Mechanism of human immunodeficiency virus-induced complement expression in astrocytes and neurons.

The cerebral complement system is hypothesized to contribute to neurodegeneration in the pathogenesis of AIDS-associated neurological disorders. Our former results have shown that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strongly induces the synthesis of complement factor C3 in astrocytes. This upregulation explains in vivo data showing elevated complement levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with AIDS-associated neurological symptoms.

Neuroinvasion by pathogens: a key role of the complement system.

Complement (C) is one of the most critical defence mechanisms of the innate immunity against cerebral infection by viruses, bacteria and fungi, with different molecular pathways contributing to the clearance of the invading pathogens. There is now compelling evidence that C proteins can be synthesized by brain cells in response to the infectious challenge and leading to cytotoxic and cytolytic activities against the harmful intruders. However, since there is also emerging evidence that uncontrolled C biosynthesis/activation can lead to brain inflammation with loss of neurons and oligodendrocytes, it is important to highlight that C may have adverse effects in infectious diseases of the CNS and induce profound tissue damage.

Complement-dependent control of viral dynamics in pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus and simian immunodeficiency virus infection.

Since the first contact with the host, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exploits the complement system to reach maximal spread of infection. HIV has adapted many strategies to avoid complement-mediated lysis and uses the opsonization with complement fragments for attachment to complement receptors (CR). From the pathogen's perspective, binding to CR-expressing cells is remarkably beneficial, bringing together virus and activated target cells that are highly susceptible to infection.

The supportive role of complement in HIV pathogenesis.

This review focuses on interactions of HIV with the first-line defence of native immunity, the complement system. In all body compartments tested so far, HIV meets complement. Activation of the complement system results in deposition of C3 fragments on the viral surface, but in contrast to other pathogens, most of HIV is not or is only poorly lysed by membrane attack complexes.

Enhancement of complement-mediated lysis by a peptide derived from SCR 13 of complement factor H.

Complement factor H (fH) is an important regulator of complement activation. It contributes to protection of cells against homologous complement attack. In this study we tested the effect of fH-depletion of normal human serum (NHS) on lysis of antibody-coated sheep and human erythrocytes (EshA and EhuA).

Enhanced fungicidal activity of N-chlorotaurine in nasal secretion.

The antifungal activity of N-chlorotaurine (NCT), a long-lived oxidant produced by stimulated human leucocytes, was investigated. Incubation of Aspergillus spp., Candida spp.

Inflammation marker 7,8-dihydroneopterin induces apoptosis of neurons and glial cells: a potential contribution to neurodegenerative processes.

Since neopterin is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with inflammatory neurological disorders we investigated the source of neopterin in the brain and a possible contribution of biological active pteridines to the development of brain lesions. Astrocytic, neuronal and microglial cell lines were shown to be negative for neopterin production even after stimulation with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) indicating that infiltrating monocytes/macrophages might be responsible for neopterin level in CNS. Whereas neopterin did not affect viability of brain cells, its derivative 7,8-dihydroneopterin (7,8-DHN) induced dose-dependently cellular apoptosis in astrocytes and neurons probably via enhancement of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression.

Culture supernatants of patient-derived Aspergillus isolates have toxic and lytic activity towards neurons and glial cells.

Infection of the central nervous system by the ubiquitous fungi Aspergillus spp. is a life-threatening disease. Therefore we investigated the mechanism of brain damage by fungal infection.

Bactericidal activity of micromolar N-chlorotaurine: evidence for its antimicrobial function in the human defense system.

N-Chlorotaurine, the main representative of long-lived oxidants found in the supernatant of stimulated granulocytes, has been investigated systematically with regard to its antibacterial activity at different physiological concentrations for the first time. N-Chlorotaurine (12.5 to 50 microM) demonstrated a bactericidal effect i.

Use of health services after a myocardial infarction.

Short-term and long-term use of physician consultations and rehospitalizations were studied in 383 myocardial infarction (MI) patients in relation to demographic, medical, and psychological factors. Short-term (i.e.

After the myocardial infarction. A medical and psychological study with special emphasis on perceived illness.

Each year, more than 10,000 persons are admitted to Norwegian hospitals for a myocardial infarction (MI). The purpose of this study was to examine the medical, psychological, and social consequences of a MI, with special emphasis on the role of cognitive factors for the readjustment and coping process. Three hundred and eighty-three MI-patients below 67 years of age were followed by means of self- administered questionnaires during hospitalization and 1-2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months, and 3-5 years after the MI.

Lactation and cancer risk: is there a relation specific to breast cancer?

Relations between previous lactation experience and risks of cancer of the breast and other sites were investigated after follow-up of 50,274 parous women from 1961 through 1980. Among women with complete information on lactation, 5102 developed cancer and, of these, 1136 were diagnosed with breast cancer. Analyses of associations with mean duration of lactation per birth and duration for each of the three first births suggested a nonlinear relation to breast cancer.

Self-assessment of health before and after a myocardial infarction.

Self-evaluated health represents an important aspect of quality of life that may influence the rehabilitation process after a major illness. However, health is a multi-dimensional concept and relatively little is known about the determinants of, and the interrelationships between the separate aspects of health. In a prospective longitudinal study of myocaridal infarction (MI) patients, two indices of self-evaluated health, maximal physical ability (MPA) and perceived global health (PGH), were used.

Predicting long-term mortality after a myocardial infarction from routine hospital data.

Among 528 patients under 67 years of age discharged alive after a myocardial infarction (MI), the cumulative survival rates after 3, 5, and 7 years were 84.1%, 75.9% and 68.

A prospective study of reproductive factors and breast cancer. II. Age at first and last birth.

The relations between age at first and last full-term pregnancy and breast cancer risk were investigated after 20 years of follow-up of 63,090 Norwegian women, among whom 1,565 breast cancer cases occurred. An association seen in preliminary analyses between early age at first birth and low risk of breast cancer was removed after adjustment for parity and age at last birth. Age at last birth showed initially no association with breast cancer.

A prospective study of reproductive factors and breast cancer. I. Parity.

The relation between childbearing and breast cancer risk was investigated in a prospective study of 63,090 Norwegian women, among whom 1,565 breast cancer cases occurred in a follow-up from 1961 through 1980. The authors observed a strong and highly significant inverse association between the number of full-term pregnancies and the risk of breast cancer. The association was consistently found in all subgroups according to demographic variables and was obtained for all histologic subtypes except for cases classified as Paget's disease.

Psychological predictors for return to work after a myocardial infarction.

The relationships between a return to work (RTW) 6 months after a myocardial infarction and selected personality traits, emotional reactions, health knowledge and beliefs, expectations and global health perceptions have been examined in a prospective study of 249 patients below 67 yr of age. Patients' in-hospital expectations of their future work capacity proved to be a strong predictor for RTW. In addition, level of anxiety and depression during hospitalization and level of cardiac lifestyle knowledge were independently associated with RTW.