Hyperprolactinemia inhibits natural killer (NK) cell functionin vivo and its bromocriptine treatment not only corrects it but makes it more efficient

We studied NK cell function in eight patients with pathological hyperprolactinemia by measuring⁵¹Cr release by K562 cells exposed to their mononuclear cells and found it decreased compared to normal controls (P<0.01). Bromocriptine (BrC) treatment corrected NK function but also made it more efficient at 12:1 than at 25:1 or 50:1 effector:target ratios (ANOVA;P=0.01). The study of NK cell function in agarose revealed that its decrease in hyperprolactinemia is due to their low active binding to target cells, active killing, and recycling capacity. BrC tended to correct them but also increased recycling capacity to levels higher than those of controls (P<0.05). Sequential studies in three hyperprolactinemic patients before and after BrC showed correction of NK function within 1 week but its increased efficiency at the 12:1 effector:target ratio required 8 weeks. We conclude that hyperprolactinemia decreases NK cell function. BrC corrects this by decreasing prolactin levels but also makes NK function more efficient by increasing the capacity of NK cells to recycle after killing.     

Glucose Concentrations in Peritoneal Dialysate in the United States and Europe

Articles on CAPD from Europe frequently refer to dialysis fluid that is 1.36% and 3.86% glucose rather than the 1.5% and 4.25% solutions used in the United States. Are different dialysis fluids used on either side of the Atlantic or is there another explanation for this apparent difference?     

Abnormal sensorimotor integration is related to disease severity in Parkinson's disease: a TMS study.

Hyperexcitability of the motor system has been reported in Parkinson's disease (PD). We evaluate how cutaneous afferents modulate motor excitability in PD patients and whether abnormal modulation is correlated to parkinsonian symptoms. Digital stimulation causes abnormal enhancement of motor responses in patients. This effect may be one of the features of motor hyperexcitability in PD. Cutaneomotor hyperexcitability correlates with clinical scores, suggesting that abnormal processing of cutaneous inputs might contribute to the pathogenesis of parkinsonian symptoms.     

Association of a 70-kDa tyrosine phosphoprotein with the CD16:ζ:γ complex expressed in human natural killer cells

The CD16: ζ: γ receptor complex allows natural killer (NK) cells to recognize and eliminate antibody-coated target cells. Whereas the ectodomain of CD16 is the receptor for Fcγ domains of immunoglobulins, disulfide-linked homo- and heterodimers composed of ζ and γ are required for the cell surface expression, and signal transduction properties of the complex. Engagement of CD16 activates the tyrosine kinase pathway, which induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of several substrates, including the ζ subunit and the phospholipase C γ-1 and γ-2 isoforms. Here we show that CD 16 stimulation of either peripheral blood NK cells, leukemic NK cells, or Jurkat transformants expressing a CD16:ζ:γ receptor complex, results in the tyrosine phosphorylation of a 70 kDa ζ-associated protein (pp70). Similarly, a 70-kDa ζ-associated phosphoprotein in T cells has been shown to be a tyrosine kinase (ZAP-70). Peptide mapping analysis indicates that the 70-kDa ζ-associated phosphoproteins from T cells and NK cells are structurally indistinguishable. We conclude that the CD16:ζ:γ complex may use a ZAP-70-related non-receptor tyrosine kinase, in the CD16 signaling cascade leading to NK cell activation.     

Mutations Affecting the Rossman Fold of Isoleucyl-tRNA Synthetase Are Correlated with Low-Level Mupirocin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

The isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (ileS) gene was sequenced in toto from 9 and in part from 31 Staphylococcus aureus strains with various degrees of susceptibility to mupirocin. All strains for which the mupirocin MIC was greater than 8 microg/ml contained point mutations affecting the Rossman fold via Val-to-Phe changes at either residue 588 (V588F) or residue 631 (V631F). The importance of the V588F mutation was confirmed by an allele-specific PCR survey of 32 additional strains. Additional mutations of uncertain significance were found in residues clustered on the surface of the IleS protein.     

Giant splenic metastasis due to lung adenocarcinoma

Lung cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in western countries and most of the patients present at advanced stages, but single splenic metastasis is exceptional instead. We report on a case of a seventy-three-year old male presenting with non-hemoptoic productive cough, constitutional syndrome and pain in the left lower quadrant. Physical examination and complementary radiological and hystologycal procedures revealed the presence of an adenocarcinoma of the left lung with probable splenic metastasis. The patient underwent splenectomy, which confirmed the diagnose of splenic metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma and, secondly, lung resection was performed. Topics about lung cancer metastasis are discussed.     

Dystonia gravidarum: a new case with a long follow-up.

We report a case of cervical dystonia occurring in a 33-year-old without personal history of movement disorder but with family history of essential tremor, primigravid, primiparous woman at 1 weeks' amenorrhea, resolved completely after delivery in the course of 3 months. Dystonia never recurred in the following 5 years. Several neurological disorders are known to occur or worsen during pregnancy. As far as we know, this is the second reported case of dystonia occurring during pregnancy, thus confirming that dystonia gravidarum represents a new entity and should be considered in women of reproductive age affected by dystonia, especially when presenting with rapid-onset cervical dystonia.