Infection of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis induces development of mucosal-type but not connective tissue-type mast cells in genetically mast cell-deficient Ws/Ws rats

Ws/Ws rats have a small deletion at the tyrosine kinase domain of the c- kit gene and are deficient in both mucosal mast cells (MMC) and connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC). The role of the c-kit receptor in the development of MMC and CTMC was investigated by infecting Ws/Ws and control +/+ rats with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (NB), which induces T-cell-dependent mast cell proliferation. Although mast cells did not develop in the skin of Ws/Ws rats, a significant number of mast cells developed in the jejunum after NB infection. These mast cells had the MMC protease phenotype (rat mast cell protease [RMCP] I-/II+) and lacked heparin because they were not stained with berberine sulfate. Globule leukocytes were also detected in the mucosal epithelium of these rats. However, the number of MMC and the serum concentration of RMCP II in NB-infected Ws/Ws rats were only 13% and 7% of those of NB-infected +/+ rats, respectively. A small number of mast cells also developed in the lung, liver, and mesenteric lymph nodes of Ws/Ws rats after NB infection. Although mast cells in these tissues had the MMC phenotype throughout the observation period, the increased mast cells in the lung and liver of +/+ rats acquired a CTMC-like phenotype and were RMCP I+/II+, berberine sulfate+, and formalin resistant. These results indicate that the need for the stimulus through the c-kit receptor appears to be greater in the development of CTMC in the skin as well as for CTMC-like mast cells in the lung and liver than for the development of MMC.     

Mineral waters in treatment of metabolic changes from fatigue in sportsmen

The authors list the principal metabolic consequences of fatigue in athletes with special reference to alterations of fluid-electrolyte balance, acid-base balance, macroelements and trace elements. They then go on to stress the role which mineral waters, especially the bicarbonate ones, can play in the compensation of these disorders thus preventing or curing the fatigue syndrome in athletes.     

鼠尾静脉流体力学转染技术对绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒器官靶向分布的影响

目的:观察流体力学尾静脉注射对绿色荧光蛋白基因器官靶向性的影响,为今后质粒载体的基因治疗和功能研究寻找潜在的靶器官。方法:实验于2005-12/2006-04在江西省分子医学重点实验室完成。选用健康雄性昆明鼠40只,将32只小鼠按随机数字表法分为流体力学注射和常规注射两大组,每大组再分为转染组和对照组两个小组(n=8),并设正常对照组(n=8)。①流体力学转染组将100μg/只绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒溶液2mL在5s内快速注入尾静脉;对照组仅在5s内注入林格氏液2mL。②常规注射组则将2mL林格氏液或绿色荧光蛋白表达质粒溶液在30s左右注入尾静脉。注射结束后24h采集各组小鼠血清检测转氨酶,并采集肝、脾、心、肾、肺和脑组织进行冰冻切片,部分肝组织采用多聚甲醛固定后切片,荧光显微镜下观察。结果:40只小鼠全部进入结果分析,无脱失。①流体力学注射组和常规注射组小鼠血清转氨酶与正常对照组比较差异均无显著性意义(P>0.05)。②常规尾静脉注射引起少数肾小球细胞表达绿色荧光蛋白,而肝、脾、心、肺及脑等组织未见明显绿色荧光蛋白表达。③流体力学注射引起肝内绿色荧光蛋白高水平表达,肝细胞表达率接近45%,其他组织则无绿色荧光蛋白表达。结论:流体力学方法是肝靶向性的活体基因转染方法,绿色荧光蛋白可作为该方法进行目的基因研究的一个可靠和方便的示踪剂。     

Rapid changes in surface antigen expression by blood monocytes cultured in suspension or adherent to plastic

Cell surface antigens used as markers of in vivo differentiation may not be stable on monocytes maintained under different conditions of in vitro culture. Monocytes were isolated from blood by centrifugation over Percoll or by adherence to plastic dishes, and the cells cultured in suspension or as adherent monolayers. Initially, monocytes obtained by both methods were similar in size, morphology, and surface antigen expression detected with the antimonocyte monoclonal antibodies OKM1, FMC17, PHM2, and PHM3. After culture, cells maintained in suspension were predominantly small, whereas those adherent to plastic rapidly increased in size; however, cytochemical staining for nonspecific esterase and acid phosphatase showed increased enzymic activity by monocytes in both systems, possibly reflecting increased cell maturation. The most striking difference was a substantial loss of FMC17 antigen by most monocytes within four hours in suspension culture, as compared with a qualitative and quantitative increase in expression by plastic adherent cells within two hours. These changes occurred even if the cells were first reacted with lipopolysaccharide. Monocytes taken from suspension culture and allowed to adhere to plastic rapidly synthesized the antigen, a process inhibited by cycloheximide, and conversely, cells removed from plastic progressively displayed decreased FMC17 antigen expression when transferred to suspension culture. No functional role in adherence or phagocytosis has been found for the FMC17 antigen. The results suggest that antigen expression may depend as much on the physical state of the cells as on apparent activation or maturation events.     

Lymphadenopathy-associated virus antibodies and T cells in hemophiliacs treated with cryoprecipitate or concentrate

Evidence for exposure to lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) was investigated in 48 patients with hemophilia, 15 of whom had been treated exclusively with single-donor cryoprecipitate. The prevalence of antibodies to LAV in all patients was 53% in 1983 and 63% in 1984, while in patients treated only with cryoprecipitate, the prevalence was 31% in 1983 and 40% in 1984. Patients treated with any concentrate had a seroprevalence of 65% in 1983 and 77% in 1984. Seropositive patients were more likely to have a significant reduction in the ratio of helper to suppressor T cells, absolute numbers of helper T cells, and T cell function in vitro. Seven of 18 patients who were seronegative in 1983 had seroconverted by 1984. The relative risk of seroconversion for patients using any concentrate since 1981 compared with those using cryoprecipitate only was 3.9 (P = .04). Nevertheless, the rate of conversion in the latter group was 18% per year.     

Interactions in the aetiology,presentation and management of synchronous and metachronous adenocarcinoma of the prostate and rectum

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate and rectum are common male pelvic cancers and may present synchronously or metachronously and, due to their anatomic proximity. The treatment of rectal or prostate cancer (in particular surgery and/or radiotherapy) may alter the presentation, incidence and management should a metachronous tumour develop. This review focuses on the interaction between prostatic and rectal cancer diagnosis and management. We have restricted the scope of this large topic to general considerations, management of rectal cancer after prostate cancer treatment and vice versa, management of synchronous disease and cancer follow-up issues.