Contrasting Effects of thc on Adult Murine Lymph Node and Spleen Cell Populations Stimulated with Mitogen or Anti-CD3 Antibody

Marijuana, and specifically its psychoactive component, THC, can up or down regulate lymphocyte proliferation in murine spleen cells depending in part on the method used to stimulate the cells. This study identifies a difference in THC induced disregulation using cells derived from two different secondary lymphoid organs, the spleen and the lymph node. It was found that THC treatment of mitogen (concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin) stimulated cells derived from either organ resulted in suppression of the proliferative response. In contrast, spleen cells stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody and treated with low doses of THC displayed an enhanced proliferation whereas the response in lymph nodes did not change. The cell type involved with this THC immunoenhancement in spleen cells was found to be the Ly2 cell. Further differences in the THC modulation of Ly2 spleen cells as compared to lymph node cells were noted following stimulation with PHA. Proliferation of Ly2 cells of splenic origin was inhibited with low doses of THC whereas the Ly2 cells of lymph node origin were more resistant to this drug induced suppression. This study, therefore, demonstrates differences in the immunomodulatory capability of THC dependent upon the organ source of the lymphocytes.     

Immunorecognition of chondrocytes in articular cartilage activated by synovial interleukin 1.

A polyclonal antiserum which recognizes surface epitopes on IL1-activated pig chondrocytes has been used to immunolocalize chondrocytes responding to IL1 produced during co-culture of pig synovium and articular cartilage. Activation of the chondrocytes by the cytokine was restricted to the articular and subarticular region of the cartilage adjacent to the synovium. Chondrocyte activation was also seen when human rheumatoid synovium was co-cultured with the cartilage. The presence of IL1 in some synovial cells was confirmed by immunolocalization using antisera specific for IL1 alpha and IL1 beta.     

A case of severe summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis treated with high-dose administration of steroid]

A 40-year-old man who lived in a wooden house built 30 years ago presented with complaints of fever, dry cough and dyspnea. Chest X-ray findings showed interstitial shadows throughout bilateral lung fields. After admission, high-dose administration of 3000 mg of methylprednisolone was performed because of deterioration of chest X-ray shadows and symptoms. In a week, clinical data and symptoms improved. Findings of BAL fluid on admission revealed a relative increase of lymphocytes, neutrophils and mast cells, and pathological findings of transbronchial lung biopsy revealed non-caseous granulation and alveolitis. Precipitating antibodies and indirect fluorescent antibodies against Trichosporon cutaneum and Cryptococcus neoformans had positive reactions and T. cutaneum was isolated and identified from the patient's house. A diagnosis of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis was made according to the criteria advocated by Ando et al. This seemed to be a rare case of summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis prolonged after isolation from his normal living environment, successfully treated by high-dose administration of steroid.     

The echocardiographic evolution of left ventricular hypertrophy in treated hypertensive patients. A long-term follow-up]

In order to study the possible regressive changes of left ventricular hypertrophy in treated hypertensive patients and to correlate them either with the drugs they received and/or the blood pressure reduction obtained, a long-term (6 years) echocardiographic follow-up study was performed in 61 patients. B and M mode echocardiographic septum and posterior wall thickness and left ventricular mass index were measured yearly and the type of ventricular hypertrophy, asymmetric septal or concentric (symmetric), were compared before and after the follow-up. Sixteen patients received only diuretics; 14, only propranolol, and associated therapy was used in the remaining 31 patients. Average blood pressure was significantly reduced in the whole group of patients, but, individually, 30 of them achieved normal levels for the diastolic (90 mmHg), remaining it over this value in the other, although all of them experienced an average reduction 10 mmHg with therapy. Those patients with concentric hypertrophy at entry showed a significant septal, posterior wall thickness and total ventricular mass reduction during the follow-up, those with initial asymmetric septal hypertrophy, a significant septal thickness and ventricular mass reduction, and those without hypertrophy on admission, showed an average paradoxical increase in septal thickness. We conclude that left ventricular hypertrophy disappeared or decreased in 48% of the patients and that treatment seems to prevent its progression or development in the 43% of all patients. The regressive or favorable changes were significantly more frequent among patients with normal blood pressure after treatment as well as among patients treated only with propranolol in comparison to those treated only with diuretics.     

A case report of the limited form Wegener's granulomatosis]

The classical from of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing granulomatous angiitis that involves the upper and lower airways, and kidneys. A limited form of WG is characterized by pulmonary lesions identical to those of classical form WG without renal involvement. The authors report a case of limited form WG. A 58-year-old Japanese woman was admitted because of an abnormal pulmonary shadow. Pathological examination revealed granulomatous angiitis consistent with WG. No other organ involvement was found. The pulmonary shadow improved with cyclophosphamide therapy. The patient is now well and without evidence of exacerbation of the disease 18 month after the discharge.     

Involved field radiation, fractionated total body irradiation, high dose cyclophosphamide, and autologous bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of malignant lymphomas

We report the results of intensive therapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in 23 patients with malignant lymphoma (eight Hodgkin's disease and 15 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) who failed primary therapy. All patients had evidence of disease prior to transplant therapy: 10 had never achieved a complete remission and 13 were in relapse. The preparative regimen included involved field radiation followed by fractionated total body irradiation and high dose cyclophosphamide. A complete remission was achieved in 15 patients, 11 of whom continue in unmaintained complete remission from 27 to 72 months after BMT (median follow-up of 52 months). Of the remaining patients, five did not achieve a complete remission and three died of early toxicity. The event-free survival of the entire group is 47%. Disease status at the time of BMT was significantly correlated with patient outcome. The event-free survival of 13 patients in whom there was no objective evidence of tumor growth on conventional dose therapy was 77% compared with only 10% in patients with tumors progressing on conventional dose therapy (p less than 0.002). All six patients transplanted in untreated relapse continue in unmaintained remission, suggesting that debulking chemotherapy may not be necessary before BMT. Alternative approaches are needed in patients whose tumors progress on conventional dose therapy.     

Analysis of the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene in familial and sporadic myoclonus-dystonia: evidence for genetic heterogeneity.

The epsilon-sarcoglycan gene (SGCE) on human chromosome 7q21 has been reported to be a major locus for inherited myoclonus-dystonia. Linkage to the SGCE locus has been detected in the majority of families tested, and mutations in the coding region have been found recently in families with autosomal dominant myoclonus-dystonia. To evaluate the relevance of SGCE in myoclonus-dystonia, we sequenced the entire coding region of the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene in 16 patients with either sporadic or familial myoclonus-dystonia. No mutations were found. This study suggests that epsilon-sarcoglycan does not play an important role in sporadic myoclonus-dystonia and supports genetic heterogeneity in familial cases.