Herpes simplex virus (HSV) antibodies in child psychiatric patients and normal children

The prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) antibodies has been investigated in 123 child psychiatric patients and 86 normal children. HSV antibodies were measured by ELISA technique. The prevalence of HSV antibodies in different diagnostic groups (conduct disorder, emotional disorder, hyperkinetic syndrome, anorexia nervosa, infantile autism and borderline schizophrenia in childhood) was compared with age-matched normal children, but no significant differences were found.     

Ginseng treatment reduces bacterial load and lung pathology in chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia in rats.

The predominant pathogen in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which results in a chronic lung infection associated with progressive pulmonary insufficiency. In a rat model of chronic P. aeruginosa pneumonia mimicking that in patients with CF, we studied whether the inflammation and antibody responses could be changed by treatment with the Chinese herbal medicine ginseng. An aqueous extract of ginseng was injected subcutaneously, and cortisone and saline were used as controls. Two weeks after challenge with P. aeruginosa, the ginseng-treated group showed a significantly improved bacterial clearance from the lungs (P < 0.04), less severe lung pathology (P = 0.05), lower lung abscess incidence (P < 0.01), and fewer mast cell numbers in the lung foci (P < 0.005). Furthermore, lower total immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels (P < 0.01) and higher IgG2a levels (P < 0.025) in serum against P. aeruginosa sonicate and a shift from an acute type to a chronic type of lung inflammation compared to those in the control and cortisone-treated groups were observed. These findings indicate that ginseng treatment of an experimental P. aeruginosa pneumonia in rats promotes a cellular response resembling a TH1-like response. On the basis of these results it is suggested that ginseng may have the potential to be a promising natural medicine, in conjunction with other forms of treatment, for CF patients with chronic P. aeruginosa lung infection.     

不同剂量的人参水提液皮下注射对大鼠慢性绿脓杆菌性肺炎模型的影响

目的 :探讨人参水提液 (简称人参液 )对大鼠慢性绿脓杆菌 (PA)性肺炎模型的影响。方法 :采用 4种不同剂量的人参液皮下注射 ,观察用药两周后的疗效。结果 :4种剂量的人参液均可显著减少肺部大体观病变和肺脓肿率 (P <0 0 5) ;镜下观其病变程度与人参剂量呈负相关 (r=-0 95,P <0 0 1 ) ;人参Ⅰ (5mg/kg)、Ⅱ (2 5mg/kg)、Ⅳ (0 6 2 5mg/kg)组的肥大细胞数低于对照组 (P <0 0 5) ;Ⅱ、Ⅲ (1 2 5mg/kg)组的肺部细菌清除作用强于对照组 (P <0 0 5) ;Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组的PA特异性抗体应答发生下调 (P <0 0 1 ) ;Ⅰ组的IgM水平低于对照组(P <0 0 1 ) ,且IgM水平的高低与人参剂量呈正相关 (r =0 93,P <0 0 5) ;Ⅰ组的IgG2a水平高于对照组 (P <0 0 5) ;血清IgG2a水平与人参剂量呈正相关 (r =0 90 ,P <0 0 2 ) ;PA感染两周后 ,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组的抗藻酸盐IgG水平高于对照组和Ⅳ组 (P <0 0 5) ,而Ⅰ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组的IgA则低于对照组 (P <0 0 5)。结论 :2 5mg/kg的人参是本研究的最佳剂量 ,并显示了兴奋T辅助细胞Ⅰ型反应的效果     

Y Chromatin as Indicator of Chimaerism Following Bone Marrow Transplantation in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency

Determination of the Y chromatin body should rank among the battery of techniques used to assess the presence of grafted bone marrow cells in cases of male donor and female recipient. The method permits early determination of a take, and probably some measurement of its magnitude. This might provide correlation between level of grafted cells and occurrence of various parameters indicating an immune reconstitution and/or an eventual GVH reaction. The technique may be a highly sensitive marker for chimaerism in cases of histocompatibility between donor and recipient of different sexes.