Phagocytosis, bactericidal capacity, and superoxide anion (O2-) production by polymorphonuclear neutrophils from patients with diabetes mellitus

Phagocytosis, bactericidal capacity and superoxide anion production of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) were estimated in 30 patients with well-controlled insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD) and in 50 patients with non insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD). The estimations were additionally done in 20 elderly patients without glucose intolerance. The estimations of bactericidal capacity were performed in autologous-, zymosan activated-, inactivated- and control plasma. The phagocytosis of viable staphylococci was unchanged in all evaluated groups. The bactericidal capacity in all diabetic patients was significantly reduced. It was fully correctable in patients with IDD by suspension of cells in control or zymosan activated plasma. The improvement of PMN bactericidal capacity in patients with NIDD in similar conditions was less distinct. The superoxide anion production in patients with IDD was similar to values noticed in healthy persons. Whereas, the O2- production in patients with NIDD as well as in elderly patients were significantly reduced and correlated significantly with bactericidal capacity impairment. The possible mechanism of noticed disturbances were discussed.     

Cefepime/amikacin in the empirical antibacterial therapy for patients with hemoblastosis of different forms]

The results of the use of cefepime (Maxipime) combination with amikacin vs ceftriaxon combination with amikacin in the treatment of 80 patients with different forms of hemoblastosis are presented. Severe infectious complications in the patients were associated with prolonged and deep neutropenia during inductive or antirelapsing chemotherapy. All the patients in the trial were from the group of high risk of infectious complications with the blood neutrophil count under 100 cells/microliter. The duration of neutropenia averaged 12 days (7 to 15). The average period of the treatment with cefepime and amikacin equaled to 13 days (8 to 16). The treatment with cefepime + amikacin was successful in 38 out of 40 patients (95%). The average period of the treatment with ceftriaxon and amikacin equaled to 14 days (7 to 18). The efficacy of the treatment with ceftriaxon + amikacin was 60% (24 patients out of 40).     

Serum zinc and copper in patients with atherosclerosis andThromboangiitis obliterans

The serum concentration of Zn and Cu were determined in 126 controls and 160 patients with atherosclerosis obliterans (AO) and 53 patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TO). The concentration of serum Zn decreases with age both in controls and patients with AO in all the evolutive stages of the disease. In patients with TO, the concentration of serum Zn shows no correlation with age. The significantly lower values of serum Zn in controls and patients with AO over 61 yr than those below this age is attributed to the decreased Zn supply, especially to some individual cellular abnormalities. The values of serum Cu are higher in patients with AO and TO than in controls irrespective of the evolutive stage of the disease. This was related to cigarette smoking and inflammation. The Zn/Cu ratio in the serum is below 1 in patients with AO and TO and in controls over 61-yr-old. The pathogenetic role of this ratio in atherosclerosis and inflammation still remains a controversial question.     

Little change in cerebrospinal fluid amino acids in subtypes of multiple sclerosis compared with acute polyradiculoneuropathy.

Levels of free amino acids were determined in randomised, blinded samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with relapsing-remitting or chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), all in the active phase of disease. The levels were compared with amino acid amounts in patients with an acute polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)) and a control population of patients with no known neurological disease or deficit. The data did not indicate any significant changes in amino acid levels between MS subgroups. The only significant differences between MS patients and controls were a modest reduction in glutamate and a slight increase in taurine, but the changes were so small that the biological relevance is dubious. These results contrasted with the marked increases for many amino acids in CSF from patients with acute polyradiculoneuropathy compared with controls. The amino acid profile in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) does not appear to provide evidence of differential pathology in multiple sclerosis (MS). The increase in hydrophobic amino acids and lysine in CSF from patients with acute polyradiculoneuropathy is consistent with transudation over the blood-CSF barrier following an infection. The increases in glutamine and alanine may reflect increased nitrogen removal from brain.     

Kanamycin films for ulcerative lesions of the cornea]

The kanamycin films were used once for the treatment of 28 patients with the cornea ulcers. The positive effect was registered in 20 patients. Eight patients were treated with the films and the antibiotic acqueous solution. The best results were observed in the patients with affection of the surface layers of the cornea. The positive therapeutic results were registered in 20 patients after operations in connection with cataracta and glaucoma when treated with the films containing kanamycin and dexametazon.     

Cellular aspects of pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Role of cardiomyocyte polyploidy and activation of nuclear antigen of the proliferating cell in myocardium

For a comparative analysis of cytomorphological characteristics of hypertrophied interventricular septum (IVS), both patients different ages with severe courses of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (OHCMP) were examined, including children, and patients with essential arterial hypertension (EAH). The course of OHCMP in children as compared with adults was found to be characterized by considerable IVS hypertrophy that was accompanied by an acceleration of cardiomyocyte polyploidization. The mean ploidy level of cardiomyocytes in children with OHCMP was higher than in adult patients. The mean ploidy level of nuclei, the number of prolipherative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive nuclei, and the number of polyploid cardiomyocyte nuclei in adult patients with OHCMP were significantly higher statistically than in patients with EAH. The PCNA-positive labels in stromal cells were revealed only in patients with OHCMP. The obtained data indicate an important role of cardiomyocyte polyploidy and of activation of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen in development of myocardial hypertrophy in patients with OHCMP.     

Functional evaluation of the adenohypophysis with metoclopramide in hyperprolactinemic-amenorrheic women in relation to radiological findings on the sella turcica

The responses of the adenohypophyseal hormones to metoclopramide (MCP) were evaluated in hyperprolactinemic women with various radiological findings on the sella turcica. Serum PRL concentrations significantly increased after MCP administration in normal women, hyperprolactinemic patients with normal sella and patients with microadenoma, but not in macroadenoma patients with and without suprasellar expansion (SSE). The PRL response to MCP administration was significantly lower in hyperprolactinemic patients than in normal women. Serum TSH concentrations significantly increased after MCP administration in each group of subjects. The TSH response to MCP was significantly higher in patients with normal sella and patients with microadenoma than in normal women. However, the responses of PRL and TSH to MCP were not significantly different between patients with normal sella and patients with microadenoma. Therefore, they were not considered useful in distinguishing tumorous from nontumorous hyperprolactinemia. Serum LH concentrations significantly increased after MCP administration in patients with normal sella, patients with microadenoma and macroadenoma patients without SSE, but not in normal women or macroadenoma patients with SSE. The LH response to MCP was significantly higher in patients with microadenoma than in patients with normal sella. Serum FSH concentrations significantly increased after MCP administration only in patients with microadenoma. The different responses of the adenohypophyseal hormones to MCP in hyperprolactinemic women with various radiological findings on the sella turcica may be explained by the difference in the hypothalamic dopamine activity and in the impairment of the hypothalamic-pituitary system due to pituitary tumor.     

Succession and Changes of Grassland Quality of the Artificial Grassland Communities in Subalpine Meadow in Gannan

The investigation dealt with the changes of the community structure as well as its cause of change, also with the quality of the artificial grassland sown with Elymus nutans at different time in the subalpine meadow in Gannan. The results are described as follows. 1. The aboveground biomass of E. nutans in the 2 year-old artificial grassland was highest and the index of grassland quality (IGQ) was highest in the 2 and 3 year-old communities, whereas it decreased in the other communities. IGQ was the lowest in the 7 year- o1d community. 2. The number and diversity of E. nutans species in the artificial grassland communities increased with the age increase of the communities but differed in their patterns of increase. 3. The decrease in biomass of E. nutans and IGQ correlated with the decrease of available phosphorus and not with the concentration of nitrogen in soil. The time for utilization of the artificial grassland with E. nutans could be lengthened by additional phosphorus supplement in soil.     

Control of Alternaria alternata by cassia oil in combination with potassium chloride or sodium chloride

AIMS: To compare antifungal effects of cassia oil alone and in combination with potassium chloride (KCl) or sodium chloride (NaCl) against Alternaria alternata in vitro and in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS: The inhibitory effect of cassia oil alone, or in combination with KCl and NaCl were tested in vitro. The spore germination and germ tube elongation of the pathogen was evaluated in potato dextrose broth with light microscopy analysis. The inhibitory effect of cassia oil alone, or in combination with KCl and NaCl, was determined on cherry tomatoes in vivo. The cassia oil in combination with KCl and NaCl exhibited strong antifungal effect in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The antifungal effect of cassia oil against Alt. alternata was enhanced significantly by combining with KCl and NaCl both in vitro and in vivo. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The combination of cassia oil and KCl or NaCl may enhance antifungal effect of cassia oil and reduce cost.     

Age-related prevalence of platelet-associated immunoglobulins G in nonthrombocytopenic patients with autoimmune thyroid disease and autoimmune polyglandular syndrome

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of platelet-associated IgG (paIgG) in nonthrombocytopenic patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) alone or associated with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) has been studied. SUBJECTS: A total of 164 individuals were enrolled in this study: 81 patients with AITD alone, 33 patients with APS, and 50 healthy controls. RESULTS: The presence of paIgG was recorded in 41 of 81 patients with AITD (51%) as compared with 2 of 50 control subjects (4%, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of paIgG in patients with APS was higher even when compared with patients with AITD alone (25/33, 76%; p = 0.02). The presence of paIgG was not related to the functional thyroid parameters. The prevalence of paIgG was higher in the older than in the younger patients (75 vs. 47%, p = 0.0037). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the prevalence of paIgG in patients with AITD is higher than previously thought, namely in elderly patients and in patients with APS, and not related to the thyroid function.     

足月妊娠PGE2及其受体表达与引产成功率的关系

目的研究足月妊娠子宫平滑肌与蜕膜组织中前列腺素E2（Prostaglandin E2,PGE2）的浓度、子宫平滑肌中PGE2受体-2（PGE2 recepor-2,PGER2）蛋白的表达与缩宫素引产成功率的关系。方法选择缩宫素引产成功与缩宫素引产失败的孕妇,于剖宫产术中取子宫平滑肌及子宫蜕膜组织。分别行ELISA法检测组织匀浆中PTGE2的浓度,Western blot检测子宫平滑肌中PTGER2蛋白的表达。结果缩宫素引产成功组比缩宫素引产失败组子宫平滑肌、子宫蜕膜组织中PTGE2浓度显著增高（P〈0．01）;缩宫索引产成功组比缩宫素引产失败组子宫平滑肌组织中PTGER2蛋白的表达也明显增高（P〈0．01）。结论子宫平滑肌与蜕膜组织中PTGE2浓度、子宫平滑肌组织中PTGER2蛋白的表达量与缩宫素引产成功率关系密切。     

Prevention of the formation of drug resistance in bacterial populations by using biologically active substances

The patients with infected wounds of the extremities were treated with kanamycin electrophoresis in combination with chlorhexidine bigluconate, an antiseptic. As compared to the patients treated with kanamycin alone, the rate of the wound size decrease in such patients was 2 times higher. The levels of microbial contamination in these patients were much lower. The contamination level with the aerobic flora was 4.8 times lower, including staphylococci, the level of contamination with which was 5.9 times lower. The contamination level with the kanamycin-resistant bacteria was 22 times lower. The treatment with kanamycin alone resulted in a 2.6-fold increase in the number of the antibiotic-resistant variants in the microbial populations of the wounds. In 48.2 per cent of the patients, this was accompanied by development of resistance to kanamycin in the whole microbial population of the wound. The development of the kanamycin resistance in the staphylococcal populations of 18.1 per cent of the patients was associated with changed sensitivity of the initial strains and in 81.9 per cent of the patients, with superinfection by the resistant strains. No changes in the kanamycin sensitivity of the initial gram-negative organisms during the treatment were observed. The use of chlorhexidine bigluconate, as a biologically active substance in combination with kanamycin potentiated the action of the antibiotic, prevented development and accumulation of the antibiotic-resistant variants in the microbial populations of the wounds and development of the drug resistance in these populations.     

Histopathology of experimental Schistosoma incognitum infection in mice following exposure to normal and irradiated cercariae.

The tissue reactions in mice, experimentally infected with normal and irradiated cercariae of S. incognitum were studied. The lesions observed in the skin, liver, lungs and the intestine of mice infected with normal cercariae are briefly described, and compared with those observed with cercariae irradiated at 3000 r of gamma rays. In general, the reactions in mice exposed to normal cercariae were more intense than in those infected with irradiated cercariae. The severity of the reactions appeared largely due to the deposition of eggs in the tissues of the mice infected with normal cercariae. The experimental evidence suggested that most of the flukes from the irradiated cercariae are destroyed in the liver by tissue reaction.     

Leucine aminopeptidase of neutrophils and lymphocytes in patients with cancer

The leucine aminopeptidase activity has been determined by using the cytochemical method of Burston and Folk in peripheral blood neutrophils and lymphocytes of 45 patients with various malignancies. Lung cancer, carcinoma of the stomach and cancer of the colon was diagnosed in 24, 16, and 5 patients, respectively. Patients with metastases showed a significantly higher activity of the enzyme if compared with that in the control group of healthy subjects and patients without metastases. The percentage of enzyme-positive lymphocytes was elevated significantly in patients with metastases whereas a total percentage of lymphocytes with regard to differential leukocyte count was diminished both in patients with and without metastases. The absolute count of neutrophils was elevated both in patients with and without metastases. The authors discuss the significance of their observation with regard to the antitumor cytotoxic effect of neutrophils and lymphocytes.     

Cytokine profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with pneumocystis pneumonia

The clinical features of PCP differ according to the factors responsible for the predisposing immunosuppression. Although the diagnosis of PCP often requires BAL, the profiles of the inflammatory mediators in the BAL fluid are not thoroughly documented. The aim of the current study was to characterize the profiles of inflammatory mediators in BAL fluid during PCP in patients with underlying autoimmune diseases, malignancies, or AIDS. The medical records of 14 patients with autoimmune diseases, 10 with malignancies, and 8 with AIDS, all of whom had been diagnosed with PCP by microscopic examination of BAL fluid, were reviewed. The concentrations of TNF‐α, MCP‐1, HMGB1, IL‐8, IL‐6, IL‐10, and IFN‐γ in the BAL fluid that had been obtained for the diagnosis of PCP were measured. The concentrations of MCP‐1, IL‐8, and IL‐6 differed according to the underlying disease, tending to be higher in patients with autoimmune diseases and lower in those with AIDS. The concentrations of HMGB1, IL‐8, and IL‐6 were positively correlated with the proportion of neutrophils in BAL fluid and inversely with the oxygenation index. Although the serum concentrations of CRP and LDH were positively correlated with those of IL‐8 and MCP‐1, none of the mediators in BAL fluid was correlated with the serum β‐D‐glucan concentration. The production of inflammatory mediators in the lung differed between the patient groups with different underlying disorders. The modest upregulation of IL‐8 and IL‐6 might be associated with the milder clinical manifestations of PCP in AIDS patients.     

Immunohistochemical study of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in human tumors using the CEA-specific oncoprecipitin crustacin

58 human tumors have been studied immunohistologically with the aid of CEA-specific precipitin--crustacin (Cr). The results were in general similar to those which were achieved with anti-CEA-antibodies. But there were some differences. The reaction with Cr in the cytoplasm was mostly diffuse, while the reaction with Ab was localized usually in the peripheral parts of the cytoplasm. The reaction with Cr has a more restricted character and is more expressed in ovarian tumors and less expressed in gastric and colonic tumors than the reaction with Ab.     

活性污泥微型动物种群动态与水质净化效能的关系

2001～2002年,系统地研究了高碑店污水厂四系列曝气池活性污泥中的微型动物种群动态与水质变化的相互关系。在该污水处理系统的四系列曝气池内所发现的122种原生动物中,褶累枝虫(Epistylis plicatilis)、沟钟虫(Vorticella convallaria)、有肋檐纤虫(Aspidisca costata)和半圆表壳虫(Arcella hemisphaerica)是经常大量出现的原生动物种类。冬季褶累枝虫占绝对优势。5月和6月,有肋檐纤虫为活性污泥动物群落的优势种群。纤毛虫和后口动物总数越多,污水净化效能越强,污泥的沉降性越好。游泳类纤毛虫总数与出水BOD5值呈正相关,固着类纤毛虫的多样性值与出水的总氮呈正相关,爬行类纤毛虫的多样性值与出水的硝态氮和出水总磷都呈正相关,与厌氧段总磷呈负相关。研究结果表明,微型动物种群动态规律与污水处理效果关系密切,该厂污水处理系统中四系列的硝化和反硝化显著,活性污泥的运转效能良好,各种主要污染物得到有效净化[动物学报49(6)：775～786,2003]。     

Detection of B-cell antigen on the blast cells in chronic myeloid leukemia]

The presence of the common antigen on B lymphocytes of healthy donors and myeloblasts of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in blastic crisis was observed with antimyeloblastic serum in the indirect surface immunofluorescence test. The cytotoxic test showed this antigen in the blastic cells in 27 out of 57 patients with CML BC, in 3 of 11 patients with acute lymphoid leukemia, in 1 of 8 patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia and in 2 of 2 patients with undifferentiated leukemia. The antigen was not found in the peripheral blood cells of healthy donors.     

甘南亚高山草甸人工草地的演替和质量变化

甘南亚高山草甸不同时间建立的垂穗披碱草（Ｅｌｙｍ ｕｓ ｎｕｔａｎｓ）人工草地植物群落结构和草地质量变化及其原因的研究结果表明： １． 垂穗披碱草人工草地只有在播种后第二年的产量最高,而草地质量指数ＩＧＱ （ｉｎｄｅｘ ｏｆｇｒａｓｓｌａｎｄ ｑｕａｌｉｔｙ）在七年生群落中最低; ２． 垂穗披碱草人工草地群落的种类数量和种多样性随年龄而增加,但其增加的模式各不相同; ３． 人工草地中垂穗披碱草地上部生物量的下降和草地质量指数的下降与土壤中速效磷含量的下降有关,而速效氮的含量对其影响不明显。因此,施磷可延长垂穗披碱草人工草地的使用寿命     

Effect of propranolol on ECG of Myna, Acridotheres tristis, and Goh, Varanus bengalensis

Effect of propranolol (1 and 3 mg/kg body wt), a sympathetic blocking agent, on ECG patterns was studied in Varanus and Acridotheres. ECG was recorded before and after 5 min (immediate), 15 min and in some cases 25 min of drug infusion. All animals responded to propranolol with bradycardia. The effectiveness is dose dependent and it is also associated with the high heart rate both in Acridotheres and in Varanus. The P-R or P-S interval increased in all cases of Varanus after infusion. In Acridotheres height and duration of P-wave were increased slightly with the lower dose and decreased with the higher dose. The Q-S shortened with the lower dose and widened late with the higher dose in Varanus whereas in Acridotheres it is widened with lower and higher doses of propranolol. The Q-T interval has been increased in both groups of animals. An increased amplitude of T-wave height was observed in Varanus after 5 and 15 min of drug infusion. But it was noted with decrease in amplitude under high dose after 15 min of drug infusion. In Acridotheres it was on increase with lower dose and decrease with higher dose. The delta-wave disappeared after the administration of propranolol in Acridotheres.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)