Characterization of idiotopes on MOPC 315 IgA using monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies

The isologous antiidiotypic response in BALB/c mice to immunization with the DNP-binding IgA myeloma protein, MOPC 315, alters the expression of the anti-DNP antibody repertoire and confers immunity against MOPC 315 myeloma tumors. In order to characterize the idiotopes on MOPC 315 IgA which elicit this response we have isolated four monoclonal antiidiotypic antibodies (AIA), D10 (IgG_2a), A2(IgG₁), G3 (IgG_2b) and F1 (IgG_2a), produced by splenocytes of BALB/c mice immunized with MOPC 315 IgA in three independent fusion experiments. These AIA react with MOPC 315 IgA. reassociated H³¹⁵ L³¹⁵ and F³¹⁵_V but not with free H³¹⁵, L³¹⁵, V³¹⁵_H or V³¹⁵₂. In addition the AIA do not react with the closely related DNP-binding IgA myeloma protein, MOPC 460, suggesting that they are directed against private idiotopes on MOPC 315 IgA. These idiotopes can be divided into two groups. Group I, defined by D10, A2 and G3 consists of two overlapping idiotopes, one of which is related to the hapten-binding site. The two idiotopes are formed by an interaction of amino acids in H³¹⁵ and L³¹⁵. Group II defined by F1 consists of one idiotope which is related to the hapten-binding site. This idiotope is comprised of an aminoacid sequence on H³¹⁵ which requires an interaction with either L³¹⁵ or L⁴⁶⁰ for expression. A2 and G3 react identically with the same idiotope but were derived from two independent fusion experiments. This indicates an identity of AIA clonotypes among individual mice and suggests that the isologous AIA response to MOPC 315 IgA is restricted.     

Regulation and chance in the ontogeny of B and T cell antigen receptor repertoires

The adaptive immune system has to economically generate a large array of T and B cell antigen receptors (T cell receptors [TCRs], B cell receptors [BCRs]) that eliminate both longstanding and novel antigens from the host while preventing the production of deleterious (e.g., autoreactive) antigen receptors. Our studies focus on the mechanisms that shape the development of these antigen receptor repertoies during human ontogeny. The key to BCR and TCR diversity is the third complementarity determining region (CDR3) of the variable domain, which in the immunoglobulin heavy chain and TCR β chain, is created by the junction between the variable, diversity, and joining gene segments. The CDR3 diversity is constrained by overrepresentation of gene segments and lack of N regions during the first trimester of gestation and then increases exponentially during ontogeny until it reaches adult levels months after birth. This process parallels, and may contribute to, the stepwise acquisition of the ability to respond to specific antigens. Recent studies indicate that maturation of the CDR 3 repertoire is not accelerated by premature exposition to extrauterine antigen and thus appears to follow a strictly developmentally regulated program whose pacemaker(s) is still unknown.     

Energy state and myosin heavy chain isoforms in single fibres of normal and transforming rabbit muscles

 Energy-rich phosphates, [ATP]/[ADP_free] ratios, and the myosin heavy chain (MHC) complement were determined in single fibres from normal rabbit muscles, and in fibres isolated from tibialis anterior muscle undergoing fast-to-slow conversion by chronic low-frequency stimulation (CLFS). In normal muscles, energy-rich phosphate contents and [ATP]/[ADP_free] ratios could thus be assigned to different MHC-based fibre types. Phosphocreatine (PCr) contents and [ATP]/[ADP_free] ratios differed markedly between fast- and slow-twitch fibres, as well as within the fast fibre subtypes. Both magnitudes were approximately twofold higher in the fastest (type IIB) fibres as compared to the slowest (type I) fibres. According to PCr contents and [ATP]/[ADP_free] ratios pure and hybrid fibres were aligned in an order similar to that determined by their contractile properties and myofibrillar ATPase activities. CLFS for up to 30 days induced pronounced decreases in PCr and [ATP]/[ADP_free] which attained levels twofold lower than in normal slow-twitch fibres. In both normal and stimulated muscles, PCr and [ATP]/[ADP_free] ratios were correlated, indicating their equilibrium in the different fibre types. The relationship detected between MHC isoform expression and the [ATP]/[ADP_free] ratio suggests that the drastic and persistent depression of the cellular energy state may act as an important signal initiating fast-to-slow transformation processes in muscle fibres. Received: 26 June 1998 / Accepted: 31 July 1998     

伊贝沙坦对血管紧张素Ⅱ所致心肌细胞蛋白质合成和肌球蛋白重链表达的影响

目的 观察伊贝沙坦对血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）所致心肌细胞中蛋白质合成速率及肌球蛋白重链（MHC）基因表达改变的影响.方法 以AngⅡ及伊贝沙坦分别或同时作用于培养的细胞.采用放射性同位素[^3H]-leu掺入法检测培养心肌细胞蛋白质合成速率.应用荧光定量PCR方法检测心肌细胞心房利钠肽因子（ANF）以及α-MHC、β-MHC的表达.结果 AngⅡ处理使心肌细胞中[^3H]-Leu掺人增加（P＜0.05）,同时ANF mRNA的表达明显高于正常（P＜0.05）;α-MHC mRNA的表达显著低于正常（P＜0.05）,而β-MHC mRNA的表达显著高于正常（P＜0.05）,α-MHC/β-MHC的比值下降（P＜0.05）.当伊贝沙坦与AngⅡ共同作用于培养的心肌细胞时,与AngⅡ组比较,[^3H]-Leu的掺入明显下降（P＜0.05）,与正常组比无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;同时ANF的表达下降,与正常组比无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;心肌细胞中α-MHC的表达明显增高（P＜0.05）,而β-MHCmRNA的表达显著降低（P＜0.05）,α-MHC/β-MHC的比值上升（P＜0.05）.结论 伊贝沙坦能抑制AngⅡ所致的心肌细胞肥大和细胞中α-MHC向β-MHC表达的转换.     

骨髓瘤细胞免疫球蛋白重链基因可变区的研究

为分析多发性骨髓瘤 (multiplemyeloma,MM )细胞对免疫球蛋白重链基因可变区 (VH)基因家族的取用 ;根据VH 基因突变特点 ,揭示MM细胞的起源。以重链基因可变区 (VH1 VH6 )基因家族特异性引物 ,用PCR法扩增骨髓瘤细胞系CZ 1细胞和 98例MM患者外周血单个核细胞VH 基因片段 ,纯化后的PCR产物和pMD18 T载体连接并转化JM10 9细菌 ,经克隆鉴定后 ,目的DNA片段用末端双脱氧法测定DNA序列 ,和其对应的胚系基因序列比较。结果表明MM细胞对各VH 基因家族的取用顺序为VH3>VH1>VH4 >VH2 >VH5 >VH6 ;MM细胞VH 基因互补决定区 (CDR )氨基酸替换性突变 (R突变 ) /氨基酸静寂性突变 (S突变 )等于 9 6 7,而骨架区 (FR )R/S等于 0 87,而且随着疾病的进展 ,IgVH 基因并不发生进一步的突变。结论是MM前体细胞在进行VDJ基因重排时 ,对VH 基因家族的取用和基因家族相对大小有关 ;MM细胞可能起源于已经发生抗原选择和体细胞突变的B记忆细胞或前浆细胞。     

Determinants of private clinics' productivity: a comparison of city and county clinics in Korea

This study was designed to assess determinants of private clinics' productivity, and to compare city and county clinics in South Korea. We analyzed the revenue and patient data from all 9,212 private clinics in South Korea. This data was obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Corporation, during the period between 1996 and 1999. We used a mixed model for repeatedly measured data. The following listed variables were used in our analysis: sex and age of physician, number of beds of clinics, competitiveness of medical institution, inhabitants'incomes, the proportion of elderly in the administrative unit, and time effects. Age, sex, number of beds, and specialty were found to be the most relevant determinants for the productivity of private clinics in both urban and rural settings, and number of clinics and beds per 100,000 and income of the administrative unit were found to be significant determinants, but only in city environments.     

钙调神经磷酸酶参与心衰患者心肌重构的信号转导

目的：探讨血管紧张素Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ)介导的钙调神经磷酸酶（CaN）信号通路参与心力衰竭（CHF）患者心肌重塑的机制。方法:选择因瓣膜性心脏病接受二尖瓣置换术的CHF病人39例，正常对照38例(其中8例来自意外伤亡的器官捐献者)。彩色多普勒超声心动图仪检测心脏扩大和心功能参数。放免法检测血浆及心肌组织Ang Ⅱ浓度，免疫沉淀法测心肌组织CaN、活化T细胞核因子(NFAT₃）、锌指转录因子(GATA₄)磷酸化及蛋白表达，RT-PCR检测肌球蛋白重链（β-MHC）mRNA表达。结果:AngⅡ分别与心脏扩大参数呈显著正相关，而与心功能参数呈显著负相关。CHF患者心肌组织CaN蛋白表达、CaN磷酸化、GATA^₄蛋白表达及β-MHC mRNA表达明显高于对照组，随心功能恶化其表达逐渐增加；NFAT₃磷酸化随心功能恶化而减弱。结论：肾素血管紧张素系统（RAS）激活的CaN信号通路在CHF患者心肌重构机制中可能起重要作用。     

Hybrid Approach to Estimation of Underreporting of Tuberculosis Case Notification in High-Burden Settings With Weak Surveillance Infrastructure: Design and Implementation of an Inventory Study

BackgroundThe greatest risk of infectious disease undernotification occurs in settings with limited capacity to detect it reliably. World Health Organization guidance on the measurement of misreporting is paradoxical, requiring robust, independent systems to assess surveillance rigor. Methods are needed to estimate undernotification in settings with incomplete, flawed, or weak surveillance systems. This study attempted to design a tuberculosis (TB) inventory study that balanced rigor with feasibility for high-need settings.ObjectiveThis study aims to design a hybrid TB inventory study for contexts without World Health Organization preconditions. We estimated the proportion of TB cases that were not reported to the Ministry of Health in 2015. The study sought to describe TB surveillance coverage and quality at different levels of TB care provision. Finally, we aimed to identify structural-, facility-, and provider-level barriers to notification and reasons for underreporting, nonreporting, and overreporting.MethodsRetrospective partial digitalization of paper-based surveillance and facility records preceded deterministic and probabilistic record linkage; a hybrid of health facilities and laboratory census with a stratified sampling of HFs with no capacity to notify leveraged a priori knowledge. Distinct extrapolation methods were applied to the sampled health facilities to estimate bacteriologically confirmed versus clinical TB. In-depth interviews and focus groups were used to identify causal factors responsible for undernotification and test the acceptability of remedies.ResultsThe hybrid approach proved viable and instructive. High-specificity verification of paper-based records in the field was efficient and had minimal errors. Limiting extrapolation to clinical cases improved precision. Probabilistic record linkage is computationally intensive, and the choice of software influences estimates. Record absence, decay, and overestimation of the private sector TB treatment behavior threaten validity, meriting mitigation. Data management demands were underestimated. Treatment success was modest in all sectors (R=37.9%–72.0%) and did not align with treatment success reported by the state (6665/8770, 75.99%). One-fifth of TB providers (36/178, 20%) were doubtful that the low volume of patients with TB treated in their facility merited mastery of the extensive TB notification forms and procedures.ConclusionsSubnational inventory studies can be rigorous, relevant, and efficient in countries that need them even in the absence of World Health Organization preconditions, if precautions are taken. The use of triangulation techniques, with minimal recourse to sampling and extrapolation, and the privileging of practical information needs of local decision makers yield reasonable misreporting estimates and viable policy recommendations.     

人心肌肌凝蛋白重链的制备研究

目的：探讨制备人心肌肌凝蛋白重链（MHC）的方法,为制备其抗体提供抗原。方法：采用改良性制备人心肌MHC,通过SDS-PAGE及Western印迹分析其纯度及抗原特性。结果：①SDS-PAGE显示,纯化的人心肌MHC呈现只有一分子量较大的代表人心肌MHC带的典型图像;②Western印迹显示,200ku处有一典型的感光带。结论：所用的改良法能有效地提取纯化人心肌MHC,可满足制备其抗体的需要。