Digital Droplet PCR Is a Reliable Tool to Improve Minimal Residual Disease Stratification in Adult Philadelphia-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is an implementation of conventional PCR, with the potential of overcoming some limitations of real-time quantitative PCR (RQ-PCR). To evaluate if ddPCR may improve the quantification of disease levels and refine patients' risk stratification, 116 samples at four time points from 44 (35 B-lineage and 9 T-lineage) adult Philadelphia-negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients enrolled in the GIMEMA LAL1913 protocol were analyzed by RQ-PCR and ddPCR. A concordance rate between RQ-PCR and ddPCR of 79% (P < 0.

Augmented switching linear dynamical system model for gas concentration estimation with MOX sensors in an open sampling system.

In this paper, we introduce a Bayesian time series model approach for gas concentration estimation using Metal Oxide (MOX) sensors in Open Sampling System (OSS). Our approach focuses on the compensation of the slow response of MOX sensors, while concurrently solving the problem of estimating the gas concentration in OSS. The proposed Augmented Switching Linear System model allows to include all the sources of uncertainty arising at each step of the problem in a single coherent probabilistic formulation.

Factors affecting severity of tinnitus - a follow-up study of tinnitus subjects at an Ear Nose Throat clinic in Sweden.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine whether perceived tinnitus severity changes over time, and if so what factors contribute to this change.

Design: A modified Swedish version of tinnitus severity questionnaire (MS-TSQ) was used to examine changes in tinnitus severity over a period of time.

Study Sample: The MS-TSQ questionnaire was completed by 455 subjects visiting an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) clinic in Sweden as part of baseline assessment (Sb).

Probabilistic gait classification in children with cerebral palsy: a Bayesian approach.

Three-dimensional gait analysis (3DGA) generates a wealth of highly variable data. Gait classifications help to reduce, simplify and interpret this vast amount of 3DGA data and thereby assist and facilitate clinical decision making in the treatment of CP. CP gait is often a mix of several clinically accepted distinct gait patterns.

Morphological and quantitative aspects of nodule formation in hemolymph of the blowfly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794).

Insects manifest effective immune responses that include both cellular and humoral components. Morphological and quantitative aspects of cellular and humoral cooperation during nodule formation in Chrysomya megacephala hemolymph against Saccharomyces cerevisae yeast cells were demonstrated for the first time. The analyses were performed in non-injected larvae (NIL), saline-injected larvae (SIL) and yeast-injected larvae (YIL).

Nitric oxide synthase activity in tissues of the blowfly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794).

Although insects lack the adaptive immune response of the mammalians, they manifest effective innate immune responses, which include both cellular and humoral components. Cellular responses are mediated by hemocytes, and humoral responses include the activation of proteolytic cascades that initiate many events, including NO production. In mammals, nitric oxide synthases (NOSs) are also present in the endothelium, the brain, the adrenal glands, and the platelets.

Short and long-term survival from gastric cancer. A population-based study from a county hospital during 25 years.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome for gastric cancer patients treated at a medium sized Norwegian hospital. The medical journals of all 356 patients with gastric cancer treated at Levanger Hospital from 1980 to 2004 were retrospectively analysed. Follow-up with regard to survival was complete.

Nitric oxide production in blowfly hemolymph after yeast inoculation.

Although insects lack the adaptive immune response of the mammalians, they manifest effective innate immune responses that include both cellular and humoral components. Cellular responses are mediated by hemocytes and humoral responses include the activation of proteolytic cascades that initiate many events, including NO production. In this work, we determined NO production in Chrysomya megacephala hemolymph and hemocytes after yeast inoculation.

Defense reactions of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae) larval hemocytes.

The defense reactions against biological (Histoplasma capsulatum and Escherichia coli) and non-biological materials (China ink and nylon thread) were tested in vivo in third instar larvae of Dermatobia hominis. The cellular defense performed by larval hemocytes was observed under electron microscopy. China ink particles were phagocytosed by granular cells 5 h after injection.

Inflammatory reaction to the human bot-fly, Dermatobia hominis, in infested and reinfested mice.

Two groups of mice were infested with first stage larvae of the human bot-fly, Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus Jr) (Diptera: Oestridae). In the first group, skin biopsies were carried out 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 and 18 days after infestation. The second group was also infested but had all the larvae removed 5 days after infestation.

Histological and immunological reaction of cattle skin to first-instar larvae of Dermatobia hominis.

Six cattle that had earlier exposure to Dermatobia hominis were infested experimentally with first-instar larvae of the parasite. Skin biopsies taken at intervals were studied in wax and in plastic sections. The avidin-biotin-peroxidase method was used to detect the presence and localization of host immunoglobulins (Igs) G and M and antigens of first and second instar larvae of Dermatobia hominis.

Cytoplasmic bridges, intercellular junctions, and individualization of germ cells during spermatogenesis in Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae).

During mitotic and meiotic divisions in Dermatobia hominis spermatogenesis, the germ cells stay interlinked by cytoplasmic bridges as a result of incomplete cytokinesis. By the end of each division, cytoplasmic bridges flow to the center of the cyst, forming a complex, called the fusoma. During meiotic prophase I, spermatocytes I present desmosome-like junctions and meiotic cytoplasmic bridges.

Centriole behaviour during meiosis of male germ cells of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera:Cuterebridae).

During the meiotic division of Dermatobia hominis spermatogenesis, the centrioles duplicate only in prophase I, giving rise to short cilia which are exposed on the cellular surface. In metaphase I they are internalized and distributed to the daughter cells. Consequently, the secondary spermatocytes have two centrioles which repeat the cycle of cilia externalization followed by internalization.

Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in immunized and/or Dermatobia hominis infested rabbits.

The cell-mediated and humoral immune response of rabbits to antigens from larvae of Dermatobia hominis were analyzed by leucocyte migration inhibition factor assay (MIF), immunodiffusion (ID) and passive hemagglutination (PH) test in rabbits immunized with D. hominis extract, in rabbits immunized and infested with the parasite and rabbits infested with D. hominis.

Ultrastructure of the ovary of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae). III. Gonial cell degeneration.

We studied the ultrastructural aspects of pre-pupae and pupae ovaries of Dermatobia hominis. Physiological degeneration of gonial cells was observed: (a) after the ovarioles differentiation, in the oogonia residing in the apical region of the ovary; (b) at the beginning of vitellogenesis, in the cystoblasts close to the terminal filament. The significance of gonial cell degeneration was correlated with the physiological changes which occur in the ovary during development.

Ultrastructure of the ovary of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae). II. Origin of the tunica propria in ovarioles.

Ovaries up to the 8th day pupae of Dermatobia hominis were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Ovarioles were recognized in ovaries of 4-day old pre-pupae, surrounded by a thin tunica propria of acellular fibrillar material similar in structure to the internal portion of the external tunica of the ovary. There is continuity of the tunica propria and the ovarian tunica, indicating that the former structure originates from the tunica externa.

Ultrastructure of the ovary of Dermatobia hominis (Diptera: Cuterebridae). I. Development during the 3rd larval instar.

The ultrastructure and distribution of gonial and somatic cells in the ovary of Dermatobia hominis was studied during the 3rd larval instar. In larvae weighing between 400 and 500 mg, the ovary is partially divided into basal and apical regions by oblong somatic cells that penetrate from the periphery; these cells show ovoid nucleus and cytoplasm full of microtubules. In both regions, gonial cells with regular outlines, large nucleus and low electron-density cytoplasm are scattered among the interstitial somatic cells.

Rabbit antibody responses to experimental infestation with Dermatobia hominis.

The three larval stages of Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus) have been evaluated for their immunogenicity by ELISA and immunodiffusion (ID) using sera from experimentally infested rabbits. During a primary infestation, first instar D. hominis were found to cause most reaction and allowed the earliest diagnosis by ELISA.