Immunohistochemistry (S 100, KL 1) and human papillomavirus DNA hybridization on Morbus Bowen and bowenoid papulosis

Summary In this study 55 paraffin embedded samples defined as Bowen's disease or bowenoid papulosis were investigated with antibodies against S 100 protein and keratins (KL 1). S 100-positive cells were quantified and related to defined section area of the epidermal compartment by computer-assisted image analysis. The density of S 100-positive cells was compared with normal skin and was particularly related to growth patterns and keratinization of the different lesions under study. S 100-positive dendritic cells were found to be reduced overall in bowenoid lesions when compared with normal skin. Lesions with high counts of S 100-positive dendritic cells most frequentty showed a solitary growth pattern with highly conserved architecture and differentiation and no tendency to stromal invasion. In contrast, cases with low counts of S 100-positive cells very often showed multifocal development, a high degree of architectural disturbance and dedifferentiation. In this group, stromal invasion (cases of invasive carcinoma associated with Bowen's disease) was seen more often. Interestingly, this latter group of cases also revealed a peculiar keratin pattern. Frequently, the basal cell layer was decorated with KL 1 antibody, which usually recognizes only suprabasaly located keratinocytes. No differences between Bowen's disease and bowenoid papulosis were found in terms of densities of S 100-positive dendritic cells and keratin pattern. In our experience, extragenital Bowen's disease and genital Bowen's disease can not be distinguished on purely morphological grounds or with the immunocytochemical approach presented here. Interestingly, when employing in situ hybridization with HPV 16 probes three of seven samples of genital Bowen's disease harboured HPV 16 DNA, whereas six cases of extragenital disease were negative.Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Lo 285/2-4)     

常规与微创冠脉搭桥术围手术期血浆S100-B蛋白水平的相关研究

目的: 通过测定体外循环和非体外循环条件下冠脉搭桥术患者血浆S100-B蛋白水平的变化，比较2种手术方式对脑损伤程度有无不同，探讨术中影响血浆S100-B蛋白水平变化的相关因素。方法: 30例择期行冠脉搭桥术的患者，分为体外循环组（CPB group，A组）和微创非体外循环组（non-CPB group，B组）,每组均为15例。于术前、麻醉后、主动脉侧壁钳开放时、术毕时、术后2 h、6 h、12 h和24 h采血测血浆S100-B蛋白浓度。结果： （1） 两组患者血浆S100-B蛋白浓度均在升主动脉侧壁钳开放时显著高于术前，且A组患者血浆S100-B蛋白浓度峰值是B组的3倍多（2.32±0.26 μg/L和0.71±0.14 μg/L）,之后逐渐降低，到术后24 h基本接近正常。（2） 术中患者血浆S100-B蛋白升高水平与体外循环转机时间或心表手术操作时间呈正相关（A组：r＝0.659，P＜0.05;B组：r＝0.584, P＜0.05）。结论： 血浆S100-B蛋白水平可以用来评价2种冠脉搭桥术对脑的损伤程度，术后连续检测对于诊断脑损伤并及时采取相应预防措施具有重要价值;非体外循环微创冠脉搭桥术较常规体外循环下手术更能够有效降低对脑损伤的程度和术后出现神经功能障碍的风险。     

双胎妊娠围生儿预后相关因素分析

目的　探讨双胎妊娠新生儿窒息、围生儿死亡的相关因素。方法　回顾分析 2 5 5例双胎妊娠新生儿Apgar评分、新生儿窒息、围生儿死亡与孕周、新生儿体重、分娩方式的关系。结果　双胎妊娠孕 37～ 39+ 6w组Apgar评分最高、新生儿窒息率最低 ,≥ 2 5 0 0g组Apgar评分最高 ,新生儿窒息率、围生儿死亡率最低。孕周、新生儿体重 4组比较差异均有非常显著性(P <0 0 1)。剖宫产组比阴道分娩组Apgar评分高 ,新生儿窒息率、围生儿死亡率均低 ,2组比较Apgar评分、围生儿死亡率差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 )。 2组比较新生儿窒息率差异有非常显著性 (P <0 0 1)。结论　双胎妊娠估计每个胎儿体重≥ 2 5 0 0g时 ,宜选择 37～ 39+ 6w终止妊娠为宜。加强孕期、围生期保健 ,积极防治各种并发症 ,适当放宽剖宫产指征 ,避免早产 ,减少低体重儿出生 ,是降低双胎围生儿死亡率、改善其预后的重要措施。     

A method for the accurate determination of anti-hapten cytotoxic T lymphocyte precursors: correction for apparent 'anti-self' reactivity

A method is described for accurately determining the frequency of precursors of hapten specific cytotoxic T cells. The method is based on a standard Poisson analysis of limit dilution cultures, but makes a correction of 'anti-self' reacting clones and for spontaneously arising clones that recognise modified self. These corrections are shown to be especially important when low hapten densities are used, where there may be more than a 10-fold difference between the corrected and uncorrected frequency estimates. Determined levels of antigen specificity and of H-2 restriction are significantly enhanced by application of this method.     

Changes in the P100 latency of the visual evoked potential and the saccadic reaction time during isometric contraction of the shoulder girdle elevators

We investigated changes in the P100 latency of the visual evoked potential (VEP) and the saccadic reaction time (SRT) in relation to the degree of activity of the shoulder girdle elevators. Muscle force was set in 10% increments from 0% to 50% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The VEP was derived from a midline occipital electrode with reference electrodes on the ears when the right retina was stimulated through the eyelid by light emitting diodes while the eyes were closed. The P100 latency of the VEP was defined as the time from the stimulus onset to the main positive peak. The SRT was defined as the latency until the beginning of eye movement toward the lateral target, which was moved at random time-intervals. P100 latency was shortened until 30% of the MVC, and which it lengthened. The SRT changed in a pattern similar to that observed for the P100 latency. The ratio of the shortening in P100 latency relative to that of the SRT was approximately 20%. All data is presented as the mean value, plus the standard deviation. We believe that the information processing time in the neural pathway from the retina to the visual cortex was shortened up to a certain muscle force of the shoulder girdle elevators, and then this processing time lengthened. These findings indicate that shortening of information processing time in the neural pathway beyond the visual cortex is included in the shortening of the SRT.     

Unusual reactions following insect stings. Clinical features and immunologic analysis.

Fifteen patients were studied who had unusual reactions following insect stings. These included serum sickness, neurologic disease, renal disease, and delayed hypersensitivity-type reactions. The clinical features are briefly outlined. Measurements were made of serum venom-specific IgE and IgG antibodies. These antibodies were present in some patients and in these instances suggested an immunologic pathogenesis for the reactions. Alternative etiologies for the unusual reactions are also discussed.     

IL-4–BATF signaling directly modulates IL-9 producing mucosal mast cell (MMC9) function in experimental food allergy

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Calmodulin loss in vascular smooth muscle following Triton X-100 or saponin skinning

The calmodulin (CaM) content of intact and chemically skinned strips of rat caudal artery was measured using a¹²⁵I-CaM radioimmunoassay. The total CaM measured following homogenization of arterial tissue with EGTA and EGTA/Triton X-100 was 2.58 mol/kg wet tissue. Based on a smooth muscle volume of 40%, this value corresponds to a cellular CaM concentration of 6.5 M. Approximately 97% of total CaM was soluble and approximately 3% was EGTA-nonextractable. Permeabilization of the plasmalemma with 0.15 mg/ml saponin or 0.5% Triton X-100 caused significant detergent-dependent loss of CaM. At the end of a 1 h skinning period, tissues exposed to saponin lost 30% of total CaM. By comparison, tissues skinned under the same conditions with Triton X-100 lost 50%. During a subsequent 4h exposure to relaxing solution, total tissue CaM continued to decline. The exponential loss over the 5h period was described by a first order model having diffusible and nondiffusible CaM components. The diffusible CaM component of saponin skinned tissue (59%) was significantly less than the diffusible component of those skinned with Triton X-100 (88%); however, the rate coefficients for CaM diffusion (0.78 h^–1 and 0.91 h^–1, respectively) did not statistically differ. The nondiffusible component of CaM was significantly larger in saponin treated strips (42%) than in Triton X-100 permeabilized tissue (12%). Arterial strips skinned with Triton X-100, which were subsequently exposed to relaxing solution for up to 22 h, lost significantly more CaM than those retained in Triton X-100 skinning solution for a comparable duration These studies demonstrate the diffusion of CaM from detergent skinned arterial strips and characterize the time course of that loss.     

Molecular characterisation of four cases of intrachromosomal triplication of chromosome 15q11-q14

CONTEXT—Chromosomal abnormalities that involve the proximal region of chromosome 15q occur relatively frequently in the human population. However, interstitial triplications involving one 15 homologue are very rare with three cases reported to date.
OBJECTIVE—To provide a detailed molecular characterisation of four additional patients with interstitial triplications of chromosome 15q11-q14.
DESIGN—Molecular analyses were performed using DNA markers and probes specific for the 15q11-q14 region.
SETTING—Molecular cytogenetics laboratory at the University of Chicago.
SUBJECTS—Four patients with mild to severe mental retardation and features of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) or Angelman syndrome (AS) were referred for molecular cytogenetic analysis following identification of a suspected duplication/triplication of chromosome 15q11-q14 by routine cytogenetic analysis.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) was performed to determine the type of chromosomal abnormality present, the extent of the abnormal region, and the orientation of the extra chromosomal segments. Molecular polymorphism analysis was performed to determine the parental origin of the abnormality. Methylation and northern blot analyses of the SNRPN gene were performed to determine the effect of extra copies of the SNRPN gene on its methylation pattern and expression.
RESULTS—Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) using probes within and flanking the Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome critical region indicated that all patients carried an intrachromosomal triplication of proximal 15q11-q14 in one of the two chromosome 15 homologues (trip(15)). In all patients the orientation of the triplicated segments was normal-inverted-normal, suggesting that a common mechanism of rearrangement may have been involved. Microsatellite analysis showed the parental origin of the trip(15) to be maternal in three cases and paternal in one case. The paternal triplication patient had features similar to PWS, one maternal triplication patient had features similar to AS, and the other two maternal triplication patients had non-specific findings including hypotonia and mental retardation. Methylation analysis at exon 1 of the SNRPN locus showed increased dosage of either the paternal or maternal bands in the paternal or maternal triplication patients, respectively, suggesting that the methylation pattern shows a dose dependent increase that correlates with the parental origin of the triplication. In addition, the expression of SNRPN was analysed by northern blotting and expression levels were consistent with dosage and parental origin of the triplication.
CONCLUSIONS—These four additional cases of trip(15) will provide additional information towards understanding the phenotypic effects of this abnormality and aid in understanding the mechanism of formation of other chromosome 15 rearrangements.


Keywords: chromosome 15 triplication; Prader-Willi syndrome; Angelman syndrome; autism     

Studies of the antigenicity and allergenicity of phospholipase A2 of bee venom.

The antigenic and allergenic properties of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and whole bee venom were compared by measuring the IgG and IgE antibody responses in animals and man. Precipitating antibodies raised in rabbits and reaginic and other antibodies raised in mice reacted about equally with both bee venom and PLA. The majority of human sera containing bee venom-specific IgE also contained PLA-specific IgE, although in somewhat lower titers. Similarly, most human sera with significant amounts of total antibodies reacting with bee venom also had antibodies reacting with PLA. Histamine and SRS-a release from leukocytes of sensitive patients followed challenge with whole bee venom and PLA in the majority of instances. However, mediator release from several patients' cells was obtained with bee venom only. These studies suggest that although PLA is a major allergen and antigen in bee venom, significant exceptions in patients' reactivity may limit its potential diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness.