Effects of beta-aminopropionitrile after glaucoma filtration surgery: pilot human trial

Beta-aminopropionitrile fumarate, an inhibitor of collagen cross-linking, was used topically in patients after filtration surgery for difficult cases of glaucoma (aphakic, repeat surgery, neovascular). Twenty-three patients received the drug for a total treatment period of three months following surgery. The mean preoperative intraocular pressure was 40.0 +/- 14.1 mm Hg (mean +/- standard deviation). The mean postoperative pressure was 19.0 +/- 8.9 mm Hg, with the mean follow-up at 26.4 +/- 11 weeks. The overall success rate was 74%, with success being defined as an intraocular pressure of 22 mm Hg or less at the last visit. Side effects consisted primarily of stinging immediately after the medication was applied. Inhibition of collagen cross-linking may represent an alternative method to the use of injectable 5-fluorouracil to maintain patency of filtration blebs.     

Phenotypic diversity in siblings with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome

The androgen insensitivity syndrome is a heterogeneous disorder with a wide spectrum of phenotypic abnormalities, ranging from complete female to ambiguous forms that more closely resemble males. The primary abnormality is a defective androgen receptor protein due to a mutation of the androgen receptor gene. This prevents normal androgen action and thus leads to impaired virilisation. A point mutation of the androgen receptor gene affecting two siblings with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome is described. One had cliteromegaly and labial fusion and was raised as a girl, whereas the other sibling had micropenis and penoscrotal hypospadias and was raised as a boy. Both were shown to have the arginine 840 to cysteine mutation. The phenotypic variation in this family is thus dependent on factors other than abnormalities of the androgen receptor gene alone.     

Actuarial survival in the premature infant less than 30 weeks' gestation

OBJECTIVE: Because survival from admission to discharge does not provide parents and physicians information about future life expectancy in the premature neonate, we characterized the actuarial survival, defined as the future life expectancy from a given postnatal age, in a large inborn population of premature infants < 30 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: We determined daily actuarial survival of 1925 inborn infants (23 to 29 weeks' gestation) admitted to the Baylor Affiliated Nurseries from July 1986 through December 1994, stratified by 100-g birth weight and by 1-week gestational-age intervals. RESULTS: In the 501- to 600-g birth weight stratum, actuarial survival improved from 31% at birth, to 61% on day of life 7, and then to 75% on day of life 28; in the 901- to 1000-g birth weight stratum, actuarial survival improved from 88%, to 94%, and then to 98% throughout the same times, respectively. Similar trends were obtained when data were stratified by gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Survival in the smallest infants improves dramatically during the first few days of life, but there is a significant risk for late death in the smallest of these infants.     

Antisense RNA-mediated reduction of p53 induces malignant phenotype in nontumorigenic rat urothelial cells

p53 mutation is commonly associated with high-grade, high-stage human urothelial carcinomas. Recent studies suggest that p53 mutation in low- grade, low-stage bladder carcinomas may be correlated with the progression of the disease. In the present study, we used antisense RNA methodology in vitro to evaluate the significance of the loss of p53 function at an early stage of urinary bladder carcinogenesis. An immortalized nontumorigenic rat urothelial cell line (MYP3) that strongly expresses wild-type (WT) p53 was transfected with a plasmid (pcDL-SR alpha-296) containing a rat WT p53 cDNA in antisense orientation. The transfection resulted in a significant reduction in p53 mRNA expression and protein synthesis, in stimulation of anchorage- dependent growth, and in acquisition of anchorage-independent growth potential. Three such clones, when tested in athymic nude mice, all formed muscle-invasive, high-grade transitional cell carcinomas at s.c. injection sites. When cells were inoculated into an orthotopic site (urinary bladder), one of two antisense transfectants tested formed bulky tumors in the bladder in all seven nude mice and metastases to lungs in three of the seven mice. Analysis of these cells revealed a decrease in the expression of p21 (WAF1, sdi1, or CIP1) and retinoblastoma (Rb) gene product. Phosphorylation of Rb protein was not inhibited when the cells were starved. No significant difference was observed in the expression of p16 protein. In cell cycle analysis, all antisense transfectants tested escaped from G1 arrest by starvation. Furthermore, secretion of interleukin (IL)-6 into culture medium was increased significantly. Treatment with anti-IL-6 antibody suppressed anchorage-dependent growth. This study directly demonstrates that the loss of p53 function at an early stage of urothelial carcinogenesis may result in acquisition of a malignant phenotype by regulating IL-6 production as well as cell cycle related genes.      

Salmonella enteritidis brain abscess: case report and review

Intracranial infections are unusual manifestations of salmonellosis. Even with adequate medical and surgical interventions these infections are often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report a case of brain abscess caused by Salmonella enteritidis associated with a brain neoplasm and review previous reports in the literature.     

树突状细胞与肝脏疾病

免疫反应的产生首先是由抗原提呈细胞(antigenpresenting cells,APC)捕获抗原,经其加工处理后将抗原信息传递给T,B淋巴细胞,从而引发一系列的特异性免疫应答.APC包括树突状细胞(dendritic cells,DC)、巨噬细胞(MΦ)、B细胞等,其中DC是人体内最具潜能的抗原提呈细胞(APC),能在体内外直接激活纯真(naive)T细胞,提呈抗原给MHC-Ⅰ类限制性CD8+和MHC-Ⅱ类限制性CD4+T淋巴细胞,诱导特异性免疫应答[1-6].