Functional analysis of a TGA factor-binding site located in the promoter region controlling salicylic acid-induced NIMIN-1 expression in Arabidopsis.

TGA factors play a key role in plant defense by binding to the promoter region of defense genes, inducing expression. Salicylic acid (SA) induces the expression of the gene encoding NIMIN-1, which interacts with NPR1/NIM1, a key regulator of systemic acquired resistance. We investigated whether the TGA2-binding motif TGACG located upstream of the NIMIN-1 gene is necessary for SA induction of NIMIN-1 expression. A mutated version of the NIMIN-1 promoter was created by site-directed mutagenesis. We generated T-DNA constructs in which native NIMIN-1 and mutated promoters were fused to green fluorescent protein and beta-glucuronidase reporters. We produced transgenic Arabidopsis plants and observed NIMIN-1 promoter-driven green fluorescent protein expression in the roots, petiole and leaves. Constructs were agroinfiltrated into the leaves for transient quantitative assays of gene expression. Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, we characterized the normal gene response to SA and compared it to the response of the mutant version of the NIMIN-1 promoter. Both the native NIMIN-1 construct and an endogenous copy of NIMIN-1 were induced by SA. However, the mutated promoter construct was much less sensitive to SA than the native NIMIN-1 promoter, indicating that this TGA2-binding motif is directly involved in the modulation of SA-induced NIMIN-1 expression in Arabidopsis.

Classification of pulmonary lesions into central and peripheral with a template applied on chest X-ray.

To facilitate the understanding of the anatomical localization of pulmonary lesions and to optimize diagnostic evaluation, a template was designed which, on conventional chest X-rays, could be employed to discriminate between central and peripheral pulmonary lesions. The term 'central' implies that the lesion should be visible in the tracheobronchial tree through a fibre-optic bronchoscope, and the term 'peripheral' suggests that the lesion is not visible through a bronchoscope. In 20 patients examined by fibre-optic bronchoscopy, the bronchoscope was wedged into four pre-selected segmental bronchi in each lung. Using fluoroscopy, the tip of the bronchoscope was marked out on the skin with leadshot. On subsequent chest X-rays, with posterior-anterior and right lateral views, the distances and angles of the markings of the bronchi were mapped out in relation to the main carina. These data were used to design the template.

Parapharyngeal abscess and torticollis.

The combination of a parapharyngeal abscess and torticollis in an adult, due to a spastic contraction of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle is an extremely rare condition. We have recently been exposed to such case, in which it was very difficult to make the diagnosis and where CT of the neck gave us the answers without any difficulty. The indication for CT at an early stage in unexplained neck infections is stressed.

[Parapharyngeal abscess as the cause of torticollis]. / Parafaryngeal absces som årsag til torticollis.

The combination of parapharyngeal abscess and torticollis in an adult on account of spastic contraction of the sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle is an extremely rare condition. The present authors have recently observed a case of this type where the diagnosis was difficult to establish. CT of the neck revealed the diagnosis with no difficulty. The indication for CT at an early stage in cases of unexplained neck infections is stressed.

[Acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis. 26 cases treated with thrombectomy, temporary arteriovenous fistula and anticoagulants]. / Akut iliofemoral venetrombose. 26 tilfaelde behandlet med trombektomi, temporaer arteriovenøs fistel og antikoagulantia.

During a period of two years, 26 patients with acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis were treated with venous thrombectomy, establishing of a temporary arteriovenous fistula and anticoagulants as thrombolytic treatment was not possible. Twenty-five patients were followed-up after an average of 20 months with clinical examination, phlebography, venous strain-gauge pletysmography and vein-pump examination. At follow-up examination, 68% of the patients were free from symptoms, in 54% vein-pump function was normal and 79% had normal venous strain-gauge pletysmographic findings. One patient had venous claudication. Thrombectomy with temporary arteriovenous fistula formation offers a possibility of ensuring normal venous drainage from the lower limbs in patients with contraindications to thrombolysis.

[Mammographic screening in the municipality of Copenhagen. Results of the first screening round]. / Mammografiscreening i Københavns Kommune. Resultater fra første screeningsrunde.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the results from the prevalence round of the mammography screening programme in the Municipality of Copenhagen. All women who by 1 April 1991 were 50-69 years old, and who lived in the Municipality of Copenhagen, were during the period 1 April 1991-24 April 1993 offered a mammography. Those with suspect findings were recalled for further examination and possible biopsy. Women with breast cancer were offered treatment according to the standard national protocols (DBCCG). The participation rate was 71% (30,416/43,087). Among these 2043 (6.7%) were re-examined and 592 (1.9%) underwent surgical biopsy. Breast cancer was revealed in 359 (1.2%) women, of whom 88% had an invasive breast cancer. Prevalence of breast cancer increased significantly with increasing age. The positive predictive value for breast cancer among those re-examined was 18% and for those who had a surgical biopsy 61%. Among women with an invasive breast cancer 41% had a tumour of 10 mm or less, 80% had negative lymph node status and 56% had breast conserving surgery. During the following 12 months 14 women with a normal mammogram at the screening round developed breast cancer giving a sensitivity of 96%. It is concluded that the first mammography screening in Denmark showed the highest breast cancer prevalence published so far. A possible explanation could be a high sensitivity of the screening method, indicated by a relatively high frequency of small cancers. The screening programme was fully comparable with international standards.

Thrombectomy of acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis during pregnancy.

Acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis is six times more frequent among pregnant than nonpregnant women. The disease is serious because of the risk of pulmonary embolism. The treatment of choice with regard to prevention of post-thrombotic disorders is controversial. Pregnant women represent a therapeutic problem because thrombolysis is hazardous to the fetus. We have performed thrombectomy and temporary arteriovenous fistula in combination with anticoagulant treatment upon all pregnant or recently pregnant women coming to our department with acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis from August 1985 to March 1987. In this period, eight pregnant women and one woman 12 days after cesarean section were admitted. This is an incidence of 0.83 per 1,000 deliveries. All of the women were evaluated with a mean follow-up time of 15 months. Six of nine patients were clinically asymptomatic. Six had a normal ambulatory strain gauge volumetry and seven, a normal occlusion strain gauge plethysmography. Two women delivered by cesarean section, one woman had an induced abortion because of the disease, two women delivered after partus provocatus and four delivered spontaneously. We conclude that thrombectomy and temporary arteriovenous fistula together with heparin is a safe treatment of acute iliofemoral venous thrombosis during pregnancy. There is no need to interrupt the pregnancies except for obstetric reasons.