Acute rejection in the elderly recipient: Influence of age in the outcome of kidney transplantation

Since the immune response in older recipientsis weaker they should be less likely to rejecta transplanted organ and should need lessaggressive immunosuppressive treatment. Our aimwas to record the incidence and severity ofepisodes of acute rejection (AR), estimate theinfluence of these events on graft survival ofelderly recipients (60) and to comparethese with that in younger ones.We performed 363 kidney transplants between1/94 and 12/98, and recorded clinical andimmunological data, incidence-severity of ARand cause of graft loss. Patients were dividedinto two groups, according to the age attransplantation: A (<60, n = 281/77.4%) and B( 60, n = 82/22.6%). The percentage ofaging recipients and mean age of donors andrecipients increased throughout the period.Although the incidence of ATN was higher in theolder group (29% vs.19%, p < 0.0001) thenumber of graft biopsies was equal in bothgroups. The incidence of AR was similar, 33.4%vs. 26.8%, pNS. The number of AR episodes perpatient was 0.44 and 0.41 respectively. Theseverity of AR was: Banff grade I: A (40.3%)/B (45.7%) pNS; grade II: A (44.1%)/B(48.57) pNS; grade III: A (15.5%)/B (5.7%)pNS. Younger recipients presented a higherlevel of panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) (4.3%vs. 2.07%, p = 0.01). One-year patient survivalwas 96%/91% (p<0.05) and graft survivalwas 81%/78% (pNS) respectively.The age of recipient does not seem to haveinfluenced the incidence-severity of AR or thegraft survival. Thus immunosuppression shouldbe individualised for each patient and shouldnot depend on the age at transplantation.     

维A类化合物4-APR抑制肿瘤侵袭、转移的作用

用体内外实验模型,研究了新维A类化合物4-乙酰胺苯基维A酸酯(4-APR)对肿瘤侵袭、转移的抑制作用。4-APR 43.3mg·kg^-1po即能减少小鼠Lewis肺癌的自发性肺转移瘤数。半体内实验证明4-APR10^-5mol·L^-1和10^-6mol·L^-1对B16-F10癌细胞的人工肺转移瘤数分别抑制67.9%和36.6%。体外实验显示,4-APR对B16-F10细胞侵袭重组基底膜的抑制率分别为54.2%和41.9%。     

Fucoidin, but not yeast polyphosphomannan PPME, inhibits leukocyte rolling in venules of the rat mesentery

Leukocyte rolling in venules is inhibited by several sulfated polysaccharides, by antibodies to the leukocyte adhesion receptor L- selectin (LECAM-1), and by recombinant soluble L-selectin. The sulfated fucose polymer fucoidin and the polyphosphomannan PPME bind to L- selectin and inhibit L-selectin-mediated lymphocyte adhesion to lymph node high endothelial venules (LN-HEV). We investigated whether fucoidin and PPME also inhibit leukocyte rolling. Rolling leukocyte flux was determined by intravital microscopy in 47 venules (diameter 21 to 50 microns) of the rat mesentery with and without micro-infusion of each reagent through 8-microns glass micropipettes. Micro-infusion (1 mg/mL) or intravenous (IV) injection (25 mg/kg) of fucoidin, but not vehicle, reduced leukocyte rolling by greater than 90%. The half- effective concentration was approximately 2.5 micrograms/mL. Stroboscopic fluorescence video microscopy showed that fucoidin decreased the fraction of rolling leukocytes from 44% of all leukocytes passing the venules in control to less than 1%. PPME micro-infusion (1 mg/mL) or IV injection (14 mg/kg) did not reduce leukocyte rolling. Hence, leukocyte rolling differs from lymphocyte homing with respect to the effect of PPME. This may be related to fucoidin binding to L- selectin with greater affinity than PPME. Alternatively, inflamed venular endothelium may express a ligand for L-selectin different from that constitutively expressed on LN-HEV.     

Body weight impact on puberty: effects of high-calorie diet on puberty onset in female rhesus monkeys

Secular trends toward a declining age at puberty onset with correlated changes in body weight have been reported in economically advanced countries. This has been attributed to excess calorie intake along with reduced physical activity in children. However, because the timing of puberty in humans is also influenced by other factors, such as genetic traits, living conditions, geographical location, and environmental chemicals, it is difficult to distinguish the effect of diet and body size from other factors in a human population. Here we report that feeding juvenile female rhesus monkeys born and raised at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center with a high-calorie diet results in acceleration of body growth and precocious menarche. The monkeys fed a high-calorie diet also had an elevated body mass index. The most significant treatment effects on circulating hormones were increased leptin and IGF-I levels throughout the experiment. The findings of this study suggest the importance of close monitoring of juvenile feeding behaviors as an important intervention to reduce the prevalence of precocious development and metabolic diseases in adulthood.     

Coincidental diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis: a case report

The aim of this case report was to present a case of multiple calcified tuberculous lymph nodes found on a panoramic radiograph coincidently diagnosed in an endodontic clinic. A detailed discussion on the differential diagnosis of similar such calcification found in the same region is also presented. A 14‐year‐old girl was referred to our department with the complaint of painless swelling in the left side of the lower jaw. Clinical and radiographical examinations were performed, leading to the initial diagnosis of chronic periapical abscess. The patient's medical history was re‐evaluated. Advanced imaging and excisional biopsy were performed in order to confirm the final diagnosis. Regarding the presenting signs and symptoms of bilateral carious mandibular molars, a periapical inflammatory process was considered in the provisional diagnosis. A thorough examination and investigations were suggestive of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (scrofula), and the patient underwent excision of the same. The clinician should consider the possibility of chronic granulomatous inflammatory lesions in the differential diagnosis of radiopaque lesions.     

Foot and leg problems are important determinants of functional status in community dwelling older people

Purpose.?To determine whether foot and leg problems are independently associated with functional status in a community sample of older people after adjusting for the influence of socio-demographic, physical and medical factors.

Method.?Data were analysed from the Health Status of Older People project, a population-based study involving a random sample of 1000 community-dwelling people aged 65?–?94 years (533 females, 467 males, mean age 73.4 years?±?5.87). A structured interview and brief physical examination were used to investigate the associations between self-reported foot and leg problems and functional status. Functional status was assessed using: (i) timed ‘Up & Go’ test, (ii) self-reported difficulty climbing stairs, (iii) self-reported difficulty walking one kilometer, (iv) self-reported difficulty performing instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), and (v) self-reported history of one or more falls in the previous 12 months. These associations were then explored after adjusting for socio-demographic, physical and medical factors.

Results.?Thirty-six percent of the sample reported having foot or leg problems. Univariate analyses revealed that people with foot and leg problems were significantly more likely to exhibit poorer functional status in all parameters measured. After adjusting for socio-demographic, physical and medical factors, foot and leg problems remained significantly associated with impaired timed ‘Up & Go’ performance (OR?=?2.15, 95%CI 1.55?–?2.97), difficulty climbing stairs (OR?=?3.33, 95%CI 1.98?–?5.61), difficulty walking one kilometer (OR?=?3.13, 95%CI 2.09?–?4.69), and history of falling (OR?=?1.73, 95%CI 1.26?–?2.37).

Conclusions.?Foot and leg problems are reported by one in three community-dwelling people aged 65 years and older. Independent of the influence of age, gender, common medical conditions and other socio-demographic factors, foot and leg problems have a significant impact on the ability to perform functional tasks integral to independent living.     

Wheat streak mosaic virus--structural parameters for a Potyvirus

Wheat streak mosaic virus is a Tritimovirus, a member of the Potyviridae family, which includes the very large Potyvirus genus. We have examined wheat streak mosaic virus by electron microscopy and fiber diffraction from partially oriented sols, and analyzed the results to estimate the symmetry and structural parameters of the viral helix. The virions have an apparent radius of 63 +/- 5 A. The viral helix has a pitch of 33.4 A +/- 0.6 A. There appear to be 6.9 subunits per turn of the helix, although we cannot completely eliminate values of 5.9 or 7.9 for this parameter.     

Positional cloning of the gene for X-linked retinitis pigmentosa 3: homology with the guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor RCC1

The gene for retinitis pigmentosa 3 (RP3), the most frequent form of X- linked RP (XLRP), has been mapped previously to a chromosome interval of less than 1000 kbp between the DXS1110 marker and the OTC locus at Xp21.1-p11.4. Employing a novel technique, YAC Representation Hybridization (YRH)', we have recently identified a small XLRP associated microdeletion in this interval, as well as several putative exons including the 3' end of a gene that was truncated by the deletion. cDNA library screening and sequencing of a cosmid centromeric to the deletion has now enabled us to identify numerous additional exons and to detect several point mutations in patients with XLRP. The predicted gene product shows homology to RCC1, the guanine-nucleotide- exchange factor (GEF) of the Ras-like GTPase Ran. Our findings suggest that we have cloned the long-sought RP3 gene, and that it may encode the GEF of a retina-specific GTP-binding protein.