Soluble Fcγ receptors in periodontal lesions

Soluble Fcγ-binding components were detected in gingival fluid from periodontal lesions by incubation with biotinylated human Fcγ fragments. FcγIII receptor was identified by incubation of gingival fluid with monoclonal antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electophoresis and Western transfer showed that most of the Fcγ-binding components had minimal mobility in a 4–15% gradient gel under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the main band of Fcγ-binding components in gingival fluid migrated corresponding to protein A of 49 kDa. The pattern of Fcγ-binding components was similar in serum and gingival fluid except for the observation in gingival fluid of Fcγ-binding components migrating like standard proteins of 19 to 20 kDa, a size that corresponds to the polypeptide part of FcγII receptor and FcγIII receptor.     

EFFECTIVENESS OF CYTODIAGNOSIS WITH PANCREATIC DUCT LAVAGE FLUID FOR PANCREATIC DUCTAL CARCINOMA: NEW SAMPLING TECHNIQUE

Background: Pancreatic carcinoma is one of the most lethal cancers. Because pancreatic carcinoma is still very difficult to diagnose in its early stage, many of these patients will be considered unsuitable for surgery. If a cytological diagnosis is obtained at initial endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), suitable treatment will be initiated without delay. Methods: To increase the number of exfoliated cells from the pancreatic duct, we devised a new technique, pancreatic duct lavage fluid (PDLF), following bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The present paper reports the effectiveness of cytological examination using PDLF in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. We examined 18 pancreatic carcinoma cases. After the endoscopic retrograde pancreatography (ERP), PDLF was collected from a double‐lumen catheter inserted into the main pancreatic duct. Saline injected from the lumen for the injection, and PDLF was aspirated from the other lumen for the guidewire at the same time. The cytological examination was performed using PDLF. Results: Exfoliated cells were more frequently found in PDLF from all patients. In 15 cases (83%), cytological examination of PDLF revealed positive cytological results as the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Conclusion: Cytological examination using PDLF has a high sensitivity for detection of pancreatic carcinoma. The new examination, PDLF, is simple, safe and effective, so we expect PDLF to become widely popular.     

Intrathecal synthesis of anti-myelin basic protein IgG in HIV-1+ patients

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals frequently develop a broad spectrum of neurological syndromes, classified as HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex. Diffuse demyelination of hemispheric white matter is a commonly observed in HIV-1 infected brain, but the events leading to myelin destruction are still obscure. Since oligodendrocyte infection by HIV-1 is not proven as yet, myelin damage in HIV-1 infection may result from indirect mechanisms such as the excessive release of myelinotoxic substances or the triggering of autoimmune responses directed to myelin constituents. To verify the latter hypothesis, we searched for elevated anti-myelin basic protein (MBP) IgG levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 25 patients with HIV-1 infection, 12 with multiple sclerosis (MS), and 9 with non-inflammatory neurological diseases (NIND). CSF, but not serum, anti-MBP IgG levels were more frequently elevated in HIV-1⁺ (16/25, 64%) than in MS (3/12, 25%) or NIND (0/9) patients. By using the anti-MBP IgG index, the anti-MBP IgG antibody specificity index (ASI), and the search for anti-MBP oligoclonal IgG, we ascertained that anti-MBP IgG were produced within the CNS in 13 of 25 (52%) HIV-1⁺, in 6 of 12 (50%) MS, and in none of NIND patients. The incidence of increased CSF anti-MBP IgG levels was higher among HIV-1⁺ patients at stage II–III (4/4, 100%) or at stage IV B (7/9, 78%) than among those at stage IV C–IV D (5/12, 42%). Although our data indicate that intrathecal anti-MBP IgG may occur early during HIV-1 infection and that they are more common in patients with HIV-1-associated cognitive/motor complex, the possible demyelinating role of these antibodies remains to be demonstrated.     

Endometriosis: Endometriosis and infertility: raised iron concentration in the peritoneal fluid and its effect on the acrosome reaction

Endometriosis and infertility are commonly associated. Thisstudy investigated the role of accelerated lipid peroxidationof spermatozoa by the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosisas a cause for this association. It proposes that the increasediron concentration present in the fluid of these patients actsas a catalyst for the process. Peritoneal fluid from 25 patientswith endometriosis and 25 matched controls was obtained at laparoscopy.Spermatozoa were incubated in the fluid from both groups andthe subsequent acrosome reaction rates analysed. The relationshipbetween these results and iron concentration in the fluid wasexamined. A significant decrease in the acrosome reaction ratewas seen in the endometriotic group(P = 0.034). Overall, a decreasein the acrosome reaction rate was associated with an increasediron concentration in the fluid(18 of the 25 pairs). In milddisease, (six of 11 pairs), the relationship was not as markedas that in severe disease (12 of 14 pairs). These results suggestthat the peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis hasa detrimental action on the acrosome reaction of spermatozoain vitro.     

Acute volaemic changes modify the gastroduodenal resistance to the flow of saline in anaesthetized dogs

The effect of acute and sequential volaemic changes on the gastroduodenal flow of saline was assessed in 23 anaesthetized dogs following two different experimental protocols. Hypervolaemia, by i. v. infusion of saline, induced a gradual decrease on gastroduodenal flow which amounted to 76% below control values (P < 0.001) when volaemic expansion attained 5% of body weight. This effect was volume dependent (17% increase on gastroduodenal flow per volume of infused saline equivalent to 0.5% of body weight, P < 0.001), lasted for at least 90 minutes after infusion was completed and was also obtained by expanding previously bled animals. Hypovolaemia due to bleeding was followed by an increase on gastroduodenal flow of about 88% above control values (P < 0.05) when haemorrhage was equal to 3% of body weight. This effect was also volume dependent (23 % increase on gastroduodenal flow per volume of blood shed equivalent to a 0.5% of body weight, P < 0.01) and was reversed after blood volume was restored. These modifications in the resistance of the gastroduodenal segment to the flow of liquid due to acute volaemic changes suggest that the extracellular fluid volume modulates the contractile activity of the gastroduodenal portion of the gut possibly to set a gastroduodenal handling of liquid adequate to cope with volaemic imbalances.     

Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Vitamin B12 Levels in Demented Patients with CH3—B12 Treatment—Preliminary Study—

Abstract: The vitamin B12 (VB12) parameter was studied in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 14 demented patients. Eleven of these patients were in a state of dementia of the degenerative type such as Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia and Pick's disease. The serum VB12 concentration in all the patients was within normal limits, I.e. 500–1,300 pg/ml. There was no significant difference between the CSF-VBl2 levels and the severity of dementia. The serum and CSF-VB12 levels of the demented patients did not show any significant elevation after the oral administration of CH3–Bl2, 2 mg per day. On the other hand, there was a marked elevation of both the serum and CSF-VB12 after an oral medication (2 mg per day) plus intramuscular administrations (500 μg per day). These results confirm that the intramuscular administration of CH3–B12 is an effective way to get a higher value of the serum and CSF-VB12 levels.     

人工脑脊液置换治疗高血压性脑室出血

目的研究高血压性脑室出血的新疗法。方法将60例高血压性脑室出血患者随机分为研究组与对照组,研究组给予药物加人工脑脊液置换治疗,对照组给予药物加侧脑室引流术治疗,比较两组患者的治疗效果。结果两组患者治疗后15、90、180d临床疗效间差别均有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论人工脑脊液置换术可能成为高血压性脑室出血的有效治疗方法。     

子宫内膜异位症患者血清及腹腔液中血小板衍生生长因子、血管细胞粘附分子水平的变化及其意义

目的通过检测子宫内膜异位症(EMs)患者血清及腹腔液中血小板衍生生长因子(PDGF)、血管细胞粘附分子-(VCAM-1)浓度,探讨PDGF和VCAM-1在EMs发病中的作用。方法选取手术后病理证实为EMs的40例患者为EMs组,其中I~II期17例,III~IV23例;非EMs组20例作为对照组。应用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测血清及腹腔液中PDGF和VCAM-1水平。结果EMs组血清及腹腔液中PDGF、VCAM-1水平均明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。随EMs期别的增加,其血清和腹腔液中PDGF、VCAM-1含量呈上升趋势;EMsIII~IV期水平显著高于I~II期(P<0.05)。EMs患者PDGF与VCAM-1呈正相关性(P<0.05)。结论EMs患者PDGF、VCAM-1表达水平升高,在EMs的发生发展中具有重要作用。     

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.     

头低位模拟失重状态对前庭功能的影响

为研究头低位模拟失重对运动病症状、垂直视动眼震（ＶＯＫＮ）及体液重新分配的影响，在头低位－１０°的模拟失重状态下，采用大视野的垂直视动刺激，观察１８名正常人的运动病症状、ＶＯＫＮ、激素（ＡＶＰ、ＶＩＰ、ＣＯＲＴ、ＡＬＤＯ）的反应特点。结果表明，头低位－１０°状态下的大视野垂直视动刺激可以诱发出明显的运动病症状，头低位－１０°的垂直视动刺激比坐位更容易诱发运动病。坐位状态ＶＯＫＮ慢相速度有明显的方向性不对称，敏感组ＶＯＫＮ方向性不对称有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。头低位－１０°时ＶＯＫＮ的不对称现象不明显，向下方向运动的ＶＯＫＮ慢相速度显著增加。分析指出，头低位－１０°状态下垂直视动刺激比坐位和秋千刺激的贡献率大。尿中ＣＯＲＴ（皮质醇）在秋千和头低位的垂直视动刺激前后有显著性增加。提示：大视野的垂直视动刺激与头低位－１０°两种刺激的结合可能成为预测空间运动病的方法之一．