Campylobacter jejuni-induced cytokine responses in avian cells

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of human inflammatory enteritis. During the course of human disease numerous proinflammatory cytokines are produced. Little is known, however, about the cytokine responses produced during the interaction of this bacterium with the avian host. Campylobacter has been considered a commensal of the avian host. Any differences in innate responses to this pathogen between the human and avian hosts should lead to a greater understanding of the disease process in humans. We have demonstrated expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in response to Campylobacter infection in avian primary chick kidney cells and the avian macrophage cell line HD11. The data indicate that Campylobacter can stimulate the avian host in a proinflammatory manner. The data strongly suggest that the lack of pathology in vivo is not due to an inability of Campylobacter to stimulate a proinflammatory response from avian cells.     

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in a duplication of the small bowel

A case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in a cystic duplication within the small bowel mesentery of a 65-yr-old man is described. The cyst wall had a double layered smooth muscle coat with intervening ganglionic plexus; part of the cyst was lined by ciliated columnar epithelium. Twelve previously reported cases of carcinoma arising in duplications are reviewed together with the present case. In all but one case, the onset of symptoms was probably related to malignant change; the age at presentation ranged from 26 to 65 yrs. Pre-operative diagnosis proved difficult, and led to a delay in the appropriate treatment of some of the five cases involving duplications of the rectum. Duplications of the alimentary tract are encountered only occasionally in adults; malignant change, although rare, should be recognised as a possible complication.     

The ratio of full length IgY to truncated IgY in immune complexes affects macrophage phagocytosis and the acute phase response of mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Ducks produce a full length IgY and a truncated isoform (IgYDeltaFc). IgY and IgY(DeltaFc) were isolated from ducks vaccinated against Escherichia coli and used to make E.coli-Ig immune complexes (IC). Phagocytosis of IC by duck monocytes decreased directly with the proportion of IgYDeltaFc (p<0.001). IC containing IgY:IgY(DeltaFc) at ratios of 100:0, 50:50, 0:100, and 0:0 (E. coli alone) were injected intravenously into na?ve mallard ducks. At 24 h after injection, plasma hemopexin levels were higher in ducks given either the 0:100 ratio or the 100:0 ratio than those given 50:50 or E. coli alone (p<0.005) Liver IL-1beta mRNA levels followed a similar pattern. Splenic IL-1beta mRNA decreased markedly as the proportion of IgY(DeltaFc) increased (p<0.01) Thus, IgY(DeltaFc) may shift the response to IC from the spleen to the liver as infections progress from acute to chronic.     

The localization of non-microbial antigens in the draining lymph nodes of tolerant, normal and primed rabbits

Soluble haemocyanin (HCy) or human serum albumin (HSA) labelled with ¹²⁵I at 8 and 0·7 μc/μg, respectively, were injected into the footpads of rabbits in doses just sufficient to elicit a primary response in normal animals, and the distribution of radioactivity in the popliteal lymph nodes between 6 hours and 21 days later was studied by autoradiography. The recipient rabbits had either been primed by a single prior injection of unlabelled antigen, or made putatively tolerant by repeated neonatal administration of antigen, or were previously untreated. Localization of antigen in germinal centres, in a typical dendritic pattern, was marked in the primed animals throughout the period of observation; in those tolerant animals which had no detectable serum antibody initially and made no detectable antibody response such localization was not seen at any time; in the animals that had no previous contact with antigen there was no localization in germinal centres until about the time when antibody became detectable in the serum. Localization of radioactivity in medullary sinus macrophages did not differ significantly between the three groups.

It is concluded that localization of these soluble antigens on the dendritic web in lymphoid follicles occurs as a consequence of the presence of circulating antibody. Uptake of the antigens by medullary macrophages, however, can occur in the absence of antibody. Although the degree of labelling of medullary macrophages was not evidently affected by the presence of antibody in these experiments, it is emphasized that the antibody levels, even in the primed animals, were low, and that this finding is unlikely to apply when the amount of antibody present is relatively much greater than the amount of antigen injected.

     

GFS, a preparation of Tasmanian Undaria pinnatifida is associated with healing and inhibition of reactivation of Herpes

Background  

We sought to assess whether GFS, a proprietary preparation of Tasmanian Undaria pinnatifida, has effects on healing or re-emergence of Herpetic infections, and additionally, to assess effects of GFS in vitro. Undaria is the most commonly eaten seaweed in Japan, and contains sulphated polyanions and other components with potential anti-viral activity. Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infections have lower reactivation rates and Herpes type 2 (HSV-2) infections have lower incidence in Japan than in the west.     

Parkville virus: A novel genetic variant of human calicivirus in the Sapporo virus clade,associated with an outbreak of gastroenteritis in adults

This report describes the characterization of Parkville virus, the etiologic agent of an outbreak of foodborne gastroenteritis, that has the morphology of a calicivirus and genetic properties that distinguish it from previously identified strains in the Sapporo/Manchester virus clade. Sequence analysis of the Parkville virus genome showed it contained the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase motifs GLPSG and YGDD characteristic of members of the family Caliciviridae with an organization identical to that reported for the Manchester virus where the capsid region of the polyprotein is fused to the RNA polymerase. Parkville virus however, demonstrates considerable sequence divergence from both the Manchester and Sapporo caliciviruses, providing the first indications that genetic diversity exists within caliciviruses of this previously homogeneous clade. On the basis of recent advances in the genetic characterization of members of the family Caliciviridae, we propose a new interim phylogenetic classification system in which Parkville virus would be included with Manchester and Sapporo virus as a separate group distinct from the small round-structured viruses (Norwalk-like viruses) that also cause diarrhea in humans. J. Med. Virol. 52:173–178, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Religious belief and anorexia nervosa

This study examines aspects of the relationship between religious belief and anorexia ner-vosa. It uses data from postal questionnaires sent to members of a U.K. national self-help organization for people with “eating disorders” which elicited a profile of symptoms and other clinical data and information about personal and family religious beliefs. The data suggest that the majority of respondents were or had been afflicted with anorexia nervosa. Subjects with a religion, particularly those with strong beliefs, and particularly those who were Anglican, reported particularly lowest ever adult Body Mass Indices (BMIs). Part of the explanation for these findings would seem to be an increase in the importance of subjects' religious beliefs during their anorectic illnesses. Conversely, bulimic symptomatology seemed to be associated with a weakening of subjects' beliefs. Religious conversion seemed to serve as a protective function against severe weight loss. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

食管癌术后放疗的临床应用价值

食管癌根治术后局部复发率高达40％-60％,是导致食管癌患者死亡的主要原因,自1970年起开始食管癌根治术后预防性放射治疗的研究,多项回顾性研究认为术后放射治疗延长了食管癌患者的生存期,但近年来的前瞻性随机对照研究未能确定这一结果,本文就这一方面的研究进展作一综述．