A biological or a synthetic mesh in immediate breast reconstruction? A cohort-study of long-term Health related Quality of Life (HrQoL)

ObjectivesMeshes/matrices are commonly used in immediate breast reconstruction. There are few studies comparing biological and synthetic meshes and it is unknown what type of mesh gives the best long-term results. The aim of this study was to compare long-term health-related quality of life (HrQoL) and patient satisfaction in implant-based immediate breast reconstruction with a biological mesh (Surgisis®) with that of patients reconstructed with a synthetic mesh (TIGR ® Matrix Surgical Mesh).Material and methodsBoth cohorts were prospectively included and consecutively operated. Clinical data was collected. HrQoL was evaluated with EuroQoL-5 dimension – 3 levels questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Breast-Q.Results and conclusionSeventy-one patients were operated on in the biological group and 49 in the synthetic group. The response rates were 75 and 84 per cent, respectively. Mean follow-up time was 74 months and 23 months, respectively. There were no statistical differences in satisfaction and quality of life between the two groups. Complications and radiation seem to lead to a lower satisfaction. Our findings could indicate that biological and synthetic meshes give an equal long-term result as regards patients’ perceived quality of life.     

Antibody reactivity to a synthetic peptide (P62) of the Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen in sera of patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measured IgG antiboody titers againt a synthetic peptide whose sequence was derived from the glycine-alanine repeating region of Epstein-Barr virus nuclear associated antigen 1 (EBNA-1). Antibody titers were determined in sera from 15 normal subjects, sera from 21 normal male siblings of X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP) patients, from 20 XLP patients comprising a total of 42 samples, and ten samples before and ten samples after gamma-globulin therapy in ten patients with XLP. Data analysis demonstrated that while there are differences between the ELISA and ACIF, they appear to measure a similar response as demonstrated by their correlation coefficient (0.77) and the GMT to EBNA observed by both methods. No cross-reactivity of cytomegalovirus antibodies to the EBNA-1 peptide was observed by immunobv using adsorption against AD-169 infected MRC-5 cells.. However, non-specific binding was observed if samples were not pre-incubated in a 10% goat serum PBS-Tween 20 solution. This pre-treatment removed the non-specific binding that falsely elevated GMT in approximately 15% of both normal and XLP samples in ELISA. The ELISA system appears to be a sensitive, reproducible and objective test that may be useful for assessing the antibody responses of patients to the EBNA-1 protein.     

空管药物疗法治疗牙髓病和根尖周病疗效观察

用ＳＭＴＤ复合药物对牙髓病和根尖周病实施空管药物疗法。７８例１０３颗获得完整随访资料患牙经两年观察，９２．２％治愈率。文章介绍了治疗方法，讨论了空管药物疗法的愈合机理、优点、失败原因及其预防措施。     

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Lymphocyte Subsets of Mice Maintained on an Ethanol-Containing Liquid Diet

Alcoholic patients often have impaired immune function, yet little is known about the precise mechanism(s) of this impairment. We have previously shown that ethanol consumption by mice alters copolymer-specific humoral and cellular immune responses. In this study, we asked whether alcohol consumption by mice would phenotypically alter lymphocyte populations. Female C57BL/6 mice were fed a nutritionally complete liquid diet containing 35% ethanol-derived calories for up to 8 days. As controls, mice either were fed a liquid control diet that isocalorically substitutes sucrose for ethanol or remained on a standard solid diet and water ad libitum. Although mice fed ethanol-containing liquid or pair-fed control liquid diets have decreased numbers of spleen cells compared with solid diet controls, only the ethanol-containing diet allowed normally nonresponder C57BL/6 spleen cells to make antibody responses to the poly(Glu⁵⁰Tyr⁵⁰) synthetic copolymer antigen. Flow cytometric analysis of splenic lymphocyte populations of mice on the ethanol-containing diet shows an increase in the relative proportion of T-lymphocytes as compared with mice on either solid or liquid control diets. No such change is seen for either B-cell or natural killer cell populations in these same mice. Both liquid control and liquid ethanol diets caused a slight decrease in the CD4:CD8 ratios of splenic T-lymphocytes. We see the relative percentage of T-cells bearing the αβ-cell receptor (TcR) increases in the spleens of liquid ethanol diet mice; a smaller increase TcRαβ usage is seen in the spleens of liquid control mice, compared with solid diet mice. Flow cytometric analysis shows that little, if any, difference exists in TcRγδ expression between the liquid ethanol and either the liquid control or solid diet groups. Preliminary analysis of TcRαβ subsets suggest that ethanol increases the percentage of T-cells expressing Vβ5 and Vβ8, and decreases the percentage of Vβ11 expressing cells. These findings suggest that, in addition to modifying the immune response, ethanol alters the phenotypic expression of lymphocyte subsets.     

Open mesh versus non-mesh repair of groin hernia meta-analysis of randomized trials leased on individual patient data

Abstract Background. The EU Hernia Trialists Collaboration was established to provide reliable evaluation of newer methods of groin hernia repair. It involved 70 investigators in 20 countries. Materials and methods. Twenty eligible trials (5016 participants) of open mesh vs. non-mesh groin hernia repair were identified. Meta-analysis was performed using raw individual patient data where possible. Results. Fewer hernia recurrences were reported after mesh repair. There were no clear differences between mesh and non-mesh groups in complications. Overall, those in the mesh groups had a shorter hospital stay, quicker return to usual activities and less frequent persisting pain, but individual trial results varied. Conclusions. The review provides strong evidence that open mesh repair is associated with a reduction in the risk of recurrence of between 50% and 75%. There is also some evidence of quicker recovery and of lower rates of persisting pain following open mesh repair. Electronic Publication     

DNA fingerprinting of Ascochyta rabiei with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides

Summary The ascomycete fungus Ascochyta rabiei, an important pathogen of the grain legume crop chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in the Mediterranean region, has not been adequately characterized in molecular terms. We therefore used DNA fingerprinting, with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to simple repetitive sequences, to pathotype different isolates of the fungus. Six single-spored A. rabiei isolates were first categorized using a host differential set of nine chickpea genotypes. Seedlings were inoculated under controlled environmental conditions, and disease severity was recorded 9 days after inoculation. DNA was extracted from in vitro-grown mycelia of the six purified fungal isolates, restricted with EcoRI, HinfI, MboII and TaqI, and fingerprinted with radiolabeled (GATA)₄, (GTG)₅, (CA)₈, and (TCC)₅, respectively. High levels of polymorphism were detected with optimal enzyme/probe combinations that allow one to discriminate between the isolates. The potential of DNA fingerprinting with simple repetitive sequences can thus be expanded to the identification of fungal races and pathotypes. The characterization of the geographic distribution and genetic variability of pathotypes will facilitate the selection of suitable host cultivars to be grown in specific regions.     

Induction of a cytotoxic T cell response by co-injection of a T helper peptide and a cytotoxic T lymphocyte peptide in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA): Further enhancement by pre-injection of IFA alone

We have previously demonstrated that it is possible to induce a consistent and strong cytolytic T lymphocyte (CTL) response to synthetic peptides, corresponding to poorly immunogenic malaria CTL epitopes, by co-injecting them with peptides representing defined T helper (Th) epitopes in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). In this study we have tested different immunization protocols to improve further the elicitation of the CTL response. We show that the CTL response to a mixture of Th + CTL peptides administered in IFA was further enhanced by a previous injection of the Th epitope peptide in IFA. Moreover, we found that the response could be significantly augmented by a pre-injection of IFA alone. This enhancement was observed only if the Th epitope was also present in the second injection. The number of lymph node cells recovered was 2–3-fold higher in mice pre-injected with IFA, but the increase in specific CTL activity, expressed as lytic units per animal, by pre-injection of IFA was at least 10–20-fold. Thus, pre-injection of IFA clearly increases the magnitude of a subsequent CTL response.     

利用噬菌体肽库技术获得与人Fas结合的多肽基序

目的　利用噬菌体随机肽库技术获得与人Fas胞外区结合的多肽及其多肽基序 ,观察多肽基序的生物学功能。方法　以人Fas胞外区与IgGFc段的融合蛋白Fas .Fc为筛选配基 ,筛选噬菌体随机九肽库 ;微量淘洗与ELISA相结合鉴定阳性克隆 ,DNA测序和分析。化学合成多肽进行竞争性ELISA以及细胞增殖抑制实验。结果　经过 4轮亲和筛选 ,微量淘洗鉴定 ,获得 4 2个阳性克隆 ;固定ELISA实验显示筛选到的噬菌体短肽能与Fas .Fc特异性结合 ,并呈剂量依赖关系 ;随机选取 13个阳性克隆进行DNA测序 ,其序列及出现几率分别为 :PRKARVDTS(2 / 13)、YKKKSLQVQ (2 / 13)、YKKKSMLQA(2 / 13)、SRKKYDQYA(4/ 13)、YARKIKPTA(2 / 13)和ARKKTEGAG(1/ 13)。经多重序列分析 ,获得多肽基序 : R/KKK A。在ELISA和竞争性ELISA实验中 ,化学合成多肽EGEFYKKKSM LQADPAK (P3)可抑制Fas与抗人Fas单抗Apo 1的结合 ,且呈剂量效应关系 ;P3不能抑制Fas与FasL的结合。细胞增殖实验表明 ,多肽可抑制Jurkat细胞增殖 ,且随多肽剂量的增加而加强。多肽与单抗Apo 1联合作用对Jurkat细胞增殖的影响与单独使用P3没有明显差别。结论　通过噬菌体随机肽库技术获得与Fas结合的多肽及其多肽基序 ,它们可能模拟了抗Fas抗体Apo 1对Fas的结合位点 ,为基于Fas凋     

Extraction of organic acids by ion-pair extraction with tri-n-octylamine - VIII. Identification of synthetic dyes in pharmaceutical preparations

Synthetic dyes were extracted from syrups, oral suspensions, tablets, gelatin capsules, suppositories and granules by ion-pair formation with tri-n-octylamine (TnOA) and back-extracted with perchlorate ions. Identification was performed by TLC on cellulose layers and by reversed phase ion-pair HPLC.     

电针肾俞、膈俞、百会穴对拟血管性痴呆学习记忆障碍小鼠水迷宫实验的影响

目的　观察电针肾俞、膈俞、百会穴对拟血管性痴呆小鼠学习记忆障碍的影响。方法　复制脑缺血再灌注拟血管性痴呆小鼠模型 ,并电针肾俞、膈俞、百会穴 ,分别于术后 7天、15天、30天 ,与药物喜德镇对照 ,采用水迷宫法 ,记录游全程时间、错误次数。结果　造模导致了小鼠学习与记忆能力下降 ,表现为游全程时间延长 ,错误次数增加 ,且随着观察时间的延长 ,这种改变逐渐加重。电针和喜德镇均可使模型小鼠的游全程时间缩短 ,错误次数减少 ,但电针组于 7天和 30天时 ,成绩显著优于药物组。结论　电针肾俞、膈俞、百会穴对模型小鼠学习与记忆能力下降有改善和提高作用