Ingestion of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli by human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

In the present study we examined whether mesothelial cells can ingest and digest bacteria. The results showed that all strains were ingested. Ingested staphylococci proliferated abundantly, and only a few were digested. Escherichia coli, however, was digested during the first 8 h, whereafter the mesothelial cells disintegrated and proliferation of bacteria could be observed. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.     

Effect of ambient oxygen concentration upon the acute toxicity of chlorophenols and heavy metals to the groundwater copepod Parastenocaris germanica (Crustacea).

Acute static toxicity experiments have been performed under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The test animals used were adults of the groundwater-adapted copepod Parastenocaris germanica. The animals originated from a sandy, gravelly phreatic aquifer of the Meuse valley in The Netherlands. Toxicants applied were pentachlorophenol, 3,4-dichlorophenol, zinc, and cadmium. The results were statistically evaluated by a log-logistic model. LC50 and LC5 values with 95% confidence limits were calculated. Response models of application under both oxygen conditions were compared. The influence of ambient oxygen concentration on sensitivity appeared to be very small; only in the case of pentachlorophenol were hypoxic and normoxic models slightly but significantly different. Comparisons with the sensitivity of other organisms are made and the results are discussed against the specific physiological adaptations of the organisms to groundwater conditions.     

Reticuloendothelial Fc receptor function in SLE patients. I. Primary HLA linked defect or acquired dysfunction secondary to disease activity?

Reticuloendothelial system (RES) Fc receptor-mediated immune clearance was measured in 18 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Only two patients, with major disease activity, had a prolonged T 1/2 of the blood disappearance curve of injected IgG coated red cells in comparison to 22 healthy controls. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were studied with three methods: PEG precipitation, C1q-ELISA and the indirect granulocyte phagocytosis test (IGFT). The T 1/2 of the blood disappearance curve related significantly to the IGFT (r = 0.55, P less than 0.05) and not to the PEG and C1q-ELISA test. Although HLA-DR3 phenotype frequency was significantly increased in our SLE population (P less than 0.05), it was not related to Fc receptor function. Similarly, HLA-DR2 phenotype was not related to RES Fc receptor function. These data do not support the concept that a genetic HLA linked defect in reticuloendothelial Fc receptor function is a primary cause of SLE, predisposing the inflicted individual to immune complex deposition. However, Fc receptor-mediated immune clearance seems to be related to disease activity itself and to levels of CIC.     

Heterogeneity of macrophages in the rat evidenced by variability in determinants: two new anti-rat macrophage antibodies against a heterodimer of 160 and 95 kd (CD11/CD18)

A set of three monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs), ED1, ED2, and ED3, has been shown to recognize in situ different subsets of macrophages in the rat. This macrophage diversity can be correlated with differences in stage of differentiation of cells belonging to one lineage. The present study quantifies this antigen distribution in the macrophage fractions of several lymphoid organs provided by Percoll centrifugation. Four new MoAbs (ED4, ED7, ED8, and ED9) raised against macrophages are included in this study. The tissue distribution of each of the four new MoAbs is determined by immuno- and enzyme-histochemistry on cryostat sections. The MoAbs recognize distinct subpopulations of macrophages. The new MoAbs ED4, ED7, ED8, and ED9 recognize granulocytes and other unrelated cell types, as well as cells of the mononuclear phagocyte system. ED7 and ED8 recognize a surface heterodimer of Mr 160,000 and 95,000.     

Exocytosis and macrophage-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity: a cautionary note.

The appearance of soluble radioisotope from macrophages (M phi) that previously had ingested 51Cr-labelled antibody-coated sheep erythrocytes (51Cr-EA) was assessed to determine if exocytosis contributed to the pool of radioactivity used to measure antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). M phi preloaded for 60 min with 51Cr-EA lost the majority of the ingested 51Cr over a subsequent 3 hr incubation period. The exocytotic rate was independent of the number of 51Cr-EA ingested, but was temperature dependent with no appreciable release of 51Cr observed at 4 degrees. The exocytotic process was unaffected by sodium azide (10 mM) but was markedly enhanced in the presence of iodoacetate (50 mM), cytochalasin B (20 micrograms/ml) or lidocaine (0.5 mM). The results show that M phi rapidly digest engulfed target cells and that exocytosis can contribute sufficient soluble radioactivity to the extracellular pool to lead to misinterpretation of putative ADCC activity.     

Teacher Evaluation of an Experiential Vegetable Education Program for Australian Primary Schools: Does Face-to-Face Training Add Value above Digital Training?

The teacher-led implementation of healthy eating programs in schools is cost-effective and potentially impactful. Teacher acceptability is important for uptake; however, process evaluations are scarce. This study evaluated the effect of two intensities of teacher training on the evaluation of a vegetable education program for Australian primary schools by teachers. The teachers (n = 65) who implemented the program as part of a cluster RCT (25 schools in two states, New South Wales and South Australia) received either low- (provision with materials and online training) or high (additional face-to-face (F2F) training)-intensity training prior to implementing a 5-week vegetable education program. They evaluated the acceptability of a digital training module and program by indicating the level of agreement with 15 and 18 statements, respectively, using 5-point Likert scales. The average item scores ranged from 3.0 to 4.2. All but one item, including student engagement, alignment to the curriculum and intent for reuse of the program, had a rounded average or median score of 4. The level of training intensity did not impact the teacher acceptability ratings. In conclusion, the teacher acceptability was good, and additional F2F training does not add value above the solely digital training of the teachers.     

Thiotepa‐based versus total body irradiation‐based myeloablative conditioning prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission: a retrospective analysis from the Acute Leukemia Working Party of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

Thiotepa is an alkylating compound with an antineoplastic and myeloablative activity and can mimic the effect of radiation. However, it is unknown whether this new regimen could safely replace the long‐established ones. This retrospective matched‐pair analysis evaluated the outcome of adults with acute myeloid leukaemia in first complete remission who received myeloablative conditioning either with a thiotepa‐based (n = 121) or a cyclophosphamide/total body irradiation‐based (TBI; n = 358) regimen for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an HLA‐matched sibling or an unrelated donor. With a median follow‐up of 44 months, the outcome was similar in both groups. Acute graft‐versus‐host disease grade II‐IV was observed in 25% after thiotepa‐containing regimen versus 35% after TBI (P = 0.06). The 2‐yr cumulative incidence of chronic graft‐versus‐host disease was 40.5% for thiotepa and 41% for TBI (P = 0.98). At 2 yrs, the cumulative incidences of non‐relapse mortality and relapse incidence were 23.9% (thiotepa) vs. 22.4% (TBI; P = 0.66) and 17.2% (thiotepa) vs. 23.3% (TBI; P = 0.77), respectively. The probabilities of leukaemia‐free and overall survival at 2 yrs were not significantly different between the thiotepa and TBI groups, at 58.9% vs. 54.2% (P = 0.95) and 61.4% vs. 58% (P = 0.72), respectively. Myeloablative regimens using combinations including thiotepa can provide satisfactory outcomes, but the optimal conditioning remains unclear for the individual patient in this setting.     

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation in AML with t(6;9)(p23;q34);DEK-NUP214 shows a favourable outcome when performed in first complete remission

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) with t(6;9)(p23;q34) is a poor-risk entity, commonly associated with FLT3-ITD (internal tandem duplication). Allogeneic stem-cell tranplantation (allo-SCT) is recommended, although studies analysing the outcome of allo-SCT in this setting are lacking. We selected 195 patients with t(6;9) AML, who received a first allo-SCT between 2000 and 2016 from the EBMT (European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation) registry. Disease status at time of allo-SCT was the strongest independent prognostic factor, with a two-year leukaemia-free survival and relapse incidence of 57% and 19% in patients in CR1 (first complete remission), 34% and 33% in CR2 (second complete remission), and 24% and 49% in patients not in remission, respectively (P < 0·001). This study, which represents the largest one available in t(6;9) AML, supports the recommendation to submit these patients to allo-SCT in CR1.