Functional characterization of mouse lymphocyte subpopulations identified by their natural binding of bacteria. II. Identification of subpopulations of LY-1 + 2-3-, LY-1-2+3+ and LY-1+2+3+ cells and the localization of specific cytotoxic cells in a subset of LY-1-2+3+ cells .

Three T-cell subpopulations (T1, T2 and T3) can be identified by their binding of various bacteria (Mayer, Chen, Dray & Teodorescu, 1978). In this work we determined how the three subpopulations identified by their Ly-1, -2 and -3 alloantigens were distributed among the T1, T2 and T3 subpopulations. We found that the T1 subpopulation contained most of the Ly-1+2+3+ cells, that the T2 subpopulation contained some Ly-1+2-3- and some Ly-1-2+3+ cells and that the T3 subpopulation contained the remainder of the Ly-1+2+3+, Ly-1+2-3- and Ly-1-2+3+ cells. Thus the subpopulations identified by their bacterial adherence properties subdivided the three subpopulations identified by their Ly-1, -2 and -3 alloantigens. We also investigated whether the specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes were contained in the T1, T2 and/or T3 cells. We found that essentially all of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes were contained in the T3 subpopulation. Since the T3 cells contained a subpopulation of Ly-1-2+3+ cells the data indicated that essentially all of the cytotoxic T lymphocytes were contained in a subpopulation of Ly-1-2+3+ cells.     

Critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a coasted in-vitro fertilization patient

We report an instance of critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in a highly responsive in-vitro fertilization patient despite the preventive measure of a 4 day 'coast' interval during which no gonadotrophins were administered while gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist therapy continued until serum oestradiol concentrations fell below 3000 pg/ml.      

Incidence and determinants of moderate COPD (GOLD II) in male smokers aged 40–65 years: 5-year follow up

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem with an estimated prevalence of 10-15% among smokers. The incidence of moderate COPD, as defined by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), is largely unknown. AIM: To determine the cumulative incidence of moderate COPD (forced expiratory volume in 1 second/forced vital capacity ratio [FEV1/FVC] <0.7 and FEV1 <80% predicted) and its association with patient characteristics in a cohort of male smokers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: The city of IJsselstein, a small town in the Netherlands. METHOD: Smokers aged 40-65 years who were registered with local GPs, participated in a study to identify undetected COPD. Baseline measurements were taken in 1998 of 399 smokers with normal spirometry (n = 292) or mild COPD (FEV1/FVC <0.7 and FEV1 >or=80% predicted, n = 107) and follow-up measurements were conducted in 2003. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 5.2 years, 33 participants developed moderate COPD (GOLD II). This showed an estimated cumulative incidence of 8.3% (95% CI = 5.8 to 11.4) and a mean annual incidence of 1.6%. No participant developed severe airflow obstruction. The risk of developing moderate COPD in smokers with baseline mild COPD (GOLD I) was five times higher than in those with baseline normal spirometry (one in five versus one in 25). CONCLUSIONS: In a cohort of middle-aged male smokers, the estimated cumulative incidence of moderate COPD (GOLD II) over 5 years was relatively high (8.3%). Age, childhood smoking, cough, and one or more GP contacts for lower respiratory tract problems were independently associated with incident moderate COPD.     

Lymphoma-like presentation of acute monocytic leukaemia

Four patients in whom a diagnosis of acute monocytic leukaemia (M5) was subsequently made presented with extramedullary disease clinically resembling lymphoma. In all patients histological sections were initially misinterpreted as showing malignant lymphoma or anaplastic carcinoma. The diagnosis of M5 leukaemia was subsequently made on the basis of morphological and cytochemical studies of peripheral blood and bone marrow. The histological diagnosis of the soft tissue lesions of M5 leukaemia (monocytic sarcoma) is difficult, although features such as abundant cytoplasm and the presence of some reniform nuclei are helpful. If there is no peripheral blood or bone marrow involvement and only fixed paraffin-embedded tissues are available, demonstration of lysozyme by an immunoperoxidase technique may confirm the diagnosis but results are not invariably positive. An early diagnosis of M5 leukaemia has therapeutic implications since the disease evolves through a progressive leukaemia phase and systemic therapy is essential.     

Transgenic expression of a CD46 (membrane cofactor protein) minigene: Studies of xenotransplantation and measles virus infection

CD46 (membrane cofactor protein) is a human cell-surface regulator of activated complement and a receptor for the measles virus. A CD46 transgenic mouse line with an expression pattern similar to that of human tissues has been produced, to develop an animal model of (i) the control of complement activation by complement regulators in hyperacute rejection of xenografts, and (ii) measles virus infection. The mouse line was made using a CD46 minigene that includes promoter sequence and the first two introns of genomic CD46, which was coinjected into mouse ova with chicken lysozyme matrix attachment region DNA. A high level of CD46 expression in homozygotic transgenic mice was obtained with spleen cells having approximately 75% of the level found on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CD46 was detected in all tissues examined by immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and Western blotting, showing that these mice were suitable for transplantation and measles virus infection studies. It also indicated that the transgene included the important regulatory elements of the CD46 promoter. Transgenic spleen cells were significantly protected in vitro from human complement activated by either the classical or alternative pathways and from alternative pathway rat complement. Furthermore, transgenic mouse hearts transplanted to rats regulated complement deposition in an in vivo model of antibody-dependent hyperacute xenograft rejection. Similar to human lymphocytes, transgenic lymphoblasts could be infected in vitro with measles virus; infected cells expressed viral proteins and produced infectious viral particles. The data demonstrate the suitability of this minigene for obtaining high-level CD46 expression sufficient for enhanced resistance of transgenic cells to complement attack and for obtaining wide tissue distribution of CD46, analogous to human tissues and, therefore, useful for comparative studies.     

Expression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae proteins by vaccinia virus.

Eight Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. leprae genes were inserted into the vaccinia virus genome by in vivo recombination. The resulting virus recombinants were shown to express five different M. tuberculosis proteins (71, 65, 35, 19, and 12 kDa) and three M. leprae proteins (65 and 18 kDa and a biotin-binding protein) by Western immunoblot analysis, radioimmunoprecipitation, or black-plaque assay. When injected into BALB/c mice, the recombinants expressing the M. tuberculosis 71-, 65-, or 35-kDa protein and the M. leprae 65-kDa protein or the biotin-binding protein elicited antibodies against the appropriate M. tuberculosis or M. leprae protein. These vaccinia virus recombinants are being tested for the ability to elicit immune protection against M. tuberculosis or M. leprae challenge in animal model systems. The recombinants are also useful in generating target cells for assays aimed at elucidating the cellular immune responses to mycobacterial proteins in leprosy and tuberculosis. Furthermore, the M. tuberculosis 65-kDa protein and four of the other mycobacterial proteins share homology with known eucaryotic and procaryotic stress proteins, some of which may play a role in autoimmunity.     

An unusual clinical presentation of bilateral schizencephaly

Summary We present a case with a characteristic magnetic resonance image (MRI) of bilateral open-lipped schizencephaly and atypical clinical presentation. The patient is still alive and in good health in her forties, she has never presented seizures, and although the motor dysfunction is well correlated with cerebral lobe involvement, neurobehavioral dysfunction is not proportional to the MR image of the cerebral malformation.

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Un cas inhabituel de schizencéphalie bilatérale

Résumé Nous présentons un cas de schizencéphalie bilatérale ouverte caractérisé par une présentation clinique atypique et une imagerie par résonance magnétique nucléaire caractéristique. La patiente est encore vivante, en bonne santé, à plus de 40 ans, elle n'a jamais présenté de crise comitiale et, bien que les troubles moteurs soient bien corrélés aux altérations cérébrales, les troubles neuro-comportementaux ne sont pas proportionnels aux images IRM de cette malformation cérébrale.

     

Familial Scheuermann disease: a genetic and linkage study.

Scheuermann juvenile kyphosis or Scheuermann disease is the most frequent cause of kyphosis in adolescence. However, the natural history and genetic basis is still unknown. Reports of identical radiological changes in monozygotic twins, sib recurrence, and transmission over three generations suggest underlying heritability. In this study, 12 probands were referred to us. Upon radiological examination of the proband's parents and sibs, seven were shown to have familial Scheuermann disease with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. Of the remaining five probands, four had chromosomal anomalies. The three largest pedigrees were subjected to linkage analysis with three candidate genes: Duffy, COL1A1, and COL1A2. Linkage of Scheuermann disease was excluded with Duffy (lod score = -2.195 at theta = 0.10) and COL1A2 (lod score = -2.750 at theta = 0.05) in these families.