Interobserver variability in neonatal cranial ultrasonography

The reliability of cranial ultrasound diagnosis in the premature neonate was examined using data from an ongoing multicentre study of the epidemiology and long-term consequences of neonatal brain haemorrhage. First week ultrasound films (obtained at 4 hours, 24 hours and 7 days) from 60 study subjects were randomly selected for independent review by two groups of experienced interpreters, and results were recorded separately for observations (i.e. presence or absence of an abnormal echodense area on a film) and interpretations (i.e. presence or absence of haemorrhage or ventricular dilatation) in each hemisphere. Because of deaths in the first week of life, the total number of films examined was 138. Concordance on the presence or absence of an abnormal echodensity was examined for each individual film for three areas of interest: the germinal matrix, the ventricles and the parenchyma. Concordance on the presence or absence of haemorrhage or ventricular dilatation was examined only for the seventh-day film, or the final film prior to death. Finally, concordance was analysed with the diagnostic interpretations grouped into categories thought to differ prognostically for long-term outcome. In general, concordance was poorest for germinal matrix lesions and best for parenchymal lesions. Concordance was lower for observations made on each individual film than it was for interpretation of the final film in each case. Fifty-five of 60 cases (92%) were assigned to the same major prognostic category by both readers. Ultrasound review conferences were held periodically and there was evidence that concordance in ultrasound reading and interpretation improved during the course of the study.     

Stomatitis from dentures: etiopathological and therapeutic considerations

Infection of the oral mucous membrane is frequent in patients with removable prostheses, either totally of partially, and particularly when the prostheses is palatal. The principal etiological factor causing the infection is accepted to be "Candidas" aided by the presence of plaque bacteria (in patients with poor oral hygiene care), and a poor fit of the prostheses to the soft tissues. Treatment of the infection must proceed in the following order: a) use of effective medication against oral fungus such as Nystatin or Ketoconazole. b) Meticulous oral hygiene care in the mucous membrane as well as in the prostheses, but using the prostheses as little as possible during the treatment period. c) A total cure of the infection (denture stomatitis) before proceeding to the next phase of the treatment. d) Determination of the adjustment and occlusion of the prostheses in order to determine those areas of the prostheses which need to be refilled because of maladjustment of the prostheses to the soft tissues of the patient.     

Integrating signals from T-cell receptor and serum by T cells enhance translation of tumour necrosis factor-alpha

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory cytokine produced by several cell types, including T cells upon antigen stimulation. Its production is crucial for the development of an early defence against many pathogens, but its beneficial effects are dependent on the strength and duration of its expression. In this paper we present evidence indicating that serum increases translational efficiency of TNF-alpha in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with superantigen. The increase in translation of TNF-alpha due to serum could be inhibited by the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-K inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, suggesting that PI 3-K is involved in the translational control of TNF-alpha by serum. Similarly to primary T cells, stimulation of Jurkat T cells with superantigen led to TNF-alpha secretion and this was up-regulated by serum. Transfection of Jurkat cells with a constitutively active form of PI 3-Kalpha increased the production of TNF-alpha in cells stimulated with superantigen. Additionally, we used the specific inhibitors targeting ERK kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), potentially downstream of PI 3-kinase, PD98059 and SB203580. Differently from with PI 3-K inhibitors, the accumulation of TNF-alpha mRNA was inhibited by PD98059 or SB203580. These results suggest that, in T cells, activation of PI 3-K is an important step in controlling TNF-alpha protein synthesis in response to growth factors.     

Incidence of major chromosomal abnormalities in a referred population for suspected chromosomal aberrations: a report of 357 cases

The present report describes the cytogenetic findings in 357 cases referred for suspected chromosomal abnormalities because of abnormal clinical features. Chromosomal anomalies were found in 97 (27.2 %) of the cases studied. A significantly high rate of chromosomal abnormalities was found in a population with clinical abnormalities in comparison to an unselected population (0.48–0.55 %).     

CD1d deficiency exacerbates inflammatory dermatitis in MRL-lpr/lpr mice

Mechanisms responsible for the development of autoimmune skin disease in humans and animal models with lupus remain poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the role of CD1d, an antigen-presenting molecule known to activate natural killer T cells, in the development of inflammatory dermatitis in lupus-susceptible MRL-lpr/lpr mice. In particular, we have established MRL-lpr/lpr mice carrying a germ-line deletion of the CD1d genes. We demonstrate that CD1d-deficient MRL-lpr/lpr mice, as compared with wild-type littermates, have more frequent and more severe skin disease, with increased local infiltration with mast cells, lymphocytes and dendritic cells, including Langerhans cells. CD1d-deficient MRL-lpr/lpr mice had increased prevalence of CD4(+) T cells in the spleen and liver and of TCR alpha beta (+)B220(+) cells in lymph nodes. Furthermore, CD1d deficiency was associated with decreased T cell production of type 2 cytokines and increased or unchanged type 1 cytokines. These findings indicate a regulatory role of CD1d in inflammatory dermatitis. Understanding the mechanisms by which CD1d deficiency results in splenic T cell expansion and cytokine alterations, with increased dermal infiltration of dendritic cells and lymphocytes in MRL-lpr/lpr mice, will have implications for the pathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases.     

Identification and characterization of linear B-cell epitopes of beta-globulin, a major allergen of sesame seeds

BACKGROUND: The increased consumption of foods containing sesame seeds is paralleled by an increase in reported sesame-induced allergic reactions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at identifying and characterizing the linear B-cell epitopes of the 14-kd beta-globulin, the major allergen of sesame seed. METHODS: A peptide containing 71 amino acids (peptide B) was previously identified by us as the IgE-binding region on beta-globulin. To determine the amino acid sequence of the IgE-binding sites on peptide B, we synthesized overlapping peptides 20 and 10 amino acid residues long that span the entire length of peptide B, which were offset from each other by 10 and 2 amino acid residues, respectively. Sera from 20 subjects given diagnoses of allergy to sesame beta-globulin served to identify the epitopes by using the dot-blot test. RESULTS: At least 9 different IgE-recognition sites were identified on peptide B. Three of them, numbers 2, 3, and 13 (corresponding to amino acids 46-55, 48-57, and 76-86, respectively, in the beta-globulin sequence), appeared to be immunodominant IgE-binding epitopes. Also, these peptides were best recognized in terms of intensity of response. There was no obvious sequence motif shared by the 9 different IgE-binding epitopes of beta-globulin. However, approximately 60% of the amino acids represented in the epitopes are hydrophobic residues. CONCLUSION: Identification of the IgE-binding epitopes might provide a better understanding of the functional role the allergens play in the disease and might have implications for immunodiagnosis and probably immunotherapy.     

Immunohistochemical labelling of cytokines in lung lesions of pigs naturally infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mh) is the primary agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia (PEN), a chronic respiratory disease endemic to pig farms, and characterized histologically by infiltration of mononuclear cells in airways and prominent hyperplasia of the bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT). To gain further insight into the pathogenesis of PEN, cytokine expression in the lung, with particular attention to the BALT, was examined immunohistochemically in pigs naturally infected with Mh. An increase (P < 0.05) in proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines (especially interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4 and tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, and to a lesser extent IL-1 [alpha and beta] and IL-6) was detected in the BALT, which showed intense lymphoid hyperplasia. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha were also detected in the bronchoalveolar exudate of infected pigs, and IL-6 and IL-8 were demonstrated in mononuclear cells of the alveolar septa. The results showed that in Mh infection, macrophage and lymphocyte activation results in the expression of a number of cytokines capable of inducing lung lesions and lymphoreticular hyperplasia of the BALT.