Role of GADD45 beta in the regulation of synovial fluid T cell apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by persistent Th1 cell infiltration and production of inflammatory cytokines in the location of joint lesion. It is known that infiltrated Th1 cells in the synovial fluid (SF) of RA patients are resistant to apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that Th1 cells accumulated in patient SF expressed a high level of GADD45β (Growth Arrest and DNA Damage-inducible 45β) which further inhibited Th1 cell apoptosis. Interestingly, in vitro culture of T cells with SF from RA patients increased GADD45β expression in Th1 cells and inhibited their apoptosis. Silencing of GADD45β by RNAi abolished the anti-apoptotic effect of RA SF, which was accompanied by down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax. Further analysis showed that TNF-α and IL-12 in RA SF could stimulate GADD45β expression in Th1 cells and inhibit their apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest a novel mechanism by which specific cytokines in the RA SF elevate GADD45β expression in local Th1 cells and subsequently leading to the enhanced T cell survival.     

Determination of bisphenol A concentrations in human biological fluids reveals significant early prenatal exposure

BACKGROUND: There is broad human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogenic endocrine-disrupting chemical widely used for the production of plastic products. BPA is reported to affect preimplantation embryos or fetuses and alter their postnatal development at doses typically found in the environment. We measured contamination of BPA in various kinds of human biological fluids by a novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from healthy premenopausal women, women with early and full-term pregnancy, and umbilical cord at full-term delivery. Ovarian follicular fluids obtained during IVF procedures and amniotic fluids obtained at mid-term and full-term pregnancy were also subject to BPA measurements. RESULTS: BPA was present in serum and follicular fluid at approximately 1-2 ng/ml, as well as in fetal serum and full-term amniotic fluid, confirming passage through the placenta. Surprisingly, an approximately 5-fold higher concentration, 8.3 +/- 8.7 ng/ml, was revealed in amniotic fluid at 15-18 weeks gestation, compared with other fluids. CONCLUSION: These results suggest accumulation of BPA in early fetuses and significant exposure during the prenatal period, which must be considered in evaluating the potential for human exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals.     

Cytologic diagnosis of endosalpingiosis with pregnant women presenting in peritoneal fluid: a case report

The cytologic appearance of endosalpingiosis in peritoneal fluid cytology smears has not been extensively described. We report a case of endosalpingiosis in a 29-year-old pregnant female who presented with peritoneal fluid. Dense papillary epithelial clusters with indistinct ciliated cells were found in the Papanicolaou-stained smears. However, long and delicate cilia were obvious in papillary cluster with scanning electron microscopy. Cell nuclei were oval, with finely dispersed chromatin and uniform nuclear membrane. Peritoneal fluid cytology with these findings may be helpful to suggest the probable preoperative diagnosis of endosalpingiosis or benign glandular inclusions involving the pelvic peritoneum.     

荧光原位杂交检测在产前诊断中的临床价值

目的探讨运用羊水间期细胞开展荧光原位杂交检测在产前诊断中的临床价值。方法运用FISH技术对110例孕16～24周孕妇的羊水间期细胞进行检测,每例均进行常规染色体核型分析。结果运用FISH法,所有样本均在19h内获得检测结果,除2例羊水培养失败外,所有样本均取得染色体核型分析报告结果。两种方法均检出特氏综合征、21-三体综合征各1例,所有样本的两种方法检测结果均互相符合。常规染色体核型分析有2例异常,因缺乏相应DNA探针。FISH法未能检出。结论运用羊水间期细胞开展荧光原位杂交检测,缩短了诊断时间,缓解了孕妇及家属因等待检测结果所产生的焦虑心情。检测程序简单,结果判定明确,在产前诊断实施过程中具有重要的临床价值。     

荧光原位杂交技术在染色体非整倍体产前诊断中的应用研究

目的建立荧光原位杂交技术应用于未培养羊水标本的染色体非整倍体产前诊断。方法对于符合产前诊断指征的孕妇,于孕16-25周抽取羊水25ml,其中20ml用于传统的细胞培养和染色体G显带分析,其余5ml用荧光原位杂交方法诊断13、8、21、X、Y染色体非整倍体。结果100例受检样本中,染色体数目异常3例,其中21三体2例,45,X 1例。FISH方法与传统羊水细胞核型分析符合率100%。结论FISH技术具有快速、简便、特异的特点,可作为部分染色体非整倍体的快速产前诊断方法。     

Pleocytosis is associated with disruption of HIV compartmentalization between blood and cerebral spinal fluid viral populations

Introduction: We hypothesized that pleocytosis, which is a marker of central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, would result in viral genetic equilibration or de-compartmentalization between HIV populations in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), suggesting viral trafficking.Methods: Study subjects, who started or interrupted their antiretroviral treatment, had viral loads measured and clonal viral env sequences generated from HIV RNA extracted from paired blood and CSF samples. White blood counts in CSF were also measured at each timepoint. Degree of inter-compartment segregation was calculated by posterior probability using linear discriminant analysis and multidimensional scaling. Co-receptor usage was determined using a trained support vector machine.Results: Pleocytosis was strongly associated with disruption of viral compartmentalization.Conclusions: Inflammation in the CNS, marked by pleocytosis, allows HIV populations to mix between blood and CSF, which may increase the overall viral genetic diversity within the CSF.     

EVEREST study: Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan

Acute heart failure syndromes are a common cause of emergency department visits and hospitalization in North America and Europe. Although in-hospital mortality is relatively low, the postdischarge mortality and rehospitalization rates can be as high as 10–15 and 30%, respectively, within 60–90 days following discharge. It appears that the main reason for admission and readmission for heart failure is related to congestion manifested by dyspnea, jugular venous distension and edema. Often, congestion is associated with dilutional hyponatremia that is difficult to treat. Hyponatremia is an important predictor of increased mortality and the available therapies to treat congestion and/or hyponatremia are often ineffective and/or unsafe. Accordingly, there is an unmet need to develop a new agent that effectively relieves congestion due to high filling pressure without worsening renal function and improving or normalizing serum sodium in hyponatremic patients. This paper provides an overview of a new compound, tolvaptan, an oral selective V₂-vasopressin antagonist in light of the recently published Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan (EVEREST) trial. The biochemical and pharmacological properties are discussed in conjunction with its clinical efficacy and safety, exploring the potential role of tolvaptan in the management of acute heart failure syndromes presenting with or without hyponatremia.     

脑脊液乳酸联合酶活性测定在脑梗死中的临床应用价值

目的探讨脑梗死患者的脑脊液乳酸、蛋白含量和酶活性变化的临床意义。方法应用全自动生化分析仪检测87例脑梗死患者和32例无神经系统疾病需外科手术的腰麻患者的腩脊液乳酸（LA）、总蛋白、CRP、LDH、AST活性，并进行统计中分析。结果对照组脑脊液LA、总蛋白、CRP、LDH、AST和酶活性结果明显低于脑梗死组（P〈0．01），对照组脑脊液ADA低于脑梗死组，但差异无统计学意义。结论脑脊液乳酸、蛋白含量和酶活性变化对脑梗死的疗效观察以及预后判断有重要的临床意义。     

Body Fluid Variations and Endogenous Digitalis-Like Compounds During Chronic NaCl Loading in Wistar Rats

Circulating digitalis-like compounds have been proposed to be raised in volume expanded hypertension and to participate in Na⁺ homeostasis. We have investigated the temporal relationships between the activity of these circulating digitalis-like compounds, blood pressure and body fluid volume variations during a chronic NaCl load in the Wistar rat.

Characteristics of salt-loaded rats were compared to those of weight-matched controls. At one week, when extracellular fluid volume (ECFV) was elevated, the capacity of plasma extracts to inhibit the Na⁺K⁺ATPase activity begun to rise. At two weeks, ECFV remained elevated, and plasma volume, blood pressure and the activity of plasma digitalis-like compounds increased. After 13 weeks, the continuous rise in plasma digitalis-like activity and in blood pressure was accompanied by the return of body fluid volumes towards control values. These changes in plasma digitalis-like activity, body fluid volumes, and systolic blood pressure during a high NaCl diet are compatible with the proposed role of circulating digitalis-like compounds as natriuretic and hypertensive factors.