New feather mite species (Acari,Astigmata) from the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cacatua galerita</Emphasis> and Yellow-crested Cockatoo <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. sulphurea</Emphasis> (Psittaciformes,Cacatuidae)

Two new genera and three new species of feather mites (Astigmata, Pterolichoidea, Analgoidea) are described from two closely related species of cockatoos, Cacatua galerita (type host) and C. sulphurea (Psittaciformes, Cacatuidae): Astrolabelichus caudatus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), Psittophagus lacunosus sp. nov. (Pterolichidae), and Cacatualges microdiscus gen. nov., sp. nov. (Xolalgidae). The presence of the same set of mite species on these two species of parrots points to a very close affinity of Cacatua sulphurea and C. galerita and gives additional support for the recent hypothesis of the conspecificity of these birds.     

The atheroprotective effect of 17beta-estradiol depends on complex interactions in adaptive immunity

Estradiol prevents fatty streak formation in chow-fed atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice. We previously reported that fatty streak development of immunodeficient ApoE(-/-)/recombination activating gene 2 (RAG-2(-/-)) double-deficient mice was insensitive to estradiol. In the present work, we demonstrate that the reconstitution of ApoE(-/-)/RAG-2(-/-) with bone marrow from immunocompetent ApoE(-/-)/RAG-2(+/+) mice restores the protective effect of estradiol on fatty streak constitution. We extended this demonstration to the model of low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice, establishing the obligatory role of mature lymphocytes in this process. We then investigated whether the protective effect of estradiol was mediated by a specific lymphocyte subpopulation by studying the hormonal effect on fatty streak constitution in recently developed models of ApoE(-/-) mice deficient in selective T-lymphocyte subsets (either TCRalphabeta+, CD4+, CD8+, or TCRgammadelta+ lymphocytes) or B lymphocytes. In all these specifically immunodeficient mice, estradiol administration to ovariectomized mice conferred protection as in immunocompetent ApoE(-/-) mice, clearly demonstrating that no single lymphocyte subpopulation was specifically required for this effect. These results point to additional lymphocyte-dependent mechanisms such as modulating the interactions among lymphocytes and between lymphocytes and endothelial and/or antigen-presenting cells.     

Nasal versus bronchial and nasal response to oral aspirin challenge: Clinical and biochemical differences between patients with aspirin-induced asthma/rhinitis

BACKGROUND: Aspirin-induced asthma/rhinitis (AIAR) is characterized by the altered metabolism of leukotrienes and proinflammatory prostaglandins. The basal and postchallenge levels of eicosanoids might reflect the clinical and biochemical characteristics of patients with distinct types of hypersensitive responses to aspirin. OBJECTIVE: We compared clinical and eicosanoid profiles of patients with AIAR showing both bronchial and nasal versus isolated nasal responses to aspirin challenge. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with AIAR underwent the single-blind, oral, placebo-controlled aspirin challenge. The bronchial response (BR) was evidenced by dyspnea and spirometry, whereas the nasal response (NR) was evidenced by nasal symptoms and acoustic rhinometry and/or rhinomanometry. Urinary leukotriene E4 (uLTE4), serum and urinary stable prostaglandin D2 metabolite, and 9alpha,11beta-prostaglandin F2 (9alpha,11beta-PGF2), were determined at baseline and after the aspirin challenge. RESULTS: Fifteen subjects showed BR and NR (BNR), whereas 8 showed NR only. Basal uLTE4 in the BNR group was significantly higher than in the NR group. After aspirin challenge, it increased significantly in both groups. Serum 9alpha,11beta-PGF2 increased after aspirin challenge in the BNR group only. The patients with BNR had more severe AIAR. CONCLUSIONS: BNR to aspirin in AIAR indicates a more advanced disease and more profound underlying eicosanoid metabolism disturbances.     

Extranodal posttransplant plasmacytic hyperplasia with subsequent posttransplant plasmacytic malignancy: six-year interval case report and review of the literature

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) represent a morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genotypic spectrum of disease. Most recently, Knowles et al divided PTLDs into 3 distinct categories: (1) plasmacytic hyperplasia, (2) polymorphic B-cell hyperplasia and polymorphic B-cell lymphoma, and (3) immunoblastic lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Although one form of PTLD may progress to another form, only 1 previous case has been reported in which multiple myeloma developed 14 months after an original diagnosis of plasmacytic hyperplasia. The type of solid organ transplant was not specified in that case. We report a post--cardiac transplant plasmacytic hyperplasia developing 7 years posttransplant. Six years subsequent to the plasmacytic hyperplasia, the patient developed a posttransplant plasmacytic malignancy, supported by morphology, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, and genotypic studies. Since we have no data to support disseminated bony disease or an abnormal serum protein, we have not used the term "multiple myeloma" for this case.     

Fractionation of human T lymphocytes on the basis of their high, medium and low SRBC-rosette-forming affinity: efficiency of the method.

Under optimal saturating conditions at SRBC/lymphocyte ratio 100:1 26 +/- 1.2% of human peripheral blood lymphocytes isolated from defibrinated blood form rosettes without incubation, 48 +/- 1.8% after 1-hour, 68 +/- 1.7% after 2 hours incubation at 4 degrees C. According to this, human peripheral T lymphocytes may be subdivided into at least three fractions on the basis of their affinity to SRBC. We called these fractions AFRC (no incubation), C1 RFC (1-hour incubation in cold after removing ARFC fraction) and C2RFC (2-hour incubation in cold after removing ARFC and C1RFC fractions). All the three fractions may be separated by repeated rosetting followed by Ficoll-Uropoculine gradient centrifugation. The purity and viability of T lymphocytes yielded from particular fractions was high. Effective yield of lymphocytes varied between the particular fractions ranging between 100% (for AFRC) and 30% (for C2RFC).     

Human heat shock protein 60 (409-424) fragment is recognized by serum antibodies of patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), including unstable angina (UA) and acute myocardial infarction (MI), are clinical manifestations of a progressive atherosclerotic process. Antibodies (Ab) to heat shock proteins (hsp) have been reported to be associated with atherosclerosis. Blood samples from 35 patients with ACS and 20 healthy volunteers were tested for Ab to human hsp60 by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Levels of specific serum Ab against hsp60 were significantly elevated in patients with ACS when compared to clinically healthy subjects. To determine the antigenic determinants recognized by these Ab, antibody binding to seven peptides, selected from the hydrophilic and acrophilic regions of the human hsp60 molecule, was assessed. Despite the individual variation in the immune response among patients, one immunodominant region was revealed corresponding to the hsp60 (409-424) peptide. The identification of this epitope may be important for understanding the function of this protein in the atherosclerotic process.     

The effect of varying SRBC/lymphocyte ratio on T cell rosette formation.

To determine the effect of varying the SRBC/lymphocyte ratio on rosette formation, rosettes were formed at SRBC/lymphocyte ratios ranging from 10 to 200. To assess the significance of the time of incubation, duplicate samples were mixed at various SRBC to lymphocyte ratios and the percentage of rosette-forming lymphocytes was determined immediately or after an 1-hour incubation at 4 degrees C. The results of five experiments revealed the highly statistically significant difference between the percentage of rosette-forming cells in tests performed with (higher number of RFC) and without (lower number of RFC) incubation, in all SRBC/lymphocyte ratios. On the other hand, ratio of SRBC to lymphocytes influenced significantly the results obtained in both types of tests, this effect was more pronounced in test performed with 1-hour incubation. Optimal SRBC/lymphocyte ratios for both tests were 100:1 (31% RFC without incubation and 53.4% of RFC after 1-hour incubation.     

Studies on the human mixed lymphocyte culture. I. The influence of the irradiated autogenic and allogenic lymphocytes on DNA synthesis.

Fourteen patients with chronic renal failure and their prospective living donors were examined. DNA uptake by donors' monocultures, recipients' monocultures and mixed cultures was measured. The influence of X-ray treated cells on proliferative capacity of untreated cells in these three types of cultures was studied. The suppressing effect of irradiated cells was found in 52%, the enhancing one in 7% and no effect was observed in 41% of lymphocyte cultures. The possible explanations of the findings are discussed.     

Studies on the human mixed lymphocyte culture. II. Comparison of one-way and two-way test performed on lymphocytes of patients with end-stage renal failure and their prospective living donors.

The results of DNA synthesis in human one-way and two-way mixed lymphocyte cultures were compared. Twenty patients with chronic renal failure and their twenty six prospective living donors were investigated. Statistical correlation was found on the level alpha = 0.01 between the stimulation index value calculated for one-way and two-way technique. Two-way MLC, the rapid and simple and simple assay detecting lymphocyte activation is a very useful tissue typing test.