Association of DRB1*1501 with disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection in North American AIDS patients.

The HLA class II allele, DR2 (DRB1*1501), has been repeatedly found to be associated with development of tuberculosis and leprosy. We searched for associations of these and other class II alleles with disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection (DMAC) in North American Caucasian homosexual AIDS patients. Molecular typing for HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles in 176 cases of DMAC and 176 matched controls showed an association of accelerated onset of disease with DRB1*1501 (and the closely linked DQB1*0602) that was stronger upon adjustment for the degree and duration of CD4+ cell deficiency (P=0.

Consistent associations of HLA class I and II and transporter gene products with progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in homosexual men.

Polymorphic products of genes in the HLA region contributing to variability in the course of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection were identified by screening 375 Caucasian seroconverters who were aggregated from 3 cohorts. AIDS-free time was related to numerous (15) class I alleles, alone or in conjunction with transporter protein variants, to homozygosity at the A or B locus, and to alleles of two class II haplotypes. A prognostic scoring algorithm derived from the 3 cohorts captured multiple HLA contributions to protection or to risk (relative hazard=0.

HLA class I homozygosity accelerates disease progression in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

Polymorphic products of HLA class I genes restrict cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to the constantly evolving spectrum of HIV-1 antigens. Accordingly, homozygosity at class I loci can reduce the repertoire for such HLA-dependent interactions, leading to accelerated disease progression. To test this hypothesis we studied subjects from two distinct HIV/AIDS cohorts: 140 Dutch homosexual men and 202 Rwandan heterosexual women followed up to 13 years from HIV-1 seroconversion.

Measures of estrus detection and pregnancy in dairy cows after administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone within an estrus synchronization program based on prostaglandin F2 alpha.

The objective of this study was to assess the use of GnRH in a controlled breeding program (7 d prior to the second of two injections of PGF2 alpha, 14 d apart) as a means to improve the expression and detection of estrus, first service conception rate, and overall pregnancy rate of lactating dairy cows. On 17 farms, 348 cows were assigned randomly to either of two breeding programs prior to first insemination. Cows in both programs received PGF2 alpha approximately 2 wk prior to the end of a herd-specific voluntary waiting period for breeding.

Dermal interstitial glucose as an indicator of ambient glycemia.

Objective: Using a novel minimally invasive (< or = 1.4 mm) technique to sample minuscule (0.5 microliter) amounts of dermal interstitial fluid (ISF), we assessed the accuracy of its glucose concentrations in predicting concurrently measured venous plasma and capillary plasma glucose concentrations.

Catalytic domain comparisons of human fibroblast-type collagenase, stromelysin-1, and matrilysin.

The propeptide plus the catalytic domain of human fibroblast-type collagenase, stromelysin-1, and matrilysin were expressed in Escherichia coli to directly compare the properties of all three catalytic domains utilizing the same assays. Truncated fibroblast-type collagenase (mini-CL), truncated stromelysin-1 (mini-SL-1), and matrilysin, like their native counterparts, could be activated by organomercurials, trypsin, or SDS. The mini-CL and mini-SL-1 displayed catalytic properties similar to their native counterparts, except that the mini-CL could not cleave native type I collagen.

Same-day admission thyroidectomy programme: quality assurance study.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a same-day admission thyroidectomy programme.

Design: Prospective patient surveys and a retrospective quality assurance study were conducted.

Method: Management of the initial 58 patients having a thyroidectomy at St.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: use in diagnosis and management of pediatric thyroid diseases.

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the thyroid is a reliable, safe, cost-effective, and widely used test. Its introduction and application have had a significant impact in the management of nodular thyroid diseases in adults. However, its utility in pediatric practice is not recognized or emphasized.

A prospective randomized comparison of the accuracy of computer-assisted versus GUSTO nomogram--directed heparin therapy.

Failure to adequately anticoagulate the blood of patients receiving recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) leads to greater rates of rethrombosis. In a multicentered, randomized trial in 51 patients we compared the ability to achieve and maintain therapeutic anticoagulation by use of computer-assisted heparin therapy or the GUSTO (Global Utilization of Streptokinase and TPA for Occluded Coronary Arteries) heparin nomogram guidelines in patients with myocardial infarction treated with recombinant TPA. Heparin therapy was initiated with either computer-generated starting doses or GUSTO guideline starting doses.

Effect of glossopexy on speech sound production in Robin sequence.

The management of Robin sequence may include glossopexy, in which the tongue is attached to the lower lip and mandible for anterior lingual positioning to resolve upper airway obstruction. The procedure is performed early in infancy and reversed at the time of palatal repair near 1 year of age. This period is critical to prespeech vocalization.

High-dose ara-C and etoposide in refractory or relapsing acute leukemia.

A total of 32 patients (15 men and 17 women) presenting with relapsing or refractory acute leukemia were treated with a 3-h infusion of 3 g/m2 cytosine arabinoside (ara-C) twice daily on days 1-6 and a 1-h infusion of 100 mg/m2 etoposide on days 1-5. In all, 6 subjects had acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL); 25 had acute myeloid leukemia (AML) of types M1 (n = 6), M2 (n = 10), M4 (n = 5), and M5 (n = 4); and 1 had mixed-type leukemia. The median age was 35 years (ranges, 16-62 years).

External and internal reflection near field microscopy: experiments and results.

Two configurations of a scanning near field optical microscope working in reflection are presented. Results exhibiting nanometric resolution are given and discussed.

Recombinant human interferon (IFN) alpha-2b in chronic myelogenous leukaemia: dose dependency of response and frequency of neutralizing anti-interferon antibodies.

Twenty-seven patients with Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelogenous leukaemia in the chronic phase were treated with low doses of recombinant interferon (IFN) alpha-2b. Ten patients entered a complete and six a partial haematologic remission with a median duration of 5.8 and 9.

[Standardisation of TRH test for the exact determination of thyroxine treatment (author's transl)].

A TRH test was performed on 50 patients treated on a daily thyroxine dose of 50-200 microgram. Results were compared with a test performed at the earliest three weeks on the same thyroxine dosage, but the latter having been interrupted for 24 hours. In the first case T4 was 8.

[On the question of cortisol administration in adrenocortical insufficiency (author's transl)].

The question whether clinically normal adrenal cortical function can be satisfactorily checked by laboratory studies during substitution treatment with adrenocortical hormones was investigated in 39 patients with adrenal insufficiency. The routine measurement of serum cortisol levels (2 to maximally 7 hours after the morning dose of hydrocortisone or cortisone acetate) revealed marked individual variations which were relatively independent of the morning dosage. Similar extreme variations were found for free urinary corticoids in 24-hour urine.