Small increases in pH decrease uptake ofEscherichia coli by human neutrophils in vitro

Increases in pH from 7.4 to 7.8 decreased the ability of human neutrophils in serum to ingest and killEscherichia coli ATCC 29552 in vitro. In contrast, similar increases in pH did not decrease the bactericidal activity of neutrophils in serum againstStaphylococcus aureus 502A. Increases in pH did not alter opsonization ofE. coli by serum or the growth ofE. coli but rather appeared to alter neutrophil uptake of bacteria by a direct effect on the neutrophil.     

The factor structure of coping strategies in hemophilia

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the factor structure of the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ). In order to find factors that are reproducible across samples and to evaluate their relationship to pain, disability, and depressive mood, the subjects used were a group of 224 patients with congenital coagulation defects. Factor analysis identified 4 factors in the Coping Strategies Questionnaire that could be categorized as Distraction, Pain Control, Reinterpreting Pain Sensations, and Catastrophizing. There were positive correlations between pain and Catastrophizing (p<0.005) and between disability and Catastrophizing (p<0.005). There was also a relationship between Catastrophizing and emotional well-being indicating that the lower the feeling of well-being, the greater the use of Catastrophizing strategies. The present results confirm that a 4- to 5-factor solution gives reasonable reproducibility across samples and methods.     

Pelvic floor muscle exercise for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: III. Effects of two different degrees of pelvic floor muscle exercises

Fifty-two women, mean age 45.9 years (24–64) with clinically and urodynamically proven stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were randomly assigned to one of two different pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercise groups. Both groups performed 8–12 maximal PFM contractions 3 times a day for 6 months. In addition one group exercised with an instructor intensively 45 min once a week performing long-lasting contractions with the supplement of 3–4 fast contractions at the end of each long-lasting contraction. Initially and after 6 months an examination was performed comprising history, urinary leakage index, pad test, maximum urethral closure pressure, functional urethral profile length, and recording of vaginal pressure during PFM contractions. The latter was performed monthly. After the treatment 60% of the intensive exercise (IE) group and 17.3% of the home exercise (HE) group reported to be continent or almost continent (P < .01). Only the IE group demonstrated significant reduction in urine loss; from mean 27 g to 7.1 g (P < .01) and improvement in maximum resting urethral closure pressure (mean improvement 4.6 cm H₂O. P = .02). PFM strength improved with mean 15.5 cm H₂O (P < .01) in the IE group while the HE group improved with 7.4 cm H₂O (P < .01). It is concluded that the results of PFM exercise for female SUI is highly dependent upon the degree and duration of treatment and frequent supervision by the therapist.     

Platelets and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in experimental ocular inflammation in the rabbit eye

Accumulation of 111indium-oxine (111In)-labelled platelets and the kinetics of 111In-labelled polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) were studied in the anterior eye during neurogenic inflammation (induced by topical neutral formaldehyde) or after paracentesis in the rabbit, after formaldehyde irritation, 40 times more platelets were found in the aqueous humor 60 min later than in the control eyes and 400 times more after paracentesis. Platelets were found to be increased in the ciliary body, but not in the iris or choroid. Under light microscopy, some of the blood vessels in the ciliary processes were occluded and filled with red blood cells and platelets. The amount of PMNLs increased in the aqueous humor 15-20 h following formaldehyde irritation. After paracentesis, increased amounts of PMNLs were found in the iris and ciliary body 3-6 h later, while in the aqueous humor PMNLs were observed already 2 h. In the present study, increased amounts of 111In-labelled platelets and PMNLs were demonstrated in the anterior eye during experimental ocular inflammation. This method provides a useful tool for evaluating the accumulation of cells or the cell kinetics in ocular tissues during experimental inflammation.     

Number of siblings and the risk of lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma by histopathology.

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that several markers of exposure to childhood infections are inversely associated with the risk of childhood leukemia and lymphomas. We used the Swedish Family-Cancer Database to assess the effects of number of siblings on the risk of non-Hodgkin's (n = 7,007) and Hodgkin's lymphomas (n = 3,115), leukemias (n = 7,650), and multiple myeloma (n = 1,492) by histopathology. Poisson regression models included terms for age, sex, family history, period, and socioeconomic index. Having four or more siblings compared with none was associated with an excess risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL; rate ratio (RR), 2.11; P(trend) = 0.001], acute monocytic leukemia (RR, 2.51; P(trend) = 0.002), and multiple myeloma (RR, 1.34; P(trend) = 0.006). Having three or more older siblings compared with none decreased the risk of acute monocytic leukemia (RR, 0.35; P(trend) = 0.001) and childhood ALL (RR, 0.69; P(trend) = 0.01). The risk of Hodgkin's lymphoma for five or more older siblings compared with none was 0.41 (P(trend) = 0.003). Acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and other lymphoproliferative malignancies were not associated with number of siblings. In conclusion, we found an excess risk of childhood ALL and acute monocytic leukemia in large families. However, for ALL, acute monocytic leukemia, and Hodgkin's lymphoma, younger siblings were strongly protected compared with older siblings. The remarkable protective effect of number of older siblings on acute monocytic leukemia is a novel finding of potential interest. Possible interpretations of our findings in the context of a putative infectious etiology are discussed.     

A combination of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-specific murine monoclonal antibodies exhibits synergistic antiviral activity in vitro.

A combination of HCMV-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) reactive with glycoproteins in gcI complexes which exhibit synergistic antiviral activity in vitro is described. MAbs directed against different structural and biological properties of HCMV have been selected to increase the antiviral activity against all possible strains, and to reduce the likelihood that resistant strains will emerge with prolonged exposure. Furthermore, in vitro analysis demonstrates that certain of the MAbs in the combination augment the virus-neutralizing activity of other component antibodies, thereby decreasing the amount of total antibody protein required to inhibit HCMV infection. Certain MAbs have been selected to inactivate extracellular virus during the early phase of HCMV infection, whereas others have been selected to prevent its spread once cells have been infected. These data suggest that a MAb cocktail may be useful for prophylaxis and treatment of patients at risk of life-threatening HCMV infections.     

Formation,toxicity and inactivation of acrolein during biotransformation of cyclophosphamide as studied in freshly isolated cells from rat liver and kidney

In the present study the formation and the effects of cyclophosphamide-derived acrolein were investigated using isolated cells from rat liver and kidney, with particular regard to the protective action of low molecular weight thiols against cellular toxicity. The results may be summarized as follows: Cyclophosphamide (CTX)-mediated toxicity to isolated cells is dependent on cytochrome P-450 activity; Loss of viability in cells incubated with cyclophosphamide is preceded by a depletion of cellular GSH; Stimulation of cellular GSH synthesis or the presence of low molecular weight thiols in the incubation medium protects against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity; Acrolein is probably formed extracellularly as well as intracellularly and can be detoxified by thiol compounds, forming a thiochemiacetal or a thioether.     

Effects of a streptococcal lipoteichoic acid on complement activation in vitro

Abstract This study describes activation of serum complement by lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Streptococcus mutans OMZ 176, while in solution. Serum from 16 healthy students was taken. Test samples were incubated with increasing doses (1–5,000 μg/ml) of LTA or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 for 1 h at 37°C; then assayed for degradation of C3, C4 or factor B by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Each preparation caused a significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent conversion of C3. The response curves obtained were not statistically different. LPS was a stronger activator of the alternative pathway than LTA, as judged from analysis of C3 degradation in the presence of Mg²⁺/EGTA, and from their effects on factor B cleavage. LTA caused, however, pronounced alterations in the shape of C4 precipitations in the gels. Functional (hemolytic) assays showed that, when tested at 200 μg/ml, LTA and LPS triggered significant (p<0.05) consumptions of both classical and alternative pathway proteins. LPS was a significantly (p<0.05) stronger activator than LTA. Apparently, the C3 degradation found for this LTA involved the alternative pathway to a small extent; thus some other mechanism of fluid-phase C3 cleavage seemed also to be operative.