Quantitative assessment of IgG and IgA subclass producing cells in rectal mucosa during shigellosis.

AIMS: To assess quantitatively both the morphological changes in the rectal mucosa and the changes in the relative frequency of IgA and IgG subclass producing cells found in the rectal mucosa during the acute phase of shigellosis and at convalescence. METHODS: Rectal biopsies from 25 Shigella dysenteriae 1 infected patients, 10 Shigella flexneri infected patients, and 40 uninfected controls were studied. Morphological changes in the mucosa were graded. The frequency of IgA and IgG subclass producing cells was assessed. In addition, immunostaining for secretory component in epithelial cells was analysed. RESULTS: Using morphological grading, 20% of the 35 patients studied had advanced inflammation (grade 3) in the acute phase of the disease. At convalescence, grade 1 inflammation was seen in 37% of the patients and in 10% of the controls. In the acute phase, as well as at convalescence, the number of IgA1, IgA2, and IgG2 positive cells was significantly higher than in the controls. The results were related to the histopathological degree of inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: In shigellosis, there is evidence for a prolonged humoral response residing in the mucosa long after the clinical symptoms have resolved, suggesting that shigellosis induces persisting mucosal humoral immune and inflammatory responses, remaining at least until 30 days after the infection.     

Hypocalcaemia with zonular cataract due to idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. With a note on the prevalence of severe hypocalcaemia in a health screening

A 59-year-old woman with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who had tetany and zonular cataract is described. Twelve years ago she had had a period with cramps and convulsions, followed by an absence of symptoms for several years. Judging from the distance between the opacity of cataract and the surface of the lens, the onset of the cataract was estimated to have occurred 11 years ago and the apparent cessation of cataract development 10 years ago. It is suggested that the absence of hypocalcaemic symptoms during the last 10 years was associated with an increase in serum calcium levels, possibly connected with the onset of menopause. The occurrence of hypocalcaemia was analyzed in a health-screened population of 15 903 persons. Nine of the subjects were found to have a serum calcium level of less than 2.10 mmol/l, giving a prevalence of 0.6%0. None had primary hypoparathyroidism, which illustrates the rarity of this condition.     

Imbalanced serum IgG subclass pattern in toxic shock syndrome patients: deficiency of specific IgG1 and IgG4 subclass antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin 1

An imbalanced serum IgG subclass pattern was identified in 10 patients with toxic shock syndrome (TSS) showing remarkably low subclass levels of various combinations. IgG2 levels were significantly reduced as compared to normal controls. The IgG subclass-specificity of antibodies to toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) was investigated by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. TSS-patients lacked pre-immunity to TSST-1 in all four IgG subclasses. Normally acquired immunity to the toxin as well as the serological response developing in two patients with TSS was generally restricted to IgG1 and IgG4. A strong booster response of all four IgG subclasses was seen in three patients with S. aureus septicaemia due to TSST-1 producing strains. The lack of specific IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies to TSST-1 and the low serum IgG subclass levels found in the TSS-patients could be of pathogenetic significance and help to explain the susceptibility to TSS in certain individuals.     

Long-term pattern of HIV-1 RNA load in perinatally infected children.

The objective of this study was to describe the natural history of HIV-1 RNA load in vertically HIV-1-infected children. HIV-1 RNA in 156 plasma or serum samples (1-14, median 4 from each child) from 32 vertically HIV-1-infected children was detected with the NASBA technique (Organon Teknika, The Netherlands). Twenty-one children were prospectively followed from birth, and 11 were identified and included at the age of 7-89 (median 61) months. The highest numbers of HIV-1 RNA copies were seen at 1.5-3 months of age. A quadratic curve model showed a reduction of HIV-1 RNA with increasing age up to approximately 8 years, and thereafter increasing numbers, p(age) = 0.002, p(age2) = 0.008. This pattern was not typical for individual children in whom a great variation in HIV-1 RNA numbers was seen over time. The interval from birth to the first HIV-1 RNA peak ranged from 1.5 months to more than 2 years. The HIV-1 RNA levels remained relatively high and fluctuating over the years in symptomatic as well as in long-term asymptomatic children. This makes HIV-1 RNA determination in children more difficult to use than in adults, as the only tool for prediction of disease progression and for initiation of therapy.     

Human Natural Antibodies Cytotoxic to Pig Embryonic Brain Cells Recognize Novel Non-Galα1,3Gal-Based Xenoantigens

Transplantation of porcine embryonic brain cells, including dopaminergic neurons, from ventral mesencephalon (VM) is considered a potential treatment for patients with Parkinson's disease. In the present study, we characterized the distribution among VM cells of the major porcine endothelial xenoantigen, the Galα1,3Gal epitope, and evaluated the cytotoxic effect of anti-Galα1,3Gal antibody-depleted and nondepleted human AB serum on VM cells. Overall levels of Galα1,3Gal-epitope expression was very low on the VM cell population using Bandeiraea simplicifolia IB₄ lectin staining of resuspended VM cells in flow cytometric analyses or staining of SDS–PAGE-separated, solubilized VM cell membrane proteins in Western blot analyses. Lectin-histochemical staining of sections of pig embryonal VM regions with BSA IB₄ lectin showed staining restricted to endothelial cells and microglia. In the presence of complement, both nondepleted and anti-Galα1,3Gal antibody-depleted AB sera were shown to be cytotoxic to VM cells as assessed in microcytotoxicity- and flow cytometry-based cytotoxicity assays. Purified IgM and IgG were both cytotoxic in the presence of complement. Three major VM cell membrane antigens of approximately 210, 105, and 50 kDa were reactive with natural IgM antibodies present in pooled human AB sera. Thus, antibody-dependent cytotoxicity may contribute to pig to human brain cell xenorejection, necessitating donor tissue modifications prior to a more widespread utilization of neural tissue xenografting.     

Contact allergy to oxidized geraniol among Swedish dermatitis patients—A multicentre study by the Swedish Contact Dermatitis Research Group

Background

Geraniol is a widely used fragrance terpene, and is included in fragrance mix I. Geraniol is prone to autoxidation, forming the skin sensitizers geranial, neral, and geraniol‐7‐hydroperoxide. Oxidized geraniol has previously been patch tested in 1 clinic, giving 1% to 4.6% positive reactions in consecutive patients when tested at 2% to 11%.

Aim

To compare test reactions to pure and oxidized geraniol, to compare 2 different test concentrations of oxidized geraniol and to investigate the pattern of concomitant reactions to fragrance markers of the baseline series in a multicentre setting.

Methods

One thousand four hundred and seventy‐six consecutive patients referred for patch testing were patch tested with geraniol 6% pet. and oxidized geraniol 6% and 11% pet.

Results

Pure geraniol 6% pet., oxidized geraniol 6% pet. and oxidized geraniol 11% pet. gave 1%, 3% and 8% positive patch test reactions and 0.7%, 3% and 5% doubtful reactions, respectively. Approximately 50% of the patients with doubtful reactions to oxidized geraniol 6% pet. had positive reactions to oxidized geraniol 11% pet.

Conclusions

Oxidized geraniol 11% pet. provides better detection than oxidized geraniol 6% pet. As most patients reacted only to oxidized geraniol, it is important to explore further whether oxidized geraniol should be included in a baseline patch test series.

     

Children with high and intermediate imperforate anus: remembering and talking about medical treatment carried out early in life

Treatment of children with high and intermediate imperforate anus entails several different surgical procedures during the first 3-12 months of life, which are accompanied by a strict follow-up treatment regimen. It has not been studied whether the children remember this treatment carried out early in life. Research has shown that small children may demonstrate so-called non-verbal memories of salient events occurring in early childhood. The purpose was to examine whether children with imperforate anus showed distressing memories of previous medical treatment and whether parent-child dialog about medical treatment is related to the child's psychosocial functioning later in life. Parents of 25 children (9 boys, 16 girls) with high and intermediate imperforate anus participated in the study. The mean age among the children was 10.5 years (range 8.0-13.6). A comparison group of 30 children (5 boys and 25 girls) with juvenile chronic arthritis also participated in the study. The mean age was 10.6 years (range 7.8-13.6). All parents answered the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/4-18) and a study-specific questionnaire. Children in both groups were reported to show distressing memories of early treatment. Children who had been talked to showed good psychosocial function and were in a better mood and less angry than those who had not been talked to. Parent-child discussions about the child's experiences of medical treatment did not seem to be harmful or in any other way detrimental to the child, instead such discussions seemed to facilitate the child's psychosocial functioning.     

Meanings of Being Pregnant and Having Decided on Abortion: Young Swedish Women's Experiences

In-depth interviews about the experience of being pregnant and having decided on abortion were conducted with 10 young Swedish women. A phenomenological-hermeneutic study disclosed a complex life world summarised as “I'm happy about my fertility but I choose not to give life now.” Four themes were revealed: encountering an unexpected understanding of oneself and one's fertility, desiring to be understood by trusted others, trying out different positions in relation to pregnancy and abortion, and approaching planned adult motherhood. The results indicate that addressing young women's concerns about fertility might be important in reproductive care.