B cells expressing CD5 are increased in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis.

By two-colour flow cytometric analysis, we found increased numbers of B cells co-expressing the pan-T cell marker CD5 and the B cell marker CD19 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 21 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), compared with 17 control subjects with muscular tension headache. Only one patient with MS, but nine controls lacked CD5+ B cells in CSF. This difference was not observed in peripheral blood. Numbers of CD5+19+ B cells were increased in CSF compared with blood in MS, but not in the controls. In both groups, CD5+19+ B cells were not restricted to small resting lymphocytes, but were also found among larger-sized lymphocytes. The relative density of CD5 molecules and of CD19 molecules was lower in CD5+19+ than in CD5-19+ B cells and CD5+19- T cells. CD5+ B cells are assumed to be responsible for autoantibody production, and our results suggest a pathogenetic role of such cells, predominantly within the central nervous system, in MS.     

Endoscopic Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux with Collagen: Preliminary Report and Cost Analysis

Purpose

We determined therapeutic and operative cost efficacy of endoscopic collagen injection for vesicoureteral reflux.

Materials and Methods

We performed a multicenter study of 10 male and 23 female sequential patients (45 renal units) with vesicoureteral reflux and a surgical indication. Patients were skin tested with collagen and when negative, they underwent endoscopic injection. Renal ultrasound/ cystography was done 3 months after treatment. Cost analysis was performed at 1 institution.

Results

Reflux was grade I in 2 renal units, II in 18, III in 15 and IV in 10. The majority of cases were single systems with primary reflux. We performed 1 treatment in 32 renal units, 2 in 6, 3 in 6 and 4 in 1. Cure was evident in 31 of 38 renal units (81.6 percent) and 21 of 27 patients (78 percent) 3 months after the last injection. Patient morbidity was minimal. Operative cost per renal unit was $1,599.68 for collagen injection and $9,144.47 for reimplantation.

Conclusions

Endoscopic injection of collagen is effective treatment for vesicoureteral reflux. Furthermore, it causes minimal morbidity and may effect cost savings in health care management.     

Lymphocyte Subpopulations,Oxidative Burst and Apoptosis in Peripheral Blood Cells of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis–Effect of Interferon-β

At present, the most efficient therapeutical treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) is achieved by IFN-β. However, its in vivo effects remain incompletely understood. If applied parenterally, the hydrophobic IFN-β acts primarily on blood cells with probable selectivity for functionally different lymphocyte subpopulations, monocytes and granulocytes. We have investigated the expression of the activation marker interleukin-2 receptor-α (CD25) on CD3⁺ T cells, CD19⁺ B cells, foetal-type γδ⁺CD3⁺ T cells and foetal-type CD5⁺CD19⁺ B cells of the peripheral blood. In addition, the oxidative burst activity and apoptosis have been determined in mononuclear and polymorphonuclear blood cells, respectively. The study accompanied a phase III trial with IFN-β1b (BETAFERON^®, Schering). Two groups of MS patients with relapsing-remitting course of the disease have been investigated at 8 time points (days 0, 5, 15, 31, 60, 90, 180 and 270 after starting therapy): (1) verum group (n=8) with application of 8 Mill. units IFN-β1b every other day, and (2) placebo group (n=4) with application of placebo for 3 months and therapy as in (1) from day 90 onward. The main results were: (1) Activated T cells decreased until day 180 in the verum group and return thereafter to pre-treatment values, whereas in the placebo group the values remained relatively stable over the whole observation period. (2) Activated B cells increased between days 90 and 270 in both groups, i.e. after verum application in both groups. (3) Foetal-type B cells were more activated than total B and T cells with increase over time in both groups. (4) Foetal-type T cells exerted relatively stable intra-individual levels with generally low CD25 expression, but punctual CD25 peaks in both groups. (5) The spontaneous oxidative burst was higher in lymphocytes, more variable in monocytes and faster increasing in granulocytes in the verum group than in the placebo group. (6) Apoptosis of mononuclear cells and granulocytes showed similar variations in the verum and placebo groups with the exception of a selective increase over time of the proportion of granulocytes undergoing induced apoptosis in the verum group. It is concluded that IFN-β has the following main effects on the immune system of MS patients: (1) the T cell immunity is systemically and reversibly suppressed, (2) the foetal-type lymphocytes, which are responsible for the first line of defence of infections, are stimulated in the long range, (3) the oxidative burst activity is increased in lymphocytes and granulocytes and instable in monocytes, and (4) the inducibility of apoptosis in granulocytes is increased. Re-examination of the altered blood cell parameters after long-term IFN-β therapy is warranted.     

Textural features of hypoxia PET predict survival in head and neck cancer during chemoradiotherapy

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging - The aim of this study was to investigate whether textural features of tumour hypoxia, assessed with serial [18F]fluoromisonidazole...     

Inflammation and proinflammatory cytokine production,but no demyelination of facial nerves,in experimental autoimmune neuritis in Lewis rats

Experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) is a CD4⁺ T cell-mediated, inflammatory demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that serves as a model for Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) in humans. The facial nerve paralysis is relatively commonly found in GBS patients. Here, EAN was established in Lewis rats by immunization with P2 peptide 57–81, a purified component of peripheral nerve myelin, and Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). To study whether the facial nerves are involved in the pathogenic process during the EAN course, we observed the clinical and pathological changes as well as cytokine production in facial nerves on Day 14 postimmunization (p.i.), i.e. at height of clinical EAN. As a result, all rats immunized with P2 peptide 57–81 developed severe EAN on Day 14 p.i., but none of the rats manifested clinical signs of facial nerve paralysis. Additionally, only mild inflammatory cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-) production as well as devoid demyelination were seen in facial nerves of the EAN rats. On the contrary, severe inflammation and demyelination as well as upregulated IFN-γ and TNF- production were observed in sciatic nerves of the same EAN rats. The underlying mechanism for the difference of the local manifestation of the disease process of EAN remains to be resolved.     

Impact of influenza vaccination on civilian aircrew illness and absenteeism

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of the general population worldwide acquires influenza infection every year. Airline crews run a particularly high risk of contracting influenza and influenza-like viruses because they come in contact with hundreds of potentially infected individuals every day. Respiratory diseases are the most frequent cause of absenteeism among flight crews in airline companies. Several studies have shown the efficacy of influenza vaccination in the workplace of healthy, working adults leading to increased productivity and lower absenteeism. We conducted a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study on flight crews of an airline company in order to determine the safety and efficacy of a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in reducing illness and absences from work. METHODS: The 813 healthy members of a Brazilian airline company were randomly assigned to receive injections of either an influenza vaccine or a placebo, with a follow-up period of 7 mo after vaccination. Primary outcomes included influenza-like illness episodes and absenteeism from work due to such episodes. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. No significant side-effects occurred in either group. Compared to the placebo group, individuals receiving the vaccine showed 39.5% fewer episodes of flu-like illness (p < 0.001) and 26% fewer days of work lost (p = 0.03).The vaccinated group developed 33% fewer episodes of any severe flu-like illness (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The data indicates that influenza vaccination is safe in airline flight crews and may produce health-related benefits including reduced absenteeism.     

V region T cell receptor repertoire in Parkinson's disease

Introduction - Restricted usage of Vα and β genes has been found in several diseases, which exert autoreactive T cells. So far no information on T cell receptor (TCR) usage in degenerative diseases is available. Since T cells may be involved in pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, the analysis of the TCR repertoire is of importance. Material and methods - We have tested the frequency of 6 Vβ-subtypes and the most common Vα-subfamily on peripheral blood lymphocytes in 21 PD patients and 20 controls, separately on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells. For our study Diversi - T™, the first available Mab set specific for TCR V regions, was used. Results -As a results, no significant differences were found with one exception, i.e., lower frequency of Vβ8(a) expression on CD8⁺ T cells in PD patients than in controls. Conclusion - The failure of preferential usage or lack of usage of the tested V-chain alleles by CD4⁺ T cells argues against an involvement of helper T cells in PD induction.     

Analyse von polystyrolharzen mit funktionellen gruppen mittels IR-spektroskopie und pyrolyse-gaschromatographie-massenspektroskopie

Styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers having functional groups ? CH₂X [X?H, Cl, J, OCOCH₃, OH, OC₂H₅, NH₂, NHC₂H₅, N(C₂H₅)₂, CN, C(?NOH)NH₂, NCS, COC₂H₅, (CH₂)₃CH₃] in para position were analysed qualitatively by the combination of infrared data with results of curiepyrolysis-gaschromatography-mass spectroscopy. The determination of structure was possible in all examples by direct or indirect statements at least of one of both methods. Some evidences were completed by a “thermolysis” at 400°C.     

Dopamine exerts no acute effects on Kv1.3 in activated encephalitogenic T cells

Apart from a central function in the extrapyramidal motor system, dopamine has been suggested to play a role in neuroimmune interactions. Particularly in diseases of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, alterations in dopamine homeostasis might have immunological consequences. We investigated potential effects of dopamine stabilized by ascorbic acid on specifically activated encephalitogenic T cells at the peak of activation. Those cells exhibited an upregulation of voltage-sensitive K+ channels which play a role in many neurotransmitter responses of lymphocytes and fulfilled a prerequisite to respond to dopamine, i.e. stable expression of mRNA for dopamine receptors DRD1, DRD2 and DRD3. However, whole-cell and perforated whole-cell recordings revealed no change in voltage-sensitive K+ currents. Moreover, T cell proliferation was not changed in the presence of dopamine. Previously reported dopamine effects on T cells may be explained by a comparatively lower activation of the cells under investigation, suggesting an activation dependence of dopamine effects that may not be mediated by K+ channels. Alternatively, the occurrence of dopamine degradation products under unprotected conditions may account for the changes reported. Nevertheless, care should be taken when using the dopamine-protecting anti-oxidant ascorbic acid, since we found that it markedly inhibited both K+ currents and lymphocyte proliferation at higher concentrations.