Ca(2+) current activity decreases during meiotic progression in bovine oocytes

By using the whole cell voltage-clamp technique, we studied changes in plasma membrane permeability at different meiotic stages of bovine oocytes. Follicular oocytes were matured in vitro and activated by Ca(2+) ionophore. Oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD), metaphase I (MI), metaphase II (MII), and meiosis exit were used for electrophysiological recording. By clamping the oocytes at -30 mV, we found that the L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels were active at the GV stage and that their activity decreased after the GVBD stage. Furthermore, the resting potential decreased from the GV to the MI stage and increased again at MII. A significant decrease of the steady-state conductance occurred from the GV to the MI stage, followed by a sharp increase at the MII stage. With the addition of organic L-type Ca(2+) channel blockers (nifedipine and verapamil), we inhibited the Ca(2+) currents. However, only in the case of verapamil was there a decrease of in vitro maturation efficiency. Our results suggest that, in addition to the cumulus-oocyte junctions, the plasma membrane channels provide another mode of Ca(2+) entry into bovine oocytes during meiosis.

Inhaled corticosteroids in stable COPD patients: do they have effects on cells and molecular mediators of airway inflammation?

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To investigate possible changes in cells and molecular mediators of airway inflammation following inhaled steroid treatment of stable COPD patients.

DESIGN

Six-week open preliminary prospective study.

SETTING

A university respiratory disease clinic.

PATIENTS

: Stable COPD patients with mild disease.

INTERVENTION

Six-week treatment with inhaled beclomethasone (1.5 mg die).

MEASUREMENTS

The levels of interleukin (IL)-8, myeloperoxidase, eosinophilic cationic protein and tryptase, and cell numbers in bronchial lavage specimens were determined, and the symptom score, the endoscopic bronchitis index, and functional parameters were recorded.

RESULTS

After treatment there were significant reductions in the lavage levels of IL-8 ([mean +/- SEM] 1,603.4 +/- 331.2 vs 1,119.2 +/- 265.3 pg/mL, respectively; p = 0. 01) and myeloperoxidase (1,614.5 +/- 682.3 vs 511.2 +/- 144.2 microg/L, respectively; p = 0.05), in cell numbers (250.6 +/- 27.7 vs 186.3 +/- 11.5 cells x 10(3)/mL, respectively; p = 0.04), neutrophil proportion (59.7 +/- 14.3% vs 31.5 +/- 10.1%; p = 0.01), symptom score (4.5 +/- 0.6 vs 1.4 +/- 0.5; p = 0.01), and bronchitis index (8.5 +/- 0.8 vs 5.5 +/- 0.7; p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

In stable patients with COPD, inhaled steroid treatment may induce changes on some cellular and molecular parameters of airway inflammation.

Antisperm antibodies in cryptorchidism before and after surgery

PURPOSE

We verified the prevalence of serum antisperm antibodies at diagnosis in a large group of cryptorchid boys, and determined whether it may be influenced by orchiopexy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively evaluated serum antisperm antibodies in 186 and 23 boys 0.67 to 14.25 years old with unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism, respectively, before, and 3, 12 and 24 months after surgery. At diagnosis Tanner stage was 1 and 2 or 3 in 188 and 21 cases, respectively. During the 2-year followup 23 boys entered puberty. A total of 111 normal prepubertal (Tanner stage 1) and 54 pubertal (Tanner stage 2 or 3) boys served as controls. Antisperm antibodies were detected using the tray agglutination and indirect immunobead tests.

RESULTS

At diagnosis 29 cryptorchid boys (13.8%) were antisperm antibody positive, including 21 of the 188 prepubertal (11.1%) and 8 of the 21 pubertal (38%) boys (significantly different, chi-square test p <0.001). In 27 cases the tray agglutination test was positive with titers between 1:16 and 1:512, in 18 the indirect immunobead test was positive for IgG with titers between 1:10 and 1:100, and in 16 both tests were positive. There was no statistical difference when antisperm antibody results were analyzed for unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism or testis location. All normal boys were antisperm antibody negative. During the 2-year followup antisperm antibodies appeared in 1 previously negative case, and the antibody titer increased to 128 to 512 in the tray agglutination and to 1:100 in the indirect immunobead tests in 4 positive cases. In all of these cases pubertal changes were also observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that cryptorchidism may elicit an autoimmune response against sperm antigen in childhood independent of testis location and orchiopexy. Moreover, patients of pubertal age appear to be at higher risk for antisperm antibody development.

Clinical toxicity of cryopreserved circulating progenitor cells infusion

BACKGROUND

We evaluated the infusion-related toxicity of cryopreserved autologous circulating progenitor cells transplanted in 22 patients receiving high dose chemotherapy and stem cells transplantation for malignancy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Progenitor cells were collected following mobilization with chemotherapy plus filgrastim and stored in liquid nitrogen in the presence of 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Before infusion of the graft, patients were medicated with mannitol, hydrocortisone and clorphenamine. The amount of DMSO infused as well as the number of dead and damaged cells were evaluated as possible cause of toxicity.

RESULTS

Eleven patients (50%) experienced symptoms related to graft infusion, nausea and vomiting being the most common adverse events. Hypotension was documented in 3 patients (one of them developing transient bradycardia resolved with atropin administration) and one had hypertension with tachycardia. Other observed side effects were: chest tightness (2 pts), fever and chills (3 pts), associated with abdominal cramps (2 pts). 7 out of 8 (88%) patients infused with greater than 30 mL volume of DMSO experienced side-effects, the grade of toxicity being significantly less in those receiving lower amount (< 30 mL) of DMSO. Two out of 4 pts who received the highest number of dead cells (> 10 x 10(9)) developed toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience the infusion of cryopreserved peripheral blood progenitors caused minor to moderate toxicity in most cases and, when present, side effects were observed only during infusion. The amount of DMSO present in the graft is related to the grade of toxicity.

Influence of atmospheric nitric oxide concentration on the measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air

BACKGROUND

Measurement of nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air shows promise as a non-invasive method of detecting lung inflammation. However, variable concentrations of NO are measured in environmental air. The aim of this study was to verify a possible relationship between exhaled NO and atmospheric NO values during high atmospheric NO days.

METHOD

Exhaled air from 78 healthy non-smokers of mean age 35.3 years was examined for the presence of NO using a chemiluminescence NO analyser and NO levels were expressed as part per billion (ppb). The exhaled air from all the subjects was collected into a single bag and into two sequential bags. Before each test atmospheric NO was measured.

RESULTS

The mean (SE) concentration of exhaled NO collected into the single bag was 17.1 (0.6) ppb while the mean values of exhaled NO in bags 1 and 2 were 16.7 (1.3) ppb and 13.8 (1.2) ppb, respectively. The atmospheric NO concentrations registered before each test varied from 0.4 to 71 ppb. There was a significant correlation between exhaled NO in the single bag and atmospheric NO (r = 0.38, p = 0.001). The atmospheric NO concentration also correlated with exhaled NO both in bag 1 (r = 0.44, p = 0.0001) and in bag 2 (r = 0.42, p = 0.0001). These correlations disappeared with atmospheric NO concentrations lower than 35 ppb.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate a relationship between atmospheric NO and NO levels measured in exhaled air, therefore exhaled NO should not be measured on very high atmospheric NO days.

Determination of plasma alpha-glutathione-S-transferases in chronic alcohol abusers: relationship with alcohol intake and liver involvement

Alpha-gluthathione-S-transferases (alpha-GSTs) are enzymes involved in the cellular detoxifying processes; elevated circulating alpha-GSTs activity is considered to be an early index of liver damage. Glutathione (GSH) is the substrate for alpha-GST action.

THE AIMS OF OUR STUDY WERE

(1) to evaluate plasma GSH levels and alpha-GST activity in chronic alcohol abusers with or without liver cirrhosis; (2) to define the relationship between these two biochemical parameters; (3) to establish their clinical relevance in patients with alcohol abuse and/or liver damage. We studied 69 subjects (18 healthy subjects and 51 chronic alcohol abusers: 29 without liver cirrhosis and 22 with). Plasma alpha-GST activity was determined on baseline samples and every following day for a total of 10 days in five alcoholics by HEPKIT (Alpha-Biotech, Biotrin International, Dublin, Ireland). GSH was determined on all subjects' baseline samples by fluorescent high-performance liquid chromatography. Alcohol intake was evaluated in all patients by determining blood-alcohol concentrations. Significant increases in plasma alpha-GSTs were observed in 9/29 (31%) alcoholics and 3/22 (13.6%) cirrhotics irrespective of their alcohol intake. GSH was significantly lower than normal values (P < 0.001) in all alcoholics with or without cirrhosis (controls 10.4 +/- 4.8; alcoholics without cirrhosis 3.9 +/- 1.4; alcoholics with cirrhosis 3.3 +/- 1.6). No correlation was observed between plasma alpha-GST and GSH levels. Our data indicate that: (1) alpha-GST activity does not correlate with GSH levels in the plasma; (2) alpha-GSTs do not have clinical relevance as markers of recent alcohol intake; (3) in cirrhotics, alpha-GST does not provide more information than other liver function tests. However, plasma alpha-GST determination may be useful in selecting a subgroup of alcoholics in whom routine biochemical markers of liver damage are within reference ranges.

Neutrophils infiltrating bronchial epithelium in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

In order to characterize neutrophil and eosinophil presence in the airways of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchoscopy with bronchial washings and bronchial biopsies was performed in 12 smoking stable COPD subjects and 18 normal non-smoking control subjects. Bronchial biopsies were examined by light microscopy using plastic embedding and histochemical techniques to identify different cell types. Bronchial washing fluid of COPD patients was characterized by a predominance of neutrophils (P = 0.001), and a slight, but significant (P = 0.03), increase of eosinophil fraction. Subjects with COPD had higher number of neutrophils in the epithelium (P = 0.01), and eosinophils in the lamina propria (P = 0.01) than did control subjects. The thickness of reticular basement membrane was increased for COPD patients in comparison to control subjects (P = 0.01). The present study provides evidence of neutrophil infiltration both in bronchial washing and bronchial epithelium of patients with COPD, suggesting that the source of neutrophils in airway lumen may be the bronchial mucosa. Although less common than in asthma, airways of COPD subjects reveal eosinophil presence and airway remodelling.

Hematopoietic stem cells from different sources: biological and technical aspects

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) enumeration is crucial to predict the engraftment potential of a given HSC collection, and currently involves the surrogate count of nucleated cells, CFU or CD34+ cells. However, there is raising evidence that CFU are HSC involved in short-term but not in long-term reconstitution, and that only a small fraction of all CD34+ cells have long term multilineage engraftment potential. In this regard, there is evidence that cord blood (CB), bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) derived HSC are highly heterogeneous for a number of antigens useful for HSC enumeration by flow cytometry. Moreover, there is a raising evidence that a CD34 human HSC might exist. The CD34 HSC has been already described in animals and in human Hoechst 33342 negative HSC. This notwithstanding, clinical data have clearly demonstrated that purified allogeneic CD34+ cells can reconstitute the myeloid and the lymphoid lineages in myeloablated recipients. In the lack of a suitable marker for CD34 HSC enumeration, it is hard to predict the role of CD34 HSC in hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation. On the other hand, these cells might be a better target for HSC expansion and gene transfer.

The release of free prostate specific antigen into the circulation during transurethral resection of the prostate: kinetics and interaction with serum protease inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

To determine the nature and extent of the release of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and its interaction with its plasma protein-derived inhibitors after transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-three consecutive patients undergoing routine TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia had blood samples taken pre-operatively and then post-operatively at 8-hourly intervals for 24 h. Further samples were obtained at 48 and 72 h post-operatively. Serum free and total PSA were determined by immunofluorometric assay. The major plasma protein inhibitors for PSA were also determined by immunoassay.

RESULTS

The mean free and total PSA fractions increased significantly post-operatively with levels greatest immediately after surgery. There was also a gradual increase in the complexed PSA fraction, reaching a peak at 48 h. The concentration of the major serum inhibitors of PSA (alpha-1-antichymotrypsin and alpha-2-macroglobulin) also declined immediately after surgery.

CONCLUSION

Increases of serum total PSA in patients after TURP are caused by increases in the free PSA fraction. The exponential decline in free PSA concentrations is consistent with the complexing of PSA with its protease inhibitors present in the plasma. The formation of this complex suggests that the free PSA released into the circulation at the time of TURP is the enzymatically active form.

Inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate downregulates CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte activation in peripheral blood of patients with asthma

BACKGROUND

Previous studies demonstrated a downregulation of T-lymphocyte (CD3+ cells) activation in peripheral blood after treatment with inhaled corticosteroids in patients with asthma.

OBJECTIVE

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte activation, respectively.

METHODS

We examined the expression of three surface activation markers (CD25, HLA-DR, and very late activation antigen 1) on circulating CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in subjects with asthma (n = 23) before and 8 weeks after treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate dry powder (daily dose, 800 microg).

RESULTS

Beclomethasone dipropionate treatment had a marked effect in reducing the expression of the activation marker CD25 (p < 0.01) in both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets in peripheral blood of patients with asthma. However, no correlation was found between the downregulation of CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocyte activation and the improvement in physiologic indices of disease activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These data add to the view that CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in peripheral blood of patients with asthma are in an activated state that is downregulated by inhaled corticosteroids.

Role of tumor cells contaminating the graft in breast cancer recurrence after high-dose chemotherapy

One of the possible drawbacks to autologous stem cell transplantation in breast cancer (BC) patients is the potential for tumor contamination in the transplanted product. We present a patient with advanced disease who received high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and PBPC support as consolidation therapy after achieving complete remission with standard-dose first-line treatment, and suffered recurrence of the disease 6 months after transplantation. Retrospective analysis revealed the presence of contaminating cells in the leukapheretic product, and clinical evidence suggested a role for these cells in the tumor relapse.

Monoclonal antibody Ki-67 as a marker of proliferative activity in monoclonal gammopathies

In 16 patients with monoclonal gammopathies of undetermined significance (MGUS) and in 49 with multiple myeloma (MM, 43 untreated and 6 relapsed) we used immunocytochemistry to determine the percentages of bone marrow plasma cells (BMPC) that incorporate bromodeoxyuridine (BUDR-labeling index, BUDR-LI) in vitro and that label with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 (which recognizes an antigen thought to identify the growth fraction of the population, Ki-67 GF). Both mean and range values were greater for Ki-67 GF than for BUDR-LI. Most patients with high Ki-67 GF also had high BUDR-LI, although a linear correlation was not found between the two parameters. MGUS has lower values than MM, and the difference was much greater for Ki-67 GF than for BUDR-LI (p less than 0.005 vs. p less than 0.05). Differences in Ki-67 GF but not in BUDR-LI were found between MGUS and stage I MM (p less than 0.0005) and between grouped stage I and II MM and stage III MM (p less than 0.025). Both Ki-67 GF and BUDR-LI were significantly (p less than 0.005) greater in relapsed than in untreated MM. Determining Ki-67 GF as a proliferative parameter could be a better way of studying the kinetics of (BMPC) in MGUS and MM than determining the BUDR-LI, since a wider range of values is obtained and this allows patient groups with different clinical characteristics to be separated more easily.

Immunocytochemical evaluation of proliferative activity in human brain tumours

The immunocytochemical expression of the antigen reacting with the monoclonal antibody Ki-67 (Ki-67 positivity) was investigated in 50 imprint preparations from human brain tumours. Data were related to tumour proliferative activity, as determined from in vivo bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation (BrdU-labelling index, BrdU-LI) and histology. The percentage of Ki-67-positive cells was greater than the corresponding BrdU-LI value in all tumours, and the differences in Ki-67 positivity among tumour subtypes paralleled the BrdU-LI differences. Both the BrdU-LI and the percentage of Ki-67 positive cells were significantly greater (P less than 0.005) in the group of clinically aggressive adult tumours, histologically identified as anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas, than in the less aggressive ones (oligodendroglioma, meningiomas, schwannomas, pituitary adenomas, dermoid cyst) and in the cerebral metastatic localizations. These data suggest that Ki-67 positivity, which is easily evaluated with immunocytochemistry, is related to the proliferative activity of brain tumours and that this parameter is endowed with clinical significance.

Early bronchodilating effect of a new oral beta-2-receptor agonist (broxaterol) in bronchial asthma

In order to determine the bronchodilating activity and safety of two beta-2-receptor agonists, broxaterol and procaterol, compared with a placebo, 12 patients with reversible airway obstruction were tested in a double-blind cross-over study. The drugs were administered orally and the dosage of broxaterol was 0.5 mg, that of procaterol 0.05 mg. Measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), heart rate and blood pressure were performed before and 30, 60, 120, 240, 360, and 480 min after each treatment. Both drugs produced bronchodilation but broxaterol was statistically 30 min faster in producing this effect than procaterol (p less than 0.05). Moreover this effect for both drugs persisted significantly for up to 480 min compared with the effect of the placebo (p less than 0.005). There were no significant side effects with either drug. Heart rate and blood pressure did not show any changes in clinical significance for broxaterol or procaterol. In our study, broxaterol showed a faster bronchodilating effect than procaterol, and tolerance was the same for both drugs.

Evaluation of bronchial responsiveness by pharmacological challenges in asthma. Inhaled propranolol in comparison with histamine and methacholine

Bronchial challenges with bronchoconstrictive drugs have supplied important information on some relevant pathophysiological aspects of bronchial asthma, i.e. nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Until now histamine and methacholine have been the most widely used inhalation tests. Recently, propranolol, given by inhalation, has been proposed and evaluated for possible application as a bronchial provocation challenge both in clinical and experimental setting. In asthmatic subjects with bronchial hyperresponsiveness to histamine and methacholine, inhaled propranolol induces a dose-related bronchoconstriction. In a group of 25 asthmatic patients, the mean value of provocative doses, in mumoles of propranolol that causes a 20% drop in FEV1 (PD20FEV1), is thirteen times greater than that of methacholine. In the same study, there is no correlation between the bronchial responses to the two drugs. Moreover, none of 9 normal subjects of the control group responds to inhaled propranolol. The mechanisms of propranolol-induced bronchoconstriction are poorly understood. A cholinergic reflex is probably involved, but it is likely that propranolol has some different and rather peculiar pathways. Bronchial response to inhaled propranolol is a reliable, reproducible, safe, and well-tolerated method. Bronchoconstriction induced by propranolol appears to be a very promising technique in the investigation of the mechanisms of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Provocative dose and dose-response curve to inhaled propranolol in asthmatic patients with bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine

This study was carried out to compare bronchial responses to inhaled propranolol (P) and methacholine (M) in a group of asthmatic subjects with mild to moderate bronchial hyperresponsiveness to M; to determine the short term reproducibility of bronchial response to propranolol; and to examine the shape of dose-response curve to P relative to that of M. Doses of M and P were given in mumoles and bronchial responses to both agents were expressed as the provocative dose that induced a 20 percent fall in FEV1 (PD20 FEV1). In 16 asthmatic patients, there was no correlation between the PD20 of the two agents. Mean PD20 M (+/- SD in log scale) was approximately nine times lower than mean PD20 P (0.64 +/- 0.96 and 5.80 +/- 1.65, respectively). This difference was statistically significant (t = 4.58, p less than 0.001). In six asthmatic patients, the reproducibility of PD20 P was similar to that of M (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.969 and 0.957, respectively). The shape of the dose-response curves to P was different from that of M in five of nine asthmatic patients when all experimental points were analyzed by double-reciprocal plot. We noticed that even small doses of inhaled P may cause a severe bronchoconstriction. Therefore, special caution should be taken to increase P doses very gradually, when studying the dose-response curve. We demonstrated that P inhalation induced a measurable bronchoconstriction in subjects with mild to moderate hyperresponsiveness and it was reproducible. However, the bronchial sensitivity to P was lower than to M. Our findings suggest that P and M have different mechanisms of action.

Long-lasting response to cis-platinum in recurrent malignant thymoma: case report

A patient who had received irradiation for inoperable invasive thymoma was treated with cis-platinum after mediastinal and endothoracic recurrence two years from diagnosis. A quick and long-lasting response was observed, which is still present. Systematic phase II trials with cis-platinum in invasive thymoma are suggested.

[Lung blood perfusion changes following tubercular processes cured by antibiotic drug therapy]

This is a studym ade by pulmonary perfusional scintigraphy and angiopneumography on 60 patients suffering from tuberculosis of the lung; they were cured by chemoantibiotic treatment. They were recent tubercular diseases with limited extension (nodular infiltrations, former phthisiogenic lobitises, nodular and miliarich disseminations), so their outcomes were extremely modest or not worthy on radiologic plane. The results acquired with these methods firmly showed a larger ematoperfusive injury as to the affected area.