PET-CT在非完全实性肺结节中的应用价值

肺癌在中国恶性肿瘤的发病率位居第一,随着低剂量薄层CT在肺癌筛查中的广泛应用,临床发现更多表现为非完全实性结节的肺腺癌,目前众多研究使CT影像学特征和肺腺癌病理的关系得到更进一步的认知,虽然CT能对部分非完全实性结节做出定性和定位诊断,但仍有部分非完全实性结节诊断困难,PET-CT结合了病灶的代谢信息和精确的定位信息,从而提高对肺部结节诊断的敏感性、特异性、准确性,综合多个文献PET-CT在非完全实性结节中的诊断分期价值较CT无明显提升,却在评估预后和制定合适手术方案上可以起到一定的作用,本文就PET-CT在SSN中的应用价值进行阐述。     

Clonorchis sinensis: purification and characterization of a cysteine proteinase from adult worms

1. Adult Clonorchis sinensis, the Chinese liver fluke, is known to migrate to the bile ducts of its mammalian host and cause significant pathology. 2. An acidic, thiol-dependent proteinase with a native mol. wt of approximately 18,500 was purified to homogeneity using ion-exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. By SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the mol. wt of the enzyme was estimated to be 15,000. 3. The enzyme was similar to cathepsin B-like cysteine proteinases based on pH optimum, substrate specificity, and inhibitor sensitivity. 4. Antisera from human clonorchiasis and C. sinensis-infected rabbits reacted in immunoblots with the partially purified proteinase. The C. sinensis proteinase may be useful for serodiagnosis of clonorchiasis.     

Detection and preliminary characterization of Taenia solium metacestode proteases.

The metacestode of Taenia solium persists for years in the human central nervous system. As proteolytic enzymes play an important role in the survival of tissues helminths, we examined extracts of T. solium metacestodes for proteolytic activity using 9 synthetic peptide substrates and 3 proteins (hemoglobin, albumin, and immunoglobulin G). The proteolytic enzymes were classified based on their inhibitor profiles. At neutral pH, aminopeptidase(arginine-7-amino-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin) and endopeptidase(benzyloxy-carbonyl-glycine-glycine-arginine-7-amino-4- trifluoromethylcoumarin) substrates were cleaved. Hydrolysis of both substrates was inhibited by chelating agents, which inhibit metalloproteases. Peak activity with both substrates eluted in gel filtration fractions corresponding to a molecular weight of about 104 kDa. Cysteine protease activity was identified, which cleaved benzyloxy-carbonyl-phenylalanine-arginine-7-amino- 4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (Z-Phe-Arg-AFC) and hemoglobin. Cleavage of Z-Phe-Arg-AFC was maximal at acid pH, was stimulated by thiols, and was inhibited by leupeptin and Ep459. Peak cysteine protease activity eluted in gel filtration fractions corresponding to a molecular weight of 32 kDa. Aspartic protease activity was identified by specific inhibition with pepstatin of acid digestion of hemoglobin and immunoglobulin G. Immunoglobulin digestion occurred at acid pH, with preferential degradation of the heavy chain. Upon gel filtration chromatography, the aspartic protease activity eluted as a broad peak with maximal activity at about 90 kDa. No serine protease activity was detected. None of the parasite enzymes digested albumin. Proteolytic enzymes of T. solium may be important for parasite survival in the intermediate host, by providing nutrients and digesting host immune molecules.     

Biosynthesis of folic acid

Summary It has been attempted to isolate and characterize the folate precursors in the culture filtrates of two folate-requiring organisms, Streptococcus faecalis R and Lactobacillus casei. On the basis of paper chromatography, bioautography, ultra violet absorption spectra, chemical reactions, and differential microbiological responses it has been concluded that L. casei cultures contain a compound similar to pteroic acid which can be utilized by S. faecalis R. The S. faecalis R cultures on the other hand appear to accumulate a pteridine derivative active for Crithidia fasciculata It has been confirmed that this pteridine is not derived from the folic acid usually added to the growth medium.Abbreviations PGA Pterolyglutamic acid - PABA p-aminobenzoic acid     

Biosynthesis of folic acid

Summary Biosynthesis of folic acid activity by Bacillus subtilis cell suspensions was studied with respect to substrates utilized as precursors. Among purine bases, adenine was utilized the best and not guanine although guanosine or guanylic acid were utilized efficiently. Among 3-C precursors, glyceraldehyde gave maximum synthesis of folate activity. The cells appeared to utilize p-aminobenzoate preferentially to p-aminobenzoyl-glutamate. Pteroic acid appears to be an intermediate in the synthesis of folate derivatives in this system. Ascorbic acid stimulates the synthesis to a great extent.     

Somatoform disorders among patients attending walk-in clinics in Trinidad: prevalence and association with depression and anxiety

Objectives Somatoform disorders are common in international primary care settings, but have been little studied in the developing world. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of severe undifferentiated somatoform disorder, and its relationship to depression and anxiety, among patients attending walk-in clinics in Trinidad.Methods The study participants, who were all aged 18 years or older and attending walk-in clinics at 16 randomly selected health centres, were surveyed between May and August 2007 using the PRIME-MD questionnaire.Results There were 594 participants (the response rate was 92%), of whom 72.7% were female. Their ages ranged from 18 to 93 years, and 54.5% were over 50 years of age. In total, 37.2% were married and 25.9% were single. Indo-Trinidadians represented 43.1% and Afro-Trinidadians represented 36% of the study sample; 56.5% of the participants reported that their income was less than US$ 400 per month, and 65.7% were unemployed. At walk-in clinics in Trinidad, the estimated prevalence of severe undifferentiated somatoform disorder was 10.3% (95% CI: 7.86–12.74), that of hypochondriasis was 28.5% (95% CI: 24.9–32.1), and that of body dysmorphic disorder was 15.8% (95% CI: 11.9–18.7). Severe undifferentiated somatoform disorder was statistically significantly associated with gender and ethnicity but not with age, level of education, employment status or income. Chi-square testing found significant associations between the presence of severe undifferentiated somatoform disorder and both depression and anxiety (P < 0.05), between hypochondriasis and both anxiety and depression (P < 0.05), and between body dysmorphic disorder and depression (P < 0.05) but not anxiety. Regression analysis suggested that the demographic features that predicted severe undifferentiated somatoform disorder were being female or Indo-Trinidadian.Conclusions Walk-in clinics in Trinidad that serve older patients on a lower income have a high proportion of patients with somatoform disorders as measured by the PRIME-MD scale. These patients exhibit many features of anxiety and depression. These findings have implications for medical training and service delivery.     

Selenium reduction by a denitrifying consortium

A denitrifying bacterial consortium obtained from the Pullman, Washington wastewater treatment facility was enriched under denitrifying conditions and its ability to reduce selenite and selenate was studied. Replicate experiments at two different experimental conditions were performed. All experiments were performed under electron-acceptor limiting conditions, with acetate as the carbon source and nitrate the electron acceptor. In the first set of experiments, selenite was present, whereas, in the second set, selenate was added. A significant lag period of approximately 150 h was necessary before selenite or selenate reduction was observed. During this lag period, nitrate and nitrite use was observed. Once selenite or selenate reduction had started, nitrate and nitrite reduction was concomitant with selenium species reduction. Trace amounts of selenite were detected during the selenate reduction study. Analysis of the data indicates that, once selenium species reduction was induced, the rate of reduction was proportional to the selenium species concentration and to the biomass concentration. Furthermore, at similar biomass and contaminant concentrations, selenite reduction is approximately four times faster than selenate reduction. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.