Re–expansion pulmonary oedema following removal of intrathoracic haematoma

Acute ipsilateral pulmonary oedema is a well documented complication of the treatment of lung collapse secondary to pneumothorax, pleural effusion and atelectasis. We present a case of bilateral re–expansion pulmonary oedema following removal of an intrathoracic haematoma. High protein concentration of the oedema fluid suggests increased pulmonary vascular permeability as a cause of this pulmonary oedema.     

Cough variant asthma: A case study with antigen,histamine and methacholine inhalation challenge tests

This paper presents a 7 year old girl with cough variant asthma, in which house dust challenge test provoked fine crackles on auscultation without any changes of lung function test. Pretreatment with dl -chlorpheniramine maleate for 7 days inhibited the appearance of fine crackles. On histamine inhalation test, fine crackles and rhonchi appeared on auscultation without bronchoconstriction (% fall of one-second forced expiratory volume < 10%). These data suggest that the cause of cough variant asthma is mainly an immunoglobulin E-mediated allergic reaction in the mucus secreting system.     

T-Independent Polyclonal Activation of B Cells In Vitro by Immunoglobulin Binding Substance (IBS) from the Granary Weevil

Experiments are described for T-independent polyclonal activation of B cells in vitro by the immunoglobulin binding substance (IBS) from the granary weevil. The affinity-chromatographically purified IBS was used. IBS is a heat-, alkali- and acid-stable glucopeptide which is characterized by non-specific immunoglobulin binding to the Fab fragment. The purified IBS consists of three polymer homologues whose molecular weights are 12-14,000, 25-30,000 and more than 150,000 Da. IBS did not stimulate DNA synthesis by murine T cells, macrophages or plasma cells whereas it did stimulate that by mature B cells without any help from T cells or macrophages. IBS also stimulated both in vitro IgG production by spleen cells and in vitro sensitization of spleen cells by sheep red cells (SRBC). IBS was found to stimulate DNA synthesis by B cells mediated by binding to surface immunoglobulins of B cells. IBS is thought to be a useful amplifier for inducing human hybridomas and a valuable tool for examining mature B cells, both diagnostically and experimentally.     

A Clinicopathological Study of Histiocytosis X

Thirty-five cases of histiocytosis X in the National Children'sHospital were clinicopathologically studied. Fourteen caseswere categorized in diffuse histiocytosis X, Letterer-Siwe type(DHX), 19 cases in multifocal eosinophilic granuloma (MEG) and2 cases in unifocal eosinophilic granuloma (UEG). Nine of 14DHX died, of which 6 died of opportunistic infection due tohypoproteinemia and pancytopenia, and 3 died of pulmonary fibrosisprobably due to histiocytic infilteration and resultant lymphedema.Infiltration of histiocytes in the bone marrow, thymus and lungs,in addition to the lymphoreticular organs, was conspicuous inautopsy cases of DHX. Skin biopsy was valuable for diagnosisand the immunostaining with anti-S100 antibody was a good markerto characterize infiltrating histiocytes. Prognostic factorsand effects of treatments were also evaluated. Only one of 19 MEG died of opportunistic viral infection, buta longer duration for treatment was usually necessary comparedto that for DHX. Pathogenesis of histiocytosis X was discussed in relation toT-zone histiocytes.     

Streptococcal adherence to uncoated and saliva-coated restoratives

The adherence of Streptococcus sanguis and S. mutans to seven restoratives in the presence and absence of an artificial salivary pellicle has been investigated. The physiochemical surface characteristics of the bacteria and of the restoratives were also measured, together with the effect of salivary coating of restoratives. Zeta potential of uncoated restoratives showed a positive correlation with the number of adherent S. mutans cells and S. sanguis cells. S. sanguis showed a positive correlation with the hydrophobicity of uncoated restoratives. The surface hydrophobicity was decreased upon saliva coating, whereas the zeta potential was slightly increased. The contact angles or zeta potentials of saliva-coated restoratives were positively correlated with those of uncoated restoratives. The number of adherent cells of both S. sanguis and S. mutans to saliva-coated restoratives were decreased after the coating. Zeta potential of saliva-coated restoratives showed a positive correlation with the numbers of adherent S. mutans cells, suggesting that non-specific electrostatic interactions have an important role in the adherence of this species.     

A multicenter,randomized, controlled trial of intravenous gamma globulin therapy in children with acute Kawasaki disease

We studied the effect of intravenous, polyethyleneglycol-treated, human immunoglobulin, administered at 200 mg/kg per day (group A: n = 147; male 86, female 61; age < 1 year, 50) or 400 mg/kg per day (group B: n = 152; male 87, female 65; age < l year, 52) for five consecutive days and compared it with freeze-dried, sulfonated human immunoglobulin [group C: n = 152; male 87, female 65; age < 1 year, 51), administered at 200 mg/kg per day for five consecutive days, on the prevention of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki disease. Echocardiograms were interpreted blindly and independently. Proportions of 87.1%, 95.4%, and 82.3% in groups A, B, and C, respectively, had no coronary artery abnormalities. The confidence limits of difference between the proportions of groups A and C, groups B and C, and groups B and A were −4.4% and 10.4%, 7.8% and 15.9%, and 4.0% and 10.8%, respectively. Duration of fever and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were correlated with the prevalence of coronary artery abnormalities. We concluded that intravenous, polyethyleneglycol-treated, human immunoglobulin and freeze-dried, sulfonated human immunoglobulin had clinically equivalent effects on coronary artery abnormalities, and that five daily doses of 400 mg/kg of intravenous, polyethyleneglycol-treated, human immunoglobulin is more effective than that of 200 mg/kg gamma globulin.     

新疆出血热病毒分子流行病学研究

目的研究新疆出血热病毒(XHF)分子流行病学,揭示其与相关病毒之间关系,分析XHF的流行来源和分布特点。方法RTPCR检测20012002年XHF患者和蜱标本中XHF病毒S基因,阳性标本直接进行核苷酸序列测定。计算机软件进行S基因部分片段和S全基因序列同源性比较和S基因、M基因的种系发生树分析。结果不同年份人和蜱来源的病毒S基因部分片段核苷酸序列均显示较高同源性(97.3%～100%)。S基因进化树分析将病毒分成了欧洲、非洲和亚洲3组,其中亚洲毒株由中亚分离株和中国分离株组成,中国所有的XHF病毒S基因(同源性93.0%～99.5%)均集中在一个分枝下形成独立的一组,明显区别于世界上其他地区分离株(同源性81.40%～96.4%)。M基因进化树分析表明序列间差异不完全与病毒分离的地理区域相关。结论S基因分析显示XHF病毒蜱分离株与人分离株遗传背景接近,我国XHF病毒有共同的进化途径和基因结构特点,并具明显的地域性。     

Usefulness of C-stopper Coil for Neurointervention

C-stopper coil (CSC) which are available for 0.018-inch inner diameter microcenter have been used for neurointervention such as transarterial embolization (TAE) of feeding artery. Although various shapes of pushable microcoils have been developed, microcoils are usually short to embolize the lesion and require lots of coils. The most specific feature of CSC is the extended length of 18 cm. To evaluate the usefulness of CSC, we reviewed our experience of CSC. Neurointervention using CSC was performed for 28 patients (31 treatments). Intervention procedures were TAE for dural arteriovenous fistula (AVF) (n = 15), transvenous embolization for dural AVF (n = 4), parent artery occlusion for cerebral aneurysm, dissection and carotid-cavernous fistula (n = 8), TAE for epistaxis (n = 2), and preoperative embolization for tumor (n = 2). CSCs were deployed with push technique through microcatheter. CSCs were successfully placed into the lesion namely feeding artery, venous sinus, parent artery of aneurysm, or dissection. There were no major technical complications resulting in morbidity. Postoperative course was uneventful. No recanalization of the occluded vessel occurred during follow-up. Use of CSCs was safe and feasible for embolization of cerebrovascular lesion.