Morphologic and immunohistochemical observations in granulomatous glomerulonephritis.

Eight renal biopsies of Wegener's granulomatosis and other vasculitic syndromes with periglomerular granulomatous reactions (granulomatous glomerulonephritis) are studied. Controls consist of 57 biopsies of crescentic and focal necrotizing glomerulonephritis (of various diseases, excluding systemic lupus erythematosus). Both groups have in common the morphologic alterations of inflammatory tuft necrosis, fibrin exudation into the urinary space, crescent formation, and breaks of Bowman's capsule. In the study group, the unique feature of glomeruli with surrounding granulomatous reactions was the presence, within the urinary space, of an exudate of fibrin mixed with immune reactants (immunoglobulins and usually complement) in association with gaps of Bowman's capsule. This contrasts with an exudate of fibrin alone in glomeruli of the control group and other glomeruli of the study group. The study group also had a significantly greater incidence of immune deposits in Bowman's capsule (P less than 0.001). Giant cells may result from the interaction of macrophages of the granuloma with Bowman's capsule that is permeated with immune reactants.     

Neurocysticercosis in Persons with Epilepsy in Medellín,Colombia

Summary: Purpose: A prospective series of 643 persons with epilepsy attending a reference neurologic center in Medellin, Colombia, was examined by computed tomography (CT scan) or serology or both with the enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot assay (EITB) to assess the prevalence of Taenia solium cysticercosis. Methods: All presenting patients were consecutively enrolled in the study. Five hundred forty-six persons underwent cerebral CT scans; 376 of them also had serum EITB performed. Results: Prevalence of neurocys@ercosis by CT scan was 13.92%. Overall prevalence of T. solium antibodies with EITB was 9.82%, but for those with late-onset epilepsy (onset after age 30 years), prevalence increased to 17.5% and 19% for those who originated from outside urban Medellin. Seroprevalence in individuals with mixed lesions (cysts and calcifications) was 88.2% and 64.10% in those with live cysts. Conversely, only 2.72% of persons with CT findings not related to neurocysticercosis had positive EITB tests. Conclusions: Our study shows that an important proportion of individuals with epilepsy have radiologic or serologic evidence of T. solium infection, suggesting that neurocysticercosis is an important etiology for epilepsy in Colombia.     

Renal protection by antihypertensive therapy

The attainment of adequate renal protection requires strict blood pressure control and a diminution of proteinuria or microalbuminuria to values as near from normalcy as possible. It has been considered that by getting the first, the second could be attained at the same price. Recent data have confirmed that renal protection in hypertensive patients, diabetics or not, requires combination therapy that has to include an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. A calcium channel blocker can be added to this without renal compromise. A diuretic will also be needed in most cases. Proteinuria will diminish with this combination in particular if up-titration of the drug blocking the effects of angiotensin II is performed. The control of other associated risk factors is also required, in particular smoking and lipids.     

再生障碍性贫血患者血清sICAM—l和TGF—β1水平及其意义

目的　探讨再生障碍性贫血 (AA ,再障 )患者血清可溶性细胞间粘附分子 - 1(sICAM - 1)和转化生长因子β1(TGF - β1)水平及其意义 .方法　采用ELISA法检测再障 3 0例和骨髓增生异常综合征 (MDS) 15例 ,正常对照组 2 0例血清sICAM - 1和TGF - β1水平 .结果　慢性再障 (CAA)组sICAM - 1较正常组明显增高 (p <0 0 5 ) ,TGF - β1较正常组明显降低 (p <0 0 1) ;重型再障 (SAA)和MDS组sICAM - 1均较正常组显著增高 (p均 <0 0 1) ,TGF - β1均较正常组显著下降 (p均 <0 0 1) .SAA组sICAM - 1较CAA组显著增高 (p <0 0 5 ) ,MDS组与CAA组比较 ,sICAM - 1明显增高 (p <0 0 1) ,MDS组与SAA组比较 ,TGF - β1明显增高 (p <0 0 1) .动态观察 10例再障 ,随着病情的好转 ,sICAM - 1水平逐渐下降 ,TGF - β1水平趋于上升 ;当病情加重时 ,sICAM - 1上升 ,TGF - β1下降 .血清sICAM - 1和TGF - β1接近正常者疗效、预后好 .结论　高水平的sICAM - 1和低水平的TGF - β1可能参与再障造血干 /祖细胞衰竭的病理生理过程 ;动态检测sICAM - 1和TGF - β1水平 ,为再障患者监测病情、评价疗效、指导临床治疗及预后判断提供较为客观的指标