Mesenteric lymph node T cells but not splenic T cells maintain their proliferative response to concanavalin-A following peroral infection with Toxoplasma gondii

The suppression of T cell responsiveness which occurs after infection with Toxoplasma gondii in mice has been widely studied using spleen cells. Because the natural route of infection with T. gondii is the peroral route, we examined the proliferative responses of mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells, in addition to spleen cells, to Concanavalin-A (Con-A) in mice perorally infected with T. gondii. Proliferative responses of spleen cells were significantly suppressed seven and ten days after infection when compared with spleen cells from uninfected mice (62% and 91% reduction, respectively). In contrast, proliferative responses of MLN cells from these infected mice did not differ from those of normal MLN cells. Since IFN-gamma-induced reactive nitrogen intermediate (RNI) production has been reported to play a major role in suppression of proliferative responses in spleen cells of infected mice, we compared production of IFN-gamma and RNI by spleen and MLN cells following infection. MLN cells produced as much IFN-gamma as did spleen cells, but produced 70% less nitrite (as a measure of RNI) after Con-A stimulation. Proliferative responses of MLN cells were suppressed when co-cultured with spleen cells from infected mice, and addition of an inhibitor of RNI to these co-culture inhibited this suppression, suggesting that reduced RNI production by MLN cells contributes to their maintenance of higher proliferative responses. These results demonstrated a clear difference in activity of T cells in the MLN and spleen during the acute stage of the infection.     

Effects of fenoterol on inspiratory effort sensation and fatigue during inspiratory threshold loading

We studied the effects of a single dose of fenoterol on the relationship between inspiratory effort sensation (IES) and inspiratory muscle fatigue induced by inspiratory threshold loading in healthy subjects. The magnitude of the threshold was 60% of maximal static inspiratory mouth pressure (PI,mmax) at functional residual capacity, and the duty cycle was 0.5. Subjects continued the threshold loaded breathing until the target mouth pressure could no longer be maintained (endurance time). The intensity of the IES was scored with a modified Borg scale. Either fenoterol (5 mg) or a placebo was given orally 2 h before loading in a randomized double-blind crossover protocol. The endurance time with fenoterol (34.4 +/- 8.6 min) was longer than that with the placebo (22.2 +/- 7.1 min; P < 0.05). The ratio of high- to low-frequency power of the diaphragmatic electromyogram (EMGdi) decreased during loading; the decrease was less with fenoterol (P < 0.05). The EMGdi also decreased with loading; the decrease was greater on fenoterol treatment (P < 0.01). The PI,mmax and maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) were similarly decreased after loading on either treatment. The intensity of the IES rose with time during loading in both groups but was lower with fenoterol than with the placebo (P < 0.05). The ratio of Pdi to integrated activity of the EMGdi increased with fenoterol (P < 0.05). Fenoterol treatment increased both superimposed Pdi twitch and Pdi twitch of relaxed diaphragm and decreased the value of (1-superimposed Pdi twitch/Pdi twitch of relaxed diaphragm). Thus we conclude that in normal subjects fenoterol reduces diaphragmatic fatigue and decreases the motor command to the diaphragm, resulting in a decrease in IES during inspiratory threshold loading and a prolongation of endurance.     

The earlier detection of myocardial damage in open heart surgery using serum human heart fatty acid-binding protein

Human heart fatty acid-binding protein (HH-FABP), which is a low molecular weight protein and abundant in the cytoplasm of myocardial cells, is reported to be released into the circulation shortly after the onset of acute myocardial damage. However, the changes in serum HH-FABP levels in open heart surgery have not been elucidated. To determine whether HH-FABP enables the earlier detection of myocardial damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion in open heart surgery, we measured the serial levels of serum HH-FABP, CK-MB and Troponin T (TnT) at every 15 min for 48 hours after reperfusion in 10 adult patients with coronary artery bypass graft. The serum HH-FABP levels reached the peak within 60 min after reperfusion (mean +/- SD; 49 +/- 7 min), and this was significantly (p < 0.001) earlier than CK-MB (212 +/- 108 min) and TnT (244 +/- 150 min). The peak value of serum HH-FABP had a significant correlation to the peak value of serum CK-MB or TnT (r = 0.815, p = 0.02; r = 0.925, p = 0.0001, respectively). These results indicate that serum HH-FABP enables the earlier detection of myocardial damage than the other markers in the patients with open heart surgery.     

Neonatal intracranial tumor highly suspected of teratoma in the lateral ventricle consisting of multiple cysts: case report]

The role of maternal diet in the development of the fetal brain has not been adequately explored. Marine n-3 fatty acids have, however, been proposed to be important for brain development. The present case-control study aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary intake during pregnancy and the occurrence of cerebral palsy (CP) in the offspring. Children with CP (n 109), born between 1984 and 1988 to mothers residing in the Greater Athens area, were identified at any time in 1991 or 1992 through institutions delivering care and rehabilitation. Successful nutritional interviews were conducted with ninety-one of these children. Controls were chosen among the neighbours of the CP cases or were healthy siblings of children with neurological diseases other than CP, seen by the same neurologists as the children with CP. A total of 278 control children were chosen, and 246 of them were included in the nutritional study. Guardians of all children were interviewed in person on the basis of a questionnaire covering obstetric, perinatal socioeconomic and environmental variables. A validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire of 111 food items was used to estimate maternal dietary intake during pregnancy. Statistical analysis was done by modelling the data through logistic regression. Food groups controlling for energy intake were alternatively and simultaneously introduced in a core model containing non-nutritional confounding variables. Consumption of cereals (mostly bread) and fish intake were inversely associated with CP (P < 0.05 and P < 0.09 respectively) whereas consumption of meat was associated with increased risk (P < 0.02). A protective effect of fish consumption and a detrimental effect of meat intake have been suggested on the basis of earlier work and appear to be biologically plausible. If corroborated by other studies, these results could contribute to our understanding of the nutritional influences on fetal brain development.     

Synthesis of a biologically active fluorescent derivative of GM1, a main Ginseng saponin metabolite formed by intestinal bacteria

PURPOSE: Prosthodontic components for implant treatment have been developed with minimal reported scientific investigation. This paper aims to highlight a number of problems caused by this approach to the development and marketing of prosthodontic components and to suggest solutions. CONCLUSION: Prosthodontic components must be developed with a scientific approach that involves both laboratory and clinical testing so as to optimize treatment outcomes in the future.     

Successful chemotherapy in a patient with recurrent carcinoma of the urachus

OBJECTIVE: Titanium in other parts of the body, well known for its biocompatibility, was examined in an animal model for its use as an ossicular replacement material. STUDY DESIGN: The biocompatibility of titanium was studied in the middle ear of rabbits using light and scanning electron microscopy. Titanium pins were placed as middle ear prostheses or as free implants and were examined after 28, 84, 168, and 336 days. RESULTS: After 28 days, the prostheses were covered by regular mucosa. The free implants took up to 336 days to be totally epithelialized. There were no inflammatory cells observed on the surface of the material nor were unusual amounts of fibrous tissue seen. In addition, the titanium material exhibited an affinity toward bone. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this animal experiment indicate that titanium is a useful material for ossicular replacement prostheses.     

Deformation and fracture behavior of notched and unnotched unidirectional C/C-Mg composite with Young's modulus 520 GPa and tensile strength 1 GPa

Experimental study on tensile fracture behavior of the newly developed C/C-Mg composite, prepared by infiltration of Mg into the pores in the C/C composite heat-treated at 3000°C, was carried out. The volume fraction of the filled Mg was 9–10%. The composite had a specific density 2.1, Young's modulus 520 GPa and Poisson's ratio 0.26. The average tensile strength measured for the specimen with a nominal width 8 mm, gage length 40 mm and thickness 1 mm was 1 GPa. The Young's modulus was improved from 450 to 520 GPa and the strength from 0.9 to 1.0 GPa by Mg-infiltration. The specific Young's modulus and specific strength based on the average measured values were 2.5 × 10⁷ m and 5 × 10⁴ m, respectively, showing high potential as light-weight, stiff and strong structural material. The strength distribution of the composite was described by the two-parameter Weibull distribution function with a shape parameter 7.6 and scale parameter 1060 MPa. Prior to the overall fracture of the composite, the longitudinal cracking arose at the notch tip, due to which the notch tip was blunted and the ligament portion behaved like an unnotched specimen. As a result, the notched strength could be described by the net stress criterion. The apparent critical energy release rate at formation of the longitudinal crack was around 70–90 J/m².