Maternal allergen immunisation to prevent sensitisation in offspring: Th2-polarising adjuvants are more efficient than a Th1-polarising adjuvant in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Allergy has been an increasing problem in several parts of the world. Prenatal exposure to allergen and microbial components may affect the development of allergies in childhood, as indicated by epidemiological and experimental studies. We investigated the capacity for allergic sensitisation in offspring after induction of a Th1- or a Th2-polarised immune response to the same allergen in mothers during pregnancy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During pregnancy, mice were immunised with ovalbumin (OVA) given with either one of the Th2-adjuvants pertussis toxin (PT) or Al(OH)₃(aluminium hydroxide), or with the Th1 adjuvant CpG. Offspring were immunised with OVA in Al(OH)₃as young adults. Serum and supernatants from <it>ex vivo </it>stimulated or non-stimulated spleen cells from mothers and offspring were analysed for OVA-specific antibodies and cytokines, respectively. Mothers immunised with OVA together with either Al(OH)₃or PT had increased levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 compared to naive mothers, whereas mothers immunised with OVA together with CpG had increased levels of OVA-specific IgG2a compared to naive mothers. In general the highest levels of IL-5, IL-10, and IFNγ were observed in spleen cells from mothers immunised with PT and OVA. Upon immunisation, offspring from mothers immunised with OVA and either PT or Al(OH)₃showed reduced levels of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 and increased levels of OVA-specific IgG2a antibodies compared to offspring from naive mothers. Maternal immunisation with CpG and OVA did not affect antibody responses in offspring.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Allergic sensitisation in the offspring was affected by the type of adjuvant used for immunisation of the mothers with the same allergen. Th2 polarisation of the immune response in the mothers was found to give reduced IgE levels upon sensitisation of the offspring, whereas no reduction was achieved with Th1 polarisation in the mothers.</p

Methylphenidate improves motor functions in children diagnosed with Hyperkinetic Disorder

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A previous study showed that a high percentage of children diagnosed with Hyperkinetic Disorder (HKD) displayed a consistent pattern of motor function problems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of methylphenidate (MPH) on such motor performance in children with HKD</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>25 drug-naïve boys, aged 8–12 yr with a HKD-F90.0 diagnosis, were randomly assigned into two groups within a double blind cross-over design, and tested with a motor assessment instrument, during MPH and placebo conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The percentage of MFNU scores in the sample indicating 'severe motor problems' ranged from 44–84%, typically over 60%. Highly significant improvements in motor performance were observed with MPH compared to baseline ratings on all the 17 subtests of the MFNU 1–2 hr after administration of MPH. There were no significant placebo effects. The motor improvement was consistent with improvement of clinical symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study confirmed our prior clinical observations showing that children with ADHD typically demonstrate marked improvements of motor functions after a single dose of 10 mg MPH. The most pronounced positive MPH response was seen in subtests measuring either neuromotor inhibition, or heightened muscular tone in the gross movement muscles involved in maintaining the alignment and balance of the body. Introduction of MPH generally led to improved balance and a generally more coordinated and controlled body movement.</p

Allergic sensitisation in tuberculosis patients at the time of diagnosis and following chemotherapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>It is still a matter of debate whether there is an association between infection with <it>Mycobacterium tuberculosis </it>(<it>M. tuberculosis</it>) and allergy. Previously, we have shown higher levels of specific IgE to different inhalant allergens and total IgE in tuberculosis (TB) patients compared to controls. The objectives of this study were to evaluate a possible change in allergic sensitisation after successful TB treatment and to confirm the finding of our previous study of enhanced allergic sensitisation in TB patients compared to controls in a more controlled setting. Additionally, we wanted to determine the cytokine profile in the same groups and finally to evaluate the association between the presence of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination (BCG) scar and allergic sensitisation among the controls.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sera were analysed for specific IgE to inhalant allergens (Phadiatop) and total IgE by the use of ImmunoCAP 1000 (Pharmacia Diagnostics). Thirteen different cytokines were also analysed in the sera by multiplex bead immunoassay (Luminex 100, Luminex Corporation), and clinical symptoms of allergy and BCG scar were reported in a questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A reduction in levels of specific and total IgE were observed after successful TB treatment. TB patients also had higher levels of specific and total IgE compared to healthy controls. Both interleukin (IL)-6 and interferon (IFN)γ were higher in TB patients compared to healthy controls. The levels of IL-6 were reduced after successful TB treatment. The presence of a BCG scar was associated with a reduced risk of developing allergic sensitisation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We observed a reduced level of allergic sensitisation after successful TB treatment. TB patients seem to be more allergically sensitised than healthy controls, confirming our previous finding. Furthermore, we observed an inverse association between allergic sensitisation and visible BCG scar, which adds additional support to the hygiene hypothesis.</p

The feeding conditions of capelin during summer. Field observations in 1979 and 1980

The Institute of Marine Research has, since 1979, carried out investigations on the capelin feeding conditions in the Barents Sea during the summer season. This program is aimed at obtaining data that can contribute to the understanding of the factors affecting the capelin growth in this area. The program is based on the working hypothesis that as the ice edge in the Barents Sea recedes northwards during the summer, new areas become available for biological production. If a series of observations are made from the ice edge towards the south, different phases in the production process can be found, from nutrients via phytoplankton and zooplankton to the capelin. In this program an attempt is made to follow the development of this production process in order to make the feeding conditions for the capelin and its variations. This will give background information for better predictions on the development of the capelin stock and with that, a better exploitation of the resource. The present report describes the methods used in the field work in order to verify the mentioned hypothesis. Most of the results obtained during the summer seasons of 1979 and 1980 are presented in the form of tables and figures and only with brief comments

Ecological investigations in the marginal ice zone in the Barents Sea the summers 1979 and 1980

During the summers of l979 and 1980, ecological investigations were carried out in the marginal ice zone in the Barents Sea. In the investigation an attempt is made to follow the development of the production processes, from nutrients via phytoplankton and zooplankton to capelin, in order to map the feeding conditions for the capelin and its variations. The methods used in the field work and most of the results obtained during the two summer seasons are presented by ELLERTSEN -et -al. (1981). In the present report we discuss and summarize the field results so far and compare them with the results from a model. The results show a close relationship between ice melting and recession and a phytoplankton bloom occurring at the ice edge. It seems that the decrease in salinity in the upper few meters due to ice melting produce a sharp increase in water stability. Thereby favourable conditions are created for an intense phytoplankton bloom. This bloom seems to occur somewhat earlier than the spring bloom in the areas of the Barents Sea not covered by ice, where water stability is mainly influenced by the warming of the upper layers. Zooplankton development follows very close that of the phytoplankton, with a bloom starting near the ice edge. The biomass was found to increase with the distance from the edge. This tendency is most clear in the upper layers, where the zooplankton spawning and the development of the zooplankton larvae occur. The main bulk of the zooplankton consisted of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus. The most numerous species was the small copepod Oithona similis. There was a change in age composition of -C. finmarchicus with the distance from the ice, the nauplii and the younger copepodite stages predominating in the north. The younger stages (I-III) were most abundant in the surface layer where they had hatched earlier in the year, while the older stages (IV-V and adult females) had overwintered and predominated in the deeper layer. The stomach contents of 12-18 cm capelin from several stations were investigated. The stomach filling seemed to be related to the plankton density in the sea, with highest filling in areas with much plankton. The species composition in the stomachs roughly corresponded with the plankton composition, with a tendency to a higher numeric percentage of euphausiids and chaetognaths in the stomachs than in the plankton. Near half of the contents, as weight, consisted of calanoid copepods, while the euphausiids, chaetognaths and amphipods made up 30, 10 and 6 per cent of the weight respectively. A model describing the growth of phytoplankton and zooplankton along a north-south section in the Barents Sea is also briefly described. Using ice map data obtained via satellite, several simulation runs have been performed. The dynamics of the phytoplankton growth seems to agree with what we believe it should according to the available data. However, some discrepancies indicate areas that should be further investigated in order to increase our knowledge and improve the model. The zooplankton part of the model produces results that are more questionable. Variations in zooplankton biomass are reasonably calculated whereas the stage distribution does not fit our data. Reasons for this are discussed

Effects of the dual TP receptor antagonist and thromboxane synthase inhibitor EV-077 on human endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells

AbstractThe prothrombotic mediator thromboxane A2 is derived from arachidonic acid metabolism through the cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthase pathways, and transduces its effect through the thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptor. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the TP receptor antagonist and thromboxane synthase inhibitor EV-077 on inflammatory markers in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and on human coronary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation. To this end, mRNA levels of different proinflammatory mediators were studied by real time quantitative PCR, supernatants were analyzed by enzyme immune assay, and cell proliferation was assessed using WST-1. EV-077 significantly decreased mRNA levels of ICAM-1 and PTX3 after TNFα incubation, whereas concentrations of 6-keto PGF1α in supernatants of endothelial cells incubated with TNFα were significantly increased after EV-077 treatment. Although U46619 did not alter coronary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, this thromboxane mimetic enhanced the proliferation induced by serum, insulin and growth factors, which was significantly inhibited by EV-077. In conclusion, EV-077 inhibited TNFα-induced endothelial inflammation and reduced the enhancement of smooth muscle cell proliferation induced by a thromboxane mimetic, supporting that the thromboxane pathway may be associated with early atherosclerosis in terms of endothelial dysfunction and vascular hypertrophy

Influence of larval transport and temperature on recruitment dynamics of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) across spatial scales of observation

© The Author(s), 2020. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Romagnoni, G., Kvile, K. o., Dagestad, K., Eikeset, A. M., Kristiansen, T., Stenseth, N. C., & Langangen, O. Influence of larval transport and temperature on recruitment dynamics of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) across spatial scales of observation. Fisheries Oceanography, (2020): 1-16, doi:10.1111/fog.12474.The survival of fish eggs and larvae, and therefore recruitment success, can be critically affected by transport in ocean currents. Combining a model of early‐life stage dispersal with statistical stock–recruitment models, we investigated the role of larval transport for recruitment variability across spatial scales for the population complex of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua ). By using a coupled physical–biological model, we estimated the egg and larval transport over a 44‐year period. The oceanographic component of the model, capable of capturing the interannual variability of temperature and ocean current patterns, was coupled to the biological component, an individual‐based model (IBM) that simulated the cod eggs and larvae development and mortality. This study proposes a novel method to account for larval transport and success in stock–recruitment models: weighting the spawning stock biomass by retention rate and, in the case of multiple populations, their connectivity. Our method provides an estimate of the stock biomass contributing to recruitment and the effect of larval transport on recruitment variability. Our results indicate an effect, albeit small, in some populations at the local level. Including transport anomaly as an environmental covariate in traditional stock–recruitment models in turn captures recruitment variability at larger scales. Our study aims to quantify the role of larval transport for recruitment across spatial scales, and disentangle the roles of temperature and larval transport on effective connectivity between populations, thus informing about the potential impacts of climate change on the cod population structure in the North Sea.G.R. was supported by the Norden Top‐level Research Initiative sub‐programme “Effect Studies and Adaptation to Climate Change” through the Nordic Centre for Research on Marine Ecosystems and Resources under Climate Change (NorMER). K.Ø.K. was supported by the WHOI John H. Steele Post‐doctoral Scholar award and VISTA – a basic research program in collaboration between The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, and Equinor. We thank an anonymous referee for valuable comments that substantially improved the article

Comparative analysis of Calanus finmarchicus demography at locations around the Northeast Atlantic

Standardized time-series sampling was carried out throughout 1997 at seven locations around the Northeast Atlantic to investigate regional variations in the seasonal demography of Calanus finmarchicus. Sites ranged from an inshore location in the North Sea, where C. finmarchicus formed only a small component of the zooplankton (2000 mgC m-2 during spring and summer). The internal consistency of the demographic time-series from each site was investigated by three partial models of life-cycle processes. In general, the demography of late copepodites could be accounted for by a relatively simple forecast model of stage development and diapause. However, there was a large discrepancy between nowcast estimates of egg production based on female abundance, temperature, and chlorophyll, and hindcast simulations of the egg production required to account for the observed abundance of early copepodite stages. The results point to a gap in our understanding of seasonal variations in rates of egg production and/or survival of nauplii. Overall, the population sampled at Weathership M appeared to be reasonably self-contained, but all other sites were reliant on invasion of overwintered stock in spring. At least two generations were observed at all but one site, but the extent to which these were generated by discrete bursts of egg production varied between sites and seemed to be partly dependent on the proximity to an overwintering location