Whey-hydrolyzed peptide-enriched immunomodulating diet prevents progression of liver cirrhosis in rats

ObjectiveLiver fibrosis and subsequent cirrhosis is a major cause of death worldwide, but few effective antifibrotic therapies are reported. Whey-hydrolyzed peptide (WHP), a major peptide component of bovine milk, exerts anti-inflammatory effects in experimental models. A WHP-enriched diet is widely used for immunomodulating diets (IMD) in clinical fields. However, the effects of WHP on liver fibrosis remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifibrotic effects of WHP in a rat cirrhosis model.MethodsProgressive liver fibrosis was induced by repeated intraperitoneal administration of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) for 3 wk. Rats were fed either a WHP-enriched IMD (WHP group) or a control enteral diet (control group). The degree of liver fibrosis was compared between groups. Hepatocyte-protective effects were examined using hepatocytes isolated from rats fed a WHP diet. Reactive oxygen species and glutathione in liver tissue were investigated in the DMN cirrhosis model.ResultsMacroscopic and microscopic progression of liver fibrosis was remarkably suppressed in the WHP group. Elevated serum levels of liver enzymes and hyaluronic acid, and liver tissue hydroxyproline content were significantly attenuated in the WHP group. Necrotic hepatocyte rates with DMN challenge, isolated from rats fed a WHP-enriched IMD, were significantly lower. In the DMN cirrhosis model, reactive oxygen species were significantly lower, and glutathione was significantly higher in the WHP group’s whole liver tissue.ConclusionA WHP-enriched IMD effectively prevented progression of DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rats via a direct hepatocyte-protective effect and an antioxidant effect through glutathione synthesis.     

Antitumor and immunomodulating activities of the polysaccharide fractions fromArtemisia selengensis andArtemisia iwayomogi

Effects of the polysaccharide fractions purified fromArtemisia selengensis andArtemisia iwayomogi on the immune system was studied. The polysaccharide fractions, respectively called ASP1 and AIP1, may interact with macrophages and lymphocytes in spleen, increasing the population of those cell typesin vivo andin vitro. Both ASP1 and AIP1 fractions also suppress transplanted tumor cell growth and augment antibody production. This study suggests that ASP1 and AIP1 fractions may have immunomodulating and antitumor activities.     

Antibodies to skeletal muscle in myasthenia gravis: Part 3. Relation with clinical course and therapy

Fluctuations of anti skeletal muscle antibodies (AMA) were studied in relation to clinical changes and fluctuations in anti acetylcholine receptor antibodies (a-AChR). Forty-two patients with generalized myasthenia gravis were studied in clinical and serological follow-up during several years under various conditions. Results from this study demonstrate that AMA fluctuate in strong relation to a-AChR, clinical course and immunosuppressive therapy. Thymomectomy resulted in an increase or de novo appearance of AMA in 10 of the 12 patients who did not receive immunosuppressive medication.     

Evidence-based treatments in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus

Treatment modalities in pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) are many and varied, although level 1 evidence supporting their use is limited. To date, only 2 systematic reviews exist to support the use of different treatment modalities to control this group of conditions. Overall, within the literature, the quality of trials comparing treatment modalities is poor. Cohort sizes are small, methodologies are varied, and standardized outcome measurements are lacking. The authors aim to present a comprehensive view of the level 1 evidence that exists for common treatment modalities used in PV and PF.     

巴西蘑菇抗病毒作用研究动向

在巴西蘑菇抗癌、调节免疫功能等方面已经有不少研究，但在抗病毒方面的研究不多，为探求巴西蘑菇在抗病毒方面是否值得研究．特以国内外发表的文献为材料，介绍巴西蘑菇抗病毒作用的研究动向。可以得出巴西蘑菇具有抗病毒药理作用。并能协同机体免疫而辅助抗病毒，但作用机制还有待进一步研究。     

酶解泥鳅蛋白免疫调节活性的研究

根据推荐的人群日摄入量（0．02g.kg^-1）扩大5、10、20倍,剂量分别为0．1、0．2、0．4g.kg^-1,给昆明种小鼠连续灌胃酶解泥鳅蛋白一个月后,分别采用常规方法测试小鼠的各种免疫指标,观察酶解泥鳅蛋白对小鼠的免疫调节活性。结果表明：与空白组比较,低、中、高剂量组明显增强ConA诱导的小鼠脾淋巴细胞增殖能力、二硝基氟苯诱导的小迟发型变态反应、小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞吞噬鸡红细胞功能、抗体生成细胞能力和碳粒廓清能力,并能够显著升高小鼠血清血素含量。按照免疫调节作用评价程序规定,酶解泥鳅蛋白具有免疫调节作用。     

匹多莫德联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿支原体肺炎136例临床观察

目的观察匹多莫德联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿支原体肺炎的临床疗效。方法将确诊感染支原体肺炎的264例患儿随机分为两组,对照组128例单用阿奇霉素进行治疗,治疗组136例联用阿奇霉素与匹多莫德进行治疗,对比两组症状消失、体征好转时间,治疗前后CD4＋/CD8＋值,停药后三个月内复发次数。结果治疗组在退热、缓解咳嗽、消除肺部罗音、扁桃体肿大消退方面都优于对照组（P〈0.05）,治疗后CD4＋分数值、CD4＋/CD8＋高于治疗前（P〈0.01）,停药后复发次数明显减少,复发时病程缩短（P〈0.01）,且两组间不良反应发生率差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。结论匹多莫德联合阿奇霉素治疗小儿支原体肺炎能提高疗效,缩短病程,降低复发率,且患儿依从性好,不良反应少,值得临床推广。     

肿瘤患者免疫调节药物处方点评

目的：了解肿瘤患者免疫调节药物的使用情况,规范肿瘤患者辅助用药。方法：采用回顾性分析,调查2012-2013年甘肃省第二人民医院诊断为肿瘤并开具免疫调节药物的患者病历632份,填写肿瘤患者免疫调节药物处方点评表658份,分析医嘱中免疫调节药物的使用情况及不合理用药情况。结果：合格病历医嘱为512份,合格率为77．81％,不合格医嘱为146份,不合格率为22．18％。不合理用药主要为适应证和给药剂量不适宜。结论：肿瘤患者免疫调节药物的使用有待规范;处方点评有利于提高处方质量,促进临床合理用药。     

Immune function in patients with multiple myeloma

Summary Immunologic function was evaluated in 27 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). When tested for their ability to develop delayed hypersensitivity to a panel of skin test antigens, 2 out of 15 such patients were found to be anergic. The property of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes to form rosettes with sheep [total E and active or early or early rosette-forming cells (RFC)] and human erythrocytes (H-RFC) was also studied. In addition, rosette formation with mouse erythrocytes (M-RFC) was investigated as a B cell marker. Decreased proportions of total E-RFC were found in one third of the patients with MM when compared to normal volunteers. By contrast, both mean percentages and ranges of active E-RFC, H-RFC, and M-RFC in the MM patients overlapped those revealed in healthy controls. The rosette-forming ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes was tested before and after treatment with levamisole, thymosin, and transfer factor in healthy controls, as well as in some groups of patients with MM, active systemiclupus erythematosus and Hodgkin’s disease. A positive effect of all three immunomodulating agents could only be demonstrated on cells from T cell-deficient patients. It is suggested that the immunodeficiency syndrome associated with MM and related malignancies may reflect quantitative and possibly selective defects of lymphocyte subpopulations. Supported in part byConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Roma, Italy.