体内血小板最大聚集率明显增加皆有显著的抑制。且呈剂量依赖关系；与对照组相比，血瘀模型大鼠体外血栓质量明显增加，长度仅有增加趋势，L．F04高、低剂量(0．408，0．204g／kg)皆有抗血栓形成作用，L．F04高剂量对血栓干质量、湿质量的减轻尤为明显；L．F04高、低剂量对实验性动静脉旁路血栓形成均有明显的抑制作用，抑制率分别为27．41％，27．14％。结论泽兰L．F04可显著抑制血小板聚集及体内、外血栓形成。     

家庭群居爆发型新型冠状病毒肺炎的临床与胸部HRCT表现

目的 探讨家庭群居爆发型新型冠状病毒肺炎（简称"新冠肺炎"）（novel coronavirus pneumonia，NCP）的临床与胸部HRCT表现特点。方法 收集2020年2月3所医院经核酸检测阳性确诊的新冠肺炎患者10例（4个家庭），其中男性6例（中位年龄60.5岁），女性4例（中位年龄59岁）。所有患者均接受胸部CT扫描并行薄层HRCT重建，由两名10年以上工作经验放射科医生共同阅片分析新冠肺炎HRCT病变发生部位、形态、分布、密度等特点，以及治疗前后HRCT征象变化。并收集临床和实验室指标进行分析和总结。结果 本组4个家庭中首例确诊病例均有武汉确诊病例或武汉疫区接触史，4例为输入型病例（占40%），平均潜伏期5 d。实验室检查中5例（50%）外周血白细胞总数降低，4例（40%）淋巴细胞明显降低；8例（80%）C-反应蛋白增高，10例（100%）乳酸脱氢酶增高。10例（100%）患者胸部CT均有阳性表现，其中7例（70%）表现为双肺散在分布磨玻璃密度影（ground glass opacity，GGO），病变界限大多清楚。8例（80%）累及多个肺叶，2例（20%）为单肺叶病变。绝大多数病灶位于胸膜下和肺外周处，以双肺下叶为著。5例患者（50%）病变内可见细支气管充气征，9例患者（90%）病变内可见增粗细小血管影。7例患者（70%）治疗后复查胸部CT，3例（30%）原肺内胸膜下病变出现不同程度实变及纤维化，2例（20%）实变影转变为GGO，1例（10%）原肺内GGO消失，又出现新发GGO，1例（10%）病变范围有增大。结论 新冠肺炎具有家庭群居爆发的特点，均可有输入性病例，潜伏期较短，其胸部HRCT表现具有一定特征性，且有助于治疗后患者病变动态观察；结合流行病学和实验室检查有助于对NCP做出临床诊断和提供疫情防控的可靠依据。     

商河县生活垃圾无害化处理场库区杂填土地基处理

针对山东省商河县生活垃圾无害化处理场工程地质条件及垃圾堆载特点，介绍了地基处理方法的选用原则，根据地勘建议做水泥深层搅拌桩处理，与建筑常用的强夯法、换填法等处理方法进行综合分析比选，确定采用强夯法处理最为适合，并提出了具体的施工方法，对强夯后地基进行载荷试验检测，结果符合设计要求。     

生草和树枝覆盖对果园土壤持水性能的影响--测试文章

针对黄土高原枣园普遍盛行传统清耕制,将生草及覆盖技术引入枣园生产中,于2011—2013年采用人工土槽模拟研究方法,探讨不同生草和覆盖措施对枣树地土壤持水性能的影响。结果表明：生草与枣树枝覆盖能有效改善土壤物理结构、提高土壤孔隙度、降低土壤容重;各处理土壤水分蓄持能力及比水容量均按枣树枝半覆盖+白三叶生草、枣树枝全覆盖、白三叶生草覆盖和清耕处理依次递减,处理间的差异在高吸力阶段更为明显;与清耕处理相比,生草与覆盖处理土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量、凋萎系数均有提高,枣树枝半覆盖+白三叶生草处理增加最为明显,分别增加9%、20%、33%。     

Balance Control and Energetics of Powered Exoskeleton-Assisted Sit-to-Stand Movement in Individuals With Paraplegic Spinal Cord Injury

Objective

To quantify the effects of initial hip angle and angular hip velocity settings of a lower-limb wearable robotic exoskeleton (WRE) on the balance control and mechanical energy requirements in patients with paraplegic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) during WRE-assisted sit-to-stand (STS).

Advances in understanding the molecular basis of the first steps in color vision

Serving as one of our primary environmental inputs, vision is the most sophisticated sensory system in humans. Here, we present recent findings derived from energetics, genetics and physiology that provide a more advanced understanding of color perception in mammals. Energetics of cis–trans isomerization of 11-cis-retinal accounts for color perception in the narrow region of the electromagnetic spectrum and how human eyes can absorb light in the near infrared (IR) range. Structural homology models of visual pigments reveal complex interactions of the protein moieties with the light sensitive chromophore 11-cis-retinal and that certain color blinding mutations impair secondary structural elements of these G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Finally, we identify unsolved critical aspects of color tuning that require future investigation.