The MHC class I molecule plays a crucial role in cytotoxic lymphocyte function. The heavy chain of the MHC class I molecule can form many non-covalent interactions with other molecules on multiple domains and surfaces. We have generated an isolated alpha3 domain of a murine MHC class I molecule and evaluated the contribution of this domain to binding with the MHC class I light chain, beta2m, and CD8. The alpha3 domain binds beta2m at a thousand-fold higher concentration than the whole MHC, and binds CD8alphaalpha with a dependence on the alpha3 CD loop. Our results are relevant for models of MHC folding and CD8-MHC function. The study of individual domains of complex molecules is an important strategy for understanding their dynamic structure and function.

Binding Sites↗

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Peritonitis due to Kluyvera ascorbata: case report and review.

Kluyvera, a new genus in the family Enterobacteriaceae, was formerly known as enteric group 8 and as API group 1. Although Kluyvera species have been isolated from various clinical specimens such as sputum, urine, stool, and blood, the clinical significance of these isolates has not been established. Recently, we treated a child who developed peritonitis due to Kluyvera ascorbata. The repeated isolation of the organism in pure culture from the peritoneal fluid and its isolation from postmortem subdiaphragmatic microabscesses suggest that Kluyvera can be clinically significant. Review of the literature clearly indicates that Kluyvera strains are infrequent but potentially dangerous pathogens in humans. Further experience is needed to determine the therapeutic efficacy of the various antibiotics to which these bacteria are sensitive in vitro.

Adolescent↗

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[The use of contrast investigations in the radiological diagnosis of middle ear (author's transl)].

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Adult↗

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Abnormal growth patterns in diabetes in pregnancy: a longitudinal study.

In this longitudinal study we sought to investigate the presence of different abnormal fetal growth patterns in the pregnant diabetic. At least three serial ultrasound examinations were performed during the third trimester on 522 diabetic and 93 control subjects. Growth curves were established for femur length, abdominal circumference and head circumference. In addition, daily growth rate was calculated for fetal weight and all morphometric measurements. The study revealed: a) in the gestational diabetes group large-for-gestational age infants, two accelerated growth patterns (early mean blood glucose 107 +/- 16 and late mean blood glucose 116 +/- 18) were identified; b) there was a significantly larger abdominal circumference (expressed as an age-related percentile) in the early than in the late pattern (88 +/- 10 vs. 60 +/- 18, P less than 0.05); c) femur length, head circumference and growth rate were similar for large-for-gestational age and appropriate-for-gestational age fetuses; d) in the control macrosomic infants (n = 57), the percentile of femur length, head circumference and abdominal circumference within 4 days of delivery were 91 +/- 11, 89 +/- 10, 60 +/- 26, respectively; e) analysis for small-for-gestational age infants showed a similarity in the morphometric measurements and growth rate of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and hypertensive control subjects; and f) in contrast, a significantly larger abdominal circumference was found in the gestational diabetes small-for-gestational age infants than in the previous small-for-gestational age groups. Recognition of the specific dynamics and characteristics of these patterns will allow for early detection of the fetus at risk, which in turn will improve clinical decision-making.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied