Induction of suppressor cell activity in normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells by sera from predialytic uremic patients.

Normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were primed with sera from 22 predialytic uremic patients, normal sera, concanavalin A, or both. Their suppressive activity was subsequently tested on fresh phytohemagglutinin-stimulated allogeneic responders (i.e., genetically unrelated to either primed cell or sera donors). Uremic serum induced suppressor cell activity in the normal PBMC. No correlation was found between serum urea/creatinine levels and their effects on suppressor cell activity. The induced activity, expressed as percent suppression, was similar to that induced by concanavalin A. In PBMC primed with both concanavalin A and uremic serum, an additive suppressive effect was evident. The suppressor subset(s) induced by uremic serum proved to belong to adherent cell population. Addition of indomethacin or catalase to responder systems did not abolish the suppressive effects, thus suggesting a mechanism of action other than prostaglandin or hydrogen peroxide release.

Spontaneous pneumopericardium: case report and review of the literature.

An 84-year-old man presented with acute dyspnea and chest pain attributed to his long medical history of cardiorespiratory problems. Admission chest roentgenogram revealed a moderate pneumopericardium and a cavitary lesion in the base of the right lung. The lesion was found to be a bronchogenic carcinoma perforating through the upper pericardium to form a bronchopericardial fistula, confirmed by autopsy. A review of the literature concerning the various causes of pneumopericardium, the clinical features and the principles of treatment is included.