Bacteriology of tonsil and adenoid and sampling techniques of adenoidal bacteriology

Twenty-six laboratories including 22 Blood Transfusion Centres in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland participated in a collaborative study to assess the suitability of proposed working standards for hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) for use in the UK Blood Transfusion Service. Data from 88 assays indicated that all laboratories could detect HBsAg in the proposed working standard at a concentration of 0.5 IU/ml. Samples containing HBsAg at a concentration of 0.125 IU/ml were scored positive in 80% of assays and it was concluded that this would be a suitable concentration for inclusion in a monitor sample which would indicate whether the sensitivity of an assay system in routine use is varying over a period of time. The use of a batch of 'provisional' working standard tested under field conditions over a period of 4 months has been monitored. HBsAg was not detected in only 2 out of 6,523 assays.     

Interleukin-10 abrogates the inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus-induced B-cell transformation by memory T-cell responses

In vitro infection of human B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) results in their growth transformation and establishment of immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines. The virus was found to encode a homologue of the pleiotropic cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), which has wide-ranging effects on the immune system. We investigated the effect of human IL-10 (hIL-10) and viral IL-10 (vIL-10) on EBV-specific immunological memory, as assessed by the inhibition of EBV-induced B-cell transformation by the autologous T cells. We found that IL-10 abrogates the inhibitory capacity of T cells. This IL-10 effect is mediated through suppression of T-cell activation-induced IL-2 and interferon-gamma production and through a direct enhancement of EBV-infected B-cell growth.     

Effect of an elemental vs a complex diet on L-citrulline production from L-arginine in rat isolated enterocytes

Robot systems are being tested in stereotactic neurosurgical interventions, orthopedic surgery of the hip or knee and advancal endoscopic systems for minimally invasive surgery. In contrast to most industrially manufactured products, objects for medical treatment are characterized by plasticity as well as by complex and individual forms. Thus, features of robots in this field have to be further developed in terms of advanced sensory and specific micromotoric systems. Safety and cooperation between surgeon and robot on the patient in the operating room have to be guaranteed. Extensive three-dimensional diagnosis, computer-aided planning and simulation of the intervention as well as sensory systems that monitor the actual performance of the operation are mandatory parts of this concept. In our interdisciplinary study, we aim to examine whether a robot-given a complete preoperative planning and simulation procedure-is able to perform certain surgical operations more precisely than the surgeon. Examples are drilling with depth control, shaping of bone surface by milling, sawing with defined depth in cranial osteotomies, defined preparation of implant sites and the positioning and insertion of dental and other surgical implants, whereby autonomous employment of the robot is not that which is aspired to in these interventions but rather the interactive support of the surgeon.