Spontaneous Rosette Formation with Heavily Haptenated Sheep Erythrocytes: A Marker for Mouse Non-T Lymphocytes

Most non-T lymphocytes in nonimmunized mice spontaneously bind heavily haptenated (4-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrophenyl)acetyl (NNP)-sheep erythrocytes. Few if any T lymphocytes are rosette formers with such erythrocytes. The NNP rosette formation is suggested to be a marker for mouse non-T cells.     

A SEQUENTIAL STUDY OF HUMAN B LYMPHOCYTE FUNCTION FROM BIRTH TO TWO YEARS OF AGE

Abstract. Andersson, U., Bird, G. and Britton S. (Dept. of Immunobiology, Wallenberg-laboratory, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden). A sequential study of human B lymphocyte function from birth to two years of age. Acta Paediatr Scand 70: 837, 1981.-The immunoglobulin synthesizing capacity of individual lymphocytes from newborns and infants aged 2, 6, 12 and 24 months respectively has been studied. The technique has been to expose purified lymphocytes to a T lymphocyte dependent (pokeweed mitogen) or a T lymphocyte independent (Epstein-Barr virus) activator of B lymphocytes. Activation has been measured as immunoglobulin secretion of individual B lymphocytes using a hemolytic plaque assay. B lymphocytes from newborns can be made to synthesize IgM at adult levels, but not IgG and IgA. Within 24 months from birth the secretion of IgG has reached adult capacity whereas IgA formation is still diminished. Lymphocytes synthesizing IgG subclasses appear at different times insofar as IgGl and IgG3 are well demonstrable within 12 months from birth whereas IgG2 and IgG4 has not at all reached adult levels even 24 months after birth. The T lymphocyte dependent activator (pokeweed mitogen) fails to induce immunoglobulin synthesis in peripheral blood lymphocytes from newborns because of a defect helper T cell function. Such T cell capacity appears at the age of 6 months. The data unequivocally demonstrate restricted but definite B lymphocyte functional capacity already at birth and a gradual but partial acquisition of adult competence until the age of 2 years.     

Eosinophils, secretory responsiveness and glucocorticoid-induced effects on the nasal mucosa during a weak pollen season

This study examined the seasonal effects on eosinophils and secretory responsiveness of the nasal mucosa in 22 patients with allergic rhinitis due to birch pollen (11 patients received placebo and 11 budesonide, 200 micrograms once daily in each nostril). The pollen counts during the study season were too low to produce a significant symptomatology. Hence, our findings demonstrate threshold alterations of the airway mucosa in allergic rhinitis and their inhibition by anti-inflammatory drug intervention. The patients were monitored for 8 weeks with daily recordings of pollen counts and symptom scores. Once every week a series of laboratory tests was carried out: the local eosinophil influx was determined using a Rhinobrush technique; the levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were analysed in nasal lavage fluids; and the secretory response to intranasal methacholine was measured. Treatments started after a 2-week run-in period. The proportion of eosinophils increased markedly in the placebo group and was elevated also during the last two study weeks when the pollen counts were practically nil. The secretory responsiveness to methacholine increased during the pollen season and returned to baseline towards the end of the study period. The topical glucocorticoid treatment reduced the proportion of eosinophils, the ECP levels, and the secretory response to methacholine compared to placebo. We conclude that the increased traffic and activity of eosinophils and less conspicuously the increased secretory responsiveness are expressions of the mucosal inflammation that precede the development of symptoms in seasonal allergic rhinitis.     

Acute Phase Reactants in the Initial Phase of Giant Cell Arteritis

ABSTRACT The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and haptoglobin were followed weekly during the initial phase of corticosteroid treatment in 18 patients with 19 episodes of giant cell arteritis (GCA). Fibrinogen and CRP decreased most rapidly, with normal values in 67% of the patients after two weeks of treatment. After two weeks 56% of the patients had normal ESR values and 76% after five weeks. Haptoglobin normalised most slowly, no patient having a normal value after one week, 29% after two weeks and 75% after six weeks. For routine clinical use, we found the ESR alone sufficient for monitoring the initial steroid treatment.     

Increase in Plasma Atrial Natriuretic Peptides during Acute Volume Expansion in Hypertensive Man

ABSTRACT. A new hormonal system originating from cardiac atria has recently been discovered. These peptide hormones have important functions in the regulation of blood volume and fluid homeostasis. We have measured plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptides (ANP) in two patients during acute volume expansion. ANP concentrations increased in relation to an increase in right atrial pressure, and significant diuresis/natriuresis was observed. We conclude that hormonal as well as neuronal mechanisms are activated by acute volume loading in man.     

DOUBLE BLIND COMPARISION OF TRANSDERMAL HYOSCINE AND PLACEBO FOR THE PREVENTION OF POSTOPERATIVE NAUSEA

Transdermal hyoscine (Scopoderm, Ciba-Geigy) has been comparedwith placebo in 283 female patients. The hyoscine patch hadno significant effect on postoperative nausea or vomiting. Incontrast with earlier studies, there was no correlation betweenprevious experiences of nausea (motion, pregnancy or surgeryrelated) and nausea caused by the surgery or anaesthetic inthis study. No correlation was found between nausea or vomitingand the type of operation.     

Seroprevalence of pertussis antitoxin (anti‐PT) in Sweden before and 10 years after the introduction of a universal childhood pertussis vaccination program

Hallander HO, Andersson M, Gustafsson L, Ljungman M, Netterlid E. Seroprevalence of pertussis antitoxin (anti‐PT) in Sweden before and 10 years after the introduction of a universal childhood pertussis vaccination program. APMIS 2009; 117: 912–22. The prevalence of IgG ELISA antibodies against pertussis toxin (anti‐PT) was studied in two Swedish seroepidemiological studies. One was performed in 1997 when the new pertussis vaccination program was 1 year old (n = 3420). In 2007, when Pa vaccines had been used countrywide for 10 years in the universal child vaccination program, this study was repeated to analyze the effect of vaccination on anti‐PT prevalence (n = 2379). Before the statistical analysis of seroprevalence, children vaccinated within the last 2 years before the serosurveys were excluded. The results indicate a reduced exposure to Bordetella pertussis in the population. The proportion of sera without measurable anti‐PT antibodies increased significantly, aggregated over all comparable age groups, from 3.8% in people sampled in 1997 to 16.3% in people sampled in 2007. For cord blood, 1% was without measurable anti‐PT antibodies in 1997 compared to a significantly higher level, 12%, in 2007. With anti‐PT concentrations of ≥50 and ≥100 EU/ml as cutoff points for ‘recent infection’ the proportion above the cutoff points for younger children was significantly higher in 1997 than in 2007 at both cutoff points. For all adults, 20 years of age and older, the difference in proportions above the lower cutoff point was close to statistically significant, comparing 1997 with 2007. This was not the case at 100 EU/ml. In the 1997 samples of children, there was a significant downward trend of ‘recent infections’ at both cutoff points for three sampled age groups between 5 and 15 years of age from 21% at 5.0–5.5 years of age to 7% at 14.7–15.7 years for the lowest cutoff. In the 2007 samples of children, on the contrary, there was a significant continuous upward trend of ‘recent infections’, at both cutoff points, for four sampled age groups between 4 and 18 years of age – from 4% at 4–5 years of age to 16% at 17–18 years at the lowest cutoff. The continuous increase, with age of children with high anti‐PT concentrations, supports the recent change in the general Swedish childhood vaccination program to include a pre‐school booster at 5–6 years and a school‐leaving booster at 14–16 years of age.