Interleukin-6 is not involved in the interleukin-1-induced production of colony-stimulating factors by human bone marrow stromal cells and fibroblasts

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that plays a role in regulation of hematopoiesis. Because IL-6 is coinduced with colony- stimulating factors (CSFs) by various cell types in response to stimulation with IL-1, we investigated whether IL-6 is involved in the IL-1-induced production of CSF by human bone marrow (BM) cells in long- term culture or human fibroblasts. We showed that IL-6 does not induce CSF production by these cells. Neither addition of exogenous IL-6 nor neutralization of endogenous production of IL-6 by an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody (MoAb) diminished the IL-1-induced colony- stimulating activity (CSA), indicating that IL-6 did not act synergistically with IL-1. Finally, IL-6 did not influence the kinetics of IL-1-induced CSA production by human fibroblasts. We conclude that IL-6, either alone or in combination with IL-1, does not induce CSF production by human BM stromal cells or fibroblasts.     

Dyskeratosis follicularis disease: case reports and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Dyskeratosis follicularis (Darier's disease) is rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by the loss of adhesion between epidermal cells and by abnormal keratinization. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of all the patients diagnosed with Darier's disease at the Department of Dermatology of Charles Nicolle Hospital of Tunis, between 1971 and 2002. RESULTS: During the observation period, we identified 12 patients with Darier's disease; five males and seven females with a mean age of 17.36 years. No family history was found in eight patients. Skin lesions in the form of keratotic papules were noted in seborrhoeic areas, essentially the face (nine patients), chest and scalp. Seven patients had nail lesions. UV light exposure exacerbated the disease symptoms in seven cases. The patients were treated with topical and systemic retinoids (six cases). CONCLUSION: Although Darier's disease has a chronic course, most patients manage to lead a relatively normal life. Treatment is usually unsatisfactory despite much progress in understanding of the underlying abnormalities in Darier's disease.     

Hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in dermatological patients in west Sicily: a seroepidemiological study

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relative frequencies and molecular epidemiological features of viral hepatitis types B and C in dermatological patients in our geographical area. METHODS: We determined the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and the hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) in a cohort of 677 dermatological patients admitted to the Department of Dermatology of Palermo. An 8-mL blood sample was taken from all subjects. The following assays were used: HBsAg, anti-HB core (antigen) (anti-HBc), anti-HB surface (antigen) (anti-HBs), anti-HB early (antigen) (anti-Hbe) and anti-HCV antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-nine (27.91%) of the 677 dermatological patients were positive for anti-HBc, anti-HBs, anti-HBe and/or anti-HCV antibodies. In particular 22% (149 patients) were anti-HBc, anti-HBs or anti-HBe positive, reflecting exposure to HBV, and six patients (0.88%) were chronic carriers of HBsAg; 2.36% of the dermatological patients (16 persons) were anti-HCV positive. Tests showed that 24 subjects (3.52%) were infected with hepatitis B or C. The peaks in the age bands were in the 55-80-year-old age groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms a high rate of HBV and HCV exposure with chronic carriers in our dermatological patients. We assume that the high prevalence of HCV and HBV in dermatological patients is more likely to be age related than to represent a true and direct association with dermatological diseases in general. Definite conclusions will only be available after large epidemiological studies that can establish or refute an aetiological and pathogenetic role of HBV and HCV in certain skin diseases associated with liver infection.     

An auto-anti-M causing hemolysis in vitro

A 64-year-old white man, who had never received a transfusion, was found to have anti-M in his serum. The antibody agglutinated all M+ red cells in room-temperature tests. When the ionic strength of the test milieu was reduced by use of an additive solution and the tests were incubated at 37 degrees C, the antibody hemolyzed M + N- but not M+N+ red cells. All M+ red cells reacted in indirect antiglobulin tests using polyspecific antiglobulin reagents when such tests followed an initial incubation at room temperature. When red cells and the patient's serum were warmed to 37 degrees C before being mixed, no antibody activity was demonstrable. The antibody was adsorbed to exhaustion onto M+N- and M+N+ red cells (including the patient's own), and its activity was destroyed by dithiothreitol. There was no evidence of in vivo red cell destruction by the autoantibody. No previously reported example of anti-M has been shown to activate complement in conventional in vitro tests. This example was extraordinary in that it caused sufficient complement activation to present as an in vitro hemolysin.     

Sertraline and cocaine-induced locomotion in mice

The effects of repeated treatment with the serotonin uptake blocker sertraline on cocaine-induced locomotion in female C57BL/6ByJ mice were examined in three paradigms. First, when animals were treated for 2 weeks with a daily injection of 8 mg/kg IP of sertraline (or placebo) and challenged with cocaine (25 mg/kg IP) 1 h after the final sertraline injection, their cocaine-induced locomotion was the same as that of placebo-pretreated controls. Second, animals were treated for 2 weeks with cocaine (25 mg/kg IP once a day) (or saline) and then for 2 weeks with sertraline (8 mg/kg IP once a day) (or placebo). Locomotion induced by cocaine (25 mg/kg IP) administered 1 h after the final sertraline (placebo) injection was higher in cocaine- than saline-pretreated mice (sensitization), but there was no difference between sertraline- and placebo-pretreated animals. Third, daily treatment with sertraline (8 mg/kg IP) did not change the locomotor stimulatory effect of cocaine (25 mg/kg IP) administered after a 3-week continuous infusion of cocaine (22 mg/kg/day SC) by osmotic minipumps or after three, four, or seven injections of cocaine (15 or 25 mg/kg IP). After cocaine administration (25 mg/kg IP), animals pretreated repeatedly with sertraline (8 mg/kg IP once a day for 2 weeks) had the same plasma or brain levels of cocaine as those pretreated with placebo; there was no difference between cocaine- and saline-treated mice in brain levels of sertraline or desmethylsertraline.     

钙拮抗剂在心肌肥厚时对β受体阻滞剂撤药的影响

用腹主动脉结扎4周引起的压力超负荷型左室肥厚大鼠,观察长期大剂量用美托洛尔(metoprolol,Met)突然撤药1d后的血流动力学变化、心肌β受体变化,及硝苯地平(nifedipine,Nif),间硝地平(m-nifedipine,m-Nif)对这些变化的影响。Nif和m-Nif在减轻心肌肥厚的同时,均可缓解Met撤药后平均动脉压和左室收缩压的异常增高,并可防止β受体的上调。本结果提示合用钙拮抗剂可预防β阻滞剂的撤药反应。     

Elastosis perforans serpiginosa in an adult with Down''s syndrome: report of a case with symmetrical localized involvement

Elastosis perforans serpiginosa (EPS) is a rare perforating dermatosis in which elastic fibers extrude from the papillary dermis producing umbilicated papules, characteristically arranged to form arciform or serpiginous patterns on the skin. It can be observed in patients with Down's syndrome, in whom in some cases the disease has been reported to be more widespread and to run a longer course. We present the case of a 20-year-old girl with Down's syndrome, hypothyroidism, acne and hypertrichosis, who had a 2-year history of multiple atrophic lesions with an arciform pattern on the distal extensor portions of both thighs, histologically showing the typical features of EPS.     

Effect of delta-opioid receptor agonist deltorphin on circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone in healthy fertile women

There is evidence that endogenous opioid peptides exert an inhibitory effect on pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion both in animals and in humans, by interacting with mu-opioid receptors. However, a role for delta-opioid receptors in the regulation of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion has recently been suggested. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the highly selective delta-opioid receptor agonist deltorphin on the LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) responses to naloxone in six healthy fertile women during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Deltorphin infusion alone (7 microg/kg/min for 60 min) did not significantly change the basal serum concentrations of LH in this group of women. The intravenous (i.v.) bolus administration of naloxone (15 mg) induced a significant (P < 0.001) increase in serum LH concentrations (from a mean basal value of 4.24+/-1.10 IU/l to a peak of 13.27+/-1.8 IU/l). The LH response to naloxone was significantly (P < 0.001) blunted by preinfusion of deltorphin (13.27+/- 1.80 IU/l versus 4.80+/-1.18 IU/l). No significant changes in FSH concentrations were observed during deltorphin, naloxone or deltorphin plus naloxone administration. These data indicate that activation of delta-opioid receptors can reduce naloxone-induced LH release, suggesting a possible role of delta receptors in opioidergic modulation of LH secretion in women.