A retrospective study was performed to review the clinical features and outcome of 39 episodes of pneumococcal meningitis in 36 adult patients over a 12-year period. Overall mortality was 33.3%. Only a few of the deaths were directly related to the central nervous system disease and most of them were due to cardiorespiratory failure. Univariate analysis showed that death was more likely to occur in patients with advanced age, an absence of neck stiffness, a high pulse rate, an associated pneumonia, internal complications, or a long duration of the disease (>7 days) before treatment was started. Patients who died had a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum bilirubin level and a lower serum sodium level than those who survived. Discriminant analysis showed the development of internal complications to be the strongest predictive factor of a poor outcome of illness. Two other important predictors of a poor outcome were the absence of neck stiffness and associated pneumonia. The history of a skull fracture or head surgery was significantly correlated with a better than average prognosis. The incidence of sequelae in survivors at the time of discharge amounted to 72%. None of the clinical features were significantly correlated with the development of sequelae, except a higher cerebrospinal fluid protein content. 相似文献
A subset of midgut carcinoids (MCs) result in mesenteric angiopathy (MA) and bowel infarction as a consequence of vascular compression caused by extensive mesenteric sclerosis (MS). The goal of this study was to determine whether the level of expression of several fibrosing-related growth factors was related to the finding of MA and/or MS in MCs. Eighteen cases of MC, 6 with both extensive MS and MA (group I), 5 with extensive MS only (group II), and 7 with ordinary MS only (group III), were analyzed for immunoexpression of beta-catenin, transforming growth factor-beta 2 (TGF beta 2), nerve growth factor 2 (NGF2), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), insulin growth factor receptor (IGFR), and bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Standard immunohistochemical technique was used following antigen retrieval. Immunostaining was scored semiquantitively as the product of the percentage and intensity (0 to 2+) of the immunostaining, giving a possible range of 0 to 200. One-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney nonparametric analyses were used for statistical analysis. The mean scores of immunoreactivity of each factor in groups I, II, and III were as follows: 135, 174, and 147 for beta-catenin (cytoplasmic reactivity only); 106, 112, and 92 for TGF beta 3; 1.67, 32, and 36 for NGF-2; 2.5, 48, and 55 for FGF-2; 19, 112, and 66 for IGFR2; 140, 45, and 52 for BMP4. There were significant differences in NGF-2 immunoreactivity between groups I and III (P = 0.0023) and in BMP4 immunoreactivity between groups I and II (P = 0.017) and groups I and III (P = 0.022). All MCs expressed high levels of membranous beta-catenin, moderate levels of TGF beta 3 and IGFR2, and low levels of FGF-2, with no significant differences seen among the groups. MCs with prominent MS and MA (group I) expressed significantly higher BMP4 than those in groups II and III, suggesting a potential role of BMP4 in the pathogenesis of MA. The level of NGF-2 expression was significantly lower in group I than in group III, possibly indicating abnormal angiogenesis in the formation of angiopathy. 相似文献
Submicroscopic deletions of the Y chromosome and polymorphisms of the
androgen receptor (AR) gene in the X chromosome have been observed in men
with defective spermatogenesis. To further define the subregions/genes in
the Y chromosome causing male infertility and its relationship to
polymorphisms of the AR polyglutamine tract, we screened the genomic DNA of
202 subfertile males and 101 healthy fertile controls of predominantly
Chinese ethnic origin. Y microdeletions were examined with 16
sequence-tagged site (STS) probes, including the RBM and DAZ genes,
spanning the AZFb and AZFc subregions of Yq11, and related to the size of
trinucleotide repeat encoding the AR polyglutamine tract. Y microdeletions
were detected and confirmed in three out of 44 (6.8%) of azoospermic and
three out of 86 (3.5%) severely oligozoospermic patients. No deletions were
detected in any of the patients with sperm counts of >0.5 x 10(6)/ml,
nor in any of the 101 fertile controls. All six affected patients had
almost contiguous Y microdeletions spanning the entire AZFc region
including the DAZ gene. The AZFb region, containing the RBM1 gene, was
intact in five of the six subjects. Y deletions were not found in those
with long AR polyglutamine tracts. Our study, the first in a Chinese
population, suggest a cause and effect relationship between Y
microdeletions in the AZFc region (possibly DAZ), and azoospermia or
near-azoospermia. Y microdeletions and long AR polyglutamine tracts appear
to be independent contributors to male infertility.
相似文献
In normal mice the phenotype of macrophages in the BAL fluid accurately reflects the phenotype found for the macrophages in the alveoli, but in BCG-infected mice the macrophages in the BAL fluid do not resemble those occurring in either the alveolar spaces or the granulomatous lesions. 相似文献
Activation of mouse peritoneal macrophages during infection of mice by various facultative intracellular bacteria and after intravenous injection of recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) was studied. Macrophage activation was demonstrated on the basis of three different criteria, i.e. inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii proliferation, enhanced release of H2O2 and increased expression of Ia antigen. Macrophages activated during an infection with Salmonella typhimurium showed no enhanced salmonellacidal or listericidal activity relative to control macrophages, whereas Listeria-activated macrophages killed Listeria but not Salmonella faster than control macrophages. The rate of proliferation of Salmonella in spleen and liver of activated mice was comparable to the proliferation in the organs of control mice. rIFN-gamma-activated macrophages displayed neither an enhanced salmonellacidal nor an enhanced listericidal activity. When high numbers of Listeria were injected intravenously the proliferation in spleen and liver of rIFN-gamma-treated and control mice was similar. The proliferation of Listeria in the liver of rIFN-gamma-treated mice was less than in control mice when 1 LD50 or lower numbers of bacteria were injected. It is concluded that peritoneal macrophages become activated during infections of mice with various intracellular pathogens. However, these activated macrophages do not show enhanced bactericidal activity against all bacteria. Furthermore, rIFN-gamma is not sufficient to enhance the listericidal activity of macrophages. 相似文献
Since arachidonic acid (AA) production by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is essential for the Fcgamma receptor (FcgammaR)-mediated respiratory burst and phagocytosis of opsonized erythrocytes by monocytes and macrophages, we focused in this study on the role of AA and its metabolites in the FcgammaR-stimulated intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human monocytes. The results revealed that the PLA2 inhibitors, but not inhibitors of cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase, markedly suppressed the FcgammaR-mediated killing process. The production of O-2 by monocytes upon FcgammaR cross-linking was inhibited by 4-bromophenacyl bromide in a dose-dependent fashion, indicating that inhibition of PLA2 activity impairs the oxygen-dependent bactericidal mechanisms of monocytes, which could be partially restored by addition of exogenous AA and docosahexaenoic acid, but not myristic acid. These polyunsaturated fatty acids, but not myristic acid, stimulated the intracellular killing of S. aureus by monocytes, although not as effectively as FcgammaR cross-linking. Furthermore, FcgammaR cross-linking stimulated the release of AA from monocytes. Studies with selective inhibitors revealed that the FcgammaR-mediated activation of PLA2 is dependent on Ca2+ and tyrosine kinase activity. Together these results indicate a key role for PLA2/AA, but not its major metabolites, in mediating the FcgammaR-stimulated intracellular killing of S. aureus by monocytes. 相似文献
Controlling the sex of offspring by the separation of X and Y
chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using flow cytometry has been reported as a
clinical technique aiding prevention of X-linked diseases. Although this
technique has resulted in several hundred normal births in animals and at
least one human birth, there is still concern over its genetic safety due
to the involvement of two potentially mutagenic agents: UV light and the
fluorochrome dye, Hoechst 33342 (H33342). Human spermatozoa, particularly
those considered abnormal, may be more likely to suffer DNA damage
following exposure to mutagenic agents, compared with other mammalian
species. The stability of normal fresh and decondensed human spermatozoa
were examined after exposure to a range of levels of UV and H33342
staining, using an assay that detects endogenous nicks in the DNA of
spermatozoa. The stability of abnormal and normal, fresh and frozen-thawed
human spermatozoa was examined following UV laser, H33342 staining and flow
cytometry treatments utilizing the same assay. There was an increase in the
presence of endogenous nicks when spermatozoa were decondensed compared
with fresh spermatozoa. There was no increase in the incidence of nicks in
any group of spermatozoa after UV and fluorochrome exposure compared with
controls without exposure.
相似文献
Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (EBD) is a clinically heterogeneous skin
disorder, characterized by abnormal anchoring fibrils (AF) and loss of
dermal-epidermal adherence. EBD has been linked to the COL7A1 gene at
chromosome 3p21 which encodes collagen VII, the major component of the AF.
Here we investigated two unrelated EBD families with different clinical
phenotypes and novel combinations of recessive and dominant COL7A1
mutations. Both families shared the same recessive heterozygous 14 bp
deletion at the exon-intron 115 boundary of the COL7A1 gene. The deletion
caused in-frame skipping of exon 115 and the elimination of 29 amino acid
residues from the pro-alpha1(VII) polypeptide chain. As a result,
procollagen VII was not converted to collagen VII and the C-terminal NC-2
propeptide which is normally removed from the procollagen VII prior to
formation of the anchoring fibrils was retained in the skin. All affected
individuals also carried missense mutations in exon 73 of COL7A1 which lead
to different glycine- to-arginine substitutions in the triple-helical
domain of collagen VII. Combination of the deletion mutation with a G2009R
substitution resulted in a mild phenotype. In contrast, combination of the
deletion with a G2043R substitution led to a severe phenotype. The G2043R
substitution was a de novo mutation which alone caused a mild phenotype.
Thus, different combinations of dominant and recessive COL7A1 mutations can
modulate disease activity of EBD and alter the clinical presentation of the
patients.
相似文献
Serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) determinations by the single radial immunodiffusion technique were done in patients with various skin diseases. The geometric means of the IgG, IgA and IgM concentrations of each of the patient groups were compared with those of a control group comprising 156 individuals.
A significantly raised IgG level was found only in patients with pemphigus; in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis, other eczemas, and psoriasis vulgaris the IgG level was significantly lowered. The IgA level was significantly elevated in patients with discoid lupus erythematosus and (bullous) pemphigoid, and the IgM level was significantly depressed in patients with atopic dermatitis.
IgE determinations, done with the Ouchterlony technique in a selected group of patients, showed raised levels in some patients with malignant reticulosis and other eczemas but not in those with atopic dermatitis.
Comparison of the results of the serum immunoglobulin determinations with the immunoglobulin synthesis of lesional skin showed no correlation between the local synthesis of immunoglobulins in the skin and changes in the serum levels.
Human monocytes require serum components immunoglobulin G, C3/C3b, and B/Bb to exert optimal microbicidal action against ingested microorganisms. The present study was performed to find out whether these factors act by enhancing oxygen-dependent antimicrobial mechanisms. Serum enhanced oxygen consumption and superoxide production by monocytes before phagocytosis, but did not further increase these processes in monocytes that had recently ingested bacteria. Furthermore, serum did not boost iodination during intracellular killing by monocytes. Phorbol myristate acetate, N-formyl-methyonyl-leucyl-phenylalanine, concanavalin A, and concanavalin A-Sephadex all stimulated the conversion of O2 to H2O2 by monocytes, but only concanavalin A augmented intracellular killing. Reactive oxygen intermediates generated by cell-free enzymes (xanthine oxidase or glucose oxidase) in concentrations comparable to those accumulating extracellularly during incubation of monocytes containing bacteria with phorbol myristate acetate did not promote intracellular killing. The presence of catalase during phagocytosis inhibited killing, but had no effect on killing in the postphagocytic state. Monocytes deprived of glucose for 24 h showed markedly impaired O2 consumption, O2- generation, and bacterial killing; all of these effects were rapidly reversed by restoration of glucose. It is concluded that both an intact respiratory burst and extracellular serum factors are necessary for optimal killing of intracellular Staphylococcus aureus by human monocytes. Serum does not appear to act by enhancing the respiratory burst, but rather to have a separate, synergistic role, the biochemical basis of which is unknown. 相似文献