Regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) products in fresh and cultured human fetal pancreata aged 9–16 gestational weeks by gamma-interferon

Immunological data on the human fetal pancreas (HFP) are mainly confined to its constitutive expression of the MHC antigens. However, cytokines, such as gamma-interferon (g-IFN), released by lymphocytes during immune reactions, can induce or upregulate the expression of MHC products in allografts and alter their immunological behaviour. We investigated the effects of g-IFN on fresh and cultured HFPs aged 9–16 gestational weeks (gw). Following g-IFN stimulation of fresh HFPs, there was class I hyperexpression by the ductal cells, and some of the ductal, endothelial and islet cells also became class II⁺. Conventional tissue culture (5% CO₂ in air at 37°C) reduced the number of interstitial class II⁺ cells within the HFP after 1 week but was associated with de novo class I expression by some of the ductal cells. Remarkably, the changes in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigen expression by the ductal cells occurred earlier and were markedly enhanced when the HFPs were cultured beforehand. The number of interstitial class II⁺ cells in fresh and cultured HFPs was not influenced by g-IFN. The significance of these observations with regard to clinical HFP transplantation is discussed.     

脂肪乳剂对健康人外周血单个核细胞磷脂脂肪酸组成的影响

目的探讨脂肪乳剂对健康人免疫细胞脂肪酸组成的影响。方法采用毛细管气相色谱法检测8名健康志愿者连续7天外周静脉输注脂肪乳剂(20%intralipid)后,外周血单个核细胞磷脂脂肪酸谱的变化。结果静脉输注脂肪乳剂对健康人外周血单个核细胞数量、肝功能和血脂无影响,软脂酸(C16∶0)、油酸(C18∶1N9)比例在单个核细胞磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)中明显增加(P<0.05,P<0.01);硬脂酸(C18∶0)减少(P<0.05);亚麻酸(C18∶3N3)、软油酸(C16∶1N7)在磷脂酰胆碱(PC)中明显增加(P<0.05),而其余脂肪酸均未发生明显改变。饱和脂肪酸与不饱和脂肪酸的比值(S/U)和脂肪酸的不饱和指数(UI)在单个核细胞PE、PC中均保持不变。结论脂肪乳剂不可能通过影响免疫细胞磷脂脂肪酸组成的途径对免疫功能产生影响。     

Changes in the content of Met-enkephalin in different brain structures during the development of immune response

Changes in the content of the opiate peptide Met-enkephalin at the early stages of immune response are studied in different structures of rats brain 20 min and 24 h after immunization with sheep erythrocytes. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 2, pp. 170–172, February, 1997     

Specific response to adrenaline in arterial hypertension induced by exogenous calcium deficiency

Injection of a synthetic analog of parathyroid hypertensive factor to WKY rats considerably increases and prolongs pressor response to adrenaline. Synthetic analog injected after adrenaline induces a short-term (3–4 min) and potent (to 250%) rise of arterial pressure. Each subsequent injection of the synthetic analog induces a less pronounced in the amplitude and duration pressor response. The α-adrenoblocker phentolamine completely abolishes the effects of the parathyroid hypertensive factor analog. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 124, No. 8, pp. 148–150, August, 1997     

Hypothesis: association of the critical region of trisomy 18 and 18q2—syndrome with dermatoglyphic findings and a growth suppressor (deleted in colon cancer) locus

Evidence from the literature is reviewed to suggest that when fingertip dermal ridge patterns in chromosomal deletion syndromes are characteristic of the opposite spectrum of the developmental scale from patterns found in cases trisomic for the same chromosomal region, the association may be a consequence of loci with growth regulatory functions. Evidence is presented that DNA markers at 18q21 should be the first candidate sequences to be used to test this hypothesis in families with fingertip arches segregating in an apparent autosomal dominant fashion.     

幽门螺杆菌尿素酶减毒鼠伤寒杆菌疫苗诱导小鼠粘膜免疫应答的研究

目的:观察口服减毒鼠伤寒杆菌活菌重组疫苗后小鼠的粘膜免疫应答状况。方法:将已构建成功的表达幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)尿素酶B亚单位(UreB)的重组减毒鼠伤寒杆菌SL3261/pTC01-UreB口服免疫Balb/c小鼠,12周后检测肠液和血清中的特异性抗体反应。结果:疫苗组小鼠的肠液和血清中可分别检测到针对UreB的特异性抗体IgA和IgG,病理学检查显示疫苗组小鼠较对照组小鼠胃粘膜炎症程度差异无统计学意义。结论:表达H.pyloriUreB的减毒鼠伤寒杆菌SL3261/pTC01-UreB能够诱导小鼠产生抗H.pylori的粘膜免疫,可用作抗H.pylori感染的口服疫苗。     

Cell volume regulation: a review of cerebral adaptive mechanisms and implications for clinical treatment of osmolal disturbances: II

Cerebral cell volume regulatory mechanisms are activated by sustained disturbances in plasma osmolality. Acute hypernatremia causes a predictable shrinkage of brain cells due to the sudden imposition of a plasma-to-cell osmolal gradient. However, during chronic hypernatremia cerebral cell volume is maintained close to the normal range as a result of the accumulation of electrolytes and organic osmolytes including myo-inositol, taurine, glutamine, glycerophosphorylcholine, and betaine. The increased cytosolic level of these molecules is generally accomplished via increased activity of sodium (Na⁺)-dependent cotransport systems. The slow dissipation of these additional osmotically active solutes from the cell during treatment of hypernatremia necessitates gradual correction of this electrolyte abnormality. Acute hyponatremia leads to cerebral cell swelling and severe neurological dysfunction. However, prolonged hyponatremia is associated with significant reductions in brain cell electrolyte and organic osmolyte content so that cerebral cell volume is restored to normal. While acute hyponatremia can be treated with the administration of moderate doses of hypertonic saline in order to control seizure activity, chronic hyponatremia should be corrected slowly in order to prevent subsequent neurological deterioration. If the rate of correction exceeds 0.5 mmol/l per hour, or if the total increment in serum [Na⁺] exceeds 25 mmol/l in the first 48 h of therapy, then there is an increased risk of the development of cerebral demyelinating lesions. Chronic hyperglycemia activates the brain cell volume regulatory adaptations in the same manner as hypernatremia. Therefore, during the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis, it is imperative to restore normoglycemia gradually in order to prevent the occurrence of cerebral edema. It is possible that excessive administration of electrolyte-free solutions and high doses of insulin may increase the risk of this complication. While there are some data to suggest that brain cell size is disturbed during acute uremia, additional work is necessary to clarify the role of cerebral cell volume regulation during acute and chronic uremia.     

建立新型医患关系是医院工作的当务之急

《医疗事故处理条例》《最高人民法院关于民事诉讼证据的若干规定》这两个法规的出台，给医院提出了新的课题，结合目前实际，提出了医院全面贯彻执行这两个法规，必须从围绕改善医患关系这个中心问题入手。建立新型和医患关系，并根据多年的观察与实践，着重论述了如下见解：医务人员在为患者的攻关服务过程中，要真正认识自己是医患矛盾中的主要方面；医务人员要转变传统的服务思维定势，尊重和理解患者，医务人员要确立既为患者生命和利益负责，又重视患者权利的观念，医务人员要增强法制观念，做到依法行医，医院要设置监控部门或配备专兼职人员，对全院的医疗服务进行检查监督。     

Evidence for a human IgG1 class switch program

In activated murine B lymphocytes, immunoglobulin class switch recombination occurs as a highly regulated process which is targeted to distinct switch regions. Here we present first evidence that in human B lymphocytes, switch recombination is targeted to distinct switch regions as well. In a panel of clonally unrelated IgG1-expressing human B cells, immortalized by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation, seven out of nine cells show switch recombination between Sμ and Sγ1 on both alleles, the active and inactive one. The remaining cells show no switch recombination on the inactive IgH locus. The very strong correlation of switch recombination on both alleles of IgG1-expressing cells proves that class switch recombination to IgG1 is not random but directed in human B lymphocytes.     

Intravenous Gammaglobulin (IVIG): A Novel Approach to Improve Transplant Rates and Outcomes in Highly HLA-Sensitized Patients

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) products are derived from pooled human plasma and have been used for the treatment of primary immunodeficiency disorders for more than 24 years. Shortly after their introduction, IVIG products were also found to be effective in the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Over the past 2 decades, the list of diseases where IVIG has a demonstrable beneficial effect has grown rapidly. These include Kawasaki disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, dermatomyositis and demyelinating polyneuropathy. Recently, we have described a beneficial effect on the reduction of anti-HLA antibodies with subsequent improvement in transplantation of highly HLA-sensitized patients as well as a potent anti-inflammatory effect that is beneficial in the treatment of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). These advancements have enabled transplantation of patients previously considered untransplantable. These studies and relevant mechanism(s) of action will be discussed here.