Influence of donor brain death on chronic rejection of renal transplants in rats.

The clinical observation that the results of kidney grafts from living donors (LD), regardless of relationship with the host, are consistently superior to those of cadavers suggests an effect of brain death (BD) on organ quality and function. This condition triggers a series of nonspecific inflammatory events that increase the intensity of the acute immunologic host responses after transplantation (Tx). Herein are examined the influences of this central injury on late changes in renal transplants in rats.

Mechanisms of tolerance induction in second renal allografts of a chronic rejection model.

In a previous experiment we demonstrated the induction of tolerance by the allograft itself. In this model of weak histoincompatibility, second grafts of donor origin replacing chronically rejected first renal allografts were accepted long term. Additionally grafted donor-specific hearts functioned indefinitely while adoptive transfer experiments demonstrated the development of donor-specific transferable tolerance.

Liver transplantation and diabetes mellitus.

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a common complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (oLT). In our study, we investigated the prevalence and risk factors one year after transplantation in 618 patients who underwent oLT between 1990 and 1996 in a single center. The influence of steroid medication and hepatitis B or C (HBV/HCV) was also studied.

An extended lymphocytotoxicity test for patients treated with lymphocytotoxic antibodies.

Background And Objectives: After organ transplantation, HLA antibodies (HLA-Ab) stimulated by transplant or transfusion are usually indistinguishable from passive therapeutic lymphocytotoxic antibodies (LyAb), e.g. antilymphocyte globulin (ALG), antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and OKT3, by standard lymphocytotoxicity tests (LCTs).

Contribution of prolonged ischemia and donor age to chronic renal allograft dysfunction.

As a consequence of an advancing discrepancy between supply of suitable grafts and demand from potential recipients, less than optimal organs are increasingly being used. Although clinical studies demonstrate the involvement of various risk factors, including donor age and duration of ischemia on long-term graft outcome, their individual contribution and correlation has not been followed experimentally. After cold ischemic times of 5, 60, and 120 min, kidney allografts of 3-, 12-, and 18-mo-old Fischer 344 donors were transplanted into 3-mo-old Lewis rats.

Applicability of an absolute quantitative procedure to monitor intra-individual bcr/abl transcript kinetics in clinical samples from chronic myelogenous leukemia patients.

Chimeric bcr/abl fusion proteins are thought to be the molecular 'pathogen' of chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). Expression levels of the respective fusion RNAs reflect disease progression as well as remission upon therapeutic intervention in CML patients. However, there is no quick and reliable method that would allow the quantitative routine monitoring of bcr/abl hybrid transcripts.

Distinct expression patterns of the p53-homologue p73 in malignant and normal hematopoiesis assessed by a novel real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay and protein analysis.

The role of the recently identified first p53-homologue, p73, in neoplastic transformation is unknown. To elucidate p73 gene expression in hematopoiesis, we investigated samples from chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia patients, leukemia cell lines, as well as mature and immature normal hematopoietic cells by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. We found a distinct p73 expression profile with highest p73 mRNA transcript levels in hematopoietic malignancies such as CML blast crisis and acute myelogenous leukemia versus CML chronic phase and normal controls.

Mast cell chymase and tryptase during tissue turnover: analysis on in vitro mitogenesis of fibroblasts and keratinocytes and alterations in cutaneous scars.

In order to shed further light on the potential role of mast cells during tissue turnover, we have investigated the number of mast cells containing only tryptase and those storing both tryptase and chymase by enzyme histochemistry in normal versus healing skin. Furthermore, we have studied the in vitro effect of these enzymes on the mitogenesis of subconfluent quiescent fibroblast and HaCaT keratinocyte cultures, using flowcytometric DNA analysis. Chymase-containing mast cell numbers were markedly decreased in scars (P<0.

Evaluation of systemic provocation tests in patients with suspected allergic and pseudoallergic drug reactions.

In order to examine the diagnostic value of systemic provocation tests, we studied 56 inpatients hospitalized for identification of the agent eliciting previous severe allergic or pseudoallergic reactions to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, local anaesthetics or antibiotics. Skin tests were positive in only 4 patients reacting to antibiotics and propyphenazone and were always negative for local anaesthetics (n = 32). Only 4 of 26 patients reacted to oral or subcutaneous provocation, 3 times to penicillin and once each to mepivacain, propyphenazone and cyanocobalamine when the suspected drug was tested.

Mast cells and their mediators in cutaneous wound healing--active participants or innocent bystanders?

Mast cells are traditionally viewed as effector cells of immediate type hypersensitivity reactions. There is, however, a growing body of evidence that the cells might play an important role in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis and repair. We here present our own data and those from the literature elucidating the possible role of mast cells during wound healing.

Nitric oxide inhibits tissue factor synthesis, expression and activity in human monocytes by prior formation of peroxynitrite.

Objective: Nitric oxide (NO) has antithrombotic properties by regulating platelet function, whereas direct effects on plasmatic coagulation are rarely described. In sepsis and inflammation, when synthesis of NO, oxygen radicals and toxic metabolites is crucial, the expression of tissue factor (TF) on monocytes stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induces intravascular coagulation. This study was performed to examine the influence of NO and the NO-dependent metabolite peroxynitrite on LPS-induced TF expression and activity in human monocytes.

Role of nerve growth factor in a mouse model of allergic airway inflammation and asthma.

The role of nerve growth factor (NGF), a potent mediator acting in the development and differentiation of both neuronal and immune cells, was examined in a mouse model of allergic asthma. NGF-positive cells were detected in the inflammatory infiltrate of the lung and enhanced levels of NGF were detected in serum and broncho-alveolar lavage fluids. Mononuclear cells in inflamed airway mucosa as well as broncho-alveolar macrophages were identified as one source of NGF production.

Medium dose isotretinoin for the treatment of acne.

Background: Although the efficacy of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne is unquestioned, improvement of patient tolerance and acceptance of the drug are desirable. Furthermore, no data on acne-induced scarring during isotretinoin treatment are available.

Aim: In the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of an initial stepwise incremental (n = 83) or an initial high dose (n = 11) and a subsequent medium maintenance dosing of isotretinoin in outpatients treated for acne over a 7 year period.

Effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and other fibroblast-derived growth factors on immature human mast cells (HMC-1).

We have previously shown that fibroblast and keratinocyte supernatants up-regulate expression of mast cell characteristics in the human immature mast cell line HMC-1. This effect could not be induced in HMC-1 cells by the well-known mast cell growth factor stem cell factor (SCF), probably due to mutations of the SCF receptor c-Kit in these cells. Here we report the effects of several known fibroblast- and keratinocyte-derived growth factors, namely nerve growth factor (NGF), basic fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta, on mast cell differentiation, using HMC-1 cells as a model.

Changes in blood leukocyte distribution during double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges in children with atopic dermatitis and suspected food allergy.

Background: The development of clinical reactions to food antigens is associated with cellular changes. The aim of this study was to determine whether the clinical outcome of double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges would correlate with changes in blood leukocyte distribution.

Methods: Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges were performed in 17 children with atopic dermatitis sensitized to hen's egg or cow's milk and in 9 children with atopic dermatitis but not sensitized to food.

Prevalence of latex-specific IgE antibodies in atopic and nonatopic children with type I diabetes.

Objective: The potential induction of allergic sensitization to latex from insulin vial tops stimulated an investigation of the prevalence of specific IgE antibodies to latex in serum and the relationship to atopic disease in children with diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: In a cross-sectional study, serum samples of 112 children with type I diabetes (age: 15 [5-18] years; diabetes duration: 6 [1-14] years; median [range]) were investigated for total IgE, IgE screening for inhalational and nutritional allergens, and specific IgE antibodies to latex.

Results: Specific IgE antibodies for inhalational and/or nutritional allergens was found in 42 (38%) children (atopic group).