The plasma kallikrein–kinin system and risk of cardiovascular disease in men

BACKGROUND: The plasma kallikrein-kinin system (PKKS) has been implicated in cardiovascular disease, but activation of the PKKS has not been directly probed in individuals at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) or stroke. OBJECTIVE: To determine the involvement of the PKKS, including factor XI, in cardiovascular disease occurring in a nested case-control study from the Second Northwick Park Heart Study (NPHS-II). METHODS AND RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 287 cases of CHD and stroke had been recorded and 542 age-matched controls were selected. When FXIIa-C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-inhibitor) concentrations were divided into tertiles (lowest tertile as reference), the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% CIs for CHD were 0.52 (0.34-0.80) in the middle tertile and 0.73 (0.49-1.09) in the highest tertile (P = 0.01 for the overall difference; P = 0.01 for CHD and stroke combined). For kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes, the ORs for stroke were 0.29 (0.12-0.72) and 0.67 (0.30-1.52) in the middle and high tertiles, respectively (P = 0.02). FXIIa-C1-inhibitor and kallikrein-C1-inhibitor complexes were negatively related to smoking and fibrinogen (P < 0.005). FXIa-inhibitor complexes correlated strongly with FXIIa-inhibitor complexes. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of inhibitory complexes of the PKKS enzymes and particularly of FXIIa contribute to the risk of CHD and stroke in middle-aged men. This observation supports the involvement of the PKKS in atherothrombosis.     

The Effect of Desensitization Protocols on Human Splenic B-Cell Populations In Vivo

Rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) all have been suggested to have an effect on antibody producing cells, however, supporting data are lacking. To assess the impact of these agents on splenic B‐cell populations in vivo, we retrospectively examined 25 spleens removed from patients treated with these agents as part of desensitization protocols in either ABO incompatible or positive crossmatch living donor kidney transplantation. These were compared to control (CTL) spleens removed for trauma. CTLs and spleens removed at transplant after multiple pretransplant plasmaphereses (PP) plus low‐dose IVIG showed similar large numbers of naïve B cells (CD20⁺ and CD79⁺), plasma cells (CD138⁺) and memory B cells (CD27⁺ cells). Adding rituximab to this PP/IVIG regimen reduced the number naïve B cells, but had no effect on memory or plasma cells. Combination treatment (PP/IVIG, rituximab and rATG) showed a trend toward the reduction of CD27⁺ cells, but again plasma cells were unchanged. We conclude that none of these protocols reduces splenic plasma cells in vivo. PP/low‐dose IVIG does not alter splenic B cells, but the addition of rituximab decreases mature B cells. Memory B cells may be affected by combination therapy including rATG and requires further study.     

精浆尿酸的检测及其与精液参数的相关性研究

目的：建立精浆尿酸（UA）的检测方法并探讨精浆UA水平与精液参数的相关性。方法：根据检测血清UA的方法加以改良建立检测精浆UA的方法,并观察批内变异和不同技术人员检测结果之间的差异以评价方法的可接受性。同时分析138例男性精浆UA水平与患者年龄、禁欲时间、精液量、pH、精子密度、活动率、a＋b级精子百分率和正常形态精子百分率之间的相关性。结果：精浆UA检测方法的批内变异为9.16%,2位技术人员的检测结果没有显著性差异（P=0.541）。精浆UA水平与正常形态精子百分率呈正相关（r=0.350,P=0.025）,与精子活动率和a＋b级精子百分率有呈正相关的趋势（r=0.147和0.156,P=0.085和0.068）,而与精液分析其他参数如精液量、pH、精子密度、禁欲时间以及患者年龄等无相关性。结论：通过对血清UA检测方法加以改良可以建立可接受的精浆UA检测方法。精子形态学、活动率及a＋b级精子百分率可能与精浆UA水平高低有关。     

半自动生化分析仪检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性的研究

目的:建立半自动生化分析仪检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性的方法。方法:同时用半自动生化分析仪法(速率法)和手工葡萄糖氧化酶法检测51例精液常规分析参数均正常的男性精浆α葡糖苷酶活性,计算批内和批间变异系数以及正常参考值范围,并分析两种方法检测结果的相关性。结果:2例α葡糖苷酶活性不同的精浆样本用半自动生化分析仪法检测的批内变异系数分别为12.63%和9.13%,批间变异系数分别为10.67%和13.49%,正常参考值范围为102.28～555.08U/L。半自动生化分析仪法和手工法检测的精浆α葡糖苷酶活性呈显著正相关(r=0.792,P<0.01)。结论:半自动生化分析仪检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性法简便、省时,节省试剂,结果稳定可靠。建议在男科实验室推广使用半自动生化分析仪法检测精浆α葡糖苷酶活性。     

Preemptive Plasmapheresis and Recurrence of FSGS in High-Risk Renal Transplant Recipients

Recurrent focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) following transplantation is ascribed to the presence of a circulating FSGS permeability factor (FSPF). Plasmapheresis (PP) can induce remission of proteinuria in recurrent FSGS. This study addressed the efficacy of pre-transplant PP in decreasing the incidence of recurrence in high-risk patients. Ten patients at high-risk for FSGS recurrence because of rapid progression to renal failure (n = 4) or prior transplant recurrence of FSGS (n = 6) underwent a course of 8 PP treatments in the peri-operative period. Recurrences were identified by proteinuria >3 g/day and confirmed by biopsy. Seven patients, including all 4 with first grafts and 3 of 6 with prior recurrence, were free of recurrence at follow-up (238-1258 days). Final serum creatinine in 8 patients with functioning kidneys averaged 1.53 mg/dL. FSGS recurred within 3 months in 3 patients, each of whom had lost prior transplants to recurrent FSGS. Two of these progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and the third has significant renal dysfunction. Based on inclusion criteria, recurrence rates of 60% were expected if no treatment was given. Therefore, PP may decrease the incidence of recurrent FSGS in high-risk patients. Definitive conclusions regarding optimal management can only be drawn from larger, randomized, controlled studies.     

Seminal Fluid and the Expression of MHC Class I Antigens in the Placenta of the Rat

PROBLEM : To determine whether seminal fluid influences the expression of MHC class I antigens on the surface of basal trophoblast cells in the placenta of the rat. METHODS : Transfer of DA × DA embryos into a WF (allogeneic) or DA (syngeneic) recipient made pseudopregnant by hormonal treatment followed by mating with a vasectomized male (seminal fluid) or by mechanical stimulation (no seminal fluid). Antigen expression was determined by electron microscopic immunocytochemistry using the appropriate gold-labeled monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS : Seminal fluid did not affect the expression of MHC class I antigens on the surface of the basal trophoblast in either allogeneic or syngeneic matings. CONCLUSIONS : The suppression of the expression of paternal class I antigens on the surface of the basal trophoblast cells in allogeneic pregnancies most likely occurs at the genome level shortly after fertilization.     

Fluidity state of lymphocyte plasma membrane in malignant hyperthermia susceptible pigs and humans

Recent studies suggest that abnormalities occur at the lipid level in malignant hyperthermia susceptible humans and pigs. To test this hypothesis, we first investigated the physical state of plasma membranes of lymphocytes isolated from normal and malignant hyperthermia susceptible swine. In halothane-challenged pigs, malignant hyperthermia susceptibility was also assessed by ryanodine binding assay on purified sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes. The results clearly show that plasma membrane of lymphocytes from malignant hyperthermic pigs are significantly more fluid than controls. We then attempted to apply the same methodology to lymphocytes prepared from human patients previously diagnosed by the halothane and caffeine contracture test. In that case, there was no clear relationship between malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and the fluidity state of lymphocyte plasma membranes.     

阿霉素不同剂量静脉注射的药动学及其临床意义

采用ＨＰＬＣ法测定１４例肿瘤患者使用不同剂量阿霉素的血药浓度，并计算药代参数。４０ｍｇ／ｍ２和２５ｍｇ／ｍ２两组的血药峰浓度、ＡＵＣ、Ｖｃ差异有显著性。阿霉素的药代动力学存在明显的个体差异，血药峰浓度、Ｖｃ、Ｋ１２与疗效相关。     

Subacute (acute,persistent) thrombotic microangiopathy

Six patients with prolonged acute courses of thrombotic microangiopathy are reviewed. These patients had in common courses of acute disease requiring plasma support for more than 3 months, with subsequent complete remission. Plasma support requirements may be prodigious, and the acute course may require more than 100 plasma exchanges before a stable remission is achieved. These patients appear to represent a subset of thrombotic microangiopathy distinct from the more common acute T.T.P. course, which resolves in 3–6 weeks, and the chronic relapsing pattern, which may have a short or prolonged acute course. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.