Effect of immunization with lipid associated polysaccharide antigen and anti CD-2 antibodies on class II MHC expression and cellular immune response in BALB/C mice infected with Leishmania donovani.

In a bid to characterize the antigens and immunization mechanisms which may be used to produce a protective response against L. donovani, role of lipid associated polysaccharide (LPS) antigen and whole antigen was evaluated. BALB/C mice were immunized with whole or LPS antigen in combination with one of three putative adjuvents (anti CD-2 antibody/FIA/0.85% Saline). LPS antigen emulsified in anti CD-2 antibody was found to induce significant antibodies in mice on day 28 against challenge with lethal dose of L. donovani. Immunoprophylactic properties of LPS and whole antigen was investigated on day 40 through cytokine elicitation (IL-2), MIF) in culture supernatants of spleen cells, but before that MHC-II expressed on macrophage was studied. The LPS antigen in combination with anti CD-2 antibody was found to be most immuno-reactive inducing higher MHC-II expression on macrophages which was associated with substantial rise in the level of MIF and IL-2. It coincided with decline in antibody titre in 100% mice immunized with LPS antigen while Leishmania injected as whole antigen failed to induce specific macrophage and T-cell response with all the above formulations. We surmise from our data that lipid associated polysaccharide antigen linked to anti CD-2 antibody has potential for eliciting protective immunity against Leishmania.

Alternative medicine--old wine in a new bottle.

Alternative medicine encompasses ancient medical practices of Ayurveda, Unani, Tibbi, chiropractice, acupuncture and others alike. This part of medicine ignores mechanisms of drug action and relies on antique methods and natural remedies. It has no study of pathology, rather depends on philosophy. One must take note of ethno-botany in the evolution of ancient medicines. Ethnobotany reflects the use of drugs available in natural places. Use of natural plants as medicine by the animals is very interesting to observe. Some religious practices like namaz and yoga constitute body exercises and are encouraged in alternative medicine. Chiropractice is a manual mode of treating in painful conditions of back, ankle and knee. Acupuncture is an age old process and practised mainly in China for various ailments.

Seven years' experience of ureterosigmoidostomy in surgically failed exstrophy of the bladder.

Reconstruction of a typical exstrophy of bladder and to achieve normal or nearly normal functional activity is still in investigating stage. In spite of efforts of many surgeons satisfactory results are too far to be obtained and it is almost impossible to obtain a near normal bladder capacity with full continence, free of infection and non-obstructive to the upper urinary tracts. Six cases of exstrophy of bladder where reconstruction has failed several times were subsequently referred to the urology department of Calcutta National Medical College, Calcutta, for urinary diversion; on one case previous attempt at repair resulted in small thick walled bladder with recurrent calculus formation. This study was made on those 6 patients, their age ranging from 3 to 14 years, in whom ureterosigmoidostomy was carried out during the year 1979 to 1986. In all patients careful bowel preparation was carried out by low residue diet, laxatives, enemas and antibiotics. Two patients developed hyperchloraemia and acidosis, 2 pyelonephritis and 2 remained asymptomatic till December 1986. None of those patients died so far. Ureterosigmoidostomy is not ideal but it can be adequate and sometimes is the preferred form of urinary diversion within limited resources. None of the methods of urinary diversion are free from complications but considering all, ureterosigmoidostomy as a method of urinary diversion is non-hazardous simple procedure with practically no mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)