Allelic diversity at the primate Mhc-G locus: exon 3 bears stop codons in all Cercopithecinae sequences

Twenty-seven major histocompatibility complex (Mhc)-G exon 2, exon 3, and exon 2 and 3 allelic sequences were obtained together with 12 different intron 2 sequences. Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, Pan paniscus, Gorilla gorilla, Pongo pygmaeus, Macaca fascicularis, Macaca mulatta, and Cercopithecus aethiops individuals were studied. Polymorphism does not follow the classical pattern of three hypervariable regions per domain and is found in all species studied; exon 3 (equivalent to the alpha 2 protein domain) shows stop codons in the Cercopithecinae group but not in the Pongidae and human groups. Dendrograms show that cotton top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) Mhc-G sequences are closer to Homo sapiens and Pongidae than to Cercopithecinae, probably due to the stop codons existing at exon 3 of the latter. There is a clear trans-species evolution of allelism in Cercopithecinae and also in exon 2 of all the other apes studied, but a generation of allelism within each species may be present on exon 3 sequences. This discrepancy may be due to the preferential use of exon 2 over exon 3 at the mRNA splicing level within each species in order to obtain the appropriate functional G product. Mhc-G intron 2 shows conserved motifs in all species studied, particularly a 23 base pair deletion between positions 161 and 183 which is locus specific, and some of the invariant residues, important for peptide presentation, conserved in classical class I molecules from fish and reptiles to humans were not found in Mhc-G alleles; the intron 2 dendrogram also shows a particular pattern of allelism within each species. In summary, Mhc-G has substantial differences from other classical class I genes: polymorphism patterns, tissue distribution, gene structure, splicing variability, and probably an allelism variability within each species at exon 3. The G proteins may also be different. This indicates that the Mhc-G function may not be peptide presentation to the clonotypic T-cell receptor.

Interaction of human spermatozoa with the zona pellucida of oocyte: development of the acrosome reaction

Mammalian spermatozoa are not able to fertilize an oocyte upon ejaculation. To gain fertilizing ability, spermatozoa must, either in vivo or in vitro, undergo a process termed capacitation. Since a reliable marker for capacitation does not exist, it is considered that this process is completed when the spermatozoa are able to undergo acrosomal x intestinal mucosa which might require tandem signaling events for this process is the presence of a vascular countercurrent arrangement in the subepithelial compartment. As happens for absorbed solutes, this countercurrent phenomenon may distort transepithelial solute gradient. For example, perfusion of mammalian intestinal loops in vivo with solutions containing fMLP was previously found to induce neutrophil attachment to endothelial cells and structurally defined endothelial activation, but failed to elicit directed migration across the lamina propria (Madara, unpublished observations), suggesting that directed migration may require a more stable gradient than that afforded by the usual soluble signals. For example, once present in inflamed tissue, IL-8 is likely to retain its biological activity for several hours, as shown by local intradermal administration in animals and humans. In contrast to Il-8, chemokines such as fMLP or LTB4 are degraded rapidly by oxidation or hydrolysis. Fertilization is a very complex phenomenon, involving sequential interactions between the fertilizing spermatozoon and cumulus oophorus, ZP, and oolemma. The AR may be playing a key role in penetration of spermatozoa through these egg vestments.

[Isolated hepatic transplant in patient with cystic fibrosis]

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive autosomic disease with multiorgan, although predominantly pancreatic and pulmonary, involvement. Liver involvement is infrequent in children under the age of 5 years, but increases progressively with time. It is characterized by the development of focal biliary cirrhosis with eventual appearance of portal hypertension. During the last few years the more effective control of the pulmonary complications, which are the main cause of mortality, has led to an increase in the survival of these patients and thus the number of patients with CF and liver involvement is greater every day. In these cases, the prognosis is bad and most patients die in 4 to 5 years. Isolated liver transplantation is a recently proposed alternative for patients who have developed liver cirrhosis but who maintain acceptable pulmonary function. The case of a 14-years-old patient in whom liver transplantation was performed with good results after 8 months of follow-up is presented. Improvement in the nutritive state and pulmonary function was observed.

A controlled trial of dexamethasone to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in surfactant-treated infants

BACKGROUND

Surfactant therapy now has a well-established role in the treatment of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome but has failed to reduce the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test the hypothesis that dexamethasone therapy given during the first 12 days of life to very low birth weight infants would be synergistic to surfactant in preventing BPD.

METHODS

Seventy surfactant-pretreated infants (700-1500 g) who had severe respiratory distress syndrome (a/A ratio, 0.18 +/- 0.10; mean airway pressure, 11.1 +/- 1.9 cm H2O; fraction of inspired oxygen, 0.81 +/- 0.22) were enrolled to receive a 12-day course of dexamethasone (n = 36) or saline placebo (n = 34) starting within the first 12 hours after birth. The starting dose of dexamethasone was 0.5 mg/kg per day, and it was tapered progressively.

RESULTS

Ventilator variables at 5 to 14 days were significantly improved in those infants who received dexamethasone compared with those who received the placebo. The effect seem to be more marked in infants weighting less than 1250 g at birth. Significantly more infants could be extubated by 14 days of age in the dexamethasone group (26 of 32 vs 14 of 32). Dexamethasone therapy reduced the incidence of BPD at 28 days (odds ratio, 0.1; 95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 0.3) and eliminated BPD at 36 weeks' postconceptional age. Dexamethasone-treated infants had greater weight loss at 14 days (12.9 +/- 6.4% vs 3.7 +/- 8.6%, respectively) and higher blood pressures from days 3 to 10. However, no differences were seen in time to regain birth weight, hypertension (1 infant in each group), or incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

We found an additive effect between dexamethasone and surfactant in improving pulmonary status and reducing the incidence of BPD. Compared with the placebo, dexamethasone therapy was more effective in reducing the incidence of BPD in surfactant-pretreated very low birth weight infants.

Sperm interaction with human oviductal cells in vitro

In this article we describe the in-vitro interaction between human spermatozoa and oviductal epithelial cell monolayers. Freshly obtained spermatozoa were added to culture dishes containing human oviductal cells (co-culture), culture medium (control) or culture medium which had previously been used for culture of oviductal cells (conditioned medium). At 0, 5, 24, and 48 h of incubation the percentage of motile spermatozoa was determined and their motion characteristics analysed. Aliquots were taken to determine the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. The spermatozoa were motile for a longer period in the presence of oviductal cells (54 +/- 9% co-culture versus 18 +/- 3% control, at 48 h) and the kinetics of the acrosome reaction exhibited a different pattern. In the control the percentage of reacted spermatozoa increased progressively throughout incubation. In co-culture, there was an increase only at 5 h; thereafter, the percentage of acrosome reactions did not change. Spermatozoa incubated in conditioned medium exhibited a behaviour halfway between the control and the co-culture. The pattern of sperm movement was not different in any of the experimental conditions. Although there was no binding between spermatozoa and oviductal epithelial cells, the frequency of the ciliary beat increased after spermatozoa were added to the oviductal cell monolayers. These results suggest that incubation with oviductal cells increases sperm survival, stabilizes the acrosome, and modifies the frequency of ciliary beat.

Assays of the biological activities of two fatty acid derivatives formed in the edible mushrooms cantharellus cibarius and C. tubaeformis as a response to injury

Cibaric acid (1) and 10-hydroxy-8-decenoic acid (2) are two fatty acid derivatives that are formed in the fruit bodies of Cantharellus cibarius (chanterelle) and C. tubaeformis as a response to injury. Unlike the potent defensive sesquiterpenes formed in injured fruit bodies of the pungent Lactarius species, compounds 1 and 2 only possess very weak antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Compound 2 was found to be a very weak direct-acting mutagen in the Ames test (<1 revertant/microgram and plate), while cibaric acid (1) was inactive in this assay. As 1 is destroyed during cooking, there are currently no reasons for suspecting that the consumption of C. cibarius poses a risk to consumers.

Polyclonal antibodies against protein F from the cell envelope of Pseudomonas fluorescens for the detection of psychrotrophic bacteria in refrigerated meat using an indirect ELISA

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for detection of Pseudomonas fluorescens and related psychrotrophic bacteria in refrigerated meat. The ELISA uses polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbits against protein F from the cell envelope of Pseudomonas fluorescens AH-70. The anti-protein F antibodies were recovered from the crude antiserum by ammonium sulfate precipitation and conjugated to biotin. Commercial Extr Avidin-peroxidase conjugate was used to detect the biotinylated antibodies bound to their specific antigens. Subsequent enzymatic conversion of substrate gave distinct absorbance differences when assaying meat samples containing P. fluorescens strains of different origin as well as related psychrotrophic microorganisms. The detection threshold for the ELISA assay developed in this work was 10(4)-10(5) cfu cm(-2).

[Anesthetic complications in sequential bipulmonary transplantation in patients with cystic fibrosis. Apropos of 6 cases]

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a disease characterized mainly by altered exocrine gland function that eventually produces irreversible dysfunction of the pancreas and lungs. The respiratory insufficiency that develops in CF patients in the advanced stages of disease can only be corrected at this time by lung or heart-lung transplantation. We describe our experience with 6 terminal phase CF patients who underwent sequential double lung transplantation (SDLT). Anesthesia was intravenous, with exhaustive hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring. During surgery the most frequently encountered hemodynamic complications were low minute volume, arterial hypotension and irregular heart rate. The main respiratory complications were hypoxemia, hypercapnia and pulmonary edema of the implanted lung, which developed in all cases to varying degrees related to the organ's state of preservation and duration of ischemia. Other complications were the need for extracorporeal circulation in 1 case, oliguria and blood loss requiring multiple transfusions. The most critical moments were at the time of clamping the pulmonary artery, the period after revascularization of the donated lung, and at the start of patient ventilation through the first implanted lung so that the second could be implanted. Although our series is small, it is of interest given the limited Spanish experience with lung transplantation in CF patients, and the good early results obtained, which are similar to those reported for other diseases.

Epidemic outbreak of interstitial lung disease in aerographics textile workers--the "Ardystil syndrome": a first year follow up

BACKGROUND

The longer term respiratory effects of massive inhalational exposure of textile printing sprayers to Acramin (the "Ardystil syndrome") are not well established.

METHODS

A 12 month follow up of 27 heavily exposed textile sprayers was performed.

RESULTS

Twenty one patients experienced cough, 18 dyspnoea, and 17 nose bleeding at initial exposure, with histological evidence of organising pneumonia in 13 cases, radiological abnormalities detected by computed tomographic scanning in 20 cases, and diminution of diffusion capacity to below 80% of predicted in seven cases. At one year after exposure symptoms persisted in 15 cases, radiological alterations in six, and diffusion capacity was reduced in nine.

CONCLUSIONS

Whilst most of our patients showed improvement at one year, evidence of persistent lung involvement was present in an appreciable minority of exposed cases.

Evaluation of intercostal cryoanalgesia versus conventional analgesia in postthoracotomy pain

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of cryoanalgesia in patients undergoing posterolateral thoracotomy. A double-blind randomized and prospective study was performed in 100 patients undergoing thoracotomy. They were randomized into two groups: Group A, 55 patients, who had undergone an intercostal cryoanalgesia and group B, control, 45 patients treated only with pharmacological analgesia ad libitum. In both groups we assessed pain in the first 7 postsurgical days, the amount of analgesia required, electromyography of the intercostal muscles involved and recording of maximal static respiratory pressures. Postsurgical pain was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in group A. No patient in group A needed major analgesia and the amount of aminopyrines required was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those used in group B. Maximal static inspiratory pressure (PImax) showed no significant changes and no significant differences were found between the two groups. Maximal static expiratory pressure (PEmax) significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in the 1st and 2nd week and it was not related to the type of analgesia used. We advocate the use of cryoanalgesia since it significantly reduces pain as well as the doses of analgesia.

HLA DR and DQ polymorphism in Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi Jews: comparison with other Mediterraneans

HLA-DR and DQ alleles have been detected by DNA typing in Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi Jews from Israel. Allele frequencies, characteristic DR/DQ linkage disequilibria, population distances and their corresponding dendrogram by using the Neighbor-Joining method were used to study relatedness between Jewish and other Mediterranean and non Mediterranean populations. Closest relatedness is observed between Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi Jews, and, in decreasing order, also with Algerians, Spaniards (including Spanish-Basques), French and Italians. Also, particular characteristic Central European alleles are observed in Ashkenazi Jews and Mediterranean/African alleles in non-Ashkenazi Jews. This is consistent with historical data, Jews being an ancient Mediterranean population, who have had a certain degree of admixture with their 2000-3000 years old neighbors in spite of cultural and religious traditions which have preserved identity outside Israel.

Epidermoid carcinoma of the hand: report of a case

The case of a 71 year old man who presented with an advanced epidermoid carcinoma of the dorsum of the hand, is reported. The patient was treated with radiotherapy as an alternative to amputation. Irradiation consisted of a combination of Co-60 photons and 6 Mev electrons. The cosmetic and functional results were excellent and the patient has been free of hand tumor for two and one-half years.

Purification and characterization of an arabinofuranosidase from Bacillus polymyxa expressed in Bacillus subtilis

Two polypeptides showing alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase activity have been purified to homogeneity from culture supernatants of a Bacillus subtilis clone harbouring the xynD gene [Gosalbes et al. (1991) J Bacteriol 173: 7705-7710] from Bacillus polymyxa. Both polypeptides, with determined molecular masses of 64 kDa and 53 kDa, share the same sequence at their N termini, which also coincides with the sequence deduced for the mature protein from the previously determined sequence of nucleotides (Gosalbes et al. 1991). The two polypeptides have been biochemically characterized. Arabinose is the unique product released from arabinose-containing xylans which are substrates for both enzyme forms. Other natural arabinose-containing polysaccharides, such as arabinogalactans, are not attacked by them but some artificial arabinose derivatives are good substrates for both polypeptides. Their arabinose-releasing activity on arabinoxylans facilitates the hydrolysis of the xylan backbone by some endoxylanases from Bacillus polymyxa.

Effect of cyclosporin on lung diffusing capacity in renal transplant patients

A prospective lung function study pre- and postrenal transplantation was performed on 21 patients in order to evaluate whether cyclosporin decreased the lung diffusing capacity due to lung toxicity. Initial inclusion criteria were absence of respiratory symptoms and normal findings in both chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests. Participants had to be nonsmokers. We determined spirometry including lung volumes, arterial blood gases, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity by the single breath method (DLCOSB), and rate of CO uptake per unit of lung volume (KCO) before and 3, 6, and 12 months after transplantation. Immunosuppression consisted of prednisone and cyclosporin, maintaining total blood levels between 100 and 250 ng/ml. Spirometric and blood gases data remained within reference levels during the follow-up. Hemoglobin (Hb) pretransplant concentrations remained low, returning to their normal levels post-transplantation. Pretransplant DLCOSB levels were slightly decreased but fell within the therapeutic range after correction for Hb concentration, unlike the mean KCO levels which remained slightly diminished despite their correction. In post-transplant controls, the values obtained for both DLCOSB and KCO were significantly higher at the different post-transplant intervals (P < 0.005) than pretransplantation but only when compared without Hb correction. No significant differences for DLCOSB were found when corrected values were compared, and an improvement in the KCO appeared to be significant at 12 months posttransplantation. Based on these findings, we feel that when serum levels are within the therapeutic range, cyclosporin fails to alter the respiratory function or the pulmonary diffusing capacity of the lung.

[Patients with chronic airflow limitation: effects of the inspiratory muscle training with threshold load valve, built with appropriate technology, associated to nutritional support]

AIM

To assess prospectively the effects of a controlled program of inspiratory muscle training program and nutritional support in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-three patients with COPD were randomly assigned into four groups. Group I received a 1000 kcal/day nutritional supplement, given as a casein based enteral nutritional formula; group III was subjected to inspiratory muscle training, using an inexpensive pressure threshold load valve constructed according to the Appropriate Technology principles of the WHO, adjusted at 30% of Maximal Inspiratory Mouth Pressure and received also the nutritional supplement; group IV was trained but did not receive the nutritional supplement and group II was not trained nor supplemented. Patients were studied during three months and monthly, inspiratory muscle function, exercise capacity and anthropometry were measured.

RESULTS

A significant improvement in exercise capacity, maximal inspiratory pressure and inspiratory muscle endurance was observed in the four groups throughout the study. Trained subjects had greater improvement in their inspiratory muscle endurance, compared to untrained subjects. Nutritional support had no effect in inspiratory muscle function or exercise capacity. No changes in anthropometric measures were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The pressure threshold load valve used in this study, improved inspiratory muscle endurance and nutritional support had no effect in patients with COPD.

Structure-activity relationships for unsaturated dialdehydes. 10. The generation of bioactive products by autoxidation of isovelleral and merulidial

The autoxidation of the two mutagenic and antimicrobial sesquiterpenes merulidial (1a) and isovelleral (5) generates a number of bioactive products that are suggested to be partly responsible for the mutagenic and antimicrobial activities of the two compounds. The biological activities of the autoxidation products are, as far as has been possible to assay, of the same order as the parent compounds, and it is shown that they are formed in normal bioassay media. Merulidial (1a) is especially interesting, as its rate of autoxidation is considerably higher compared with non-mutagenic derivatives of 1a. In addition, natural isovelleral [(+/-)-5] was found to be twice as mutagenic as synthetic isovelleral [(+/-)-5], indicating that (-)-isovelleral is only weakly active or inactive, and supporting the suggestion that the interaction of isovelleral (5) and its derivatives with DNA depends on the absolute stereochemistry of the unsaturated dialdehyde moiety.

Sperm binding to the human zona pellucida after migration through human cervical mucus

During lactational amenorrhea a special type of cervical mucus, similar to that found during the luteal phase, is produced. This mucus, however, is able to support sperm migration. In the study described, the ability of spermatozoa to bind to the human zona pellucida (hZP) after migration through periovulatory and post-partum mucus was studied. Mucus was obtained from exclusively breastfeeding women in amenorrhea at 30, 60, 120 and 180 days post-partum. Periovulatory mucus samples from normally cycling women were used as a control. Flat capillary tubes were filled with BWW culture medium at the top and cervical mucus at the bottom. The tubes were immersed in a semen reservoir and the spermatozoa allowed to migrate through the mucus for 3 h into the culture media. Then the spermatozoa were coincubated with 3-4 hZP for 30 min and the number of bound spermatozoa per zona was counted. Periovulatory cervical mucus had an average Insler score of 14 +/- 0.5 as compared to 4.6 +/- 0.4 for post-partum mucus. Spermatozoa recovered from periovulatory mucus were always able to bind to the hZP in only 68 +/- 7% of the cases. Moreover, spermatozoa recovered from post-partum mucus bound to the ZP in lower numbers than did spermatozoa recovered fro periovulatory mucus (p < 0.03). These results suggest a greater ability of sperm-hZP binding after migration through periovulatory mucus and they also indicate that sperm binding to the ZP is possible even after sperm migration through a low quality mucus.

Pigmented basal cell carcinoma: an unusual case

The case of a 66-year-old man who presented with an extensive pigmented basal cell carcinoma of the left cheek is reported. Treatment consisted of irradiation and staged surgical resections. The cosmetic result was excellent, and the patient has been free of the cheek tumor for 2 1/2 years. The numerous problems inherent in the treatment of patients with disfiguring facial skin malignancies were surmounted by a multidisciplinary team in which radiotherapy, plastic surgery, and dental services participated.

Ventilatory pattern at rest and response to hypercapnic stimulation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

We studied the ventilatory pattern and mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1) at rest and the response to awake hypercapnic stimulation in 27 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The respiratory pattern was characterized by both increased P0.1 and VT/Ti (p < 0.05), with a higher VE (p < 0.01) due to a slight increase in VT. Ventilatory response to hypercapnic stimulation showed no significant differences with respect to the control group. Our findings reveal that OSAS patients show an increased minute output secondary to a mild degree of hyperstimulation on the baseline central ventilatory control and that there is a subgroup of patients with a decreased ventilatory response to CO2.

A laser assisted deposition technique suitable for the fabrication of biosensors and molecular electronic devices

The recently developed technique of laser induced plasma deposition is used to obtain layers of different protein molecules on a substrate. The biological activity of the deposits is checked and micropatterning of active antibodies is achieved.

[Ventilation pattern at rest and respiratory response to hypercapnic stimulation after lung transplantation]

We aimed to assess breathing pattern at rest by studying occlusion pressure after the first 100 miliseconds (P0.1) and ventilatory response to hypercapnia after lung transplantation. Seven transplanted patients were compared with a control group of 7 healthy subjects. The breathing pattern at rest after transplantation included a significant increase in minute volume (VE) at the expense of an increase in tidal volume (VT) and above all of mean inspiratory flow (VT/Ti). There were no significant differences in ventilatory response to hypercapnia between the 2 groups, although the response curves of both VE and VT to CO2 tended to slope downward. These results can be explained by the mechanics of ventilation in some subjects studied and by the effect of pulmonary denervation on ventilatory control.

Transient right-to-left shunting through a patent foramen ovale secondary to unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis

A 57 year old patient presented with unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis and severe hypoxaemia secondary to transient right-to-left interatrial shunting through a patent foramen ovale. The final diagnosis was made because of the initial detection of a shunt while the patient was breathing 100% oxygen.

New species-specific alleles at the primate MHC-G locus

Six different ape MHC-G DNA sequences (four in humans: HLA-G*01011, HLA-G*II, HLA-G*0103, and HLA-G*IV; one in chimpanzees: Patr-G*I; and one in gorillas: Gogo-G*1) have been obtained. Only synonymous or conservative ("Thr"-to-"Ser") substitutions are allowed between the four human alleles. One allele of MHC-G exon-2 sequences has been found both in gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes). The Patr-G*I DNA sequence shows two nonsynonymous substitutions when compared with the human HLA-G*01011 sequence: "CGG"-to-"TGG" ("Arg"-to-"Trp") at codon 35 and "ATG"-to-"ATA" ("Met"-to-"Ile") at codon 76. One nonsynonymous "GAG"-to-"GGG" ("Glu"-to-"Gly") substitution is observed in the Gogo-G*I exon-2 DNA sequence, when compared with the human *01011 allele. None of these three different substitutions have been observed in humans and are, thus, considered species specific. Also, evidence is provided that the human HLA-G*II and G*0103 may have been originated after human speciation. Finally, phylogenetic relationships among the six MHC-G alleles, tamarins G-"like" alleles, and other human class I genes (both "classical" and "nonclassic") are discussed.

Immunocytochemical characterization of intrarenal adrenal tissue

Heterotopic adrenal tissue has been reported in multiple sites, but its functionality has seldom been assessed. In this case, immunocytochemistry was used to characterize adrenocortical tissue present in the subcapsular region of a nephrectomy specimen and to determine its potential for steroidogenesis. Immunodetectable cytochrome P450scc was detectable in the adrenal gland, but not in the renal tissue, clarifying the demarcation between the two tissue types. The high level of this key enzyme in steroid synthesis in the adrenocortical cells suggested that they were capable of producing steroids.