Angiotensin-converting enzyme in sarcoid and chalazion granulomas of the conjunctiva

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) was studied immunohistochemically in conjunctival biopsies from 6 patients with systemic sarcoidosis, 4 patients with posterior non-sarcoid uveitis and in specimens from 4 patients with chalazion of the eyelid. Specimens with sarcoid granulomas showed intense ACE-positive immunoreactivity in epitheloid cells of the granuloma, whereas chalazion granulomas did not contain ACE-immunoreactivity. There was no difference in staining patterns between specimens without granulomas. Thus immunohistochemical staining for ACE may be of help in differentiating conjunctival granulomatous tissue of a chalazion from sarcoid granuloma.     

Association between human IgM autoantibodies and kappa chain allotypes

The relationship between the immunoglobulin kappa light chain allotypes and autoantibodies was studied in a series of seven human monoclonal kappa-bearing IgM antibodies with Rheumatoid Factor (RF) activity, two IgM anti-low density lipoprotein (LDL) antibodies, and one IgM anti-intermediate filament (IF) antibody. Residues at amino acid positions 153 and 191 related to the Km allotypes in human kappa chains were determined by an HPLC tryptic fingerprint and corroborated by amino acid sequence analysis. All the autoantibodies shared similar variable regions derived from the V kappa IIIb gene(s). The seven RF and the anti-IF were associated with the Km(3) constant region allotype whereas the two anti-LDL were associated with the Km(1,2) allotype. Thus, monoclonal autoantibodies showed the same Km allotypic distribution as the normal population. However, although the number of samples is small, it seems likely that a preferential association may exist between particular V kappa genes and Km alleles in the generation of autoantibodies with different specificities.     

Bioavailability and biological efficacy of a new oral formulation of salmon calcitonin in healthy volunteers.

Salmon calcitonin (SCT) is a well-tolerated peptide drug with a wide therapeutic margin and is administered parenterally for long-term treatments of bone diseases. Its clinical usefulness would be enhanced by the development of an orally active formulation. In this randomized crossover double-blinded phase I trial, controlled by both a placebo and a parenteral verum, we have tested a new oral formulation of SCT associated with a caprylic acid derivative as carrier. Eight healthy volunteers received single doses of 400, 800, and 1200 microg of SCT orally, a placebo, and a 10-microg (50 IU) SCT intravenous infusion. SCT was reliably absorbed from the oral formulation, with an absolute bioavailability of 0.5-1.4%, depending on the dose. It induced a marked, dose-dependent drop in blood and urine C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), a sensitive and specific bone resorption marker, with the effects of 1200 microg exceeding those of 10 microg intravenously. It also decreased blood calcium and phosphate, and increased the circulating levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and, transiently, the urinary excretion of calcium. It was well-tolerated, with some subjects presenting mild and transient nausea, abdominal cramps, diarrheic stools, and headaches. This study shows that oral delivery of SCT is feasible with reproducible absorption and systemic biological efficacy. Such an oral formulation could facilitate the use of SCT in the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases.     

重庆市城市居民1991～2000年死亡损失生命年分析

目的：研究重庆市城市居民20世纪90年代疾病所致早死的生命损失。方法：用死亡损失生命年YLLs为测量单位，计算不同性别、不同社区的死因别标化YLLs率，及分析1991～2000年死因别标化YLLs率的变化趋势。结果：非传染性疾病标化YLLs率为42.58‰，占全死因的82.76%，其中，恶性肿瘤标化YLLs率为12.80‰，占30.06%，脑血管疾病标化YLLs率 6.62‰，占15.55%，呼吸系统疾病标化YLLs率5.77‰，占13.55%，心脏病标化YLLs率4.38‰，占10.29%；意外死亡标化YLLs率为7.59‰，占全死因的14.75%；传染病、妇科及围产期疾病标化YLLs率为1.28‰，仅占2.49%。在社区之间，死因别标化YLLs率存在明显差异。结核病和精神病标化YLLs率曾出现上升趋势。结论：非传染性疾病已成为该城市居民的主要疾病负担，结核病防治不能放松，精神卫生工作急待开展。     

TRH、EGF及地塞米松促进未成熟胎肺组织分化及表面活性物质合成的研究

目的 比较TRH、EGF与地塞米松对未成熟胎肺形态发育及表面活性物质水平的影响。方法 在兔妊娠第22－24d或第24－26d分别用TRH、EGF或地塞米松母体静脉注射治病，通过光镜、图像分析及电镜等技术观察胎肺的形态结构，并检测胎肺的磷脂水平。结果 光镜下，TRH、EGF与地塞米松治疗组第25d及27d胎肺肺泡腔、肺泡间隔发育均明显好于对照组；EGF、TRH与地塞米松治疗组第27d胎肺的肺泡腔与肺泡间隔的面积比无明显差异。但EGF和TRH治疗组第25d胎肺的肺泡腔与肺泡间隔之比明显小于地塞米松治疗组。电镜下，三个治疗组第27d胎肺内含有板层体的Ⅱ型上皮细胞数量明显多于对照组，但各治疗组及对照组第25d的胎肺Ⅱ型上皮细胞胞浆内几乎未见明显板层体，相反胞浆内糖原含量却非常丰富。此外，三个治疗组27d胎肺的磷脂水平均明显高于对照组。结论 EGF、TRH及地塞米松在兔妊娠第24－26d母体治疗均能促进胎肺的形态发育和表面活性物质的合成，三种治疗方法对胎肺的影响程序无明显不同；在妊娠第22－24d治疗，地塞米松对胎肺形态结构的促进作用较EGF和TRH更明显，但三者对Ⅱ型上皮细胞分化及表面活性物质的合成均无明显影响。     

Effect of unilateral ureteral occlusion on fibrin deposition in the kidney and renal blood flow during intravascular coagulation in rat

The effect of unilateral ureteral occlusion on fibrin deposition in the kidney and the interrelation of the fibrin deposition and the renal blood flow was studied in rat. Intravascular coagulation in the kidney was induced by infusion of thrombin and inhibition of fibrinolysis with tranexamic acid. The effects unilateral occlusion of the ureter for 1 and 24 h on fibrin deposition and renal blood flow were studied. Fibrin in the kidneys was quantitated by intravenous injection of 125I-labelled fibrinogen 24 h before the experiment. The renal blood flow was measured before and after infusion of thrombin by injection of 85Sr- and 141Ce-labelled microspheres into the left ventricle. After ureteral occlusion for 1 h the deposition of fibrin in the kidneys was unaffected. After 24 h substantially less fibrin deposition was found in the occluded than in the unoccluded kidney (0.3 +/- 0.2 and 5.7 +/- 1.6 mg, respectively; p less than 0.05). Before thrombin infusion the blood flow to the occluded kidney was less than that in the unoccluded kidney (2.1 +/- 0.8 and 3.7 +/- 1.2 ml/min, 100 g body weight, respectively; p less than 0.05). The blood flow after infusion of thrombin was equally reduced in both kidneys. The results contradict the hypothesis that vasoconstriction increases the amount of fibrin in the kidneys in thrombin-induced intravascular coagulation.     

Manifestation of malignant lymphoma of the head and neck with special reference to the salivary glands

We found that thirteen per cent of all head and neck malignomas are malignant lymphomas. In 75% of these cases the Non-Hodgkin type could be found. The major salivary glands were involved by the lymphoma in 55% out of 104 patients. Paraglandular lymph nodes of the parotid gland were affected as well as intraglandular lymph nodes and the lymphoid tissue within the gland proper. The submandibular gland normally shows an involvement only with its paraglandular lymph nodes. Two thirds of the Non-Hodgkin lymphomas located in the salivary glands were low-grade. In case of clinical suspicion of a malignant lymphoma, fine needle biopsy is required for cytological diagnosis. However, surgery is mandatory for histological diagnosis, not as a therapeutic measure.