Presence of interferon in acute- and convalescent-phase sera of humans with influenza or influenza-like illness of undetermined etiology

Interferon (IFN;titer, greater than 10 units) was present in the acute-phase sera of 30 of 40 subjects with culture and/or serologically documented, naturally acquired influenza A/Brazil/78 (H1N1) and in the acute-phase sera of five of 27 subjects with an influenza-like illness of undetermined etiology. No statistical correlation existed between the quantity of IFN in acute-phase serum and the course of the clinical illness. Antiviral activity in all of nine acute-phase sera and three of four sera obtained on the fifth to seventh days of illness was neutralized to greater than 50% by antibody to virus-induced human leukocyte IFN (HuIFN-alpha). In contrast, none of five sera collected between 21 and 23 days after the onset of illness contained IFN sensitive to neutralization by antibody to HuIFN-alpha. Resistance of IFN in convalescent-phase sera to neutralization by antibody to HuIFN-alpha suggests that multiple IFN species may evolve during viral infections.     

Induction of oviposition in the domestic hen by prostaglandins

Single intrauterine injection of prostaglandins E₁, E₂, and F₂α in this order of potency induce premature oviposition in the hen within a few minutes. Similarly, arachidonic acid, a prostaglandin precursor, was also effective in initiating egglaying. PGE₁ and PGE₂ are about 10–20 times more potent than oxytocin, suggesting a possible physiological role in the regulation of oviposition.     

Microbiology difference between colonized catheters and catheter-related bloodstream infections

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Central vein catheters for patients receiving total parenteral nutrition have a high incidence of colonized catheters and catheter-related bloodstream infections. However, the actual incidence and bacterial pattern have not been well studied. This study was undertaken to investigate the difference in bacteriology between colonized catheters and catheter-related bloodstream infections. METHODOLOGY: From January 1997 to March 1998, 354 patients receiving total parenteral nutrition were included in this study. The patients ranged in age from 49 to 80 years, 151 women and 203 men. Colonized catheters and catheter-related bloodstream infections were defined. RESULTS: The culture was performed in 249 catheter tips (249 of 614, 40.6%). Sixty tips were found to have organisms. The organisms cultured from colonized catheters were Gram(+) aerobic bacteria (34, 56.7%), fungi (14, 23.3%), and Gram(-) aerobic bacteria (12, 20%). The organisms cultured from catheter-related bloodstream infections were fungi (16, 64%), Gram(-) aerobic bacteria (5, 20%), and Gram(+) aerobic bacteria (4, 16%). Dermatogenic infection in colonized catheters should be stressed, but systemic fungal infection in catheter-related bloodstream infections should be emphasized. CONCLUSIONS: A striking difference exists in bacterial species between colonized catheters and catheter-related bloodstream infections. Further studies on different treatment strategy for colonized catheters and catheter-related bloodstream infections should be undertaken. The combined approach of a total parenteral nutrition team, sterile protocols, and early diagnosis of fungemia should be advocated for the total parenteral nutrition patients.     

Ticlopidine-associated aplastic anemia

 Serious hematologic complications associated with ticlopidine have been reported, including aplastic anemia. We report here an additional case of fatal aplastic anemia due to ticlopidine. A 66-year-old male patient developed fever and pancytopenia 2 months after ticlopidine was started. Despite the administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and broad-spectrum antibiotics, as well as aggressive red cell and platelet transfusions, the patient died 16 days after admission due to septic shock. Eighteen other cases of ticlopidine-induced aplastic anemia published in the English literature are also reviewed and presented here. Eight of the total 19 patients (including the one reported here) have died, mostly due to infection. Of the seven who received supportive treatment only, four had spontaneous recovery. Nine cases were treated with G-CSF or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and response was observed in only four of them. Several other cases were treated with high-dose corticosteroids or androgens; however, it was not possible to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments because of the limited number of cases. In the absence of satisfactory treatment for ticlopidine-induced aplastic anemia at present, it may be reasonable to try antilymphocyte globulin or cyclosporine. Also, great efforts should be made in the prevention and management of infection accompanying this disease. Received: 2 November 1997 / Accepted: 12 January 1998     

Daily Life Events Influence the Results of the Dexamethasone Suppression Test in Healthy Women

Although the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) plays an important role in psychosomatic research, confounding factors limit the sensitivity and specificity of the DST. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the intensity of daily life stressors and DST results in healthy participants after controlling the confounding factors. The subjects of this study consisted of 75 healthy volunteers. The intensity of daily life events was assessed using the Taiwanese version of the Recent Life Change Questionnaire (RLCQ). Neuroticism was assessed using the Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI). The Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) was also performed. The regression model showed that daily life events (RLCQ score) were correlated significantly with cortisol level on day 1 and D% only in women. This finding implies that daily life events should be considered as an independent variable in women in further studies when the DST is applied.     

Opposing relationships of childhood threat and deprivation with stria terminalis white matter

While stress may be a potential mechanism by which childhood threat and deprivation influence mental health, few studies have considered specific stress‐related white matter pathways, such as the stria terminalis (ST) and medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Our goal was to examine the relationships between childhood adversity and ST and MFB structural integrity and whether these pathways may provide a link between childhood adversity and affective symptoms and disorders. Participants were young adults (n = 100) with a full distribution of maltreatment history and affective symptom severity. Threat was determined by measures of childhood abuse and repeated traumatic events. Socioeconomic deprivation (SED) was determined by a measure of childhood socioeconomic status (parental education). Participants underwent diffusion spectrum imaging. Human Connectome Project data was used to perform ST and MFB tractography; these tracts were used as ROIs to extract generalized fractional anisotropy (gFA) from each participant. Childhood threat was associated with ST gFA, such that greater threat was associated with less ST gFA. SED was also associated with ST gFA, however, conversely to threat, greater SED was associated with greater ST gFA. Additionally, threat was negatively associated with MFB gFA, and MFB gFA was negatively associated with post‐traumatic stress symptoms. Our results suggest that childhood threat and deprivation have opposing influences on ST structural integrity, providing new evidence that the context of childhood adversity may have an important influence on its neurobiological effects, even on the same structure. Further, the MFB may provide a novel link between childhood threat and affective symptoms.