Isolated primary chylopericardium. (1/245)

A 16-year-old man was found to have an enlarged cardiac silhouette. Primary chylopericardium was diagnosed when pericardiocentesis yielded the characteristic milky-white fluid. The thoracic duct was easily identified by giving milk and butter and an injection of ethylene blue immediately before the operation. Intraoperative thoracic ductography showed no abnormal findings. Mass ligation of the thoracic duct above the diaphragm and partial pericardiectomy were successfully performed through a right thoracotomy approach. In addition, many of the lymphatics were ligated above the diaphragm. The right thoracotomy approach was a useful method for resection and ligation of the thoracic duct just above the diaphragm. Follow-up showed no accumulation of pericardial fluid or pleural effusion.  (+info)

Lymph and pulmonary response to isobaric reduction in plasma oncotic pressure in baboons. (2/245)

Plasma colloid osmotic pressure was reduced by 76% (from 19.6 +/- 0.6 to 4.7 +/- 1.5 mm Hg) in five baboons while pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure was maintained at a normal level. This resulted in fluid retention, weight gain, peripheral edema and ascites, but no pulmonary edema. Thoracic duct lymph flow increased 6-fold and pulmonary lymph flow 7-fold. Thoracic duct lymph had a lower colloid osmotic pressure (2.0 +/- 0.7 mm Hg) than plasma (4.7 +/- 1.5 mm Hg), whereas the colloid osmotic pressure of pulmonary lymph (4.7 +/- 0.7 mm Hg) was the same as that of plasma. The lymph-plasma ratio for albumin fell in thoracic duct lymph but remained unchanged in pulmonary lymph. The difference between plasma colloid osmotic pressure and pulmonary artery wedge pressure decreased from 15.3 +/- 1.9 to -0.7 +/- 2.9 mm Hg. Despite this increase in filtration force, the lungs were protected from edema formation by a decrease of 11 mm Hg in pulmonary interstitial colloid osmotic pressure and a 7-fold increase in lymph flow.  (+info)

Identical T cell clones are located within the mouse gut epithelium and lamina propia and circulate in the thoracic duct lymph. (3/245)

Murine gut intraepithelial (IEL) T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha/beta lymphocytes bearing CD8alpha/13 or CD8alpha/alpha coreceptors have been shown previously to express different oligoclonal TCR beta chain repertoires in the same mouse, in agreement with other evidence indicating that these two populations belong to different ontogenic lineages, with only CD8alpha/beta+ IELs being fully thymus dependent. CD8alpha/beta+, but not CD8alpha/alpha+, T lymphocytes are also present in the lamina propria. Here, we show that CD8alpha/beta+ lymphocytes from the lamina propria and the epithelium are both oligoclonal, and that they share the same TCR-beta clonotypes in the same mouse, as is also the case for CD4alpha T cells. Furthermore, identical T cell clones were detected among CD8alpha/beta IELs and CD8alpha/beta+ blasts circulating into the thoracic duct (TD) lymph of the same mouse, whereas TD small lymphocytes are polyclonal. These findings must be considered in light of previous observations showing that T blasts, but not small T lymphocytes, circulating in the TD lymph have the capacity of homing into the gut epithelium and lamina propria. These combined observations have interesting implications for our understanding of the recirculation of gut thymus-dependent lymphocytes and their precursors, and of the events leading up to the selection of their restricted TCR repertoire.  (+info)

Computer analysis of defined populations of lymphocytes irradiated in vitro. II. Analysis of thymus-dependent versus bone marrow-dependent cells. (4/245)

Three uniform populations of T and B cells exposed to varying amounts of x-irradiation are examined utilizing computer-assisted morphometric analysis. These populations are: thoracic duct lymphocytes (TDL) from congenitally athymic (nude) mice (B cells); TDL from CBA mice treated with anti-Ig plus complement (T cells); and computer-selected untreated T cells from CBA TDL. Irradiated B cells show a more even dispersion of the nuclear chromatin and a dose-dependent increase in relative nuclear area beginning with the lowest dose evaluated (50 rads); no significan change in total optical density (OD) is demonstrable over the dose range evaluated (0 to 2000 rads). Anti-Ig-treated irradiated T cells demonstrate an initial shift toward lower OD values as a function of dose followed by a marked rise of OD values at 2000 rads, where numerous densely staining Feulgen-positive aggregates are identified. The relative nuclear area of this cell population also shows a biphasic response to radiation injury with an initial increase at the lower dose levels followed by a progressive decline to approximate control levels at 2000 rads. This effect is mirrored by the alteration in total OD which, after a decrease at low dose levels, approximates control values at 2000 rads. The computer-selected T cells show little change in OD values at the low-dose levels but show a marked increase in the more densely staining Feulgen-positive material following 2000 rads. This population reveals no apparent change in either relative nuclear area or total OD as a function of dose. Thus, untreated computer-selected T cells exhibit remarkably little evidence, morphologically, of radiation injury of doses associated with pronounced alterations on the part of B cells. In addition, treatment of a mixed cell population (CBA TDL) with anti-Ig plus complement to remove the B cells appears to alter the response of the residual T cells to radiation injury. These results, in conjunction with recent evidence to support the concept that T cells possess surface Ig, suggest that an Ig-anti-Ig interaction may alter the radiosensitivity of T cells.  (+info)

Myasthenia gravis: studies on HL-A antigens and lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with myasthenia gravis. (5/245)

Thirth-three patient with a clinical diagnosis of myasthenia gravis were tissue-typed for HL-A antigens. In agreement with earlier reports a significant increase in antigens HL-A1 and HL-A8 were found in this material. Two of the patients were treated with chronic thoracic duct drainage. Proportions of T and B lymphocytes in lymph and peripheral blood were estimated in these patients. In the lymph an initial decrease in the proportion of T cells occurred, which was accompanied by a subsequent increase in the proportion of B cells. Towards the end of the chronic drainage period this effect was reversed. A slightly different picture occurred in blood lymphocytes. Initially, there was an increase in both T and B cells, followed by a decrease in T-cells numbers in one patient, whereas in the second patient the proportion of T cells decreased from the onset of drainage while the proportion of B cells steadily increased. These studies showed that available markers for determination of T ANd B cells were useful for studies of lymphocyte subpopulations in blood and lymph. Lmyphocytes from the thoracic duct were also tested for their reactivity to various mitogens specific for either T or B cells. The B-cell mitogens which were used were dextran sulphate, lipopolysaccharide, purified protein derivative, as well as rabbit anti-human beta2-microglobulin serum. The T-cell mitogens investigated were concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin. No significant differences in the responsiveness of thoracic duct lymphocytes compared to normal peripheral blood lymphocytes were found.  (+info)

Lymphocutaneous fistula as a long-term complication of multiple central venous catheter placement. (6/245)

We report a case of a lymphocutaneous fistula in a 19-month-old boy who had been a premature neonate, born in the 23rd week of gestation. The fistula, an apparent complication of central venous line placement during the patient's first 5 months of life, was composed of a distinct lymphatic vessel bundle in the right supraclavicular region, with its exit point at the posterior aspect of the right shoulder. The drainage ceased immediately after resection and repair of a 1-cm obstruction in the superior vena cava.  (+info)

In vitro response of bovine thoracic duct lymphocyte to phytohaemagglutinin following adult thymectomy. (7/245)

The effect of adult thymectomy on the thoracic duct lymphocyte population of yearling calves has been investigated. Four to 6 weeks after thymectomy animals showed significantly reduced thoracic duct lymphocyte concentrations when compared to non-thymectomized controls. In addition, phytohaemagglutinin responsiveness of thoracic duct lymphocytes, measured by (3H) thymidine uptake, was significantly decreased following adult thymectomy. However, this decreased response to PHA was not accompanied by a change in spontaneous isotope incorporation. It is concluded that adult thymectomy in the bovine probably leads to a reduction in the number of PHA responsive T cells in the thoracic duct lymph.  (+info)

Fatal bilateral chylothorax in mice lacking the integrin alpha9beta1. (8/245)

Members of the integrin family of adhesion receptors mediate both cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and have been shown to play vital roles in embryonic development, wound healing, metastasis, and other biological processes. The integrin alpha9beta1 is a receptor for the extracellular matrix proteins osteopontin and tenacsin C and the cell surface immunoglobulin vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. This receptor is widely expressed in smooth muscle, hepatocytes, and some epithelia. To examine the in vivo function of alpha9beta1, we have generated mice lacking expression of the alpha9 subunit. Mice homozygous for a null mutation in the alpha9 subunit gene appear normal at birth but develop respiratory failure and die between 6 and 12 days of age. The respiratory failure is caused by an accumulation of large volumes of pleural fluid which is rich in triglyceride, cholesterol, and lymphocytes. alpha9(-/-) mice also develop edema and lymphocytic infiltration in the chest wall that appears to originate around lymphatics. alpha9 protein is transiently expressed in the developing thoracic duct at embryonic day 14, but expression is rapidly lost during later stages of development. Our results suggest that the alpha9 integrin is required for the normal development of the lymphatic system, including the thoracic duct, and that alpha9 deficiency could be one cause of congenital chylothorax.  (+info)