获得性纯红再障患者外周血T细胞亚群分析

目的　本研究通过分析获得性纯红再障患者外周血T细胞亚群 ,进一步探讨该病的细胞免疫发病机制。方法　用抗人CD3、CD4、CD8、IFN γ及IL 4单抗结合人外周血单个核细胞 ,流式细胞术分析单个核细胞中CD3 +、CD4+、CD8+细胞数Th1、Th2、Tc1、Tc2细胞数以及CD4+/CD8+、Th1/Th2、Tc1/Tc2比值。结果　贫血组患者 ,外周血CD3 +细胞和CD8+细胞明显增加 (P <0 .0 1) ,CD4+/CD8+比例倒置 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;Tc2细胞明显增加 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,Tc1/Tc2比值降低(P <0 .0 5 ) ,治疗后血象恢复的患者各增高的亚群细胞均有所恢复 ,接近正常。结论　在获得性纯红再障患者T细胞明显增高 ,其中主要是CD8+细胞 ,而在CD8+细胞中 ,是Tc2细胞发挥了重要作用。经治疗有效的患者 ,其增高的T细胞亚群降低 ,提示以纠正病人细胞免疫异常为主的治疗方案有益于获得性纯红再障的治疗。     

精神分裂症服用氯氮平能降低其甲状腺素水平的对照分析

目的探索氯氮平治疗是否影响T3、T4和TSH水平.方法对17例精神分裂症患者,给予氯氮平治疗第4天和第4周末分别测定T3、T4和TSH水平.结果治疗第4周末的T3(3.309±0.689)、T4(9.449±1.941)水平比第4天的T3(3.915±0.850)、T4(11.178±2.180)水平明显降低(P均＜0.05).结论氯氮平治疗能降低甲状腺素水平.     

Cellular degeneration and synaptogenesis in the developing retina of the rat

We have investigated the time course and magnitude of cellular degeneration in the ganglion cell layer and the presumptive amacrine and bipolar regions of the inner nuclear layer during the development of the retina in the rat. Pyknotic profiles are present in the ganglion cell layer during the first 2 postnatal weeks, reaching peak numbers during the first 4 postnatal days (corresponding to the time of greatest loss of ganglion cells and their axons: Potts et al., '82; Lam et al., '82; Perry et al., '83). Two observations suggest that the majority of pyknotic profiles present in the ganglion cell layer during the second postnatal week are not ganglion cells. First, following injection of kainic acid into one superior colliculus, degenerating ganglion cells in the contralateral retina are cleared within 24-48 hours. Therefore, since most ganglion cell and axon loss occurs within the first postnatal week, few of the pyknotic profiles present in the second week are likely to be ganglion cells. Second, the time course of cellular degeneration in the ganglion cell layer during the second postnatal week follows a very similar pattern to that seen in the presumptive amacrine sublayer of the inner nuclear layer. Such a correspondence suggests that two phases of cell death occur in the ganglion cell layer: during the first postnatal week the majority of dying cells are ganglion cells, and in the second, most cell death is due to a loss of displaced amacrine cells. In the inner nuclear layer pyknotic profiles are most numerous in the presumptive amacrine region on postnatal days 6 and 7, and in the presumptive bipolar region on day 10. Synaptogenesis in the inner plexiform layer occurs later but reflects the order of cell death. Thus, conventional (presumed amacrine) synapses were first observed on day 11 and synaptic ribbons (indicative of bipolar synapses) on day 13. These observations suggest that amacrine and bipolar cells initiate synapses only after their numbers have stabilized.     

Neurotized nevi of the oral mucosa: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analysis of nevic corpuscles

BACKGROUND: Nevic corpuscle (NC), a stacked lamellar structure reminiscent of Meissner corpuscle, is frequently observed in dermal melanocytic nevi. Although the heading 'neurotized' is classically used for these nevi, the exact neural nature of NC has been a topic of considerable debate. Neurotized nevi have received little attention in the dental literature, and there was no information on NC in oral melanocytic nevi. METHODS: Six cases of oral intramucosal nevi with a significant number of NC (two completely and four partially neurotized nevi) were examined immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally. RESULTS: NC was composed of closely piled laminar cells devoid of visible melanin. NC and associated spindle nevus cells were immunopositive for S-100 protein but negative for HMB-45, myelin basic protein and epithelial membrane antigen. Within NC, no reactivity for neurofilament protein, protein gene product 9.5 or peripherin was evident. Numerous CD34-positive dendritic cells were located between nevus cells and often encircled NC. Ultrastructurally, NC consisted of concentrically layered elongated cells with a slender lamellated cytoplasm rich in thin filaments and pinocytotic vesicles. Their cytoplasmic processes were focally covered by external basal lamina and continuous to spindle nevus cells. Occasional NC cells contained a few melanosomes. There was no interposed axon in NC. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the close resemblance to Meissner corpuscle, NC showed no axonal supply. NC cells lacked terminal Schwannian differentiation and appeared to be modified melanocytes with some perineurial ultrastructural characteristics. The presence of CD34-positive cells, presumably corresponding to endoneurial fibroblasts, further supports an organizational relationship of NC and peripheral nerve sheath elements.     

Neurogenous hyperplasia leading to appendiceal obliteration: an immunohistochemical study of 237 cases

A series of 237 appendices was studied immunohistochemically for neurogenous hyperplasia. This was observed in 195 cases. It was possible to trace a continuum from appendices with intact lumens, featuring intramucosal neurogenous hyperplasia often with co-existent submucosal and muscular nerve growth, to obliterated specimens whose axial portions were composed of varying proportions of nerve tangles and fibrous tissue. Predominantly fibrotic specimens were considered as end-stages of this process. Stromal, argyrophilic cells lying amidst the nerve elements were prominent in the early, non-obliterated cases; their number decreased in the obliterated nerve rich specimens and such cells became inapparent in the late fibrotic stage. Repeated minimal subclinical attacks of inflammation are thought to trigger this lesion.     

Probiotic-induced suppression of allergic sensitization and airway inflammation is associated with an increase of T regulatory-dependent mechanisms in a murine model of asthma

BACKGROUND: Microbial intestinal colonization in early in life is regarded to play a major role for the maturation of the immune system. Application of non-pathogenic probiotic bacteria during early infancy might protect from allergic disorders but underlying mechanisms have not been analysed so far. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to investigate the immune effects of oral application of probiotic bacteria on allergen-induced sensitization and development of airway inflammation and airway hyper-reactivity, cardinal features of bronchial asthma. METHODS: Newborn Balb/c mice received orally 10(9) CFU every second day either Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG or Bifidobacterium lactis (Bb-12) starting from birth for consecutive 8 weeks, during systemic sensitization (six intraperitoneal injections, days 29-40) and airway challenge (days 54-56) with ovalbumin. RESULTS: The administration of either Bb-12 or LGG suppressed all aspects of the asthmatic phenotype: airway reactivity, antigen-specific immunoglobulin E production and pulmonary eosinophilia (mean: 137 vs. 17 and 13 cellsx10(3)/mL, respectively). Antigen-specific recall proliferation by spleen cells and T-helper type 2 cytokine production (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10) by mesenteric lymph node cells also showed significant reduction, while TGF production remained unchanged. Oral LGG administration particularly suppressed allergen-induced proliferative responses and was associated with an increase in numbers of TGF-beta-secreting CD4+/CD3+ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (6.5, 16.7%) as well as nearly 2-fold up-regulation of Foxp3-expressing cells in peribronchial lymph nodes. CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal application of probiotic bacteria inhibits subsequent allergic sensitization and airway disease in a murine model of asthma by induction of T regulatory cells associated with increased TGF-beta production.     

Nucleolus-associated J chains in myeloma cells: clinical significance

Bone marrow aspirates from 20 patients with multiple myeloma (MM), 4 with smoldering multiple myeloma (S-MM), 1 with idiopathic Bence Jones proteinuria (I-BJP), and 6 with primary macroglobulinemia (PMG) were examined for nucleolus-associated J chain. The incidence of nucleolar J chain-positive (J+) cells among nucleolated cells producing M-component was measured. This incidence (94.0-100%) in terminal MM was significantly higher than that (0-58.0%) in non-terminal MM. Judging from a low incidence in the remission phase, chemotherapy might cause a selective elimination of less differentiated myeloma cells with J+ nucleoli and might have some effect on J chain synthesis. The incidence of nucleolar J+ cells was very low in S-MM. The IgM cells in PMG, where J chain is present in a disulfide-linked form, had no or few J+ nucleoli. No correlation between the incidence of nucleolar J+ cells among nucleolated plasma cells and the percentage of nucleolated cells or that of J+ cells was found. Large J+ nucleoli seemed to be another morphological feature indicating anaplastic myeloma cells. A high incidence of nucleolar J+ cells may be one of the indicators for progressive disease.     

Pharmacokinetics of peptide T in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

1. The pharmacokinetics of Dalal-peptide T-NH2 (peptide T) was determined during phase I clinical trials in patients with acquired immunodeficiecy disease (AIDS) and AIDS related complex (ARC). Drug levels were determined by specific RIA, and in some cases with HPLC analysis, after intraveneous (i.v.) or intranasal (i.n.), via metered sprayer, administration.

2. The plasma kinetics appeared to be bi-phasic with a first compartment half-life of 30 to 60 minutes and a second plasma clearence rate of 4 to 6 hours, observed for both routes of administration. Peptide T, in one individual was confirmed to be present at 6 hrs in plasma, determined after HPLC isolation followed by specific RIA.

3. Bioavailabilty, determined for a 2 mg test dose in six individuals was 9.3 ± 6.9 nmol/L. Peak plasma levels of 41 ± 30 nmol/L after 10 mg i.n., 2.8 ± 5.9 nmol/L after 2mg i.n., and 0.13 ± 0.07 nmol/L after 0.4 mg i.n. were observed. In two individuals tested, peptide T was detected in CSF at levels 20% of the corresponding plasma level 90 and 145 minutes post i.v. administration. Peptide T was not detected in urine. I.N. administration was well tolerated for times up to 21 months.