Characterization of the immunological memory state generated in mice susceptible to Leishmania major following exposure to low doses of L. major and resulting in resistance to a normally pathogenic challenge

BALB/c mice are susceptible to a high-dose infection of the protozoan Leishmania major, which induces a parasite-specific antibody, Th2-like response, exclusive of a significant and protective cell-mediated Th1 component. We have shown, in contrast, that infection with a low number of parasites induces cell-mediated immunity exclusive of antibody production, and results in resistance to substantial subsequent high-dose infection. Low-dose exposure thus constitutes effective vaccination. In the present study, we analyze lymphokine production by parasite-specific T cells from these low-dose exposed, resistant mice and from normal, susceptible mice following high-dose infection. Two findings stand out. First, the parasite-specific T cells in mice rendered resistant appear not to be in an activated, effector state at the time of parasite challenge, as assessed by lack of lymphokine production on short-term stimulation with parasite antigens, but to be rather in a memory state. Second, the ratio of parasite antigen-dependent production of interferon-γ to that of interleukin-4 by spleen cells of low-dose exposed and normal mice upon high-dose challenge takes a dramatically different course. This ratio is similar in both groups of mice shortly after challenge, but increases dramatically in the resistant and declines dramatically in the control mice over a period of weeks, such that these ratios differ by about 60-fold 12 weeks after the high-dose challenge. In addition, we show that a similar state of resistance occurs following low-dose infection with a more virulent strain of L. major. In toto, our observations suggest that resistance may be generally achievable by low-dose exposure and may be associated with a memory state which, when activated by parasite challenge, results in the evolution of the response over weeks such that the protective, Th1 component becomes ever more dominant over the Th2 component.     

Measurement of airway resistance in anesthetized and paralyzed subjects: Proposal for evaluation of K1 values

The effects of lung volume and respiratory airflow on airway resistance were studied in five anesthetized and paralyzed patients. Airway resistance measured during the inspiratory phase with intermittent constant airflow inflatoins decreased in inverse correlationship to increases in lung volume. Airway resistance measured during the expiratory phase with an airway interruption technique, on the other hand, increased with a linear relationship to the expiratory airflow as expressed by a function of Y = K₁ + K₂X. K₁, calculated from the values of airway resistance corresponding to three different airflows, was unaffected by intentional expiratory resistance loading. Thus, simultaneously with the measurement of airway resistance by this method, expiratory gas sampling with a Douglas bag can be done if necessary. Since the K₂ value of the endotracheal tube used in this study (Portex^® I.D. 8mm, length 26cm) was quite high (5.0cmH₂O·1^–2·sec²), depending on the airflow, the presence of the endotracheal tube strongly affected the measurement of airway resistance during general anesthesia. K₁ measured by the above method, however, may be considered as the best way to evaluate the lower airway resistance independent of either lung volume or expiratory airflow.(Sakai T, Yoshida H, Yano H et al.: Measurement of airway resistance in anesthetized and paralyzed subjects: proposal for evaluation of K₁ values. J Anesth 2: 139–145, 1988)     

脂质比值与代谢综合征的关联及预测价值评价：基于多阶段横断面研究

背景 随着代谢性疾病发病率的上升,代谢综合征(MS)的预防与控制引起广泛的关注。而脂质比值是重要的筛查指标之一,与MS之间的关系成为热点研究话题。目的 基于贵州省多阶段横断面研究人群分析三酰甘油/高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(TG/HDL-C)、总胆固醇/HDL-C(TC/HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇/HDL-C(LDL-C/HDL-C)及非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(non-HDL-C)与MS发病风险的关联及预测价值评价。方法 回顾性选取贵州省参与2010年全国疾病监测地区慢性病及危险因素调查、2013年中国慢性病及其危险因素监测、2015年中国成人慢性病与营养监测和2018年中国成人慢性病与营养监测的21 727例自然人群为研究对象,收集研究对象的基线资料,根据是否患有MS将研究对象分为MS组(n=4 981)和非MS组(n=16 746)。绘制受试者工作特征曲线(ROC曲线)分别评价男性和女性TG/HDL-C、TC/HDL-C、LDL-C/HDL-C和non-HDL-C对MS的预测价值。通过Delong检验比较脂质比值预测MS发生的ROC曲线下面积(AUC)的差异。采用多因素Logistic回...     

白内障伴青光眼患者术后胰岛素抵抗及炎症因子水平与视觉质量的关系

目的分析白内障伴青光眼患者术后胰岛素抵抗及炎症因子水平变化与视觉质量的关系。 方法选取47例(47眼)白内障伴青光眼患者为研究对象,均接受超声乳化+小梁切除术治疗。术前、术后7天、术后3个月检测患者客观散射指数(OSI)、点扩散函数(PSF)、调制传递函数截止频率(MTF cutoff)、胰岛素敏感指数及白细胞介素(IL)-1β、IL-10、IL-2水平。采用Pearson法分析视觉质量参数与胰岛素抵抗情况及炎症因子的相关性。 结果与术前比较,术后7天和术后3个月最佳校正视力、MTF cutoff及胰岛素敏感指数升高,且术后3个月更高(P＜0.05);与术前比较,术后7天和术后3个月眼压、角膜内皮细胞计数、PSF、OSI及血清IL-1β、IL-2、IL-10水平降低,且术后3个月更低(P＜0.05)。Pearson分析显示,术前、术后7天和术后3个月,白内障伴青光眼患者OSI与胰岛素敏感指数呈负相关(P＜0.05),与血清IL-1β、IL-2、IL-10水平呈正相关(P＜0.05);MTF cutoff与胰岛素敏感指数呈正相关(P＜0.05),与血清IL-1β、IL-2、IL-10水平呈负相关(P＜0.05);PSF与血清IL-1β水平呈负相关(P＜0.05)。术后7天和3个月,PSF与胰岛素敏感指数呈正相关(P＜0.05),与血清IL-2、IL-10水平呈负相关(P＜0.05)。 结论超声乳化联合小梁切除术对视觉质量的改善可能与胰岛素抵抗及炎症因子变化密切相关。     

Coronary collateral reserve during exercise induced ischemia in swine

Summary We determined coronary collateral vasodilator reserve during exercise-induced ischemia in 17 minis-wine. We induced coronary collateral development in the left circumflex bed by placing an ameroid occluder on that artery. Four weeks later we studied the animals at rest and during exercise (EX) eliciting heart rates (HR) of 240 and 265 beats/min. We measured myocardial blood flow with microspheres and moyocardial function by wall thickness sonomicrometry gauges. At matched exercise HRs we treated the animals with nifedipine (10 g/kg IV) (EXN 10), nifedipine (100 g/kg IV), (EXN 100), and adenosine infusion (1.2 mg/min/kg) EXAD. EXN 10 did not significantly alter hemodynamics compared to EX but EXN 100 and EXAD both decreased blood pressure significantly (p<0.05). Ischemic endocardial/nonischemic endocardial flow ratios and collateral resistance served as indices of vasodilator reserve. In the ischemic zone exercise reduced vasodilator reserve to 24±3% in the endocardium and 64±7% in the epicardium. Neither EXN 10 nor EXAD improved exercise-induced ischemia measured either as flow or function. However EXN 100 improved function during exercise-induced ischemia without improving coronary collateral flow. We conclude there is no additional coronary flow reserve during exercise-induced ischemia in the collateral dependent bed of the pig a few days after occlusion that can be recruited. Large doses of nifedipine improve function by direct action on the myocardium or by reducing afterload. The lack of development and deep myocardial distribution of the coronary collateral vessels in the pig may be an important factor of why these nifedipine responses differ from those reported in species which have primarily large epicardial coronary collaterals.Grant Support: NHLBI HL-32670     

P-glycoprotein (MDR 1 gene product) in cells of the immune system: Its possible physiologic role and alteration in aging and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection

P-glycoprotein, a 170-kd glycoprotein encoded by theMDR 1 gene, is a member of a highly conserved superfamily of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport proteins. It shares extensive homology with numerous bacterial and eukaryotic ABC transport proteins. P-glycoprotein acts as an energy-dependent efflux pump that appears to transport structurally diverse agents ranging from ions to peptides. P-glycoprotein (P-gP) has been implicated as playing a role in multidrug (MDR) resistance in cancer, chloroquine-resistantPlasmodium falciparum infection, and possibly human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) resistance to nucleoside compounds. A number of normal tissues in humans and rodents have been shown to express high levels of P-gp. The expression and function of P-gp in cells of the immune system have been explored in the past 2 years. This review presents a state of the art regarding the expression, regulation, and function of Pgp in cells of the immune system. In addition, its alteration in aging and HIV-1 infection is reviewed. A possible physiologic role of P-gp in cytokine secretion, antigen processing/presentation, and effector functions is also discussed.     

Airway responses to antigen challenge in allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma

The density dependence of the maximum expiratory flow-volume curve, functional residual capacity (FRC), and specific airway conductance (SGaw) were determined before and during bronchial provocation with ragweed extract in 27 subjects with ragweed hypersensitivity and a history of either bronchial asthma (16 subjects) or allergic rhinitis (11 subjects). Mean baseline SGaw was significantly lower while mean volume of isoflow (Visov) and FrC were significantly higher in subjects with bronchial asthma. During antigen challenge, 10 of 16 subjects with bronchial asthma (63%) and five of 11 subjects with allergic rhinitis (45%) showed a greater than 35% decrease in SGaw ("reactors"): mean relative decreases in SGaw from baseline were 46% and 53%, respectively. The remaining subjects showed a less than 35% decrease in SGaw ("nonreactors") with mean relative decreases of 9% (allergic asthma) and 6% (allergic rhinitis). Mean Visov increased in all subjects with bronchial asthma and in eight of 11 subjects with allergic rhinitis. A significant increase in FRC (6%) was seen only in the "reactors" with bronchial asthma. Following antigen challenge, the beta adrenergic agonist, isoetharine, increased SGaw and decreased Visov. We conclude that in asymptomatic subjects with ragweed hypersensitivity, (1) central and peripheral airway function is more abnormal in subjects with bronchial asthma than in subjects with allergic rhinitis, (2) subjects of both groups show quantitatively and qualitatively comparable airway responses during antigen challenge with a decrease in SGaw or an increase in Visov, possibly representing increase in central and/or peripheral airflow resistance, respectively, (3) Visov may be a more sensitive indicator of airway response to antigen challenge than SGaw, and (4) the bronchodilator effects of a beta adrenergic agonist on antigen-induced bronchospasm are similar in both groups.     

Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus colonising the intestines of Swedish infants

Staphylococcus aureus has become a frequent coloniser of the intestinal tract of infants, but the health effects of such colonisation are not clear. In this study, the antibiotic resistance patterns of 116 S. aureus strains from the commensal intestinal microflora were determined. The strains were obtained from 81 Swedish infants who had been followed with regular stool samples and registration of antibiotic usage during their first year of life. The faecal population levels of the individual strains and the duration of their persistence in the microflora had been determined previously. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance among the 116 strains was modest: methicillin, 0%; penicillin G, 78%; erythromycin A, 3%; tetracycline, 2%; clindamycin, 0.9%; and fusidic acid, 0.9%. Colonisation by antibiotic-resistant strains was unrelated to antibiotic consumption by individual infants. Antibiotic-resistant strains were as capable of persisting in the intestinal microflora and reaching high faecal population levels as fully susceptible strains. No strain lost or acquired resistance during the colonisation period. Thus, antibiotic-resistant strains of S. aureus seem to be as fit for competition in the large bowel microflora as susceptible strains, even in the absence of selective pressure from antibiotics. This may aggravate the ecological consequences of antibiotic resistance development.     

In-vitro activity of rifabutin against rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with known rpoB mutations

The relationship between resistance to rifampicin and rifabutin and genetic alterations in the rpoB gene of 41 rifampicin-resistant isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was evaluated. Although 35 isolates with rifampicin MICs > or = 32 mg/L were also rifabutin-resistant, six isolates with rifampicin MICs of 2-16 mg/L were susceptible to rifabutin (MIC < or = 0.5 mg/L). Mutations Asp516Val, Asp516Tyr, Leu533Pro and the double mutation Met515Ile and Leu533Pro influenced susceptibility to rifampicin, but not to rifabutin. All mutations at codons 531 and 526, except one isolate with a His526Cys mutation, correlated with resistance to both compounds.     

Effects of two antiandrogen treatments on hirsutism and insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Thirty-two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) wereallocated to two antiandrogen treatment regimens; 28 women completedthe trial. Twenty women were treated with ethinyloestradioland cyproterone acetate (EO-CA) cyclically for 6 months andeight women were treated with the gonadotrophin releasing hormone(GnRH) analogue, goserelin for 6 months. Effects on hirsutism,insulin sensitivity (estimated by glucose clamp technique),blood lipids and hormones were measured. Women treated withEO-CA showed a reduction in hirsutism (P <0.05), and decreasedserum androgen concentrations (P <0.001) as well as reducedinsulin sensitivity (P <0.05). In women treated with goserelin,serum androgen concentrations also decreased (P <0.001),but there was no significant reduction of hirsutism. This group,however, showed an improved insulin sensitivity (P <0.05)despite an unchanged body mass index. Bone mineral density wasunaltered in both treatment groups. The reduction in androgenconcentrations caused by EO-CA was not paralleled by increasedinsulin sensitivity, most probably due to the effect of ethinyloestradiolper se. In contrast, the reduction in androgen concentrationsby goserelin was accompanied by an improved insulin sensitivity.