Relationship between digestive and killing abilities of neutrophils against Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

Peripheral blood neutrophils (PMN) from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis killed and digested Paracoccidioides brasiliensis much less than did PMN from normal individuals or from patients with other diseases. However, deficiency in killing ability was less specific than digestive deficiency and correlated poorly with it. We conclude that the capacities of PMN to digest and kill P. brasiliensis are not intimately related phenomena, and that in paracoccidioidomycosis the key deficiency of neutrophil function is that of digestion of P. brasiliensis.     

肝脏缺血再灌注损伤大鼠嘌呤核苷磷酸酶活性的研究

目的:探讨大鼠肝脏低温保存及常温缺血再灌注过程中,不同保存液中嘌呤核苷磷酸酶(PNP)活性的变化.方法:将大鼠肝脏在3种不同保存液中低温保存不同时限后,用37℃Krebs-Henseleit液连续循环灌注90min,分别于不同灌注时间检测灌洗液中PNP活性的变化.结果:经过8 h的低温保存,再灌注90min后,HTK保存的肝脏中PNP明显高于UW和Celsior;经过16 h的低温保存后,再灌注60min前,HTK保存的肝脏中PNP明显高于UW和Celsior;60min后HTK和Celsior保存的肝脏中PNP明显高于UW;经过24 h的低温保存后,再灌注15min后,HTK保存的肝脏中PNP明显高于Celsior,而Celsior又明显高于UW.结论:随着低温保存和再灌注时间的延长,大鼠肝脏中PNP逐渐增高且UW液的保存效果明显优于HTK和Celsior     

Evoked potentials in patients with non-neurological Wilson's disease

Summary In Wilson's disease neurological manifestations result from the damage in the basal ganglia, even if a widespread degeneration of the brain occurs. The few studies performed using evoked potentials with the aim of identifying subclinical dysfunction in the three major sensory pathways have never shown abnormalities in patients without neurological manifestations. To verify this observation we studied 12 patients suffering from Wilson's disease in a pre-neurological stage by using pattern visual evoked potentials (VEPs), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) to median nerve stimulation and brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEPs). Four of these patients had not yet been treated with penicillamine or trientine (triethylenetetramine dihydrochloride), while the remaining 8 patients were on treatment for at least 1 year. In 3 patients of this second group and in 1 patient of the first group we observed a significant (3 SD over the mean) increase in P100 wave latency, while SEPs and BAEPs were found to be abnormal in only 1 patient, respectively.     

A critical assessment of allergen component-based in vitro diagnosis in cherry allergy across Europe

BACKGROUND: Food allergy to cherry occurs throughout Europe, typically with restricted oral reactions in the central and northern parts but with frequent systemic reactions in the Mediterranean region. Previous studies have demonstrated insufficient sensitivity of commercially available cherry extract reagents in the diagnosis of cherry allergy. OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance of specific IgE tests based on recombinant cherry allergens in comparison with an extract-based assay and to skin prick test (SPT). A secondary objective was to analyse the frequency of systemic reactions in cherry-allergic subjects across Europe, including the largest population of LTP-sensitized subjects from central Europe studied to date. METHODS: A total of 186 subjects from central Europe and Spain were studied. Serum IgE was analysed with ImmunoCAP tests carrying rPru av 1, 3 and 4, combined and separately, and cherry extract. RESULTS: Among the central European cherry allergics, the mix of rPru av 1, 3 and 4 had a sensitivity of 95%, compared with 65% for cherry extract, and the IgE binding capacity of the recombinant mix was considerably higher. The sensitivity of the two tests was more comparable in the Spanish population, 95% and 86%, respectively. The recombinant allergen ImmunoCAP equalled SPT in terms of sensitivity and specificity. Consistent with previous reports, major geographic differences in sensitization pattern and prevalence of systemic reactions were found. A significantly higher rate of systemic reactions was found in Spanish patients sensitized to Pru av 3 whereas German patients sensitized to LTP only had oral allergy syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The recombinant cherry allergen ImmunoCAP is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool, clearly superior to any diagnostic method based on cherry extract. Three cherry allergens are sufficient for detecting sensitization in 95% of cherry-allergic subjects. Systemic reactions are common in LTP-sensitized individuals but seem to require at least one additional causative factor.     

Changes in the physiologic pattern of mitral prosthesis regurgitation in the presence of a prosthetic dysfunction]

AIM OF STUDY: Evaluation by transesophageal echocardiography of the effect on the characteristics of physiological regurgitant jets (JF) resulting from prosthetic disfunction due to pathologic regurgitation (JF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 69 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of prosthesis in mitral position using transesophageal echocardiography and color doppler codification. The patients were divided in two groups (N and D groups) according to the presence of prosthesis disfunction by pathologic regurgitation. In each patient we determined planimetric areas and atrial peak depth of each JF and also the sum of JF planimetric areas of each mitral prosthesis. When pathological regurgitation was present we calculated the highest planimetric area, severity degree and atrial peak depth in each JP. RESULTS: The planimetric area in each JF of group N was 330 +/- 167 mm2 and in group D 117 +/- 116 mm2 (p less than 0.001). The sum of the areas of JF in group N was 474 +/- 204 mm2 and in group D 254 +/- 176 mm2 (p less than 0.01). The atrial depth of JF in group was 32 +/- 15 mm and in group D 26 +/- 18 mm (p less than 0.01). In group D 29% of the patients had mild pathological regurgitation, 10% moderate and 61% severe. The maximum planimetric area of JP in group D was 1078 +/- 1007 mm2 with atrial depth of 37 +/- 28 mm. CONCLUSION: The pathological regurgitation in disfunction prosthesis in mitral position has a significant reduction effect in the dimension of prosthesis physiologic regurgitation jets. This transesophageal echocardiographic observation makes it possible to characterize and clarify more precisely the different types of mitral prosthesis jets.     

Time-dependent changes in distribution of basic fibroblast growth factor immunoreactive cells in hippocampus after kainic acid injection in rat pups

Five-day-old Wistar albino rats were injected with kainic acid (KA) or saline i.p. to investigate time-dependent alterations in morphology and number of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) immunoreactive (-ir) astrocytes and neurons in hippocampus at 15, 30, and 90 days after the injections. Sections were stained with cresyl violet for morphological evaluation and bFGF immunohistochemistry was used for quantitative evaluation of bFGF-ir cell density. Fifteen days after KA injection, there was gliosis but no neuronal loss although disorganization in CA1, CA3, CA4 pyramidal layers and neuronal loss were evident 30 and 90 days after the injection. KA injected rats demonstrated significantly increased number of bFGF-ir astrocytes throughout the hippocampus and pyramidal neurons in CA2 after 15 days and decreased number of bFGF-ir cells after 30 and 90 days. The decrease in the number of bFGF-ir astroglia and neurons in long term after KA injection may indicate a decrease in the production of bFGF and/or number of bFGF-ir cells suggesting that protective effects of bFGF may be altered during epileptogenesis in hippocampus.     

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Cellular Changes in Mice after Intradermal Inoculation with a Liposome–Iscom Adjuvanted Vaccine

As it is not known what changes to leucocyte homeostasis are mandatory for effective adjuvant action, the biological relevance of systemic changes elicited by different vaccine formulations can only be interpreted in the context of the immunological outcomes. We used flow cytometry to quantify the changes in leucocyte subsets induced in mice intradermally immunized with SAMA4 (adjuvant group), outer membrane proteins (OMP) purified from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (OMP antigen group), SAMA4 adjuvanted OMP (OMP vaccine group), or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS: control group). This approach allowed direct comparisons to be made between the effects of antigen, adjuvant or antigen–adjuvant complexes on immune effector cell populations. Antigens complexed with the liposome–iscom hybrid adjuvant, SAMA4, generated strong antibody responses and cytotoxic T-cell activity in animals immunized intradermally, reflecting remobilization and recruitment of specific cell populations. Splenomegaly, due to granulocytosis, monocytosis and megakaryocytosis, was most prominent in the OMP vaccine group. Histological examination of spleen sections confirmed that these changes were due primarily to splenic haematopoiesis. Circulating numbers of granulocytes and monocytes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the blood of the OMP vaccine group, as did granulocyte numbers in the lungs (P < 0.05). No changes in T- and B-cell numbers were detected by flow cytometry in the spleens, lungs or blood over the 28-day period in any treatment group. Thymocyte numbers (predominantly CD4⁺CD8⁺ cells) in the OMP vaccine group fell by 95% within 3 days of immunization. Identical cellular responses were obtained when an innocuous antigen, ovalbumin, was complexed with SAMA4 instead of OMP, thus demonstrating that the adjuvant effects of SAMA4 were due to synergistic interaction between antigen and adjuvant and not due to the presence of toxic components. The association of strong adaptive immune responses with such complex changes in leucocyte homeostasis induced by complexing adjuvant and antigen suggested that the changes were important for effective vaccination and were not purely circumstantial.     

控制性降压结合急性高容血液稀释在脑膜瘤手术中的应用

目的　观察控制性降压结合急性高容血液稀释 (AHH)对脑膜瘤手术的安全性及减少出血量和术后血红蛋白 (Hb)、红细胞比积 (Hct)的影响。　方法　择期脑膜瘤手术病人 2 0例 ,随机分成控制性降压结合AHH组 (Ⅰ组 ,n =10 )和对照组 (Ⅱ组 ,n =10 ) ,两组均采用气管内全麻。Ⅰ组病人于气管插管后手术开始前完成AHH并进行控制性降压。比较两组病人术中出血量、输血量和术后Hb、Hct变化。　结果　Ⅰ组病人术中平均出血量 (5 44± 92 )ml ,比Ⅱ组病人的 (10 72± 182 )ml减少 49 7% ;Ⅱ组病人平均输血量 (62 0± 112 )ml ,Ⅰ组病人则完全避免输异体血。两组病人术毕均有轻度贫血 ,但仍在安全水平范围内。　结论　控制性降压结合急性高容血液稀释可安全应用于脑膜瘤手术 ,对有指征病人的使用可避免术中输异体血     

Further study on the vascular basis for the reimplantation of the hand amputated through the palm

Summary Based on the anatomic data obtained from earlier studies on the vascular anatomy of the hand, the vascular architecture in the palm of the hand was studied on 60 sides of unembalmed adult upper extremities. Each palm was divided into 64 squares by 8 sagittal and 8 transverse sections. The vascular architecture in these squares and the arterial relations between them were observed and measured by angiography, operative microscopic dissection and computerised three-dimensional reconstruction. According to the pattern of the blood-vessels, the amputated palms can be classified into 4 types. The anatomic basis for the vascular anastomosis in each type is defined. There are three key-areas for the blood-supply of the palm and their significance is discussed. Apart from the 4 types of transversely amputated palms, the repair programe of the blood-vessles in 4 types of common obliquely amputated palms are also discussed.

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Etude complémentaire de l'anatomie vasculaire de la main pour la réimplantation des amputations transpalmaires

Résumé Sur la base de données anatomiques obtenues lors de précédents travaux sur l'anatomie vasculaire de la main, l'architecture vasculaire palmaire a été étudiée sur 60 extrémités supérieures de cadavres d'adultes, non embaumés. Chaque paume a été divisée en 64 carrés par 8 sections sagittales et 8 sections transversales. L'architecture vasculaire à l'intérieur des carrés et les relations artérielles entre eux ont été étudiées et mesurées par angiographie, dissection au microscope opérateur et reconstruction computérisée en 3D. Les paumes amputées ont été regroupées en 4 types d'après la distribution des vaisseaux sanguins. Les données anatomiques concernant les anastomoses vasculaires sont précisées. Il existe trois zones clés pour l'irrigation de la paume. Leur importance quant à l'irrigation de la main est exposée. Outre la division des paumes amputées transversalement en 4 types, le programme de réparation de vaisseaux dans les 4 types d'amputations obliques communes de la paume et aussi discuté.

     

Averaged axillary F-loop latency of median and ulnar nerves

Axillary F-loop latencies (AFLL) were measured on median and ulnar nerves of 54 normal volunteers. The median and ulnar nerves were stimulated at the wrist and at the axilla 25cm distal to the sternal notch. The compound muscle action potentials were recorded from thenar and hypothenar muscles. Averaged tracings from 32 consecutive stimuli at the wrist were obtained. The averaged F-wave latencies were measured to the peak (Fwp) of the averaged F-wave. The M-wave latencies from wrist and axilla stimulation were measured to the onset of the wave (Mw and Ma, respectively). The averaged AFLL (a-AFLL) was calculated as (Fwp + Mw)-2 Ma. The average values of a-AFLL were 14.12 +/- 0.88msec for median nerve, and 13.97 +/- 0.90msec for ulnar nerve. There was no significant difference between male and female subjects, nor between the right and left sides. Seven subjects with EMG evidence of C8 or C8 to T1 radiculopathy, although manifesting normal AFLL gauged by the regular method (ie, measured to the onset of the shortest F-wave latency among eight tracings), had significantly longer "averaged AFLL" in both median and ulnar nerves of the affected side than the a-AFLL obtained from the normal side. It is concluded that the a-AFLL is a more sensitive measure than the "regular AFLL" in the assessment of proximal nerve lesion (especially C8 or C8 to T1 radiculopathy).