A 'sandwich' enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established to detect circulating antigens of Trichinella spiralis in human sera, its sensitivity and specificity was evaluated using 4 antigens (Trichinella spiralis, Trichuris trichiura, Dirofilaria immitis and Ascaris suum), and it was found to be sensitive and specific for T. spiralis antigen. Samples of 347 individuals with suspected trichinellosis, who had eaten incompletely cooked bear meat containing larvae of T. spiralis, were examined. Among individuals showing clinical symptoms, circulating antigens were detected in 29.9%, and the prevalence of antibodies was 18.9%. Among individuals lacking clinical symptoms, antigens were detected in 21.4% and antibodies in 5.0%. It was concluded that detection of circulating antigens was more useful for making diagnoses than measurement of specific antibodies.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Immunodiagnosis of human sparganosis mansoni by micro-chemiluminescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

We compared a microcolorimetric enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (colorimetric ELISA) and a microchemiluminescence enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (chemiluminescence ELISA) for the detection of specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the serum of 9 patients with sparganosis mansoni and 9 healthy controls. The chemiluminescence ELISA was able to measure serum levels of specific IgG over a far wider range than the colorimetric assay, and its detection limit was at least 10-fold lower. An additional 5 sera from sparganosis patients and 5 more from healthy controls, together with sera from 28 patients with other parasitic diseases, were also examined by the chemiluminescence ELISA. All 14 patients with sparaganosis mansoni showed high levels of chemiluminescence (21,302 +/- 18,907 counts per second [cps]). All sera from the 14 healthy controls (1580 +/- 569 cps) and sera from 27 of the 28 patients with other parasites (4 with taeniasis saginata [1767 +/- 501 cps], 11 with diphyllobothriasis latum [1479 +/- 501 cps], 13 with cysticercosis cellulosae [2376 +/- 1437 cps]) showed chemiluminescence levels lower than those of any of the sparganosis mansoni patients. The exception was a patient with cysticercosis (5980 cps), who may have had a dual infection with Cysticercus cellulosae and Sparganum mansoni. Thus, the chemiluminescence ELISA demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for human sparganosis mansoni.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Induction of host DNA synthesis in senescent human diploid fibroblasts by infection with human cytomegalovirus.

A human diploid fibroblast strain, TIG -1, ceased to proliferate at about 60-62 population doubling level. The percentage of nuclei incorporating [3H]thymidine during 24-h culture in fresh medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum was less than 2% in the senescent cells used in this study. Infection of these cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), strain AD-169, increased the percentage of [3H]thymidine-labeled cells by about ten-fold. Equilibrium density gradient centrifugation analysis of purified DNA from infected cells showed that cellular DNA synthesis was stimulated preceded by the viral DNA synthesis. Ultraviolet irradiation of HCMV reduced the ability to induce DNA synthesis. Equilibrium density gradient centrifugation analysis of DNA which was labeled with 5-bromodeoxyuridine indicated semiconservative replication rather than repair synthesis. These results suggested that in a considerable fraction of human senescent cells host DNA replication could be reinitiated by infection with HCMV, but not by the addition of fetal bovine serum.

Autoradiography↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reimplanted ureter as an alternative to the catheterizable Mitrofanoff tube.

OBJECTIVE: We performed this study in dogs to investigate whether a ureter can be used as an alternative to the appendix without disrupting the uniformity of the gastrointestinal system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study comprised 10 adult healthy female mongrel dogs. The procedure was done in 2 stages: in the first stage, we performed a left-end cutaneous ureterostomy at the lower left quadrant just above the inguinal ligament. A second operation was performed 6 weeks later. The left ureter was divided and using Paquin's technique, the proximal end of the distal third of the left ureter was reimplanted in the anterolateral surface near the dome of the bladder. A high transureteroureterostomy with the remaining left proximal ureter to the opposite ureter completed the reconstruction. The bladder neck was ligated in order to create an experimental bladder outlet obstruction. At the time of creating the distal ureteral stoma, a feeding tube was left in the bladder, passing through the ureterostomy stoma and sutured to the skin. This catheter remained in place for 20 days, preventing the bladder form distending. Then in the following 6 months, intermittent catheterization was applied through the stoma at 3- to 4-hour intervals. Exploration was performed at the end of the 6th month. RESULTS: No animal died. The dogs were still continent. Intravenous urography, urea and creatinin values were normal. The ureteral stoma was viable in all 10 cases. Stenosis of the ureteral stoma developed in 1 dog and required surgical revision. Possible traumatic effects were investigated by histological sections, but no harmful effects were found at the ureteral endothelium. CONCLUSION: This method may be an alternative to the Mitrofanoff method, which uses the appendix.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The cholinergic hypothesis revisited--an unfinished story.

Though exogenously delivered acetylcholine excites the carotid body, past evidence has been considered as unsupportive in assigning acetylcholine an excitatory role during hypoxia or hypercapnia. With ganglionic transmission used as the model, data is presented which aims at blocking the postsynaptic cholinergic receptors, at preventing the presynaptic release of acetylcholine, and at quantitating its release under stimulating conditions. The data support an excitatory role for acetylcholine during hypoxia.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term follow-up of interferon-treated chronic hepatitis C and serum hepatic fibrosis markers.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the clinical application of serum fibrosis markers in a long-term follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha. METHODOLOGY: This study included 52 patients treated with interferon-alpha (total: 480 MU) for 6 months. They each underwent liver biopsy before and after treatment. Twenty-eight patients who underwent liver biopsy less than 2 years after treatment were classified as group 1, and 24 patients as group 2. The two groups were subdivided into HCV RNA-negative responders and HCV RNA-positive nonresponders. Liver specimens were estimated using grading and staging scores. Serum hyaluronan, PIIIP, and type IV collagen levels were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: In the responders of groups 1 and 2, grading score after treatment was significantly decreased compared with that before treatment. Staging score after treatment was significantly improved only in the responders of group 2. In the responders of group 2, serum hyaluronan level was significantly decreased compared with that before treatment. In group 2, the grading score was significantly correlated with serum PIIIP and type IV collagen levels, and the staging score was significantly correlated with only serum hyaluronan level. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the serum PIIIP and type IV collagen levels reflect the activity, and serum hyaluronan reflects the degree of fibrosis in liver specimens of HCV RNA-negative patients in a long-term follow-up of patients after interferon-alpha treatment.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased serum IgM class anti-lipid A antibody and therapeutic effect of ursodeoxycholic acid in primary biliary cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is as yet no explanation for the increased serum IgM level observed in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY: The serum IgM class anti-lipid A antibody was determined in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis using Elisa and Western blot techniques. RESULTS: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found the concentration of serum IgM class anti-lipid A antibody was the highest in 21 patients with PBC as compared to 29 patients with other liver diseases and 19 controls. Using western blotting, IgM class anti-lipid A antibody was detected as a clear band in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. The level of this antibody correlated significantly (p < 0.005) with that of total IgM. Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid improved not only the routine biochemical profile but also the level of IgM class anti-lipid A antibody (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Since the lipid A plays a primary role in the biological activities of lipopolysaccharide (a component of gram-negative bacteria), bacterial antigen may participate in the elevation of serum IgM levels in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid treatment may improve the cholestasis, and this may have altered the response to stimulation by gut derived bacterial antigens.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C after interferon treatment.

To determine whether serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA disappearance after interferon (IFN) treatment prevents development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we evaluated retrospectively the incidence of HCC in patients with chronic hepatitis C. A total of 213 patients were monitored for more than 6 months after completion of IFN treatment. Sixty-three of the 213 patients (29.6%) achieved a complete response (CR) to treatment and 150 (70.4%) had no response (NR). HCC developed in 12 (5.6%), all of whom were NR. Logistic analysis showed age, alpha -fetoprotein, and staging of histological finding before IFN treatment were independent factors to development of HCC. The fact that there was no HCC development from CR provides a basis for IFN treatment in chronic HCV infection.

Adult↗