Resistance of severe combined immunodeficient mice to infection with Cryptosporidium parvum: the importance of intestinal microflora.

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite which colonizes intestinal epithelium, causing transient diarrheal illness in immunocompetent hosts and severe chronic disease in immunocompromised hosts. We examined the resistance of severe combined immunodeficient mice, either bearing intestinal flora or germfree, to intestinal infection with C. parvum. Infection was not readily detected in flora-bearing adult severe combined immunodeficient mice until 5 to 7 weeks following oral challenge with C. parvum. In contrast, germfree adult severe combined immunodeficient mice were heavily infected 3 weeks following challenge. These data support the hypothesis that resistance of adult mice to C. parvum infection does not require a specific immune response but can be mediated by nonspecific mechanisms associated with the presence of intestinal flora.     

Epitope analysis with monoclonal antibodies directed against class II molecules subdivides HLA-DR2, DR3 and DR4: correlations with cellularly defined Dw specificities

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) defining 14 distinct polymorphic epitopes have been produced against the class II antigens of HLA-DR3Dw3DQw2 cells. Population analysis indicates that Mab C1 is directed against the DQw2 specificity and Mab M6 against the DRw52 specificity. The remaining Mabs define epitopes shared by the class II molecules of DR3 and various other specificities. Seven DR3Dw3DQw2 haplotypes were examined and could be divided into two types based on the presence of the epitope defined by Mab M3. Analysis of DR2 and DR4 homozygous cells with these Mabs revealed several distinct patterns of epitope expression. These subdivisions were found to correlate with the cellularly defined Dw specificities.     

The repair of DNA damage induced in human peripheral lymphocytes with styrene oxide

Isolated human peripheral lymphocytes were treated in vitro with styrene-7, 8-oxide (SO) and the kinetics of the repair of induced DNA damage was assessed by comet assay during further incubation of lymphocytes. Using a modified assay we measured simultaneously the number of single strand breaks in DNA (SSBs) and the sites sensitive to endonuclease III (endo III) that most probably represent abasic sites in DNA molecules. SO induced DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner and both SSBs and endo III sites were removed from the DNA by a repair process with a half time about 2-4 hours. The damage was repaired completely within 12 hours after the treatment.     

Combined liquid-crystalline polymers with chiral phases, 2. Lateral substituents

Chiral combined liquid-crystalline polymers (i. e. polymers with the mesogenic groups in the main chain as well as in the side groups) with dipole moments perpendicular to the mesogenic groups were synthesized and characterized. These dipole moments were introduced by lateral substituents, which were located at different parts of the mesogen or directly at the chiral centre. The polymers, thus prepared, show crystalline or glassy phases at room temperature and smectic A, chiral smectic C^* or cholesteric phases at higher temperatures. Since the lateral substituents decrease the melting temperature more strongly than the clearing temperature, the liquid-crystalline phases are broadened compared to the unsubstituted polymers. Often glassy liquid-crystalline phases are obtained. The dipole moments perpendicular to the mesogenic groups or at the chiral centre may help to obtain a high spontaneous polarisation in the chiral smectic C^* phase (ferroelectricity).     

Liquid crystalline elastomers based on liquid crystalline side group,main chain and combined polymers

Covalently crosslinked liquid crystalline networks with elastic properties were prepared in isotropic solution from linear liquid crystalline polymers. As linear precursors for the networks were used: (i) polymers with the mesogenic groups in the side groups (polyacrylates and polymethacrylates), (ii) polymers with the mesogenic groups in the main chain (polymalonates) and (iii) polymers with the mesogenic groups in main chain and side groups (“combined liquid crystalline polymers”). In all crosslinked polymers the liquid crystalline phases of the linear polymers are retained. For low degrees of crosslinking (≤2 mol-%) the phase transition temperatures remain nearly unchanged. These elastomers are very soft above T_g and can be easily stretched for more than 100%. For higher degrees of crosslinking the phase transition temperatures are reduced.     

Tackling the frailty burden with an integrative value-based approach: results from a mixed-methods study

Journal of Public Health - The purpose of this paper is to investigate the implementation of value-based care principles in the context of frailty in the perioperative process, highlighting the...     

Quality-of-Life Outcome After Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding for Morbid Obesity

Background: The definition of success and failure of a bariatric procedure should include weight loss as well as improvement of comorbidity and quality-of-life (QoL) assessment. QoL measures changes in physical, functional, mental, and social health in order to evaluate benefits of new programs and interventions. Material and Methods: From April 1995 until March 1999, 287 patients underwent laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) at Northwest Hospital Frankfurt a.M. (Germany). In this study, 100 of 287 patients (preoperative mean BMI 48.3 kg/m²; mean age 35.2 years) with a follow-up >18 month were evaluated. All patients underwent anonymous questionnaire (26 questions with a maximum score of 60) about different aspects of QoL outcome after LSAGB. Results: In this study, 4 of 100 patients refused to give an answer to the QoL questions. Therefore 96 patients were evaluated. The QoL auto-evaluation of the patients shows that QoL generally improved after surgery in 92%. Using the scoring system, 44% of patients have excellent, 52% good, and only 4% bad results. The 4 patients who refused had to be classified as failure. General acceptance of LSAGB is wide, but gastrointestinal side effects are recognizable in more than 78% of operated patients. Successful weight loss is followed by an improvement of comorbidities. Conclusions: Safe, effective bariatric procedures increase the quality of life in morbidly obese patients markedly. Bariatric surgeons are committed to support and help their patients until they reach a new quality of life after obesity surgery.     

Subjective quality of life in female in-patients with depression: a longitudinal study

This study investigated Subjective Quality of Life (SQOL) in 42 women with depression, 70 women with alcoholism, and 73 women with schizophrenia within 3 weeks after hospital admission. Twenty-eight of the depressive patients were re-examined after 6 months. SQOL was assessed using the German version of the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile. On average, depressive women expressed dissatisfaction with life as a whole and with 4 out of 8 life domains, and had a lower SQOL than the other two diagnostic groups. Differences remain statistically significant when the influence of age and anxiety/depression is controlled for. SQOL in depressive women improved significantly within the follow up period. Positive SQOL change was moderately correlated with an improvement of depressive symptoms. The results indicate that depressive women after hospital admission express an unusually low SQOL, which seems to have some diagnostic specificity and improves over time. Changes in depressive symptoms do not fully explain SQOL changes.     

Penetration of ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin into the aqueous humor using different topical application modes

 · Background: A prospective study was undertaken to determine the transcorneal penetration of three topically applied fluoroquinolones into aqueous humor. · Methods: Cataract patients (n=224) preoperatively received topically applied gyrase inhibitors (0.3% ciprofloxacin, 0.3% norfloxacin, 0.3% ofloxacin) in two different application modes. In application mode I, patients received on the day before operation 3×1 eye drop at 2-h intervals, and on the day of operation 3 drops at 1-h intervals. In application mode II, patients received 9 drops at 15-min intervals on the day of operation only. Just before cataract surgery 50–100 μl aqueous humor was aspirated and stored at –80 °C. The HPLC method was used for measuring the concentration. · Results: The highest concentrations of all tested antibiotics were measured after the mode of application in which one drop was given every 15 min between 06:00 and 08:00 hours before operation. In this mode, ciprofloxacin achieved a mean aqueous level of 379.8±327.8 μg/l (range 33–1388 μg/l), norfloxacin 182.1±118.1 μg/l (range 38–480 μg/l) and ofloxacin 563.9±372.1 μg/l (range 64–1455 μg/l). These mean concentration are all above the MIC₉₀ of gram-negative bacteria like Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli. In some cases the concentrations of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, but never norfloxacin, reached therapeutic values above the MIC₉₀ of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis · Conclusions: The mean concentration value of 0.3% ciprofloxacin and of 0.3% ofloxacin in the aqueous humor reached the MIC₉₀ values of the frequently occurring gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Of the currently available topical fluoroquinolones, ofloxacin achieved the highest aqueous humor concentration. Considering the higher antimicrobial activity of ciprofloxacin, both ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin may be useful ophthalmic agents in antibacterial management, but they are not efficient against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Received: 8 September 1997 Revised version received: 19 March 1998 Accepted: 8 April 1998