High responsiveness of HLA-B57-restricted Gag-specific CD8+ T cells in vitro may contribute to the protective effect of HLA-B57 in HIV-infection

HLA-B57 has been shown to be associated with long-term asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. To investigate the biological mechanism by which the HLA-B57 allele could protect from HIV-1 disease, we studied both the number of CD8(+) T cells as well as CD8(+) T cell responsiveness directed to different HIV-1 Gag peptides presented by HLA-A2, -B8 or -B57. T cells specific for the HLA-B57 peptide KAFSPEVIPMF responded more readily and to a higher extend to antigenic stimulation in vitro than T cells specific for the HLA-A2 peptide SLYNTVATL or the HLA-B8 peptide EIYKRWII. This phenomenon was reproducible with T cells from individuals expressing HLA-B57 in combination with one or both of the other alleles and was persistent during long-term follow-up. Lower reactivity of A2- and B8-restricted T cells was not explained by mutations in the B8- or A2-restricted Gag-peptides. Moreover, no correlation between peptide mutation frequency and IFN-gamma production by the corresponding Gag-specific T cells was observed. In conclusion, functional differences were observed between T cells specific for HIV epitopes derived from the same protein presented by different HLA molecules. B57-restricted KAFSPEVIPMF-specific CD8(+) T cells have relatively high responsiveness, which could contribute to the protective effect of HLA-B57 in HIV infection.     

表面粗糙度对牙科银汞合金抗折力的影响

目的比较不同表面粗糙度的牙科银汞合金试件的断裂载荷,探讨试件表面状况对脆性牙科材料抗折力的影响。方法制作直径10mm、厚2mm的圆盘形银汞试件48个．随机分成4组,其中3组分别以220、400、1200号SiC砂纸双面磨平．另一组不经打磨．表面保持试件制作完毕后的自然状态。每组随机抽取5个试件,置于粗糙度测试仪上测量表面粗糙度。试件于（23±1）。C空气中保存7d后置于30％玻璃纤维加强尼龙6．6基底上以20mm直径不锈钢球加载进行赫兹压痕试验,记录初始断裂载荷值并进行统计分析。结果未经打磨、220号、400号、1200号SiC砂纸打磨的试件的表面粗糙度平均值分别为1．77、1．99、1．28、0．66μm,断裂载荷值分别为（656．1±44．1）、（644．9±57．9）、（678.3±40．4）、（721．1±60．1）N。随着粗糙度的降低,初始断裂载荷值逐渐增加,1200号砂纸打磨组与未经打磨组和220号砂纸打磨组之间差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论脆性材料试件的表面粗糙度对其抗折能力有一定影响．     

Polymorphisms in the TLR6 gene associated with the inverse association between childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and atopic disease

Little is known about the etiology of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The presence of atopic disease has been shown to protect against developing childhood ALL. The aim of this study was to examine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in innate immunity genes previously associated with atopic disease, can elucidate the inverse association between childhood ALL and atopic disease. We studied 525 children, including 192 with childhood ALL, 149 with atopic disease and 184 healthy control subjects. We compared genotype distributions of 29 SNPs in genes of TLR2, TLR4, TLR6, TLR9, TLR10 and CD14 between the three groups and corrected for multiple testing. The genotype distributions of two SNPs in the TLR6 gene, rs5743798 and rs6531666, differed significantly between children with ALL, children with atopic disease and control subjects. Particularly in children with atopic eczema, risk alleles for atopic disease were observed more often than in control subjects, and less often in children with ALL than in control subjects. These findings support the immune surveillance hypothesis as an explanation for the protective association of atopic disease on childhood ALL. Further investigation is warranted to examine in more detail the role of innate immunity in the development of childhood ALL.     

Interventions for treating the posterior interosseus nerve syndrome: a systematic review of observational studies

For the posterior interosseus nerve syndrome (PINS), no randomised controlled trials or controlled clinical trials about the effectiveness of interventions are available; only case series can be found. Although the validity of case series is inferior to controlled trials, they may provide valuable data about the efficacy of treatment options. Therefore, we systematically reviewed all available observational studies on treatment of PINS. A literature search and additional reference checking was done. On the basis of previous checklists, we constructed a quality assessment and rating system to analyse the included case series. Studies with less than 50% of the maximum points on the methodological quality assessment were excluded from the analysis. The results are summarised according to a rating system for the strength of the scientific evidence. Six eligible case series for this review were found. After the data extraction and methodological quality assessment, two higher quality studies that evaluated the effectiveness of surgical decompression of the PIN were included in the final analysis. There is a tendency for the effectiveness of surgical decompression of the PIN in patients with PINS. The effectiveness of a conservative treatment for PINS is unknown because no higher quality studies are available. Additional high-quality controlled studies are needed to assess the level of 'conclusive evidence' for surgical treatment. There is also a need for high-quality controlled trials into the effectiveness of conservative treatments for PINS.     

Phenotypical and functional analysis of T cells in periodontitis

To explore aspects of cellular immune responses in the pathogenesis of periodontitis we analyzed phenotype and function of peripheral T cells. Two groups of subjects participated: one group consisted of 10 highly susceptible patients with severe periodontitis (mean age 29 years) and a control group consisted of 10 age, gender and race matched subjects with gingivitis. From all subjects peripheral blood was collected. The results showed that the numbers of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells as well as the CD4/CD8 ratio, and the proliferative capacity of T cells, were not different between the two groups of subjects. Also, proportions of naive and memory T cells for both the CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations were not different. Functional heterogeneity within the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell compartments was determined by intracellular analysis of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) production. On the basis of these latter analyses among CD4+ and CD8+ cells, T helper (Th) 1 or Th2 function and T cytotoxic (Tc) 1 or Tc2 function, respectively, could be deduced. No significant differences in proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells positive for intracellular IFN-gamma or IL-4 were observed between periodontitis patients and gingivitis controls; however a higher level of intracellular IL-4 in CD8+ T cells was seen in periodontitis patients. This might indicate that there is a shift towards a Tc2 function within the CD8+ T cell subpopulation. The current explorative study suggests that further research into the role of CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of periodontitis is warranted.     

Edema as a new predominant symptom of Bordetella pertussis infection in a newborn

Pertussis is an infectious disease with characteristic clinical signs. In this report, we describe transmission of pertussis directly after birth. Edema and mild hyponatremia were notable predominant symptoms of Bordetella pertussis infection. By exclusion of all other causes, the edema was probably due to inflammation and damage to the capillary wall caused by pertussis toxins.