Selective display of histamine receptors on lymphocytes.

Histamine, acting on histamine type 2 receptors, increases intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and thus modulates the immunologic functions of lymphocytes. Lymphocyte cyclic AMP levels were used to follow the development of histamine receptors. The B lymphocytes have no functional histamine receptors. As T lymphocytes "mature" in immunologic function--from thymocytes to cortisone-resistant thymocytes to splenic T lymphocytes--their response to histamine increases. The response of these subpopulations of lymphocytes to isoproterenol is the inverse of the histamine response. It is suggested that the changing display of histamine receptors plays an important part in the control of immunologic responses.

Effect of hyperthermia on rabbit macrophages.

The effect of water-bath hyperthermia on rabbit peritoneal macrophages was studied in vitro. The cells were exposed to hyperthermia for 30 min to 4 hours and membrane transport of ions as measured by total and ouabain-inhibited 86Rb influx as well as membrane permeability for 86Rb and 51Cr-labelled intracellular proteins were investigated. Heat-treated macrophages were tested for their ability to phagocyte staphylococci and for reduction of nitroblue-tetrazolium. Moreover the effect of microwave whole-body hyperthermia on rabbit phogocytic cells was studied in vivo. Ion transport to macrophages was stimulated by both intensive (43 degrees C) and moderate (40 degrees C) hyperthermia. On the other hand exposition of the cells to 43 degrees C led to pronounced release of 86Rb and 51Cr from prelabelled cells. NBT reduction was generally decreased in macrophages exposed to 43 degrees C and increased in macrophages kept at 40 degrees C. Clearance of 32P-labelled staphylococci from peripheral blood of microwave-irradiated rabbits diminished when animals were exposed to microwave hyperthermia for f or 7 days (2 hours daily).

The search for an influence of whole-body microwave hyperthermia on anti-tumor immunity.

The effect of microwave whole-body hyperthermia was examined on the takes of tumor after i.v. administration of the tumor single cell suspension. It was shown that the longer the exposure to hyperthermia treatment the higher the number of lung nodules obtained by injection of the same dose of tumor cells. Also, the expression of contact hypersenstivity to oxazolone was strongly inhibited after hyperthermia treatment. It was documented that it is possible to transfer the diminished resistance to tumor with bone marrow, whereas impaired responsiveness to oxazolone was transferred with spleen cells or thymocytes.

Effect of whole-body microwave hyperthermia on delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity in tumor-bearing mice.

Tumor-bearing and normal BALB/c mice were examined for their responsiveness to contact-sensitizing agent oxazolone after whole-body microwave hyperthermia treatment. The effective therapy with hyperthermia prolonging mean survival time of the animals and causing tumors regression resulted in strongly pronounced hyporeactivity to oxazolone. The impaired responsiveness remained unchanged until death of the tumor-bearing animals. In the case of tumor-free animals delayed cutaneous response returned to normal values within 8-12 days after hyperthermia treatment. It is documented that the longer exposure to hyperthermia sessions the more pronounced depression of reactivity to oxazolone occurs.

Usefulness of the PAL test in the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Usefulness of a simple microagglutination test for diagnosis of malignant diseases was evaluated in the diagnosis of lung cancer. The test was not specific, being positive in 82% of malignant and 55% of nonmalignant cases. It was shown that poly-L-lysine-induced agglutination of lymphocytes reflects rather changed serum than cell properties and cannot be taken as a method for detection of sensitized cells.

Small-cell lung cancer and immunochemotherapy with Propionibacterium granulosum KP 45.

Seventy-nine patients with small-cell lung cancer were treated with vincristin, methotrexate, and cyclophosphamide in inductive therapy and with methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and procarbazine in maintenance therapy. Patients were divided at random into two groups: one group received chemotherapy alone and the second group was additionally subjected to systemic immunotherapy with Propionibacterium granulosum strain KP-45. In general, differences in the frequency of therapy response and in duration of remission could not be stated between the two groups of patients, but patients responding to chemotherapy showed a significantly longer remission time and lower complication rates. This benificial effect of chemoimmunotherapy is not related to a direct antitumor activity of the immunomodifier used, but to the lowered risk of myelosuppression and infections. Immunomodulation in combination with chemo- and/or radiotherapy can be recommended for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer.

The in vivo cytostatic effect induced by Propionibacterium granulosum on murine tumor cells.

The cytostatic action of Propionibacterium granulosum was studied in a mouse sarcoma in vivo. Kinetic analysis of tumor cells 28 days after tumor implantation and systemic immunotherapy showed that the cell cycle time was identical in both treated and untreated tumors. P. granulosum treatment resulted in a marked prolongation of the S phase and shortening of the G1 phase of the cell cycle. A pronounced drop in the number of labeled interphases and the reduction of the growth fraction were observed in tumors obtained from mice given injection of P. granulosum. Cloning efficiency of tumor cells from P. granulosum treated animals was quantitatively similar to that of control animals and only differences in the size of lung colonies were observed.

The effect of vitamin E on granulocyte function in patients with recurrent infections.

The influence of vit. E treatment on metabolic and bactericidal granulocyte activity in patients with recurrent infections was studied by chemiluminescence and phagocytosis assays. Vit. E serum level was significantly diminished before therapy. Six weeks supplementation with 200-300 mg/day of vit. E resulted in improvement of clinical status and normalisation of alpha-tocopherol serum level. Bactericidal activity of granulocytes was lower in patients than in the respective controls and it slightly rose after vit. E therapy. Before, therapy, patients granulocytes showed metabolic activity above or within the control range. Vit. E treatment increased, had no effect or decreased granulocyte metabolic activity, but never below the control range.

Intake of vitamins and minerals. Euronut SENECA investigators.

In 18 towns of 12 European countries, 1217 men and 1241 women born between 1913 and 1918 participated in a dietary survey (modified dietary history). Each country used its own nutrient data bank for the conversion of food intake data into vitamin and mineral intakes. Information on the use of nutrient supplements was collected through a questionnaire answered by the participants. Enormous variability in nutrient dietary intake was observed between and even within the different sites. The dietary intake of vitamin A was higher in northern towns and, conversely, the intake of beta-carotene and vitamin C was lower. A considerable percentage of the elderly in some towns had intakes of some nutrients below the lowest European recommended daily intakes (RDIs) and so might be at risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Women in almost all towns had diets of higher nutrient density than men, except for iron. There was great variability in supplementation practices between different towns, even within a country. In northern towns, supplements were used much more frequently than in the other sites, but their use was not nutrition-oriented. Sometimes vitamin supplements were taken in large quantities, with risk of toxicity. Differences between the sexes in supplementation practices were not consistent.

Longitudinal changes in the intake of energy and macronutrients of elderly Europeans. SENECA Investigators.

OBJECTIVE: To assess longitudinal changes in intakes of energy and macronutrients in elderly Europeans. DESIGN: Longitudinal study including a dietary assessment in 1988/1989, which was repeated in 1993. SETTING: Serial data were collected in nine European towns: Belgium: Hamme (H/B); Denmark: Roskilde (R/DK); France: Haguenau (H/F) and Romans (R/F); Italy: Padua (P/I); the Netherlands: Culemborg (C/NL); Portugal: Vila Franca de Xira (V/P); Spain: Betanzos (B/E) and Switzerland: Yverdon (Y/CH). In other centres dietary intake data were collected in 1993 only: Portugal: Coimbra (C/P); Poland: Marki (M/PL); Northern Ireland: Ballymoney-Limavady-Portstewart (BLP/NI/UK) and United States: Mansfield (Connecticut) (M/CT/USA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using standardized methodologies, data were collected from a random stratified sample of elderly men and women born between 1913 and 1918. In 1993 dietary intake data were collected from 1125 subjects by a modified validated dietary history method. RESULTS: Over the 4-year study period, a decline in mean energy intake of one MJ or less per day was observed in most towns, which was significant (P < 0.01) in only four of the towns. The within- and between-centre variation of change was large. Overall, a slight decline was reported for all macronutrients and with the exception of protein, large within and between centre variations were observed in both men and women. CONCLUSION: Intake of energy and macronutrients was found to decline with age. This may be of special concern for small eaters.

Energy and nutrients intake of elderly people living in the Warsaw region, Poland.

The dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, minerals and vitamins was studied in a group of elderly living in urban, suburban, and rural areas of Warsaw region, Poland. The study was conducted in spring 1999 and 298 persons, born between 1919-1924, randomly selected with criteria of age and place of living, were included. Dietary data were based on the 3-day food records. The energy and nutrients intake was calculated on the basis of tables of nutritive value of food products and compared to the Polish RDA's. Daily food rations of the subjects (except for men living in Warsaw) had an incorrect structure as well as insufficient energy content. The highest (i.e. almost 60% or higher) prevalence of intake lower than 2/3 of Polish RDA's was observed for calcium, magnesium, copper, vitamin B2 and vitamin C as well as for iron and vitamin B1 among women. The average intake of fat, cholesterol, and phosphorus was above recommended level. The differences related to area of living were less pronounced for men than for women. Women from suburban area were the most vulnerable group in respect to nutritional inadequacy.

Consumption of food products by the elderly living in different environments of the Warsaw region, Poland.

The aim of the study was to compare qualitatively the intake of food groups by the elderly living in urban and rural areas, with regard to the place of living and sex. Fifty-sex subjects in Warsaw and 142 in villages (born in 1919-24) participated in the study. A 3-day record method was used to collect nutritional data. The subjects living in Warsaw consumed more often milk, meat, fish, fruit and their products, as well as fats and oils. Less than 50% of the elderly living in either rural or urban areas ate eggs and fish. Consumption of fruit and its products was also low in the villages (47%). Meat and meat products were consumed more often by elderly men, whereas milk, fruit and their products were eaten more often by women (a rural area only). Consumption of specific food items also differed between the two analyzed living areas; milk, yoghurt and cheese were eaten more often by the residents of Warsaw, however, the intake of cream was significantly higher in the villages. The intake of red meat and meat products was similar, but poultry was included into the diet of 24% of the elderly in the rural area, significantly less than in Warsaw (34%). It also appeared that butter and mixed fats were more common among the elderly in Warsaw,whereas lard, pork fat and margarine were more popular in the villages. Food choice in the rural area was of poorer quality.

Ten-year changes in anthropometric characteristics of elderly Europeans.

OBJECTIVE: Assess longitudinal (10-y) changes in height, body weight and circumferences in elderly Europeans. DESIGN: Longitudinal assessments including baseline measurements taken in 1988/1989 which were repeated in 1993 (follow-up) and in 1999 (Finale). SETTING: Longitudinal data were collected in nine European research towns: Hamme/Belgium (H/B), Roskilde/Denmark (R/DK), Haguenau/France (H/F), Romans/France (R/F), Padua/Italy (P/I), Culemborg/the Netherlands (C/NL), Vila Franca de Xira/Portugal (V/P), Betanzos/Spain (B/E), Yverdon/Switzerland (Y/CH). SUBJECTS: Using standardised methodologies data were collected from a random stratified sample of elderly men and women born between 1913 and 1918 including a total of 662 subjects in 1999. RESULTS: On average stature had decreased by 1,5-2 cm. Mean weight changed by -2.6 kg to - 4.2 kg in only three towns. An increase of at least 5 kg of body weight had taken place in 13 % of both men and women whereas 23 % of men and 27 % women had lost at least 5 kg of their baseline weight. Such weight loss over the first 4 years of follow-up was associated with higher mortality rates in men (crude RR 2.2, p<0.0001). Serial changes in arm circumference were small but waist circumference had increased by 3-4 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst small-to-modest average changes in height, body weight and circumferences emerged over SENECA's 10-year follow-up period, considerable gains and losses of body weight had occurred in a significant proportion of the SENECA populations, whereby early weight loss might be predictive of subsequent survival.

Suppression of cell-mediated immune reactivity by peptides cleaved from human fibrinogen.

Peptides derived from fibrinogen, known from earlier studies to inhibit the stimulation of lymphocytes in vitro and to suppress the humoral immune response in vivo, were investigated for their effect on cell-mediated immune reactivity in mice. An unfractioned mixture of peptides with molecular weights under 3,500 injected intraperitoneally at repeated intervals suppressed the contact hypersensitivity to oxazolone but did not influence the skin inflammatory reaction to croton oil. Local injections of peptides had a stronger effect on contact hypersensitivity. Four 200 micrograms local injections of peptides prior to sensitization abolished the increase in lymph node weight and the uptake of 125I-iododeoxyuridine in the draining lymph node after sensitization. Three previously isolated peptides with vasoactive effects inhibited Con A-stimulated incorporation of 3H-thymidine into spleen cells. The first, a pentapeptide (Ala-Arg-Pro-Ala-Lys), and the second, an undecapeptide (Ser-Glu-Leu-Gln-Lys-Val-Pro-Pro-Glu-Trp-Lys) both with an enhancing effect on microvascular permeability, were more potent than the third, a pentapeptide with slight vasoconstrictive properties (Thr-Ser-Glu-Val-Lys). Cell viability was not altered, as measured by trypan blue exclusion and the release of 86Rb. Accumulating evidence indicates that peptides derived from fibrin may be of importance as modulators of cellular immunoreactivity in a number of clinical conditions.

[Increase of pathogenicity of Staphylococcus aureus strains caused by lysogenic conversion by phages of serologic group F]. / Wzrost patogennosci szczepów gronkowca zlocistego spowodowany konwersja lizogenna fagami grupy serologicznej F.

The substantial influence of presence of the double converting prophages of the serological group F on the decrease of intensity of human leukocytes stimulation with lysogenic cells of S. aureus was determined. The end values of chemiluminescence in the six experimental systems containing lysogenic bacteria were only from 15.4 to 37.2% of the value in the control sample. The end values of the intercellular killing of the two lysogenic variants were twofold lower than in controls. Third of the investigated variants was completely resistant to intracellular killing in the applied system, and revealed 27% of growth stimulation.

[Bacteriophage conversion as a factor modifying the intensity of phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by human leukocytes]. / Konwersja fagowa jako czynnik modyfikujacy intensywnosc fagocytozy Staphylococcus aureus przez leukocyty ludzkie.

Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 8325-4 and its eight variants lysogenized with phages responsible for the synthesis of staphylococcal staphylokinase were used for the study. Influence of phage conversion of S. aureus on its interaction with human leucocytes and influence of prophage on strain susceptibility to intracellular killing by human granulocytes without opsonins were evaluated. It was found that lysogenization of the strain with the bacteriophages decreased in each case reactivity of human leucocytes for staphylococcal strain what was expressed by lower bioluminescence values and by lower percentage of intracellular killing of bacterial cells carrying prophage.

Adequate function of the immune system and physiological microflora are closely correlated.

It is already known that physiological microflora of the digestive system plays an important role in local immunity. Studies on immunomodulating activity of some autoantibodies have shown that drugs affecting intestinal microflora possess potent immunosuppressive effect on systemic immunity. These observations inspired to recent investigation on the mechanisms of the influence of digestive tract bacteria on the immune system.

[Cellular analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. I. Detection of macrophage populations]. / Analiza skladu komórkowego plynu oskrzelowo-pecherzykowego. I. Wykrywanie populacji makrofagów.

The aim of the study was to compare the results of routine counts of percentage of BAL macrophages, using morphological differential staining method--Pappenheim stain (M) and staining for nonspecific esterase activity (E) with those obtained by APAAP technique, using specific for monocytes (macrophages monoclonal antibodies (Ki-M1) and the complex APAAP (alkaline phosphatase--mouse anti alkaline phosphatase complex). The mean counts were comparable, although different criteria of estimation were used. Significant differences were seen in smokers when the criteria were based on morphology and expression of surface antigens. The results indicate that correct estimation of macrophage counts and their characteristics (enzymatic activity, expression of surface antigens) can only be made using many methods based on various criteria of estimation.

[Evaluation of selected immunologic parameters in healthy persons infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis bacillus]. / Ocena wybranych czynnosci ukladu odpornosciowego u zdrowych osób zakazonych pratkiem gruzlicy.

Selected immunological parameters of peripheral blood leukocytes in 30 tb contracts and control group consisting of 30 healthy blood donors in similar age were examined. All contacts showed the exudate type Mantoux reaction (over 20 mm in diameter) and all revealed normal chest X-ray. No differences between both groups in total T cells, CD4, CD8 counts, CD4/CD8 ratio and in proliferative response to mitogens (PHA and Con A) were found. Tb contacts had the similar serum IgM and elevated IgG and IgA concentrations as compared with the controls. Tb contacts showed depressed granulocyte metabolic activity as measured by CL response to chemostatic peptide N-FORMYL-MET-LEU-PHE (FMLP) in comparison with control subjects.

[Methods of nutrient intake and nutritional status of the elderly in Poland on the basis of the literature from the years 1980-1996]. / Sposób zywienia oraz stan odzywienia ludzi starszych w Polsce w swietle danych z pismiennictwa z lat 1980-1996.

According to papers published in the years 1980-1996 there were many faults in nutritional habits of the elderly in Poland, which can affect nutritional and health status. Low consumption of calcium, vitamins C, A, and B group was identified most often while the intake of fats was too high in comparison to Polish recommended daily intake. Moreover iron and protein intake among women were also too low. The analysis of food products intake indicated that above mentioned inadequacy in nutrient intake was the result of low consumption of milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables containing vitamin C and beta- carotene as well as grain products and potatoes and high consumption of products from the group other fats. The observed differences between intake and nutritional recommendation were confirmed by the indices of nutritional status. BMI indicating overweight or obesity was observed for many subjects under study, more frequently among women than among man. Biochemical analysis showed risk of deficiency of some vitamins.