In this pilot study, the numbers of dendritic cells (DC) in peripheral blood of AIDS patients and the level of infection with HIV1 were determined before and after AZT treatment. Mononuclear cells were cultured overnight and DC were identified by their lack of labelling with antibodies specific for T, B and natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes and by their high level of staining with antibodies for MHC class II molecules. Although the numbers of DC identified by this method were lower than those identified morphologically in earlier studies (Macatonia et al., 1990), the numbers in three untreated AIDS patients were below the range seen in normals. There was also a marked rise in DC number in patients given AZT therapy. In two patients, there was a significant provirus load in the DCs which was decreased two to three weeks after the commencement of AZT therapy. The studies suggest that DC numbers and their infection levels may be markers of disease in HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Intratester and intertester reliability of goniometric measurement of passive lateral shoulder rotation.

Measurement of lateral rotation range of motion (ROM) is frequently performed during shoulder evaluation. The purpose of this study was to determine the intratester and intertester reliability of goniometric measurement of passive lateral rotation ROM of the shoulder. Two experienced PTs performed the testing in a randomized block design. They were blinded to all clinical information and to their goniometric readings. Passive lateral rotation ROM of the shoulder was assessed in 34 patients with a variety of shoulder pathologies. Patients were placed in the supine position with the arm abducted approximately 20 degrees to 30 degrees. A standard goniometer, placed along the joint axis by the therapist, was red by an independent assistant. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and their associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Intratherapist ICCs (0.88 and 0.93) and intertherapist ICCs (0.85 and 0.80) were high. These findings suggest that reliable measures of passive lateral rotation ROM of the shoulder can be obtained from patients with shoulder pathology using standard goniometry and by placing the patient in a supine position.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Infection of dendritic cells with HIV1: virus load regulates stimulation and suppression of T-cell activity.

Patients with HIV infection show two major types of immunological effects. The first is hyperactivity of both T and B lymphocytes which may be in response to HIV antigens themselves, and the second is a loss in T-cell activity in response to other antigens. Dendritic cells (DC) show a higher rate of infection with HIV than other peripheral blood cells in vitro and in vivo. The effects of HIV infection of DC in vitro on their stimulating capacity for T cells were, therefore, examined. We compared the development of the capacity to stimulate primary proliferative responses to virus in autologous lymphocytes with their potency in stimulating allogeneic cells in the mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR). Small numbers of uninfected DC caused little or no stimulation of autologous lymphocytes, but stimulated high MLR. The level of HIV infection in in vitro infected DC preparations was dependent on the time of infection and the titre of the input virus. DC exposed to low doses of HIV (e.g., 10(3) TCID/10(6) cells) for up to 4 days or to a higher dose (e.g. 10(5) TCID/10(6) cells) for 1 day caused significant primary proliferation in autologous T cells and, under these conditions, capacity to stimulate allogeneic MLR remained intact. However, DC exposed to increasing doses of HIV or infected for a longer period showed reduced capacity to stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes and then a loss of stimulation of autologous cells. This provides evidence suggesting that both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of HIV infection can be produced through infection of DC.

Dendritic Cells↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of HIV DNA in peripheral blood dendritic cells of HIV-infected individuals.

Previous studies from this laboratory indicated infection of dendritic cells (DC) from peripheral blood of individuals infected with HIV1. Here, further evidence for the infection of peripheral blood DC with HIV1 is presented. Low-density cells (LDC) were prepared from blood mononuclear cells of HIV-infected individuals at different clinical stages of disease. These cells are enriched (10-40%) for MHC class-II-bearing DC, while most of the remaining cells are monocytes, and 2-10% are lymphocytes. A quantitative polymerase chain technique (PCR) was used to estimate the HIV provirus load in LDC and lymphocytes of patients in different disease categories. HIV provirus was detected in every LDC preparation, and for many individuals, particularly CDC stage IV patients, the load was higher in the LDC than in the lymphocyte fraction. These findings suggested that patient DC are infected with HIV. In order to provide confirmatory evidence for this conclusion, PCR was performed on DC that were highly purified from LDC by panning to remove contaminating T, B, natural killer and monocytic cells. High levels of HIV provirus were found in these purified DC. These findings suggest that DC provide a reservoir of HIV and that the consequences of such infection may be relevant to the development of disease.

Antigen Presentation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Biologics and biotechnology products.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Biological Products↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of hepatic disease on the pharmacokinetics and plasma protein binding of eprosartan.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and plasma protein binding of eprosartan in hepatic disease. DESIGN: Single-dose, parallel-group study. SETTING: Oklahoma Foundation for Digestive Research, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. PATIENTS: Eight healthy subjects with normal hepatic function and eight patients with hepatic disease. INTERVENTION: All subjects received a single oral dose of eprosartan 100 mg. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Eprosartan plasma concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography; plasma protein binding was determined by ultrafiltration. Using analysis of variance, point estimates (PE) and 90% CIs were calculated. Total and unbound maximum concentrations and degree of plasma protein binding were similar for both groups. Total area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) was approximately 40% higher for the group with hepatic disease (PE 1.42, 90% CI 0.94-2.14). Similarly, unbound AUC0-t was approximately 50% higher (PE 1.53, 90% CI 0.98-2.39). CONCLUSION: Eprosartan was safe and well tolerated by both groups. Based on the increase in AUC in patients with hepatic disease compared with those with normal hepatic function, the dosage of eprosartan in patients with hepatic disease should be individualized based on tolerability and response.

Acrylates↗