Adeno-associated virus 2-mediated high efficiency gene transfer into immature and mature subsets of hematopoietic progenitor cells in human umbilical cord blood

Recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV) virions were constructed containing a gene for resistance to neomycin (neoR), under the control of either the herpesvirus thymidine kinase (TK) gene promoter (vTK-Neo), or the human parvovirus B19 p6 promoter (vB19-Neo), as well as those containing an upstream erythroid cell-specific enhancer (HS-2) from the locus control region of the human beta-globin gene cluster (vHS2-TK-Neo; vHS2-B19-Neo). These recombinant virions were used to infect either low density or highly enriched populations of CD34+ cells isolated from human umbilical cord blood. In clonogenic assays initiated with cells infected with the different recombinant AAV-Neo virions, equivalent high frequency transduction of the neoR gene into slow-cycling multipotential, erythroid, and granulocyte/macrophage (GM) progenitor cells, including those with high proliferative potential, was obtained without prestimulation with growth factors, indicating that these immature and mature hematopoietic progenitor cells were susceptible to infection by the recombinant AAV virions. Successful transduction did not require and was not enhanced by prestimulation of these cell populations with cytokines. The functional activity of the transduced neo gene was evident by the development of resistance to the drug G418, a neomycin analogue. Individual high and low proliferative colony-forming unit (CFU)-GM, burst-forming unit-erythroid, and CFU-granulocyte erythroid macrophage megakaryocyte colonies from mock-infected, or the recombinant virus-infected cultures were subjected to polymerase chain reaction analysis using a neo-specific synthetic oligonucleotide primer pair. A 276-bp DNA fragment that hybridized with a neo-specific DNA probe on Southern blots was only detected in those colonies cloned from the recombinant virus-infected cells, indicating stable integration of the transduced neo gene. These studies suggest that parvovirus-based vectors may prove to be a useful alternative to the more commonly used retroviral vectors for high efficiency gene transfer into slow or noncycling primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, without the need for growth factor stimulation, which could potentially lead to differentiation of these cells before transplantation.     

Hyoid bone malformation confirmed by 3-dimensional computed tomography

We describe the case of a young woman with pain on turning her head attributable to a malformation of the hyoid bone. Diagnosis was established using spiral computed tomography with the patient's neck in the position of greatest discomfort and with 3-dimensional reconstruction of the hyoid bone. Prior conventional radiography and magnetic resonance imaging did not aid in finding a diagnosis. After surgical removal of both greater cornua of the hyoid bone there was a complete relief of symptoms.     

Prognosis of hematological patients with relapse following high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation

A retrospective analysis of the outcome for 283 haematological patients who relapsed after high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation during a five year period from 1989 to 1994 is presented. The patients were treated in accordance with local regimes at 20 Nordic transplantation centers and included patients with acute leukemia (157 patients), multiple myeloma (16 patients) and lymphoma (110 patients). Two hundred and twenty-nine patients with relapse or progressive disease were given chemo- and/or radiotherapy and the response was evaluated after 90 days. Fifty-four patients (24%) obtained a complete remission and 44 patients (19%) partial remission. The overall median survival after relapse was five months. In the group who received salvage treatment the median survival was seven months, and for the 54 patients in complete remission the median survival was 15 months. We found that survival after relapse depends upon primary disease, the time from transplantation to relapse and whether salvage therapy was initiated.     

The psychosomatic network: foundations of mind-body medicine

Research in the 1980s uncovered ubiquitous neuropeptide-receptor distribution in brain structures associated with emotional processing, and throughout many organ systems. This finding supported neuropeptides as biochemical substrates of emotion, and the neuropeptide-receptor network as a parasynaptic system crossing traditional brain-body boundaries. The medical relevance of these findings was affirmed by psychoneuroimmunology research: neuropeptides help to regulate immunocyte trafficking, there is bidirectional communication between nervous and immune system components, immunocytes produce neuropeptides, and nerve cells produce immune-associated cytokines. In the past decade, the concept of a unified psychosomatic network has been strengthened by animal and human research demonstrating relationships between behavior and neuropeptide-mediated regulation of immune functions. Research on emotional expression or disclosure in healthy human subjects as well as in cancer and HIV-positive patients has shown significant positive correlations with clinically relevant immune functions and/or positive health outcomes. Psychosocial interventions emphasizing emotional expression or active coping have evidenced survival benefits in breast cancer and melanoma. These findings suggest that emotional expression generates balance in the neuropeptide-receptor network and a functional healing system. Emotional expression is also a marker for psychospiritual vitalization, and further research should evaluate links between energy-based models of health and neuropeptide-receptor-based models under the rubric of an informational paradigm.     

老年人紧急呼救产品设计要素分析

中国已进入老龄化社会,老龄人口基数庞大,老年人问题已然成为社会的焦点。而我国目前社会基础设施、医疗配套设施、社会福利养老保障设施等都不完善,老年产品比较缺乏。尤其是随着经济的发展和人口的流动,空巢老人已成为社会不可忽视的一类群体,紧急呼救产品将会成为一种必需品。本课题通过对老年人紧急呼救产品设计要素进行详细的分析,从而对产品的开发起到一定的帮助和指导作用,为老年人的养老贡献一点力量。     

丹东地区满族舞蹈音乐艺术分析与发展研究

研究丹东地区满族舞蹈音乐的历史特点与发展,通过研究丹东地区满族风俗对满族民间舞蹈音乐的影响,分析丹东地区特有的四种满族节庆舞蹈,发现满族民间舞蹈音乐在调式、旋律、节奏及形式方面的特点,并根据民间舞蹈音乐的特点提出丹东地区民间舞蹈音乐发展的方向。本文主要研究丹东地区满族风俗对满族民间舞蹈音乐的影响与发展。     

基于OPC技术和现场总线的热轧钢带的电控系统网络平台构建

从网络构建、系统组态等方面介绍热轧钢带生产控制系统的网络平台构建过程和方法。     

基于USB电源的智能风扇控制技术

介绍基于计算机USB电源的智能风扇控制技术。     

烟草制丝线上调节阀流量特性的选择

介绍调节阀的控制原理,分析调节阀流量特性对控制系统的影响,结合烟草设备的工艺特性,提出烟草制丝设备上调节阀流量特性选择的原则。