Phenytoin desensitization monitored by antigen specific T cell response using carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester dilution assay

We evaluated drug-specific T cell responses in a patient with refractory partial seizures and paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis successfully treated with clinical desensitization to phenytoin. Drug-induced lymphocyte transformation test before desensitization was negative with a stimulation index of 130%. The frequencies and cytokine-producing phenotypes of phenytoin-specific T cells were examined simultaneously by using a carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dilution assay. Before desensitization, the proportion of CFSElow CD4+ cells in whole CD4+ was 3.09%; 13.6% of CFSElow CD4+ cells were stained with anti-interferon gamma antibody. After desensitization, phenytoin-specific CFSElow CD4+ cells decreased to background level. These results indicate that CFSE dilution assay will be useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of drug hypersensitivity.     

Post-translational processing of thyrotropin-releasing hormone precursor in rat brain: identification of 3 novel peptides derived from pro TRH

The sequence of rat hypothalamic pro-thyrotropin releasing hormone, deduced by sequencing of cDNA, in addition to 5 TRH progenitor genitor sequences contains leader, trailer and 4 intervening sequences separated by paired basic amino acid sequences. We have developed radioimmunoassays to synthetic peptides corresponding to portions of these cryptic proTRH sequences and have used these assays to identify and partially characterize proTRH peptides, distinct from TRH, in extracts of rat brain. Two of these peptides correspond closely in size to one intervening sequence and the car☐y-terminal sequence of proTRH. Three other peptides correspond to the intact amino-terminal leader sequence and two peptides formed by a further cleavage of the leader sequence at an internal paired basic amino acid sequence.     

高压氧对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注时神经元特异性烯醇化酶的影响

目的研究高压氧(HBO)对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注(IR)时．大鼠脑梗塞体积．脑组织病理改变及神经元特异性烯醇化酶(NSE)含量的影响。方法用线栓法制备阻断大脑中动脉(MCA)的局灶性脑IR模型。Wistar大鼠30只，随机分为5组：正常对照组(N组n=-6)，缺血再灌注2h 常压空气组(Rt组,n=-6)，缺血再灌注24h 常压空气组(R2组，n=-6)，缺血再灌注2h HBO组(H1组，n=-6)，缺血再灌注24h HBO组(H2组，n=-6)。R1、R2、H1、H2组缺血时间均为2h。R1、R2组暴露于常压空气，H1、H2组暴露于2．5MPa氧气。病理切片用HE染色，用Swanson方法测定脑梗塞体积，用酶联免疫法测定NSE含量。结果H1、H2组与R1、R2组相比，神经元缺血性损害较轻，脑梗塞体积缩小，NSE含量明显下降，差异有统计学意义。结论HBO能减轻缺血性脑损害，保护脑组织。     

SLE小鼠高IgG血症Fcgr2b基因序列分析

目的: 测定系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)小鼠模型-NZB/WF1双亲NZB,NZW小鼠 Fcgr2b基因启动子区核酸序列,明确Fcgr2b基因启动子区的突变性质.方法:扩增NZB,NZW小鼠Fcgr2b基因启动子DNA进行核酸序列分析.采用ELISA法测定、比较(NZB×NZW )F1×NZW回交小鼠Fcgr2b基因B/W型与W/W型组间血清总IgG 水平.结果:NZB小鼠Fcgr2b基因启动子区与正常鼠Balb/C相比存在2个部位碱基缺失,分别为13 bp及3 bp.NZW小鼠除有3个碱基置换外,与Balb/C鼠该基因启动子区序列相同.回交小鼠Fcgr2b基因B/W型组血清总 IgG水平明显高于W/W型组(P<0.0001).结论:NZB小鼠Fcgr2b基因启动子区存在碱基缺失,且该缺失突变可能与血清总IgG水平升高有关.     

单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP的应用

目的评价单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP图像质量及诊断价值，分析胆道梗阻性疾病的MRCP影像学表现。方法218例病人行单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP扫描，然后对图像进行质量评价，根据ERCP及手术结果对照分析胆道梗阻性疾病的MRCP的影像学征象和特点，讨论单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP在胆道梗阻性疾病中的诊断价值。结果单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP扫描时间为5～7S，优良图像为82．5％，合格图像为10，6％，差为6．9％。单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP在胆道梗阻性疾病中，对各类梗阻疾病的定位诊断率为100％，梗阻端形态，胆胰管之间的关系均可显示。病因定性诊断率为95．5%。结论单次激发半傅立叶FSE序列MRCP不受呼吸运动影响，图像优质率高，扫描速度快，可显示各种疾病的胆胰管梗阻改变，对诊断较小的结石及泥沙样结石有较大的价值，诊断较早期胆管癌准确率高，可满足临床诊断的要求。     

DIURNAL RHYTHM OF SERUM gM-SEMINOPROTEIN IN PATIENTS WITH UNTREATED PROSTATE CANCER: COMPARISON OF THE ORIGINAL AND REVISED ASSAY KITS

To compare levels of y-seminoprotein (gM-Sm) assayed by original and revised assay systems, blood was obtained every 4 h over a 32-h period from 8 untreated prostate cancer patients. Serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) were also examined. In 6 patients, the coefficient of variation (CV) of the serum levels assayed by the revised assay was significantly different from that of the intra-assay samples. In contrast, the CV of the gM-Sm serum levels assayed by the original assay differed significantly from that of the intra-assay samples in only 2 patients. The fluctuations in gM-Sm assayed by the revised assay were, at least in part, similar to those of the PSA serum levels in all patients. The mean CV of the gM-Sm serum levels assayed by the revised assay was significantly larger than that for levels measured by the original assay. After treatment, the rate of decrease in gM-Sm serum levels determined by the original assay differed from that in the serum levels of PSA and prostatic acid phosphatase. These results indicate that the original assay for gM-Sm do not detect diurnal differences in serum gM-Sm levels, even at levels below 20 ng/ml. These observations indicate that the analysis of data obtained using the original gM-Sm kit should be interpreted with caution.     

Spontaneous circadian fluctuations of prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase serum activities in patients with prostatic cancer

Summary Spontaneous circadian variations of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP), determined simultaneously by radioimmunoassay (RIA), were investigated by multiple sampling, over a 24-hour period, in 32 patients with prostatic cancer. In 29/32 patients (91%), the coefficient of variation of 24-hour values, for either marker, was greater than that of the RIA method at the same range of values; stage D patients showed the greatest spontaneous variability. Fluctuations around the mean of 24-hour values ranged from-65% to +85% for PAP, from-72% to +190% for PSA, occurring random and independently for each marker. Variability was about 20% greater for PSA than for PAP. The existence of spontaneous fluctuations should be considered in multiple marker evaluation of prostatic cancer patients.Preliminary results of this study have been presented at the International Symposium on Hormonal Therapy of Prostatic Diseases —Basic and Clinical Aspects, April 6–8, 1987, Milan, Italy     

Relationship between maternal- and fetal-specific IgE

AIM: A positive correlation between maternal and cord-blood IgE levels is well documented for total IgEs, but not for specific IgEs. The difficulty in detecting specific cord-blood IgEs is due to their low concentrations, which hinder their dosage by low-sensitivity methods. The study aimed to correlate maternal and foetal specific IgEs against individual cow's milk proteins, detected by highly sensitive and specific techniques. METHODS: Cow's milk specific IgE detection was performed by chemiluminescence on 52 specimens of maternal and cord blood after cow's milk protein separation by 1D and 2D gel electrophoresis. Cow's milk protein (CMP) antigens were identified by mass spectrometry techniques. RESULTS: Specific IgEs for CMPs were found in 25/52 (48.1%) of maternal sera and in 19/52 (37%) of cord-blood sera. In order of decreasing frequency, the proteins found were BSA, IgG heavy chain, caseins and, in a single case, b-lactoglobulin. Positive cord-blood sera in all cases corresponded to a positive maternal result, and maternal and foetal immunoreactivity patterns were closely correlated. Moreover, in no case was there a positive cord-blood response with a negative maternal response. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates a close relationship between maternal and cord-blood specific IgE patterns. The phenomenon observed could provide a model to elucidate the general production method of foetal IgEs, which might only be produced in the presence of both the corresponding maternal IgE and the related allergen.     

Serotype‐specific polysaccharide of Streptococcus mutans contributes to infectivity in endocarditis

Streptococcus mutans and other viridans streptococci have been implicated as major etiological agents of infective endocarditis. The serotype‐specific rhamnose‐glucose polysaccharide (RGP) of S. mutans has several biological functions that appear to be essential for the induction of infective endocarditis. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of RGP to the infectivity of S. mutans in infective endocarditis using a rat model. The RGP‐defective mutant of S. mutans showed reduced ability to induce infective endocarditis compared to the parental strain. The ability of S. mutans to induce infective endocarditis was not consistent with the binding capacity of the organism to extracellular matrix proteins. The results suggest that S. mutans containing whole RGP is more virulent than the RGP‐defective mutant, and the RGP has an important role for the induction of infective endocarditis by S. mutans.