Human Fetal/Neonatal Suppressor Activity: Relation Between OKT Phenotypes and Sensitivity to Prostaglandin E2 in Maternal and Neonatal Lymphocytes

ABSTRACT: T lymphocytes from human fetuses and newborns strongly and spontaneously suppress various adult cell functions (i.e. T-cell proliferation, B-cell differentiation, and Ig synthesis). The precise phenotype of the suppressor cell is controversial. In this investigation we use cord T-cell subsets negatively selected by the panning technique or by complement-mediated lysis using the monoclonal antibodies OKT4 and OKT8. Cord T cells deprived of the OKT4⁺ subpopulation exerted only a marginal suppressor activity (12 ± 7 as compared to 73 ± 4% of unfractionated T cells) on the proliferation of maternal cells in our PHA-stimulated co-culture assay using sex chromosomes as markers for dividing cord (male) and maternal cells. The suppressive effect was direct, i.e. not mediated by induction of maternal OKT8⁺ suppressor effector cells. Cord and maternal T-cell subsets were also tested for their sensitivity to exogenous prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) at doses varying between 1.4 × 10^?5 and 1.4 × 10^?9 M. Both maternal OKT4^? and OKT8^? T-cell subsets were highly sensitive to suppression by PGE₂. In contrast, cord OKT8^? T cells were essentially nonsensitive at all doses of PGE₂ used, whereas cord OKT4^? T cells were significantly suppressed at four out of five concentrations tested (1.4 × 10^?6 through 1.4 × 10^?9). Our results suggest a direct correlation between the phenotypes of the cord-suppressor and maternal-target T cells and their sensitivity to PGE₂.     

Mortality Rates in a Cardiovascular 'Low-risk' Population in Rural Crete

A research project in primary health care has been in progresssince 1988 in an agricultural area of Crete, with the aim ofsurveying the cardiovascular risk profile and following theincidence of cardiovascular disease in the population over time.In the present paper we have investigated the mortality ratesand the causes of death in 1989 and 1990 of the population ofthe Agios Vassilios county (n = 7758). Furthermore, wheneverpossible, we have checked the accuracy of the certified causesof death against the case record system introduced in 1988 inthe health centre. During 1989 and 1990, 267 subjects died inthe research area, 234 of whom were >65 years old. Diseasesof the circulatory system (mostly congestive heart failure)accounted for 46% of all deaths. The corresponding figure forneoplasms was 18%. The standardized mortality from ischaemicheart disease was found to be very low in both men and women,37.9 and 41.9 per 100 000 per year, respectively, in comparisonwith that of Greece as a whole in 1989, 140.0 and 59.5, respectively.These figures were considerably lower than those reported in1988 from for example Sweden, 303.6 and 153.3, respectively.The standardized mortality from cerebrovascular disease in AgiosVassilios county was found to be somewhat lower than the nationalfigures in 1989, 118.1 and 107.0 in males and females versus135.7 and 142.1, respectively. In our analyses we did not findany under- representation of deaths in circulatory diseaseswhen the death certificates were checked against the availableinformation in the case record system at the health centre,in those patients where this type of in formation was available(n = 128, 48%). In conclusion, the mortality from ischaemicheart disease still seems to be low in Cretans, as previousreports have shown. An upward trend may, however, be expectedin the future, maybe as a result of the change in lifestylenow taking place in Crete. The longitudinal observation of themortality of the Agios Vassilios population is expected to elucidatethis further in the future.     

Splenogonadal fusion: Report of a case and review of the literature

We report a case of splenogonadal fusion masquerading as a testicular tumor and review the etiology, the pathogenesis and the management of this rare disease. A 20-year-old male patient presented with clinical and radiological findings of a left testicular mass for which he underwent a left radical inguinal orchidectomy. Histopathology of the removed testicle revealed no tumor. The gonad was fused to ectopic splenic tissue, the later forming a distinct encapsulated mass attached to the lower pole of the testicle inside the tunica vaginalis. Splenogonadal fusion, although a rare condition, may account for a non-malignant testicular mass and should be suspected in young patients with other congenital anomalies.     

种植体与基台连接的微观形态学观察

目的: 对种植体与原厂基台及第三方基台连接组件形态学上的微观特征进行观察,探讨形态差异与潜在并发症之间可能的关系。方法: 3种基台(1个原厂装,2个来自第三方) 在规定扭矩下装配到Straumann RN种植体上,种植体基台连接单元经过一系列包埋等程序后切割形成剖面,对剖面进行打磨,对完成的试件进行扫描电镜观察。采用图像测量软件（Image J）对获得的图片进行校准测量,比较三者之间在接触长度及接触性质之间的差异,尤其是3个重要部位即肩部、内连接及螺纹处的差异。结果: 3个连接单元的所有被研究的接触面之间均存在一定的尺寸差异。3个单元中,种植体外肩部的紧密接触相似,但第三方基台内部连接的啮合,特别是抗旋转单元严重欠缺,其中1个第三方基台的螺丝啮合不良。结论: 与原装基台对比,第三方基台呈现出关键性的形态差异,横断面的几何学差异导致总体接触面积有很大不同。无论从质量上,还是数量上这种差异对修复体的长期稳定性均有可能产生严重影响。     

Electrocardiographic Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Presence of Ventricular Paced Rhythm

KOCHIADAKIS, G.E., et al. : Electrocardiographic Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Presence of Ventricular Paced Rhythm. ST-segment deviation was recently described as the only ECG finding that was useful in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction during right ventricular pacing. This report shows that the same sign may also indicate the amount of myocardium in jeopardy and the coronary artery responsible.     

Unreliable residual volume measurement after increased water load diuresis

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to examine whether increased water load intake prior to ultrasound examination of the lower urinary tract, affects the measurement of postvoid residual urine volume. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety four male patients with postvoid residual volumes after increased water load diuresis of more than 100 mL (PVR1) were included in the present study. All patients underwent a second PVR measurement by an urologist with a portable transabdominal bladder ultrasound scan without having received an increased water load (PVR2). A comparison of the measurements was performed and the PVR values were also correlated with other parameters, such as age, International Prostate Symptom Score, prostate volume and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values. RESULTS: Postvoid residual urine volume after increased water load diuresis (PVR1) differed from that recorded after normal bladder filling and voiding at first desire (PVR2), with the former being larger than the later in every patient (P < 0.001). The PVR values, PVR1 and PVR2, were independent to patient age, symptom score prostate volume and PSA value. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of postvoid residual volume in a relaxed patient, who voids at first desire, represents everyday life and should be the correct method of testing.     

Reproducibility of Tilt Table Testing in Patients With Vasovagal Syncope and Its Relation to Variations in Autonomic Nervous System Activity

To assess the variability of head- up tilt table testing, 35 patients with vasovagal syncope, shown by a positive tilt table test, underwent a second test 1 week later. Also, on the day before each test, spectral and time-domain indexes of heart rate variability were derived from Holter recordings to examine the stability of autonomous nervous system activity in these patients. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as a control group and also underwent two tilt table tests with prior Holter monitoring. Twenty-one (60%) of the 35 patients had a second positive test. None of the patients in the control group experienced syncope during either of the tests. The heart rate variability measures in the control group varied slightly from 1 day to the other, in contrast to the syncopal patients, where only low frequency spectral power and the mean of all 5-minute standard deviations of RR internals showed comparable behavior. The indexes which reflect parasympathetic activity exhibited significant fluctuations in the syncopal patients. These fluctuations were due entirely to the patients who did not reproduce the outcome of the tilt table test, where high parasympa-thetic tone was associated with the positive test and normal parasympathetic tone with the negative test. In contrast, the patients with two positive tests had high parasympathetic tone during both test periods, with low individual variability. In conclusion, patients with vasovagal syncope show variations in vagal autonomic tone and appear to be more prone to syncope when their parasympathetic tone is elevated.