1. The subnucleus caudalis of the spinal trigeminal nucleus of cat was injected with 30% HRP (Sigma, type Ⅵ). Well localized groups of labeled neurons were observed in the dorsolateral horn of the contralateral red nucleus. This dorsolateral horn, being present in the rostral and middle thirds of the nucleus, consisted mainly of middle-sized and small neurons.2. Injections were also made into the second and third segments of the cervical spinal cord and the caudal part of the bulbar reticular formation. The labeled neurons appearing in these experiments were diffusely distributed in the red nucleus, yet limited in the rostral third of it.3. Summarizing our findings and the data from the literature, we got the impression that the rostral two thirds of the red nucleus gave projections to the central structures rostral to the upper cervical spinal cord, and the caudal two thirds of it to those caudal to the lower cervical cord, which indicating a somatotopic organization of the red nucleus neurons giving descending projection fibers.

HRP solution was injected into the right subnucleus caudalis of the trigeminal nerve in the cat, and the labeled cells in the nucleus raphe dorsalis of six cases were examined and analyzed. The labeled cells appeared more in the middle portion and its rostral adjacent parts of the nucleus raphe dorsalis, decreased in number rostrally and caudally, and were entirely absont in the caudal end of the nucleus. In the ventral part and the ventral areas of the lateral parts of the nucleus labeled cells were more than in the other areas of the nucleus, no difference was found between the two sides. In the dorsal part and the dorsal regions of the lateral parts of the nucleus only a few labeled cells were seen. The labeled cells varied in forms, but in the ventral part and the ventral regions of the lateral parts they were mainly fusiform in shape. In addition, in nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus raphe pallidus, and nucleus raphe obscurus, small numbers of neurones were labeled as well.As the nucleus raphe magnus takes part in the inhibition of the response to noxious stimuli in the spinal dorsal horn, and as both the nucleus raphe magnus and nucleus raphe dorsalis belong to the more developed raphe nuclei and contain more 5-HT neurones, it seems that there might be somatotopic relations between the nucleus raphe dorsalis which projects mainly to subnucleus caudalis and the nucleus raphe magnus which projects mainly to the spinal dorsal horn.

Vmes,

OBJECTIVETo explore the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by studying the expression of T cell receptors (TCRs).

METHODST cell receptor Vbeta (TCR Vbeta) gene usage and expression were analyzed from synovial membrane and peripheral blood of 8 RA patients, 2 osteoarthritis patients and 2 accident amputees. The complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of 25 TCR Vbeta subfamily genes in unselected T cell populations were amplified semi-quantitatively by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The products were further studied by genescan for frequency of Vbeta usage.

RESULTSThe numbers of Vbeta subfamilies expressed by T cells from RA peripheral blood and synovial membrane were not significantly restricted. More importantly, biased Vbeta gene expression in RA synovium was observed and Vbeta6, Vbeta17, and Vbeta22 genes were the predominant subfamilies. It was noteworthy that the expression of Vbeta17 in RA synovium was significantly increased.

CONCLUSIONOur data were consistent with the hypothesis that several antigen or superantigen-driven processes may be involved in the pathogenesis of RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; immunology ; Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta ; Humans ; Synovial Membrane ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

Objective To identify the role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase(PI3K) in mediating necroptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and the involved mechanism.Methods Knockdown of p110α,receptor-interacting protein 1(RIP1) or both p110αand RIP1 was mediated by the specific short hairpin RNA (shRNA) lentivirus and verified by RT-PCR or Western blotting .In addition , Western blotting was used to detect phosphorylation of mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein(MLKL) and protein kinase B(AKT) or tetramerization of MLKL.Cell death was measured by micros-copy and flow cytometry.Results AKT phosphorylation and TNFα-induced necroptosis of L929 cells were suppressed by the inhibitors of PI3K or AKT, as well as p110αknockdown.Moreover, RIP1 knockdown did not inhibit L929 cell death induced by TNFαplus Z-VAD, but the RIP1-independent necroptosis was inhibited by p 110αknockdown.In addition, p110αknockdown suppressed MLKL phosphorylation and tetramerization induced by TNFαwith Z-VAD in L929 cells. Conclusion PI3K mediates necroptosis of L929 cells induced by TNFαby activating AKT and MLKL, respectively.

We investigated the pathogen of an outbreak of lung infection with unknown causes.By epidemiological analysis,we used real-time PCR,ELISA,gold dipstick,VITEK2 and MALDI-TOF-MS to identify suspicious bacteria.We made use of serum plate agglutination test to confirm the suspicious bacteria and the patient serum.We isolated 2 strains of Cryptococcus albidus from environmental samples.There has been specific agglutination between suspicious bacteria and patient serum.This pneumonia may be related to the infection of Ccryptococcus albidus.