Paragonimiasis in Sin Ho District, Lai Chau Province, Viet Nam.

Forty-four cases of pulmonary paragonimiasis, two also with evidence of cerebral infection, were found in Sin Ho District in Northern Viet Nam. There were 30 males and 14 females, 2-30 years of age. The diagnosis was made by sputum examination. Pet dogs and wild dogs in the area were also found infected and the people often eat roasted crabs.

Cyclic AMP level of lymphocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and its relation to disease activity.

The basal and stimulated intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 16 control subjects and 14 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), all fulfilling the ARA criteria, were studied. No significant difference in basal cAMP level was observed between SLE patients and controls. SLE lymphocytes (both active and inactive) elicited a diminished response to aminophylline and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). No correlation was seen between disease activity and either baseline cAMP levels or response to these stimulators. We suggest an intrinsic (not disease activity-related) impairment of the adenylate cyclase-dependent regulatory mechanism in the PBMC of SLE patients, which may result in a defective IL-2 production and IL-2 dependent biological functions.

A simple assay for tumor necrosis factor using HEp-2 target cells.

We developed a sensitive bioassay system for the determination of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) using HEp-2 adherent human epipharynx carcinoma cells as targets. TNF from separated human monocytes was triggered by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In a 24 hr 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, TNF-like activity was seen to reproducibly destroy radiolabeled target cells, i.e., inhibits thymidine incorporation and causes detachment of adherent HEp-2 cells. HEp-2 cells were insensitive to human interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). In contrast, human interferon-alpha and gamma were also cytotoxic for target cells. Monocyte supernatants stimulated by LPS, however, failed to contain detectable amounts of interferons.

Defective production of interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha by stimulated monocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha activity by E. coli lipopolysaccharide-triggered monocytes was studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in various stages of activity. Monocytes from both groups of SLE patients produced significantly less tumour necrosis factor-alpha activity than those of age and sex matched healthy controls. However, interleukin-1 activity was only significantly reduced in patients with active stage of the disease. These findings indicate further immunoregulatory disturbances in monocyte function concerning SLE.

Effect of vitamin A treatment on immune reactivity and lipid peroxidation in patients with Sjögren's syndrome.

Patients with Sjögren's syndrome were treated with vitamin A (100,000 U) daily during a two-week period. The vitamin treatment significantly elevated their ADCC and NK activity. The lymphocyte blast transformation, however was not noticeably changed. After the treatment, the retinyl-ester and retinol level of the plasma significantly increased as did the plasma level of vitamin E. The level of TBA reactive substances (malondialdehyde) in the plasma increased, whilst the glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity of erythrocytes decreased. The activity of the plasma glutathione peroxidase increased, but not significantly.

Effect of vitamin A treatment on the immune reactivity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Treatment of patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus with vitamin A (100,000 U daily for 2 weeks) resulted in an enhancement of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, natural killer cell activity and blastogenic response to plant mitogens and interleukin-2 (IL-2).

Effect of vitamin A treatment on cellular immune reactivity in patients with CLL.

Treatment with vitamin A (100,000 U daily for 2 weeks) of patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukaemia resulted in an enhancement of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, natural killer cell activity and blastogenic response to plant mitogens.