Further characterization of histamine releasing chemokines present in fractionated supernatants derived from human mononuclear cells

Background Histamine releasing factors (HRF) are members of the β chemokine family of cytokines and have been characterized using recombinant proteins. Mononuelcar cell and/or platelet supernatants have been shown to contain HRF and the initial void peak obtained using Mono Q anion exchange chromatography possesses such activity, as do two later peaks eluted from the column. Objective We wished to further characterize the activity present in the void peak and determine which of the chemokines present are responsible for the activity measured. Methods We fractionated the void peak obtained from Mono Q chromatography on Mono S. The elution profile of individual chemokities was determined and the fractions were assayed for histamine releasing capability. We used monospecific antisera to inhibit the activity and quantitate the contribution of each protein. Results The fractions contained MCP-1/MCAF, CTAPIII/NAP-2, IL8, and a small quantity of RANTES. About 90-95% of the total histamine containing capability was attributable to MCP-1/MCAF. There was a small contribution by CTAPIII/NAP-2, and RANTES, and no activity associated with IL8. Conclusion MCP-1/MCAF is the critical HRF present in the initial void peak obtained by anion exchange chromatography of supernatants derived from human mononuclear cells and platelets. The α chemokine CTAPIII/NAP-2 has relatively weak activity and IL8 has none although they are prominent in this fraction and overlap with MCP-1/MCAF. RANTES makes a minor contribution but most of it is eluted in a later peak.     

Serological survey in animals for type A influenza in relation to the 1957 pandemic

In 1957 the World Health Organization arranged a survey of horse and swine sera in a number of countries in order to gain information on the role and importance of animals in the epidemiology of influenza. The veterinary services of the countries concerned were requested to obtain blood specimens from these animals, if possible both before and after the human pandemic of Asian influenza. This paper reports on the results of haemagglutination-inhibition and complement-fixation tests performed on these sera in WHO Influenza Centres and other collaborating laboratories.It is apparent from these results that the Asian (A2) strain can cause natural inapparent infection in horses and swine. Equine influenza caused by the A-equi strain is also present in many countries from which it had not been previously reported, and infection in pigs with the A-swine strain, long known in the USA, has now been recorded in at least two European countries.In a concluding section, the findings in this survey are related to other observations on the position of animals in influenza epidemiology, and future research needs are outlined.     

Changing cocaine smoking rituals in the Dutch heroin addict population

Recently the use patterns, circumstances and consequences of cocaine have become of interest to both researchers and policy makers in Europe. Currently only a few studies have been conducted of the social epidemiology of cocaine. In this article, focus is placed upon the use of cocaine in one subpopulation, heroin addicts. Based mainly upon ethnographic research conducted in the city of Rotterdam it can be estimated that the prevalence of cocaine use in this population has reached a very high level. The mode of ingesting cocaine parallels that of heroin; Injecting Drug Users inject cocaine-hydrochloride, heroin smokers smoke cocaine base. This cocaine base is mainly processed by users themselves. An exception to this rule of self-processing can be found in the most marginalized addicts who do not have access to the house addresses where both heroin and cocaine-hydrochloride are sold. In this group the selling of ‘cooked cocaine’, a crack-like product, has occurred. The circumstances and potential consequences of the emergence of ‘cooked cocaine’ are discussed.