Flow cytometric analysis of induced human graafian follicles. I. Demonstration and sorting of two luteinized cell populations.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that induced human graafian follicles consist of different steroidogenic cell types on the basis of their light scatter characteristics as determined by flow cytometry. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, observational study. SETTING: Flow cytometry laboratory. PATIENTS: Thirty-six follicular aspirates from nine consecutive patients undergoing in vitro fertilization for tubal factor infertility were evaluated. RESULTS: Two distinct luteal cell populations were recovered. Both populations were positive by Oil Red O staining, suggesting the presence of intracellular lipid. Neither population stained positively for the presence of HLe-1/CD45, an antigen present on all human leukocytes. CONCLUSIONS: Cellular heterogeneity exists within the granulosa cell compartment.     

Ausfallhonorar wegen Nichterscheinens zu einem Exklusiv-Termin

Abstrakt 1. Nimmt ein Patient einen ihm von seinem (Zahn-)Arzt einger?umten Exklusiv-Termin nicht wahr, obwohl er auf dessen Eigenschaft ausdrücklich hingewiesen wurde, so hat er dem (Zahn-)Arzt den Behandlungsausfall abzüglich eines angemessenen Eigenanteils des (Zahn-)Arztes zu ersetzen. 2. Die Ersatzpflicht tritt auch dann ein, wenn der Patient den Termin nicht in der in dem Behandlungsvertrag vorgesehenen Frist absagt. Eine hierfür seitens des (Zahn-)Arztes bestimmte Frist von zwei Tagen vor Behandlungsbeginn stellt sich für den Patienten grunds?tzlich auch nicht als unangemessene Benachteiligung i.S. des § 307 BGB dar. 3. Ein Anspruch des Arztes entf?llt auch bei nur mündlicher Vereinbarung nicht unter dem Gesichtspunkt des § 4 Abs. 5b BMV-Z, denn diese Vorschrift ist teleologisch dahin zu reduzieren, dass nur zahn?rztliche Honoraransprüche aus erfolgten Behandlungen schriftlich vereinbart werden müssen. Soweit es jedoch um einen vertraglichen Anspruch wegen einer Leistungsst?rung geht, vermag das Schriftformerfordernis des § 4 Abs. 5b BMV-Z grunds?tzlich nicht einzugreifen. (Leits?tze des Bearbeiters)     

Vascular Access for Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

Abstract: Adequate venous access is an essential component of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPEX). The simplest kind of venous access is venipuncture of antecubital veins, but this technique may be limited by venous size or scarring following the procedure, requiring the placement of a specialized vascular access device (VAD). VADs provide reliable central venous access and may remain in place for several weeks or months, depending on the VAD and the venous site chosen. Their use, however, is potentially limited by the risk of complications. We discuss indications for insertion, choice of catheter and access site, and complications of VAD placement for TPEX.     

Role of IL-2 in rat fetal thymocyte development

Early during rat thymus ontogeny, an important proportion of thymocytes expresses IL-2R and contains IL-2 mRNA. To investigate the role of the IL-2-IL-2R complex in rat T cell maturation, we supplied either recombinant rat IL-2 or blocking anti-CD25 mAb to rat fetal thymus organ cultures (FTOC) under several experimental conditions. The IL-2 treatment initially stimulated the growth of thymocytes and, as a result, induced T cell differentiation, but the continuous addition of IL-2 to rat FTOC, as well as the anti-CD25 administration, resulted in cell number decrease and inhibition of thymocyte maturation. These results indicate that immature rat thymocytes bear functional high- affinity IL-2R and that IL-2 promotes T cell differentiation as a consequence of its capacity to stimulate cell proliferation. Modifications in TCR alpha beta repertoire and increased numbers of NKR- P1+ cells, largely NK cells, were also observed in IL-2-treated FTOC. Furthermore, IL-2-responsiveness of different thymocyte subsets changed throughout thymic ontogeny. Immature CD4-CD8-cells responded to IL-2 in two stages, early in thymus development and around birth, in correlation with the maturation of two distinct waves of thymic cell progenitors. Mature CD8+ thymocytes maximally responded to IL-2 around birth, supporting a role for IL-2 in the increased proliferation of mature thymocytes observed in vivo in the perinatal period. Taken together, these findings support a role for IL-2 in rat T cell development.      

Serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta, progesterone, relaxin and chorionic gonadotrophin during blastocyst implantation in natural pregnancy cycle and in embryo transfer cycle in the rhesus monkey

The present study was undertaken to assess the temporal association between the profiles of serum concentrations of oestradiol-17beta, progesterone, chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) and relaxin in pregnancies established naturally, and after embryo transfer, as well as in failed pregnancies in rhesus monkeys. In naturally mated cycles (group 1) a conception rate of 75% was obtained. In group 1, the mean day of CG detection in serum was 11.5 +/- 1.9 day post-ovulation, and for relaxin, 9.0 +/- 2.5 day post-ovulation. In group 2, embryo transfer to synchronous, non-mated surrogate recipients was performed; seven embryo transfer cycles yielded three pregnancies which were allowed to continue to term and normal infants were delivered. In embryo transfer cycles the mean day of CG detection was 14.8 +/- 1.8 day post- ovulation, and for relaxin, 11.4 +/- 2.6 day post-ovulation. A delay of about 3 days was observed in the appearance in circulation of CG (P < 0.05) and also of relaxin (P < 0.05) between natural mated and embryo transfer conception cycles. Significant differences (P < 0.05 for progesterone and P < 0.03 for oestradiol) were obtained for the areas under the curves for progesterone and oestradiol between days 12 and 16 in conception cycles compared with failed pregnancies. These data provide the first observation of the normal hormonal signals associated with maternal recognition of transferred embryos during the peri- implantation period, and suggest that the use of such an experimental primate embryo transfer model may help to elucidate components of maternal and embryonic signal-response mechanisms during embryo implantation.      

A rapid microagglutination test for the diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1) infection

A rapid microagglutination test has been developed which can be performed in 30 minutes. Ninety-seven percent of 96 patients diagnosed as having Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1) infection by indirect immunofluorescence were also detected by the rapid microagglutination test.     

Human herpesvirus 8 infection among various population groups in southern Israel

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence of antibodies to human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) or Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus among Israeli and Ethiopian subjects. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 98 Israeli Jewish students aged 18-30 years, 100 HIV-1-seronegative Ethiopian immigrants to Israel of the same age, and 100 HIV-1-seronegative Ethiopian children 1-12 years old upon their arrival in southern Israel. Plasma samples were obtained from 3 hospitalized patients with multicentric Castleman disease (MCD) as positive controls. All serum samples were tested for antibodies to both latent and lytic antigens. Antibodies to the lytic antigens and the latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) of HHV-8 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and by immunofluorescence assay. HHV-8 DNA from serum or plasma samples was detected by polymerase chain reaction analysis. RESULTS: Antibodies to HHV-8 LANA were detected in 2.9% of the Israeli subjects aged 18-30 years and in 26% of the Ethiopian subjects from both age groups tested. Antibodies to the lytic antigens were detected in all 3 MCD patients, in 4% of the Ethiopian children, and in 2% of the 18- to 30-year-old Ethiopians. No antibodies to the lytic antigens were detected in the Israeli students. HHV-8 DNA was detected in all 3 MCD patients and in 2 of 4 of the Ethiopian children positive for the lytic antigens. CONCLUSIONS: HHV-8 is highly prevalent in Ethiopian immigrants to Israel as compared with Israeli students. Antibodies to HHV-8 in Ethiopia are acquired before puberty. The results of this study indicate the association of HHV-8 with MCD, as has been documented by many other researchers.