Nicotine-induced noradrenaline was investigated in perfused guinea pig hearts subjected to metabolic blockade that was caused either by anoxia or by cyanide intoxication. Noradrenaline, neuropeptide Y, and dihydroxyphenylethyleneglycol (DOPEG) were determined in the coronary venous overflow Neuropeptide Y is a sympathetic cotransmitter of noradrenaline, and concomitant release of both transmitters indicates an exocytotic, calcium-dependent release mechanism, whereas neuropeptide Y overflow does not occur during nonexocytotic noradrenaline release. Nonexocytotic, calcium-independent noradrenaline release, however, is associated with an increase of DOPEG overflow, which is the main intraneuronal metabolite of noradrenaline formed by monoamine oxidase if oxygen is present. Anoxia per se caused a nonexocytotic release of noradrenaline starting after 10 min of anoxia and reaching peak levels at 30 min. During anoxia, nicotine (3 and 10 mumol/l) accelerated and enhanced noradrenaline overflow, i.e., the period between the onset of anoxia and the begin of noradrenaline release was shortened and peak levels were increased. Nicotine-induced noradrenaline release was accompanied by neuropeptide Y overflow. The action of nicotine was further evaluated during energy depletion caused by cyanide. As anoxia did, cyanide administration alone resulted in noradrenaline release. In accordance with a nonexocytotic mechanism and due to the presence of oxygen, this release of noradrenaline was accompanied by an increase of DOPEG. When added 10 min after the onset of energy depletion, nicotine (10 mumol/l) caused a brief but marked enhancement of exocytotic noradrenaline release, since this release was calcium-dependent and was accompanied by a significant rise of neuropeptide Y overflow. In absence of extracellular calcium to avoid exocytosis, concomitant administration of nicotine (3-100 mumol/l) and cyanide caused a concentration-dependent acceleration of both the overflow of noradrenaline and DOPEG, whereas overflow of neuropeptide Y was not increased, thus indicating a nonexocytotic release mechanism. In conclusion, the application of nicotine during myocardial energy depletion increases overflow of noradrenaline by both calcium-dependent exocytotic release and calcium-independent nonexocytotic release mechanisms.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Urinary secretory immunoglobulin A in urinary tract infections in childhood].

The pathogenesis of urinary tract infections is not yet sufficiently explained despite of large progressions in this field. A special disposition for infections of the kidneys and the urinary tract more and more be seen not only as an anatomic and/or urodynamic but also as an immunologic problem. The secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) in the urine is a measurable parameter for the function of the local immuno system of the mucous membranes in the urogenital system being subject of the present investigations. 87 children with different forms and stages of activity of the urinary tract infection and 59 healthy children have been chosen in order to measure the concentration and the excretion of S-IgA (mg S-IgA/g creatinine). The S-IgA is estimated by an enzyme immunoassay. We have found that the concentration, the excretion and the daily excretion of S-IgA are higher in all forms of pyelonephritis in an acute stage compared with healthy volunteers. There is a non-significant decrease of these values during an antibiotic therapy. It is evident that the values of patients with chronic pyelonephritis have been significantly diminished during the symptom-free interval compared with healthy volunteers (p less than 0.05). Considering the literature our results show that the function of the kidneys as well as inflammation and local immunity are in a close correlation.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Previous cytomegalovirus infection and risk of coronary thrombotic events after stent placement.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection induces upregulation of tissue factor and loss of anticoagulants, including thrombomodulin, prostacyclin, and tissue plasminogen activator. CMV infection may thereby increase the procoagulant properties of coronary artery plaques. This prospective study investigated the effect of previous CMV infection on the early hazard of coronary stent placement. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 551 consecutive patients with successful coronary stent placement, we determined CMV IgG titers. The end point was the composite rate of death, nonfatal Q-wave myocardial infarction, and urgent reintervention during 30-day follow-up. The study population represented the entire spectrum of coronary stenting; an acute coronary syndrome was present in 50% of the patients. A positive CMV IgG titer (>/=1/230) was found in 340 patients (62%). Of these, 10 reached the end point during 30-day follow-up (2 deaths, 4 infarctions, 4 urgent reinterventions). In the group with negative CMV titer, thrombotic events did not occur (P=0.014 versus group with positive CMV titers). After correction for pertinent covariables, a significant relation between positive CMV titer and the 30-day end point prevailed (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Previous CMV infection may increase the risk of coronary thrombotic events after stent placement.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determination of cell mediated immunity against tumour associated antigens in patients of ENT.

In an unconventional assay system (MEM Test) Caspary & Field claimed in 1971 to have detected lymphocyte sensitization to a common tumour antigen in all patients with cancer. There was no evidence of histogenetic specificity to the reaction and their conclusions are in direct contradiction to those of all workers who have studied the cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes on tumour cells. To improve the specificity of the test system, another type of tumour antigen was used in MEM Test incubation. Tumour-associated antigens were prepared according to the hypertonic salt extraction method introduced by Reisfeld, Leonard, Meltzer et al. As shown by the results, information could be gained concerning the existence of a malignant tumour and its location.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Isoelectric focusing studies of synovial fluid in rheumatoid arthritis].

Synovial fluids obtained at operation in several different diseases were studied by means of isoelectrical focussing. All the punctates of patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed bands which migrated towards the cathode and which were not found in synovial fluid from other diseases, except in 2 meniscus lesions. In the range of pH 6.81-7.30, typical synovial proteins were demonostrated.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Determination of secretory immunoglobulin A in the saliva of children with recurrent and chronic respiratory tract diseases during a stay at a health resort].

Investigations of sIgA-concentrations in saliva of 101 children in age of 2 to 4 years with recurrent and chronic airways diseases were performed by means of a sIgA specific enzyme linked immunoassay. The aim was to find out immunodeficiencies in comparison to healthy children (n = 50), and to test whether or not there is an influence of medical and climate treatment over a period of 8 weeks onto sIgA values in saliva. Only 3 children showed decreased sIgA concentrations. There were no differences between patients and healthy children because of the great interindividual variances of sIgA concentrations. An effect of climate cure to sIgA values could not be shown.

Bronchitis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Characteristics of immunologic test values in the elderly].

The immune system changes during the lifespan of man. Many described changes in the immune system of the elderly were dependent on illness or chronic diseases. To exclude these pathological changes in the immune system and to exclusively describe age-dependent changes, Ligthart et al. defined immunogerontological criteria to study the immune system in the elderly, the SENIEUR-Protocol. Most changes in the immune system of elderly are within the normal ranges of the appropriate parameter. However, there are many significant differences between the status of the immune system in healthy young and elderly individuals, within these normal ranges. The comparison between SENIEUR-elderly and healthy young and the additional comparison of these two groups with centenarians allows the discussion of potential pathological effects of these changes. In this article we summarize the described changes of the immune system in SENIEUR-elderly and centenarians. The serum levels of the immunoglobulins G, M and A increased with age, as well as the number of benign monoclonal gammopathies and the number of autoantibodies. The titers of zinc are significantly decreased in the serum of the elderly. The production of the acute phase protein C-reactive protein is not age-dependent, whereas the serum levels of alpha 2-macroglobulin are significantly increased in the elderly. The number of lymphocytes decreased and the number of neutrophils increased with aging. Monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils are without changes during life. There are many descriptions about changes of the leukocyte sub-population in aging, which are not always comparable. However, the number of T cells (CD3) decreases. Within the T cells the CD8 cells decreased more than the CD4 cells, resulting in an increased CD4/CD8 ratio. Memory T cells (CD45RO) increase during life, whereas naive T cells (CD45RA) decrease. Interestingly, centenarians have more naive T cells SENIEUR-elderly. The number of B cells (CD19) decreased also, whereas the number of natural killer (NK) cells (CD16, CD56, CD57) increases with aging. The capacity of leukocytes from the elderly to produce cytokines is also significantly different from those of the young. The release of the TH1-cytokines interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon (IFN)-gamma is decreased, whereas the production of the TH2-cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 is increased in the elderly. The production of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha is increased in the elderly. In contrast, the capacity to produce the antiviral cytokine IFN-alpha is reduced in elderly individuals. In conclusion, the immune system shows many age-dependent changes, but we know little about the reason and the potential pathological effects of these changes.

Aged↗