Is vertical vein ligation necessary in repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection?

BACKGROUND: In the repair of total anomalous venous connection, vertical vein ligation is recommended to eliminate left-to-right shunting. However, the small left heart chambers may not always tolerate the immediate increase in blood flow after combined repair and vein ligation. METHODS: A retrospective review of 23 infants and children undergoing correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection was undertaken to determine whether vertical vein ligation is a necessary component of successful surgical repair. In 14 patients this vein was ligated, whereas in 9 it was left patent. Six patients who underwent ligation and 5 who did not had pulmonary venous obstruction before operation. RESULTS: The operative mortality rate was 36% (5 of 14 patients) for the ligated group compared with 0% (0 of 9 patients) for the nonligated group (p = 0.06). All deaths occurred in patients with preoperative obstruction and a low mean left atrial pressure, and four of the deaths were directly attributable to left heart failure. Follow-up echocardiography in patients in whom the vertical vein was not ligated revealed adequate cardiac function and no residual left-to-right flow through the previously patent venous conduit. CONCLUSION: Vertical vein ligation during the repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection is not routinely necessary and actually may be undesirable in patients with preoperative obstruction, in whom the left heart chambers are particularly small.     

Cytotoxic lignans from Formosan Hernandia nymphaeifolia

The autolytic site Arg105 of rat trypsin was replaced with Cys by DNA site-directed mutagenesis method. Comparison of expression and purification of R105C trypsin along with the wild type and some other Arg105 mutants indicates that R105C trypsin could be expressed as well but with a lower expression level. It is unexpected that R105C trypsin has no detectable activity toward trypsin substrate TAME, quite different from the wild type and other Arg105 mutants. Native gel electrophoresis analysis indicates that R105C trypsin has a similar mobility rate to that of wild type trypsin. FPLC also gives similar retaining time. The loss of activity of R105C trypsin may result from the conformational change around active site, but not the dimer formation.     

Urinary calcium excretion in Swedish children

In order to determine whether serum anti-human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) antibody concentration is correlated with cellular viral DNA load, these 2 biological parameters were established in 22 symptomless HTLV-I carriers. The proviral copy (PVC) number was determined through quantificative polymerase chain reaction. Specific antibody titers were determined by Western blot with the end-point dilution method; the quantification of each antibody was performed through ScanBlot by determination of the peak height of each Western-blot band. A positive correlation was observed between the PVC number and the titer of total antibodies. When the association between the peak height of each antibody and the PVC number was studied, a significant positive correlation was observed only with anti-p 19. Further evaluation through follow-up studies of symptomless HTLV-I individuals is needed to clarify the value of anti-HTLV-I antibody titer as a predictor of disease progression.     

Linkage analysis of HSP70 genes and historecognition locus in botryllus schlosseri

The protochordate allorecognition system has long invited comparison with the vertebrate major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In the colonial species Botryllus schlosseri, a rapid fusion or rejection response resembling graft acceptance or rejection in vertebrates is controlled by a single highly polymorphic genetic region. Because linkage between heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) genes and the MHC appears to be conserved within the vertebrate lineage, linkage relationships between two HSP70 genes (HSP70.1 and HSP70.2) and the historecognition locus (FuHC) have been analyzed in B. schlosseri. Segregation patterns of restriction fragment length polymorphisms located in the 3' flanking regions of HSP70.1 and HSP70.2 were determined for progeny of defined crosses. These progeny were also analyzed for fusibility type by an in vivo cut colony assay. No close linkage was detected between any of the three loci. These results do not support the hypothesis that the allorecognition response in B. schlosseri is determined by an MHC homologue. However, it remains a possibility that orthologues of other MHC-linked genes will be linked to the B. schlosseri FuHC.     

RU-486 (Mifepristone) ameliorates diabetes but does not correct deficient beta-adrenergic signalling in adipocytes from mature C57BL/6J-ob/ob mice

HIV-1 RNA dimerization involves at least two key regions, one located upstream from the splice donor (SD) site, and the other located downstream from the SD site. To determine the precise location and the mechanism of action of the downstream region, we constructed a model system using a synthetic HIV-1 RNA fragment (HXB2, 455-1146), which dimerized at relatively low salt concentrations (100 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl2). We tested in this system antisense DNAs that are complementary to both the upstream and downstream regions of HIV-1 RNA for their possible inhibitory effects on dimerization. Antisense DNAs complementary to nucleotides 773-789 located downstream from the SD site effectively inhibited dimerization of HIV-1 RNA. These inhibitory antisense DNAs hybridized with the dimer form of HIV-1 RNA, and dissociated the dimer into monomers. However, antisense DNAs complementary to the region upstream from the SD site did not hybridize with the dimer, although they inhibited RNA dimerization and also dissociated the preformed dimer.     

Musculoskeletal health surveillance. Eight simple, self-administered tests to add to symptom registration: a preliminary report

STUDY DESIGN: A population-based evaluation including cross-sectional comparisons of eight simple function tests (mobility and strength) and answers on questions concerning lifestyle factors, work environment, and health. The study population was randomly selected among people 35-45 years old. OBJECTIVES: To construct a simple, self-administered surveillance system to test musculoskeletal function to be mailed to a sample population along with a questionnaire. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A surveillance system should be easy to use, detect treatable symptoms at an early stage, and detect change of function or symptoms. METHOD: Questionnaires, which also contained instructions in performing the eight tests of musculoskeletal function, were sent to a randomly selected sample population. The questionnaire covered type and level of musculoskeletal problems, and lifestyle and occupational factors. RESULTS: The questionnaire and the self-administered test were completed by 834 people. The test movements could be performed and the questions answered by the study population. The tests discriminated between those with and without moderate or severe problems. Performance of physically heavy work did not significantly correlate with the test results. The results of the physical function test discriminated significantly between those with different levels of fear of movement (odds ratio, 2.2) and the degree of current somatic distress (odds ratio, 5.9). CONCLUSION: The test of physical function could be performed and the questionnaire completed by this randomly selected cohort, and the results discriminated significantly between groups.