Signalling of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, Btk.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase, which is encoded by the BTK gene, is a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) crucial for B-cell development and differentiation. It belongs to the Tec family of PTKs containing several domains that are characteristic of signalling molecules. In humans, mutations that disrupt the function of this gene lead to the classical XLA syndrome (X-linked agammaglobulinaemia), a primary immunodeficiency mainly characterized by lack of mature B cells as well as low levels of immunoglobulins.

Evidence of space-time clustering of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in Sweden.

We have examined 645 recorded cases of childhood acute lymphatic leukaemia (ALL) in Sweden during 1973-89 to identify space-time clustering by using the close-pair method of Knox. The records included date of birth and of diagnosis as well as addresses at birth and at diagnosis. There was a significant excess of case pairs close in date of birth and place of birth in the 5- to 15-year age group.

Effect of an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases on spontaneous osteoarthritis in guinea pigs.

Recently discovered chemically modified tetracyclines have been found to be effective inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated connective tissue destruction in a variety of pathologic processes, including rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (OA). Since the histologic techniques used in our laboratory have been validated in Hartley guinea pigs, which have a high incidence of OA-like changes in the proximal tibia, we have used two tetracyclines which have potent inhibitory capacity against various MMPs, doxycycline (Dox) and a compound known as chemically modified tetracyclines (CMT-7). These were given by mouth to a group of guinea pigs for 4 to 8 months, and we assessed the effect of the compound on morphologic and biochemical aspects of OA.

Xenoislet transplantation: experimental and clinical aspects.

Ten diabetic renal transplant patients had porcine fetal islet-like cell clusters (ICC) injected intraportally or placed under the kidney capsule. In some patients, temporary graft survival was achieved, as evidenced by the urinary excretion of small amounts of porcine C-peptide (4 patients) and the identification of some intact insulin-staining cells in a biopsy specimen (1 patient). Glucose metabolism remained unaffected.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density and age-adjusted PSA reference values in screening for prostate cancer--a study of a randomly selected population of 2,400 men.

Prostate cancer screening with DRE, TRUS, and PSA testing was offered to 2,400 randomly selected men 55-70 years old. Among 1,782 examined, 65 (3.6%) men with prostate cancer were diagnosed.

Importance of phosphodiesterase 3 for the lipolytic response in adipose tissue during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in normal man.

The present investigation aimed to clarify the role of phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 3 for in vivo lipolysis in human adipose tissue during simultaneous insulin and catecholamine stimulation. Therefore, ten healthy subjects were investigated during insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Microdialysis probes were implanted in the subcutaneous adipose tissue and perfused by solvents with or without addition of the specific PDE 3 antagonist amrinone.

Neurokinin-A in bone and joint tissues: changes in adjuvant arthritis.

The localization of neurokinin A (NK-A) in the normal ankle joint of rats was investigated by an immunoelectron microscopic technique with specific antisera to NK-A. Immunoreactivity was detected in bone matrix, myelinated nerve fiber in the periosteum, and bone marrow and synovial cells. No immunoreactivity was observed in osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts.

Evaluation of serology, 13C-urea breath test, and polymerase chain reaction of stool samples to detect Helicobacter pylori in Bangladeshi children.

Background: Serologic methods to detect Helicobacter pylori in infants, especially in developing countries, may be limited because of decreased immune response caused by malnutrition. The true prevalence may therefore be underestimated in this age group. Urea breath test is considered to be a good screening method in children but is expensive and therefore is not suitable for screening in developing countries.

Effects of tobacco smoking on salivary immunoglobulin levels in immunodeficiency.

Salivary immunoglobulins and albumin were analysed in smoking and non-smoking immunocompetent and immunodeficient individuals. Stimulated and unstimulated saliva were compared as between individuals with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAd), common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) and immunocompetent individuals. Immunocompetent smokers showed increased levels of sIgA in unstimulated saliva, when compared with non-smoking immunocompetent individuals.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB acts as a chemoattractant for human malignant mesothelioma cells via PDGF receptor beta-integrin alpha3beta1 interaction.

Platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF BB) and the PDGF receptor beta are expressed on mesothelioma cells, but their biological function has not yet been defined. In the present study we used Boyden chambers fitted with filters coated with the adhesive matrix proteins fibronectin, laminin, collagen type IV or the nonmatrix adhesive molecule poly-L-lysine (PLL). Mesothelioma cells migrated towards PDGF BB at concentrations ranging from 0.

Cytokine production from colonic T cells in patients with ulcerative colitis with and without primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Purpose: Only five percent of all patients with ulcerative colitis develop primary sclerosing cholangitis. T cells accumulate at the sites of the colonic and bile duct inflammation in both ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. T helper cell populations comprise functionally distinct subsets characterized by the cytokines they produce.

Tensile properties of the knee-joint capsule at an elevated intraarticular pressure.

In order to evaluate the capsular reaction to high intraarticular pressure (IAP) in the knee during arthroscopy, we examined 13 patients admitted for elective surgery with joint infusion to 30, 70, 120 and 170 mmHg IAP (4, 9.3, 16 and 22.7 kPa).

Survival of fetal porcine pancreatic islet tissue transplanted to a diabetic patient: findings by ultrastructural immunocytochemistry.

Porcine fetal endocrine pancreatic tissue was placed under the kidney capsule in a diabetic renal transplant patient. In a core-needle kidney biopsy specimen obtained 3 weeks after transplantation, clusters of epithelial cells were identified in the subcapsular space. The ultrastructural and immunocytochemical features of these cells were typical of pancreatic islet cells.

Norethisterone treatment, a major risk-factor for veno-occlusive disease in the liver after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

In this single-center study, we retrospectively analyzed incidence and risk factors for hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) in 249 consecutive patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation between January 1990 and June 1995. Twenty-four of the 249 transplanted patients developed VOD. The probabilities of developing VOD were 17% among women and 7% in men (P =.

Pneumoperitoneum for laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not associated with compromised splanchnic circulation.

Objective: To investigate the influence of increased intra-abdominal pressure during pneumoperitoneum on splanchnic circulation.

Design: Open study.

Setting: University hospital, Sweden.

beta-Adrenergic regulation of lipolysis and blood flow in human skeletal muscle in vivo.

Little is known about the regulation of catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis in human skeletal muscle. Therefore, beta-adrenergic regulation of lipolysis and blood flow was investigated in healthy subjects in vivo by use of microdialysis of the gastrocnemius muscle. First, during a hypoglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp, which induces a lipolytic response in skeletal muscle tissue, the muscle was locally perfused with beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents.

Overexpression of MDM2 in acute childhood lymphoblastic leukemia.

Mutation of the TP53 gene is one of the most common molecular alterations in a variety of tumors, but it occurs infrequently in childhood and adult hematological malignancies. Protein accumulation often results from mutations that lead to inactivation of the p53 protein. Other causes of functional inactivation of the p53 protein include stabilization of p53 via proteins such as MDM2, an oncoprotein capable of forming specific complexes with p53.

Chronic fatigue syndrome differs from fibromyalgia. No evidence for elevated substance P levels in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Levels of substance P were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 15 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). All values were within normal range. This is in contrast to fibromyalgia (FM).