Neonatal outcome in a Danish national cohort of 3438 IVF/ICSI and 10,362 non-IVF/ICSI twins born between 1995 and 2000

BACKGROUND: In Denmark, one-third of twin pregnancies are the result of IVF/ICSI treatment. Limited data on neonatal outcome in IVF/ICSI twins are available in the literature. METHODS: A register study was conducted on neonatal morbidity and mortality in a complete national twin cohort including all 3438 (3393 live-born) IVF/ICSI and 10,362 (10,239 live-born) non-IVF/ICSI twins born between 1995 and 2000. Twins were identified in the National Medical Birth Registry and dichotomized into IVF/ICSI and non-IVF/ICSI by cross-reference with the Danish IVF Registry. Data on neonatal morbidity and mortality were retrieved from the Danish Patient Registry and the Danish Registry of Causes of Deaths. In order to exclude monozygotic twins, sub-analyses on unlike-sex twins were conducted. RESULTS: A birth weight discordance of >20% was observed in 20.6% of IVF/ICSI versus 15.7% of control twin pairs (P < 0.001). The risk of discordant birth weight >20% was OR 1.29 (95% CI 1.04-1.58) in unlike-sex IVF/ICSI twins versus control twins. The risk of delivery at <37 completed weeks and birth weight <2500 g was similar in the two cohorts; however, in unlike-sex IVF/ICSI versus control twins the risk of delivery at <37 weeks and birth weight <2500 g was OR 1.22 (95% CI 1.09-1.38) and OR 1.25 (1.11-1.40) respectively. After stratification for maternal age and parity, these risks disappeared. IVF/ICSI twins carried a higher risk of admittance to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) than control twins (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.09-1.27), and this was even more pronounced in unlike-sex twins [OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.19-1.51)]. No differences were observed in malformation or mortality rates between the two cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Despite higher birth weight discordance and more NICU admissions among IVF/ICSI twins, neonatal outcome in IVF/ICSI twins seems to be comparable with that of non-IVF/ICSI twins, when only dizygotic twins were considered in the comparisons.     

CD4-independent protective cytotoxic T cells induced in early life by a non-replicative delivery system based on virus-like particles

The relative immaturity of the neonatal immune system limits CD4(+) Th1 and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses, and represents a significant challenge for the development of vaccines against intracellular pathogens. In this report, we demonstrate the ability of a non-replicative delivery system based on parvovirus-like particles (VLP) to induce CTL responses in the neonatal period. A single immunization of 1-week-old BALB/c mice with recombinant VLP carrying a CD8(+) T cell determinant from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (VLP-LCMV) induced antigen-specific CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells that were similar to those elicited by adult immunization, as assessed by cytotoxic activity, interferon (IFN)-gamma secretion, cytotoxic precursor cell frequencies, in vitro avidity for antigen and protective activity against viral challenge. These CTL responses are elicited within 2 weeks of a single immunization, in the absence of adjuvant and independently of the presence and help of CD4(+) T cells, highlighting the potential of VLP as candidate vaccine vectors in early life.     

A Weaning Reaction to Microbiota Is Required for Resistance to Immunopathologies in the Adult

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Increased cyclosporine sensitivity of T cells from cord blood compared with those from the adult.

Despite the increasing numbers of paediatric transplants performed, little is known about the immune responses of T lymphocytes in human neonates. Here we have compared the effects of cyclosporine on the phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) response of immature (cord) and mature (adult) lymphocytes using the following parameters of activation: (i) proliferation, measured by 3H-thymidine uptake; (ii) expression of cell surface IL-2 receptor; (iii) release of IL-2 into the supernatant. Cyclosporine was added to cultures of PHA-stimulated lymphocytes at doses ranging from 5 to 5000 ng/ml. The proliferative response of cord lymphocytes was considerably more sensitive to cyclosporine at each dose, so that 50% inhibition was achieved by 6 ng/ml and 21.5 ng/ml doses of cyclosporine on cord and adult lymphocytes, respectively. Expression of the IL-2 receptor by PHA-activated T cells and their subsets was assessed by flow cytometry. Cyclosporine inhibited IL-2 receptor expression to a significantly greater degree in cord CD4 and CD8 cells (49.7% and 70.1%) than in adults (17.9% and 30.0%). Biologically active IL-2 release was measured using the IL-2-dependent cell line CTLL-2. Cyclosporine at doses 50-5000 ng/ml produced 80-99% inhibition of both cord and adult responses. However, at very low doses (5 ng/ml) cyclosporine produced 69.3% inhibition of cord lymphocytes, compared with 42.0% of adult lymphocytes. These results suggest that the T cells of neonates are considerably more sensitive to cyclosporine than are adult T cells.     

胶原“人工皮”的研制及其生物物理特性

胶原“人工皮”由聚乙烯膜、尼龙筛网和胶原组成。动物实验证明,胶原“人工皮”应用于创面,可减少死腔,增加与创面的粘附力,控制细菌侵入和防止液体丢失。该“人工皮”可以替代猪皮或尸体皮应用于外科手术     

Minor salivary glands: Clinical,histological and immunohistochemical features of common and less common pathologies

Hundreds of minor salivary glands (MiSGs) are scattered in the oral cavity located at the submucosa layer. Beside their role in the oral cavity lubrication and immunity defence system, MiSGs are beneficial tissue source for diagnosing oral and non-oral related diseases. The advantage of MiSGs as a diagnostic tool reside on their fairly simple excisional procedure on one hand and negligible impact of the normal secretion capability of the salivary gland system on the other hand. The review focuses on pathologies related to developmental, reactive, metabolic, inflammatory and immunologic conditions, Iatrogenic causes and other undefined causes.     

Identification of the membrane protein of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus

Sequence information on the genome of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has only recently been determined. In contrast, very little is known about the viral proteins. In the present report we have identified the membrane glycoprotein (M) of PEDV by use of rabbit anti-peptide sera and transient expression of the cloned M gene in Vero cells and by expression in the baculovirus system. The native M protein of PEDV is incorporated into virions, is N-glycosylated, and migrates with a relative mobility (Mr) of 27 k in polyacrylamide gels. In contrast, the M protein synthesized by recombinant baculoviruses migrates with a Mr of 23 k, that is, with identical mobility as the deglycosylated product of PEDV. Thus, it appears that M protein specified by the recombinant baculovirus is poorly, if at all, glycosylated. Using monoclonal antibodies and rabbit antipeptide sera specific for the N and C termini of the M protein, we were able to show that a 19 k band detected in PEDV-infected cells but not in virions represented a fragment of M from which the C terminus had been cleaved off. Finally, by electron microscopy and immunogold labelling, the relative orientation of M within the virion envelope was determined as NexoCcyt. In conclusion, all of these data strongly support the hypothesis that PEDV should be classified with the group I coronaviruses.     

Protective effect of 3-aminobenzamide,an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) synthetase,against streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Summary The addition of 3-aminobenzamide (a potent inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose)synthetase) into the incubation medium, prevents streptozotocin-induced inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin release from isolated islets [control 142±14U·islet^–1·h^–1; streptozotocin (0.5mg/ml) 31±8; 3-aminobenzamide (l.0 mg/ml) 96±11; streptozotocin plus 3-aminobenzamide 122±19]. In vivo, intraperitoneal 3-aminobenzamide 300 mg/kg body weight prevents the appearance of overt diabetes in streptozotocin-treated rats. These protective effects of 3-aminobenzamide are dose-dependent and are similar to those exerted by nicotinamide. Taking into account that poly ADP-ribosylation is involved in the repair of damaged DNA, the protection exerted by 3-aminobenzamide against the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin strongly supports the view that this acute effect may be a major consequence of the activation of DNA repair mechanisms in islet cells.     

Prolongation of graft survival in allogeneic islet transplantation by (−) 15-deoxyspergualin in the rat

Summary The effect of 15-Deoxyspergualin, a novel drug which has been described to have anti-tumour activity, on allogeneic graft survival (Dark Agouti Lewis rats) after pancreatic islet transplantation was tested. A marked prolongation of graft survival could be shown using doses of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0mg Deoxyspergualin/kg on day 0 until day +9 post transplantation. A maximum of 55.6 days (average) survival time was observed using 2.5mg/kg Deoxyspergualin compared to 5.2±0.6 days without immunosuppression. Using the chemiluminescence reaction of recipient monocytes after islet transplantation, a marked suppression of the monocyte system exceeding the treatment period could be observed. Since, in contrast to cyclosporin, B-cell toxicity could not be shown, the new drug seems to be a hopeful step towards successful allogeneic islet transplantation for treatment of diabetes.