The morbidity of multiple sclerosis.

Although the clinical course of multiple sclerosis is benign in up to one-third of patients, it is important to recognize the high rate of morbidity in others. Most individuals pass through a remitting phase but in a significant proportion the clinical manifestations subsequently recur, persist or slowly progress, and disability accumulates with time. Here we describe the frequency and spectrum of morbidity in a population based cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis. These statistics will guide those providing health care resources and planning services for patients with multiple sclerosis.     

肢带型肌营养不良的MRI表现

目的 观察肢带型肌营养不良的MRI表现。方法 回顾性分析7例经临床及病理检查确诊为肢带型肌营养不良患者的MRI资料,观察双侧大腿肌群脂肪沉积与炎性水肿情况,采用4分法进行评价。并进行统计学分析。结果 肢带型肌营养不良患者大腿肌群MRI均可见脂质沉积和炎性水肿性改变。不同肌肉间脂肪沉积(χ²=75.596,P<0.01)与炎性水肿差异均有统计学意义(χ²=41.368,P<0.01),双侧大腿肌群间脂肪沉积与炎性水肿差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05)。结论 肢带型肌营养不良患者大腿肌群MRI信号特点及分布具有一定特征,MR检查有助于疾病的诊断。     

Prevalence of Candida spp., xerostomia,and hyposalivation in oral lichen planus – A controlled study

Objective

To determine the frequency of Candida spp., xerostomia, and salivary flow rate (SFR) in three different groups: patients with OLP (OLP group), patients with oral mucosal lesions other than OLP (non‐OLP group), and subjects without oral mucosal lesions (control group).

Material and methods

Xerostomia as well as SFR was investigated in the three groups. Samples for isolation of Candida spp. were collected from OLP lesions (38 patients), non‐OLP lesions (28 patients), and healthy subjects (32 subjects).

Results

There was no statistically significant difference regarding the frequency of xerostomia and hyposalivation among the three groups (P > 0.05). A higher prevalence for colonization by Candida spp. was found in the healthy subject as compared to that of patients with OLP (P = 0.03) and non‐OLP (P = 0.02) groups. Low SFR was not a factor for colonization by Candida spp.

Conclusions

Xerostomia and hyposalivation occur with similar frequency in subjects with and without oral lesions; also, the presence of oral lesions does not increase the susceptibility to colonization by Candida spp. It seems that any study implicating Candida spp. in the malignant transformation of oral lesions should be carried out mostly on a biochemical basis, that is, by testing the capability of Candida spp. to produce carcinogenic enzyme.     

Strain‐dependent induction of allergic rhinitis without adjuvant in mice

BACKGROUND: To date, no murine models have been reported to show the induction of both antigen-specific IgE and nasal eosinophilia, two of the major hallmarks of allergic rhinitis, after local sensitization in the absence of adjuvants, a phenomenon which reflects natural exposure. In this report, we attempted to establish a murine model representing an initiation of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: BALB/c, CBA/J, and C57BL/6 mice were sensitized intranasally to Schistosoma mansoni egg antigen (SEA) solely. After repeated sensitization, serum Ab titers, nasal eosinophilia, and cytokine production by nasal lymphocytes were determined. RESULTS: BALB/c mice produced SEA-specific IgE after repeated sensitization. High-dose sensitization to SEA induced IgE production in CBA/J mice, while C57BL/6 mice did not show the production throughout the period observed, suggesting that IgE production was regulated genetically. BALB/c mice also exhibited nasal eosinophilia after the nasal challenge. In addition, nasal lymphocytes sensitized with SEA intranasally produced significant amount of IL-5 in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that intranasal sensitization with SEA in the absence of adjuvants induces a Th2 immune reaction, reflecting the hallmarks of the initiation of allergic rhinitis both in vivo and in vitro, which is genetically regulated.     

乳腺癌患者保乳术联合腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫术的临床研究

目的 探讨保乳手术联合腔镜腋窝淋巴结清扫术(MALND)对乳腺癌患者上肢功能、应激反应及血管细胞黏附分子-1 (VCAM-1)、细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)水平的影响。方法 回顾性分析98例乳腺癌患者的临床资料,依据手术方式的不同分为研究组53例和对照组45例。对照组行保乳手术联合传统腋窝淋巴结清扫术(CALND),研究组行保乳手术联合MALND。比较2组术前、术后6个月上肢功能;收集2组患者术前、术后12 h焦虑自评量表(SAS)、抑郁自评量表(SDS)评分以及心率(HR)、平均动脉压(MAP)水平,并对比2组应激反应程度;比较2组患者术前、术后5 d VCAM-1、ICAM-1水平。结果 术后6个月,研究组前屈、后伸、内收、外展、内旋、外旋活动角度大于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后12 h,研究组SAS、SDS评分及HR、MAP水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);术后5 d,研究组VCAM-1、ICAM-1水平低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 保乳手术联合MALND对乳腺癌患者上肢功能影响小,术后应激反应程度轻...     

1140919448CD200-dependent suppression of human NK activity by IVIG requires CD200 receptor type 2

Problem: IVIG prepared from plasma of stored human blood can be efficacious in improving pregnancy success in a selected subgroup of patients but RCTs using an IVIG showing inferior suppression of NK activity in vitro have been negative (J Assist Reprod Genet 2006). A significant component of NK suppression by IVIG appears to be due to CD200 released into plasma from PBL during storage at 4C. CD200 receptors (CD200R) are expressed at the fetomaternal interface prior to onset of abortion; CD200R1 mediates direct effects on gamma‐delta T cell development and suppresses alpha‐beta T cell responses in vitro, whereas CD200R2 alters DC so as to facilitate development of alpha‐beta Treg cells. Which receptor(s) mediate NK cell suppression? Methods: Purified human PBL or the CD56⁺ NK cell subset of PBL were used to lyse 51Cr‐labeled K562 cells in vitro. Different IVIG preparations were tested for suppressive ability, and suppression was blocked by either anti‐huCD200 mAb or rabbit anti‐huCD200R1 or R2 antibodies. Results: CD200‐dependent IVIG NK suppressive potency differed among IVIG types (Gammagard>Gamunex>>Gamimmune). CD200‐dependent suppression was blocked by anti‐CD200R antibody able to react with the type 2 receptor. K562 cells did not express receptor, and purified CD56⁺ NK cells were suppressed effectively without the need for non‐NK cells. Conclusions: IVIG may directly express NK cell activity via CD200 binding to CD200R2.