Placental Thrombosis and Fetal Loss After Passive Transfer of Mouse Lupus Monoclonal or Human Polyclonal Anti-Cardiolipin Antibodies in Pregnant Naive BALB/c Mice

In the present study we evaluated the effect of passive transfer of a mouse monoclonal (CAM) or a human polyclonal anti-cardiolipin IgG on pregnancy outcome in BALB/c mice. The mice were immunized through the tail vein immediately after mating with 10 μg of monoclonal or polyclonal anti-cardiolipin antibodies. Two other groups of mice were given a mouse irrelevant monoclonal antibody or normal human polyclonal IgG respectively, at the same dose. In mice immunized with monoclonal or polyclonal anti-cardiolipin antibody we observed a significant increase in the number of fetal resorptions and a significant reduction of the mean weights of the embryos and the placentas. In mice immunized with CAM we also found a significant decrease in the number of healthy pups, while mice infused with human aCL antibody expressed a significant reduction in the fecundity rate. The histological examination showed widespread thrombosis and necrosis in the placentas derived from the mice immunized with the anti-cardiolipin antibodies. The model supports a possible direct pathogenetic effect of anti-phospholipid antibodies in recurrent fetal loss and points out that thrombotic events at placental level can be instrumental in the pathogenesis of the obstetric complications.     

Rapid detection of cucumber vein yellowing virus by tissue-print hybridisation with digoxigenin-labelled cDNA probes

Hybridisation of tissue prints with nonradioactive cDNA probes was developed to detect cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) in cucurbit plants. Results showed irregular distribution of the virus within cucumber, zucchini or melon plants without defined tropism for a specific tissue. Therefore, reliable diagnosis of CVYV requires analysis of tissue prints from at least five different plant sites. This detection procedure allows rapid analysis of large numbers of plants and it can be useful for epidemiological studies of CVYV and to control virus spread via eradication of early foci.     

Differentiation between Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum by sorbitol assimilation.

Trichophyton rubrum was easily differentiated from T. mentagrophytes by its ability to assimilate sorbitol with an API 20C AUX strip. One hundred percent of 36 T. rubrum strains and none of 147 T. mentagrophytes strains assimilated sorbitol.     

ICAM-3, the third LFA-1 counterreceptor,is a co-stimulatory molecule for both resting and activated T lymphocytes

Optimal activation of human T cells mediated by ligation of CD3/T cell receptor (TcR) complex requires co-stimulatory signals. These can be provided by the adhesive interaction between receptor molecules on T cells and their counter-receptors on antigen-presenting cells. Soluble ICAM-3, anti-ICAM-3 and anti-CD3 mAb were utilized to address the role of the ICAM-3/LFA-1 pathway in TcR/CD3-dependent or -independent T cell activation. Immunoaffinity-purified ICAM-3 co-immobilized with suboptimal concentrations of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) stimulated T lymphocytes as monitored by the expression of the lymphocyte activation antigens CD25 and CD69. The mechanism underlaying this activation appear to involve the interaction of ICAM-3 with a β2 integrin, likely to be LFA-1, since mAb to the CD18 chain completely inhibited T cell activation. Similar experiments demonstrated that anti-ICAM-3 mAb were able to co-stimulate both resting (cord blood) and activated (T cell clones) T lymphocytes. On the contrary, anti-ICAM-1 mAb were only co-stimulatory for CD25 expression on activated but not on resting T cells. In addition, we have found that some γδ T cell clones bearing the Vδ1 segment were activated by direct mAb engagement of ICAM-3 in the absence of TcR/CD3 occupancy. Furthermore, immobilized anti-ICAM-3 mAb also induced development of dentritic processes. In conclusion, our data suggest that ICAM-3 on the surface of both T cells and antigen-presenting cells plays an essential role in the initiation of the immune response.     

Five types of pyloric cells in the antral mucosa of the stomach.

Only one type of pyloric cells in the exocrine antral glands is usually described in the literature. The review of 100 gastrectomy specimens revealed 5 types of pyloric cells: one composed of "ordinary" pyloric cells (i.e. cuboidal cells with ill-defined borders, pale, bubbly cytoplasm with an inconspicuous cytoplasmic network). The second type was characterized by pyloric cells with a small, regular vacuole, usually in a subnuclear position. The vacuole in such cells was negative for mucous stains. The third type of pyloric cells had a large intracytoplasmatic vacuole. Cells with this characteristic were found in cystically dilated pyloric glands. The vacuoles in such cells were usually negative for mucous stains although a rim of PAS or alcian blue positive substance was found in some vacuoles. The fourth type of pyloric cells had eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm. These granules were proven to contain lysozyme. The fifth type had a non-vacuolated, homogeneous ("glassy") cytoplasm which was weakly positive for PAS but negative for acid mucins or mannosides. While the significance of the various types of pyloric cells herein described remains unclear, their easy identification in H & E stained preparations would permit more elaborated studies with histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and/or transmission electron microscopy in the future.     

Identification of MEN1 gene mutations in sporadic carcinoid tumors of the lung

Lung carcinoids occur sporadically and rarely in association with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). There are no well defined genetic abnormalities known to occur in these tumors. We studied 11 sporadic lung carcinoids for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the locus of the MEN1 gene on chromosome 11q13, and for mutations of the MEN1 gene using dideoxy fingerprinting. Additionally, a lung carcinoid from a MEN1 patient was studied. In four of 11 (36%) sporadic tumors, both copies of the MEN1 gene were inactivated. All four tumors showed the presence of a MEN1 gene mutation and loss of the other allele. Observed mutations included a 1 bp insertion, a 1 bp deletion, a 13 bp deletion and a single nucleotide substitution affecting a donor splice site. Each mutation predicts truncation or potentially complete loss of menin. The remaining seven tumors showed neither the presence of a MEN1 gene mutation nor 11q13 LOH. The tumor from the MEN1 patient showed LOH at chromosome 11q13 and a complex germline MEN1 gene mutation. The data implicate the MEN1 gene in the pathogenesis of sporadic lung carcinoids, representing the first defined genetic alteration in these tumors.      

The induction of esophageal tumors in mice: dose and time dependency

Three hundred and forty eight C57Bl mice were killed after diethyl-nitrosamine (DEN) treatment at various time intervals ranging from one day to six months. No esophageal tumors occurred in the first three months after DEN treatment; They occurred, however, at four months and increased in number at six months of DEN treatment. Other groups of animals under the same initial DEN treatment were allowed to survive seven or nine months without treatment. One esophageal tumor was recorded at observations made seven months after one single day of DEN administration. A significant increase in the number of esophageal tumors occurred at seven months in mice treated with DEN for two weeks, and for one, two, three or four months; the highest tumor frequency was found in mice treated for six months and surviving three additional months on a carcinogen-free diet. These results suggest that clones of esophageal cells had been "programmed" for tumor growth at an early stage of DEN treatment. The tumors had, however, remained undetected at macroscopical and microscopical examination several months previously. It is apparent that not only the dose administered, but also the post-carcinogen interval is an important factor in esophageal carcinogenesis in the mouse.     

A new case of arginase deficiency in a Spanish male

A new case of arginase deficiency is reported in a male newborn from Spain. In contrast with the majority of the earlier cases, this infant showed severe protein intolerance of early onset. The diagnosis was based on the assay of the urea cycle enzymes in a postmortem liver sample. Levels of erythrocyte arginase were also determined in the parents and in a sister of the patient, and were consistent with heterozygosity. From a study of the pedigree it appears that arginase deficiency in this family presents a dramatic course.     

微乳液反应法制备磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶及其最佳处方评价

目的：应用微乳液反应法制备磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶,均匀制得的微晶的粒径大小约为2～4um,均匀微晶的结晶性好,纯度高。用均匀设计方法优化条件,制备的均匀的微晶平均粒径大小为2.09um,实验结果达到预测结果要求。结论：用微乳液反应法能获得磺胺嘧啶银均匀微晶。