Humanized anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody therapy of autoimmune and inflammatory disease

We have investigated the biological and therapeutic properties of a humanized anti-CD4 MoAb, hlgGl-CD4, in patients with refractory psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). hIgGl-CD4 is a modulating, non-depleting MoAb, which induced a first-dose reaction in most patients treated. It provided brief symptomatic relief in both conditions, and psoriasis appeared easier to control with conventional agents after MoAb therapy. At the doses used, hIgGl-CD4 did not synergize therapeutically with the pan-lymphocyte MoAb CAMPATH-1H (C1H) in patients with RA treated sequentially with both agents. There were no serious adverse effects definitely attributable to therapy. Our results are compared with those of other CD4 MoAb studies, and factors influencing the outcome of therapy are discussed.     

Adaptation of dental amalgam to the cavosurface margin of Class I cavity preparations

The adaptation of a range of amalgam alloys to the cavosurface margin of Class I cavity preparations was examined for two condensation techniques. The marginal contour of amalgam condensed into the cavity preparation and packed approximately 1 mm past the cavosurface margin was compared with amalgam margins of restorations which were packed to final contour with minimal carving. The effect of burnishing and/or polishing the cavosurface margin was compared with carving the amalgam to the cavosurface margin. Specimens were sectioned, metallographically polished and examined using a light microscope. The technique of overpacking amalgam produced a greater number of acceptable amalgam margins at the cavosurface margin than the condensation technique of packing to final contour, the best cavosurface margin was produced when specimens were burnished and polished, the carved margin being the least desirable. The cuspal incline also influenced the quality of the marginal finish with the difficulty of marginal finishing increasing with the steepness in cuspal incline.     

CASE REPORT: Spontaneous isolated mesenteric fibromatosis presenting as megaduodenum

A case of spontaneous isolated mesenteric fibromatosis presenting as megaduodenum is reported. The lesion was small, only 2 cm in its greatest diameter. However, because of its location near the ligament of Treitz and because of its characteristic infiltrative growth pattern, the tumour involved the distal duodenum and resulted in acute angulation and obstruction early in its course. We successfully resected the mass and the patient is in fair physical condition 6 months after operation.     

利用SELEX技术构建靶向光敏药物

肿瘤是目前威胁人类健康最凶险的疾病之一.寻找选择性好、副作用小的防治恶性肿瘤的新方法仍然是当今医学研究的热点.光动力学疗法是近年来兴起的极具应用前景的肿瘤治疗新方法.开发新型靶向光敏剂和开展靶向光动力治疗是进一步发展光动力治疗肿瘤的重要方向.本文简述了目前光动力治疗及常用光敏剂的研究现状,并提出通过指数式富集法配体进化技术即SELEX技术构建靶向光敏药物的新设想.     

THE CHEMISTRY AND CONFORMATIONAL AND BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF VITAMIN D3, ITS METABOLITES AND ANALOGUES

The chemical properties, sterochemical relationships and solution confromation, as assessed in part by proton NMR spectroscopy, for vitamin D₃, its major metabolites [including 1α, 25-(OH)₂ D₃, its hormonally active form] and a number of A-ring and side chain analogues are evaluated and discussed in relation ot their biological activity. In particular the relative ability of many of these seco-steroids to compet both with 25-OHD₃ for its chick serum binding protein and 1α, 25-(OH)₂-D₃ for its chick intenstinal cytosol-chromation receptor systme was quantitated, in vitro , Further, the relative effectiveness of all these metabolites and analogues to mediate in vivo intestinal calcium absorption and bone calcium mobilization was determined. Collectiveily these chemical and bilogical studies constitute a 'systems analysis'of the various steroid structural parameters both required and tolerated by the multi-stepped endocrine system associated with the bilogical actions of vitamin D.