A comparison of the acute inflammatory response in adrenalectomised and sham-operated rats.

Carrageenin pleurisy was induced in adrenalectomised (ADX) and sham-operated (SHO) rats. The magnitude and duration of inflammation, as estimated by fluid exudation and cell migration, was greatly increased (approximately doubled) in ADX rats compared with that in their SHO controls. The content of eicosanoids (6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF 1 alpha), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), and leukotriene B4 (LTB4] in inflammatory exudates from ADX rats was significantly (2-4 fold) greater than that of their SHO controls. Resident macrophages obtained from ADX rats produced more eicosanoids per cell per unit time when stimulated in vitro with zymosan, than did cells from the SHO controls. Administration of glucocorticoids blocked the inflammatory response and reduced the release of eicosanoids both in vitro and in vivo in both groups of rats. These data are consistent with the notion that physiological amounts of glucocorticoids exert a tonic inhibitory action on phospholipase activity in normal animals and that the increased secretion of these hormones during the inflammatory response serves to check and control the development of inflammation.     

Effects of a holistic health program on women''s physical activity and mental and spiritual health

Intervention studies aimed at promoting increased physical activity have been trialled in many different settings including primary care, worksites and the community. Churches are also potential settings for physical activity promotion. However, little is known about the effectiveness of this setting for promoting physical activity, particularly in Australia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a mind, body and spiritually based health promotion program in increasing physical activity and promoting mental and spiritual health. Nineteen women completed the 8-week intervention, and 30 women in a non-health related 8-week program at the same church comprised a comparison group. Pre- and post-program surveys assessed outcome measures. Between-group differences over time were examined using one-way MANOVA's. Physical activity was higher in the intervention group than the comparison group. In contrast to the comparison group, both mental health (depression symptoms) and spiritual health improved significantly more among intervention participants. The data highlight the potential for a church-based setting and holistic approach to health promotion as a successful means of increasing physical activity and promoting mental and spiritual health among Australian women.     

Juvenile xanthogranuloma: A clinical, histopathologic and immunohistochemical study

Juvenile xanthogranuloma (JXC) is a benign histiocylic proliferation of uncertain histogenesis which usually resolves spontaneously. Histopathologically, classic lesions are characterized by diffuse proliferations of foamy histiocytes, many of which may be multinucleated (Toulon cells), admixed with lymphocytes and eosinophils. Histologic variants of JXG, perhaps representing evolving lesions, may lack these typical histopathological features, showing diffuse infiltrates of non-foamy mononuclear histiocytes without Toulon cells, posing problems in differentiation from other histiocylic or melanocylic proliferations. Immunohistochemically, JXG is characterized by variable expressions of several histiocytic markers as well as the absence of staining for SI00 protein. To assess better the spectrum of histopathological and immunohistochemical features of JXG, we studied nine cases of classic or histologic variant of JXG. The cases were evaluated by light microscopy and with an extensive battery of antibodies. All 9 cases, regardless of their light microscopic appearance, showed markedly positive staining with histiocytic markers including CD68, HAM56, cathepsin B and vimentin, but did not stain for S100 protein. Antibodies to factor XIIIa stained positively in 8 cases while staining for other markers was variable. Our results suggest that the histiocytes in JXG lesions have macrophagic differentiation, probably representing a reactive process to an unknown stimulus.