Malnutrition in Healthy Individuals Results in Increased Mixed Cytokine Profiles, Altered Neutrophil Subsets and Function.

Malnutrition is commonly associated with increased infectious disease susceptibility and severity. Whereas malnutrition might enhance the incidence of disease as well as its severity, active infection can in turn exacerbate malnutrition. Therefore, in a malnourished individual suffering from a severe infection, it is not possible to determine the contribution of the pre-existing malnutrition and/or the infection itself to increased disease severity. In the current study we focussed on two groups of malnourished, but otherwise healthy individuals: moderately malnourished (BMI: 18.4-16.5) and severely malnourished (BMI <16.5) and compared several immune parameters with those of individuals with a normal BMI (≥18.5). Our results show a similar haematological profile in all three groups, as well as a similar ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. We found significant correlations between low BMI and increased levels of T helper (Th) 1 (Interferon (IFN)-γ, (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), as well as IL-10, IL-33 and tumor necrosis factor-α, but not IL-8 or C reactive protein. The activities of arginase, an enzyme associated with immunosuppression, were similar in plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and neutrophils from all groups and no differences in the expression levels of CD3ζ, a marker of T cell activation, were observed in CD4+ and CD8+T cells. Furthermore, whereas the capacity of neutrophils from the malnourished groups to phagocytose particles was not impaired, their capacity to produce reactive oxygen species was impaired. Finally we evaluated the frequency of a subpopulation of low-density neutrophils and show that they are significantly increased in the malnourished individuals. These differences were more pronounced in the severely malnourished group. In summary, our results show that even in the absence of apparent infections, healthy malnourished individuals display dysfunctional immune responses that might contribute to increased susceptibility and severity to infectious diseases.

The effect of intravesical acetylsalicylic acid instillation on tissue prostaglandin levels after partial bladder outlet obstruction in rabbits.

AIMS: To examine whether obstruction changes the expression of prostaglandins (PGs) in bladder, intravesical low-dose aspirin could be used as a new route of drug administration, this way of administration influences PGs' expression, and contractile function of the bladder is protected after treatment. METHODS: Eighteen rabbits were divided into three groups. Sham-operated group (group 1) included 6 rabbits. Twelve rabbits were partially obstructed for 70 days. Six of these 12 rabbits not receiving any treatment constituted obstructed group (group 2). The remaining six rabbits received 2 mg/kg/day aspirin (group 3). One rabbit in each group was evaluated on 1st, 7th, 14th, 28th, 42nd, and 70th days following obstructive surgery. After scarification, the percentage of collagenous area and concentrations of PGE2 and PGF2-alpha were measured. Contractile responses to field stimulation (EFS), carbachol, and potassium chloride (KCl) were determined. RESULTS: Wet tissue PGE2 and PGF2-alpha levels were higher in obstructed group than the other groups. Aspirin decreased the percentage of collagenous area in group 3 compared to the group 2, but this difference was not statistically significant. The strips from aspirin groups resulted in better contractile response to cholinergic stimulation with KCl, but this difference was not statistically significant between the obstructed and aspirin groups. Similarly, carbachol did not elicit significantly greater concentration-dependent contraction in strips from obstructed group compared to those from aspirin groups. Maximum responses to EFS were not significant in aspirin group compared to those from obstructed group. CONCLUSIONS: Intravesical aspirin may have protective effect on partially obstructed bladder.

ESR and optical absorption studies of gamma- and electron-irradiated sugar crystals

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of the free radicals induced in gamma- or electron-irradiated sugar crystals were performed. The number of radicals increases linearly, pointing out that this material can be used as a dosimeter. The optical absorption studies show the presence of several distinctive bands in the infrared and UV region, whose intensity changes with the irradiation dose. An interpretation of these results in terms of the formation of free radicals and possible crosslinking along the sugar molecular chains is presented.

Effect of irradiation dose, storage time and temperature on the ESR signal in irradiated oat, corn and wheat.

Results obtained for electron-irradiated oat, corn and wheat kernels are discussed. The applied irradiation doses were up to 160 kGy. For doses up to approx. 50 kGy the number of free radicals produced by the irradiation is linear with the absorbed dose; moreover, the decay at room temperature in the dark or in the presence of light is quite similar. These facts point to the possible use of these kernels as dosimeters. An analysis of the free radical decay as a function of time and temperature shows the contribution of at least three types of radicals, whose half-lifes, radiochemical yields and activation energies are given.

Electron paramagnetic resonance studies of gamma-irradiated corn.

Gamma-irradiated corn samples in the range 0.1-2.0 kGy dose range were studied by the EPR technique. The signal consists of one structureless line with a width of 0.82 +/- 0.02 mT and a g-factor of 2.004 +/- 0.002. The intensity of this line shows a linear dependence in this dose range. The corn samples were ground prior to irradiation. Before grinding the samples did not show any EPR signal. After grinding they present a free radical EPR line with the same characteristics as that produced by the gamma rays. The stability of these centers as a function of the temperature and time after irradiation was investigated. Analysis of these results suggest the presence of only one type of radical produced by both the mechanical and irradiation processes.

[Effect of the infestation by Prostephanus truncatus Horn, Sitophilus zeamais Mots, or Sitotroga cerealella Oliver, on the concentration of amino acids in corn proteins]. / Efecto de la infestación por Prostephanus truncatus, Horn, Sitophilus zeamais, Mots, o Sitotroga cerealella, Oliver, en la concentración de amino ácidos en la proteína del maíz.

The amino acid concentration in the protein of batches of corn kernel subjected to infestation by P. truncatus, S. zeamais or S. cerealella was measured. For each insect species three development stages were studied, larvae, at the emergence of the first generation, and longer. Differences between the control and each of the nine infested batches were observed for most of the amino acids. The only pattern of differences consistent in magnitude, significance and sign, was a fall in leucine and isoleucine and a raise in tryptophan concentration. The chemical scores of all samples were similar to the control, except in the case of infestation by larvae of S. cerealella in which it decreased 15%.

Efecto de la infestacion por Prostephanus truncatus, Horn, Sitophilus zeamais, Mots, o Sitotroga cerealella, Oliver, en la concentracion de aminoacidos en la proteina del maiz. / Effect of the infestation by Prostephanus truncatus, Horn, Sitophilus zeamais, Mots, or Sitotroga cerealella, Oliver in the concentration of amino acids in corn proteins

Se analizo la concentracion de aminoacidos en la proteina del maiz de diferentes lotes infestados, en condiciones de laboratorio, con P. truncatus, S. zeamais o S.cerealella en las etapas de larva, al emerger la primera generacion y en periodos mayores. Se observaron diferencias en la concentracion de la mayoria de los aminoacidos entre el lote testigo y los nueve lotes experimentales, pero el unico patron consistente en cuanto a magnitud, significancia y signo de las diferencias, fue una disminucion en leucina e isoleucina, y un aumento en triptofano. La calificacion quimica mostro cambios minimos, excepto en el caso de la infestacion con larvas de S.cerealella, en el que disminuyo en un l5% con respecto al lote testigo

[Changes in the concentration of components of corn grain infested with Prostephanus truncatus Horn, Sitophilus zeamais Mots, or Sitotroga cerealella Oliver]. / Cambios en la concentración de algunos componentes del grano de maiz infest ado por Prostephanus truncatus, Horn, Sitophilus zeamais, Mots, o Sitotroga cerealella, Oliver.

Quantitative changes in the chemical composition of stored corn infested with the grain insects Prostephanus truncatus, Sitophilus zeamais or Sitotroga cerealella were studied in the laboratory under the following conditions for each species: after infestation of samples by larvae, at the emergence of the first generation and after more than one generation. Changes occurred in the composition of all samples, the effect being more marked with larvae. Although no consistent pattern was evident, the nitrogen concentration of infested samples generally increased and the ether extract decreased. The total amounts of each constituent decreased in all samples, with up to 19% loss of energy content. Some of these changes may be attributed to selective feeding by each species, on specific regions of the maize kernel; this phenomenon was more apparent in the case of samples infested with larvae.