Analysis of serum cytokine levels in children with chronic cough associated with Toxocara canis infection

Toxocara infection is associated with an increased prevalence of airway symptoms and may be a possible aetiologic agent of chronic cough. The occurrence of toxocariasis in Hungary is mild and/or sporadic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of serum cytokines (IL‐1, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13, IFN‐gamma and TNF‐alpha) and total IgE, the blood eosinophil count, the results of skin prick and non‐specific bronchus provocation tests in Toxocara‐seropositive children with chronic cough relative to those in healthy controls. The patients exhibited moderate eosinophilia, significantly elevated levels of serum total IgE, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐13 and IFN‐gamma, and higher skin reactivity to common allergens, whereas the bronchial hyperreactivity was similar in the two groups. The protective proinflammatory cytokines (IL‐6, IFN‐gamma and IL‐13) in association with the anti‐inflammatory cytokine (IL‐10) were simultaneously increased in Toxocara‐infected children with chronic cough. During infections, the activation and suppression of immune processes occur simultaneously and cytokines of Th1/Th2 and regulatory T cells contribute to the regulation of the immune response evoked by helminth infections (depending on the parasite load, the timing and duration of the infection and the status of the host immune system).     

Mineralocorticoid receptor and heat shock protein expression levels in peripheral lymphocytes from war trauma-exposed men with and without PTSD

Alterations in the number and functional status of mineralocorticoid (MR) and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) may contribute to vulnerability to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Corticosteroid receptors are chaperoned by heat shock proteins Hsp90 and Hsp70. We examined relations between corticosteroid receptor and heat shock protein expression levels, and related them with war trauma exposure, PTSD and resilience to PTSD. Relative levels of MR, Hsp90 and Hsp70 were determined by immunoblotting in lymphocytes from war trauma-exposed men with current PTSD (current PTSD group, n=113), with life-time PTSD (life-time PTSD group, n=61) and without PTSD (trauma control group, n=88), and from non-traumatized healthy controls (healthy control group, n=85). Between-group differences in MR, Hsp90 and Hsp70 levels and in MR/GR ratio were not observed. The level of MR was correlated with both Hsp90 and Hsp70 levels in trauma control and healthy control groups. On the other hand, GR level was correlated only with Hsp90 level, and this correlation was evident in current PTSD and trauma control groups. In conclusion, PTSD and exposure to trauma are not related to changes in lymphocyte MR, Hsp90 or Hsp70 levels, but may be associated with disturbances in corticosteroid receptors interaction with heat shock proteins.     

Analysis of αSMA‐Labeled Progenitor Cell Commitment Identifies Notch Signaling as an Important Pathway in Fracture Healing

Fracture healing is a regenerative process that involves coordinated responses of many cell types, but characterization of the roles of specific cell populations in this process has been limited. We have identified alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) as a marker of a population of mesenchymal progenitor cells in the periosteum that contributes to osteochondral elements during fracture healing. Using a lineage tracing approach, we labeled αSMA‐expressing cells, and characterized changes in the periosteal population during the early stages of fracture healing by histology, flow cytometry, and gene expression profiling. In response to fracture, the αSMA‐labeled population expanded and began to differentiate toward the osteogenic and chondrogenic lineages. The frequency of mesenchymal progenitor cell markers such as Sca1 and PDGFRα increased after fracture. By 6 days after fracture, genes involved in matrix production and remodeling were elevated. In contrast, genes associated with muscle contraction and Notch signaling were downregulated after fracture. We confirmed that activating Notch signaling in αSMA‐labeled cells inhibited differentiation into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages in vitro and ectopic bone formation in vivo. By characterizing changes in a selected αSMA‐labeled progenitor cell population during fracture callus formation, we have shown that modulation of Notch signaling may determine osteogenic potential of αSMA‐expressing progenitor cells during bone healing. © 2014 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Our experiences with nephrectomy with special emphasis on using biocompatible materials

We performed 43 open partial nephrectomies with different indications between 1996 and 2004, most of them (29) for renal cancer. We used different types of biocompatible materials for haemostasis. We describe our own recommendations and what is described in literature.     

Do personality traits predict post-traumatic stress?: a prospective study in civilians experiencing air attacks

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested an association between personality traits and post-traumatic stress. These studies either focused exclusively on military veterans or assessed personality traits after the traumatic event. This study investigates to what extent personality traits as assessed before the traumatic experience predict post-traumatic stress in civilians experiencing air attacks at the end of the exposure to stressful events and 1 year later. METHOD: The revised version of the NEO Personality Inventory was administered to 70 students in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. In 1999, 1 or 2 years after the assessment, all students were exposed to air attacks for 11 weeks. At the end of the attacks and 1 year later post-traumatic stress was measured on the Impact of Event Scale. RESULTS: Pre-trauma personality predicted 13% of the variance of intrusion scores 1 year after the attacks. There was no significant correlation between personality traits and subsequent avoidance scores at any point of time. CONCLUSIONS: Personality traits that are assessed before a traumatic event can, to a limited extent, predict intrusive symptoms in a non-clinical sample of civilians. Pre-trauma assessments of personality might be less strongly associated with post-traumatic stress than personality traits obtained after the traumatic event.     

Stimulation of 5-HT 1A receptors increases the seizure threshold for picrotoxin in mice

To evaluate the possible role of 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 2A receptors in the anticonvulsant effect of swim stress, mice were pre-treated with agonists and antagonists of these receptors prior to exposure to stress and the intravenous infusion of picrotoxin. 8-OH-DPAT ((+/-)-8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino) tetralin) and WAY-100635 (a selective agonist and antagonist of 5-HT 1A receptors), DOI (1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane) and ketanserin (a 5-HT 2A/2C receptor agonist and antagonist) were used. Results demonstrated that 1 and 3 mg/kg of 8-OH-DPAT increased the doses of picrotoxin producing running/bouncing clonus, tonic hindlimb extension and death in stressed and unstressed mice, respectively. Pre-treatment with WAY (0.3 mg/kg) prevented the effect of 8-OH-DPAT (3 mg/kg). DOI (2.5 mg/kg) and ketanserin (1 mg/kg) failed to affect the seizure threshold for picrotoxin. The results show that stimulation of 5-HT 1A receptors exerts anticonvulsant actions in stressed and unstressed mice, while stimulation of 5-HT 2A/2C receptors does not interfere with the effect of stress on picrotoxin-induced convulsions.     

Sedative and anticonvulsant effects of zolpidem in adult and aged mice

To evaluate the possible age-related differences in the behavioral effects of zolpidem, a widely used hypnotic, we compared the effects of zolpidem on the locomotor activity and on the seizure threshold for pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and picrotoxin (given by i.v. infusion) between adult (3 months) and aged (13 months) mice. Zolpidem (10 mg/kg) produced similar enhancements of the seizure threshold in adult and aged mice. The drug was more potent against PTZ- than against picrotoxin-induced seizures. Diazepam (1 mg/kg), which was taken for comparison, had a weaker effect on picrotoxin-induced tonic seizures in aged than in adult mice. Sedative effect of zolpidem (10 mg/kg), as assessed by its effect on the locomotor activity, was very strong in both groups of mice. The results suggest that sedative and antiseizure effects of zolpidem are not changed in aged mice.