Increased cutaneous toxicity to ionizing radiation in HIV-positive patients

Background There are reports of increased reactions in HIV-1 + patients to ultraviolet light sometimes in association with medication. In addition, there are also reports of increased morbidity associated with radiation therapy in HIV-1 + patients. Methods Three HIV-1 + patients developed cutaneous toxic reactions to radiation therapy; two with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) and one with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Conclusions Although the mechanisms which resulted in these reactions are not clear, they may be related to depletion of endogenous scavengers and may be accentuated by the pattern of immune dysregulation present in HIV-1 disease.     

Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta in HIV-1 + patients: a marker of early stage disease

Background The high incidernce of cutaneous disease in HIV-1 + patients may be a marker of the chronic state of immune activation. In addition, specific cutaneous diseases may be related to the pattern and degree of immune dysregulation present in the patients at the time of the eruption. We have observed that HIV-1 + patients with pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) were in the early to midstage of HIV-1 disease. Materials and methods To determine if there was a correlation between the phenotype of the lymphoid infiltrate and surface markers of the epidermis and the known changes in early or late-stage HIV-1 disease, we studied five HIV-1 + patients with PLEVA. Cutaneous biopsy specimens were obtained and immunohistochemical stains were used to determine the expression of ELAM-1, ICAM-1, and HLA-DR and the phenotype of the lymphoid infiltrate. Results The HIV-1 + patients showed increased expression of HLA-DR on keratinocytes as well as on the mononuclear and dendritic cell populations in the epidermis and dermis. The majority of T cells were activated CD8+ cells. Conclusions Immunophenotyping of the inflammatory infiltrate in these patients is consistent with a pattern of immune dysregulation seen only in earlier stages of HIV-1 disease. Thus, PLEVA may be useful as a marker of early to midstages of HIV-1 disease.     

The expression of vitronectin,a ligand of integrin,on human spermatozoa and its role in fertilization

Objective: To study the vitronectin expression in human spermato-zoa and its role in fertilization. Methods: Spermatozoa from 14 fer-tile and 8 infertile men with normal semen data were studied. Follow-ing recovery of motile populations by swim-up, spermatozoa were ca-pacitated and immunostained with rabbit anti-human Vn polyclonal an-tibody and goat anti-rabbit IgG-FTTC second antibody. The percentageof spermatozoa expressing Vn was determined using a FAScan flowcytometer. Meanwhile, the fertilizing ability of capacitated spermato-zoa was determined with human spermatozoa zona-free hamster eggpenetration assay (SPA). Results: The mean ± s proportion ofspermatozoa expressing Vn of fertile men was 21.24% ± 11.70% and3.64±3.27% for infertile men (P<0.05). The penetration rate ofSPA in the fertile group was > 10%, but that in the infertile group ,< 10%. There is a correlation between positive sperm Vn expressionand percentage of eggs penetrated (r=0.476). Conclusion: Theseresults indicate the expression     

Bowen's Disease (Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Situ) in Immunosuppressed Patients Treated with Imiquimod 5% Cream and a COX Inhibitor, Sulindac: Potential Applications for This Combination of Immunotherapy

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) often have a protracted course. However, all these patients are immunosuppressed and may have a high incidence of cutaneous malignancies. OBJECTIVE: To determine if combination therapy using topical imiquimod cream 5% and the oral cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor are useful in the therapy of squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCC in situ)/Bowen's disease in patients with long-standing CLL. METHODS: Five CLL patients with head and neck cutaneous SCC in situ, which met criteria for Bowen's disease, were treated with topical 5% topical imiquimod cream and an oral COX inhibitor, sulindac 200 mg twice a day. RESULTS: All patients showed clinical resolution and histologic clearing of the tumors after 16 weeks of therapy. CONCLUSION: The local immune modulator, 5% imiquimod, in combination with a COX inhibitor, with its many potential antitumor effects may stimulate the innate and possibly the adaptive immune responses to clear these malignancies.     

急性吗啡耐受大鼠脑内孤啡肽含量和释放量变化的研究

目的：应用放射免疫分析方法检测急性吗啡耐受过程中大鼠脑室灌流液、中脑导水管周围灰质（ＰＡＧ）及杏仁核中孤啡肽（ＯＦＱ）免疫活性（ｉｒ）的动态变化。结果：（１）每２小时皮下注射盐酸吗啡１次（７ｍｇ／ｋｇ）,连续注射８次,造成急性吗啡耐受。此组大鼠脑室灌流液中ＯＦＱｉｒ较生理盐水对照组升高４０％,差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０５）。（２）皮下注射吗啡１、６、８次的大鼠ＰＡＧ中ＯＦＱｉｒ含量呈逐渐增长趋势,分别较生理盐水组升高９％（Ｐ＞０．０５）、３５％（Ｐ＜０．０５）和６０％（Ｐ＜０．０１）。（３）皮下注射１次吗啡的大鼠杏仁核中ＯＦＱｉｒ与生理盐水组相比,降低１１％,但无统计学意义;至第８次吗啡注射后较对照组升高４１％（Ｐ＜０．０５）。结论：多次注射吗啡能引起大鼠脑内ＯＦＱ含量和释放增多,结合以往关于ＯＦＱ在脑内对抗吗啡镇痛的事实表明内源性ＯＦＱ可能参与急性吗啡耐受的形成。     

性纯洁和“安全性行为”——两种性教育的比较（一）

禁欲(童贞、性纯洁)教育和“安全性行为”教育比较说到性教育,几乎没有人会无动于衷,事实上,每个人对学校是否应该对学生进行性教育,应该教些有关性的什么知识和应该怎样教,都有自己的看法。总的来说,这个问题一般归结为两种意见。意见1:性教育课程应主要教育学生使用避孕套和其他避孕方法,使他们在进行性行为时,健康受到最低程度的伤害。(“安全性行为”方式) 意见2:性教育课程应主要促进学生保持童贞,直到他们找到准备与之生活一辈子的人,结婚后再发