The role of complement in Ascaris suum induced histopathology

The role of complement in the histopathology of primary and challenge re-infection by Ascaris suum was assessed. Guinea-pigs deficient in C4 or depleted of the terminal components C3 to C9 by cobra venom factor (CVF) were employed. Pathological changes in the livers of complement-deficient guinea-pigs differed slightly from controls. The most striking findings were in the lungs of CVF-treated infected animals, where marked eosinophilic abscesses were observed following either a primary or repeat infection with Ascaris suum. Additionally, greater numbers of larvae were harvested from the lungs of both CVF-treated and C4-deficient infected guinea-pigs as compared with controls. Serum C4 levels varied over the first 7 days after primary infection, declining in several of the normal and CVF-treated animals, but remaining stable in others. The C4 levels remained unchanged in re-infected animals. The C3 to C9 levels remained within the normal range in both primary and re-infected guinea-pigs. The data suggests that complement is involved in the host responses to infection with Ascaris suum. In the absence of complement (C3 to C9), enhanced pulmonary eosinophilic infiltration and eosinophilic granuloma formation occur in both primary and re-infected animals.     

玻璃体切除术治疗外伤性眼内炎62例

0　引言　外伤性眼内炎是眼外伤的常见并发症 ,对视力及眼球威协极大 .由于病原体随致伤物直接进入眼内 ,在眼内和玻璃体繁殖 ,产生剧烈炎症反应 ,对眼内组织造成严重破坏 .如不及时而有效的控制 ,终使视力丧失 ,眼球萎缩 .近年随着现代玻璃体手术的发展 ,外伤性眼内炎的治愈率明显提高 .现将我科收治的 6 2例报告如下 .1　对象和方法1 .1　对象 1 996 - 0 6 / 1 998- 0 6我院连续收治 6 2例外伤性眼内炎 ,其中男 5 0例 ,女 1 2例 ,年龄 2～ 45岁 ,平均 1 6 .5岁 .1 4岁以下儿童 38例 ,占 6 1 .3% .以致伤原因分类 :角膜穿通伤30例 ,巩膜穿…     

CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ALGORITHM FOR PREDICTING SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AT HIGH ALTITUDE THROUGH MATHEMATICAL MODELLING

A population based hybrid design combining element of cohort and cross-sectional approach was used to develop a simple clinical algorithm to predict individual probability of developing hypertension (systolic BP > 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP > 90 mmHg). 3615 soldiers initially normotensive at the time of induction into high altitude, were studied by systematic random sampling. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a high significant association between hypertension and age, body mass index (BMI), tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption. Using the constant/coefficient values obtained from the logistic model and the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis, the following predictive rule was developed – To the age in years, add (BMIx 3.86); also add 5.53 if he is a smoker; and add 19.81 if he consumes alcohol. If the total exceeds 142, the individual is at high risk of developing hypertension. This algorithm carries a sensitivity of 68.2% and specificity of 78.5%.KEY WORDS: Hypertension, High altitude     

Cost-effectiveness of a post-exposure HIV chemoprophylaxis program for blood exposures in health care workers.

We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of a post-exposure chemoprophylaxis program for health care workers who sustained exposures to blood. We analyzed a program of (1) treatment with zidovudine alone versus no treatment and (2) treatment with three-drug therapy versus no treatment. Assuming that 35% of exposures were to HIV-positive sources, the zidovudine regimen prevented 53 HIV seroconversions per 100,000 exposures, at a societal cost of $2.0 million per case of HIV prevented. The cost per quality-adjusted life year saved was $175,222. A three-drug chemoprophylactic therapy program (postulating 100% effectiveness and 35% source HIV positivity), prevented 66 seroconversions per 100,000 exposures, at a cost of $2.1 million per case of HIV prevented and $190,392 per quality-adjusted life year saved. Treating sources known to be HIV-positive and treating severe exposures were the most cost-effective strategies.     

PREVALENCE OF MICROALBUMINURIA IN NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS

The prevalence of microalbuminuria was assessed in 50 patients of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The mean age of patients was 52.1 ± 11.6 years and the duration of diabetes was 8.3 ± 6.8 years. Twenty (40%) patients had microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria was more common in patients with a longer duration of diabetes (more than 5 years), a poor glycaemic control, and higher systolic blood pressure.KEY WORDS: Microalbuminuria, Diabetes mellitus, Diabetic nephropathy, Chronic renal failure     

Inflamed fibronectin: an altered fibronectin enhances neutrophil adhesion

Recent investigations have emphasized the role of activated granulocytes in mediating vascular endothelial injury in the pathogenesis of shock lung. In vitro studies have indicated that tight adherence of the neutrophil to the endothelium is crucial for the development of cellular injury. Fibronectin is critical to cell-to- substratum and cell-to-cell interactions. Since fibronectin resides in plasma, on endothelial cell surfaces and is secreted into cell matrices, the adhesive properties of fibronectin must be modulated, lest universal cell agglomeration occur, yet be enhanced when cell attachment is appropriate. In these studies, treatment of fibronectin- coated surfaces with neutrophil release products increased the adhesion of activated neutrophils. Similarly, endothelial cells treated with neutrophil release products become a more adherent substrate for neutrophils. This enhanced adherence generated by treatment of fibronectin with neutrophil supernatants is inhibitable by heat and the lysosomal proteinase inhibitor, pepstatin-A. Neutrophil release products cause proteolytic fragmentation of fibronectin and enhanced fibronectin immunofluorescence on endothelial cells. In addition, neutrophils are more injurious to endothelial cells that have been pretreated with neutrophil release products. Neutrophils may enhance their own adherence to endothelial cells by altering fibronectin, and this altered, or "inflamed," fibronectin may serve as an amplifier of inflammation.     

Interstitial pulmonary macrophages produce platelet-derived growth factor that stimulates rat lung fibroblast proliferation in vitro.

Alveolar macrophages from humans and several animal species produce factors in vitro that modulate fibroblast growth and have been proposed as mediators of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Pulmonary interstitial macrophages (IMs) have not been studied previously in this regard. Pulmonary IMs were isolated from prelavaged rat lungs by enzymatic digestion of tissue and subsequent differential adherence of cells to culture dishes. The ability of IMs to release modulators of fibroblast growth into the culture medium was assessed by measuring [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and/or nuclear labeling of early-passage rat lung fibroblasts exposed to medium conditioned by IMs. The percentages of nuclei labeled in fibroblast cultures exposed to interstitial macrophage-conditioned medium (IMCM) alone did not significantly differ from that observed in controls, but fibroblasts exposed to IMCM supplemented with 2% platelet-poor plasma showed a 2.6-fold increase in labeling, indicating that IMCM contains predominantly "competence" growth factor activity. Similar results were obtained using purified human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). The level of growth factor activity released by IMs increased in cells that had phagocytized iron spheres during the culture period. In addition, fractionation of IMCM by high-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated most of the growth factor activity at a relative molecular mass of about 35 kd. Subsequent quantitative analysis of the fractions by an enzyme immunoassay for PDGF demonstrated that IMCM contains a homologue of human PDGF. These results show that IMs are capable of producing a PDGF-like growth factor for autologous fibroblasts and that release of this factor is enhanced by exposure to an insoluble inorganic particle. Because PDGF is a potent growth factor for fibroblasts and is released by IMs, it is essential to ask in future studies whether this or similar macrophage products play a significant role in mediating fibroblast proliferation in vivo.     

Comparison of cytogenetic damage in cultured cells from cobalt-60 gamma-radiation and the Auger emitter zinc-65

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of the Auger-emitting nuclide, zinc-65 (65Zn), relative to gamma-irradiation, to cause chromosomal aberrations in cultured rat prostate cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rat prostate adenocarcinoma cells in culture were exposed to doses of 1, 2, 3 or 5 Gy of external gamma-irradiation for 24h or incubated with 0.7, 1.5, 1.8 or 2.8 MBq of 65Zn for 24 h. The uptake by and clearance from cells of 65Zn was measured. Metaphase spreads prepared from washed cells were scored for chromatid- and chromosome-type aberrations. RESULTS: Following exposure to 65Zn or gamma-irradiation, chromatid-type damage was more commonly observed than chromosome-type aberrations. The relationship between induced chromatid damage and gamma dose (to 3 Gy) was best fitted by a second-order polynomial function, while the activity response relationship for chromatid damage caused by 65Zn appeared to be best fitted by a straight line. Measurements of the uptake of 65Zn by cells showed that average concentrations within cells were about 100 times the concentration in the culture medium. Assuming uniform distribution of 65Zn within cells, with 36% in the nucleus, the dose was estimated as 0.70 Gy per MBq added 65Zn, with Auger electrons contributing most (93%) of the dose. Assuming that 20% of cellular zinc was localized in the nucleus, based on previous measurements, the dose to the nucleus was calculated as 0.44 Gy per MBq added 65Zn. RBE values for chromatid damage induced by 65Zn compared to gamma-radiation range from about 1 to 3 based on a uniform dose throughout the cell and from about 2 to 5 based on 20% of 65Zn in the cell nucleus. CONCLUSION: The observed radiotoxicity of 65Zn is consistent with its behaviour as an Auger-emitting radionuclide that is localized to some extent in the nucleus.     

In vitro and in vivo antifungal activities of the eight steroid saponins from Tribulus terrestris L. with potent activity against fluconazole-resistant fungal pathogens

Antifungal activity of natural products is being studied widely. Saponins are known to be antifungal and antibacterial. We have isolated eight steroid saponins from Tribulus terrestris L. , namely TTS-8, TTS-9, TTS-10, TTS-11, TTS-12, TTS-13, TTS-14 and TTS-15. TTS-12 and TTS-15 were identified as tigogenin-3-O-β-D-xylopyranosyl（1→ 2）-[-β-D-xylopyranosyl（ 1 → 3 ） 3-β- D-glucopyranosyl （ 1 → 4 ）- 1- α-L-rhamnopyranosyl （ 1 → 2 ） 3-β-D-galactopyranoside and tigogenin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranpyranosyl（1→2）-[-β-D-xylopyranosyl（1→ 3）3-β-D-glucopyranosyl（1→4）-β-D-galactopyranoside, respectively. The in vitro antifungal activities of the eight saponins against six fluconazole-resistant yeasts, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida para psilosis , Candida tropicalis , Candida krusei , and Cryptococcus neo f ormans were studied using microbroth dilution assay. The results showed that TTS-12 and TTS-15 were very effective against several pathogenic candidal species and C. neoformans in vitro. It is noteworthy that TTS-12 and TTS-15 were very active against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans （MIC80 = 4.4, 9.4 mg/ml）, C. neoformans （MIC80 =10.7, 18.7 mg/ml） and inherently resistant C. krusei （MIC80 =8.8, 18.4 mg/ml）. So in vivo activity of TTS-12 in a vaginal infection model with fluconazole-resistant C. albicans was studied in particular. Our studies revealed TTS-12 also showed in vivo activities against fluconazole-resistant yeasts. In conclusion, steroid saponins TTS-12 and TTS-15 from Tribulus terrestris L. have significant in vitro antifungal activity against fluconazole-resistant fungi, especially TTS-12 also showed in vivo activity against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans.