Immune complexes in early arthritis. L Detection of immune complexes before rheumatoid arthritis is definite

Fifty-three patients with early arthritis were studied longitudinally for up to 3 years. During this time, 24 developed sufficient features for definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be diagnosed. The other (arthralgia patients) differed from the RA patients as, in the majority, C-reactive protein and ESR were normal and anti-nuclear antibodies or rheumatoid factors were rarely found. Moreover, in time their signs and symptoms improved or disappeared. Circulating immune complexes were detected in both groups of patients by the platelet aggregation test whereas complexes detected by abnormal Clq-binding activity were found mainly in the RA patients. Platelet-aggregating complexes were usually present in the first samples studied and disappeared in the arthralgia patients with recovery from their symptoms. In the RA patients, Clq-binding complexes appeared simultaneously or later than platelet-aggregating complexes but both tests were positive several months before RA could be diagnosed. These results suggest that immune complexes are one of the first immunological abnormalities to appear in patients with arthritis. Although the constituent antigen and antibody of complexes detected by either test are unknown, their possible nature is discussed.     

Transmissible ileal hyperplasia of hamsters. II. Ultrastructure.

The ultrastructure of developing ileal lesions was characterized in weanling hamsters with experimentally induced transmissible ileal hyperplasia (TIH). The primary lesion was mucosal hyperplasia with progressive replacement of mature villus columnar absorptive cells by undifferentiated crypt-type cells. The undifferentiated, mitotically active cells expanded onto villus walls from their normal location in crypts by Day 10 and reached villus tips by Day 14. Aggregates of slightly curved, 0.3 X 1.5 mu, rod-shaped bacteria were detected in the apical cytoplasm of crypt epithelium by Day ;. They replicated intracellularly and accumulated in progressively greater numbers in hyperplastic cells. Active penetration of cells by intralumenal bacteria was not seen. The appearance and distribution of TIH-associated antigen, demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence, was identical to that observed for intracellular bacteria. Hyperplastic, bacteria-laden crypt epithelium penetrated adjacent supporting tissues. Dilated crypts with flattened epithelium ruptured and released organisms into surrounding tissues. Pyogranulomatous inflammation began at 17 to 25 days and preceded or accompanied penetration of the muscle layers by expanding crypts. Macrophages and neutrophils in inflammatory lesions contained many phagocytized bacteria. In some advanced lesions mature, bacteria-free absorptive cells and goblet cells reappeared. These observations support the hypothesis that intestinal bacteria cause TIH.     

Somatization among older primary care attenders

BACKGROUND: The importance of somatization among older primary care attenders is unclear. We aimed to establish the prevalence, persistence and associations of somatization among older primary care attenders, and the associations of frequent attendance. METHOD: One hundred and forty primary care attenders over 65 years were rated twice, 10 months apart, on measures of somatization, psychiatric status, physical health and attendance. RESULTS: The syndrome of GMS hypochondriacal neurosis had a prevalence of 5% but was transient. Somatized symptoms and attributions were persistent and associated with depression, physical illness and perceived poor social support. Frequent attenders (top third) had higher rates of depression, physical illness and somatic symptoms, and lower perceived support. CONCLUSION: Somatization is common among older primary care attenders and has similar correlates to younger primary care somatizers. Psychological distress among older primary care attenders is associated with frequent attendance. Improved recognition should result in benefits to patients and services.     

不同胎龄的胎儿和少儿皮肤中bax,bcl-2和p53基因表达的变化

目的：探讨凋亡相关基因bax, bcl-2和p53在不同胎龄的胎儿皮肤和少儿皮肤组织中表达的变化特征及其可能的生物学意义。方法： 运用末端脱氧核糖转移酶介导的生物素化脱氧尿嘧啶缺口标记技术(TUNEL)检测18例不同胎龄(13-32周)的胎儿皮肤和6例少儿皮肤组织中细胞凋亡的变化后，提取这些皮肤组织中的总RNA，分离mRNA，用RT-PCR方法检测bax, bcl-2和p53基因在不同组织中的表达变化特征。结果： 随着胎儿的生长发育，皮肤组织中的细胞凋亡率逐渐增加。在早期妊娠胎儿的皮肤中，bcl-2基因表达水平较高，随着胎龄的增加，bcl-2基因的转录本含量逐渐降低，在少儿的皮肤组织中，这种基因的表达量明显低于早期妊娠胎儿皮肤（P<0.01）。与bcl-2基因不同，在早期妊娠胎儿皮肤组织中，p53基因表达水平较低，而在晚期妊娠胎儿和少儿的皮肤内，该基因表达较强，而bax基因在不同发育时期的胎儿和少儿皮肤组织中表达差异不显著（P>0.05）。结论： 晚期妊娠胎儿和少儿皮肤组织中细胞增殖减缓，细胞趋向分化或凋亡的增加可能与p53基因表达增强，bcl-2表达降低相关；而p53表达降低，bcl-2表达升高可能是早期妊娠胎儿皮肤中细胞凋亡较少的机制之一。     

NF2 gene analysis distinguishes hemangiopericytoma from meningioma.

The histogenesis of dural-based or "central" hemangiopericytomas (cHPCs) remains controversial. Some authors consider these tumors variants of meningiomas while others consider them akin to peripheral hemangiopericytomas (pHPCs). Meningiomas frequently have mutations in the neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) gene, providing a molecular marker for meningiomas and other NF2-related tumors. We therefore analyzed the NF2 gene in cHPCs, pHPCs, and meningiomas to determine whether cHPCs are more similar at the molecular genetic level to meningiomas or pHPCs. Using paraffin-embedded archival material from 28 cHPCs (including three primary and recurrent tumors), 10 pHPCs, and 26 meningiomas, we scanned all 17 exons of the NF2 gene and flanking intronic sequences for mutations with single strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing. No NF2 mutations were found in either cHPCs or pHPCs, whereas 35% of meningiomas had NF2 gene alterations (P < 0.001). The NF2 gene mutations in meningiomas were all truncating mutations, consistent with previous studies. Our findings suggest that cHPCs are distinct from meningiomas at the molecular genetic level and support prior clinico-pathological data that distinguish these tumor-entities.     

Expression of a novel combination of fast and slow troponin T isoforms in rabbit extraocular muscles

Summary The properties of extraocular muscles (EOMs) are quite different from those of the trunk and limb. Here we show that there is a novel pattern of troponin T (TnT) expression in EOMs which most likely contributes to the fine control of ocular movement and may reflect their innervation by cranial motoneurons. Three regions of the muscle were analysed to distinguish the TnT isoforms present in the fast singly-innervated fibres from those in the multiply-innervated fibres. More than 95% of the TnT in the singly-innervated fibres is TnT_3f, which exhibits the most graded response to changes in calcium concentration during activation (Schachatet al., J. molec. Biol. 198, 551–4). In multiply-innervated fibres, which exhibit tonic contractures, the slow troponin T TnT_2s is expressed. While neither TnT_3f nor TnT_2s is unique to EOM, this pattern is unusual in two respects: first, both TnT_3f and TnT_2s are minor components of the trunk and limb musculature, and second, most muscles express several fast and both slow TnT species. Although EOM occupies a highly specialized physiological niche, its unusual physiology is not reflected in the presence of new TnT isoforms but in the expression of a different ratio of the known species of TnT.     

骨髓源间充质干细胞在异基因小鼠免疫器官内的分布及其免疫功能调节作用

目的：探讨骨髓源间充质干细胞(Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells，BMSC)在异基因小鼠免疫器官内的分布及其免疫调节作用。方法：以CM-Dil荧光染料示踪BMSC的体内分布情况，并辅以PCR检测Y染色体的方法进一步鉴定；体外实验采用MTT法、ELISA和FACS等方法检测BMSC的免疫调节作用。结果：BMSC可进入并较长期(30天)存在于异基因小鼠免疫器官内；在体外，BALB／C小鼠的BMSC对由ConA诱导的BALB／C和C57BL／6(B6)和BXSB小鼠的T细胞增殖均有抑制作用；而对前两种小鼠由12S诱导的B细胞增殖和分泌k方面表现为促进作用，对BXSB小鼠由IPS诱导的B细胞增殖和k分泌有抑制作用。BALB／C小鼠的BMSC对BALB／C和B6小鼠由ConA诱导的IL-4生成细胞的数量无明显影响，却可降低由ConA诱导的两种品系小鼠的IFN-γ生成细胞的数量；但对于BXSB小鼠却不同，BALB／C的BMSC可降低由ConA诱导的BXSB小鼠的IL-4生成细胞的数量，而提高由ConA诱导的IFN-γ生成细胞的数量。结论：异基因BMSC不但可进入受体的免疫器官，且可较长期(30天)存在；另外，BMSC对同基因正常、异基因正常和异基因自身免疫病的个体均有一定程度的免疫调节作用。     

低分子肝素对缺血再灌注大鼠肾组织核因子-κB表达的影响

探讨低分子肝素对缺血再灌注大鼠肾组织核因子-κB（NF-κB）表达的影响。建立大鼠IRI模型，健康WistaI大鼠80只随机分为正常对照组、假手术组、模型未治疗组、LMWH治疗组，后两组又分别分为术后1、3、6、24h组。检测各组血清肌酐（Scr）水平及中性粒细胞（PMNs）细胞间黏附分子-1（ICAM-1）表达；通过光镜和免疫组织化学方法观察各组大鼠肾组织形态学及趋化因子NF-κB表达变化。结果表明：（1）肾缺血再灌注未治疗组造模后1h，Scr水平虽然没有明显变化，但ICAM-1、NF-κB表达增多，肾小管坏死积分值亦较假手术组明显增加（P〈0．01）；（2）缺血再灌注6h以后，两组Scr浓度明显增高（P〈0．01），但LMWH治疗组SCr、ICAM-1、NF-κB表达水平及肾小管坏死积分值均明显低于模型未治疗组（P〈0．05）；（3）肾组织中NF-κB表达与肾小管损伤积分值呈现良好的相关性（r=0．71，P〈0、01）；而NF-κB与ICAM-1间则呈现显著正相关（r=0．62，P〈0．05）。由此说明：（1）ICAM-1、NF-κB在肾缺血再灌注早期的瞬时表达，可能参与了炎症早期的白细胞迁移与浸润，与肾损伤的发生密切相关；（2）LMWH可通过减少ICAM-1及NF-κB的表达，阻抑炎症反应过程，减轻肾组织损伤。     

A pilot study of erythrocyte choline flux and content in affective disorders

Choline influx and choline content were measured in healthy volunteers (N = 36), patients with unipolar affective disorder (N = 28), and bipolar patients before and during treatment with lithium (N = 14, N = 13 respectively). Erythrocyte choline content was not found to be significantly elevated in any of the groups studied, except in patients taking lithium. Choline influx into the erythrocytes of healthy controls was found to decrease with increasing age, while choline influx into lithiated erythrocytes increased with increasing age in patients. An inverse relationship between erythrocyte choline influx and content was found to exist only in the erythrocytes of elderly healthy volunteers (greater than or equal to 60 years old).     

长春地区816例遗传咨询患者染色体核型与生育异常分析

目的探讨染色体核型异常与生育异常的关系。方法对2004年5月至2007年4月到吉林大学特殊疾病检测站进行遗传咨询的816例患者进行外周血淋巴细胞培养,进行染色体核型分析。结果受检的生育异常患者为816例,核型异常99例,异常率为12.13%。其中常染色体异常22例,占22.22%,性染色体异常46例,占46.46%,嵌合体异常31例占31.31%。结论染色体异常是生殖异常的重要原因之一,对生育异常患者进行染色体检查可为临床诊断和优生优育提供依据。