The mitogenic effect of KGF and the expression of its cell surface receptor on cultured normal and malignant human oral keratinocytes and on contiguous fibroblasts

This study examined the mitogenic response to keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) of normal and tumour-derived human oral keratinocytes in which the degree of cellular differentiation was known and in contiguous fibroblast cultures derived from the malignant epithelial cultures. Keratinocytes, but not fibroblasts, were stimulated by KGF. There by demonstrating epithelial target cell specificity of the ligand. KGF-induced stimulation of the tumour-derived keratinocytes cultured in the absence of the 3T3 fibroblast support broadly correlated with the degree of cellular differentiation; well-differentiated keratinocytes were stimulated more by KGF than their less differentiated counterparts. Malignant oral keratinocytes expressed KGF cell surface receptors (K_D 451-709 pM; receptors/cell 2306-413645), but KGF receptor mRNA did not correlate with either KGF-induced mitogenesis or the degree of epithelial cell differentiation. When the tumour-derived keratinocytes were cultured in the presence of 3T3 fibroblasts, the mitogenic response to KGF was comparable to normal epithelial cells. The results suggest that KGF-mediated growth stimulation may not be significant in providing a selective advantage for the growth of malignant keratinocytes.     

Cell surface phenotype of in vitro proliferating lymphocytes in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP)

The in vitro proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) without any mitogenic stimulation is one of the hallmarks of human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. Recent evidence suggests a difference in the degree of the phenomenon between HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers (AC). In this article, we demonstrated several alterations in the features of the in vitro transformed lymphocytes between patients with HAM/TSP (n = 16) and AC (n = 8). The percentages of total CD8+ and CD8+CD28+ cells were significantly increased in the in vitro proliferating T lymphocytes derived from the patients with HAM/TSP when compared to those from AC. HAM/TSP was segregated from AC by the high degree of the proliferation of CD8+CD28+ cells. The expression of HTLV-I-specific antigens on the cultured PBLs was detected only in the subjects which showed low CD8+CD28+/CD4+ ratio of the in vitro proliferating lymphocytes. These findings suggest that this phenomenon distinguishes HAM/TSP from AC, not only in quantity but also in quality.     

Vaccination against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep using purified secretory acetylcholinesterase from Trichostrongylus colubriformis– an initial pilot study

Purified secretory acetylcholinesterase (sAChE) from Trichostrongylus colubriformis was used as a candidate vaccine against mixed T. colubriformis, Haemonchus contortus and C. oncophora challenge infections of sheep. Cross species protection was achieved with an average reduction in worm burden of all species of 31%, rising to 58% in individual cases. There was no consistent reduction in faecal egg counts and increases in anti-T. colubriformis sAChE IgG antibody levels following vaccination were modest. We suggest that improved antigen delivery systems will result in increased host protection.     

静脉用丙种球蛋白治疗新生儿重症感染对细胞免疫功能的影响

应用静脉注丙球(IVIG),配合抗生素(An)治疗重症感染新生儿12例,在观察疗效及不良反应的同时,通过检测患儿治疗前后T细胞亚群及白细胞介素Ⅱ(IL-2)产生水平的变化,观察IVIG对细胞免疫功能的影响。结果显示:患儿CD_3~+、CD_4~+、CD_8~+细胞及IL-2产生水平均明显低于正常同龄新生儿。经IVIG+An及单用An治疗后,T细胞各亚群及IL-2水平均明显增高。IVIG组与An组比较,诒疗后IVIG组CD_4~+细胞明显高于An组,IL-2水平也较An组为高,但无统计学意义。疗效观察,中毒症状及原发病体征好转消失时间IVIG组较An组明显缩短。本文还就IVIG对细胞免疫功能影响的可能机制进行了讨论。     

活血化瘀法治疗髌骨软骨软化症的探讨

本文从髌骨软骨软化症的病因病理出发，阐述了活血化瘀疗法治疗髌骨软骨软化症的作用及其原理，列举了活血化瘀法在该病治疗中的具体运用，同时强调了在辨证施治基础上活血化瘀的重要性。     

Neue Entwicklungen in der systemischen Psoriasistherapie

The current standard systemic therapeutic modalities for psoriasis have many potential side effects. Progress made in the understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis as a T‐cell‐mediated dermatosis provide options for new more precise therapeutic approaches. These immunological therapeutic strategies involve the inhibition/depletion of activated T‐lymphocytes, the inhibition of antigen presentation and thus the regulation of T‐cell activation, the inhibition of adhesion of inflammatory cells, the inhibition of effects of proinflammatory mediators and the administration of antiinflammatory cytokines. This article summarizes these new systemic therapeutic approaches. Clinical results in the early studies have been mixed. In the next years further results of phase II‐ and phase III‐studies may be expected, which should allow better assessment of the potential of those particular approaches. Some of these approaches could lead to the approval of new drugs to treat psoriasis and to enhance or replace already existing therapeutic options. Furthermore results of therapeutic experiments should contribute to a better understanding of the disease. As we learn which mechanisms are more or less important for the disease, we will be better able to plan intervention strategies.     

Rapidly enhancing hepatic hemangiomas at MRI: Distinction from malignancies with T2-weighted images

The purpose of this study is to describe a subset of atypical hepatic hemangiomas that enhance rapidly and diffusely and to determine whether heavily T2-weighted images could distinguish between atypically enhancing liver hemangiomas and hypervascular malignancies. A retrospective search of MR records identified seven patients with liver hemangiomas that demonstrated diffuse early enhancement and 23 patients with biopsy-proven malignant liver lesions that were hypervascular on dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR images. Quantitative analysis of signal intensity measurements was performed on the T2-weighted images, heavily T2-weighted (TE < 140), and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced images. Blinded reader comparison of the T2-weighted images and gadolinium-enhanced images was performed. Hypervascular hemangiomas enhanced to a greater degree than hypervascular malignant liver lesions on the early phase gadolinium-enhanced images. Perilesional parenchymal enhancement was demonstrated in five cases of rapidly enhancing hemangiomas. Signal intensity and contrast-to-noise ratios on the heavily T2-weighted images of the hemangiomas were significantly greater than that of the hypervascular malignant lesions (P < .05). Hemangiomas were differentiated from the hypervascular malignant liver lesions with high accuracy (97–100%) by three blinded readers based on the T2-weighted images. A subset of hemangiomas have atypical rapid diffuse enhancement on dynamic gadolinium-enhanced images. These atypical hemangiomas can be distinguished from hypervascular malignant liver lesions on T2-weighted MR images.     

TSG-6基因在3T3-L1脂肪细胞诱导分化中表达水平的变化

[目的] 探讨TSG-6基因在3T3-L1脂肪细胞诱导分化中表达水平的变化。[方法] 采用细胞培养和RT-PCR技术，检测细胞诱导分化不同时段脂肪细胞中TSG-6基因的表达水平。[结果] ①随着脂肪细胞逐渐分化成熟，TSG-6基因mRNA表达水平逐渐升高；②TSG-6基因表达水平除在细胞分化第0-2d、第3-5d和第7-10d各时段内差异无显著性(P＞0.05)外，其余各时段之间表达水平差异均有显著性(P＜0.05)。[结论] TSG-6基因与细胞分化以及脂原形成可能相关。     

肌钙蛋白T在诊断急性心肌梗死中的应用

采用肌钙蛋白Ｔ半定量试纸条检测急性心肌梗死１６例，心绞痛１３例，以２０例健康体检者为对照组。结果显示，ＡＭＩ组阳性反应１５例，心绞组仅１例阳性，对照组均为阴性，结果提示，ＴｎＴ半定量试纸条检测法在ＡＭＩ诊断中，敏感性和特异性较高，方法简便方便，尤其适用于急诊室，内科监护病房及基层医院使用。