Family resemblance of bone turnover rate in mothers and daughters--the MODAM study.

UNLABELLED: We studied bone turnover markers (BTM) and bone microarchitecture (using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT)) in 171 postmenopausal women and their 210 premenopausal daughters. BTM levels correlated positively between mothers and daughters. The mother-daughter pairs with high BTM levels had lower cortical density than those with low BTM levels. INTRODUCTION: We assessed the correlation of serum bone turnover markers (BTM) between postmenopausal mothers and their premenopausal daughters as well as possible determinants of this association and its impact on resemblance of bone microarchitecture between mothers and their daughters. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis was performed in 171 untreated postmenopausal mothers (54 sustained fragility fractures) and their 210 premenopausal daughters. Intact N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (PINP) and ß-isomerized C-terminal crosslinking telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I) were measured in the fasting status. Bone microarchitecture was assessed using HR-pQCT. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, weight, lifestyle factors, hormones, and mother's fracture status, BTM levels correlated positively between mothers and daughters (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 0.22-0.27, p <0.005). Average BTM levels were ∼ 0.6 SD higher among daughters of mothers in the highest BTM quartile vs. the ones in the lowest BTM quartile. The variability of BTM levels explained ≤ 10 and ≤ 14% of variability of bone microarchitecture in the daughters and mothers, respectively. Cortical density was lower by 2.3-2.9% (0.6 SD, p <0.05 to <0.005) in the daughters from the mother-daughter pairs with high BTM levels (defined by generation-specific quartiles) than in the daughters from the pairs with low BTM levels. Corresponding differences for the mothers were 4.5-4.8% (0.5 SD, p <0.05 to <0.01). CONCLUSION: BTM levels correlated between postmenopausal mothers and their premenopausal daughters after adjustment for age, weight, mother's fracture status, lifestyle, and hormonal factors. Family resemblance of BTM levels may contribute to family resemblance of some bone microarchitectural parameters, especially of cortical density.

Stable diesel microemulsion using diammonium ionic liquids and their effects on fuel properties, particle size characteristics and combustion calculations.

Ecofriendly and stable Fuel Microemulsions based on renewable components were prepared through solubilizing ethanol in diesel and waste cooking oil blend (4:1). New diquaternary ammonium ionic liquids (3a & 3b) were synthesized through a quaternization reaction of the synthesized dihaloester with diethyl ethanolamine tridecantrioate and triethyl amine tridecantrioate, respectively. The chemical structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy. It was observed from DLS analyses that the ethanol particles in all samples have sizes between 4.77 to 11.22 nm. The distribution becomes narrower with the decrease in the ionic liquid concentrations. The fuel properties fall within the ASTM D975 acceptable specifications and are close to the neat diesel properties. The Cetane index were 53 and 53.5, heating values were 38.5 and 38.5 MJ/kg, viscosities were 2.91 and 2.98 mm2/s, densities were 8.26 and 8.29 g/mL and flash points were 49 °C and 48 °C for 3a1 and 3b1 microemulsions, respectively. The particle sizes of samples were examined by DLS for 160 days and they were significantly stable. The amount of ethanol solubilized increases with the increase in the amount of the synthesized ionic liquids and cosurfactant. The combustion calculations pointed out that the microemulsions 3a1 and 3b1 need 13.07 kg air/kg fuel and 12.79 kg air/kg fuel, respectively, which are less than the air required to combust the pure diesel. According to theoretical combustion, using ionic liquids saves the air consumption required for combustion and reduces the quantities of combustion products. The prepared microemulsions were successfully used as a diesel substitute due to their improved combustion properties than pure diesel and low pollution levels.

Formulation of a stable diesel microemulsion using eco-friendly ionic liquids and investigation of particle size and fuel properties as an alternative fuel.

Ecofriendly ionic liquids (ILs) were synthesized through amidation of ricinoleic acid, the main fatty acid in castor oil, followed by a quaternization reaction to solubilize ethanol in IL/diesel blends at different ratios. As a result, stable and highly renewable, low viscous microemulsion biofuels with high oxygen content were prepared. The prepared fuel samples combine the advantages of green ionic liquids and microemulsion properties. The chemical structures of ILs were confirmed with the aid of NMR and FTIR spectroscopy. DLS analysis revealed that the ethanol particles ranged in size from 8 to 18.1 nm in all samples. As ILs ratios decrease in microemulsion from 37 to 69%, the ethanol particle sizes increase from 10 to 25%. Ethanol shows good solubilization in diesel and IL-1 is more effective than IL-2 in ethanol solubilization at low percentages of ethanol due to more oxygen atoms besides three hydroxyl groups. The ternary phase diagram indicated that the microemulsion area in the case of using IL-1 is larger than that of IL-2. The fuel properties of the prepared microemulsions are nearly close to those of neat diesel and fall within the permitted range of ASTM D975. The viscosity and density values at low ratios of ILs are found to be very close to the values of the neat diesel at different temperatures. The prepared samples show a slight decrease in cetane number and heating value compared to diesel. However, they have improved flash points, cloud points, sulfur content, and acid value. The particle sizes were checked every week and the prepared samples showed high stability with the aid of the synthesized ILs. Moreover, the prepared microemulsions stayed in a transparent appearance for more than a year and no phase separation was observed.

Impaired trabecular and cortical microarchitecture in daughters of women with osteoporotic fracture: the MODAM study.

UNLABELLED: We investigated the familial resemblance of bone microarchitecture parameters between postmenopausal mothers with fragility fracture and their premenopausal daughters using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). We found that daughters of women with fracture have lower total volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), thinner cortices, and impaired trabecular microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia, compared to controls. INTRODUCTION: Familial resemblance of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) in mothers and daughters has been widely studied, but not its morphological basis, including microarchitecture. METHODS: We compared aBMD, vBMD, bone size, and bone microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia assessed by HR-pQCT in mothers and their premenopausal daughters. We included 115 women aged 43 ± 8 years whose mothers had sustained a fragility fracture and 206 women aged 39 ± 9 years whose mothers had never sustained a fragility fracture. RESULTS: Women whose mothers had fracture had significantly (p < 0.05) lower aBMD at the lumbar spine, total hip, femoral neck, mid-distal radius, and ultradistal radius compared to controls. In similar multivariable models, women whose mothers had a fracture had lower total vBMD at the distal radius (-5 %, 0.3 standard deviation [SD]; p < 0.005) and distal tibia (-7 %, 0.4 SD; p < 0.005). They also had lower cortical thickness and area at the distal radius (-5 %, 0.3 SD and -4 %, 0.2 SD, respectively; p < 0.005) and at the distal tibia (-6 %, 0.3 SD and -4 %, 0.3SD, respectively; p < 0.005). Trabecular vBMD was lower at the distal radius (-5 %, 0.3 SD; p < 0.05) and tibia (-8 %, 0.4 SD; p < 0.005), with a more spaced and heterogeneous trabecular network (4 and 7 % at the radius and 5 and 9 %, at the tibia, p < 0.05, for Tb.Sp and Tb.Sp.SD, respectively). CONCLUSION: Premenopausal daughters of women who had sustained fragility fracture have lower total and trabecular vBMD, thinner cortices, as well as impaired trabecular microarchitecture at the distal radius and tibia, compared with premenopausal daughters of women without fracture.

Effect of blending biodiesel produced from waste cooking oil on the properties of residual fuel oil: energy saving and the economic cost.

The mazout properties were improved using ecofriendly ways because of its wide range of applications, abundance and low cost. In this study, the effect of biodiesel blending on the properties of mazout was investigated. Biodiesel was prepared from waste cooking oil. The mazout properties such as viscosity and density improved with the increase in volume ratio of biodiesel to mazout. The mazout viscosity decreases with an average value of 12% as the biodiesel is added with a volume ratio of 10%. In contrast, when a 10% volume ratio of the biodiesel is added to mazout, the heating value decreases by 1.5%. Although the calorific value of mazout decreases after the blending process, the blending method is considered a method that saves energy compared to the heating method to reduce the viscosity. The cost of improved mazout depends on the cost of biodiesel production. The more the cost of biodiesel production approaches the cost of mazout, the more expensive the use of the blending method compared to the heating method. Moreover, the blending method is a very effective method to reduce the percentages of harmful compounds such as sulfur, and the compound percentages that occupy volumetric proportions of fuel such as water content.

A new two-parameter exponentiated discrete Lindley distribution: properties, estimation and applications.

This paper introduces a new two-parameter exponentiated discrete Lindley distribution. A wide range of its structural properties are investigated. This includes the shape of the probability mass function, hazard rate function, moments, skewness, kurtosis, stress-strength reliability, mean residual lifetime, mean past lifetime, order statistics and L-moment statistics. The hazard rate function can be increasing, decreasing, decreasing-increasing-decreasing, increasing-decreasing-increasing, unimodal, bathtub, and J-shaped depending on its parameters values. Two methods are used herein to estimate the model parameters, namely, the maximum likelihood, and the proportion. A detailed simulation study is carried out to examine the bias and mean square error of maximum likelihood and proportion estimators. The flexibility of the proposed model is explained by using four distinctive data sets. It can serve as an alternative model to other lifetime distributions in the existing statistical literature for modeling positive real data in many areas.

Landscape-scale terrestrial factors are also vital in shaping Odonata assemblages of watercourses.

Habitat loss and fragmentation causes a decline in insect populations. Odonata (both dragonflies and damselflies) are especially threatened by the destruction of both aquatic and terrestrial environment. Moreover, effects of large-scale habitat heterogeneity on Odonata assemblages are poorly studied. In a two years study along East-European lowland watercourses both aquatic and terrestrial environment were studied to reveal the importance of local (e.g. water depth, macrovegetation cover, etc.) and landscape-scale (e.g. farmland patch size, forest patch proportion, etc.) variables to Odonata (as well as to dragonflies and damselflies separately) through increasing spatial sampling scales. The specimens were sampled using 500 m long transects from May to September. Results, both on local and landscape scales emphasized the importance of terrestrial environment on Odonata. Local variables influence damselflies, while dragonflies are more sensitive to landscape variables. Damselfly's diversity decreased with increasing macrovegetation cover, while dragonfly's diversity decreased with the increasing degree of land use intensification, but increased with the length of watercourses. It is thus vital to stress the importance of partial watercourse clearing, and moderate maintenance of traditional farm management based on small parcel farming near watercourses to maintain diverse and healthy Odonata assemblages.

Corrosion and hydrogen evolution rate control for X-65 carbon steel based on chitosan polymeric ionic liquids: experimental and quantum chemical studies.

The corrosion performance of carbon steel was tested in four polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) that differed only in the fatty acid linked to the chitosan (CS) amine group. The measurements were implemented involved the hydrogen evolution rate (HER), gravimetric measurements, potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and quantum chemical estimations. The morphology and the elements arranged on the metal were considered by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) system attached to an energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) system. The addition of polymeric ionic liquids hindered the rate of hydrogen generation. The order of the inhibitors efficiency was CSPTA-lauric > CSPTA-myristic > CSPTA-palmitic > CSPTA-stearic. The polarization method proved that the percentage inhibition efficiency increases with increasing the inhibitors concentration in 1 M HCl, representing a drop in the corrosion rate of carbon steel. On the other hand, the percentage inhibition decreased with the increase in temperature. Quantum chemical calculations revealed that the tested ionic liquids could react with the iron surface via electron transfer from the metal atom to ionic liquid molecule.

Fibrinogen Lima: a homozygous dysfibrinogen with an A alpha-arginine-141 to serine substitution associated with extra N-glycosylation at A alpha-asparagine-139. Impaired fibrin gel formation but normal fibrin-facilitated plasminogen activation catalyzed by tissue-type plasminogen activator.

An A alpha-arginine-141 to serine substitution has been identified in a homozygous dysfibrinogen, fibrinogen Lima, associated with impaired fibrin polymerization. The point mutation created an asparagine-X-serine-type glycosylation sequence, and indeed, extra, mainly disialylated biantennary oligosaccharides have been isolated from A alpha asparagine-139 of the patient's fibrinogen. This type of glycosylation sequence is unique for human fibrinogen, because the sequences shown for normal and abnormal fibrinogens are all asparagine-X-threonine types. The terminal sialic acids of the extra oligosaccharides seem to have largely contributed to the impaired fibrin gel formation, as evidenced by its correction to a near normal level by desialylation. Nevertheless, the polymerizing fibrin facilitated tissue-type plasminogen activator-catalyzed plasmin formation in a normal fashion, indicating that the initial two-stranded fibrin protofibrils had been constructed normally. Thus the impaired fibrin gel formation could be attributed to the delay in their subsequent lateral association, most probably because of the repulsive forces generated by the negative electric charge of the extra sialic acids. The substitution of a basic residue arginine to a noncharged residue serine may also have contributed to the impaired function in a similar manner or by steric hindrance in association with bulky extra oligosaccharide chains.

A "distant" bystander effect of suicide gene therapy: regression of nontransduced tumors together with a distant transduced tumor.

Antitumor gene therapy using herpes simplex type 1 thymidine kinase (TKh) and ganciclovir (GCV) treatment has revealed an important intratumoral bystander effect. A whole tumor can be eliminated when only a fraction of its tumor cells express TKh. We now report that the bystander effect not only acts within a tumor, but also between distant tumors. One TKh+ tumor was generated simultaneously with one or multiple TKh- tumors in different rat liver lobes such that there was no contact between the resulting tumors. Both the TKh+ and the TKh- tumors regressed after GCV treatment and showed infiltration with macrophages and T lymphocytes. This distant bystander effect, which is likely immune mediated, should be of major importance for gene therapy of disseminated tumors.

Liposomal encapsulation of ganciclovir enhances the efficacy of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase suicide gene therapy against hepatic tumors in rats.

Suicide gene therapy based on ganciclovir (GCV) metabolism by transgene herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV-1 TK) has been used to selectively kill proliferating cells in clinical settings such as cancer, vascular restenosis, and immunological disorders. We investigated whether encapsulation of ganciclovir (GCV) into liposomes would improve its efficacy, especially against hepatic tumors. Large unilamellar liposomes containing GCV were prepared by reversed-phase evaporation. Pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed that, compared with free GCV, the intravenous injection of liposome-encapsulated GCV (lip-GCV) led to a faster decrease in GCV plasma concentrations, but higher liver-blood ratios. After treatment of syngeneic HSV-1 TK+ liver metastases in rats, histologically active tumors were found in 95% of the transplanted lesions when physiological saline had been given and in 50% when free GCV had been given at 90.2 microM/kg twice daily. This dose is known to be insufficient for the eradication of HSV-1 TK+ tumors. In contrast, only 5% viable tumors were found in rats receiving lip-GCV at this same concentration. Average tumor volumes were 19 +/- 15, 7 +/- 9, and <1 mm3 for the control, free GCV, and lip-GCV groups, respectively. GCV-related toxicity was no longer observed. The results demonstrate that liposomal encapsulation of GCV is feasible and significantly enhances its efficacy against HSV-1 TK+ hepatic tumors.

The effects of additional carbohydrate in the coiled-coil region of fibrinogen on polymerization and clot structure and properties: characterization of the homozygous and heterozygous forms of fibrinogen Lima (Aalpha Arg141-->Ser with extra glycosylation).

Fibrinogen Lima is an abnormal fibrinogen with an Aalpha Arg141-->Ser substitution resulting in an extra N-glycosylation at Aalpha Asn139, which seems to be responsible for the impairment of fibrin polymerization. We have studied the polymerization and properties of clots made from both plasma and purified fibrinogen of both the homozygous and heterozygous forms. The clot permeation studies with both plasma and purified protein revealed a normal flux through the network for the heterozygous form but very decreased permeation in the homozygous form. Consistent with turbidity results, the clot network of the homozygous form, seen by scanning electron microscopy, was tight and composed of thin fibers, with many branch points, while the appearance of clots from the heterozygous form was similar to that of control clots, but in both cases the fibers were more curved than those of control clots. The rheological properties of clots from the homozygous form were also altered, with rigidity being increased in plasma clots, but decreased in the purified system, a consequence of the balance between numbers of branch points and fiber curvature. From these results it seems that the extra carbohydrate moiety, located in the alpha coiled-coil region close to the betaC domains, impairs the protofibril lateral association process, giving rise to thinner, more curved fibers, with the structural anomalies being most pronounced in the clots from the homozygous plasma. These studies support a model for fibrin polymerization in which the betaC-betaC interactions are involved in lateral aggregation.

Are hepatomas a good target for suicide gene therapy? An experimental study in rats using retroviral-mediated transfer of thymidine kinase gene.

BACKGROUND: Suicide gene transfer into tumor cells has been proposed for the treatment of various tumors. The most common suicide gene is coded for the herpes simplex type I thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK), which converts nontoxic nucleoside analogs such as ganciclovir into toxic triphosphated compounds. This study evaluated the potential of this treatment for gene therapy of liver tumors. METHODS: The sensitivity of different colon carcinoma and hepatoma cell lines to infection by recombinant retroviruses was evaluated. Next, HSV1-TK-expressing derivatives of these cells were generated to analyze their sensitivity to ganciclovir. Finally, these cells were used to generate experimental hepatomas in rats after injection under the liver capsule, and the efficacy and safety of a ganciclovir treatment on tumor growth and survival were evaluated. RESULTS: All the different cell lines analyzed were sensitive to retroviral-mediated gene transfer, although the susceptibility of individual cell lines to this transfer varied significantly. HSV1-TK derivatives were about 1000-fold more sensitive to the toxic effects of ganciclovir than parental cells. Tumors with HSV1-TK expressing MCA-RH8994 hepatoma cells were then generated. Intraperitoneal injection of 75 mg/kg ganciclovir twice daily for 5 days dramatically reduced the size of HSV1-TK-positive tumors compared with tumor size in untreated control rats (0.4 mm3 versus 65 mm3, p < 0.02). A long-term study demonstrated that this reduction of tumor volume was associated with a significant increase in survival (p < 0.01). Pathologic examination 26 days after the end of ganciclovir injections showed that complete tumor regression was observed in two of five rats. Most important, there was no toxicity associated with these tumors. CONCLUSIONS: In a clinical perspective the good tolerance to treatment and the significant clinical effect observed were encouraging. Gene transfer methods should be established to allow efficient targeting of the tumor cells in vivo.

Suicide gene therapy of ovarian cancer: an experimental study in rats using retroviral-mediated transfer of herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the potential of gene therapy against ovarian cancer usin the retroviral transfer of the herpes simplex type 1 thymidine kinase gene (HSV1-TK) followed by ganciclovir treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sensitivity of 4 different ovarian cancer cell lines (rat ar human) to in vitro infection by recombinant retroviruses were evaluated. Then, their HSV1-TK expressing derivatives were tested for their sensitivity to ganciclovir. One of them, DMBA-OC-1-TK+ was used to generate experimental ovarian cancer in 13 WKY female rats. After 14 days, tl rats received ganciclovir for 12 days (n = 6). The results were expressed in mean +/- ES and were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: All cell lines analyzed in this study were sensitive to retroviral mediated gene transfer although with significant variations. The HSV 1-TK expressing derivatives of these cells were 300 7,000-fold more sensitive to ganciclovir, than the parental cells. The ganciclovir dramatically reduced the size of HSV1-TK+ tumors compared to untreated control rats (0 mm3 vs 2,594 mm3, p < 0.001) with complete tumor regression and residual fibrotic scars on pathological examination. Control tumors showed a poorly-differentiated epithelial adenocarcinoma of the ovary. CONCLUSION: In a clinical perspective, the good tolerance and the significant anti-tumoral effects of retroviral-mediated transfer of HSV1-TK gene in animals were encouraging. It remains to set up gene transfer methods that will allow efficient targeting of the ovarian cancer in vivo.

Efficient suicide gene therapy of transduced and distant untransduced ovary tumors is correlated with significant increase of intratumoral T and NK cells.

Gene therapy using herpes simplex type 1 thymidine kinase gene (HSV1-TK) transfer followed by ganciclovir (GCV) treatment has revealed an important intratumoral and regional bystander effect that is at least partly immune-mediated. The aim of this work was to study the modifications of T lymphocyte subpopulations in a model of distant bystander effect occurring between ovary tumors. Bilateral ovarian tumors were generated in 21 WKY rats by injection in the ovarian pouch of either parental or HSV1-TK-expressing DWA-OC-1 ovarian cancer cells. After 14 days, rats were treated for two weeks with GCV (75 mg/kg x 2/d) or saline. All rats were killed at day 29 for pathological examination. The tumor-infiltrating mononuclear cells were analyzed by semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry. As compared to rats receiving saline, GCV-treated animals exhibited a complete disappearance of the HSV1-TK+ tumors with residual fibrotic scars (ovary weights: 0.46 +/- 0.4 g vs 10.11 +/- 1.5 g, P < 0.001). Interestingly, the contralateral HSV1-TK negative tumor showed a significant regression (12.39 +/- 1.93 g vs 22.24 +/- 237 g, P < 0.014). Furthermore, a lower incidence of tumoral ascitis was found in the GCV-receiving group (20% vs 90% P < 0.02). Within both TK- and TK+ tumors, there was a significant increase of CD4+, CD8+ and NK cells in the GCV-treated group compared to the saline-treated group. This study thus indicates that a distant bystander effect not only acts between close tumors within a given organ such as the liver, but also between more distant tumors in the peritoneal cavity. This effect is associated with significant infiltration of the tumor by immune system cells, supporting the notion that the distant bystander effect is immune-mediated.

Fibrinogen Lima. A new dysfibrinogenaemia with a high-molecular-weight alpha-chain and effective polymerization.

A patient with transient microhaematuria was studied. Coagulation tests revealed prolonged thrombin and reptilase times concomitant with abnormal fibrin polymerization rate (also abnormal in both parents). In the patient and her patients, the abnormal fibrin polymerization rate was only slightly corrected by addition of calcium ions. The alpha-chain had a molecular weight higher than normal and there was deficient formation of alpha-polymers. The molecule showed a more anodal migration than the control. The abnormality described has been classified as Fibrinogen Lima.

Early results after radiofrequency-assisted liver resection.

AIMS AND BACKGROUND: Intraoperative blood loss during liver resection remains a major concern due to its association with higher postoperative complications and shorter long-term survival. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of a novel concept for liver resection using a radiofrequency energy-assisted technique. METHODS: From January 2001 to July 2002, 42 patients were operated on using radiofrequency energy-assisted liver resection. Radiofrequency energy was applied along the resection edge to create a 'zone of desiccation' prior to resection with a scalpel. RESULTS: Median resection time was 50 mins (range, 30-110). The median blood loss during resection was 30 mL (range, 15-992). Mean preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin values were 13.7 g/dL (SD +/- 1.6) and 11.8 g/dL (SD +/- 1.4), respectively. No blood transfusion was registered, nor was any mortality observed. There were 3 postoperative complications, one subphrenic abscess, one chest infection and one biliary leak from a hepatico-jejunostomy. Median postoperative stay was 8 days (range, 5-86). CONCLUSIONS: Liver resection assisted by radiofrequency energy is feasible, easy and safe. This novel technique offers a new method for 'transfusion-free' resection without the need for sutures, ties, staples, tissue glue or admission to an intensive care unit.

The effect of TP-5 on the production of C3, PGE2, and TXB2 by macrophages obtained from burned guinea pigs.

The effect of in vivo administration of the immunomodulator TP-5 on the in vitro synthesis and release of C3, PGE2, and TXB2 by guinea pig alveolar, splenic, and peritoneal macrophages was studied. Three groups of animals were studied: unburned control, burned, and burned + TP-5. There was no significant difference in the production of C3, PGE2, or TXB2, by alveolar macrophages of the three groups of animals or by splenic macrophages of the three groups. There was a significant difference in the production of TXB2 by peritoneal macrophages between the unburned control compared with the burned and burned plus TP-5 groups. Our conclusion is that peritoneal macrophages seem to be controlled by mechanisms that are different from those that control alveolar or splenic macrophages.

A long-term study and correlation of lymphocyte and neutrophil function in the patient with burns.

Twenty-five patients were studied to determine the effects of thermal injury on neutrophil bactericidal function and superoxide release and on lymphocyte proliferation. Neutrophils in patients with burns had depressed killing of Staphylococcus aureus for more than 150 days after burn injury, but killing of Escherichia coli returned to normal. FMLP-stimulated superoxide release by neutrophils in patients with burns was depressed for over 100 days after burn injury, whereas superoxide release by neutrophils in patients with burns stimulated with serum-opsonized zymosan was depressed for 42 days after burn injury. In patients with burns lymphocyte proliferation, with phytohemagglutinin as a mitogen, was suppressed for up to 85 days after injury, then returned to normal. The mixed lymphocyte response was suppressed up to 170 days after injury.