Delayed maturation of the interstitial cells of Cajal: a new diagnosis for transient neonatal pseudoobstruction. Report of two cases

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested altered responses to repeat skin tests in the sites of IgE-mediated late-phase reactions (LPRs) induced within the previous 48 hours. To explore the possible modulation of LPRs in such rechallenge sites, we compared inflammatory responses in skin chambers induced over previous LPR and control sites. METHODS: Skin blisters were induced and unroofed in 12 human subjects over two sites of previous LPRs induced by intradermal injection of pollen antigens 24 hours or 48 hours earlier and two sites previously injected with buffer diluent (B). Skin chambers containing the same antigens were appended to one intradermal antigen site (called Ag/Ag) and one intradermal B site (B/Ag), and B-containing chambers were placed over antigen (Ag/B) and B (B/B) intradermal sites. Fluids were collected after the first and the second through fifth hours of challenge. RESULTS: In skin chamber challenges 24 hours after the intradermal injection, there was no significant difference after the first hours between the Ag/Ag or B/Ag sites in either histamine or tryptase levels; both were significantly higher than at Ag/B or B/B sites (p < 0.01). The same pattern of events was seen in fluids obtained from the second through fifth hours. The same pattern of findings was seen in examination of levels of the total leukocyte accumulation, total eosinophil accumulation, and frequency of activated (EG2+) eosinophils. Levels of lactoferrin, released from activated neutrophils, and eosinophil cationic protein, released from activated eosinophils, were also similar at Ag/Ag and B/Ag sites; both were significantly higher than at B/B sites, whereas levels at Ag/B sites were intermediate between those found at B/Ag and B/B sites. The pattern of events in skin chamber challenges 48 hours after intradermal injection was similar to that seen at 24 hours, except that levels of inflammatory mediators/cells in Ag/B sites were more intermediate between the B/Ag and B/B sites. CONCLUSION: There is no significant alteration of mediator or inflammatory cell responses after antigen rechallenge of previous LPR sites when compared with those found in antigen challenge of non-LPR sites.     

A twin and family study of the association between immune system dysfunction and dyslexia using blood serum immunoassay and survey data

We conducted a study of the association between developmental reading disability (DRD) and immune disorders (ID) using both survey and immunoassay data in two separate samples of families. One sample was made up of twins and their parents and was ascertained through a population-based sampling scheme. The other sample was a set of extended pedigrees selected for apparent autosomal dominant transmission of DRD. We failed to find an association between DRD and ID in either sample, regardless of the method used to assess immune system function. Even though our twin sample provided evidence that both DRD and immune conditions were significantly heritable, there was no evidence for a genetic correlation between ID and DRD nor was there any clear indication that a special subgroup of individuals may be comorbid for these conditions because of genetic reasons. How these negative findings can be reconciled with the developmental hypothesis of Geschwind, Behan, Galaburda, and colleagues, and how they may relate to the gene locus influencing DRD that has been recently located in the HLA region of the short arm of chromosome 6 is discussed.     

The response of transplants of cultured fetal mouse ovaries in kidneys of ovariectomized adult mice

Whole ovaries from 16-day fetal mice were cultured for 6 to 20 days and then transplanted to the kidneys of ovariectomized adult mice where they remained for one to four weeks. After three weeks in the host's kidneys, many follicles developed within the transplants and became vesiculated. Many of the oocytes within these follicles had formed the first metaphase spindle of meiosis and several had completed the first polar body. Host mice bearing transplants that contained vesiculated follicles showed uterine stimulation and keratinization of their vaginae. However, ovaries that had been in culture for more than ten days before transplantation showed a limited response to the gonadotropins and never matured sufficiently to stimulate the host's reproductive tract. No ovulations occurred in any of the transplants.     

The role of cholecystokinin in radiographic opacification of the gallbladder

Studies of the effect of cholecystokinin (CCK) on hepatic elimination of intravenously administered iopanoate and on gallbladder opacification were performed using nonoperated dogs with intact enterohepatic circulation and normal endogenous bile salt pool. Intravenous administration of CCK (3 units/kg) resulted in a 32% increase in apparent transport maximum (maximum rate of elimination) of iopanoate and earlier and enhanced gallbladder opacification. This increase in apparent transport maximum was abolished by cholecystectomy, indicating that the increase was a result of the release of bile salts from the gallbladder rather than a direct effect of the hormone on the hepatic elimination of iopanoate. The early gallbladder opacification and increased density of contrast material in the gallbladder were related to CCK-induced emptying of the gallbladder and subsequent filling with opacified bile.