The factors controlling stem cell recirculation. i. Migration of hemopoietic stem cells in adrenalectomized mice

The influence of bilateral adrenalectomy on hemopoietic stem cell (CFU) migration in mice has been studied. Formation of endogenous spleen colonies in lethally irradiated, leg-shielded mice was sharply increased by prior adrenalectomy, and this increase was not dependent on the volume of shielded bone marrow. Adrenalectomy was shown to increase endogenous spleen colony formation in sublethally irradiated mice as well. However, it had no affect on formation of spleen colonies in lethally irradiated mice injected with syngeneic bone marrow. The CFU content of murine bone marrow decreased acutely after removal of the adrenals, and this decrease was accompanied by a concomitant increase in the peripheral blood and splenic CFU. Thus, adrenalectomy appeared to have no affect on the splenic plating efficiency or proliferative rate of hemopoietic stem cells, but it did result in increased migration of stem cells from the bone marrow to the blood, and thence to the spleen. It is concluded that the adrenal steroids may be of physiologic importance in the regulation of ehmopoietic stem cell migration.     

胸椎管狭窄症术后脊髓缺血再灌注损伤的临床分析

目的 探讨胸椎管狭窄症患者手术后出现脊髓功能受损的原因,总结脊髓手术后缺血再灌注损伤(spinal cord ischemic reperfusion injury,SCII)[1]的预处理和早期治疗方法.方法 回顾性分析我科2年内收治的32例胸椎管狭窄症患者术后脊髓恢复情况,出现脊髓损伤患者的临床资料及处理方法,并对其预后进行客观评估.结果 2年内在收治并手术的胸椎管狭窄症患者中,手术减压前给予1克甲基强的松龙预防.5例患者于手术后出现不同程度的脊髓功能受损,即刻给予大剂量甲基强的松龙冲击治疗、脱水药及神经营养药,1例患者症状改善不理想,2例患者症状部分改善,生活可自理,2例患者基本恢复正常.结论 胸椎管狭窄症患者手术后出现的脊髓功能受损可能是脊髓缺血再灌注损伤引起,再灌注损伤在胸椎管狭窄症患者中较多见,但出现严重监床症状的少见,诊断有一定的困难.妥善的处理可望改善患者的生存质量.     

Massive gastric antral vascular ectasia successfully treated by endoscopic band ligation as the initial therapy

Gastric antral vascular ectasia(GAVE) accounted for 4% of non-variceal gastrointestinal hemorrhage.Even though unclear pathogenesis,GAVE often associated with chronic renal failure,autoimmune diseases and cirrhosis.Asymptomatic lesions were reasonably not to treated.The treatment options for GAVE are nonendoscopic and endoscopic treatments.For the pharmacological treatment,some success were reported for the use of octreotide,thalidomide and tranexamic acid.While the endoscopic treatment is the mainstay for treatment of symptomatic lesions.The endoscopic ablative therapies such as argon plasma coagulation was reported with good clinical outcomes.However,these treatment options had some limitation due to the need of special equipment and multiple sessions needed to control the bleeding.We reported another treatment option using the routine-achievable instrument such as endoscopic band ligation as an initial treatment which also provided a good treatment outcome and less sessions.     

Variation in the determination of follicular diameter: an inter-unit pilot study using an ultrasonic phantom

Ultrasound operators in assisted reproductive technology units in New South Wales, Australia cooperated in a study that was conducted to assess their ability to measure fixed objects embedded in an ultrasound phantom. The results have demonstrated a large variation ranging between 10 and 25% coefficient of variation on distances between 10 and 32 mm. As ultrasonic imaging is the only component of assisted reproductive technology not currently controlled by an external quality assurance scheme, the authors suggest there may be a need to establish a programme.      

Atopic dermatitis: correlation of peripheral blood T cell activation, eosinophilia and serum factors with clinical severity

In the first part of this study peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations. Iheir activation slate and various serum parameters were measured in extrinsic and intrinsic atopic dermatitis (AD) patients compared to normal individuals. Beside the characteristic eosinophilia, significantly increased numbers of CD4⁺ T cells with increased expression of IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) and HLA-DR were noted in the AD patients. In addition, extrinsic AD patients showed increased numbers of CD23⁺ B cells and decreased numbers of CD16⁺ natural killer cells. Moreover, increased serum levels of eosinophil canonic protein (ECP) and soluble 1L-2R as well as soluble factors lhat prolong survival of eosinophils in vitro could be demonstrated. In the second section of this study we determine how these blood immunological parameters relate to the clinical severity of the skin lesions of AD, by weekly analysis of 12 AD patients attending a high altitude clinic for 3 to 6 weeks. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of treatment with topical steroids, but during the observation period a significant improvement in clinical status was observed in all AD patients independent of topical steroid therapy. A progressive decrease in eosinophil and activated T cell numbers. soluble IL-2R levels and serum eosinophil survival prolonging activity could be demonstrated, which closely correlated with the clinical severity of the AD.     

Insulin‐like growth factor‐II is produced by,signals to and is an important survival factor for the mature podocyte in man and mouse

Podocytes are crucial for preventing the passage of albumin into the urine and, when lost, are associated with the development of albuminuria, renal failure and cardiovascular disease. Podocytes have limited capacity to regenerate, therefore pro‐survival mechanisms are critically important. Insulin‐like growth factor‐II (IGF‐II) is a potent survival and growth factor; however, its major function is thought to be in prenatal development, when circulating levels are high. IGF‐II has only previously been reported to continue to be expressed in discrete regions of the brain into adulthood in rodents, with systemic levels being undetectable. Using conditionally immortalized human and ex vivo adult mouse cells of the glomerulus, we demonstrated the podocyte to be the major glomerular source and target of IGF‐II; it signals to this cell via the IGF‐I receptor via the PI3 kinase and MAPK pathways. Functionally, a reduction in IGF signalling causes podocyte cell death in vitro and glomerular disease in vivo in an aged IGF‐II transgenic mouse that produces approximately 60% of IGF‐II due to a lack of the P2 promoter of this gene. Collectively, this work reveals the fundamental importance of IGF‐II in the mature podocyte for glomerular health across mammalian species. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.