Epstein-Barr viral genome in lymph nodes from patients with Hodgkin''s disease may not be specific to Reed-Sternberg cells.

A possible etiologic role for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in Hodgkin's disease (HD) was investigated by probing for EBV genome in 52 biopsy specimens involved with HD and 43 hyperplastic lymph node specimens. Using dot-blot hybridization (Bam HIW probe), Southern blot hybridization (Xho I probe), and polymerase chain reaction analyses, 27%, 27%, and 58% of the nodes with HD were positive for EBV genome, respectively, as compared to 16%, 14%, and 43% in the hyperplastic lymph nodes. Clonal and nonclonal episomal EBV and linear replicating EBV genome were present in both conditions. Immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements were found in two clonal and two nonclonal EBV-positive HD cases, but not in the lymphoid hyperplasia cases. These findings and other recent reports showing EBV genome in benign lymphoid cells by in situ hybridization in Hodgkin's disease suggest that the characteristics of EBV infection in HD could be explained by the reactive cellular milieu, especially in the setting of defective immunity. The identification of EBV genome in Reed-Sternberg cells may, therefore, be a nonspecific phenomenon.     

Renpenning syndrome in an Indian patient

Renpenning syndrome is one of the well‐characterized causes of X‐linked intellectual disability and is associated with microcephaly and various visceral malformations. Face is considered characteristic but the dysmorphism is subtle. Here we report an Indian adult with a very lean habitus, progressive atrophy of the upper back muscles, microcephaly, loss of cervical lordosis, and upper thoracic scoliosis. Using whole‐exome sequencing, a hemizygous deletion was identified in PQBP1 that leads to a frameshift and premature termination of translation. The loss of normal curvatures of cervical and upper thoracic spine due to muscular atrophy is a characteristic feature, though it may be age dependent.     

Atypical adult non-calcified pilomatricoma

We present a rare case of a non-calcified pilomatricoma in a 67-year-old man. This tumor was extremely large in size, and its location, in the lower extremity, was very unusual. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathological features are described in detail. The role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of this entity is discussed. Definite internal reticulations and septations were observed. A possible explanation for this observation is that the high signal intensity reticulations may represent edematous stroma surrounding basaloid cells. Received: 8 July 1999 Revision requested: 28 July 1999 Revision received: 10 September 1999 Accepted: 13 September 1999     

Cost-Effectiveness of Endovascular Versus Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: A Systematic Review

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening condition which, in the absence of increasing diameter or rupture, often remains asymptomatic, and a...     

Routine Coagulation Testing: Do We Need a Discard Tube?

When coagulation tests are performed, the recommended guideline is that a discard tube be used and the coagulation testing should be done only on the second tube. This guideline is however inconsistently enforced and most laboratories follow a single tube draw for routine coagulation testing. Few studies have however, challenged this guideline and have shown that comparable results can be obtained in both tubes when a two tube draw is used. This prospective study was done over a 3 months period in the hematology laboratory under the Clinical Hematology unit of a tertiary care teaching institution in North India. Fifty-six paired specimens were drawn from healthy volunteers following the prescribed “two tube draw” method. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were performed within 1 h of sample collection on a fully automated photo-optical coagulation instrument (Ceveron-Alpha). Paired results for PT and APTT were compared using Bland–Altman plots for method comparison. There was good correlation between the PT, INR and APTT of the first and second tubes with bias of 0.09, −0.05 and 0.3 respectively). Bland–Altman plots showed acceptable agreement between the two values with 95 % confidence interval ranging from −0.62 to 0.79 for PT, −0.05 to 0.06 for INR and −3.9 to 4.6 for APTT. Our study has shown no significant difference between PT and APTT values for the first and second tubes. Hence the use of a discard tube is not required.     

Coadministration of liposomal methylglyoxal increases the activity of amphotericin B against Candida albicans in leukopoenic mice

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of a combination of liposomal amphotericin B (Lip-Amp B) and Methylglyoxal (Lip-MG) against Candida albicans in the leukopoenic mice. The antifungal efficacy of Lip-Amp B or Lip-MG or a combination of Lip-Amp B and Lip-MG was evaluated by the analysis of the survival rate and the fungal load in the treated mice. The immune-stimulatory effect of Lip-MG on macrophages was evaluated by analysing the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. C. albicans infected mice treated at the doses of 1 and 2?mg/kg of Lip-Amp B showed 20% and 50% survival rates, respectively. Whereas the mice treated with free Amp B at the same doses died within 40?days of treatment. Interestingly, C. albicans infected mice treated with a combination of Lip-Amp B and Lip-MG had 70% survival rate on day 40 postinfection. Moreover, treatment of macrophages with Lip-MG increased their fungicidal activity and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α and IL-1β. These findings suggested that co-treatment with Lip-Amp B and Lip-MG had a synergistic effect and could be effective against C. albicans in immunocompromised subjects.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF A HUMAN HERPES VIRUS－6（HHV－6） AND EPSTEIN－BARR VIRUS（EBV） ASSOCIATED LEUKEMIC CELL LINE，J6－1

ＣＨＡＲＡＣＴＥＲＩＺＡＴＩＯＮＯＦＡＨＵＭＡＮＨＥＲＰＥＳＶＩＲＵＳ－６（ＨＨＶ－６）ＡＮＤＥＰＳＴＥＩＮ－ＢＡＲＲＶＩＲＵＳ（ＥＢＶ）ＡＳＳＯＣＩＡＴＥＤＬＥＵＫＥＭＩＣＣＥＬＬＬＩＮＥ，Ｊ６－１ＷｕＫｅｆｕ吴克复；ＪａｎｏｓＬｕｋａ；Ｓｈａｎｔ...     

Bone density assessments of dental implant sites: 1. Quantitative computed tomography

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate variations of bone density in designated implant sites using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and to compare the QCT measurements to subjective evaluation of bone density. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Sixty-two designated implant sites in jaws of 9 human cadavers were used. Indicator rods, 2 mm in diameter, were placed in all sites. CT images representing 1-mm buccolingual slices immediately mesial and distal to the rods were selected. Bone density (in Hounsfield units) was assessed in a standardized implant area superimposed on the images and was also subjectively evaluated by 2 independent examiners using the Lekholm and Zarb classification. RESULTS: QCT results demonstrated that bone densities may vary markedly when different areas of a designated implant site are compared. The Lekholm and Zarb ratings for the 2 examiners showed coefficients of correlation ranging between 0.5 to 0.7 for the relationships with the QCT values. Within each of the scores used for the subjective classification, however, a wide range of QCT values was observed. DISCUSSION: The results emphasize the importance of the use of radiographic methods prior to implant placement that allow topographically precise assessments of bone density in the region of interest. CONCLUSION: Access to QCT values should constitute a valuable supplement to subjective bone density evaluations prior to implant placement.     

Immunobiological effects of AFB1 and AFB1-FB1 mixture in experimental subchronic mycotoxicoses in rats

Maize co-contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) is frequently found in several countries. Although the alterations on nutritional and immunologic parameters induced by these mycotoxins, when administered individually, are partially characterised, little is known about the effects induced in animals by a subchronic administration of both toxins mixtures. We have studied the nutritional and immunological alterations induced in rats fed during 90 days with a diet without mycotoxins, containing 40 ppb AFB1, and with a diet containing a mixture of 40 ppb AFB1 and 100 ppm FB1. Animals fed with the mixture of toxins obtained lower body weight than the control ones. The mitogenic response of spleen mononuclear cells (SMC) in vivo was higher in animals fed with AFB1. In in vitro studies, lower proliferations of SMC pre-exposed to AFB1 and to the mixture of toxins were detected. The SMC of animals fed with AFB1 produced lower levels of IL-2, higher of IL-4 and equal levels of IL-10. The SMC of animals fed with both toxins produced higher levels of IL-4, lower of IL-10 and equal levels of IL-2. The SMC preincubated with an AFB1-FB1 mixture produced higher concentrations of IL-4, lower of IL-10 and equal levels of IL-2. The peritoneal macrophages of animals that consumed AFB1 released less H(2)O(2), while animals fed with the mixture of toxins produced higher levels. In in vitro studies, macrophages pre-exposed to the mixture of toxins released less H(2)O(2). These results show different immunobiological effects produced by a mixture of mycotoxins in comparison to the individual action of the same toxins.     

Treatment of extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysms with stent grafts: case series.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Extracranial carotid artery pseudoaneurysms are a rare entity with a poorly defined natural history. Treatment has been limited to open surgical repair and limited experience with endovascular repair. We review our experience with the use of stent grafts to treat this disease entity. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed the interventional databases of two university hospitals (Michigan State University and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) between 2004 and 2006 to identify patients with carotid pseudoaneurysms that were treated with stent grafts. A total of five patients were identified. RESULTS: Of the five patients treated, four presented with acute bleeding secondary to carcinomatous invasion of the carotid artery, while one presented with thromboembolic events. Four of the five were successfully occluded with stent grafts. The one patient in whom the bleeding could not be stopped with the stent graft expired due to cardiac arrest. There were no peri-procedural complications noted as a result of stent graft placement. CONCLUSIONS: Stent grafts can be utilized to treat pseudoaneurysms safely, but may not always stop active extravasation as an isolated therapy. Long-term data is required to determine the durability of the treatment.