Abnormal maturation pathway of keratinocytes in psoriatic skin

We compared the maturation pathway of normal and psoriatic epidermis using three different markers: (1) Involucrin, which is normally detected in the stratum granulosum in normal skin, was detected in all but the basal layer of involved psoriatic skin; (2) an antigen, recognized by the murine monoclonal antibody psi 3, was present in all but the basal layer of involved psoriatic skin but was absent from uninvolved and normal skin; (3) fibronectin, which normally localizes in the dermis and the epidermal-dermal junction, was also detected intra- and extracellularly in the psoriatic epidermis. These results indicate that the alterations in keratinocyte maturation found in psoriasis do not arise from a truncation of the normal maturation pathway but rather reflect the onset of an abnormal pathway of differentiation characterized by the expression of psi 3 antigen and fibronectin and the premature appearance of involucrin.     

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: Cytological and Clinical Features

SUMMARY Thirty patients with functional and/or morphological abnormalitiesof respiratory tract cilia were identified. The diagnosis ofprimary ciliary dyskinesia was based on observed abnormalitiesof ciliary ultrastnicture or beating in vitro (beat pattern,beat frequency or percentage of motile cilia). Beat frequencyand motility indices approached the normal range in some casesand suggests that the term ‘immotile cilia syndrome’is not appropriate. Morphological abnormalities were most commonlydue to deficiency of dynein arms, affecting the outer arms (n=7),inner arms (n=3) or both (n=10). Examples of radial spoke andmicrotubular defects were also identified but in seven subjectsciliary ultrastructure was normal. In six patients paired samplesof nasal and bronchial cilia were obtained and showed consistentabnormalities of motility and ultrastnicture. Adenosine triphosphateand adenosine triphosphatase did not restore in vitro motilitywhen added to dynein deficient cilia. The clinical picture wasof life-long sinusitis and recurrent bronchial infection butthe spectrum was broader than that encompassed by Kar-tagener'striad (dextrocardia, sinusitis and bronchiectasis). Fourteenpatients had normal cardiac situs and definite or highly suggestiveevidence of bronchiectasis was present in only 17 patients.Radiological evidence of sinusitis was common but absence offrontal sinuses was not universal. Chronic serous otitis mediawas a frequent finding but deafness was rarely profound. Fertilityproblems were common but were not universal in female subjects.Lung function testing revealed evidence of airflow obstructionbut this was mild in most cases.     

Breast-milk Antimicrobial Factors of Rural Gambian Mothers: Influence of Season and Prevalence of Infection

ABSTRACT. The effects of season and variations in the prevalence of infectious disease on the concentrations and daily production of breast-milk immunoproteins were studied in 152 rural Gambian mothers and their children up to 26 months post-partum . IgA, IgG, IgM, C3, C4, lactoferrin, lysozyme and secretory component concentrations and breast-milk volumes were measured longitudinally over a six month period which encompassed dry and rainy seasons. No increase in the production of any immunoprotein was observed at the time of maximum prevalence of serious infectious diseases, especially diarrhoea, in the children. Enhanced secretion of certain immunoproteins was noted in mothers of children aged 9–18 months at the beginning of the rainy season. There was some evidence that this may have been associated with skin sepsis, particularly impetigo, in the children. The production of most immunoproteins fell during the rainy season. This was not the result of declining maternal food intakes as similar decreases were seen for women receiving a dietary supplement.     

FAILURE TO DEMONSTRATE EFFECT OF TRACE CONCENTRATIONS OF NITROUS OXIDE AND HALOTHANE ON PSYCHOMOTOR PERFORMANCE

Progressive visual reaction times were measured before and afterexposure of 10 subjects (anaesthetists or anaesthetic technicians)to either halothane 100–150 p.p.m. in air or air alone.There were no significant differences between the control andtest situations. In a subsequent study of 15 psychology studentsusing an audiovisual reaction time test, a tachistoscope andthe Wechsler memory scale, there was no significant differencein the subjects' responses when breathing either air or a mixtureof halothane 15 p.p.m. and nitrous oxide 500 p.p.m. in air (range:halothane 10.3–16.0 p.p.m., nitrous oxide 485–700p.p.m.).     

OESTROGEN STIMULATED NEUROPHYSIN IN PREGNANCY AND LACTATION

Serum concentrations of oestrogen stimulated neurophysin (ESN) were measured throughout pregnancy in thirty-one women and until 6 weeks post-partum in a further twenty-three. During pregnancy ESN rose progressively and values during labour were similar to those immediately before delivery. There were significant correlations (P < 0–05) between serum ESN and oestradiol values measured in samples from four patients. After delivery the concentration of ESN fell rapidly to the range for non-pregnant women by 5 days post-partum, whether the mothers lactated or not, and remained fairly constant for the next 6 weeks. Bromocriptine or metoclopramide, drugs which affect prolactin secretion, were without effect on ESN values. At 8 days post-partum in sixteen of the eighteen patients studied there was an increase in ESN concentration 30 min after suckling commenced. At 6 weeks similar changes occurred in five of ten subjects studied. In contrast, at 8 days there was no significant change in ESN in four mothers who bottle fed their babies over the 90 min studied. The relationship between ESN and hormonal changes during pregnancy and lactation is discussed in the light of these results.