Nitric oxide produced by murine dendritic cells is cytotoxic for intracellular Salmonella enterica sv. Typhimurium.

The pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium has traditionally been correlated with its ability to survive and grow in macrophages. Macrophage-derived production of nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated as a major innate defence, restricting bacterial proliferation both in macrophage cultures and in mice. In the present study, we show that the ability of primary murine dendritic cells (DCs) to ingest Salmonella is low, but greatly enhanced by serum complement.

Topography and temporal evolution of hypoxic viable tissue identified by 18F-fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography in humans after ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: We sought to characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of human cerebral infarction. Using a novel method of quantitatively mapping the distribution of hypoxic viable tissue identified by 18F-fluoromisonidazole (18F-FMISO) PET relative to the final infarct, we determined its evolution and spatial topography in human stroke.

Methods: Patients with acute middle cerebral artery territory stroke were imaged with 18F-FMISO PET (n=19; <6 hours, 4; 6 to 16 hours, 4; 16 to 24 hours, 5; 24 to 48 hours, 6).

Expansion of natural killer (NK) and natural killer-like T (NKT)-cell populations derived from patients with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL): a potential source for cellular immunotherapy.

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. It is currently an incurable disease, making new treatment options such as immunotherapy desirable. Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to surface antigens of the tumor cell is one option.

Persistent poststroke hyperglycemia is independently associated with infarct expansion and worse clinical outcome.

Background And Purpose: Hyperglycemia at the time of ischemic stroke is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Animal studies suggest that infarct expansion may be responsible. The influence of persisting hyperglycemia after stroke has not previously been examined.

An inventory of heavy metals inputs to agricultural soils in England and Wales.

An inventory of heavy metal inputs (Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr, As and Hg) to agricultural soils in England and Wales in 2000 is presented, accounting for major sources including atmospheric deposition, sewage sludge, livestock manures, inorganic fertilisers and lime, agrochemicals, irrigation water, industrial by-product 'wastes' and composts. Across the whole agricultural land area, atmospheric deposition was the main source of most metals, ranging from 25 to 85% of total inputs. Livestock manures and sewage sludge were also important sources, responsible for an estimated 37-40 and 8-17% of total Zn and Cu inputs, respectively.

Effects of past sewage sludge additions on heavy metal availability in light textured soils: implications for crop yields and metal uptakes.

The effect of heavy metal additions in past sewage sludge applications on soil metal availability and the growth and yield of crops was evaluated at two sites in the UK. At Gleadthorpe, sewage sludges enriched with salts of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) had been applied to a loamy sand in 1982 and additionally naturally contaminated Zn and Cu sludge cakes in 1986. At Rosemaund, sewage sludges naturally contaminated with Zn, Cu, Ni and chromium (Cr) had been applied in 1968-1971 to a sandy loam.

The influence of diabetes mellitus and hyperglycaemia on stroke incidence and outcome.

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic syndrome with significant effects on the systemic and cerebral vasculature. The incidence and severity of ischaemic stroke are increased by the presence of diabetes, and outcome from stroke is poorer. More than one third of patients admitted with acute stroke are hyperglycaemic at presentation.

Natural killer cell-mediated lysis of dorsal root ganglia neurons via RAE1/NKG2D interactions.

Natural killer cells have been reported to be able to kill various transformed and virus-infected target cells. It was recently observed that NK cells also could kill syngeneic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons by a perforin-dependent mechanism. We demonstrate here that this phenomenon does not reflect a general ability of NK cells to kill neurons in culture.

Zinc contamination decreases the bacterial diversity of agricultural soil.

Abstract Around half a million tonnes of biosolids (sewage sludge dry solids) are applied to agricultural land in the United Kingdom each year, and this may increase to 732 000 t by 2005/6. The heavy metals contained in biosolids may permanently degrade the microbial decomposer communities of agricultural soils. We used amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis of the extractable bacterial fraction to compare the diversity of a zinc-contaminated soil (400 mg kg(-1) Zn; pH 5.

Comparing inmate perceptions of two residential substance abuse treatment programs.

Drug and alcohol abuse by criminal offenders remains at an all time high. Residential substance abuse and treatment (RSAT) programs were developed to address the drug and alcohol treatment needs of inmates in prisons. Typically, such programs range in length from 6 to 12 months, have an Alcoholics Anonymous and/or Narcotics Anonymous component, and occur in a therapeutic community environment.

Maldigestion and malabsorption of dietary lipid during severe childhood malnutrition.

Background: Diets rich in lipid are used to provide energy density in treating children with severe malnutrition, but the extent to which their digestion and absorption can cope with the load effectively is uncertain.

Aim: To determine the extent of impaired digestion or absorption, in three groups of eight malnourished children (aged 5-23 months) using isotopic probes of the predominant fatty acids in coconut and corn oil used to fortify the diet.

Methods: Each child received oral doses of one of three (13)C labelled triglycerides (trilaurin, triolein, or trilinolein).

Natural killer and dendritic cell contact in lesional atopic dermatitis skin--Malassezia-influenced cell interaction.

The regulation of dendritic cells is far from fully understood. Interestingly, several recent reports have suggested a role for natural killer cells in affecting dendritic cell maturation and function upon direct contact between the cells. It is not known if this interaction takes place also in vivo, or if a potential interaction of natural killer cells and dendritic cells would be affected by allergen exposure of the dendritic cells.

Baseline blood pressure but not early computed tomography changes predicts major hemorrhage after streptokinase in acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most serious complication of thrombolytic therapy for stroke. We explored factors associated with this complication in the Australian Streptokinase Trial.

Methods: The initial CT scans (< or =4 hours after stroke) of 270 patients were reviewed retrospectively by an expert panel for early signs of ischemia and classified into the following 3 categories: no signs or < or =1/3 or >1/3 of the vascular territory.

Possible determinants of early microembolism after carotid endarterectomy.

Background And Purpose: High numbers of microembolic signals (MES) have been associated with increased risk of postoperative stroke after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We sought to identify factors predictive of postoperative MES.

Methods: Transcranial Doppler monitoring of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery for MES was performed for 30 minutes during the first postoperative hour in sequential patients undergoing CEA.

Source of microembolic signals in patients with high-grade carotid stenosis.

Background And Purpose: In patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery stenoses, the relationship between carotid plaque characteristics and transcranial Doppler (TCD)-detected microembolic signals (MES) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between macroscopically described plaque characteristics and MES in patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy.

Methods: Sequential patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy underwent preoperative 30-minute TCD monitoring of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery to detect MES.

Cumulative effects of cardiovascular disease risk factors on quality of life.

Objectives: The Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) was used to assess the quality of life for adults who differed in level of risk for cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Subjects were 51 men and 80 women from southwestern Ohio between the ages of 20 and 86 years. Individuals level of risk was based on the culmination of four cardiovascular disease risk factors: hypertension (i.

IL-2 down-regulates the expression of TCR and TCR-associated surface molecules on CD8(+) T cells.

CD8(+) T cells are known to down-regulate the TCR complex upon ligation with its cognate MHC class I-peptide complex. In the present report, we demonstrate that stimulation of CD8(+) T cells with cytokines also leads to down-regulation of the TCR complex and TCR-associated surface molecules. A significant reduction of TCRalpha beta, CD3, CD8alpha and CD8beta surface expression was observed when CD8(+) T cells were cultured in IL-2 and to a lesser extent in IL-4 or IL-15.

Cutting edge: Regulation of CD8(+) T cell proliferation by 2B4/CD48 interactions.

The biological function of 2B4, a CD48-binding molecule expressed on T cells with an activation/memory phenotype, is not clear. In this report, we demonstrate that proliferation of CD8(+) T cells is regulated by 2B4. Proliferative responses of CD8(+) T cells were significantly reduced by anti-2B4 Ab.

Dextran reduces embolic signals after carotid endarterectomy.

One hundred fifty patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were randomly assigned to receive intravenous 10% dextran 40 or placebo. Transcranial Doppler monitoring of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery 0 to 1 hour postoperatively detected embolic signals in 57% of placebo and 42% of dextran patients, with overall embolic signal counts 46% less for dextran (p = 0.052).

A new method for in vitro expansion of cytotoxic human CD3-CD56+ natural killer cells.

Adoptive transfer of immunocompetent cells may induce anti-tumor effects in vivo. However, a significant obstacle to the development of successful cellular immunotherapy has been the availability of appropriate cytotoxic cells. Among the immunologic effector cells that are considered mediators of anti-tumor effects, those with the highest per-cell cytotoxic capacity express a natural killer (NK) cell phenotype, i.

Cadmium content of wheat grain from a long-term field experiment with sewage sludge.

Grain Cd concentrations were determined in the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars Soissons, Brigadier, and Hereward grown in 1994,1996, and 1999, respectively, in soils of a long-term field experiment to which sewage sludges contaminated with Zn, Cu, Ni, or Cr had previously been added. Soil pore water soluble Cd and free Cd2+ increased linearly with increasing total soil Cd (R2=0.

In vivo activation of dendritic cells and T cells during Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium infection.

The present study was initiated to gain insight into the interaction between splenic dendritic cells (DC) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in vivo. Splenic phagocytic cell populations associated with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing bacteria and the bacterium-specific T-cell response were evaluated in mice given S. enterica serovar Typhimurium expressing GFP and ovalbumin.

Expression of the DX5 antigen on CD8+ T cells is associated with activation and subsequent cell death or memory during influenza virus infection.

The antigen recognized by the DX5 antibody (DX5 antigen) is expressed on all murine NK cells. In the present study we found that a proportion of CD8+ T cells (approximately 5%) also express the DX5 antigen in uninfected mice, and that numbers of CD8+ T cells expressing DX5 are significantly higher in the lungs of influenza virus-infected mice representing up to 50% of all CD8+ T cells on day 10 post infection. The expression of the DX5 antigen on CD8+ T cells was associated with a memory phenotype in uninfected C57BL/6 mice and with an activation phenotype during influenza virus infection.