Effective cellular immune responses require increases in antigen-specific T lymphocytes; IL-2 drives antigen-stimulated T cell proliferation and is largely responsible for the increases observed. We used microarrays containing approximately 9000 mouse cDNAs to study IL-2-induced gene expression. IL-2 induces the expression of genes that regulate cell cycle progression, control cell survival, and increase synthetic and metabolic processes during proliferation. IL-2 also suppresses expression of genes that block cell cycle progression and promote cell death. Rapamycin inhibits IL-2-driven proliferation by downregulating the expression of genes required for key processes required for cell cycle progression. Rapamycin also preserves cell survival by keeping intact the IL-2-induced cell survival programs. These complex multifaceted programs of gene expression permit a dynamic regulation of cellular proliferation and cellular survival.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of metabolic control with insulin on plasma von Willebrand factor activity (VIIIR:WF) in diabetes mellitus.

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Blood Coagulation Factors↗

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Cerebral Pneumocystis carinii infection in AIDS.

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Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

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Influence of acute ethanol administration on hepatic glutathione metabolism in the rat.

The effect of acute ethanol administration on the hepatic metabolism of glutathione was studied in male Wistar rats. Animals fasted for 18 hr received ethanol (5 g/kg body wt.) through a gastric tube as a 20% (w/v) solution in 0.154 NaCl. Four hours after administration of ethanol liver glutathione content was decreased by 21% when compared to saline-treated controls. A significant reduction (28%) was also found in gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase activity and plasma glutathione levels were increased non significantly by 17% with respect to control rats. Glutathione S-transferase activity in the liver of ethanol-treated animals was decreased by 28% but no change was found in total glutathione peroxidase activity. The results indicate that the lowered glutathione synthesis could be an important factor contributing to the reduction of hepatic glutathione concentration following the acute ingestion of ethanol.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Acalculous cholecystitis in a patient with visceral leishmaniasis.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (ACC) is unusual. We present a case of cholecystitis associated with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a man in Venezuela who presented high fever, anorexia and abdominal pain. Histopathological study of the gallbladder showed Leishmania spp. ACC in VL must be kept in mind in tropical countries.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Use of intracoronary electrocardiography for detecting ST-T, QTc, and U wave changes during coronary balloon angioplasty.

Intracoronary electrocardiography (IC-ECG) is a more sensitive method than surface ECG to detect electrical changes during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). It also provides direct monitoring of ST-T segment, QTc intervals, and U-wave genesis during balloon inflation. These changes are reflective of myocardial ischemia. The authors studied the effect of transient myocardial ischemia on ST-T segment, QTc intervals, and U-wave appearance by comparing standard and perfusion balloon angioplasty. PTCA of left anterior descending artery was performed in 14 patients using the standard balloons and in 11 patients using the perfusion balloons. Patients with perfusion balloon angioplasty had less ST-T elevation (0.15 +/- 0.05 mV versus 1.04 +/- 0.19 mV, P < 0.001), less QTc-shortening intervals (0.01 +/- 0.02 seconds versus -0.05 +/- 0.04 seconds, P < 0.001), and less positive U waves (two versus nine). The authors concluded that balloon angioplasty with perfusion balloons is associated with less ischemia as reflected by ST-T, QTc-shortening intervals, and U-wave changes. There was more positive U-wave appearance with the standard balloon angioplasty, which implies more ischemia. In addition, QTc-shortening intervals are associated with the development of U waves during standard balloon angioplasty. These findings suggest that IC-ECG is a sensitive tool in detecting myocardial ischemia. IC-ECG may also help to clarify the nature of chest pain during PTCA in some patients. Like QT dispersion (QTd), QTc-shortening intervals and new U waves can have prognostic implications and additional studies are needed to define this role.

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