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J P Klein

Publications and source records attributed to J P Klein.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Multi-state models and outcome prediction in bone marrow transplantation.

Multi-state models have proved versatile and useful in the statistical analysis of the complicated course of events after bone marrow transplantation. Working from data from the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry, we show that summary probability calculations may be useful to explore hypothetical scenarios where some transition intensities are set by the researcher. A multi-state Markov process model is specified with six states: the initial state 0; acute; chronic and both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease A, C and AC; relapse R and death in remission D. Transition rates between the states are estimated using Nelson-Aalen estimators and Cox regression models and combined to transition probability estimators using Aalen-Johansen product integration. Besides the estimated transition probabilities to D and R we explore hypothetical probabilities obtained by artificially changing certain transition intensities, with the general purposes of getting summary views of the development for actual patients 'in this world' and of exploring the intrinsic information from real patients about consequences of various changed conditions.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

Impact of donor type on outcome of bone marrow transplantation for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome: collaborative study of the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and the National Marrow Donor Program.

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation is an effective treatment for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. However, most children with this disease lack such donors and many patients receive transplants from alternative donors. This study compared outcomes of HLA-identical sibling, other related donor, and unrelated donor transplantation for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. The outcome of 170 transplantations for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, from 1968 to 1996, reported to the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry and/or National Marrow Donor Program were assessed. Fifty-five were from HLA-identical sibling donors, 48 from other relatives, and 67 from unrelated donors. Multivariate proportional hazards regression was used to compare outcome by donor type and identify other prognostic factors. Most transplant recipients were younger than 5 years (79%), had a pretransplantation performance score greater than or equal to 90% (63%), received pretransplantation preparative regimens without radiation (82%), and had non-T-cell-depleted grafts (77%). Eighty percent received their transplant after 1986. The 5-year probability of survival (95% confidence interval) for all subjects was 70% (63%-77%). Probabilities differed by donor type: 87% (74%-93%) with HLA-identical sibling donors, 52% (37%-65%) with other related donors, and 71% (58%-80%) with unrelated donors (P =.0006). Multivariate analysis indicated significantly lower survival using related donors other than HLA-identical siblings (P =.0004) or unrelated donors in boys older than 5 years (P =.0001), compared to HLA-identical sibling transplants. Boys receiving an unrelated donor transplant before age 5 had survivals similar to those receiving HLA-identical sibling transplants. The best transplantation outcomes in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome are achieved with HLA-identical sibling donors. Equivalent survivals are possible with unrelated donors in young children.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Factors affecting neutrophil and platelet reconstitution following T cell-depleted bone marrow transplantation: differential effects of growth factor type and role of CD34(+) cell dose.

We have performed univariate and multivariate analysis to determine the factors that affect the kinetics of neutrophil and platelet recovery in 546 recipients of T cell-depleted (TCD) marrow allografts. All patients received marrow depleted of mature CD3(+) T cells by complement-mediated lysis using T(10)B(9)-1A3 (n = 489) or Muromonab-Orthoclone OKT3 (n = 57) monoclonal antibodies. Neutrophil engraftment to 0.5 x 10(9)/1 and platelet engraftment to 20 x 10(9)/l were assessed as endpoints. Factors significantly affecting neutrophil or platelet engraftment in the univariate analysis included patient age, T cell dose, anti-thymocyte globulin use, gender, diagnosis at transplant, CMV serostatus, HLA mismatch, CD34 cell dose (n = 249), and growth factor use and type. These variables were included in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. The results showed that a faster rate of neutrophil engraftment was independently associated with CD34(+) cell dose > or = 5 x 10(6)/kg and most strongly with growth factor administration. Faster platelet engraftment was associated with transplantation for chronic leukemia, CD34(+) cell dose > or = 2 x 10(6)/kg, an HLA matched related donor, and the absence of growth factor use. G-CSF had a higher relative risk (RR) of enhancing neutrophil engraftment than GM-CSF and significantly delayed platelet engraftment. The combined use of G-CSF + GM-CSF was similar to G-CSF alone. The enhancing effect of G-CSF for neutrophil recovery was most striking for patients who engrafted to 0.5 x 10(9)/1 at or before day 12 (RR = 9.5, P < 0.0001) compared to patients who received no growth factor. Conversely, the delaying effect of G-CSF on platelet engraftment was strongest for patients engrafting on or before day 25 (RR = 0.4, P = 0.0004). Of the independent variables affecting engraftment kinetics in recipients of TCD marrow allografts only growth factor, and to a limited extent, CD34(+) cell dose can be controlled by the clinician. A higher CD34(+) cell dose enhances the rate of both neutrophil and platelet engraftment whereas for G-CSF the benefits of myeloid growth factor use in enhancing neutrophil recovery may be partly offset by a delay in platelet engraftment.

Adolescent↗

NF-kappaB and the MAP kinases/AP-1 pathways are both involved in interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 expression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes stimulated by protein I/II, a modulin from oral streptococci.

As in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), it was demonstrated recently that bacterial fragments of DNA or rRNA are present in the joint and therefore could play a role in inducing or perpetuating the disease, this work was initiated to define mechanisms that account for the stimulatory activities of the oral streptococcal modulin, protein I/II, on fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from RA patients. FLSs from RA patients were stimulated with protein I/II, and expression of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Immunoblotting by antibodies specific for activated forms of MAPKs and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were performed to study downstream signalling, which allowed the synthesis of IL-6 and IL-8. We reported that protein I/II interactions with FLSs from RA patients trigger the synthesis and release of IL-6 and IL-8. We also demonstrated that protein I/II enhances the phosphorylation of ERK 1/2, p38 and JNKs and that ERK 1/2 and JNK MAPKs seem to play a more important role than p38 in protein I/II-mediated synthesis of IL-6 and IL-8. Our experiments also indicated that stimulation of FLSs with protein I/II induces nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, AP-1-binding activity and that NF-kappaB plays a major role in IL-6 and IL-8 secretion from activated cells.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

The neutralization of interferons by antibody. II. Neutralizing antibody unitage and its relationship to bioassay sensitivity: the tenfold reduction unit.

The importance of establishing a common method of reporting neutralizing antibody levels is emphasized by the fact that patients injected repeatedly with a human interferon (HuIFN) may develop such antibodies that can abrogate the beneficial effects of the treatment. The earlier experimental and theoretical constructs of Kawade led to certain recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning the methodology of neutralization tests and how to report the resultant data. A WHO international collaborative study on two human sera with antibodies against HuIFN-alpha and HuIFN-beta provided the opportunity not only to test the theoretical concepts concerning the neutralization reaction with data obtained in different bioassay systems in different laboratories but also to obtain enough data points for statistical evaluation with bioassays having a great range of sensitivity to IFN. The analyses substantiate and extend the original conclusions of Kawade that the neutralization follows the reaction mode of low-affinity antibody, in accord with the constant proportion hypothesis by which antibody reduces IFN activity in a set ratio of added/residual biologically active IFN, a consequence of the low molar concentration of free IFN at the neutralization end point. The present results support the recommendation that the preferred way to state the index of neutralization of antibodies is a titer (t), calculated by the formula t = f(n - 1)/9, where f is the reciprocal of the antibody dilution achieving the end point, and n is the IFN concentration measured in that day's titration. The tenfold reduction unit (TRU) of neutralization is proposed for use in expressing the quantity, or unitage, of IFN neutralizing antibody. The utility of its application is explained. The use of the index of neutralization described and the proposed derivative term of antibody unitage, TRU, should help make the results from different laboratories employing different bioassay systems more readily comparable and interpretable, provided the bioassays are sufficiently sensitive to IFN.

Antibodies↗

Expression and functional properties of the Streptococcus intermedius surface protein antigen I/II.

Streptococcus intermedius is associated with deep-seated purulent infections. In this study, we investigated expression and functional activities of antigen I/II in S. intermedius. The S. intermedius antigen I/II appeared to be cell surface associated, with a molecular mass of approximately 160 kDa. Northern blotting indicated that the S. intermedius NCTC 11324 antigen I/II gene was transcribed as a monocistronic message. Maximum expression was seen during the early exponential phase. Insertional inactivation of the antigen I/II gene resulted in reduced hydrophobicity during early exponential phase, whereas no effect was detected during mid- and late exponential phases. Binding to human fibronectin and laminin was reduced in the isogenic mutant, whereas binding to human collagen types I and IV and to rat collagen type I was not significant for either the wild type or the mutant. Compared to the wild type, the capacity of the isogenic mutant to induce interleukin 8 (IL-8) release by THP-1 monocytic cells was significantly reduced. The results indicate that the S. intermedius antigen I/II is involved in adhesion to human receptors and in IL-8 induction.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Estimation of current leukaemia-free survival following donor lymphocyte infusion therapy for patients with leukaemia who relapse after allografting: application of a multistate model.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation has become routine treatment for selected patients with leukaemia and other haematological disorders. A standard measure of the efficacy of this treatment for patients is assessment of leukaemia-free survival, that is, the probability of being alive and in remission at different time intervals after transplant. During the last 10 years a new approach to managing patients who relapse after allografting was developed - namely infusion of lymphocytes (white blood cells) collected from the original donor. Such donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) are highly effective in restoring complete remission and it appears that these remissions are durable. Consequently estimates of long-term success of allografting must consider salvage of initial relapses with DLI. To do so a new estimator of treatment efficacy, called 'current leukaemia-free survival' is sometimes used in the medical literature. This curve attempts to estimate the probability that a patient is alive in an original remission or in subsequent remission after treatment with DLI at a given time after transplant. Here we show that this estimator does not actually estimate the probability of interest and we use a multi-stage model to develop a new and more appropriate estimator for 'current leukaemia-free survival'.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗

High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation for ovarian cancer: an autologous blood and marrow transplant registry report.

BACKGROUND: Autologous transplantation is increasingly used to treat epithelial ovarian cancer. However, it is not clear which patients may benefit. OBJECTIVE: To determine overall and progression-free survival and factors associated with favorable outcome after autotransplantation for ovarian cancer. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: 57 centers reporting to the Autologous Blood and Marrow Transplant Registry (ABMTR). PATIENTS: 421 women who received transplants between 1989 and 1996. INTERVENTIONS: High-dose chemotherapy using diverse regimens with hematopoietic stem-cell rescue. MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcomes were progression-free survival and overall survival. Multivariate analyses using Cox proportional hazards regression considered the following factors: age, Karnofsky performance score, initial stage, histologic characteristics, previous therapy, remission status, extent of disease, graft source, transplant regimen, and year of transplantation. RESULTS: Most patients had extensive previous chemotherapy. Forty-one percent had platinum-resistant tumors, and 38% had tumors at least 1 cm in diameter. Only 34 patients (8%) received transplants as part of initial therapy. The probability of death within 100 days was 11% (95% CI, 8% to 14%). Two-year progression-free survival was 12% (CI, 9% to 16%), and 2-year overall survival was 35% (CI, 30% to 41%). Younger age, Karnofsky performance score of at least 90%, non-clear-cell disease, remission at transplantation, and platinum sensitivity were associated with better outcomes. Progression-free and overall survival were 22% (CI, 12% to 33%) and 55% (CI, 42% to 66%), respectively, for women with a high Karnofsky performance score and non-clear-cell, platinum-sensitive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Some subgroups of patients with ovarian cancer seem to have good outcomes after autotransplantation, although several biases may have affected these observations. Phase III trials are needed to compare such outcomes with outcomes of conventional chemotherapy.

Age Factors↗

Blood group A and B antigens are strongly expressed on platelets of some individuals.

It is widely thought that expression of ABH antigens on platelets is insufficient to materially affect the survival of ABH-incompatible platelets in transfusion recipients, but anecdotal reports of poor survival of A and B mismatched platelets suggest that this is not always the case. The A and B antigen expression on platelets of 100 group A(1) and group B blood donors was measured, and 7% and 4%, respectively, had platelets whose A and B antigen levels consistently exceeded the mean plus 2 SD. On the basis of flow cytometric and statistical analysis, donors whose platelets contained higher than normal levels of A antigen were subdivided into 2 groups, designated Type I and Type II ("high expressers"). Serum A(1)- and B-glycosyltransferase levels of A and B high expressers were significantly higher than those of group A(1) and B individuals with normal expression. H antigen levels were low on the red cells of high expressers, indicating that the anomaly affects other cell lineages. Immunochemical studies demonstrated high levels of A antigen on various glycoproteins (GPs) from high-expresser platelets, especially GPIIb and PECAM (CD31). The A(1) Type II high-expresser phenotype was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in one family. The sequences of exons 5, 6, and 7 of the A(1)-transferase gene of one Type II A(1) high expresser and exon 7 from 3 other genes were identical to the reported normal sequences. Further studies are needed to define the molecular basis for the high-expresser trait and to characterize its clinical implications. (Blood. 2000;96:1574-1581)

ABO Blood-Group System↗

Estimating leukemia-free survival after allografting for chronic myeloid leukemia: a new method that takes into account patients who relapse and are restored to complete remission.

A significant number of patients who relapse after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) will achieve sustained remissions after treatment with interferon-alpha, second transplants, or donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) from the original stem cell donor. Because leukemia-free survival (LFS) is at present defined as survival without evidence of relapse at any time posttransplant, patients who relapse but are then restored to complete remission are treated as failures when estimating LFS. We have established a new category of LFS, termed current LFS (CLFS), which we define as survival without evidence of leukemia at the time of most recent assessment. To gauge the contribution of treatment for relapse to the efficacy of allogeneic SCT in the management of CML in chronic phase, we compared conventional LFS and CLFS in 189 consecutive patients who underwent SCT over a 7-year period with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Patients with sibling donors (n = 111) received cyclosporine and methotrexate as prophylaxis for graft versus host disease; patients with unrelated donors (n = 78) also received Campath-1G or 1H as intravenous T-cell depletion. The 5-year LFS defined conventionally was 36% (CI: 29% to 43%) versus a 5-year CLFS of 49% (CI: 36% to 62%). This new method of defining LFS confirms the view that appropriate "salvage" therapy, principally DLI, makes a major contribution to the capacity of allogeneic SCT to produce long-term LFS in patients who receive SCT for CML and emphasizes the importance of redefining LFS to take account of successful treatment of relapse.

Adolescent↗

Graft-versus-host disease in children who have received a cord-blood or bone marrow transplant from an HLA-identical sibling. Eurocord and International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry Working Committee on Alternative Donor and Stem Cell Sources.

BACKGROUND: Umbilical-cord blood as an alternative to bone marrow for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation may lower the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). METHODS: We studied the records of 113 recipients of cord blood from HLA-identical siblings from the period from 1990 through 1997 and compared them with the records of 2052 recipients of bone marrow from HLA-identical siblings during the same period. The study population consisted of children 15 years of age or younger. We compared the rates of GVHD, hematopoietic recovery, and survival using Cox proportional-hazards regression to adjust for potentially confounding factors. RESULTS: Recipients of cord blood were younger than recipients of bone marrow (median age, 5 years vs. 8 years; P<0.001), weighed less (median weight, 17 kg vs. 26 kg; P<0.001), and were less likely to have received methotrexate for prophylaxis against GVHD (28 percent vs. 65 percent, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a lower risk of acute GVHD (relative risk, 0.41; P=0.001) and chronic GVHD (relative risk, 0.35; P=0.02) among recipients of cord-blood transplants. As compared with recovery after bone marrow transplantation, the likelihood of recovery of the neutrophil count and the platelet count was significantly lower in the first month after cord-blood transplantation (relative risk, 0.40 [P<0.001], and relative risk, 0.20 [P<0.001]), respectively. Mortality was similar in the two groups (relative risk of death in the recipients of cord blood, 1.15; P=0.43). CONCLUSIONS: Recipients of cord-blood transplants from HLA-identical siblings have a lower incidence of acute and chronic GVHD than recipients of bone marrow transplants from HLA-identical siblings.

Acute Disease↗

Blood stem cells compared with bone marrow as a source of hematopoietic cells for allogeneic transplantation. IBMTR Histocompatibility and Stem Cell Sources Working Committee and the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT).

Peripheral blood cells are increasingly used in place of bone marrow as a source of hematopoietic stem cells for allogeneic transplantation. The relative efficacy of these 2 approaches is unknown. This retrospective multivariate analysis compared results of 288 HLA-identical sibling blood stem cell transplantations with results of 536 HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantations. No transplants were T-cell depleted. Median follow-up was 12 months, and analyses focused on 1-year outcomes. Recipients of blood stem cell transplants had more rapid recovery of neutrophils to at least 0.5 x 10(9)/L (median time to recovery, 14 days, compared with 19 days for marrow transplants; P <.001) and of platelets to at least 20 x 10(9)/L (median time, 18 days, compared with 25 days for marrow transplants; P <.001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of grades II to IV acute graft versus host disease (GVHD). The incidence of chronic GVHD was significantly higher after blood stem cell transplantation (1-year probability [95% confidence interval], 65% [56%-72%] compared with 53% [47%-59%]; P =.02) Relapse incidence in the 2 transplant groups did not differ significantly. Treatment-related mortality rates were lower and leukemia-free survival rates were higher with blood stem cell transplants in patients with advanced leukemia (acute leukemia in second remission or chronic myelogenous leukemia in accelerated phase) but not in early leukemia (acute leukemia in first remission or chronic myelogenous leukemia in chronic phase). The median time from transplantation to hospital discharge was 23 days after blood stem cell transplantation and 28 days after bone marrow transplantation (P =.003). Further study with longer follow-up is necessary to definitively establish the role of blood stem cells for allogeneic transplantation, especially in patients with good-risk disease. (Blood. 2000;95:3702-3709)

Acute Disease↗

T-cell depletion of bone marrow transplants for leukemia from donors other than HLA-identical siblings: advantage of T-cell antibodies with narrow specificities.

T-cell depletion of donor marrow decreases graft-versus-host disease resulting from transplants from unrelated and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched related donors. However, there are diverse strategies for T-cell-depleted transplantation, and it is uncertain whether any improve leukemia-free survival (LFS). To compare strategies for T-cell-depleted alternative donor transplants and to compare T-cell depleted with non-T-cell-depleted transplants, we studied 870 patients with leukemia who received T-cell-depleted transplants from unrelated or HLA-mismatched related donors from 1982 to 1994. Outcomes were compared with those of 998 non-T-cell-depleted transplants. We compared LFS using different strategies for T-cell-depleted transplantation considering T-cell depletion technique, intensity of pretransplant conditioning, and posttransplant immune suppression using proportional hazards regression to adjust for other prognostic variables. Five categories of T-cell depletion techniques were considered: narrow-specificity antibodies, broad-specificity antibodies, Campath antibodies, elutriation, and lectins. Strategies resulting in similar LFS were pooled to compare T-cell-depleted with non-T-cell-depleted transplants. Recipients of transplants T-cell depleted by narrow-specificity antibodies had lower treatment failure risk (higher LFS) than recipients of transplants T-cell depleted by other techniques. Compared with non-T-cell-depleted transplants (5-year probability +/- 95% confidence interval [CI] of LFS, 31% +/- 4%), 5-year LFS was 29% +/- 5% (P = NS) after transplants T-cell depleted by narrow-specificity antibodies and 16% +/- 4% (P <.0001) after transplants T-cell depleted by other techniques. After alternative donor transplantation, T-cell depletion of donor marrow by narrow-specificity antibodies resulted in LFS rates that were higher than those for transplants T-cell depleted using other techniques but similar to those for non-T-cell-depleted transplants. (Blood. 2000;95:3996-4003)

Adolescent↗

Effect of short-term interferon therapy on the outcome of subsequent HLA-identical sibling bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia: an analysis from the international bone marrow transplant registry.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is the only curative therapy for chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), though several studies indicate that prolonged survival can result from interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment. IFN-alpha is now often used as initial therapy for CML, before donor availability is known. Because identifying potential donors can take several weeks to months, it is important to know whether IFN-alpha adversely affects outcome of a subsequent BMT. If it does, initiation of IFN-alpha therapy might be delayed until donor availability is determined and avoided in patients for whom BMT is planned. We studied 873 patients who received HLA-identical sibling BMT for chronic-phase CML in 153 centers participating in the International Bone Marrow Transplant Registry. The object was to compare outcome in the 664 who received only hydroxyurea before BMT with outcome in the 209 who received IFN-alpha with or without hydroxyurea. The median duration of IFN-alpha therapy was 2 months (range, 1 to 39 months). Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to compare engraftment, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), nonrelapse mortality, relapse, survival, and leukemia-free survival after adjustment for other prognostic variables. We found a higher risk of nonengraftment among patients given IFN-alpha than among those given hydroxyurea alone (2% versus 0.2%; P = 0.01). Patients who received IFN-alpha had a lower risk of relapse (relative risk, 0.17; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.70). Probabilities of GVHD, nonrelapse mortality, survival, and leukemia-free survival were similar in the two treatment groups. These results suggest that a short course of IFN-alpha does not adversely affect survival after a subsequent HLA-identical sibling BMT for chronic-phase CML. (Blood. 2000;95:410-415)

Actuarial Analysis↗

TNF-alpha release by monocytic THP-1 cells through cross-linking of the extended V-region of the oral streptococcal protein I/II.

We tested the hypothesis of a conserved activation mode of monocytic THP-1 cells by proteins I/II expressed by several species of oral streptococci through the specific role of the extended V-region. We studied the binding and modulating activities of six proteins I/II purified from strains representing four different species of oral streptococci, and of expression products of polymerase chain reaction-amplified sequences encoding corresponding extended V-regions. We found that the different proteins I/II bound to THP-1 cells in a sugar-dependent mode involving the extended V-region. Furthermore, all the proteins I/II stimulated THP-1 cells to produce tumor necrosis factor alpha, indicating that these properties are not strain- or species-specific. Despite the weak stimulation of THP-1 cells by the extended V-region alone, we obtained evidence that cross-linking of this region can be one of the mechanisms involved in monocytic cell activation by proteins I/II.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Production of cytokines by monocytes, epithelial and endothelial cells activated by Streptococcus bovis.

There are numerous reports documenting the correlation between Streptococcus bovis bacteraemia and endocarditis in conjunction with colonic diseases. The adherence of S. bovis to either buccal or intestinal epithelial cells seems to be the initial process in colonization and subsequent infection of the host, allowing further adhesion of S. bovis to either endothelial cells or extracellular matrix components which leads to infective endocarditis. Bacterial entry at tumour sites is further assisted by the local action of cytokines that promotes vasodilatation and increased capillary permeability. Thus the ability of S. bovis to adhere to and to stimulate human cells may contribute to the pathogenicity of this bacteria. In the present study, we have shown the ability of S. bovis and wall-extracted antigens (WEA) to adhere to human buccal (KB) or intestinal (Caco-2) epithelial cell lines, to human saphenous vein endothelial cells, to human monocytic cell line (THP-1) and to extracellular matrix components (ECM) (fibronectin, collagen and laminin). The fixation of S. bovis on cells was followed by the synthesis of IL-8 from all the cells except Caco-2, whereas S. bovis WEA was able to induce cytokine synthesis from all of them, showing the immunomodulatory effect of S. bovis and S. bovis WEA on different cells.

Cells, Cultured↗

Drug resistance rates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Austria between 1995 and 1998 and molecular typing of multidrug-resistant isolates. The Austrian Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Study Group.

In this study the drug resistance pattern of 3559 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains isolated in Austria between 1995 and 98 was evaluated. Of these strains, 165 (4.6%) were resistant to one or more drugs, 113 (3.2%) to one of the tested drugs and 53 (1.5%) to two or more drugs. Monodrug resistance was observed most often to isoniazid (56 strains), followed by streptomycin (44 strains). Resistance to rifampicin or ethambutol alone was rarely seen (12 strains and 1 strain, respectively). Of the 53 strains resistant to 2 or more drugs, 25 were resistant to isoniazid and streptomycin, while 17 were multidrug resistant. Molecular typing revealed a large diversity among the multidrug-resistant strains.

Adult↗