ABSTRACT
Dicopper(ll) tetrakis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate), (Cu(II)(2)(3,5-DIPS)(4), manganese(II) bis(3,5-diisopropylsalicylate), Mn(II)3,5-DIPS)(2) or combinations of them were used to treat gamma-irradIated mice in examining the possibility that combination treatments might be more effective in increasing survival than treatment with either complex alone. Doses of 0, 10, 20, or 40 mumol of each complex per kilogram of body mass were administered subcutaneously in a factorial design before 9 Gy gamna irradiation, an LD(90) dose of irradiation. Doses of 0, 10, 20, or 40 mumol Cu(II)(2)(3, 5-DIPS)(4) per kg of body mass produced 12, 28, 28, or 36 % survival, respectively, while doses of 0, 10, 20, or 40 mumol (II)(3), 5-DIPS)(2) per kg of body mass prduced 12, 36, 20, or 24 % survival, respectively. However, the combination of 20 mumol Cu(II)(2)(3, 5-DIPS)(4) and 10 mumol Mn(II)(3, 5-DIPS)(2) produced the greatest survival, 48 %, which was 300 % greater than vehicle-treated mice (P=0.01). It is concluded that specific combination treatments can be used to maximize survival of lethally irradiated mice.
ABSTRACT
We performed a series of ELISAs to evaluate the diagnostic significance of two Schistosoma mansoni proteins, Sm31 (cysteine proteinase, cathepsin B) and Sm32 (asparaginyl endopeptidase). Our study populations were chosen from two villages in an endemic area close to Alexandria. Using fusion proteins MS2-Sm31 and MS2-Sm32 as antigens, 70% and 78.9%, respectively, of patient sera from 134 parasitologically confirmed cases reacted positively. The percentage of seropositivity increased to 84.5% when parasite-derived proteins Sm31 and Sm32 were used. The serum levels of antibodies to these two proteins in recombinant or native forms do not correlate with intensity of infection and hence are detected even when egg counts are low, which makes proteins Sm31 and Sm32 useful antigens in the identification of S. mansoni infected cases, particularly in endemic areas in Egypt.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Helminth/blood , Antigens, Helminth/immunology , Cysteine Endopeptidases/immunology , Endemic Diseases , Helminth Proteins/immunology , Plant Proteins , Schistosoma mansoni/immunology , Schistosomiasis mansoni/diagnosis , Schistosomiasis mansoni/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Egypt/epidemiology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Feces/parasitology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Parasite Egg Count , Reproducibility of Results , Schistosomiasis mansoni/epidemiology , Sensitivity and Specificity , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Severity of Illness IndexABSTRACT
We studied 119 members of 22 asthmatic multiplex families. Included were: 44 parents (seven were asthmatics), 48 asthmatics (23 were undergoing an attack at the time of sampling), and 27 normal siblings. The following investigations were carried out on all subjects: 1) detection of total T lymphocytes, helper cells, and suppressor cells, using monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, and OKT8), 2) study of nonspecific T-lymphocyte blast transformation induced by PHA, and 3) HLA-A, B, and DR antigen determination using the microcytotoxicity technique. The results were compared with normal ranges and data for a normal group and statistically and genetically analyzed. They indicate that: 1) the number of T cells was low in asymptomatic asthmatics and normal in asthmatics in attack; 2) there were fewer helper and normal suppressor cells (that is, a low H:S ratio) in asymptomatic asthmatics, and a normal amount of helper and suppressor cells (a normal H:S ratio) in those experiencing an attack; 3) there was a percentage of lymphocyte transformation in both groups of asthmatics; 4) whereas the T-helper cells increased, there was no change in the number of suppressor cells during an attack, which points to deficient function of suppressor cells; 5) the disorder is inherited and the gene controlling this dysfunction is HLA-linked and probably dominant.
