Biomedical subjects
F A Wyle
Publications and source records attributed to F A Wyle.
Cell-mediated immune response in gonococcal infections.
Peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) transformation stimulated by gonococcal and meningococcal antigens was studied in 29 men and 21 women with uncomplicated gonorrhoea. The blastogenic responses of PBLs from these men and women were substantially higher than from normal controls. Cross-reactivity between Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis was manifested by the PBL transformation responses in patients with gonorrhoea to non-purified meningococcal antigen (MGC-I). In both male and female patients the PBLs were stimulated by non-purified gonococcal antigen (GC-I) and by non-purified meningococcal antigen. The extent of the blastogenic response in women was much greater than in men. Partial purification of these antigens by gel chromatography resulted in reduced cross-reactive responses to the semi-purified meningococcal antigen (MGC-II). Female patients demonstrated marked stimulation with the semi-purified gonococcal antigen (GC-II), while male patients showed slight stimulation with GC-II. It is possible that cell-mediated immunity may act to limit the spread of gonococcal infection beyond the genital mucous membranes.
Immunosuppression by sex steroid hormones. The effect upon PHA- and PPD-stimulated lymphocytes.
Progesterone, estradiol, testosterone, cortisol, and 11-desoxycortisol (compound S) were added to cultures of human lymphocytes stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and purified protein derivative (PPD). The immunosuppressive effect of cortisol was verified and the three sex-steroid hormones also were found to inhibit lymphocyte transformation although at concentrations higher than for cortisol. Compound S, a steroid of low biological potency, also had immunosuppressive activity. At concentrations (0-01-1-0 microng/ml), progesterone, oestrogen, testosterone, and Compound S augmented the transformation response to PPD but not to PHA. Marked variation from individual to individual in the suppressive effects of all the steroids were noted. The clinical implications of immunosuppression by the sex steroid hormones are discussed.
Immunologic response of man to group B meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines.
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Bactericidal antibody assay using 14 C-labeled Neisseria meningitidis.
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A radioactive antigen-binding assay for Neisseria meningitidis polysaccharide antibody.
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Prevention of meningococcal disease by group C polysaccharide vaccine.
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Cutaneous reactions and antibody response to meningococcal group C polysaccharide vaccines in man.
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New Classification of Neisseria meningitidis by Means of Bactericidal Reactions.
A bactericidal assay is described which allows identification of distinct serotypes within a serogroup of Neisseria meningitidis. Antisera produced in rabbits against seven group C strains by two intravenous inoculations of live organisms were found to contain two types of bactericidal antibodies. One, directed against the group-specific polysaccharide, caused various degrees of killing of all strains. Absorption of this antibody by purified group C polysaccharide revealed the presence of the second bactericidal antibody. This antibody was directed against antigenically distinct factors associated with serotype specificity. Extensive cross-absorption yielded antisera with activity directed against four separate factors. The presence of a factor in a strain was indicated by its susceptibility to killing by antisera containing antibody to that factor. A serotype was defined by the particular combination of factors. Six different serotypes, containing one or two factors, were identified among 16 group C strains examined.
Opsonic activity of human ascitic fluid: a potentially important protective mechanism against spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
The opsonic activity of 60 ascitic fluids from 47 patients was measured using a standard opsonophagocytic assay. Curve analysis of the opsonic activity compared to the ascitic fluid concentration of total protein, total hemolytic complement, C3 and C4 yielded correlation coefficients of 0.84 (p less than 0.001), 0.84 (p less than 0.001), 0.94 (p less than 0.001) and 0.92 (p less than 0.001), respectively. There appeared to be a threshold of concentration for each protein below which there was no killing of bacteria. Cirrhotic ascites had significantly (all p less than 0.001) lower concentrations of total protein and complement and less opsonic activity than noncirrhotic ascites (including malignant, cardiac and miscellaneous types). Perhaps it is the dilution of crucial antimicrobial proteins below a threshold which predisposes to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
Stress during internship: a prospective study of mood states.
Mood changes of interns during the internship year were studied using the Profile of Mood States (POMS), a standardized adjective checklist. All 35 interns in the University of California, Irvine-Long Beach Medical Program completed the POMS at internship orientation and at five other times during the year. Of the six mood factors measured by the POMS, four changed significantly during the testing period. Anger-hostility scores were higher (p less than 0.01) in December than at orientation and remained so throughout the year. Tension-anxiety scores were higher (p less than 0.01) and fatigue-inertia scores were lower (p less than 0.01) at orientation than at any other time during the year. Vigor-activity scores were higher (p less than 0.01) at orientation than at the end of the year. Depression-dejection and confusion-bewilderment scores did not change significantly during the study period. Recognition of these mood changes is helpful for drawing the attention of house staff and faculty members to emotional stresses of training, and for identifying issues for discussion in intern support groups.
The antacid Talcid adsorbs and neutralizes all proteins secreted by H. pylori including VacA cytotoxin: a new mechanism for its ulcer-healing action?
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Helicobacter pylori culture supernatant containing VacA cytotoxin significantly inhibits gastric cell proliferation and delays healing of experimental gastric ulcers. Since cell proliferation is crucial for ulcer healing, the removal of inhibitory effects of H. pylori secreted cytotoxin would have a beneficial effect on the healing process. In this study, we determined whether the antacid Talcid can adsorb, remove, or neutralize H. pylori derived VacA cytotoxin responsible for the above deleterious actions. METHODS: Supernatants of viable H. pylori isogenic strains producing VacA cytotoxin [VacA(+)] and with disrupted cytotoxin gene not producing cytotoxin [VacA(-)] were incubated with either placebo, Talcid 10 mg/ml, omeprazole 10 mg/ml (positive control) for 1-24 h. Treated supernatants were analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to evaluate proteins. We also studied the effect of supernatants on epidermal growth factor stimulated Kato III cell proliferation using BrdU labeling. RESULTS: Talcid very effectively removed from the H. pylori culture supernatant the approximately 90 kD VacA(+) cytotoxin at 3 and 24 h (99.5% removal vs. placebo-treated control; p<0.001). It also removed all other proteins, including 66-kD urease and 58-kD heat shock protein, secreted by both VacA(+) and VacA(-) H. pylori strains. Omeprazole was completely ineffective in this regard. Preincubation with Talcid completely abolished the inhibitory effect of VacA(+) H. pylori culture supernatant on epidermal growth factor stimulated Kato III cell proliferation. CONCLUSION: Adsorption and neutralization by Talcid of all H. pylori secreted proteins may explain, at least in part, the ulcer-healing action of this drug.