Naturally occuring antibodies against nerve growth factor in human and rabbit sera: comparison between control and herpes simplex virus-infected patients

Antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) in sera were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), by their isolation after passage of sera through NGF immunoadsorbent columns and by their specificity to bind and immunoprecipitate mouse NGF as well as to stain by immunohistochemical methods cellular sites of NGF synthesis. Increased levels of anti-NGF antibodies were found in sera of herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected patients but not in HSV-inoculated rabbits. As HSV latency is known to be promoted by NGF in vitro, these results may suggest that anti-NGF antibodies modulate the cytokine function of NGF and thus might play a role in HSV infection. The biological function of circulating antibodies against NGF, in general, is now open to future investigation.     

新疆出血热病毒与流行性出血热病毒的生物学特性比较

本文通过免疫荧光(IF)和电镜(EM)技术对新疆出血热(XHF)及流行性出血热(EHF)病毒的生物学特性在Vero E_6及LLC-MK_2两株传代细胞上进行了比较。两种病毒感染两株细胞后免疫荧光染色有两种不同的荧光形态特征,两种病毒对细胞的敏感性明显不同,XHF病毒在LLC-MK_2细胞上感染后6～8天可出现明显的细胞病变,而EHF病毒感染此细胞后则不引起病变。电镜观察到两种病毒在LLC-MK_2细胞中都能形成与布尼病毒相似的形态特征。     

Immunogenicity study of low-dose administration of hepatitis B virus vaccine in newborn infants: A cost reduction trial

Different doses of hepatitis B virus vaccine—prepared by Korea Green Cross Corporation, were given to healthy infants born to HBsAg-negative mothers at birth, 1 and 6 months of age. A dose of 2 μg was administered intradermally in Group A and, in the three other groups, the vaccine was given intramuscularly (i.m.). An adequate follow-up observation was possible for 9 months after birth in 22, 25, 23 and 21 infants in Groups A, B, C and D, respecvely.
Group C (5 μg, i.m.) produced seroconversion most rapidly, showing the highest rate (96%) at 9 months of age. The lowest seroconversion rate (5%) was found at the age of 1 month in Group A subjects, but the rate increased to 91% after a booster dose was given at 6 months of age.
While it can be concluded that a 5 μg i.m. dose of vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months of age is optimum for the immunization of infants in efficacy and economy, a 2 μg intradermal dose can also be considered as an immunogenic and economical regimen, though the immune response is slower and a special technique is required for immunization.     

甘草酸抗病毒活性的研究进展

以国内外发表的文献为材料,简述甘草酸在抗病毒方面研究进展。对甘草酸抗肝炎病毒、疱疹属病毒、HIV病毒及SAS病毒等机制进行了综述。甘草酸抗病毒活性强,能抑制多种不相关的DNA、RNA病毒的生长,并且不影响正常细胞的活性。但由于其脂溶性和生物利用度低,及长期使用会引起一些不良反应,而限制了它的应用。总的来说,甘草酸在抗病毒方面的前景良好,有其独特优势,但其抗病毒机制复杂,很多方面有待进一步研究。     

EDTA Registry centre survey, 1986. Report from the European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry

This paper summarises the information given on the 1986 EDTA Registry centre questionnaire which was returned by 82% of the 2,065 known dialysis and transplant centres in 33 European countries. Information is given on the number of patients alive on haemodialysis according to the type of dialysis facilities available where the patient was receiving dialysis and the number of patients receiving special types of dialysis. The centre questionnaire also included questions on testing for HIV infection, serological evidence or symptoms of AIDS and the diagnosis of hepatitis B in patients and staff. The data given in response to these questions are presented together with data on the involvement of dietitians and social workers in the treatment of patients with end stage renal failure. Finally, information on transplant activity in Europe and the treatment policies of transplanting centres is provided.     

Hepatitis B virus genetic diversity and its impact on diagnostic assays

Summary.  Hepatitis B virus (HBV) circulates in blood as closely related, but genetically diverse molecules called quasispecies. During replication, HBV production may approach 10¹¹ molecules/day, although during peak activity this rate may increase 100–1000 times. Generally, DNA polymerases have excellent fidelity in reading DNA templates because they are associated with an exonuclease which removes incorrectly added nucleotides. However, the HBV-DNA polymerase lacks fidelity and proofreading function partly because exonuclease activity is either absent or deficient. Thus, the HBV genome and especially the envelope gene, is mutated with unusually high frequency. These mutations can affect more than one open reading frame because of overlapping genes. The S gene contains an exposed major hydrophilic region (residues 110–155), which encompasses the 'a' determinant that is important for inducing immunity. Nucleotide substitutions in this region are common and result in reduced binding or failure to detect hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in diagnostic assays. Adaptive immunity also depends on the recognition of HBsAg by specific antibody and variants pose a threat if they interfere with binding to antibody. Finally, genomic hypervariability allows HBV to escape selection pressures imposed by antiviral therapies, vaccines and the host immune system, and is responsible for creating genotypes, subgenotypes and subtypes.     

前列腺素E1对大鼠肝移植肾功能的保护作用

目的探讨术中应用前列腺素E1（prostaglandin E1，PGE1）对大鼠肝移植肾功能的保护作用。方法大鼠原位肝移植术中经颈内静脉灌注PGE1为治疗组，生理盐水和空白为对照组，观察术后1周存活率、1h的尿量，测定血浆肌酐、尿素氮和肾组织中丙二醛（malondjaldehyde，MDA）、谷胱甘肽（glutathione，GSH）含量，肾组织病理检查。结果PGE1治疗组术后1h尿量较对照组明显增加，肌酐和尿素氮水平均较对照组降低，PGE1治疗组肾组织中GSH含量显著高于两对照组，MDA含量低于两对照组。病理检查PGE1治疗组肾脏组织形态学损伤明显减轻。结论术中应用PGE1能显著改善大鼠肝移植后的肾功能，其机制可能与对抗氧自由基损伤作用有关。     

Recent Ⅳ-drug users with chronic hepatitis C can be efficiently treated with daily high dose induction therapy using consensus interferon:An open-label pilot study

INTRODUCTION Under physiological conditions, interferon-α (IFN-α) is a key cytokine produced by virtually all cells in the mammalian organism in response to a variety of bacterial and viral stimuli. In response to viral infection, IFN-α produced by the infected target cells induces a number of cellular genes involved in inhibition of viral replication. In addition, IFN-α is secreted by stimulated NK-cells and T-cells and exerts a multitude of immune stimulatory effects of innate a…     

三种实验性IgA肾病模型的比较

目的探讨建立一种理想的IgA肾病（IgAN）动物模型方法。方法分别采用葡聚糖G200、大肠杆菌外膜蛋白和金葡菌的细胞膜20肽抗原决定簇诱导小鼠IgA肾病模型。用分子生物学和病理学方法对3组IgAN模型小鼠进行鉴定和比较。结果（1）葡聚糖组尿蛋白增高，伴有血尿；免疫荧光显示部分肾小球大量IgA沉积；光镜下肾小球系膜细胞增多，肝和脾可见弥漫性的粉染物质沉积；电镜下肾小球系膜区少量低电子密度的致密沉积物，肝和脾可见淀粉丝样物质沉积。（2）大肠杆菌外膜蛋白组尿蛋白增高，伴有血尿；免疫荧光显示肾小球有少量IgA沉积；光镜下肾小球系膜细胞轻度增多，间质炎细胞浸润明显；电镜下肾小球系膜区无电子致密沉积物。（3）金葡菌细胞膜20肽抗原决定簇组尿蛋白增高，伴有血尿；免疫荧光显示多数肾小球均可见大量IgA沉积；光镜下肾小球系膜细胞增多，伴系膜基质轻度增生；电镜下肾小球系膜区和基底膜的内皮细胞下可见高电子密度的致密沉积物。结论金葡菌细胞膜20肽抗原决定簇组诱导的IgAN模型从临床表现和病理学变化与人IgAN极其相似，是3种IgAN模型中最理想的IgAN模型。     

BKV in Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Leading Cause of Renal Graft Loss in First 2 Years Post-Transplant

With the introduction of more potent immunosuppressive agents, rejection has decreased in simultaneous pancreas/kidney transplant (SPK) recipients. However, as a consequence, opportunistic infections have increased. The purpose of this report is to outline the course of SPK patients who developed polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN). A retrospective review of 146 consecutive SPK recipients from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 2002 was performed. Immunosuppression, rejection and development of PVAN were reviewed. Nine patients were identified. All received induction with either OKT3 or thymoglobulin. Immunosuppression included tacrolimus/cyclosporine, MMF/azathioprine and sirolimus/prednisone. Two patients were treated for kidney rejection prior to the diagnosis of PVAN. Time to diagnosis was an average of 359.3 days post-transplantation. Immunosuppression was decreased but five ultimately lost function. However, none developed pancreatic abnormalities as demonstrated by normal glucose and amylase. Two underwent renal retransplantation after PVAN diagnosis and both have normal kidney function. PVAN was the leading cause of renal loss in SPK patients in the first 2 years after transplantation and is a serious concern for SPK recipients. The pancreas, however, is spared from evidence of infection, and no pancreatic rejection occurred when immunosuppression was decreased.