Comparative study of the effects of peptidoglycan monomer and structurally related adamantyltripeptides on humoral immune response to ovalbumin in the mouse

Peptidoglycan monomer, GlcNAc-MurNAc-L-Ala-D-isoGln-mesoDAP(omega NH2)-D-Ala-D-Ala (PGM) originating from Brevibacterium divaricatum and synthetic adamantyltripeptides, diastereoisomers of D,L-(adamant-2-yl)-Gly-L-Ala-D-isoGln (AdTP1 and AdTP2) exhibit immunomodulating activity. An experimental model in the mouse has been established with suboptimal amounts of ovalbumin (OVA) as the immunogen, and parallel testing of adjuvant activity of these three immunomodulators was carried out in Balb/c, C57B16 or CBA mice. Tested compounds (100 or 200 micrograms/mouse) mixed with OVA in saline (50 micrograms/mouse) were administered s.c. Anti-OVA was assayed by ELISA in the sera of mice taken 7 days after the boosters (given on days 14 and 28). The treatment with PGM and one of the diastereoisomers, AdTP2, resulted in significantly higher increase in anti-OVA IgG levels (stimulation index up to 46) with respect to controls and groups treated with AdTP1. The effect of AdTP2 treatment was comparable to that of PGM in most experiments after the first booster, but after the second booster PGM exhibited markedly better effect. PGM and AdTP2 also induced markedly higher levels of IgG1 and IgG2 anti-OVA subclasses than detected in controls and AdTP1 treated mice, indicating that these two immunomodulators might upregulate both Th1-like and Th2-like immune responses.     

Serum luteinizing hormone response to administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone to atrazine-treated gilts

The aim of the study was to evaluate the response of porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) in serum to a single iv administration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in atrazine-treated pigs. Experiments were performed in 15 mature female pigs (10 atrazine-treated, 5 control). From the onset of estrous (day 0), the pigs were given 1 mg atrazine/kg body mass in feed for 20 d of the estrous cycle. On the last day, blood samples were collected at min 0 from control and atrazine-exposed, and 5 atrazine-exposed pigs were immediatey given 100 mg GnRH iv. Blood samples were collected from atrazine-exposed and the GnRH-injected atrazine-exposed groups at 20, 30, 40 and 90 min and serum pLH concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. The administration of atrazine led to significant (p< 0.001) suppression of serum pLH concentrations (0.57 +/- 0.05 ng/ml) compared to control animals (2.24 +/- 0.20 ng/ml). The single iv GnRH administration to the atrazine-exposed pigs provoked significant pLH release at 20 and 30 min after GnRH administration, indicating attenuation of GnRH release in the atrazine-exposed animals was responsible for the suppression of serum pLH.     

Calcification of intraocular hydrogel lens: evidence of dystrophic calcification

PURPOSE: To report and describe the surface calcification of three cases of implanted intraocular hydrogel lens. Methods: Three surgically extracted hydrogel intraocular lenses were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy as well as by energy dispersion X-ray microanalysis. RESULTS: The lens surfaces were covered by granular deposits of calcium phosphate, clearly delineated by von Kossa and alizarin stains for calcium. Transmission electron microscopy showed the deposits to be located within the superficial lens material to a depth of 7 microm and to be associated with what appear to be traces of cellular material including basement membrane and plasmalemma. To the authors' knowledge there has been only one other transmission electron microscopic study. Energy dispersion X-ray microanalysis showed the deposits to contain calcium and phosphorous in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms and extends the previous reports of five cases of calcification of hydrogel intraocular lenses. The exact mechanism of calcification remains obscure but evidence suggesting cell-mediated dystrophic calcification of the lens surface is presented. Further study is required to monitor the incidence and development of this phenomenon.     

Solid-state investigation of piroxicam benzoate

Solid-state properties of piroxicam benzoate, an ester prodrug of piroxicam, were investigated. Samples were prepared by recrystallization from various organic solvents (toluene, ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate and acetone). Recrystallized samples were characterized by means of FTIR, DSC, TGA, SEM and XRPD. DSC, TGA and XRPD methods confirmed that piroxicam benzoate crystallized in two pseudopolymorphic forms, A and B. Pseudopolymorphic form A was obtained by recrystallization from ethanol and methanol by slow cooling at room temperature and by rapid cooling in an ice-cold bath, and also from toluene by rapid cooling in an ice-cold bath. Pseudopolymorphic form B was obtained by recrystallization from toluene by slow cooling at room temperature.     

Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment and seasonal variations

Seasonal variations of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) have been reported in only several studies, mostly from Central and northern Europe. In this study, seasonal incidence of RRD was determined and compared with sunlight exposure per season in the Mediterranean region of south Europe. The study was based on a retrospective review of medical records on 280 eyes of 272 consecutive hospital patients in the district of Split, Croatia, who were treated for primary nontraumatic phakic RRD over a 12-year period (1988-1999). The number of eyes with RRD recorded per season was 79 in summer, 71 in winter, 67 in spring and 63 in autumn. The average number of sunshine hours in Split was 1001 in summer, 698 in spring, 576 in autumn and 457 in winter. No seasonal variations in the occurrence of RRD and no correlation with the mean duration of sunlight exposure per season were found.     

Retropharyngeal abscess and acute inflammation of the maxillary sinus: transoral procedure as a surgical method of treatment

A previously healthy man, 65 years of age, was hospitalized for clinical symptoms and signs of retropharyngeal abscess. Computed tomography showed an abscess of the retropharyngeal space and the presence of liquid content in the paranasal sinuses. The patient was completely treated by the administration of combined antibiotics, biopsy procedure and aspiration of the contents by the retropharyngeal transoral procedure.     

A novel ELISA for determination of polysaccharide specific immunoglobulins

A novel ELISA using Nunc CovaLink microtiter plates has been developed for the determination of polysaccharide specific antibodies in mice sera. Glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), a major capsular polysaccharide of Cryptococcus neoformans serotype B, was immobilised on CovaLink plates by covalent linkage of CNBr activated hydroxyl groups of the sugar and free bnd NH(2) groups of the plates. The binding characteristics of GXM to CovaLink and to conventional polystyrene ELISA plate (Costar) were compared. The differences were observed in quality of standard curve with anti-GXM MoAb 2H1 (R(2) values were 0.9468 and 0.9872 for Costar and CovaLink plates, respectively) and in absorbance values of sera of immunised mice which were 2.5 times higher on CovaLink than on Costar plates. Negative control was low and having the same value on both the plates. Using the novel ELISA we have analysed the influence of immunomodulatory peptidoglycan monomer on humoral immune response to GXM in mice. The treatment with the conjugate of the immunomodulator and GXM resulted in the increase of GXM-specific IgGs in mice sera. Finally, the method has been successfully modified for the determination of dextran-specific antibodies in mice sera, indicating that the described procedure could be applied for other polysaccharides that have &z.sbnd;OH groups available for CNBr activation.     

Echocardiographic features of adult tetralogy of Fallot with natural palliative correction by patent ductus arteriosus

A thirty-year-old man with the diagnosis of the tetralogy of Fallot and patent ductus arteriosus was admitted to our hospital because of a syncope. He reported no previous symptoms. We diagnosed adult tetralogy of Fallot, which included all four characteristic anomalies: ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta, pulmonary artery stenosis, and right ventricular hypertrophy. The associated persistent ductus arteriosus and the presence of compensatory arteriovenous communications produced a continuous flow load on the left ventricle, which resulted in moderate left ventricular hypertrophy, but without symptoms of pulmonary congestion or cardiac decompensation. Anatomic diagnosis and hemodynamic assessment were established by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, with incidental finding of a quadricuspid aortic valve. To the best of our knowledge, our case of the adult form of Fallot's tetralogy associated with both patent ductus arteriosus and quadricuspid aortic valve is the first one ever described. It is well known that patients with tetralogy of Fallot who do not undergo operation in childhood have short survival, which depends predominantly on the degree of pulmonary artery stenosis and early development of collateral circulation to the lungs. Long-term persistence of natural aortopulmonary anastomosis with systemic collateral circulation to the lungs and remodeling of the heart, with better hemodynamic balance as well as the presence of mild pulmonary artery stenosis probably enhanced the survival of our patient.     

An association between serum testosterone level and HLA phenotype

The concentration of testosterone was determined in sera of 122 HLA-typed women. Subsequently the women were classified in the category below or above the mean serum testosterone concentration. When the frequencies of HLA antigens were compared in these two categories of women, it was found that HLA-B5 and HLA-B12 antigens were significantly increased in the category of women with serum testosterone level above the mean concentration (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The frequency of HLA-B8 antigen was significantly decreased in the same category of women (P < 0.05). The comparisons of the mean testosterone values of each HLA antigen and the variance analysis have also shown significant differences between the mean of HLA-B8 antigen and the means of other HLA antigens — HLA-A2, A3, A9, B5, B12 and Bw35. These results gave further conclusive evidence that gene(s) inside HLA region influence either the androgen hormone metabolism itself or cellular sensitivity to hormonal action as it has been presented for congenital adrenal hyperplasia.