Differential Activation of Macrophages Based on Their Environment in Advanced Age / 전남의대학술지

The macrophage displays functional and phenotypic diversity, which appears, in no small part, to stem from the ability of macrophages to adapt functionally to changes in their tissue microenvironment. Here, we describe the differential activity of peritoneal macrophages with or without the presence of thioglycollate (TG), an inflammatory drug that encouraged the recruitment of macrophages, during aging. The peritoneal-resident macrophages dramatically reduced in phagocytosis and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion with aging, whereas the functions of macrophages recruited by TG were not significantly changed with aging. These results suggest that macrophages may be changed by their environment in advanced age, and could provide possible explanations for the controversial results regarding differential changes in macrophages in other papers.

Characterization of the acute inflammatory response in the hybrid tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus male × Colossoma macropomum female) (Osteichthyes) / Caracterização da resposta inflamatória aguda no híbrido tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus macho × Colossoma macropomum fêmea) (Osteichthyes)

This work evaluated the acute inflammatory response induced by injections of 0.5 mL saline solution (control), 500 µg carrageenin and 0.5 mL thioglycollate 3 percent in the swim bladder of juvenile tambacu hybrid. Fish were distributed in three treatments, three replications and acclimated for a period of 10 days before assay. The cell characterization from the inflammatory exudate was performed in Giemsa and PAS stained smears. Carrageenin, injected in fish, showed an increase on the total number of cells in the inflammatory exudate when compared to saline and thioglycollate injected. Whereas, for carrageenin-injected fish, the percentage of thrombocyte was higher than thioglycollate. On the other hand, granulocyte percentage in thioglycollate-injected fish was higher than the ones injected using carrageenin. Carrageenin provoked the highest migration of macrophage to the inflammatory site. The PAS method confirmed the presence of three types of granulocytes: eosinophilic granular cell (EGC) type 1 with the characteristics of a special granulocytic cell commonly found in the circulating blood; EGC type 2 shorter than the last one and neutrophil. This study contributes to a better understanding of the inflammatory response and infectious processes in native fish.

Este estudo avaliou a resposta inflamatória aguda induzida por injeções de 0,5 mL de solução salina (controle), 500 µg de carragenina e 0,5 mL de tioglicolato a 3 por cento na bexiga natatória de juvenis do híbrido tambacu. Os peixes foram distribuídos em três tratamentos, três repetições e aclimatados durante 10 dias antes do ensaio. A caracterização das células do exsudato inflamatório foi feita após coloração com Giemsa e PAS. Peixes injetados com carragenina apresentaram maior número de células no exsudato inflamatório do que com salina e tioglicolato. A porcentagem de trombócitos no exsudato foi maior nos injetados com carragenina quando comparada com a dos injetados com tioglicolato. Por outro lado, o percentual de granulócitos foi maior em animais injetados com tioglicolato do que em animais injetados com carragenina. A carragenina provocou maior migração de macrófagos para o foco inflamatório. O método de PAS confirmou a presença de três tipos de granulócitos: célula granular eosinofílica (CGE) tipo 1 com as características da célula granulocítica especial encontrada no sangue, CGE tipo 2, menor do que esta última, e de neutrófilos. Este estudo contribui para o melhor entendimento da resposta inflamatória e dos processos infecciosos em peixes nativos.

Improvement of the Positive Culture Rate Using New Enriched Broth in Cellulitis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus and Group A beta-hemolytic Streptococci are the etiologic agents most commonly associated with cellulitis, but many other bacteria have also been shown to cause this condition. The positive bacterial culture rate is the most important factor in the treatment of cellulitis. However, the positive bacterial culture rate in the commonly used media, tends to be quite low. OBJECTIVE: The principal objective of this study was to improve the positive culture rate in cellulitis patients by using a new enriched broth. METHODS: Brewer modified thioglycollate medium (BTM) and Columbia broth (CB), both of which are widely utilized in clinical bacteriology for enriched growth, were compared with several novel enriched broths. These new enriched broths were mixtures of BTM-CB broth and added growth supplement factors. They included BTM-CB (BC), Modified BTM-CB (MBC) and supplement VX-BTM-CB (VXBC). MBC media included several growth supplements, such as hemin, vitamin K1, VX supplement, and Campylobacter growth supplement. Strains utilized in this study were common pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, et al.), anaerobes, fastidious pathogens (Bacteroides fragilis, Campylobacter jejuni, Prevotella melaninogenica), uncommon pathogens (Actinobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae). Positive culture rates were evaluated in each medium and measured via spectrophotometry at 660 nm. RESULTS: In vitro, all strains used in this study grew more quickly and densely in MBC media. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MBC media in a new enriched broth may improve bacterial culture rates in cellulitis patients. It will be necessary to study the efficacy of the MBC media in the culturing etiologic agents from tissues of cellulitis patients.

A Study for Improvement of the Positive Culture Rate Using Skin Biopsy Specimens in Patients with Cellulitis / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus and group A streptococci are the most common etiologic agents in cellulitis, but occasionally many other bacteria are also identified. The positive rate of bacterial cultures taken from the skin lesion are low. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to improve the positive culture rate in patients with cellulitis by using skin biopsy specimens in several kinds of media. METHODS: Skin biopsy specimens taken from 54 patients with cellulitis were cultured in 4 functionally-different types of media (blood agar, MacConkey agar, chocolate agar, thioglycollate broth). Positive culture rates were evaluated in each medium and cultured bacteria were identified. Clinical characteristics were also studied, including age, sex, affected site, and history of previous treatment. RESULTS: The sex ratio of males to females was 2.9: 1 and mean age was 49 years. The most commonly-involved site was the lower extremities (42.6%), followed by the upper extremities (13.0%), head and neck (9.3%), and trunk (1.9%). Patients who had received previous antimicrobial treatment numbered 31 cases (57.4%). Of the 23 patients who had received no previous antimicrobial treatment, 13 patients (56.5%) had positive cultures. The most common pathogens were S. aureus and Streptococcus sp. (59.1%), but seven different genus of bacteria were also isolated from 9 patients (40.9%). Thioglycollate broth yielded a high positive culture rate (38.9%) among the 4 types of culture media. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the bacterial culture of skin biopsy tissue from four functionally-different types of media is a useful method for improving positive bacterial culture rate in patients with cellulitis.

Clinical Usefulness of Primary Broth Cultures / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: Although enriched broth cultures have been recommended as an adjuvant to the direct plating of tissue and body fluid specimens, the cost-effectiveness of broth cultures has been questioned in regard with the clinical significance of "broth only isolates(BOI)". The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of thioglycollate broth(THIO) cultures. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively results in the culture specimens of body fluids, tissue biopsies, and puses received during the month of July 1997. All specimens were inoculated into THIO in addition to agar plates. We reviewed the medical records of culture-positive patients to determine the clinical significance and relevance of their isolates. Clinically significant isolates were defined as those for which an appropriate antimicrobial therapy was done except one judged as contaminants by clinicians and clinically relevant isolates as the clinically significant one isolated first. RESULT: Of 2,008 specimens, 512(25.4%) from 365 patients grow 561 isolates 464 plate isolates and 97 BOI. Two hundred eighty nine(62.3%) of the 464 isolates from plate cultures were clinically significant, compared to only 12(12.4%) of 97 BOI (P<0.05). Only four (4.1%) BOI were clinically relevant, including one Pseudomonas aerugiosa from ascites. one Klebsiella pneumoniae and two Staphylococcus aureus from tissue specimens. CONCLUSION: A routine use of enriched broth culture rarely recover clinically relevant isolates. Considering the laboratory and medical costs of the recovery of contaminants and clinically irrelevant isolates, the enrichment broth cultures should be used more selectively.

Determination of acid phosphatase activity in macrophages / 中国免疫学杂志

A simple and accurate method is described for the quantitative determination of acid phosphatase in macrophage, spleen and thymus homogenates, utilizing sodium ?-naphthyl acid phosphate as substrate, and the monocoupler Fast Red B Salt as the color developer to measure ?-naphthol released from the substrate by enzymatic hydrolysis reaction.The color product is a deep blue azo dye,stable for at least 1h in alkaline condition. The method is sensitive enough for assay of enzyme activity of macrophages at concentration low as 1?10~6 cell/ml. The acid phosphatase activity of macrophages from mice treated with thioglycollate elevated significantly. Some factors affecting assay are discussed. Above all, the color developer solution should be made freshly and the peritoneal macrophages collected from mice should be broken in an ultrasonic breaker before assay.