Daily variation in circulating cytokines and acute-phase proteins correlates with clinical and laboratory indices in community-acquired pneumonia

Our objective was to investigate the initial levels of circulating proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), of certain acute-phase proteins, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen (FBN) and albumin, and of the glycoprotein fibronectin at presentation and their daily variation during the clinical course of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in relation to clinical and laboratory indices of infection. Thirty otherwise healthy hospitalized patients aged 48 ± 3 years (mean ± SEM) and with bacteriologically confirmed CAP were studied prospectively. IL-1β and IL-6 were found to be 15-fold higher on admission (122 ± 9 pg mL^?1 and 60 ± 4 pg mL^?1 respectively), whereas TNF-α was three-fold higher (102 ± 5 pg mL^?1) than those of controls, all of them showing a decline towards normal. Initial CRP levels were increased 90-fold (416 ± 1 mg L^?1), whereas fibronectin levels were reduced (242 ± 9 mg dL^?1). The presence of parapneumonic effusion was associated with a higher TNF-α serum level (127 ± 7 vs. 86 ± 4 pg mL^?1, P = 0.0002), a more rapid daily decline in TNF-α (–7.2 ± 0.7 vs. ?3.8 ± 0.5 pg mL^?1 day^?1, P = 0.0005), a slower rate of decline in CRP (?42.8 ± 3.0 vs. ?54.6 ± 3.0 mg L^?1 day^?1, P = 0.02) and a slower rate of increase in FBN (5.9 ± 1.0 vs. 11.7 ± 1.0 mg dL^?1 day^?1), P = 0.001]. Furthermore, daily progression of serum levels of cytokines and acute-phase proteins correlated strongly with pyrexia, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), neutrophil count, alveolar–arterial oxygen difference and radiographic resolution, clinically manifested by improvement in the patients' condition.     

Comparison of salivary calmodulin binding proteins in Sjögren''s syndrome and healthy individuals

Background: Reduction in salivary secretion is the hallmark of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin binding proteins (CaMBPs) play a key role in the secretory process of saliva. Recent studies have suggested that SS‐B, an autoantibody associated with SS, is a CaMBP. This finding suggests that CaMBP may contribute to the loss of saliva in SS. To better understand the role(s) of these proteins in SS, the purpose of this study was to compare salivary CaMBPs in Sjögren's patients and controls. Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 20 patients and 20 age‐, race‐, and gender‐matched controls. CaM overlay was used to identify CaMBPs in saliva of patients and controls. Results: Higher number of salivary CaMBPs was observed among patients than controls. Conclusions: The increased number of salivary CaMBPs in SS may suggest a potential role for these proteins in the pathogenesis of the disease.     

Distribution of α-integrin subunits in fetal polycystic kidney diseases

An alteration in cell/matrix interactions is one of the suggested mechanisms leading to cyst formation in polycystic kidney diseases. Most of these interactions are mediated by β1-integrins, a subfamily of integrin receptors, formed by the association of the β1-chain with different α-subunits. To date, no study on α-integrin subunit distribution during the early stages of cyst development has been reported. Using immunofluorescence, we analyzed the distribution of α-integrin subunits (α1, α2, α3, α5, and α6) and basement membrane proteins in kidneys of fetuses with autosomal dominant (ADPKD) or autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). The distribution was compared with that observed in normal fetal and post-natal kidneys, and in fetal cystic dysplasia and Meckel syndrome. Marked increase in α1-integrin staining was observed in normal and cystic collecting duct cells of both polycystic diseases (PKD), compared with normal and cystic controls. The distribution of integrin subunits α2, α3, and α6 was irregular in cyst epithelial cells of PKD and cystic controls. The increased expression of the α1-subunit specifically observed in PKD collecting duct cells may be an early consequence of the genetic defect in ARPKD. In ADPKD it parallels the reported expression of polycystin, the protein product of PKD1. The irregular expression of α2, α3, and α6 integrin subunits observed in all types of cysts suggests that cell/matrix interactions are altered early and may participate in the development of cysts, perhaps by contributing to the deregulation of cell survival in cystic diseases. Received May 28, 1996; received in revised form October 2, 1996; accepted October 25, 1996     

重组人血小板因子4的表达、纯化及活性鉴定

目的: 用基因工程手段去获取有活性的重组人血小板因子4(rhPF4),为下一步的基础理论研究和临床应用奠定基础.方法: 用PCR手段获得人PF4的编码序列,克隆入质粒pRSET,构建融合表达载体pRSET-PF4,转化大肠杆菌,以IPTG诱导表达融合的人PF4蛋白,经镍柱亲和层析纯化,用SDS-PAGE分析所表达的目的蛋白及纯化后蛋白,用鸡胚绒毛膜尿囊膜实验(CAM)验证rhPF4的活性.结果: 成功构建了表达载体pRSET-PF4,DNA序列测定结果与预期结果一致.IPTG诱导表达的rhPF4融合蛋白部分以可溶形式存在,占菌体总蛋白量的11%.亲和层析纯化后目的蛋白纯度为84%.CAM实验表明,经纯化获得的rhPF4对鸡胚血管形成具有抑制作用.结论: 成功地获得了具有高度生物学活性的rhPF4蛋白.     

停跳或不停跳心脏手术对血清 S-100B蛋白表达的影响

【目的】研究心脏手术围术期血清S-100B蛋白表达及其与停跳或不停跳心肺转流方式和时间的关系。【方法】体外循环心脏手术患者23例,测转流前、转流10min、转流末、转流后24h的血清S-100B蛋白表达水平。【结果】①血清S-100B蛋白质量浓度在体外循环前后动态变化:转流前(M)为0.27μg/L,转流10min后升至0.57μg/L(P<0.01),转流末达峰值1.80μg/L(P<0.01),转流后24h降为0.22μg/L(P>0.05)。转流末的血清S-100B蛋白质量浓度与转流时间呈正相关(r=0.488,P<0.05)。②停跳组(n=6)转流前、转流10min、转流末、转流后24h平均血清S-100B蛋白质量浓度分别为(0.17±0.09)μg/L、(0.48±0.13)μg/L、(1.65±0.52)μg/L和(0.19±0.04)μg/L,不停跳组(n=6)分别为(0.26±0.14)μg/L、(0.71±0.41)μg/L、(1.59±0.84)μg/L和(0.23±0.11)μg/L,两组差别无统计学意义(P>0.05)。【结论】体外循环可导致血清S-100B蛋白表达增高,其表达水平与心肺转流时间呈正相关,但与停跳或不停跳转流方式无关。     

Accentuated antagonism by angiotensin II on guinea-pig cardiac L-type Ca-currents enhanced by β-adrenergic stimulation

 To examine mechanism(s) underlying the accentuated antagonism by angiotensin II (A-II) on twitch tension, we recorded L-type Ca²⁺ currents (I _Ca,L) using conventional patch-clamp techniques in single, guinea-pig, ventricular myocytes. I _Ca,L was recorded by a step-pulse protocol after eliminating K⁺ conductances (internal Cs⁺ plus tetraethylammonium chloride and K⁺-free extracellular solution). A-II (100 nM) did not affect basal I _Ca,L, but inhibited I _Ca,L that had been enhanced (approximately 200% of control) by (ISO, isoproterenol 100 nM). The inhibitory action of A-II was concentration dependent (concentration eliciting 50% inhibition 88±9 pM, n=41) and the ISO-enhanced component of I _Ca,L was completely blocked by A-II at concentrations above 10 nM. CV-11974 (500 nM), an A-II type-1 receptor (AT₁) antagonist, prevented the inhibitory action of A-II. Pre-incubation with pertussis toxin (PTX) abolished the inhibitory effect of A-II. A-II also inhibited the I _Ca,L enhanced by histamine (500 nM) and forskolin (1 μM), but failed to affect I _Ca,L enhanced by intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (1 mM). The inhibitory action of A-II may therefore involve AT₁ receptors/PTX-sensitive, guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins (Gi)/adenylate cyclase and partially explains the A-II-dependent accentuated antagonism of inotropy.     

内毒素休克大鼠核因子κB活化规律及其在生物蝶呤诱生中的作用

目的观察内毒素休克大鼠血浆及主要脏器核因子(NF)κB活化规律及其对生物蝶呤(BH4)和一氧化氮(NO)表达水平的影响,探讨内毒素休克时NF-κB信号通路对BH4诱生NO的分子调控机制及其与多器官功能损害的关系。方法将47只大鼠按表格随机法分为正常组(8只)、内毒素／脂多糖(LPS)组(24只,每观察时相点8只,均同时注射LPS制成休克模型)和拮抗组[15只,每观察时相点5只,均同时注射LPS并以吡咯烷二硫代氨基甲酸盐(PDTC)拮抗]。休克及拮抗组于注射LPS后2、6、12 h观察,并与正常组同法处死,无菌留取大鼠血标本及肝、肺、肾组织,测定组织中NF-κB活性和三磷酸鸟苷环水解酶Ⅰ(GTP-CHⅠ)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)mRNA表达水平、血浆和组织中的BH4含量及NO水平、肝脏和肾脏功能指标、肺组织髓过氧化物酶活性。结果与正常组(例如肺组织中NF-κB活性为26±6)比较,LPS组大鼠组织中NF-κB迅速活化(P<0．01),并于注射后2 h达峰值(肺组织中为291±44);LPS组各组织中GTP-CHⅠ和iNOS mRNA表达、BH4和NO水平也较正常组明显升高(P<0．05或0．01),至伤后12 h仍持续较高水平。此外,该组相应器官功能均受到不同程度的损害。应用PDTC的拮抗组大鼠各组织中NF-κB活性均较LPS组有所降低,GTP-CHⅠ、iNOS mRNA表达及BH4、NO水平显著受抑,肝、肺、肾功能明显改善。结论内毒素休克时机体内NF-κB通路高度活化,并对BH4／NO系统具有明显调节效应;可通过下调BH4介导的iNOS的过度活化抑制NF-κB信号途径,从而减轻组织炎性反应,对机体脏器功能起到保护作用。     

Die Insuffizienz der intraabdominellen Infektabwehr bei der eitrigen Peritonitis — Folge einer gestörten Fremdkörperopsonierung

Summary Despite a high concentration of serum proteins and intact phagocytes peritonitis exudates contain a large number of viable, pathogenic bacteria. The reason for this biological paradox is unknown. Our investigations reveal a pronounced defect in humoral opsonization of foreign particles in peritonitis exudate. We evaluated a modified chemiluminescence system allowing the determination of opsonic activity in serum and exudate. In serum we found a close correlation between opsonic activity and immunologically measurable levels of C₃-complement and IgG. In purulent peritonitis exudates, however, the actual opsonizing activity was much less than expected according to the opsonin concentrations. We found a pronounced difference between immunologically determined opsonin levels and impaired opsonic function. Employing crossed immunoelectrophoresis massive C₃-splitting into smaller fragments could be demonstrated in peritonitis exudates. In these exudates we found very high concentrations of granulocyte proteolytic (elastase) and oxidative (myeloperoxidase) enzymes which may lead to a functional destruction of opsonins followed by impaired opsonization in peritonitis exudate. The great number of bacteria and foreign particles in addition can cause a pronounced physiological consumption of complement components. The almost complete breakdown of intact C₃-complement in intraabdominal exudate explains the deficient host defence in patients with severe peritonitis.

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Abkürzungsverzeichnis CL Chemilumineszenz - IgG Immunglobulin G - OK Opsonierungskapazität     

微量沙眼衣原体组织培养法的建立及临床应用

建立了微量沙眼衣原体组织培养法，并应用于不同人群的生殖道标本的沙眼衣原体培养。结果生殖道沙眼衣原体培养的阳性率：男性尿道炎患者１４７％（９／６１）；正常孕妇３３％（７／２１０）；急性和亚急性盆腔炎女性患者６７％（７／１０４）；性病门诊患者１８２％（４９／２６９）。由于９６孔培养板及倒置荧光显微镜的应用，微量培养法试剂用量少、过程简化；自制的抗沙眼衣原体单克隆抗体大大降低了培养后的染色成本，适用于大宗标本。     

Inhibition and superactivation of the calcium-stimulated isoforms of adenylyl cyclase

It was shown previously that chronic exposure to opiate agonists increases adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, a phenomenon termed AC superactivation (or supersensitization). More recently, we showed that acute G_i/o-coupled receptor activation inhibits the activity of several AC isozymes, including Ca²⁺/calmodulin-stimulated AC-I and -VIII, whereas chronic receptor activation induces their superactivation. Here, we report that both acute μ-opioid receptor-induced inhibition and chronic induced superactivation of AC-I and -VIII are pertussis toxin sensitive. In addition, we show that proteins that interfere with the activity of {ie195-2} subunits ({ie195-3} scavengers) strongly attenuate the acute inhibition of AC-I and -VIII and the superactivation of AC-I, and abolish the superactivation of AC-VIII. Based on these results, we suggest that {ie195-4} is involved in the acute inhibition and chronic agonist-induced superactivation of AC types I and VIII.