Effects of examination stress on some cellular immunity functions

The effects of examination stress on some lymphocyte subpopulations and cellular immune responses are reported. Twelve undergraduate students of psychology in examination term were tested six weeks before the written examination (phase I), one day before the first or second examination day (phase II) and 12–14 days after the examination (phase III). A comparable control group of students not in examination was assessed in parallel in phase II. The percentage of circulating monocytes increased in phase II in the examination group whereas the percentage of large (probably activated) CD4 and CD8 cells decreased. There was also a decrease in the number of cells expressing the IL-2 receptor in phase II. The proliferative response of T-cells to antigens, mitogens and allogeneic cells decreased from phase I to phase III. Thus, acute examination stress has a detectable influence on certain cellular immunological functions.     

Effects of anticonvulsants on hippocampus-generating seizures

Acute effects of 4 anticonvulsants on hippocampal kindled seizures induced with about 3 Hz electrical stimulations were assessed in cats. The number of stimulating pulses required for the triggering of epileptic afterdischarge (pulse-number threshold, PNT) was used as the indicator for the seizure threshold. Duration of afterdischarge (ADD), ictal and interictal behaviors and serum drug levels were also recorded. PB produced a PNT-increase more prominently than an ADD-decrease with seizure stage regression. PHT produced only a proconvulsive effect by decreasing PNT. CBZ also produced a proconvulsive effect by decreasing PNT at a low dose, and decreased PNT and ADD simultaneously at a high dose. Conversely VPA increased PNT and ADD simultaneously. These results were discussed comparing mainly with a previous study of amygdala-generating seizures.     

Effects of combined stress during intense training on cellular immunity, hormones and respiratory infections

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine immune and hormonal changes and their relationship with the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) during an extremely stressful military training (3 weeks of physical conditioning followed by a 5-day combat course with energy restriction, sleep deprivation and psychological stress). METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 21 cadets (21 +/- 2 years old) before training and after the combat course for analysis of leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations, serum cytokines [interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta and IL-10], and hormones [catecholamines, cortisol, leptin, total insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and testosterone]. Symptoms of URTI were recorded from health logs and medical examinations during training. RESULTS: After the combat course, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts were significantly increased while total lymphocytes were unchanged. In lymphocyte subsets, NK cells were reduced (p < 0.01), while CD4+ and CD19+ (B) cells were increased. Levels of IL-6 were increased (p < 0.01), while those of IL-1beta and IL-10 were unchanged. Norepinephrine and dopamine levels were increased, while those of cortisol were reduced. Levels of leptin, testosterone, prolactin and total IGF-I were reduced, while those of DHEAS were increased. The incidence of URTI increased during the training (chi(2) = 53.48, p < 0.05). After training data analysis showed a significant correlation between URTIs and NK cells (p = 0.0023). Training-induced changes in immune and hormonal parameters were correlated. CONCLUSIONS: Blood NK cell levels are related to increased respiratory infections during physical training in a multistressor environment. The training-induced decreases in immunostimulatory hormone levels may have triggered immunosuppression.     

Effects of anticonvulsants on hyperthermia-induced seizures in the rat pup

We studied the effects of phenobarbital (PB), valproic acid (VPA), and phenytoin (PHT) on the electroencephalograms and behaviorally defined seizure threshold temperatures in rat pups exposed to ambient hyperthermia on the fifth day of life. Animals injected with 10, 20, or 40 micrograms PB/g body weight (GBW) or 80, 150, or 300 micrograms VPA/GBW daily from the second day of life showed seizure temperature thresholds that were about 1.0 degree C higher than those of controls. Pups injected with PHT had thresholds that were equal to or lower than those in controls despite blood levels greater than 20 micrograms/ml. Preictal rhythmic sharp wave activity appeared in VPA-injected animals at temperatures below the threshold temperature. All experimental animals showed electrographic epileptiform activity at the threshold temperatures. We conclude that this animal model shows similar anticonvulsant efficacies to those found in human febrile seizures. This model may be useful in determining the efficacy of potentially useful anticonvulsant drugs and their mechanisms of action.     

Stress-related impairments in cellular immunity

The percentages of total T-lymphocytes (OKT-3+), helper T-cells (OKT-4+), and suppressor T-cells (OKT-8+) were significantly lower in blood samples obtained from 40 medical students during examinations, compared to baseline values obtained 6 weeks earlier. In addition, the response of T-lymphocytes to stimulation by phytohemagglutinin and concanavilin A was also significantly lower during examinations, compared to baseline. Self-report data documented significantly greater distress associated with examinations. The data have implications for immunosuppressive disorders and stress-related illnesses.     

体液细胞免疫在进行性肌营养不良症发病过程中的作用

探讨体液免疫和细胞免疫在进行性肌营养不良症（ＰＭＤ）发病过程中的作用。方法应用免疫组化ＳＰ法及免疫荧光一步法。结果ＰＭＤ肌组织中免疫球蛋白ＩｇＭ、ＩｇＧ和补体Ｃ３的阳性表达率分别为５０．０％、３１．１％和１１．１％，ＩｇＭ与对照组相比，差异有显著性意义（Ｐ＜０．０５），主要定位于肌膜和间质小血管壁上，与肌纤维萎缩性病变有关；ＰＭＤ肌组织中有巨噬细胞和Ｔ淋巴细胞浸润，阳性反应率分别为１００．０％和５５．５％，巨噬细胞聚集在坏死灶中，Ｔ细胞分布于退变肌纤维和血管周围，以ＣＤ８＋Ｔ细胞为主，多数表达ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ。结论提示免疫因素可能参与ＰＭＤ的病变过程。     

氟哌啶醇对精神分裂症细胞免疫功能的影响

目的：探讨氟哌啶醇对精神分裂症细胞免疫功能的影响。方法：将入组病人用氟哌啶醇进行为期12周的治疗,治疗前、后测定T淋巴细胞亚群CD3、CD4、CD8阳性细胞数和红细胞免疫功能C3b花环率（RBC－C3b)及红细胞免疫复合物花环率（RBC－IC）。结果：疗前CD3,CD4,CD8,RBC－IC明显低于对照组;疗后CD3,CD4,CD4／CD8比值、RBC－C3b明显升高,CD8、RBC－IC明显降低。结论：氟哌啶醇对精神分裂症细胞免疫功能有明显影响。     

Effects of anticonvulsants on K+-induced excitation and on penicillin-induced seizures

Excitation induced in mice by intracerebral injection of KCI was antagonized by prior i.p. injection of phenytoin, chlordiazepoxide or phenobarbital, but was not significantly affected by muscimol, valproate, ethosuximide or trimethadione. In contrast, seizures induced by intracerebral injection of benzyl penicillin were antagonised by chlordiazepoxide, phenobarbital, valproate, ethosuximide and trimethadione, but not by phenytoin or muscimol. Implications with regard to mechanisms of action of the anticonvulsants and of penicillin are discussed.     

Effects of anticonvulsants on K+-induced excitation and on penicillin-induced seizures

Excitation induced in mice by intracerebral injection of KCl was antagonized by prior i.p. injection of phenytoin, chlordiazepoxide or phenobarbital, but was not significantly affected by muscimol, valproate, ethosuximide or trimethadione. In contrast, seizures induced by intracerebral injection of benzyl penicillin were antagonised by chlordiazepoxide, phenobarbital, valproate, ethosuximide and trimethadione, but not by phenytoin or muscimol. Implications with regard to mechanisms of action of the anticonvulsants and of penicillin are discussed.     

Central corticotropin-releasing hormone reduces cellular immunity.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) acts within the brain to elicit changes in neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral activity similar to those observed after stress. A reduction of splenic natural killer (NK) activity has also been described following the central administration of CRH. In this study, we examined whether other in vitro measures of cellular immunity, including peripheral and splenic NK activity, lymphocyte responses to mitogen stimulation, and numbers of splenic T and NK cell subpopulations, are altered following CRH. Synthetic rat CRH (1.0 microgram) microinjected into the lateral ventricle reduced splenic and peripheral blood NK activity, lymphocyte responses to mitogenic stimulation, and percentage of splenic NK cell numbers. Numbers of splenic lymphocytes and T cell subpopulations were not altered by central CRH. These findings suggest that central CRH acts to reduce a number of in vitro cellular immune measures similar to the effects of inescapable stress.     

Effects of phenytoin on cell-mediated immunity

Phenytoin is a highly effective anticonvulsant agent that is widely administrated to prevent some kinds of patients with brain tumor. But it has been said that phenytoin may have some immunosuppresive potential for hosts. In this study, we evaluated the effects of phenytoin upon cellular immunity such as NK, CTL and LAK activity in murine models. Fresh splenocytes were taken out from mice (CBA/J, C 3 H/HeN, C 57 BL/6) into which phenytoin had been injected intraperitoneally at a daily dose of 1,000 micrograms for 28 days. The serum concentration of phenytoin in the experimental models was 10-20 micrograms/ml. The cytotoxic activities were estimated by a 4-hr 51Cr release assay. The mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte function was evaluated by 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. The NK activity was estimated by cytotoxicity of splenocytes of CBA/J mice against NK-sensitive YAC-1 cells. The cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) activity was estimated by cytotoxicity of splenocytes of C 57 BL/6 mice which were stimulated in vitro for 5 days by splenocytes of C 3H/HeN treated with mitomycin C, against RSV-M glioma cells. Lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) activity was estimated by cytotoxicity of LAK cells, which were induced from splenocytes of C 3 H/HeN mice by human recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2), against syngeneic RSV glioma and allogeneic 203 glioma cells. 3H-thymidine incorporation of splenocytes of C 57 BL/6 mice was reduced significantly (p less than 0.01) in phenytoin-treated mice. The cytotoxicity of splenocytes of non-treated CBA/J mice against YAC-1 cells was 75%, but that of phenytoin-treated CBL/J mice was a few %.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

微骨窗入路对高血压脑出血的临床疗效细胞免疫及预后影响

目的观察微骨窗入路对高血压脑出血患者临床疗效、细胞免疫及预后的影响。方法选取2014-08-2016-08于我院行手术治疗的108例高血压脑出血患者的临床资料,按手术方式不同分为2组,每组54例,观察组行微骨窗入路血肿清除术,对照组行传统骨瓣开颅血肿清除术,比较2组临床疗效及预后。结果观察组手术时间(2.61±0.71)h较对照组(4.33±1.36)h短,出血量(225.42±82.66)mL较对照组少,血肿清除率(94.55±5.68)%较对照组高(P0.05);观察组白细胞、C反应蛋白水平较对照组低(P0.05);观察组NIHSS评分、ADL评分均优于对照组(P0.05)。结论微骨窗入路血肿清除术可有效清除血肿,减少出血量,对细胞免疫影响小,且可提高神经功能、生活能力,改善预后。     

Assessment of cellular and humoral immunity of myasthenics.

A close association of autoimmune diseases or autoimmune phenomena in myasthenia gravis is well known. A comprehensive immunological study of 22 patients with myasthenia gravis showed that changes in the immune system mainly involve the thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells). Anti-thymus antibody was present in 90% of the patients, and it paralleled the frequency of thymic abnormality in myasthenia gravis. It is postulated that in myasthenia gravis the altered T cell functions caused by anti-thymus antibody result in the formation of an array of autoantibodies including the factor which blocks the neuromuscular transmission.     

人胸腺和脐血造血干/祖细胞联合移植对裸鼠细胞免疫功能的影响

背景：T细胞在抗感染、抗肿瘤和免疫调节等中起重要作用,但T细胞分化发育机制尚未完全阐明。 目的：观察人胸腺、人脐血联合移植后裸鼠体内T细胞分布及免疫功能的重建。 方法：Balb/c nu/nu裸鼠30 只,随机分为2组：实验组肾被膜下移植胸腺组织,2周后将新鲜分离的脐血CD34+细胞悬液经小鼠静脉输入,对照组不经胸腺移植直接给予CD34+细胞移植,两组小鼠饲养至60 d时检测免疫功能。 结果与结论：人胸腺在裸鼠肾被膜下存活并且表达CD3、HLA-DR分子,胸腺与CD34+细胞联合移植组小鼠脾脏可见点块状分布的CD3+细胞。实验组CD3+细胞、CD4+细胞、CD8+细胞及CD4+CD25+细胞比例均显著高于对照组。实验组裸鼠对移植人胃癌BGC823细胞有排斥作用,而对照组没有。结果显示胸腺和CD34+细胞联合移植能使裸鼠获得T细胞介导的细胞免疫功能,具有抗肿瘤能力。     

Is schizophrenia linked to alteration in cellular immunity?

To reinvestigate the viral hypothesis of schizophrenia as well as possible immunological dysfunction, neopterin, which is an indicator of the activity in the cellular immune system, was determined in acute and chronic schizophrenics. Both diagnostic groups showed neopterin levels within the normal range. Patients with chronic schizophrenia of the residual type presented a significant dependency between neopterin concentrations and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) total scores. In a long-term observation of 14 acute schizophrenic (paranoid type) inpatients, neopterin levels were found to be lowest at day 0. During the first week of treatment neopterin concentrations increased significantly whereas a concomitant decrease of the psychopathological symptoms could be observed. In comparison to healthy controls patients showed significantly lower neopterin levels at baseline. These findings will be discussed referring to the viral hypothesis of schizophrenia as well as to possible immunological alterations caused by stress or by changes in neurotransmitter synthesis.     

Social stress, dominance and blood cellular immunity.

The impact of chronic social coexistence on distribution and function of blood immune cells was examined in Long Evans rats. At the beginning of a 7 day period of chronic coexistence (confrontation), a wall was removed between two neighboring cages each consisting of a male-female pair. Winner and loser males were classified based on differences in their defensive behavior. On day 2 and 7 of confrontation, losers showed reductions in numbers of blood CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as profound suppression of in vitro NK activity and lymphocyte (LYM) proliferation. Numbers of granulocytes (GRAs) were more than doubled. Winner males showed similar immunological alterations only on day 2 of confrontation. On day 7 most changes were reversed. The persistent changes in loser males may reflect a less favorable state for effective immune response.     

抑郁症病人细胞免疫和血超氧化物歧化酶含量的研究

目的探讨生物学因素与抑郁症病因病理的关系。方法对内源性抑郁１３例、非内源性抑郁１１例和１３例健康人进行自然杀伤细胞（ＮＫ）、淋巴细胞转化率、血超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）测定。结果病人组ＮＫ细胞均明显降低（Ｐ＜００１），淋巴细胞转化率及ＳＯＤ含量与正常人无明显差别（Ｐ均＞００５）。结论抑郁症病人存在免疫参数异常，但这种异常可能不是其特异性生物学指标，而是一种状态标志；抑郁症病人不存在自由基活动增强。