Fetal gallstones

Routine obstetric ultrasound (US) examinations in a 33-year-old woman revealed a normal fetal gallbladder at 24 menstrual weeks but multiple structures in the gallbladder with findings typical of gallstones at 37 menstrual weeks. No other abnormalities were present. Three days after a term delivery, an abdominal US examination again demonstrated multiple gallstones. When the infant was 6 weeks old, a follow-up abdominal US study showed no evidence of gallstones. This case, as well as one previously reported, demonstrates that findings typical of gallstones may be seen in the fetus, and that these structures may spontaneously resolve.     

Major histocompatibility restriction of antigen recognition by T cells in a recipient of haplotype mismatched human bone marrow transplantation.

Immune T cells proliferate in response to antigen that is recognized in association with self-Ia determinants. T cells from a patient with severe combined immunodeficiency that has been successfully reconstituted with haplotype-mismatched, maternal bone marrow were studied in an attempt to understand the development of Ia restriction of antigen recognition in man. All the patient's T cells were of maternal origin as determined by HLA typing. The patient received a series of three immunizations with tetanus toxoid (TT) antigen between the 6th and 14th week posttransplant. TT-specific T cell lines were established from the patient's peripheral blood at 6 and 8 mo posttransplantation and were maintained in culture in the presence of irradiated monocytes from the patient, TT antigen, and interleukin-2. HLA typing of the two T cell lines revealed them to be exclusively of donor origin. Both T cell lines could proliferate to TT in the presence of monocytes derived from either the patient's mother or father. In contrast, a TT-specific T cell line obtained from the patient's mother proliferated to TT in the presence of autologous monocytes, but not in the presence of monocytes derived from the patient's father. Studies using monocytes from a panel of HLA-typed donors indicated that the patient's T cell lines proliferated to TT in the presence of monocytes that expressed the paternal DR antigen (HLA-DR4) inherited by the patient but not in the presence of monocytes that expressed the paternal DR antigen (HLA-DR1) not inherited by the patient or in the presence of monocytes bearing irrelevant DR antigens. Monocytes that expressed either one of the two maternal DR antigens (HLA-DR3 and DR5) could support the proliferation of the patient's T cell lines in response to TT antigen. HLA typing of the patient's monocytes at 6 mo post-transplant revealed only recipient HLA-DR antigens (HLA-DR3 and DR4). At 12 mo posttransplant, the patient's monocytes expressed recipient HLA-DR antigens as well as the non-shared HLA-DR5 antigen of donor origin. The results of the present study indicate that T cells of human bone marrow chimera recognized antigen in the context of Ia determinants of recipient origin. The apparent recognition of antigen by the chimera's T cells in the context of donor Ia determinants that were not shared with the recipient is discussed.     

Deposits of immunoglobulins and complement in oral lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT – Deposits of immunoglobnlins were demonstrated at the basement membrane zone in oral lesions in 10 out of 11 patients with lupus erythematosus (LE), and in normal oral mucosa in one out of six patients with LE by means of an imniunofluorescence staining technique. The reported findings are in accordance with the findings in skin biopsies from cutaneous LE lesions. In cases of LE, difficult to diagnose clinically and histopathologically, the imniunofluorescence staining technique may be of value as a supplementary diagnostic tool.     

Effect of Zendium toothpaste on recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Abstract – A Double-blind clinical trial with cross-over was conducted for a period of 12 months in 25 patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). The effect of the amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase containing Zendium toothpaste on the discomfort, number of exacerbations, duration of exacerbation, number of ulcers and number of days with pain caused by RAS was studied. The use of Zendium significantly reduced the sensation of discomfort from RAS as compared to the use of placebo toothpaste (0.025>p>0.01). However, the patients were unable to discriminate significantly between Zendium and placebo when asked to choose one of the toothpastes (0.10>p>0.05) and no significant differences were demonstrated as far as the above mentioned parameters of disease serverity were concerned. Therefore, it is concluded that the reducing effect of Zendium containing amyloglucosidase and glucoseoxidase on RAS is weak as compared to a similar toothpaste without these enzymes.     

Swimming and loss of consciousness

Summary Under certain circumstances, even a good swimmer may drown during swimming exercise. Two cases of drowning, a survivor and a dead, during swimming exercise in swimming-pool are described. These cases and experimental researches with dogs indicate that the initial aspiration of water may cause extremely low heart rate and low blood pressure by reflex vagal inhibition, which deprive a good swimmer of his consciousness and make him drown.     

Antitumor effect of the tumor necrosis factor against various types of human cancer cells

The antitumor activity of tumor necrosis factor (TNA) against various human cancer cells (32 cases) was investigated by 51Cr cytotoxic release assay and tumor stem cell assay. Over 50% sensitivity (the ratio of cytotoxicity for L929 cells) was shown by 4 of 14 cases of gastric cancer (28.6%), 7 of 9 cases of leukemic cells (77.8%), and 1 case each of pancreatic carcinoma and ovarian cancer. However, scarcely any sensitivity was shown by APL, a portion of the gastric cancer cells, normal lymphocytes or colony-forming cells tested. No correspondence was observed between the histological type of the cancer and TNF sensitivity. The above results seem to confirm the significant antitumor activity of TNF against human cancer cells.     

The in vitro and ex vivo antiplatelet effect of TRK-100, a stable prostacyclin analog, in several species

Effect of TRK-100, a stable PGI2 analog, on platelet function was tested in vitro and ex vivo. TRK-100 at the dose range of 0.5-300 nM inhibited platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, adenosine 5'-diphosphate and collagen in several species including human platelets. The potency of TRK-100 was 1/2 to 1/5 that of PGI2. The effect was strong in human and cat platelets. In conscious rabbits and rats, oral TRK-100 at the dose range of 0.1-1 mg/kg inhibited ex vivo platelet aggregation up to 80% in the rat and 70% in the rabbit, and the effect lasted over 5 hr. However, in both species, the effect on blood pressure was minimal. In anesthetized rabbits, inhibition of platelet aggregation was the same level as in the conscious animal, but blood pressure depression was observed. Cyclic AMP levels of human platelets, 2 min after incubation, was elevated up to 2.4 microM/10(9) platelets by 100 ng/ml of PGI2 and 1.5 microM by 100 ng/ml of TRK-100. It was shown that TRK-100 has a potent antiplatelet effect both in vitro and ex vivo in many species through elevation of platelet cAMP. These results suggest that TRK-100 may be a potential oral antithrombotic drug.     

Effect of a stable prostacyclin analogue on platelet function and experimentally-induced thrombosis in the microcirculation

Sodium dl-4-[1R,2R,3aS,8bS)-1,2,3a,8b-tetrahydro- 2-hydroxy-1-[(3S,4RS)-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-oct-6- yne-(E)-1-enyl]-5-cyclopenta[b]benzofuranyl]butyrate (TRK-100) is a stable analogue of prostacyclin (epoprostenol, PGI2). The drug was shown to be a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation in vitro, induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from human and several animal species. The inhibitory activity of TRK-100 using human platelets was half that of PGI2 and eight times that of PGE1. There was a marked tendency for platelet clumps to disaggregate following secondary aggregation in the presence of TRK-100 at final concentrations higher than 1 ng/ml. This activity was similar to PGI2 and more than 30 times that of PGE1. TRK-100 was shown to induce the disaggregation of a pre-existing thrombus in the microcirculation of the hamster cheek pouch. A dose-dependent response was obtained following oral administration of the drug at levels of 50-200 micrograms/kg. Optimal activity was observed 30-60 min after dosing and activity was sustained throughout the experimental period. TRK-100 was more active than PGE1 in the test system and appeared to be of a similar potency to PGI2. Since this drug is stable, orally active and without the hypotensive activity of PGI2, it is considered to be a potentially useful agent for antithrombotic therapy.