Immunologic parameters in sera of diabetic patients and their effect on neutrophil functions

The levels of circulating immune complexes CIC and IgG in sera of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM] patients were statistically significantly higher than in normal subjects P<0.001 and <0.01 respectively. The level of C3c in diabetic sera was comparable to that of controls P>0.05. Normal polymorphonuclear leucocytes [PMN] showed a statistically significant decrease in phagocytic and killing functions in presence of diabetic sera than with normal sera P<0.001. A significant correlation existed between the rise in the levels of CIC in diabetic sera and the decrease of normal PMN functions tested, [phagocytic percentage P%, phagocytic index P.I. and killing percentage K% of candida albicans] when normal PMN were incubated with patient's sera, P<0.001, 0.01 and 0.001 respectively

In vitro responses of splenocytes of traumatized mice

Mice were traumatized by racture of one or four limbs. Spleen cells were separated and stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin [PH A] and tested by the migration inhibition technique. Traumatized mice were sensitized with sheep red blood cells [SRBCs] and spleen cells were tested by the plaque forming cell response [PFCR]. Traumatized mice [1 and 4 limbs affected] showed statistically significant decrease in the percentage migration inhibition response [% MI] compared to normal mice. Although the% MI in 4 limbs affected mice was less than in 1 limb affected mice, yet the difference was not statistically significant [P > 0.05]. The decrease in% migration inhibition response of traumatized mice persisted up to 10 days. The PFCR in sensitized traumatized mice showed a statistically significant decrease than that of normal sensitized mice [P < 0.01]. Ten days after trauma the PFCR of 1 limb traumatized mice showed a statistically significant increase [P<0.05] compared to their response after 2 days of trauma. No such improvement was observed with 4 limbs traumatized mice after 10 days [P > 0.05]. Thus trauma causes depression of both humoral and cellular immunity. Traumatized subjects need prophylactic measures to avoid bacterial infection and its complications

study of some aspects of cellular and humoral immunity in burn patients

A group of 20 burn patients were found to have impaired chemotaxis of their neutrophils in comparison to normal neutrophils [P<0.00l]. The chemotactic defect persisted up to 120 days and was directly related to total body surface area [TBSA] affected [P<.05]. The impairment was found to be due to a defect of patient's neutrophils as patient sera significantly increased chemotactic response of normal neutrophils than did normal sera [P<0.00l]. This increase was also related to TBSA affected [P<0.05] and the presence of septic complication [P<0.05]. C3c and IgG levels were raised in burn patients than controls [P<0.05]. The increase of IgG level was more observed in late than in early post burn period [P<0.005]. Moreover, cell mediated immunity [CMI] was impaired in burn patients as evidenced by diminished skin reactivity to purified protein derivative [PPD] especially in early than in late post burn period. Defects in some aspects of immune response in burn patients increase the possibility of secondary bacterial infections and early treatment of burn lesions is recommended