Blood donation fears inventory: development and validation of a measure of fear specific to the blood donation setting

Background and ObjectivesAlthough individual differences in fear of stimuli related to blood donation is a key determinant of donor recruitment and retention, a donation-specific fear measure has yet to be developed.Materials and MethodsA donation-related fear measure was developed and tested on an initial sample of donors and non-donors, and then re-evaluated on a second sample to confirm the observed factor structure.ResultsAnalyses supported a four-factor structure, with subscales related to fear of: (1) syncopal symptoms, (2) blood and needles, (3) social evaluation, and (4) health screen results.ConclusionThe Blood Donation Fears Inventory is a novel measure to assess fears held by current and potential blood donors.     

Prokaryotic expression, identification and bioinformatics analysis of fbpB-esxA fusing gene from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ObjectiveTo obtain fbpB–esxA fusing gene of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), express the encoded fusing protein in Escherichia coli (E. coli), identify protein acquired, and predict the structure and function of the protein utilizing methods of bioinformatics.MethodsfbpB and esxA gene were amplified from genome of MTB H37Rv by PCR. The fbpB–esxA fusing gene ligated by (Gly₄Ser)₃ linker was gained by means of Gene Splicing by Overlapping Extension PCR (SOE-PCR), and fusing gene was cloned into expression vector pET-30a. The recombinant plasmid was sequenced and expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3). The protein was identified by Western blot using anti-HIS antibody. Secondary structure and antigenic epitopes of the protein were predicting using tools of bioinformatics.ResultsThe DNA sequences of fbpB–esxA were identical with that published by GenBank. The Ag85B-ESAT-6 fusion protein about 50 kDa comprised 485 amino acids was efficiently produced from expression system in E. coli BL21(DE3) under the induction of IPTG. Bioinformatics analysis showed the protein contained one transmembrane region and fourteen potential antigenic epitopes.ConclusionsThe Ag85B-ESAT-6 fusion protein is successfully expressed with N-terminal HIS-tag. Gel filtration demonstrated that it exists as insoluble inclusion bodies mainly. The existence of linker doesn't affect immunogenicity of Ag85B and ESAT-6. It will allow for characterization in vitro and establish a foundation of further function research such as vaccine or diagnostic reagent.     

不同麻醉方法对电子支气管镜检查效果分析

目的探讨3种不同麻醉方法应用于电子支气管镜检查的临床效果。方法在我科2013年1月至6月接受普通电子支气管镜检查的l128例患者中随机抽取300例患者为研究对象,根据麻醉方式的不同分为3组（A组为利多卡因咽喉喷雾法＋氧气雾化吸人法,B组为利多卡因咽喉喷雾法＋利多卡因气管内吸人法,C组为丁卡因咽喉喷雾法＋利多卡因气管内吸人法）,每组100例。观察记录患者一般资料、麻醉效果、检查前及检查进行i0min时患者生命体征的变化、检查过程中的不良反应、咳嗽反射、患者及操作医师的满意度等。结果C组检查前与检查进行i0min时生命体征波动最小,与A组和B组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。检查过程中C组不良反应的咳嗽的发生率明显低于A组和B组,患者及医师操作满意度评分明显高于A组和B组（P〈O．05）。A组麻醉优良率为53％,B组优良率为73％,C组优良率为96％,C组与A、B组相比,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论3种麻醉方法以丁卡因咽喉喷雾法＋利多卡因气管内吸人方法最优,患者舒适度和安全性最佳,不良反应最少,患者满意度最高,该方法值得临床推广应用。     

Clinical and biochemical characteristics and genotype-phenotype correlation in 143 Finnish and Russian patients with acute intermittent porphyria

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), resulting from a deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD) in heme biosynthesis, is genetically heterogeneous and manifests with variable penetrance. The clinical outcome, prognosis, and correlation between PBGD genotype and phenotype were investigated in 143 Finnish and Russian AIP patients with 10 mutations (33G-->T, 97delA, InsAlu333, R149X, R167W, R173W, R173Q, R225G, R225X, 1073delA). Thirty-eight percent of the patients had experienced 1 or more acute attacks during their lives. The proportion of symptomatic patients has decreased dramatically from 49% to 17% among patients diagnosed before and after 1980, respectively. Patients with the R167W and R225G mutations showed lower penetrance (19% and 11%, respectively) and recurrence rate (33% and 0%, respectively) than patients with other mutations (range, 36%-67% and 0%-66%, respectively). Moreover, urinary excretions of porphyrins and their precursors were significantly lower in these patients (porphobilinogen [PBG], 47 +/- 10 vs. 163 +/- 21 micromol/L, p < 0.001; uroporphyrin, 130 +/- 40 vs. 942 +/- 183 nmol/d, p < 0.001). Erythrocyte PBGD activity did not correlate with PBG excretion in remission or with the clinical severity of the disease. Mutations R167W and R225G resulted in milder biochemical abnormalities and clinical symptoms indicating a milder form of AIP in these patients. In all AIP patients, normal PBG excretion predicted freedom from acute attacks. The risk of symptoms was highest for female patients with markedly increased PBG excretion (>100 micromol/L). Proper counseling contributed to the prevention of subsequent attacks in 60% of previously symptomatic and in 95% of previously symptom-free patients.     

High prevalence of syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases among sex workers in China: potential for fast spread of HIV

OBJECTIVES: In China, in the early 1980s, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) started to increase steeply. Sex workers and their clients appeared to play an important role in the spread of STD. Prostitution is illegal in China, and therefore no specific services exist for sex workers unless they are arrested and detained in re-education centres. Staff of a maternal and neonatal hospital in Guangzhou felt the need for an STD care and prevention programme for sex workers outside detention, and started a programme within their hospital, which was unique in the Chinese context. METHODS: From March 1998 to mid-October 1999 sex workers were recruited through various outreach methods, and were interviewed, counselled and examined for the presence of STD/HIV. RESULTS: A total of 966 women, originating from all over China but working in Guangzhou, entered the programme. The median duration of prostitution was one year, and the median number of clients was seven per week. Antibodies to HIV were present in 1.4%. The prevalence of STD was very high: syphilis 14%, Chlamydia trachomatis 32%, gonorrhoea 8% and trichomoniasis 12.5%. Knowledge about STD/HIV transmission and condom use was poor. CONCLUSION: Given the high prevalence of STD, the potential for the further spread of HIV is clearly present. STD care and prevention programmes for these women, outside detention, are urgently needed, and appear also to be feasible in China.     

LF 15-0195 generates synergistic tolerance by promoting formation of CD4+CD25+CTLA4+ T cells

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of 15-deoxyspergualin (LF) on the phenotypes and functions of dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells and to further illustrate the mechanism of LF-inducing immunologic tolerance. DCs from mice were cultured and treated with varying doses of LF at specific time-points. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) was used to verify the changes of phenotypes in the cultured DCs labeled with fluorescent antibody. DCs were also used as stimulators in mixed leukocyte reaction to detect their ability to stimulate T-cell proliferation. DCs and T cells, treated with or without LF, were cultured together; phenotypes and cytokine profile of the T cells were identified and assayed by FACS and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. LF induced a dose- and time-dependent suppression of maturation of DCs and a dose-dependent suppression of T-cell proliferation in mixed leukocyte reaction when LF-treated DCs were used as stimulators. LF-treated DCs, cultured with naive T cells, could promote the formation of CD4+CD25+CTLA4+ T-cell subtypes and the production of higher levels of interleukin-10. It was suggested that the mechanism of LF-induced tolerance was inhibiting maturation and function of DC and inducing the formation of regulatory T-cell subtype by "suppressor DCs" to achieve a new immune balance.     

Adult-onset deletion of Pten increases islet mass and beta cell proliferation in mice

Aims/hypothesis

Adult beta cells have a diminished ability to proliferate. Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) is a lipid phosphatase that antagonises the function of the mitogenic phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. The objective of this study was to understand the role of PTEN and PI3K signalling in the maintenance of beta cells postnatally.

Methods

We developed a Pten ^lox/lox; Rosa26 ^lacZ; RIP-CreER ⁺ model that permitted us to induce Pten deletion by treatment with tamoxifen in mature animals. We evaluated islet mass and function as well as beta cell proliferation in 3- and 12-month-old mice treated with tamoxifen (Pten deleted) vs mice treated with vehicle (Pten control).

Results

Deletion of Pten in juvenile (3-month-old) beta cells significantly induced their proliferation and increased islet mass. The expansion of islet mass occurred concomitantly with the enhanced ability of the Pten-deleted mice to maintain euglycaemia in response to streptozotocin treatment. In older mice (>12 months of age), deletion of Pten similarly increased islet mass and beta cell proliferation. This novel finding suggests that PTEN-regulated mechanisms may override the age-onset diminished ability of beta cells to respond to mitogenic stimulation. We also found that proteins regulating G1/S cell-cycle transition, such as cyclin D1, cyclin D2, p27 and p16, were altered when PTEN was lost, suggesting that they may play a role in PTEN/PI3K-regulated beta cell proliferation in adult tissue.

Conclusions/interpretation

The signals regulated by the PTEN/PI3K pathway are important for postnatal maintenance of beta cells and regulation of their proliferation in adult tissues.