Cloning and biological characterization of human single-chain Fv fragments that mediate neutralization of HIV-1.

Objective: To develop recombinant single-chain Fv fragments against HIV-1 gp120.

Methods: A panel of human monoclonal antibody Fv fragments were generated against the HIV-1 gp120 by affinity selection from an antibody library expressed on the surface of filamentous phage. The library was prepared from peripheral blood lymphocytes of an asymptomatic HIV-1-infected mother with a high neutralization titer.

The effect of a preceptorship on nursing performance.

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effectiveness of a preceptorship program in increasing the nursing performance of the new graduate. Before and immediately after participating in a 5-week preceptorship the students completed a background data sheet and Schwirian's Six Dimension Scale of Nursing Performance questionnaire. The findings indicated that in all areas measuring frequency of experiences, the students perceived themselves as having performed nursing activities more frequently as a result of the preceptorship.

Impassable urethral strictures: percutaneous transvesical catheterization and balloon dilatation.

Urethral strictures that are impassable in retrograde fashion present a special problem to the urologist because they cannot be managed by standard dilatation techniques or direct-vision internal urethrotomy. Open urethroplasty is usually required. We describe a technique to catheterize the urethra in an antegrade fashion and dilate the strictures.