NKT cells prevent chronic joint inflammation after infection with Borrelia burgdorferi

Borrelia burgdorferi is the etiologic agent of Lyme disease, a multisystem inflammatory disorder that principally targets the skin, joints, heart, and nervous system. The role of T lymphocytes in the development of chronic inflammation resulting from B. burgdorferi infection has been controversial. We previously showed that natural killer T (NKT) cells with an invariant (i) TCR α chain (iNKT cells) recognize glycolipids from B. burgdorferi, but did not establish an in vivo role for iNKT cells in Lyme disease pathogenesis. Here, we evaluate the importance of iNKT cells for host defense against these pathogenic spirochetes by using Vα14i NKT cell-deficient (Jα18^−/−) BALB/c mice. On tick inoculation with B. burgdorferi, Jα18^−/− mice exhibited more severe and prolonged arthritis as well as a reduced ability to clear spirochetes from infected tissues. Vα14i NKT cell deficiency also resulted in increased production of antibodies directed against both B. burgdorferi protein antigens and borrelial diacylglycerols; the latter finding demonstrates that anti-glycolipid antibody production does not require cognate help from Vα14i NKT cells. Vα14i NKT cells in infected wild-type mice expressed surface activation markers and produced IFNγ in vivo after infection, suggesting a participatory role for this unique population in cellular immunity. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the antigen-specific activation of Vα14i NKT cells is important for the prevention of persistent joint inflammation and spirochete clearance, and they counter the long-standing notion that humoral rather than cellular immunity is sufficient to facilitate Lyme disease resolution.     

中国结核病控制-日本援助项目安徽省实施性研究

目的　了解我省项目工作的现状及项目工作对我省结防工作的影响。方法　根据 2 0 0 2～ 2 0 0 3年《中国结核病控制工作季报表》和《结核病人登记调查表》 ,分析项目病人的发现、治疗等情况。结果　 2 0 0 3年项目地区肺结核、涂阳肺结核登记率分别为 5 3 .4/10万、2 0 .0 /10万 ,分别高于非项目地区 44 .7%、10 0 % ;2 0 0 2年项目地区涂阳肺结核病人治愈率 78.5 % ,明显高于非项目地区。结论　项目工作取得了显著成果 ,为我省其它地区实施项目工作提供了经验 ,为我省结核病控制工作的可持续发展打下了基础。     

Magnetic resonance imaging of truama patterns in the knee

This review describes how knee trauma results in recognizable patterns of soft tissue and osseous injury. The features of these injuries on magnetic resonance imaging are described, and examples are presented. Recognition of these magnetic resonance patterns of knee trauma will help the radiologist more accurately diagnose the type and extent of knee injuries.     

Communication between nurses and their patients

This paper outlines a small study carried out to assess the interaction between nurses and patients in a general medical ward. In view of the implementation of the nursing process, which must involve nurses in close communication with the patient, it was decided to measure the actual amount of interaction occurring between the sister, trained staff, learner nurses and their patients.The findings suggest that interaction by all grades of staff is not satisfactory in its quantity or quality, and raises the question as to whether nurses have the communication skills that are necessary in order to assess, plan, implement and evaluate the nursing care of a patient.