Production of lymphocyte-derived cytokines by whole umbilical cord blood cultures stimulated with mitogens and allergens

A whole blood culture technique was used to establish conditions for stimulating the production of cytokines by cord blood lymphocytes. The cultures were stimulated with mitogens (concanavalin A and phytohaemagglutinin) and allergens (beta-lactoglobulin (BLG), ovalbumin (OVA) and house dust mite (Der p 1)) at a range of concentrations. Interleukin (IL-) 2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and interferon-gamma (IFN-?) concentrations were assayed in the supernatants at 24, 48 and 72 h. Stimulation with mitogens but not allergens induced increases in IL-2 and IL-13 concentrations. IFN-? was strongly induced by mitogenic stimulation: maximal responses were seen at 48 h. Stimulation with the allergens also induced an increase in IFN-? concentration which was maximal for 100 ?g/ml of BLG and OVA. Der p 1 induced the highest IFN-? production among the allergens. IL-4 concentrations were increased in mitogen and Der p 1 stimulated cultures. This was maximal at 48 and 24 h, respectively. IL-10 was induced with mitogen and allergen stimulation. Thus, this study has established conditions for assessing production of lymphocyte-derived cytokines in a simple whole umbilical cord blood culture system

Sustained increase in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease incidence across the South West United Kingdom over the last 10 years

Background: pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (pIBD) incidence has increased over the last 25 years. We aim to report contemporaneous trends across the South West United Kingdom.Methods: data were provided from centers covering the South West United Kingdom (Bristol, Oxford, Cardiff, Exeter, and Southampton), with a total area at-risk population (&lt;18 years of age) of 2 947 534. Cases were retrieved from 2013 to 2022. Incident rates were reported per 100 000 at-risk population, with temporal trends analyzed through correlation. Subgroup analysis was undertaken for age groups (0-6, 6-11, and 12-17 years of age), sex, and disease subtype. Choropleth maps were created for local districts.Results: in total, 2497 pIBD cases were diagnosed between 2013 and 2022, with a mean age of 12.6 years (38.7% female). Diagnosis numbers increased from 187 to 376, with corresponding incidence rates of 6.0 per 100 000 population per year (2013) to 12.4 per 100 000 population per year (2022) (b = 0.918, P &lt; .01). Female rates increased from 5.1 per 100 000 population per year in 2013 to 11.0 per 100 000 population per year in 2022 (b = 0.865, P = .01). Male rates increased from 5.7 per 100 000 population per year to 14.4 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.832, P = .03). Crohn's disease incidence increased from 3.1 per 100 000 population per year to 6.3 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.897, P &lt; .01). Ulcerative colitis increased from 2.3 per 100 000 population per year to 4.3 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.813, P = .04). Inflammatory bowel disease unclassified also increased, from 0.6 per 100 000 population per year to 1.8 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.851, P = .02). Statistically significant increases were seen in those ≥12 to 17 years of age, from 11.2 per 100 000 population per year to 24.6 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.912, P &lt; .01), and the 7- to 11-year-old age group, with incidence rising from 4.4 per 100 000 population per year to 7.6 per 100 000 population per year (b = 0.878, P = .01). There was no statistically significant increase in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease (≤6 years of age) (b = 0.417, P = .231).Conclusions: we demonstrate significant increases in pIBD incidence across a large geographical area including multiple referral centers. Increasing incidence has implications for service provision for services managing pIBD.</p