Rapid changes in surface antigen expression by blood monocytes cultured in suspension or adherent to plastic

Cell surface antigens used as markers of in vivo differentiation may not be stable on monocytes maintained under different conditions of in vitro culture. Monocytes were isolated from blood by centrifugation over Percoll or by adherence to plastic dishes, and the cells cultured in suspension or as adherent monolayers. Initially, monocytes obtained by both methods were similar in size, morphology, and surface antigen expression detected with the antimonocyte monoclonal antibodies OKM1, FMC17, PHM2, and PHM3. After culture, cells maintained in suspension were predominantly small, whereas those adherent to plastic rapidly increased in size; however, cytochemical staining for nonspecific esterase and acid phosphatase showed increased enzymic activity by monocytes in both systems, possibly reflecting increased cell maturation. The most striking difference was a substantial loss of FMC17 antigen by most monocytes within four hours in suspension culture, as compared with a qualitative and quantitative increase in expression by plastic adherent cells within two hours. These changes occurred even if the cells were first reacted with lipopolysaccharide. Monocytes taken from suspension culture and allowed to adhere to plastic rapidly synthesized the antigen, a process inhibited by cycloheximide, and conversely, cells removed from plastic progressively displayed decreased FMC17 antigen expression when transferred to suspension culture. No functional role in adherence or phagocytosis has been found for the FMC17 antigen. The results suggest that antigen expression may depend as much on the physical state of the cells as on apparent activation or maturation events.     

Increased expression of the G gamma and A gamma globin genes associated with a mutation in the A gamma enhancer

We have previously described a unique type of delta beta-thalassemia in a Chinese family characterized by increased expression of the G gamma and A gamma fetal globin genes in the absence of a large deletion in the beta-globlin gene cluster. Our earlier study of the beta-globin gene on this delta beta-thalassemia chromosome showed a promoter mutation in the TATA box. In this report, we describe the results of our study of the fetal globin domain of this delta beta-thalassemia chromosome. We have cloned a 13-kb DNA fragment that includes the G gamma and the A gamma genes and the 3' A gamma enhancer element of this delta beta-thalassemia chromosome. DNA sequence analysis of the G gamma and A gamma-globin genes including their promoters did not show any mutations, but analysis of the putative enhancer element downstream from the A gamma-globin gene showed a C to T substitution 2,401 nucleotides downstream from the A gamma cap site. We performed DNA linkage analysis to determine if this mutation is unique to this chromosome or represents a common polymorphism. Our linkage analysis showed that this mutation is not a common polymorphism and that it is also not an intrinsic part of the haplotype of the chromosome on which it was found. We also studied the interaction of nuclear proteins from erythroid and nonerythroid cells with the DNA sequences surrounding this mutation. We have shown by in vitro DNase I footprinting that this mutation falls within a region that is occupied by a novel DNA-binding protein that binds to this site in nuclear extracts from erythroid, but not nonerythroid cells. The binding of this nuclear protein to DNA appears to be dependent on GATA-1 binding to an adjacent GATA-1 site. We have also developed a new functional assay to compare the activity of the normal and mutant A gamma enhancer elements in erythroid cells. Analysis of the activity of the mutant enhancer shows that the mutation completely eliminates all enhancer activity in this assay. These findings suggest that this mutation of the A gamma enhancer on a chromosome that carries a partially inactivated beta-globin gene may be responsible for the increased expression of both gamma-globin genes seen in this condition.     

Lymphadenopathy-associated virus antibodies and T cells in hemophiliacs treated with cryoprecipitate or concentrate

Evidence for exposure to lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) was investigated in 48 patients with hemophilia, 15 of whom had been treated exclusively with single-donor cryoprecipitate. The prevalence of antibodies to LAV in all patients was 53% in 1983 and 63% in 1984, while in patients treated only with cryoprecipitate, the prevalence was 31% in 1983 and 40% in 1984. Patients treated with any concentrate had a seroprevalence of 65% in 1983 and 77% in 1984. Seropositive patients were more likely to have a significant reduction in the ratio of helper to suppressor T cells, absolute numbers of helper T cells, and T cell function in vitro. Seven of 18 patients who were seronegative in 1983 had seroconverted by 1984. The relative risk of seroconversion for patients using any concentrate since 1981 compared with those using cryoprecipitate only was 3.9 (P = .04). Nevertheless, the rate of conversion in the latter group was 18% per year.     

Interactions in the aetiology,presentation and management of synchronous and metachronous adenocarcinoma of the prostate and rectum

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate and rectum are common male pelvic cancers and may present synchronously or metachronously and, due to their anatomic proximity. The treatment of rectal or prostate cancer (in particular surgery and/or radiotherapy) may alter the presentation, incidence and management should a metachronous tumour develop. This review focuses on the interaction between prostatic and rectal cancer diagnosis and management. We have restricted the scope of this large topic to general considerations, management of rectal cancer after prostate cancer treatment and vice versa, management of synchronous disease and cancer follow-up issues.     

Smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy affects preterm infants' docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) status

This study investigated the effect of alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy on the fatty acid composition of the infants. A total of 40 very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants, weighing between 750 and 1500 g, were enrolled in the study after being hospitalized and ventilated for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Maternal and infant demographic information was recorded. Questions regarding maternal smoking (none, < 10 and > or = 10 cigarettes/d) and alcohol consumption (none, occasionally, moderate and severe) were recorded. Erythrocyte membrane (EMB; n = 40) total fatty acid analyses were performed at birth (baseline) and on days 14 and 28 postnatally. During pregnancy, 42% of mothers consumed alcohol and 50% smoked. At birth, infants of mothers who smoked and consumed alcohol during pregnancy, had significantly higher blood docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; p < 0.05) than infants of mothers who abstained from both alcohol and smoking. The consequences of this finding remain unknown.     

儿科过敏的个案报道

Introduction Allergic diseases are unfortunately on the increase. This is due to the massive exposure to chemicals and pollutants contained in the air we breathe, in the food we eat and in the water we drink. This is also due both to the stressful life we lead nowadays, which causes energetical unbalances in our immune system, and to the contact with unfamiliar allergens coming from foreign Countries.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">TCF7L2</Emphasis>variant genotypes and type 2 diabetes risk in Brazil: significant association,but not a significant tool for risk stratification in the general population

Background  

Genetic polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene are strongly associated with large increments in type 2 diabetes risk in different populations worldwide. In this study, we aimed to confirm the effect of the TCF7L2 polymorphism rs7903146 on diabetes risk in a Brazilian population and to assess the use of this genetic marker in improving diabetes risk prediction in the general population.     

紫外分光光度法测定复方酮康唑软膏中酮康唑和氧氟沙星的含量

目的：建立复方酮康唑软膏的含量测定方法。方法：用双波长分光光度法测定酮康唑的含量，用单波长法测定氧氟沙星的含量。结果：两被测组分的平均回收率和相对标准偏差分别为酮康唑１００．３３％和０．３２％；氧氟沙星１００．８５％和０．２７％。结论：方法简便、准确，可用于复方酮康唑软膏的质量控制。