Leading etiologic factors in periventricular bleeding and periventricular leukomalacia

Prenatal, intrapartum and postnatal factors were investigated in less than 32 gestational age preterm infants known to have periventricular haemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia. The diagnoses were established on cranial ultrasonography and/or autopsy. Factors associated with periventricular haemorrhage were: postnatal severe hypercapnia, acidosis and hypoxia. In the periventricular leukomalacia group the incidence of antepartum and intrapartum hypoxia and/or ischaemia (antepartum haemorrhage) were significantly higher than in the control group.     

Cytophotometric investigations on atypical epithelial cells of the human seminal vesicle

Normal seminal vesicles were studied histologically in 80, and by Feulgen’s cytophotometric method in 10 autopsied cases (males, 44–82 years of age). In every case large, hyperchromatic nuclei were found. By cytophotometry euploid polyploid atypia was also shown in every case, which is characteristic of benign hormonal dysplasia.     

Adenocarcinoma cervicis uteri. An appraisal of treatment results for a period of 40 years

A retrospective study was done in 316 patients with primary cervical adenocarcinoma treated at the Research Institute for Clinical and Experimental Oncology in Brno over a period of 40 years (1939-1978). The treatment results were compared to those in 2571 patients with epidermoid carcinomas of the uterine cervix treated at the Institute over the same period. The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower in adenocarcinoma patients (in Stage I patients, 77.8% vs. 84.5%, and, in the whole group, 60.8% vs. 70.3%). The assessment of the treatment results of this study has clearly showed that in cervical adenocarcinomas, surgery combined with radiotherapy was much more effective than radical radiotherapy alone (77.4% vs. 64.7%). In contrast to this, in epidermoid carcinomas the treatment results were better after radical radiotherapy (86.5% vs. 81.3%). Thus, in the prognosis of cervical adenocarcinomas the mass of the tumor, the size of the uterus, as well as the grading play a role. That means that primary cervical adenocarcinomas at early stages can be successfully treated by a combination of radical surgery and radiotherapy, while radiotherapy of advanced stages of this tumor is less successful.     

Dexamethasone inhibits food intake suppression induced by low doses of interleukin-1 beta administered intracerebroventricularly.

Intracerebroventricular (ICV) microinfusion of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta (rhIL-1 beta, 0.125 to 2.0 ng/rat) dose-dependently suppressed 2 h and nighttime food intake in rats. The following daytime food intake did not change or increased. ICV infusion of bovine serum albumin (BSA), or heat-treated rhIL-1 beta had no effect on food intake. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (200 micrograms/rat, intraperitoneal) blocked the food intake suppression induced by low doses of rhIL-1 beta. This ability of dexamethasone, a synthetic corticosteroid, may have potential therapeutic implications in acute and chronic pathological processes associated with increased levels of IL-1 and appetite suppression.     

CD44 ligation induces apoptosis via caspase- and serine protease-dependent pathways in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

We have recently reported that ligation of the CD44 cell surface antigen with A3D8 monoclonal antibody (mAb) triggers incomplete differentiation and apoptosis of the acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL)-derived NB4 cells. The present study characterizes the mechanisms underlying the apoptotic effect of A3D8 in NB4 cells. We show that A3D8 induces activation of both initiator caspase-8 and -9 and effector caspase-3 and -7 but only inhibition of caspase-3/7 and caspase-8 reduces A3D8-induced apoptosis. Moreover, A3D8 induces mitochondrial alterations (decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential DeltaPsi m and cytochrome c release), which are reduced by caspase-8 inhibitor, suggesting that caspase-8 is primarily involved in A3D8-induced apoptosis of NB4 cells. However, the apoptotic process is independent of TNF-family death receptor signalling. Interestingly, the general serine protease inhibitor 4-(2-aminoethyl)-benzenesulfonyl fluoride (AEBSF) decreases A3D8-induced apoptosis and when combined with general caspase inhibitor displays an additive effect resulting in complete prevention of apoptosis. These results suggest that both caspase-dependent and serine protease-dependent pathways contribute to A3D8-induced apoptosis. Finally, A3D8 induces apoptosis in all-trans-retinoic acid-resistant NB4-derived cells and in APL primary blasts, characterizing the A3D8 anti-CD44 mAb as a novel class of apoptosis-inducing agent in APL.     

Immunoregulators in the nervous system

The nervous system, through the production of neuroregulators (neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuropeptides) can regulate specific immune system functions, while the immune system, through the production of immunoregulators (immunomodulators and immunopeptides) can regulate specific nervous system functions. This indicates a reciprocal communication between the nervous and immune systems. The presence of immunoregulators in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid is the result of local synthesis--by intrinsic and blood-derived macrophages, activated T-lymphocytes that cross the blood-brain barrier, endothelial cells of the cerebrovasculature, microglia, astrocytes, and neuronal components--and/or uptake from the peripheral blood through the blood-brain barrier (in specific cases) and circumventricular organs. Acute and chronic pathological processes (infection, inflammation, immunological reactions, malignancy, necrosis) stimulate the synthesis and release of immunoregulators in various cell systems. These immunoregulators have pivotal roles in the coordination of the host defense mechanisms and repair, and induce a series of immunological, endocrinological, metabolical and neurological responses. This review summarizes studies concerning immunoregulators--such as interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, interferons, transforming growth factors, thymic peptides, tuftsin, platelet activating factor, neuro-immunoregulators--in the nervous system. It also describes the monitoring of immunoregulators by the central nervous system (CNS) as part of the regulatory factors that induce neurological manifestations (e.g., fever, somnolence, appetite suppression, neuroendocrine alterations) frequently accompanying acute and chronic pathological processes.     

Electron microscopic immunocytochemical evidence for the existence of bidirectional synaptic connections between growth hormone-releasing hormone- and somatostatin-containing neurons in the hypothalamus of the rat

Synaptic contacts between growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)- and somatostatin-containing neurons were demonstrated in the rat hypothalamus by a double-staining immunocytochemical method at the electron microscopic level. Somatostatin-immunoreactive nerve terminals synapse on GHRH-positive dendrites and cell bodies in the arcuate nucleus. A fine network of GHRH-immunopositive nerve terminals was observed at the light microscopic level in the rostral part of the periventricular nucleus and in the dorsal part of the arcuate nucleus around somatostatin-containing neuronal elements. With the electron microscope synaptic contact between GHRH-containing nerve terminals and somatostatin-containing dendrites are demonstrated. The reciprocal innervation between GHRH- and somatostatin-containing neurons that project to the median eminence and regulate growth hormone secretion must allow them to coordinate their activities.     

Prevalence of latex sensitization and allergy in Portuguese children

The prevalence of latex allergy has been increasing not only in risk groups but also in the general population, where it is accepted to average 1%. In children, latex sensitization prevalence studies are scarce and involve different population sampling and allergy testing methods, which makes it difficult to compare across studies. Nevertheless, existing studies point towards a low prevalence of latex allergy in children, which still needs to be confirmed in the Portuguese population. Aiming at studying the prevalence of latex sensitization and allergy in a sample of Portuguese children, we studied 182 children from two different hospital outpatient clinics. A standardized questionnaire focusing on atopic background, previous history and allergic signs or symptoms on exposure to latex or fruits was given to all children and parents. Skin prick testing was performed with a battery of common aeroallergens as well as latex. Serum total IgE, Phadiatop, F x 5E and latex-specific IgE were determined in all children. Specific IgE to latex-crossreacting fruits was determined in latex-sensitized children. Based upon the questionnaire, the prevalence of latex allergy would be 0.5%. The prevalence of latex sensitization would be 3.8%, when based solely upon skin prick testing, and 12.1% (>/=0.35 IU/ml) or 6.6% (>/=0.70 IU/ml) when based singly upon determination of latex-specific IgE. When positive results for either test were considered, the prevalence of latex sensitization was 14.3%. All latex-sensitized children were atopic. Sensitivity to latex-crossreacting foodstuffs was demonstrated in 61.5% of latex-sensitized children (16/26). This study shows that the prevalence of latex allergy and sensitization in Portuguese atopic and non-atopic children, as analysed using various diagnostic methods, is similar to that observed in other countries. In addition, the assessment of latex allergy and sensitization should always include skin prick testing and determination of serum IgE.