On the differentiation and origin of myoid cells in the avian thymus

Summary The avian thymus and its myoid cells were investigated paying special attention to the developmental and morphological differences between chick and quail.By means of light- and electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence technique using an anti-myosin antibody, the myoid cells were found to express characteristics corresponding to those of skeletal muscle cells. They change their appearance during embryonic development. In the chick the myoid cells become located singly and rounded, and their cross-striation disappears. In the quail they remain small, elongated, cross-striated, and become arranged in long cords.The origin of myoid cells was studied using the quailchick marking technique: Cranial somites and the prechordal mesoderm were grafted from quail into chick embryos. After somite transplantation the host thymus does not contain graft-derived cells. The myoid cells are exclusively derived from the chick. After implantation of prechordal mesoderm, graft-derived quail cells are found in the central cores of all visceral arches and also within the early epithelial anlage of chimeric thymus. These findings indicate that the thymus myoid cells are derived from the axially located prechordal head mesoderm.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Ch 44/8-1)     

Spasmolytic activity of Thymus membranaceus essential oil

The spasmolytic activity of Thymus membranaceus essential oil in the duodenum isolated from rat has been investigated. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the essential oil was studied. The essential oil affects the duodenum in two ways, showing a spasmogenic action (due to 1,8-cineole) and, on the other hand, an antagonistic non-competitive effect against the contractions by acetylcholine (due to the phenols and hydrocarbons).     

Attempted isolation of viruses from myasthenia gravis thymus

A systematic study of thymus homogenates and cell suspensions from 13 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) of recent onset, and 6 non-myasthenic controls, has failed to detect or isolate virus by cell culture with 'rescue techniques', electron microscopy, or intracerebral inoculation into neonatal mice. These results do not support the case for persistent viral infection in the thymus, and impose constraints on hypotheses of a viral aetiology of MG.     

胸腺上皮性肿瘤的增殖活性

目的 :根据 WHO胸腺上皮性肿瘤 ( TET)分类标准 ,探讨 TET的增殖活性。方法 :采用免疫组织化学法检测胸腺瘤 5 0例 ( A型 5例 ,AB型 10例 ,B1 型 8例 ,B2 型 10例 ,B3型 10例 ,C型 5例 )中 ki- 6 7的表达 ,并计算 ki- 6 7L I%。结果 :1C型胸腺瘤 ki- 6 7L I% ( 2 3.38± 10 .4 2 % )显著高于其它组织学亚型 ;2临床 期 ki- 6 7L I( 2 0 .73± 15 .0 0 % )显著高于临床 期 ( 5 .18± 3.11% )、临床 期 ( 5 .6 9± 2 .2 8% )及临床 期 ( 7.5 8± 5 .85 % )。结论 :ki- 6 7能很好的标记胸腺上皮性肿瘤的增殖活性 ,可以作为临床诊断良、恶性胸腺瘤的辅助指标     

Hodgkin’s-like disease of the thymus. Clinical,surgical and morphological correlations

Summary The histogenesis and relationship of so-called ‘granulomatous thymoma’ to Hodgkin’s disease is still a matter of controversy. Three of these lesions were selected from 43 thymomas and their clinico-pathological patterns are described. Two cases were diagnosed as Hodgkin’s disease of the mediastinum because of the absence of epithelial structures of thymic origin. In one case, together with the morphological aspects of Hodgkin’s disease, we noticed epithelial structures indicating a primary neoplastic lesion in the thymus. Accordingly we conclude that the term ‘Hodgkin’s disease of the thymus’ must be limited only to those lesions of the mediastinum in which structures of thymic origin are present. Other mediastinal Hodgkin’s lesions, even in the presence of clinical, radiological and surgical evidence of thymic origin but in which it is not possible to observe such thymic structures, must be classified as Hodgkin’s disease localized to the anterior mediastinum.     

哮喘小鼠胸腺活化调节趋化因子及其受体的表达

目的探讨胸腺活化调节趋化因子（TARC）及其受体CCR4在哮喘小鼠气道炎症中的作用。方法清洁级健康雄性Balb／c小鼠20只随机分成两组，分别为对照组、哮喘组。以卵清白蛋白（OVA）致敏和激发建立小鼠哮喘模型。末次激发24h后留取血液、支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）及肺组织。BALF行细胞计数及分类；应用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）法测定BALF和血清中TARC和白介素（IL）-4蛋白的浓度；光镜观察肺组织病理变化；逆转录-聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）法测定肺组织中TARCmRNA、CCR4mRNA的表达；采用免疫组织化学法测定肺组织中TARC蛋白的表达。结果哮喘组BALF和血清中TARC的浓度[分别为（458．36±114．98）pg／ml、（145．56±28．38）pg／ml]均显著高于对照组[分别为（5．06±2．38）pg／ml、（73．79±29．27）pg／ml]（P〈0．01）；哮喘组BALF和血清中IL-4浓度[分别为（35．46±12．47）pg／ml、（3．82±1．12）pg／ml]均显著高于对照组[分别为（3．83±1．57）pg／ml、（0．88±0．33）pg／ml]（P〈0．01）；肺组织中TARCmRNA及其受体CCR4mRNA的表达，哮喘组[分别为（1．12±0．08）、（0．91±0．13）]显著高于对照组[分别为（0．53±0．12）、（0．62±0．10）]（P〈0．01）；免疫组化显示TARC蛋白主要表达于支气管上皮细胞，哮喘组表达量（0．103±0．015）显著高于对照组（0．045±0．007）（P〈0．01）。结论TARC及其受体CCR4在哮喘小鼠肺组织中表达增加，参与哮喘气道炎症的发病过程，气道上皮细胞是TARC重要的来源细胞。     

尖锐湿疣患者红细胞免疫功能与胸腺肽治疗的研究

目的 研究尖锐湿疣患者红细胞免疫及调节因子与胸腺肽治疗前后的变化及机理。方法 按照郭峰与刘景田等建立及改进方法检测红细胞C3b受体花环率、红细胞免疫复合物花环率和红细胞免疫调节因子,并用胸腺肽治疗。结果 尖锐湿疣治疗前红细胞C3b受体花环率明显降低,红细胞免疫复合物花环率降低,红细胞免疫促进因子明显降低,而红细胞免疫抑制因子明显升高。经胸腺肽治疗后以上指标趋于正常。治疗后3个月未复发者31例。结论 提示尖锐湿疣患者存在红细胞免疫功能低下,胸腺肽治疗获较好疗效。     

胸腺活化调节趋化因子在儿童肺炎支原体感染致哮喘发作中的作用

目的 研究胸腺活化调节趋化因子(TARC)在儿童肺炎支原体(MP)感染致哮喘发作中的作用。方法 收集肺炎患儿73例(支气管哮喘患儿除外)。在入院时(急性期)采集静脉血用被动凝集法检测MP-IgM并用间接免疫荧光法检测其他7种呼吸病原体IgM, 并于－70 ℃保存部分血清;采集咽拭子用荧光定量-聚合酶链反应检测MP-DNA。根据临床诊断和MP-IgM或MP-DNA拷贝数分为MP感染组和非MP感染组。在病情明显好转时(恢复期), 对伴有哮喘发作的患儿采静脉血分离血清, 置于－70 ℃保存。采用酶联免疫吸附试验测定患儿血清中TARC的水平。评价血清中TARC水平在两组患儿之间以及急性期和恢复期之间的差异性。结果 MP感染组患儿中有哮喘发作的比例高于非MP感染组, 差异有统计学意义(2=4.44, P=0.04)。MP感染组患儿的TARC水平高于非感染组, 差异有统计学意义(t=4.01, P=0.00)。MP感染组, 有哮喘发作患儿的TARC水平高于非MP感染组有哮喘发作患儿和无哮喘发作患儿, 差异有统计学意义(t=2.62, P=0.01;t=5.21, P=0.00);TARC水平无哮喘发作患儿的高于非MP感染组无哮喘发作患儿, 差异有统计学意义(t=2.07, P=0.05)。MP感染组和非MP感染组, 有哮喘发作患儿的TARC水平均高于无哮喘发作患儿, 差异有统计学意义(t=2.11, P=0.04;t=2.03, P=0.05);有哮喘发作患儿恢复期的TARC水平较急性期均有下降, 差异有统计学意义(t=4.69, P=0.00;t=2.37, P=0.05)。结论 TARC在MP感染诱发哮喘发作中起重要作用。     

“滋水涵木”法对去势雌兔性激素及免疫器官的影响

目的：探讨滋水涵木治法对去势雌兔性激素水平及免疫器官重量的影响。方法：36只日本大耳白兔随机分为4组：假手术组、去势模型组、中药治疗组、西药对照组,每组9只。切除双侧卵巢建立家兔卵巢功能衰退模型,采用滋水涵木立法的补肾复方干预,并以结合雌激素倍美力作对照。连续给药12周后,放射免疫法检测血清雌二醇（E2）、卵泡刺激素（FSH）、黄体生成激素（LH）水平;称取胸腺、肾上腺、脾脏重量,称重后与体重相比计算脏器指数。结果：去势组E2水平降低,FSH和LH水平升高,肾上腺、胸腺、和脾脏各指数均下降,与假手术组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;中药组和对照组E2水平与去势组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;中药组FSH、LH水平降低,与去势组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）,与假手术组比较,差异无统计学意义;中药组、对照组免疫器官脏器指数均有明显增加,与去势组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：调整性激素水平、改善免疫功能可能是滋水涵木法防治PMS的机理之一。