A CLINICAL STUDY OF INHALANT ANAESTHESIA IN DOGS

A clinical trial was undertaken using three different inhalant anaesthetic agents and one intravenous anaesthetic agent in dogs undergoing routine desexing surgery. Healthy adult dogs undergoing either ovariohysterectomy or castration were assessed as to their demeanour, with the more excitable dogs being placed in groups receiving premedication with acepromazine and morphine. All dogs were then randomly assigned an anaesthetic agent for induction of general anaesthesia. The agents were the inhalants halothane, isoflurane and sevoflurane, and the intravenous agent propofol. Inhalant inductions were undertaken using a tight fitting mask attached to a standard anaesthetic machine with a rebreathing circuit, with the maximum dose of inhalant available from a standard vaporiser. Propofol inductions were undertaken via intravenous catheter. Dogs induced with propofol were randomly assigned one of the three inhalant agents for maintenance. Those induced by inhalant agent were maintained using the same agent. The surgical procedure was undertaken in standard fashion, as was recovery from anaesthesia. All dogs received the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent meloxicam. Data collection was divided into three stages: induction, maintenance, and recovery from anaesthesia. Variables measured at induction of anaesthesia were time to intubation, number of intubation attempts, tolerance of mask, quality of induction and quality of transfer to the maintenance stage. Standard variables for monitoring of anaesthesia were recorded throughout the maintenance of anaesthesia. Variables measured at recovery were time to righting, time to standing and quality of recovery. The mean time to intubation when using the newer inhalant sevoflurane (196.2 ± 14.8sec, mean ± SE) was not significantly different to that for halothane (221.4 ± 14.0sec) or isoflurane (172.4 ± 15.0sec). Time to intubation with isoflurane was significantly faster than with halothane. Mean time to intubation with propofol (85.4 ± 7.7sec) was significantly faster than that for any of the three inhalants. Choice of inhalant had no effect on quality of induction. The use of premedication significantly improved the quality of induction. The use of propofol for induction likewise significantly improved the quality of induction. Standard cardiorespiratory variables measured during the maintenance phase of anaesthesia remained within normal clinical ranges for all three inhalants, and were therefore not further analysed. Choice of inhalant agent had no significant effect on the time to righting or standing in recovery. The use of propofol for induction had no effect on these variables. Animals placed in groups receiving premedication had significantly longer times to righting and standing. The oesophageal temperature at the end of the procedure had a significant effect on times to righting and standing, with lower temperatures contributing to slower recoveries. Independent of procedure time, male dogs had shorter times to righting than female dogs

A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic, epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis. This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100 different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages, SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements

A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic, epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis. This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100 different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages, SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements

Low-dose rapamycin treatment increases the ability of human regulatory T cells to inhibit transplant arteriosclerosis in vivo.

Regulatory T cells (T(reg)) are currently being tested in clinical trials as a potential therapy in cell and solid organ transplantation. The immunosuppressive drug rapamycin has been shown to preferentially promote T(reg) expansion. Here, we hypothesized that adjunctive rapamycin therapy might potentiate the ability of ex vivo expanded human T(reg) to inhibit vascular allograft rejection in a humanized mouse model of arterial transplantation. We studied the influence of combined treatment with low-dose rapamycin and subtherapeutic T(reg) numbers on the development of transplant arteriosclerosis (TA) in human arterial grafts transplanted into immunodeficient BALB/cRag2(-/-) Il2rg(-/-) mice reconstituted with allogeneic human peripheral blood mononuclear cell. In addition, we assessed the effects of the treatment on the proliferation and apoptosis of naïve/effector T cells. The combined therapy efficiently suppressed T-cell proliferation in vivo and in vitro. Neointima formation in the human arterial allografts was potently inhibited compared with each treatment alone. Interestingly, CD4(+) but not CD8(+) T lymphocytes were sensitive to T(reg) and rapamycin-induced apoptosis in vitro. Our data support the concept that rapamycin can be used as an adjunctive therapy to improve efficacy of T(reg)-based immunosuppressive protocols in clinical practice. By inhibiting TA, T(reg) and rapamycin may prevent chronic transplant dysfunction and improve long-term allograft survival

Regulation of transplant arteriosclerosis by CD25+CD4+ T cells generated to alloantigen in vivo.

BACKGROUND: CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells have been shown to suppress alloimmunity in various experimental settings. Here, we hypothesized that alloantigen-reactive regulatory T cells would reduce the severity of transplant arteriosclerosis. METHODS: CD25+CD4+ T cells from CBA mice that were pretreated with C57BL/6 (B.6) blood (donor-specific transfusion, DST) and nondepleting anti-CD4 Ab (YTS 177) were cotransferred with naïve CBA CD25-CD4+"effector" T cells into CBA-rag-/- mice. These animals received aorta transplants from B.6 CD31-/- donors. CBA wild-type recipients of B.6 aorta grafts were pretreated with 177/DST directly. Some animals received 6x10(5) CD25+CD4+ T cells from pretreated mice to augment regulation on day -1. Grafts were harvested on day 30. RESULTS: Luminal occlusion of the graft caused by neointima formation was 29.3+/-19.4% (n=5) after transfer of effector T cells only. Co-transfer of CD25+CD4+ regulators reduced occlusion significantly (2.4+/-3.3%, n=3; P=0.009). This effect was partially abrogated in the presence of a CTLA4 blocking Ab (11.1+/-4.7%, n=4; P=0.008). Pretreating immunocompetent CBA recipients of B.6 aortic allografts with 177/DST did not reduce transplant arteriosclerosis significantly (43.0+/-15.7%, n=5 vs. 56.6+/-16.8%, n=5; 177/DST vs. controls; P=0.22). However, when pretreated primary CBA recipients received an additional transfer of 6 x 10(5) CD25+CD4+ T cells procured from other mice pretreated with 177/DST before transplantation, luminal occlusion of the graft was markedly reduced (33.0+/-7.6%, n=5; P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Regulatory T cells generated in vivo to alloantigen can prevent CD25-CD4+ T-cell-mediated transplant arteriosclerosis. In immunocompetent recipients, these cells have potential to be used as cellular immunotherapy to control transplant arteriosclerosis

Ex vivo-expanded human regulatory T cells prevent the rejection of skin allografts in a humanized mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Composite tissue transplantation effectively reconstructs the most complex defects, but its use is limited because of harmful immunosuppression and the high susceptibility of skin to rejection. Development of tolerance is an ideal solution, and protocols using regulatory T cells (Tregs) to achieve this have been promising in experimental animal models. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of human Tregs to regulate immune responses to a human skin allograft in vivo. METHODS: We isolated and expanded naturally occurring CD127loCD25+CD4+ human Tregs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and examined their phenotype and suppressive activity in vitro. Using a clinically relevant chimeric humanized mouse system, we transplanted mice with human skin grafts followed by allogeneic populations of PBMCs with or without Tregs derived from the same PBMC donor. RESULTS: Ex vivo-expanded Tregs maintain the appropriate Treg markers and retain suppressive activity against allostimulated and polyclonally stimulated autologous PBMCs in vitro. Mice receiving allogeneic PBMCs alone consistently reject human skin grafts, whereas those also receiving Tregs display stable long-term human skin transplant survival along with a reduction in the CD8+ human cellular graft infiltrate. CONCLUSIONS: We show for the first time the unique ability of human Tregs to prevent the rejection of a skin allograft in vivo, highlighting the therapeutic potential of these cells clinically

CD4+ regulatory T cells generated in vitro with IFN-{gamma} and allogeneic APC inhibit transplant arteriosclerosis.

We have developed a method to generate alloreactive regulatory T cells in vitro in the presence of interferon (IFN)-gamma and donor antigen presenting cells (APCs). We hypothesized that these IFN-gamma-conditioned T cells (Tcon) would reduce transplantation-associated arteriosclerosis. Tcon were generated from mouse (CBA.Ca, H-2(k)) CD4(+) T cells cultured in the presence of IFN-gamma for 14 days. These cultures were pulsed with bone marrow-derived B6 (H-2(b)) APC. 1 x 10(5) CD25(-)CD4(+) effector T cells from naive H-2(k) mice were then cotransferred with 4 x 10(5) Tcon into CBA-rag(-/-) mice. One day later, these mice received a fully allogenic B6 CD31(-/-) abdominal aorta transplant. Transfer of CD25(-)CD4(+) effectors resulted in 29.7 +/- 14.5% luminal occlusion of allogeneic aortic grafts after 30 days. Cotransfer of Tcon reduced this occlusion to 11.7 +/- 13.1%; P < 0.05. In addition, the CD31(-) donor endothelium was fully repopulated by CD31(+) recipient endothelial cells in the absence of Tcon, but not in the presence of Tcon. In some experiments, we cotransplanted B6 skin with aortic grafts to ensure enhanced reactivation of the regulatory cells, which led to an additional reduction in vasculopathy (1.9 +/- 3.0% luminal occlusion). In the presence of Tcon, CD4(+) T cell infiltration into grafts was markedly reduced by a regulatory mechanism that included reduced priming and proliferation of CD25(-)CD4(+) effectors. These data illustrate the potential of ex vivo generated regulatory T cells for the inhibition of transplant-associated vasculopathy