Effects of Alkaloids in Oxytropis glabra on Mouse T Lymphocytes

The effects of different doses of swainonine（ SW）,thermopsine（ Ts） and their mixture on transformation of mouse T lymphocytes were studied,in order to figure out the poisoning mechanism of Oxytropis glabra. Totally 240 mice were randomly grouped,and orally administrated with different concentrations of SW,Ts and their mixture. Four mice were randomly selected from each group at the 7th,14th,21st and 35th days,and lymphocytes were separated from anti-coagulated blood collected from eyeball. After Con A stimulation,T lymphocyte proliferation was detected by MTT assay. The results showed that low dose of SW promoted proliferation of mouse T lymphocyte; medium and high dose of SW also promoted proliferation of mouse T lymphocyte within a short period,but would seriously suppress its proliferation after a long period. Low dose of Ts almost had no impact on proliferation of T lymphocyte,while high dose also suppressed its proliferation.A similar result with SW was observed on alkaloid mixture. This indicated that different doses of SW,Ts and their mixture affected proliferation of T lymphocyte in different degrees.

Liver injury after aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid treatment of hemorrhoids

We are reporting a rare case of acute liver injury that developed after an internal hemorrhoid treatment with the aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid(ALTA) regimen. A 41-year-old man developed a fever and liver injury after undergoing internal hemorrhoid treatment with a submucosal injection of ALTA with lidocaine. The acute liver injury was classified clinically as hepatocellular and pathologically as cholestastic. We could not classify the mechanism of injury. High eosinophil and immunoglobulin E levels characterized the injury,and a drug lymphocyte stimulation test was negative on postoperative day 25. Fluid replacement for two weeks after hospitalization improved the liver injury. ALTA therapy involves injecting chemicals into the submucosa,from the rectum to the anus,and this is the first description of a case that developed a severe liver disorder after this treatment; hence,an analysis of future cases as they accumulate is desirable.

Oxaliplatin-Induced Lung Injury with Allergic Reaction

A 79-year-old man was diagnosed as stage IV colon cancer and treated with a modified FOLFOX6 （mFOLFOX6） regimen.On the 12th cycle,we observed erythema and dyspnea.Radiographs showed ground grass opacities.Blood tests showed elevated levels of eosinophils and immunoglobulin E.We diagnosed this finding as response to drug allergy and administered high-dose methylprednisolone.The treatment was successful and he was discharged.The drug lymphocyte stimulating test against oxaliplatin was positive,indicating a type I and IV allergic reaction due to oxaliplatin.Regimens including oxaliplatin must be carefully monitored and frequent blood tests and chest radiographs are needed.

Biomarkers in kidney transplantation: From bench to bedside

Immunosuppressive drug level monitoring and serum creatinine are widely used for kidney transplantation （KT） monitoring. Monitoring of drug level is not the direct measurement of the immune response while the rising of creatinine is too late for detection of allograft injury. Kidney biopsy, the gold standard for KT monitoring, is invasive and may lead to complications. Many biomarkers have been discovered for direct monitoring of the immune system in KT and the beneft of some biomarkers has reached clinical level. In order to use biomarkers for KT monitoring, physicians have to understand the biology including kinetics of each marker. This can guide biomarker selection for specific condition. Herein, we summarize the recent fndings of donor specifc anti-human leukocyte antigen antibody, B lymphocyte stimulator, interferon-gamma induced protein of 10 kDa, and intracellular adenosine triphosphate monitoring, all of which have very strong evidence support for the clinical use in KT.

B lymphocyte stimulator： a new target for treating B cell malignancies

Blymphocyte stimulator （BLyS） is also known as B cell activating factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor （TNF） family （BAFF）, or TNF and apoptosis ligand-related leukocyte-expressed ligand 1 （TALL-I）.^1-3 As a member of the TNF family, BLyS plays an important role in B cell development, and has been implicated in autoimmune diseases and B cell malignancies.

A Mother-to-Child Transmission Study in Nigeria:The Impact of Maternal HIV Infection and HAART on Plasma Immunoglobulins,Cytokine Profiles and Infant Outcome

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission(PMTCT)of HIV with highly active antiretroviral therapy(HARRT)allows the HIV^+pregnant mothers to have vaginal delivery and breastfeed.Here we investigated the maternal plasma immunoglobulin,cytokine secretion and the outcome of the exposed infants among the HIV^+HAART treated pregnan women in Nigeria.In this study,different plasma immunoglobulins and cytokines were measured in the HIV^+HAART treated pregnant mothers.Pooled culture supernatants of B and T lymphocytes showed lower levels of IFN-γ,IL-10 and IL-4.There were lower IFN-γand IL-10 secretions at 1st trimester;however,IL-10 continued to be lower throughout 2nd and 3rd trimesters.TNF-αsecretion significantly decreased as pregnancy progressed to term.There were high plasma IgG and low IgM in the HIV^+HAART treated pregnant women.Plasma IgG was high during 1st and 3rd trimesters.After one year of follow up,all the exposed children were seronegative for HIV-1 and HIV-2.Vaginal delivery and breastfeeding among HIV^+HAART treated mothers have shown to be safe.The use of HAART by the infected mothers and the use of septrin and niverapin by the exposed infants prevented mother to-child transmission of HIV.

Expression of BAFF in the trophoblast and decidua of normal early pregnant women and patients with recurrent spontaneous miscarriage

Background BAFF, the B cell activation factor, is a member of the tumor necrosis factor （TNF） ligand family that binds to BCMA, TACI, and BAFF-R. Previous studies have shown that members of the TNF family are detected in human placental trophoblast cells, but the expression patterns of BAFF involved in human decidua and the differential expression of BAFF between normal pregnancy and miscarriage are still incompletely documented or unknown. This study was designed to investigate the expression of BAFF and BAFF-R in the trophoblast and decidua of normal early pregnant women and recurrent spontaneous abortion （RSA） patients.Methods Forty-five patients with RSA and 45 normal pregnant women were included in this study. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）, Western blotting and immunohistochemical experiments, we explored the expression of BAFF and BAFF-R in the maternal-fetal interface of normal early pregnant women and RSA patients.Results Analysis by RT-PCR and Western blotting revealed that BAFF was detected in both trophoblast and decidua of all the samples, and the expression level was higher in the tissues of normal early pregnant women （P〈0.05） than that of recurrent spontaneous abortion patients under the same gestational weeks. Messages for BAFF-R were absent. Immunohistochemical experiments showed that expression of BAFF was cell-specific which was localized to villous cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells in trophoblast and to stromal cells in decidua. Whereas BAFF was prominent on the trophoblast and decidua of normal early pregnant women, it was decreased in the tissues of RSA patients.Conclusions BAFF might steer maternal leukocytes away from a harmful immune response and toward a favorable one and play a potentially vital role for successful pregnancy.