Thyroid autoimmunity in systemic lupus erythematosus: the clinical significance of a fluctuating course.

A number of studies have demonstrated an association between thyroid autoimmune disease and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but there is little information on the course of thyroid autoimmunity over time in SLE patients. We reviewed the thyroid serology of 150 SLE patients tested at or soon after diagnosis of SLE, and examined the follow-up data on those found to have positive thyroid serology. Thirty-one (21%) were thyroid autoantibody positive.

Pharmacokinetics of sex steroids in patients with beta thalassaemia major.

Aims: To assess the pharmacokinetics of oral, intramuscular, or transdermal hormone replacement in patients with beta thalassaemia major.

Methods: Oral (testosterone undecanoate 40 mg) and intramuscular (testosterone propionate 15 mg, phenylpropionate 30 mg, isocaproate 30 mg and decanoate 50 mg) testosterone and transdermal (17 beta oestradiol 25 micrograms and 50 micrograms) oestradiol were evaluated in 21 male (16-29 years) and 11 female (19-26 years) patients with beta thalassaemia major and various forms of hypogonadism.

Results: In male patients given oral testosterone, peak testosterone concentrations were observed either two to four hours or seven hours after administration; intramuscular testosterone produced peak values seven days after injection.

Active suppression induced by anti-CD4.

Treatment with a non-depleting monoclonal antibody to CD4 in the presence of mouse thyroglobulin (MTg) inhibits the development of murine autoimmune thyroiditis. This unresponsiveness was transferrable since such treatment generated a population of donor cells which could suppress the thyroiditis induced in lightly irradiated recipients by subsequent challenge with specific antigen. The suppression appears to be both antigen specific and antigen dependent and seems to discriminate between TH1 and TH2 helper subsets in that there is no significant effect on anti-MTg autoantibodies after challenge.

Three DNA markers for hypophosphataemic rickets.

This paper presents three markers, 16D/E, pHMAI (DXS208), and CRI-L1391 (DXS274), that show close linkage for X-linked hypophosphataemic rickets (HYP). DXS274 is closely linked to HYP (theta max = 0.00, Zmax = 4.

Isolation of cDNA coding for an ubiquitous membrane protein deficient in high Na+, low K+ stomatocytic erythrocytes.

Human red blood cells (RBCs) that are deficient in an integral membrane-associated protein ("stomatin") of apparent molecular mass 31 Kd show a catastrophic increase in passive membrane permeability to the univalent cations Na+ and K+ and are stomatocytic in shape. We have purified this protein from normal RBC membranes and isolated a cDNA clone coding for it. The deduced protein sequence is unrelated to that of any known ion-transport-related protein.

A thyroxine-containing peptide can induce murine experimental autoimmune thyroiditis.

A synthetic peptide based on a sequence containing thyroxine at position 2553 in thyroglobulin (Tg), and already shown to be recognized by two clonotypically distinct murine Tg autoreactive T cell hybridomas, can trigger primed lymph node cells to transfer thyroiditis to naive recipients. Donor lymph node cells could be prepared from mice immunized either with intact mouse Tg or with this peptide itself. After a second exposure to the priming antigen in vitro, both these populations induced 100% thyroiditis in recipient animals.

Identification of a thyroxine-containing self-epitope of thyroglobulin which triggers thyroid autoreactive T cells.

Although thyroglobulin (Tg), the thyroid prohormone, is well known as a T cell dependent autoantigen in human and experimental autoimmune thyroid disease, very little is known about the molecular basis of Tg recognition by T cells. In this paper, we have characterized the epitopes recognized by two clonotypically distinct, murine Tg autoreactive T cell hybridomas, CH9 and ADA2. In vitro iodination of a Tg preparation which was deficient in in vivo organified iodine was first used to confirm our previous observation that these T cells recognize iodination-related epitopes in the Tg molecule.

Fissure sealants as a means of prolonging longevity of amalgam restorations--an in-vitro feasibility study.

The presence of an interface gap around the periphery of old amalgam restorations in extracted teeth was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy. Two fissure sealant resins (Concise White Sealant and Delton Fissure Sealant) were placed over amalgam margins in vitro and were found to occlude this gap. SEM studies permitted assessment of the integrity of the resin in the interface defect and degree of sealant penetration toward the enamel/dentine junction.

The role of thyroid hormones in maturation of the adrenaline-sensitive lung liquid reabsorptive mechanism in fetal sheep.

1. Following thyroidectomy at 106-118 days fetal sheep were infused continuously with triiodothyronine (T3) from 110, 118, 125 or 131 days (n = 12) or with thyroxine (T4) from 118 days (n = 4) until the fetuses were delivered. Lung liquid secretion or absorption rates, heart rate, blood pressure and arterial blood gases were measured before and during 45 min periods of fetal infusions of adrenaline (n = 60) at 3-8 day intervals.

Production of monoclonal antibodies to lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzymes for immunohistochemical study on fixed tissue section.

Purified lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoenzyme 1 (H or B subunits) and isoenzyme 5 (M or A subunits) were used to prepare monoclonal antibodies (MAb) suitable for immunohistochemical detection on formalin fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections. In the initial fusions, screening of the antibodies was based on enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against the immunogens. None of the antibodies obtained was satisfactory.

Laser angioplasty with a pulsed NdYAG laser: early clinical experience.

Since December 1986, 40 laser angioplasty procedures have been performed using the energy from a pulsed NdYAG laser, delivering near infrared light (1064 nm) in 100-microseconds pulses of approximately 300 mJ per pulse, directly through a transparent sapphire tipped device. All patients had total occlusion of the superficial femoral artery and symptoms severe enough to warrant surgery, with ulceration or gangrene in eight, rest pain in 14 and severe claudication interfering with life-style in the others. The device was introduced through an antegrade puncture of the superficial or common femoral artery and laser recanalization was followed by attempted balloon angioplasty in all cases.

Annular pancreas: a clinical, endoscopic, and immunohistochemical study.

A patient with annular pancreas presenting with severe upper abdominal pain is discussed. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was diagnostic, with successful injection of major and minor papillae showing pancreas divisum, an annular duct emptying at the major papilla and changes of severe chronic pancreatitis in all duct systems. Pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy gave complete pain relief.

Antigen preservation in infarcted lymphoid tissue. A novel approach to the infarcted lymph node using monoclonal antibodies effective in routinely processed tissues.

We studied 11 cases of malignant lymphoma diagnosed concurrently with or following lymph node infarction. Cases included seven B-cell lymphomas, three T-cell lymphomas, and one case of Hodgkin's disease. Sections of viable and infarcted tissue were immunostained in parallel using a panel of antibodies effective in routinely processed, wax-embedded tissue.