Enhancement of spontaneous killer cytotoxicity by soluble factor

Two-stage stimulation of SK activity of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes by soluble factors was demonstrated. The first stage was initiated by factors present in supernatant derived from normal B-LCL cultures. Only cell lines which could induce SK activity in culture in an MLR-type reaction had the capacity to produce the active factor. Supernatant factor required adherent cells to cause SK augmentation. The interaction of adherent cells plus supernatant factor resulted in the production of a second soluble factor which stimulated an increase in SK activity in responding lymphocyte populations. This second stage involved a different soluble factor which acted directly on the non-SK, Fc-negative lymphocyte population, and within 3 hr. Data obtained using antisera to interferon (IF) indicated that IF is a component of the second soluble factor, and not of the supernatant factor derived from the B-LCL.     

麦冬类中药组织切片计算机三维重建图鉴

利用计算机技术实现麦冬类中药组织连续切片三维重建与动态显示,为计算机辅助生药学鉴定和教学提供了新的三维图像技术和研究资料。     

Contractile properties of synthetic cationic polypeptides in guinea-pig isolated trachea.

1. Purinoceptor agonist-induced currents in untreated (proliferating) and lipopolysaccharide- (LPS; 100 ng ml-1) treated (non-proliferating) rat microglial cells were recorded by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. 2. In non-proliferating microglia, adenosine (0.01-100 microM), 2-methylthio ATP (3-3000 nM), ATP (0.1-1000 microM), and ATP-gamma-S (1-10 microM), but not alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-MeATP; 100 microM) produced a slow outward current at a holding potential of 0 mV. When K+ was replaced in the pipette solution by an equimolar concentration of Cs+ (150 mM), the 2-methylthio ATP- (300 nM) induced outward current disappeared. The effect of 2-methylthio ATP (300 nM) did not depend on the presence of extracellular Mg2+ (1 mM). The outward current response to 2-methylthio ATP (300 nM) was larger in proliferating than in non-proliferating microglia. 3. ATP (1-1000 microM) evoked a fast inward current at a holding potential of -70 mV in nonproliferating microglia, while adenosine (100-1000 microM) was inactive. When the effects of ATP were compared at 0 and -70 mV, it became evident that ATP is much more potent in evoking the outward current. 4. The 2-methylthio ATP- (300 nM) induced outward current was blocked by suramin (300 microM), but not by 8-(p-sulphophenyl)-theophylline (100 microM), while the adenosine- (1 microM) induced outward current had the reverse sensitivity to these antagonists.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The pineal gland and reproduction

The hormonal activity of the pineal gland is influenced by boththe dark-light cycle and the seasonal cycle, causing it to playan important role in the neuroendocrine control of reproductivephysiology. This is especially evident in seasonally breedinganimals, in which reproductive function is clearly influencedby seasonal variations in the duration of night and day. Humansare not seasonal breeders. Nevertheless, seasonal fluctuationshave been described in human reproduction, and the pineal glandalso appears to exert an important role in the neuroendocrineregulation of human reproductive physiology. There is evidencethat the epiphysis is involved in the control of sexual maturation.In rats, the maternal pineal appears to influence the gonadaland genital development and function of offspring; this hypothesishas yet to be confirmed in humans. The pineal apparently influenceshuman reproductive function not only at the hypothalamic-pituitarylevel, by inhibition of the hypothalamic pulsatile secretionof gonadotrophin-releasing hormone, but also at the gonadallevel, where melatonin receptors have also been found. In addition,melatonin is reported to increase serum prolactin concentrationsin both rats and humans. It has been suggested that melatoninis involved in the control of menstrual cyclicity.     

A rare case of basosquamous carcinoma of the orbit invading the maxillary sinus

A rare case of basosquamous carcinoma of the orbit invading the maxillary sinus is presented. The authors discuss clinical and pathological findings. Techniques for removal and reconstructive plastic surgery are reported.     

Autoradiographic localization of beta-adrenoceptors in pig lung using [125I]-iodocyanopindolol.

The binding of the beta-adrenoceptor radioligand [125I]-iodocyanopindolol (I-CYP) has been studied in pig lung parenchyma and the distribution of binding sites visualised by light microscopic autoradiography. I-CYP binding was saturable (maximum binding capacity Bmax = 51 +/- 3 fmol mg-1 protein), involving sites with high affinity (dissociation constant KD = 73 +/- 10 pM). Specific I-CYP binding was displaceable both by beta-adrenoceptor agonists ((-)-isoprenaline greater than (-)-adrenaline greater than (+/-)-fenoterol greater than (-)-noradrenaline greater than (+)-isoprenaline greater than (+/-)-RO363) and antagonists ((+/-)-propranolol greater than ICI-118551 greater than atenolol), indicating a predominance of beta 2-adrenoceptors. Further analysis showed that displacement data for the beta 1-selective antagonist atenolol and the beta 2-selective antagonist ICI-118551 were fitted best to a 2 binding site model and that both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors were present in pig lung in the ratio 28:72 respectively. Autoradiographic grains were localized over tissue and were most dense over alveolar walls greater than vascular endothelium greater than vascular smooth muscle greater than bronchial smooth muscle = bronchial epithelium. Atenolol (10(-5) M) caused a 31% reduction in specific grain density over alveolar wall tissue, while a 10 fold lower concentration of ICI-118551 (10(-6) M) caused a 50% decrease. These results are consistent with binding data in pig lung parenchyma demonstrating a mixed population of beta-adrenoceptors with a predominance of the beta 2 subtype.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: Medical or surgical treatment? Report of an interactive workshop

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common disease of the upper gastrointestinal tract. With the introduction of proton pump inhibitors medical treatment of GERD has been significantly improved. However, the development of laparoscopic antireflux surgery resulted in an increasing interest of surgeons in this disease. An interactive meeting was organized in order to develop an agreement between gastoenterologists and surgeons regarding therapeutic decisions and this is the main topic of this paper.     

Improved quality of life after distal splenorenal shunt. A prospective comparison with side-to-side portacaval shunt.

The distal splenorenal shunt (DSRS) was compared with the side-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS) in 93 prospectively matched patients with portal hypertension. After 38 months mean follow-up the two shunts had a different incidence of acute encephalopathy (22% in PCS group and 33% in DSRS group) and chronic encephalopathy (35% in PCS group and 17% in DSRS group), but the difference was not statistically significant. However, the only cases of severe and disabling chronic encephalopathy arose after PCS (p = 0.049). Actuarial curves of chronic encephalopathy showed that the maximum rate of encephalopathy (18%) in the DSRS group was reached 27 months after shunt surgery, whereas this value was reached and passed in PCS group only 4 months after shunt. Chronic encephalopathy occurred for a total duration of 20.1 months after PCS and only 11.1 months afer DSRS (p = 0.003) and occupied 46.3% of the follow-p of PCS patients, as contrasted to 18.7% of the follow-up of DSRS patients (p = 0.0001). DSRS is associated with a lower global incidence of chronic HE without severe forms and provides a better quality of life than does a nonselective shunt.     

Low-artifact intravascular devices: MR imaging evaluation

Flow-phantom magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, with use of both spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GRE) techniques at 1.5 T, was performed on the percutaneous Greenfield (beta-III titanium alloy [TMA wire]), Amplatz (MP32-N alloy), and Simon nitinol filters and TMA wire facsimiles of the bird's nest, Gunther, new retrievable, and Amplatz vena caval filters. SE imaging allowed detection of thrombi as small as 5 X 5 mm trapped within the percutaneous Greenfield, Simon nitinol, and TMA-wire facsimile filters; with the MP32-N Amplatz filter, a larger volume of thrombus (10 X 20-mm clots) was necessary for clot detection. GRE imaging allowed detection of intraluminal tilting of the percutaneous Greenfield and facsimile Amplatz (TMA-wire) filters. GRE imaging was useful for demonstrating postfilter turbulence due to clots, which was greatest for the Amplatz filter. Imaging of facsimile vascular devices made of tantalum or TMA wire did not cause the severe "black-hole" MR artifacts typical of the stainless-steel devices. SE and GRE imaging were very useful for determining caval patency in two patients with previously placed Mobin-Uddin filters. Noninvasive MR evaluation of blood vessels in the presence of a variety of low-artifact intravascular devices appears feasible.