Treatment of essential tremor with the barbiturate T2000 (1,3-dimethoxymethyl-5,5-diphenyl-barbituric acid).

The effect of the barbiturate T2000 (1,3-dimethoxymethyl-5,5-diphenyl-barbituric acid; DMMDPB) on essential tremor, given in twice daily doses of 400 and 300 mg, was assessed in two brief, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blinded, single-center trials in 12 and 22 patients, respectively. These trials represent the first clinical use of T2000 for a specific indication. The primary endpoint was the change in the mean scores of the treated and control groups based on the Fahn-Tolosa-Marin tremor scale. In the first study of 12 patients treated with 400 mg or placebo twice daily for 14 days, the mean change from baseline at day 14 was 19.3 (P < 0.0001) in the treated group and 9.0 (P = 0.0121) in the control group. Using a two-factor mixed ANOVA model to evaluate within group and between group changes, the effect of T2000 was significantly different from that of the placebo group (P = 0.03). In the second study of 22 patients treated with 300 mg of T2000 or placebo twice daily for 20 days, statistically significant changes were seen in treated patients compared to baseline, but the ANOVA model did not demonstrate a significant treatment effect of T2000 compared to placebo. When the treated groups from each study are compared, the 800-mg daily group is significantly different from the 600-mg daily group (P = 0.02). Some treated patients in each study, but no placebo patients, experienced marked improvement. These results support further evaluation of T2000 in the treatment of essential tremor.     

喉癌组织T淋巴细胞亚群与外周血前列环素及血栓素的检测

目的 探讨喉癌局部组织的细胞免疫状态与前列腺素类物质前列环素及血栓素的关系。方法 应用免疫组化法检测了28例喉鳞癌患者局部组织内淋巴细胞亚群的分布状况，并与该患者残喉健康侧组织及喉良性肿瘤患者的瘤组织进行对比；同时采用放射免疫分析法分别检测了上述喉鳞癌、喉良性肿瘤患者和正常人血浆前列环素(PGI2)及血栓素A2(TXA2)的含量，并以它们在健康人血浆中的含量为正常对照。结果 喉癌组织内浸润的CD4和CD8细胞数明显升高，而且CD8细胞多于CD4细胞，提示喉癌组织局部的细胞免疫功能受抑。同时喉癌患者血浆中PGI2和TXA2的稳定代谢产物6-酮-前列腺素F1α及血栓素B2(TXB2)的含量高于正常对照组，以TXB2升高更明显。结论 喉癌患者体内前列腺素类物质PGI2／TXA2与其癌组织局部细胞免疫受抑有关，因而可作为生物学标记提示喉癌组织局部的细胞免疫功能状态。     

Optimized and combined T1 and B1 mapping technique for fast and accurate T1 quantification in contrast-enhanced abdominal MRI.

Fast T(1) mapping techniques are a valuable means of quantitatively assessing the distribution and dynamics of intravenously or orally applied paramagnetic contrast agents (CAs) by noninvasive imaging. In this study a fast T(1) mapping technique based on the variable flip angle (VFA) approach was optimized for accurate T(1) quantification in abdominal contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI. Optimization methods were developed to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and ensure effective RF and gradient spoiling, as well as a steady state, for a defined T(1) range of 100-800 ms and a limited acquisition time. We corrected B(1) field inhomogeneities by performing an additional measurement using an optimized fast B(1) mapping technique. High-precision in vitro and abdominal in vivo T(1) maps were successfully generated at a voxel size of 2.8 x 2.8 x 15 mm(3) and a temporal resolution of 2.3 s per T(1) map on 1.5T and 3T MRI systems. The application of the proposed fast T(1) mapping technique in abdominal CE-MRI enables noninvasive quantification of abdominal tissue perfusion and vascular permeability, and offers the possibility of quantitatively assessing dilution, distribution, and mixing processes of labeled solutions or drugs in the gastrointestinal tract.     

Gastro-duodenal digestion products of the major peanut allergen Ara h 1 retain an allergenic potential

BACKGROUND: The process of gastro-duodenal digestion may play a role in determining the allergenic properties of food proteins. The sensitizing and allergenic potential of digestion products of highly degraded allergens, such as the major peanut allergen Ara h 1, is currently under debate. We evaluated the effect of in vitro gastro-duodenal digestion of Ara h 1 on T cell reactivity and basophil histamine release. METHODS: An in vitro model of gastro-duodenal digestion was used to investigate changes in the allergenic properties of Ara h 1 using in vitro assays monitoring T cell reactivity (proliferation, cytokine production) and histamine release of basophils from peanut allergic individuals. The digestion process was monitored using an SDS-PAGE gel. RESULTS: In vitro gastric digestion led to rapid degradation of Ara h 1 into small fragments M(r) L5600. Gastric digestion did not affect the ability of Ara h 1 to stimulate cellular proliferation. Gastro-duodenal digestion significantly reduced its ability to stimulate clonal expansion (P<0,05; Wilxocon's signed rank test). The Th-2 type cytokine polarization of T cells from peanut allergic donors (IFN-gamma/IL-13 ratio and IFN-gamma/IL-4 ratio of CFSE(low) CD4(+) T cells) remained unchanged regardless of the level of digestion. Histamine release of basophils from peanut allergic individuals was induced to the same extent by native Ara h 1 and its digestion products. CONCLUSION: Gastro-duodenal digestion fragments of Ara h 1 retain T cell stimulatory and IgE-binding and cross-linking properties of the intact protein.     

原发性肝癌患者肝切除术前、后免疫细胞表型分析

目的研究原发性肝癌(PrimaryLiverCarcinoma,PLC)患者肝切除术前、后免疫细胞表型的变化。方法采用直接免疫荧光标记,流量血细胞计数法(FlowCytometry,FCM)检测方法,动态观察120例PLC患者肝切除术前后外周血T淋巴细胞亚群、NK细胞和HLA鄄DR含量变化。结果肝切除术前肝功能Child鄄PughB级、OGTTL型和术前施行肝动脉栓塞化疗患者外周血CD8+T细胞含量明显低于正常人组,CD4+/CD8+比值则较高(P<0郾05)。全部肝癌患者肝切除术前、后CD3+CD4+T细胞和NK细胞(CD3-CD16+CD56+)含量无明显差异。术后第1天、第3天、第7天和第2周外周血淋巴细胞CD3+CD8+含量明显低于肝切除术前和术后第3周(P<0.01);而CD4+/CD8+比值则显著高于肝切除术前和术后第3周(P<0郾01)。结论PLC合并肝硬变肝储备功能不足、术前肝动脉栓塞化疗和肝切除术可导致机体细胞免疫功能低下,PLC患者肝切除术前行肝动脉栓塞化疗的价值有待深入研究。     

人膀胱癌T24细胞及其SCID小鼠移植瘤组织中KDR的表达

目的 检测KDR在人膀胱癌T24细胞及其SCID小鼠移植瘤组织中的表达。方法 常规培养T24细胞，建立荷人膀胱癌移植瘤SCID小鼠动物模型，使用抗KDR单克隆抗体，通过免疫荧光、免疫组化检测KDR在T24细胞及瘤体组织上的表达；结果 KDR在T24细胞及瘤体组织中均呈阳性表达。结论 本研究结果为进一步研究抗KDR单抗在荷T24细胞移植瘤动物体内分布及对瘤体生长的抑制效应奠定了实验基础。     

抗肝癌单链双功能抗体在Hut-78细胞系中的表达及体外杀伤活性

目的 用携带分泌型抗肝癌单链双功能抗体基因（sFv-TNF-α）的重组逆转录病毒感染T细胞淋巴瘤Hut-78细胞，使其表达并分泌针对人肝癌细胞的sFv-TNF-α融合蛋白，观察转导的T细胞对体外培养肝癌细胞的杀伤作用。方法 用感染性重组病毒产生细胞C22（PA317/PST）产生的病毒上清转导入T细胞淋巴瘤Hut-78细胞，采用PCR，RT-PCR，细胞原位杂交及免疫组织化学染色等方法，对转导的Hut-78细胞进行DNA，mRNA及蛋白水平的分析。转导的Hut-78细胞分别与SMMC-7721，HHCC共培养，MTT法检测Hut/PST细胞表达产物对两种肝癌细胞的杀伤作用。结果 PCR，RT-PCR结果显示转导Hut细胞中扩增出外源目的基因对应的电泳条带，neo基因探针原位杂交显示转导细胞质内有较强的紫蓝色阳性反应信号，其阳性率约为95%，鼠抗人TNF-α多克隆抗体免疫组织化学染色，转导细胞质内有明确的棕黄色阳性反应信号，MTT法检测结果，分泌型抗肝癌单链双功能抗体对体外培养的两种肝癌细胞的杀伤率分别为15.4%和26.5%。结论 分泌型抗肝癌单链双功能抗体基因可以在T细胞中整合并稳定表达，其分泌的表达产物对两种肝癌细胞均具有一定的亲合活性，并且具有一定的体外杀伤作用。     

The thymus in seronegative myasthenia gravis patients

Summary In 5–10% of all patients with typical generalised myasthenia gravis (MG), serum antibody to the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) is undetectable. To determine whether these represent a distinct subgroup, we have compared the thymuses of 14 seronegatives, 70 seropositives and 12 non-myasthenic controls. By quantitative immunohistology on coded sections, the 7 seronegative samples were clearly distinguishable from the controls by the pronounced lymph node-type T-cell areas in the medulla. While these closely resembled those in the seropositive cases, germinal centres were significantly sparser, and total in vitro IgG production was disproportionately low (per B cell) in the 12 cases tested. Furthermore, specific anti-AChR production was never detected in any of these cultures. The data support the view that the medullary T-cell areas are the most consistent abnormalitiy in the MG thymus (though it may not be primary), and they strongly imply that seronegative and seropositive MG are distinct entities.     

Isolation and characterization of a monoclonal anti-P30 antibody resistant mutant of Toxoplasma gondii

Of the possible iodine-labelled Toxoplasma gondii surface proteins, P30 (apparent Mr 30,000) is the principal one recognized by acute and convalescent anti-toxoplasma sera. This protein which comprises from 3 to 5% of the total parasite protein was used to raise a panel of parasiticidal monoclonal anti-P30 antibodies. One of these monoclonal antibodies was able to select a resistant mutant from a large population of chemically mutagenized wild-type P strain parasites. This mutant retained the wild type sensitivity to other non-P30 parasiticidal monoclonal antibodies as well as polyclonal anti-P30 rabbit sera. Analysis of surface radioiodinated wild type and mutant parasites showed that the mutant had a quantitative reduction in the amount of P30. A comparison of surface biotin labelled wild type and resistant parasites by two dimensional electrophoresis showed that the mutant lacked one and possibly two of several proteins that make up wild type P30. Western blot analysis indicated that the mutant was devoid of antigenically reactive P30. These findings further support the hypothesis that antigenic variants of T. gondii can be induced and may involve the major surface membrane antigens of the parasite.     

In vivo anti-melanoma activities of the Melan-A/MART-1101–115 T CD4+ cell peptide

Malignant melanoma causes significant health problems. The identification of tumour-associated antigens has led to novel approaches to increase T cell mediated anti-tumour immune response. Melan-A/MART-1 has been use as target antigen for several T cell based immunotherapeutic treatments. More recently, the critical role of CD4+ T cells in inducing and maintaining anti-tumour immunity has been increasingly recognized. In order to optimize tumour immunotherapy, greater efforts have been concentrated on the identification of tumour antigens presented by MHC class II molecules to CD4+ T cells. In a publication, Tiwari et al. (2004) [1] have identified by a computational approach the 15-mer amino-acid sequence 101–115 (PPAYEKLSAEQSPPP) of the Melan-A/MART-1 as a good target for a vigorous and safe immunotherapy. Therefore, we have investigated the in vivo anti-tumour activity of this peptide in a murine melanoma model. For the prophylactic treatment, 20 μg or 50 μg peptide was subcutaneously injected in mice once a week during 3 weeks before tumour induction. Treatment with 50 μg peptide significantly affected tumour development. Thus, our preliminary data demonstrate potential in vivo prophylactic activity of the 101–115 peptide-based vaccine to control melanoma growth.