Differential effects of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection on cytokine levels in human T lymphocyte- and monocyte-derived cell cultures.

Continuous cultures of human lymphocyte- and monocyte-derived cell lines were examined for levels of immunoregulatory cytokines important in resistance to the intracellular opportunistic bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp), a ubiquitous pathogen widely disseminated in the population and hypothesized to be involved in chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis and neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. The results of this study showed that the continuous human T lymphocyte cell line MOLT-4 and the continuous monocytic cell line THP-1 were readily infected by Cp in vitro as shown by immunofluorescence microscopy for Cp lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The 16S rRNA expression determined by real-time RT-PCR increased rapidly after infection of either cell line with these bacteria.

Nicotine modulates cytokine production by Chlamydia pneumoniae infected human peripheral blood cells.

Nicotine, the addictive component of cigarette smoke, has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects. This drug alters proinflammatory cytokine production by immune cells, including lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. The present study focuses on the effects of nicotine on infection by Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn), a ubiquitous intracellular pathogen which causes acute and chronic inflammatory diseases such as pulmonary infections, and may be associated with arthritis and atherosclerosis.

Neuroendoscopic basket dilation technique for the fenestration of the ventricular wall or intracranial cysts--technical note.

A basket dilation technique has been developed for fenestration of ventricular or cystic walls, using a basket type widely used in the urological field to collect renal or ureteric stones. This technique allows deep-seated structures to be visualized directly through the expanded basket during dilation and the thinnest part of ventricular wall to easily be pierced, cut, and dilated. Fine control can be exerted over expansion pressure through the hand piece directly connected to the basket tip.

[The usefulness of MRI around the tentorial incisura for determining the mechanism of brain stem injury: a case report].

We report a case of isolated brain stem injury caused by the tentorium cerebelli. A 17-year-old male was admitted to our hospital. Thirty minutes before admission, he was struck by another motorcycle while driving his own motorcycle.

High-resolution line scan diffusion tensor MR imaging of white matter fiber tract anatomy.

Background And Purpose: MR diffusion tensor imaging permits detailed visualization of white matter fiber tracts. This technique, unlike T2-weighted imaging, also provides information about fiber direction. We present findings of normal white matter fiber tract anatomy at high resolution obtained by using line scan diffusion tensor imaging.