Spontaneous and stimulated secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor by peritoneal macrophages in women with and without endometriosis

OBJECTIVE: To assess spontaneous and stimulated secretion of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) by peritoneal macrophages in women with and without endometriosis. DESIGN: Macrophages were isolated from the peritoneal fluid and cultured for different periods of time (6, 20, and 44 hours) without any stimulation to determine spontaneous secretion of MCP-1 and MIF. Macrophages were also exposed to 1 microg/mL lipopolysaccharide for 6 hours to evaluate the stimulated secretion of these cytokines. SETTING: Gynecology clinic and human reproduction research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Twelve fertile women and 11 women with endometriosis. INTERVENTION(S): Peritoneal fluid obtained at laparoscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and MIF concentrations in the culture medium using ELISA. RESULT(S): Peritoneal macrophages of women with endometriosis demonstrated an increased capacity to secrete MCP-1 either spontaneously or after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. They also showed a marked tendency for an increased secretion of MIF, but no statistically significant difference was found. CONCLUSION(S): Monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and MIF production by peritoneal macrophages may contribute to paracrine and autocrine activation and to macrophage accumulation in the peritoneal cavity of women with endometriosis. These mechanisms may exacerbate peritoneal inflammation and favor the growth of endometrial implants.     

Serotyping of Toxoplasma gondii infections in humans using synthetic peptides

To determine whether the characteristics of disease due to Toxoplasma gondii (toxoplasmosis) are dependent on the infecting strain, we have developed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for typing strains that uses infection serum reacted against polymorphic peptides derived from Toxoplasma antigens SAG2A, GRA3, GRA6, and GRA7. Pilot studies with infected mice established the validity of the approach, which was then tested with human serum. In 8 patients who had Sabin-Feldman dye test titers >64 and for whom the infecting strain type was known, the peptides correctly distinguished type II from non-type II infections. ELISA analysis of a second group of 10 infected pregnant women from whom the parasite strain had not been isolated gave a clear prediction of the strain type causing infection. This method should allow statistically significant data to be obtained about whether different strain types cause disease with different characteristics.     

Chronic monoarthritis of the knee in systemic lupus erythematosus

We describe a middle-aged lady with systemic lupus erythematosus who presented with chronic left knee monoarthritis without constitutional symptoms. The histology of synovial tissue taken at arthroscopy showed acute inflammation and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, identified with some difficulty, was isolated from the enrichment broth only. Blood cultures were negative. Her history revealed significant exposure to pond fish. She responded well to intravenous penicillin and remains well 12 months later.     

Adrenal myelolipoma with translocation (3;21)(q25;p11)

Adrenal myelolipoma (ML) is a rare, benign, nonfunctioning tumor-like lesion composed of mature adipose tissue interspersed with bone marrow-like hematopoietic elements in various proportions. It occurs usually in adults and is frequently asymptomatic in about half of cases. The histogenesis of adrenal ML is not clear and this lesion has been found to be associated with endocrine disorders, other adrenal dysfunction and tumors, and hyperstimulation with adrenocorticotropic hormone. Specific chromosomal abnormalities, however, have not been observed in such cases. Herein, we report a typical case of adrenal ML found incidentally in a 26-year-old man. Conventional cytogenetic techniques demonstrated balanced translocation between bands 3q25 and 21p11 in 9 of 20 metaphases analyzed in cultured tumor cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of adrenal ML showing chromosomal abnormality. This finding would indicate that adrenal ML is a bona fide neoplasm and the possibility of derivation from misplaced hematopoietic cells may be alternatively taken into consideration in view of the similar genetic changes in hematopolietic neoplasms.     

磷酸化、乙酰化修饰对p53功能的影响

在人类基因组解码之后 ,将是对基因所编码蛋白质的研究。蛋白质在成熟的过程中乃至成熟之后需要经过一系列的修饰如甲基化、磷酸化、乙酰化、糖基化等使蛋白质的构象发生一定的变化 ,方可执行特定的功能。如组蛋白的乙酰化、一些转录因子的磷酸化或乙酰化等[1] 。因此 ,仅仅从基因的角度来研究并预测蛋白质的功能是远远不够的。ｐ5 3是参与细胞周期调节、控制细胞增生、凋亡的一个中枢性调节分子 ,一直深受细胞生物学家和肿瘤生物学家的关注。以往的大量研究表明人类肿瘤半数以上存在ｐ5 3基因突变 ,认为ｐ5 3基因突变失活是导致这些细胞癌…     

细胞黏附、多药耐药及细胞增殖在T1G3型浅表膀胱癌近期复发中的作用

目的　研究细胞黏附、多药耐药及细胞增殖在浅表膀胱癌近期复发中的作用 ,探讨三者的临床预测价值。　方法　对 10 0例浅表膀胱癌患者进行回顾性随访 ,同时用免疫组化法检测首次术后标本中E cad、P gp、Ki 6 7的表达情况。　结果　E cad、P gp的阳性表达率分别为 4 3 2 %和14 4 % ,而PI的平均值为 2 2 1%。E cad表达随复发次数增加而减弱 (P <0 0 5 ) ,P gp表达和PI值随复发次数增加而增高 (P <0 0 5 )。T1G3 型患者与非T1G3 型患者间 ,E cad表达、P gp表达及PI值差异均有显著性 (P <0 0 5 )。E cad表达与P gp表达、PI值之间均呈显著性负相关。　结论　黏附性低、耐药性强和增殖旺盛是促使T1G3 型浅表膀胱癌近期复发的主要因素 ,同时也是导致T1G3 肿瘤易复发、高恶性度的内在原因。在上述过程中 ,三者可能相互影响。