Constitutive Secretion of Interleukin-6 by Human Decidual Stromal Cells in Culture. Regulatory Effect of Progesterone

PROBLEM : Although several studies have demonstrated that decidual stromal cells (DSC) can secrete cytokines in culture, none of these studies documented the purity of the cultures. Since other cells of the decidua, such as macrophages and epithelial cells, also produce cytokines, it is important to ensure purity of the culture so that cytokine production can be ascribed with confidence to DSC. METHOD : DSC from early human pregnancies were highly purified and maintained in culture. Basal secretion by these cells of IL-6, together with other cytokines considered critical for pregnancy (IL-1β, TNFα and IFNγ), was measured with immunological techniques. RESULTS : We found that DSC in culture produce insignificant quantities of IL-1β, TNFá and IFNΓ, but appreciable amounts of IL-6. The production of this later cytokine was, however, inhibited by the effect of progesterone. CONCLUSIONS : Basal production of IL-6 by DSC may be involved in physiological functions at the maternal-fetal interface. Nevertheless, the secretion of this cytokine is regulated by progesterone, probably to prevent excessive production of this cytokine from triggering an inflammatory response that might compromise pregnancy.     

An Analysis of Nasal Irritation Thresholds Using a New Solvation Equation

In the present paper we have developed a quantitative structure-activityrelationship (QSAR) equation for nasal pungency caused by nonreactivevolatile organic compounds (VOCs). Our QSAR was developed uponpreviously published nasal pungency thresholds in anosmics,i.e., patients lacking a sense of smell and thus respondingonly to sensory irritation evoked by trigeminal nerve stimulation.The reported solvation equation, which fits the data with considerableprecision, describes sensory potency in terms of interactionvia electron pairs, dipolarity/polarizability, hydrogen bondacidity and basicity, and hydrophobicity. It correspondinglysuggests relevant physicochemical properties of the biophasewhere the sensory response is brought about. The equation impliesthat in the range of molecular size where nonreactive VOCs canproduce any pungency, transport from the air to the biophasestrictly determines potency. In this respect, the potency ofnasal pungency shares characteristics with the ability of VOCsto cause narcosis and anesthesia.     

Leiomyosarcoma of the Right Atrium Masked by a Covering Thrombus: Conflicting Results of Echocardiography and Transvenous Biopsy—In Favor of Echocardiography

A 62-year-old woman was admitted for the evaluation of pedal edema and ascitis. Echocardiography revealed a right atrial (RA) mass invading the interatrial septum and extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC). Contrast enhanced computerized tomography scan excluded extravascular involvement. An organized thrombus was diagnosed by transvenous endomyocardial biopsy. The patient was treated with continuous intravenous heparin, and died soon after from hepatic failure. Postmortem histologic examination revealed a leiomyosarcoma surrounded by a thrombus involving RA, IVC, and hepatic veins. Endomyocardial biopsy played a misleading role that affected patient's management.     

Analysis of Rabbit Vascular Responses to DBI,an Ingol Derivative Isolated from Euphorbia canariensis

We have analysed the effects of 7,12-O-diacetyl-8-O-benzoil-2,3-diepiingol (DBI), an ingol derivative isolated from E. canariensis, on isometric tension developed by isolated rabbit basilar and carotid arteries. Concentration-response curves to DBI (10^?8 - 3 × 10^?5 m) were obtained cumulatively in both arteries at resting tension and active tone (KC1, 50 mm). At resting tension, DBI induced a concentration-dependent contraction, which was not inhibited in Ca²⁺-free medium. H7 (1-(5-isoquinoline sulphonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dichloride) (10^?4 m) inhibited the DBI-induced contraction both in basilar and in carotid arteries. Calmidazolium (10^?4 m) inhibited the maximum contraction of the carotid artery to DBI, and completely abolished the response in the basilar artery. In pre-contracted basilar arteries DBI induced a concentration-dependent relaxation that was not modified by incubation with N^G-nitro-l-arginine (l-NOARG; 10^?5 m) or indomethacin (10^?5 m). In the carotid artery with active tone DBI induced further contractions, which were not significantly modified by l-NOARG (10^?5 m) and were potentiated by indomethacin (10^?5 m). These results suggest that DBI contracts rabbit basilar and carotid arteries by a mechanism that is independent of extracellular Ca²⁺ and involves the participation both of protein kinase C and of calmodulin. DBI relaxes basilar but not carotid arteries by a mechanism independent of the liberation of nitric oxide and prostacyclin. In the carotid artery prostacyclin but not nitric oxide partially counteracts the contractile action of DBI.     

Case Report: Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia in Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia

A patient with chronic granulocytic leukemia developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia. He was found to have a cold agglutinin and a nonspecific warmpanagglutinin. Therapy with prednisone appeared to control the hemolyticcrisis and did not affect the granulocytic process. The patient died of bronchopneumonia, and at autopsy no other neoplasm was found.

Submitted on March 2, 1967 Accepted on April 17, 1967     

VITILIGO TREATED WITH ACTH

Six of 20 patients with extensive vitiligo treated with ACTH experienced repigmentation at the end of 15 weeks. However, depigmentation recurred when the treatment was stopped.