Secretion of a chemotactic factor for neutrophils and eosinophils by alveolar macrophages from asthmatic patients

The studies presented in this article demonstrate the release of an IgE-dependent chemotactic factor for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and eosinophils by alveolar macrophages (AMs) from normal subjects (n = 15) and allergic asthmatic patients (n = 15). A 60-minute incubation of normal AMs previously sensitized by 20% nonheated allergic sera with anti-human IgE antibody or the related allergen induced the release of a chemotactic activity (CA) for PMN and eosinophils in culture supernatants. When AMs were obtained from asthmatic patients, direct incubation with anti-IgE or the related allergen induced the same CA, whereas incubation with an unrelated allergen failed to produce CA (neutrophil CA after addition of anti-IgE, 22.5 +/- 3.5 cells per high power field; with related allergen, 15.8 +/- 3.6; with unrelated allergen, 0.7 +/- 1.8; p less than 0.0001). A partial characterization of the neutrophil chemotactic factor was carried out. Enzymatic treatment by trypsin or carboxypeptidase or by heating (56 degrees C for 3 hr) failed to abolish the neutrophil CA. After gel filtration the greater part of the neutrophil CA (80%) was recovered among low-molecular-weight components (300 to 1300 daltons). A preliminary deactivation of PMN by leukotriene B4 suppressed the CA of AM supernatants. These results indicate that IgE-dependent stimulation of AMs produces a neutrophil and eosinophil CA, present in a low-molecular-weight fraction possibly related to leukotrienes, and emphasizes the role of AMs in inflammatory lung processes during allergic asthma.     

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 NS5A resistance-associated variants are associated with advanced liver fibrosis independently of HCV-transmission clusters

Objectives

The aim of the study was to characterize the differences in the frequencies of NS3 and NS5A resistance-associated variants (RAVs) among Polish therapy-naive genotype 1 (G1) hepatitis C virus (HCV)-monoinfected and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients including clustering patterns and association of RAV frequency with liver fibrosis.

Sputum induction as a research tool for the study of human respiratory mucus

The study objectives were to compare in vitro transportability and physical properties of respiratory mucus, obtained invasively by direct collection (DC) right after endotracheal intubation and non-invasively by sputum induction with 3% hypertonic saline solution inhalation (SI) 24 h before the anesthesia. Twenty-two patients with no pulmonary disease scheduled for elective abdominal surgical procedures were studied. The parameters analyzed and the main results are as follows. (1) Transportability by cilia (MCT), SI was higher than DC (0.94+/-0.25 and 0.62+/-0.25; P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the two methods and DC could be estimated by: DC=0.21+(0.44 SI) (r=0.44; P<0.001). (2) Transportability by cough (CC), SI was higher than DC (68.23+/-32.1 and 33.58+/-19.04 mm; P=0.002). (3) Contact angle (CA), SI was lower than DC (10+/-3 degrees and 22+/-14 degrees ; P=0.025). (4) Rheological properties (no significant difference obtained between SI and DC). These results indicated that SI changes mucus physical properties and transportability in non-expectorators.     

大鼠肺纤维化形成中肺巨噬细胞增殖和凋亡的变化

目的:观察肺纤维化形成过程中,肺泡巨噬细胞数量、增殖和凋亡的变化。方法:气管内滴注平阳霉素(BLMA₅)(5mg/kg),观察注后14d和30d组大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中肺泡巨噬细胞数量、增殖和凋亡的变化以及细胞的MTT活力。结果:(1)BLMA₅14d组和30d组大鼠BALF中巨噬细胞数分别多于sham14d和30d组,(分别P＜0.01,P＜0.05);但BLMA₅30d组的细胞数明显少于BLMA₅14d组(P＜0.05);(2)BLMA₅14d组巨噬细胞增殖指数高于sham14d组(P＜0.05),而BLMA₅30d组增殖指数低于sham30d组(P＜0.05);(3)BLMA₅14d和30d组凋亡细胞数分别多于sham14d和30d组(均P＜0.01),但BLMA₅14d组少于BLMA₅30d组(P＜0.05);(4)BLMA₅14d和30d组大鼠BALF中巨噬细胞数MTT活力分别高于sham14d和30d组,分别P＜0.01,P＜0.05。结论:在肺纤维化形成过程中,肺巨噬细胞增殖能力先增强后减弱;而肺巨噬细胞凋亡始终增加,上述变化是导致肺巨噬细胞数量和功能变化的因素之一。     

以循证医学的理念观察颈椎综合征的MRI图像

目的鉴于MRI对组织的高分辨性能,利用该图像观察颈椎综合征患者的椎管外组织的病理状况.方法54例患者,其中男30例,女24例,分为2组.观察组44例颈椎综合征患者,对照组10例颈部外伤和三叉神经痛患者.通过常规的MRI矢状位及横轴位颈椎图像,比较两组软组织增生情况.结果与结论在颈椎综合征MRI的颈椎及上段胸椎棘突后侧,均可观察到不同程度的慢性纤维性变化,与对照组比较,有可比性.提示临床上颈椎综合征多与颈肩区筋膜炎、棘突炎相关,属于无菌性炎症,其慢性阶段,局部发生了纤维增生性改变.建议在观察分析此种病症的颈椎骨质及椎间盘改变的同时,宜重视棘突后侧的纤维性变化,有利于病理病因的研究.     

Intrahepatic cytokine profile in renal-transplant patients infected by hepatitis C virus

In order to examine the immunopathogenesis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver injury in renal-transplant patients, intra-hepatic cytokine profiles were examined in 38 liver biopsies from 38 patients by measuring messenger RNA (mRNA) concentrations by a real-time PCR method of a Th1 cytokine (i.e., interferon (IFN)-gamma), a Th2 cytokines (i.e., interleukine (IL)-10), a proinflammatory cytokine (i.e., IL-8), and a potent fibrogenic factor (transforming growth factor [TGF]-beta). There was no significant difference in TGF-beta, IFN-gamma, IL-10, or IL-8 levels of expression according to liver-activity grade, liver-fibrosis stage, the concentration of HCV RNA at liver biopsies, or the HCV genotype. However, IFN-gamma/beta-actin mRNA concentration was higher than the IL-10/beta-actin mRNA concentration in patients with F3 Metavir score. Median IFN-gamma/beta-actin mRNA concentration tended to be higher in patients with A3 and A4 Metavir activity grades compared with those with A0 and A1 activity grades. There was a significant correlation between the duration of HCV infection and both TGF-beta/beta-actin (r(2)=0.19, P=0.04) and IL-8/beta-actin mRNA concentrations (r(2)=0.19, P=0.03). IFN-gamma/beta-actin mRNA concentration also increased according to the duration of HCV (r(2)=0.19, P=0.07). Finally, there was a significant correlation between the duration of HCV infection and liver fibrosis stage (r(2)=0.17, P=0.045). Intrahepatic Th1 cytokine profile seems to be predominant in patients with extensive fibrosis and activity scores, suggesting that it might be responsible for liver injury in renal transplant patients.     

DHPLC screening of cystic fibrosis gene mutations

Denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) using ion-pairing reverse phase chromatography (IPRPC) columns is a technique for the screening of gene mutations. In order to evaluate the potential utility of this assay method in a clinical laboratory setting, we subjected the PCR products of 73 CF patients known to bear CFTR mutations to this analytic technique. We used thermal denaturation profile parameters specified by the MELT program tool, made available by Stanford University. Using this strategy, we determined an initial analytic sensitivity of 90.4% for any of 73 known CFTR mutations. Most of the mutations not detected by DHPLC under these conditions are alpha-substitutions. This information may eventually help to improve the MELT algorithm. Increasing column denaturation temperatures for one or two degrees above those recommended by the MELT program allowed 100% detection of CFTR mutations tested. By comparing DHPLC methodology used in this study with the recently reported study based on Wavemaker 3.4.4 software (Transgenomic, Omaha, NE) [Le Marechal et al., 2001) and with previous SSCP analysis of CFTR mutations [Ravnik-Glavac et al., 1994] we emphasized differences and similarities in order to refine the DHPLC system and discuss the relationship to the alternative approaches. We conclude that the DHPLC method, under optimized conditions, is highly accurate, rapid, and efficient in detecting mutations in the CFTR gene and may find high utility in screening individuals for CFTR mutations. Hum Mutat 19:374-383, 2002. Published 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

慢性乙肝肝组织病理、肝内Ⅳ型胶原免疫组化与血清肝纤维化指标联合检测对肝纤维化诊断的相关研究

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）肝组织病理学、肝内Ⅳ型胶原（CIV）免疫组化与血清肝纤维化指标联合检测对肝纤维化诊断的相关性。方法对104例CHB患者进行了肝组织病理学，肝内CIV免疫组化检测及病理图像定量分析和血清肝纤维化指标（CIV、PC Ⅲ及HA）的同步检测。结果慢性乙肝肝内CIV及血清CIV、PC Ⅲ和HA检测值均随肝病理损害及肝纤维化程度的加重而升高，经相关分析，其r值分别为0．995、0．985、0．980，P均〈0．01。结论①肝内CIV与血清CIV、PCⅢ、HA检测可作为肝纤维化诊断的重要指标：②CHB患者肝窦内CIV的检出，为血清CIV的检测提供了病理学的证据；③CHB患者肝纤维化的程度，随肝损害程度的加重而逐渐增强。     

Andrology: Factors influencing the outcome of in-vitro fertilization with epididymal spermatozoa in irreversible obstructive azoospermia

Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) and in-vitrofertilization (IVF) were found to offer limited opportunityfor fatherhood to 45 men with obstructive azoospermia, due principallyto poor embryo implantation. Adequate sperm preparations wereobtained in 46/50 treatment cycles (92%), with the best motilityfound in the caput epididymis in 89% of cases. The mean fertilizationrate was 11.2% and fertilization occurred in 23 cycles (50%),with embryo transfer arising from 12/26 men with was aplasia(CAV), 4/9 with genital tract obstruction (EV) and 7/11 withirreversible vasectomy (VV). The overall implantation rate waslow, 8.7% per embryo transfer (11.7% per 2-3 embryo transfers)and was not improved by Fallopian transfer. There were two pregnancies(4% per cycle), both in the EV group where embryo formationand implatation (2/4, 50% per cycle) were optimum even thoughsperm preparations were paradoxically inferior to the CAV andVV groups. The spermatozoa retrieved in the two successful EVcycles were appreciably blood contaminated. Analysis of the21 failed embryo transfers showed delayed fertilization in 10cycles, cystic fibrosis (CF) mutation or familial disease in7/12 CAV men and the VV men were older (P<0.001). A pregnancywhich miscarried arose from a case of Young's syndrome, a carrierof CF mutation DF508. Male factors could thus be implicatedin the high embryo wastage of MESA cycles and might also beinfluencing implantation in other IVF procedures. Where feasible,male reconstructive surgery is preferable unless fertilizationcan be improved, possibly by speedier retrieval techniques orby permitting sperm capacitation in vitro, but probably moreeffectively by micro-assisted insemination.     

慢性丙型肝炎时贮脂细胞的定量研究

应用免疫组化等方法，对慢性迁延性丙型肝炎肝组织中呈结蛋白阳性的贮脂细胞进行了定量的研究结果；结蛋白阳性的细胞数量与同阶段的乙型肝炎相比显著减少；电镜观察可见肝窦中有较多的枯否细胞，肝细胞间隙及窦周胶原纤维的沉积。我们认为，在丙型肝炎早期纤维化中，贮脂细胞可能并非主要导致纤维化的效应细胞，这和乙型肝炎有所不同。