Acute eosinophilic pneumonia with respiratory failure: a new syndrome?

Acute, noninfectious, eosinophilic pneumonia with respiratory failure has been described in adults. This new form of eosinophilic lung disease differs from the previously described types of eosinophilic pneumonia. Patients with this entity develop rapid progressive respiratory failure, which seems to respond to corticosteroid therapy. Eosinophilia in lung biopsy specimen, or in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid seems to be a common denominator. We present the first pediatric case of this new, distinct form of eosinophilic lung disease and review the pertinent literature.     

The CTLA-4 gene region of chromosome 2q33 is linked to, and associated with, type 1 diabetes. Belgian Diabetes Registry

Susceptibility to autoimmune insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes mellitus is determined by a combination of environmental and genetic factors, which include variation in MHC genes on chromosome 6p21 (IDDM1) and the insulin gene on chromosome 11p15 (IDDM2). However, linkage to IDDM1 and IDDM2 cannot explain the clustering of type 1 diabetes in families, and a role for other genes is inferred. In the present report we describe linkage and association of type 1 diabetes to the CTLA-4 gene (cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated-4) on chromosome 2q33 (designated IDDM12). CTLA-4 is a strong candidate gene for T cell- mediated autoimmune disease because it encodes a T cell receptor that mediates T cell apoptosis and is a vital negative regulator of T cell activation. In addition, we provide supporting evidence that CTLA-4 is associated with susceptibility to Graves' disease, another organ- specific autoimmune disease.      

An immunochemical procedure to evaluate the degree of desialylation of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in rat serum

When radial immunodiffusion (RID) and electroimmunodiffusion (EID) were used for the determination of rat alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (alpha 1-AGP) a significant discrepancy in the results was encountered depending on the degree of sialylation. When alpha 1-AGP was desialylated, the amounts estimated by EID were much lower than those actually present as assayed by the RID method. The relationship between the percentage of desialylation of alpha 1-AGP and the percentage of its underestimation by EID relative to RID was determined and a calibration curve was plotted to evaluate the degree of desialylation of rat alpha 1-AGP. When compared to other procedures (rat membrane inhibition assay and isoelectrofocusing), the proposed method was easier to perform and allowed the specific evaluation of the degree of undersialylation of the glycoprotein.     

Polyclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein

This is a noncompetitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measuring low concentrations (2 to 100 micrograms/L) of human alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (AGP; orosomucoid). The method is based on a simple "sandwich" technique involving polyclonal rabbit antisera against AGP. Mean within-run and total (between-run) CVs were 6.2% and 9.7%, respectively. Analytical recovery, tested in various biological fluids, averaged 101%. The technique has been successfully applied to diluted biological fluids such as bronchoalveolar lavage, cerebrospinal and amniotic fluids, and hepatocyte-culture supernates. Because of its analytical validity and the commercial availability of the reagents, this assay is suitable for large-scale determinations of AGP concentrations in those biological fluids in which its concentration is relatively low.     

葛根素的心血管系统药理作用及机理研究

纵观近年来对葛根素在心血管系统药理作用及机理研究方面的进展发现，葛根素对心血管系统具有抗心律失常、降血压、扩张冠状动脉、抗心肌缺血、抗过氧化、抗缺血-再灌注损伤、影响血液动力学和血小板聚集、保护血管等作用。其临床应用前景良好，其药效机制研究及临床应用有待更深一步的探究。     

Th17 and non-Th17 interleukin-17-expressing cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: delineation, distribution, and clinical relevance

Background

The levels and clinical relevance of Th17 cells and other interleukin-17-producing cells have not been analyzed in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The objective of this study was to quantify blood and tissue levels of Th17 and other interleukin-17-producing cells in patients with this disease and correlate blood levels with clinical outcome.

Design and Methods

Intracellular interleukin-17A was assessed in blood and splenic mononuclear cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and healthy subjects using flow cytometry. Interleukin-17A-producing cells were analyzed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded spleen and lymph node sections using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence.

Results

The absolute numbers of Th17 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the percentages of Th17 cells in spleen cell suspensions were higher in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia than in healthy subjects; in six out of eight paired chronic lymphocytic leukemia blood and spleen sample comparisons, Th17 cells were enriched in spleen suspensions. Circulating Th17 levels correlated with better prognostic markers and longer overall survival of the patients. Two “non-Th17” interleukin-17-expressing cells were identified in chronic lymphocytic leukemia spleens: proliferating cells of the granulocytic lineage and mature mast cells. Granulocytes and mast cells in normal spleens did not express interleukin-17. Conversely, both chronic lymphocytic leukemia and healthy lymph nodes contained similar numbers of interleukin-17+ mast cells as well as Th17 cells.

Conclusions

Th17 cells are elevated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with better prognostic markers and correlate with longer survival. Furthermore, non-Th17 interleukin-17A-expressing cells exist in chronic lymphocytic leukemia spleens as maturing granulocytes and mature mast cells, suggesting that the microenvironmental milieu in leukemic spleens promotes the recruitment and/or expansion of Th17 and other IL-17-expressing cells. The pathophysiology of Th17 and non-Th17-interleukin-producing cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and their distributions and roles in this disease merit further study.