Several aspects of cellular immunity in patients with clinically defined chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were evaluated and compared with those in healthy individuals. Flow cytometric analyses ...revealed normal expression of total T (CD3+), B (CD19+), and NK (natural killer) (CD16+, CD56+) markers on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMC) from patients with CFS. However, compared with those of healthy individuals, patients' CD8+ T cells expressed reduced levels of CD11b and expressed the activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR at elevated levels. In many of the individuals in whom expression of CD11b was reduced the expression of CD28 was increased. These findings indicate expansion of a population of activated CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. A marked decrease in NK cell activity was found in almost all patients with CFS, as compared with that in healthy individuals. No substantial abnormalities in monocyte activity or T cell proliferation were observed. The results of this study suggest that immune cell phenotype changes and NK cell dysfunction are common manifestations of CFS.
Bolbophorus Infections in Cultured Fathead Minnow Mitchell, Andrew J.; Goodwin, Andrew E.; Levy, Michael G.
Journal of aquatic animal health,
March 2006, 2006-03-00, 20060301, Letnik:
18, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Bolbophorus trematodes in fish recently gained national attention because B. damnificus infections have caused major losses of commercially raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. We report the ...presence of a mixed infection (B. damnificus and Bolbophorus sp.) in fathead minnow Pimephales promelas. Of the 10 trematodes identified by Bolbophorus spp.−specific polymerase chain reaction assays, 9 were Bolbophorus sp. and 1 was B. damnificus. This is the first report of a natural infection of B. damnificus in a nonictalurid host. In fathead minnow, the prodiplostomula examined histologically were surrounded by thin‐walled cysts; rarely, the cysts were accompanied by an inflammatory reaction that consisted primarily of macrophages.
The PIRO concept: R is for response Gerlach, Herwig; Dhainaut, Jean-Francois; Harbarth, Stephan ...
Critical care (London, England),
06/2003, Letnik:
7, Številka:
3
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Summary
Indirect evidence suggests that a significant proportion of vertical transmission of HIV infection occurs late in pregnancy or during delivery. Caesarean section, therefore, may protect the ...fetus from infection.
We looked at 1254 HIV-infected mothers and their children and the effects of different modes of delivery on transmission risk. We also included a detailed assessment of confounding factors associated with transmission risk. Women who had caesarean sections were more advanced in their disease progression which may cause the protective effect of caesarean section to be underestimated. When this and other potential confounding factors were taken into account, caesarean section was estimated to halve the rate of transmission.
This finding is important in the design of studies to evaluate treatments aimed at reducing mother-to-child transmission.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBJE, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
To examine the incidence and predictors of clinician discomfort with life support plans for ICU patients.
Prospective cohort in 13 medical-surgical ICUs in four countries.
657 mechanically ventilated ...adults expected to stay in ICU at least 72 h.
Daily we documented the life support plan for mechanical ventilation, inotropes and dialysis, and clinician comfort with these plans. If uncomfortable, clinicians stated whether the plan was too technologically intense (the provision of too many life support modalities or the provision of any modality for too long) or not intense enough, and why. At least one clinician was uncomfortable at least once for 283 (43.1%) patients, primarily because plans were too technologically intense rather than not intense enough (93.9% vs. 6.1%). Predictors of discomfort because plans were too intense were: patient age, medical admission, APACHE II score, poor prior functional status, organ dysfunction, dialysis in ICU, plan to withhold dialysis, plan to withhold mechanical ventilation, first week in the ICU, clinician, and city.
Clinician discomfort with life support perceived as too technologically intense is common, experienced mostly by nurses, variable across centers, and is more likely for older, severely ill medical patients, those with acute renal failure, and patients lacking plans to forgo reintubation and ventilation. Acknowledging the sources of discomfort could improve communication and decision making.
Approximately one in 500 individuals in Western population has autosomal dominant familial hypercholesterolemia due to mutations in the low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene. Screening for ...these mutations is hampered by their large number, except in founder populations. We identified the breakpoint of the >15 kb deletion involving the LDLR gene promoter and exon 1, responsible for more than 60% of French Canadian hypercholesterolemia cases, as well as the breakpoint of the 5 kb deletion of exons 2 and 3 that accounts for an additional 5% of cases. Both deletions appear to be because of homologous recombination by unequal crossing‐over between the left arms of Alu repeats. Using RepeatMasker, we determined that 55% of the LDLR gene is composed of Alu elements; thus, it is not surprising that most LDLR rearrangements involve at least one Alu. Furthermore, we developed a rapid polymerase chain reaction‐based assay for the French Canadian‐1 (>15 kb) and French Canadian‐5 (5 kb) hypercholesterolemia alleles. Screening a representative population sample of 943 French Canadian youths whose LDL cholesterol levels were above the 50th percentile allowed us to estimate the prevalence of the >15 kb allele as 0.11% (95% confidence interval, 0.03–0.38).
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