Relationship between Intracranial Granulomas and Cerebrospinal Fluid Levels of Gamma Interferon and Interleukin-10 in Patients with Tuberculous Meningitis

Cerebrospinal fluid gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 levels in 39 patients with tuberculous meningitis were serially measured. Cytokine levels did not predict intracranial granuloma (IG) development, but IFN-γ levels in the top quartile after 1 month of therapy were highly associated (odds ratio = 18) with detection of an IG by computed tomography scanning.     

Comparison of airway diameter measurements from an anthropomorphic airway tree phantom using hyperpolarized 3He MRI and high-resolution computed tomography.

An anthropomorphic airway tree phantom was imaged with both hyperpolarized (HP) 3He MRI using a dynamic projection scan and computed tomography (CT). Airway diameter measurements from the HP 3He MR images obtained using a newly developed model-based algorithm were compared against their corresponding CT values quantified with a well-established method. Of the 45 airway segments that could be evaluated with CT, only 14 airway segments (31%) could be evaluated using HP 3He MRI. No airway segments smaller than approximately 4 mm in diameter and distal to the fourth generation were adequate for analysis in MRI. For the 14 airway segments measured, only two airway segments yielded a non-equivalent comparison between the two imaging modalities, while eight more had inconclusive comparison results, leaving only four airway segments (29%) that satisfied the designed equivalence criteria. Some of the potential problems in airway diameter quantification described in the formulation of the model-based algorithm were observed in this study. These results suggest that dynamic projection HP 3He MRI may have limited utility for measuring airway segment diameters, particularly those of the central airways.     

A human friendly reporting and database system for brain PET analysis

We have developed a human friendly reporting and database system for clinical brain PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans, which enables statistical data analysis on qualitative information obtained from image interpretation. Our system consists of a Brain PET Data (Input) Tool and Report Writing Tool. In the Brain PET Data Tool, findings and interpretations are input by selecting menu icons in a window panel instead of writing a free text. This method of input enables on-line data entry into and update of the database by means of pre-defined consistent words, which facilitates statistical data analysis. The Report Writing Tool generates a one page report of natural English sentences semi-automatically by using the above input information and the patient information obtained from our PET center’s main database. It also has a keyword selection function from the report text so that we can save a set of keywords on the database for further analysis. By means of this system, we can store the data related to patient information and visual interpretation of the PET examination while writing clinical reports in daily work. The database files in our system can be accessed by means of commercially available databases. We have used the 4th Dimension database that runs on a Macintosh computer and analyzed 95 cases of^I8F-FDG brain PET studies. The results showed high specificity of parietal hypometabolism for Alzheimer’s patients.     

Whirling disease: re-emergence among wild trout

Summary: Whirling disease of rainbow trout is caused by Myxobolus cerebralis, a myxozoan parasite possessing a life cycle well adapted to the natural environments where salmonid fish are found. Whirling disease was first described in Europe in 1898 among farmed rainbow trout but recent occurrences have been devastating to wild trout in North America. The disease is considered a major threat to survival of wild rainbow trout in the intermountain west of the United States. Difficulties in containing the spread and potentially eliminating the pathogen are tied to features of a complex life cycle involving two hosts, the salmonid fish and an aquatic oligochaete. Details of the morphologic development of the parasite have been described in each host but only now are we beginning to appreciate the breadth of interactions between these developmental forms and the sequential responses of the host. Fundamental mechanisms of the recognition and attachment of the parasite to the hosts, how host immunity is evaded and the unknown influences of environmental factors all contribute to a rather poor understanding of the biology of the parasite. Although the biology and ecology of the salmonid host are better known than for the oligochaete host, our knowledge is inadequate to interpret their complex interactions with the parasite. This uncertainty precludes the development of effective management activities designed to enhance the viability and productivity of wild trout populations in M. cerebralis- positive river systems. Improving our understanding of the hosts, the parasite and the environmental factors determining their interaction should provide for more focused and effective control methods for containing the spread and devastating effects whirling disease is causing to our wild trout populations.     

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) secretion in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis: IL-10-dependent CD4+CD45RO+ T cell-B cell antibody synthesis

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a major immunoregulatory cytokine and has a multitude of immunomodulatory effects in the immune system. In this study, we have examined the secretion andin vitro function of IL-10 in B cell hyperactivity in antibody production in two common autoimmune diseases, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-10 was detectable in serum of all active SLE and serum and synovial fluid samples of all RA patients but in none of the normal controls. B cells and CD4+CD45RO+ memory T cells secreted highly enhanced levels of IL-10 in SLE and RA versus normals. Increased IgM and IgG production by B cells-CD4+CD45RO+ T cells in SLE and RA was IL-10 dependent, since neutralization of IL-10 cytokine by anti-IL-10 antibody drastically reduced Ig synthesis in these coculture experiments. B cell hyperactivity in autoantibody production in SLE and RA may be a function of IL-10-dependent CD4+CD45RO+ Th2 cell activation. Therefore, IL-10 may play an important role in highly disturbed immune system and B cell-T cell function in these immune disorders.     

Telomeric fusion as a mechanism for the loss of 1p in meningioma

Characteristic cytogenetic aberrations are found in the various histopathological designations of meningioma. These aberrations range from the loss of 22q in histologically benign tumors to complex hypodiploid karyotypes in atypical and malignant tumors. This progression is characterized by increasing chromosome loss and instability, with a critical step being the loss of 1p. We report a detailed cytogenetic investigation of chromosome aberrations in a series of 88 meningiomas using Giemsa banding and multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY). Clonal chromosome aberrations were identified in 46 (52%) tumors by G banding. Thirty-five tumors showing complex chromosome aberrations not fully characterized by G banding were subsequently reanalyzed by SKY. The SKY technique refined the G-band findings in 18 (51%) of the tumors on which it was applied. The most common features of cytogenetic progression in the complex karyotypes were chromosome arm-specific losses relating to the formation of deletions and dicentric chromosomes involving 1p. Part or all of 1p was lost in 19 tumors. Five tumors showed evidence for the loss of 1p in a progressive step-wise series of telomeric fusions involving the formation of unstable intermediates. Five recurring dicentric chromosomes were identified, including dic (1;11)(p11;p11), dic(1;12)(p12 approximately p13;p11), dic(1;22)(p11;q12 approximately q13), dic(7;19)(p11;p11), and dic(19;22)(p11 approximately p13;q11 approximately q13). These findings provide evidence that telomeric fusions play a role in the formation of clonal deletions, dicentrics, and unbalanced translocations of 1p. The loss of 1p has possible diagnostic and prognostic implications in the management of meningioma.     

Transfer of zona-free embryos improves outcome in poor prognosis patients: a prospective randomized controlled study

Assisted zona hatching (AZH) has been used in IVF programmes for several years. Recently one group has reported successful pregnancies after transfer of zona-free blastocysts. The aim of our study was to evaluate outcomes after transfer of zona-free day 3 embryos. Two groups of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were included in the study. Group A consisted of 52 women under the age of 40 years undergoing their first ICSI attempt. They were alternately randomized to receive zona-free embryos (27 women) and zona-intact embryos (25 women). The second group (group B) included 71 women with a poor prognosis, as defined by age 40 years or more, and/or at least two previous failed IVF/ICSI attempts. They were randomized in a 3:4 ratio (30 zona-free, 41 zona-intact). Acid Tyrode's solution was used to remove the zona pellucida before embryo transfer on day 3 after oocyte collection. The pregnancy rate in group A was not significantly improved when the zona pellucida was removed. However, in the poor prognosis group B, zona removal resulted in a significantly higher pregnancy rate when compared with controls (23 versus 7.3%). We conclude that complete removal of the zona pellucida can improve pregnancy rates in women with poor IVF/ICSI prognosis.