Objective To study the gene expression profile of peripheral blood and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (PBMC and SFMC) of patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and try to identify genes which might be related to the pathogenesis of SpA.Methods Microarrays were carried out with 1 176 target gene filters using PBMC and SFMC of 5 patients with SpA,5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 6 healthy volunteers.More precise measurement was performed with semi quantitative PT PCR on 9 microarray positive genes.Results There was no significant difference in positive gene numbers between SpA and RA patients although the positive gene numbers were much higher in PBMC than in SFMC in both groups.It is noteworthy that in RA group there were 53 genes which expression in PBMC was much higher than in SFMC,while in SpA patients there were only 5 genes which expression in PBMC was much higher than in SFMC ( P

A 43-year-old man was diagnosed as massive left occipital lobe hemorrhage with the hematoma expanded into the entire ventricular system. On admission, he was in deep coma with clinical signs of brain herniation and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 4. Vascular malformations were highly suspected since he was young with no history of hypertension. Considering the life-threatening situation, open craniotomy and hematoma evacuation was proposed as the first therapeutic option, but this was refused by his family members for non-medical reasons. In order to save his life, stereotactic aspiration was suggested again and was accepted. UK at an aggressive dosage of 50 000 IU was administered during and after the surgical procedure for 5 days. One month later, this patient gained an excellent recovery with a Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score of 5.

AIM: To determine the role of chemokine and its receptors in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclea r cells (PBMC) in 13 AS patients and 7 healthy volunteers were determined by cDN A microarray with 588 targeting gene filter. Differentiated expressed CXCR4 and its only ligand SDF-1 were confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA, immunoh istochemistry and FACS analysis using PBMC, synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SF MC) and synoviocytes. RESULTS: The gene expression profile of AS patients was signific antly different from those of healthy volunteers. Higher expression of CXCR4 in monocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes from PBMC in AS patients were found with st atis tical significance (P

Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q) is a rare but clinically recognized syndrome that involves facial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, and global developmental delay, as well as various reports of cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system abnormalities. This report presents a novel neuroradiologic finding of diffuse enlarged, tortuous cortical veins with physiological antegrade flow in a child with a microduplication of the distal end of 17q. To our knowledge, this finding has not been described previously. Although the exact cause for the cortical vascular anomaly is currently unknown, this duplicated region contains genes of interest for future studies that focus on normal and abnormal angiogenesis

Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q) is a rare but clinically recognized syndrome that involves facial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, and global developmental delay, as well as various reports of cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system abnormalities. This report presents a novel neuroradiologic finding of diffuse enlarged, tortuous cortical veins with physiological antegrade flow in a child with a microduplication of the distal end of 17q. To our knowledge, this finding has not been described previously. Although the exact cause for the cortical vascular anomaly is currently unknown, this duplicated region contains genes of interest for future studies that focus on normal and abnormal angiogenesis

Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q) is a rare but clinically recognized syndrome that involves facial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, and global developmental delay, as well as various reports of cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system abnormalities. This report presents a novel neuroradiologic finding of diffuse enlarged, tortuous cortical veins with physiological antegrade flow in a child with a microduplication of the distal end of 17q. To our knowledge, this finding has not been described previously. Although the exact cause for the cortical vascular anomaly is currently unknown, this duplicated region contains genes of interest for future studies that focus on normal and abnormal angiogenesis

Partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 17 (17q) is a rare but clinically recognized syndrome that involves facial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, and global developmental delay, as well as various reports of cardiovascular, renal, and central nervous system abnormalities. This report presents a novel neuroradiologic finding of diffuse enlarged, tortuous cortical veins with physiological antegrade flow in a child with a microduplication of the distal end of 17q. To our knowledge, this finding has not been described previously. Although the exact cause for the cortical vascular anomaly is currently unknown, this duplicated region contains genes of interest for future studies that focus on normal and abnormal angiogenesis

BACKGROUNDOlder subjects tend to have smaller ocular anterior segment. The present study aimed to measure anterior segment dimensions with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and quantitatively assess the effect of age and other factors.

METHODSAnterior segment OCT images were obtained in normal subjects residing in the greater Los Angeles area. Four line scans were acquired at the 90°, 45°, 0° and 135° meridians of each eye. Computer calipers acquired anterior segment dimensions of corneal diameter, anterior chamber width, corneal vault and anterior chamber depth on OCT images. Measurements from 4 meridians were averaged. Axial length and corneal power were measured by partial coherence interferometry. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess correlations.

RESULTSSixty-six eyes of 33 normal subjects (aged 22 - 65 years, 19 Asians, 14 Caucasians) were enrolled. For every 1 year of age, corneal diameter was 0.033 mm narrower (P < 0.01), anterior chamber width was 0.031 mm narrower (P < 0.01), corneal vault was 0.016 mm lower (P < 0.01), and anterior chamber depth was 0.025 mm lower (P < 0.01). Asian eyes had smaller corneal diameter (P = 0.035) and anterior chamber width (P = 0.015) compared with those of Caucasian eyes. Body height showed positive correlation with corneal diameter (0.039 mm per centimeter of height, P < 0.01) and corneal vault (0.024 mm per centimetre of height, P < 0.01). Gender did not have an independent effect on anterior segment dimensions.

CONCLUSIONSAnterior segment dimensions were smaller in older subjects. Age-related changes may affect the tolerability of long-term implants such as phakic intraocular lens.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anterior Eye Segment ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

VC2002, isolated from postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS)-affected pig, is a mixture of two porcine circovirus genotype 2b (PCV2b) viruses, K2 and K39. Preliminary experiments disclosed short-term adverse effects of K39, but not K2, on porcine foetuses. These findings led to the hypothesis that infection of immuno-incompetent foetuses with K2 confers a status of immunotolerance, and postnatal super-infection with K39 triggers PMWS. To explore this hypothesis, nine 55-day-old foetuses were inoculated in utero (three with K2-104.3TCID50, three with K39-104.3TCID50 and three with medium), and foeto-pathogenicity examined. At 21 days post-inoculation (dpi), K2 did not induce pathology, whereas pathological effects of K39 were evident. Twenty-four 45-day-old foetuses were subsequently inoculated to examine the long-term effect of K2, including six with K2-high dose-104.3TCID50, six with K2-low dose-102.3TCID50 and 12 mock-inoculated controls. Both doses resulted in ifve mummiifed foetuses and one live-born piglet each (69dpi). K2 was recovered from all mummies. K2 and K2-speciifc antibodies were not detected in serum of the two live-born piglets at birth, indicating full control of K2 infection. The K2-low dose-infected piglet was immunostimulated at day 2, but not the K2-high dose-infected piglet. Both non-stimulated and stimulated K2-infected piglets were super-inoculated with K39 at day 6 or 8 (taken as 0 days post super-inoculation). Low viral replication was observed in the non-stimulated K2-K39 piglet (up to 103.3 TCID50/g;identiifed as K39). In contrast, viral replication was extremely high in the stimulated K2-K39 piglet (up to 105.6TCID50/g) and identiifed as K2, indicating that K2 infection is controlled during foetal life, but emerges after birth upon immunostimulation. However, none of the piglets showed any signs of PMWS.

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the gender differences in drug-related problems and predictors of recidivism among a sample of 1444 offenders with co-morbid drug abuse and mental disorders participating in California's Proposition 36 Program.

METHODSBackground characteristics and problem severity in multiple key life areas were assessed at intake by using Addiction Severity Index, and drug treatment participation, mental health diagnoses and arrests were based on official records.

RESULTSWomen demonstrated greater problem severity than men in family relationships, health, psychological health, and sexual and physical abuse history. Men on the other hand had greater criminal history, high rates of attention disorder, and psychotic disorder. More men than women were rearrested during the year after treatment admission. Logistic regression analyses showed that for the combined sample, male, young age, cocaine use (relative to methamphetamine), drug abuse severity, methadone treatment, arrest history and fewer prior treatment history were associated with higher recidivism at 12-month follow-up; lower education, cocaine use, and arrest history were related to women's recidivism, while young age, outpatient treatment, and arrest history were predictors of men's recidivism.

CONCLUSIONAlthough the specific type of mental disorder did not seem to be predictive of recidivism, the high rates of mental health disorder and arrest of this population is problematic. Intervention strategies taking into consideration gender-specific problems and needs can improve outcomes for both.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Crime ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Disorders ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Sex Factors ; Substance Abuse Treatment Centers ; Substance-Related Disorders ; complications ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult