Carcase characteristics, meat quality, nutrient composition, serum biochemistry and oxidant/antioxidant status in white striping-affected broiler chickens fed diets based on maize-soybean meal.

1. Effects of the incidence of white striping (WS) in relation to carcase weights and yields, breast meat quality and composition, serum biochemistry and oxidant/antioxidant status of breast meat in broiler chickens were investigated.2. The study consisted of 180, one-d-old male broiler chickens fed maize-soybean meal-based starter, grower, finisher and withdrawal diets identical to commercial chicken diets. On d 49, all the birds were slaughtered and breast fillets were visually scored for the incidence of WS. Breast meat and blood samples were collected and categorised based on the presence or absence of WS.3. The study revealed greater slaughter weight, carcase and breast fillet weights and yields, lower pHu and higher cooking loss of breast meat with WS lesions (P < 0.05). WS-affected breast fillets had greater fat and lower crude protein contents in comparison with normal meat (P < 0.001). Serum creatine kinase levels were greater in broilers with WS (P = 0.011), whereas oxidant/antioxidant status of breast meat remained unaffected.4. Taken together, the presence of WS on breast muscle altered the quality and nutrient composition of breast fillets and serum creatine kinase levels in broiler chickens fed diets based on maize-soybean meal. Nevertheless, WS was more common in heavier broilers having higher breast weight and yield.

Serum INHB levels and ACE gene I/D polymorphism with increased risk for unexplained infertility.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) has a significant role in the angiogenesis of ovarian endothelium and the resumption of meiosis and folicular growth. However, there is no any study concerning ACE polymorphism and unexplained infertility (UI). The main aim of this study is that both identify ACE polymorphism and measure the serum ACE, anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin-B (INHB) levels in UI patients and controls in Turkish population. Forty-seven UI patients and 41 controls were involved in this study. To determine the ACE polymorphisms, DNA isolation and PCR were performed. Then, serum ACE, AMH and INHB levels were measured spectrophotometrically. Patients with UI had significantly higher serum INHB levels compared with controls (P < 0.05). Serum ACE levels were decreased, compared to controls; however, the decrease was not significant. Serum AMH levels did not significantly differ from controls. When the relationship was analysed between ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and infertility risk, and ID genotype was chosen as reference, it was found to be 2.33 times more risk of UI than the women have DD genotype [DD versus ID: odds ratio = 2.33, 95% confidence interval (0.88-6.19); P = 0.086]. This finding indicates that DD genotype may be high risk for UI. Further studies are warranted to confirm this finding, especially with a larger population.

Effects of reducing dietary amino acid density and stocking density on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and occurrence of white striping in broiler chickens.

A 49-day trial was conducted to determine the impact of dietary amino acid (AA) density and stocking density (SD) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and white striping (WS) occurrence in broiler chickens. Two hundred eighty-eight Ross 308 male broilers consisting of 6 replicate cages with 8 broilers per replicate were used. Treatments were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial and consisted of 3 AA densities (normal, 10, or 20% lower than normal) and 2 different SD (high 35 kg/m2 or low 26 kg/m2). Breasts were classified as normal, moderate, and severe for WS. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using the GLM procedure. Decreasing AA density decreased overall growth performance, carcass, breast yields, and fillet dimensions linearly, while leg and rib cage yields increased linearly (P < 0.01). High SD decreased hot carcass, breast, wings, and rib cage weights in birds fed normal AA diets (P < 0.05). High SD increased the length of breast fillet (P < 0.05). Cooking loss, breast lightness (L∗), and redness (a∗) at 48 h postmortem increased linearly with decreasing AA density, while ultimate breast pH (pHu) and nitrogen content decreased linearly (P < 0.05). The occurrence of normal, moderate, and severe WS fillets was 45.3, 49.1, and 5.6%, respectively. As the dietary AA density decreased, the occurrence of no WS breast fillets increased linearly, whereas the occurrence of moderate WS fillets and mean WS score decreased linearly (P < 0.05). SD did not affect the occurrence of WS. Severe WS fillets were heavier and had higher cranial thickness, pHu, and fat content and lower yellowness (P < 0.05), but water-holding capacity, nitrogen content, L∗, and a∗ value did not differ among different WS scores. Taken together, WS occurrence and severity increased with higher growth rate. Growth depression created by lowering dietary AA density regardless of SD resulted in a decrease in mean WS score, but it also compromised the growth and meat quality.

The efficacy of dietary xylanase and phytase in broiler chickens fed expeller-extracted camelina meal.

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary phytase (PHY) and xylanase (XYL) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and intestinal characteristics in broilers fed corn-soybean meal-based diets with added expeller-extracted camelina meal (CM). The corn-soybean meal-based diets without or with CM was formulated to contain 2.9 or 2.7 g/kg non phytate phosphorus, respectively. A total of 384 male Ross 708 broilers were allocated to 8 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 6 replicates per treatment, from 7 to 21 d post hatching. The experiment consisted of a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 dietary CM levels (zero or 100 g/kg), 2 dietary levels of XYL (zero or 800 unit/kg), and 2 dietary levels of PHY (zero or 4,000 unit/kg). Chromic oxide was included in the diets as an indigestible marker. Growth was measured throughout the experiment and excreta were collected on d 18 to 21 post hatching for measurement of nutrient and energy retention. On d 21 post hatching, broilers were euthanized by CO2 asphyxiation, ileal digesta was collected for nutrient and energy digestibility measurements, and the left tibia was removed for bone ash measurement. Furthermore, duodenal digesta was collected and a segment of the mid jejunum was excised for viscosity and morphology measurement, respectively. Broilers fed 100 g/kg CM diets showed lower (P < 0.001) BW gain and G:F than those fed zero g/kg CM diets for 7 to 14 d and 7 to 21 d post hatching periods, respectively. Phytase supplementation improved (P < 0.05) all the growth parameters measured regardless of CM addition. Phytase supplementation resulted in an increase (P < 0.05) in jejunum villus height but there was no impact of CM or XYL. Additionally, duodenal digesta viscosity increased (P < 0.001) with added CM. Tibia ash and weight increased (P < 0.001) with PHY supplementation. There was a CM × PHY interaction (P < 0.05) on percentage tibia ash, with greater PHY effect in zero g/kg CM diets compared with 100 g/kg CM diets. Phytase supplementation increased (P < 0.05) ileal DM, N, energy, P, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility. In diets with 100 g/kg CM, addition of PHY had a greater effect (CM × PHY; P < 0.05) on ileal P digestibility compared with diet without CM. There was a CM × PHY interaction (P < 0.05) for ileal digestible energy (IDE) in which PHY increased the IDE in birds fed CM supplemented diets. Both ileal digestibility and retentions of DM, N, energy, and IDE, AME, and AMEn were decreased (P < 0.05) by CM supplementation. Retention of ether extract and NDF decreased (P < 0.05) with CM supplementation. Nitrogen retention, AME, and AMEn decreased (CM × XYL; P < 0.05) with XYL supplementation in zero g/kg CM diets. There were CM × XYL interactions (P < 0.01) for P and Ca retentions in which XYL increased retentions in 100 g/kg CM diets. In conclusion, PHY was efficacious at improving P digestibility and retention of birds fed low P corn-soy based diets without or with CM. However, regardless of CM addition, XYL did not improve nutrient utilization and growth performance of broiler chickens. The present data also show that the mechanism underlying the detrimental effects of CM inclusion on nutrient utilization is not mediated through gut morphology and goblet cell density. The data also show that the villus height increase occurring with PHY addition might be a contributor to the improvements in ileal DM, N, and energy digestibility obtained with PHY supplementation.

Nutritional characteristics of camelina meal for 3-week-old broiler chickens.

Limited information on nutritional characteristics on camelina meal for broiler chickens limits its use in diets of broiler chickens. The objectives of this study were to determine the ileal digestible energy (IDE), ME, and MEn contents of 2 different camelina meal (CM1 and CM2) samples for 3-wk-old broiler chickens using the regression method and to determine glucosinolate compounds in the camelina meal samples. The CM1 and CM2 were incorporated into a corn-soybean meal-based reference diet at 3 levels (0, 100, or 200 g/kg) by replacing the energy-yielding ingredients. These 5 diets (reference diet, and 100 and 200 g/kg camelina meal from each of CM1 and CM2) were fed to 320 male Ross 708 broilers from d 21 to 28 post hatching with 8 birds per cage and 8 replicates per treatment in a randomized complete block design. Excreta were collected twice daily from d 25 to 28, and jejunal digesta and ileal digesta from the Meckel's diverticulum to approximately 2 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction were collected on d 28. The total glucosinolate content for CM1 and CM2 were 24.2 and 22.7 nmol/mg, respectively. Jejunal digesta viscosity was linearly increased (P<0.001) from 2.2 to 4.1 cP with increasing dietary camelina meal levels. There were linear effects (P<0.001) of CM1 and CM2 substitution on final weight, weight gain, feed intake, and G:F. The inclusion of CM1 and CM2 linearly decreased (P<0.001) ileal digestibility of DM, energy, and IDE. The supplementation of CM1 and CM2 linearly decreased (P<0.001) the retention of DM, nitrogen, and energy; ME, and MEn. By regressing the CM1 and CM2-associated IDE intake in kilocalories against kilograms of CM1 and CM2 intake, the IDE regression equation was Y=-10+1,429×CM1+2,125×CM2, r2=0.55, which indicates that IDE values were 1,429 kcal/kg of DM for CM1 and 2,125 kcal/kg of DM for CM2. The ME regression was Y=5+882×CM1+925×CM2, r2=0.54, which implies ME values of 882 kcal/kg of DM for CM1 and 925 kcal/kg of DM for CM2. MEn regression was Y=2+795×CM1+844×CM2, r2=0.52, which implies MEn values of 795 kcal/kg of DM for CM1 and 844 kcal/kg of DM for CM2. Based on these results, utilization of energy and nitrogen in camelina meal by broiler chickens is low and the high viscosity observed in jejunal digesta as well as the total glucosinolate in camelina meal may have contributed to the poor energy and nitrogen utilization.

Comparison of broiler meat quality when fed diets supplemented with neutralized sunflower soapstock or soybean oil.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effect of dietary fat type and level on broiler meat quality. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement with 2 types of fat including neutralized sunflower soapstock (NSS) and soybean oil (SO) at 3 levels of fat inclusion (2, 4, and 6%) was used with 5 replicates per treatment using 750 one-day-old broiler chicks in a completely randomized design. At the end of the study (d 36), 10 broilers from each replication were processed at a commercial slaughtering facility. Six carcasses from each replicate were used for meat quality evaluation. With the exception of 3 responses [breast meat lightness (L*) at 1 and 2 d, and redness (a*) at 5 d], there were no interactions between fat source and level. Breast meat pH at 15 min was not significantly affected by the dietary treatments. However, breast meat pH at 24 h postmortem was decreased (P < 0.01) in broilers fed the NSS. Breast meat cooking loss, shear force, and color did not differ between fat sources. Breast meat cooking loss decreased (P < 0.05) when the dietary levels of fat increased. Thigh meat TBA reactive substances were not different due to dietary fat source and level. Breast meat and skin L* value significantly decreased when the dietary levels of fat increased. Breast meat a* value was highest for the 6% fat fed birds on d 2 (P < 0.05) and d 5 (P < 0.01). Higher dietary fat levels decreased the b* values of breast meat except d 5. Breast skin yellowness (b*) value was higher (P < 0.01) for the SO-fed birds compared with NSS-fed birds. Thigh meat of the birds fed the NSS was lighter (P < 0.05) than that of the birds fed SO diets except d 5. Overall, data suggest that NSS can be used as an alternative fat source to SO with little effect on meat quality.

Dietary camelina meal versus flaxseed with and without supplemental copper for broiler chickens: live performance and processing yield.

An experiment was conducted to compare the responses of young broiler chickens to corn-soybean meal diets supplemented with flaxseed or camelina meal versus a corn-soybean meal control and the factorial effect of 150 mg/kg of Cu supplementation on performance and processing yield. A randomized complete block design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement was used with 7 replicates from hatch to 21 d of age (n = 294; 7 chicks per replicate). Body weight of birds fed 10% camelina meal or 10% flaxseed was significantly reduced compared with the control birds. Addition of Cu significantly increased BW and feed consumption of the birds fed the control diet throughout the study. Copper supplementation to the 10% camelina meal diet also increased BW (P < 0.001) with no effect on feed consumption or feed conversion at 21 d. In addition, hot carcass weight, yield, and carcass parts were significantly improved among birds fed the Cu-supplemented control diet. A significant Cu x diet interaction was observed for hot carcass weight and yield, indicating Cu supplementation to the control diet was superior for carcass weight to the other treatments. However, yield was greater for the camelina diets and the control + Cu versus the other treatments. Results from the present study demonstrated that either 10% camelina meal or 10% flaxseed diets will reduce broiler BW when fed the first 3 wk of life. However, birds fed the camelina diet responded to Cu sulfate supplementation with improved live performance and carcass characteristics. Birds fed the 10% flaxseed diets showed no beneficial effect resulting from Cu supplements.

Pronounced interferon-alpha production from plasmacytoid dendritic cells in patients with Behçet's disease following CpG D ODN stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Several lines of evidence point to a polarized T-helper-1 (Th1) immune response in Behçet's disease (BD). Interferon (IFN)-alpha which has an ability to promote strong Th1 type immune response has been shown to increase in patients with BD. In order to clarify if plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) abnormally respond to a stimulus in patients with BD, we investigated the levels of intracellular IFN-alpha and beta in pDCs with or without CpG D ODN stimulation. METHODS: The study population consisted of 8 patients with clinically active BD, 8 ankylosing spondilitis (AS) patients having active disease and 11 healthy volunteers. pDC subsets in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cultures were analysed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The percentage of IFN-alpha+ pDCs in unstimulated PBMCs cultures from patients BD was significantly higher (p=0.036) than in AS and HC. But this difference disappeared in stimulated PBMCs cultures (p=0.167). The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of IFN-alpha+ pDCs in stimulated PBMCs cultures of BD patients was significantly higher than those from patients with AS and HC. The percentage of IFN-beta+ pDCs in unstimulated PBMCs cultures from patients with BD and AS was significantly higher (p=0.004) than in HC. But this difference was not significant in stimulated PBMCs cultures (p=0.694). When compared to healthy subjects, the MFI of IFN-beta + pDCs in unstimulated and stimulated PBMCs cultures from patients with BD and AS was not different (p=0.287, p=0.152, respectively). In patients with BD, the percentage and MFI of IFN-alpha+ pDCs were higher (p=0.012 for all) in stimulated PBMCs cultures as compared to unstimulated ones. CONCLUSION: We suggest that increased frequency of IFN-alpha+ pDC in BD patients and the higher sensitiveness of these cells to CpG D ODN stimulus contribute to high serum IFN-alpha levels found in these patients which eventually resulted in Th1 type immune response.

Synovial lymphoid neogenetic factors in Behçet's synovitis: do they play a role in self-limiting and subacute course of arthritis?

OBJECTIVE: Lymphoid neogenesis seems to play an important role in the persistence of chronic inflammation and has been shown in various disorders characterized by chronic inflammation including rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis of Behçet's disease is characterized by non-erosive arthritis in which the disease course is considered to be subacute and self limiting. However, molecular mechanisms underlying those features of Behçet's arthritis have not been defined yet. In order to determine the contribution of lymphoid neogenesis in the disease course of Behçet's arthritis, we investigated the synovial fluid (SF) levels of CXCL 12, CXCL 13, CCL 21 homeostatic chemokines and the percentage of SF naive lymphocytes expressing their receptors such as CXCR4+ and CCR7+. We further measured the SF TGF-Beta and INF-Beta levels which are known to contribute lymphoid neogenesis via leading persistent expression of CXCR4 on T cells and inhibiting T cell apoptosis, respectively. METHODS: Fifty-one [15 BD, 17 RA, and 19 osteoarthritis (OA)] patients with at least one- sided knee arthritis were enrolled in the study. Patients with BD constituted the study group, and RA, OA patients were used as positive and negative control groups, respectively. The SF levels of CXCL 12, CXCL 13, CCL 21, TGF-Beta and INF-Beta were measured by ELISA. CXCR4, CCR7 chemokine receptors on SF lymphocytes were tested by Flow- cytometry. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis where appropriate. RESULTS: Synovial fluid CCL 21 levels were found to be increased in RA patients as compared to BD and OA patients (p = 0.003, and p = 0.013, respectively). No significant difference was detected between BD and OA patients with respect to CCL 21 levels. Both CXCL 12 and CXCL 13 SF levels were found to be higher in RA and BD patients as compared to OA patients (CXCL-12; p = 0.012, and p = 0.024), (CXCL 13; p < 0.001, and p = 0.007). However, no difference with regard to SF levels of both CXCL 12 and CXCL 13 were found between RA and BD patients. Percentages of both CD3+CXCR4+ lymphocytes and CD3+CCR7+ lymphocytes in the SF of RA patients were detected to be increased as compared to those of BD and OA patients (CD3+CXCR4+; p = 0.019, p = 0.048, respectively), (CD3+CCR7+; p = 0.023, p = 0.001, respectively). However, no differences with respect to the percentages of SF lymphocytes expressing CD3+CXCR4+ or CD3+CCR7+ were found between BD and OA patients. Both TGF-Beta and INF-Beta SF levels were found to be higher in RA patients as compared to BD and OA patients (TGF-Beta; p = 0.041, and p = 0.003), (INF-Beta; p = 0.012, and p = 0.016). However, no differences with regard to SF levels of both TGF-Beta and INF-Beta were found between BD and OA patients. CONCLUSION: Considering the subacute, self limiting and non-erosive course of arthritis observed in BD, our finding of detection of lower levels of CCL21 and TGF-Beta1 and IFN-Beta in BD patients, seems to prevent the development of LN and chronic inflammation in Behçet's synovitis. In support of this view, percentages of SF naïve T lymphocytes were found to be lower in BD patients comparing with those of the RA. Absence of tertiary lymphoid structures in BD patients, may explain the spontaneous resolution of Behçet's arthritis in most of the cases.

Dendritic cell subsets and type I interferon system in Behçet's disease: does functional abnormality in plasmacytoid dendritic cells contribute to Th1 polarization?

OBJECTIVE: Several lines of evidence point to a polarized T-helper-1 (Th1) immune response in Behçet's disease (BD). However, it is not yet clear which factors are involved in the proposed Th1 mediated pathogenesis of BD. Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen presenting cells which play a crucial role in the polarization of immune response. No previous study has examined the possible role of DCs in the pathogenesis of BD. We conducted both quantitative and functional analysis of the peripheral blood DC subsets in BD patients with different clinical presentations. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with BD, 12 healthy controls (HC), and 12 patients with undifferentiated spondylarthritis (uSpA) were enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood DC subsets were analysed by flow cytometry and were further characterized for maturation with CCR7. Serum levels of interferon (IFN)-alpha and IFN-b were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: BD patients had a decreased percentage of plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) compared to HC (p = 0.036). IFN-alpha levels were found to be increased in BD patients as compared to HC and uSPA (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, respectively). BD patients had decreased levels of IFN-Beta as compared to HC and uSpA (p = 0.013, p = 0.004, respectively). No difference was found between HC and patients with uSpA regarding IFN-Beta levels. Subgroup analysis of BD patients disclosed normalization of percentage of pDCs and the level of IFN-Beta in patients receiving IFN-alpha-2b. CONCLUSION: We suggest abnormalities in pDCs and type I IFNs appear to be a master switch leading to the pathogenicity in BD by directing immune response towards Th1.

Serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with Behçet's disease: do their higher levels correlate to vasculo-Behçet's disease associated with aneurysm formation?

OBJECTIVES: Basic and clinical studies have revealed a strong correlation between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-2 and MMP-9, and the formation of abdominal aortic aneurysms. In addition, previous studies have clearly shown that MMP-2 and MMP-9 play an important role in the pathogenesis of vasculitis characterized by aneurysm formation such as Kawasaki disease, temporal arteritis and Takayasu arteritis. Depending on those findings, we hypothesized that circulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 could be useful markers to demonstrate vascular aneurysmatic involvement in patients with Behçet's disease (BD). METHODS: Fifty-eight patients with BD, and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. We assessed the disease activity of patients according to the Leeds activity score system. We compared the Leeds activity scores of patients with their serum levels of MMP2 and MMP-9. Patients with BD were categorized as active (total activity score > or = 5) or inactive (total activity score < 5). Patients were further categorized with respect to their extent of involvement as muco-cutaneous or systemic. Patients with systemic involvement were subdivided into ocular or vascular involvement. Patients with vascular involvement were subgrouped as thrombotic or aneurysmatic involvement. The levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Serum MMP-9 but not MMP-2 levels were significantly higher both in patients with active and inactive disease as compared to healthy controls (p = 0.008 and 0.013 respectively). We found positive correlation between Leeds activity score and serum MMP-2 levels in patients with vascular involvement (p = 0.035 and r = 0.485), and serum MMP-9 levels in active BD patients (p = 0.003 and r = 0.599). The serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in patients with systemic involvement were higher than those of healthy controls but not patients with mucocutaneous involvement (p = 0.046 and 0.002 respectively). The serum levels of MMP-2 in patients with vascular involvement were found to be higher than those of healthy controls and patients with mucocutaneous involvement (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively) but not different in those with ocular involvement. The serum levels of MMP-9 in patients with vascular involvement were found to be higher than those of healthy controls and ocular disease (p = 0.001 and 0.033 respectively) but not different in those with mucocutaneous involvement. The serum levels of MMP-2 in patients with aneurysmatic involvement were found to be higher than those of healthy controls, mucocutaneous and ocular involvement (p = 0.004, 0.008 and 0.004 respectively). The serum levels of MMP-2 in patients with thrombotic involvement were found to be higher than those of healthy controls and mucocutaneous (p = 0.018 and 0.033 respectively) but not ocular involvement. The serum levels of MMP-9 in patients with aneurysmatic involvement were found to be higher than those of healthy controls, mucocutaneous and ocular involvement (p = 0.001, 0.048 and 0.007 respectively). The serum levels of MMP-9 in patients with thrombotic involvement were found to be higher than those of healthy controls but not mucocutaneous and ocular involvement (p = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels can be used as an activity indicator for vasculo-Behçet's or active Behçet's patients, respectively. But they can not be used as a marker reflecting the systemic involvement of patients with BD. The systemic expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were strongly associated with vasculo-Behçet's disease, particularly aneurysmatic involvement, suggesting their pathogenetic roles in vasculo-Behçet's disease complicated with aneurysm formation.

Differentiating effect of thalidomide and FGM-CS combination on HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

AIM: To investigate whether granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) with or without thalidomide can induce apoptosis and differentiation of HL-60 acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line in vitro. METHODS: Effect of GM-CSF and thalidomide on proliferation of HL-60 cells was evaluated by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis was performed by propidium iodide staining approach and flow cytometry, and apoptosis rate was analyzed using FITC-conjugated annexin-V and FACScan flow cytometry. RESULTS: The study revealed that thalidomide alone at high concentrations inhibited HL-60 cell growth and induced apoptosis. Three days treatment of low-dose thalidomide in combination with GM-CSF induced marked terminal differentiation of HL-60 cells, as it was assessed by increased expression of differentiation antigens on cell surface. CONCLUSION: Treatment of HL-60 cells by low concentration of thalidomide combined with GM-CSF induced terminal differentiation of HL60 cells in vitro, which may be advantageous for the elaboration of novel therapeutic regimens in patients with differentiation-inducible leukemias.

The effects of Valsalva manoeuvres on venepuncture pain.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stimulating the vagus nerve reduces pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a Valsalva manoeuvre, which stimulates the vagus nerve, on perception of pain during peripheral venous cannulation in adult patients. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized clinical trial. One hundred and ten patients scheduled for elective surgery were randomly divided into two groups. Half of the patients, Group A, underwent venepuncture during a Valsalva manoeuvre and the other half of the patients, Group B, underwent venepuncture without performing a Valsalva manoeuvre. Patients made a pain assessment using a 0-10 point numerical rating scale. RESULTS: The numerical rating scale score was 1.5+/-1.2 for Group A and 3.1+/-1.9 for Group B, the difference being statistically significant (P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of data from this study, the Valsalva manoeuvre may be of the value before venous cannulation as a simple and practical method to reduce pain from venous cannulation.

Serum interleukin-18 levels in patients with Behçet's disease. Is its expression associated with disease activity or clinical presentations?

Interleukin (IL)-18 is a proinflammatory cytokine which plays a crucial role in T helper (Th)1 type immune response. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship of serum levels of IL-18 with disease activity and clinical presentations in patients with Behcet's disease (BD). Sixty patients with BD and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. Patients were grouped as having active or inactive disease according to the Leeds activity score. They were also separated as a systemic involvement or mucocutaneous symptoms only. Patients with systemic involvement were further grouped according to the presence of ocular, articular and vascular involvement. IL-18 levels were significantly higher in all patient subgroups as compared to healthy controls and found to be correlated with the activity score in patients having active disease. In conclusion, this cytokine participates in the pathogenesis of BD and its levels are correlated with the disease activity. Detection of increased levels of IL-18 in patients with inactive disease implies that Th1 activation and subclinical inflammation persist during the inactive period of the disease.

Chimerical anti-TNF-alpha, infliximab, inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis and production of reactive oxygen species by blocking the priming effect of mononuclear cells on neutrophils.

Clinical experience with anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-alpha) agents implies that these agents can cause a rapid onset amelioration of the symptoms and laboratory parameters in some inflammatory diseases. Precise explanation of this fast antiinflammatory action is not known. The aim of our study is to investigate the direct and indirect effects of anti-TNF agents on the chemotaxis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production of neutrophils. For this purpose, isolated neutrophil cultures (INCs) and mixed leukocyte cultures were prepared from the venous blood of healthy subjects. Those cultures were separated to different groups according to the presence of anti-TNF or the stimulation of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In this study, anti-TNF treatment did not change the migration ability of neutrophils in INCs. However, we established that chimerical anti-TNF-alpha, infliximab, inhibits neutrophil chemotaxis and production of ROS by blocking the priming effect of PHA-stimulated circulating mononuclear cells. These results may explain, at least partly, the rapid onset antiinflammatory actions of these agents observed in clinical practice.

The effects of gonadotropin treatment on the immunological features of male patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

There is a significant line of evidence for a role of androgens in the modulation of the immune system. However, little is known about immunological features of male patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) and the potential effects of gonadotropin treatment. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of selected soluble immune parameters [IgA, IgG, IgM, C3c, C4, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and IL-4], the CD4+/CD8 ratio, and counts of total lymphocyte and some subpopulation of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells) before and after gonadotropin treatment in men with IHH. Twenty-nine IHH patients and 19 age-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The patients were treated with human menopausal gonadotropin/hCG for 6 months. The pretreatment levels of serum Igs, C3c, IL-2, and IL-4 in the patients were significantly higher than those in the controls (P<0.001 for all). After treatment, all Igs (P<0.001), C3c (P<0.01), and IL-2 and IL-4 levels (P<0.005) were decreased significantly compared to pretreatment levels. Pretreatment lymphocyte counts (P<0.05); the percentages of CD3+ cells (P<0.001), CD4+ cells (P< 0.001), and CD19+ cells (P<0.001); and the CD4/CD8+ ratio in the patient group were significantly higher (P<0.05) than those in the controls. After treatment, the lymphocyte count (P<0.001); CD3+ (P<0.01), CD4+ (P<0.001), and CD19+ (P<0.005) cells; and the CD4-/CD8+ ratio (P<0.001) were decreased, but CD8+ cells were increased significantly (P<0.001). In summary, lack of testosterone action results in the enhancement of cellular and humoral immunity. The results of this study allowed us to conclude that testosterone deficiency affects both cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and these may be modulated with gonadotropin therapy in male patients with IHH.