Effect of surfactant and specific antibody on bacterial proliferation and lung function in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of surfactant and specific antibody on bacterial proliferation in experimental pneumococcal pneumonia.

METHODS

Near-term newborn rabbits received a standard dose (10(7)) of type 3 pneumococci via the airways. Control animals were sacrificed 1 minute later. Other animals were ventilated for 5 hours and treated via the tracheal cannula with surfactant (Curosurf 200 mg/kg), a mixture of surfactant and a polyclonal antipneumococcal antibody, the antibody without surfactant, or saline.

RESULTS

There was a significant bacterial proliferation in lung tissue in all animals ventilated for 5 hours. Bacterial growth, expressed as log10 colony forming units (CFU) per gram of lung tissue was less prominent in animals treated with a mixture of surfactant and specific antibody than in animals treated with antibody alone (median, 7.51, range, 6.80--7.70 vs. median, 7.92, range, 7.07--8.50; P < 0.05). Dynamic lung-thorax compliance was improved with surfactant or surfactant plus antibody in comparison with saline or antibody alone.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that the suppressive effect of the antibody on bacterial proliferation becomes evident only when surfactant is administered together with the antibody.

Production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in CaCO-2 cells in response to inflammatory stimuli

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may play an important role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the cellular source of MMP-9 in the inflamed mucosa of IBD remains unclear. Here we report that MMP-9 mRNA is expressed in CaCO-2 cells, an intestinal epithelial cell line, and that its expression is upregulated by inflammatory stimuli. Stimulation of CaCO-2 cells with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) led to a dose-dependent increase in expression and secretion of MMP-9. In contrast, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) failed to induce expression or secretion of MMP-9, suggesting that an inflammatory reaction leading to cytokine release is a necessary step for the induction of MMP-9 release in intestinal epithelial cells. Additional studies show that induction of MMP-9 mRNA peaked at 16 h of IL-1beta stimulation, whereas expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and IL-8 both peaked at 3 h of stimulation. Treatment of CaCO-2 cells with rosiglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) agonist, significantly reduced secretion of MMP-9, indicating that agents that activate PPAR-gamma may have therapeutic use in patients with IBD.

Three-dimensional localisation of fluorescence resonance energy transfer in living cells under two-photon excitation

Three-dimensional (3-D) imaging of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) in human cells under two-photon excitation was demonstrated in this study. A sample was prepared by expressing a donor and an acceptor in living cells and using an antibody to secure the proximity of contact between the donor and the acceptor. The quenching of fluorescence emission of a donor in the double-labelled cells indicates the presence of FRET that occurred in these living cells. Because of the quadratic relation of the excitation power, 3-D localisation of FRET becomes possible.

[Clinical analysis of 224 cases of small intestine disease]

OBJECTIVE

To increase the knowledge of small intestine disease, improve the diagnostic rate and discusses the examination methods.

METHODS

224 cases of small intestine disease were studied and their major symptoms, etiology, diagnostic methods were analyzed.

RESULTS

The major symptoms of small intestine disease were abdominal pain (58%), abdominal mass (18%), fever (17%) and hematochezia (12%). The most common disease of small intestine was malignant tumor (32%), others were diverticulum (29%), leiomyomas (7%), hemorrhagic necrotizing enteritis (6%), Crohn's disease (4%). Double-contrast enteroclysis and laparotomy were still the major diagnostic methods.

CONCLUSION

Malignant tumor was the most common disease of small intestine. More attention should be paid to the diagnosis of small intestine disease.

Reduced effects of spherical aberration on penetration depth under two-photon excitation

We compare the effects of spherical aberration on the penetration depth of single-photon and two-photon excitation for instances in which the aberration is caused by the refractive-index mismatch when a beam is focused through an interface. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that two-photon fluorescence imaging experiences less spherical aberration and can thus propagate to a deeper depth within a thick medium.

Pregnancy-associated bovine and ovine glycoproteins exhibit spatially and temporally distinct expression patterns during pregnancy

The pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) constitute a large family of recently duplicated genes. They show structural resemblance to pepsin and related aspartic proteinases. A total of 21 bovine (bo) PAG and 9 ovine (ov) PAG cDNA have been identified. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the PAG are divided into two main groupings that accurately reflect their tissue expression, as determined by in situ hybridization. In the first pattern, represented by ovPAG-2 and boPAG-2, -8, -10, and -11 (where the numbering is arbitrary and reflects order of discovery within species), expression occurred throughout the outer epithelial layer of the placenta (trophectoderm). The second pattern was predominant localization to binucleate cells. Ribonuclease protection assays, which allow discrimination between closely related transcripts, have shown that the expression of PAG varies in a temporal manner over pregnancy. Of those bovine PAG expressed predominantly in binucleate cells, boPAG-1, -6, and -7 are expressed weakly, if at all, by Day 25 placenta, but are present at the middle and end of pregnancy. Others, such as boPAG-4, -5, and -9, are expressed at Day 25 and at earlier stages. Although not among the earliest PAG produced by the trophoblast, boPAG-1 has been used for pregnancy diagnosis, particularly in dairy cows, where there is a major need for a sensitive method capable of detecting pregnancy within 1 mo of conception. It seems likely that some of the newly discovered PAG will be better candidates than PAG-1 for pregnancy diagnosis.

Spatial distribution of single-photon and two-photon fluorescence light in scattering media: Monte Carlo simulation

Three-dimensional fluorescence spatial distributions under single-photon and two-photon excitation within a turbid medium are studied with Monte Carlo simulation. It is demonstrated that two-photon excitation has an advantage of producing much less fluorescence light outside the focal region compared with single-photon excitation. With the increase of the concentration of scattering particles in a turbid medium, the position of the maximum fluorescence intensity point shifts from the geometric focal region toward the medium surface. Further studies show that the optical sectioning property of two-photon fluorescence microscopy is degraded in thick turbid media or when the numerical aperture of an objective becomes low.

[Specific antibodies for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the specificity and sensitivity of antiperinuclear factor (APF), anti-keratin antibody (AKA), anti-Sa antibody and anti-RA33 antibody in the diagnosis of RA.

METHODS

128 patients with RA, whose durations were within 1 year, were included. APF and AKA were detected by indirect immunofluorescence on the human buccal mucosa cells and the straum corneum of Wistar rat esophagus. Anti-Sa antibody and anti-RA33 antibody were examined by Western blotting. Sa antigen was extracted from human placenta while RA33 antigen from Ehrlich cells.

RESULTS

(1) The specificities and sensitivities of APF, AKA, anti-Sa antibody and anti-RA33 antibody were 91.4% (224/245) & 35.2% (45/128), 90.2% (221/245) & 32.0% (43/128), 90.6% (222/245) & 33.6% (43/128), 89.8% (220/245) & 28.9% (37/128), respectively, versus 72.3% (177/245) & 44.5% (57/128) for rheumatoid factor (RF). There were no statistical differences in the specificity between the four antibody groups and RF until 1:128 were taken as positive titer. Among 71 patients with RF-negative RA, 15 (21.1%) were positive for APF, 18 (25.4%) positive for AKA, 21 (29.6%) positive for anti-Sa antibody and 17 (23.9%) positive for anti-RA33 antibody. (2) Specificity and sensitivity were 95.1% (233/245) and 46.1% (59/128) respectively when two of the four antibodies turned out to be both positive. If three or more kinds were detected simultaneously, specificity was as much as 99.6% (108/128). (3) Statistical difference was found among the four groups defined by the number of positive antibodies in radiographic stage and patients assessment of illness.

CONCLUSION

(1) Dictation of APF, AKA, anti-Sa antibody and anti-RA33 antibody can greatly improve the specificity of diagnosis of early RA and serve as a complement when RF is negative. (2) Combined detection of the above four antibodies has a better discrimination ability as a laboratory criterion than that of RF. (3) Three or more positive antibodies may be an indicator of severe bone erosion and emergent demand for early treatment with better outcome.

CXC and CC chemokine receptors on coronary and brain endothelia

BACKGROUND

Chemokine receptors on leukocytes play a key role in inflammation and HIV-1 infection. Chemokine receptors on endothelia may serve an important role in HIV-1 tissue invasion and angiogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The expression of chemokine receptors in human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) and coronary artery endothelial cells (CAEC) in vitro and cryostat sections of the heart tissue was determined by light and confocal microscopy and flow cytometry with monoclonal antibodies. Chemotaxis of endothelia by CC chemokines was evaluated in a transmigration assay.

RESULTS

In BMVEC, the chemokine receptors CCR3 and CXCR4 showed the strongest expression. CXCR4 was localized by confocal microscopy to both the cytoplasm and the plasma membrane of BMVEC. In CAEC, CXCR4 demonstrated a strong expression with predominantly periplasmic localization. CCR5 expression was detected both in BMVEC and CAEC but at a lower level. Human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVEC) expressed strongly CXCR4 but only weakly CCR3 and CCR5. Two additional CC chemokines, CCR2A and CCR4, were detected in BMVEC and CAEC by immunostaining. Immunocytochemistry of the heart tissues with monoclonal antibodies revealed a high expression of CXCR4 and CCR2A and a low expression of CCR3 and CCR5 on coronary vessel endothelia. Coronary endothelia showed in vitro a strong chemotactic response to the CC chemokines RANTES, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta.

CONCLUSIONS

The endothelia isolated from the brain display strongly both the CCR3 and CXCR4 HIV-1 coreceptors, whereas the coronary endothelia express strongly only the CXCR4 coreceptor. CCR5 is expressed at a lower level in both endothelia. The differential display of CCR3 on the brain and coronary endothelia could be significant with respect to the differential susceptibility of the heart and the brain to HIV-1 invasion. In addition, CCR2A is strongly expressed in the heart endothelium. All of the above chemokine receptors could play a role in endothelial migration and repair.

A new Alamar Blue viability assay to rapidly quantify oligodendrocyte death

We developed a rapid fluorometric viability assay for primary cultures of OL precursors (preOLs) or mature OLs that utilized the oxidation/reduction indicator dye Alamar Blue (AB). PreOLs had a lower rate of AB reduction than did mature OLs (0.02 +/- 0.01 units/min per cell versus 0.07 +/- 0.01). The assay was tested under two conditions toxic to preOLs: oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion or kainate excitotoxicity. When glutathione was depleted by a 24-h exposure to cystine-depleted medium, the EC50 values for the dependence upon cystine for survival did not differ significantly when determined by AB reduction (2 +/- 2 microM), by the trypan blue exclusion method (3 +/- 3 microM) or by MTT histochemistry (1 +/- 0.4 microM). Quantification of preOL viability with AB was unaffected by the presence of free radical scavengers (alpha-tocopherol or idebenone) or the antioxidant enzymes Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase and catalase. There was no difference in preOL viability as determined by AB or MTT after a 24-h exposure to kainate at concentrations up to 1 mM. AB offers a rapid objective measure of OL viability in primary culture and is a valid means to quantify OL death.

Combined treatment with surfactant and specific immunoglobulin reduces bacterial proliferation in experimental neonatal group B streptococcal pneumonia

Neonates suffering from group B streptococcal (GBS) pneumonia often lack type-specific opsonizing antibodies. We studied the influence of combined intratracheal treatment with surfactant and a specific antibacterial polyclonal antibody (IgG fraction) on bacterial proliferation and lung function in an animal model of GBS pneumonia. Near-term newborn rabbits received an intratracheal injection of either the specific IgG antibody, nonspecific IgG, surfactant, a mixture of surfactant and the antibody, or 0.9% saline. At 30 min the rabbits were infected with a standard dose (10(8)) of the encapsulated GBS strain 090 Ia. After 5 h of mechanical ventilation the mean estimated increase in bacterial number in lung homogenate (log10 colonies/g) was 0.76 in the antibody group, 0.92 in the nonspecific IgG group, 0.55 in the surfactant group, and 1.29 in the saline group. A mean decrease in bacterial number (-0.05) was observed in the group that received combined treatment with surfactant and antibody (p < 0.05 versus all other groups). Lung-thorax compliance was significantly higher in both groups of surfactant-treated animals compared with saline or IgG treatment. We conclude that in experimental neonatal GBS pneumonia combined treatment with surfactant and a specific immunoglobulin against GBS reduced bacterial proliferation more effectively than either treatment alone.

Effective point-spread function for fast image modeling and processing in microscopic imaging through turbid media

An effective point-spread function (EPSF) for microscopic imaging through turbid media is proposed and calculated. The EPSF incorporates the property of a microscope system as well as the scattering property of a turbid medium. We prove that the image of a thin object embedded in a turbid medium can be expressed by the convolution of the EPSF with an object function. With the help of the convolution relation, image modeling for 5, 000, 000 incident photons can be approximately 15 times faster than the direct Monte Carlo simulation method for a one-dimensional object and can be at least 2 orders of magnitude faster for a two-dimensional object.

Identification of a new aspartic proteinase expressed by the outer chorionic cell layer of the equine placenta

The pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are placental antigens that were initially characterized as pregnancy markers in the maternal circulation of domestic ruminant species. They are members of the aspartic proteinase gene family, having greatest sequence identity with pepsinogens. However, some are not capable of functioning as enzymes. The PAGs are associated with a large gene family within the Artiodactyla order (cattle, camels, pigs). So far, no members of this family have been characterized in species outside this order. This report describes the cloning and initial characterization of a PAG-like protein (equine PAG or ePAG) expressed in the placenta of the horse and zebra (order Perrisodactyla). Equine PAG is a proteinase capable of degrading 14C-hemoglobin and catalyzing the removal of its own pro-peptide. The ePAG mRNA is restricted to the chorion both prior to implantation and in the term placenta. Equine PAG is secreted from cultured placental tissue as both a processed (mature) and unprocessed (zymogen) form. Equine PAG shares similar identity with the PAGs and pepsinogens and probably arose from a pepsinogen-like precursor that gained the ability to be expressed in the placenta. The promoter of the ePAG gene shares sequence identity with the promoter from a bovine PAG gene but not with promoters of other aspartic proteinases. Therefore, we hypothesize that ePAG is a remnant of the pepsinogen-like progenitor gene that was expanded within the Artiodactyla to create the large and highly diverse PAG family.

Cocaine enhances brain endothelial adhesion molecules and leukocyte migration

Leukocyte infiltration of cerebral vessels in cocaine-associated vasculopathy suggests that cocaine may enhance leukocyte migration. We have investigated cocaine's effects on leukocyte adhesion in human brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMVEC) cultures and monocyte migration in an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model constructed with BMVEC and astrocytes. Cocaine (10(-5) to 10(-9) M) enhanced adhesion of monocytes and neutrophils to BMVEC. In the BBB model, cocaine (10(-4) to 10(-8) M) enhanced monocyte transmigration. Cocaine increased expression of endothelial adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) on BMVEC. The peak effect on ICAM-1 expression was between 6 and 18 h after treatment. ICAM-1 was increased by cocaine in BMVEC, but not in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and the enhancement was greater in a coculture of BMVEC with monocytes. ICAM-1 expression was enhanced by a transcriptional mechanism. Polymyxin B inhibited up-regulation of adhesion molecules by LPS but not by cocaine. In LPS-activated BMVEC/monocyte coculture, cocaine increased secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6. Taken together, these findings indicate that cocaine enhances leukocyte migration across the cerebral vessel wall, in particular under inflammatory conditions, but the effects are variable in different individuals. Cocaine's effects are exerted through a cascade of augmented expression of inflammatory cytokines and endothelial adhesion molecules. These could underlie the cerebrovascular complications of cocaine abuse.

[Expression and significance of Fas/APO-1 and Bcl-2 protein in human lung cancer.]

BACKGROUND

To investigate the role of Fas/APO-1 and Bcl-2 in oncogenesis and progression of lung cancer.

METHODS

The expression of Fas/APO-1 and Bcl-2 protein were detected in 65 lung cancer tissues and 46 normal lung tissues by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The positive rate of Fas/APO-1 protein expression in lung cancer tissues was 56. 92 % , which was significantly lower than that in normal lung tissues (82. 61 %) ( P < 0. 01) . The positive rate of Bcl-2 protein expression was 46. 15 %. It was significantly higher than that in normal lung tissues (6. 52 %) ( P < 0. 01) .

CONCLUSIONS

Both Fas/APO-1 and Bcl-2 may play an role in the oncogenesis and progression of lung cancer.

[Detection of the level of serum IgG antibody to hepatitis E virus]

The levels of serum IgG antibody to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV-IgG) was detected in serum specimens from 50 patients with acute sporadic hepatitis E and 20 healthy donors who were positive for anti-HEV-IgG by ELISA titration. The results showed that the level of anti-HEV-IgG in acute hepatitis E patients was significantly higher than that in healthy donors and the average titer is 1:121 and 1:22, respectively (P < 0.01). So acute viral hepatitis E should be diagnozed when the titer of anti-HEV-IgG was over 1:40.

Cocaine infusion increases interferon-gamma and decreases interleukin-10 in cocaine-dependent subjects

The effects of cocaine infusion (40 mg) on interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) cytokine secretion were examined in 15 cocaine-dependent subjects. Pre- and postcocaine infusion peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), stimulated with phytohemagglutinin A, were cultured for 48 h and the cytokines in the supernatant measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cocaine infusion, but not saline infusion, increased IFN-gamma secretion and decreased IL-10 secretion, while, in PBMC collected simultaneously from control subjects, secretion of these cytokines was unaltered. Baseline IFN-gamma levels were lower and IL-10 levels higher in addicted subjects compared to those in control subjects. White blood cell and lymphocyte number and CD4(+) and CD8(+) counts were all increased following cocaine infusion. In vitro cocaine treatment of PBMC from addicted subjects suppressed both IL-10 and IFN-gamma secretion. These data suggest that acute cocaine administration, via both central and peripheral effects, may enhance Th1-type immune responses and inhibit Th2-type responses.

Maturation-dependent vulnerability of oligodendrocytes to oxidative stress-induced death caused by glutathione depletion

Death of oligodendrocyte (OL) precursors can be triggered in vitro by cystine deprivation, a form of oxidative stress that involves depletion of intracellular glutathione. We report here that OLs demonstrate maturation-dependent differences in survival when subjected to free radical-mediated injury induced by glutathione depletion. Using immunopanning to isolate rat preoligodendrocytes (preOLs), we generated highly enriched populations of preOLs and mature OLs under chemically defined conditions. Cystine deprivation caused a similar decrease in glutathione levels in OLs at both stages. However, preOLs were completely killed by cystine deprivation, whereas mature OLs remained viable. Although the glutathione-depleting agents buthionine sulfoximine and diethylmaleate were more potent in depleting glutathione in mature OLs, both agents were significantly more toxic to preOLs. Glutathione depletion markedly increased intracellular free radical generation in preOLs, but not in mature OLs, as indicated by oxidation of the redox-sensitive probe dihydrorhodamine 123. The antioxidants alpha-tocopherol, idebenone, and glutathione monoethylester prevented the oxidation of dihydrorhodamine in cystine-depleted preOLs and markedly protected against cell death. When the intracellular glutathione level was not manipulated, preOLs were also more vulnerable than mature OLs to exogenous free radical toxicity generated by a xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. Ultrastructural features of free radical-mediated injury in glutathione-depleted preOLs included nuclear condensation, margination of chromatin, and mitochondrial swelling. These observations indicate that preOLs are significantly more sensitive to the toxic effects of glutathione depletion and that oligodendroglial maturation is associated with decreased susceptibility to oxidative stress.

Amyloid-beta induces chemokine secretion and monocyte migration across a human blood--brain barrier model

BACKGROUND

Aside from numerous parenchymal and vascular deposits of amyloid beta (A beta) peptide, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuronal and synaptic loss, the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease is accompanied by a subtle and chronic inflammatory reaction that manifests itself as microglial activation. However, in Alzheimer's disease, alterations in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and chemotaxis, in part mediated by chemokines and cytokines, may permit the recruitment and transendothelial passage of peripheral cells into the brain parenchyma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Human monocytes from different donors were tested for their capacity to differentiate into macrophages and their ability to secrete cytokines and chemokines in the presence of A beta 1-42. A paradigm of the blood-brain barrier was constructed utilizing human brain endothelial and astroglial cells with the anatomical and physiological characteristics observed in vivo. This model was used to test the ability of monocytes/macrophages to transmigrate when challenged by A beta 1-42 on the brain side of the blood-brain barrier model.

RESULTS

In cultures of peripheral monocytes, A beta 1-42 induced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 beta, and IL-12, as well as CC chemokines MCP-1, MIP-1 alpha, and MIP-1 beta, and CXC chemokine IL-8 in a dose-related fashion. In the blood-brain barrier model, A beta 1-42 and monocytes on the brain side potentiated monocyte transmigration from the blood side to the brain side. A beta 1-42 stimulated differentiation of monocytes into adherent macrophages in a dose-related fashion. The magnitude of these proinflammatory effects of A beta 1-42 varied dramatically with monocytes from different donors.

CONCLUSION

In some individuals, circulating monocytes/macrophages, when recruited by chemokines produced by activated microglia and macrophages, could add to the inflammatory destruction of the brain in Alzheimer's disease.

[Prognosis of laryngeal carcinoma in youth]

The prognosis of 55 cases of laryngeal carcinoma in young people had been studied. The major factors mainly related to prognosis were smoking and misdiagnosis, while the tumour differentiation might be not so important. There was a high recurrence rate of 25.5% in the young patients and low 3- and 5-year survival rates of 47.4% and 34.5% respectively. The mortality of 1-year after surgery was 21.8%. The 3-and 5-year survival rates between total and partial laryngectomy made no difference. The survival rate of patients with positive node was lower. Early diagnosis is most important for young patients. Partial laryngectomy and neck dissection must be performed as far as possible.

An aspartic proteinase expressed in the equine placenta

This manuscript describes the cloning of a novel aspartic proteinase expressed in the placenta of the horse (order Perrisodactyla). Evidence for similar genes in the cat (Carnivora) and ruminants (Artiodactyla), indicates that these molecules have been conserved within widely divergent species with distinct types of placentation. Since ePAG is produced by the outer cell layer (trophoblast) of the placenta, it can tentatively be grouped with the pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) of cattle, sheep, and pig. The high sequence identity that ePAG shares with pepsinogens as well as the PAG, indicates that ePAG may be the evolutionary bridge that links these two groups of aspartic proteinases.

Anti-Sa antibody in Chinese rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE

To test anti-Sa antibody in different autoimmune connective tissue diseases and analyze the relationship between Sa antibody and clinical manifestations and laboratory tests in rheumatoid arthritis.

METHOD

Sa antigen was extracted from human placenta. Anti-Sa antibody was tested in 40 normal people and 478 connective tissue disease (CTD) patients using Western Blotting (WB).

RESULTS

Sa antigen was a protein with molecular weights of 50 kD and 55 kD. Anti-Sa antibody was positive in 31.9% (61/191) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 3.0% (2/67) Sjögren's syndrome (SS), 4.3% (2/46) systemic lupus erythmatosus (SLE) and 0% (0/66) Behcet's disease, 0% (0/60) polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), 0% (0/66) other CTD and 0% (0/40) normal controls. Anti-Sa antibody was different from other auto-antibodies in RA. In rheumatoid arthritis its sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction rate, negative prediction rate were 31.9%, 98.6%, 93.8% and 68.5% respectively. Anti-Sa antibody positive patients were significantly different from anti-Sa antibody negative patients in moming stiffness, ESR, ANA and X-ray grade.

CONCLUSION

Anti-Sa antibody was a new auto-antibody for the diagnosis of RA. Anti-Sa antibody positive patients seem to have more serious inflammation and more advanced disease process.

[The expression of P16, Rb and cyclin D1 and biological behavior of laryngeal cancer]

To determine the effect of gene of carcinorma on the proliferation and regulation in primary laryngeal cancer, P16, Rb, Cyclin D1 were examined with immunohistochemical SABC method in 36 cases of primary laryngeal cancer. The results showed: P16 was positive in 11 of 36 in carcinoma specimens (30.6%), 22 of 36 in the specimens surrounding the carcinoma (61.1%) were positive. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). The positive rates of Rb and Cyclin D1 were 61.1% and 47.2% respectively. Comparing the positive rate of P16 to Rb was more significantly (P < 0.05). In most circumstances, when Rb was positive, P16 was negative and vice versa. The positive rate of Rb correlated with the one of Cyclin D1 positively by rank correlation. The expression of P16 and Rb was significantly different between well and poor tissues differenciation. The expression had no significant difference in the same antibody in various clinical stage and position or in the same stage and position but different antibody. The results suggest that the feedback regulation chain consisted of P16 plays an important role in the proliferation and regulation.

[Clinical features and treatment of congenital inferior oblique paresis]

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of isolated congenital inferior oblique paresis.

METHODS

13 patients with isolated congenital inferior oblique paresis examined and operated between 1984 and 1994 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

After a follow-up of 6-75 months, six patients had excellent surgical results, and the rest had improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Isolated congenital inferior oblique paresis occurs infrequently. Its diagnosis is based on the following: (1) presence of vertical deviation in primary position, (2) the results of duction and version examination, (3) negative forced duction test that is different from the test in Brown's syndrome. Surgery is usually indicated in most patients. It consists of weakening superior oblique muscle and recession of inferior rectus muscle in the homolateral eye and recession of superior rectus in the contralateral eye.

TNF-alpha opens a paracellular route for HIV-1 invasion across the blood-brain barrier

BACKGROUND

HIV-1 invades the central nervous system early after infection when macrophage infiltration of the brain is low but myelin pallor is suggestive of blood-brain-barrier damage. High-level plasma viremia is a likely source of brain infection. To understand the invasion route, we investigated virus penetration across in vitro models with contrasting paracellular permeability subjected to TNF-alpha.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Blood-brain-barrier models constructed with human brain microvascular endothelial cells, fetal astrocytes, and collagen I or fibronectin matrix responded in a dose-related fashion to cytokines and ligands modulating paracellular permeability and cell migration. Virus penetration was measured by infectious and quantitative HIV-1 RNA assays. Barrier permeability was determined using inulin or dextran.

RESULTS

Cell-free HIV-1 was retained by the blood-brain barrier with close to 100% efficiency. TNF-alpha increased virus penetration by a paracellular route in a dose-dependent manner proportionately to basal permeability. Brain endothelial cells were the main barrier to HIV-1. HIV-1 with monocytes attracted monocyte migration into the brain chamber.

CONCLUSIONS

Early after the infection, the blood-brain barrier protects the brain from HIV-1. Immune mediators, such as TNF-alpha, open a paracellular route for the virus into the brain. The virus and viral proteins stimulate brain microglia and macrophages to attract monocytes into the brain. Infiltrating macrophages cause progression of HIV-1 encephalitis.

Cystine deprivation induces oligodendroglial death: rescue by free radical scavengers and by a diffusible glial factor

In this study we examined the effect on oligodendroglial survival of exogenous cystine deprivation. Oligodendroglia isolated from mixed glial primary cultures derived from brains of 1-day-old rats, and then grown for 3 days, were markedly dependent on extracellular cystine for survival. The EC50 values for cystine for a 24-h exposure ranged from 2 to 65 microM. After 6 h of cystine deprivation, the cellular glutathione level decreased to 21 +/- 13% of the control. Free radical scavengers (alpha-tocopherol, ascorbate, idebenone, and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone) were protective against cystine deprivation but had no effect on the glutathione level. An iron chelator, desferrioxamine mesylate, also was protective. These findings suggest that intracellular hydroxyl radicals are important for this toxicity. In contrast to the observations in 3-day-old cultures, the dependence on exogenous cystine for cell viability was not observed consistently in oligodendroglia cultured for 6 days before the onset of cystine deprivation. Several observations suggested that this loss of cystine dependence was due to a diffusible factor. Sensitivity to the toxicity of cystine deprivation in day 6 cultures increased as the volume of medium was increased from 0.3 to 2 ml. Furthermore, preincubation of cystine-depleted medium with astrocyte cultures eliminated the toxicity of the cystine deprivation. HPLC assay of the conditioned cystine-depleted medium showed no significant change in cystine or cysteine concentration. We conclude that oligodendroglia are highly susceptible to cystine deprivation in day 3 cultures and that this susceptibility is due to the accumulation of intracellular free radicals in the setting of glutathione depletion. The resistance of day 6 oligodendroglial cultures is caused at least in part by a diffusible factor.

[Proliferation of PBMC in patients with Sjögren's syndrome via CD2 pathway]

Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease whose etiology is unknown. Recent studies show that there is T cell abnormalities in addition to B cell hyperreactivity. In order to better understand the immunoregulatory abnormalities of primary Sjögren's syndrome, cellular immunology has become the main focus of recent studies. As such, the function of CD2 and CD3 pathways constitutes an integral part of these studies. The proliferation of PBMC, non-adhesive cells (mainly T cells) and adhesive cells (mainly B cells) has been investigated in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome and normal controls; the results show that the proliferation of PMBC and non-adhesive cells in patients is much lower than that in normal controls (P < 0.05), whereas there is no difference in that of adhesive cells between these two groups (P > 0.05). It is also found that the non-adhesive cells' abnormality can not be adjusted by adding adhesive cells of normal controls. In addition, it seems that there is a relationship between the proliferation of PBMC via CD2 pathway in patients and the positivity of anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies. However, the underlying mechanism behind the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome has yet to be fully understood. This study warrants further research into gaining a better concept of the CD2 pathway at molecular levels.

Quantitative study of AgNOR in differential diagnosis between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and reactive hyperplasia

The argyrophilic staining technique was used in differential diagnosis between non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and reactive hyperplasia (RH) of lymphatic tissues in 30 cases of RH and 71 cases of NHL which were classified as low (11 cases), moderate (49 cases) and high malignant (11 cases) groups. The number and the area of Ag nucleolar organizer region (AgNORs) in 100 cells of each case were examined by both IBAS-200 cytoimage analyser and microscope. The results showed that there was significant difference in the number, but not in area, of AgNOR granules between RH and low malignant group of NHL (P < 0.001). In NHL, the significant differences in the number and area of AgNORs were found between each groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). It was also observed that in NHL, the number of AgNOR was negatively correlated with the area of the granules, and the shapes and distribution patterns of AgNOR were significantly different between each groups. Our results suggest that the quantitative study of AgNOR combining with the histological characteristics is very helpful in the differential diagnosis of RH and NHL and in the classification of NHL.

[The diagnosis and treatment of congenital bilateral superior oblique palsy]

13 patients with surgically treated congenital superior oblique palsy are presented. Follow-up ranged at least three months after surgery. Most patients received one operation, three cases required the secondary operation. Clinical symptom, Asymmetrical palsies: anomalous head posturing; hypertropia in primary position. Symmetrical palsies; a right hypertropia in left gaze and left hypertropia in right gaze; a positive Bielschowsky test on tiltion the head toward either shoulder, many cases have "V" pattern. The patients who need operation should usually undergo bilateral surgery. The most patients obtained satisfactory results after surgery.