Age-related events in active T subpopulation. Changes in polyphosphoinositide metabolism during mitogenic activation.

The active E rosette test allows the characterisation of a lymphocyte subset with high affinity receptors for sheep red blood cells. In this study, we compared active T lymphocytes of healthy subjects over 65 and under 30 years of age after mitogenic stimulation. Active E rosettes increased in both age groups after 48 h of phytohemoagglutinin (PHA) stimulation, mainly in young subjects. In addition, analysing the in vitro phosphorylation of inositol lipids, changes occurred in the incorporation of radioactivity in both phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PIP) and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bis phosphate (PIP2) in the early steps of the mitotic response in the elderly subjects as compared to young ones, hinting that modifications of this signal transduction system are related to mitogenic stimulation in this peculiar T subpopulation.     

Association of IFNG gene polymorphism with asthma in the Indian population

Epidemiologic studies in India show that the prevalence of asthma is increasing, but no genetic studies have been reported on the Indian population thus far. We selected the IFNG locus on 12q21 as a candidate gene for asthma on the basis of its role in pathophysiology and positive linkage demonstrated in other populations. The aim of this study was to investigate association of a CA-repeat marker in this gene with asthma and total serum IgE levels in the North Indian population. The repeat region was PCR-amplified from patients and control subjects and analyzed through use of GeneScan. The distributions of allele sizes were found to be significantly different between patients and control subjects (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, P < 10(-6)). Alleles 10 and 11 were found to be overrepresented in individuals with asthma, whereas alleles 13 and 15 were less likely in asthmatic individuals. We found that the CA-repeat polymorphism in the IFNG gene was significantly associated with total serum IgE levels (ANOVA, P < 10(-4) for control subjects and P =.0036 for patients). Furthermore, a previously reported promoter polymorphism at the -333 base pair position was not detected in our population. This is the first report on the association of a candidate gene with asthma from the Indian subcontinent.     

碱性髓鞘蛋白反应的CD~（4＋）细胞及被动转移诱导实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎

用碱性髓鞘蛋白加福氏完全佐剂免疫ＳＪＬ／Ｊ小鼠，建立实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎动物模型。取发病动物淋巴结作细胞培养，并用碱性髓鞘蛋白激活培养３周。其间２次经Ｆｉｃｏｌｌ－Ｈｙｐａｑｕｅ分离纯化激活的细胞，并加Ｘ线照射的脾细胞，应用３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ掺入法测定细胞对碱性髓鞘蛋白的反应状况。细胞经ＰＫＨ２－ＧＬ标记及ＰＥ－抗ＣＤ４荧光染色，流式细胞仪分析细胞阳性情况。ＰＫＨ２－ＧＬ标记的细胞静脉注入同品系健康小鼠，约１０天后，动物发生典型的实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎症状。随之分离发病动物的中枢神经系统和淋巴结淋巴细胞，发现于中枢神经系统中ＰＫＨ２－ＧＬ标记细胞中４５％为ＣＤ４＋细胞，其中９０％以上细胞为激活的母细胞。而在淋巴结中ＣＤ４＋细胞低于４％，母细胞少于１０％，结果说明对碱性髓鞘蛋白反应的ＣＤ４＋细胞，可选择性地进入中枢神经系统并介导实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎的免疫病理反应。     

Renal vein and intracaval invasion by an adrenal phaeochromocytoma with extension Into the right atrium: a case study

A 30 year old female with an unexpected right adrenal phaechromacytoma invading the renal vein, the inferior vena cava and extending into the right atrium is presented. She also had BuddChiari syndrome due to invasion of the hepatic veins by the tumour. Additionally, the tumour had metastasised to the liver and the lungs. Despite elevated 24 hour urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) the patient was normotensive pre-operatively. The patient underwent right adrenalectomy and extended nephrectomy with milking of the tumaur from the inferior vena cava. Unfortunately, the patient developed multiple hypotensive episodes and adult respiratory distress syndrome post-operatively and died three weeks after surgery.     

Molecular analysis of the cytoadherence phenotype of a Plasmodium falciparum field isolate that binds intercellular adhesion molecule-1

The ability of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes to adhere to endothelial receptors and sequester in diverse host organs is an important pathogenic mechanism. Cytoadherence is mediated by variant surface antigens, which are referred to as PfEMP-1 and are encoded by var genes. The extracellular regions of PfEMP-1 contain multiple conserved cysteine-rich domains that are referred to as Duffy-binding-like (DBL) domains. Here, we analyze the adhesive phenotype of an Indian P. falciparum field isolate, JDP8, which binds ICAM-1 but does not bind CD36. This is a unique cytoadherence phenotype because P. falciparum strains that bind ICAM-1 described thus far usually also bind CD36. Moreover, binding to both receptors is thought to be important for static adhesion under flow. The ICAM-1 binding population of P. falciparum JDP8 adheres to endothelial cells under flow despite poor binding to CD36. We have also identified an expressed var gene, JDP8Icvar, which mediates the ICAM-1 binding phenotype of JDP8. Expression of different regions of JDP8Icvar on the surface of COS-7 cells followed by binding assays demonstrates that the ICAM-1 binding domain maps to the DBL2betaC2 domain of JDP8Icvar. Sequence comparison with two previously identified ICAM-1 binding domains of PfEMP-1, which also map to DBLbetaC2 domains, suggests that diverse P. falciparum isolates use a structurally conserved domain to bind ICAM-1. It thus appears that functional constraints may place limits on the extent of sequence diversity in receptor-binding domains of PfEMP-1.     

Periosteo-Temporofascial flap for cavity obliteration - first Indian study

Healing of the mastoid cavtiycompletely is the desired result after a mastoid surgery. Even after the Sade’s principles’ of the complete disease clearance, adequate lowering of the facial ridge, good meatoplasty and closure of the perforation of the tympanic membrane are fallowed, the complete healing of tike mastoid cavity is sometimes net the end result. According to various surgeons, the incidence of discharging mastoid cavity after a open cavity mastoid surgery is between /0-60%-H The usual techniques of obliteration of the mastoid cavity to decrease the size of the mastoid cavity, unusually has good healing results due to good vascularity. The failure ta the early detectmn 0/disease recurrence and risk of sudden appearance of intra-cranial complications are the most important disadvantages of the technique. We undertook a study in SO randomly chosen patients of Unsafe CSOM. Twenty five underwent obliteration of the mastoid cavity with Periosteo-Temporofascial flap, which is based on branches of posterior auricular artery and rest twenty five underwent non-obliteration of the mastoid cavity. Tfie results between the two groups were compared in terms of healing of the mastoid cavity and hearing gain after operation. Very good results in terms of healing of the cavity were seen after obliteration surgery. The rate of healing of the cavity was much faster after obliteration. The additional advantage with the flap is the see-through character of the cavity lining, which would lead to early detection of the disease recurrence. No significant increase in the hearing was seen in the obliterated patients as compared to non-obliterated cases.     

Unique presentation of recurrent subdural effusions and subsequent abdominal lymphadenopathy in a patient diagnosed with Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease

Kikuchi Fujimoto Disease, originally discovered in 1972, is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder traditionally characterized by cervical lymphadenopathy, fevers, parotid gland enlargement, and several other nonspecific manifestations. Differentials include lymphoma, other viral diseases such as Epstein-Bar Virus, as well as other autoimmune conditions such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Central nervous system involvement is exceptionally rare, with manifestations including meningitis as well as subdural effusions, as presented in this case. This review will summarize a case of a 24-year-old man with recurrent subdural effusions requiring intervention, subsequent relapse with abdominal lymphadenopathy, and possible IgG4 related disease. The background epidemiology, radiology, and potential pathophysiology will be reviewed.