Allergy to dust mites may contribute to early onset and severity of alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: A higher risk of allergic diseases such as rhinitis, asthma and atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) has been reported for patients with alopecia areata (AA) compared with the general population, but the significance of this is still largely unclear. AIM: To determine whether serum total or specific IgE play a role in the onset and severity of AA. METHODS: We tested 461 serum samples from 351 patients with AA and 110 healthy controls (HC) for total IgE (tIgE) and specific IgE (sIgE) by ImmunoCAP-100 or in vitro test (IVT). RESULTS: The absolute value of tIgE was higher in patients with AA than in normal controls (P < 0.001), although the prevalence of raised tIgE (> 120 IU/mL) detected in patients with AA (29.3%) was similar to that of HC (21.8%). Prevalences of raised sIgE against various allergens detected by ImmunoCAP-100 showed that Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p; 31.1%) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f; 29.0%) were the most common allergens. Similar results were found by IVT, with the most common response being against Der p/Der f (29.0%). However, the prevalences of tIgE and sIgE against dust mites (Der p and Der f) in patients with early-onset AA and severe AA were significantly higher than those with late-onset AA and mild AA (P = 0.02, P = 0.02 vs. P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). Notably, the increases in tIgE and sIgE were independent of atopy history. CONCLUSIONS: Allergy to dust mites may have an effect on the immune response in AA, and may contribute to its early onset and severity in patients of Chinese origin.

Combined genetic and imaging diagnosis for two large Chinese families affected with Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease.

Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is a rare X-linked recessive disorder characterized by nystagmus, impaired motor development, ataxia, and progressive spasticity. Genetically defective or altered levels of proteolipid protein (PLP1) or gap-junction alpha protein 12 gene have been found to be a common cause. Here we report on two large Han Chinese families affected with this disease. The probands of both families had produced sons featuring cerebral palsy that had never been correctly diagnosed. PMD was suspected after careful analysis of family history and clinical features. Three rounds of molecular testing, including RT-PCR, genetics linkage and SRY sequence analyses, in combination with fetal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, confirmed the diagnosis. In Family 1, in addition to two patients, three carriers were identified, including one who was not yet married. Genetic testing indicated that a fetus did not have the disease. A healthy girl was born later. In Family 2, two patients and two carriers were identified, while a fetus was genetically normal. A healthy girl was born later. We concluded that by combining genetic testing and imaging, awareness of the symptoms of PMD and understanding of its molecular biology, there is great benefit for families that are at risk for producing offspring affected with this severe disease.

A study on two kinds of scoring models in predicting the degree of esophageal varices and bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the value and determine the accuracy of two kinds of scoring models in predicting the degree of esophageal varices (EV) and esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 189 patients with LC, who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), color Doppler ultrasound (CDU), and computed tomography (CT), were retrospectively analyzed. Then, the routine blood examination, liver function test, M-index of the spleen in CT, EGD, and CDU results were recorded. According to the EGD result, these patients were divided into five groups: varicose bleeding group, severe varices group, moderate varices group, mild varices group, and no varices group. Then, the receiver operating characteristic curves of all predicting parameters studied were respectively drawn, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated, and the predictive value of EV and EVB was evaluated. RESULTS: The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the VAP score model and Plt/S-D score model was 0.901 and 0.835, respectively. The VAP score model cut-off value of 461.5 for predicting moderate esophageal varices (MoEV), severe esophageal varices (SEV), and EVB has a specificity and sensitivity of 100% and 68.7%, respectively, while the Plt/S-D score model cut-off value of 835.5 for predicting MoEV, SEV, and EVB has a specificity and sensitivity of 95.1% and 58.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These two kinds of scoring models can predict the degree of esophageal varices and bleeding in liver cirrhosis patients and has good predictive accuracy.

Heterogeneity of protein kinase NII. Multiple subunit-polypeptides.

Protein kinase NII has a alpha alpha' beta 2 subunit structure, and consists of a chromatographically heterogeneous population. By two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, each subunit was resolved into multiple polypeptides with various pI values: alpha subunit, 4 spots; alpha' subunit, 10 spots; and beta subunit, 4 spots. NII underwent autophosphorylation on beta subunits. Fractions of alpha and alpha' polypeptides also occurred as phosphoforms as shown by alkaline phosphatase treatment. In addition, alpha' subunit had another motif for heterogeneity, which separated alpha' polypeptides into two groups, and was exemplified by NIIa and NIIb that showed different enzyme kinetics and the nuclear localization. We interpret these to account for the basis of the functional as well as molecular heterogeneities of protein kinase NII.

Study on induction of differentiation of a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line (HIMeg) by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

It is reported that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), a physiological factor, has an inductive effect on the differentiation of a novel human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line (HIMeg) in vitro. At the concentrations ranging from 10(-9) to 10(-6) mol/L, 1,25(OH)2D3 showed inhibition of proliferation on HIMeg cells which was demonstrated by count of survival cells and cloning efficiency. Meanwhile, using light/electron microscopy, stain of cytochemistry (including immunoenzymatic technique) and flow cytometry, we found that HIMeg cells could be further induced into more mature cells in megakaryocytic lineage confirmed by a series of evidence, including the changes of cell morphology/structure and cytochemistry, increased expression of differentiation antigens on the cell surface, and polyploidization. So, it is possible for 1,25(OH)2D3 to promote the differentiation of the cells in megakaryocytic lineage in vivo and to be used to treat acute megakaryoblastic leukemia and other diseases with malignant megakaryocytosis.

Establishment of a group of murine leukemic cell lines and investigation of their biological characteristics.

An in vitro-vivo technique for establishment of cell lines on murine leukemia has been developed. Using this method, suppressive T lymphoblastic leukemia L7811-85, L7212-85, non-T, non-B lymphocytic leukemia L1210-86, B lymphocytic leukemia P 388-86 and Friend erythroleukemia FLCL cell lines have been established. Incidence of leukemia with these cell lines was 100%. Along with the increase of generations of cell lines, cell growth accelerated, generation time shortened and cloning efficiencies rose. A following up electron microscopic observation on L7811-85 and L7212-85 showed that the virus particles were "A" particles in original cells. When they became cell lines in vitro, virus particles increased and transformed into typical "C" particles with budding. An inhibitory activity relevant to leukemic cells on proliferation of leukemic cells has been observed in the supernatant of L7811-85 medium and was regarded as an "autocrine".

Performance evaluation of a novel liquid nitrogen cryoprobe.

A novel liquid nitrogen cryoprobe is developed in the present study. The inlet, handle, the vapor-liquid separator and the heat transfer segment of the cryoprobe are designed to be detachable. This flexible construction provides many distinct features, such as good maneuverability, high safety and low cost. A new vapor-liquid separator is made to ensure the free flow of the liquid nitrogen and increase the probe freezing capacity. The wall temperatures at the different locations along the cryoprobe are measured in the air, gel and brine, with the various driven pressure ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 MPa. The results are compared to the other probe. It is found that the precooling time of the probe is shortened significantly. The present cryoprobe offers better cooling performance to the existing cryoprobe. The heat flux transferred from the surrounding air or brine to the cryoprobe is estimated, and it is concluded that the boiling pattern in the probe is the film boiling and suggestions for further improvement of the cryoprobe's performance is made based on the analysis.

Two species of histone acetyltransferase in rat liver nuclei.

Subcellular localization of histone acetyltransferase was studied in rat liver cells. Two histone acetyltransferases, designated NI and NII, were identified in the nuclear fraction, and an additional two acetyltransferases, termed CI and CII, were separated from the cytoplasmic fraction. These acetyltransferases exhibited different substrate specificities toward free and nucleosomal histones. The enzymes NI and NII represented major histone acetyltransferase activities in rat liver nuclei, and they were further differentiated by DNA-binding properties, subnuclear localization, and reaction kinetics. While the NI enzyme exhibited an intersecting initial velocity kinetic, the NII enzyme followed a ping-pong initial velocity pattern. These results show the multiple occurrence of histone acetyltransferases in nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions, events which may reflect the complexities of histone acetylation.

Caffeine-induced reorganization of DNA replicating system occurs on or near nuclear matrix in HeLa cells.

Since caffeine reorganizes the DNA replicating system, with several consequences, we studied the effect of caffeine on the DNA replication which normally occurs on or near the nuclear matrix in a variety of eukaryotic cells. When HeLa cells, treated with or without the DNA-damaging agent, neocarzinostatin, were postincubated in the presence or absence of caffeine and then pulse-labeled with [3H]thymidine, the DNA remaining tightly associated with the matrix was enriched in the newly synthesized DNA at the same level as that seen in untreated cells. The nuclear matrix-bound DNA polymerase alpha activity was also the same in these cells. Therefore, in the presence of caffeine, DNA replication, with or without DNA damage, also occurs on or near the nuclear matrix, as is the case in normal DNA replication.

Heterogeneity of protein kinase NII from rat liver nuclei.

Protein kinase NII from rat liver nuclei was resolved into two fractions, NIIa and NIIb, by DEAE-Sephadex column chromatography. NIIa was eluted at 151 mM (NH4)2SO4 and NIIb at 175 mM. They had an identical molecular size (125,000 daltons, 7.0S) and subunit composition (alpha alpha' beta 2). However, they showed significantly different Km values and turnover numbers for casein substrate. Furthermore, NIIa was found predominantly as a form bound to the chromatin, while NIIb was in the nucleoplasmic-soluble fraction in addition to the chromatin-bound fraction. These observations suggest that NII consists of a heterogeneous population of at least two molecular species, differing in the activity and functional states in the cell nucleus.

Prolonged hemopoiesis of murine bone marrow derived epithelioid cells in vitro.

We previously reported the isolation of a murine bone marrow derived stromal cell line, TC-1, and two sublines derived from this line. The monolayer of one subline, TC-1-C-3, directly supported the growth of nonadherent marrow cells in Dexter culture system for eight weeks. We report here the mechanism of the stromal cell effect on hemopoiesis in a long-term bone marrow culture system. When the hemopoietic blasts attach to the TC-1-C-3 cells, they are surrounded by the stromal cell cytoplasm within two hours and develop into cell clusters in a week. The developing hemopoietic cells show cell differentiation towards the granulocytic lineage. A key function of the epithelioid stromal cell, then, is to provide a 'niche' or 'envelope' for stem cells which supports long-term hemopoiesis in the Dexter culture system.