Mucocutaneous manifestations in 150 HIV-infected Indian patients and their relationship with CD4 lymphocyte counts.

Mucocutaneous findings in 150 HIV+ve cases (F, 79; M, 71) were evaluated over a one-year period. Mucocutaneous manifestations were seen in 96% with 2.9 mean number of dermatoses and mean cluster of differentiation (CD4) count of 196.33 cells/mm(3). The highest number of mean dermatoses, 3.29, was seen in individuals with severe immunosuppression. The most common mucocutaneous manifestation seen was candidiasis (35.33%), followed by seborrhoeic dermatitis (31.33%), oral pigmentation (29.33%), xerosis/ichthyosis (22.67%), pyodermas (22%), periodontitis (17.33%) and nail pigmentation (16.67%). Patient stratification according to the WHO immunological staging, according to CD4 counts, showed a statistically significant association (P < 0.05) for candidiasis, scabies, paronychia, oral pigmentation and diffuse hair loss. Nail and oral pigmentary changes, trichomegaly and subcutaneous fungal infections caused by dermatophytes were highlights of the study. Incidences of xerosis/ichthyosis, pyodermas, scabies and molluscum contagiosum reported in our study were higher and pruritic popular eruptions was lower than those in previous Indian studies. Cutaneous neoplasms were not seen in the present study.

Induction of procoagulant function in porcine endothelial cells by human natural killer cells.

NK cells may mediate effector functions other than target cell cytotoxicity. To explore such noncytotoxic effector mechanisms, we tested whether human PBL and purified NK (CD56+) cells might induce expression of tissue factor by cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells. Tissue factor is the major coagulation factor that binds to factor VIIa and initiates coagulation. The addition of freshly isolated NK cells but not T cells to endothelial cells resulted in the induction of tissue factor activity. NK-depleted (CD56-) effector cells did not induce tissue factor activity; however, the combination of CD56+ cells and NK-depleted cells induced tissue factor activity to the same extent as unseparated cells. PBL induced tissue factor mRNA in porcine endothelial cells and NK depletion resulted in a significant decrease of the induction. Induction of tissue factor activity in porcine endothelial cells by human NK cells required direct cell-to-cell contact, as transfer of supernatants from NK-endothelial cell cultures to secondary cultures did not induce tissue factor activity, and anti-LFA-1alpha Abs inhibited the induction of tissue factor activity. Induction of tissue factor activity in endothelial cells by NK cells may represent one of a variety of ways in which NK cells mediate noncytotoxic effects.

Impact of special care services on perinatal and neonatal outcome.

PIP: Clinical data on infants born in 1973 and 1978 at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital were collected and analyzed as to obstetrical composition, birth weight and gestational age characteristics, perinatal and neonatal mortality rates, and cause of neonatal mortality. Most of the patients belonged to the underpriviliged social class. Although there was a greater predominance of high-risk maternal factors in 1978 because of the policy of preferential bookings of high-risk mothers, the incidence of low-birth weightness and immaturity was lower than in 1973. The perinatal mortality rate in 1978 is higher because of increased incidence of late fetal deaths but the overall neonatal mortality is significantly lower (p0.05), partly because of overall improvement in the birth weight and gestational groups (p0.05). Generally, there was a trend of improved neonatal outcome and survival of low birth weight and preterm infants in 1978. The leading cause of neonatal mortality in 1973 was septicemia; in 1978, it was hyaline membrane disease. Prompt recognition and adequate management of infants with breathing difficulties at birth, as well as prevention of nosocomial nursery infections will further reduce neonatal mortality.^ieng

Some histochemical observations on the epididymis of rat--a comparison with chronological events in testis.

Histological and histochemical changes (lipids, phospholipids, neutral polysaccharides, acid mucopolysaccharides and sialic acid) were studied in the rat at pre- and postpubertal stages. At 10 days lipid and phospholipid staining was not observed both in the testis and epididymis though neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides and sialic acid were demonstrable. By 21 days, lipid and phospholipid staining was present in moderate amounts both in testis and epididymis. There was also a slight increase in other parameters studied. Maximum histochemical staining for all the parameters was seen at 60 days when the testicular and further components were well organized and functional. These findings reveal that both the testis and epididymis follow a similar pattern of development and are possibly governed by a common controlling factor--the androgens.