Lysis mediated by T cells and restricted by H-2 antigen of target cells infected with vaccinia virus

VARIOUS virus infections lead to the formation of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CL), which are capable of killing virus-infected target cells1−4. Specific lysis of target cells infected with 51Cr-labelled vaccinia virus could be observed when investigating the cell-mediated cytotoxic reaction to vaccinia virus5; the CL could be characterised as a T cell. The sensitised lymphocytes from C3H mice could only kill syngeneic L929 cells infected with vaccinia virus, whereas lysis by sensitised lymphocytes derived from DBA/2 mice was restricted to the syngeneic infected mastocytoma P815X2 cells. In the lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection the target cell lysis was shown to be restricted by H-2 antigen6. We report here experiments with primary fibroblasts of the mouse strains C3H, DBA/2 and the (C3H DBA/2)F1 generation were designed to affirm that the effector phase of virus-specific lysis of target cells mediated by T cells is restricted by H-2 antigen even in the vaccinia virus infection. Further experiments with H-2 alloantisera were performed to indicate the close local relationship between H-2 antigens and viral surface antigens

Pleosporales

One hundred and five generic types of Pleosporales are described and illustrated. A brief introduction and detailed history with short notes on morphology, molecular phylogeny as well as a general conclusion of each genus are provided. For those genera where the type or a representative specimen is unavailable, a brief note is given. Altogether 174 genera of Pleosporales are treated. Phaeotrichaceae as well as Kriegeriella, Zeuctomorpha and Muroia are excluded from Pleosporales. Based on the multigene phylogenetic analysis, the suborder Massarineae is emended to accommodate five families, viz. Lentitheciaceae, Massarinaceae, Montagnulaceae, Morosphaeriaceae and Trematosphaeriaceae

A study of soft tissue sarcomas after childhood cancer in Britain

Among 16 541 3-year survivors of childhood cancer in Britain, 39 soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) occurred and 1.1 sarcomas were expected, yielding a standardised incidence ratio (SIR) of 16.1. When retinoblastomas were excluded from the cohort, the SIR for STSs was 15.9, and the cumulative risk of developing a soft tissue tumour after childhood cancer within 20 years of 3-year survival was 0.23%. In the case–control study, there was a significant excess of STSs in those patients exposed to both radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy, which was five times that observed among those not exposed (P=0.02). On the basis of individual radiation dosimetry, there was evidence of a strong dose–response effect with a significant increase in the risk of STS with increasing dose of RT (P<0.001). This effect remained significant in a multivariate model. The adjusted risk in patients exposed to RT doses of over 3000 cGy was over 50 times the risk in the unexposed. There was evidence of a dose–response effect with exposure to alkylating agents, the risk increasing substantially with increasing cumulative dose (P=0.05). This effect remained after adjusting for the effect of radiation exposure

Immune cell counts and risks of respiratory infections among infants exposed pre- and postnatally to organochlorine compounds: a prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early-life chemical exposure may influence immune system development, subsequently affecting child health. We investigated immunomodulatory potentials of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE in infants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prenatal exposure to PCBs and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE was estimated from maternal serum concentrations during pregnancy. Postnatal exposure was calculated from concentrations of the compounds in mother's milk, total number of nursing days, and percentage of full nursing each week during the 3 month nursing period. Number and types of infections among infants were registered by the mothers (N = 190). White blood cell counts (N = 86) and lymphocyte subsets (N = 52) were analyzed in a subgroup of infants at 3 months of age.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Infants with the highest prenatal exposure to PCB congeners CB-28, CB-52 and CB-101 had an increased risk of respiratory infection during the study period. In contrast, the infection odds ratios (ORs) were highest among infants with the lowest prenatal mono-<it>ortho </it>PCB (CB-105, CB-118, CB-156, CB-167) and di-<it>ortho </it>PCB (CB-138, CB-153, CB-180) exposure, and postnatal mono- and di-<it>ortho </it>PCB, and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE exposure. Similar results were found for pre- and postnatal CB-153 exposure, a good marker for total PCB exposure. Altogether, a negative relationship was indicated between infections and total organochlorine compound exposure during the whole pre- and postnatal period. Prenatal exposure to CB-28, CB-52 and CB-101 was positively associated with numbers of lymphocytes and monocytes in infants 3 months after delivery. Prenatal exposure to <it>p,p'</it>-DDE was negatively associated with the percentage of eosinophils. No significant associations were found between PCB and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE exposure and numbers/percentages of lymphocyte subsets, after adjustment for potential confounders.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This hypothesis generating study suggests that background exposure to PCBs and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE early in life modulate immune system development. Strong correlations between mono- and di-<it>ortho </it>PCBs, and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE exposures make it difficult to identify the most important contributor to the suggested immunomodulation, and to separate effects due to pre- and postnatal exposure. The suggested PCB and <it>p,p'</it>-DDE modulation of infection risks may have consequences for the health development during childhood, since respiratory infections early in life may be risk factors for asthma and middle ear infections.</p

Treatment of osteochondral lesions of the talus: a systematic review

The aim of this study was to summarize all eligible studies to compare the effectiveness of treatment strategies for osteochondral defects (OCD) of the talus. Electronic databases from January 1966 to December 2006 were systematically screened. The proportion of the patient population treated successfully was noted, and percentages were calculated. For each treatment strategy, study size weighted success rates were calculated. Fifty-two studies described the results of 65 treatment groups of treatment strategies for OCD of the talus. One randomized clinical trial was identified. Seven studies described the results of non-operative treatment, 4 of excision, 13 of excision and curettage, 18 of excision, curettage and bone marrow stimulation (BMS), 4 of an autogenous bone graft, 2 of transmalleolar drilling (TMD), 9 of osteochondral transplantation (OATS), 4 of autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI), 3 of retrograde drilling and 1 of fixation. OATS, BMS and ACI scored success rates of 87, 85 and 76%, respectively. Retrograde drilling and fixation scored 88 and 89%, respectively. Together with the newer techniques OATS and ACI, BMS was identified as an effective treatment strategy for OCD of the talus. Because of the relatively high cost of ACI and the knee morbidity seen in OATS, we conclude that BMS is the treatment of choice for primary osteochondral talar lesions. However, due to great diversity in the articles and variability in treatment results, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Further sufficiently powered, randomized clinical trials with uniform methodology and validated outcome measures should be initiated to compare the outcome of surgical strategies for OCD of the talus

Protocol for an economic evaluation alongside the University Health Network Whiplash Intervention Trial: cost-effectiveness of education and activation, a rehabilitation program, and the legislated standard of care for acute whiplash injury in Ontario

Background: Whiplash injury affects 83% of persons in a traffic collision and leads to whiplash-associated disorders (WAD). A major challenge facing health care decision makers is identifying cost-effective interventions due to lack of economic evidence. Our objective is to compare the cost-effectiveness of: 1) physician-based education and activation, 2) a rehabilitation program developed by Aviva Canada (a group of property and casualty insurance providers), and 3) the legislated standard of care in the Canadian province of Ontario: the Pre-approved Framework Guideline for Whiplash developed by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Methods/Design. The economic evaluation will use participant-level data from the University Health Network Whiplash Intervention Trial and will be conducted from the societal perspective over the trial's one-year follow-up. Resource use (costs) will include all health care goods and services, and benefits provided during the trial's 1-year follow-up. The primary health effect will be the quality-adjusted life year. We will identify the most cost-effective intervention using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and incremental net-benefit. Confidence ellipses and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves will represent uncertainty around these statistics, respectively. A budget impact analysis will assess the total annual impact of replacing the current legislated standard of care with each of the other interventions. An expected value of perfect information will determine the maximum research expenditure Canadian society should be willing to pay for, and inform priority setting in, research of WAD management. Discussion. Results will provide health care decision makers with much needed economic evidence on common interventions for acute whiplash management. © 2011 van der Velde et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Attending to warning signs of primary immunodeficiencies disease across the range of clinical practices

Purpose: Patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDD) may present with recurrent infections affecting different organs, organ-specific inflammation/autoimmunity, and also increased cancer risk, particularly hematopoietic malignancies. The diversity of PIDD and the wide age range over which these clinical occurrences become apparent often make the identification of patients difficult for physicians other than immunologists. The aim of this report is to develop a tool for educative programs targeted to specialists and applied by clinical immunologists. Methods: Considering the data from national surveys and clinical reports of experiences with specific PIDD patients, an evidence-based list of symptoms, signs, and corresponding laboratory tests were elaborated to help physicians other than immunologists look for PIDD. Results: Tables including main clinical manifestations, restricted immunological evaluation, and possible related diagnosis were organized for general practitioners and 5 specialties. Tables include information on specific warning signs of PIDD for pulmonologists, gastroenterologists, dermatologists, hematologists, and infectious disease specialists. Conclusions: This report provides clinical immunologists with an instrument they can use to introduce specialists in other areas of medicine to the warning signs of PIDD and increase early diagnosis. Educational programs should be developed attending the needs of each specialty.Fil: Costa Carvalho, Beatriz Tavares. Universidade Federal de São Paulo; BrasilFil: Sevciovic Grumach, Anete. Fundação ABC. Faculdade de Medicina; BrasilFil: Franco, José Luis. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Espinosa Rosales, Francisco Javier. Instituto Nacional de Pediatría. Unidad de Investigación en Inmunodeficiencias; MéxicoFil: Leiva, Lily E.. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: King, Alejandra. Hospital de Niños Doctor Luis Calvo Mackenna. Unidad de Inmunología; ChileFil: Porras, Oscar. Hospital Nacional de Niños “Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera”; Costa RicaFil: Bezrodnik, Liliana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Oleastro, Mathias. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; ArgentinaFil: Sorensen, Ricardo U.. State University of Louisiana; Estados Unidos. Universidad de La Frontera. Facultad de Medicina; MéxicoFil: Condino Neto, Antonio. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi