Structural Analysis of Cu+ and Cu2+ Ions in Zeolite as a Nanoreactor with Antibacterial Applications.

In this work, we report the structural analysis of Cu+ and Cu2+ ions in zeolite as a nanoreactor with antibacterial applications. A simple one-step process was implemented to obtain Cu ions in zeolite A (ZA4) by controlling the temperature in the solutions to guarantee the ions' stability. Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, showing the characteristic zeolite elements as well as the characteristic bands with slight modifications in the chemical environment of the zeolite nanoreactor attributed to Cu ions by FT-IR spectroscopy. In addition, a shift of the characteristic peaks of ZA4 in X-ray diffraction was observed as well as a decrease in relative peak intensity. On the other hand, the antibacterial activity of Cu ions in the zeolite nanoreactor was evaluated.

Preliminary Findings Associate Hippocampal 1H-MR Spectroscopic Metabolite Concentrations with Psychotic and Manic Symptoms in Patients with Schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous hippocampal proton MR spectroscopic imaging distinguished patients with schizophrenia from controls by elevated Cr levels and significantly more variable NAA and Cho concentrations. This goal of this study was to ascertain whether this metabolic variability is associated with clinical features of the syndrome, possibly reflecting heterogeneous hippocampal pathologies and perhaps variability in its "positive" (psychotic) and "negative" (social and emotional deficits) symptoms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a sample of 15 patients with schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, we examined the association of NAA and Cho levels with research diagnostic interviews and clinical symptom ratings of the patients. Metabolite concentrations were previously obtained with 3D proton MR spectroscopic imaging at 3T, a technique that facilitates complete coverage of this small, irregularly shaped, bilateral, temporal lobe structure. RESULTS: The patient cohort comprised 8 men and 7 women (mean age, 39.1 [SD, 10.8] years, with a mean disease duration of 17.2 [SD, 10.8] years. Despite the relatively modest cohort size, we found the following: 1) Elevated Cho levels predict the positive (psychotic, r = 0.590, P = .021) and manic (r = 0.686, P = .005) symptom severity; and 2) lower NAA levels trend toward negative symptoms (r = 0.484, P = .08). No clinical symptoms were associated with Cr level or hippocampal volume (all, P ≥ .055). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that NAA and Cho variations reflect different pathophysiologic processes, consistent with microgliosis/astrogliosis and/or lower vitality (reduced NAA) and demyelination (elevated Cho). In particular, the active state-related symptoms, including psychosis and mania, were associated with demyelination. Consequently, their deviations from the means of healthy controls may be a marker that may benefit precision medicine in selection and monitoring of schizophrenia treatment.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation of the aquatic carnivorous plant Utricularia gibba.

BACKGROUND: The genus Utricularia belongs to Lentibulariaceae, the largest family of carnivorous plants, which includes terrestrial, epiphytic and aquatic species. The development of specialized structures that evolved for carnivory is a feature of this genus that has been of great interest to biologists since Darwin's early studies. Utricularia gibba is itself an aquatic plant with sophisticated bladder traps having one of the most complex suction mechanisms for trapping prey. However, the molecular characterization of the mechanisms that regulate trap development and the biophysical processes involved in prey trapping are still largely unknown due to the lack of a simple and reproducible gene transfer system. RESULTS: Here, we report the establishment of a simple, fast and reproducible protocol for genetic transformation of U. gibba based on the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. An in vitro selection system using Phosphinotricin as a selective agent was established for U. gibba. Plant transformation was confirmed by histochemical GUS assays and PCR and qRT-PCR analyses. We report on the expression pattern of the 35S promoter and of the promoter of a trap-specific ribonuclease gene in transgenic U. gibba plants. CONCLUSIONS: The genetic transformation protocol reported here is an effective method for studying developmental biology and functional genomics of this genus of carnivorous plants and advances the utility of U. gibba as a model system to study developmental processes involved in trap formation.

In vitro cytotoxicity assessment of monocationic and dicationic pyridinium-based ionic liquids on HeLa, MCF-7, BGM and EA.hy926 cell lines.

Dicationic ionic liquids (ILs) generally possess higher thermal and electrochemical stability than the analogous monocationic ILs, which makes them more suitable for high-temperature applications as solvents for organic reactions, lubricants or stationary phase in gas chromatography. However, knowledge on dicationic IL cytotoxicity is still scarce. Here we explore the cytotoxicity of twelve mono- and dicationic pyridinium-based ILs on HeLa, MCF-7, BGM and EA.hy926 cells. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, cell cycle arrest assays, apoptosis experiments and orange staining were carried out. The results showed that dicationic ILs are generally less cytotoxic than their monocationic counterparts. In monocationic ILs, cytotoxicity was stronger when they contain long alkyl chains, because of their higher lipophilicity. However, the full effect of the length of the linkage alkyl chain of dicationic ILs on cytotoxicity is not clear probably because the chain is "trapped" between both cationic moieties. IL cytotoxicity is highly dependent on the cell type, and HeLa cells exposed to [C12Pyr]Br die via apoptosis. The present study increases our knowledge of IL cytotoxicity on human and monkey cells and clarifies the cell death mechanism. The results suggest that dicationic ILs offer the potential to replace some monocationic ILs because of their lower cytotoxicity.

Primary analysis of a prospective, randomized, single-blinded phase II trial evaluating the HER2 peptide AE37 vaccine in breast cancer patients to prevent recurrence.

BACKGROUND: AE37 is the Ii-Key hybrid of the MHC class II peptide, AE36 (HER2 aa:776-790). Phase I studies showed AE37 administered with granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to be safe and highly immunogenic. A prospective, randomized, multicenter phase II adjuvant trial was conducted to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy. METHODS: Clinically disease-free node-positive and high-risk node-negative breast cancer patients with tumors expressing any degree of HER2 [immunohistochemistry (IHC) 1-3+] were enrolled. Patients were randomized to AE37 + GM-CSF versus GM-CSF alone. Toxicity was monitored. Clinical recurrences were documented and disease-free survival (DFS) analyzed. RESULTS: The trial enrolled 298 patients; 153 received AE37 + GM-CSF and 145 received GM-CSF alone. The groups were well matched for clinicopathologic characteristics. Toxicities have been minimal. At the time of the primary analysis, the recurrence rate in the vaccinated group was 12.4% versus 13.8% in the control group [relative risk reduction 12%, HR 0.885, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.472-1.659, P = 0.70]. The Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year DFS rate was 80.8% in vaccinated versus 79.5% in control patients. In planned subset analyses of patients with IHC 1+/2+ HER2-expressing tumors, 5-year DFS was 77.2% in vaccinated patients (n = 76) versus 65.7% in control patients (n = 78) (P = 0.21). In patients with triple-negative breast cancer (HER2 IHC 1+/2+ and hormone receptor negative) DFS was 77.7% in vaccinated patients (n = 25) versus 49.0% in control patients (n = 25) (P = 0.12). CONCLUSION: The overall intention-to-treat analysis demonstrates no benefit to vaccination. However, the results confirm that the vaccine is safe and suggest that vaccination may have clinical benefit in patients with low HER2-expressing tumors, specifically TNBC. Further evaluation in a randomized trial enrolling TNBC patients is warranted.

Frequency of virulence genes in mixed infections with Helicobacter pylori strains from a Mexican population.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is associated with gastroduodenal diseases. Virulence of clinical isolates is related to clinical outcome. Moreover, with microdiversity studies in clinical isolates from a single patient, but from a different origin (antrum or corpus), it is possible to demonstrate that there are simultaneous mixed infections. AIMS: To genotype H. pylori strains with multiplex PCR, according to their clinical virulence, and in this manner know the frequency of each genotype and relate it to clinical outcome in order to prevent the development of severe diseases. METHODS: A total of 210 patients with gastric alterations were studied. Virulence classification of H. pylori strains was carried out with multiplex PCR and 127 strains were identified as H. pylori by PCR (glmM and cagE). Genotype and clinical outcome were evaluated with the Fisher's exact test. In addition, RAPD-PCR was performed as a fingerprinting method to analyze mixed infections. RESULTS: The cagA, vacAs1, and vacAm1 genes were detected in all the clinical isolates. Strains were classified as: type i, 40.15% (51/127); type ii, 22.04% (28/127); and type iii, 28.4% (36/127), but two new different genotypes were also detected: (1) babA2+, cagA+, vacAs1+, 6.29% (8/127) and (2) babA2+, cagA-, vacAs2/m2+, 3.14% (4/127). The cagE gene was detected in type i strains. CONCLUSIONS: The Fisher's exact test did not support a significant association between clinical outcome and genotype. The main circulating genotypes in the Mexican population studied were: cagA+, vacAs1, and vacAm1. Multiplex PCR can be used as a screening test for H. pylori strains. Furthermore, the cagE gene is a good marker for identifying cag-PAI positive strains.

Vaccination of mice with recombinant bacille Calmette-Guérin harboring Rv1357c protects similarly to native BCG.

Despite the availability of a Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccine, tuberculosis (TB) remains a global public health problem. In this study, we introduced the c-di-GMP phosphodiesterase gene Rv1357c, implicated in regulating mycobacterial replication within macrophages, into BCG Pasteur, and tested the resulting strain for its capacity to serve as a vaccine against TB in a murine model. Modified BCG was more phagocytosed than its parental strain, but halted bacterial replication, and protected against M. tuberculosis challenge similarly to unmodified BCG.

Medición del espesor íntima-media carotídeo por ultrasonografía / Direct measurement with ultrasound imaging of the carotid thickness arterial wall

INTRODUCCIÓN: el espesor íntima-media (GIM) de la arteria carótida ha mostrado estar fuertemente asociado con los factores de riesgo y con la prevalencia de enfermedad cardiovascular y cerebrovascular y también ser un predictor independiente de estos eventos. La ultrasonografía es un método diagnóstico no invasivo y de bajo costo y útil para la medición del GIM. Un factor polémico es la variedad de métodos usados para esta medición lo que dificulta la comparación e interpretación de los resultados. OBJETIVO DEL ESTUDIO: obtener y evaluar una metodología de medición del GIM que pueda ser usada uniformemente en nuestra institución. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: a 62 sujetos se les realiza la medición del GIM a partir de la imagen en corte longitudinal de 12 segmentos carotídeos (la pared más próxima y mas lejana de la carótida común, de la bifurcación carotídea y de la carótida interna izquierda y derecha respectivamente). RESULTADOS: se observa una pobre visualización con fines de medición en la carótida interna y la bifurcación en un numero apreciable de casos y en la carótida común un menor coeficiente de variación cuando la medición se realiza en la pared posterior o mas lejana del corte longitudinal de este segmento carotídeo. CONCLUSIONES: podemos concluir que el sector carotídeo que estadísticamente da los mejores resultados para la medición del GIM es la pared posterior del segmento más distal de la carótida común (AU)

INTRODUCTION: the intimate-average thickness (GIM) of the artery carotid has shown to be strongly associate with the factors of risk and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and of cerebrovascular and also to be predicting an independent one of these events. The ultrasonography is a method noninvasive diagnosis and of low useful cost and for the measurement of the GIM. An controversial factor is the variety of methods used for this measurement which makes difficult to the comparison and interpretation of the results. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY: to obtain and to evaluate a methodology of measurement of the GIM that can be used uniformly in our institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: to 62 subjects the measurement of the GIM from the image is made to them in longitudinal section of 12 carotid segments (the next and but distant wall of the common carotid, of the carotid bifurcation and the left and right internal carotid respectively). RESULTS: a poor visualization with aims of measurement in the internal carotid is observed and the bifurcation in I number appreciable of cases and in the common carotid a smaller distant coefficient of variation when the measurement is made in the later wall or but of the longitudinal section of this carotid segment. CONCLUSIONS: we can conclude that the carotid sector that statistically gives the best results for the measurement of the GIM is the later wall of the distal segment of the common carotid (AU)

Pooled peptides from HER-2/neu-overexpressing primary ovarian tumours induce CTL with potent antitumour responses in vitro and in vivo.

Unfractionated peptides (MW: up to 10 kDa), derived from HLA-A2.1 positive (+) HER-2/neu-overexpressing primary tumour cell acid cell extracts (ACE), were successfully used to generate in vitro cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). Primary tumour cells were collected from peritoneal malignant effusions of patients with ovarian cancer. Acid cell extracts-induced CTL specifically lysed in an HLA-A2-restricted manner HER-2/neu+ autologous primary tumour cells as well as HER-2/neu+ tumour cell lines. In addition, adoptive transfer of such CTL significantly prolonged the survival of SCID mice xenografted with HLA-A2.1+, HER-2/neu+ human breast and ovarian tumour cell lines. Acid cell extracts collected from HLA-A2.1+ HER-2/neu negative (-) primary ovarian tumours induced HLA-A2.1-restricted CTL with weak in vitro and in vivo antitumour capacity, suggesting that HER-2/neu peptides within ACE from HER-2/neu-overexpressing primary ovarian tumour cells are immunodominant. The results presented herein serve as a rationale for the initiation of vaccination studies in patients with HER-2/neu-overexpressing ovarian tumours utilising autologous tumour-derived ACE.

Cytotoxic T-cell precursor frequencies to HER-2 (369-377) in patients with HER-2/neu-positive epithelial tumours.

HER-2/neu oncoprotein contains several major histocompatibility complex class I-restricted epitopes, which are recognised by cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) on autologous tumours and therefore can be used in immune-based cancer therapies. Of these, the most extensively studied is HER-2(9(369)). In the present report, we used dendritic cells pulsed with HER-2(9(369)) to stimulate, in the presence of IL-7 and IL-12, the production of IFN-gamma by patients' CTL detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-assay. Frequencies of peptide-specific precursors were estimated in HLA-A2, HLA-A3 and HLA-A26 patients with HER-2/neu-positive (+) breast, ovarian, lung, colorectal and prostate cancers and healthy individuals. We found increased percentages of such precursors in HLA-A2 (25%) and HLA-A26 (30%) patients, which were significantly higher (60%) in HLA-A3 patients. Our results demonstrate for the first time that pre-existing immunity to HER-2(9(369)) occurs in patients with colorectal, lung and prostate cancer. They also suggest that HER-2(9(369)) can be recognised by CTL, besides HLA-A2, also in the context of HLA-A3 and HLA-A26, thus increasing the applicability of HER-2(9(369))-based vaccinations in a considerably broader patients' population.

Redirecting mouse T hybridoma against human breast and ovarian carcinomas: in vivo activity against HER-2/neu expressing cancer cells.

Chimeric receptors comprising of the T-cell receptor-zeta cytoplasmic signalling chain fused to an extracellular ligand-binding domain of a single-chain antibody (scFv) have served as effective tools for redirecting cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against tumour cells. In this report, we constructed a chimeric scFv/zeta gene composed of the variable regions of an HER-2/neu-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) joined to the TCR-zeta chain. The scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta chimeric gene was successfully expressed as a functional surface receptor in the MD.45 CTL hybridoma (MD.45-HER/zeta). More importantly, the scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta receptor was functionally active, since it triggered cytokine secretion by the MD.45-HER/zeta cells upon recognition of HER-2/neu-positive (+) tumour cell lines, or primary tumour cells from patients with HER-2/neu(+) cancers. The MD.45-HER/zeta-transduced cells also lysed HER-2/neu(+) target cells in vitro with high specificity. We tested the antitumour efficacy of scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta expressing MD.45 cells in severe combined immunodeficiency disease mice/human and murine tumour models. The adoptively transferred MD.45-HER/zeta cells both slowed significantly the growth of human FM3 melanoma or murine ALC leukaemic cells both transfected to express HER-2/neu. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of redirecting MD.45 CTL with the scFv(anti-HER-2/neu)/zeta chimeric receptor to respond specifically against HER-2/neu expressing tumour cells in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, they make it likely that T cells transduced with the same chimeric gene might be utilised in the treatment of patients with HER-2/neu(+) tumours.

Marked exacerbation of orthostatic intolerance after long- vs. short-duration spaceflight in veteran astronauts.

OBJECTIVE: The incidence of postflight orthostatic intolerance after short-duration spaceflight is about 20%. However, the incidence after long-duration spaceflight was unknown. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that orthostatic intolerance is more severe after long-duration than after short-duration flight. METHODS: We performed tilt tests on six astronauts before and after long-duration (129-190 days) spaceflights and compared these data with data obtained during stand tests before and after previous short-duration missions. RESULTS: Five of the six astronauts studied became presyncopal during tilt testing after long-duration flights. Only one had become presyncopal during stand testing after short-duration flights. We also compared the long-duration flight tilt test data to tilt test data from 20 different astronauts who flew on the short-duration Shuttle missions that delivered and recovered the astronauts to and from the Mir Space Station. Five of these 20 astronauts became presyncopal on landing day. Heart rate responses to tilt were no different between astronauts on long-duration flights and astronauts on short-duration flights, but long-duration subjects had lower stroke volumes and cardiac outputs than short-duration presyncopal subjects, suggesting a possible decrease in cardiac contractile function. One subject had subnormal norepinephrine release with upright posture after the long flight but not after the short flight. Plasma volume losses were not greater after long flights. CONCLUSION: Long-duration spaceflight markedly increases orthostatic intolerance, probably with multiple contributing factors.

Peptide HER2(776-788) represents a naturally processed broad MHC class II-restricted T cell epitope.

HER2/neu-derived peptides inducing MHC class II-restricted CD4+ T helper lymphocyte (Th) responses, although critical for tumour rejection, are not thoroughly characterized. Here, we report the generation and characterization of CD4+ T cell clones specifically recognizing a HER-2/neu-derived peptide (776-788) [designated HER2(776-788)]. Such clones yielded specific proliferative and cytokine [gamma-interferon(IFN)-gamma] responses when challenged with autologous dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with HER2(776-788). By performing blocking studies with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and by using DCs from allogeneic donors sharing certain HLA-DR alleles, we found that HER2(776-788) is a promiscuous peptide presented, at least, by DRB5*0101, DRB1*0701 and DRB1*0405 alleles. One TCRV beta 6.7+ clone recognized the HLA-DRB5*0101+ FM3 melanoma cell line transfected with a full length HER-2/neu cDNA. Moreover, this clone recognized the HER-2/neu+ SKBR3 breast cancer cell line induced to express HLA-DR, thus demonstrating that HER2(776-788) represents a naturally processed and presented epitope. Our data demonstrate that helper peptide HER2(776-788) represents a promiscuous epitope binding to at least three HLA-DR alleles, thus offering a broad population coverage. The use of antigenic peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II in addition to those presented by class I may improve the therapeutic efficacy of active immunization.

Determination of carbohydrates as their dansylhydrazine derivatives by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection.

A mixture of mono- and disaccharides was derivatized with dansylhydrazine in a relatively fast chemical reaction (15 min) which is selective toward aldehydes and ketones. The products of the derivatization reaction were then separated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) as the detection mode. The smallest amount of carbohydrate derivatized and determined by CE/LIF was 10 pmol contained in 100 microL of the final reaction mixture. The CE/LIF method provided a linear response for the carbohydrates tested (over 2-3 orders of magnitude), with a limit of detection of 100 amol. Separation efficiencies over 250,000 theoretical plates were obtained. The procedure was used to analyze a tear fluid sample to demonstrate the applicability of the method for the glucose determination in small volumes of biological samples.

Measurement of premorbid intellectual ability following brain injury.

Prediction of premorbid intellectual ability in brain-injured patients was investigated using two sets of regression equations and the Intellectual Correlates Scale (ICS). Eighty subjects completed the WAIS-R and the ICS. The four subject groups included a control group and right-hemisphere, left-hemisphere, and diffuse brain-injured groups. As expected, brain-injured groups obtained lower IQs than controls. Also, estimated IQs approximated obtained IQs for controls, while overestimating IQs for brain-injured groups. Support was provided for the continued use of the Barona, Reynolds, and Chastain (1984) and the Barona and Chastain (1986) regression equations as measures of premorbid intellectual functioning. Previous findings (Schlottmann & Johnsen, 1991), suggesting the ICS may also serve as a measure of premorbid intellectual functioning, were not replicated.

Eosinophil granulocyte proliferation induced by an intermediate factor generated in the pleural cavity of rats injected with platelet-activating factor-acether.

In previous research, we have observed that intrathoracic administration of platelet-activating factor-acether (PAF) promoted a delayed eosinophilia in the pleural cavity of rats that lasted for at least 96 h. We investigated the ability of pleural washings from rats previously injected with PAF (1 micrograms/cavity) to stimulate in vitro murine hematopoietic eosinophil proliferation. We observed that pleural fluid sustained eosinophil proliferation but not differentiation, under conditions in which PAF itself had no effect. The phenomenon lasted for 3 days and was maximal on the 1st day of culture. Treatment with neutralizing antibodies against interleukin (IL)-5, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or IL-3, alone or in combination, did not modify the eosinophil proliferation induced by PAF pleural fluid, suggesting that these cytokines may not be involved in the studied phenomenon. We conclude that the rat pleural fluid obtained 6 h after PAF administration induces eosinophil proliferation in vitro by a mechanism probably independent of IL-5, GM-CSF or IL-3.

Effect of azelastine on platelet-activating factor and antigen-induced pleurisy in rats.

The interference of azelastine with pleurisy induced by antigen was investigated in actively sensitized rats. The antigenic challenge (ovalbumin, 12 micrograms/cavity) caused early plasma leakage, which peaked within 4 h, accompanied by intense neutrophil infiltration. Pleural exudate decayed 24 h after antigen provocation, when a long-lasting increase in the number of resident eosinophils was observed. Oral pretreatment with azelastine (1-10 mg/kg) dose dependently inhibited the vasopermeation (ED50 = 4.2 mg/kg) and reduced the pleural exudate (ED50 = 6.8 mg/kg) induced by the antigen. In contrast, azelastine (10 mg/kg) failed to modify the neutrophil influx observed at 4 h and the eosinophil accumulation detected at 24 h. Azelastine was also effective against rat pleurisy induced by either platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether), histamine or serotonin. It reduced exudation and the increase in the number of mononuclear cells, neutrophils and eosinophils observed 6 h after PAF-acether. Nevertheless, antagonism of PAF-acether may not be relevant to the inhibition observed in the present model of allergic pleurisy, as the inhibition was refractory to three distinct PAF-acether receptor antagonists. In contrast, like azelastine, the histamine H1 receptor antagonist meclizine and the dual histamine and serotonin receptor antagonist cyproheptadine blocked antigen-induced exudation and failed to interfere with cell influx. We conclude that the anti-exudatory activity of oral azelastine on antigen-induced pleurisy is consistent with it exerting direct effects against vasoactive amines, but is not related to an effect against leucocyte infiltration nor to its ability to inhibit PAF-acether.

Pro-inflammatory activity of enterolobin: a haemolytic protein purified from seeds of the Brazilian tree Enterolobium contortisiliquum.

The pro-inflammatory activity of enterolobin, a haemolytic protein from Enterolobium contortisiliquum seeds, was investigated. In doses ranging from 1 to 20 micrograms/site, enterolobin induced a dose-dependent paw oedema and pleurisy in rats. The effect was apparent after 15 min, peaked at 6 hr and decreased 24 hr after enterolobin was administered. One hour after the intrathoracic injection of enterolobin, the total leukocyte content of the pleural cavity increased significantly, mainly due to mononuclear and neutrophil accumulation. At 24 hr, although the number of mononuclear and neutrophil cells tended to decrease, a great rise in eosinophil counts was noted. Intraperitoneal treatment with the dual lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase blockers, BW 755c (25 mg/kg) and NDGA (50 mg/kg) or the corticosteroid dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg) inhibited enterolobin-induced paw oedema by 35, 38 and 47% respectively, whereas indomethacin (2 mg/kg) was inactive. The H1 antagonist, meclizine (25 mg/kg), was also effective against enterolobin oedema while the PAF-antagonists WEB 2086 and PCA 4248 (20 mg/kg) did not modify the reaction. It was concluded that enterolobin is a potent inducer of pleural exudation, cellular infiltration and paw oedema. Furthermore, enterolobin-induced oedema is partially dependent on lipoxygenase metabolites and histamine, while PAF and prostaglandins did not seem to be important in this reaction.

Kinetics of pleural exudation and cellular alterations induced by antigen in actively sensitized rats.

This study was undertaken to characterize the different phases of the allergic pleurisy induced by ovalbumin in actively sensitized rats. The reaction was triggered by the intrathoracic injection of ovalbumin (12 micrograms/cavity) into animals sensitized 14 days before. The challenge caused, at 30 min, a drastic mast cell degranulation and exudation which peaked within 4 h. At this time, an intense pleural leucocyte recruitment also occurred, accounted for by an increase in the mononuclear cell counts and by a predominant influx of neutrophils. After 24 h, the mast cell counts started to recover, accompanied by a long-lasting (96 h) accumulation of pleural eosinophils. Forty-eight hours later, the exudation and neutrophils were at basal levels, whereas mast cell counts increased progressively to reach control values at 120 h. This study describes the time course of the exudative and cellular alterations observed during pleural inflammation induced by low antigen concentrations.

Kinetics of pleural exudation and cellular alterations induced by antigen in actively sensitized rats

This study was undertaken to characteize the different phases of the allergic pleurisy induced by ovalbumin in actively sinsitized rats. The reaction was triggered by the intrathoracic injection of ovalbumin (12 microng/cavity) into animals sensitized 14 days before. The challenge caused, at 30 mjin, a drastic mast cell degranulation and exudation which peaked within 4h. At this time, an intense pleural leucocyte recruitment also occurred, accounted for by an increase in the mononuclear cell counts and by a predominant influyx of neutrophils. After 24h, the mast cell counts stated to reover, accompanied by a long-lasting (96 h) accumaltion of pleural eosinophils. Forty-eight hour later, the exudation and neutrophils were at basal levels, whereas mast cell counts increased progressively to reach control values at 120 h. This study describes the time course of the exudatory and cellular alterations observed during pleural inflammation induced by low antigen concentrations