Soluble IL-15 receptor alpha-chain administration prevents murine collagen-induced arthritis: a role for IL-15 in development of antigen-induced immunopathology

IL-15 has recently been detected in the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. IL-15-activated T cells induce significant TNF-alpha synthesis by macrophages via a cell contact-dependent mechanism, suggesting a key regulatory role for IL-15. Here, we report that the administration of a soluble fragment of IL-15Ralpha into DBA/1 mice, profoundly suppressed the development of collagen-induced arthritis. This was accompanied in vitro by marked reductions in Ag-specific proliferation and IFN-gamma synthesis by spleen cells from treated mice compared with control mice and in vivo by a significant reduction in serum anti-collagen Ab levels. These data directly demonstrate a pivotal role for IL-15 in the development of inflammatory arthritis and also suggest that antagonists to IL-15 may have therapeutic potential in rheumatic diseases.     

Measurement of extracellular fluid volume in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Angiosarcoma of the breast, a rare tumor with very poor prognosis and insidious early manifestations, frequently is far advanced when first detected clinically. The clinical and pathologic changes in two women with primary, unilateral angiosarcoma of the breast are reviewed and the results are compared with 46 cases already published in the literature. Both patients were middle aged with symptoms for approximately 6 months prior to operation. Both frozen section reports were benign and only called malignant on permanent section. Microscopically the tumors were composed of varying sized, tortuous, elongated vascular channels. The operation varied--a modified radical and a simple mastectomy--and both patients are free from disease 4 and 2 years following operation. It is considered that, in view of the proclivity of this tumor for hematogenous metastases, an axillary dissection may not be justified.     

Improving staff satisfaction through job design

We review 97 cases of SMCP, 79 of which were operated. The comparative results are presented. For those requiring surgery (i.e. those having hypernasality), it has been our experience that the use of a pharyngeal flap, alone or combined with a palatoplasty, is productive of better speech results than is a palatoplasty alone.     

Multiple forms of alkaline and acid phosphatases in rat tissues in the postnatal period

1. A new open-circuit respiratory method was developed to estimate mixed venous PCO2 more rapidly and accurately than is possible with rebreathing techniques. 2. The subject breathes a mixture of CO2 in air from an open circuit. Carbon dioxide is added to the air flowing through the circuit at a rate such that the PCO2 in the inspired and expired gases (recorded continuously with a CO2 analyser) are almost identical. 3. Results from respiratory and cardiac patients showed that equilibrium occurred in less than 10 s. There was good agreement between the tensions of CO2 in the respiratory plateaux and in mixed venous and arterial blood withdrawn during equilibrium. 4. During exercise, the tensions of CO2 of the plateaux and arterial blood at equilibrium also showed good agreement. 5. It is suggested that the new method represents an improvement over rebreathing methods as equilibrium is achieved rapidly before the mixed venous tension rises from recirculation.