Therapy of patients with human T-cell lymphotrophic virus I-induced adult T-cell leukemia with anti-Tac, a monoclonal antibody to the receptor for interleukin-2

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus I (HTLV-I)-induced adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells constitutively express interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors identified by the anti-Tac monoclonal antibody (MoAb), whereas normal resting cells do not. This observation provided the scientific basis for a trial of intravenous anti-Tac in the treatment of nine patients with ATL. The patients did not suffer untoward reactions and did not have a reduction in the normal formed elements of the blood, and only one of the nine produced antibodies to the anti-Tac MoAb. Three patients had transient mixed, partial, or complete remissions lasting from 1 to more than 8 months after anti-Tac therapy, as assessed by routine hematologic tests, immunofluorescence analysis of circulating cells, and molecular genetic analysis of HTLV-I provirus integration and of the T-cell receptor gene rearrangement. The precise mechanism of the antitumor effects is unclear; however, the use of a MoAb that prevents the interaction of IL-2 with its receptor on ATL cells provides a rational approach for the treatment of this malignancy.     

Sensitive skin evaluation in the Japanese population

Sensitive skin syndrome was first described in 1977; however, no robust study has been carried out to evaluate its prevalence in Japan. A national representative sample of the Japanese population over the age of 18 years was taken. Individuals were questioned by telephone and selected according to the quota method. When asked “Do you have a sensitive skin?”, 52.84% of men and 55.98% of women answered “rather sensitive” or “very sensitive”. There was no significant difference (P = 0.22) between the two sexes. The non‐response rate among respondents was zero, suggesting that the term “sensitive skin” held a meaning for the majority of the population. Concerning questions about the onset of a rash, tingling or irritation in the presence of various factors, such as emotional issues, cold, heat, sun, dry air, air‐conditioning, water, air pollution and temperature variations, respondents with rather sensitive or very sensitive skin responded “yes” more often than others: approximately three‐times more often for water (18.97%/6.15%), air pollution (39.29%/12.45%) and warm climatic conditions (29.74%/9.8%). To our knowledge, this epidemiological study is the first to focus on sensitive skin among Japanese people of this century. It is of particular interest for two reasons: (i) it was conducted on a representative sample of the Japanese population; and (ii) the methodology used was identical to that used for sensitive skin assessment studies conducted in Europe and the USA, making it possible to draw certain comparisons.     

CCK as a modulator of cardiovascular function

The gut-brain peptide cholecystokinin (CCK) has been implicated in a wide range of physiological processes including digestion, satiety, anxiety, nociception and lordosis. In addition, it is becoming clear that CCK is involved in regulating certain aspects of cardiovascular function. This article reviews the cardiovascular effects elicited by CCK via its actions at both central and peripheral sites and considers the physiological role of the peptide with respect to the cardiovascular function in different physiological and pathophysiological states. In the periphery CCK released from entoeroendocrine cells in the gut wall in response to a meal triggers a local postprandial hyperaemia in the gut that could promote digestion by facilitating intestinal motility and secretory processes. In addition, activation of CCK receptors on abdominal vagal afferents elicits a reflexly evoked hyperaemia that potentiates these effects and is also gasroprotective. In the brain CCK appears to act as a neuromodulator rather than a direct mediator within cardiovascular control circuits. In particular, it facilitates activity in amygdalar, hypothalamic and midbrain circuits that are involved in mediating acute cardiovascular and behavioural responses to an extreme physical or psychologically stressful challenge. Whilst in the short term activation of the CCK system appears to be beneficial to the organism, chronic stimulation of the system may be maladaptive, laying the foundation for the development of pathophysiological conditions such as panic disorder and chronic pain, both of which are states characterised by significant autonomic activation.     

耳穴贴压治疗单纯性肥胖症临床研究

目的探讨耳穴贴压治疗单纯性肥胖症的临床效应。方法应用耳穴贴压治疗单纯性肥胖症，观察治疗前后患者肥胖指标、血脂指标等的变化，评测耳穴贴压减肥的效果。结果各项指标在治疗前后差异均有显著性。结论耳穴贴压治疗单纯性肥胖，疗效确切，对患者各项生理指标有良性调节作用。     

肝郁痰凝型乳腺癌的钼靶X线表现及病理分析

目的：研究肝郁痰凝型乳腺癌的钼靶X线影像特点，探讨其病理基础。方法：观察41例中医证型为肝郁痰凝型、术后病理检查结果为乳腺癌患者的钼靶X线影像表现，对其病理学基础进行分析。结果：41例肝郁痰凝型乳腺癌中，乳腺类型以致密型及混合型居多（占78％）。异常血管征及透环征出现频率较高（占80％以上）。腋淋巴结转移出现频率偏低（占12％）。结论：（1）肝郁痰凝型乳腺癌患者，乳腺密度多偏高，可能与较多发生在绝经期前有关。（2）肿瘤周围透亮环征象及异常血管征象出现频率较高，表明此型患者肿块周围脂肪代谢异常较为普遍及血管生长刺激因子分泌较多。（3）腋窝淋巴结转移者所占比例较小，可能是由于此类患者多属于癌变早、中期，相对气血不足或脾肾虚弱等正虚表现不明显。     

中心静脉导管胸腔留置治疗胸腔积液

目的评价中心静脉导管留置治疗胸腔积液的疗效。方法257例胸腔积液患者分为两组，治疗组207例，应用胸腔留置中心静脉导管治疗；对照组50例，常规胸穿抽液治疗，观察并比较不同治疗方法的疗效、并发症等指标。结果两组对比多项指标差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论采用中心静脉导管治疗胸腔积液可减少胸穿次数、降低反应，提高治愈率。     

Antibodies to diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in infants before and after immunization with DTP (Triple Antigen) vaccine

Objective : To determine antibody levels to the Australian manufactured combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine (Triple Antigen, CSL Ltd) in infante before and after their primary immunization course.
Methodology : Serosurvey (antibody prevalence study) in two groups: infants aged 5-9 weeks who had not received any immunizations ( n = 25), and infants aged 7-10 months who had received two ( n = 25) or three immunizations ( n = 57) with DTP, sampled from infants attending the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, either as inpatients or outpatients between February and April 1993. The immunization history for each infant was determined from hospital records, the parent-held child health record, or the local council or family doctor who immunized the infant.
Results : Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of antibodies to diphtheria and tetanus showed all infants to have adequate protective levels after two or three vaccinations (£0.01 IU/mL). All subjects who had received all three DTP vaccinations had detectable antibody to at least one pertussis antigen. Antibodies to the pertussis antigens filamentous haemagglutinin and pertussigen (pertussis toxin) were comparable to levels determined for whole cell pertussis vaccines used elsewhere in the world. EIA-determined antibodies to pertussis agglutinogen type 2 and agglutinogen type 3 showed substantially higher geometric mean titres when results for pre-immunization and post-immunization subjects were compared.
Conclusions : These data show that the Australian manufactured DTP vaccine has immunogenic properties similar to those of vaccines used elsewhere, and that antibody concentrations following immunization are at levels consistent with efficacy.     

Involvement of GABA in medullary raphe-evoked modulation of neuronal activity in the periaqueductal grey matter in the rat

Experiments were carried out in urethane-anaesthetised rats to investigate whether GABA is involved in mediating inhibition of neuronal activity in the dorsal half of the periaqueductal grey matter (PAG) after stimulation of the serotonin-containing projection to the PAG from nucleus raphe obscurus (NRO). Multibarrelled micropipettes were used to make recordings from 42 neurones in the dorsal half of the PAG. Most (n = 36) cells were quiescent. Their firing rate was therefore raised to 10-16 Hz by continuous iontophoretic application of DL-homocysteic acid (DLH) in order to facilitate the study of inhibitory events. Iontophoretic application of GABA (0-10 nA) silenced every neurone tested (n = 42), and the effect was blocked by the GABAA antagonist bicuculline (BIC, 10-20 nA; 15/15 cells). BIC also produced an increase in ongoing activity in 14 of 15 cells, indicating the presence of inhibitory GABAergic tone. Iontophoretically applied serotonin (5-HT; 10-70 nA) also inhibited ongoing activity in 9 of 11 cells. The effect of 5-HT was not blocked by BIC. In six of seven cells, microinjection of 100-200 nl DLH into NRO produced a 72.3 +/- 9.4% decrease in neuronal firing rate which was maximal 112 +/- 18 s after the start of the injection and lasted for a total of 313 +/- 63 s. In five of six cells, the raphe-evoked inhibition was blocked by BIC. It is suggested that activation of the serotonergic projection to the PAG from NRO engages GABA-containing interneurones within the PAG which mediate the inhibitory effects of raphe stimulation.