Positive identification of the specificity of polymerase chain reaction product

A method of positive identification of the specificity of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product using internal oligonucleotide probe is introduced. The hybridization was done on the agarose gel which was dried after electrophoresis. Detection of the expression of T cell receptor a chain variable (TCR V alpha) genes on mRNA level was used as the experimental model. Twenty nine TCR V alpha gene subfamilies could be distinguished clearly in healthy human peripheral blood lymphocytes by this method. Positive identification of PCR product on dried agarose gel by internal oligonucleotide probe is relatively simple and less time consuming.     

Anesthetic considerations in the child with Gaucher disease

Alpidem, an imidazopyridine that acts at the gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor complex, has been reported to be an effective anxiolytic with a more favorable side effect profile than benzodiazepines. The effect of alpidem was investigated in an 8-week, open, clinical trial in 13 patients with panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia. Three patients were responders (much improved or very much improved), five patients were nonresponders, and five patients dropped out after less than 6 weeks of treatment. Significant improvement was seen in the sample as a whole for spontaneous panic attacks, phobic avoidance, and anticipatory anxiety. Most improvement occurred during the first 4 weeks of treatment, and responders had milder panic disorder at baseline. Adverse effects were generally mild. After 8 weeks of treatment, taper of medication over 2 weeks occurred without significant worsening of panic disorder symptoms. The efficacy of alpidem in the treatment of panic disorder remains uncertain and requires assessment in a controlled trial.     

Long-term results after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase: a report from the Chronic Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term results of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia. A retrospective analysis was carried out of the outcome of 373 consecutive transplants performed at 38 European institutions between 1980 and 1988 and reported to the registry of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. All transplants were carried out for first chronic phase of chronic myelogenous leukemia using unmanipulated marow cells from HLA-identical sibling donors. The probability of survival and leukemia-free survival at 8 years were 54% (95% CI: 49-59) and 47% (95% CI: 41-52) respectively. The probabilities of developing acute GVHD (II-IV) at 100 days and chronic GVHD at 4 years after transplant were 47% (95% CI: 41-53) and 52% (95% CI: 46-58) respectively. The probabilities of transplant-related mortality and leukemic relapse 8 years after BMT were 41% (95% CI: 36-48) and 19% (95% CI: 14-25), respectively. Transplant within 12 months of diagnosis was associated with reduced transplant-related mortality (34 vs 45%, P = 0.013) and resulted in improved leukemia-free survival (52 vs 44%, P = 0.03). The probability of relapse was significantly reduced in patients who developed chronic GVHD (RR = 0.33, P = 0.004). The probability of relapse occurring more than 2 years after transplant was increased more than five-fold in patients transplanted from a male donor (RR = 5.5, P = 0.006). Sixty-seven patients in hematologic remission were studied for residual disease by two-step RT/PCR for BCR-ABL mRNA and 61 (91%) tested negative. We conclude that bone marrow transplantation can induce long-term survival in approximately one-half of CML patients; the majority of survivors have no evidence of residual leukemia cells when studied by molecular techniques. The probability of late relapse is increased with use of a male donor.     

First evaluation of a year of ambulatory surgery in urology

Day surgery in urology is in full growth actually. The present report is based on our first 120 patients. Low post-operative complication rate, patients' satisfaction and economical savings are the main factors for the important increase in this type of surgery.     

Purification and characterization of an endopeptidase from Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B14

An intracellular endopeptidase was purified from cell-free extracts of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B14 by anion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, hydroxyapatite chromatography, second anion exchange chromatography on Mono-Q, and metal-chelating affinity chromatography. The endopeptidase was a monomer with a molecular mass of approximately 70 kDa determined by SDS-PAGE and gel filtration. Various oligopeptides (e.g. Met-enkephalin, bradykinin) were hydrolysed by the endopeptidase. Exopeptidase activity and cleavage of dipeptides or tripeptides was not observed. The K_M value for the cleavage of Metenkephalin was 1.2 mM. Temperature and pH optima were 47 °C and pH 7.7, respectively. The endopeptidase was inhibited by the classical agents for metal-dependent (EDTA) and serine (DFP) enzymes. Activity was increased by Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺, no effect was observed with Ca²⁺. After inhibition with EDTA, enzyme activity could be restored fully by Co²⁺. Activity was inhibited by Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺. The N-terminal sequence of the endopeptidase was determined as: H₂N-Val-Arg-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Asp-Thr-Thr-Val-0H.     

Fertilization in vitro. A review over the medical indications and suggestion to unified guidelines for public fertility clinics in Denmark

Medical indications for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) internationally and in Denmark are reviewed. Reports from large international centres document that tubal infertility, unexplained infertility, endometriosis and male infertility are equally good indications for IVF. Traditionally, tubal infertility has been the only medical indication qualifying for IVF treatment within the National Health Service in Denmark. Thus, in this country, couples with unexplained and male infertility and with endometriosis have to pay up to 25,000 D.Kr. per IVF-ET treatment in private fertility clinics. Since there is no scientific basis for this discrimination, it is urged that the present rules are changed, so that couples with unexplained and male infertility and endometriosis are also allowed IVF treatment free of charge in the public fertility clinics.     

Interobserver variation in the assessment of the sampling quality of cervical smears

The present study was carried out to investigate the biochemical and morphological changes in the liver after ligation of the hepatic artery (HA) in the presence and in the absence of extrahepatic cholestasis (EHC). The study was conducted on 100 rats divided into four groups of 25 animals each: group 1, sham operation; group 2, hepatic artery ligation (HAL); group 3, bile duct ligation (BDL); and group 4, HAL plus BDL. All animals were sacrificed 7 days after surgery when total bilirubin and fractions, alkaline phosphatase (AP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured in serum and on the inner hepatocyte mitochondrial membrane (IHMM); the incidence of necrosis and the volume fractions of vessels, bile ducts and hepatocytes in the liver were also determined. HAL reduces the relative volumes of bile ducts, with no changes in levels of bilirubin and fractions, AP, ALT, AST and IHMM, but HAL associated with EHC reduces duct proliferation and the liver becomes more vulnerable to necrosis. In conclusion, the normal liver depends on HA flow and this dependence is more evident in the presence of EHC.     

Performance-Analyse und -Optimierung in der Softwareentwicklung

Nicht-funktionale Anforderungen an ein Softwaresystem beschreiben Aspekte, die nicht direkt die Funktionalit?t, wie sie der Benutzer sieht, betreffen.