Influence of adjuvants on the induction of autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor

To determine the influence of adjuvant on the induction of antibodies to thyrotropin receptor (TSHR), we immunized BALB/c mice with a extracellular domain of the TSHR (ETSHR) protein in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), Titer Max (TM) and Gerbu. Similarly, control groups of mice were immunized with bovine serum albumin (BSA) in each of the different adjuvants. As determined by ELISA, ETSHR given along with CFA elicited high titers of antibodies to ETSHR which were mainly restricted to the IgG1 subclass. Mice immunized with ETSHR in TM also developed high titers of anti-ETSHR antibodies but had higher levels of both IgG1 and IgG2a. However, immunization with ETSHR in Gerbu resulted in low titers of antibodies, restricted to IgG1 subclass. Immunization of mice with BSA in each of the three adjuvants induced higher antibody titers to BSA. The subclass of antibodies in mice immunized with BSA in CFA and TM were predominantly IgG1 and IgG2a with lower levels of IgG2b, whereas in Gerbu treated group, antibody to BSA was restricted to IgG1 subclass. Analysis of specificity of antibodies against ETSHR, in mice immunized with ETSHR, revealed that irrespective of the adjuvant used, the dominant reactivity was against peptide 1 (AA 22-41) with weaker reactivity against several other. peptides. The only exception was in mice immunized with ETSHR in TM which also showed significant reactivity against peptide 23 (AA 352-371). Mice immunized with the ETSHR in CFA or in TM showed elevated levels of serum TSH binding inhibitory immunoglobulins (TBII). However, mice immunized with ETSHR in Gerbu, which had lower titers of antibodies to ETSHR, showed normal TBII levels. These studies showed that adjuvant composition could influence the titer, subclass and fine specificity of antibodies to ETSHR which in turn could affect the development of TBII activity.     

Identification of a saturable uptake system for deoxyribonucleosides at the blood-brain and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers

Substances can enter the brain either directly across the blood-brain barrier or indirectly across the choroid plexuses and arachnoid membrane (blood-CSF barrier) into the CSF and then by diffusion into the brain. Earlier studies have demonstrated a saturable thymidine uptake across the blood-CSF barrier, but not across the blood-brain barrier. In this study transport of [3H]thymidine across both barriers was measured in vivo by means of a bilateral vascular brain perfusion technique in the anaesthetised guinea-pig. This method allows simultaneous and quantitative measurement of slowly penetrating solutes into both brain and CSF, under controlled conditions of arterial inflow. The results of the present study carried out over perfusion periods of up to 30 min indicated a progressive uptake of [3H]thymidine into brain and CSF, which was found to be significantly greater than the transport of D-[14C]mannitol (a plasma space marker). Furthermore, the addition of 1 mM unlabelled thymidine in the perfusate caused saturation of [3H]thymidine uptake into both brain and CSF. In conclusion, these findings suggest that thymidine can cross both the blood-brain and blood-CSF barriers in the guinea-pig by carrier-mediated transport systems.     

Diagnosis of hemostasis disorders in young children using turbidimetry

Practical application of turbidimetrical method for the diagnosis of haemostasis disorders in babies with acute intestinal infections (AII) is described. The results of plasma biochemical analysis show that disturbances in balance between coagulation and fibrinolytic systems takes place in patients with this pathology. The correlation between biochemical parameters and clinical characteristics is observed. As follows from our data, the phase of the haemostasis disorders in babies with AII does not depend on etiology of the disease, but indicates its severity.     

Regulation of cholesterol synthesis in isolated epithelial cells of human small intestine

We have investigated the regulation of cholesterol synthesis in isolated human small intestine epithelial cells (enterocytes). It was established that the amount of cholesterol synthesized increased linearly with the incubation time and the number of cells in the incubation mixture; the synthesis was suppressed by 7-ketocholesterol. Cholic, dehydrocholic, chenodeoxycholic, glycocholic, taurocholic, taurochenodeoxycholic and taurodeoxycholic acids inhibited cholesterol synthesis in enterocytes to different degrees in a dose-dependent manner. Lithocholic acid enhanced the rate of cholesterol synthesis. Deoxycholic acid, methyl ester of cholic acid and cholesterol did not affect the process. No bile acids tested, with the exception of taurodeoxycholic acid, affected fatty acid synthesis in enterocytes. Most bile acids also decreased cholesterol synthesis in cultured human skin fibroblasts. The results obtained make it possible to postulate that cholesterol synthesis in human enterocytes may be subject to a complex regulation by bile acids.     

模拟裂变中子源能谱测量

一、引言在研究链式反应系统的各种性质时,常常用到具有类似裂变中子能谱的中子源。模拟裂变中子源主要由~(210)Po的α粒子轰击F,Be,Li,B等轻元素产生中子,随着靶元素成份以及结构的差异,中子能谱也不完全相同。应本院同位素处的要求,我们测量了一模拟裂变中子源的能谱,其源强约10~4n/s,靶成份为天然Li 24.16%,F66.14%,B 9.4%,