Pressurized liquid extraction with water as a tool for chemical and toxicological screening of soil samples at army live-fire training ranges.

Significant discrepancies in the results of risk assessments based on chemical and toxicity analyses of soils may arise through differences in the efficiency of the extraction or leaching methods used. A rapid technique that may be used in the screening phase of live-fire training ranges and suitable for extracting explosive residues is pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with water. Therefore, PLE and the commonly used batch leaching method EN-124 57-2 were compared for their utility to extract specific residues from soil samples collected from the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa, Ontario. After extraction the cytotoxicity of the samples were assessed in the L-929 growth inhibition assay. The PLE method yielded extracts suitable for direct use in the toxicity assay within 20 min as compared to 24h for the batch leaching method. Analysis of the extracts showed that the PLE water extracts tended to give higher recoveries of explosive residues and the resulting exposure concentrations were confirmed by higher cytotoxicities. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses showed that the samples contained significant amounts of several munition-related stabilizers and plasticizers of toxicological significance in addition to the analysed explosive residues. In conclusion, PLE using water is a promising extraction technique for both chemical and toxicological screening of soil samples from areas that may be contaminated with explosive residues.

Role of host phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 in the development of murine leishmaniasis.

Activation of host phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 by Leishmania and its subsequent impact on tyrosine phosphorylation-based signaling cascades were shown to represent an important mechanism whereby this pathogen may alter host cell functions. Herein, we report that Leishmania-induced macrophage SHP-1 activity is necessary for its survival within phagocytes through the attenuation of nitric oxide-dependent and -independent microbicidal mechanisms. In vivo, Leishmania major infection, which footpad inflammation is mostly undetectable in SHP-1-deficient viable motheaten mice, was accompanied by increased inducible nitric oxide synthase and activation of neutrophils. These enhanced cellular activities were paralleled by a marked activation of signaling events usually negatively regulated by SHP-1. Overall, this study firmly establishes that modulation of the signaling terminator SHP-1 by Leishmania is essential for its installment and propagation.

Immunodomination results from functional differences between competing CTL.

The presence of dominant epitopes suppresses generation of CTL activity toward other non-dominant epitopes found on the same antigen-presenting cell (APC). This phenomenon, termed immunodomination, drastically restricts the diversity of the repertoire of CTL responses. Under various experimental conditions we assessed the in vivo expansion by tetramer staining and function by expression of O-glycans and intracellular perforin of CTL specific for a dominant (B6(dom1)) and a non-dominant (HY) H2D(b)-restricted epitope. Immunodomination abrogated expansion rather than differentiation of HY-specific CTL. When immunodomination was precluded because HY was presented alone or because high numbers of antigen-bearing APC were present, the numbers of HY-specific T cells detected after antigen priming were similar to those of B6(dom1)-specific T cells. The main difference between T cells that recognized B6(dom1) versus HY was functional rather than quantitative. The key feature of T cells specific for B6(dom1) is that they show striking up-regulation of molecules involved in CTL effector activity rather than accumulating to particularly high levels, as assessed by tetramer staining. These results support the emerging concept that following antigen priming, CTL populations of similar size can display important differences in effector function, and suggest that these functional differences are instrumental in shaping the repertoire of CTL responses.

Dropout and completion of treatment among spouse abusers.

This study examines a population of spouse abusers undertaking a treatment program. Its purpose was to identify the variables associated with dropout and completion of treatment and to build a predictive model. Data were collected on 286 men who began group treatment in one of eight community programs in the province of Quebec, Canada. Results show that men who complete treatment are older, better educated and have better economic conditions than men who drop out. They also have a more stable family life, have been in a relationship for a longer period of time and have more children with their actual spouse. Men who completed treatment showed more commitment, better working capacities and a higher level of agreement with their therapists, thus developing a stronger therapeutic alliance. Support provided by people in the environment was significantly related to treatment completion. Social and judicial pressures were not related to completion.

Neuronal activity and transcription of proinflammatory cytokines, IkappaBalpha, and iNOS in the mouse brain during acute endotoxemia and chronic infection with Trypanosoma brucei brucei.

Trypanosoma brucei brucei (Tbb) infection is a model of chronic immune response associated with severe neurological disorders believed to lead to coma and death. We hypothesized that exaggerated production of proinflammatory molecules within the cental nervous system (CNS) may be involved in the etiology of the disease, i.e., African Tripanosomiasis. The purpose of the present study was therefore to verify the effects of the parasite Tbb on the genetic expression of the immediate-early gene c-fos (index of cellular activity), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inhibitory factor kappa B alpha (IkappaBalpha, index of the nuclear factor kappaB activity, the transcription factor of numerous proinflammatory molecules), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the mouse brain. Adult male BALB/c mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, used as positive control for these markers that are induced in a transient manner by the endotoxin), Tbb, or vehicle solution and were sacrificed at multiple times (1 hr to 7 days) following the injection. Acute and chronic models induced a robust expression of c-fos in numerous regions of the brain, including the circumventricular organs (CVOs) and different nuclei involved in autonomic control. Although the effect of LPS was rapid and transient, Tbb pathogen stimulated c-fos only within 5 to 7 days. The genes encoding TNF-alpha and IL-6 cytokines were expressed in the CVOs and choroid plexus 1 and 3 hr after LPS injection, whereas no convincing hybridization signal was detected in the brains of Tbb-infected mice at any time. IL-6 and iNOS-expressing cells were also found along large blood vessels of LPS-treated mice, while scattered small TNF-alpha-expressing cells were observed across the brain 12 and 24 hr after the endotoxin treatment. Tbb caused a low to moderate expression of iNOS and IkappaBalpha genes in perivascular cells, but this effect was apparent only several days following the parasite infection. Taken together, these data indicate that LPS and Tbb stimulate c-fos expression in similar nuclei involved in autonomic control, an event occurring within the first 3 hr after the LPS insult and only 5 days post-Tbb injection. The mRNAs encoding proinflammatory cytokines were, however, not detected in Tbb-infected brains, which may be explained by the Tbb variant (MiTat 1.5) that caused high parasitaemias and mortality within 5 to 7 days.

At-risk behaviors with regard to HIV and addiction among women in prison.

The bulk of studies pertaining to addiction among delinquents have been conducted on male subjects. However, the few studies examining female inmates show that a significant proportion of them present an addictive disorder. Furthermore, the HIV infection rate is higher among these women than among incarcerated men. This study attempts to verify if women presenting a combination of criminal and addictive behaviors are at a higher risk of developing an earlier and a more severe delinquency than other delinquent women. Another goal is to determine whether women showing this comorbidity present a higher incidence of HIV-related risk behaviors. The study was conducted on a sample of 210 women from the Montreal detention center. It shows that addicted inmates present earlier onsets of both drug use and criminal behaviors compared to other female inmates. Addicted women also exhibit significantly more HIV-related risky behaviors, both in their drug use and in their sexual practices.

Massive activation-induced cell death of alloreactive T cells with apoptosis of bystander postthymic T cells prevents immune reconstitution in mice with graft-versus-host disease.

After hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the persistence and expansion of grafted mature postthymic T cells allow both transfer of donor immunologic memory and generation of a diverse T repertoire. This thymic-independent process, which is particularly important in humans, because most transplant recipients present severe thymus atrophy, is impaired by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The goal of this study was to decipher how GVHD influences the fate of grafted postthymic T cells. Two major findings emerged. First, we found that, after a brisk proliferation phase, alloreactive antihost T cells underwent a massive activation-induced cell death (AICD). For both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, the Fas pathway was found to play a major role in this AICD: alloreactive T cells upregulated Fas and FasL, and AICD of antihost T cells was much decreased in the case of lpr (Fas-deficient) donors. Second, whereas non-host-reactive donor T cells neither upregulated Fas nor suffered apoptosis when transplanted alone, they showed increased membrane Fas expression and apoptosis when coinjected with host-reactive T cells. We conclude that GVHD-associated AICD of antihost T cells coupled with bystander lysis of grafted non-host-reactive T cells abrogate immune reconstitution by donor-derived postthymic T lymphocytes. Furthermore, we speculate that massive lymphoid apoptosis observed in the acute phase of GVHD might be responsible for the occurrence of autoimmunity in the chronic phase of GVHD.

Comparative profiles of addicted adult populations in rehabilitation and correctional services.

For many years, clinicians, especially those working in rehabilitation centers for alcohol and drug users, have been preoccupied with clients presenting with dual diagnosis: substance abuse and legal problems. Comparative analyses of three groups of addicted men, 553 offenders and 499 nonoffenders in treatment for addiction problems and 103 addicted inmates were made to ascertain the biopsychosocial profile of these persons. Results showed that dual-diagnosis clients experienced more severe biopsychosocial problems than the nonoffending group of subjects. Offenders in prison experienced more social maladjustment than offenders in drug addiction treatment, they were less preoccupied by their drug consumption, and less motivated to change. Implications for treatment are discussed.

[Intervention with adjudicated drug-dependent patients: professionals and judicial professionals]. / L'intervention auprès des toxicomanes judiciarisés: les intervenants et intervenantes se prononcent.

Many studies indicate that a large number of addicts commit crimes and, conversely, many offenders are addicts. Individuals who fall into both these categories show clear bio-psychosocial problems. With few resources at their disposal, professionals from both the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Public Security feel uncomfortable trying to help these individuals. This study presents the results of 6 focus groups on the types of services that should be offered to addict-offenders. Results indicate that proper assessment of the addiction and the addict-offender's motivation to undertake rehabilitation is essential. Another crucial element is an open channel of communication among the various professionals involved in the case management and treatment of these individuals. Finally, a good reference system is needed. However, the authors insist on the caution that must prevail when control and help are provided together in a concerted effort.

Thymic and extrathymic differentiation and expansion of T lymphocytes following bone marrow transplantation in irradiated recipients.

Thymic function is severely impaired in most marrow transplant recipients. To evaluate the impact of thymic hypoplasia on T cell reconstitution following marrow transplantation, we compared the phenotype and function of T lymphocytes in thymectomized recipients with those of euthymic hosts. Irradiated C57BL/6 mice (Thy1.2+, Ly5.1+) received 10(7) T cell-depleted B6.Ly5.2 bone marrow cells (Thy1.2+, Ly5.2+), with or without 3 x 10(5) B6.PL lymph node cells (Thy1.1+, Ly5.1+) as a source of T lymphocytes. Multiparameter flow cytometry analysis showed that in euthymic mice (group 1), T cell reconstitution was carried out by donor hematopoietic stem cells that differentiated in the host's thymus, whereas the production of chimeric T cells in athymic recipients depended on the presence or absence of T cells in the graft. When T lymphocytes were present in the graft (group 2), their progeny constituted the vast majority of splenic T cells on day 100 posttransplant. When the graft did not contain T lymphocytes (group 3), T cell reconstitution resulted from extrathymic maturation of donor hematopoietic progenitors; T cells differentiating along this pathway expressed lower levels of T cell receptor and a large proportion of the CD8+ subset expressed CD8alpha alpha homodimers. The T cell receptor Vbeta profile of all chimeras was similar to that of normal C57BL/6 mice. Compared with T cells found in euthymic recipients, those in mice from groups 2 and 3 were less abundant (particularly with respect to the CD4+ subset), displayed the CD44/CD45 phenotype of activated memory cells, and expressed high levels of IL-2 receptor beta chain. These results show that both the presence or absence of the thymus and the composition of the grafted inoculum determine the source and extent of posttransplant T cell reconstitution. Because they determine the nature of the differentiation pathway taken during T cell development in the host, these two factors can exert a critical influence on the appearance of graft vs. host disease and the level of host immunocompetence.

[Drugs and criminal issues: assessment of research in Quebec]. / Les drogues et les questions criminelles: bilan de la recherche québécoise.

Although research on the link between drugs and crime is not a major concern for many Quebec researchers, the last five years have been the scene of an increasing number of studies on the subject. These studies can be divided in four groups: 1) criminal policies; 2) studies on prevalence; 3) relation between drugs and crime; 4) intervention and its impact. Results of these studies put additional pressure for adequate treatment of addicts having problems with the law. Social workers in rehabilitation centres have thus noticed an increasing number of addicts who had or were going through problems with the law. Yet a great proportion of addicts having problems with the justice system are not reached by rehabilitation services: it is those people who present the most deteriorated bio-social profile. Is it really worthwhile to intervene with this type of clientele? The answer is yes as long they can be kept in treatment sufficiently long. In any case, the simple judiciarization of a person says nothing of his character (e.g. violent, liar or fraudulent) or of his pathology (e.g. psychopath, sociopath ...). In fact, given the illicit nature of certain drugs, the simple fact of using can lead to criminalization. The challenge in research in this field will consist in better defining factors related to perseverance in treatment and therapeutic ingredients associated to the desired impact.

The impact of a treatment process for substance users as a function of their degree of exposure to treatment.

The objective of this research is to evaluate the outcomes of a treatment for addicts. 248 subjects were tested before and 5 months after treatment with the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Exposure to treatment was based on the number of clients' contact hours with a therapist. The sample was divided into three groups according to number of hours spent in treatment. The data were analyzed using MANOVA on the seven scales of the ASI for the three groups and the two time periods. Results showed that the severity of addiction problems decreased after treatment, and decreased more for subjects who underwent treatment for a longer period of time.

Identification of an immunodominant mouse minor histocompatibility antigen (MiHA). T cell response to a single dominant MiHA causes graft-versus-host disease.

T cell responses to non-MHC antigens are targeted to a restricted number of immunodominant minor histocompatibility antigens whose identity remains elusive. Here we report isolation and sequencing of a novel immunodominant minor histocompatibility antigen presented by H-2Db on the surface of C57BL/6 mouse cells. This nonapeptide (AAPDNRETF) shows strong biologic activity in cytotoxic T lymphocyte sensitization assays at concentrations as low as 10 pM. C3H.SW mice primed with AAPDNRETF in incomplete Freund's adjuvant generated a potent anti-C57BL/6 T cell-mediated cytotoxic activity, and T lymphocytes from AAPDNRETF-primed mice caused graft-versus-host disease when transplanted in irradiated C57BL/6 recipients. These results (a) provide molecular characterization of a mouse dominant minor histocompatibility antigen, (b) identify this peptide as a potential target of graft-versus-host disease and, (c) more importantly, demonstrate that a single dominant minor antigen can cause graft-versus-host disease. These findings open new avenues for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease and should further our understanding of the mechanisms of immunodominance in T cell responses to minor histocompatibility antigens.

Pneumocystis carinii infection in transgenic B cell-deficient mice.

Pneumocystis carinii is an important cause of pneumonia in immunocompromised hosts. Both cellular and humoral immunity seem important in resistance to this pathogen, but the specific role of each component is poorly understood. An outbreak of P. carinii pneumonia in transgenic B cell-deficient mice (muMT) was studied. Over 4 months, >50% of 41 muMT/muMT mice maintained in a sterile environment died of pneumonia. Some mice had concurrent infection with Pasteurella pneumotropica. Homozygous muMT/muMT mice had no detectable serum immunoglobulins, while their heterozygous muMT/+ counterparts had normal levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA and did not develop pneumonia. The infection was controlled by treating the mice with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and the pathogen was eliminated by cesarean rederivation. These observations suggest an important role for B cells in the host defense against P. carinii.

Oligoclonal expansion of CTLs directed against a restricted number of dominant minor histocompatibility antigens in hemopoietic chimeras.

To understand how T cells respond to allogeneic minor histocompatibility Ags (MiHAs), we studied the fate of Thy-1.1+ lymphocytes, as well as their TCR usage and functional activity, in irradiated LP (Thy-1.2+) recipients transplanted with a mixture of C57BL/6 (Thy-1.2+) hemopoietic progenitors supplemented with either low or high numbers of B6.PL lymphocytes (Thy-1.1+). Mice transplanted with low numbers of T cells experienced a dramatic expansion (> or = 10(5)-fold) of donor Thy-1.1+/CD8+ cells during the first 15 days post-transplant. Flow-cytometric analysis and sequencing of junctional nucleotide sequences showed that the nature of this expansion was oligoclonal and involved primarily one or a few clones using V beta 5.1 or V beta 8.1 TCR elements. Expanded T lymphocyte populations displayed MHC-restricted cytotoxicity for a restricted number of MiHAs, that were found in only two peaks following fractionation of LP MiHAs by reverse-phase HPLC. Expansion of donor T cells was limited to the spleen, and short-lived in these recipients that became healthy long-term chimeras without any signs of graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). In contrast, mice transplanted with high numbers of T cells (GVHD+) showed proliferation of Thy-1.1+ donor cells not only in the spleen, but also in the thymus, and recipients died rapidly of GVHD. These results show that: 1) in the MiHA-incompatible transplantation setting, lack of GVHD cannot be explained simply by the absence of antihost T cell responses, 2) GVHD+ recipients present a massive thymic infiltration by donor mature T lymphocytes, and 3) antihost T cell responses are oligoclonal in nature and targeted to only a few MiHAs. These findings shed new light on the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in GVHD and on the selection of the T cell repertoire involved in response to immunodominant MiHAs.

Graft-host tolerance in bone marrow transplant chimeras. Absence of graft-versus-host disease is associated with unresponsiveness to minor histocompatibility antigens expressed by all tissues.

Because bone marrow (BM) transplantation is used with increasing frequency, it is important to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the establishment of tolerance to host minor histocompatibility antigens (MiHA) in recipients transplanted with T-cell-undepleted marrow grafts. We have previously shown that BM chimeras transplanted across MiHA barriers showed specific unresponsiveness to MiHA expressed on recipient-type concanavalin A blasts. Because expression of many MiHA is tissue-specific, we wanted to determine if chimera T lymphocytes would be tolerant to MiHA expressed by all host tissues and organs. To investigate this issue, we measured in vivo proliferation of lymphoid cells from normal C57BL/10 (B10) mice and (B10-->LP) chimeras in tissues and organs of lethally irradiated syngeneic and allogeneic recipients. Donor B10 cells were either untreated, or depleted with anti-Thy-1.2, anti-CD4, or anti-CD8 antibodies. Transplantation of B10 cells in LP recipients triggered an important T-cell-dependent 125I-dUrd uptake in several organs that involved both CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Using Thy-1-congeneic mice we showed that in long-term chimeras practically all CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were derived from hematopoietic progenitors and not from mature T cells present in the BM graft. When (B10-->LP) BM chimera cells were injected to secondary recipients, no proliferation was observed in any organ of LP hosts whereas normal proliferation was seen in H-2k allogeneic hosts. Thus, in these BM chimeras, tolerance encompasses MiHA expressed by all organs.

The role of MHC-associated self-peptides in transplantation and immunosurveillance.

The antigen-binding site of most major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigens is occupied by self-peptides that are derived from the proteolysis of endogenous proteins following instructions provided by the molecules of the MHC themselves. Together with MHC proteins, self-peptides define our immunological self and shape the repertoire of both T cells that recognize "nonself," and NK cells that may recognize "no self." Endogenous proteins of all cell compartments (nucleus, cytosol, organelles, surface membrane) can yield self peptides whose expression may be either ubiquitous or lineage-specific. Their expression allows the binary recognition mechanism of T and NK cells to check the integrity of the cell genome. A better understanding of the molecular bases of the distinction between self and nonself permits us to anticipate the possibility of modifying their expression and/or their recognition in order to: (i) make the nonself acceptable as self, thereby establishing specific transplantation tolerance, (ii) reestablish tolerance of the self lost in autoimmune diseases, and (iii) induce the rejection as nonself of neoplastic cells. These objectives are particularly pertinent to the area of bone marrow transplantation, where the ultimate goal is aimed at modulating host cell allorecognition in such a way as to both potentiate the graft-versus-leukemia reaction and prevent GVHD.