Monoclonal antibodies against human granulocytes and myeloid differentiation antigens

Monoclonal antibodies (MCA) were obtained by immunizing BALB/c mice with 99% pure granulocytes from normal donors or with a whole leukocyte suspension obtained from a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patient, and then fusing the mouse spleen cells with a 315–43 myeloma cell clone. Four MCA were selected and studied using ELISA, immunofluorescence, cytotoxicity assays, and FACS analysis. Antibodies 80H.1. 80H.3. and 80H.5 (from normals) and 81H.1 (from CML) detected antigens expressed on neutrophils. Antibodies 80H.1 and 80H.3 (lgG) also reacted with monocytes but not with other blood cell subsets. Antibodies 80H.5 and 81H.1 (lgM) were cytotoxic and reacted strongly with most of the cells of the neutrophil maturation sequence. i.e., myeloblasts, promyelocytes, myelocytes, and mature granulocytes. Antibodies 80H.5 and 81H.1 also inhibited BFU-GM and CFU-E. Antigens recognized by 80H.3. 80H.5, and 81H.1 were expressed both on a proportion of cells from HL.60, KG.1, ML.1, and K562 myeloid cell lines, and on a proportion of blast cells isolated from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. They were not found on lymphoid cell lines or lymphoid leukemia cells. These MCA recognize either late differentiation antigens expressed on mature neutrophils and monocytes (80H.1 and 80H.3) or early differentiation antigens (80H.5 and 81H.1) specific to the granulocytic lineage. They may be useful for a better definition of those antigens specific to hematopoietic stem cells and their relationship with normal or neoplastic hematopoiesis.     

Immunotherapy in patients allergic to cat and dog dander

Twenty-four asthmatics allergic to cat and/or dog dander were included in a study to examine the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy (IT) with partially purified, standardized extracts of cat or dog dander. In the first placebo controlled, double-blind part of the study, 10 patients were treated with extracts of both cat and dog, 12 with cat extracts and 2 with dog extracts. Fifteen patients received active IT and 9 placebo injections. Patients treated with both extracts received active extracts only, or placebo only. Bronchial allergen challenge after 5 months demonstrated a significant fall in sensitivity to cat (P = 0.04) in patients treated with cat extracts. No significant changes were found in sensitivity to dog after treatment with dog dander extract or in the placebo groups. During this period, bronchial sensitivity to histamine did not change significantly in any of the groups. To examine the effect of more prolonged IT, 19 patients allergic to cat (17) and/or dog (9) were treated for 12 months. Bronchial sensitivity to cat decreased further (P = 0.003), while no significant change was found in dog extract-treated patients. In cat extract-treated patients a significant decrease in bronchial histamine sensitivity developed (P = 0.02). Systemic side effects were few, but in some cases, local side effects were a dose-limiting factor. This study demonstrated that IT with cat extract may benefit cat-allergic asthmatics, whereas no influence of IT with dog extract was detected in dog-sensitive asthmatics.     

外源性凝血途径和内皮细胞损伤与动脉粥样硬化之间的关系研究

目的探讨外源性凝血途径在动脉粥样硬化(AS)发病中的作用。方法均采用ELISA法测定心肌梗死、脑梗死、脑出血病人及正常对照组血浆TF、FⅦa的含量及不同时期这些物质浓度的变化、同时通过测定内皮细胞损伤的分子标记物vWF、内皮素 -1(ET -1)、总组织因子途径抑制物(TFPI)、组织因子(TF)探讨外源性凝血途径的活化与水平状况及内皮细胞损伤之间的关系。结果心肌梗死、脑梗死、脑出血病人TF、TFPT、ET -1、vWF、FⅦa,血中的浓度较正常对照组高 (P<0.01) ,有非常显著意义。结论外源性凝血途径与内皮细胞损伤和AS有密切相关。     

The occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis in the semen of men participating in an IVF programme

Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common causative agentsof sexually transmitted diseases. The authors studied the occurrenceof C.trachomatis in the semen of 184 asymptomatic men participatingin the IVF programme. Twenty-six (14.1%) of the 184 tested werepositive for C.trachomatis, these patients and their wives receivingdoxycycline capsules twice, 100 mg on the first day and 100mg/day for the following 13 days. This treatment was effectivein 88.5% of the cases and in the rest, treatment continued witherithromycin 250 mg four times/day for 2 weeks. The authorscompared the semen parameters (cell count, motility, morphology,bovine mucus penetration and hypo-osmotic swelling test) inthe infected and non-infected groups and observed no significantdifference between these two groups     

Disturbances of Haemostasis in Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is associated with disturbances in haemostasis that could contribute to the development of thrombotic complications.The present study was undertaken to determine the behavior of coagulation variables and fibrinolytic system in diabetes mellitus. Forty five diabetic patients and forty five matched controls were evaluated by doing the following haemostatic parameter, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, coagulation factors assay II, VII, IX, & plasma fibrinogen, ADP-induced platelet aggregation, protein C, a₂- antiplasmin, PAI and FDPs. Generally diabetic patients have high levels of fibrinogen, a₂- antiplasmin, & PAI and lower level of protein C. Other haemostatic parameters did not show statistically significant difference between diabetic patients and control group. Significantally elevated levels of PAI, a₂- antiplasmin together with low protein C level in diabetic patients may result in the disturbance of haemostatic balance favoring thrombotic events. Conclusion: High levels of plasma fibrinogen, a₂A- antiplasmin with low plasma protein C activity could lead to a prothrombotic tendency in insulin dependent diabetic patients. Moreover, in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients, the above mentioned parameters together with high levels of ADP-induced platelet aggregation and plasminogen activator inhibitor may increase the risk of thrombotic complications. Obesity can be considered as an additional risk factor for development of thrombosis in diabetic patients.     

介绍一种制备特异性TF和特异性iRNA的方法

以乙肝疫苗、人喉癌细胞膜抗原为抗原，猪脾细胞为效应细胞，经体外免疫后收集应答细胞，制备ＰＳＨＢＶ－ＴＦ ＰＳＡＣ－ｉＲＮＡ。通过抗原特异性细胞免疫功能试验证实，ＰＳＨＢＶ－ＴＦ和ＰＳＡＣ－ｉＲＮＡ都能转移特异性细胞免疫功能。采用体外免疫法制备ＰＳＨＢＶ－ＴＦ和ＰＳＡＣ－ｉＲＮＡ是可行的，并且具有诸多优点。     

Behavioral characteristics of rat lines selected for differential hypothermic responses to cholinergic or serotonergic agonists

The present review will describe the formation of two pharmacologically selected lines of rats, their behavioral phenotypes, their responses to select drugs, their possible neurochemical correlates, and their use to detect the therapeutic potential of antidepressant drugs. The Flinders Line rats were established at Flinders University in Australia by selectively breeding for differential responses to an anticholinesterase agent from outbred Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats; the Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) rats were more sensitive to the hypothermic and behavioral suppressing effects of this agent than the Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats. The 8-OH-DPAT line rats were established at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by selectively breeding for differential hypothermic responses to the 5-HT_1A receptor agonist, 8-OH-DPAT; the high DPAT sensitive (HDS) line rats were more sensitive to the hypothermic effects of 8-OH-DPAT than the low DPAT sensitive (LDS) line rats. Studies of these two pairs of lines have indicated that the FSL and HDS rats are both more susceptible to stress-induced behavioral disturbances. Their usefulness in detecting potential antidepressant drugs and the relationship between mood disorders and drug abuse will be discussed.     

Sensitization and lung function in workers occupationally exposed to natural thickening products

BACKGROUND: Three workers engaged in the manufacture of natural thickener products (Cassia spp., guar, and tamarind flour) were occupationally sensitized to Cassia spp. Therefore, a cross-sectional study on the prevalence of sensitization among and respiratory health of the employees of this plant was conducted. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-two workers (36 with high, 26 with low exposure) participated in the survey. Skin prick tests and specific IgE tests with extracts of these components revealed that 11.3% were sensitized to Cassia spp. and 9.7% to at least one species of storage mites, with a significantly higher portion of atopic subjects in the sensitized group. Overall, 55% of the subjects reported work-related symptoms (upper and lower airways, eyes, or skin). FVC % pred. was significantly lower in highly exposed workers, while RV % pred. and RV%TLC % pred. were significantly higher in this group. In the multivariate model, sensitization was not a risk factor for impairment of lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Dust exposure to flours may not only cause allergic sensitization but also induce chronic changes in lung function.     

Reduced nocturnal morphine analgesia in mice following a geomagnetic disturbance

Latency to respond to an aversive thermal stimulus and the degree of analgesia induced by morphine were examined in mice injected with either isotonic saline or morphine sulfate (10 mg/kg) during midscotophase of a 12:12 h LD cycle. When mean response latencies were compared to the degree of geomagnetic disturbance (Ap index) present on test days, it was found that during the geomagnetic storm on December 17th, 1982, a significant reduction (P<0.01) in response latency was evident in both saline- and morphine-treated mice. The reduction in response latencies was greater, and lasted longer in the morphine-treated animals. It is suggested that the pineal gland may mediate this biomagnetic effect.