Portal hypertension associated with anticardiolipin antibodies in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 26-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a history of acute myocardial infarction developed portal hypertension accompanied by abnormal liver function and esophageal varices. As his clinical course suggested the possibility of antiphospholipid syndrome, a titer of anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) was serially measured using an enzyme immunoassay with beta 2-glycoprotein I as a cofactor. The titer of aCL increased with the development of portal hypertension, and promptly decreased with the improvement of liver function just after corticosteroid therapy.

Detection of adult T-cell leukemia-derived factor/human thioredoxin in human serum.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL)-derived factor (ADF), originally defined as an inducer of interleukin-2 receptor/alpha-chain (IL-2R/p55) of human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) positive T cells, is a human homologue of redox-active coenzyme thioredoxin (Trx) of Escherichia coli. In this study, an enzymatic assay system based on the dithiol-dependent insulin-reducing activity of ADF/Trx was established (insulin-reducing assay) to determine the amount of ADF/Trx in human serum using NADPH and Trx reductase purified from human placenta. Insulin-reducing activity was detected in all of the serum samples from healthy volunteers (n = 30) screened by this assay, with a mean +/- SD of 10.

An information network for community medical care.

An information network for community medical care was established by the Himeji Medical Association in 1987. The network interconnects through public telephone a central computer located at the office of the Medical Association with personal computers installed in the offices of members of the Association. An overview of the network, which is in full operation, is given, and current problems and future directions are discussed.

Enhancing effect of 17 beta-estradiol on human NK cell activity.

The in vitro effect of 17 beta-estradiol on NK activity was studied. The proliferation and NK activity of YT-N17 (a human NK-like cell line) were enhanced by 17 beta-estradiol (E2), and the enhancement was blocked by tamoxifen (Tx), an antagonist of E2. On the contrary, other steroid hormones such as Tx, progesterone, and testosterone had no effect.

Induction and function of Fc epsilon RII on YT cells; possible role of ADF/thioredoxin in Fc epsilon RII expression.

The regulation of low-affinity Fc receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RII) and the characteristics of both membrane and soluble forms of Fc epsilon RII were studied using YT cell line. We found that YT cells, a human NK like cell line, expressed Fc epsilon RII after IL-1 stimulation. Cross-linking of Fc epsilon RII on IL-1-stimulated YT cells as well as the transfectant of Fc epsilon RII-cDNA (YTSER) resulted in the up-regulation of IL-2R alpha (p55/Tac).

HLA-DQ-specific autoreactive T cell clone with helper and cytotoxic functions.

To clarify the existence and the possible function of DQ-specific autoreactive T cells, we established a novel autoreactive T cell clone (28B8) responding to self-DQ molecules from an unimmunized normal subject. Blocking studies with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to HLA class II antigens and alloreactive response of the clone revealed that the clone recognized DQ molecules defined by a DR1-DQw5 haplotype. Clone 28B8 markedly induced autologous B cells to produce immunoglobulins, and was also cytotoxic against autologous lymphocytes, as well as against allogeneic lymphocytes with a DR1-DQw5 haplotype.

Cardiac sarcoidosis.

The present report describes a patient with cardiac sarcoidosis who developed complete right bundle branch block, complete atrioventricular block and subsequent congestive heart failure. The patient demonstrated no clinical evidence of systemic sarcoidosis. Upon postmortem examination, the myocardium showed extensive noncaseating granuloma with numerous multinucleated giant cells.