蝶鞍区塑化薄片断层解剖学研究

为了给临床蝶鞍区手术提供详细的解剖学资料，用中年男性标本３０例，采用Ｐｌａｓｔｉｎａｔｉｏｎ技术，分别作成蝶区连续横、矢、冠状薄片断层标本，进行解剖学观测，结果显示：董体的左右径大于前后径或上下径，对于垂体病变，宜进行三方位对照观察，以了解垂体的形态变化。展神经与海绵窦外侧壁之间有间隙存在，说明展神经并不走行于外侧壁中，而是位海绵窦内。紧贴视交叉的外侧，颈内动脉由海绵窦段的前升冲突芊     

Detection of T suppressor cells in patients with organ allografts

Specific immunosuppression of host's immune response to donor HLA antigens has been a major goal to clinical transplantation. Recent evidence has been accumulating to show that a distinct population of T cells expressing the CD8(+) CD28(-) phenotype display suppressor function and inhibit Th activation and proliferation by modulating the APC function. To assess the presence of Ts in transplant recipient's circulation, we have developed a flow cytometry method that measures the expression of costimulatory molecules on donor APC exposed to recipient Th and Ts. Our results demonstrate that quantitation of the capacity of CD8(+) CD28(-) T cells from patient circulation to suppress the activation of costimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86) on donor APC offers a reliable tool for monitoring specific immunosuppression against the graft in solid organ transplantation.     

Supradiaphragmatic ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting adenoma

A 22-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome, caused by an extremely rare suprasellar ectopic pituitary adenoma, is presented. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography revealed a well-circumscribed mass in the right suprasellar region. Endocrinological tests showed elevated s-adrenocorticotropic hormone level and hypercortisolemia. The tumor was totally removed by right subfrontal approach. At the time of the operation, the tumor was in continuity with the distal pituitary stalk but not with the pituitary gland. The diaphragma sellae was intact. Histologic diagnosis of the tumor specimen was confirmed as a pituitary adenoma. After surgical removal of the tumor, continued improvement in the patient's laboratory results and disappearance of her endocrine symptoms strongly indicated the absence of adenoma cells in the pituitary gland or stalk. Six years post-surgery, there was no evidence of recurrence in the patient's clinical and laboratory examination. This tumor probably originated from aberrant anterior pituitary cells of the pituitary stalk.     

Ectopic expression of activated Stat6 induces the expression of Th2-specific cytokines and transcription factors in developing Th1 cells

Stat6 is critical for IL-4-mediated Th2 cell development, but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here we constructed Stat6:ER, a Stat6-estrogen receptor fusion protein that can be activated by 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen, independently of IL-4 and endogenous Stat6. Retrovirus-mediated introduction of Stat6:ER into developing Th1 cells induced Th2-specific cytokines and suppressed IFNgamma production in a 4-HT-dependent manner and in the absence of IL-4. It also induced GATA-3 and c-maf expression and downregulated IL-12Rbeta2 chain expression. Its decreased ability to induce the Th2 phenotype with progressing Th1 cell commitment correlated with a decreased induction of GATA-3 and c-maf. This study indicates that Stat6 functions upstream of GATA-3 and c-Maf to induce Th2 development.     

Secretory meningioma--a case report with histopathological,immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis.

Secretory meningioma have been described as a distinct variant of meningioma based on their histologic, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural features of epithelial and secretory differentiation of meningothelial cells with accumulation of secretory material in the form of hyaline inclusion. Secretory meningioma is also a benign tumor having similar biological behaviour to that of typical meningiomas: hence, it is important for it to be recognized and diagnosed correctly to avoid unnecessary radiation and chemotherapy. Here we present a case of secretory meningioma with typical morphologic features. The patient was a 56-year-old woman with bilateral visual disturbance. A well-circumscribed mass was present in the left frontal lobe of cerebrum with surrounding edema. The tumor was composed of whorls of meningothelial cells and abundant intra- and extracellular eosinophilic hyaline inclusions which showed immunoreactivity for epithelial membrane antigen(EMA) and carcinoembryonic antigen(CEA). Ultrastructural features also supported epithelial and secretory differentiation of tumor cells.     

Fluoxetine and 8-OH-DPAT in the lateral septum enhances and impairs retention of an inhibitory avoidance response in rats.

The present study investigated the role of lateral septal serotonin (5HT) in memory consolidation and the subtype of 5HT receptors involved in this process. Rats with cannulae implanted bilaterally into the lateral septum were trained in an inhibitory avoidance task. Immediately after training, the septal serotonergic function was manipulated by pharmacological agents selectively blocking 5HT reuptake (fluoxetine and zimelidine), antagonizing 5HT2 receptors (ketanserin and ritanserin), or activating 5HT1A receptors, respectively. Results indicated that direct fluoxetine infusions into the lateral septum at a dose of 6 micrograms/0.5 microliter and zimelidine at a dose of 5 micrograms/0.5 microliter both markedly enhanced memory. Intralateral septal injections of ketanserin (0.3 microgram/0.5 microliter and 0.5 microgram/0.5 microliter) and ritanserin (0.3 microgram/0.5 microliter and 0.6 microgram/0.5 microliter) did not have a significant effect by themselves on memory, and neither did they attenuate the memory-facilitating effect of fluoxetine in the same area. Intralateral septal infusions of 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin at 5 micrograms/0.5 microliter significantly impaired memory retention. These findings altogether support the notion that the lateral septal nuclei of rats are involved in the memory processes of inhibitory avoidance learning. Furthermore, postsynaptic 5HT receptor activation (not the 5HT2 receptor subtype) probably exerts a facilitatory effect while presynaptic 5HT1A receptor activation exerts an impairing effect on the memory consolidation process, probably due to autoreceptor inhibition of 5HT release.     

Systemic Coccidioides immitis infection in nude and beige mice.

The course of experimental systemic Coccidioides immitis infection was assessed quantitatively and histologically in beige mice, congenitally athymic nude mice, and their respective normal counterparts. After intravenous inoculation with 50 arthroconidia, the number of viable C. immitis cultured from the spleens, livers, and lungs progressively increased throughout the assay in the organs of all mice. During the first 2 weeks of infection, significantly greater numbers of CFU were recovered from the spleens and livers, but not the lungs, of nude mice than from the respective organs of their phenotypically normal littermates. Significantly greater numbers of CFU were cultured from the lungs and spleens of beige mice compared with the number recovered from their functionally normal littermates. After intranasal inoculation, extrapulmonary dissemination of C. immitis occurred at an equal rate and resulted in similar organ burdens in nude mice and their normal littermates. Histological examination of infected tissues revealed a characteristic mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate in euthymic mice; the response in nude mice was less severe, consisting predominantly, if not solely, of granulocytes. In addition, in tissue sections from nude mice, but not in those from their euthymic counterparts, mature spherules were frequently observed to be devoid of an associated inflammatory response. The inflammatory lesion in beige mice contained a predominance of mononuclear cells, whereas their littermates responded with a typical mixed granulomatous infiltrate. Collectively, these results provide evidence supporting the hypothesis that resistance to C. immitis infection involves two primary cell populations, one under the direct influence of T-cells and the other independent of T-lymphocytes.     

Evidence that a cytoplasmically located version of a v-erbB-encoded protein can transform both fibroblasts and erythroblasts.

We previously isolated an avian erythroblastosis virus, AEV-GEE35, in which the complete extracellular and transmembrane domains of the v-erbB oncoprotein were replaced with sequences from the gag and env proteins. The GEE35 virus was capable of transforming both fibroblasts and erythroblasts as efficiently as wild-type v-erbB. Analysis of the v-erbB proteins encoded by GEE35 revealed two proteins of similar molecular weights of approximately 130,000 Da. One of these proteins was an N-linked glycosylated membrane protein, whereas the other was a cytoplasmic protein. Biochemical characterization of these two proteins revealed that the transmembrane protein has the v-erbB domain outside the cell, such that it no longer had access to its tyrosine kinase substrates. This implies that it is the cytoplasmically located v-erbB-encoded protein that is responsible for the efficient transforming ability of this virus.