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PubMed2006

Acoustic-resonance spectrometry as a process analytical technology for the quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredient in semi-solids.

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate acoustic resonance spectrometry (ARS) as an alternative process analytical technology to near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for the quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in semi-solids such as creams, gels, ointments, and lotions. The ARS used for this research was an inexpensive instrument constructed from readily available parts. Acoustic-resonance spectra were collected with a frequency spectrum from 0 to 22.05 KHz. NIR data were collected from 1100 to 2500 nm. Using 1-point net analyte signal (NAS) calibration, NIR for the API (colloidal oatmeal [CO]) gave an r2 prediction accuracy of 0.971, and a standard error of performance (SEP) of 0.517%CO. ARS for the API resulted in an r2 of 0.983 and SEP of 0.317%CO. NAS calibration is compared with principal component regression. This research demonstrates that ARS can sometimes outperform NIR spectrometry and can be an effective analytical method for the quantification of API in semi-solids. ARS requires no sample preparation, provides larger penetration depths into lotions than optical techniques, and measures API concentrations faster and more accurately. These results suggest that ARS is a useful process analytical technology (PAT).

Acoustics↗
PubMed2005

Sexual risk behavior and substance use among a sample of Asian Pacific Islander transgendered women.

We examined the prevalence and correlates of HIV-related sexual risk and substance use behaviors among Asian Pacific Islander (API) male-to-female (MTF) transgendered individuals, referred to here as API transgendered women. As part of a larger study on HIV risk among transgendered women of color (Nemoto, Operario, Keatley, Han, & Soma, 2004), a sample of 110 API transgendered women in San Francisco completed individual interviews, of which 13% reported being HIV-positive. In the past 30 days, one fifth of the sample engaged in unprotected receptive anal intercourse (URAI) with any male partner, nearly one half had sex while under the influence of substances, and over half used illicit drugs. In multivariate models, URAI was associated with commercial sex work (odds ratio [OR] = 4.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10, 16.25) and previous attempted suicide (OR = 5.83, 95% CI = 1.02, 33.44). Sex under the influence of substances was associated with commercial sex work (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.11, 10.13) and having a college degree (OR = 5.32, 95% CI = 1.34, 21.18). Illicit drug use was associated with commercial sex work (OR = 7.15, 95% = 2.26, 22.63). Findings suggest that API MTF transgenders are on the front line of HIV risk for the API community, and provide insight into factors within this group that might contribute to unsafe sex and substance use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

HIV testing trends and correlates among young Asian and Pacific Islander men who have sex with men in two U.S. cities.

We sought to determine the prevalence, trends, and correlates of recent HIV testing (within the past year) among young Asian and Pacific Islander men who have sex with men (API MSM) in two U.S. cities. We conducted serial, cross-sectional, interviewer-administered surveys of 908 API MSM aged 15-25 years, sampled from randomly selected MSM-identified venues annually from 1999 to 2002. The prevalence of recent testing increased from 63% to 71% between the first and fourth year. Recent testing was most significantly associated with ethnicity and with knowledge of testing sites to which respondents felt comfortable going. Other correlates of recent testing included gay identity, comfort with sexual and API identity, having a main partner, social support, and recent unprotected anal intercourse. API MSM who had ever traded sex for material goods or shelter were as likely to have tested recently. HIV prevention campaigns should increase the awareness and availability of culturally appropriate testing sites and urge more frequent testing by young API MSM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

HIV and AIDS in suburban Asian and Pacific Islander communities: factors influencing self-efficacy in HIV risk reduction.

Though AIDS case rates among Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIs) in the United States remain relatively low, the number has been steadily increasing. Scholars, policy makers, and service providers still know little about how confident APIs are in carrying out different HIV risk reduction strategies. This article addresses this gap by presenting an analysis of a survey of API women and youth in Orange County, California (N = 313), a suburban county in southern California with large concentrations of Asian residents. Multivariate logistic regression models using subsamples of API women and API youth respondents were used. Variations in reported self-efficacy for female respondents were explained by acculturation, comfort in asking medical practitioners about HIV/AIDS, and to a lesser degree, education, household size, whether respondents were currently dating, HIV knowledge, and whether respondents believed that HIV could be identified by physical appearance. For respondents younger than 25 years, variations in self-efficacy were related to gender, age, acculturation, HIV knowledge, taking-over-the-counter medicines for illness, whether respondents were dating, and to a lesser degree, employment, recent serious illness, whether they believe that one could identify HIV by how one looks, and believing that illness was caused by germs. Implications for HIV prevention programs and future research are provided.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The evaluation of asymptomatic arterial occlusive disease of the legs using an exercise test.

The Doppler-derived ankle pressure index (API) is a useful indicator of the necessity for peripheral vascular reconstruction of the lower extremities. But the API at rest dose not reflect the functional capacity of leg circulation, especially in the early stage of disease. Therefore, an asymptomatic but hemodynamically significant lesion in one leg is sometimes missed by pressure measurement at rest when there is a severe lesion with symptoms in the other leg. In this study, the API not only at rest but also after exercise was measured in twenty normal subjects and thirty-two patients with angiographically proven arteriosclerosis obliterans. About 60% of the patients had unilateral symptoms, although they had significant disease bilaterally. The API after exercise proved to be more sensitive than the API at rest and may be useful in assessing asymptomatic legs of such patients and determining their surgical indication.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Expression of alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor in human islet microvascular endothelial cells.

There is a microcirculation system within the islets of Langerhans. However, little is known about the phenotypic and functional characterization of islet microvascular endothelial cells (MVEC). In this study, we purified MVEC from human pancreatic islets by using Ulex europaeus (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) agglutinin-1 (UEA-1)-coated dynabeads (Dynal A.S., Oslo, Norway). These purified human islet MVEC (HI-MVEC) express von Willebrand factor, take up high levels of acetylated LDL, and upregulate endothelial cell leukocyte adhesion molecule 1 in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Ultrastructure examination shows the presence of microvilli and fenestrations on the cell surface, Weibel-Palade bodies in the cytoplasm, and tight junctions between cells. Furthermore, we show that vascular endothelial cell growth factor contributes to the formation of surface fenestrations on cultured HI-MVEC. After purification, HI-MVEC exhibit a very low proliferation capacity and are strongly resistant to trypsin, compared with other original MVEC. We also demonstrate that alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (Api) is expressed on HI-MVEC and specifically located at the area of cell-cell junctions. By reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, a significant messenger RNA band of Api was found only in HI-MVEC, but not in other organ-derived MVEC, indicating that expression of Api is islet MVEC specific. Antibodies to Api significantly reversed the resistance to trypsin and promoted proliferation of HI-MVEC, suggesting that these specific functional characteristics of HI-MVEC are related to the expression of Api. These results indicate that HI-MVEC exhibit some specific morphological and functional characteristics that differ from MVEC derived from other organs.

Antibody Specificity↗
PubMed2005

Identification of Candida strains isolated from Tanzanian pregnant women with vaginal candidiasis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify Candida strains isolated from Tanzanian women (13 to 45 years) with vaginal candidiasis. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Antenatal clinic in Ilala district hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from March 1998 to December 2000. RESULTS: The identities of the 272 isolates tested with API Candida were: Candida albicans 180(66.2%), Candida tropicalis 13(4.7%), Candida glabrata 20(7.35%), Candida famata 6(2.2%), Candida parapsilosis 6 (2.2%) and Candida lusitaniae one (0.37%). API Candida could not speciate 43 (15.8%) isolates of these; two (0.7%) fell between C. albicans and C. tropicalis, 17(6.25%) C. lusitaniael, C. guilliermondii/C. famata, 14(5.15%) C. krusei, C. inconspicua, and C. norvegensis and nine (3.3%) either C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, C. incospicua or Geotrichum spp. Four (1.5%) isolates had an assimilation pattern of Trichosporo spp, but were all germ tube positive and had morphological features on cornemeal agar that were consistent with C. albicans. API 20C AUX was used for testing 29 isolates and results showed: 11/29 (37.9%) C. albicans, 1/29 (3.4%) C. tropicalis, 4/29 (13.8%) C. glabrata, 1/29 (3.4%) C. parapsilosis, 1/29 (3.4%) C. famata, 1/29 (3.4%) C. lusitaniae, 1/29 (3.4%) C. colliculosa/C. magnoliae, 5/29(17.2%) C. albicans/ C. tropicals 2/29 (6.8%) C. norvegensis/C. parapsilosis, and 2/29(6.8%) C. kruseil/C. inconspicua. Results of 20 isolates identified by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPID) technique showed a 95% agreement with API Candida and a 100% agreement with API 20C AUX. CONCLUSION: Although most (66.3%) of the species isolated from Dar es Salaam women with vaginal candidiasis were C. albicans, a considerable percentage (33.7%) were non-albicans, mainly C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis. The high prevalence of non-albicans Candida spp observed in this population may have therapeutic implications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of four commercialized biochemical systems for clinical yeast identification by colour-producing reactions.

We compared the ability of four commercially available yeast identification systems for routine laboratory hospital use: Auxacolor (AUX) (Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur, Marne-la-Coquette), Fungichrom I (FUC) and Fungifast I Twin (FUF) (International Microbio, Toulon), Api Candida (API) (bioMérieux, Lyon). These systems are based on obtaining a biochemical profile easily defined by colorimetric reactions. We tested 202 yeasts belonging to 19 species which were included or were not included in the manufacturer's data base of the identification systems. Without extra tests, for all the organisms tested, after 24 h of incubation, the percentage of organisms correctly identified was 48% for AUX, 75% for FUC, 77% for FUF and 81% for API. However, if we consider the ratio of the number of correct identifications without extra tests with the number of yeasts included in the manufacturers' data bases (sensitivity) the results increased to 61% for AUX, 81% for FUC, 91% for FUF and 83% for API. These systems are particularly well adapted to medical use, they are simple to set up, interpret, and have very good efficiency for the yeasts most commonly isolated in clinical specimens. The findings reported here indicate that the most favourable results were obtained with FUF and API systems.

Colorimetry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The 5-HT2 receptor antagonist sarpogrelate reduces urinary and plasma levels of thromboxane A2 and urinary albumin excretion in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients.

1. Therapeutic effects of a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist sarpogrelate on microalbuminuria and thromboxane (TX)A2 biosynthesis were examined in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. 2. In protocol I, the ankle-brachial pressure index (API; an indicator of peripheral blood flow) and urinary albumin excretion (UalbV; an indicator of renal function) were determined in 42 NIDDM patients who had been treated with 300 mg/day sarpogrelate for 8 weeks. In an analysis of the results, the NIDDM patients were divided into four groups based on the severity of either vasculopathy or nephropathy as follows: group A, API < 0.9, UalbV > or = 100 mg/day; group B, API < 0.9, UalbV < 100 mg/day; group CAPI > or = 0.9, UalbV > or = 100 mg/day; and group D, API > or = 0.9, UalbV < 100 mg/day. 3. In protocol II, 10 NIDDM patients with UalbV values > 100 mg/day were divided into two groups to further confirm the effect of sarpogrelate on albuminuria: group E, the sarpogrelate treatment group (n = 5); and group F, the no treatment group (n = 5). 4. In protocol I, the incidence of a cold sensation in the lower extremities was reduced from 45.2 to 21.4% following sarpogrelate treatment. In patients with UalbV > or = 100 mg/day (groups A and C), UalbV was significantly decreased independent of API, while it did not change in patients with UalbV < 100 mg/day (groups B and D). Plasma TXB2 levels were significantly decreased following sarpogrelate treatment, whereas plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha levels were not. 5. In protocol II, in the sarpogrelate treatment group (group E), albuminuria was significantly improved and both plasma levels TXB2 and urinary TXB2 excretion were significantly decreased. In contrast, in the untreated group (group F), neither plasma levels TXB2 nor urinary TXB2 excretion was changed. 6. In conclusion, microalbuminuria was improved by treatment with the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist sarpogrelate independent of latent vasculopathy. Blockade of 5-HT2 receptors is suggested to be beneficial for the treatment of nephropathy in NIDDM patients. It is possible that the inhibition of TXA2 biosynthesis is involved in the therapeutic effect of 5-HT2 receptor antagonists.

Albuminuria↗
PubMed1999

[Transformation of wheat with insecticide gene of arrowhead proteinase inhibitor by pollen tube pathway and analysis of transgenic plants] [In Process Citation]

Arrowhead Proteinase Inhibitor(API), one kind of pure natural material, was derived from storage organ of Sagittaria trifolia. It belongs to serine proteinase inhibitor, and can inhibit trypsin, chemotrypsin and kallikrein. Furthermore, API is toxical to some species of insects such as lepidotera, Coleoptera and Diptrea etc. By means of pollen tube pathway, plasmid pBIAH-A(B) containing insect-resistant genes of API-A, API-B and selective marker gene of NPT-II were transferred into three lines of local winter wheat--JD-1, 8866, 866554. Then, Kanamycin-resistant screening and PCR analysis of genetic transformed plants showed that three of Kmr green plants (two from 866554, one from JD-1) were PCR positive with the positive rate of 0.29%. When the fragment of API gene was used as probe to hybrid with genomic DNA of Kmr green plants separately, all of three PCR positive ones displayed a single strong hybridizing band. Such results demonstrated that foreign target gene had been integrated into wheat genome already. Simultaneously, PCR analysis and Southern hybridization were carried out among selfiedoffsprings of transformed positive plant of the line 899554-3, some of them were PCR and Southern blotting positive, indicating that foreign gene integrated into wheat genome could stably transmitted into next generation. In addition, the expression level of NPT-II gene was checked via ELISA in our study, all of three PCR and Southern blot positive plants could yield high level of NPT-II. This data provided a more powerful evidence for integration of insecticide gene into wheat genome.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

[Cloning and comparative analysis of the venom prepromelittin genes from four wasp species].

The total RNAs were isolated from the venom glands of female Polistes hebraeus, Vespula maculifrons, Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Vespa magnifica, respectively. Using the ReverAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit, the first cDNAs were synthesized from the total RNA templates. PCR was carried out for 30 cycles (40s at 94 degrees C, 40s at 52 degrees C and 1 min at 72 degrees C), with a final extension of 10 min at 72 degrees C. RT-PCR products were examined by electrophoresis in 1.5% agarose gels with ethidium bromide staining. After purification using QIAquick PCR Purification Kit, the PCR products were ligated into pGEM*-T easy vector. Positive clones were identified by double digestion of Xho I and Hind III and PCR amplification and then were sequenced. The sequencing results showed that the amplified cDNAs containing the open reading frames of prepromelittin, and their lengths were all 213 bp. The ORFs were potential to encode polypeptides of 70 amino acid residues with predicted molecular weight of 7.7 kDa, including a signal peptide of 21 residues and a promelittin of 49 residues. Comparative analysis showed that the prepromelittins from different wasp species shared more than 93% identities in nucleotide sequences and more than 95% identities in amino acid sequences with each other, respectively. The sequences of prepromelittins of Polistes hebraeus, Vespula maculifrons, Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Vespa magnifica share 94%, 100%, 94%, 93% homologies in nucleotide sequences, and 95.8%, 100%, 97.2% and 97.2% identities in amino acid sequences with those of the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, respectively. There are 67 common amino acid residues among the prepromelittins of the four wasps and two honey bee species, Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. Phylogenetic relationships based on the prepromelitin nucleotide sequences were also examined using the software DNAStar5.01. The result showed that a closer relationship lied in between Polistes hebraeus, Vespa velutina nigrithorax and Vespa magnifica, while Vespula maculifrons had a closer relationship with the honey bees, Apis mellifera and Apis cerana. In conclusion, the prepromelittins were very conserved in the primary structure and the wasp insects also contain the melittins in their venoms, which are very similar to that of honey bee, although they belong to different superfamilies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Relationship between transcranial Doppler and CT data in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It would be useful to have a noninvasive test for correlation with CT findings in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We determined which transcranial Doppler (TCD) variables are related to which CT data in patients with ICH. METHODS: We prospectively included 51 patients (age +/- SD, 66.2 +/- 12.4 years; 30 men, 21 women) with first-ever supratentorial, nontraumatic ICH. CT and TCD examination were performed in the acute stage (less than 12 hours from symptom onset). TCD recordings were obtained from the middle cerebral arteries, and the following variables were analyzed: systolic (Vs), diastolic (Vd), mean (Vm) velocities, and pulsatiliy index from the affected (a) and unaffected (u) hemispheres. RESULTS: PIs obtained for both hemispheres were positively correlated with hematoma volume (aPI, r=0.43, P=.001; uPI, r=0.44, P=.001), volume of hypoattenuation (aPI r=0.64, P <.0001; uPI, r=0.39, P=.005), total volume (aPI, r=0.59, P <.0001; uPI, r=0.48, P <.0001), and midline shift (aPI, r=0.28, P=.04; uPI, r=0.29, P=.03). Both PIs were increased in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (aPI, P=.01; uPI P=.004). No TCD parameter was correlated with ventricular size. CONCLUSION: Most TCD parameters were correlated with CT data in the acute stage of ICH. An increase in PI probably reflects intracranial hypertension and mass effect. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical application of our findings.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2006

Ethnic differences in hiv disease progression: a comparison of Asian/Pacific Islanders and Whites living in Hawaii.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the association of demographic factors with the relative hazards (RH) of developing AIDS or death among HIV-infected individuals of Asian/Pacific Islander (API) ethnicity and Whites. DESIGN: Cohort study SETTING: Hawaii State Health Department database of HIV-infected individuals PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Hawaii Sero-Positivity and Medical Management (HSPAMM) program participants from January 1989 to November 2002 INTERVENTIONS: None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the time to develop AIDS or death among HIV-infected individuals who reported being on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) were examined by ethnicity, income, and CD4+ cell counts at HAART initiation by using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard analyses. RESULTS: The study was based on 516 HIV-infected individuals, who were primarily White (61.0%) and API (21.7%). Whites had a significantly higher CD4+ cell count (P<.01) and income (P<.01) than APIs at enrollment into HSPAMM. Lower income levels and CD4+ cell counts at HAART initiation were strongly associated with an increased RH of developing AIDS or dying. Despite having significantly lower incomes and CD4+ cell counts at enrollment, individuals of API ethnicity do not have an increased RH of developing the outcomes compared to Whites. CONCLUSION: Lower income and CD4+ cell counts at HAART initiation significantly increased the RH of developing AIDS or dying among HIV-infected individuals. Asian/Pacific Islander (API) ethnicity was not a predictor of developing AIDS or dying.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Actinobacillus suis-like organisms and evidence of hemolytic strains of Actinobacillus lignieresii in horses.

Thirty-seven local isolates of Actinobacillus suis-like organisms from diseased and clinically normal horses and 1 llama were compared with reference strains of A suis, A lignieresii, A equuli, A capsulatus, A hominis, A (Pasteurella) ureae, and equine A suis-like organisms (ASLO) previously described in literature. Comparison was by cultural characteristics, carbohydrate fermentation, enzyme profiles, and whole-cell protein polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Carbohydrate fermentation, determined by API-CH gallery, divided 36 equine ASLO isolates into 6 API-CH biotypes. The llama isolate was an additional distinct biotype. The biochemical comparisons between A suis and ASLO did not reveal remarkable and consistent differences. Enzyme analysis revealed 5 API-ZYM biotypes, one of which included the same strains as one of the API-CH biotypes and consisted in both instances of 4 esculin-negative ASLO cultures and the reference strain of A lignieresii. We conclude that the 4 strains were hemolytic variants of A lignieresii. Protein electrophoresis disclosed 15 banding patterns, 10 of which represented equine ASLO strains. The reference strains of A suis shared the pattern predominant among equine ASLO. Four of the remaining reference strains of Actinobacillus species each had a unique profile, whereas the type strain of A capsulatus and the llama isolate had similar profiles. The groupings of cultures resulting from the different testing methods had little relation to each other and to the anatomic source of the strains except the strains comprising API-CH biotype II, which originated in the equine respiratory tract, and the A lignieressi cluster.

Actinobacillus↗
PubMed1979

In vitro development of Trichostrongylus axei, from infective larvae to young adults.

Advanced stages of Trichostrongylus axei were grown from exsheathed infective larvae in roller culture systems consisting of a complex cell-free medium, API-6, when used alone or supplemented for 8- or 21-day intervals with pepsin or reducing agents, or both. Young adult males and females were the most advanced stages attained. This stage was attained by days 18--21, when medium API-6 contained pepsin for 8 or 21 days, with or without reducing agents for the first 8 days; and by days 24--26, when medium API-6 was nonsupplemented. Trichostrongylus axei did not advance beyond early fourth stage or fourth molt when API-6 contained reducing agents for 8 or 21 days or reducing agents and pepsin for 21 days. The optimal culture system for development to young adults required medium API-6 supplemented with pepsin for 21 days and reducing agents for the first 8 days. This system produced maximal yields of less than 1% young adults in populations of about 100,000 T. axei by days 21--28.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

[Differentiation of clostridia].

162 Clostridium strains (20 species), isolated from clinical specimens, were identified by their morphological, biochemical, and gaschromatographic characteristics. The reliability of the Api 20A system in identifying Clostridium species was studied by performing biochemical tests both in the microsystem and according to the VPI Anaerobic Handbook. 66% of the Clostridium strains could be identified by the Api 20A system supplemented, in accordance with the Api Handbook by other tests such as morphology, lipase and lecithinase production. The following Clostridium species, known as clinically most significant, could be identified by the Api 20A system: Clostridium sordellii and C. sporogenes (92%), C. bifermentans (60%) and C. tertium (78%). Methods which can be used in the clinical laboratory for the identification of Clostridium species are described, i.e. isolation of Clostridium strains from mixed cultures, examination of morphological characteristics, performance of biochemical tests in the Api 20 A system as a micromethod, verification by conventional biochemical test systems and gaschromatographic analysis in special laboratories if necessary.

Clostridium↗
PubMed1995

Dissection of strain difference in acquired protective immunity against Mycobacterium bovis Calmette-Guérin bacillus (BCG). Macrophages regulate the susceptibility through cytokine network and the induction of nitric oxide synthase.

Protection against infection with intracellular pathogens operates in two stages, early innate resistance and late acquired protective immunity (API), in inbred mouse strains. Although both C57BL/10 (B10) and BALB/c mice bear the susceptible phenotype of innate resistance, Calmette-Guérin bacillus (BCG) vaccination generated efficient API in B10 but not in BALB/c mice. Employing a specific nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, we revealed that NO production plays a pivotal role in the API of B10 mice. Consistent with this, expressions of the inducible isoform of NO synthase (iNOS) protein and mRNA were significantly higher in the spleen of B10 mice than in that of BALB/c mice. Furthermore, IFN-gamma, a potent inducer of iNOS, and mRNAs for IL-12 (p40); an inducer of IFN-gamma and IL-2 were also vigorously expressed in the spleen of B10 mice compared with that of BALB/c mice. In an attempt to clarify the mechanism by which the different capacities for API are generated, we analyzed the cytokine network between T cells and macrophages in both B10 and BALB/c mice. We found that multiple functions of macrophages, which include capacities to express IL-12 (p40) mRNA in response to BCG and to express mRNAs for iNOS and IL-12 (p40) in response to IFN-gamma, were impaired in BALB/c mice as compared with B10 mice. However, T cells appeared to express comparable level of IFN-gamma mRNA in both strains when stimulated with IL-12. Taken together, these results indicate that the macrophage functions play a pivotal role in both the induction and effector phases of API to determine the susceptibility of mice to BCG infection.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1994

[The concentration of alpha-1-PI in the serum of 55-year-old women from regions with different levels of air pollution in North Rhine-Westphalia].

It has been shown that smoking leads to an increase in the serum level of alpha-1-proteinase inhibitor (API). The aim of this study was to examine whether there is an influence of air pollution on the serum level of API as well. Our survey was done on 781 women in the age of 55 years residing in areas differing in outdoor air pollution levels (SO2, NOx, particulate matter, heavy metals). Blood samples were taken for serum analysis. API and several other parameters of the specific and unspecific humoral immunity were measured using nephelometry. Information about respiratory health, active and passive smoking, type of heating and education were obtained by questionnaire. Statistical analysis was restricted to non-smokers (n-s). After adjusting for confounding variables (COPD, ETS, type of heating) we found a statistically significant (p. < 0.0001) difference between the index and the control area. One important function of API lies in the antagonism of the elastase from neutrophil granulocytes. Thus our results--which parallel those seen in smokers--may indicate an impact of environmental air pollution on the non-specific immunity of the bronchi, which are directly exposed to the pollutants. We therefore consider API as a good marker of biological effects in environmental epidemiology.

Air Pollution↗