Exposure and preventive measure to reduce high and daily exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis in potted plant production.

The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the active organism in a variety of commercially available products used worldwide as biopesticides. Bt products are applied in large outdoor areas as well as in indoor environments. Even though it has been sold for decades, not much is known about the occupational exposure to Bt.

Considerations regarding use of solvents in in vitro cell based assays.

Cell culture systems are widely used for the investigation of in vitro immunomodulatory effects of medicines and natural products. Since many pharmacological relevant compounds are water-insoluble, solvents are frequently used in cell based assays. Although many reports describe the cellular effects of solvents at high concentrations, only a few relate the effects of solvents used at low concentrations.

Seasonal variations of indoor microbial exposures and their relation to temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rate.

Indoor microbial exposure has been related to adverse pulmonary health effects. Exposure assessment is not standardized, and various factors may affect the measured exposure. The aim of this study was to investigate the seasonal variation of selected microbial exposures and their associations with temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange rates in Danish homes.

Immunomodulatory effects of testosterone evaluated in all-trans retinoic acid differentiated HL-60 cells, granulocytes, and monocytes.

The sex hormones are known to affect innate immunity in humans. In this study we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of testosterone in a model system comprising of all-trans retinoic acid differentiated HL-60 cells, and confirmed the results in human granulocytes and monocytes. Results showed that testosterone at pharmacological doses reduced the production of interleukin-8 and reactive oxygen species from differentiated HL-60 cells in a concentration dependent manner without affecting phagocytosis.

Reduction of Sb(V) in a human macrophage cell line measured by HPLC-ICP-MS.

Drugs based on pentavalent antimony are first-line treatment of the parasite disease leishmaniasis. It is generally believed that Sb(V) acts as a prodrug, which is activated by reduction to Sb(III); however, the site of reduction is not known. It has been hypothesised that the reduction takes place in the parasites' host cells, the macrophages.

Adverse events following immunization in children: retrospective analysis of spontaneous reports over a decade.

Purpose: There is no doubt that paediatric immunization prevents serious diseases, but the administration of these vaccines to healthy children also involves risks of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), some of which are potentially serious. The current body of evidence on ADRs from immunization therapy at the population level is partly contradictory across countries, time periods and childhood immunization programmes. The objective of our study was to characterize reported adverse events (AEFIs) following immunization in Danish children.

Direct interaction between CD91 and C1q.

C1q-mediated removal of immune complexes and apoptotic cells plays an important role in tissue homeostasis and the prevention of autoimmune conditions. It has been suggested that C1q mediates phagocytosis of apoptotic cells through a receptor complex assembled from CD91 (alpha-2- macroglobulin receptor, or low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein) and calreticulin, with CD91 being the transmembrane part and calreticulin acting as the C1q-binding molecule. In the present study, we observe that C1q binds cells from a CD91 expressing monocytic cell line as well as monocytes from human blood.

Isolation of immunomodulatory triterpene acids from a standardized rose hip powder (Rosa canina L.).

A previously published systematic review and a metaanalysis have concluded that the consumption of standardized rose hip powder (Rosa canina L.) can reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients. Synovial inflammation has been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and mainly to involve infiltration of the synovial membrane by macrophages.

Safety pharmacology, toxicology and pharmacokinetic assessment of human Gc globulin (vitamin D binding protein).

Gc globulin is an important protein of the plasma actin-scavenger system. As such, it has been shown to bind free actin and prevent hypercoagulation and shock in patients with massive actin release resulting from severe tissue injuries. Treatment of such patients with Gc globulin could therefore potentially be life-saving.

Assessment of the total inflammatory potential of bioaerosols by using a granulocyte assay.

Occupational health symptoms related to bioaerosol exposure have been observed in a variety of working environments. Bioaerosols contain microorganisms and microbial components. The aim of this study was to estimate the total inflammatory potential (TIP) of bioaerosols using an in vitro assay based on granulocyte-like cells.

MCF-7 human mammary adenocarcinoma cells exhibit augmented responses to human insulin on a collagen IV surface.

Human mammary cell lines are extensively used for preclinical safety assessment of insulin analogs. However, it is essentially unknown how mitogenic responses can be optimized in mammary cell-based systems. We developed an insulin mitogenicity assay in MCF-7 human mammary adenocarcinoma cells, under low serum (0.

Effect of moist heat sterilisation on the pyrogenicity of cell wall components from Staphylococcus aureus.

As opposed to endotoxins very little is known about the heat resistance of Gram positive pyrogens. The aim of this study is to examine the pyrogenic activity of the cell wall components lipoteichoic acid and peptidoglycan from Staphylococcus aureus after moist heat sterilisation. The pyrogenic activity is determined as the ability of the substances to induce interleukin-6 secretion in Mono Mac 6 cells.

Cryopreservation of differentiated HL-60 cells for pyrogen testing.

All-trans retinoic-acid (ATRA) differentiated HL-60 cells can be used to detect pyrogens such as bacteria, bacterial components, yeasts and fungi. Differentiated HL-60 cells obtain neutrophil like characteristics and if stimulated the differentiated HL-60 cells produce reactive oxygen species in a dose dependent manner. Culturing and differentiation of cell lines are time consuming activities and require suitable facilities; cryopreservation of pre-differentiated cells could provide the basis for an easily distributable pyrogen testing kit.

Immunomodulatory effects of honey cannot be distinguished from endotoxin.

In recent years, the use of honey has re-emerged as a remedy for wound treatment. Effects of honey have been related to the presence of an unidentified component that induces release of inflammatory cytokines from monocytic cells. The present study was intended to further characterize the reported in vitro effects of honey.

The effect of dietary fish oil-supplementation to healthy young men on oxidative burst measured by whole blood chemiluminescence.

Dietary long-chain n-3 PUFA (n-3 LCPUFA) are thought to have immune-modulating effects, but the specific effects and mechanisms are not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine whether dietary n-3 LCPUFA could affect ex vivo oxidative burst in healthy young men. The study had a randomised 2 x 2-factorial design in which subjects were randomly assigned to 8-week supplementation with capsules containing fish oil (about 2.

Airway inflammation and adjuvant effect after repeated airborne exposures to di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate and ovalbumin in BALB/c mice.

Background: Epidemiological studies have suggested an association between exposure to phthalate plasticizers, including di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), and increased prevalence of asthma, rhinitis or wheezing. Furthermore, studies in mice have demonstrated an adjuvant effect from DEHP after parenteral administration with the model allergen ovalbumin (OVA).

Objective: Exposures to DEHP were investigated for adjuvant effects and airway inflammation in a mouse inhalation model.

Utilization of the human cell line HL-60 for chemiluminescence based detection of microorganisms and related substances.

In this paper we describe a new pyrogen assay using the human leukemia cell line HL-60. The cell line is differentiated using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) to generate a cell population that resembles mature granulocytes. The differentiated HL-60 cell is capable of generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) when challenged with pyrogenic substances.

Dry and moist heat sterilisation cannot inactivate pyrogenicity of Gram positive microorganisms.

In the monocytic cell line Mono Mac 6 pyrogens induce interleukin-6 secretion dose dependently. The aim of this study is to examine the interleukin-6 inducing capacity of Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis endospores after moist and dry heat sterilisation. Moist heat sterilisation of B.

Regulation of interleukin-6 secretion in murine pituicytes.

Pituicytes, the astrocytic glial cells of the neural lobe, are known to secrete interleukin-6 and nitric oxide upon stimulation with various inflammatory mediators, i.e. interleukin-1beta.

Baclofen influences lipopolysaccharide-mediated interleukin-6 release from murine pituicytes.

Pituicytes, the glial cells of the neurohypophysis, secrete interleukin-6 upon stimulation with various inflammatory mediators, i.e. lipopolysaccharide.