Inactivated influenza vaccine formulated with single-stranded RNA-based adjuvant confers mucosal immunity and cross-protection against influenza virus infection

Influenza vaccination is considered the most valuable means to prevent and control seasonal influenza infections, which causes various clinical symptoms, ranging from mild cough and fever to even death. Among various influenza vaccine types, the inactivated subunit type is known to provide improved safety with reduced reactogenicity. However, there are some drawbacks associated with inactivated subunit type vaccines, with the main ones being its low immunogenicity and the induction of Th2-biased immune responses. In this study, we investigated the role of a single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) derived from the intergenic region in the internal ribosome entry site of the Cricket paralysis virus as an adjuvant rather than the universal vaccine for a seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine. The ssRNA adjuvant stimulated not only well-balanced cellular (indicated by IgG2a, IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α) and humoral (indicated by IgG1 and IL-4) immune responses but also a mucosal immune response (indicated by IgA), a key protector against respiratory virus infections. It also increases the HI titer, the surrogate marker of influenza vaccine efficacy. Furthermore, ssRNA adjuvant confers cross-protective immune responses against heterologous influenza virus infection while promoting enhanced viral clearance. Moreover, ssRNA adjuvant increases the number of memory CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells, which can be expected to induce long-term immune responses. Therefore, this ssRNA-adjuvanted seasonal inactivated subunit influenza vaccine might be the best influenza vaccine generating robust humoral and cellular immune responses and conferring cross-protective and long-term immunity.     

Angiodysplasia as the cause of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a young adult

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to clarify the importance of bleeding vascular ectasia of the colon as the etiology of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in patients 40 years of age or younger. METHODS: An otherwise healthy 21-year-old male was admitted to a tertiary medical center with massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Technetium-labeled red blood cell scan, selective visceral angiography, and colonoscopy identified the source of bleeding as vascular abnormality of the descending colon. Segmental colonic resection was performed. RESULTS: Histologic review of the specimen demonstrated a vascular ectasia. The patient recovered uneventfully and has had no further stigmata of hemorrhage. A review of the literature was undertaken to make clear the significance of vascular ectasia as the source for massive colonic hemorrhage in the young adult. CONCLUSION: This is the first report that documents histologically a vascular ectasia as the source of massive lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in an otherwise healthy patient less than 40 years of age. Vascular ectasia is an uncommon cause of lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in the young adult.The Chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy Department, Washington, DC, Clinical Investigation Program sponsored this report #84-16-1968-532, as required by HSETCINST 6000.41A. The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and colonic infarction: a risk factor appraisal

OBJECTIVE: Colonic infarction is a recognized complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. The clinical difficulty in establishing the diagnosis combined with the patient's poor physiological status is usually associated with a fatal outcome. We assessed our experience with this problem to identify a possible risk factor profile for these patients. METHOD: Patients records were identified from the operative logs, intensive care unit, Hospital Inpatient Enquiry system and vascular unit databases over a 6-year period. RESULTS: A total of 405 patients underwent AAA repair during this period; 140 as emergency ruptures. Nine patients were identified from the databases with known colonic infarction (2.2%). One was a woman. The mean age was 70 years. Seven patients had emergency ruptures (5%). Twenty independent risk factors were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Significant risk factors identified by using a multivariate analysis included the nature of the presenting patient, preoperative hypotension, prolonged cross-clamp time, intra-operative ischaemia and postoperative acidosis. Confirmatory diagnosis was made by colonoscopy in eight patients. One patient survived following the salvage surgery. The mean duration of survival was 10.5 days. The overall mortality was 89% of patients. CONCLUSION: In our unit infrarenal AAA repair has a 2.2% rate of colonic infarction. A definitive diagnosis is best made by colonoscopy. A risk factor profile for the development of colonic infarction may be constructed on the basis of specific clinical parameters. Earlier intervention on the basis of this profile may ultimately reduce the current excessive mortality.     

Development of intestinal epithelial cell lines using a transgenic mouse

The epithelial cells of the colonic mucosa of the animal have proved impossible to culture using standard tissue culture techniques. Immortalization of adult colonic epithelial cells has been unsuccessful due to the lack of DNA synthesis in these cells once they are isolated from the tissue. Recently an unique transgenic mouse bearing a temperature sensitive mutant of the known immortalizing gene, SV40 large T has become available. The advantage of this mouse is that the SV40 large T gene is expressed in every cell. Active immortalizing protein is produced in each cell at the permissive temperature. We have used colonic mucosa from these mice to initiate cultures of epithelial cells from the colon of adult mice. The cells grow readily at the permissive temperature but die within 7 days at the non-permissive temperature. The methods used to develop these cultures are described.     

结肠非低张双重造影的应用

本文应用结肠非低张双重对比灌肠造影诊断结肠病变,这是一种简单的方法。本文根据150例的实践径验介绍了技术、病人的准备、有关造影剂的问题和正常所见,并通过具体的病例阐述了结肠非低张双重对比检查的临床应用价值,并指出了本法的不足之处。     

矽肺动物模型全肺灌洗治疗的病理观察

通过对动物模型实验治疗的病理观察，评价全肺大容量灌洗治疗矽肺的效果，并优选灌洗液。对４０只家兔和１０只幼猪经ＳｉＯ２染尘处理后，各随机分为药物组、盐水组和对照组。４～５周后施行全肺大容量灌洗。治疗后３～５个月处死各组动物，进行病理双盲检查。经统计学秩和检验，兔与猪各组肺矽结节纤维化级别分布的差异有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．００５）。经卡方检验，各灌洗组的纤维化程度与对照组相比，差异亦有非常显著意义（Ｐ＜０．０１）。灌洗液中药与盐水比，Ｐ＜０．０５；盐水与西药比，Ｐ＜０．０５。兔和猪矽肺各灌洗组的效果明显优于对照组。灌洗液中药优于盐水，盐水又优于西药     

经皮肺活检及支气管肺泡灌洗对周围性肺疾病诊断的临床价值

目的：探讨经皮肺活检及支气管肺泡灌洗(BAL)对周围性肺疾病诊断的价值。方法：对以结节或块状阴影为主的52例病人行经皮肺活检；对以弥漫性周围性肺疾病为主的33例病人行BAL检查；对采用两种不同方法的检查结果进行阳性率分析。结果：52例经皮肺活检对肺周围性病变诊断敏感性为88％，特异性100％。33例行BAL检查对结核及恶性弥漫性肺周围性病变诊断敏感性为75％～80％，特异性100％。结论：BAL检查及经皮肺活检对肺周围块状阴影或弥漫性病变的确诊有很高价值。     

中性粒细胞在高浓度氧诱发急性肺损伤中的作用

目的:测定鼠支气管肺泡清洗液中细胞成分,阐明高浓度氧诱发急性肺损伤的发生机制。方法:20只雄性6周龄[(226±53.6)g]Wistar鼠被分为3组:(1)对照组(空气中饲养,n=6)。(2)实验组1(暴露在90%～95%氧气中24～48h,n=7)。(3)实验组2(暴露在90%～95%氧气中72h,n=7)。实验中动物可自由进食和水。结果:与对照组相比,实验组2的支气管肺泡清洗液中总细胞数减少[(3.81±0.35)×105/ml,(2.53±0.77)×105/ml];巨噬细胞数减少[(3.80±0.36)×105/ml,(2.09±0.59)×105/ml];而中性粒细胞计数明显增多[0,(43.56±42.63)×103/ml]。实验组2的动物都出现双侧胸水。结论:中性粒细胞动员并进入肺组织是高浓度氧诱发急性肺损伤的明显特征,损伤的发生与暴露时间有关。提示早期抑制中性粒细胞进入肺组织是治疗高浓度氧诱发急性肺损伤的重要途径。     

Effect of surfactant lavage in a rabbit model of meconium aspiration syndrome

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a frequent cause of respiratory distress in neonates. Recent reports have suggested that surfactant dysfunction contributes to the pathophysiology of MAS and surfactant therapy improves oxygenation of infants with MAS. We evaluated the effect of bronchial lavage with surfactant solution in a rabbit model of meconium aspiration. All animals were given 5 mL/kg of a 20% slurry of human meconium into the endotracheal tube and mechanically ventilated. The animals were then divided into saline lavage (n = 5) or surfactant lavage (n = 5). Lavage was performed an hour after meconium instillation. After the lavage the total amount of meconium recovered was measured. Blood gas was monitored during the experiment. The amount of meconium recovered by saline lavage was 14%, and by surfactant lavage was 57%. The surfactant group had a significant improvement in gas exchange, whereas the saline group had no improvement. It was concluded that the lavage with surfactant solution effectively washed out meconium and improved gas exchange in rabbit model of MAS.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF CYTODIAGNOSIS WITH PANCREATIC DUCT LAVAGE FLUID FOR PANCREATIC DUCTAL CARCINOMA: NEW SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers. Because pancreatic carcinoma is still very difficult to diagnose in its early stage, many of these patients will be considered unsuitable for surgery. If a cytological diagnosis is obtained at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), suitable treatment will be initiated without delay. Methods: To increase the number of exfoliated cells from the pancreatic duct, we devised a new technique, pancreatic duct lavage fluid (PDLF), following bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The present paper reports the effectiveness of cytological examination using PDLF in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. We examined 18 pancreatic carcinoma cases. After the endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP), PDLF was collected from a double‐lumen catheter inserted into the main pancreatic duct. Saline injected from the lumen for the injection, and PDLF was aspirated from the other lumen for the guidewire at the same time. The cytological examination was performed using PDLF. Results: Exfoliated cells were more frequently found in PDLF from all patients. In 15 cases (83%), cytological examination of PDLF revealed positive cytological results as the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Conclusion: Cytological examination using PDLF has a high sensitivity for detection of pancreatic carcinoma. The new examination, PDLF, is simple, safe and effective, so we expect PDLF to become widely popular.