Clozapine Suppresses the Gene Expression and the Production of Cytokines and Up-Regulates Cyclooxygenase 2 mRNA in Human Astroglial Cells.

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic neurodevelopmental psychotic disorder. The immune system and neuroinflammation seem to play a central role in the pathophysiology of SCZ. Clozapine is an effective atypical antipsychotic used for treatment-resistant SCZ.

Differential Serum and Urine CRP, IP-10, and TRAIL Levels in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection.

It is estimated that clinical evaluation and urinalysis are unable to diagnose >10% of urinary tract infections (UTI) in young children. TNF-related apoptosis induced ligand (TRAIL), interferon gamma induced protein-10 (IP-10), and C-reactive protein (CRP) exhibit differential expression in the blood in response to bacterial vs. viral infection.

Ketamine upregulates eNOS expression in human astroglial A172 cells: Possible role in its antidepressive properties.

Ketamine is a potent anti-depressive agent. Nitric oxide plays an essential role in neuronal transmission and cerebral blood flow and has been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder as well as cardiovascular functioning. We investigated the effect of ketamine on eNOS expression in human A172 astroglial cells.

Immunomodulatory activity of ketamine in human astroglial A172 cells: Possible relevance to its rapid antidepressant activity.

To determine if the immunomodulatory effect of ketamine is relevant to its rapid antidepressant activity, cultured human astroglial cells were incubated with ketamine, cytokine mix, or both. At 24h, ketamine dose-dependently (100-500 μM) decreased IL-6 and TNFα production and gene expression and, at clinically relevant concentration (100 μM), augmented IL-β release and gene expression in both unstimulated and cytokine-stimulated cells. In unstimulated cells, ketamine also increased IL-8 production and mRNA expression.

Apnea induced by respiratory syncytial virus infection is not associated with viral invasion of the central nervous system.

We aimed to study whether direct central nervous system invasion is responsible for the neurologic manifestations seen in hospitalized infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Cerebrospinal fluid from infants with RSV infection was tested for the detection of the following respiratory RNA viruses: RSV, influenza A and B, pandemic influenza H1N1, Parainfluenza-3, human metapneumovirus, adenovirus, parechovirus and enterovirus. All children tested negative for the presence of viral material in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Effect of nitric oxide on microRNA-155 expression in human hepatic epithelial cells.

Objective: Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule and regulator of immunity and inflammation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene transcription and are involved in inflammatory processes and cancer. This study sought to determine if NO activity affects miRNA expression.

Effect of rifampin on production of inflammatory mediators in HepG2 liver epithelial cells.

Rifampin, a potent antibacterial agent, is one of the main drugs used in the treatment of mycobacterial infections. Hepatotoxicity is a well-documented adverse event. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rifampin on the production of inflammatory mediators in human epithelial HepG2 liver cells in the absence or presence of proinflammatory cytokines.

Roles of NF-kappaB activation and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma inhibition in the effect of rifampin on inducible nitric oxide synthase transcription in human lung epithelial cells.

Rifampin (rifampicin), an important antibiotic agent and a major drug used for the treatment of tuberculosis, exerts immunomodulatory effects. Previous studies have found that rifampin increases inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) expression and NO production. The present study investigated the potential mechanism(s) underlying these actions.

Soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 for diagnosing empyema.

Background: Studies have shown that soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) is upregulated by microbial products in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with pneumonia and bacterial meningitis, respectively. Our goal was to evaluate whether sTREM-1 in pleural fluid can distinguish pleural empyema from postthoracotomy-related pleural effusion and effusions of other etiologies.

Methods: Patients who presented with pleural effusion were identified through laboratory records.

Rifampin inhibits prostaglandin E2 production and arachidonic acid release in human alveolar epithelial cells.

Rifampin, a potent antimicrobial agent, is a major drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. There is evidence that rifampin also serves as an immunomodulator. Based on findings that arachidonic acid and its metabolites are involved in the pathogeneses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections, we investigated whether rifampin affects prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in human alveolar epithelial cells stimulated with interleukin-1beta.

Rifampin augments cytokine-induced nitric oxide production in human alveolar epithelial cells.

Rifampin increased nitric oxide production and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in alveolar cells stimulated with cytokines. Nitric oxide concentrations after induction with cytokines, cytokines with 10 microg/ml rifampin, and cytokines with 50 microg/ml rifampin were 3.2, 4.

Heparin added to cardioplegic solution inhibits tumor necrosis factor-alpha production and attenuates myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury.

Objectives: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is known to be a proinflammatory cytokine that has a pronounced negative inotropic effect and plays an important role in ischemic-reperfusion injury.

Methods: Twenty isolated rat hearts were randomly divided equally into two groups (heparin and non-heparin) and were perfused with a Krebs-Henseleit solution using a modified Langendorff model. The influence of heparin on the synthesis and release of TNF-alpha by isolated rat hearts after 1 h of global cardioplegic ischemia and on left ventricular (LV) performances during 30 min of postischemic reperfusion was investigated.

Involvement of prostaglandins in an animal model of Shigella-related seizures.

We investigated whether prostaglandins (PGs), proinflammatory mediators implicated in excitatory activity, are involved in Shigella-related seizures. Pretreatment with S. dysenteriae sonicate (2LD(50)) enhanced mice response to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures, without increase of brain concentrations of PGE(2), PGD(2) or PGF(2alpha).

In vitro bacterial adherence to ventriculoperitoneal shunts.

Bacterial adherence to medical devices has been recognized as an important initial step in the infectious process, but it has not been fully elucidated regarding ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively determine the adherence in vitro of bacteria known to cause VP shunt infections and to identify factors affecting the process. Clinical isolates studied included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli.

Involvement of the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing hormone in an animal model of Shigella-related seizures.

Convulsions are common complications of shigellosis in children. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), a stress neurohormone, has been implicated in the susceptibility of young children to seizures. We investigated the role of CRH in Shigella-related seizures.

Nitric oxide levels in preterm and term infants and in premature infants with bacteremia.

Objective: To determine the serum nitric oxide levels in healthy neonates and in infants with bacteremia.

Methods: We performed a prospective study in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. The serum nitric oxide levels were measured in all infants at birth (basal) and in the infected neonates also on the first 2 days of bacteremia.

Effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase messenger ribonucleic acid expression and nitric oxide synthesis in ischemic and nonischemic isolated rat heart.

Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the influence of endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) that was synthesized during ischemia and exogenous TNF-alpha on endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and iNOS) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in the isolated rat heart.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is recognized as being a proinflammatory cytokine with a significant cardiodepressant effect. One of the proposed mechanisms for TNF-alpha-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction is increased NO production via iNOS mRNA upregulation, but the role of NO in TNF-alpha-induced myocardial dysfunction is highly controversial.

Bidirectional concentration-dependent effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha in Shigella dysenteriae-related seizures.

We have previously demonstrated that pretreatment of mice with Shigella dysenteriae sonicate enhanced their susceptibility to pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures and that tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) was proconvulsive in this respect. The present study shows that TNF-alpha, at high concentrations, may also exert a suppressive effect on Shigella-mediated seizures. This implies that high levels of TNF-alpha may play a protective role in neurologic complications of S.

Risk of exposure to hepatitis A virus among day-care workers in Israel: implications for preventive measures.

Hepatitis A is an important infectious disease in Israel. The high incidence of hepatitis A, the declining prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A virus throughout the past decade, and the availability of an active immunization for hepatitis A have engendered the identification of occupations in which workers are at increased risk of acquiring the disease. A prevalence study for hepatitis A antibodies was conducted during the first half of 1998 in a random sample of 37 day-care centers in different parts of Israel.

Retrospective analysis of the first clonal outbreak of nalidixic acid-resistant Shigella sonnei shigellosis in Israel.

Reported here is a retrospective molecular analysis of the isolates recovered from the first outbreak of nalidixic acid (NA)-resistant Shigella sonnei shigellosis to occur in Israel. The outbreak affected 94 children. In the retrospective analysis, a total of 13 NA-resistant isolates and five NA-susceptible isolates recovered during the outbreak period were examined.

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis A antibodies among children's hospital staff.

Background: With improved socioeconomic conditions, adults are more frequently seronegative for hepatitis A virus (HAV) and therefore susceptible to infection. A safe and efficacious active HAV vaccine has been developed and licensed. The general recommendation is to vaccinate populations at increased occupational exposure to HAV.

Enhancement of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures by Shigella dysenteriae in LPS-resistant C3H/HeJ mice: role of the host response.

Convulsions and encephalopathy are common complications of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Shigella and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infections. In previous studies, we demonstrated that Stx and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) act in concert to enhance mice sensitivity to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures via mechanisms involving tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), interleukinl beta and nitric oxide. To further elucidate the role of the host response in Shigella-related seizures, we studied the ability of Shigella dysenteriae and its products to modulate seizures in C3H/HeJ (lps(d/d)) and in C3H/HeN (lps(n/n) mice.

Interaction between paracrine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and paracrine angiotensin II during myocardial ischemia.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore interactions between paracrine angiotensin II (Ang-II) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) during myocardial ischemia.

Background: Ischemic myocardium releases significant amounts of TNF-alpha. This paracrine release correlated with postischemic myocardial injury.

Induction of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta in mice brain, spleen and liver in an animal model of Shigella-related seizures.

Background: The pathogenesis of neurological symptoms, the most common extraintestinal complication of childhood shigellosis, is unclear. To elucidate the mechanisms involved, we developed an animal model and demonstrated that TNF alpha and IL-1 beta play a role.

Objectives: To determine whether TNF alpha and IL-1 beta genes are expressed in the brain following peripheral administration of Shigella dysenteriae 60R.

Role of nitric oxide in the enhancement of pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures caused by Shigella dysenteriae.

Convulsions and encephalopathy are frequent complications of childhood shigellosis. We studied the role of nitric oxide (NO) in Shigella-related seizures in an animal model. Pretreatment of mice with Shigella dysenteriae 60R sonicate elevated serum NO levels and enhanced the convulsive response to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), as indicated by a higher mean convulsion score and a higher number of mice responding with seizures.