Resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis in human hepatoma cells.

CTLs- and lymphokine-induced apoptosis of infected hepatocytes during the course of chronic viral hepatitis is thought to be important for both disease termination and prevention of hepatocellular transformation. We therefore studied apoptosis induced by Fas (APO-1 or CD95)-a widely expressed cell surface receptor whose ligand is involved in lymphocyte cytotoxicity-in a set of human hepatoma cell lines. As normal hepatocytes, all of the human hepatoma cell lines tested do express detectable amounts of Fas on their surface.

[Recurrent facial paralysis in a child with renovascular hypertension].

Hypertension is rarely observed in childhood. The renal diseases are the most common causes of this condition. Headache, seizures, cranial nerve palsy and hemiplegia are the most frequent neurological manifestations.

Effects of high-dose fish oil on rheumatoid arthritis after stopping nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Clinical and immune correlates.

Objective: To determine the following: 1) whether dietary supplementation with fish oil will allow the discontinuation of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); 2) the clinical efficacy of high-dose dietary omega 3 fatty acid fish oil supplementation in RA patients; and 3) the effect of fish oil supplements on the production of multiple cytokines in this population.

Methods: Sixty-six RA patients entered a double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective study of fish oil supplementation while taking diclofenac (75 mg twice a day). Patients took either 130 mg/kg/day of omega 3 fatty acids or 9 capsules/day of corn oil.

Every-other-week methotrexate in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A double-blind, placebo-controlled prospective study.

Objective: To determine if patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that is stable with weekly methotrexate (MTX) therapy could be switched to an every-other-week regimen of MTX.

Methods: Forty-seven patients with classic or definite RA who had received MTX for at least 8 months were studied. Clinical measurements consisted of the number of tender and swollen joints, physician and patient global evaluation of disease activity on a 5-point scale, grip strength, patient evaluation of pain, morning stiffness, and the interval to onset of fatigue from time of awakening.

Examination of pharmacokinetic variables in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis beginning therapy with methotrexate compared with a cohort receiving the drug for a mean of 81 months.

Objective: To compare pharmacokinetic variables of a 7.5 mg dose of MTX in a cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) beginning therapy with the drug with a cohort of patients receiving the drug for a mean period of 81 months.

Methods: Standard pharmacokinetic measures were performed in 35 patients beginning MTX therapy and 15 patients who had received the drug for a mean of 81 months.

Pharmacokinetics and renal function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving a standard dose of oral weekly methotrexate: association with significant decreases in creatinine clearance and renal clearance of the drug after 6 months of therapy.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics of a standard oral dose of 7.5 mg in a cohort of patients beginning methotrexate (MTX) and continuing the drug over 24 months.

Methods: Twenty-one patients underwent pharmacokinetic testing after receiving a dose of 7.

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome in Italian patients with persistent fatigue.

Our study was carried out to determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) within a selected population of patients suffering from persistent fatigue. We studied subjects with recurrent or persistent fatigue lasting 6 months and fulfilling at least four minor Center for Disease Control (CDC) criteria for the diagnosis of CFS. Evaluation included both clinical examination and laboratory testing.

Soluble transferrin mediates targeting of hepatitis B envelope antigen to transferrin receptor and its presentation by activated T cells.

In a previous study, we identified that transferrin receptor (TfR) is the receptor utilized by hepatitis B virus (HBV) to enter T cells. We demonstrated that hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBenvAg) is taken up by activated T cells via TfR, processed in endosomal compartments, and presented on class II molecules to specific CD4+ T cell clones. Herein, we report that binding to soluble ferric Tf by HBenvAg is needed in TfR-mediated endocytosis.

Human hepatoma cells expressing MHC antigens display accessory cell function: dependence on LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction.

Malignant transformation of human hepatocytes is often accompanied by an increased expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, but whether this phenomenon is related to an enhanced immunogenicity remains unknown. In this study, we tested the capacity of a series of human hepatoma cell lines to induce proliferation of allogeneic T cells in primary mixed lymphocyte tumour cultures (MLTC). These cell lines were positive for class I molecules, whereas class II molecule expression was either constitutive or inducible by treatment with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma).

Selective expansion of cytotoxic T lymphocytes with a CD4+CD56+ surface phenotype and a T helper type 1 profile of cytokine secretion in the liver of patients chronically infected with Hepatitis B virus.

Highly purified CD4+ T cells isolated from liver biopsies of patients with hepatitis B virus-induced CAH had a strong cytotoxic activity and were comprised of a substantial number of cells (25%-40%) expressing CD56 surface marker. These cells were absent in CD4+ T cells from the peripheral blood of CAH patients or normal controls and these suspensions did not have cytotoxic activity. CD4+CD56+ T cells were further characterized by studies at the clonal level.

Antigen targeting to antigen-presenting cells enhances presentation to class II-restricted T lymphocytes.

Receptor-mediated uptake increases by several orders of magnitude the efficiency of APC to internalize Ag, and is stringently required for the Ag-presenting function of T lymphocytes due to their inability to take up Ag non-specifically. We have previously reported that hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBenvAg) can be internalized by T cells via transferrin receptor (TfR). To evaluate if Ag targeting to receptors expressed on APC could be an effective tool for promoting Ag uptake and presentation, we tested the capacity of activated T cells not expressing TfR to induce HBenvAg-specific T-cell responses when pulsed with a hybrid particle containing HBenvAg coupled to gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), exploiting the ability of gp120 to bind to CD4 receptor.

Efficacy, cycle control and side-effects of two monophasic combination oral contraceptives: gestodene/ethinylestradiol and norgestimate/ethinylestradiol.

Two monophasic oral contraceptives containing gestodene (GTD, 75 micrograms) and ethinylestradiol (EE, 30 micrograms) or norgestimate (NGS, 250 micrograms) and EE (35 micrograms) were compared during the first six cycles of use. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either type: 97 received GTD/EE and 92 NGS/EE. Six women in the GTD/EE group and nine in the NGS/EE group withdrew from the study; three (3%) and two (2%), respectively, withdrew because of adverse reactions.

A new fluoride preparation for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis: calcium monofluorophosphate.

Fifty-six postmenopausal women aged 52.4 +/- 6.7 years (SD) were treated for 12 months with L-glutamine calcium monofluorophosphate.

Interleukin-6 production by human hepatoma lines is related to a low degree of cell differentiation.

In this study, we showed by Northern blot analysis and bioassays that scarcely differentiated human hepatoma cell line HA22T/VGH constitutively produces interleukin-6 (IL6). This cytokine was produced neither by moderately differentiated Li7A nor by well-differentiated HepG2 human hepatoma cell lines. The finding that transcripts for IL6 were not present in 2.

Human hepatoma cells expressing HLA class I molecules stimulate primary responses of purified CD8+ T lymphocytes.

In the present study, we investigated the ability of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I+ human hepatoma cell lines to induce primary proliferative responses of purified allogeneic CD8+ T lymphocytes. We found that HA22T/VGH and Li7A, but not HepG2 cells induced significant proliferation of CD8+ T cells and that these responses were dependent on class I molecule expression. In blocking experiments carried out to identify the costimulatory signals involved, we found that anti-ICAM1 monoclonal antibodies drastically inhibited CD8+ T-cell proliferative responses.

Normalization of depressed natural killer activity after interferon-alpha therapy is associated with a low frequency of relapse in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

In the present study, we found that human recombinant interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) given at a dose of 3 x 10(6) units thrice weekly for three months, and 1.5 x 10(6) units thrice weekly for the next three months, was able to restore depressed natural-killer (NK) activity to normal values in 12 out of 21 chronic hepatitis C patients positive for anti-HCV antibodies. In all of these patients, NK normalization was still sustained after three months from suspension of therapy.

Zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor in rheumatoid arthritis.

The effects of zileuton, a new 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, on leukotriene generation and clinical response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was studied in a 4-week randomized double blind placebo controlled study at 2 academic rheumatology centers. Zileuton decreased the mean (+/- SEM) ionophore induced synthesis of leukotriene B4 at Week 1 by 70% from 191.2 +/- 28.

The presence in human spermatozoa of sites binding some proteins of the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

In previous works, we noted that porins, surface components of Gram negative bacteria, are toxic for human spermatozoa. In this work we see that porins of E. coli labeled with I125 (0.

[CT in the staging of neoplasms of the gallbladder].

The authors report the results of 50 cases of gallbladder carcinoma studied by means of CT, which were observed since 1984. Twenty-five cases were confirmed at surgery and 25 were selected among those in which CT, clinical history, natural disease evolution and matching with other instrumental and laboratory examinations were highly suggestive of gallbladder carcinoma. The high incidence is reported of such CT signs, which may be considered typical, as the presence of soft tissue in gallbladder area (92%), liver infiltration (78%), and the presence of metastatic lymph nodes (36%); they may or may not be associated to less specific signs.

Flow cytometric evaluation of nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Oxidative metabolic burst of activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is most commonly investigated in clinical practice by evaluating nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction at the single cell level. Reduced NBT precipitates where the redox reaction has taken place and can be visualized as PMN-associated dark blue granules of formazan in light microscopy. Although widely used and not technically demanding, this method remains subjective and labor intensive, especially when large numbers of samples need to be investigated.

Allergy and asthma: distinguishing the causes from the triggers. An eye model for the study of inflammatory events following allergen challenge.

The study of the late-phase reaction to allergen challenge has greatly contributed to increasing understanding of the relationship existing between immunoglobulin E (IgE) triggering, allergic inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity, as well as to changing our concept from "causes" to "triggers" of asthma. This paper reviews personal studies on a model of conjunctival provocation in allergic subjects. These studies represent the first evidence of a late-phase reaction in the human eye and contribute to a better knowledge of the network of cells and mediators involved in allergic inflammation which are responsible for heightened bronchial reactivity in allergic asthma.

[Selective deficit of IgA and infantile rheumatoid arthritis. Case reports].

Three children with selective deficiency of serum IgA associated with oligoarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) are presented. Before the appearance of JRA, all 3 children had shown frequently some respiratory infections. Indeed IgA deficiency may be asymptomatic or may cause a higher frequency of respiratory, gastrointestinal, allergic or autoimmune diseases, among which, JRA is one of the most important conditions.