ABSTRACT
Links between immune responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), age and atopic sensitisation are poorly understood. This study investigated the induction of target organ type-1, type-2 and proinflammatory cytokine responses to RSV and/or phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) in tonsillar mononuclear cells from children, in relation to age and atopic status. In comparison with the control medium, RSV induced production of the type-1 cytokines interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-18, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, -8 and RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), but not any of the type-2 cytokines IL-4, -5, -10 and -13. Induction of IL-6, -8 and RANTES, but not IFN-gamma or IL-18, were shown to be dependent on virus replication. PHA induced all except IL-12, -13, and -15. Induction of IFN-gamma, IL-6, -8, and RANTES was significantly increased in atopic children. Induction of both IFN-7 and IL-4 increased in parallel in relation to age, with no change in the IFN-gamma:IL-4 ratio. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that immature type-1 immunity during early childhood plays a role in both respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis and in its relationship with atopy.
Subject(s)
Cytokines/metabolism , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/metabolism , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/virology , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/virology , Palatine Tonsil/virology , Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human/physiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , In Vitro Techniques , Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects , Male , Palatine Tonsil/drug effects , Phytohemagglutinins/pharmacologyABSTRACT
We describe a 55-year-old man who developed spinal osteomyelitis and diskitis 14 months after orthotopic heart transplantation. The infective organism was Staphylococcus aureus and the patient was successfully treated with flucloxacillin and fusidic acid.
Subject(s)
Discitis/etiology , Heart Transplantation , Osteomyelitis/etiology , Spinal Diseases/etiology , Staphylococcal Infections/etiology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Discitis/drug therapy , Floxacillin/therapeutic use , Fusidic Acid/therapeutic use , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Osteomyelitis/drug therapy , Penicillins/therapeutic use , Postoperative Complications , Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapyABSTRACT
AIM: To determine if beta defensins are expressed in the anterior segment of the eye and to determine the temporal pattern of expression using a real time semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). METHODS: Ocular tissue (corneal epithelium, conjunctiva, iris, and lens capsule) was collected from 23 patients undergoing surgery. Serial corneal or conjunctival impression cytology was performed on a separate group of 10 patients undergoing corneal tunnel phacoemulsification or trabeculectomy. The samples were analysed for beta defensin mRNA by semiquantitative RT-PCR and the mRNA standardised for cell numbers. RESULTS: RT-PCR amplified beta defensin 1 mRNA from all lens capsule (six) and corneal (five) samples and all but one of the conjunctival (six) and iris samples (six). beta Defensin 2 mRNA was amplified from three of five corneal, two of six conjunctival, and none of the iris or capsule samples. The impression cytology samples demonstrated a decline in defensin expression over the three time points studied. There were no false positive results from either the no-RT or negative control samples. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study confirms that natural antibacterial peptides are expressed in the anterior segment of the eye. There appears to be a pattern to the expression with inducible beta defensin 2 not expressed intraocularly and higher levels of beta defensin 1 than beta defensin 2 expressed in extraocular tissue. The implication is that beta defensin 1 is constitutively produced in ocular tissues and represents a key component of the innate immune system.
Subject(s)
Anterior Eye Segment/metabolism , Proteins/metabolism , Conjunctiva/metabolism , Defensins , Epithelium, Corneal/metabolism , Gene Expression , Humans , Iris/metabolism , Lens Capsule, Crystalline/metabolism , Proteins/genetics , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
We collaborated with researchers from Egypt, Syrian Arab Republic and Jordan in a study of patients with sickle-cell disease from those countries, and from various parts of Saudi Arabia, in order to investigate the influence of genetics on the clinical presentation of the disease, and to attempt to determine the origin of the sickle-cell gene in Arabs. Our results suggest that beta-globin gene haplotypes influence the clinical presentation of sickle-cell disease, and that there are at least two major foci for the origin of the sickle-cell gene, one in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, and the other in the populations of North Africa and the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula.
Subject(s)
Anemia, Sickle Cell/epidemiology , Anemia, Sickle Cell/genetics , Globins/genetics , Haplotypes/genetics , Anemia, Sickle Cell/classification , Egypt/epidemiology , Gene Frequency , Genetic Testing , Genetic Variation/genetics , Heterozygote , Homozygote , Jordan/epidemiology , Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics , Population Surveillance , Prognosis , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data , Restriction Mapping , Saudi Arabia/epidemiology , Severity of Illness Index , Syria/epidemiologyABSTRACT
We collaborated with researchers from Egypt, Syrian Arab Republic and Jordan in a study of patients with sickle-cell disease from those countries, and from various parts of Saudi Arabia, in order to investigate the influence of genetics on the clinical presentation of the disease, and to attempt to determine the origin of the sickle-cell gene in Arabs. Our results suggest that beta-globin gene haplotypes influence the clinical presentation of sickle-cell disease, and that there are at least two major foci for the origin of the sickle-cell gene, one in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, and the other in the populations of North Africa and the north-western part of the Arabian peninsula
Subject(s)
Genetic Testing , Globins , Haplotypes , Polymorphism, Genetic , Prognosis , Residence Characteristics , Severity of Illness Index , Anemia, Sickle CellABSTRACT
Following an attempted suicide by drowning in a vat of mineral oil, a previously fit man survived the usually fatal lipoid pneumonia resulting from total immersion after intensive support and prolonged steroid therapy with recovery of chest radiography and pulmonary function at one year.
