ABSTRACT
Previous studies on the effect of seasonal exposure to the sensitizing antigen on T-cell cytokine pattern from atopic subjects evaluated T-cell cytokine production by titration in the serum or culture supernatants. The purpose of this study was to determine the seasonal variations of T-cell cytokine pattern from atopic subjects at the single-cell level. We examined the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-gamma expression in peripheral blood CD4 + and CD8 + T cells from 11 subjects with grass-pollen-sensitive allergy before and during the 1999 grass pollen season using a flow cytometric method of intracellular cytokine detection. Eight healthy volunteers served as the control group. Flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes showed no seasonal variations of IL-4- and interferon-gamma-producing T cells in atopic subjects. However, there was a decreased percentage of IL-4-producing cells among peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from the atopic subjects both during and outside the pollen season in comparison to the controLs. We did not find seasonal variations of T-cell cytokine pattern in peripheral blood from atopic subjects. However, we observed a decreased percentage of IL-4-producing T cells in peripheral blood from these subjects in comparison to healthy controls. These data add to the view of a continuous migration of T helper 2 (TH2) cells from the blood to the tissues of primary allergen exposure.
Subject(s)
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Interferon-gamma/biosynthesis , Interleukin-4/biosynthesis , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/blood , Respiratory Hypersensitivity/immunology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , SeasonsABSTRACT
A study was made of the fluid from 11 hydatid cysts (10 hepatic, one renal) and from 50 nonparasitic cysts (25 renal, 10 ovarian, 10 pancreatic and five hepatic). Our analysis indicated that the chloride (range 62-95 mEq/liter), the sodium (range 125-139 mEq/liter) and the potassium content (range 5.1-7.5 mEq/liter) of the former differed significantly (p less than 0.01) from those of the controls. Hydatid cysts may be indistinguishable from others with both CT and ultrasound and therefore the electrolyte data are of diagnostic value when a hydatid cyst is accidentally punctured percutaneously.
Subject(s)
Chlorides/analysis , Echinococcosis/pathology , Potassium/analysis , Sodium/analysis , Biopsy, Needle , Cysts/pathology , Echinococcosis, Hepatic/pathology , Female , Humans , Kidney Diseases, Cystic/pathology , Liver Diseases/pathology , Ovarian Cysts/pathology , Pancreatic Pseudocyst/pathologyABSTRACT
40 patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis, 18 type A, 18 type B and 4 non-A non-B have been examined. During the acute phase there was a marked reduction in HDL cholesterol (average 4.4) with subsequent steady increase up to 16.6 at the 5th week of disease. A highly significant negative correlation was observed between transaminases and direct bilirubin. There was no correlation with prothrombin activity, phospholipids and albumin. The clinical significance of these data is discussed.
Subject(s)
Cholesterol/blood , Hepatitis A/blood , Hepatitis B/blood , Hepatitis C/blood , Hepatitis, Viral, Human/blood , Lipoproteins, HDL/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Cholesterol, HDL , Female , Hepatitis A/diagnosis , Hepatitis B/diagnosis , Hepatitis C/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
On the basis of two personal cases and a review of the most recent literature, the main features of this rare pancreatic condition are reported. Special attention is paid to the post-diagnostic importance of radical exeresis. This is the only way of preventing the patient running the risk of malignant degeneration. The observation of a bisalbuminaemic band and the association with an aberrant pancreatic adenoma were of interest in the two cases described.
