Long-term follow-up of autoantibody profiles in black female lupus patients and clinical comparison with Caucasian and Asian patients

The aim was to determine whether the autoantibody profile in Black female lupus patients is associated with clinical subsets, fluctuates over time and/or reflects disease activity. A clinical comparison with Caucasian and Asian patients matched for age of onset and disease duration was also undertaken. Up to seven serial bleeds from Black female lupus patients who had been followed up for periods of 3.15 yr were tested for antibodies to Ro/SSA, La SSB. Sm, RNP and ribosomal P using ELISA research assays. Significant differences in both clinical and serological profiles between the ethnic groups were found. Varying aspects of disease activity were linked to anti-DNA (renal, cardiovascular, global score), anti-ribosomal P (musculoskeletal, haematology) and anti-Sm (general) antibodies. There are differences in clinical and serological profiles amongst systemic lupus erythematosus patients of different ethnic origin. However, using the BILAG system, relatively few antibodies were found to reflect disease activity accurately in serial measurements.      

Application of image-guided surface coil P-31 MR spectroscopy to human liver, heart, and kidney

Localized phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in humans has previously been accomplished with surface coils by means of depth-resolved surface coil spectroscopy or rotating frame experiments, in which the extent of tissue sampled critically depends on surface coil placement. The authors' goal was to modify the surface coil image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) experiment to accomplish three-dimensional volume selection through application of selective pulses in the presence of B0 gradients. Advantages of ISIS include the ability to use proton images to define the volume of interest (VOI) and reduced dependence on exact positioning of the surface coil. However, rapid replication of the surface coil ISIS experiment can cause spectral contamination from signals originating outside the VOI. A modified version of the ISIS experiment was developed to alleviate contamination under conditions of rapid replication. Applications of localized P-31 MR spectroscopy for observation of high-energy phosphorus metabolites are presented in human liver, heart, and transplanted and normal kidney.     

G-CSF administration is neuroprotective following transient cerebral ischemia even in the absence of a functional NOS-2 gene

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a candidate neuroprotective factor following cerebral ischemia. To determine whether G-CSF acts partly through the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 expression, we administered G-CSF to male NOS-2−/− mice after cerebral ischemia. Although male NOS-2−/− mice exhibit resistance to the gross effects of cerebral ischemia, they display neuronal loss and skilled motor deficits following cerebral ischemia. Administration of G-CSF during reperfusion reduced motor deficit and neuronal loss. Thus, G-CSF is still effective in NOS-2 gene-deficient mice, suggesting that part of the mechanism of action is independent of NOS-2.