Fas receptor expression on B-lineage cells

Mice homozygous for the lpr mutation have B and T cell defects and develop autoantibodies, suggesting that lpr plays a role in their genesis. The lpr defect has been identified as a mutation in the apoptosis-associated Fas receptor (FasR) gene. To begin to define the role of FasR in B cells, we have surveyed FasR expression on B-lineage cells from early progenitors in the bone marrow through their maturation in the periphery. Contrary to some reports, we found that FasR is expressed on B cells at all stages of their development and is highest on germinal center B cells. FasR is not expressed on lpr/lpr-derived cells. These data are consistent with the idea that lpr/lpr mice have an intrinsic B cell defect that may be manifested in developing as well as peripheral B cells. An unexpected finding is that B-1 (CD5) B cells do not constitutively express FasR: FasR becomes detectable on B-1 B cells only after activation.     

Study of the role of vitamin B12 and folinic acid supplementation in preventing hematologic toxicity of zidovudine

Abstract: A prospective, randomized study was conducted to evaluate the role of vitamin B₁₂ and folinic acid supplementation in preventing zidovudine (ZDV)-induced bone marrow suppression. Seventy-five human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with CD4 + cell counts < 500/mm³ were randomized to receive either ZDV (500 mg daily) alone (group I, n = 38) or in combination with folinic acid (15 mg daily) and intramascular vitamin B₁₂ (1000 μg monthly) (group II, n = 37). Finally, 15 patients were excluded from the study (noncompliance 14, death 1); thus, 60 patients (31 in group I and 29 in group II) were eligible for analysis. No significant differences between groups were found at enrollment. During the study, vitamin B₁₂ and folate levels were significantly higher in group II patients; however, no differences in hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and white-cell, neutrophil and platelet counts were observed between groups at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Severe hematologic toxicity (neutrophil count < 1000/mm³ and/or hemoglobin < 8 g/dl) occurred in 4 patients assigned to group I and 7 assigned to group II. There was no correlation between vitamin B₁₂ or folate levels and development of myelosuppression. Vitamin B₁₂ and folinic acid supplementation of ZDV therapy does not seem useful in preventing or reducing ZDV-induced myelotoxicity in the overall treated population, although a beneficial effect in certain subgroups of patients cannot be excluded.     

Effect of hepatitis C antibody screening in blood donors on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan

A national screening programme for antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in blood donors in Taiwan began in July 1992 using a second-generation immunoassay. To study the impact of this screening on post-transfusion hepatitis in Taiwan, a prospective study on post-transfusion hepatitis, that was started in 1987, was continued. As of June 1994, 245 patients who received a blood transfusion after July 1992 had completed a follow-up period for more than 6 months post-transfusion. Of them, seven (2.8%) recipients developed acute post-transfusion hepatitis. The hepatitis in six cases could not be attributed to infection by hepatitis A, B, C, D, E viruses or cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). The remaining patient seroconverted to both IgG and IgM anti-CMV. All seven patients recovered in 6 months without development of chronicity, and the mean peak alanine aminotransferase level was lower compared with that of the cases before anti-HCV screening (i.e. pre-July 1992). These results indicate that the current anti-HCV screening has effectively interrupted HCV transmission through blood transfusion in Taiwan.     

Detection of IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus in serum samples from patients with hepatitis E virus infection

A newly developed assay for IgA class antibody to hepatitis E virus (IgA anti-HEV) was used to study 145 serum samples collected during an outbreak of an enterically transmitted hepatitis that occurred in 3 villages in the lower Shebeli region of Southern Somalia between January, 1988 and November, 1989. A total of 52.4% of the afflicted patients were found positive for IgA anti-HEV, and 73.1% of these were also positive for IgM. Both antibodies disappeared during the convalescence period. Similar results were also seen in serum obtained from sporadic cases of acute waterborne hepatitis in Pakistan. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

HCV的检测方法

从发现丙型肝炎病毒以来 ,丙肝的检测技术发展迅速 ,灵敏度和特异性都有明显的提高 ,方法学在不断改进完善。笔者就近年来丙型肝炎的实验室检测方法作简要的综述     

HBV-M定量检测与HBV-DNA含量水平关系的初步探讨

目的 研究乙型肝炎病毒标志物定量检测结果与其HBV-DNA含量的临床关系。方法 采用时间分辨免疫定量和荧光定量-PCR技术，对HBV-DNA和HBV-DNA含量进行检测。结果 在HBsAg/HBeAg/HBcAb,HBsAg/HBcAb/HBcAb,HBeAg/IC及单纯HBcAb阳性的四个组别中，HBV-DNA阳性率分别是97.17%、30.56%、100%和25%；在HBsAg,HBeAg,HBeAb,HBcAb定量检测高，低值两组HBV-DNA含量对比中，HBV-DNA阳性率分别为76.92%、58.14%；100%、97.26%；20.00%、11.42%；64.62%、27.63%。结论 HBV-DNV比HBV-M更能及时准确反映乙型肝炎病毒感染者的病程情况。     

LightCycler实时监测PCR定量分析血清HBV DNA

目的 检验LightCycler实时监测PCR（real-time detection PCR,RTD-PCR)对血清中HBV DNA定量检测的灵敏性和可重复性，探讨HBV血清标志物与HBV DNA定量的关系。方法 HBV定量按深圳匹基公司乙肝PCR荧光检测试剂盒使用说明，对乙肝标志物已明确的773例血清中HBV DNA定量结果进行统计分析。结果 实时监测PCR对血清中HBV DNA定量检测的灵敏性高，可检测低至1000拷贝／ml血清；可重复性好，批间误差＜20％；各种标志物类型的血清HBV DNA含量分布情况表明，HBV血清标志物中HBeAg与HBV DNA含量有明显的关系，一般HBeAg阳性血清HBV DNA含量较高，但也有相当一部分例外。结论 LightCycler实时监测PCR对血清中HBV DNA定量检测灵敏性高可重复性好；仅根据HBV血清标志物往往不能确定乙肝患者HBV DNA复制水平的高低，HBV DNA定量检测具有十分重要的临床意义。     

Effect of Prevention and Treatment of Murine Acute Viral Myocarditisand Protection of Lymphoid Organ Atrophy withXinkang Oral Liquid (心康口服液)

Ｉｔｈａｓｂｅｅｎｅｓｔａｂｌｉｓｈｅｄｔｈａｔｃｏｘｓａｃｋｉｅｖｉｒｕｓｉｓｔｈｅｐｒｅｄｏｍｉｎａｎｔｃａｕｓｅｏｆｖｉｒａｌｍｙｏｃａｒｄｉｔｉｓｉｎｈｕｍａｎ(1) ,ｗｈｉｃｈｉｓａｃｏｍｍｏｎｄｉｓｅａｓｅｓｅｒｉｏｕｓｌｙｅｎｄａｎｇｅｒｈｅａ     

Papillitis and vasculitis of the arteria spinalis anterior as complications of hepatitis C reinfection after liver transplantation

It is well known that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease may be associated with various immunological disorders including mixed cryoglobulinemia, which is accompanied by cutaneous vasculitis, arthralgias, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and neuropathy in association with cryoprecipitable immune complexes in serum. We describe here the first case of central nervous system HCV infection with evidence of the virus in the cerebrospinal fluid in association with cryoglobulinemia in a patient who developed recurrent episodes of papillitis and vasculitis of the arteria spinalis anterior after liver transplantation. Received: 3 September 1996 Received after revision: 13 November 1996 Accepted: 6 December 1996     

叶下珠复方治疗慢性乙型肝炎54例临床观察

应用叶下珠复方治疗慢性乙型病毒性肝炎５４例，与灭澳灵１０例作对照。结果显示叶下珠复方组治疗３个月（其中１０例治疗６个月）．临床症状体征显著改善，肝功能复常或明显改善者达８２．６％；ｅ抗原及ＨＢＶ—ＤＮＡ转阴率分别为４６．２％（２４／５２）和４６．３％（１９／４１）；疗效优于灭澳灵组（上述３项指标分别为２０％，１０％，１００％；Ｐ＜０．０１和Ｐ＜０．０５）。叶下珠复方组治疗３个月后ｅ抗原及ＤＮＡ未阴转中１０例延长疗程至６个月，结果ｅ抗原及ＨＢＶ—ＤＮＡ转阴分别为６例；ｅ抗原阴转患者中大部分伴随ＨＢＶ—ＤＮＡ阴转（８５．７％）及肝功能复常或改善（１００％）。ｅ抗原及ＮＢＶ—ＤＮＡ的阴转率似在成年患者及病程短者较高；而与中医证型似无明显关系。研究表明叶下珠复方治疗慢性乙型病毒性肝炎具有一定的疗效，延长疗程似可提高疗效，尚需进一步研究。