Generation of non MHC restricted killing in non-cytotoxic T-lymphocytes from leukaemia patients

Experiments were undertaken to determine whether the depression of natural killer (NK) activity previously observed in the peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of leukaemia patients in remission extended to NK-like precursors in the blood. T-lymphocytes (E+) from leukaemia patients and normal subjects were depleted of IgG Fc-receptor-bearing (gamma FcR) fresh NK cells by passage over immune complex-coated monolayers. gamma FcR - E + PBL were cultured alone or with DAUDI cells. On day 5 of culture, cytotoxicity toward the NK-sensitive cell lines K562 and MOLT-4 was evaluated in the responder lymphocytes of leukaemia patients and controls. Negligible NK-like cytotoxicity was found in both FcR - E + PBL responder populations cultured alone. By contrast, stimulation with DAUDI induced high levels of K562 and MOLT-4 cytotoxicity in leukaemia as well as in normal responder cells. Complement-mediated cytotoxicity experiments using various McAb demonstrated that in both normal and leukaemia cultures NK-like effectors react with the pan-T OKT3 McAb and with the OKT11 McAB directed to the SRBC receptor, but not with Leu 1 1b and OKM1 McAbs, directed against antigens expressed on peripheral blood NK cells. Fractionation of the responder cells on discontinuous Percoll gradients showed that most of this activity was present in the highly dividing blast cell fraction.     

Postural education and behavior among students in a city in southern Brazil: student postural education and behavior

[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge of the spine and posture among adolescent female students and to determine if they had access to postural education in or outside school. [Subjects and Methods] This was an epidemiological survey of a representative sample of 495 female students aged 14 to 18 years attending a regular secondary school in São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil. Data were collected through a questionnaire. [Results] The results showed that 16.8% of teens did not know what a spine was, 8.3% had no knowledge of posture, and 61% reported receiving no posture education. Posture awareness was associated only with posture while using a computer, while having postural education class was not associated with any postural behavior. [Conclusion] The results showed that, although most students are familiar with the spine and posture, a sizable group is not, and over half had no postural education. These findings suggest that inclusion of postural education programs in schools should be encouraged in order to promote health and prevent diseases related to the spine.Key words: Posture, Adolescent health, School health