Enhanced immunological memory responses to Listeria monocytogenes in rodents,as measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), adoptive transfer of DTH,and protective immunity,following Lactobacillus casei Shirota ingestion

We have investigated the effect of orally administered Lactobacillus casei Shirota (L. casei) on immunological memory, as measured by delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and acquired cellular resistance (ACR). The studies were performed in animal models in which the animals were rendered immune by a primary Listeria monocytogenes infection. It was shown that orally administered viable L. casei, and not heat-killed L. casei, enhanced significantly the antigen-specific DTH at 24 and 48 h in Wistar rats, Brown Norway rats, and BALB/c mice in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. L. casei had to be administered at least 3 days prior to the DTH assay at a daily dose of 10(9) CFU in order to induce significant effects. Long-term administration of 10(9) CFU of viable L. casei resulted in enhanced ACR, as demonstrated by reduced L. monocytogenes counts in the spleen and liver and diminished serum alanine aminotransferase activity after reinfection. Enhancement of cell-mediated immunological immune responses by L. casei was further established in an adoptive transfer study. Na?ve recipient BALB/c mice, which were infused with nonadherent, immunized spleen cells from L. casei-fed donor BALB/c mice, showed significantly enhanced DTH responses at 24 and 48 h compared to recipient mice which received spleen cells from control donor mice. In conclusion, orally administered L. casei enhanced cell-mediated immunological memory responses. The effects relied on lactobacillus dose and viability as well as timing of supplementation and, further, appeared to be independent of host species or genetic background.     

Chromosomal aberrations in follicular thyroid carcinoma. Case report of a primary tumor and its metastasis

We present the result of a cytogenetic study of a case of follicular carcinoma of the thyroid and its metastasis. Both tumors have a low number of chromosomes. The primary tumor is characterized by a idic(22;22)(p11;p11). The skeletal metastasis has also structural abnormalities of chromosome 22.     

Effect of Pyrimidine Nucleosides on Body Temperatures of Man and Rabbit in Relation to Pharmacokinetic Data

The effect of high-dose uridine on body temperatures of rabbits and man has been studied in relation to plasma concentrations of uridine and its catabolite uracil. Uridine induced fever in both rabbits and man. High-dose cytidine had no influence on body temperature in rabbits. Plasma concentrations of uridine were between 1 and 1.5 mM at 30 min after an iv bolus injection of 400 mg uridine/kg in rabbits and reached peak levels of 2 mM after a 1-hr infusion of 12 g uridine/m² in man. The plasma concentration of cytidine in rabbits was about 0.5 mM and that of uridine was 0.30 mM at 30 min after an iv bolus injection of 400 mg cytidine/kg. The mean residence time for uridine in patients and rabbits varied between 80 and 195 min. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) for uridine in rabbits was 2.0 mmol · hr/liter, and that for cytidine was 0.6 mmol · hr/liter. A large AUC for uridine indicates a prolonged exposure of tissues to uridine, which might lead to extensive formation of degradation products. The administration of some of these catabolites, dihydrouracil (at 20–40 mg/kg), carbamyl--alanine (at 60 mg/kg), and -alanine (at 300–400 mg/kg), resulted in a significant increase in body temperature. It is concluded that the change in body temperature associated with uridine administration was not due to bacterial pyrogens but that one of the degradation products might be involved in thermoregulation.     

ASO Visual Abstract: Association of Obesity with Worse Operative and Oncologic Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Gastric Cancer Resection

Annals of Surgical Oncology -     

Patients'' complaints and satisfaction 5 years after complete denture treatment

This study is based on an evaluation of patients' opinions of their dentures by means of a questionnaire. The patients had been provided with complete dentures at a university clinic. Of the original sample (n = 139) a test group of 92 patients remained available for the actual study 5 yr after treatment. The replies in the questionnaire were subjected to statistical processing and interpretation. Six clusters could be defined and these were introduced as "scales" representing the patients' score on a specific type of complaint. Apart from the six scales a score was achieved for each patient's overall satisfaction. The correlations between the various scales were calculated with the aid of a computer program. Finally, cross-tabulation was used to see if any significant (inter)correlations could be proved between complaints, satisfaction, and some of the patients' social data. It could be concluded that a correlation exists between complaints of pain and of functional aspects on the one hand and vague complaints on the other hand. There is also a correlation between complaints of looseness of the maxillary denture and complaints about aesthetic factors. Well-fitting and well-functioning dentures, absence of pain, and a socially acceptable appearance contribute much to the patients' satisfaction with dentures. Social variables such as type of insurance (public or private) and marital status influence denture appreciation to a certain extent.     

Epidermal growth factor receptor levels increase but epidermal growth factor receptor ligand levels decrease in mouse mammary tumors during progression from hormone dependence to hormone independence

Summary Twenty-six serially transplanted Grunder (GR) strain mouse mammary tumors were analyzed for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and EGFR-ligand levels, in addition to steroid hormone receptors (estrogen receptor, ER, progesterone receptor, PgR). In concordance with earlier studies, hormone dependent (HD) and hormone responsive (HR) tumors were found to be positive for both ER and PgR, whereas hormone independent (HI) tumors contained only 30% of the ER concentration that was found in the HD tumors. PgR was undetectable in HI tumors. HI tumors contained 2.5 to 3-fold higher EGFR levels than HD/HR tumors, an observation which shows remarkable concordance with studies on EGFR in human breast cancer. On the other hand, the level of EGFR-ligand(s) was positively associated with ER levels and was three-fold higher in HD/HR tumors than in HI tumors. The low EGFR in HD/HR tumors relative to HI tumors may be the result of downregulation by EGFR ligands produced under ER control. During progression to hormone independence this downregulation of EGFR is then abolished in absence of ER. The increase in EGFR may therefore be a secondary effect rather than a key event in the progression to hormone independence in this mouse mammary tumor model.Abbreviations EGF Epidermal Growth Factor - EGFR Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor - ER Estrogen Receptor - PgR Progesterone Receptor - HD Hormone Dependent - HR Hormone Responsive - HI Hormone Independent - HAP Hydroxylapatite - DCC Dextran Coated Charcoal - GR Grunder - TGF- Transforming Growth Factor-     

Cytokine production by the human bladder carcinoma cell line T24 in the presence of bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)

Summary The study was initiated as an in vitro approach to the situation existing during intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation in patients with superficial bladder cancer. Cytokine secretion of a human bladder carcinoma cell line T24 treated with BCG was investigated. A 24-h treatment of T24 cells with BCG resulted in a tenfold higher secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) when compared with T24 cells treated with Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis or a cell wall preparation of Nocardia rubra (N-CWS). No secretion of IL-1 and IL-2 was detected. Pre-exposing T24 cells to BCG for various periods of time indicated that a minimum exposure time of 0.5–1 h was required to upregulate IL-6 and TNF production. Extending the BCG pre-exposure time to 2 and 3 h further increased the rate of cytokine production. No significant difference was found, however, between the rate of secretion initiated after a 2-h or 3-h pre-exposure period. The amounts of these cytokines secreted in the presence of BCG-conditioned medium did not differ significantly from the constitutively secreted amounts, excluding an effect of products possibly secreted by BCG on the upregulation of IL-6 and TNF. In addition, upregulation of cytokine production appeared to be dependent on the concentration of BCG. The results suggest that cytokines may be produced by urothelial tumor cells after intravesical instillation in patients with superficial bladder cancer, which may play a role in the mode of action of BCG.     

Factors Influencing the Growth in Knowledge of Trainees in General Practice

Objectives: The relation between the content of postgraduate training for general practice and the outcome in terms of the growth in knowledge of trainees was investigated. The training variables included were: (1) the number of patients seen per day, (2) the trainer, (3) the practice and (4) the theoretical curriculum.Methods: Subjects were 58 trainee-trainer pairs. Growth in knowledge was assessed by two written tests administered with eight months interval. Training variables were evaluated by means of questionnaires and logbook-registration. The correlation was explored between each of the training variables and the knowledge tests scores. To correct for interactional effects, a step-wise multiple regression analysis was performed with the second test as dependent variable and the first test as well as the training variables as independent variables.Results: Significant growth in knowledge was demonstrated. Non of all training variables investigated explained the variance in scores on the second test equally good or better than the scores on the entry test.Conclusions: The impact of the separate training-components on the growth in knowledge, remains unclear. We may speculate, that the sort of knowledge assessed with the written literature based true/false test is different from the sort of knowledge transferred during every day training: evidence based knowledge versus experience based knowledge. Equally valid is the conclusion that these findings fit into the theory that in adult learning the outcome is more learner than teacher dependent.This revised version was published online in September 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.