Lymphocyte interleukin 2 production and responsiveness are altered in patients with primary myelodysplastic syndrome

Immunoregulatory T and B cell functions in 15 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) were studied by measuring the proliferative and the stimulatory capacity of T and B cells, respectively, in autologous (auto) and allogeneic (allo) mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). T cell proliferation in the auto MLR was 25% of the control (P less than .02), whereas proliferation in the allo MLR was normal. When control T cells were stimulated by MDS B cells, their proliferative response was only 57% of the control (P less than .01). The mechanism responsible for these abnormalities was studied by determining the capacity of MDS and normal T cells to produce interleukin 2 (IL 2) and to generate IL 2 receptors (IL 2R) following stimulation with control and MDS B cells. In the auto MLR of MDS patients, only 3% +/- 2% of T cells developed IL 2R positivity, whereas in control cultures 12% +/- 2% of T cells were positive, as determined by immunofluorescence, using a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) directed against the IL 2R, and FACS analysis. When MDS T cells were stimulated by control B cells, IL 2R generation and the production of IL 2 were within normal limits. In contrast, when control T cells were stimulated by MDS B cells or control B cells, the MDS B cells induced production of only 26% of IL 2 as compared with control B cells. In parallel experiments, IL 2R generation in control T cells stimulated by either MDS or control B cells was similar. We conclude that in the primary MDS, T and B cell interactions are impaired. Although MDS T cells develop normal quantities of IL 2R and produce normal amounts of IL 2 when stimulated by control B cells, they are markedly impaired when stimulated by self B cells. Similarly, MDS B cells can induce IL 2R generation in control T cells but not in MDS T cells. Myelodysplastic B cells are also defective in inducing IL 2 production by normal T cells in an allo MLR. These in vitro abnormalities strongly suggest that generation of lymphocytes with immunoregulatory functions is impaired in patients with MDS.     

Analysis of fasting antroduodenal manometry in children

Antroduodenal manometry has been used to determine the pathophysiology associated with signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal motility disorders. The diagnostic value of antroduodenal manomentry has been limited by the paucity of data from normal children. In this study, we compared antroduodenal manometry findings from 95 patients with symptoms suggesting a gastrointestinal motility disorder to 20 control children. Phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC) was less frequent in patients (P<0.05), especially in those who required total parenteral nutrition (P<0.001), than in controls. Abnormal migration of phase III and short intervals between phase IIIs were more frequent in patients than in controls (P<0.01 andP<0.05, respectively). During phase II, persistent low-amplitude contractions and sustained tonic-phasic contraction were found only in parenteral-nutrition-dependent children. Short or prolonged duration of phase III, absence of phase I following phase III, tonic contractions during phase III, low amplitude of phase III contractions in a single recording site and clusters of contractions or prolonged propagating contractions during phase II were not more frequent in patients than in controls. We conclude that there are five manometric features having a clear association with pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders: (1) absence of phase III of the MMC, (2) abnormal migration of phase III, (3) short intervals between phase III episodes, (4) persistent low-amplitude contractions, and (5) sustained tonic-phasic contractions.     

Ophthalmic manifestations in the COVID-19 clinical spectrum

Purpose:The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and various types of ophthalmic manifestation of patients with COVID-19.Methods:This is a prospective observational study conducted on patients with SARS-Co-V-2 infection, at a dedicated tertiary COVID-19 hospital in South India from April 1 to July 31, 2020. At the time of their admission to the COVID hospital, demographic data such as name, age, sex was recorded. A thorough history regarding the onset, duration, progression, nature of symptoms and its associated factors, medication history, treatment history were elicited and documented. Ocular examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist posted for COVID duty. Further investigations including imaging were sought for, depending on clinical indications. Serial follow-up examinations of all patients were carried out every 72 hours or when patients complained of any ocular symptoms whichever earlier, until discharge. All relevant data were compiled and statistically analyzed.Results:A total of 2742 patients were examined. Of them, 1461 (53.28%) were males and 1281 (46.72%) were females. The mean age (±SD) was 39.46 ± 17.63 years. None of the patients in our study had any ocular symptoms or signs as the presenting complaint at the time of their admission. On subsequent follow-up, only 20 (0.72%) developed ocular manifestations, of which 19 (95%) had features suggestive of Bilateral viral conjunctivitis. However, 1 (5%) patient had orbital cellulitis secondary to pansinusitis.Conclusion:Ophthalmic manifestations in the clinical spectrum of COVID-19 infection are uncommon and unlikely to be the presenting clinical impression. However, it has broadened our view to a wider spectrum of COVID-19 presentations enhancing our clinical acumen for staunch detection of COVID-19 suspects in our daily practice, augmenting early diagnosis and management and also break the chain of transmission for the greater good of humanity.     

Nursing education and professional role acquisition. A longitudinal study of expectations and attitudes towards nurse role acquisition

This article deals with professional role acquisition in nurses and discusses results from three studies concerning expectations and attitudes towards this acquisition. The studies have been carried out in Sweden. The discussion comprises expressed expectations and attitudes of nurse students and registered nurses in relation to our theoretical perspectives presented in a former article. The theoretical perspectives concentrate on three aspects of social action: change-drama, interchange-ritual, and maintenance-routine. The results indicate that the professional nurse role is acquired according to a traditional pattern, in spite of changes in curriculum and goals of nursing education and health care. Changes made to develop and improve the conditions under which role acquisitions take place.     

Clinical application of neuroimaging in epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of neuroimaging in clinical practice and to assess the prevalence of detected structural abnormalities in epilepsy patients in a clinical set up. METHODS: 919 outpatients were identified and the scan results reviewed. A total of 677 patients had chronic active epilepsy (88 had idiopathic generalised epilepsy (IGE), 588 had localisation related epilepsy, one had symptomatic generalised epilepsy), 57 had a single epileptic seizure, 46 were in remission, and 139 had non-epileptic attacks. RESULTS: 391 patients had no scan (53 patients in this group had IGE, 182 had localisation related epilepsy, one had generalised symptomatic epilepsy, 18 had single epileptic attacks, 21 were in remission, 116 had non-epileptic attacks). Altogether 528 patients had a scan, the results were not available in 33, 163 had x ray computed tomography (CT) only, 178 had standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (slice thickness 5 mm), and 154 had high resolution MRI (including a T1 weighted sequence with 1.5 mm thick slices). Some 252 of 495 scans (51%) were abnormal. Abnormalities were hippocampal sclerosis (n=128), atrophy or non-specific white matter lesions (n=35), vascular abnormalities (n=27), tumours (n=25), brain damage (n=24), malformations of cortical development (n=13). Excluding atrophy and non-specific white matter lesions the prevalence of detected abnormalities was 54% in localisation related epilepsy, 18% in single seizure patients, 16% in epilepsy in remission, and 0% in IGE and non-epileptic attacks. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities were detected in more than half of all patients with localisation related epilepsy, and in about one in five patients with single seizures or epilepsy in remission. Many patients had no scan or only CT or standard MRI. The true prevalence of structural abnormalities may be have been higher. Scanning did not add any information in patients with IGE or non-epileptic attacks.     

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus: Epilepsy Research Foundation workshop reports.

In April 2004, a group of physicians with an interest in nonconvulsive status epilepticus representing a spectrum of opinion met in Oxford, sponsored by the Epilepsy Research Foundation (a charitable organization), to discuss and debate the definition, diagnosis and treatment of nonconvulsive status epilepticus. We felt that such a meeting would be useful, as nonconvulsive status epilepticus is a subject that provokes strong reactions, perhaps largely due to the relative lack of evidence and the surfeit of opinion. The meeting was arranged such that there were formal talks followed by a discussion led by one of the attendees. We present here the extended abstracts of the main talks with the points raised by the discussants. Despite disagreements on certain issues there was much in the way of consensus. First, it was agreed that nonconvulsive status epilepticus is a term that covers a range of disparate conditions with varying prognoses and treatments. The agreed definition was thus suitably vague, A. Secondly, it was agreed that even within a specific condition (e.g. complex partial status epilepticus), the prognosis and treatment depends upon the context in which the condition occurs (e.g. in the critically ill, in coma, in the A and in people with prior epilepsy). Perhaps, most importantly it was agreed that we lacked good clinical data, and the challenge was to design good studies for a condition that is underrecognised and often difficult to diagnose.     

Risk factors for early post‐operative psychiatric symptoms in patients undergoing epilepsy surgery for temporal lobe epilepsy

Objective – De‐novo psychiatric symptoms may develop within 3 months after a temporal lobectomy for epilepsy. The objective of this study was to identify presurgical risk factors for psychiatric symptoms. Methods – Twenty‐seven patients who had a temporal lobectomy for epilepsy were included. Twenty‐four had hippocampal sclerosis or gliosis, and three had cavernous haemagiomata. Twelve had operations on the left, and 15 on the right side. Twenty‐four patients were rendered free of seizures (SZ) with loss of awareness, three had early post‐operative convulsions, one continued to have habitual SZ. Results – Nine patients (33%) developed low mood, anxiety and emotional lability within 3 months after surgery. Patients with early post‐operative psychiatric symptoms were younger (27.9/34.8 years, P = 0.01), and more anxious on the presurgical Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (12/8.44, P = 0.02) than patients without post‐operative psychiatric symptoms. There was also an association between right temporal lobectomies and early post‐surgical symptoms (P = 0.02 Fisher’s exact test). Conclusion – Potential risk factors were age, anxiety and operation on the right side. Larger studies are required to determine if these risk factors are independent.