Mapping the rat somatosensory pathway from the anterior cruciate ligament nerve endings to the cerebrum

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) serves as the primary restraint to anterior tibial translation. In addition to this biomechanical function, the ACL appears to have a function in neuromuscular control. This hypothesis was formulated after the discovery of mechanoreceptors within the ACL. The full somatosensory pathway from the ACL to the cerebrum has yet to be elucidated. In order to map this sensory pathway, we conducted a viral trans-synaptic tracing experiment using the neurotropic pseudorabies virus (PRV). The pseudorabies virus was injected into the ACL of rats and allowed to replicate and spread trans-synaptically for 6-7 days. The brain and spinal cord of each sacrificed rat was then removed and processed immunohistochemically to detect the presence of PRV. PRV-immunoreactive neurons were found to be localized in several different regions from the spinal cord to the cerebrum. Four nuclei in the reticular formation of the brain stem demonstrated strong positive labeling: the mesencephalic reticular nucleus, magnocellular reticular nucleus, paragigantocellular reticular nucleus, and gigantocellular reticular nucleus. This finding suggests that the nerve endings of the rat ACL project into the cerebrum and that the reticular formation may play an important role in the afferent pathway of those nerve endings.     

Human Herpesvirus 6 in Bronchalveolar Lavage Fluid after Lung Transplantation: A Risk Factor for Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome?

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the limiting factor to long-term survival after lung transplantation. Previous studies suggested respiratory viral tract infections are associated with the development of BOS. To identify the impact of virus detection in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, we analyzed BAL samples from 87 consecutive lung transplant recipients for human herpesvirus (HHV)-6, Epstein-Barr virus, Herpes simplex virus 1/2, Cytomegalovirus, respiratory syncytical virus and adenovirus by PCR. Acute rejection, BOS and death were recorded for a mean follow-up time of 3.27 +/- 0.47 years. Results of PCR analysis and other potential risk factors were entered into a Cox regression analysis of BOS predictors and death. Only acute rejection was a distinct risk factor for BOS of all stages, death and death from BOS. HHV-6 was detected in 20 patients. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that HHV-6 was associated with an increased risk to develop BOS > orb = stage 1 and death, separate from the risk attributable to acute rejection. Identification of HHV-6 DNA in BAL fluid is a potential risk factor for BOS. Our results warrant further studies to elucidate a possible causal link between HHV-6 and BOS.     

Biological properties of interleukin-12 and its therapeutic use in persistent hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection

Summary. Interleukin (IL)-12 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by antigen-presenting cells in response to diverse stimuli. IL-12 is a key molecule in the regulation of host's immune responses. In particular, IL-12 influences the balance between the T-helper cells type 1 (TH₁) and type 2 (TH₂); it modulates macrophage responses through the control of interferon-gamma synthesis by TH₁ cells; and, suppresses IgE class antibody production (has a suppressive effect on allergic reactions) and promotes a shift in the IgG subclasses. IL-12 enhances resistance to several infectious diseases, is a powerful antitumor agent in vivo , and acts as a vaccine adjuvant. The biological properties of IL-12 point to the potential therapeutic use in persistent hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection.     

医院用血液制品HCV污染情况的调查

目的调查医院治疗用血液制品ＨＣＶ污染情况．方法临床治疗所用的血液制品，在输完后留容器之残液备检．采用酶标免疫法（ＥＬＩＳＡ）检测．对ＥＬＩＳＡ检测之阳性标本及在阴性标本中随机抽取９份，采用逆转录双ＰＣＲ方法检测ＨＣＶ＿ＲＮＡ．结果血浆白蛋白抗＿ＨＣＶ阳性率４５８％，新鲜血浆阳性率２６％．两种方法检测同一标本，ＥＬＩＳＡ检测阳性的血液制品中，用ＰＣＲ证实，并非都有病毒复制；而在ＥＬＩＳＡ检测的阴性标本中，仍旧有较高的ＰＣＲ阳性检出．结论血液制品存在着ＨＣＶ污染，抗＿ＨＣＶ对于ＨＣＶ感染的诊断价值很高．检测血液制品中的抗＿ＨＣＶ，合理使用血液成份，可防止ＨＣＶ在医院内传播．     

Epitope Context and Reshaping of Activated T Helper Cell Repertoire

In recent years, a growing interest in the study of peptide antigenicity in relation to the role of flanking sequences and protein topology in processing, presentation, and recognition has been observed. However, the information available on the antigenicity of recombinant fusion proteins and their effect on the selection of antigen receptor repertoires is limited. To analyze the role of molecular topology of T epitopes in a system relevant to human pathology, we have used the bacterially expressed Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S transferase (GST) to construct recombinant antigens containing HIV-1 derived T cell determinants, and human T cell clones specific for these determinants. We found that antigenicity of a given GST—peptide combination was not the same when T cells and antigen presenting cells from different individuals were tested. Our results show that differences in processing and presentation of chimeric proteins are not dictated by the use of diverse restriction elements. We also found that the context in which an antigenic peptide is delivered affects the recruited repertoire as defined according to T cell receptor Vβ usage and fine specificities of selected T cells.     

HTLV-I, HIV-I, and Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Western Province, Papua New Guinea: A Serological Survey

Seven hundred and twenty-three serum samples from individuals in 13 Gidra-speaking villages in Western Province, Papua New Guinea were tested for evidence of infection with human T- lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-I), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). No samples were positive for antibodies to HIV-I. Antibodies to HTLV-I were found in 13 samples (1.8%), HBV surface antigens (HBsAg) were found in 86 samples (11.9%), and antibodies to HCV were found in 30 samples (4.1%). Six (46.2%) of 13 HTLV-I positive samples were positive for HCV or HBsAg. The seropositive rate varied in different villages and the incidence of HTLV-I and HCV was higher in coastal and riverine areas than inland.     

慢性肾炎并腹泻引发急性心肌梗塞一例报告

慢性肾炎并腹泻引发急性心肌梗塞一例报告临汾地区卫校附属医院（０４１０００）马希贤患者男性，２３岁。９岁时曾因少尿，浮肿，血尿被诊断为“急性肾炎”，经中西药治疗痊愈。１９９１年１月因反复浮肿，少尿３个月，加重半月入院。入院后后经临床检查诊断为：慢性肾炎（肾病型），给予强的松（６０ｍｇ，顿服）、利尿剂及中药治疗，尿量增加，浮肿减轻，治疗一月后尿蛋白明显减轻，超声波检查腹水消失，将强的松量每周减少１０ｍｇ，至１０ｍｇ／日时作为维持量长期服用，入院第１４２天突然出现阵发性腹痛伴腹泻，呈稀水样便，５～６次／日，脐周压痛（＋），肠鸣音亢进。便常规：白细胞５～６个／ＨＰ，未见巨噬细胞及红细胞。考虑并急性肠炎，２天后病人自诉头晕。口干，血压９０／６０ｍｍＨｇ，当日中午睡眠时突发胸骨后闷痛，伴大汗、恶心及心悸，持续不缓解，急查心电图示频发室早，Ｖ１─３ＳＴ段呈弓背向上形抬高０．３～０．５ｍＶ，Ｒｖ１─３振幅降低，考虑“急性前间壁心肌梗塞”，经吸氧，静脉补液及应用低分子右旋糖酐、吗啡、硝酸甘油、尿激酶及利多卡因治疗疼痛消失。后查心电图Ｖ１─３出现ＱＳ波，ＳＴ─Ｔ符合急性心肌梗塞演变过程，心电向量示前间壁梗塞向量。讨论：本例突发     

PCR检测角膜内单疱病毒DNA的实验及临床研究

为了探索单疱病毒性角膜炎的发病机制和快速诊断ＨＳＫ。方法应用多聚酶链反应对感染的ＨＳＫ的２０只纯新西兰白兔和６０例ＨＳＫ患者的角膜进行了单疱病毒－１－ＤＮＡ检测。结果急性感染期的５只兔角膜和１２只人角膜均阳性；用稳定期４５ｄ的兔角供体行部分穿透性角膜移植术，术后５０ｄ１０只兔角膜中７只阳性，稳定期６个月－６年的１８只人角膜片，１２只阳性；３０例临床可疑ＨＳＫ角膜刮取物，２６例阳性；５只未感染ＨＳＫ     

Case report: detection of varicella-zoster virus DNA in maternal breast milk.

A 27-year-old woman developed chickenpox postpartum. Her 2-month-old son who was breast fed also acquired chickenpox 16 days after the onset of the mother's illness. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) DNA was detected in maternal breast milk by the polymerase chain reaction. These results suggest that transmission of VZV may occur via maternal breast milk.     

Expression of Human Recombination Activating Genes (RAG-1 and RAG-2) in Lymphoma

Two recently discovered genes, the recombination activating genes 1 and 2 (RAG-1 and RAG-2), are necessary to perform variable (V), diversity (D), and joining (J) recombination. They synergistically activate VDJ recombination to generate immunocompetent lymphocytes. Disruption of either gene results in a maturation arrest at a very early B and T cell progenitor stage. Expression and downregulation of RAG's are closely associated with interleukin 7, sIgM and TCR-CD3 complex, respectively. Assessment of RAG mRNA expression is a valuable marker in identifying the genotypic maturation status of leukemias and lymphomas. Persistent RAG expression in otherwise mature lymphoid proliferations may explain puzzling biological and clinical observations such as multiple rearrangements in lymphomas with a mature phenotype. Lack of RAG expression in Hodgkin's disease with abundant Reed-Stern-berg cells is consistent with a mature phenotype of the latter. Availability of a anti-RAG-1 monoclonal antibody in the near future will facilitate RAG analysis of lymphomas.