Histamine and H2 agonist amthamine increase oxidative burst activity of human leukocytes determined by flow cytometry

Inflammation Research -     

降糖饮降糖作用的实验研究

降糖饮以８．１，１５．０，３０。０ｇ．ｋｇ＾－１灌胃予鼠，连续１０天。结果表明降饮对正常小鼠大鼠血糖血脂无明显影响，但对四氧嘧啶或链脲霉素引起的大鼠高血糖及蛋黄引起的小鼠高脂血症，高胆固醇饲料引起的大鼠高脂血症均有显著降低作用。本研究为降糖饮的应用提供了可靠的药理学依据。     

Conditionally replicating luciferase reporter phages: improved sensitivity for rapid detection and assessment of drug susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

TM4 is a lytic mycobacteriophage which infects mycobacteria of clinical importance. A luciferase reporter phage, phAE40, has been constructed from TM4 and was previously shown to be useful for the rapid detection and drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, the lytic nature of the phage results in a loss of detectable light output and limits the sensitivity of detection. We describe several strategies aimed at improving the luciferase activity generated by TM4 luciferase phages, including (i) varying the position of the luciferase gene in the phage genome, (ii) isolating host-range mutants of the phage, and (iii) introducing temperature-sensitive mutations in the phage such that it will not replicate at the infecting temperature. Several new phages generated by these methods show increased intensity of luciferase production compared to the first-generation reporter phage phAE40, and one phage, phAE88, also demonstrates an enhanced duration of luciferase activity. This has allowed the detection of as few as 120 BCG cells and the determination of drug susceptibilities of M. tuberculosis in as little as 1 day.     

Oligoclonal populations of T and B cells in a case of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma predominantly infiltrated by T cells of the VB5.1 family.

AIMS: Immunohistological and molecular characterisation of a case of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILD) type. METHODS: Frozen and paraffin wax sections of the diagnostic lymph node were stained with a panel of T- and B-cell lineage monoclonal antibodies. DNA was isolated from the paraffin wax embedded biopsy material for T-cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) PCR amplification, and resultant PCR products were cloned and sequenced. RESULTS: Immunohistological analysis of the presenting lymph node was consistent with an extensive infiltrate of pleomorphic CD3+CD8+ lymphocytes. Most (>80%) of these infiltrating CD3+ cells were also positive for the TCR VB5.1 gene family product, and were shown to be oligoclonal by TCRB PCR amplification and sequencing. Three oligoclones of B cells were also demonstrable by PCR amplification with Ig heavy chain primers and sequencing, a finding at variance with the diagnosis of AILD. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the complexity and heterogeneity of PTCL which require extensive histological examination and molecular characterisation.     

Antigenicity of a synthetic peptide from glucosyltransferases of Streptococcus mutans in humans.

Human salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) and serum IgG antibodies to the Streptococcus mutans glucosyltransferases (Gtfs) and to a synthetic peptide of 19 amino acids from a conserved region in the Gtfs (residues 435 to 453) were determined in young adults by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Varying levels of antibody to Gtfs were detected in saliva or serum, with significantly higher levels of antibody to GtfD than to GtfB/C or GtfC. Anti-Gtf IgA levels in saliva did not correlate with those of IgG in serum. Caries-free (CF) volunteers exhibited significantly higher salivary IgA antibody levels to the peptide and to GtfB/C or GtfC than did the caries-active (CA) subjects. Preincubation of CF saliva and serum with the peptide inhibited the antibodies to the Gtfs in a dose-dependent manner, whereas preincubation of the samples from the CA group resulted in only partial inhibition. Our results indicated that this 19-amino-acid peptide includes one of the major B-cell epitopes of Gtfs and that CF individuals have higher titers of antibodies than CA subjects.     

Stoma Adjustable Silicone Gastric Banding versus Vertical Banded Gastroplasty for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity

Background: Among gastric restrictive operations, the procedure of choice is still controversial. The aim of this study is to compare the results of two different gastric restrictive procedures: vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) and stoma adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB). Methods: Between 1991 and 1996, 51 patients were treated surgically for morbid obesity: 27 underwent VBG and 24 underwent ASGB. Preoperative body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI) and percentage of ideal body weight (% IBW) were (mean ± SD): 145.7 ± 45.3 kg; 53.9 ± 15.9 kg/m²; 249.1 ± 73.5% respectively in the VBG group. Corresponding figures for the ASBG group were 132.5 ± 22.7 kg; 46.9 ± 7.8 kg/m² and 207.2 ± 35.0%. Results: In the VBG group, the median follow-up period was 26 months (range: 7-47). Eighteen months after the operation BW, BMI, % IBW and percentage of excess weight loss (% EWL) were 85.5 ± 26.8 kg, 31.9 ± 9.8 kg/m², 145.4 ± 43.9% and 74 ± 1% respectively. Complications included incisional hernia (n = 1), and bowel obstruction (n = 1). One patient died of acute myocardial infarction on the third postoperative day. In the ASGB group, median follow-up time was 19.7 months (range: 18-26). At 18 months postoperation BW, BMI, % IBW and % EWL values were 86.6 ± 20.6 kg 30.6 ± 6.6 kg/m2 140.6 ± 29.3% and 64 ± 1% respectively. Gastric wall erosion occurred in two patients and the bands had to be removed. These patients underwent VBG 6 months later. Complications encountered in this group were incisional hernia (n = 1), outlet stenosis and reflux esophagitis (n = 1), reservoir leakage (n = 1) and gastrointestinal bleeding (n = 1). Two patients died of pulmonary embolism and acute gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusions: Weight reduction was not statistically significant between the two groups. ASGB was easier to perform and less invasive than VBG.     

Recurrent dislocation of the patella and the Goldthwait operation

In this study 17 patients with recurrent dislocation of the patella were followed up 10 years after their Goldthwait operation. The subjective and clinical findings were excellent or good in 70%. X-radiographs indicated osteoarthritis of the femoropatellar joint in 60%. Concerning the aetiopathological factors, we found an increased external torsion of the afflicted extremity (measured by computed tomography).