Interleukin-1α and tumour necrosis factor-α modulate the production of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 by cultured human glomerular visceral epithelial cells

Summary: Mediators released by glomerular macrophages may stimulate glomerular visceral epithelial cells (GVEC) to produce cytokines, growth factors or extracellular matrix components. This study describes that human GVEC produce monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a monocyte-specific chemotactic factor, and the effects of interleukin-lα (IL-1α) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-a) on the production of MCP-1 by GVEC.
We observed that the intensity of MCP-1 staining in GVEC is stronger in membranous nephropathy and glomerulosclerosis than in normal kidneys. Various cell lines of GVEC produced significant amounts of MCP-1, as assessed by inhibition radio-immunoassay. the presence of IL-1α and TNF-α during culture of GVEC enhanced the production of MCP-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Glomerular visceral epithelial cells in culture express mRNA for MCP-1 and the expression is upregulated 2.0- and 1.4-fold in the presence of optimal concentration of IL-1α and TNF-α, respectively. De novo synthesis of MCP-1 is supported by the observation that MCP-1 production is fully inhibited by cydoheximide. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 isolated from GVEC supernatants exhibits a molecular size of 12 and 10 kDa as determined by gel filtration chromatography. Both sizes of MCP-1 is chemotactically active for monocytes.
This study shows increased MCP-1 production by cultured human GVEC after stimulation with the inflammatory cytokines IL-1α and TNF-α. the expression of MCP-1 in GVEC was found to be upregulated in membranous nephropathy and glomerulosclerosis. These findings suggest that MCP-1 may be involved in glomerular injury in these diseases. the possible role of MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of human glomerulonephritis is discussed.     

Pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide in patients with systemic necrotizing angiitis

Summary— Cyclophosphamide pharmacokinetics were investigated following administration to patients with systemic necrotizing angiitis. Ten patients (eight women and two men) received cyclophosphamide as a 1-h-rate-constant intravenous infusion at doses ranging from 600 to 1200 mg. All patients received concomitant oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/d). Blood samples were collected at the end of drug infusion and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24 h later. Serum cyclophosphamide concentrations were assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography. The peak serum cyclophosphamide levels ranged from 15.7 to 29.4 mg/L. The mean cyclophosphamide elimination half-life was 6.2 ± 1.3 h (mean ± SD). The mean apparent volume of distribution and mean total plasma clearance were, respectively, 0.75 ± 0.22 L/kg (mean ± SD) and 83 ± 22 mL/min (mean ± SD). These results obtained in systemic vasculitic diseases were consistent with those observed in other studies with cancer patients receiving comparable doses of cyclophosphamide.     

Adrenal tissue characterization using MR imaging

Using a superconducting magnet operating at 0.35 T, the authors investigated the adrenal tissue characterization potential of magnetic resonance (MR) in 28 patients with 33 adrenal masses. There were 13 adrenal adenomas (12 non-hyperfunctioning, one aldosteronoma), nine adrenal metastases, four pheochromocytomas, two neuroblastomas, two adrenal lymphomas, two myelolipomas, and one adrenal cortical carcinoma. Spin-echo pulse sequences were obtained at TR 0.5, 2.0 sec and TE 28, 56 msec. Both qualitative (visual assessment) and quantitative (absolute signal intensity, intensity ratios, T1, T2) data were used for tissue characterization. The results suggest that non-hyperfunctioning adrenal adenomas can be distinguished from non-adenomas using both qualitative and quantitative data: 16/19 non-adenomas were visually hyperintense compared with liver at TR 2.0 sec, TE 56 msec, while none of the non-hyperfunctioning adenomas was relatively hyperintense at any pulse sequence used. Of the quantitative data, the intensity ratios of adrenal lesion/liver at TR 0.5 sec, TE 56 msec were most useful in diagnosis: all adenomas had ratios less than 0.83, while 19/20 non-adenomas had ratios exceeding this value. It is concluded that MR has considerable promise in adrenal tissue characterization.     

Ovarian carcinoma follow-up: US versus laparotomy

Ultrasound (US) was compared with surgical findings in 98 patients with carcinoma of the ovary undergoing follow-up laparotomy after chemotherapy. US had an overall accuracy of 94% in the pelvis, with only small and sheetlike lesions escaping detection. It was more sensitive than clinical examination. Overall accuracy for the liver was 91% with very few false-positive results. For the peritoneal cavity in general, however, accuracy was low, with even large masses escaping detection. Ascites is reliably detected (accuracy of 97%) but is a poor indicator of peritoneal involvement. US is a useful noninvasive complement to laparoscopy in the follow-up of patients with carcinoma of the ovary.     

Scanning electron microscpe study comparing the effecacy of endodontic irrigating systems

Summary. Thirty-five single rooted teeth were biomechanically instrumented with salaine, following' which they were subjected to different methods of irrigation. Four groups of teeth were irrigatied using and Endomate unit with NaOCl in combination with H₂O₂, or EDTA, or glutaraldehde or saline.
Two groups were irrigated with 5 per cent NaOCl in combination with ultrasound; one of them was further irrigated with 3 per cent H₂O₂ using the Endomate system.
The control group was irrigated with NaOCl and H₂O₂ using the conventional technique. The prepared root canals were examined for the presence of smear layer under SEM.
All groups irrigated with the ultrasonic technique and the group irrigated with the endomate system using EDTA solution showed significantly cleaner surfaces; the smear layer was also greatly reduced.     

Primary tumors of the foot: MR imaging

The findings at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of eight patients with primary tumors of the foot were compared with those at gross pathologic examination. In all cases, there was excellent correlation between the two studies. When compared with computed tomography (CT), MR imaging was superior in defining the presence and extent of local disease. While the appearances of various foot neoplasms are nonspecific, the ease of multiplanar imaging, the superior contrast resolution, and the sensitivity to marrow abnormalities are major advantages of MR imaging over CT in staging foot neoplasms. These advantages are crucial when foot-sparing curative resection of a malignancy is contemplated. The combination of plain radiography and MR imaging may be all that is necessary for optimal preoperative detection and local staging of tumors of the foot.     

Antegrade puncture of the femoral artery: morphologic study

To determine the optimal site for antegrade puncture of the femoral artery, the authors evaluated three cadaver specimens and computed tomographic (CT) scans of 50 patients. The relationships among the common femoral artery, the femoral artery bifurcation, the center of the femoral head, and the inguinal ligament were evaluated. CT showed that the center of the femoral head was always located caudal to the level of the inguinal ligament but cranial to the bifurcation of the common femoral artery. Therefore, the femoral head seems to provide a reliable landmark for entering the common femoral artery.