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Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a common complaint that affects large numbers of women from puberty to menopause. It negatively affects health by causing anemia, and impacts the quality of life of women affected. AUB also has an economic impact for both women and society. Therefore, it should not be under- or overestimate and diagnosis, investigations and treatment should be proposed, taking into account the scientific data available in the current state of medical knowledge. Using the new terminology and etiologic classification of AUB is essential to communicate properly around the subject. The evaluation of the bleeding includes self-report and more objective methods. Work out should focus on diagnosing anemia and researching for causal factors. It is important to differentiate AUB caused by anatomical changes and functional causes, and the PALM-COIEN classification has been developed on that dichotomy. Investigations may include blood test, ultrasound, hysteroscopy and endometrial sampling is required in a certain number of situations. Treatment for AUB can be medical and/or surgical depending on the cause. Medical treatment is based on iron supplementation, hormonal and non-hormonal therapies. Surgical treatments include removal of a focal lesion, endometrial resection or destruction and hysterectomy. Age, desire for future pregnancy and etiology for AUB are key factors to consider before initiating a treatment. Treatment efficiency can be assessed using the same tools as pretherapeutic evaluation, and improvement of quality of life has now become the main goal for most international guidelines addressing the subject.

Resume But Evaluer l’efficacite de la toxine botulique-A par voie transconjonctivale pour le traitement de la retraction palpebrale superieure en phase inflammatoire de l’ophtalmopathie dysthyroidienne, etablir le dosage ideal et mesurer les effets secondaires. Patients et methodes Il s’agit d’une etude prospective et comparative conduite a l’institut d’ophtalmologie Conde de Valenciana, Mexique. Les patients inclus avaient une orbitopathie dysthyroidienne en phase inflammatoire et ils ont ete traites avec l’injection sous-conjonctivale de toxine botulique-A (BTX-A) dans la paupiere superieure. Les patients ont ete divises en deux groupes. Groupe 1 : ce groupe a recu l’application sous-conjonctivale, en dose unique a l’œil non dominant, de 5U de BTX-A et le groupe 2 a recu l’application de 10U. La prise en charge initiale consistait a evaluer l’acuite visuelle, la distance entre le bord libre de la paupiere superieure et le reflexe lumineux du centre de la pupille (RPM1), la hauteur du pli, la mesure de la motilite oculaire et la presence de diplopie ou keratite precedente et posterieure a l’administration de la toxine. Les patients ont ete suivis a la premiere semaine, a la semaine 4 et a la semaine 16. Nous avons fait un test de Student t apparie pour l’analyse statistique. Resultats A la semaine 4, 15 patients (100 %) ont presente une diminution de la distance reflexe pupille–paupiere. Les resultats moyens pour le groupe 1 a ete de : −1,75 mm (−1 a 2,5 mm) et le groupe 2 de : −2 mm (−1 a −4 mm). Des differences statistiques ont ete observees avant et apres le traitement (a semaine 4) dans les deux groupes mais pas entre les differents dosages de BTX-A. Une amelioration a 100 % de la keratite lagophtalmique a ete observee sur 5 patients du groupe 1 et sur 2 patients du groupe 2. L’acuite visuelle, la hauteur du pli et la motilite oculaire n’ont pas ete modifies avec l’injection dans le 93 % des patients. Un patient du groupe 1 a presente une ptosis et diplopie verticale qui s’est resolue spontanement au cours de la 6e semaine. Conclusions L’application par voie transconjonctivale de la toxine botulique-A pour traiter la retraction palpebrale dans l’orbitopathie dysthyroidienne est sure et efficace. On n’a pas trouve des differences significatives entre le dosage (groupe 1 et 2). Des effets secondaires severes n’ont pas ete signales.

In breast cancer the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is an important target for a number of different HER2 inhibitors. Different slide-based assays are available for assessment of treatment eligibility, which include fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or other in situ hybridization (ISH) methods for assessment of the HER2 gene status. Here we report a summary of the validation data on HER2 IQFISH pharmDx™ (Dako Omnis), a newly developed assay for the automated staining platform Dako Omnis. The assay uses a non-toxic buffer that significantly reduces the hybridization time, which results in a total turnaround time of 3½ to 4h from deparaffinization to counting of the gene and centromere signals. The data reported in the current summary covers method comparison, assessment of staining quality, observer-to-observer reproducibility as well as reproducibility within and between laboratories. Based on data from the different studies it was concluded that HER2 IQFISH pharmDx (Dako Omnis) is a reliable and robust assay with a high precision that is at least comparable to the manual HER2 IQFISH pharmDx™ assay and the PathVysion® HER-2 DNA Probe Kit.

Background Only 57 cases of ectopic pregnancy after hysterectomy have been published. Case report A 34-year-old patient with a history of subtotal hysterectomy for postpartum hemorrhage consulted for acute abdominal pain. The diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy was made using blood pregnancy test and transvaginal ultrasound. Emergency laparoscopy was performed. Conclusion Urine pregnancy test should be performed in case of unexplained haemoperitoneum in patient of childbearing age with a history of hysterectomy. Fistulous tracts between the patent cervix or the vaginal cuff and the peritoneal cavity may allow fecundation. Teaching points (1) Ectopic pregnancy remains a differential diagnosis of abdominal pain and haemoperitoneum in patient of childbearing age even after hysterectomy. (2) Fistulous tract between the residual cervix and the peritoneal cavity or tubes may allow fecundation.

Objective Three-dimensional sonography is a good alternative method to assess the position of microinserts. Adequate position after three months allows for the interruption of other contraception. Objective is to evaluate inter-observer reproducibility of the interpretation of coronal transvaginal 3D ultrasound view of the uterus to evaluate the position of Essure ® . Study design Inter-observer reproducibility study. Fifty women underwent successful bilateral placement of microinserts (Essure ® ) by hysteroscopy in the Department of Gynaecology of a teaching hospital and were included in the study. At three month, 3D ultrasound coronal views of the fifty uterus (accounting for one hundred microinserts) were assessed by five different observers and microinsert position was classified according to the classification described by Legendre et al. Inter-observer reproducibility in reading the 3D coronal view of the uterus was evaluated. Results The k -value was disparate, from 0.26 to 0.82. Inter-observer reproducibility then ranged from fair to almost perfect, depending on a prior knowledge of the position classification. Conclusions Transvaginal 3D coronal view of the uterus is sufficient to assess the positioning of the microinserts when the practionner or the surgeon is familiar with the classification method.

Journal de Gynecologie Obstetrique et Biologie de la Reproduction - Vol. 43 - N° 1 - p. 35-39

Background Transcatheter closure has become the preferred treatment strategy in most cases of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). However, reported experience in the pediatric population is limited. Objectives To assess procedural characteristics, early clinical outcome and long-term device-related complications after transcatheter closure of ASD in children. Methods A 1998–2014 retrospective multicenter study was performed in 9 French tertiary institutions. All children in whom a percutaneous ASD closure was attempted during the study period were included. Results In total, 1326 children (39% males, age: 9 years (0.7–18.0), weight: 29 kg [3.6–92]) were included. Median ASD size was 15 mm (3–41). Large ASDs ≥ 20 mm/m2 were present in 254 (19%) patients. The procedure was performed under fluoroscopic guidance in all cases, assisted with TEE imaging in 856 cases (65%) and TTE in 470 cases (35%). Procedural success rate was 95.3%. Periprocedural complications occurred in 30 (2.2%) patients (including 15 device embolization but no death). After a median follow-up of 4 years (6 months–18 years), no death was observed. The rate of delayed complications 1.04% (95% confidence interval [0.5%–1.6%] including cardiac arrhythmias (n = 8), pulmonary hypertension (n = 2) and transient ischemic attack (n = 2). No cardiac erosion nor endocarditis were reported. Periprocedural and delayed complications rates were significantly higher in children Conclusions Our large-scale pediatric cohort confirms that transcatheter closure of isolated secundum ASDs is a safe procedure in children, with a favorable long-term outcome and no life-threatening delayed complication. Children ≤ 15 kg and those with large ASDs had an increased risk of both periprocedural and delayed complications.

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The "allogeneic effect" refers to the induction of host B cell antibody synthesis or host T cell cytotoxicity, including tumoricidal activity, by an infusion of allogeneic lymphocytes. We show that treatment of mice with cyclophosphamide (Cy) followed by CD8(+) T cell-depleted allogeneic donor lymphocyte infusion (Cy + CD8(-) DLI) induces regression of established tumors with minimal toxicity in models of both hematologic and solid cancers, even though the donor cells are eventually rejected by the host immune system. The optimal antitumor effect of Cy + CD8(-) DLI required the presence of donor CD4(+) T cells, host CD8(+) T cells, and alloantigen expression by normal host but not tumor tissue. The results support a model in which a donor CD4(+) T cell-mediated graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction effectively awakens antitumor immunity among Cy-resistant host CD8(+) T cells. These events provide the cellular mechanism of the "allogeneic effect" in antitumor immunity. Cy + CD8(-) DLI may be an effective and minimally toxic strategy for awakening the host immune response to advanced cancers.

A positivity preserving implicit procedure for first order time integration of two-equation turbulence models is extended to second-order time integration utilizing dual-time stepping. Because the time derivative of the turbulence quantities may behave as a negative source term it is treated implicitly. The procedure is applied to a non-linear k – ϵ turbulence model using an unstructured flow solver. Numerical simulations of the unsteady flow about a square cylinder are conducted to demonstrate the positivity characteristics of the turbulence quantities and the robustness of the procedure and of the flow solver. Results from the numerical simulations favorably compare with results from experiments.

The central problem that this paper addresses is the rapid and precise calculation of the energy and particle flux for detailed-balance photovoltaic applications. The calculation of energy and particle flux is essential to modeling the efficiencies and efficiency limits of solar energy conversion devices. Computing flux with the canonical Bose–Einstein integral is time consuming and, without due care, prone to error. The approach given herein, transforms the Bose–Einstein integral into a linear combination of incomplete Riemann zeta integrals. The numerical package that implements this method is benchmarked for precision by a number of means. These include comparisons between the Riemann zeta functions, and previously recorded values of solar cell limiting efficiencies from the literature. The rapidity of the numerical package is gauged by comparing the duration of flux calculations to other calculation methods.

Summary. Background: Mutations of the 3′ end mRNA-processing signal of the prothrombin (F2) gene have been reported to cause elevated F2 plasma concentrations, thrombosis, and complications of pregnancy. Whereas the common F2 20210*A mutation is almost exclusively found in Caucasians, the F2 20209*T mutation has been reported in Afro-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans only. Patients and methods: Using LightCyclerTM technology, three unrelated Jewish-Moroccan patients tested for obstetric complications were found to be carriers of the F2 20209*T allele. A detailed molecular analysis was performed to identify the functional impact of this mutation. Results: We report three unrelated women of Jewish-Moroccan origin with a F2 20209*T mutation and fetal loss or infertility. The functional analysis revealed that the F2 20209*T mutation stimulates 3′ end processing and up-regulates prothrombin protein expression as assessed by a highly sensitive luminescence-based reporter system. Conclusions: This is the first report of 20209*T in Caucasians, and functional analysis demonstrates that F2 20209*T falls into a general category of mutations of the F2 gene, which may possibly contribute to thrombophilia and complications of pregnancy by interfering with a tightly balanced architecture of non-canonical F2 3′ end formation signals.

The problem of query containment is fundamental to many aspects of database systems, including query optimization, determining independence of queries from updates, and rewriting queries using views. In the data-integration framework, however, the standard notion of query containment does not suffice. We define relative containment, which formalizes the notion of query containment relative to the sources available to the data-integration system. First, we provide optimal bounds for relative containment for several important classes of datalog queries, including the common case of conjunctive queries. Next, we provide bounds for the case when sources enforce access restrictions in the form of binding pattern constraints. Surprisingly, we show that relative containment for conjunctive queries is still decidable in this case, even though it is known that finding all answers to such queries may require a recursive datalog program over the sources. Finally, we provide tight bounds for variants of relative containment when the queries and source descriptions may contain comparison predicates.

The acceleration of flowering by a long period of low temperature, vernalization, is an adaptation that ensures plants overwinter before flowering. Vernalization induces a developmental state that is mitotically stable, suggesting that it may have an epigenetic basis. The VERNALIZATION2 (VRN2) gene mediates vernalization and encodes a nuclear-localized zinc finger protein with similarity to Polycomb group (PcG) proteins of plants and animals. In wild-type Arabidopsis, vernalization results in the stable reduction of the levels of the floral repressor FLC. In vrn2 mutants, FLC expression is downregulated normally in response to vernalization, but instead of remaining low, FLC mRNA levels increase when plants are returned to normal temperatures. VRN2 function therefore stably maintains FLC repression after a cold treatment, serving as a mechanism for the cellular memory of vernalization.

Generating query-answering plans for data integration systems requires to translate a user query, formulated in terms of a mediated schema, to a query that uses relations that are actually stored in data sources. Previous solutions to the translation problem produced sets of conjunctive plans , and were therefore limited in their ability to handle recursive queries and to exploit data sources with binding-pattern limitations and functional dependencies that are known to hold in the mediated schema. As a result, these plans were incomplete w.r.t. sources encountered in practice (i.e., produced only a subset of the possible answers). We describe the novel class of recursive query answering plans, which enables us to settle three open problems. First, we describe an algorithm for finding a query plan that produces the maximal set of answers from the sources for arbitrary recursive queries. Second, we extend this algorithm to use the presence of functional and full dependencies in the mediated schema. Third, we describe an algorithm for finding the maximal query plan in the presence of binding-pattern restrictions in the sources. In all three cases, recursive plans are necessary in order to obtain a maximal query plan.

A method for measuring the mean lifetime of molecular ions undergoing unimolecular dissociation is presented. It can be used to measure molecular ions even if the beam has a large impurity fraction in it, as demonstrated by a measurement of the mean lifetime of 4 He 20 Ne 2+ . Furthermore, this method is not limited to mean lifetimes comparable to the flight time of the ions through the experimental setup as other commonly used methods. It can be used to measure mean lifetimes up to about two orders of magnitude longer than the flight time, as demonstrated using 12 CD 2 2+ and 3 He 40 Ar 2+ as examples.

A search for long lived CH 2+ and CD 2+ dications formed in fast charge stripping collisions of CH + and CD + on Ar was conducted. An experimental method based on the detection of the H (or D) fragments of the dication was developed, in order to eliminate possible confusion with 13 C 2+ for the first and 14 N 2+ for the latter. The flight time of these dications through the apparatus is about 70 ns, well below the 3 μs time associated with earlier observations of CH 2+ . Our measurements indicate that no long lived states of either of these dications are formed in fast charge stripping collisions. However, this result does not exclude the possibility that long lived states, like the excited A 2 Σ + metastable state, are populated in slow charge stripping collisions.

An important application of XML is the interchange of electronic data (EDI) between multiple data sources on the Web. As XML data proliferates on the Web, applications will need to integrate and aggregate data from multiple source and clean and transform data to facilitate exchange. Data extraction, conversion, transformation, and integration are all well-understood database problems, and their solutions rely on a query language. We present a query language for XML, called XML-QL, which we argue is suitable for performing the above tasks. XML-QL is a declarative, `relational complete' query language and is simple enough that it can be optimized. XML-QL can extract data from existing XML documents and construct new XML documents.

When answering queries using external information sources, the contents of the queries can be described by views. To answer a query, we must rewrite it using the set of views presented by the sources. When the external information sources also have the ability to answer some (perhaps limited) sets of queries that require performing operations on their data, the set of views presented by the source may be infinite (albeit encoded in some finite fashion). Previous work on answering queries using views has only considered the case where the set of views is finite. In order to exploit the ability of information sources to answer more complex queries, we consider the problem of answering conjunctive queries using infinite sets of conjunctive views. Our first result is that an infinite set of conjunctive views can be partitioned into a finite number of equivalence classes, such that picking one view from every nonempty class is sufficient to determine whether the query can be answered using the views. Second, we show how to compute the set of equivalence classes for sets of conjunctive views encoded by a datalog program. Furthermore, we extend our results to the case when the query and the views use the built-in predicates

We describe carin , a novel family of representation languages, that combine the expressive power of Horn rules and of description logics. We address the issue of providing sound and complete inference procedures for such languages. We identify existential entailment as a core problem in reasoning in carin , and describe an existential entailment algorithm for the ALCNR description logic. As a result, we obtain a sound and complete algorithm for reasoning in non-recursive carin ALCNR knowledge bases, and an algorithm for rule subsumption over ALCNR . We show that in general, the reasoning problem for recursive carin - ALCNR knowledge bases is undecidable, and identify the constructors of ALCNR causing the undecidability. We show two ways in which carin - ALCNR knowledge bases can be restricted while obtaining sound and complete reasoning.

Building complex knowledge based applications requires encoding large amounts of domain knowledge. After acquiring knowledge from domain experts, much of the effort in building a knowledge base goes into verifying that the knowledge is encoded correctly. A knowledge base is verified if it can be shown that certain constraints always hold between the inputs and the outputs. We consider the knowledge base verification problem for Horn rule knowledge bases and for three kinds of constraints: I/O consistency constraints, I/O dependency constraints, and input completeness constraints. For the first two cases, we establish tight complexity results on the problem, and show in what cases it is decidable. In the third case, we show that the problem is, in general, undecidable, and we identify two decidable cases. In our analysis we show how the properties of the problem vary depending on the presence of recursion in the Horn rules, the presence of the interpreted predicates =, ⩽, < and ≠ and the presence of negation in the antecedents of the rules. Our approach to the verification problem is based on showing a close relationship to the problem of query containment, studied in the database literature. This connection also provides novel algorithms for the knowledge base verification problem. Finally, we provide the first algorithm for verifying hybrid knowledge bases that combine the expressive power of Horn rules and the description logicALCNR.

The multiple promotive and repressive pathways controllingflowering have been further defined by analysis of genetic interactions and the activation of floral meristem identity genes. Cloning of additional genes in these pathways has uncovered some of the molecular processes that control the timing of the transition to reproductive development.

Irrelevance reasoning refers to the process in which a system reasons about which parts of its knowledge are relevant (or irrelevant) to a specific query. Aside from its importance in speeding up inferences from large knowledge bases, relevance reasoning is crucial in advanced applications such as modeling complex physical devices and information gathering in distributed heterogeneous systems. This article presents a novel framework for studying the various kinds of irrelevance that arise in inference and efficient algorithms for relevance reasoning. We present a proof-theoretic framework for analyzing definitions of irrelevance. The framework makes the necessary distinctions between different notions of irrelevance that are important when using them for speeding up inferences. We describe the query-tree algorithm which is a sound, complete and efficient algorithm for automatically deriving certain kinds of irrelevance claims for Horn-rule knowledge bases and several extensions. Finally, we describe experimental results that show that significant speedups (often orders of magnitude) are obtained by employing the query-tree in inference.

Constructing an appropriate model is a crucial step in performing the reasoning required to successfully answer a query about the behavior of a physical situation. In the compositional modeling approach of Falkenhainer and Forbus (1991), a system is provided with a library of composable pieces of knowledge about the physical world called model fragments. The model construction problem involves selecting appropriate model fragments to describe the situation. Model construction can be considered either for static analysis of a single state or for simulation of dynamic behavior over a sequence of states. The latter is significantly more difficult than the former since one must select model fragments without knowing exactly what will happen in the future states.The model construction problem in general can advantageously be formulated as a problem of reasoning about relevance of knowledge that is available to the system using a general framework for reasoning about relevance described by Levy (1993) and Levy and Sagiv (1993). In this paper, we present a model formulation procedure based on that framework for selecting model fragments efficiently for the case of simulation. For such an algorithm to be useful, the generated model must be adequate for answering the given query and, at the same time, as simple as possible. We define formally the concepts of adequacy and simplicity and show that the algorithm in fact generates an adequate and simplest model.

Cadmium (Cd) in the Negev phosphorites, as in many other phosphorites, is the most enriched trace element relative to ‘average’ shale. Nevertheless, similar to many other phosphorites, Cd is either not correlated to P2O5, or has a slightly negative correlation with it. There is a clear correlation between the Cd content, the textural and the compositional characteristics of the phosphorites, and the structural position of the phosphate deposits. Well developed ‘synclinal’ sections, comprised of many thin strata of laminated (non-disturbed) pelletal phosphorites, have much higher Cd concentrations than the condensed ‘anticlinal’ sections which consist of a few amalgamated thick beds of massive (reworked) phosphorites. Cd is in general poorly related to the present organic matter content, but has a good correlation with organic matter in unoxidized beds of the ‘synclinal’ sections. Cd is strongly correlated to Zn in the relatively undisturbed beds of the ‘synclinal’ sections but shows no correlation in the highly reworked beds of ‘anticlinal’ sections. The source of Cd is upwelled seawater that is enriched in both P and Cd. This is the basis of the relationship between phosphogenesis and Cd concentration. Reducing conditions during decomposition of organic matter immobilize Cd in the pore fluids of the bottom sediments. Precipitation of Cd-rich sphalerite and adsorption on organic matter appear to be the main processes for its initial speciation and concentration in the Negev phosphorites. Cd is concentrated mainly in laminated (non-disturbed) microbially generated phosphorites where authigenic apatites are also found. Cd does not as a rule replace Ca in the structure of authigenic (primary) sedimentary apatites. This finding has practical applications since it makes possible the production of a phosphate concentrate with a much lower Cd concentration than the original phosphorite. Exposure to oxic conditions leads to mobilization of the sulfide-bound Cd. Scouring activity, bioturbation, and recycling and transportation of stirred-up phosphate corpuscles in an oxidizing environment appear to be effectual for removing Cd. Oxidation alone, without fabric disruption and mobilization of the phosphate grains does not significantly lower Cd concentrations, since the released Cd may be almost immediately readsorbed on the various components of the phosphorite such as iron oxyhydroxides, organo-clay fractions and apatites. The cadmium concentration and the CdZn ratio of a phosphorite may help to determine whether a phosphorite is pristine or not and to unravel its diagenetic history.

The α-particle energy loss method has been implemented in situ to monitor film thickness during growth by molecular beam epitaxy. For InP and GaAs substrates dosed with 500–1500 Bq of α-particle emitters, we have been able to measure thickness in situ of deposited GaAs and InP, to an accuracy of 6 nm in 180 s of counting time. The corresponding growth rate accuracy for growth rates on the order of 0.3 nm/s was ±0.01 nm/s. The accuracy and counting time improvements expected with the use of a stronger marking source are also discussed.

The unicellular alga Dunaliella bardawil was shown previously to contain very high concentrations of beta-carotene composed of about equal amounts of the all-trans and 9-cis isomers, which differ in their physicochemical features and antioxidative activity. The uptake of alpha- and beta-carotenes, oxycarotenoids, and other lipophilic substances from a basal diet supplemented with synthetic beta-carotene or dry D. bardawil power was studied in humans. Subjects were given a basal diet supplemented daily with 40 mg beta-carotene, synthetic or natural, for a relatively short period of 14 d. Serum analyses at the end of this period detected mainly oxycarotenoids, and to a lesser extent all-trans beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, but not 9-cis beta-carotene. Retinol was increased by the all-trans beta-carotene diet. A high amount of oxidized dienic, lipophilic polar products was exhibited in HPLC predominantly in sera from the placebo and synthetic all-trans beta-carotene groups by strong, short ultraviolet absorbance peaks of 232 nm. The preferential serum absorption of all-trans beta-carotene over 9-cis beta-carotene, in parallel with the appearance of a high concentration of oxidized dienic products with supplementation of the basal diet with all-trans beta-carotene compared with the low concentration of serum-oxidized dienic products with supplementation with a natural beta-carotene source, suggests that 9-cis beta-carotene acts as an in vivo lipophilic antioxidant more efficiently than does all-trans beta-carotene.

A peptide secreted by the fungus Exserohilum turcicum , the causal agent of northern leaf blight of corn, was purified. The chemical structure of the peptide was analyzed and two chemical structures are proposed. The peptide is composed of three amino acids in the following sequence: glycine-serine-glutamine. The two proposed chemical structures differ by the degree of hydration of the molecule. One of the proposed peptides was synthesized. Both the synthetic and the natural peptide inhibited chlorophyll synthesis etiolated corn leaves. The peptide exhibited genotypic specific activity at concentrations of 75 and 100 mg ml 1 . At higher concentrations the genetic specific activity was not observed. The synthesized compound inhibited root elongation of corn seedlings. The peptide was detected in infected corn leaves 2 days after inoculation and reached maximal levels 4 days after inoculation. The peptide was also detected in a conidial water suspension during conidial germination. The importance of this compound in Northern leaf blight pathogenesis is discussed.

Aim High resolution HLA typing with clinical applications is preferred in some applications of transfusion and transplantation medicine. Concordance of results was determined between new reverse sequence specific oligonucleotide assays (rSSO; LABType CWD and LABType XR, One Lambda, Canoga Park, CA) and our current assays, rSSO (LABType SSO) and sequence-based typing (SBT; SeCore). Methods Forty-eight patient samples previously tested by our current rSSO and SBT assays were selected randomly. The 2 new assays and a new multiplex flow analyzer (LABScan3D TM ) were utilized to detect HLA-A common and well-defined alleles (LABType CWD) and HLA-B and DRB1 alleles at high resolution (LABType XR). DNA was amplified with group specific primers targeting exons 2, 3, 4, and 5 for HLA-A and HLA-B, and exon 2 for HLA-DRB1. Results We determined the concordance between the 2 new and our current assays (Table 1). The LABType CWD identified 6 out of 96 HLA-A alleles (6.25%) at the allele level (4-digit resolution) and was also able to resolve 1 ambiguous allele combination, exceeding the resolution obtained by our current LABType SSO. The LABType XR assay provided results with shorter allele strings in 59 out of 96 HLA-B alleles (61.5%) and 22 out of 96 HLA-DRB1 alleles (22.9%), respectively, exceeding the resolution obtained by our current SeCore SBT without reflux testing. Discordances were observed resulting from false bead reactions or ambiguous allele combinations. Conclusions The new LABType CWD and XR assays are suitable platforms for high throughput testing. Utilization of the LABType XR kits potentially could yield better results than SBT thus making them a consideration for clinical applications requiring quicker turn around time. However, even with LABType XR, additional testing may still be necessary to resolve any remaining discrepancies and ambiguities. Download high-res image (157KB) Download full-size image

One of two similar genes in the unicellular eukaryote Naegleria gruberi is shown to encode calcineurin B (CnB), the regulatory subunit of calcium-calmodulin-regulated protein phosphatase 2B. Over a span of 156 amino acids, excluding divergent N-termini, the encoded sequence shows 62% identity with vertebrate CnB, and also shows sequence elements specific, among calcium-binding proteins, to CnB. In contrast, the sequence shows only 23% identity with N. gruberi flagellar calmodulin. CNB mRNA is readily detected in amoebae; its abundance increases fourfold during differentiation to flagellates, reaches a peak at 50-70 min, when flagella are forming, and then declines. A genomic clone matches an expressed cDNA, except that it is interrupted by two phase I introns. The position of one intron, which separates the divergent N-terminal domain from the four calcium-binding domains (EF hands), is shared with a yeast CNB gene; the other is located in the central helix between the two pairs of calcium-binding loops; features that support an ancient origin. These introns, the first found in protein-coding genes of Naegleria, are flanked by characteristic splice junction sequences. N. gruberi CnB also shares similarities with recoverins. The finding in a protist of a CNB gene that contains two introns separating functional domains, shares similarities to recoverins and shows increased expression during differentiation is provocative. If the phylogeny of major groups derived from ribosomal RNA is accepted, Naegleria is among the earliest branching eukaryotes known to contain canonical pre-mRNA introns.

We have previously reported the induction of experimental systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in mice by immunization with a human monoclonal antibody that expresses a common anti-DNA idiotype (16/6 Id). Following immunization, antibodies directed against various nuclear autoantigens could be detected in the sera of the mice. In the present study, we investigated the proliferative responses of lymph node cells to one particular autoantigen (DNA) following the induction of experimental SLE. Cells reactive with ssDNA could be detected following immunization of BALB/c mice with the 16/6 Id. The appearance of these DNA-reactive cells succeeded the appearance of 16/6 Id-specific cells. The activation of this subset of autoreactive cells could be achieved only by the immunization of the mice with the 16/6 Id, but not by their immunization with DNA, thus suggesting that the induction of experimental SLE is associated with the alteration of the low responsive potential of the mice to DNA.

Objectifs pedagogiques Connaitre les lesions qui doivent etre toujours resequees. Connaitre le bilan pre-operatoire indispensable a mettre en place pour la surveillance des lesions non operees. Connaitre les aspects postoperatoires selon la lesion resequee. Messages a retenir L’IRM prend une place grandissante dans le diagnostic etiologique et le bilan pre-operatoire. Le pancreas qui sera laisse en place doit etre explore (evaluation du risque de fuite anastomotique postoperatoire). L’orientation diagnostique devant un kyste unique repose souvent sur le contexte.