[Effect of IgG3 antibody purified from sera of Microtus fortis against Schistosoma japonicum]

IgG3 antibody reaction to soluble antigens prepared from schistosomula (SSA), adult worms (SAWA) and eggs (SEA) in laboratory-bred Microtus fortis (Mf), BALB/c mice and Kunming (Km) mice challenged by cercariae of Schistosoma japonicum was detected by indirect ELISA. The effect of purified IgG3 antibody on in vitro killing schistosomula and protecting mice from infection of S. japonicum was evaluated. The IgG3 antibody level in Mf against SSA and SAWA increased significantly by 79.6 percent and 49.6 percent after the fourth week of challenge infection, but no significant increase in BALB/c mice. Purified IgG3 antibody from laboratory-bred Mf and wild Mf effectively killed schistosomula, and that of the wild Mf induced higher worm-reduction rate. The death rate of schistosomula due to IgG3 antibody purified from sera of laboratory-bred Mf and wild Mf was 2.35 and 5.88 times as high as that of Km mice respectively. The results suggest that IgG3 antibody from Microtus fortis may play an important role in immunity against S. japonicum.

Novel magnetic rings for rapid vascular reconstruction in canine liver transplantation model

OBJECTIVE

Magnetic rings were used for rapid vascular reconstruction in a canine liver transplantation model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two adult mongrel dogs weighing 13 to 16 kg were randomly selected as donors or recipients of transplantations. The recipients were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n = 10) had magnetic rings used for vascular reconstruction without venovenous bypass; group B (n = 6) had vascular reconstruction performed by continuous suturing with splenojugular venovenous bypass.

RESULTS

In group A, the entire operative period was 3.24 +/- 0.49 hours, the durations of clamping the portal vein and the infrahepatic vena cava of the recipient were 5.89 +/- 2.27 minutes and 3.89 +/- 0.73 minutes, respectively. In group B, the entire operative period was 4.12 +/- 0.51 hours with the duration of clamping portal vein and infrahepatic vena cava, 28.33 +/- 6.04 minutes and 12.16 +/- 3.72 minutes (P < .01 vs group A). In group A, mean arterial pressure dropped during the anhepatic phase but recovered quickly after reperfusion. The fluid infusion was about 730.56 +/- 50.56 mL in the group A and a pressor agent was unnecessary. In group B, blood pressure dropped during the anhepatic phase and slowly recovered. The fluid infusion was about 2241.67 +/- 390.78 mL and a pressor agent was used to maintain the blood pressure of the recipient. No twist or thrombus was discovered in the anastomoses group A and the endothelium at the site of anastomosis was entire. In group B, errhysis was common in the anastomotic stomas. Nine of 10 dogs in group A survived more than 3 days, the longest being 8 days, whereas four of the six dogs in group B survived less than 3 days.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the anhepatic time was significantly shortened (about 5.89 +/- 2.27 minutes) in group A compared with group B and venovenous bypass was unnecessary. Magnetic rings could be used for rapid vascular reconstruction in canine liver transplantation model. The long-term results of this procedure should be clarified before it is applied in clinical practice in the future.

A New Cardiac Concordant Xenotransplantation Model

OBJECTIVE

A simplified method of heterotopic abdominal cardiac xenotransplantation and its technique problems are described.

METHODS

Hamster-to-rat cardiac xenotransplantation was performed by means of "sleeve and cuff" method. The left common carotid artery of the donor heart was anastomosed to the left renal artery of the recipient with a "sleeve" anastomosis, and the "cuffed" right pulmonary artery was anastamosed to the left renal vein of the rat. The viability of the donor heart was examined daily by palpating the left abdominal wall of the rat.

RESULTS

Among 105 rats that underwent heterotopic cardiac xenotransplantation, 95 were completed successfully. The xenograft survived for 3 to 4 days after the procedure suffering typical acute vascular rejection.

CONCLUSIONS

A useful, easy model to investigate the mechanisms of concordant xenotransplantation was established.

Immunosuppression by Combined Use of Cyclosporine and Resveratrol in a Rat Liver Transplantation Model

INTRODUCTION

Despite continued progress in the development of immunosuppressive agents, allograft rejection remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation. We examined the effect of intraperitoneal injection of cyclosporine (CsA) and resveratrol (Res) on allograft rejection after liver transplantation in rats.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected as donors and male Wistar rats as recipients for a rejection model. The recipients were divided into three groups after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx): in the combination group both Res (100 mg/kg) and CsA (20 mg/kg) were given by intraperitoneal route once a day, whereas in the CsA group or control group CsA (20 mg/kg) or vehicle buffer was given. The survival period, serum chemistry, production of some cytokines, activation of transcription factor NF- kappaB, and histopathological findings were then compared among them.

RESULTS

The mean survival period after OLTx in the combination group was significantly longer than that in the CsA group or control group (P < .05 and P < .01). On posttransplant day 7, the serum albumin level significantly improved, the serum total bile acid and alanine aminotransferase levels were significantly lower, the serum interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma levels were significantly lower, and the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB in peripheral blood T lymphocytes was significantly suppressed in the combination group in comparison with those in the CsA group (all P < .05) or control group (all P < .01), and a histological examination revealed apparent difference in the severity of rejection between the combination group and CsA group (P < .05) or control group (P < .01).

CONCLUSION

The combined use of CsA and Res has a stronger immunosuppressive effect on hepatocytes under allograft rejection in comparison with the sole use of CsA. Res might serve as a novel supplementary immunosuppressive agent for reducing the severity of hepatic allograft rejection in rats.

Serologic Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in Field Mice, Microtus fortis, From Yuanjiang, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were investigated in serum samples of field mice, Microtus fortis, from Yuanjiang, Hunan Province, People's Republic of China. The modified agglutination test (MAT) incorporating formalin-fixed whole tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol was used to determine antibodies. Antibodies to T. gondii (MAT > or = 1:20) were found in 36 (29%) of 124 trapped mice. The antibody titers of positive sera (percentage in parentheses) were 1:20 (8.9), 1:40 (3.2), 1:80 (3.2), 1:160 (1.6), 1:320 (1.6), 1:640 (1.6), 1:1,280 (1.6), 1: 2,560 (0.8), and > 1:2,560 (6.5). No antibody to T. gondii was found in 104 sera of laboratory-bred M. fortis infected with Schistosoma japonicum between 1 and 45 days after infection.

[Sequential hepatic artery and portal vein embolization using lipiodol-adriamycin for primary liver cancer]

Despite recent advances in hepatic surgery, management of unresectable carcinoma of the liver is still a challenging problem. From September 1988 through March 1989, 10 primary liver cancer patients were treated by hepatic artery embolization (HAE) using lipiodol-adriamycin with or without hepatic artery ligation (HAL). One of them received HAE twice in seven weeks. In two of these patients, following right HAE and HAL, right portal vein embolization (PVE) by catheterization via the ileac vein was performed. Transcatheter portal vein embolization via the ileac vein was simple, easy and safe even it was impossible to expose the hepatic hilum. All patients are alive from 7 to 12 months after operation except one who died of hepatic failure after having survived for 54 days. There was marked alleviation of symptoms and tumor shrinkage was observed in 9 out of 10 patients. HAE and PVE using lipiodol-adriamycin may have the potential of improving the therapeutic effect in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hormonal and enzymatic parameters of hepatic regeneration in patients undergoing major liver resections

Thirteen patients who underwent 40% to 80% removal of their livers had blood samples drawn initially and daily on postoperative days 1 to 7. The enzyme marker of heightened polyamine metabolism, ornithine decarboxylase, and the indicator of DNA synthesis, thymidine kinase, were measured. In addition, the hormones (insulin, glucagon, estradiol and androgen), which in animals are known to reflect and possibly modulate regeneration, were measured. Changes in all these indices followed the same pattern as in rats, dogs and swine but at a slower rate. Ornithine decarboxylase and estradiol increased within 24 hr, but thymidine kinase and insulin rises did not become statistically significant until 3 to 5 days. Using these plasma or serum indices as surrogate measures of biochemical events in the liver itself, regeneration reached a maximum after 4 or 5 days. By computed tomography scan analysis, restoration of hepatic cell mass was not complete until 3 wk.

Renal artery reconstruction for harvesting injuries in kidney transplantation with particular reference to the use of vascular allografts

At the University of Pittsburgh during the calendar year 1986, an arterial injury occurred during harvesting in 20 (7.5%) of the 270 grafts used to perform kidney transplantation (KTx). Four cases required reconstruction, using extension iliac arterial allografts from cadaveric donors of the same blood type; 6 patients, remodelling of the aortic patch in multiple arteries; 4 cases, repairs for injuries to the smaller segmental/polar arteries; 6 cases, a combination of the above techniques. These ex vivo arterial reconstructions are described and the use of donor arterial homografts is emphasized. No deaths have occurred at an average follow-up of 19 months. The postoperative acute tubular necrosis (ATN) rate was significantly higher (90%) compared with non-reconstructed kidneys during the same year (30%). The 1-year graft survival of kidneys undergoing arterial reconstruction (75%) was statistically no different than the overall kidney-transplant survival. Whenever extension iliac allografts were utilized, the cyclosporin-steroid immunosuppression required to control the kidney rejection contributed to the long-term patency rate of the graft. Since the number of organs available for grafting is limited, reconstruction of injured renal vessels has become justified, allowing valuable kidneys to be used that would otherwise be lost.

Effect of 15-deoxyspergualin on experimental organ transplantation

DSPG had a definite but relatively feeble immunosuppressive effect in rats undergoing heterotopic heart transplantation and in dogs after renal transplantation. The drug was toxic in both species, although less so in rats. In dogs, synergistic interactions with cyclosporine and steroids were not evident.

Orthotopic liver transplantation in dogs receiving FK-506

Ten dogs that survived the perioperative events of liver transplantation were treated with 1 mg/kg/d oral FK. Eight of the recipients lived for at least 1 month postoperatively, and seven are still alive with normal hepatic function after 35 to 65 days. The consistency and good quality of results with this difficult transplant preparation using FK, in spite of its rumored great toxicity in dogs, have highlighted the importance of further developing the drug.