[Determination of IgG toxoplasma antibodies using ELISA with uniform serum dilutions].

The ELISA reaction with uniform serum dilution (1:400) for assessment of toxoplasmatic antibodies class IgG agreed in 100% when compared with commercial kits (VIRELISA and GULL Lab.). Both these tests disagreed with the standard complement fixation reaction in 7.

Detection of distinct sets of newly synthesized polypeptides in supernatants of TCR-triggered T cell clones. Implication for the search for new lymphokines.

Using metabolic radiolabelling of proteins, which are newly synthesized during TCR-triggered T cell activation we were able to visualize distinct patterns of secreted polypeptides (with molecular weights ranging from 6 to 44 kDa) in supernatants of different T helper-1, T helper-2 and cytotoxic T cell clones. Most of these detected proteins are secreted in response to TCR-crosslinking (or to combined action of PMA and A231287), in an extracellular Ca(2+)-dependent manner and their appearance in supernatants was completely blocked by the addition of RNA synthesis or protein synthesis inhibitors or EGTA. Cyclosporin A (CsA) blocks secretion of several detected polypeptides, but does not affect TCR-triggered synthesis and secretion of others reflecting the existence of TCR-triggered, CsA-insensitive protein synthesis and secretion pathway.

[The effect of cyclosporine A on the development of Toxoplasma gondii in the muscles and brain. Ultrastructural study].

Presented are histological and electron microscopic findings of alterations in the muscles and brains of mice infected with T. gondii and suppressed with CyA during infection. Cya in the acute phase of infection promoted parasitemia.

Behaviour of newly hatched and adult Japanese quail and the feasibility of adaptation to weightlessness.

The aim of cosmic biology is to create conditions necessary for the long-term stay of man on cosmic orbital complexes and planetary stations. Such conditions should be provided by the autonomous closed ecosystem--a simplified model of the terrestrial biocenosis. As an experimental model of the higher heterotrophic link of this ecosystem the Japanese quail was chosen.

Dissociation between phytohaemagglutinin-stimulated generation of inositol phosphates and Ca2+ increase in human mononuclear leucocytes.

We have tested whether phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated generation of inositol phosphates (IP) and increases in intracellular Ca2+ can be dissociated in human mononuclear leucocytes. Lowering the incubation temperature from 37 degrees to 25 degrees C decreased PHA-stimulated IP generation by more than 80%, but only marginally affected PHA-stimulated Ca2+ increases. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, PHA did not stimulate IP generation or Ca2+ increases, although PHA binding to its acceptor sites was not impaired.

[Cryptosporidium species in persons with HIV infection].

Oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. were detected in the faeces of 65 subjects with the HIV virus, using the concentrating flotation method in a sugar solution and differential staining with methyl violet. In positive cases (a total of 16 subjects) continuous as well as intermittent excretion of oocysts in faeces was recorded, the longest excretion period being up to 15 months.

[Significance of the complement fixation reaction in the diagnosis of the acute phase of lymphatic toxoplasmosis].

In a group of 300 sera of subjects with clinically suspect nodular toxoplasmosis the authors tested by the IgM ELISA reaction in the reverse order the importance of the complement-fixation reaction for assessment of the acute stage of the infection. In view of the revealed prolonged detection of IgM antibodies the authors used quantitative evaluation of the reaction; they consider based on a probability pattern of antibody response coefficients of 10 and above important for differentiation of a recent infection. For the suggested method of evaluation it was confirmed that low CFR titres (1:8, 1:16, 1:32) imply usually (89.

Functional and biochemical characterization of a calcium-ionophore-induced state of unresponsiveness in a cytolytic T cell clone.

To characterize the requirements for the induction of an anergic state in immunocompetent cells we examined the effect of an increase in intracellular calcium concentration on the subsequent responsiveness of cytolytic T cells to antigenic stimulation in vitro. Pretreatment of a murine cytolytic T cell clone with the calcium-ionophore A23187 resulted in the induction of an anergic state characterized by a decrease in cytolytic activity and granule exocytosis upon Ag-specific stimulation. Furthermore, IFN-gamma synthesis declined whereas de novo synthesis of a yet unidentified protein with a molecular mass of 33 kDa as well as proliferative response of cells in response to exogenous IL-2 were unaffected.

Toxoplasmic antibodies in sera of HIV-infected persons.

The sera of 67 HIV-infected persons without clinical signs of Toxoplasma gondii infection and sera of 777 immunocompetent persons from three distinct regions of Czechoslovakia were examined for the presence of toxoplasmic antibodies using the complement-fixation test (CFT). Additionally Toxoplasma positive HIV+ individuals were re-examined for the presence of IgG and IgM toxoplasmic antibodies by ELISA methods. Results show that overall prevalence of toxoplasmic antibodies is not significantly greater in HIV-positive subjects (29.

Dermal absorption of neat and aqueous volatile organic chemicals in the Fischer 344 rat.

Quantification of dermal absorption of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) from aqueous solutions is required to understand the potential health hazards resulting from skin exposure to these chemicals in contaminated water. Male Fischer 344 rats were dermally exposed (3.1-cm2 dorsal skin) to neat, one-third saturated, two-thirds saturated, or saturated aqueous solutions of 14 VOCs for 24 hr.

[Induction of experimental pneumocystosis, detection and primary isolation of Pneumocystis carinii].

The described model of experimental pneumocystosis is based on the induction of natural latent infection of P. carinii in Wistar strain laboratory rats. As to pharmacological inducing agents immunosuppresive preparations such as Hydrocortisone sol.

[Characterization of vertebrogenic pain using the short form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire].

A Czech translation of the short form McGill Pain Questionnaire was tested in a group of patients suffering from pain of vertebrogenic origin. The results support the hypothesis that the questionnaire will be an asset in various disciplines of medical practice. While taking up little time it provides a comprehensive and valid picture of the quality and intensity of pain experienced by the patient.

[Interpretation of antitoxoplasma antibody findings].

Between reactions assessing one class of immunoglobulins and reactions detecting all serum immunoglobulins comprehensively such as CFT, there is, as might be expected, a very poor quantitative correlation and thus in individual sera the result of one reaction cannot be reliably added to the result of another (CFT:ELISA/IgG). Even the correlation between reactions focused on the same Ig class (ELISA/IgG: IFT/IgG) is no better. Among reactions assessing specific IgM we consider ELISA/IgM better than IFT/IgM because there is not the risk of false negativity caused by concurrence of IgG.

[The occurrence of antibodies to Borrelia in dogs].

Using the method of indirect hemagglutination and an antigenic extract of Borrelia recurrentis the occurrence of antibodies to borrelias was investigated in 169 sera of dogs from two groups with different exposure to vectors. A significant difference in the serum positivity of dogs coming to Prague outpatient veterinary wards (53.7%) and of dogs coming from laboratory packs (20.

[Clinical contribution of the examination of immunoglobulins and albumin in the feces in children (a group of 610 patients 1-18 years of age].

The authors submit their experience with the examination of immunoglobulins and albumin in the faeces of patients with different diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The presence of antibodies IgA, sIgA, IgM and albumin were assessed in lavages from the rectum or supernatant of the faeces, using the qualitative method of double immunodifussion according to Ouchterlony. A normal finding is characterized by the presence of IgA, sIgA.

[Occurrence of Borrelia antibodies in field hares (Lepus europaeus)].

Using the indirect haemagglutination reaction with an antigenic extract from Borrelia recurrentis, the author assessed in the hare the incidence of Borrelia antibodies, incl. antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, the causal agent of Lyme borreliosis, a multisystemic disease with natural foci, a disease transmitted mostly by ticks of the genus Ixodes. Sera of 113 hares from 11 localities in the CSSR examined by this method reacted in 41.

Effect of cortisone on Toxoplasma gondii infection studied by electron microscopy.

The ultrastructural features of cortisone effect on the early development and formation of Toxoplasma gondii tissue cysts were examined in the brains of experimental mice on days 8-47 post inoculation. The cortisone was injected subcutaneously into mice twice a week: 1) at the early acute phase, 5 days post infection, and 2) at the transition phase of development, 12 days post infection. The disturbed regulation of the host-parasite relationship due to the effect of cortisone showed itself in an increase of T.

[Determination of antitoxoplasma IgM antibodies using the ELISA method].

The described ELISA method was developed for the examination of antitoxoplasmatic IgM. It is a double, i.e.

[Determination of antitoxoplasma IgG antibodies using the ELISA method].

The described ELISA reaction is suggested as a method for examination of antitoxoplasmatic IgG antibodies. It is a simple, i.e.

[Immunoenzyme analysis with corpuscular antigen in the serology of leishmaniasis].

The authors propose polystyrol carrier enzyme-linked immunoassay using corpuscular Leishmania antigens (intact cells of Leishmania promastigotes)--C-ELISA. The standard lyophilic Leishmania antigen for ELISA may be used as an antigen in indirect immunofluorescence reaction. C-ELISA allowed the authors to determine clear antigenic differences between the mammalian leishmaniasis causative agents (subgen.

[Detection of Toxoplasma antibodies using the c-ELISA method].

Sensitive and high capacity ELISA techniques introduced for the detection of toxoplasmatic antibodies so far do not correlate very well with standard serological examination systems used in common diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis. The most frequently used method in the CSSR - SFT using tween-ether soluble antigen extract, and displaying very satisfactory agreement with the Sabin-Feldman test, was compared with the system of direct ELISA, using the same antigen extract and the described c-ELISA method. The latter method uses for antibody detection whole non-disintegrated formol-treated trophozoites of Toxoplasma gondii and thus in the reaction in particular membrane antigens, incl.