Monocytes play a key role in the immune response to trauma and infection. Is monocyte function already altered before surgery in terms of cell activation? On admission, serum neopterin was at or above 9 nmol/l in 50.2% and serum IL-6 was detectable (> 4 pg/ml) in 10.5% of 227 patients electively undergoing major abdominal surgery. Mean values of CRP (0.8 vs. 3.6), alpha-1-antitrypsin (267 vs. 376), albumin (4.0 vs. 3.5), prealbumin (27.0 vs. 17.9, all at p < 0.01) were significantly different in patients with or without monocyte activation (neopterin > 9 nmol/l and IL-6 > 4 pg/ml). There was a significant correlation between neopterin and the acute phase proteins (all at p < 0.01). The data reflect a "primed" state at least of some parts of the immune system in a subgroup of preoperative patients potentially affecting their response to surgical trauma and bacterial contamination.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Culture of human peritoneum--a new method to measure the local cytokine response and the effect of immunomodulators.

The production of cytokines and chemokines, which are involved in cell activation and cell migration in native pieces of peritoneum, was measured to investigate immune regulatory reactions in the human peritoneum. The samples were obtained during abdominal surgery and cultured immediately afterwards. In order to test therapeutic options in vitro, the effect of IL-10 and IFN-gamma on the cytokine and chemokine production was also studied. The chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) was produced and released spontaneously. When lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added, MCP-1 production increased. In addition, TNF-alpha production was induced by LPS. When IL-10 was added, LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha production was reduced towards baseline levels, LPS-induced MCP-1 production was reduced by 37%. IFN-gamma did not affect LPS-induced TNF-alpha and MCP-1 production, but increased baseline MCP-1 production. It can be concluded that short-time culture of native human peritoneum is a method to investigate peritoneal chemokine and cytokine production in patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Further studies are intended to detect cytokine patterns which identify patients at risk of developing peritonitis. In addition, the effects of medications may be tested in vitro in order to investigate options for preventive modulation of the peritoneal immune response in such patients.

Abdomen↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Depression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-10 production: a reaction to the initial systemic hyperactivation in septic shock.

Sepsis remains a major cause of mortality in surgical intensive care units. Patients who survive the initial shock phase but die weeks later from multiple organ dysfunction still are a challenge to basic and clinical research. We addressed whether fulminant sepsis results in rapid changes (24 h) in the cellular capacity to produce cytokines in whole blood of septic patients on further stimulation after the initial systemic inflammatory response. Interleukin (IL)-6 plasma concentrations from 279 pg/mL to 5979 pg/mL confirmed the presence of a systemic inflammatory response. Anti-inflammatory IL-10 concentrations up to 275 pg/mL were detected, but there was no biologically active tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) detectable (by bioassay) at the time of investigation. On stimulation with Escherichia coli ex vivo, pro-inflammatory TNFalpha (130 pg/mL), IL-6 (4061 pg/mL), and anti-inflammatory IL-10 (711 pg/mL) production were markedly depressed in all patients compared with controls (2339 pg/mL, 50,319 pg/mL, and 9654 pg/mL, respectively). Septic shock resulted in early depression of the capacity for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. Monitoring of this effect, including its relationship to outcome, may offer a target variable for therapeutic efforts to maintain or restore adequate immune reactions to improve survival.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Experiences with the use of BAYVAROL STRIPS in beehives in warehouses and post-treatment hives for control of varroatosis under practice conditions].

BAYVAROL STRIPS are a highly efficient remedy against varroatosis. When applied according to the directions for use, the bee colonies can be protected from Varroa induced collapse in the late summer. Moreover BAYVAROL STRIPS help in the development of healthy winter bees and guarantee the hibernation of strong bee colonies. A change of nowadays control strategy is possible only when breeding of bees resistant to Varroa jacobsoni will succeed (Büchler, 1992).

Animals↗