Human mast cells decrease SLPI levels in type II - like alveolar cell model, in vitro.

Background Mast cells are known to accumulate at sites of inflammation and upon activation to release their granule content, e.g. histamine, cytokines and proteases. The secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is produced in the respiratory mucous and plays a role in regulating the activity of the proteases. Result We have used the HMC-1 cell line as a model for human mast cells to investigate their effect on SLPI expression and its levels in cell co-culture experiments, in vitro. In comparison with controls, we found a significant reduction in SLPI levels (by 2.35-fold, p < 0.01) in a SLPI-producing, type II-like alveolar cell line, (A549) when co-cultured with HMC-1 cells, but not in an HMC-1-conditioned medium, for 96 hours. By contrast, increased SLPI mRNA expression (by 1.58-fold, p < 0.05) was found under the same experimental conditions. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed mast cell transmigration in co-culture with SLPI-producing A549 cells for 72 and 96 hours. Conclusion These results indicate that SLPI-producing cells may assist mast cell migration and that the regulation of SLPI release and/or consumption by mast cells requires interaction between these cell types. Therefore, a "local relationship" between mast cells and airway epithelial cells might be an important step in the inflammatory response

Plasma levels of alpha1-antichymotrypsin and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor in healthy and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects with and without severe α1-antitrypsin deficiency

BACKGROUND: Individuals with severe Z α1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency have a considerably increased risk of developing chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). It has been hypothesized that compensatory increases in levels of other protease inhibitors mitigate the effects of this AAT deficiency. We analysed plasma levels of AAT, α1-antichymotrypsin (ACT) and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) in healthy (asymptomatic) and COPD subjects with and without AAT deficiency. METHODS: Studied groups included: 71 asymptomatic AAT-deficient subjects (ZZ, n = 48 and SZ, n = 23, age 31 ± 0.5) identified during Swedish neonatal screening for AAT deficiency between 1972 and 1974; age-matched controls (MM, n = 57, age 30.7 ± 0.6); older asymptomatic ZZ (n = 10); healthy MM (n = 20, age 53 ± 9.6); and COPD patients (ZZ, n = 10, age 47.4 ± 11 and MM, n = 10, age 59.4 ± 6.7). Plasma levels of SLPI, AAT and ACT were analysed using ELISA and immunoelectrophoresis. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in plasma ACT and SLPI levels between the healthy MM and the ZZ or SZ subjects in the studied groups. Independent of the genetic variant, subjects with COPD (n = 19) had elevated plasma levels of SLPI and ACT relative to controls (n = 153) (49.5 ± 7.2 vs 40.7 ± 9.1 ng/ml, p < 0.001 and 0.52 ± 0.19 vs 0.40 ± 0.1 mg/ml, p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that plasma levels of ACT and SLPI are not elevated in subjects with genetic AAT deficiency compared MM controls and do not appear to compensate for the deficiency of plasma AAT

Päivähoidon ja hyvinvointineuvolan moniammatillinen yhteistyö päivähoidon henkilöstön kuvaamana

Opinnäytetyömme kuvailee päivähoidon ja hyvinvointineuvolan yhteistyötä päivähoidon näkökulmasta. Tuomme esiin päivähoidon työntekijöiden omia kokemuksia ja ajatuksia yhteistyöstä. Hyvinvointineuvolamallin tarkoitus on tuoda moniammatillinen apu lähelle perhettä entistä helpommin. Päivähoidon ja hyvinvointineuvolan esteetön yhteistyö edistää tavoitteiden saavuttamista ja tukee oikea-aikaista, matalan kynnyksen avunsaantia. Tutkimuksen tausta-ajatuksena on halu edistää lasten ja lapsiperheiden hyvinvointia ja ennaltaeh-käistä ongelmien syntyä. Toimeksiantajana on Oulun kaupunki. Tutkimuksemme tavoite on tuottaa kokemuksellista tietoa siitä, millainen päivähoidon ja hyvinvointineuvolan moniammatillinen yhteistyö on lastenhoitajien ja lastentarhanopettajien kuvaamana. Tutkimusaineisto koostuu neljän työntekijän, kahden lastenhoitajan ja kahden lastentarhanopettajan, teemahaastatteluista. Tutkimus kohdistuu kahteen Oulun kaupungin Koskelan alueen päiväkotiin. Kvalitatiivisen tutkimuksen aineisto analysoitiin teoriaohjaavalla sisällönanalyysilla. Teoreettisessa viitekehyksessä määritellään perheen hyvinvointi, moniammatillinen yhteistyö sekä päivähoidon ja hyvinvointineuvolan tarjoama tuki. Tutkimustuloksista ilmenee päivähoidon ja hyvinvointineuvolan yhteistyötä edistäviä ja estäviä tekijöitä. Vakiintuneita käytäntöjä ovat yhteistyöryhmä Luotsi, laajennettu nelivuotistarkastus ja lapsen perinteiset neuvolakäynnit. Ulkomaalaistaustaisten perheiden tarpeet ja lapsen kouluun siirtymisen vaihe lisäävät yhteistyötä. Työntekijät toteavat, että yhteistyö on nykyisellään vähäistä ja sitä tulisi lisätä. Haasteena nähdään salassapitosäännökset ja vaitiolovelvollisuus. Myös vähäinen tieto hyvinvointineuvolan toiminnasta koetaan esteeksi. Kuvatessaan nykyistä yhteistyötä työntekijät esittävät myös ehdotuksia yhteistyön kehittämiseksi.Our thesis describes the cooperation between a welfare clinic and day care from the perspective of day care personnel. We discuss day care staff’s experiences and views on the cooperation. The purpose of welfare clinics is to give multiprofessional aid close to families easier than before. Barrier-free cooperation between a welfare clinic and day care contributes to reaching this aim and supports families getting low-threshold help on time. Through this thesis, we hope to advance welfare in families with children and prevent problems from arising. The study was commissioned by the City of Oulu. The aim of the study was to gain experiential knowledge on how multiprofessional cooperation between a welfare clinic and day care is described by childminders and kindergarten teachers. The study focused on two kindergartens in the Koskela area in the City of Oulu. The data consisted of theme-based interviews of four employees, two of whom were childminders and two kindergarten teachers. The qualitative data was analysed by using theory-guided content analysis. The theoretical framework of the thesis presents and defines the concepts of family welfare, multiprofessional cooperation, and the support provided by welfare clinics and day care. Study results indicated factors that hindered or fostered cooperation. A cooperation team Luotsi, 4-year-olds’ extended assessments and traditional child welfare clinic visits were established cooperation practices. Close cooperation was required when working with families with a foreign background and children who are starting at school. Based on the study results, there is little cooperation currently but this was hoped to increase. Secrecy orders and professional secrecy were conceived to set challenges for cooperation. In addition, it was found that day care staff had too little information on welfare clinics’ operations. However, when describing the present state of cooperation, interviewees had ideas how to develop communication between the welfare clinic and the day care

Localisation of secretory leucocyte proteinase inhibitor mRNA in nasal mucosa

Human secretory leucocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) is a low-molecular weight, acid-stable inhibitor of polymorphnuclear granulocyte elastase and cathepsin G. Previous reports have demonstrated the existence of SLPI in the respiratory tract, salivary glands and cervical mucosa. Positive staining for SLPI using immunohistochemical techniques has been reported in serous glands in nasal mucosa. We now confirm this observation and show, using in situ hybridization, that the pattern of expression of mRNA corresponds to the distribution of the encoded protein, SLPI. This, together with the high concentration of SLPI in nasal secretions, confirms the hypothesis of a local production of SLPI in the mucous membranes

Identification of SLPI (Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor) in human mast cells using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridisation

Recently interest has been focused on secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and its role in immediate hypersensitive reactions, possibly by inhibiting mast cell chymase. The purpose of this investigation was to show whether or not SLPI is produced in mast cells. Double-immunolabelling revealed that SLPI coexists with mast cell tryptase (60%) and chymase (37%). On the other hand, in situ hybridisation studies demonstrated the expression of SLPI mRNA in all mast cells. The differences in results can be attributed to the fact that in situ hybridisation is a more sensitive method than immunohistochemistry. Hence, we conclude that SLPI is produced in human tonsillar mast cells

Human mast cells decrease SLPI levels in type II – like alveolar cell model, <it>in vitro</it>

Abstract Background Mast cells are known to accumulate at sites of inflammation and upon activation to release their granule content, e.g. histamine, cytokines and proteases. The secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is produced in the respiratory mucous and plays a role in regulating the activity of the proteases. Result We have used the HMC-1 cell line as a model for human mast cells to investigate their effect on SLPI expression and its levels in cell co-culture experiments, in vitro. In comparison with controls, we found a significant reduction in SLPI levels (by 2.35-fold, p Conclusion These results indicate that SLPI-producing cells may assist mast cell migration and that the regulation of SLPI release and/or consumption by mast cells requires interaction between these cell types. Therefore, a "local relationship" between mast cells and airway epithelial cells might be an important step in the inflammatory response.</p

Intralymphatic allergen-specific immunotherapy: An effective and safe alternative treatment route for pollen-induced allergic rhinitis

Background: Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the only causative treatment of IgE-mediated allergic disorders. The most common administration route is subcutaneous, which may necessitate more than 50 allergen injections during 3 to 5 years. Recent evidence suggests that direct intralymphatic injections could yield faster beneficial results with considerably lower allergen doses and markedly reduced numbers of injections. Objective: To evaluate the effects of intralymphatic allergen-specific immunotherapy in pollen-allergic patients. Methods: In an open pilot investigation followed by a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, patients with allergic rhinitis were treated with 3 intralymphatic inguinal injections of ALK Alutard (containing 1000 SQ-U birch pollen or grass pollen) or placebo (ALK diluent). Clinical pre- and posttreatment parameters were assessed, the inflammatory cell content in nasal lavage fluids estimated, and the activation pattern of peripheral T cells described. Results: All patients tolerated the intralymphatic immunotherapy (ILIT) treatment well, and the injections did not elicit any severe adverse event. Patients receiving active treatment displayed an initial increase in allergen-specific IgE level and peripheral T-cell activation. A clinical improvement in nasal allergic symptoms upon challenge was recorded along with a decreased inflammatory response in the nose. In addition, these patients reported an improvement in their seasonal allergic disease. No such changes were seen in the placebo group. Conclusions: Although this study is based on a limited number of patients, ILIT with grass-pollen or birch-pollen extracts appears to reduce nasal allergic symptoms without causing any safety problems. Hence, ILIT might constitute a less time-consuming and more cost-effective alternative to conventional subcutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013;131:412-20.

Voice and swallowing after total laryngectomy

Background: Voice and swallowing problems are often seen in patients with advanced larynx cancer, after total laryngectomy (TL) and chemo/radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of voice and swallowing problems in patients who have been laryngectomised and investigate if these symptoms were related to age, time after TL, radiotherapy and TNM-classification. In addition, we studied how often the patients changed their voice prostheses and the need of therapeutic interventions after TL. Methods: Forty-five patients were included in the study and completed the Swedish version of the Sydney Swallow Questionnaire and the Voice Handicap Index-T. Results: Swallowing problems were reported by 89% of the patients and moderate-to-severe voice handicap was reported by 66%. Most of the subjects who had dysphagia also presented voice problems (rs = 0.67 p ≤ .01). Additional therapeutic interventions to manage problems with voice and/or swallowing after TL were required in 62% of the patients. Conclusions: Swallowing and voice problems after TL are common. Thus, the preoperative information and assessment of these functions, as well as the treatment and the post-operative rehabilitation should be evaluated and optimised to provide better functional results after treatment of advanced larynx cancer