[Role of the lower urinary tract viral infections in the development of female micturition disorders].

Currently, an increase in the incidence and reactivation of the lower urinary tract viral infections is seen in women that often manifest as various micturition disorders. The most common viral agents are herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, Varicella-Zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human papillomavirus. Since micturition disorders in bacterial cystitis and viral infections of the lower urinary tract are identical, urologists often prescribe antimicrobial drugs. This, in turn, not only has no effect in the treatment of micturition disorders, but also leads to the imbalances in the microflora of vagina and lower urinary tract, and, as a result, to the development of a chronic infectious process. This review presents the main characteristics, as well as features of the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of the most common lower urinary tract viral infections.

Lymphocyte function following radioiodine therapy in patients with thyroid carcinoma.

AIM: Since the nuclear disaster in Fukushima has raised great concern about the danger of radioactivity, we here addressed the question if the therapeutic use of iodine 131, the most frequently applied radionuclide, was harmful to immune function in patients. It was our aim to define for the first time in a clinical setting how radioiodine therapy alters anti-microbial immune responses. PATIENTS, METHODS: In 21 patients with thyroid carcinoma anti-microbial lymphocyte responses were assessed by lymphocyte transformation test and ELISpot - measuring lymphocyte proliferation and on a single cell level production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interferon-γ and interleukin-10) - prior to therapy, at day 1 and day 7 post therapy. RESULTS: Proliferative lymphocyte responses and interferon-γ production after in vitro stimulation with microbial antigens were significantly (p < 0.05) increased at day 1 vs. pre therapy, and returned to pre therapy levels at day 7. On the contrary, at day 1 interleukin-10 production was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced. Thus, we observed a short-term increase in pro-inflammatory immune responses. However, T lymphocyte responses were in the range of healthy controls at all three time points. CONCLUSION: Thyroid carcinoma patients receiving radioiodine therapy do not display any sign of immunosuppression.

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in German radiologists.

Healthcare workers have an increased risk of tuberculosis infection compared with the general population. There have been few attempts to quantify the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection amongst German healthcare workers, due to inadequacy of the current tuberculin skin test (TST). Therefore, it was our aim to investigate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis in this cohort using a tuberculosis-specific ELISpot (T-SPOT.TB) test and to compare the performance of this test to that of the TST. Ninety-five healthy participants working in departments of radiology were examined by ELISpot, lymphocyte transformation test and TST. For cellular in-vitro tests, tuberculosis-specific peptides and purified protein derivate (PPD) were used as antigens. These tests were combined with a questionnaire on prior tuberculosis exposure. Out of 95 healthcare workers, only one (1%) was defined as positive by T-SPOT.TB, 92 (97%) by PPD-ELISpot, 78 (82%) by PPD-lymphocyte transformation test and 32 (34%) by TST. Multivariate analysis showed that the TST was significantly affected (P<0.0001 and P=0.001, respectively) by foreign birth and prior skin testing. The T-SPOT.TB test results were independent of foreign birth, prior skin testing and prior vaccination against tuberculosis. In contrast to the TST, T-SPOT.TB appears to be an accurate and useful tool to track tuberculosis infection in this at-risk group. With only one of 95 participants having acquired latent tuberculosis, these preliminary results argue for a low incidence of latent tuberculosis in German radiologists.

The G protein beta3 subunit 825T allele is a genetic marker for enhanced T cell response.

The G protein beta3 subunit (GNB3) 825T allele is predictive of enhanced Gi protein activation. Studying the influence of C825T allele status on cellular in vitro immune responses towards recall antigens and interleukin-2 stimulation we observed a 2-4-fold, significantly increased proliferation in homozygous 825T (TT) vs. C825 allele (CC) carriers. Furthermore, lymphocyte chemotaxis and CD4(+) T cell counts of individuals with TT+TC genotypes were significantly enhanced compared to the CC genotype. In summary, it appears that C825T allele status is highly predictive of immunocompetence and could be a candidate gene in disorders associated with inadequate immune response.

[Analysis of the components of synaptic potentials induced by corticofugal spikes in the rubrospinal neurons of the cat]. / Analiz komponentov sinapticheskikh potentsialov, vyzvannykh kortikofugal'noi, impul'satsiei, v rubrospinal'nykh neironakh koshki.

EPSPs of rubrospinal neurons evoked by stimulation of the sensorimotor cortex were studied in nembutalized cats by means of intracellular recordings. Participation of the corticospinal input in the genesis of EPSPs mentioned was revealed by selective activation of corticospinal fibres on the level of medullary pyramids as well as by studying peculiarities of their interaction with the effects of cortical stimulation. It was shown that both predominantly slow conducting corticospinal and corticorubral neurons participate in the genesis of the first two components of the complex EPSPs. Problems of cellular composition and mechanisms of corticofugal influences on the red nucleus neurons are discussed.