Ibuprofen modifies the inflammatory response of the murine lung to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In chronic P. aeruginosa infection, lung tissue damage is induced by either the microorganism or the inflammatory response. We investigated, in an animal model, whether a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, ibuprofen, reduced lung inflammation produced by P. aeruginosa. Lung lavages, pulmonary clearance of P. aeruginosa and lung pathology were studied in CD-1 mice injected with sodium ibuprofenate. A single dose of the drug, injected immediately after 30 min exposure to the P. aeruginosa aerosol, decreased the recruitment of granulocytes into airways in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with 2 doses of the drug 18 and 6 h before the P. aeruginosa challenge was even more effective. The kinetics of changes in prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 concentrations in lung lavage fluids after P. aeruginosa aerosol were also modified by ibuprofen. Moreover, ibuprofen treatment did not impair lung clearance of the challenge microorganisms, and the animals had less inflammation of the lungs.

Papillomavirus infection of the cervix. III: Relationship of the presence of viral structural proteins to the expression of involucrin.

Forty-two cervical biopsies with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia were compared with respect to the expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) structural proteins and the expression of the cellular structural protein involucrin, a marker of suprabasal squamous differentiation. HPV structural protein and involucrin expression displayed an inverse correlation with the severity of dysplasia. Both of these proteins were detected in 11 of 28 cases (39%) of mild and moderate dysplasia, but in only two of 14 (14%) cases of severe dysplasia. This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). The presence of HPV was also associated with expression of involucrin in the full thickness of the epithelium, including the basal layer, and an altered staining pattern in the more superficial cells, particularly the koilocytotic cells. These findings support the hypothesis that squamous differentiation is required for the expression of viral structural proteins and that HPV infection begins in the basal epithelium. The study also demonstrates the utility of involucrin staining in differentiating virus-induced cytologic atypia from true neoplasia.

Immunologic studies of human schistosomiasis. I. Clinical and immunological findings in acute and chronic schistosomiasis.

Sera and ascitic fluid of 26 patients with acute and chronic schistosomiasis were studied for the presence of circulating immune complexes (CIC's), IgG, IgM, IgA, complement C3 and C4, as well as their correlation with the clinical manifestations of the disease. Serum levels of CIC's and IgG were significantly increased in patients with acute S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections and in patients with chronic schistosomiasis. Serum IgA levels were evaluated in 20% of patients with S. mansoni infection, 67% with S. haematobium infections and in 100% of chronically infected patients. Complement C3 levels were normal in all patients. Ascitic fluid analysis revealed the presence of IgG, IgM, IgA, C3 and C4 and high concentrations of CIC's. A significant positive correlation was demonstrated to occur between serum CIC's and IgG, as well as between the serum and ascitic fluid levels of CIC's of chronic patients. These findings also correlated with the degree and severity of the clinical syndrome.