Asymptomatic nerve hypertrophy in lepromatous leprosy: a clinical,electrophysiological and morphological study

Summary In order to learn more about early nerve lesions observed in leprosy, we performed a clinical, electrophysiological and morphological study in seven patients with untreated lepromatous leprosy, palpably enlarged radial cutaneous nerve and preserved sensation in the corresponding territory. The conduction velocity of the cutaneous radial nerve, which was decreased in all patients, did not significantly differ from that of a group of patients with lepromatous leprosy, hypertrophy of the radial cutaneous nerve and sensory loss. In contrast, the sensory action potential was significantly lower in patients with sensory loss, which demonstrates that axon loss is more important than demyelination in producing sensory loss. In all patients nerve enlargement was due to thickening of the epineurium and of the perineurium subsequent to inflammatory infiltrates and proliferation of fibroblasts and perineurial cells. In several fascicles, the inflammatory infiltrates and the infected cells infiltrated endoneurial connective tissue septa and blood vessels.Mycobacteria leprae were abundant in peri neurial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, Schwarm cells and endothelial cells, and lymphocytic vasculitis present in all cases. The average density of myelinated fibres was 2600 SD 880 fibres/mm² (control: 7700 fibres/mm²), with marked differences between individual fascicles, versus 420 fibres/mm² in patients with nerve hypertrophy and sensory loss (range 0–2080 fibres/mm²). Single fibre preparations showed that segmental demyelination pre dominated in two patients, axonal degeneration in one, while inflammatory infiltrates and proliferation of connective tissue adhering to individual fibres were prominent in the others. Both infection of Schwann cells and secretory products released by mononuclear cells involved in the inflammatory process are likely to play a role in the lesions of nerve fibres observed in early stages of lepromatous leprosy.Presented in part at the Second Meeting of the European Neurological Society, Brighton (UK), June 1990     

西安市新型冠状病毒肺炎无症状感染者特征分析

目的 分析西安市新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)无症状感染者的特征,为更好地防控疫情提供参考依据。方法 收集疫情应急处置期间无症状感染者的现场流行病学调查资料,采用描述性流行病学方法进行分析。结果 截至2020年5月10日,西安市共报告无症状感染者25例(男12例,女13例),中位年龄46.0(18.5,65.0)岁,占全市17.24%(25/145)。其中15例(60.00%)为确诊病例密切接触者,8例(32.00%)有湖北旅居史,2例(8.00%)为无症状感染者的密切接触者;23例(92.00%)经聚集性疫情传染源溯源和确诊病例/无症状感染者密切接触者排查发现,1例(4.00%)为协查外市确诊病例密切接触者发现,1例(4.00%)为筛查高危地区来陕人群发现。25例无症状感染者末次暴露到首次核酸检测阳性中位时间为17.0 d,集中医学观察开始至首次核酸检测阳性中位时间为8.0 d,首次核酸检测阳性至转阴出院中位时间为14.0 d。CT显示78.57%(11/14)无症状感染者肺部存在不同程度的小结节影、斑片状影、磨玻璃样影和边界欠清晰状况。结论 无症状感染者主要经聚集性疫情调查和确诊病例/无症状感染者密切接触者排查发现。及时全面排查密切接触者并对其进行集中医学观察,能减少其可能造成的疫情持续传播。肺部影像学特征性改变可作为早期排查的重要参考。     

Immune cell landscape in symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected adults and children in urban Dhaka,Bangladesh

ObjectivesThe study of cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for evaluating the course of the COVID-19 disease and for improving vaccine development. We aimed to assess the phenotypic landscape of circulating lymphocytes and mononuclear cells in adults and children who were seropositive to SARS-CoV-2 in the past 6 months.MethodsBlood samples (n = 350) were collected in a cross-sectional study in Dhaka, Bangladesh (Oct 2020-Feb 2021). Plasma antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay while lymphocyte and monocyte responses were assessed using flow cytometry including dimensionality reduction and clustering algorithms.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was observed in 52% of adults (18–65 years) and 56% of children (10–17 years). Seropositivity was associated with reduced CD3⁺T cells in both adults (beta(β) = ?2.86; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = ?5.98, 0.27) and children (β = ?8.78; 95% CI = ?13.8, ?3.78). The frequencies of T helper effector (CD4⁺T_EFF) and effector memory cells (CD4⁺T_EM) were increased in seropositive compared to seronegative children. In adults, seropositivity was associated with an elevated proportion of cytotoxic T central memory cells (CD8⁺T_CM). Overall, diverse manifestations of immune cell dysregulations were more prominent in seropositive children compared to adults, who previously had COVID-like symptoms. These changes involved reduced frequencies of CD4⁺T_EFF cells and CD163⁺CD64⁺ classical monocytes, but increased levels of intermediate or non-classical monocytes, as well as CD8⁺T_EM cells in symptomatic children.ConclusionSeropositive individuals in convalescence showed increased central and effector memory T cell phenotypes and pro-resolving/healing monocyte phenotypes compared to seronegative subjects. However, seropositive children with a previous history of COVID-like symptoms, displayed an ongoing innate inflammatory trait.     

HBV基因型与慢性乙型肝炎疾病谱的关系

目的　探讨乙型肝炎病毒 (HBV)基因型与慢性乙型肝炎疾病谱相关性。方法　用S基因聚合酶链式反应 -限制片段长度多态性 (PCR -RFLP)的基因型分型方法对广东地区HBV感染者中无症状携带者 (AsC)组 80例和肝硬化组 (LC) 12 0例血清标本分型 ,比较两组基因型分布的异同。结果　基因型在AsC组分布 :B型 45 0 % ( 3 7/ 80 ) ;C型 3 3 75 % ( 2 6/ 80 ) ;D基因型 2 1 2 5 % ( 17/80 ) ;LC组HBV基因型分布B型 3 2 5 % ( 3 9/ 12 0 ) ;C型 65 8% ( 79/ 12 0 ) ;D基因型 1 6% ( 2 / 12 0 )。广州地区未发现A、E和F基因型 ,基因型在两组中的分布均与e抗原状态无显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ;ASC与LC组两组间基因型的分布有显著性差异 ( χ2 =3 1 92 4,P=0 0 0 0 )。结论　可初步认为广东地区HBV感染者以B和C型为优势基因型 ,AsC组中以B型为优势基因型 ,感染HBVD基因型病情轻 ,感染HBVC基因型病情更易于加重。     

Outcomes of Carotid Revascularization in Patients with Contralateral Carotid Artery Occlusion

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麝香保心丸与硝酸异山梨酯联合治疗无症状性心肌缺血的效果研究

目的探讨无症状性心肌缺血患者使用麝香保心丸与硝酸异山梨酯联合治疗后的临床效果。方法选择来我院就诊的无症状性心肌缺血患者72例作为本次研究对象，随机分为两组。观察组（n=36）采用麝香保心丸联合硝酸异山梨酯进行治疗，对照组（n=36）采用硝酸异山梨酯进行治疗，对两组患者的心电图心肌缺血改善情况及血脂、血液动力学观察指标进行对比分析。结果观察组患者与对照组比较，心电图缺血改善情况中有效率明显较高，两组差异具有显著性（P〈0．05）。治疗后观察组患者的全血黏度高切值、全血黏度低切值、血浆比黏度、TG、TC均显著降低，与对照组治疗后比较改善情况明显较好（P〈0．05）。所有患者治疗后均未发现不良情况。结论无症状性心肌缺血患者在采用麝香保心丸联合硝酸异山梨酯治疗后能够收到较好的临床效果。可以在临床推广应用。     

Idiopathic multiple retinal pigment epithelial detachments – A case report

Retinal pigment epithelial detachment, often asymptomatic is a common retinal finding. Multiple serous retinal pigment epithelial detachment especially in a female is very uncommon. We describe a case of multiple retinal pigment epithelial detachments throughout the fundus in a 51-year old female otherwise asymptomatic. Indocyanine green angiography and fundus auto fluorescence showed abnormalities with a normal systemic work-up. This is the first report of an asymptomatic patient correlating angiogram with auto fluorescence in multiple serous retinal pigment epithelial detachments.     

Treatment with Ribavirin+Alpha Interferon in HCV Chronic Active Hepatitis Non-Responders to Interferon Alone: Preliminary Results

Summary

In view of the potentially serious consequences of asymptomatic bacteriuria of pregnancy (ASB), we surveyed the attitudes of Greek obstetricians towards this entity. A total of 108 obstetricians practicing in the area of Athens completed a questionnaire concerning ASB. Only 73 of the 108 stated that they screen their clients for ASB (51 of them when pyuria is present and only 22 in all pregnant women). Of special interest is the finding that a larger percentage of younger obstetricians (practicing for up to 9 years) habitually screen their patients, compared to older ones (83% vs 60%). Concerning treatment of ASB, only 45 out of 73 doctors screening for ASB give any treatment when ASB is present. Most obstetricians (87%) prefer a β-luctam antibiotic. In almost all cases 7-10 days are considered the appropriate duration of treatment. Better education of obstetricians, especially the older ones, concerning detection and management of ASB is needed.