Tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockade ameliorates inflammatory response in two children with chronic infantile neurological, cutaneous and articular syndrome

Chronic infantile neurological, cutaneous and articular (CINCA) syndrome is a rare autoinflammatory disease caused by monogenic defects in the NLRP3 gene. Pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β play a crucial role in the pathogenesis, and IL-1 receptor antagonists have been regarded as the mainstay therapy. Endogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was found recently to be involved in the onset of the disease. Here, we report two Chinese children with CINCA syndrome who had elevated serum levels of TNF-α, with one carrying a novel mutation of c.1330T/G (p.444Phe/Val) in exon 3 of the NLRP3 gene. Anti-TNF-α (etanercept) therapy successfully alleviated both clinical symptoms and systemic inflammation after 6 months. These results suggest the complexity of the mechanisms of the disease and that TNF-α blockade will broaden the therapeutic approach for a subset of patients.

A modified Tessari method for producing more foam

This study aimed to develop a modified Tessari method for producing more sclerosing foam in treatment of extensive venous malformations. Sclerosing foam was produced by using Tessari method and the modified Tessari method. The procedure of the later was as follows: prepared foam in a sclerosant–air ratio of 1:4; connected three disposable 10 ml syringes to two medical three-way taps; drawn 4 ml of liquid sclerosant into one syringe and 16 ml averagely of air into the other two; then moved the plungers of all syringes back and forth for 20 times to produce sclerosing foam. The volume and foam half time (FHT) of foam produced by the two methods were compared. The average volume of sclerosing foam produced by Tessari method and the modified Tessari method were 9.8 and 19.7 ml, and assessed to have statistical difference. The FHT of foam produced by the two methods were 120 and 150 s, and assessed to have statistical difference. In conclusion, the modified Tessari method could produce more fresh and stable sclerosing foam.

Bioaccumulation of zinc, lead, copper, and cadmium from contaminated sediments by native plant species and Acrida cinerea in South China

This research was conducted to search and identify spontaneously growing heavy metal-tolerant plant species that are potentially useful for phytoremediation in contaminated sediment. Five sites were selected for collection of plants growing on polluted shore (river bank) sediment of the Xiang River, China. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd in plants, sediments, and grasshoppers were determined using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS700, Perkin-Elmer, USA). Considering translocation factor and bioaccumulation factor, Rumex crispus (Polygonaceae), Rumex dentatus (Polygonaceae), and Lagopsis supina (Labiatae) could be potentially useful for phytostabilization of metals. R. crispus can be considered potentially useful for phytoextraction of Cd. In light of the biomagnification factors, grasshoppers are deconcentrators for Pb and Cd, microconcentrators for Zn and macroconcentrators for Cu to the plants, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report on Zn, Pb, Cu and Cd accumulation in R. crispus and L. supina, providing a pioneer contribution to the very small volume of data available on the potential use of native plant species from contaminated sediments in phytostabilization and phytoremediation technologies.

Responses of Phanerochaete chrysosporium to toxic pollutants: physiological flux, oxidative stress, and detoxification

The white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been widely used for the treatment of waste streams containing heavy metals and toxic organic pollutants. The development of fungal-based treatment technologies requires detailed knowledge of the relationship between bulk water quality and the physiological responses of fungi. A noninvasive microtest technique was used to quantify real-time changes in proton, oxygen, and cadmium ion fluxes following the exposure of P. chrysosporium to environmental toxic (2,4-dichlorophenol and cadmium). Significant changes in H(+) and O(2) flux occurred after exposure to 10 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenol and 0.1 mM cadmium. Cd(2+) flux decreased with time. Reactive oxygen species formation and antioxidant levels increased after cadmium treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity correlated well with malondialdehyde levels (r(2) = 0.964) at low cadmium concentrations. However, this correlation diminished and malondialdehyde levels significantly increased at the highest cadmium concentration tested. Real-time microscale signatures of H(+), O(2), and Cd(2+) fluxes coupled with oxidative stress analysis can improve our understanding of the physiological responses of P. chrysosporium to toxic pollutants and provide useful information for the development of fungal-based technologies to improve the treatment of wastes cocontaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants.

Coarsening of extracellularly biosynthesized cadmium crystal particles induced by thioacetamide in solution

A novel coarsening route for extracellularly biosynthesized cadmium nanocrystals was investigated for the first time. In this process, the white rot fungus Coriolus versicolor was employed to take up cadmium ions and synthesize extracellular cadmium crystal particles. The coarsening of the particles was induced by thioacetamide under certain conditions. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the formed cadmium crystal particles were coarsened from about 100nm to 2-3μm. The corresponding energy-dispersive X-ray spectra confirmed the presence of proteins in the particles. The maximum removal efficiency of Cd(II) increased from 17% to 87%, and the corresponding sorption capacity of biomass increased from 4 to 24mgg(-1) with the completion of the coarsening process. The properties of the coarsened particles were also examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD analysis of fungal mycelial pellets embedded with the coarsened particles confirmed the formation of cubic crystalline cadmium sulfide particles. The TEM results suggest that the coarsened particles were composed of clusters of several smaller particles. The changes in the functional groups on the biomass surface were studied through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Based on the results above, a possible mechanism for the formation and coarsening of cadmium crystal particle is also discussed.

[Mandibular keratocyst induced trigeminal neuralgia: report of one case]

Trigeminal neuralgia is very common in clinic, but the etiology is still unclear. This articles reported a case of trigeminal neuralgia induced by jaw keratocyst. The clinical manifestation, radiographic characteristic, pathologic diagnosis and treatment were discussed. It is concluded that jaw bone cavities may be one of the major etiologic factors of secondary trigeminal neuralgia. Surgical curettage of the lesion is the main treatment for this disease.

[Gene expression profile of refractory acute myeloid leukemia (M2a)]

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Recurrence is the major cause of treatment failure of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). At recurrence, some patients show changes in immunophenotype and cytogenetics. Drug resistance, the main cause of refractoriness of AML, is related to abnormal genes expression. This study was to detect differential expression of genes in naive and recurrent/refractory AML, and explore potential mechanisms of recurrent/refractory AML.

METHODS

Differential gene expressions of bone marrow mononuclear cells between naive and recurrent/refractory diseases in 5 self-paired patients with AML-M(2a) were detected by DNA microarray.

RESULTS

In 925 tested genes, 14 were differentially expressed between naive and recurrent/refractory diseases in the 5 self-paired patients. Of the 14 genes, 12 (involved in signal transduction, DNA replication, regulation of transcription, RNA processing, and regulation of cell cycle) were obviously up-regulated in recurrent diseases, and up-regulation of RRM1 (involved in DNA replication) was the most obvious.

CONCLUSIONS

Development of recurrent/refractory AML-M(2a) is concerned with various genes. Up-regulation of these genes suggests that proliferation of recurrent/refractory AML-M(2a) blasts may be higher than that of naive AML-M(2a) blasts.

[Effect of propofol and midazolam on cerebral oxygen supply and demand imbalance during cardiopulmonary bypass]

Thirty patients undergoing heart valve replacement were divided randomly into three groups (n = 10): control group, propofol group and midazolam group. Jugular bulb blood oxygen saturation (SjO2), arterialvenous oxygen content difference (Da-vO2) and cerebral oxygen extraction rate(CEO2) were measured at various periods of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The results showed: SjO2 decreased significantly, Da-vO2 and CEO2 increased markedly during rewarming period in control group; but in propofol group and midazolam group, SjO2, CEO2 and Da-vO2 did not decline significantly compared with baseline. It is suggested that administering propofol or midazolam is helpful in avoiding cerebral oxygen supply and demand imbalance during CPB.

Functional consequences of directed mutations in human papillomavirus E6 proteins: abrogation of p53-mediated cell cycle arrest correlates with p53 binding and degradation in vitro

Clinical and epidemiological studies have implicated the involvement of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in cervical tumorigenesis. We have previously shown that expression of high-risk (HPV16) E6 can abrogate an important cell cycle checkpoint mediated by p53. Sublethal DNA damage causes p53 accumulation and G1 arrest in normal cells, but not in cells with mutant or absent p53, or in cells that express HPV16-E6. To investigate the functional consequences of low-risk (HPV11) E6 expression and to evaluate regions of E6 believed to mediate interaction with p53, we generated several E6 expression constructs, including HPV11-E6, and fourdifferent E6 mutants. HPV16E6 deltaD and HPV16E6 deltaB had short deletions of nucleotides encoding amino acids previously implicated in p53 degradation and binding, respectively. HPV16E6HL and HPV11E6LH had the putative p53 binding domain exchanged between the high- and the low-risk types. Unlike HPV16-E6, HPV11-E6 and the mutant E6 proteins were not able to bind or degrade p53 in in vitro assays. When expressed in RKO cells, HPV11-E6 or the mutant E6 proteins did not prevent p53 accumulation or interfere with p53-dependent WAF1/CIP1 mRNA expression, allowing p53-mediated G, cell cycle arrest after DNA damage. These findings demonstrate that low-risk and high-risk E6 proteins differ in their effects on p53-mediated cell cycle control and that rather subtle mutations of high-risk E6 can alter its ability to abrogate this important cellular response.

Dermatophyte pseudomycetoma: a case report

A 25-year-old man presented with several prominent subcutaneous masses in the occipital region of the scalp. He had a long history of tinea capitis and tinea corporis infection. Histopathology of the occipital lesions showed mycelial aggregates in the deep dermis and subcutis. Cultures of the excised material and superficial scales grew a fungus identified as Microsporum ferrugineum. We propose the term 'dermatophyte pseudomycetoma' to describe this distinctive mycosis.

Mood across the menstrual cycle and number of menstrual symptoms reported: a cross-sectional study

This study assessed mood among 110 women at three phases of the menstrual cycle and its relationship with the number of reported menstrual symptoms. Women who reported fewer menstrually-related symptoms tended to have generally higher mood scores, but specific depression of mood during menses was found among the subgroup of women who reported fewer menstrual symptoms. Contraceptive pill usage was not related to mood variation across the menstrual cycle. The findings raise questions about the validity of self-reports of menstrually-related symptoms.

Stability, characterization, and kinetics of 111In-labeled monoclonal antitumor antibodies in normal animals and nude mouse-human tumor models

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) against carcinoembryonic antigen were successfully radiolabeled with 111In, and the radiopharmaceutical was characterized in vitro and in normal and tumor-bearing mice. The 111In-MoAb proved to be stable in vitro and in vivo under normal conditions, although instability could be induced in vitro with large quantities of iron-free transferrin. Animal distribution studies with 111In-MoAb demonstrated tumor localization superior to 67Ga and pharmacokinetics that were highly similar to those of endogenously labeled 75Se-MoAb. The 111In-MoAb followed first-order kinetics and fit a two-compartmental model when studied in nude mice bearing human colon tumors known to express carcinoembryonic antigen. Significant quantities of radiolabel appeared in tissues other than tumor, with liver and skin having the highest concentrations. Sufficient tumor/background ratios were formed for scanning purposes. The data indicate that 111In-MoAb may prove to be effective as a radiopharmaceutical for tumor imaging.

Mechanism of protection from primary bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. I. The effects of dexamethasone

A series of investigations was designed to study the role of cellular immunity and passive antibody in protecting neonatal calves from primary bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. Administration of corticosteroids (dexamethasone) in doses capable of suppressing cellular immunity markedly potentiated systemic bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves which lacked bovine viral diarrhea passive neutralizing antibody. Immunosuppressed calves did not form neutralizing antibody to bovine viral diarrhea virus and developed a fatal viremia. Calves with high levels of passive bovine viral diarrhea neutralizing antibodies were protected from the effect of corticosteroids. The results suggest an essential role for humoral passive antibody, but not for cellular immunity, in protection from primary systemic bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves.

Development of specific lymphocyte immunostimulation and tuberculin skin reactivity in swine infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium

Swine infected with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium were studied for development and specificity of lymphocyte immunostimulation and tuberculin skin reactivity to purified protein derivatives (PPD) of tuberculins. Lymphocytes from infected animals had maximal blastogenic responses to PPD prepared from the homologous organisms. The time of appearance of specifically sensitized lymphocytes was studied, as was the specificity of skin reactivity. In vitro lymphocyte responses of M avium serotype 1-infected swine to M avium serotype 1 PPD were greater than were the responses of M avium serotype 2-infected swine to the same antigen. Results indicate that the specific stimulation of sensitized lymphocytes might prove useful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in swine and in differentiating infections due to different serotypes of M avium.

Effects of corticosteroids on responses of bovine peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured with phytohemagglutinin

Corticosteroids given in vivo altered the response of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of calves. Lymphocytes were cultured and stimulated in vitro with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). After an initial suppression of lymphocyte responses to PHA, there was a rapid return to normal. It is concluded that, in calves, short-term, high-dose immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids produces a population of lymphocytes resistant to corticosteroids, possibly by destruction of corticosteroid-sensitive lymphocytes.

Comparison of lymphocyte stimulation and tuberculin skin reactivity in Mycobacterium bovis-infected Macaca mulatta

Lymphocyte immunostimulation tests were conducted on Mycobacterium bovis-infected and tuberculin-negative rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), using purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculins prepared from strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium. The stimulation of lymphocytes with M tuberculosis PPD was significantly greater for the M bovis-infected macaques than for the noninfected controls (P smaller than 0.05). The response of lymphocytes from M bovis-infected macaques to stimulation with M tuberculosis PPD was greater than the responses to stimulation with M avium PPD (P smaller than 0.01). The results of in vitro lymphocyte stimulation and tuberculin skinreactivity were similar.

Development of specific in vitro lymphocyte responses in cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis and with Mycobacterium avium

Two calves infected with Mycobacterium avium and another 2 with Mycobacterium bovis were studied for development and specificity of lymphocyte activation responses and skin reactivity to purified protein derivatives (PPD). Lymphocytes cultured in vitro from infected calves manifested significant uptake of tritiated thymidine in response to the PPD prepared from the homologous organisms, whereas heterologous PPD produced little or no stimulation. The time of appearance of specifically sensitized lymphocytes was studied, as was the specificity of skin reactivity.

Macrophage-dependent lymphocyte immunostimulation in cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis and with Mycobacterium avium

Cultures of bovine peripheral blood leukocytes were prepared from calves inoculated with Mycobacterium bovis and with M. avium. Suitable lymphocyte stimulation was obtained with specific and nonspecific mycobacterial mitogens. Leukocyte cultures depleted of adherent, macrophage-type cells did not respond to stimulation with purified protein derivative, although they were responsive to phytohemagglutinin.

Proteolytic activity of intact yeast cells during sporulation

The ability of intact cells of three strains of Saccharomyces to degrade haemoglobin at pH 3.7 increased during sporulation in acetate medium. The highest proteolytic activity was found approximately 17 hours after transfer to sporulation medium, at which time a large percentage of the cell population was in the tetranucleate stage just before the appearance of spore walls. Three non-sporogenic strains showed no change in proteolytic activity. On the basis of permeability relationship and the absence of activity in sporulation medium from which the sporulating cells were separated, the writers suggest a peripheral location of the enzyme, apparently the first such report for a yeast proteinase.