Oral tolerance in EAE: reversal of tolerance by T helper cell cytokines

Oral administration of myelin basic protein (MBP) inhibits clinical and histopathological manifestations of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), but only partially reduces serum anti-MBP antibody titers. We report here that orally administered MBP alters the isotypic distribution of anti-MBP antibody-forming cells (AFC) among various lymphoid tissues, with the most profound differences seen in mucosal tissues. We observed an isotype-selective reduction in anti-MBP IgA but not IgM AFC frequencies in Peyer's patches. The anti-MBP IgA AFC frequencies could be reconstituted by addition of interleukin 4 (IL-4) and interleukin 5 (IL-5). The cytokines did not appear to generate de novo responses since no increases in anti-MBP IgA AFC frequencies were observed in control cultures. These results indicate that decreased antibody production, as a result of oral antigen administration, can be reversed by exposure to the appropriate cytokines.     

Fat metabolism and its response to infusion of insulin and glucose in patients with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Summary. In order to investigate fat metabolism and the regulation of lipolysis and blood fuel metabolites by insulin, nine patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with chronic hypoxaemia and seven healthy control subjects of similar age were investigated by determination of the turnover rate of free fatty acids (TOR), using 1-¹⁴C-oleic acid as a tracer, and arterial concentrations of FFA, glycerol and 3-hydroxybutyrate. The measurements were performed in the basal state and during insulin and glucose infusion, aiming at euglycaemia at insulin levels of 50 and 100 mU l^-1. The subjects' ages were 64±2.7 and 66±1.1 (mean±SEM) years in the COPD and control groups, respectively. TOR was 0.73±0.06 and 0.52±0.02 mmol min^-1 (P<0.05) in the basal state, 0.33±0.04 and 0.30±0.02 at an insulin level of 50 mU I^-1 and 0.32±0.08 and 0.24±0.02 at an insulin level of 100 mU I^-1, in the COPD and control groups, respectively. Arterial FFA concentration was 0.98±0.08 and 0.75±0.06 mmol 1^-1 (P<0.05) in the basal state in the COPD and control groups, respectively. During the clamp, the decrease in FFA mirrored that in TOR. The results show that the state of lipolysis is increased in severe COPD patients with chronic hypoxaemia. Furthermore, the results suggest a reduced effect of insulin in lipolysis.     

The decay of house dust mite allergens, Der p I and Der p II, under natural conditions

Background: Fluctuations in the level of mite allergens in domestic house dust are the result of changes in the balance between synthesis, removal and decay. Purely physical forces as well as enzymatic degradation, mediated by house dust inhabiting microbes, may contribute to the decay of allergens in domestic dust. Knowledge about the speed of decay is essential for an understanding of the dynamics of allergen levels. Objective: The present study is a quantitative assessment of the speed of decay at nine combinations of temperature (15°C, 20°C and 25°C) and relative humidity (33%, 55% and 75%). Methods: Samples of mite infested material of an old rug were stored at these temperature/relative humidity-combinations for 6, 12 or 18 months, after the mites were killed by cither a freezing treatment or an acaricide (lindane). The microbes living in the rug presumably survive these treatments. Concentrations of Der p I and Der p II + Der f II. in extracts of the rug material, were measured by a radio immunoassay. Results: No significant changes in the levels of Der p I and Der p II +Der f II, could be detected even after 1¹/₂ year at a high temperature and humidity. Conclusion: These findings incidate that mite allergens can be extremely stable under normal domestic circumstances.     

海拔3417m世居及移居者无氧代谢阈与左心功能关系的探讨

在海拔３４１７ｍ对１８名健康世居藏族和１６名移居汉族用Ｊｅａｇｅｒ气体代谢自动分析系统和心阴抗图测定了无氧阈和最大摄氧量时的ＳＶ、ＣＯ、ＰＥＰ／ＬＶＥＴ和ＳａＯ２。结果显示：在海拔３４１７ｍ测得ＡＴ值明显低于海平面；世居藏族ＡＴ出现较晚，并且ＡＴ时的功率、ＶＯ２、ＭＶ、ＨＲ、ＣＯ、ＳＶ均高于移居汉族，而ＰＥＴ／ＬＶＥＴ比值小于移居组；两组的ＳＶ峰值出现时间不同，蕊居组在ＡＴ或ＡＴ以后出现的占７２％     

糖心乐对糖尿病性心肌病大鼠血糖、血脂代谢的实验研究

目的:观察糖心乐(TXL)对糖尿病性心肌病(DCMP)大鼠血糖、血脂的影响。方法:SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型对照组、达美康组及糖心乐大、小剂量组。将除正常对照组外的各组大鼠腹腔注射STZ建立糖尿病模型,造模后8w分别给予生理盐水、达美康、TXL大小剂量灌胃,连续4w,正常对照组不做处理。结果:与模型对照组比较,达美康组、糖心乐大、小剂量组大鼠的血糖、甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)显著升高(P<0.05,P<0.01)。TXL大剂量组的降低血糖、TC,升高HDL-C作用与达美康组相当,降低TG作用优于达美康组(P<0.05)。结论:TXL可通过降低血糖、TG、TC水平,升高HDL-C水平来改善DCMP大鼠心肌的功能。     

Involvement of Apoptosis in 3-nitropropionic Acid-induced Ischemicl Tolerance to Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Preconditioningofbraintissueswithsub lethalstressesorstimulicanresultinresistancetosubse quentlethalischemiceventsinaresponsecalledis chemictolerance .Recently ,severalstudieshaveshownthatasinglesystemicdoseof 2 0mg/kg 3 NPAcausednohistopathologicalabnorm…     

红景天苷对3T3-L1脂肪细胞糖代谢及细胞分化的影响

目的:观察红景天苷对脂肪细胞糖代谢和细胞分化的影响,分析其改善糖代谢的可能机制.方法:检测红景天苷干预的脂肪细胞对 3H-葡萄糖的摄取,对红景天苷干预分化的细胞进行油红O染色后通过比色法分析脂肪细胞分化程度.逆转录多聚酶联反应(RT-PCR)检测脂肪细胞分化相关基因过氧化物体增殖剂活化受体-γ(PPAR-γ)、CAAT/增强子结合蛋白-α(C/EBP-α) mRNA的表达. 结果:红景天苷组葡萄糖摄取率为110.4%,明显高于正常对照组 (P<0.01);红景天苷明显抑制细胞分化及PPAR-γ、C/EBP-α mRNA表达,与对照组比较,P<0.01.结论:红景天苷促进3H-葡萄糖摄取,可抑制脂肪细胞分化,下调分化相关基因的表达.     

LOWER POSTPRANDIAL PLASMA GLUCOSE AND INSULIN AFTER ADDITION OF ACACIA CORIACEA FLOUR TO WHEAT BREAD

Many Australian Aboriginal bushfoods contain slowly digested carbohydrate which elicit low postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses compared to Western foods, such as wheat bread. This study has shown that incorporation of flour made from a slowly digested seed, Acacia coriacea , into wheat bread (18 g/82 g wheat flour) significantly reduces the initial rise in plasma glucose levels ( p < 0.05) and the area under the plasma glucose curve ( p < 0.005) in six healthy subjects. Insulin values were also lowered at 60 minutes ( p < 0.025) and 90 minutes ( p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that Acacia flour, when used to dilute wheat flour in the manufacture of breads, produces a very palatable food which could be useful in the diets of diabetic individuals.     

Addition of sufentanil to bupivacaine in caudal block effect on stress responses in children

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present randomized study was to determine the effect of adding sufentanil to bupivacaine, compared with bupivacaine alone in caudal block, on the surgical stress response in children. METHODS: The children were premedicated with midazolam 0.5 mg/kg. All children received induction with nitrous oxide and sevoflurane. Anesthesia was maintained with the same volatile agents in the both groups. The children were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I received bupivacaine alone (n = 17) and group II received bupivacaine + sufentanil (n = 16). Caudal block was performed with 0.25% bupivacaine 2 mg/kg (group I) or 0.25% bupivacaine 2 mg/kg with sufentanil 0.5 microg/kg (group II) after induction of anesthesia. Blood samples were obtained after induction of anesthesia (T(0)) to measure baseline concentrations of cortisol, prolactin, glucose and insulin. Additional samples were obtained 30 min after the start of surgery (T(1)), and 60 min after the end of surgery (T(2)). RESULTS: All of the basal values (T(0)) were within the normal ranges of the authors' laboratory for children of this age group and there were no differences between the groups (P > 0.05). In both groups, glucose concentration increased at T(1), compared with T(0) and T(2) (P < 0.05). The glucose concentration was unchanged at T(2) compared with T(0) in both group (P > 0.05). In both groups, prolactin concentration increased at T(1), compared with T(0) and decreased at T(2), compared with T(1) (P < 0.05). Cortisol decreased at T(1) and T(2), compared with T(0) in both groups. (P < 0.05). Insulin concentration remained unchanged at T(0) and T(2), but increased slightly at T(1) in both groups (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in plasma prolactin, cortisol, glucose and insulin levels between the two groups at T(1) and T(2) (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is no advantage in adding 0.5 microg/kg sufentanil to bupivacaine over bupivacaine alone in the caudal block, with regard to the surgical stress response in children.