Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) potently enhances in vitro macrophage production from primitive murine hematopoietic progenitor cells in combination with stem cell factor and interleukin-7: novel stimulatory role of p55 TNF receptors

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a bifunctional regulator of hematopoiesis, and its cellular responses are mediated by two distinct cell surface receptors. TNF-alpha generally inhibits the growth of primitive murine hematopoietic progenitor cells (Lin-Scal+) in response to multiple cytokine combinations, and the p75 TNF receptor is essential in signaling such inhibition. In the present study we show the reverse phenomenon in that TNF-alpha on the same progenitor cell population in combination with stem cell factor (SCF) and interleukin-7 (IL-7) through the p55 TNF receptor can recruit additional progenitors to proliferate. In contrast, TGF-beta 1, another bifunctional regulator of hematopoietic progenitor cell growth, completely blocked SCF plus IL- 7-induced proliferation. TNF-alpha increased the number of responding progenitors, as well as the size of the colonies formed. The synergistic effects of TNF-alpha were seen at the single cell level, suggesting that its effects are directly mediated. Finally, whereas SCF plus IL-7 promoted primarily granulopoiesis, the addition of TNF-alpha switched the differentiation toward the production of almost exclusively macrophages.     

Protein co-isolated with human tissue factor impairs recovery of activity

Preparations of human tissue factor isolated by immunoaffinity chromatography contain variable amounts of 47,000 mol wt, 55,000 mol wt, and multimeric tissue factor when analyzed without reduction on polyacrylamide gels in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). When analyzed after reduction, the 47,000 mol wt tissue factor apoprotein and a protein of about 12,000 mol wt are observed. Elution of tissue factor from polyacrylamide gel slices, followed by reassociation with lipids, restored proportionately much greater tissue factor activity with the 47,000-mol wt protein than with the 55,000-mol wt form. Cyanogen bromide cleavage at the single tissue factor methionine revealed that the 12,000-mol wt protein is associated with the carboxyl-terminal peptide derived from the 47,000-mol wt protein. These results reveal that association of the 12,000-mol wt protein with the cytoplasmic domain of tissue factor can modulate its activity in vitro.     

Echocardiography detection of fetal ventricular aneurysm: A report of three cases

From March 2007 to September 2009, we have screened with echocardiography a total of 6,502 pregnant women for fetal heart disease. We found three cases of fetal ventricular aneurysm. The relatively large size of the aneurysm in these three cases was clearly visible under standard four‐chamber view. Two were right ventricular aneurysms arisen from the ventricular free wall, and both showed characteristics of true aneurysm with a thin wall and a large communication with the ventricular chamber. Color Doppler showed passive movement of aneurysm during right ventricle contraction. The third case was a large left ventricular aneurysm outpouching from a small opening of the left ventricular wall close to the apical region. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 43 :257–261, 2015     

Prevalence of comorbidities and associated factors in acromegaly patients in the Turkish population

Background/aim The presence of comorbidities in patients with acromegaly causes an increase in morbidity and/or mortality and a decrease in quality of life. In this study, we aimed to investigate the demographic, clinical and laboratory features, prevalence of acromegaly-related comorbidities, and factors associated with these comorbidities in patients with acromegaly.Materials and methods In the study, 96 patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of acromegaly were included. Clinical, laboratory and imaging features, and accompanying comorbidities of the patients were recorded from the patient files.Results Of the patients included in the study, 63 (65.6%) were female and 33 (34.4%) were male. The mean age of diagnosis was 42.61± 12.08, and the mean follow-up period was 9.97 ± 7.26 years. Median insulin-like growth factor 1 level was 238.16 ng/mL (30.5–820), median growth hormone level was 2.05 ug/L (0.1–29.4). A total of 60 (62.5%) of the patients were in the well-controlled group, and 36 (37.5%) had active disease at the time of inclusion. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was detected in 30 (31.3%) patients, prediabetes in 19 (28.8%) patients, hypertriglyceridemia in 38 (42.2%) patients, hypertension (HT) in 41 (42.7%) patients, cardiovascular disease in 5 (5.2%) patients, malignancy in 9 (9.4%) patients, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in 8 (8.3%) patients, carpal tunnel syndrome in 11 (11.5%) patients, arthropathy in 5 (5.2%) patients, hearing loss in 7 (7.3%) patients, thyroid nodule in 56 (67.5%) patients, thyroid cancer in 4 (4.2%) patients, colonic polyp in 19 (38.8%) patients.Conclusion In this study, we revealed that the most common comorbidities in acromegaly patients in the Turkish population are thyroid nodules, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) level, hypertriglyceridemia, HT, colonic polyps, DM, and prediabetes, and female sex and age at diagnosis are the most important factors associated with comorbidities.     

益气活血中药肾区离子导入治疗难治慢性肾功能衰竭的临床研究

目的:探讨益气活血中药肾区离子导入治疗难治慢性肾功能衰竭的临床疗效。方法:将62例难治慢性肾功能衰竭患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,对照组予以常规治疗,治疗组在此基础上应用益气活血中药肾区离子导入治疗,比较分析两组的临床疗效。结果:治疗组总有效率为90.3%,对照组总有效率为77.4%,治疗组优于对照组(P0.05);治疗组中医症状积分、Hb、24h upq及ALB以及肾功能指标改善情况均优于对照组(P0.05)。结论:肾区离子导入益气活血中药治疗难治慢性肾功能衰竭疗效显著,不良反应较少。     

Group treatments for sensitive health care problems: a randomised controlled trial of group versus individual physiotherapy sessions for female urinary incontinence

Background  

The aim was to compare effectiveness of group versus individual sessions of physiotherapy in terms of symptoms, quality of life, and costs, and to investigate the effect of patient preference on uptake and outcome of treatment.     

艾滋病并肺结核患儿的临床及X线特点

目的探讨儿童艾滋病并肺结核的临床及X线特点。方法对已确诊的19例艾滋病并肺结核患儿的临床资料及X 线表现进行分析。结果小儿艾滋病并肺结核最常见的临床表现为咳嗽、长期不规则发热、盗汗和气促。胸部X线多为多发片状阴影、两肺粟粒结节样阴影及肺门纵隔淋巴结大。单发片状阴影常常发展为双侧多发片状阴影。结论小儿艾滋病并肺结核胸部X线多表现为片状模糊阴影,粟粒结节样阴影,肺门纵隔淋巴结大。随访复查X线胸片表现常有发展变化。X线胸片检查对本病诊断起着重要作用。     

Estimation of aneuploidy for chromosomes 3, 7, 16, X and Y in spermatozoa from 10 normospermic men using fluorescence in-situ hybridization

Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) is a fast and efficient method of estimating aneuploidy in human spermatozoa. In this study, we have estimated baseline disomy frequencies in spermatozoa from a group of 10 normospermic men, using stringent scoring criteria. A triple- probe FISH procedure was used for chromosomes 3, X and Y, while a double-probe FISH method was used for chromosomes 7 and 16. A total of 101273 spermatozoa were scored for chromosomes 3, X and Y, resulting in 97.83% haploidy (3X or 3Y), 0.39% disomy (33X, 33Y, 3XX, 3YY or 3XY) and 0.35% diploidy (33XX, 33YY or 33XY). A total of 100760 spermatozoa were scored for chromosomes 7 and 16, giving 98.9% haploidy (716), 0.11% disomy (7716 or 71616) and 0.27% diploidy (771616). Disomy frequencies for individual chromosomes differed (chromosome 3, 0.20%; chromosome 7, 0.05%, chromosome 16, 0.06%; X + Y, 0.19%). The frequency of disomy 3 was significantly higher than disomy 7 (P = 0.019) and disomy 16 (P = 0.022), while the frequency of sex chromosome disomy was significantly higher than disomy 7 (P = 0.0058) and disomy 16 (P = 0.0067), but not disomy 3 (P = 0.73). The disomy and diploidy (0.27- 0.35%) estimates obtained for this normospermic population were generally low and were similar to other recent reports.      

The transformation of cross-reinnervated slow-twitch muscle after deafferentation in the cat

Summary Cross-reinnervations were effected between the extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles in the cat hind limb. At the same time dorsal root section or ganglionectomy was performed over segments L6-S1. Completeness of the deafferentation was subsequently confirmed either by dissection or by dorsal root recording. The isometric and forcevelocity properties of the muscles were measured. In animals with a unilateral cross plus deafferentation the conversion of the contractile properties of the normally slow-twitch soleus to those resembling a fast-twitch muscle was typical of that seen with an intact afferent supply. In cats with a bilateral cross-reinnervation and unilateral deafferentation there was no significant difference in the degree of transformation between the two sides. It is concluded that at least for the conversion of a slow-twitch to a fast-twitch muscle afferent feedback does not play a major role.Supported by Australian Research Grants Committee D181 15143, Monash Special Research Fund and the Ian Potter FoundationDr. Webb was on study leave from Liverpool University, England