Oral administration of antigens from intestinal flora anaerobic bacteria reduces the severity of experimental acute colitis in BALB/c mice

Homeostasis between indigenous intestinal flora and host response may be broken in inflammatory bowel disease. The present study explores whether repeated oral administration of intestinal flora antigens can protect mice against dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced colitis. Sonicates of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, or anaerobic resident bacteria isolated from mouse intestinal flora were fed to BALB/c mice by gastric gavage, with or without cholera toxin. After four weekly doses of 1 mg of these antigen preparations (or of PBS as control), DSS colitis was induced. One week later colitis was evaluated by clinical scores and histology. Mice fed a pool of the three sonicates had decreased inflammation scores (5 (1-14); median (range)) compared with PBS-fed control animals (15 (7-19); P < 0.05). Decreased inflammation was observed in mice fed anaerobic bacteria antigens (7 (6-11); P < 0.05 versus control), but not in mice fed a pool of Gram-positive and -negative sonicates (16 (12-16)). Inflammation scores of mice fed antigens with cholera toxin were similar to those of PBS-fed control animals. DSS-induced colitis can be suppressed by oral administration of normal intestinal flora antigens containing anaerobes.     

Genetic components and intellectual functioning during senescence: A 20-year study of aging twins

Psychological test scores of 13 identical and six fraternal pairs of twins aged 77–88 years were analyzed. These individuals are the survivors of a group of senescent twins studied earlier. The identical twins remained more similar than the fraternal ones, and there was a remarkable conservation of cognitive abilities in most individuals. Moreover, preservation of intelligence and longevity may be related.     

Solid-phase radioimmunoassay for hepatitis be antigen (HBeAg)

Summary A solid-phase radioimmunoassay was developed for the detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe in sera or serum fractions. HBe/sAg positive sera, partially purified HBeAg, partially purified HBsAg, and HBe/sAg negative sera were polymerized in polyacrylamide and compared for their ability to bind¹²⁵I-IgG (anti-HBe). Only gels containing HBeAg reacted specifically with the iodinated antibody. The specificity of the binding was confirmed by blocking and inhibition tests using anti-HBe, HBeAg, HBsAg, and negative control sera. The radioimmunoassay allows the specific and quantitative detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe even in the presence of detergents and high salt concentrations.

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Abbreviations HBsAg hepatitis B surface antigen - HBeAg hepatitis Be antigen - HBe/sAg hepatitis Be antigen and surface antigen - anti-HBe antibody to hepatitis Be antigen     

Presentation of cytosolic antigens via MHC class II molecules

Major histocompatibility (MHC) class II molecules function to present antigenic peptides to CD4 T lymphocytes. The pathways by which these molecules present exogenous antigens have been extensively studied. However by contrast, far less is known about the processing and trafficking of cytosolic antigens, which can also serve as an alternative source of ligands for MHC class II molecules. Self-proteins, tumor antigens, as well as viral proteins found within the cytosol of cells, can be presented via MHC class II molecules, resulting in the activation of specific CD4 T cells. Studies have begun to reveal unique steps as well as some similarities in the pathways for cytosolic and exogenous antigen presentation. Recent developments in this area are summarized here.     

Interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain and STAT6 signaling inhibit gamma interferon but not Th2 cytokine expression within schistosome granulomas

Compared to wild-type (WT) mice, schistosome granulomas in Stat6 knockout (KO) mice lacked eosinophils and had Th1 features. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) acts through Stat6 in assisting Th2 cell development. The importance of Stat6 for Th2-cell development within schistosome granulomas had not been explored. Therefore we studied gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), IL-4, and IL-5 production in granulomas from Stat6 KO and WT mice. Dispersed granuloma cells from Stat6 KO and WT mice made similar amounts of IL-4 and IL-5. Only Stat6 KO granuloma cells released IFN-gamma. Granuloma T cells contained most of the IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma mRNA and secreted these cytokines. In Stat6 KO mice, 16.6% of the granuloma cells were CD4(+). Of these, 10.7% stained for IFN-gamma and/or IL-4 by intracytoplasmic flow analysis. Few CD4(-) T cells stained positively. The IL-4-producing T cells did not stain for DX5 or with labeled alpha-GalCer CD1d tetramer, suggesting an absence of NK T cells. Thus, conventional Th cells in Stat6 KO granulomas produce IFN-gamma and Th2 cytokines. Stat6 limits IFN-gamma production but is unnecessary for Th2-cell development or localization within the granuloma.     

Calculation of direct standard costs in the evaluation of new technologies: application to the treatment of acute myeloblastic leukemias

Financial incidence of new technology can be approached through the utilization of "direct standard cost". This method allows actualization of prices and permits the integration of new procedures. It is applied to acute non lymphoblastic leukemia.