[Enterobacteria and endotoxins in abdominal surgical pathology. Critical review and clinico-experimental studies]. / Enterobatteri ed endotossine nella patologia chirurgica addominale. Rassegna sintetico-critica e contributo clinico-sperimentale

A detailed critical review on the role of endotoxins from gram-negative bacteria in the pathogenesis of most of the intestinal experimental models of surgical interest is presented. Data of an investigation on 10 cases of acute appendicitis and 2 cases of intestinal occlusion associated with toxaemia are then presented: in all these cases the Limulus test significatively revealed the presence of endotoxin in the blood and in the peritoneal fluid, also in absence of bacteria in the blood. The implications of these results and the use of the test in clinical practice are discussed.

[Biological effects of the combined action of laser radiation and hematoporphyrin on a strain of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 100)]. / Effetti biologici della azione combinata radiazione laser ed ematoporfirina su un ceppo di Salmonella typhimurium (TA 100).

The AA. have studied biological effects of Laser radiation and Haematoporphyrin (HPD) on Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 strain. Their results do not show a growth of letal effect that they demonstrated on antecedent trials, only dependent from Laser radiation. Nome mutagenetic effect was demonstrated. They think that HPD is not capable of binding or penetrating in bacterial cell owing to complexity of bacterial capsule and wall; therefore HPD can not increase Laser radiation effect, though its photodynamic action.

[1st experiences on the protective effect of Limulus polyphemus amebocyte lysate in the endotoxic shock in the rat]. / Prime esperienze sull'effetto protettivo del lisato di amebociti di "limulus polyphemus" nello shock endotossinico del ratto

The injection in the peritoneum of Limulus amebocyte lysate at the same time of inoculation of lethal dose of E. coli LPS is able to protect the rats against endotoxin lethality.

[Biological effects of laser radiation and methylene blue on a strain of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 100) (II)]. / Effetti biologici della azione radiazione laser e bleu di metilene su un ceppo di Salmonella typhimurium (TA 100)--(NOTA II).

In this second note, the AA. have studied biological effect of laser radiation and methylene blue on Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 strain with greatest susceptibility for mutagenetic agents. Their results show a biological effect of laser radiation, of methylene blue like to those obtained for TA 1538 strain, nevertheless greatest susceptibility of TA 100 strain because carrier of plasmid.

[Biological effects of the combined action of laser radiation and methylene blue on a strain of Salmonella typhimurium (TA 1538) (I)]. / Effetti biologici della azione combinata radiazione laser e bleu di metilene su un ceppo di Salmonella typhimurium (TA 1538)--(NOTA I).

The AA. have studied biological effects of laser radiation and methylene blue (MB) on Salmonella typhimurium TA 1538 strain. Their results show low lethal effect of laser radiation directly proportional to administered dose. This effect is more evident in the only MB treatment. Lethal effect persisted, although non directly proportional with combined treatment laser and MB. Some treatments have not demonstrated mutagenetic effect. A new set of trials they are making on Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 strain with plasmid pK M 101 that give to strain greatest susceptibility for mutagenetic agents.

[Activity inhibiting leukocyte migration in human sera of healthy subjects and of subjects with delayed hypersensitivity and findings of possible serum factors with antagonistic activity (author's transl)]. / Attivita'inibente la migrazione leucocitaria nel siero di donatori sani e di soggetti con ipersensibilita' ritardata e riscontro di possibili fattori sierici ad attivita' antagonista

The AA. have tested human sera from subjects with a clinical condition of delayed hypersensitivity (TBC and eczematous contact dermatitis) in order to detect factors affecting leukocyte migration in agarose plates. They found either inhibiting or stimulating factors of cellular migration. According to the most recent data about the same area they emphasyze a sort a regulatory mechanism of LIF or factors with activity LIF-like, due to antagonistic substances present in sera of their patients. Furthermore they suggest a list of factors able to inhibit or to enhance cellular migration.

Endotoxemia detected by Limulus assay in severe malnourished children. Plasma effects on leucocyte migration: preliminary investigations.

The Authors have examined 10 cases of severe malnourished children (7 cases of kwashiorkor, 2 cases of marasmus, 1 case of marasmic kwashiorkor). Experiments were carried in order to detect endotoxemia by means of Limulus test, bacteremia with blood cultures and possible effects of plasma on leucocyte migration by Leucocytes Migration Agarose Test (LMAT). The relationship between severe malnutrition, endotoxemia and leucocytes migration has been discussed.

[Attempted protection against experimental endotoxic shock]. / Tentativi di protezione contro lo shock endotossinico sperimentale

Protection against endotoxin challenge. The AA. have summarized shortly some experimental data dealing with trials of protection against endotoxin challenge pointing out, mostly, the effects of phosphate-containing compounds, as well as dextrane, anticoagulants, platelets, polymyxin B, and serum antiendotoxin and Lipid A antiserum. They have reported some experiments carried out by means of Limulus amebocyte lysate.

Leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF) production from lymphocytes stimulated by leucogenenol.

It has been demonstrated that human peripheral lymphocytes incubated in a tissue culture medium containing 0.04, 0.1, or 0.15 microgram/ml of leucogenenol form or release a factor that inhibits the migration of human peripheral PMN leukocyte. The factor is chromatographed of Sephadex G-100 and migrates on electrophoresis as an albumin, thus suggesting that it has the electric charge of an albumin. The factor is stable to neuraminidase and to heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min, but it is inactivated by heating at 80 degrees C for 60 min. Its physical and biological properties suggest that the factor is identical to the LIF reported by Rocklin.

Inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation as a possible test for evaluation of the enterotoxigenicity of some enterobacteria. Preliminary study. / L'inibizione dell'aggregazione plastrinica da ADP come possibile test di valutazione dell'enterotossigenicta' di alcuni enterobatteri. Studio preliminare.

Some culture filtrates or enterotoxin preparations from enterobacteria that activate the adenylate cyclase system (vibrio cholerae, LT fraction from escherichia coli and klebsiella pneumoniae, shigella dysenteriae type 1) exibit an inhibiting effect on ADP-induced platelet aggregation, while other enterotoxin preparations not effective on adenylate cyclase system, don't interfere with this model. The A. propose the platelet aggregation as cellular assay to detect enterotoxin fractions effective upon adenylate cyclase system.

Leukocyte inhibiting factor (LIF) production from human lymphocytes stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides.

Leukocyte inhibiting factor (LIF) release from lymphocytes cultures stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) has been investigated. Human lymphocytes cultured in the presence of E, coli or S. enteritidis LPS were able to release in the supernatants a substance with the following properties: a) same elution pattern of Bovine Serum Albumin (MW 69000) when filtered on Sephadex G-100; b) it migrates on disc electrophoresis a an albumin; c) not dialyzable; d) not cytotoxic; e) inhibition of polymorphonuclear cells migration in agarose plates; f) heat stability at 56 degrees C for 30'. This substance could be likely identified as LIF.

[Pilot study on the Limulus test and apyrogenic injectable preparations]. / Limulus test e preparazioni iniettabili apirogene studio pilota

After some notices on the Limulus amebocyte lysate test the AA. expose the results of an investigation for in vitro pyrogen detection in parenteral preparations.

Increased macrophage procoagulant activity but normal endothelial thrombomodulin in rabbits fed an atherogenic diet.

We have studied the procoagulant activity (PCA) of blood and spleen mononuclear phagocytes and the thrombomodulin activity of aortic segments in rabbits fed an atherogenic diet for 6 weeks as compared to rabbits fed a standard diet. Blood monocytes expressed negligible basal PCA (i.e., PCA measured immediately after cell isolation) both in treated and control rabbits. PCA induced by endotoxin in vitro was not different in the two groups. In contrast, dietary treatment resulted in a significant increase in the basal PCA of spleen cells (p less than 0.01). Moreover, the latter produced significantly more PCA than control cells (p less than 0.002) in response to endotoxin in vitro. The thrombomodulin activity associated with aortic endothelium was not different in the two groups of animals despite the presence of visible fatty streaks on the aortic endothelium of treated rabbits. When rabbits were given a single injection of endotoxin, spleen mononuclear phagocytes harvested 60 min after the injection from treated animals expressed three times more PCA (p less than 0.01) than did cells from controls. In all instances PCA was identified as tissue factor. Endotoxin injection did not affect the thrombomodulin activity of thoracic aorta from both control and diet groups. It is suggested that dietary fats may cause early functional changes in mononuclear phagocytes that lead to an increased PCA production both in vivo and in vitro. These data may be relevant to an understanding of the role of monocytes-macrophages in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

[Effects of anesthesia and surgical trauma on the immune response of pediatric patients]. / Effetti della anestesia e del trauma operatorio sulla risposta immunitaria di pazienti in eta' pediatrica.

The AA. have evaluated the effects of anaesthesia and surgical trauma on the ability of lymphocytes from 10 patients to release Leukocyte Inhibiting Factor (LIF) after stimulation with phytohaemoagglutinin (PHA). In addition, they have studied the electrophoretic mobility of Polymorphonuclear-cells (PMN) and lymphocytes of 8 patients after incubation in autologus plasma. The experimental results show decrease of LIF production after operation in 6 individuals and reduction of eletrophoretic mobility of PMN and lymphocytes. The last finding is not significant on statistical point of view.