Danazol administration after gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue reduces rebound of uterine myomas [published erratum appears in Hum Reprod 1998 Mar;13(3):780]

We report the results of administration of danazol after suspension of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) therapy for uterine myomas. A total of 21 women with uterine myomas was treated with 100 mg danazol for 6 months after GnRHa therapy. Uterine volume and endocrine status were monitored monthly by ultrasound and assay of plasma gonadotrophins, oestradiol and progesterone. The results show a rebound of uterine volume about 30% less than in controls at the end of danazol therapy. Menstrual cyclicity returned after 65 +/- 3 days in 16 subjects and five patients remained amenorrhoeic. Hormone assays confirmed renewed ovarian function in the women whose menstrual periods returned. Bone mineral content was substantially reduced during GnRHa treatment but improved significantly during danazol therapy even in the women who remained amenorrhoeic. These results show the utility of danazol in prolonging the therapeutic effects of GnRHa. The mechanism by which danazol inhibits rebound of uterine volume may be due to its antiprogesterone effects on uterine myomas.      

Plasmodium vivax and P. chabaudi: inter-species cross-reacting antigens

A monoclonal antibody raised by immunization of BALB/c mice with erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium vivax was shown to react with asexual erythrocytic stages of P. chabaudi. The cross-reactivity molecules are antigens of 200 and 148 kDa in P. vivax and of 190 and 70 kDa in P. chabaudi. Immunofluorescence studies of the erythrocytic stages of P. vivax and P. chabaudi indicated that expression of these antigens increased as the parasites' developed from the ring stage to the schizont stage. In the mature trophozoites of P. chabaudi, immunoelectron microscopy revealed clusters of antigen distributed in the cytoplasm of the parasitized erythrocyte. In the schizont, packets of antigen were found associated with the parasitophorous vacuole and the cytoplasm of the infected host cell. Received: 19 March 1996 / Accepted: 28 August 1996     

IgA antiendomysium antibodies in human umbilical cord sections as a screening test in relatives of patients with celiac disease

We performed the serum IgA antiendomysium antibody (EmA) assay by indirect immunofluorescence on human umbilical cord sections in 86 subjects with celiac disease, in 187 first-degree relatives of such patients, and in a control group of 68 unrelated subjects, to investigate the suitability of the method in the screening of populations at risk of gluten sensitivity. Conventional EmA assay using monkey esophagus sections was performed in parallel experiments. The results obtained showed a perfpect correlation between the two methods. All the celiac patients and none of the controls were positive for EmA. EmA positivity was also observed in 11 apparently healthy relatives: intestinal biopsy performed in five of them invariably showed villous atrophy and increase of mucosal lymphocytes. Taking into account the low cost of EmA assay on human umbilical cord, especially when compared to monkey esophagus sections, the method is probably suitable and effective in identifying latent, asymptomatic gluten sensitivity in at-risk populations.     

Determination of antitubercular drugs in human plasma by HPLC through direct injection

A simple and efficient method is described for the direct determination of Isoniazide (INH) and Pyrazinamide (PZAm) in human plasma, based on reversed-phase HPLC. A number of other antitubercular drugs such as p-Aminosalycylic acid (PAS), Streptomycin (STM) and Ethambutol (ETH) and the major metabolites of the two investigated drugs, namely N-Monoacetylisoniazide (AcINH) and Pyrazinoic acid (PZAc), were shown not to interfere with the assay method. A potential application of the method to routine clinical monitoring of antitubercular drugs is discussed.     

Obstructive and restrictive ventilatory impairment in polyvinylchloride fabrication workers

Responses to a standardized respiratory symptom questionnaire, spirometry, and cross-shift decreases in lung function between 70 current employees of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) fabrication plant and a control group consisting of 48 men employed in a vegetable packing plant were compared. FEV1/FVC was significantly lower in the PVC workers. Cross-shift drops in Vmax75 of 15% or more were also more prevalent in the exposed group (p = .01). When examining the association between months of work within the exposed workforce and spirometric indices of airway obstruction, no relationship could be demonstrated. However, an inverse dose-response relationship was seen between level of FVC and duration of employment, suggesting a restrictive impairment. While the specific exposures have not been identified, it appears that employment in PVC fabrication may be associated with both obstructive and restrictive ventilatory effects.     

Hemophagocytic syndrome and T-cell lymphoma after kidney transplantation: a case report

Lymphoma in immunocompromised transplant patients is a feared cause of morbidity and mortality. Superimposed on the lymphoma and the transplantation immunosuppression is a rare condition: hemophagocytic syndrome (HS). HS is characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy, skin rashes, jaundice, coagulopathy, and phagocytosis of blood elements with pancytopenia. Here we describe a rare but fatal case of a kidney transplant patient who developed T-cell lymphoma and HS, without evidence of EBV replication. A short review of the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of HS is given. Received: 4 March 1997 Received after revision: 6 June 1997 Accepted: 30 June 1997     

两种不同抗体双弹头标记物导向治疗肝癌的比较

在动物实验的基础上，比较了抗ＡＦＰ单克隆抗体（ｍＡｂ）和抗ＡＦＰ多克隆抗体（ｐＡｂ）两种不同抗体双弹头标记物在肝癌患者体内的生物代谢情况。结果显示，两种抗体标记物的血浆清除半衰期均在２４ｈ左右，ｍＡｂ标记物的清除较ｐＡｂ标记物略慢。尿清除的半衰期，ｍＡｂ标记物约为１２０ｈ，而ｐＡｂ标记物则约为１８ｈ，表明二者的体内生物代谢不同，疗效可能不一。