Two distinct populations of bovine IL-17⁺ T-cells can be induced and WC1⁺IL-17⁺γδ T-cells are effective killers of protozoan parasites.

IL-17 has emerged as a key player in the immune system, exhibiting roles in protection from infectious diseases and promoting inflammation in autoimmunity. Initially thought to be CD4 T-cell-derived, the sources of IL-17 are now known to be varied and belong to both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Mechanisms for inducing IL-17 production in lymphoid cells are thought to rely on appropriate antigenic stimulation in the context of TGF-ß1, IL-6 and/or IL-1ß. Using culture protocols adapted from human studies, we have effectively induced both bovine CD4(+) and WC1(+) γδ T-cells to produce IL-17 termed Th17 and γδ17 cells, respectively. The negative regulatory effect of IFN-γ on mouse and human IL-17 production can be extended to the bovine model, as addition of IFN-γ decreases IL-17 production in both cell types. Furthermore we show that infection with the protozoan Neospora caninum will induce fibroblasts to secrete pro-IL-17 factors thereby inducing a γδ17 phenotype that preferentially kills infected target cells. Our study identifies two T-cell sources of IL-17, and is the first to demonstrate a protective effect of IL-17(+) T-cells in ruminants. Our findings offer further opportunities for future adjuvants or vaccines which could benefit from inducing these responses.

External fixators for treatment of unstable wrist fractures. A biomechanical, design feature, and cost comparison.

This study provides comparative data relative to the mechanical rigidity, cost, weight, and other features of 13 external fixators for the distal radius. It is our intent that these data be used by the practicing surgeon in the selection of a device that is appropriate to his or her practice and any given patient.

The effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on the stimulation of intestinal calcium transport by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

The effect of altering the lipid composition of the brush-border membrane on the ability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) to stimulate calcium transport across the intestinal mucosa was examined by raising chicks on a vitamin D, essential fatty acid-deficient diet (-DEFAD) and measuring calcium absorption from duodenal sacs in situ and calcium uptake into brush-border membrane vesicles in vitro. Administration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to -DEFAD and to -D control chicks led to the same increase in calcium transport in situ, whereas calcium transport in isolated brush-border membrane vesicles was not stimulated in the EFAD group, but responded normally in the control group. When the incubation temperature was increased to 34 degrees C, brush-border membrane vesicles from 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated essential fatty acid-deficient (+DE-FAD) chicks accumulated calcium at a faster rate than did vesicles from -DEFAD chicks. There was a marked decrease in the linoleic acid content and an increase in the oleic acid content of both the total lipid extract of the brush-border membrane as well as the phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine fractions, which could explain the temperature sensitivity of the in vitro system. When the diet of the EFAD chicks was supplemented with linoleic acid, the rate of calcium uptake into subsequently isolated vesicles from +DE-FAD chicks correlated with the amount of linoleic acid in the brush-border membranes. These results support the concept that the action of 1,25-(OH)2D3 on membrane lipid turnover and structure plays a critically important role in the 1,25-(OH)2D3-mediated cellular transport responses.

Pituitary-adrenocortical function in chronic renal failure: blunted suppression and early escape of plasma cortisol levels after intravenous dexamethasone.

The response to iv dexamehasone was studied in patients with chronic renal failure in whom resistance to suppression of plasma cortisol levels after oral steroid had been reported previously. One milligram of dexamethasone was given iv at 2300 h, and plasma cortisol levels were measured every 20 min between 0500-1000h in patients with renal failure, normal controls, and patients with pituitary-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Normal subjects showed a decrease in mean plasma cortisol levels to less than 3 micrograms/dl; patients with Cushing's syndrome showed no suppression of cortisol secretory activity during the sampling period. In renal failure patients, morning cortisol levels fell to values lower than those achieved when the 1-mg dose was given orally or when the steroid was not given, but did not suppress to the levels seen in normals. Early resumption of cortisol secretion occurred in four of five renal failure patients during the 6-11 h after dexamethasone administration. These studies show that iv dexamethasone is more effective than the oral steroid in suppressing pituitary-adrenocortical activity in renal failure patients. However, the incomplete suppression and early resumption of cortisol secretion which are present in chronic renal failure patients even after iv dexamethasone support the suggestion that they have disordered feedback control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis.

A variant of adrenomyeloneuropathy with hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction and neurologic remission after glucocorticoid replacement therapy.

Adrenomyeloneuropathy is a syndrome comprising spastic paraparesis, polyneuropathy, primary adrenocortical insufficiency and variable hypogonadism. We describe a 32 year old man who presented with contractures, peripheral neuropathy, primary adrenocortical insufficiency adn secondary hypogonadism. Abnormal responses of growth hormone, gonadotropins, prolactin and thyrotropin to provocative stimuli were found, without radiographic evidence of a pituitary or hypothalamic lesion. Almost complete recovery from the neurologic abnormalities occurred with glucocorticoid replacement therapy. The clinical features of this patient support a diagnosis of adrenomyeloneuropathy. The hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction extends the clinical features of this patient support a diagnosis of adrenomyeloneuropathy. The hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction extends the clinical spectrum of this disease. Remission of the paraparesis coincident with glucocorticoid replacement has not been reported previously.

Uses of individualized client goals in the evaluation of drug and alcohol programs.

The issue of accountability increasingly places demands on administrators to evaluate program results. This paper attempts to show that individualized goal setting by clients can provide information which can be used (1) to compare stated program goals to actual client goals, and (2) as a realistic, individualized set of outcomes for follow-up evaluation. Evaluation of many drugs and alcohol programs is often based on the premise that abstinence is the goal of all treatment programs for all clients. While this may be a proper ultimate goal, it may not be sufficiently precise for more specific or short-term evaluations. A technique recently developed in the mental health field is Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS). In this approach, individual goals are usually developed through negotiations between client and counselor and provide individualized measurement of client success in treatment. GAS was tested on a sample of clients entering public and private drug and alcohol treatment facilities: (1) nearly all clients in the sample chose to set goals, although they were not required to do so; (2) a content analysis aggregated individual goals into a group profile of percent of clients writing goals in each of 17 goal areas; (3) goal content changed over successive interviews; and (4) there were differences in goal content between age and facility subgroups.