Reduced expression of CD69 and adhesion molecules of T lymphocytes in asthmatic children receiving immunotherapy

T lymphocytes play a fundamental role in the initiation and regulation of chronic inflammatory responses in patients with asthma. CD69 is an early marker of T‐cell activation. The levels of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1, CD54) and L ‐selectin have been reported to increase in patients with allergic diseases and asthma. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the expression of CD69, CD54, and L ‐selectin by T lymphocytes of children with asthma, before and after immunotherapy. Eighteen children newly diagnosed with asthma, 11 good and nine poor responders to immunotherapy, and 16 normal subjects, were enrolled in this study. The percentages of CD69⁺, CD54⁺, and CD62L⁺ cells in T lymphocytes were measured by using flow cytometry. The levels of CD69, CD54, and CD62L in serum and culture supernatants were determined by using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of CD69 and CD54 on CD3⁺ T lymphocytes was significantly higher in children with asthma than in control patients. All the patient groups expressed (spontaneously and following stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin together with mite‐extract proteins) greater amounts of CD69 and CD54 than did control subjects. With long‐term immunotherapy, the percentages of CD69⁺ and CD54⁺ T lymphocytes were significantly lower in patients with a good response to immunotherapy. Our results also showed significantly lower serum L ‐selectin levels following immunotherapy. In conclusion, successful immunotherapy resulted in decreased expression and production of CD69 and CD54. These results may explain, in part, the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy.     

Analysis of epidermal growth factor receptor and activated epidermal growth factor receptor expression in pituitary adenomas and carcinomas.

Epidermal growth factor receptor plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many malignancies. Various growth factors, including epidermal growth factor receptor, have been shown to influence pituitary tumor growth and differentiation. To analyze the role of epidermal growth factor receptor in pituitary tumor development, we examined normal pituitaries (n=8), pituitary adenomas (n=158), and pituitary carcinomas (n=7) for expression of epidermal growth factor receptor protein and messenger RNA using tissue microarrays and RT-PCR. We also examined (a) the expression of phospho-epidermal growth factor receptor, the activated form of epidermal growth factor receptor, in pituitary tumors and normal pituitaries by immunohistochemistry and (b) the effects on epidermal growth factor receptor expression of treating pituitary cells (HP75 cell line) with epidermal growth factor. Epidermal growth factor receptor and the phosphorylated variant expression were present in normal pituitary cells. Epidermal growth factor receptor messenger RNA was also detected in normal pituitaries, pituitary adenomas, and carcinomas by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR. Most pituitary adenomas showed expression of epidermal growth factor receptor and the phosphorylated variant. Nonfunctional adenomas showed higher levels of expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (76 vs 34%) and of phospho-epidermal growth factor receptor (26 vs 8%) as compared to functional adenomas. Five of seven pituitary carcinomas showed strong expression of both epidermal growth factor receptor and phospho-epidermal growth factor receptor. When a human pituitary cell line (HP75) was cultured in the presence of epidermal growth factor receptor, there was an increase in the levels of both epidermal growth factor receptor and phospho-epidermal growth factor receptor after 5 h of treatment, thus confirming that epidermal growth factor receptor signaling was active in pituitary tumors. These results indicate that activated epidermal growth factor receptor is expressed in pituitary adenomas and carcinomas. Higher levels in pituitary carcinomas suggest a role in pituitary tumor progression.     

经单鼻孔-蝶窦入路切除垂体腺瘤

近年来,经鼻蝶入路有被广泛应用和普及的趋势,其应用中又分为经鼻小柱中隔入路、经鼻前庭中隔入路、经单鼻孔中隔蝶窦入路和经单鼻孔直接蝶窦入路的不同方式[1~4]。我科自2003年11月至2004年4月,采用经单鼻孔中隔蝶窦入路对15例垂体腺瘤患者施行了手术治疗,效果理想,现报告如下     

一种FⅨ基因多态性在广西人群中的检出

目的研究广西人群ＦⅨ（凝血因子Ⅸ）基因多态性。方法利用聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）和限制性内切酶Ｔｒｕ９Ｉ（同功酶即ＭｓｅＩ）酶解技术，对１２０名志愿者进行研究。结果首次在广西人群中发现ＦⅨ基因５′侧翼６９８位核苷酸存在Ｔｒｕ９Ｉ多态性，该多态性由８３ｂｐ／５８ｂｐ＋２５ｂｐ组成，二者的基因频率在受检的１８０个ＦⅨ基因中，分别为０．６２２和０．３７８，女性杂合子频率为０．４７３。结论该发现有助于血友病乙携带者的检测及产前基因诊断。     

Ongoing pregnancies after intracytoplasmic injection using cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa

We report two clinical pregnancies occurring after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using cryopreserved spermatozoa obtained from testicular biopsy, made in two different infertility situations in our clinic. The first patient showed a secretory azoospermia associated with elevated serum follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) level and spermiogenesis maturation arrest. The second patient was affected by azoospermia resulting from bilateral epididymal obstruction. Spermatozoa present in the wet preparation of testicular biopsy made on the day of scrotal exploration were cryopreserved within the testicular tissue for both men. Intracytoplasmic injections were performed at a later date, using spermatozoa prepared from frozen-thawed tissues. In each case, three embryos were obtained and transferred in utero. The transfers resulted in a twin pregnancy for the first case, and in a singleton pregnancy for the second. Living foetuses were seen in the ultrasound scan at the 7th week and both pregnancies are proceeding to date beyond 30 weeks without complications.      

中国人D13S301位点的微卫星多态及其应用价值

率先在国内应用ＰＣＲ技术扩增Ｗｉｌｓｏｎ病（ＷＤ）基因内部Ｄ１３Ｓ３０１位点的微卫星多态，通过变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳检测扩增产物，对８０名正常中国人进行了检测，结果具有１２种不同长度的等位片段，多态信息含量（ＰＩＣ值）为０．８８３，表明该位点在中国人群中具有长度多态性及较高的应用价值。应用该位点对１０个ＷＤ家系进行连锁分析，在２４名无症状个体中检出１２名基因携带者，７名正常纯合子及２名症状前患者，进一步证实该位点可用于ＷＤ的症状前诊断及杂合子筛选。     

Plasma amino acid concentrations in geriatric control and hip-fracture patients.

Changes in plasma amino acids, 24-h nitrogen balances, and resting metabolic expenditures (RMEs) were measured in 10 geriatric patients (aged 70-92 y) with hip fracture 1 d after surgical fixation during both a 24-h fasting state and while receiving total peripheral parenteral nutrition (TPPN) for 24 h at 1.5 g amino acids.kg-1.d-1 and 29-30 kcal.kg-1.d-1 and compared with 19 healthy volunteer subjects (aged 70-84 y). RME and 24-h urinary nitrogen losses were also elevated in the trauma patients during both fasting and TPPN. Positive nitrogen balances were evident in both groups during TPPN. Plasma total amino acid concentration was significantly lower in the trauma patients because of lower plasma concentrations of the nonessential amino acids. Phenylalanine and methionine concentrations were significantly higher and lysine lower in the trauma group. In addition, evaluation of the essential amino acid ratios after fasting and TPPN reveal that there are no limiting amino acids during TPPN.