EPO受体介导白血病细胞系KOCL—33细胞增殖信号转导

检测白血病细胞系KOCL-33EPO受体（EPOR）的表达并阐明EPOR介导的增殖信号的转导途径,用生物素酰基化EPO和流式细胞仪检测EPOR的表达,用免疫沉淀法和Western印迹法检测EPOR,SHC和PLC-γ的酪氨酸磷酸化,结果发现KOCL-33细胞可有EPOR的表达,且EPO可引起其增殖,EPO刺激后1分钟,EPOR形成同源二聚体,出现酪氨酸磷酸化;EPO刺激后1分钟,SHC和PLC-γ出现免疫共沉淀和酪氨酸磷酸化增强,上述结果说明在EPOR介导的KOCL-33细胞增殖信号的传导中,EPOR形成同源二聚体、出现酪氨酸磷酸化,且SHC和PLC-γ两结合在一起协同发挥作用。     

Cerebral infarction in acute promyelocytic leukemia at initial presentation

We report on a 3 year old girl with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) with cerebral infarction due to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) at initial presentation. She was hospitalized because of unconsciousness and petechiae on the chest wall and extremities. Cerebral ischemia and infarction were found on computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Peripheral bood content was hemoglobin 7.3 g/dL, white blood cells 1.0 × 10³cells/μL (31% blasts) and platelet count was 12 × 10³cells/μL. Fragmented erythrocytes were frequently observed on May-Giemsa stained blood smears. Bone marrow aspirates showed normal cellularity, with 60.4% blasts, containing faggot cells. The blasts were positive for peroxidase. Therapy was begun; however, the patient died 1 week after admission.     

Modulation of bullous pemphigoid antigen gene expression by γ-interferon in cultured keratinocytes

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is characterized by the production of autoantibodies against BP antigens. gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN), a T-cell lymphokine, is known to enhance the expression of several cell-surface proteins. In this study, keratinocytes were cultured in the presence of gamma-IFN, the expression of BP antigen protein was examined by flow cytometry and BP antigen messenger RNA (mRNA) (encoding 230-kDa protein) was quantified by slot-blot hybridization. The results indicated that BP antigen gene expression by keratinocytes was upregulated by gamma-IFN. This enhancement of gene expression was detected at both the protein and mRNA level, suggesting pretranslational regulation. These results imply the involvement of not only humoral immunity but also cell-mediated immunity in the development of BP.     

Duration patterns of percussion sound in healthy and periodontally affected teeth

Ten periodontally affected subjects and 10 healthy subjects were selected in order to examine the duration patterns of percussion sounds in all upper teeth, excluding the 8's. Probing depth, loss of attachment, tooth mobility by 'Periotest', bone loss and percussion sound duration via occlusal sound analyser were recorded during the pretreatment period. The following results were obtained from the study: (i) the normal duration of percussion sounds ranged from 4.40-5.33 ms; (ii) percussion sound values of periodontal patients were of longer duration than those of healthy subjects; (iii) a close correlation between duration and other individual parameters was found in all upper teeth, with the exception of molars.     

The effect of emphysema on lung function and survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background and objective: In this study the prevalence, lung function and prognosis of IPF combined with emphysema were evaluated. Methods: Consecutive patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) on high‐resolution computed tomography (HRCT), with or without emphysema, were assessed retrospectively. The area of fibrosis in the base of the lungs was assessed by HRCT as minimal (<2 cm from the subpleura), moderate (≥2 cm from the subpleura, <1/3 of the area of the base of the lungs) or severe (≥1/3 of the area of the base of the lungs). Results: Among 660 patients with UIP on HRCT, 221 showed upper‐lobe emphysema. Pulmonary function results for patients with UIP and UIP/emphysema, respectively, were: FVC, 71.8% and 87.1%; FEV1%, 86.7% and 87.9%; and DL_CO, 74.3% and 65.2% of predicted. The relationship between FVC, the extent of fibrosis and survival was investigated in 362 patients with records of pulmonary function tests and no lung cancer at the time of entry into the study. Although the extent of fibrosis was similar between the groups, 71.3% of UIP patients met the lung volume criteria for IPF (FVC <80% of predicted), whereas only 26.5% of UIP/emphysema patients met the lung volume criteria for IPF. Median survival was 7.5 years in the UIP group and 8.5 years in the UIP/emphysema group. Conclusions: Emphysema was a common finding in patients with UIP. Patients with UIP and emphysema had greater lung volumes and better survival compared with those with UIP alone.     

Two cases of sleep-disordered breathing in climacteric

Abstract Two cases of sleep disordered-breathing in climacteric were reported. Polysomnography including esophageal pressure (Pes) measurement was performed. Case 1 was diagnosed as upper airway resistance syndrome. Case 2 was diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, while many episodes of upper airway resistance also existed. Hormone replacement therapy improved clinical symptoms, and in case 1, Pes nadir was improved but incidence of arousals which was induced by breathing disturbances was not significantly changed. Sleep disordered-breathing should be suspected as a cause of sleep disorder even in females, especially in climacteric age. Pes measurement and evaluation of arousals is required. Hormone replacement therapy may release the upper airway resistance.     

CYFRA 21-1 and ProGRP, tumor markers of lung cancer, are elevated in chronic renal failure patients

Abstract Serum levels of CYFRA 21-1(cytokeratin-19 fragment) and ProGRP (pro-gastrin-releasing peptide), the new prognostic markers of lung cancer, were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay) in 27 (for CYFRA 21-1; male 13, female 14; age 54 ± 17 years) or 22 (for ProGRP; male 9, female 13; age 59 ± 18 years) patients with various serum creatinine levels, 42 haemodialysis (HD) patients (male 24, female 18; age 59 ± 14 years) and 30 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients (male 18, female 12; age 48 ± 9 years). All the patients were without clinical and radiological signs of lung cancer. Positive correlations were found between serum creatinine and serum CYFRA 21-1 and ProGRP levels. Serum levels of CYFRA 21-1 were above the cutoff limit (3.5 ng/mL) in 57% of HD patients (mean 4.07 ± 1.56 ng/mL) and in 73% of CAPD patients (mean 4.87 ± 1.56 ng/mL). Serum levels of ProGRP were above the cutoff limit (46.0 pg/mL) in 90% of HD patients (mean 107.0 ± 59.4 pg/mL) and in 93% of CAPD patients (mean 112.4 ± 4.5 pg/mL). Our data indicate that evaluation of renal function is essential when the measurement of these tumor markers is to be applied as one of the diagnostic tools of lung cancer.