应用流式细胞术分析林麝外周血 CD4+、CD8+ T淋巴细胞

通过对圈养林麝(Moschusberezovskii)外周血淋巴细胞CD4~+、CD8~+亚群的检测,探讨林麝细胞免疫功能状态,并探索应用流式细胞仪分析其淋巴细胞亚群的方法,为研究林麝重大疾病的病理机制及诊断方法提供科学依据。本研究选取健康林麝和患呼吸道疾病林麝各5头,以双色流式细胞术检测其外周血淋巴细胞CD4~+、CD8~+亚群的含量,并进行比较。结果显示,羊源CD4、CD8的流式荧光抗体能够标记林麝细胞并有效检测;患病林麝与健康林麝相比,外周血CD4~+细胞含量无差异(P 0.05),CD8~+细胞含量则显著降低(P 0.01),CD4~+/CD8~+比值显著增高(P 0.01)。结果表明,患呼吸系统炎性疾病的林麝其外周血淋巴细胞CD8~+亚群变化显著,检测淋巴细胞亚群对林麝疾病的诊断有重要意义。     

实时荧光定量PCR法与常规细菌鉴定法检测肠道致病菌的比较

目的比较实时荧光定量PCR法与常规细菌鉴定法检测肠道致病菌中沙门菌与志贺菌的结果并分析总结。方法对江苏盛泽医院2010年到2014年就诊的腹泻患者4 662例的粪便标本同时进行实时荧光定量PCR法与常规细菌鉴定法检测,对其结果进行统计学分析,并对所有实时荧光定量PCR检测阳性标本进行常规细菌鉴定法检测,对所有结果进行分析与总结。结果实时荧光定量PCR法检测沙门菌阳性85株,阳性率为1.82%;志贺菌阳性192株,阳性率为4.12%;常规细菌鉴定法检测沙门菌阳性81株,阳性率为1.74%;志贺菌阳性184株,阳性率为3.95%,两种方法比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。对实时荧光定量PCR检测阳性标本进行常规细菌鉴定法检测,阳性率为100%。结论实时荧光定量PCR法检测沙门菌与志贺菌结果可靠,检测时间短,更能满足临床诊断肠道疾病的需求。     

林麝肠道乳酸菌及肠杆菌多态性分析及耐药性研究

为研究林麝肠道中乳酸菌和肠杆菌基因型及表型多样性并对其耐药性进行分析,本研究从10头健康成年林麝粪便样品中分离到22株乳酸菌和16株肠杆菌,通过16S rDNA进化分析和生理生化测定对分离菌株进行了鉴定,采用脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)技术分析了分离菌株的基因型并利用药敏纸片法进行了分离菌株的耐药性研究。本研究共分离到了11种细菌,分别为大肠杆菌Escherichia coli、阴沟肠杆菌Enterobacter cloaca、河生肠杆菌E.amnigenus、肺炎克雷伯氏菌Klebsiella pneumoniae、蒙氏肠球菌Enterococcus mundtii、耐久肠球菌E.durans、明串球菌Leuconostoc fallax、植物乳杆菌Lactobacillus plantarum、嗜酸乳杆菌L.acidipiscis、屎肠球菌E.faecium和食窦魏斯氏菌Weissella cibaria。其中大肠杆菌(n=11,28.9%)是林麝肠道中的优势菌群,肠球菌(n=10,26.3%)是林麝肠道中的优势乳酸菌群。PFGE分型结果表明肠杆菌分为7个基因型,乳酸菌分为9个基因型。本研究首次分析了林麝肠道中可培养细菌的基因型及表型并且对其耐药性进行了测定,结果表明林麝肠道中的原生菌群多态性明显,并且对目前常用的抗生素敏感,未检测到耐药菌株。     

林麝血液生理生化指标研究

以健康雄麝、健康雌麝和患化脓病林麝各10头为研究对象,比较它们之间的血液生理生化指标差异。结果表明:(1)健康雄麝和健康雌麝的甘油三酯、极低密度脂蛋白存在显著差异(P<0.05)。雄麝的甘油三酯为0.32mmol/L,极低密度脂蛋白为0.14mmol/L;雌麝的为0.47mmol/L,0.21mmol/L;其他生理生化指标无显著差异。(2)健康林麝与患化脓病林麝的白细胞、淋巴细胞百分比、嗜中性粒细胞百分比存在极显著差异(P<0.01);健康林麝的白细胞数量为29.08×109个/L、淋巴细胞百分比为62.01%、嗜中性粒细胞百分比为34.05%;患化脓病林麝的为104.67×109个/L、50.87%、45.37%。健康林麝与患化脓病林麝之间白蛋白、球蛋白、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶、乳酸脱氢酶、总胆固醇、肌酐、血糖存在显著差异(P<0.05),健康林麝的白蛋白为44.44g/L、球蛋白为33.6g/L、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶为316.43U/L、乳酸脱氢酶为700.68U/L、总胆固醇为2.14mmol/L、肌酐为108.47μmol/L、血糖为7.29mmol/L;患化脓病林麝的为37.23g/L、47.45g/L、478U/L、840.75U/L、1.16mmol/L、85.52μmmol/L、5.04mmol/L。这些结果为养殖林麝化脓病的诊断提供了参考数据。     

便潜血单克隆一步法胶体金检测试卡的研制

采用鼠抗人血红蛋白(Hb)单克隆抗体1和胶体金标记鼠抗人血红蛋白(Hb)单克隆抗体2及对照抗体羊抗鼠IgG,利用双抗体免疫夹心反应原理特异性地结合人血红蛋白抗原,在5 min内可得到胶体金显色结果的原理研制便潜血单克隆一步法胶体金检测试卡,用于诊断因各种原因引起的消化道出血疾病.应用杂交瘤技术制备两株鼠抗人血红蛋白(Hb)抗体(McAb);ELISA方法检测McAb效价;免疫胶体金技术制备胶体金检测试卡.ELISA法检测McAb效价的结果显示,鼠抗人血红蛋白(Hb)单克隆抗体1效价为1∶3.2×l03;鼠抗人血红蛋白(Hb)单克隆抗体2效价为l:1.6×103.试卡的灵敏度检测结果显示,检测粪便中血红蛋白的最低浓度为0.1μg/mL;试卡的特异性检测结果显示,特异性地结合人血红蛋白抗原,而不结合其他物种的血红蛋白(如动物血红蛋白),本法测便潜血不受维生素C、含过氧化物酶的绿叶蔬菜及铁剂等干扰.大便潜血一步检测法是一种快速、灵敏、简便的免疫层析检测法,由于具有高度敏感性和特异性,以及快速直观等优势,对于诊断各种原因引起的上下消化道出血疾病具有重要的定性判别意义.     

检测脊髓灰质炎IgM抗体捕捉法ELISA的建立及其在早期快速诊断中的应用

首次建立了用于脊髓灰质炎快速、分型诊断的血清IgM抗体捕捉法ELISA。检测了52例疑似病人,IgM阳性率为76.9％(40/52),而粪便病毒分离率仅为44.2％(23/52),前者的阳性检出率明显高于后者。做病毒分型诊断结果,与分离病毒中和试验定型的总符合率为92.86％(39/42)。检测601例来自全国各省的脊灰疑似病人血清,其阳性率波动于13％～92.3％,平均为61.1％。阳性率与收集血清的病日相关,发病0～3天收集者,阳性检出率为69.5％,4～25天者为64％,26～54天者为52％,55天以上者则未能检出。本检测方法需时1.5天,简便、敏感、特异,重复性良好,适用于脊灰的早期快速诊断。对其实用性进行了讨论。     

粪菌移植在儿童炎症性肠病中的应用

炎症性肠病(IBD)是一种病因尚不明确的非特异性肠道炎症性疾病。越来越多的证据表明肠道菌群失调与IBD的发生发展密切相关。粪菌移植是通过各种方式将健康捐赠者的粪便菌群移植入患者消化道内,旨在重建患者肠道菌群从而达到对肠道内外疾病治疗的目的。肠道微生物稳态及失调在疾病发生发展中发挥作用,其中包括炎症性肠病(IBD)。越来越多的研究报道了FMT在IBD中的治疗作用,现主要阐述粪菌移植在儿童IBD中的应用。     

化学发光法在梅毒实验诊断中的应用价值

目的:探讨化学发光法在梅毒实验诊断中的应用价值。方法:采用化学发光法、RPR法、TPPA法分别检测150例梅毒患者及125例非梅毒患者血清。结果:化学发光法、RPR法、TPPA法对150例梅毒血清标本和125例非梅毒血清标本对照组的敏感性分别为98.0%、75.3%和97.3%,特异性分别为98.3%、81.6%和97.5%。化学发光法、TPPA法敏感性和特异性明显高于RPR法,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);化学发光法和TPPA法相比,敏感性和特异性差别不大,差异没有统计学意义(P>0.05);联合3种方法检测,梅毒诊断阳性率可提高到100%。结论:梅毒的化学发光检测法具有极高的敏感性和特异性,是一种自动化、定量检测方法,能够用于梅毒的准确诊断和疗效观察,与传统方法联检可防止误诊、漏诊,具有较大的临床应用价值。     

短链脂肪酸丁酸抑制动脉粥样硬化形成及其分子机制

本研究通过观察丁酸对动脉粥样硬化斑块形成以及肠道组织结构和功能的影响,探讨丁酸防治动脉粥样硬化的效应及可能机制。选取8周龄雄性载脂蛋白E基因敲除(apolipoprotein E-knockout,ApoE-/-)小鼠,随机分成对照组(高脂高胆固醇饲料+饮水中给予200 mmol/L氯化钠,n=10)和丁酸组(高脂高胆固醇饲料+饮水中给予200 mmol/L丁酸钠,n=10),喂养12周。干预结束后麻醉处死小鼠并分离主动脉、心脏,油红O染色定量分析动脉粥样硬化斑块面积。取新鲜的小鼠肠道组织检测肠道组织长度、结构和通透性。定量PCR和酶联免疫吸附法检测炎症因子水平。结果表明:与对照组相比,丁酸组小鼠动脉粥样硬化斑块面积显著减少(P<0.01),血清总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平也明显降低(P<0.05),主动脉、肠道组织以及血液循环中炎症因子表达水平显著下降。同时,丁酸干预后小鼠肠道结构更加致密,肠道通透性降低,血液内毒素脂多糖水平也明显降低,肠道紧密连接蛋白Occludin和ZO-1基因表达水平显著升高。体外人小肠上皮细胞Caco-2实验结果显示,丁酸可以剂量依赖性地上调Occludin和ZO-1 mRNA和蛋白表达水平,这一效应可以被G蛋白耦联受体41小干扰RNA所阻断。以上结果提示,丁酸显著抑制小鼠动脉粥样硬化发生,其作用机制可能与其降低肠道通透性、减少血液脂多糖和炎症因子水平有关。     

基于磁珠法的荧光定量PCR检测HBV-DNA临床应用评价

目的评价基于磁珠法的荧光定量PCR检测HBV-DNA的临床应用。方法选用磁珠法定量检测试剂和煮沸法定量检测试剂,对一系列临床患者血清标本进行检测,比较两种试剂检出率的差异;通过浓度为1×108的样本的梯度稀释结果考察两者的灵敏度和线性范围。结果 68例临床样本中,磁珠法试剂检测的阳性率为69.12%,煮沸法试剂检测的阳性率为32.35%(P0.05);两种试剂对103IU/m L阳性样本检测结果:y=0.913x-0.261,r=0.919;磁珠法线性范围3.9×(101~108),灵敏度39 IU/m L,煮沸法线性范围2.4×(102~107),灵敏度240 IU/m L。结论磁珠法核酸提取试剂线性范围宽,灵敏度高,临床检出率明显高于煮沸法,对于高浓度和低浓度样本都能准确的定值,适合于乙肝治疗后监测与体检筛查。     

林麝泌香的分子机制研究进展

林麝(Moschus berezovskii)是国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生动物,以分泌麝香而闻名。麝香是雄性林麝的香腺分泌的特殊物质。由于过度猎杀取香、栖息地破碎等原因,野生林麝的数量急剧下降至濒危。自1950年代以来,我国开展了人工养殖林麝,积累了丰富经验,取得了一定成果,但在林麝营养需要、饲料加工与饲养管理、遗传特征与选育、繁殖、泌香机理与取香等基础理论及关键技术方面研究进展不大,所以,林麝种群扩繁速度低,种群规模不大,麝香产量不高。本文综述了近年来有关林麝香腺的显微与超微结构、麝香的分泌形成过程、利用分子标记研究麝香的分泌、性激素基因与林麝麝香分泌的关系、林麝泌香相关基因组与转录组研究等方面的研究进展,以期为深入研究林麝泌香的分子机制提供参考。     

Colicinogenic activity of intestinal microflora as a sign of dysbacteriosis of the gastrointestinal tract

Clinical and bacteriological studies have revealed that the production of colicin by Escherichia coli forming a part of intestinal microbiocenosis is related to the clinical manifestations of inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. During the exacerbation of chronic inflammatory processes of the digestive system the proportion of colicin producing E. coli increases (more than 45%) in comparison with that of E. coli fecal strains isolated in children and adolescents regarded as healthy (less than 15%). The possibility of using the colicin producing activity of intestinal microflora for the evaluation of the dysbiotic states of gastrointestinal tract is discussed.     

四川马尔康圈养林麝的刻板行为

在圈养环境下,迁地保育野生动物易发育刻板行为,刻板行为的发育可直接影响圈养野生动物的繁殖和存活,从而影响迁地保育。2016年5月1日至7月31日间,采用焦点取样及所有事件记录法对四川马尔康林麝繁育场的75头圈养林麝(Moschus berezovskii)进行了刻板行为取样,分析了性别、年龄、圈区环境、圈群结构等因素对其刻板行为的效应。结果表明,四川马尔康麝场的圈养林麝在单位取样时间(10 min)内展现的刻板行为持续时间占比为20.53%±2.43%(n=75);雌麝刻板行为持续时间占比(18.14%±3.26%,n=46)略低于雄麝(20.89%±3.98%,n=25);随圈养年限(本研究中的圈养林麝"年龄"即是"被圈养年数")增加,林麝展现刻板行为的持续时间显著增加(P0.05);圈区环境设施对刻板行为存在显著效应(P0.05),裸地基底圈舍中林麝的刻板行为持续时间占比最高(33.11%±6.16%,n=24);圈群结构对林麝刻板行为持续时间的影响不显著(P0.05),混合圈群的刻板行为持续时间(19.31%±3.18%,n=53)最小;圈群密度对刻板行为持续时间的效应不显著(P0.05)。增加圈养环境的植被覆盖,进行混合圈养,可有效降低圈养林麝的刻板行为强度,并可提升林麝迁地保育的有效性。     

益生菌对炎症性肠病幼鼠 Th17细胞的调节作用

目的观察鼠李糖乳杆菌(LGG)对炎症性肠病(IBD)幼鼠结肠白细胞介素-17A (IL-17A)水平的影响,探讨益生菌对Th17细胞的调节作用。方法 36只健康雄性SD幼鼠随机分4组:空白对照组、LGG对照组各8只,IBD组、IBD-LGG组各10只。利用2,4,6-三硝基苯磺酸(TNBS)诱导幼鼠IBD模型,观察一般状况、IBD疾病活动指数评分。第8天处死所有幼鼠,留取结肠标本,观察病理改变并采用免疫组织化学法测定结肠组织IL-17A的表达。结果相比两对照组,IBD组、IBD-LGG组幼鼠一般状态差,IBD-LGG组便性状及隐血较IBD组缓解;IBD组、IBD-LGG组幼鼠结肠组织均见炎症改变,但IBD-LGG组较轻。IBD-LGG组DAI评分、IL-17A水平均低于IBD组,差异有统计学意义(Ps0.05)。结论益生菌可减轻IBD幼鼠肠道炎症,其机制可能与益生菌调节Th17细胞进而调控IL-17A表达有关。     

奥曲肽联合介入治疗对急性上消化道大出血患者隐血试验的影响

目的:探讨奥曲肽联合栓塞介入治疗消化性溃疡引发的上消化道出血的临床研究。方法:将30例消化道溃疡合并急性消化道大出血患者随机分为对照组和联合治疗组,每组15例,对照组患者采用栓塞介入治疗,联合治疗组采用奥曲肽联合栓塞治疗,在48 h后评价短期疗效,并随访1月观察患者的出血复发情况及不良反应;采用联合免疫试剂盒检测患者在治疗前及治疗后2天,3天和7天的大便隐血,并记录患者隐血转阴时间和住院时间。结果:联合治疗组患者的短期有效率为92.9%明显高于对照组的60.0%,且差异有统计学意义(X~2=8.96,P0.05);治疗前,两组患者的大便隐血试验均为阳性,治疗2天后,联合治疗组和对照组的隐血阳性率分别为21.4%和66.7%,两组比较差异有显著意义(X~2=6.66,P0.01);治疗3天后,联合治疗组92.8%患者隐血试验转阴,显著高于对照组60.0%,且差异有统计学意义(X~2=4.66,P0.05);对照组患者的隐血转阴时间和住院时间分别为(4.15±2.37)天和(7.22±1.98)天高于联合治疗组,其隐血转阴时间和住院时间分别为(2.77±1.98)天和(5.33±2.07)天,两组相比,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:奥曲肽联合栓塞介入治疗可以快速止血,再出血发生率低和安全等特点,能有效治疗消化性溃疡引发的急性上消化道大出血。     

Performance of the immunochemical fecal occult blood test in predicting lesions in the lower gastrointestinal tract

Background:

Previous studies have suggested that the immunochemical fecal occult blood test has superior specificity for detecting bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract even if bleeding occurs in the upper tract. We conducted a large population-based study involving asymptomatic adults in Taiwan, a population with prevalent upper gastrointestinal lesions, to confirm this claim.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective cohort study involving asymptomatic people aged 18 years or more in Taiwan recruited to undergo an immunochemical fecal occult blood test, colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy between August 2007 and July 2009. We compared the prevalence of lesions in the lower and upper gastrointestinal tracts between patients with positive and negative fecal test results. We also identified risk factors associated with a false-positive fecal test result.

Results:

Of the 2796 participants, 397 (14.2%) had a positive fecal test result. The sensitivity of the test for predicting lesions in the lower gastrointestinal tract was 24.3%, the specificity 89.0%, the positive predictive value 41.3%, the negative predictive value 78.7%, the positive likelihood ratio 2.22, the negative likelihood ratio 0.85 and the accuracy 73.4%. The prevalence of lesions in the lower gastrointestinal tract was higher among those with a positive fecal test result than among those with a negative result (41.3% v. 21.3%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract did not differ significantly between the two groups (20.7% v. 17.5%, p = 0.12). Almost all of the participants found to have colon cancer (27/28, 96.4%) had a positive fecal test result; in contrast, none of the three found to have esophageal or gastric cancer had a positive fecal test result (p < 0.001). Among those with a negative finding on colonoscopy, the risk factors associated with a false-positive fecal test result were use of antiplatelet drugs (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21–4.98) and a low hemoglobin concentration (adjusted OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.62–4.33).

Interpretation:

The immunochemical fecal occult blood test was specific for predicting lesions in the lower gastrointestinal tract. However, the test did not adequately predict lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract.The fecal occult blood test is a convenient tool to screen for asymptomatic gastrointestinal bleeding.¹ When the test result is positive, colonoscopy is the strategy of choice to investigate the source of bleeding.^2,3 However, 13%–42% of patients can have a positive test result but a negative colonoscopy,⁴ and it has not yet been determined whether asymptomatic patients should then undergo evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract.Previous studies showed that the frequency of lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract was comparable or even higher than that of colonic lesions^5–9 and that the use of esophagogastroduodenoscopy may change clinical management.^10,11 Some studies showed that evaluation of the upper gastrointestinal tract helped to identify important lesions in symptomatic patients and those with iron deficiency anemia;^12,13 however, others concluded that esophagogastroduodenoscopy was unjustified because important findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract were rare^14–17 and sometimes irrelevant to the results of fecal occult blood testing.^18–21 This controversy is related to the heterogeneity of study populations and to the limitations of the formerly used guaiac-based fecal occult blood test,^5–20 which was not able to distinguish bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract from that originating in the upper tract.The guaiac-based fecal occult blood test is increasingly being replaced by the immunochemical-based test. The latter is recommended for detecting bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract because it reacts with human globin, a protein that is digested by enzymes in the upper gastrointestinal tract.²² With this advantage, the occurrence of a positive fecal test result and a negative finding on colonoscopy is expected to decrease.We conducted a population-based study in Taiwan to verify the performance of the immunochemical fecal occult blood test in predicting lesions in the lower gastrointestinal tract and to confirm that results are not confounded by the presence of lesions in the upper tract. In Taiwan, the incidence of colorectal cancer is rapidly increasing, and Helicobacter pylori-related lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract remain highly prevalent.²³ Same-day bidirectional endoscopies are therefore commonly used for cancer screening.²⁴ This screening strategy provides an opportunity to evaluate the performance of the immunochemical fecal occult blood test.     

大兴安岭原麝冬季的生境选择

2005年3～4月和2006年3月,在黑龙江省大兴安岭呼中自然保护区,采用机械布点法随机设置样线,对原麝(Moschus moschiferus)冬季生境选择进行了研究。对海拔、乔木密度、雪深、隐蔽度、食物丰富度、坡度和倒木数量进行2个独立样本的Mann-Whitey U检验,找出生境利用样方与任意样方的生态因子的差异。U检验的结果表明,原麝冬季喜欢活动在相对海拔高、乔木密度小、雪层浅、隐蔽度高、坡度陡且喜食食物丰富的区域;对植被类型、坡位、坡向、距水源距离、距人为干扰距离、动物干扰和碎石坡7个名词性变量采用卡方(Chi-square)统计进行显著性检验,卡方检验的结果表明:原麝冬季偏好远离人为干扰、接近碎石坡、阳坡和其他动物干扰较少的针阔混交林中;对以上14个生态因子进行主成分分析,结果表明,前6个特征值的累计贡献率达到72·318%,可以较好地反映原麝生境特征,根据主成分分析结果,将原麝冬季生境选择影响因子分别命名为空间因子(海拔、坡度、距碎石坡距离)、干扰因子(距人为干扰距离、距水源距离)、坡向因子(坡向、乔木密度)、坡位因子(坡位、动物干扰)、食物因子(食物丰富度、隐蔽度)和倒木因子(倒木数量)。     

Bacterial endotoxinemia in children with intestinal dysbacteriosis

34 children with gastrointestinal diseases of infectious, allergic and mixed etiology were examined. The state of normal microflora in the large intestine as indicated by fecal bacterial charts and the level of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the contents of the intestine as indicated by the results of radial immunodiffusion were studied. In addition, the content of endotoxin in the children's plasma was determined with the use of the Limulus (LAL) test. The presence of endotoxin in the plasma of children with intestinal dysbiosis was determined in 71.1% of cases. The frequency of the detection of antigenemia was found to be related to the severity of manifestations of dysbiotic changes in the intestine and to the level of sIgA in fecal supernatants. The inclusion of the probiotic preparation Bifidumbacterin forte containing live bifidobacteria adsorbed on activated charcoal into the complex therapy of digestive tract diseases ensured a decrease in the detection rate of endotoxinemia, which correlated with the tendency towards the normalization of defective intestinal microflora.     

Detection of Helicobacter species DNA by quantitative PCR in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals and of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

In many animal species different intestinal Helicobacter species have been described and a few species are associated with intestinal infection. In humans, the only member of the Helicobacter family which is well described in literature is Helicobacter pylori. No other Helicobacter-associated diseases have definitely been shown in humans. We developed a sensitive quantitative PCR to investigate whether Helicobacter species DNA can be detected in the human gastrointestinal tract. We tested gastric biopsies (including biopsies from H. pylori positive persons), intestinal mucosal biopsies and fecal samples from healthy persons, and intestinal mucosal biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for the presence of Helicobacter species. All gastric biopsies, positive for H. pylori by culture, were also positive in our newly developed PCR. No Helicobacter species were found in the mucosal biopsies from patients with IBD (n = 50) nor from healthy controls (n = 25). All fecal samples were negative. Our study suggests that Helicobacter species, other than H. pylori, are not present in the normal human gastrointestinal flora and our results do not support a role of Helicobacter species in IBD.     

Plasma hemoglobin determination in beagle dogs. An adaptation of the method of Crosby and Furth.

The plasma hemoglobin concentration of beagle dogs was measured following an improved bleeding technic which minimized trauma of the red cells. The benzidine reaction (benzidine dihydrochloride) was used to measure the hemoglobin present. Plasma hemoglobin values of the first 2 ml of blood collected were statistically significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than values of the next 2-3 ml of blood. Plasma hemoglobin values of normal beagles were 0.5-2.5 mg/dl in minimally hemolyzed samples. Recovery rates of up to 92% of hemoglobin added to plasma were possible with this method.