Immunohistochemical evidences showing the presence of thymulin containing cells located in involuted thymus and in peripheral lymphoid organs

Thymulin is a well-characterized thymic hormone that exists as a nonapeptide coupled to equimolar amounts of Zn2+. Thymulin is known to have multiple biological roles, including T cell differentiation, immune regulation, and analgesic functions. It has been shown that thymulin is produced by the reticulo-epithelial cells of the thymus, and it circulates in the blood from the moment of birth, maintain its serum level until puberty diminishing thereafter in life. To study the localization of this hormone, we prepared polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against the commercial peptide and utilized immunocytochemical techniques for visualization. The results indicate that thymulin stains the thymic reticular cells, the outer layers of Hassall's corpuscles and a large round cellular type, which is keratin-negative and does not show affinity for the common leukocyte antigen (CD-45). In mice, this thymulin-positive cell remains in the thymus throughout life and even appears in relatively increased numbers in old involuted thymi. It also appears in thymus-dependent areas of the spleen and lymph nodes, demonstrating that at least one of the thymus cells containing this peptide can be found in peripheral lymphoid tissue.

Avaliação do nível sérico de antígeno prostático específico (PSA) em pacientes da cidade de Campo Mourão - PR / Evaluation of the serum level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in patients from the city of Campo Mourão - PR

O Antígeno Prostático Específico (PSA) é considerado o mais importante marcador para detectar, estagiar e monitorizar o câncer de próstata. Assim, realizou-se este estudo com objetivo de avaliar os níveis séricos de PSA em pacientes usuários de um laboratório de análises clínicas da cidade de Campo Mourão, correlacionando com os valores de referência e idade. (Métodos) Foram analisados os resultados dos exames de PSA de 437 pacientes usuários de um laboratório de análises clínicas privado, correspondendo à totalidade dos exames realizados no período de julho a dezembro de 2005. (Resultados) Em relação aos valores de PSA, 388 pacientes (88,8) apresentaram valores de PSA entre 0 – 4,0 ng/mL, 34 pacientes (7,8) valores entre 4,1 – 10,0 ng/mL, 10 pacientes (2,3) valores entre 10,1 – 20,0ng/mL e 5 pacientes (1,1) portavam valores de PSA > 20ng/mL. A idade dos pacientes variou entre 27 a 91 anos (média de 56 anos). (Conclusão) Através dos achados do presente estudo, observa-se que o nível médio de PSAaumenta de acordo com a idade. Desta forma, torna-se importante, a utilização do PSA em associação com outros métodos diagnósticos na detecção precoce de patologias malignas da próstata.

Thymic index as a parameter for evaluation of neonatal sepsis

In various stressful conditions, the thymus subjected to incidental involution, mostly due to the thymocytolytic effect of secreted glucocorticosteroids. The thymus gland play a key role in the body's defense against infection. this study aimed at assessing the variations of thymic size by ultrasonography in normal and diseased neonates with proven sepsis and to find whether there is a significant correlation between thymic index [Ti] and several variables. Study design: This cross-sectional, case-control study included 30 neonates with sepsis, 17 males and 13 females. Their mean gestational age was [38.93 +/- 1.91] weeks and their mean weight was [2.93 +/- 0.55] kg. Thirty cases of healthy neonates, 16 males and 14 females, their mean gestational age was [39.6 +/- 1.23] weeks and their mean weight was [3.25 +/- 0.55] kg., Served as controls. Every case underwent complete history taking and thorough physical examination with special emphasis on anthropometric measurements and a full evaluation for sepsis including complete blood count [CBC], C-reactive protein [CRP] and blood culture.Thymic sonography was done for every case to detect the thymic index [Ti] which indicates the size of thymus as a volume estimate. The results of this study showed a significantly lower value of Ti [P<0.001] and significantly higher level of CRP [P<0.001], in patients compared to controls. Also, the value of Ti was positively correlated with birth weight of healthy controls [P<0.05]. Ti showed positive predictive value of 87%, while that of CRP was 66%. A highly significantly increase was found, regarding Hb, platelet, immature neutrophils and I/T ratio, [p<0.001], and significantly increase as regards RBCs, [p<0.05], in patients compared to controls. While, no significant difference was found between the two groups as regard absolute neutrophils count [ANC] and total leucocytic count [TLC]. Also, there was no significant correlation between Ti and gestational age, body length, head circumference and different blood indices in both groups. We concluded that sonographic estimate of the thymus in infants less than one month of age seems to be an easy, reliable and safe diagnostic modality for assessment of thymic size. Thymic index could be considered as a sensitive predictor of neonatal sepsis and reflects the immune competence status of infants

Capillary zone electrophoresis for determination of thymulin in human plasma / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To establish a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for determination of thymulin in human blood plasma. Thymulin is a nonapeptide produced by the thymic epithelium.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The uncoated capillary used was 75 microns ID x 57 cm (50 cm effective length). The experimental conditions were as follows: the running buffer was phosphate-borate buffer containing 50 mmol.L-1 Na2B4O7-10 mmol.L-1 Na2HPO4 (pH 9.10); running voltage was 12 kV; operated temperature was 25 degrees C; running time was 13 minutes, detective wavelength was 200 nm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The linear range of the thymulin standard curve was 1-10 micrograms.mL-1, gamma = 0.9990, the average recovery was 70.97% with RSD of 3.32%, the RSD of reproducibility was 3.05%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method of CZE for determination of thymulin in human plasma is simple and reliable.</p>

Zinc status of Indian children.

Zinc is a trace metal essential for human health and its deficiency is found to cause severe growth retardation in children. Information on the zinc status of Indian children is meagre perhaps due to lack of a reliable parameter. However, in view of the role of zinc in promoting growth, it has become common practice to prescribe zinc supplements to young children and newborns, particularly preterm infants. It is now clearly established that zinc confers no additional benefits to an individual with adequate zinc status while it can potentially lead to harmful effects by disturbing the milieu of other trace metals in the body. Estimation of thymulin levels in circulation is found to be a sensitive indicator of zinc status and using this parameter we found that apparently normal children have adequate zinc status. Children suffering from severe protein energy malnutrition however had very low levels of the hormone besides low leukocyte and plasma zinc levels indicating zinc deficiency. Such children showed improvement in their zinc status when zinc supplements were provided along with rehabilitation diets. Pregnant women and term newborns showed no evidence of zinc deficiency. Preterm infants had higher leukocyte zinc levels during early infancy and the breast milk of their mothers also had higher zinc content which could cater to the higher requirements of the rapidly growing preterm infant. All breast-fed infants showed decline in the zinc status gradually over the initial 4 months of life and regained adequate zinc status after appropriate weaning. These studies thus do not support the view of routine zinc supplements to pregnant women or children. However, Infants solely fed formula milk from birth had significantly impaired zinc status till the time of weaning. The functional significance of severe zinc inadequacy in such infants needs to be established.

Algunos valores hamatológicos y séricos normales en los pobladores del Valle del Colca: Coporaque

El trabajo se llevó a cabo en un grupo de quechuas peruanos oriundos y residentes del pueblo de Coporaque, ubicado en el Valle del Colca a 3600 msnm. Se estudio sus valores hematológicos y séricos en una población clinicamente sana. Los valores estudiados fueron: hemoglobina, hematocrito, recuento de hematíes, constantes corpusculares, glucosa y colesterol. Encontrandose para la hemoglobina valores superiores al promedio considerado normal para habitantes a nivel del mar. La diferencia entre ambos sexos es estadisticamente significativa. Para los valores de hematocrito se encontró que estos estaban por arriba del promedio, considerado normal a nivel del mar. Se observó también una correlación hematocrito-hemoglobina, así como un incremento del hematocrito con la edad, dicho incremento ya encontrado anteriormente por Monge M. y col. En cuanto al número de hematíes se encontró que el promedio era superior a los de nivel de mar. La diferencia entre ambos fue estadísticamente significativa. En cuanto a constantes corpusculares se encontró valores semejantes a los hallados por Linares B.O. en 1964. Para glucosa, encontramos que el promedio fue de 78.83 mg/dl. Encontrandose al 80.4 por ciento en el rango de 57-97 mg/dl. Es decir, se encontraron valores dentro de lo normal y tendientes a ubicarse en el rango inferior. En cuanto al colesterol el promedio fue inferior al encontrado a nivel del mar, así como el encontrado en la ciudad de Arequipa

Comparación de los perfiles lipídicos séricos pre y post prandial y otros factores de riesgo en los eventos de enfermedad coronaria, servicio de cardiología Hospital Regional Honorio Delgado, enero a setiembre 1994

Se estudian dos grupos de pacientes (uno de casos y otro de controles) en los primeros se trata de pacientes con enfermedad coronaria determinada clínica y electrocardiográficamente y en el segundo sin este padecimiento. Se trata de hacer ambos grupos semejantes en cuanto a sus características generales tales como edad y sexo. De otro lado, se establecen en el grupo de pacientes con enfermedad coronaria, caracteristicas tales como severidad clínica y alteraciones asociadas, las alteraciones electrocardiográficas incluyendo la localización isquémica y del infarto; así como otras alteraciones electrocardiográficas concominantes en pacientes con y sin enfermedad coronaria. En los pacientes con enfermedad coronaria se establecen los niveles normales, subnormales y superiores tanto en el estadío pre como post prandial para el colesterol total, el colesterol-HDL (en varones y mujeres), el colesterol-LDL y de triglicéridos. En este mismo grupo de pacientes se estudian otros factores de riesgo no modificables y modificables (v.g. diabetes mellitus, hipertensión arterial y obesidad). Al comparar estadísticamente los resultados de los parámetros biológicos mencionados y considerando los niveles pre y post prandial sólo encontramos diferencias significativas para los triglicéridos a favor del estadío post prandial en pacientes con enfermedad coronaria y en general en presencia de enfermedad coronaria. Se presentan los resultados en forma de tablas y figuras que permiten visualizar mejor los hallazgos

Thymulin: biochemistry, biology and therapeutical applications

Thymulin is a pharmacologically active metallononapeptide inducing the differentiation of T cells and enhancing several functions of the various T cell subsets in normal or partially thymus-deficient recipients. Its effect on suppressor T cells is, so far, the most remarkable and should be the first to find useful clinical applications. The peptide is a natural hormone, available in synthetic form. It is not toxic and one may foresee its clinical use as one of the major immunoregulatory agents in the near future.

The role of thymic accessory cells in cytokine production and in the intra-thymic T cell differentiation pathway

Intrathymic T lymphocyte differentiation proceeds from complex interactions between prothymocytes of bone marrow origin and cells of the thymic stroma, epithelial cells and "acessory" cells (macrophages and/or interdigitating cells). The present paper describes the role of the accessoty cell compartment in this intrathymic process. Acessory cells produce factors which are involved in thymocyte proliferation (interleukin 1, prostaglandins, deoxynucleosides). Cell-cell interaction between "accessory" cells and thymocytes is required for the regulation of interleukin production. Prothymocytes, the precursors of all thymocyte subsets, need the accessory cell compartment for their IL2 dependent proliferation and their differentiation. Accessory cells of the thymic stroma may be involved in the intrathymic selection process at the prothymocyte level.