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P Lind

Publications and source records attributed to P Lind.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium parvum--evaluation of an animal infection model.

With the intention of developing a standardised method for assessment of pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium parvum, the CPB-0 isolate was studied by propagation in 1-day-old calves followed by inoculation into specific pathogen free (SPF) piglets. The experiment was repeated. Diarrhoea and shedding of oocysts were seen in all animals infected with the CPB-0 isolate. Clinical signs included depression, inappetence, vomiting (exclusively in the piglets), and death. Histological examination at 17 and 19 days post-infection revealed parasitic stages and microscopic changes primarily restricted to colon and rectum. The unintended presence of rotavirus in some of the experimental animals revealed an additive or synergistic effect between rotavirus and C. parvum as indicated by prolonged diarrhoea, increased oocyst shedding, decreased weight gain and elevated levels of serum haptoglobin and serum amyloid A (SAA) in piglets infected simultaneously with both pathogens. The difference in daily weight gain between infected and control animals was significant only for piglets co-infected with rotavirus. The acute phase response of haptoglobin and SAA was characterised by a large individual variation. In piglets, co-infected with rotavirus, the levels of serum haptoglobin were 3.5 and 4.6 times higher in the infected versus the controls 6 and 9dpi, respectively (mean values: 2411microg/ml+/-S.D. 2023 and 1840 microg/ml+/-S.D. 1697). In the controls infected with rotavirus, peak haptoglobin concentration was seen 3dpi (mean: 1022 microg/ml+/-S.D. 425). Elevated levels of SAA were seen in 1 of 6 piglets infected with C. parvum, and in 5 of 6 piglets co-infected with rotavirus. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) was undetectable in all serum samples from piglets. The obvious advantages of the SPF pig model are the naturally acquired intestinal microflora, the development of distinct clinical signs similar to cryptosporidiosis in humans and calves, the size of the animals, and the accessibility of individuals born within a short time span. This makes the model ideal for dose-response studies, evaluation of therapeutic agents as well as for assessment of differences in the clinical response to isolates of diverse genetic background. In conclusion, it was shown that the CPB-0 isolate was pathogenic to calves and piglets at a dose of 2.5 x 10(5) oocysts, and that the clinical signs could be replicated during separate experiments. Moreover, diarrhoea, oocyst shedding, body weight changes, histological alterations, and the acute phase response of haptoglobin and SAA were identified as useful parameters for discrimination of isolate-specific differences of pathogenicity.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Comparison of FDG-PET and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in the evaluation of suggestive breast lesions.

The aim of our study was a direct comparison of the ability of positron-emission tomography with FDG-PET and of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether breast lesions were benign or malignant and of the two imaging methods capability of depicting eventual multifocal disease. We performed both PET and MRI in 36 patients (40 lesions) who were scheduled for surgery because of suggestive mammographic, sonographic and/or clinical findings. A final histological classification was available for all lesions. Tumour size ranged from 5 to 45 mm (mean 16.7 mm). Sensitivity for lesions, sensitivity for patients, specificity for lesions and specificity for patients were 68.0%, 76.2%, 73.3%, and 73.3% for PET and 92.0%, 95.2%, 73.3%, and 73.3% for MRI, respectively. MRI was more sensitive than FDG-PET in disclosing malignant breast tumours and was also more accurate than FDG-PET in the assessment of multifocal disease. The lower sensitivity of FDG-PET than of MRI seems to be due to difficulties in reliable imaging of carcinomas smaller than 10 mm and of lobular carcinomas.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2003

Cryptosporidium parvum: infectivity and pathogenicity of the 'porcine' genotype.

Genetic studies have demonstrated profound differences between the 'porcine' genotype of Cryptosporidium parvum, versus 'human' and 'bovine' genotypes. The study analysed infectivity and pathogenicity of the 'porcine' genotype (CPP-13 isolate) of C. parvum, and compared the results with published data on the 'bovine' genotype (CPB-0 isolate). This was investigated in calves and piglets from commercial herds. Piglets were mildly affected by the CPP-13 isolate, contrary to piglets infected with the CPB-0 isolate, which caused diarrhoea of a mean duration of 3.5 days. CPP-13 produced no or very mild clinical signs in piglets despite the excretion of high numbers of oocysts. Concomitant infection with rotavirus, however, caused a dramatic aggravation of the clinical signs, and 5 of 6 experimentally infected piglets died. CPP-13 appeared to be adapted to porcine hosts as illustrated by the lack of infectivity to 1 experimentally inoculated calf, and the absence of clinical signs, the long pre-patent period (15 days), and the excretion of very low numbers of oocysts following experimental infection of another calf. Thus, in accordance with other molecular studies, our results support the genetic evidence for the existence of a new species of Cryptosporidium adapted to pigs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Population dynamics of Toxocara canis in pigs receiving a single or multiple infection.

The population dynamics of Toxocara canis in pigs, and their immune response to a primary and a challenge infection, were studied by parasitological, haematological and serological parameters. Seventy pigs were divided into 4 groups; 35 pigs received a primary infection (group A), 15 pigs received both a primary and a challenge infection (group B), 15 pigs received the challenge infection only (group C), and 5 pigs served as helminth-free controls (group NC). A dose of 50,000 eggs was administered for the primary infection (day 0) and a dose of 10,000 eggs was given for the challenge infection (day 28). On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 p.i., 5 pigs of group A, and on days 35, 42 and 49 p.i., 5 pigs from each of groups A, B and C were necropsied. Numbers of recovered larvae varied widely among the 5 pigs of each group on all days of necropsy. Toxocara canis larvae were recovered predominantly from the lungs; migration of larvae to other organs or tissues from the lungs was restricted. In group A, the larval burden in the lungs peaked on day 14 p.i., and the larval densities decreased significantly over time. Thereafter, the majority of larvae were recovered from the lungs until the end of the experiment (day 49 p.i.). A few larvae were found in the muscles and brain until day 42 p.i., and 2 larvae were found in the eyes of 2 pigs on day 35 p.i. There was little evidence of protective immunity to a challenge infection in this experiment. The eosinophil levels tended not to increase in pigs receiving a challenge infection, in contrast to the challenge control pigs. The fact that T. canis larvae migrate and persist in the tissues of pigs for more than 1 month suggests a zoonotic risk in infected pigs. The relevance of these data to the population biology and immunology of porcine and human toxocarosis is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

18F-FDG-PET in the follow-up of thyroid cancer.

Differentiated thyroid cancer is a rare tumour with an incidence of 4 - 9/100,000/year. For preoperative assessment of thyroid nodules, ultrasonography (US) and US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy are the methods of choice to detect thyroid cancer. The value of preoperative fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) in differentiating malignant from benign nodules, especially in cases of follicular proliferation, has not yet been evaluated. After thyroidectomy and radioiodine remnant ablation, several methods are used to follow patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, including serum thyroglobulin, ultrasonography of the neck, iodine-131 (131I) whole body scintigraphy (WBS) and scintigraphy with nonspecific tracers such as technetium-99 m ((99m)Tc) Tetrofosmin or Sestamibi. Whereas the specificity of 131I-WBS is high, sensitivity is low, especially if one takes into account that only two-thirds of recurrences or metastases store iodine. With the introduction of 18F-FDG in oncology, it is also used for the detection of local recurrences and metastases of differentiated thyroid cancer. Elevated thyroglobulin but negative 131I-WBS belongs to the 1a indications for 18F-FDG-PET in oncology according to the German Consensus Conference 2000. The sensitivity for detecting 131I-negative metastases with 18F-FDG-PET can be increased by elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) after withdrawal of thyroid hormone therapy or after intramuscular injection of recombinant TSH. Most of the 131I-negative metastases demonstrate 18F-FDG uptake, which represents rapid tumour growth and poor differentiation, whereas most of the 131I-positive metastases are 18F-FDG negative. The combination of 131I-WBS and 18F-FDG-PET leads to an increase in the detection rate to more than 90 - 95 % in cases of elevated thyroglobulin, because well- and less-differentiated cancer cells may be present in one patient. In rare cases, a recurrent tumour or metastasis may accumulate 131I as well as 18F-FDG. In these patients, it may be possible that well- and less-differentiated cells are present in one metastasis. The early use of 18F-FDG-PET in patients with elevated thyroglobulin, especially in the case of negative 131I-WBS, changes the therapeutic strategy in up to half of the patients (surgery, external radiation).

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Accuracy of whole-body 18F-FDP-PET for restaging malignant lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) images, which were interpreted under daily routine conditions, in patients with Hodgkin's disease (HD) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) for restaging after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. For this purpose, 18F-FDG-PET results were compared with morphological imaging methods and the patients' clinical background. METHODS: 121 PET images of 93 lymphoma patients (44 HD, 49 NHL) were investigated after chemotherapy/radiotherapy. For PET imaging, 160-200 MBq 18F-FDG was administered intravenously, followed by an infusion of 20 mg Furosemid in 250 mL saline. Whole-body 18F-FDG-PET images were obtained using a partial-ring PET scanner without attenuation correction. The morphological imaging consisted in computed tomography and ultrasound (CT/US) in all patients, additional MRI in some patients, and iliac crest biopsy in cases of suspicious bone marrow involvement. The standard of reference was composed of biopsy data, clinical status at the time of investigation, and follow-up of at least 12 months. The PET images were evaluated for their sensitivity, specificity and accuracy based on written reports, which were compiled from other imaging data and the clinical history of the patients. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET was 91 %, 81 %, and 85 %; of CT/US, 88 %, 35 %, 56 %, respectively. Major sources of error in 18F-FDG-PET were due to asymmetric muscular hypermetabolism and inflammatory lesions misinterpreted as persistent viable lymphoma tissue. Furthermore, secondary malignancies other than lymphomas were another reason for misinterpretations of 18F-FDG-PET studies. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FDG-PET showed a comparable sensitivity but a higher specificity and accuracy compared with CT/US. To achieve a high accuracy in 18F-FDG-PET, the nuclear medicine specialist needs imaging and clinical data as background information, which can only be acquired through close co-operation with the referring clinicians. Pharmacological muscular relaxation in the course of 18F-FDG-PET imaging may be advisable, as nonspecific muscular hypermetabolism was one of the problems at the image readings and a source of incorrect 18F-FDG-PET interpretations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Bone metabolism in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma receiving suppressive levothyroxine treatment.

AIM: Patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) must receive suppressive levothyroxine (LT(4)) therapy for the rest of their lives. The literature, however, presents conflicting results on how this affects bone metabolism. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the estrogen status and LT(4) therapy, in particular LT(4) dosage in micrograms per kilograms (microg/kg), on bone metabolism in female patients with DTC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three markers of bone metabolism (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen in serum [SCTx]; N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen in urine [U-NTx]; and osteocalcin [OC]) were investigated in four groups: group REF (healthy premenopausal female controls), group DTC-ES (premenopausal women with DTC and normal estrogen levels), group DTC-ED (postmenopausal women with DTC and estrogen deficiency), and group DTC-HRT (postmenopausal women with DTC undergoing hormone replacement therapy [HRT]). All patients with DTC were on a well-adjusted suppressive LT(4) therapy with TSH levels 0.1 mU/L or less. RESULTS: In group DTC-ES bone turnover was comparable to group REF, whereas in group DTC-ED, all three markers were significantly increased as compared to groups REF and DTC-ES. In group DTC-HRT, the HRT normalized U-NTx and OC. However, in this group S-CTx was not completely normalized by HRT in all patients, although also significantly lowered compared to group DTC-ED. The analysis of LT(4 )dosage per kilogram showed that premenopausal DTC-patients had increased markers of bone metabolism if LT(4) dosage exceeded 2.6 microg/kg. Estrogen-deficient patients with DTC, however, had a much lower critical LT(4) dosage, above which increased markers of bone metabolism were seen. CONCLUSION: A well-adjusted suppressive LT(4) therapy of less than 2.6 microg/kg and normal estrogen levels do not seem to increase bone metabolism in estrogen-sufficient patients with DTC. The normalization of an estrogen deficiency by HRT or other antiresorptive therapies and minimal suppressive dosages of LT(4) are attempts to optimize the care of patients with DTC. In postmenopausal patients with DTC and patients with DTC who require LT(4) dosages in excess of 2.6 microg/kg, the information provided by markers of bone metabolism may help to prevent bone damage.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Technical note: time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for growth hormone in ruminants.

A noncompetitive, time-resolved immunofluorometric assay (TRIFMA) was developed using a selected pair of monoclonal antibodies (mab) raised against recombinant bovine GH, with the catching mab immobilized on microtiter plate wells and the detection mab labeled with Eu3+ as a tracer, arranged as a sandwich. Plates were coated with mab1.15 (680 ng/well) using a phosphate buffer (pH 4.9), and then blocked with assay buffer containing 1% (wt/vol) BSA. The assay procedure involved incubation of 50 microL of sample (plasma or serum) and 200 microL of assay buffer containing 25 ng of mab1.2-Eu3+ conjugate for 4 h at 25 degrees C. Plates were then washed six times, incubated for 5 to 10 min with 250 microL of enhancement solution, and fluorescence read with a time-resolved fluorometer. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.1 ng/mL, and the working range was 0.2 to 200 ng/mL. Recovery of quantitative amounts of bovine GH added to plasma samples was close to 100%. Cross-reactivity with other bovine pituitary hormones or with GH from nonbovidae or cervidae species was not significant. Intra- and interassay CV during routine operation was 4.4 and 10.7%, respectively (mean = 3.54 ng/mL). Plasma concentrations of bovine GH determined by TRIFMA correlated closely (r2 > or = 0.93) with RIA results, with a conversion ratio of 0.62 when the higher specificity of the monoclonal antibodies was taken into account. The TRIFMA is a reliable alternative to RIA methods because the assay employs no radiolabeled or hazardous chemicals, delivers results rapidly, and has little risk of down periods.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Lung function and cardiovascular risk: relationship with inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins.

BACKGROUND: The inverse relationship between pulmonary function and incidence of cardiovascular disease remains largely unexplained. This prospective study explored the hypothesis of a relationship with inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forced vital capacity (FVC) and plasma levels of fibrinogen, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and orosomucoid were determined in 5064 healthy men aged 28 to 61 years. All-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and incidence of myocardial infarction were monitored over a mean follow-up period of 18.4 years. Low FVC (fourth quartile) was associated with higher protein levels and with increased incidences of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death. Adjustments for protein levels reduced the age-adjusted relative risks (RRs) for myocardial infarction (from 1.99, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.6, to 1.70, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.2) and cardiovascular death (from 2.71, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.9, to 2.28, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.3) among men with low FVC, corresponding to approximately 25% of the excess risk. The risk factor-adjusted RRs were reduced from 1.45 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.9) to 1.38 (95% CI 1.1 to 1.8) and from 1.96 (95% CI 1.4 to 2.8) to 1.85 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.7) for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death, respectively, corresponding to approximately 10% to 15% of the excess risk. Among men with low FVC, the risk factor-adjusted RR for myocardial infarction was 2.5 (95% CI 1.7 to 3.6) for those with high protein levels (> or =2 proteins in top quartile) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.1 to 2.4) for those with low protein levels (< or =1 protein in top quartile; reference, top quartile of FVC and low protein levels). CONCLUSIONS: FVC is significantly and inversely associated with plasma levels of inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins. This relationship contributes to but cannot fully explain the increased cardiovascular risk among men with low FVC.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

(18)F-FDG positron emission tomography in the early diagnosis of enterocolitis: preliminary results.

Collagenous and eosinophilic colitis are rare diseases characterised by chronic watery diarrhoea. Radiographic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract and colonoscopy are usually non-diagnostic since as many as one-third of patients will have minor abnormalities. To date a few investigators have reported increased fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with acute enterocolitis, but there have been no reports on the use of (18)F-FDG PET for the diagnosis of collagenous or eosinophilic colitis in an early clinical stage. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the usefulness of (18)F-FDG PET in the early diagnosis of patients with colitis. We investigated five women (mean age 61.2+/-12.1 years) who had been diagnosed as having colitis in an early clinical stage. In all but one of the patients, the diagnosis of colitis was based on biopsy. Magnetic resonance colonography, ultrasonography and colonoscopy were performed in all but one of the patients. Two women were identified as having collagenous colitis in an early clinical stage. Another two patients had eosinophilic colitis. The morphological imaging methods, magnetic resonance colonography and ultrasonography, yielded no suspicious findings, and the results of colonoscopy similarly showed no abnormalities. One patient had colitis due to bacterial infection. In all patients (18)F-FDG PET showed a pathological increase in tracer uptake in the large bowel, suggestive of colitis. In four of the five patients, colitis was confirmed by histology, and in one, by bacterial analysis. (18)F-FDG PET was able to detect colitis in an early clinical stage, when morphological imaging methods and colonoscopy were non-diagnostic. The early performance of (18)F-FDG PET imaging in patients with possible colitis is encouraging.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Cryptosporidium andersoni from a Danish cattle herd: identification and preliminary characterisation.

In November 1997, Cryptosporidium andersoni, for the first time, was isolated from a Danish heifer. The isolate was characterised morphologically, molecularly, and furthermore inoculated into mice and one calf. Data on the distribution of cryptosporidia in the herd of origin were obtained at two separate visits in December 1997 and April 1998. C. andersoni was detected in 27 (19.0%) of 142 cattle examined at the first visit, whereas C. parvum was found in six (4.2%). At the following visit 42 (28.0%) of 150 cattle excreted C. andersoni, while 25 (16.7%) were positive for C. parvum. Oocysts of the Danish C. andersoni isolate were ovoid, 7.3(6.5-8.0) x 5.7(5.0-7.0) microm(2) (n=25), with smooth, colourless, single layer oocyst wall and distinct oocyst residuum. The length to width ratio was 1.27 (1.14-1.40, n=25). The identification was verified by sequencing of a 246bp fragment of the rDNA, which was identical to Cryptosporidium muris, the calf genotype (AF093496). The Danish C. andersoni isolate was not transmissible to mice, whereas oocysts were detected in the faeces of one experimentally infected calf from 25 days post-infection (DPI) and shed intermittently at low numbers until 165 DPI, the day of euthanasia. No macroscopic or microscopic changes that could be attributed to infection with C. andersoni were seen in the gastro-intestinal tract of the experimentally infected calf following necropsy and histological examination. This is to our knowledge the first report of C. andersoni in Scandinavia.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Effects of cholesterol and inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins on incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke in men.

BACKGROUND: Although cholesterol is a major cardiovascular risk factor, its association with stroke remains controversial. This study explored whether the cholesterol-related incidence of stroke and myocardial infarction is modified by plasma markers of inflammation in a large, population-based cohort with a long follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma cholesterol and 5 inflammation-sensitive plasma proteins (ISP) (fibrinogen, alpha1-antitrypsin, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin, and orosomucoid) were determined in 6063 healthy men, 28 to 61 years of age. The incidence of stroke, cardiac events (fatal and nonfatal), and cardiovascular deaths was compared between groups defined by levels of cholesterol and ISP. Mean follow-up was 18.7 years. High ISP level was defined as 2 to 5 ISP in the top quartile. High cholesterol was associated with higher levels of ISP. Hypercholesterolemia (> or =6.5 mmol/L, 251 mg/dL) was associated with an increased incidence of ischemic stroke and cardiac events and with a reduced incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage. The ISP levels modified these associations. After risk factor adjustment, men with hypercholesterolemia and high ISP levels had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular death (relative risk [RR]=2.4; CI, 1.8 to 3.3), cardiac events (RR=2.3; CI, 1.8 to 3.0), and ischemic stroke (RR=2.1; CI, 1.4 to 3.3) than men with normal cholesterol and low ISP levels. In the absence of high ISP levels, hypercholesterolemia was associated with a moderately higher risk of cardiovascular death (RR=1.4; CI, 1.0 to 2.0) and cardiac events (RR=1.5; CI, 1.2 to 1.9) but not significantly with ischemic stroke (RR=1.25; CI, 0.8 to 2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercholesterolemia is associated with high plasma levels of ISP. These proteins increase the cholesterol-related incidence of cardiovascular diseases. In the absence of elevated ISP levels, no statistically confirmed association was found between hypercholesterolemia and ischemic stroke.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Non-lethal infection parameters in mice separate sheep Type II Toxoplasma gondii isolates by virulence.

The zoonotic protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect all warm-blooded animals, but virulence of isolates has previously been characterised mainly by the ability to kill mice after experimental infections. In the present study, 15 Type II strains of T. gondii, isolated from five adult sheep, six sheep abortions, two pigs, one cat and one fox were examined for their virulence to young mice by less dramatic parameters. Clinical disease of inoculated mice, directly evidenced by reduced weight gain, was correlated to increase in serum level of haptoglobin and level of specific antibodies. Although Type II T. gondii strains are non-virulent to mice by lethality studies, significant differences in mouse virulence were observed between the strains of T. gondii isolated either from adult sheep or from sheep abortions. It was not possible to characterise strains isolated from sheep abortions as being more or less virulent than strains isolated from adult slaughter sheep.

Aborted Fetus↗
PubMed2002

Molecular characterization of Danish Cryptosporidium parvum isolates.

The genetic polymorphism among 271 Danish Cryptosporidium isolates of human and animal origin was studied by partial amplification and sequencing of the Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene, the 1 8S rDNA, and a microsatellite locus. Furthermore, the microsatellite locus was studied directly using fragment analysis. A comparative analysis of DNA sequences showed the presence of 3 different subgenotypes (Cl, C2 and C3) in C. parvum isolates from Danish cattle, with prevalences of 16.7, 17.2 and 73.1% including 13 (7.0%) mixed infections. Subgenotype Cl was significantly more prevalent (P < 0.001) in the southern part of Denmark. In Cryptosporidium isolates of human origin the anthroponotic subgenotype H1 was identified, in addition to the zoonotic subgenotypes C1, C2, and C3. Of 44 human samples, 56.8% were anthroponotic, whereas 40.9% were zoonotic genotypes. One human isolate was characterized as C. meleagridis. The porcine Cryptosporidium isolates (N = 4) revealed a pattern which was genetically distinct from human and bovine isolates. Cryptosporidium in a hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) was identified for the first time. By microsatellite sequencing the hedgehog isolate showed a subgenotype distinct from the previously detected types. The assignment to subgenotype by microsatellite sequencing and fragment typing was 100% identical in samples where results were achieved by both methods. In addition, the fragment analysis proved more sensitive, easier, faster, and less expensive compared to sequencing.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Diagnosis and therapy of Graves' ophthalmopathy--consensus guidelines].

On 22-09-2001 the VIth Grazer Hormonsymposion took place. Diagnosis and therapy of Graves' Ophthalmopathy was discussed in an interdisciplinary way by endocrinologists, surgeons and ophthalmologists. The results of the round-table discussion and the consensus talk are presented.

Exophthalmos↗
PubMed2002

Cytokine mRNA profiles in bronchoalveolar cells of piglets experimentally infected in utero with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus: association of sustained expression of IFN-gamma and IL-10 after viral clearance.

An experimental model was used to investigate mRNA cytokine profiles in bronchoalvolar cells (BALC) from piglets, infected in utero with porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). The BALC's were analyzed for the cytokines TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12(p40) by real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction in 2-, 4-, and 6-week-old piglets, respectively. High levels of IFN-gamma mRNA was detected in all piglets, while IL-10 was upregulated in 2-week-old piglets, was at normal levels in 4-week-old piglets, and elevated again in 6-week-old piglets. IL-12 was weakly elevated in all three age groups. Virus was reduced by 50% in 4-week-old piglets and cleared by 6 weeks of age. The sustained expression of IFNgamma and reduction of IL-10 production indicate an important role for these cytokines in immunity to PRRSV.

Animals↗