Routine molecular genotyping of HLA-B27 in spondyloarthropathies overcomes the obstacles of serological typing and reveals an increased B *2702 frequency in ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility and reliability of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in HLA-B27 typing compared to the conventionally used microlymphocytotoxicity test (MLCT). To determine the HLA-B27 subtype frequencies (B*2701-B*2709) in patients with HLA-B27 associated disease and healthy persons using sequence specific oligonucleotides (SSO). METHODS: 398 consecutive patients were HLA-B27 typed by MLCT and PCR. Subtyping by SSO was performed in 142 patients with HLA-B27 associated disease [ankylosing spondylitis (AS) n = 38, reactive arthritis 44, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (uSpA) 45, psoriatic arthritis 15] and 125 healthy HLA-B27 controls. RESULTS: MLCT identified 61 HLA-B27 positive patients (15.3%); PCR identified 78 positive patients (19.6%). MLCT gave false negative results for 8 patients (2.0%) and false positives for a further 7 (1.8%). Only subtypes B*2702 and B*2705 were present in patients and controls. Overall frequencies of B*2702 in patients and controls were 14.1 and 9.6%, respectively. The B*2702 frequency was significantly (pcorr. < 0.04) higher in AS (23.7%) and lower in uSpA (6.7%) patients. CONCLUSION: HLA-B27 typing by PCR is reliable and reproducible and therefore recommended for routine typing. It overcomes the obstacles of serological typing, i.e., equivocal results and cross-reactivity. In addition, subtype frequencies (B*2702 and B*2705) are equally distributed among patients and controls, although subtype B*2702 seems to be more frequent in AS and less so in uSpA.     

Immunohistochemical analysis of p27/kip1 expression in thyroid carcinoma

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including the protein product of the p27/kip1 gene, play an important role in cell-cycle regulation. Loss of p27 expression was reported in a number of neoplasms and shown to be an independent prognostic factor in colorectal, lung, and breast carcinoma By immunohistochemical analysis, we investigated p27/kip1 expression, using a polyclonal antibody, in a series of 87 benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms. We correlated its expression with the Ki-67 labeling index and other prognostic factors. All of the thyroid neoplasms examined exhibited significantly lower p27 expression than did normal thyroid tissue (P < .001). Poorly differentiated carcinomas had the lowest p27 staining frequency of all carcinomas examined. p27 staining frequency of the papillary carcinomas was significantly lower than that of the follicular carcinomas (P < .001). This difference could not be attributed solely to the inverse correlation between the staining patterns of p27 and Ki-67, which was reported for other neoplasms, because there was no significant difference between the Ki-67 labeling indices of these two groups. The follicular variant of papillary carcinoma had a significantly higher p27 staining frequency (P = .05) than did classical papillary carcinoma. We saw no significant difference in the p27 staining frequencies between minimally and widely invasive follicular carcinomas nor between localized and nonlocalized papillary carcinoma. In summary, the p27 immunostaining pattern of thyroid neoplasms is related to neoplastic transformation and varies according to tumor phenotype. It seems, however, to have limited routine diagnostic or prognostic significance in thyroid neoplasia.     

Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole-induced meningitis

Drug-induced meningitis is rarely included in the differential diagnosis of aseptic (usually recurrent) meningitis. A 74-year-old man who suffered from recurrent aseptic meningitis following re-exposures to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (Resprim) is presented. The clinical and laboratory findings resembled those found in bacterial meningitis, excluding normal glycorrachia. Extensive microbiological, serologic and imaging studies did not disclose any relevant findings. All symptoms and signs resolved rapidly following drug withdrawal, and findings on follow-up lumbar puncture were normal.     

The effect of specific growth rate and death rate on monoclonal antibody production in hybridoma chemostat cultures

Experimental data collected from bench-scale chemostat cultures of mouse-mouse hybridoma cells have been used for the development of a kinetic model of monoclonal antibody production. The specific antibody productivity was found to be proportional to the specific death rate, indicating a stimulating effect of stress on the ability of the cells to produce antibody. The death rate was found to be an exponential function of the average cell age in the culture. Furthermore, a Generalized Maintenance Energy (GME) model is proposed, to take account of the effects of culture stress on the nutrient uptake rates. The proposed relationships agreed very well with other mouse-mouse hybridoma chemostat culture data in the literature.     

70-90 GHz balanced resistive PHFET mixer MMIC

A balanced resistive GaAs high electron mobility transistor mixer monolithic microwave integrated circuit has been designed and fabricated in a production oriented technology. The design is based on a specialised large signal model for linear transistor operation. The conversion loss was 8-10 dB for 70-90 GHz and the noise figure at 100 kHz was 31 dB, which is 11 dB lower than that obtained with diode mixers     

The Production of Electrical and Thermal Energy from the Exhaust Gas Heat of Preheater Kilns

It is shown, by means of an example, i.e., a 1600-ton/day four-stage suspension preheater kiln of a cement factory, that the waste heat present in the exhaust gases can be converted into useful electrical and thermal energy. This is possible even though the exhaust gases are heavily loaded with dust. The heat recovery system installed in 1981/1982 in a Swiss cement plant and the respective production line are described in detail. A comprehensive explanation is given concerning the experience of the first operating year, the iqteraction of the new plant with the existing production facilities, and the current measured technical data. The performance limits for economic operation are explained and the decision criteria quoted. Further applications of the successfully tested heat recovery system can be expected wherever beat sources in the form of heavily loaded gases are available.     

Maillard reactions of dextrins and starch

When dextrins or starch are heated with propyl-amine in neutral aqueous solution at 100–130° C a brown colouration is observed. From the reaction mixture 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propyl-4(1H)-pyridone11, 1,4-dihy-dro-2-methyl-1-propyl-4-propylimino-3-pyridinol12 and 5-hydroxymethyl-1-propyl-pyrrol-2-aldehyde13 can be extracted with organic solvents and separated by HPLC. Enzymatic hydrolysis effects the release of 1(3-hydroxy-1-propyl-2-pyrrolyl)-1-ethanone10 from a glycosidically bound precursor.

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Maillard Reaktionen von Dextrinen und Stärke

Zusammenfassung Erhitzt man Dextrine oder Stärke mit Propylamin in neutraler wäßriger Lösung auf 100–130 °C, so beobachtet man eine braune Färbung. Aus der Reaktionsmischung lassen sich 3-Hydroxy-2-methyl-1-propyl-4(1H)-pyridon11, 1,4-Dihydro-2-methyl-1-pro-pyl-4-propylimino-3-pyridinol12 und 5-Hydroxymethyl-1-propyl-pyrrol-2-aldehyd13 mit organischen Lösungsmitteln extrahieren und durch HPLC trennen. Nach enzymatischer Hydrolyse der wasserlöslichen Fraktion ist 1(3-Hydroxy-1-propyl-2-pyrrolyl)-1-ethanon10 isolierbar.