CD4 mononuclear cell infiltrates and Fas/Fas ligand positive mammary gland cells in breast tissue from a patient with Sjögren's syndrome.

We describe a 49-year-old patient with lip biopsy proven Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca, who had dental caries, xerostomia, recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, arthritis in her hands, elbows and knees, and recurrent parotid inflammation. She developed bilateral breast nodules in 1988. Right breast nodules were excised in 1993 and 1995, but reappeared in 1996, requiring 2 more excisions. Breast tissue samples showed remarkable intralobular and perilobular mononuclear cell infiltrates that were predominantly CD4+ T cells and expressed bcl-2. A few cells stained CD20+ and CD8+. SS breast glandular epithelial cells stained more intensely for Fas compared to normal cells. CD4+ T cells and Fas mediated cell death may be involved in the mammary gland lesions in SS.

[Incidence of hepatitis surface antigen among all the blood donors of the blood banks of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security in the federal district]. / Incidencia del antígeno de superficie de la hepatitis sérica entre los donantes de los bancos de sangre del instituto venezolano de los seguros sociales, en el distrito federal.

The presence of H Bs-Ag was studied by means of counterimmunoelectrophoresis in the sera of 879 voluntary donors who gave blood between May and September 1974 at the federal District's blood banks of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security. Eight hundred twenty-eight were male and fifty one female. Five sera samples were positive HBs-Ag which represents an incidence of 0.56%. A bibliographic review of the subject is made. The necessity of making mandatory the determination of HBs-Ag in all blood prior to transfusion is emphasized.