Can HLA typing predict the outcome of grass pollen immunotherapy?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HLA molecules and the positive or negative response of atopic patients to specific immunotherapy (SIT). METHODS: We studied 42 atopic multisensitive patients undergoing grass pollen immunotherapy, 42 parents of patients (30 mothers and 12 fathers) and 173 control individuals. HLA class I and class II antigens were typed by a microlymphocytotoxicity test. The typing of DRB1* alleles for atopic patients and their parents was based on the reverse hybridization principle, while for the control group, DNA-RFLP and PCR-SSP methods were used. RESULTS: The frequency of B14 and DRB1*1101-4 antigens/alleles, as well as the A2B5DR11 haplotype, showed a statistically significant difference in those patients who responded to immunotherapy. On the other hand, HLA-A28, B8 and DRB1*0301 antigens/alleles, as well as the frequency of the A1B8 and A1B8DR3 haplotypes, were found to be significantly higher in patients who responded poorly to SIT. DISCUSSION: Our findings support the hypothesis that treatment responsiveness may show an association to HLA molecules, which could thus play a role in the immunological selection and monitoring of atopic patient candidacy for SIT.     

HLA class II diversity in seven Amerindian populations. Clues about the origins of the Aché

The study of the HLA variability of Native American populations revealed several alleles specific to one or more of the Latin American indigenous populations. The analysis of Amerindian groups distributed all over the continent might inform about the area of origin and the dispersal of these alleles and shed light on the evolution of this remarkable polymorphism. Moreover, HLA alleles and haplotypes are excellent markers to understand the genetic relationships between populations. For these reasons, we characterized the HLA class II polymorphism in seven South American Amerindian populations and compared the results with those previously reported for other Amerindian groups. The Guarani-Kaiowá (n = 160) and Guarani-Nandeva (n = 87) were from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the Guarani-M'byá (n = 93) and Kaingang (n = 235) from Paraná state, the Aché (n = 89) from eastern Paraguay, the Quechua (n = 44) from Andean Peru. From Amazonia, a heterogeneous group was analyzed (n = 45). The most frequent alleles and haplotypes are common also in other Amerindian populations. Each HLA-DRB1 allele was typically found in combination with just one DQA1-DQB1 haplotype, most likely as a result of some form of random genetic drift and reduced gene flow from non-Amerindians. The frequency distribution differed significantly among all populations, although differences were less pronounced between the Guarani subgroups. Marker alleles allowed an estimate of European and sub-Saharan African gene flow into these populations: Quechua 23%, Guarani-Nandeva 14%, Kaingang 7%, Guarani-M'byá 4%, Guarani-Kaiowá, Amazonia, and Aché 0%. Interestingly, the DRB1*1413 allele, previously found only among the Guarani-M'byá (frequency 15%), appeared in the Aché (8%). The relationship of the Aché to other Amerindian populations is unclear, and this finding reveals a link with the Guarani. On the basis of genetic distance and the HLA allele/haplotype set, we propose that the Aché are differentiated Tupi-Guarani group, most closely related to the Guarani-M'byá.     

Reflex regulation of the “spontaneous” activity of the chemoreceptors of the tongue

Summary The spontaneous activity of the chemoreceptors of the frog's tongue was studied during stimulation of the interoceptors of the stomach and of the sympathetic chain. It was found to be under the control of the nervous system, adapting the receptors to give improved perception, and it indicates the preparedness of these apparatuses to receive stimuli. Spontaneous activity may be fundamentally a partial principle of the functioning of receptor elements. Further electrophysiological investigations of this problem are proceeding.(Presented by Active Member AMN SSSR P. K. Anokhin) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 55, No. 8, pp. 7–11, August, 1963     

Evolution of HLA testing for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Importance of the candidate’s antibody profile for donor selection

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is a curative treatment for several malignant and non-malignant diseases. Access to this life saving therapy was limited by the requirement of an HLA matched donor. Introduction of platforms allowing transplantation with haploidentical and partially mismatched donors has enlarged the donor pool so that most candidates have a possible donor. HLA circulating antibodies specific for the donor’s mismatched antigens may cause delayed engraftment and primary graft failure. The role of the HLA laboratory supporting HSCT has expanded to provide HLA antibody detection and monitoring for selection of compatible donors and for monitoring of desensitization treatments. This review gives an outline of the evolution of HSCT and HLA and the current tools available to the HLA team to support donor selection and desensitization treatments in this new era of transplantation.     

Microsatellite mapping of a susceptible locus within the HLA region for Behçet's disease using Jordanian patients

Beh?et's disease (BD) has been established to be associated with HLA-B51. However, it has not been revealed whether the HLA-B51 gene itself or another gene located near the HLA-B gene is directly involved in the pathogenesis of BD. Previously, using Japanese BD patients, our group has narrowed down a BD-causative gene to 46 kb between the MICA and HLA-B genes by means of fine mapping analysis with eight microsatellite markers distributed within a 1100 kb segment around the HLA-B gene. To know whether this mapping result is generally observed in BD of another population we have investigated repeat polymorphisms of the same microsatellite markers in Jordanian BD patients. Furthermore, we have evaluated these data by Mantel-Haenzel stratified analysis to find out a primarily associated locus for BD. As a result, HLA-B51 was found to be the most strongly and primarily associated marker. This result suggests that the pathogenic gene of BD is HLA-B51 itself, but unlikely to be other genes located in the vicinity of HLA-B.     

HLA研究进展

主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)在免疫学中的地位日益受到重视,关于MHC的定义,过去多认为是特定染色体上某两个位点之间的一个片段,klein则建议应从功能上进行定义,他提出,MHC是编码约束T细胞受体特异性的分子的一组位点.MHC编码的基因产物在免疫调节中起重要作用,有关MHC的研究工作主要集中在对其编码的分子产物结构和功能方面的探索.人的MHC称为HLA,HLA与某些疾病的关系早已为人们所注意.本文将总结有关     

HLA系统

HLA,这是人类主要组织相容性系统,开始时是作为一种类似于血型样的系统在人的白细胞上首先检测出来的。它相当于小鼠的H—2系统,在许多其它种中亦有。那时对它研究的目的是为了进行抗原配对,这对移植来说是很重要的,而现在我们已知道HLA系统包括许多基因,例如控制细胞表面决定簇、免疫反应差异、补体系统的某些成份以及可能涉及细胞间相互识别功能等基因。自从发现小鼠H—2系统与免疫反应以及与病毒诱发白血病的易感性之间都有关联这一事实后,随后亦证明了一定数量的HLA因子与许多重要的慢性疾病有着显著的关联。这篇综述的目的,是想对当前的HLA系     

Simulation of non-inherited maternal antigens acceptable HLA mismatches to increase the chance of matched cord blood units: Hong Kong’s experience

In Cord blood transplantation (CBT), the non-inherited maternal antigen (NIMA) virtual six HLA matched CB is found to have similar outcomes to six HLA inherited matched CB. Such virtual HLA matched CB units can be generated by substituting the inherited alleles with one to three NIMAs. In Hong Kong Cord Blood Bank, CB units have no NIMA defined. 100 CB samples were collected with NIMA defined. Retrospective searches of Hong Kong patients (n?=?520) were matched against the inherited and virtual HLA phenotypes of NIMA CB file. One to three NIMA matches was analyzed, virtual six HLA matches were identified for 31.7% patients, 29.4% from CB units with 5/6 HLA match with 1 NIMA match and 1.7% CB units with a 4/6 HLA match and 2 NIMA matches. However, searches in the 167,201 Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide CB units with defined NIMA did not yield similar increases, possibly due to the ethnicity differences between populations. The match performance rises from 26% to 60% after including the NIMA match. Comparing the match performance of 32% in a previous Dutch study, we calculated with 60% matching in this smaller size study. This provides a solid ground to considering NIMA in stem cell donor selection which was adopted in some centers, to be extended to Asian and local CB registries to increase the chance for matches and also to improve patient outcomes, increase the utilization of CB units, enhance clinical flexibility and signify economic intelligence.     

On the Morphology of the Synaptic Vesicles of the Axospine Synapses in the Rat Visual Cortex

An electron-microscopoical Observationof the shape and form of the synapticvesicles in the axospine synapses of therat visual cortex fixed with glutaralde-hyde and postfixed with osmium tetro-xide is reported.Each axospine synapse in the visualcortex consists of a presynaptic boutonwith a dendritic spine from which it is     

Are the Thalamic Projections of Nucleus Z of the Medulla Oblongata Reorganized after Partial Deafferentation of the Ventrolateral Nucleus of the Thalamus?

The possible plastic reorganization of projections from the somatosensory relay nucleus Z of the cat medulla oblongata to the partially deafferented ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus was studied by retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase. Partial deafferentation of the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus was produced by prior (three months) electrolytic destruction of the contralateral cerebellar interpositus nucleus or the lateral vestibular nucleus of Deiters. The results demonstrated local intense labeling of a group of neurons in nucleus Z, and there was a small group of labeled neurons in cell group x of the vestibular complex projecting to the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus, where these projections were found to overlap with those from the cerebellar nuclei. After lesioning of the cerebellar interpositus nucleus or lateral vestibular nucleus of Deiters, ipsilateral projections in the monosynaptic circuit consisting of nucleus Z and the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus did not form. The absence of reorganization of projections from nucleus Z to the ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus in terms of the formation of ipsilateral projections may be associated with its being part of the somatosensory relay nucleus, which is specialized for relaying and transmitting information strictly of the specific proprioceptive modality.     

The features of the influence of “reward areas” on the electrical activity of the parafascicular complex of nuclei in the developing rabbit

The influence of the electrostimulation of reward areas, preliminarily identified by the self-stimulation technique, on the evoked potentials recorded in the parafascicular complex of the thalamus in response to peripheral nociceptive stimulation was studied in 35 rabbits, of 41–60 days of life. When comparison was made of the data obtained with the results of studies carried out previously in adult animals and in rabbits from the 30th–40th days, in addition to common characteristics, features of these influences which were characteristics only for the age interval under investigation were distinguished. The antinociceptive influences of the reward areas on the evoked potentials in the parafascicular complex were less pronounced with respect to a number of parameters in the period of the rabbits life occupying the intermediate position between the over-excitable and adult periods of development.Translated from Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 77, No. 8, pp. 76–83, August, 1991.     

Does the emergence of antibiotic resistance announce the return of the dark ages?

Antibiotic revolution changed the course of modern medicine, by decreasing mortality due to bacterial infections. However, bacteria have developed several ways of resistance against all antibiotics used. In view of the rise of resistance and of its dissemination to different bacterial families, new effective antibiotics are scare and the return in the pre-antibiotic era seems to be a reality for some parts of the world. This review revises the worrying phenomenon of antibiotic resistance focusing on some examples of "superbugs", which represent a daily challenge for the medical profession, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus, extended spectrum ?-lactamae-producing Enterobacteriaceae as well as carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Facing the emergence of the multiresistant strains, the priority is obviously to control the spread of these microorganisms. It is only through the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs and the introduction of new and effective antibiotics that the antibiotic resistance will be slowed down and that we continue to treat bacterial infections.     

the Influence of Walking Speed on Knee Momentand the Realizable Method of the Prosthesis

1.IntroductionThekineticandkinematicsanalysisofthelower-limbsofable-bodiesisnotonlyanimportantpartofbiomechanics,butalsothefundamentalinvestigationonrehabilitationofthepeoplewithlowerlimbdisabilities,Inlastafewyears,aprototypeofintelligentlowerlimbprosthesishasbeendevelopedatTsinghuaUniversity.Inordertolettheintelligentprosthesisbesuitabletovariablewalkingspeed,itisnecessarytostudytheinfluenceofwalkingspeedonKneemoment.Inthispaper,thedisplacementsandtemporaldistancefactorsandgroundreactionfo…