Interleukin-27 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice.

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has a pleiotropic role either as a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine in inflammatory related diseases. The role and involvement of IL-27 during malaria was investigated and the effects of modulating its release on the production of major inflammatory cytokines and the histopathological consequences in major affected organs during the infection were evaluated. Results showed that IL-27 concentration was significantly elevated throughout the infection but no positive correlation with the parasitaemia development observed. Augmentation of IL-27 significantly elevated the release of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 whereas antagonising and neutralising IL-27 produced the opposite. A significant elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-6) was also observed, both during augmentation and inhibition of IL-27. Thus, it is suggested that IL-27 exerts an anti-inflammatory activity in the Th1 type response by signalling the production of IL-10 during malaria. Histopathological examination showed sequestration of PRBC in the microvasculature of major organs in malarial mice. Other significant histopathological changes include hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the Kupffer cells in the liver, hyaline membrane formation in lung tissue, enlargement of the white and red pulp followed by the disappearance of germinal centre of the spleen, and tubular vacuolation of the kidney tissues. In conclusion, it is suggested that IL-27 may possibly acts as an anti-inflammatory cytokine during the infection. Modulation of its release produced a positive impact on inflammatory cytokine production during the infection, suggesting its potential in malaria immunotherapy, in which the host may benefit from its inhibition.

Interleukin-27 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice

Interleukin-27 (IL-27) has a pleiotropic role either as a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokine in inflammatory related diseases. The role and involvement of IL-27 during malaria was investigated and the effects of modulating its release on the production of major inflammatory cytokines and the histopathological consequences in major affected organs during the infection were evaluated. Results showed that IL-27 concentration was significantly elevated throughout the infection but no positive correlation with the parasitaemia development observed. Augmentation of IL-27 significantly elevated the release of anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 whereas antagonising and neutralising IL-27 produced the opposite. A significant elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-6) was also observed, both during augmentation and inhibition of IL-27. Thus, it is suggested that IL-27 exerts an anti-inflammatory activity in the Th1 type response by signalling the production of IL-10 during malaria. Histopathological examination showed sequestration of PRBC in the microvasculature of major organs in malarial mice. Other significant histopathological changes include hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the Kupffer cells in the liver, hyaline membrane formation in lung tissue, enlargement of the white and red pulp followed by the disappearance of germinal centre of the spleen, and tubular vacuolation of the kidney tissues. In conclusion, it is suggested that IL-27 may possibly acts as an anti-inflammatory cytokine during the infection. Modulation of its release produced a positive impact on inflammatory cytokine production during the infection, suggesting its potential in malaria immunotherapy, in which the host may benefit from its inhibition.

Presentation of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in a screening centre.

INTRODUCTION: On 22 March 2003, the Ministry of Health, Singapore, designated Tan Tock Seng Hospital as the nationwide severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) hospital and its Emergency Department (ED) took over the role as the screening center for SARS on 26 March 2003. We describe the initial clinical characteristics of probable or suspect SARS patients that presented to the ED. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients who were admitted through the ED and subsequently diagnosed to have probable SARS and suspect SARS was done. The data of these patients from the ED log were reviewed and analysed. RESULTS: From 13 March 2003 to 31 May 2003, 11,461 patients were screened for SARS and 1,386 patients were admitted. Of these, 117 patients were diagnosed to have probable SARS and 146 suspect SARS. Their mean age was 36.7 years (range 1-80). Among these patients, there were 122 men (46.4 percent), and 205 were Singaporeans (77.9 percent). 13 patients had no initial contact history upon presentation to the ED. The mean duration between onset of symptom to presentation to the ED was 3.1 days. Travel history was less common in probable SARS cases than in suspect SARS cases as the epidemic was due mainly to local transmission. Fever was the most common presenting symptom (91.6 percent), and gastrointestinal symptoms were the least (6.9 percent). In the ED, 249 (94.7 percent) patients had chest radiographs and 86 (32.7 percent) had full blood count done. 22.2 percent of probable SARS patients had normal chest radiographs when they first presented to the ED. CONCLUSION: The World Health Organisation criteria were important screening tools and admission guides, but should not be strictly followed. It was difficult to differentiate between probable and suspect SARS patients in the ED.

Effects of storage solutions on in vitro vasoreactivity of radial artery conduits.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical preparation of coronary conduits for coronary artery bypass grafting may affect their early and long-term patency; one mechanism may involve endothelial damage. We investigated the effect of 3 commonly used solutions-Ringer's solution, normal saline solution, and heparinized whole blood-on in vitro endothelial and contractile functions of the human radial artery. METHODS: Radial artery segments were harvested, cut into 3-mm rings, and stored in unoxygenated Ringer's solution, normal saline solution, or heparinized whole blood for 45 minutes. Rings stored in Krebs solution were used as controls. The rings were then mounted and stretched to an optimal resting tension in oxygenated Krebs solution at 37 degrees C. Contraction responses to potassium, norepinephrine, and serotonin and relaxation responses to acetylcholine, verapamil, and nitroprusside were evaluated. RESULTS: Fifty-six radial artery ring segments from 14 patients (n = 7 rings for each contraction-relaxation curve) were studied. Equilibrated resting tension was 9.6 +/- 0.3 mN (5.9 +/- 0.2 g), and resting internal circumference was 6.4 +/- 0.2 mm. Absolute maximum contraction to potassium was significantly less in rings stored in normal saline solution than in rings stored in control solution (10.7 +/- 0.6 g vs 14.5 +/- 0.6 g, P <.01; 95% confidence intervals, 0.9-6.9). There was no difference in the contraction to norepinephrine (P =.11) and serotonin (P =.25) among the 3 solutions compared with the control solution. Rings stored in heparinized whole blood had significantly greater endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (P <.007), whereas those stored in normal saline solution had reduced responses. Endothelium-independent relaxation to verapamil and nitroprusside were similar among the 3 solutions. CONCLUSION: Heparinized whole blood is a better physiologic medium for preservation of radial artery endothelial and contractile functions during storage before grafting.

Testosterone enhances flow-mediated brachial artery reactivity in men with coronary artery disease.

Acute administration of high-dose testosterone in men with coronary artery disease improves endothelial function.