[Research Advance in Light Chain Escape of Multiple Myeloma -Review].

More than 80% of patients with MM is present as intact monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig). Usually, the patients with intact immunoglobulin MM (IIMM) show parallel fluctuations of their intact Ig and FLCs or BJP. In the era of novel agents, including thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib, the natural disease development and classic relapse patterns have been changed, the relapse was characterized by an increase in sFLC or BJP without a corresponding increase in paraprotein level, a phenomenon termed "light chain escape", indicates a worse outcome in patients with MM. This review focuses on the mechanism, clinical significance and early diagnosis of light chain escape.

[Gene cloning, expression and polyclonal antibody preparation and application of translocated intimin receptor-cytoskeleton coupling protein].

AIM: To prepare translocated intimin receptor-cytoskeleton coupling protein (TccP) of Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 and its polyclonal antibody. METHODS: TccP was amplified from the genome of EHEC O157:H7 Sakai strain by PCR and used to construct the recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pET28a-TccP. The recombinant vector was transformed into E.coli BL21( DE3) to express the protein in the bacteria under the induction of isopropy-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). After purification, the protein was injected into New Zealand rabbits to prepare polyclonal antibody. Then the antibody was tested by ELISA and Western blotting for its sensitivity and specificity. The rabbit anti-TccP polyclonal antibody was then applied in the study on the localization of TccP within the host cells adhered by EHEC O157:H7. RESULTS: The sequence of TccP cDNA we amplified was the same as reported by GenBank. The recombinant prokaryotic expression vector pET28a-TccP was constructed successfully. Western blotting revealed that M(r); of the target protein expressed in E.coli BL21(DE3) was 37 000 and the rabbit anti-TccP polyclonal antibody had a specific reaction with the target protein, which demonstrated that the recombinant protein and its polyclonal antibody were prepared successfully. Immunofluorescence detection using rabbit anti-TccP polyclonal antibody showed that TccP aggregated in the cell membrane of the host cell adhered by EHEC O157:H7. CONCLUSION: We successfully prepared the recombinant vector pET28a-TccP and the anti-TccP polyclonal antibody and applied the antibody to confirm the localization of TccP in EHEC O157:H7 adhesion host cells.

Methods for the rapid screening of group A streptococci: fluorescent in situ hybridization versus immunochromatography.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of detection for screening group A streptococci (GAS) in pediatric clinics using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunochromatographic assay (ICA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A group of 630 children who attended an outpatient clinic with signs and symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infection were enrolled in this study. Specimens were collected using a double-swab collection device. Culturing methods were employed as the gold standard for comparison. Discordant results (i.e., positive results for FISH or ICA along with negative culture results) were further evaluated by using Todd-Hewitt broth (THB) with subsequent subculture for group A selective streptococcus agar. True-positive or false-positive of GAS was determined by the presence or absence of THB subculture. The diagnostic characteristics of FISH and ICA were assessed. RESULTS: After discrepant analysis, the sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were as follows: 89.2, 100, 100 and 95.4%, respectively, for FISH; corresponding values for ICA were 76.8, 98.6, 96.1 and 90.5%. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the FISH assay had a higher detection sensitivity than ICA and is suitable for rapid and accurate GAS screening in pediatric clinics.