Murine acinar pancreatitis preceding necrotizing myocarditis after Coxsackievirus B3 inoculation.

Balb/C weanling mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with a myocarditic variant of coxsackie-virus B3, with the aim of characterizing more fully the cell damage induced in the heart as well as in other organs. During the first week postinfection (pi), all animals developed acinar pancreatitis, followed by focal myocarditis. In accordance with the increasing infectivity titers, such progressive histopathological changes correlated with local viral replication. From day 4 pi, acinar degeneration accompanied by diffuse inflammatory exudate was observed in the pancreas, followed by fatty tissue replacement by day 8. In the heart, focal necrosis rather than inflammatory reaction first appeared at 4 days pi and became widespread by 6-8 days pi. Necrotic foci usually presented calcium deposits, with absence of myofibrils in the affected fibers. The fact that both periodic acid Schiff (PAS) and Best carmine staining remained positive even after diastase treatment ruled out basophilic necrosis. In summary, the pancreas appeared to be the site of primary viral replication leading to viremia.     

Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases in Latin America: First Report from Eight Countries Participating in the LAGID

The Latin American Group for Primary Immunodeficiencies, formed in 1993, presently includes 12 countries. One goal was to study the frequency of primary immunodeficiencies in various regions of the American continent and to enhance knowledge about these diseases among primary-care physicians, as well as allergist–immunologists. Important for this purpose was the development of a registry of primary immunodeficiencies using a uniform questionnaire and computerized database. To date, eight countries have collected information on a total of 1428 patients. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were reported in 58% of patients, followed by cellular and antibody immunodeficiencies associated with other abnormalities in 18%, immunodeficiency syndromes associated with granulocyte dysfunction in 8%, phagocytic disorders in 9%, combined cellular and antibody immunodeficiencies in 5%, and complement deficiencies in 2% of patients. The information gathered from this initial analysis of data will serve to expand the patient database to more areas within participating countries and to new countries and to increase collaboration toward better diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.     

Investigation for a more virulent variant among the c:2b:P1.2,5 Spanish meningococcal epidemic strains by molecular epidemiology

A rise in the incidence of meningococcal disease has occurred in Spain in recent years, especially in some regions in the north-west of the country. Most cases have been caused by meningococci characterised as Neisseria meningitidis C:2b:P1.2,5. A total of 107 C:2b:P1.2,5 meningococcal isolates (60 from patients and 47 from carriers) and 12 isolates showing related antigenic combinations (C:2b:NST, C:2b:P1.2, C:2b:P1.5, C:NT:P1.2,5) was analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to determine the genetic variability of the epidemic and related strains. Endonucleases BglII and NheI were used to cut chromosomal DNA. When BglII was used, most of the C:2b:P1.2,5 isolates showed the same pulsotype regardless of whether they were from clinical cases or carriers. Isolates showing the principal profile after digestion with endonuclease BglII were analysed with NheI. Four pulsotypes were identified, of which two were found in only one isolate each. The major profiles (1 and 2) showed differential distribution among clinical and carrier isolates; pulsotype 1 was the most frequent among clinical isolates. However, the proportions of isolates showing profiles 1 and 2 were similar among carrier isolates. This could indicate that there are two variants of the C:2b:P1.2,5 strain with differing pathogenicity.     

The epidemic wave of meningococcal disease in Spain in 1996-1997: probably a consequence of strain displacement

During 1996 and 1997 an epidemic wave of meningococcal disease took place in Spain. Initial studies described the antigenic expression of the epidemic strain as C:2b:P1.2,5 and proposed that it was a variant of the previously identified Spanish C:2b:non-subtypable epidemic strain. To clarify this hypothesis, 1036 C:2b:P1.2(5) and 76 C:2b:NST isolates obtained during 1992-1999 were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The majority of the C:2b:P1.2,5 and C:2b:P1.2 isolates showed one of two very closely related profiles. During the epidemic period, 80% of the C:2b:NST strains showed these two pulsotypes. However, before the epidemic wave, most of these C:2b:NST strains (60%) showed a profile that was found infrequently among C:2b:P1.2,5 and C:2b:P1.2 isolates. A similar evolution was observed in C:2b:P1.5 isolates. Thirty-four C:2b:P1.2(5) and 10 C:2b:NST isolates, exhibiting representative pulsotypes, were subjected to multi-locus sequence typing. Isolates belonging to both A4 and ET-37 lineages were identified. These data point to the possibility that the A4 cluster has displaced the ET-37 complex among serogroup C meningococci in Spain.     

MR perfusion imaging of pulmonary parenchyma using pulsed arterial spin labeling techniques: FAIRER and FAIR

Magnetic resonance imaging of pulmonary parenchyma perfusion using pulsed arterial spin labeling (ASL) techniques is presented. ASL uses magnetically labeled water as an endogenous, freely diffusible tracer. Presented are comparative results of ASL methods called Flow sensitive Alternating Inversion Recovery (FAIR), and FAIR with an Extra Radiofrequency pulse (FAIRER). Six healthy human volunteers were imaged. Perfusion-weighted images at different time delays, TI, were calculated from the subtraction of the control and tag images, which were acquired within a single breathhold. Detailed pulmonary structures can be visualized with negligible cardiac or respiratory motion artifacts. Different patterns of signal enhancement between the pulmonary vessels and parenchyma are shown in the perfusion images acquired at different TIs.     

Cross-sectional and 4-year longitudinal associations between brachial pulse pressure and common carotid intima-media thickness in a general population. The EVA study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The cross-sectional and 4-year longitudinal associations between brachial pulse pressure (PP) and ultrasound measurements of common carotid intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) were assessed. METHODS: A population of 957 volunteers aged 59 to 71 years was recruited from the electoral rolls of the city of Nantes (western France) and reexamined 4 years later. Longitudinal changes in PP and CCA-IMT were computed as the difference between 4-year follow-up and baseline values. RESULTS: Baseline CCA-IMT and PP were positively associated in both age- and sex-adjusted analysis (partial correlation coefficient=0.20, P<0.001) and in multivariate analysis adjusted for traditional cardiovascular risk factors and mean blood pressure (partial correlation coefficient=0.18, P<0.001). In longitudinal analysis, baseline PP was associated with the change in 4-year CCA-IMT (partial correlation coefficient=0.11, P<0.001), and baseline CCA-IMT was a predictor of the 4-year change in PP (partial correlation coefficient=0.10, 0.001相似文献   

Apoptosis and the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) antigen in rejection and reinfection in liver allograft specimens

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To investigate the frequency of apoptosis and the expression of Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) in liver allografts, we examined 97 biopsy specimens from 62 patients after orthotopic liver transplantation. The results of the biopsies were as follows: acute allograft rejection (n=32); hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection (n=18); cytomegalovirus infection (n=5); acute rejection plus HCV reinfection (n=3); and stable graft function (n=30); and after treatment of acute rejection (n=9). RESULTS: Apoptotic cells were found in all cases examined, and their frequency increased significantly during acute rejection (0.17 vs. 9.0; P<0.05). The immunoreactivity of Fas and FasL antigen was higher in specimens with acute rejection than in those with stable graft function. Increased apoptosis, Fas, and FasL expression, however, were also seen in HCV reinfection. CONCLUSION: We conclude that apoptosis plays an important role in the hepatocellular damage observed in acute rejection and also in HCV reinfection. However, these parameters are, taken by themselves, not useful as indicators of acute rejection or HCV reinfection.     

Noninvasive in vivo magnetic resonance imaging of injury-induced neointima formation in the carotid artery of the apolipoprotein-E null mouse

Mice deficient in apolipoprotein-E (apoE) experience severe hypercholesterolemia, are prone to atherosclerosis, and recently have emerged as a powerful tool in the study of plaque formation. In this study, we developed magnetic resonance (MR) imaging methods to detect the progression of atherosclerosis noninvasively in a mouse model of arterial injury. Four 14-week-old apoE-deficient mice were imaged 5 weeks after beginning an atherogenic Western diet and 4 weeks after wire denudation injury of the left common carotid artery (LCCA). Information from several images was combined into high-information content images using methods previously developed. The image resolution was 47 x 47 x 750 microm(3). We acquired T1-, T2-, and proton density (PD)-weighted images (TR/TE 650/14, 2000/60, and 2000/14 msec, respectively). Each 8-bit image was placed in a separate color channel to produce a 24-bit color image (red = T1, green = PD, and blue = T2). The composite image created contrast between different tissue types that was superior to that of any single image and revealed significant luminal narrowing of the LCCA, but not the uninjured RCCA. MR images were compared with corresponding histopathology cross sections and luminal area measurements from each method correlated(r2= 0.61). Atherosclerotic luminal narrowing was successfully detected through MR imaging in a mouse model of arterial injury that is small, reproduces quickly, and lends itself to genetic analysis and manipulation.