Cell-mediated immune defects and infection. A study of malnourished hospitalized children.

Severe protein calorie malnutrition in children in developing countries has been characterized by noticeable depression of cell-mediated immunity and an increased manifestation of infectious illnesses. We studied 23 hospitalized US children whose admitting diagnoses included severe malnutrition to see if similar findings existed. Children were divided into two groups based on the percentage of E rosettes (T cells) prior to nutritional therapy.

Monocyte chemotaxis under agarose: defects in atopic disease, aspirin therapy, and mucocutaneous candidiasis.

Using Ficoll-Hypaque-separated cells, monocyte chemotaxis was measured by an agarose technique in patients with increased susceptibility to infection, with atopic dermatitis, and in individuals taking aspirin. In vitro effects of aspirin, hydrocortisone, aminophylline, ephedrine, and diphenhydramine were also studied. Significantly decreased chemotaxis was found in one 9-year-boy with severe mucocutaneous candidiasis and three of 22 patients with atopic dermatitis.

Metabolic correlates of immune dysfunction in malnourished children.

Mononuclear cells of malnourished children contain diminished activity of phosphoglycerate kinase and pyruvate kinase (PK). The PK activity of these cells correlates well with the percentage of circulating thymus-derived lymphocytes (T-cells). Phytohemagglutinin causes an immediate increase in PK activity of mononuclear cells of malnourished patients.

Miconazole in the treatment of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis: a preliminary report.

Miconazole, a new imidazole antimycotic agent, was given intravenously to five children with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis over an 18-month period. There was marked improvement of mucosa and skin in two patients, moderate-to-milk improvement in two, and no improvement in one. Nail lesions were not improved in any patient.

Comparison of aerosolized atropine sulfate and SCH 1000 on exercise-induced bronchospasm in children.

The new anticholinergic compound Sch 1000 (ipratropium bromide) has been reported to be an effective bronchodilator without significant atropine-like side effects. We evaluated the effectiveness of different doses of nebulized Sch 1000 (40 microgram and 80 microgram) aerosolized atropine sulfate (1 mg) and placebo in the prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) in 20 children with atopic bronchial asthma. A random, crossover double-blind protocol was used.