Changing jejunal gamma delta T cell receptor (TCR)-bearing intraepithelial lymphocyte density in coeliac disease.

The function of jejunal intraepithelial gamma delta+ T cells is obscure, but they are commonly implicated as playing a role in inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. In coeliac disease (CoD), there are controversial reports as to gluten dependency of these cells. We have now studied the small bowel mucosal intraepithelial T cell densities, and the ratios of gamma delta+ to CD3+ T cells and gamma delta+ to alpha beta+ T cells during early disease development and on a gluten-free diet. Nine children initially excluded for CoD were followed up and rebiopsy after 0.8-4.5 years showed mucosal deterioration. Further, 21 biopsy specimens from newly diagnosed CoD patients were studied, together with 20 specimens taken from children on a gluten-free diet. During CoD development the density of gamma delta+ and alpha beta+ T cells as well as the ratios of gamma delta+ to CD3+ T cells and gamma delta+ to alpha beta+ T cells increased. In the latent stage of CoD when the small bowel mucosal architecture was still normal, two children had clearly normal densities of gamma delta+ (< 2.5 cells/100 epithelial cells) and alpha beta+ (< 25.0 cells/100 epithelial cells) T cells, and low ratios as well. In patients with newly diagnosed CoD the densities decreased significantly on a long-term gluten-free diet. We conclude that the density of intraepithelial gamma delta+ T cells as well as alphabeta+ T cells in CoD is gluten-dependent. CoD can develop in a child ingesting normal amounts of gluten and having normal jejunal mucosal morphology on biopsy and a normal density of gamma delta+ T cells.     

Essential cryofibrinogenaemia,leukocytoclastic vasculitis and chronic purpura

Abstract. Cryofibrinogenaemia refers to the presence of cold-precipitable proteins in plasma but not in serum. It is usually associated with malignancy, tromboembolic diseases or various inflammatory processes; rarely it may be essential. The most common clinical presentations of cryofibrinogenaemia are cold-intolerance, purpura, skin necrosis and ulcers. We describe a middle-aged woman with essential cryofibrinogenaemia, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, and chronic purpura for over 25 years with several exacerbations. In patients with otherwise unexplained purpura or skin necrosis, determination of plasma cryofibrinogen should be considered.     

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF HCG AND RETURN OF PITUITARY FUNCTION AFTER ABORTION

Plasma concentrations of HCG/LH and FSH were monitored after a first trimester abortion in eighteen healthy female volunteers three times weekly until the onset of first menstruation. Plasma concentrations of the HCG were measured with a specific RIA for the beta subunit (beta-sub-HCG) from the samples of six of these subjects. The elimination of HCG during the first 12 days was studied from plasma concentrations measured by the radioimmunoassay of LH. The experimental data were well explained by a mathematical model consisting of three exponentially decreasing components. The half-lives of the two more slowly decreasing components were 27 and 168 h. The estimate of the complete disappearance of HCG was 37.7 days, when the specific (beta-sub-HCG) assay was used. Recovery of pituitary function occurred within 4--9 days after abortion, as judged by increased plasma FSH concentrations. In fourteen of eighteen subjects a midcycle LH peak was observed which occurred between 16 and 29 days after abortion. Plasma oestradiol concentrations increased 2--16 days after the rise in plasma FSH. Considerable amounts of HCG still circulated in the blood but the preovulatory peak of oestradiol never began before HCG/LH concentrations had decreased to below the range of the mid-cycle LH peak.     

PERINATAL CAMPYLOBACTER FETUS SS JEJUNI ENTERITIS

ABSTRACT. Vesikari, T., Huttunen, L. and Mäki, R. (Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Tampere; Department of Paediatrics, Central Hospital of Päijät-Häme, and Department of Microbiology, Tampere Central Hospital, Finland). Perinatal Campylobacter fetus ss jejuni enteritis. Acta Paediatr Scand, 70:261, 1980. –A 2-day-old breast-fed male infant developed mucoid and bloody diarrhoea, and Campylobacter fetus ss jejuni was isolated from the stools but not from the blood. The probable source of transmission was his mother in whom symptoms of Campylobacter jejuni - associated illness began one day earlier. Both showed IgM, IgG and IgA antibody responses to autologous and reciprocal strains of Campylobacter jejuni as studied by ELISA.     

Effect of induced hypotension on serum concentrations of atropine after intramuscular administration

The serum concentrations of atropine after a single intramuscular injection of 0.01 mg/kg were determined by radioimmunoassay in nine general surgical patients during and after a combination anaesthesia and compared with those of 13 neurosurgical patients operated on during induced hypotensive anaesthesia (sodium nitroprusside plus trimetaphan). Surprisingly, comparable serum levels were found in both patient groups. We conclude that this kind of induced hypotension cannot be used as a model of drug absorption in such clinical situations as cardiac failure, haemorrhage or anaphylactic drug reactions.     

The psychiatric patient's right to self-determination: a preliminary investigation from the professional nurse's point of view

The aim of this preliminary empirical investigation was to explore the concept of self-determination and to discuss its applicability to psychiatric nursing. The data were collected with a questionnaire submitted to professional nurses ( n =127) working on long-term wards in four Finnish hospitals. Data analysis combined the methods of content analysis and quantitative statistics. A tentative concept apparatus was created in order to provide nursing science with a broader understanding of the issue at hand. Nurses identified various factors that act to restrict and to support self-determination: the most common restrictive factor was the patient's illness or condition, and the most common supportive factor was nursing intervention. Views differed on the importance of self-determination in the case of psychiatric patients; over half of the nurses described the right to self-determination as very important. On the basis of the findings it is concluded that self-determination is a valid concept for the psychiatric patient. It was also thought to serve the needs of education as well as evaluation.     

血小板血浆对人牙髓细胞增殖的影响

目的：观察血小板血浆及其细化成分对人牙髓细胞增殖的影响。方法：使用因正畸而拔除的人牙的牙髓细胞，用细胞定量测定试剂盒测定细胞增殖情况。结果：5％的多血小板血浆（platelet-rich plasma，PRP）、5％和10％的洗净血小板（washed platelet，WPLT）均明显地促进了人牙髓细胞的增殖，而且WPLT的作用较PRP更显著。乏血小板血浆（platelet-poor plasma，PPP）呈浓度依赖性地抑制了人牙髓细胞增殖，5％WPLT促进人牙髓细胞增殖的作用。结论：去除血浆成分的WPLT对培养的人牙髓细胞增殖有明显的促进作用；血浆中可能存在对抗血小板生长因子作用的因子。