Serologic Evidence that Ascaris and Toxoplasma Infections Impact Inflammatory Responses to Helicobacter pylori in Colombians

Background: Helicobacter pylori-infected children from coastal Tumaco, Colombia, have more parasitism, and adults have lower gastric cancer risk compared with high-altitude Pasto/Tuquerres residents. Because helminth and Toxoplasma gondii infections alter helicobacter gastritis in rodent models, we determined whether seropositivity to Ascaris lumbricoides or T. gondii was associated with Th2-IgG1 or Th1-IgG2 responses to H. pylori. Methods: Sera (240) from the two populations were evaluated for A. lumbricoides and T. gondii seropositivity and results correlated with IgE and IgG isotype responses to H. pylori. Results: Most Tumaco children and adults were seropositive for A. lumbricoides (89%, 66%), T. gondii (59%, 98%), or both (45%, 66%). In contrast, seropositivity among Pasto/Tuquerres children was much lower (9%A. lumbricoides, 11%T. gondii, and 2% dual positive) but increased in adults (58%A. lumbricoides, 82%T. gondii, and 41% dual positive). A. lumbricoides seropositivity correlated with elevated IgE and anti-inflammatory Th2-IgG1 responses to H. pylori, while T. gondiigondii seropositivity was linked to elevated IgE, pro-inflammatory Th1-IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 responses to H. pylori. Individuals with high T. gondii titers had reduced Th1-IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 responses to H. pylori. Conclusions: Results support regional differences for childhood parasitism and indicate A. lumbricoides and T. gondii infections may impact inflammatory responses to H. pylori and partially explain differences in gastric cancer risk in Colombia.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant T32RR07036)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant PO1CA028842)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant P30ES02109

Whipple's Disease: a Macrophage Disease

International audienc

Effect of chronic inhalation of inorganic arsenic on the risk of stillbirth in a community surrounding an agriculture chemical production facility: a hospital-based study

Due to the character of the original source materials and the nature of batch digitization, quality control issues may be present in this document. Please report any quality issues you encounter to [email protected], referencing the URI of the item.Includes bibliographical references.Issued also on microfiche from Lange Micrographics.Evidence from numerous animal, and a number of human epidemiologic studies has indicated there is an increased risk for adverse reproductive outcomes associated with arsenic exposure, regardless of the method of exposure or form of the arsenic. However, the extent and severity of the effects of chronic inhalation of low levels of arsenic on health and reproduction are not known. Bryan, Texas was the site of an agricultural chemical production facility for over 60 years. 'Me primary products manufactured at the facility were arsenic-based pesticides, herbicides and defoliants. Arsenic contaminated waste water was generated as a result of the manufacturing process and over the course of the plant's operations large quantities of arsenic were released into the water and air. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Fugitive Dust Model was used to model the extent and atmospheric pattern of arsenic distribution after its emission. It was estimated that a large part of the Bryan community was exposed to levels of airborne arsenic not typically found in the environment in the United States, and in excess of Texas state Effect Screening Level (ESL). A hospital-based, case-control study of stillbirths was conducted at a major delivery hospital in Brazos County, Texas. Medical and demographic data for the period January 1, 1983, through December 31, 1993, were abstracted from the hospital medical records. Socioeconomic status was estimated by Median Income from block group level data in the 1990 STA3 Population and Housing Census data file. Estimated arsenic exposure levels were ascertained based upon a mass balance model and incorporated into an EPA Fugitive Dust Model. Among the 386 infants who made up the study population, meternal residence in the high exposure area was associated with increased risk of stillbirth with an odds ratio of 4.0 (95% CI 1.2-13.7). There was also a statistically significant dose-response relationship between level of exposure and risk of stillbirth (p--O.035)

Gastric Helicobacter Infection Induces a Th2 Phenotype but Does Not Elevate Serum Cholesterol in Mice Lacking Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

Persistent Helicobacter felis infection in (C57BL/6 × 129SvEv)F(1) mice induces chronic gastritis. Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is upregulated in response to Helicobacter infection. In this study, 20 10-week-old iNOS(−/−) mice and 20 wild-type [(C57BL/6 × 129SvEv)F(1)] mice were infected with H. felis by oral gavage and were assessed histologically and serologically at 32 weeks postinfection. Equal numbers of uninfected controls were sham inoculated. The mice were scored for severity of gastric inflammation, hyperplasia, glandular atrophy, and mucous metaplasia in the corpus and for the level of helicobacter colonization. The immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgG2a, and IgG2c antibody responses to H. felis were determined. As a secondary measure, serum cholesterol levels were assessed. iNOS(−/−) mice have a propensity for increased serum cholesterol, and although controversial, several human epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between Helicobacter infection and several risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including elevated serum cholesterol. Nevertheless, no differences in serum cholesterol levels were observed between the H. felis-infected and -uninfected iNOS(−/−) mice in this study. The uninfected animals had minimal to no gastric pathology. The gastric pathology scores for the infected animals were reduced significantly in the iNOS-deficient mice relative to those for the wild-type mice (all P < 0.01). Helicobacter-infected iNOS(−/−) mice had chronic lymphoid infiltration and negligible to mild glandular atrophy and mucous metaplasia in the fundic mucosa, while H. felis-infected wild-type mice had severe atrophic and metaplastic mucosal changes. The atrophic gastritis in the infected wild-type mice, particularly the female mice, was also accompanied by greater granulocytic infiltration, antral hyperplasia, and diminished antral colonization, unlike that in the infected iNOS(−/−) mice. iNOS(−/−) mice developed significantly lower Th1-associated IgG2c antibody responses to H. felis (P < 0.0003); the Th2-associated IgG1 responses were similar (P = 0.09), suggesting a greater effect of the iNOS defect on Th1 responses. H. felis colonization was significantly greater in the iNOS-deficient mice. These findings are indicative of an impaired Th1 component of the H. felis-induced inflammatory response when the influence of iNOS is removed

Murine Model of Infection by Tropheryma whipplei

We developed an animal model reproducing several aspects of Whipple's disease. Immunocompetent mice were persistently infected with Tropheryma whipplei, its etiological agent, and developed liver granulomas. SCID mice were infected similarly but did not develop tissue lesions. The delayed clearance of T. whipplei suggests a protective role for innate immunity

Water-based fabrication of garnet-based solid electrolyte separators for solid-state lithium batteries

Garnet-type Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZ) is regarded as a promising oxide-based solid electrolyte (SE) for solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs) or other advanced Li-battery concepts like Li–air or Li–S batteries. A thin free-standing LLZ sheet can be fabricated by tape-casting and used e.g. as separators in SSLBs, since tape casting is an industrially established process and enables large-scale production of such SEs. However, organic solvents and additives employed in conventional slurry recipes for tape-casting give rise to health and safety concerns and also cause a high cost for solvent recovery. Hence, development of a green, water-based processing route can reduce both manufacturing costs and environmental footprint. In this work, we developed a tape-casting process for LLZ SEs using water as solvent, the water-soluble biopolymer methylcellulose as binder and other eco-friendly polymers as plasticizers. Although a Li+/H+ exchange takes place during our procedure, we demonstrate that the Li+/H+ exchange reaction is reversible in our procedure and results in the formation of stoichiometric cubic LLZ at the end. The obtained free-standing LLZ sheets with thickness of 150 μm and relative density of approx. 90% offer an ionic conductivity of 0.15 mS cm−1 at room temperature. We thereby prove that it is feasible to use water as dispersion medium and eco-friendly polymer additives for the fabrication of thin garnet-based SE layers

[Specific Contribution of Psychosocial Cancer Counselling Centers - Perspectives of the Person Seeking Advice and the Referring Professional

Xyländer M, Bayer O, Schranz M, et al. Zum spezifischen Versorgungsbeitrag psychosozialer Krebsberatungsstellen – Sichtweisen der Ratsuchenden und Zuweisenden. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, medizinische Psychologie. 2021.AIM: The aim of the study is to look at the specific contribution of outpatient cancer counselling centers (OCCC) from the perspective of both the person seeking advice and the referring health care professionals.; METHODS: Qualitative design by means of guideline-based face-to-face interviews with cancer patients/relatives and individual telephone interviews with referring health care professionals.; RESULTS: A total of 43 persons seeking advice and 30 referring health care professionals were interviewed. With regard to the contents of counselling, psycho-oncological support and help for self-help in combination with social-legal information about additional support services are perceived as central features. In the group of referring physicians, however, there seems to be some uncertainty about what OCCCs (can) provide.; CONCLUSION: On the one hand, the results point to a specific core of the services offered by OCCCs, and on the other hand to ambiguous perceptions on the part of the respondents. They may contribute to further sharpening the profile of OCCC and to clarifying their place in the health care system. Thieme. All rights reserved