Ultraviolet-B irradiation of platelets: a preliminary trial of efficacy

Prior studies established that ultraviolet-B light (UVB) irradiation of platelet concentrates (PCs) at appropriate doses can eliminate the mixed lymphocyte culture-stimulating and -responding capacity of lymphocytes in the PCs without adversely affecting in vitro platelet function. The in vivo recovery and survival and in vitro characteristics of UVB-irradiated platelets were investigated in paired studies. PCs were stored for 1 day and then exposed to UVB. Platelet recovery, survival, and function were comparable to those of nonirradiated platelets. Recovery and survival of platelets stored for 5 days before UVB exposure were decreased relative to controls, although they were considered clinically acceptable. Paired transfusion studies were also performed in seven thrombocytopenic patients by using platelets obtained by apheresis. Comparable posttransfusion platelet increments and bleeding time corrections were obtained with both irradiated and control (nonirradiated) platelets. It can be concluded that platelets survive and function relatively normally in vivo after UVB irradiation sufficient to abolish lymphocyte reactivity in mixed lymphocyte culture. Long-term studies of UVB-irradiated PCs are needed to assess their potential in reducing recipient alloimmunization.     

Adaptive differentiation of murine lymphocytes. IV. (Responder × Nonresponder) F(1) T cells can be taught to preferentially help nonresponder,rather than responder, B cells

Responses to the synthetic terpolymer L-glutamic acid, L-lysine, L-tyrosine (GLT) in the mouse are controlled by H-2-1inked Ir-GLTgenes. (Responder × nonresponder) F(1) hybrid mice, themselves phenotypic responders, can be primed with GLT to develop specific helper cells capable of interacting with 2,4-dinitrophenyl hapten (DNP)-primed F(1) B cells in response to DNP-GLT. Unlike the indiscriminant ability of F(1) helper T cells for conventional antigens (i.e. not Ir gene-controlled), which can help B cells of either parental type (as well as F(1)) equally well, GLT-primed F(1) T cells can only provide help under normal circumstances for B lymphocytes of responder parent origin; they are unable to communicate effectively with nonresponder parental B cells (1, and the present studies). The present studies reveal, however, that the induction of a parental cell-induced allogeneic effect during priming of F(1) mice to GLT actually dictates the direction of cooperating preference that will be displayed by such F(1) helper cells for B cells of one parental type or the other. Thus, F(1) T cells, primed to GLT under the influence of an allogeneic effect induced by parental BALB/c cells, develop into effective helpers for nonresponder A/J B cells, but fail to develop effective helpers for responder BALB/c B cells, and vice-versa. In contrast, F(1) T cells, primed to GLT under the influence of an allogeneic effect induced by either parental type, display significantly enhanced levels of helper activity for B cells derived from F(1) donors. These results are interpreted to reflect the existence of two interdependent events provoked by the allogeneic effect: one event augments the differentiation of GLT-specific helper T cells belonging to the subset corresponding to the opposite parental type; this would explain the development of increased helper activity provided to partner B cells of opposite parental type (as well as of F(1) origin). The second event, we postulate, involves the production of responses against the receptors which normally self-recognize native cell interaction determinants; this form of anti-idiotype response is restricted against self- recognizing receptors of the same parental type used for induction of the allogeneic effect, hence explaining diminished helper activity of such F(1) cells for partner B lymphocytes of corresponding parental type.     

Intense pulsed light vs. pulsed‐dye laser in the treatment of facial acne: a randomized split‐face trial

Background Various laser and light therapy have been increasingly used for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Patients and methods Twenty patients with facial acne were treated using intense pulsed light (IPL) on one side of the face and pulsed dye laser (PDL) on the other to compare the efficacy and safety of IPL and PDL. Treatment was performed 4 times at 2‐week intervals. Treatment effectiveness was determined using lesion counts, acne severity, patient subjective self‐assessments of improvement, and histopathological examinations, which included immunohistochemical staining for transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β). Results Numbers of total acne lesions decreased following both treatments. For inflammatory lesions such as papules, pustules and nodules, IPL‐treated sides showed an earlier and more profound improvement than PDL‐treated sides. However, at 8 weeks after the 4th treatment, a rebound aggravation of acne was observed on IPL‐treated sides. On the contrary, PDL produced gradual improvements during the treatment sessions and these improvements lasted 8 weeks after the 4th treatment. Non‐inflammatory lesions as open and closed comedones also showed improvement following both treatments and PDL‐treated sides showed better improvement as the study proceeded. Histopathological examinations showed amelioration in inflammatory reactions and an increase in TGF‐β expression after both treatments, which were more prominent for PDL‐treated sides. Conclusion Both PDL and IPL were found to treat acne effectively, but PDL showed a more sustained effect. TGF‐β might play a key role in the resolution of inflammatory acne lesions.     

ANDROGENETIC ALOPECIA IN MEN: THE SCALE OF THE PROBLEM AND PROSPECTS FOR TREATMENT

While the precise incidence of androgenetic alopecia is unknown, it is universally acknowledged to be the most common hair problem in men. Balding is generally associated with ageing; consequently, the desire to prolong a youthful appearance inevitably leads to demands for effective treatments. Further, changing attitudes in modern society have resulted in people becoming concerned about their appearance and less tolerant about conditions that might be alleviated by medical intervention. The importance of hair loss upon quality of life has been underestimated by the medical profession. Clinicians failing to accept hair loss as an important medical problem ignore the real distress suffered by a significant proportion of those affected. New options for treatment that selectively target the metabolic pathways involved in the balding process are showing promise. The first generation of such drugs, Propecia, is now available in some countries and other molecules are currently under development.     

Down-modulation of neutrophil production by erythropoietin in human hematopoietic clones

In clonogenic assays of hematopoietic progenitors, high concentrations (4 U/mL) of erythropoietin (epo) reduced the formation of granulocyte- macrophage (GM) colonies and diminished the number of granulocytes formed per culture plate. Fetal progenitors were more sensitive to these effects of epo than were progenitors from adults, displaying these reductions at greater than or equal to 1 U epo/mL. The mechanism was investigated by growing fetal progenitors stimulated by recombinant GM-CSF, in the absence of epo, and when eight-cell clones first appeared, mapping their location, then adding epo, and assessing its effect on the subsequent differentiation of the clones. In the absence of epo, the clones developed exclusively into GM colonies. However, if developing clones were presented with epo, 85% matured into GM colonies, but 15% became multilineage or normoblast colonies. In addition, developing clones that were presented with epo produced colonies that contained fewer neutrophils. These effects of epo on neutrophil generation were observed with each of three varieties of recombinant epo, and also with purified human epo, but were not observed using epo that had been neutralized with rabbit anti-epo antiserum.     

佐剂性关节炎大鼠细胞因子和淋巴细胞亚群变化与可铁宁的影响

目的:观察吸烟者体内尼古丁代替主要产物可铁宁在佐剂性关节炎动物模型抗炎和调节免疫方面的作用。方法:实验于2005-10/2006-09在南方医科大学南方医院检验科及实验动物中心完成。实验动物:SD大鼠50只。实验分组和给药:随机选取SD大鼠40只注射完全弗氏佐剂,致炎建立佐剂性关节炎模型,剩余的10只SD大鼠为正常组。将40只佐剂性关节炎大鼠随机分为炎症组10只,可铁宁低、中、高剂量组各10只,可铁宁各组于佐剂注射后1周开始灌胃给药,分别给0.5,1.5,4.5g/kg体质量剂量药物,连续7d。实验评估:致炎后28d开始进行运用ELISA及流式细胞术,检测用药后对白细胞介素1β、白细胞介素2,T细胞增殖等指标(CD4 ,CD8 ,CD4 /CD8 )的影响。结果:50只大鼠全部进入结果分析。①各组大鼠血清中白细胞介素1β、白细胞介素2含量:与炎症组相比,可铁宁高、中、低剂量各组白细胞介素1β含量明显下降[(101.4±11.24),(53.40±8.23),(60.34±5.97),(72.31±8.06)ng/L,P<0.05],白细胞介素2含量明显升高[(121.3±21.2),(195.9±51.6),(174.3±40.3),(169.7±53.2)ng/L,P<0.05],且作用有一定的剂量依赖性。②各组大鼠淋巴细胞亚群CD4 ,CD8 ,CD4 /CD8 变化:造模第28天,与正常组相比,炎症组的CD4 增加,CD8 明显降低(P<0.05),CD4 与CD8 的比值显著增加(P<0.05);与炎症组相比较,可铁宁高剂量组的CD4 显著降低(P<0.05);可铁宁各组的CD8 明显增加(P<0.05),CD4 与CD8 比值显著下降,呈剂量依赖性。结论:可铁宁可调节大鼠血清中异常的白细胞介素1及白细胞介素2含量,可铁宁在试验动物水平有抗炎和免疫调节的作用。     

静息状态脑功能网络的研究及应用

目的:对静息状态网络的研究方法、初步的研究成果等作以介绍,并结合静息状态网络在阿尔茨海默病早期预警中的应用,介绍静息状态脑网络的应用。资料来源:应用计算机检索PubMed1980-01/2006-12与静息状态网络相关的文献,检索词“restingstate,functional connectivity”,并限定文献语言种类为“English”;同时计算机检索万方数据库1995-01/2006-12有关方面的文献,检索词为“静息,功能连接,阿尔茨海默病”,并限定语言种类为中文。资料选择:对资料进行初审,选取包括静息状态的相关文献,开始查找原文。纳入标准:①有关静息状态脑网络和功能连接的研究。②有关阿尔茨海默病的研究。排除标准:重复研究。资料提炼:共收集到53篇有关静息状态网络方面的研究,排除23篇重复性研究,30篇符合要求。资料综合:近年来,研究者发现大脑处于无任务的静息状态时,仍然存在着某种功能活动。这些现象表明大脑在静息状态时可能存在有组织的网络。这有助于对人脑高级意识和某些认知疾病的研究,因此,有关这方面的工作越来越受到人们的重视。结论:对静息状态网络的本质和规律的研究还很有限,对这个网络所支持的精确的功能还有待于进一步研究。     

体外分离培养人脐静脉内皮及内皮下间充质干细胞

目的:建立人脐静脉内皮及内皮下间充质干细胞体外培养和扩增的方法,探讨其生物学特性,建立间充质干细胞体外培养扩增体系。方法:实验于2006-04/2006-09在辽宁医学院解剖学实验室完成。解剖细胞培养室为无菌百级培养间。正常健康产妇顺产或剖宫产的新生儿脐带由辽宁医学院附属第一医院提供,产妇及其家属均知情同意,并经医院伦理委员会批准。实验方法:①体外分离和培养贴壁细胞:无菌条件下取正常健康产妇分娩或剖宫产脐带,将其用预热PBS充分洗涤去血渍后,从脐静脉一端插入留置针,用预热PBS冲净静脉腔血后,用止血钳夹闭另一端,注入经预热至37℃的Ⅰ型胶原酶,置于37℃水浴箱中消化,30min后放出胶原酶,并用PBS冲洗血管腔,收集消化液和冲洗液,400r/min离心10min,吸弃上清液,重悬于M199培养基(含体积分数为0.15的胎牛血清,2mmol/L谷氨z酰胺,2μg/L碱性成纤维细胞生长因子,100U/mL青霉素,100U/mL链霉素)。以5×108L-1密度接种于6孔培养板中,置于37℃、体积分数为0.05的CO2饱和湿度培养箱中培养,48h后全量换液,以后每3d全量换液。待细胞80%融合时,0.25%胰酶消化,按1×108L-1传代培养。②间充质干细胞生长曲线的测定:取传代培养细胞,按2×107L-1密度接种于24孔培养板内,每天取3孔,将细胞消化计数,连测8d,绘制间充质干细胞生长曲线。③间充质干细胞表面抗原检测:在24孔塑料培养板内放置无菌的盖玻片,每孔中种植108L-1第2代细胞悬液1mL。采用免疫细胞化学方法进行细胞表面抗原检测。结果:①间充质干细胞的形态学观察:接种的细胞48h后细胞完全贴壁生长,其镜下形态有呈椭圆形、多角形的内皮细胞以及呈梭形的成纤维样细胞,有的形成漩涡状生长的集落。②间充质干细胞生长曲线的分析:传代培养的潜伏期约为24～36h,细胞倍增时间约为30～36h,对数增殖期约为二三天,对数增殖期后第5天进入平台期。③间充质干细胞表面抗原特性:免疫细胞化学分析结果显示,间充质干细胞表面抗原cd166、cd44阳性,而vWF阴性,说明分离获得的细胞具有间充质干细胞的特点。结论:所建立的分离和培养方法可获取人脐静脉黏附细胞中一组独特的细胞群,具有间充质干细胞的生物学特性。