Hydroxychloroquine reverses thrombogenic properties of antiphospholipid antibodies in mice

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that human monoclonal and polyclonal anticardiolipin antibodies have thrombogenic properties in vivo. Using such a model in which these antibodies have been shown to increase both the size of an induced thrombus and the duration of time in which such a clot lasts, we investigated whether hydroxychloroquine alters the dynamics of such thrombus formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three groups of nine mice were injected with purified immunoglobulin G (IgG) from a patient with the antiphospholipid syndrome (IgG-APS) and then fed with hydroxychloroquine at various doses (100, 6, and 3 mg/kg body wt). Three control groups of mice were also studied, including mice injected with IgG-APS and then fed with placebo, as well as two other groups injected with IgG from normal human serum and fed either hydroxychloroquine or placebo. A standardized thrombogenic injury was subsequently induced in the femoral vein of each mouse and the area (size) of thrombus measured as well as the total period of time that thrombus was present. Mice treated with hydroxychloroquine and IgG-APS showed significantly smaller thrombi that persisted for a shorter period of time compared with animals treated with IgG-APS and placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxychloroquine significantly diminished both thrombus size and total time of thrombus formation in mice previously injected with IgG-APS.     

Aminopeptidases in cells of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of varying degrees of malignancy and in lymphogranulomatosis

26 cases of lymphoproliferative diseases were studied: 8 cases of reactive follicular hyperplasia (RFH), 11 cases of non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas (NML), 7 cases of lymphogranulomatosis (LGM). Only gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was found in lymphoid cells of B- and T-dependent areas of lymph nodes with reactive changes as well as in tumor cells of NML and LGM. GGT activity was more pronounced in NML of high-grade malignancy (centroblast and immunoblast) as compared to lymphomas of lower grade of malignancy (lymphocytic, centroblast-centrocytic and in Lennert lymphoma). GGT activity in cells of Hodgkin and Berezovsky-Sterberg in some cases of LGM was high, in others low. Significant differences in GGT activity between RFH and follicular centroblast-centrocytic lymphoma were not found. Activity of aminopeptidase M was observed in histiocytes, fibroblasts, vessels and areas of connective tissue growth. Aminopeptidase A activity was observed in vessels only. Activity of dipeptidyl(amino)peptidase IV was observed in some lymphoid cells in RFH, NML and LGM. Thus, GGT activity may be considered as a differential-diagnostic marker in separating NML of high and low degree of malignancy and this may presume a different sensitivity to the therapy.     

Validation of an inhibition ELISA using a monoclonal antibody for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) primary diagnosis

An inhibition ELISA (IH-ELISA) test for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was validated using 106 epithelial samples from suspected cases of FMD in Argentina submitted to the Argentine National Diagnostics Laboratory (GELAB) over a period of 12 months and examined in parallel with the complement fixation test (CFT). IH-ELISA was found to be more sensitive, detecting 25% (26 samples) more FMDV positives than the CFT in original suspensions of field samples. The effect of storage conditions on 12S stability was examined. Plates stored at 4 degrees C blocked with 1% ovalbumin and plates stored at -20 degrees C with or without blocking buffer could be used for at least 90 days. When various brands of polystyrene plates were compared for 12ps adsorption it was found that those microplates of higher binding capacity were more efficient.     

Congenital chylothorax in siblings

We describe two cases of congenital chylothorax in siblings with important differences from previously described familial cases. Our findings support the likelihood of an autosomal recessive inheritance in some cases of this condition, rather than X-linked recessive inheritance, which has also been suggested. Autopsy findings from one of these cases and others previously described suggest that the pathophysiological mechanisms involved may be variable.     

基于DSP的红外成像电力在线检测系统的研究

介绍了红外焦平面热成像仪原理,系统采用FPGA对数据进行采集控制,采用DSP对数据进行处理并与PC机通信,在硬件上构成一个以DSP＋FPGA＋PC的成像电力在线检测系统。文章给出了红外成像视频信号和DSP数据处理方法,并使用VB6.0实现图像在PC机上的显示和处理。     

溢洪道闸墩后水翅的水力特性及消减措施研究

为研究如何避免溢洪道泄洪过程中,闸墩后生成的水翅会给泄洪安全带来诸多不利的影响。本文利用量纲分析和物理模型试验方法,对溢洪道闸墩后水翅的水力特性和消减措施开展研究。试验结果表明,影响水翅长度和高度的主要因素有闸墩尾部出口处的弗劳德数Fr_0、溢洪道坡度i、闸墩宽度等;在相同泄流条件下,若泄槽坡度变小,水翅长度也随之减小,而水翅高度却相应增加;当弗劳德数Fr_0介于2.3与2.8之间时,闸墩后的水翅长度和高度均显著增大。试验还发现水翅的长度、高度与闸墩后泄流下跌角度α有关,当α增大时,水翅长度和高度也随之增大;当α较小时,水翅现象明显减弱或消失。研究结果为实际工程消除水翅现象提供了新思路,提出的复合式斜尾墩比传统四棱台型尾墩能更好地避免水翅发生,对改善溢洪道、泄洪洞闸墩后的水流流态具有参考价值。     

光纤光栅传感器在结构健康监测中的应用

详细阐述光纤光栅传感器的结构及布拉格光纤光栅传感器的工作原理。重点介绍结构健康监测系统构成、光纤光栅传感器系统的信号处理、安装等方面问题;展望光纤光栅传感器在结构健康监测领域中的前景。     

Oral health assessment in dogs: study design and results

The authors have conducted a large number of canine dental studies during the past six years. Study methodologies have been driven by the need for statistical validation of results, requiring the participation of large numbers of animals in each study. For plaque, stain, and calculus evaluations, a "clean tooth" model was used, in which formation of these substrates was assessed days to weeks after an initial coronal cleaning. A primary goal of the studies described was to validate the study designs used--that is, to use accepted plaque-, calculus-, and stain-controlling agents to test whether the study methods could detect differences between treated and untreated groups. The results of clinical studies show that the methods described can be used to identify plaque, calculus, and stain control attributable to chemical agents, oral hygiene aids, and consumable products.     

The complement-activating action of modern x-ray contrast agents

The study conducted proved that triombrast (dose dependently) > hexabrics > Ultravist > or = melitrast = omnipac in a concentration interval of 0.03-30.0 mg iodine/ml in vitro and in a dose interval of 0.5-2.0 g iodine/kg in vivo activate the complement system (CS) according to the alternative way in the blood of "sensitive" rats. The degree of CS activation by radiopaque agents (ROA) is significantly determined mathematically by their viscosity and relation of the number of iodine atoms to the number of ions or dissolved particles, and by their hydrophilic (for nonion CS) and osmotic (for ion monomeric CS) properties.     

Magnito-, electro- and echocardiography in detecting symptoms of the "hypertensive heart"

The study compared diagnostic potential of magnetocardiography (MCG), electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (echo-CG) in 18 patients with arterial hypertension (AH). 32 healthy males served as control. Elements of MCG from normal subjects have been analyzed morphologically in 36 points of precordial leads. Left ventricular hypertrophy was registered at echo-CG, MCG, ECG in 11 (61%), 16 (84%) and 7 (34%) of the AH patients, respectively. Left atrial hypertrophy was discovered primarily by echo-CG and MCG. Defects in ventricular repolarization were recorded by MCg in 7 (39%) patients basing on MCG, echo-CG and rarely ECG signs of left ventricular hypertrophy. MCG is recommended as an effective tool in diagnosis of "hypertensive heart".