Functional expression of 4-1BB (CD137) in the inflammatory tissue in Crohn's disease

4-1BB ligand (L) expressed on antigen presenting cells (APC) interacts with 4-1BB, expressed on activated T cells and this interaction costimulates T cells to secrete cytokines and to proliferate. We investigated whether 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions might be involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). In immunohistochemistry, we found 4-1BB expression on lamina propria (LP) cells in inflamed and to a lesser extend in non-inflamed gut tissue from CD patients. mRNA levels for 4-1BB were also elevated in intestinal CD tissue. In contrast, only few 4-1BB-expressing cells were found in inflamed tissue from ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and almost no positive cells were found in control intestinal tissue. 4-1BB expression was better sustained on in vitro activated lamina propria T cells from CD patients compared to controls. Finally, agonistic anti-4-1BB antibody enhanced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and proliferation of lamina propria T cells from CD patients. Taken together, our data suggest that 4-1BB/4-1BBL interactions contribute to the persistence of gut inflammation in CD.     

Rare alpha 1 antitrypsin allele PI W and a history of infant liver disease

We present a consanguinous couple whose three of four children are homozygous for a rare slow alpha 1 antitrypsin allele PI*W. All three children had abnormal liver function in infancy and two died in infancy of liver disease. The eldest child and both parents were heterozygous for the PI*W allele and were unaffected. Therefore, although serum levels are not markedly reduced, homozygotes appear to be at increased risk of developing liver disease. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

5 Gy全身照射对大鼠伤口巨噬细胞的抑制效应及W11-a12的促愈作用

目的 研究大鼠全身5Gy照射对伤口巨噬细胞（MΦ）功能的影响及W11－a12的促愈作用。方法 采用^60Coγ射线身身照射复合皮肤创伤模型,观察了MΦ酵母－补体复合物玫瑰花环形成试验、吞噬功能和分泌纤维粘连蛋白（FN）、转化生长因子β1（TGFβ1）、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子（bFGF）的功能。结果 大鼠5Gy全身照射复合皮肤创伤后第3、5天伤口内巨噬细胞C3b受体表达、吞噬功能,合成与分泌FN、TGFβ、bFGF的功能均显著受到抑制,但抑制效应的程度不同,MΦ的吞噬功能的抑制重于其分泌功能,分泌TGFβ1功能的抑制重于分泌bFGF的功能,W11-a12能显著逆转辐射对MΦ功能的抑制效应。结论 伤口MΦ功能受抑是合并放射损伤后伤口难愈的主要原因,增强MΦ功能是W11－a12促愈作用的一个途径。     

煤的热解研究III.煤中官能团与热解生成物

借助化学分析和ＦＴＩＲ光谱分析对我国煤化程度不同的１８ 种煤中官能团的研究表明：煤中官能团含量与煤化程度有关;煤中羧基、羟基及醚键等其他含氧官能团的含量与热解生成物ＣＯ２、Ｈ２Ｏ 和ＣＯ 的产率有关,脂肪—ＣＨ 的含量与甲烷和焦油的产率相关联,芳香—ＣＨ 的含量与热解半焦产率有关。煤的热解生成物主要是煤中官能团的断裂所致。     

婴幼儿腮腺血管瘤的手术治疗

:【目的】探讨婴幼儿腮腺血管瘤手术治疗的效果。【方法】对 2 3例 (年龄 40d～ 2岁 )婴幼儿腮腺血管瘤施行保留面神经的腮腺及血管瘤切除术 ,随访 3个月至 3年。【结果】全部创口Ⅰ期愈合 ;2 2例随访期间未见肿瘤复发 ,1例术后 3个月复发 ,再次手术后至今未复发 ;所有病例均无感染、涎瘘、永久性面瘫等并发症。【结论】婴幼儿腮腺血管瘤早期手术治疗可获得满意效果     

实验性急性胰腺炎大鼠胰腺腺泡细胞超微结构的观察

目的：了解实验性急性胰腺炎大鼠胰腺腺泡细胞超微结构的改变。并探讨雨蛙素致急性胰腺炎的机理。方法：采用皮下注射超大剂量雨蛙素建立大鼠急生水肿性胰腺炎模型,用透射电镜观察了雨蛙素刺激１ｈ,３ｈ,６ｈ,１２ｈ及２４ｈ后胰腺腺泡细胞的形态学改变。结果：①腺泡细胞质空泡形成。在雨蛙素刺激后１小时即可见到,随着雨蛙素刺激时间的延长,空泡数量显著增加,６ｈ达高峰;体积变显著增大,空泡之间或空泡与酶原颗粒间互相融     

Epimerization and Hydrolysis of Dalvastatin,a New Hydroxymethylglutaryl Coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) Reductase Inhibitor

In aqueous solutions, dalvastatin (1) undergoes epimerization as well as hydrolysis. The transformation of the drug was studied as a function of pH at 25°C in aqueous solutions containing 20% acetonitrile. At all pH values, first-order plots for the conversion are biphasic, indicating rapid equilibration of 1 with its epimer (2) and slower hydrolysis of 1 to the corresponding -hydroxy acid (3). Apparent first-order rate constants for the biexponential equation are given as a function of pH. The alkyl–oxygen cleavage of the lactone ring results in the epimerization of 1 to 2, whereas the acyl–oxygen cleavage results in the hydrolysis of 1 to 3. The epimerization is an S_N1 reaction reaching an equilibrium of [l] _eq/[2] _eq = 1.27. The epimerization rate is increased with an increase in the water content of the solvent. The hydrolysis of 1 to 3 is acid and base catalyzed. The hydrolysis is reversible in acidic media and irreversible in neutral and basic media. At pH values greater than 9, the hydrolysis reaction proceeds more rapidly than the epimerization.     

Radiology of the orbital apex

The orbital apex, formed by the superior orbital fissure and optic canal, is the cross-road between the orbit and the intracranial structures. Pathological processes may extend intracranially via the superior orbital fissure and vice versa. In addition to intrinsic soft tissue lesions, various pathological processes may involve the surrounding osseous anatomy. Malignant lesions arising from adjacent structures or from haematogeneous metastasis may also infiltrate this region.     

Repeated injections of a ciliary neurotrophic factor analogue leading to long-term photoreceptor survival in hereditary retinal degeneration

PURPOSE: To determine whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) treatment leads to long-term photoreceptor survival in hereditary retinal degeneration. METHODS: An autosomal dominant feline model of rod-cone dystrophy was used throughout the study with two normal animals. In the first experiment, intravitreal injections of a human CNTF analogue (Axokine; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY) were administered to one eye of each animal (n = 10) beginning on postnatal day 10 and were repeated every 4 weeks. Clinical and histopathologic examinations were performed at 5.5, 9.5, and 13.5 weeks. In the second experiment, animals (n = 17) were randomly assigned to receive intravitreal injections of either Axokine (at half the initial dose), human BDNF, or the vehicle for Axokine to one eye at 5.5 weeks. The same therapy was repeated every 4 weeks in each group. Clinical and histopathologic examinations were performed at 9.5, 13.5, and 17.5 weeks. Photoreceptor survival was assessed by cell counting. Apoptotic cells were identified by morphology and a modified TdT-dUTP terminal nick-end labeling (TUNEL) technique. In the third experiment, two normal animals were treated with Axokine as in the first experiment. Glial fibrillary acidic protein ((GFAP) immunohistochemistry was performed to assess glial cell reaction. RESULTS: In the first two experiments, Axokine significantly prolonged photoreceptor survival (P < 0.01) and reduced the presence of apoptotic cells (P < 0.05) and TUNEL-positive cells (P < 0.05). In the second experiment, results in the the BDNF- and sham-injected eyes were not significantly different from those in the untreated eyes. Minimal posterior subcapsular cataract and mild retinal folds were found in all Axokine-treated eyes in both dystrophic and normal animals. These complications were milder in the second experiment when injections were started later and at a reduced dose. GFAP immunolabeling was also increased in all Axokine-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Axokine, but not BDNF, delays photoreceptor loss in this hereditary retinal degeneration. Repeated injections maintain the protective effect.     

Visual-evoked potential evidence of chiasmal hypoplasia

PURPOSE: To show that chiasmal hypoplasia or aplasia need not be an isolated developmental anomaly and to examine the spectrum of associated clinical findings to explore the possibility that these patients may represent a phenotypic manifestation of a developmental gene anomaly. DESIGN: An observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Five infants, between several weeks and 7 months of age, in whom the electrophysiologic characteristic of chiasmal hypoplasia had been noted were included. METHODS: Flash electroretinography and flash and pattern visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) were elicited from all patients. Clinical ophthalmologic examinations, including funduscopy, were performed, and all patients had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The occipital distribution of monocular VEP response peaks was studied. The symmetry of lateral channel responses was compared for monocular stimulation. RESULTS: All five patients had a crossed asymmetry in the monocular VEP occipital distribution, which is consistent with a paucity of fibers crossing at the chiasm. The MRI findings supported this electrophysiologic observation, illustrating degrees of chiasmal hypoplasia and variable coincidence of other midline abnormalities of the brain. Optic disc appearances varied from normal to hypoplastic and colobomatous. CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmologic and MRI findings of five patients who showed a crossed asymmetry in monocular flash VEPs are consistent with a paucity of axons crossing at the chiasm. The similarities between achiasmia in humans and mice due to a Pax2 gene anomaly are discussed.