Localized Kaposi''s sarcoma in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris

We report the case of a patient with a 13-year history of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) treated with immunosuppressive agents, prednisone and mycophenolate mofetil who had developed lesions of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) on a sole plaque of PV that had been previously treated with intralesional injections of steroids. The lesions were surgically removed and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstrated human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) DNA. There were neither recurrences nor later dissemination of KS following gradual decrease of the immunosuppressive therapy. We suggest that the treatment with intralesional steroids may have influenced the local reactivation of a latent infection of the virus, determining the appearance of this localized KS.     

Impact of type 2 diabetes mellitus on diffuse inflammatory activation of de novo atheromatous lesions: Implications for systemic inflammation

AimsLocal coronary and systemic inflammation is pronounced in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Intracoronary thermography detects local inflammation and C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of systemic inflammation. We investigated whether or not, in patients with DM, thermal heterogeneity of culprit lesions (CLs) correlates with that of non-culprit lesions (NCLs) and with systemic inflammation.MethodsWe included DM patients who had two angiographically significant lesions and were undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. We measured the temperature difference (ΔT) between the lesion and proximal vessel wall.ResultsWe included 104 (n = 208 lesions) patients: 32 (n = 64 lesions) had DM and 72 (n = 144 lesions) were non-DM (control group). ΔT was increased in DM in both CLs and NCLs (CLs: DM = 0.12 ± 0.06 °C; no DM = 0.06 ± 0.04 °C; P < 0.01 versus NCLs: DM = 0.13 ± 0.08 °C versus no DM = 0.06 ± 0.05 °C; P < 0.01). Patients with DM had similar ΔT in CLs and NCLs (P = 0.49). A linear correlation was detected between heat production in all lesions and CRP (R = 0.45; P < 0.01), which was attributed to the correlation of ΔT in lesions of patients with DM and CRP (R = 0.32; P < 0.01). In lesions of patients with low CRP, a greater rate of discrepancy was found, as 100% of lesions in patients with DM versus 66.1% of lesions of patients without DM had a high ΔT in one or both lesions (P < 0.01).ConclusionIn patients with DM, local inflammatory activation is diffuse and correlates with systemic inflammation. However, low systemic inflammatory activation does not always predict an increase in local thermal heterogeneity.     

他莫昔芬与γ-干扰素联合抗人乳腺癌细胞株的作用及其机制研究

目的: 探讨他莫昔芬(TAM)与 γ-干扰素(γ-IFN)联合抗乳腺癌细胞株的作用及其机制。方法:在体外培养条件下，分别或联合应用γ-IFN,TAM或雌二醇（E2）作用于ER阳性的MCF-7人乳腺癌细胞株，用MTT比色法分析细胞生长抑制作用;用流式细胞仪（FCM）检测细胞周期分布、凋亡率及用药前后Bcl-2,Bax,Fas,FasL及Caspase-8蛋白的变化;荧光分光光度仪检测Caspase-3活性。结果:TAM能抑制ER阳性乳腺癌细胞的生长，阻滞细胞周期于G0/G1期，并可诱导细胞凋亡;同时，TAM能拮抗外源性雌激素对MCF-7细胞的促生长作用。γ-IFN预处理细胞24h后，TAM抗乳腺癌细胞的作用增强。联用γ-IFN与TAM后，细胞Bcl-2蛋白表达下调，Caspase-8表达上调;但药物处理前后，细胞Bax，Fas，FasL蛋白表达水平及Caspase-3活性未见明显变化。结论:体外条件下，TAM通过影响细胞周期、诱导细胞凋亡而发挥抗ER阳性乳腺癌细胞作用;γ-IFN能加强TAM的抗乳腺癌作用。两者作用机制可能系通过下调Bcl-2表达和上调Caspase-8的表达。     

CD44v7/8基因表达与宫颈癌关系的探讨

目的探讨宫颈癌组织中CD44v7/8基因的异常表达及临床意义。方法1986～2000年沈阳医学院附属中心医院采用免疫组化的方法随机测定59例宫颈癌、18例尖锐湿疣和18例慢性宫颈炎组织中CD44v7/8基因的表达情况。结果宫颈癌、尖锐湿疣及慢性宫颈炎3种疾病中CD44v7/8表达阳性率分别为76.27%、11.11%和11.11%,宫颈癌组的CD44v7/8表达分别高于慢性宫颈炎组及尖锐湿疣组,且差异非常显著(P<0.01)。慢性宫颈炎组及尖锐湿疣组比较差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论CD44v7/8蛋白的表达增强与宫颈癌的发生、发展及和局部浸润转移有关。     

Alternaria alternata NADP-dependent mannitol dehydrogenase is an important fungal allergen.

BACKGROUND: Alternaria alternata is one of the most important allergenic fungi worldwide. Mannitol dehydrogenase (MtDH) has previously been shown to be a major allergen of Cladosporium herbarum and cross-reactivity has been demonstrated for several fungal allergens. OBJECTIVE: The present study's objective was to clone the MtDH from an A. alternata cDNA library, express and purify the recombinant non-fusion protein and test its IgE-binding properties. Methods A cDNA library prepared from A. alternata hyphae and spores was screened for mannitol dehydrogenase by DNA hybridization with the radioactively labelled C. herbarum homologue as a probe. The resulting clone was sequenced and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli as a recombinant non-fusion protein, which was purified to homogeneity and analysed for its IgE-binding capacity. RESULTS: The coding sequence of the full-length cDNA clone comprises 798 bp encoding a protein with a molecular mass of 28.6 kDa and a predicted pI of 5.88. Protein sequence analysis revealed an identity of 75% and a homology of 86% between the MtDHs of A. alternata and C. herbarum. The functional mannitol dehydrogenase was expressed in the E. coli strain BL21(DE3) transformed with the vector pMW172 and purified to homogeneity. The enzyme catalyses the NADPH-dependent conversion of d-fructose to d-mannitol. In IgE-ELISA and immunoblots, MtDH is recognized by 41% of A. alternata-allergic patients. In vivo immunoreactivity of the recombinant MtDH was verified by skin prick testing. Finally, inhibition-ELISA experiments confirmed cross-reactivity between the MtDHs of A. alternata and C. herbarum. CONCLUSION: Mannitol dehydrogenase (Alt a 8) represents an important new allergen of the ascomycete A. alternata that might be suitable for improving diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.     

益肾调督针法对实验大鼠脑梗死恢复期TNF-α、IL-6和IL-8的影响

目的 观察益肾调督针法对脑梗死恢复期治疗及预防再梗的作用机制。方法 将实验大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组、益肾调督针法组、常规针法组和非穴针刺组各10例，用血栓栓塞法制备局灶性脑梗死模型，观察治疗前后大鼠神经功能改变，应用双抗体夹心ELISA法分别测定各组大鼠血清中TNF-α、IL-6和IL-8的含量。结果 治疗前后大鼠神经功能评分以益。肾调督针法组及常规针法组有效，差异具有显著性（P〈0．01）；模型组大鼠血清中TNF．仅、IL-6和IL．8含量较对照组明显升高（P〈0．01），施予针刺治疗后各针法组含量均有不同程度的下降。结论 益肾调督针法可以有效地抑制TNF-α、IL-6和IL-8的表达．从而在脑梗死恢复期治疗及预防再梗方面发挥作用。     

清炎颗粒对肾盂肾炎小鼠外周血IL-8与IL-10的影响

目的：探讨清炎颗粒治疗肾盂肾炎的免疫学机制。方法：采用孙氏方法改进造模,治疗组分别按剂量3.12、6.24、12.48g·kg^-1·d^-1予清炎颗粒,模型组予生理盐水,对照组予至灵胶囊灌胃,喂养至3d、7d、15d、30d、60d取血清,用ELISA法检测其IL-8、IL-10的水平。结果：清炎颗粒能显著降低不同时段血清IL-8的水平、提高不同时段血清IL-10的水平。结论：免疫调控可能是清炎颗粒治疗肾盂肾炎的作用机制之一。     

抗原激活红细胞和白细胞免疫反应主干道的实验研究

目的测定抗原对红细胞和白细胞免疫反应主干道的作用。方法癌细胞(5×106/ml)和(或)卡介苗(0·1mg)或酵母菌(5×108/ml)加到全血细胞悬液0·2ml(或白细胞0·2ml)和枸橼酸抗凝的新鲜血浆0·3ml(或生理盐水0·3ml)37℃温育1h,采用免疫酶联法检测IL-8水平。分组:①抗原(癌细胞或酵母菌或卡介苗)0·2ml加入全血细胞悬液0·2ml和血浆0·3ml;②生理盐水0·2ml加入全血细胞悬液0·2ml和血浆0·3ml;③抗原0·2ml加入白细胞悬液0·2ml和血浆0·3ml;④生理盐水0·2ml加入白细胞悬液0·2ml和血浆0·3ml。结果癌细胞、卡介苗和酵母菌能激活血液免疫反应,但没有加血浆组中,这些抗原不能激活血液免疫反应,在这些抗原加入全血细胞和血浆组,IL-8激活指数(2·124±0·860)明显高于这些抗原加入白细胞和血浆组的IL-8激活指数(0·390±0·080),P<0·01。结论结果表明在血液免疫反中存在红细胞和白细胞免疫反应主干道路线图,红细胞和补体在血液免疫反应路线图中具有重要作用。     

单刺十七椎对原发性痛经患者止痛作用时效规律的观察

目的观察单刺十七椎对原发性痛经患者止痛作用的时效规律。方法单刺十七椎,留针30min,分别记录针刺前即时和留针5min、10min、20min、30min及起针后30min、60min、120min的VAS读值,然后进行统计分析。结果留针30min条件下,单刺十七椎的止痛作用持续加强,直至起针;起针50min后,针刺止痛作用衰减为接近峰值的一半。结论单独针刺十七椎,留针30min的止痛作用优于留针短于30min的止痛效果。针刺十七椎时,留针30min条件下的半衰期较短,对于痛经持续时间在1d左右或更长的患者,针刺频次以每天针刺2次为宜。     

Chronic GVHD in minor salivary glands and oral mucosa: histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of 25 patients

BACKGROUND: Graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT). The aim of our study was to identify the most relevant histological features for diagnosis of chronic Graft-vs.-Host Disease (cGVHD) in oral mucosa and minor salivary glands of 25 patients, as well as to evaluate the immunophenotype of the inflammatory cells. METHODS: Sixteen patients that were submitted to allogeneic BMT but did not present cGVHD were selected as a control group. The sections were studied on H & E and CD68, CD45, CD4, CD8, CD20 staining. RESULTS: The most frequent histologic findings in oral mucosa at the day of diagnosis of cGVHD were: hydropic degeneration of the basal layer of the epithelium, apoptotic bodies, lymphocytic infiltration, and focal or total cleavage between the epithelial and connective tissue. In the labial salivary glands (LSG), lymphocytic infiltration, acinar loss and fibrosis were the main alterations. Cytotoxic CD8-T cells and macrophages were predominant both in the epithelium and connective tissue, as well as in minor salivary glands. CONCLUSIONS: Histological features were useful in the diagnosis of oral cGVHD. It is suggested that CD8-T cells and macrophages play important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.