Postpemphigus acanthomata: a sign of clinical activity?

Background Pemphigus is a group of vesiculobullous disorders in which the blisters usually heal with hyper- or hypopigmentation. The appearance of acanthomata at sites of previous blisters has been noted in some cases. Methods All cases of pemphigus admitted to the Madras Medical College hospitals during a 2-year period from March 1993 to March 1995 were taken into the study and screened for the presence of acanthomata. Results Fifty-two cases of pemphigus were identified, 47 of pemphigus vulgaris and five of pemphigus foliaceus; and of these 13 developed acanthomata when the blisters healed. Ten of these cases were of pemphigus vulgaris and three were of pemphigus foliaceus; biopsy of these lesions showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, and intraepidermal clefting. Immunofluorescence carried out in two of these acanthomata also showed intercellular fluorescence. Conclusions The occurrence of acanthomata in healed lesions of pemphigus is not uncommon; because histopathologic and immunofluorescence evidence of disease activity is present, cases of this sort require careful follow-up.     

Crosslinked polyimide foams derived from poly(imidepropylene oxide) copolymers

A new route for the synthesis of high glass transition temperature, thermally stable polymer foams has been developed, using compositionally asymmetric microphase-separated block copolymers where the minor component (poly(propylene oxide)) is thermally labile and the major component (polyimide) is thermally stable. The minor component decomposes to low molecular weight species upon heating, and the decomposition products diffuse out of the film, leaving behind pores embedded in a matrix of the thermally stable component. In this study, the polyimide block was crosslinked with ethynyl functionalities to obtain a stable porous structure. The decomposition of the propylene oxide in the block copolymer was studied by thermogravimetric, dynamic mechanical and thermomechanical analyses. Mild conditions were required to avoid rapid depolymerization of the propylene oxide and plasticization of the polyimide matrix. The foams showed pore sizes with diameters up to a micrometer in size as well as the expected reduction in the mass density.     

Inhibition of interleukin-2 production by adherent cell factors from lepromatous leprosy patients.

Twenty-four hour supernatants (MoF) were obtained from monocyte rich 2 h adherent cells of 19 leprosy patients and four healthy contacts. MoF from borderline and lepromatous patients produced 52-61% inhibition of human interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by a PHA conditioned T cell line (Jurkat). Non-adherent cell supernatants and MoF from tuberculoid and healthy individuals had little effect on IL-2 production. The suppression effected by MoF was in the first 12 h of initiation of PHA stimulated Jurkat cell cultures. Suppressive MoF did not interfere with (1) IL-2 release, (2) IL-2 utilization by Con A-induced T cell blasts or (3) constitutive proliferation of Jurkat cells. Such MoF were released spontaneously from adherent cells of bacilliferous leprosy patients but required in vitro antigen triggering in long term treated lepromatous patients. It is possible that the unresponsiveness associated with lepromatous leprosy is related to the inhibition of IL-2 production by suppressive factors, thereby, preventing the further expansion of antigen reactive T cells.     

Hapten-specific responses to the phenyltrimethyl-amino hapten. I. Evidence for idiotype-anti-idiotype interactions in delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice

The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to the phenyltrimethylamino (TMA) hapten in mice has been investigated. TMA-derivatized syngeneic spleen cells (TMA-SC) administered s.c. in several strains of mice consistently evoked DTH reactivity, as measured by footpad swelling after challenge with the diazonium salt of TMA. DTH could be induced by low levels of anti-idiotypic antisera (anti-Id) in lieu of antigen. The DTH reaction induced by either mode was hapten-specific, could be transferred into naive recipients by viable lymph node cells but not with serum from immune mice and was not influenced by cyclophoshamide pretreatment. Unlike TMA-SC which induced DTH in all of the strains of the mice tested, anti-Id induced DTH only in strains of the Igh-1e allotype. Positive DTH reactions were induced by anti-Id in the C57.Ige strain (H-2b, Igh-1e) but not in its allotype-congenic partner C57BL/6J (H-2b, Igh-1b). Interestingly this reaction could be suppressed if relatively high amounts of anti-Id were inoculated i.v. just prior to antigen challenge. In addition, the administration of anti-Id 1 h prior to antigen challenge in TMA-SC-sensitized mice significantly blocked the DTH reaction only in the Igh-1e strains. These results demonstrate that the induction and abrogation of TMA-specific DTH by anti-Id is linked to the IgCh locus.     

Cholecystokinin and neurotensin mRNAs are differentially expressed in subnuclei of the ventral tegmental area

Immunohistochemical studies of ventral tegmental area (VTA) neurons indicate that individual cells can contain dopamine as well as the neuropeptide neurotransmitters cholecystokinin (CCK) and neurotensin (NT). We have defined the distribution of the cells expressing the mRNAs encoding these two dopamine cotransmitter peptides in each of the subnuclei of the ventral tegmental area, and quantitated the extent of expression of each gene by using in situ hybridization methods. These studies reveal significant differences in the patterns of expression of each of these two genes within various subdivisions of the VTA. The rostral linear nucleus contained numerous CCK positive cells, some of which appeared to express preproCCK-mRNA at a very high level, but this nucleus contained relatively few NT-expressing cells. The parabrachialis pigmentosus contained numerous NT and CCK positive cells. The paranigralis and interfascicularis nuclei displayed positive CCK cells but with expression at only modest levels. NT cells were very few in these nuclei. The caudal linear nuclei contained the highest number of NT-expressing neurons and these cells expressed very high levels of NT mRNA. The selective distribution of these peptide genes within the VTA subnuclei may have specific consequences. Studies of the connectivity of neurons in the VTA show that the different subnuclei of this region project to several functionally and architectonically different regions of the cerebral cortex and subcortically to nuclei related to the limbic system. Results from our study show very prominent expression of CCK mRNAs in those subnuclei that project heavily to the prefrontal, other cortical areas, and the amygdaloid complex. The NT gene is expressed prominently in those subnuclei of VTA that project heavily to the entorhinal cortex and amygdaloid complex. These results provide support for a differential role for the NT-expressing neurons than that of CCK-expressing neurons of VTA in "reward" mechanisms and in drug-seeking and motivational behavior. These observations could be applied to create working hypotheses and experimental paradigms to test the differential functional activity of the subdivisions of VTA and their potential roles in the pathogenesis and treatment of drug-seeking behavior and other neuropsychiatric disorders.     

Association of − 757T > C polymorphism of C-reactive protein gene with chronic periodontitis of South Indian population

Inflammation Research - CRP gene polymorphism is common in inflammatory diseases, but such association has not been reported in periodontitis. Our objective was to interrogate SNPs of crp in...     

Antiulcerogenic activity of hydroalcoholic fruit extract of Pithecellobium dulce in different experimental ulcer models in rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

The ethnopharmacological importance of Pithecellobium dulce is evidenced by its traditional use for gastric complications. The aim of the study is to evaluate the gastroprotective activity and the mechanism of action of hydroalcoholic fruit extract of P. dulce (HAEPD) in rats by using chemical and stress induced ulcer models.

Materials and methods

Gastric ulcer was induced by administering alcohol (or) acetylsalicylic acid (or) hypothermic restraint stress to rats pretreated with HAEPD (200 mg/kg b wt for 30 day). Volume of gastric fluid, pH, acidity, activities of pepsin, H⁺, K⁺-ATPase, myeloperoxidase, mucin content, nucleic acids, glycoproteins and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) levels were assessed in gastric tissues.

Results

Ulcer score was significantly minimized in HAEPD administered animals. pH and acidity of gastric fluid were significantly minimized and the mucin, PGE₂ levels were significantly maintained in drug pre administered animals. The activities of H⁺, K⁺- ATPase and myeloperoxidase were found to be significantly elevated in ulcer control animals and found to be decreased in drug pretreated animals. The cell proliferation was found to be enhanced in drug received animals. The total protein bound carbohydrate to total protein ratio was found to be significantly maintained by HAEPD. The effects were found to be comparable with that of standard drug omeprazole.

Conclusion

It is concluded that HAEPD possess a potent antiulcer activity probably by acting as cytoprotective and antiacid secretory agent.     

Novel KIR genotypes and gene copy number variations in northeastern Thais

KIR (Killer Immunoglobulin‐like Receptor) variants influence immune responses and are genetic factors in disease susceptibility. Using sequence‐specific priming PCR, we have previously described the diversity of KIR genes in term of presence/absence in northeastern Thais (NETs). To provide additional resolution beyond conventional methods, quantitative PCR was applied to determine KIR copy number profiles. Novel expanded and contracted KIR copy number profiles were identified at cumulatively high frequencies. These all comprise haplotypes with duplication (6·9%) or deletion (2·7%) of KIR3DL1/S1 along with adjacent genes. Five expanded KIR profiles comprised haplotypes with duplications of KIR2DP1, 2DL1, 3DP1, 2DL4, 3DL1/S1 and 2DS1/4, whereas two contracted profiles contained only a single copy of KIR3DP1, 3DL1/S1 and 2DL4. Using a KIR haplotype prediction program (KIR Haplotype Identifier), 14% of NET haplotypes carried atypical haplotypes based on the gene copy number data.