Male- and female-specific variants of doublesex gene products have different roles to play towards regulation of Sex combs reduced expression and sex comb morphogenesis in Drosophila

Sexually dimorphic characters have two-fold complexities in pattern formation as they have to get input from both somatic sex determination as well as the positional determining regulators. Sex comb development in Drosophila requires functions of the somatic sex-determining gene doublesex and the homeotic gene Sex combs reduced. Attempts have not been made to decipher the role of dsx in imparting sexually dimorphic expression of SCR and the differential function of sex-specific variants of dsx products in sex comb development. Our results in this study indicate that male-like pattern of SCR expression is independent of dsx function, and dsx ^F must be responsible for bringing about dimorphism in SCR expression, whereas dsx ^M function is required with Scr for the morphogenesis of sex comb.     

Flow laser cytometry for evaluation of the human immune system

Some flow laser cytometry (FLC) techniques intended for studies of the immune system cells are reviewed. A widespread analytical method is the phenotyping of lymphocytes by the markers they express. The use of FLC permits the evaluation of practically all functional parameters of immunocompetent cells. Thus, to analyze their ingestive and microbicidal activity fluorochrome-labeled microorganisms are used. The apploication of indicator dyes makes it possible to evaluate calcium mobilization and formation of active forms of oxygen. FLC is used for the identification of cytokines inside the cell and in the medium. The authors propose tests for the analysis of the proliferative activity of lymphocytes, the cytotoxicity of natural killers, the evaluation of apoptosis and protein processing with monocytes/macrophages.     

Changes in functional activity of macrophages caused by bacterial muramylpeptides

Muramylpeptides from bacteria cell wall are strong stimulators of immune system and phagocytic cells are main effectors. Dimer containing glucoseaminylmuramylpentapeptide (di-GMPP) was obtained from cell wall of Salmonella typhi bacteria. Di-GMPP decrease the phagocytic activity of macrophages obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors and increase intracellular killing. Also di-GMPP resulted in decrease of expression of macrophages' receptors which play role in phagocytosis (CD16, CD64, CD11b) and detection of bacterial molecular patterns (TLR2, TLR4, CD206), as well as in increase of expression of antigen-presenting (HLA-DR) and costimulatory molecules (CD86, CD40) which involved in formation of immunological synapse and presentation of antigens to T- and B-lymphocytes.     

Acute outcome of treating patients admitted with electrical storm in a tertiary care centre

Background

Electrical storm (ES) is a life threatening emergency. There is little data available regarding acute outcome of ES.

Aims

The study aimed to analyze the acute outcome of ES, various treatment modalities used, and the factors associated with mortality.

Methods

This is a retrospective observational study involving patients admitted with ES at our centre between 1/1/2007 and 31/12/2013.

Results

41 patients (mean age 54.61 ± 12.41 years; 86.7% males; mean ejection fraction (EF) 44.51 ± 16.48%) underwent treatment for ES. Hypokalemia (14.63%) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (14.63%) were the commonest identifiable triggers. Only 9 (21.95%) patients already had an ICD implanted. Apart from antiarrhythmic drugs (100%), deep sedation (87.8%), mechanical ventilation (24.39%) and neuraxial modulation using left sympathetic cardiac denervation (21.95%) were the common treatment modalities used. Thirty-three (80.49%) patients could be discharged after a mean duration of 14.2 ± 2.31 days. Eight (19.5%) patients died in hospital. The mortality was significantly higher in those with EF < 35% compared to those with a higher EF (8 (42.11% vs 0 (0%), p = 0.03)). There was no significant difference in mortality between those with versus without a structural heart disease (8 (21.1% vs 0 (0%), p = 0.32)). Comparison of mortality an ACS with ES versus ES of other aetiologies (3 (50%) vs 5 (14.29) %, p = 0.076)) showed a trend towards significance.

Conclusion

With comprehensive treatment, there is reasonable acute survival rate of ES. Hypokalemia and ACS are the commonest triggers of ES. Patients with low EF and ACS have higher mortality.     

Effect of homologous serum globulin preparations on the intestinal automicroflora of mice after irradiation

In experiments on 4000 noninbred and CBA mice the influence of the injections of alpha-, beta- and gamma-globusin, IgG and IgM, obtained from the sera of hemostimulated and intact mice, on the intestinal microflora after irradiation has been studied. The experiments have revealed that 3 subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections of 1 mg per mouse, made 2, 24 and 48 hours after the irradiation of the animals with gamma-rays in a dose of 700 r, considerably reduce the intensity of the accumulation of opportunistic bacteria in the small and large intestines, commonly occurring in irradiated animals. A decrease in the number of lactobacteria is less pronounced. The preparations of globulin and IgG obtained from hemostimulated mice, i.e. enriched with normal tissue antibodies, have proved to be most effective.     

Normalizing effect of immunoglobulins in the treatment of endogenous infection and intestinal dysbacteriosis in irradiated mice

It has been demonstrated in experiments on 2160 CBA mice and mice of mixed breed, irradiated by LD90/30, that therapeutical administration (subcutaneous or intraperitoneal) of immunoglobulins - homologous (polyglobulin, IgG, IgM) or heterologous - polyglobulin, IgG (from human, equine, canine blood) repeated three times, i.e., 2, 24 and 48 hours after irradiation, not only induces longer survival, but also shows a normalizing effect on the commonly developing dysbacteriosis and increased amount of intestinal microflora and, in addition, leads to suppression of postirradiation endogenous infection. Enterobacteria, enterococci, staphylococci, yeasts, disappear from the small intestine or their quantity decreases substantially in treated irradiated mice in contrast to untreated irradiated mice. In the large intestine, the amount of these organisms decreases considerably while the content of lactobacteria increases; no microbes can be found in the internal organs and in blood (or their content is small). Other conditions being equal, homologous immunoglobulins are more efficient in comparison with heterologous, this applying also to preparations containing normal antibodies to tissues.