Pilot study of the immunologic effects of recombinant human growth hormone and recombinant insulin-like growth factor in HIV-infected patients

Objective: To study the immunologic effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), recombinant human insulin-like growth factor type 1 (rhIGF-1), or the combination, in patients with moderately advanced HIV infection. Design: Randomized but not blinded trial. Setting: Government medical research center. Patients: Twenty-four HIV-infected patients with CD4 cell counts of 100-400 x 106/l who were receiving nucleoside antiretroviral therapy. Interventions: Either rhGH, rhIGF-1, or the combination was administered subcutaneously for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures: Immunologic parameters, including T-cell subsets and assays of in vitro interleukin (IL)-2 production in response to antigens and mitogens, and safety profile. Results: Plasma IGF-1 levels were low or low-normal prior to treatment and increased with all three therapies. There were no significant changes in CD4 cell counts, RA/RO CD4 cell subsets, natural killer cell function, immunoglobulin levels, or in vitro IL-2 production in response to mitogen or alloantigens. However, there was an upward trend (and for p18(IIIB) a statistically significant increase) in the in vitro IL-2 production in response to each of five HIV envelope peptides. Potential toxic effects included fatigue, arthralgia, edema, myalgia, and headache. Patients also were noted to have weight gain averaging 4 kg early in the course of treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that treatment with rhGH/rhIGF-1 was reasonably well tolerated and that modest improvement in HIV-specific immune function was attained. Further studies will help clarify the therapeutic potential of rhGH/rhIGF-1 as an immunostimulator in the setting of HIV infection

The Differential Modulation of USP Activity by Internal Regulatory Domains, Interactors and Eight Ubiquitin Chain Types

Chemical Immunolog

Chemical and microbiological attributes of an oxisol treated with successive applications of sewage sludge¹

Studies on sewage sludge (SS) have confirmed the possibilities of using this waste as fertilizer and/or soil conditioner in crop production areas. Despite restrictions with regard to the levels of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and pathogens, it is believed that properly treated SS with low PTE levels, applied to soil at adequate rates, may improve the soil chemical and microbiological properties. This study consisted of a long-term field experiment conducted on a Typic Haplorthox (eutroferric Red Latosol) treated with SS for seven successive years for maize production, to evaluate changes in the soil chemical and microbiological properties. The treatments consisted of two SS rates (single and double dose of the crop N requirement) and a mineral fertilizer treatment. Soil was sampled in the 0-0.20 m layer and analyzed for chemical properties (organic C, pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, CEC, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Pb) and microbiological properties (basal respiration, microbial biomass activity, microbial biomass C, metabolic quotient, microbial quotient, and protease and dehydrogenase enzyme activities). Successive SS applications to soil increased the macro- and micronutrient availability, but the highest SS dose reduced the soil pH significantly, indicating a need for periodic corrections. The SS treatments also affected soil microbial activity and biomass negatively. There were no significant differences among treatments for maize grain yield. After seven annual applications of the recommended sludge rate, the heavy metal levels in the soil had not reached toxic levels