The influence of methisoprinol applied in ovo upon hatchability and health status of turkeys.

A study was undertaken to determine the effect of a synthetic immunomodulator, i.e. methisoprinol applied in ovo, upon the hatchability of turkey poults under conditions of a standard hatchery as well as on their health status evaluated based on analyses of selected biochemical indices in their blood serum. Experiments were conducted on 5 groups of BUT 9 turkeys at the age of 5 days (35 birds in each group) hatched from eggs to which methisoprinol (VetAgro, Lublin, Poland) was applied in ovo at a dose of 5 mg (group I), 10 mg (group II) or 20 mg per egg (group III) on the 26th day of incubation. Turkeys hatched from eggs to which a physiological solution of NaCl was applied on the same day at a dose of 0.1 ml per egg (group IV) as well as those hatched from eggs without in ovo injection (group V) served as controls. Five hundreds eggs were used in each group. Hatchability was evaluated based on the number of hatched poults in respect of the number of eggs with live embryos transferred from the setting compartment to the hatching compartment, that were subjected to in ovo administration of the preparations according to the experimental design. Blood serum of the 5-day-old turkey poults was analyzed for activities of AST, ALP, LDH-L, CK, lysozyme and ceruloplasmine as well as for total protein and albumin contents. Analyses were also conducted for the immune system organ index - percentage contribution of organs of the immune system (spleen, thymus and the bursa of Fabricius) in the body weight of turkeys. The study demonstrated that methisoprinol administered to turkey embryos in ovo on day 26 of incubation at doses of 5, 10 or 20 mg per embryo did not induce any disturbances in the hatching process or affect its final result. In addition, it was shown not to exert any negative effect on the health status of the reared turkey poults.

Exogenous melatonin modifies the circadian rhythm but does not increase the level of some immune parameters in the chicken.

The effect of daily injection of the pineal hormone melatonin and naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, on the circadian rhythm and the level of immune parameters (plaque forming cell [PFC] number, serum agglutinin titer, lymphoid gland weight, total white blood cells (WBC) and their fraction number, and serum lysozyme [LZ] content) was examined in White Leghorn cockerels and female BALB/c mice kept in LD 12:12. Animals were immunized ip with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) to stimulate their immune system. Subcutaneous injections of melatonin, naltrexone, or both drugs together were made 2 hr before the end of light, for 4 or 5 days, beginning on the day of immunization. The day following the fifth injection, chickens were sacrificed over a 24 hr period every 4 hr (experiment I) or twice daily, i.e., at the beginning of light and dark phases (experiment II). Mice were killed on the day following the fourth injection at the beginning of light, and splenic PFC number was determined (experiment III). In experiment I, the existence of the diurnal rhythm was evaluated by cosinor analysis. Melatonin injections entrained the circadian rhythm in anti-SRBC serum agglutinins, but it did not influence circadian rhythmicity in other parameters examined. The circadian rhythm in total WBC number and their fractions was entrained by naltrexone treatment. Melatonin injections did not affect either the diurnal mean of parameters examined or the weight of lymphoid organs. Splenic PFC number in chickens was diminished by both melatonin and naltrexone injections, whereas in mice it was increased by melatonin, and naltrexone antagonized that effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The role of various forms of ribomunyl in recurrent respiratory tract infections]. / Place des différentes formes de ribomunyl dans les infections récidivantes des voies aériennes.

Ribomunyl was administered in an open clinical trial for the treatment of chronic repetitive infectious diseases of the upper respiratory tract. Two groups of patients were treated with either Ribomunyl aerosol (n = 19) or with Ribomunyl aerosol and injections (n = 17); a third group of 17 patients, serving as a control group, did not receive treatment with either form of Ribomunyl. The treatment lasted two months and was followed by an observation period of another four months. The patients treated with Ribomunyl showed a distinct improvement compared to the untreated group. Ribomunyl was generally well tolerated. Plasma antibodies determined before, during and after the trial showed a clear-cut relationship between the increase in plasma antibody levels and improvement of clinical picture.

Bronchial asthma induced by mediators produced in vitro by sensitized lymphomonocytes. Protective effect of ketotifen.

A new procedure for the production in vitro of mediators of asthma is shortly described. This technique can be applied to the study of efficacy of anti-asthmatic agents. A double-blind study, which included 23 asthma patients was performed. Half of the patients were treated with Ketotifen 2 mg/day for 7 days, the other half with placebo. The patients were challenged with the cell cultures supernatants before and after the treatment period. The results obtained demonstrate a clear-cut protection of the patients treated with the active substance whereas the placebo group fail to do so.

Chronic asthma and rhinitis due to Candida albicans, epidermophyton, and trichophyton.

Asthma and rhinitis due to Candida albicans is well known. Trichophyton and Epidermophyton are not usually considered as causal agents for these diseases. During the years 1982 and 1983 all of the cases of chronic asthma or rhinitis exhibiting a positive immediate skin response (greater than or equal to 10 mm) to one of these three antigens were selected for this study (60 asthma and 75 rhinitis). They all went through nasal and bronchial provocation tests with the specific antigen. Late reactions were also registered. A RAST was performed in some of the patients reacting to Candida albicans. Following inhalation challenge with antigens, an immediate response was obtained in 91 cases (asthma 30, rhinitis 51). A dual response was observed in 17 cases of asthma and in 13 cases of rhinitis. A RAST-Candida albicans was done in 64 cases. Results were positive in 52 patients. In 46 cases there was a correlation between the RAST and the provocation tests. Hyposensitization treatment was given to 92 patients. After 2 years of treatment, a good to excellent response could be observed in almost 60% of the treated cases. A rough estimation of the incidence of immediate bronchial and nasal hypersensitivity among patients with chronic asthma and rhinitis to the three yeasts gives the approximate figure of 8% to 10%.

Bronchospasm induced in allergic patients by in vitro released mediators. II. Analysis of possible mechanisms.

In a previous report, it was shown that cultures of peripheral blood leukocytes, from allergic individuals, in the presence of antigen will produce bronchospasm inducing agents in the supernatants. In this study, the responsibility of several mediators was analyzed, i.e., histamine, IgE, prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha and leukotrienes C4. The results failed to demonstrate a significant release of histamine. Measurable amount of IgE could be recovered from active supernatants. Following removal of IgE and IgE-antigen complexes, the immediate bronchospastic response disappeared without so many changes in the delayed response. PGE2 and PGF2 alpha could be demonstrated in the active supernatants, which could be blocked by indomethacin. No significant differences in the bronchial challenge could be demonstrated between the two samples. Samples contained significant amount of leucotrienes C4. Treatment of cultures with NDGA (cyclooxygenase inhibitor) blocked almost completely the bronchial response. Therefore, in this assay, IgE, IgE-antigen complexes and leukotrienes C4 seem to play a major role in the induction of bronchospasm in sensitized individuals. We are clearly aware that the mediators production in vitro may eventually reflect only part of the events taking place in vivo. Nevertheless, this model allows the analysis of several major mediators and eventually some of their interactions. The role of PAF is now under study.

Bronchospasm and rhinitis induced in allergic patients by in vitro released mediators. I. Methodology.

This paper reports the development of an in vitro model of mediator production to be applied to patients with allergic asthma or rhinitis. All the selected patients were atopics and exhibited type I hypersensitivity to Candida alb., D. pter., or both. Heparinized blood was taken. The lymphomonocytes were separated and challenged in vitro with the specific antigen. After two hours of incubation and careful washing, the cells were further cultured for 24 hours and the supernatants removed. Skin tests and bronchial provocation tests were done with supernatants with known concentration of proteins. As a control for cell activation, two lymphokines, i.e. MIF and MF were determined in supernatants. The results demonstrated a dose-related bronchial and nasal response in allergic individuals with specific supernatants. On the other hand they failed to respond to supernatants recovered from non-sensitized cells, cells sensitized with unrelated antigens or sensitized cells obtained from non-allergic individuals. In almost 50% of the cases the immediate bronchial response, which was always present was sustained and persisted for several hours. Active supernatants always induced strong immediate skin responses. In conclusion, this in vitro model of mediator production seems to be valuable for the analysis of the physiopathological mechanism of these diseases.

Factors influencing adrenocortical suppression during long-term triamcinolone acetonide therapy in asthma.

The causes for an abnormal five-hour tetracosactrin test in 14 out of 75 patients (18.5% of the entire group), treated continuously with triamcinolone acetonide long-term (mean 3.2 years) for asthma or related syndromes, were investigated. The average daily dosage, duration of treatment and age of the patients were analyzed. Statistical analysis indicated that the risk of adrenocortical suppression was increased by the patient's age and the average patients under the age of 50, receiving less than 1.2 mg triamcinolone acetonide daily, only rarely develop adrenocortical functional impairment.

Assessment of adrenocortical function in asthmatic patients on long-term triamcinolone acetonide treatment.

The adrenocortical function of 48 adult asthmatic patients on long-term corticoid therapy was studied. All were treated with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) for from two to six (average 3.5 years). The adrenocortical function was assessed using a short Synacthen test as a screening procedure and a five-hour Synacthen test for TA exclusively treated patients with abnormal response in the short test. Among patients on long-term TA were nine with abnormally short Synacthen tests. The five-hour test revealed six abnormal responses (12% of the entire group of TA treated patients). Contrary to previously expressed opinions the authors feel that TA long-term treatment only occasionally causes steady adrenal suppression.