Prevalence of abnormal oral cytology and impact of sexual behavior in women with abnormal cervical cytology.

UNLABELLED: PURPOSE OFINVESTIGATION: To assess the frequency of oral cytological abnormalities in women who have cervical intraepithelial lesions, and transmission of infection depending on their sexual behavior. The authors also aimed to investigate the oral cytological changes in male partners. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty patients with abnormal cervical cytological results via punch biopsy formed the case group, and 68 patients constituted the control group with normal cervical smear results. The Bethesda system was used for classification of the cytological alterations. RESULTS: Oral dysplasia was significantly higher in the squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) group. Oral sex percentage was 43.3% in SIL group, whereas it was 19.1% in the control group. History of genital warts in women with SIL was also significantly higher in the case group. Three patients were diagnosed with abnormal oral cytology in the SIL group (10%), however abnormal oral cytology was not detected in the control group. No oral dysplastic changes was identified in the male partners of women with oral lesions. CONCLUSION: The authors detected oral dysplastic changes in the SIL group, especially in the (low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LGSIL) patients. Interestingly they could not find any oral dysplastic changes in the male partners of the study population.

Usefulness of elevated red cell distribution width for predicting systemic inflammatory response syndrome after extracorporeal circulation.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgical operations performed by using extracorporeal circulation (ECC) lead to a systemic inflammatory response (SIR). Sometimes SIR may turn into a severe state, the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) that usually has a poor outcome with no specific clinical tools described for its prediction. Red cell distribution width (RDW) is a routine hematological parameter. It has been proposed as a marker of morbidity and mortality in various clinical conditions. We aimed to investigate the relationship between high RDW and SIRS which is triggered by ECC. METHODS: Eleven hundred consecutive patients who underwent elective heart surgery with the use of ECC were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 19 patients fulfilled the described SIRS criteria and 20 consecutive patients were selected as the control group. RDW and other laboratory parameters, preoperative clinical status, operative data and postoperative data were compared between the SIRS and the control groups. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the patient groups were similar. Significant mortality was found in the SIRS group; 18 (94.73%) patients and 2 (10%) patients in the control group (p < 0.002). RDW was found to be significantly higher in the SIRS group vs the control group (15.02 ± 2.03 vs 13.01 ± 1.93, respectively, p < 0.003). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed an association between high RDW levels and SIRS development (OR for RDW levels exceeding 13.5%; 95% confidence limits of 1.0-1.3; p < 0.04). Total operation time and the need for inotropic support were also found to be significant against the SIRS group (p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Increased RDW was significantly associated with increased risk of SIRS after ECC. The results of this study suggest that paying attention to RDW might provide valuable clinical information for predicting SIRS development among patients who are candidates for open heart surgery, without incurring additional costs.

Efficacy of a live attenuated Escherichia coli O78:K80 vaccine in chickens and turkeys.

A candidate live vaccine for avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) was constructed from a virulent field APEC 078 strain by mutation of the aroA gene. The mutant was highly similar to the parent wild-type strain in respect of colony morphology, motility, growth in suspension, hemagglutination, Congo Red binding, HEp-2 cell adhesion, and the elaboration of surface antigens type 1 fimbriae and flagella, although production of curli fimbriae was reduced marginally. The mutant proved avirulent when inoculated into 1-day-old chicks by spray application and when presented again in the drinking water at 7 days of age. Chickens and turkeys vaccinated with an 078 aroA mutant were protected against a challenge at 6 wk of age by virulent APEC strains.

Efficacy and safety of an attenuated live QX-like infectious bronchitis virus strain as a vaccine for chickens.

The attenuation of infectious bronchitis (IB) QX-like virus strain L1148 is described. The virus was passaged multiple times in embryonated specific pathogen free (SPF) chicken eggs, and at different passage levels samples were tested for safety for the respiratory tract and kidneys in 1-day-old SPF chickens. There was a clear decrease in pathogenicity for the respiratory tract and kidneys when the virus had undergone a large number of passages. Passage level 80 was investigated for safety for the reproductive tract in 1-day-old and 7-day-old SPF chickens. In 1-day-old chickens, 12.5% of the vaccinated birds had macroscopic lesions. No lesions were observed if the chickens had been vaccinated at 7 days of age. Passage level 80 was investigated for its ability to spread from vaccinated to non-vaccinated chickens and for dissemination in the body. The virus was able to spread from vaccinated chickens to groups of non-vaccinated chickens, and in the vaccinated birds the virus was found frequently in oro-pharyngeal and cloacal swabs. A fragment of the hypervariable region of the S1 protein of passage level 80 was sequenced and revealed nucleotide changes resulting in two amino acid substitutions. Passage level 80 was given additional passages to levels 82 and 85. Both passage levels were tested for efficacy in SPF chickens and passage level 85 was tested for efficacy in commercial chickens with maternally derived antibodies (MDA) against a challenge with QX-like strain IB D388. In both SPF chickens and chickens with MDA, the vaccines based on strain IB L1148 were efficacious against challenge.

Thoracic endoscopic surgery for hyperhidrosis: comparison of different techniques.

BACKGROUND: Hyperhidrosis is pathological perspiration in palmar, plantar or axillary surfaces. Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is currently the most commonly used therapy for hyperhidrosis. Blockage of sympathetic ganglia is achieved by segmental resection, transection and/or cauterization, and clipping of the chain. We aimed to compare the efficacy of these methods with respect to patient satisfaction, recurrence of symptoms and complications. METHODS: Eighty male patients with a mean age of 22.02 +/- 2.61 years undergoing bilateral thoracoscopic sympathectomy or sympathetic blockage to treat primary hyperhidrosis were included in this randomized study. The patients were divided into four groups depending on the technique used for sympathetic blockage; techniques included resection (n = 20), transection (n = 20), ablation (n = 20), and clipping (n = 20). RESULTS: The primary success rate for isolated palmar hyperhidrosis was 96.3 %; for palmar and axillary hydrosis it was 95.7 % and for palmar and face/scalp hyperhidrosis it was 66.7 %. No recurrence was observed. The overall success rate of the operation was 95 % and the differences between the four groups were not statistically significant. In the clipping group, the duration of the surgical procedure was significantly shorter than in the other groups. Complication rates were similar among the groups. The postoperative chest roentgenogram revealed pneumothorax in nine patients, but none of them required intervention. CONCLUSION: Thoracic endoscopic sympathetic blockage yields similar results irrespective of the surgical technique adopted.

Recombinant canarypox vectored West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine protects dogs and cats against a mosquito WNV challenge.

The safety and efficacy of a canarypox vector expressing PrM and E genes of West Nile virus (WNV) (ALVAC-WNV) was evaluated in dogs and cats. One group of 17 dogs (vaccinated with 10(5.6) TCID(50)) and two groups of cats (groups 1 [n=14] vaccinated with 10(7.5) TCID(50) and 2 [n=8] 10(5.6) TCID(50)) were vaccinated twice at 28-day intervals. Fifteen dogs and eleven cats served as negative controls. The cats and dogs were challenged 120 and 135 days after the second immunization, respectively via the bites of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes infected with WNV. The first dose of vaccine induced a detectable antibody response in four dogs and five cats (one immunized with low and four with high doses). After the second dose, all the vaccinated dogs and all of the cats, immunized with high dose had detectable antibody titers, whereas only four of eight cats in the low dose group were seropositive. None of the vaccinated dogs and one vaccinated cat developed viremia following the WNV mosquito-challenge. In contrast, 14 of the 15 control dogs and 9 of the 11 control cats developed viremia. The experimental vaccine described in this study may be of value in the prevention of WNV infection in dogs and cats.

Recombinant canarypoxvirus vaccine carrying the prM/E genes of West Nile virus protects horses against a West Nile virus-mosquito challenge.

An ALVAC (canarypoxvirus)-based recombinant (vCP2017) expressing the prM and E genes derived from a 1999 New York isolate of West Nile virus (WNV) was constructed and assessed for its protective efficacy in horses in two different experiments. In the first trial, a dose titration study was conducted to evaluate both serum neutralising antibody responses to WNV and duration of immunity. In the second trial the onset of protection was determined. Twenty-eight adult horses received two doses of vCP2017 administered intramuscularly at 5-week intervals and sixteen horses comprised age-matched non-vaccinated controls. Individual sera were taken periodically and tested for neutralising antibodies against WNV. Horses were challenged by allowing WNV-infected Aedes albopictus mosquitoes to feed on them two weeks (second trial) or one year (first trial) after the second vaccination. After challenge, horses were monitored for clinical signs of disease, and blood samples were collected for detection of WNV viremia and antibody. In both trials, all vaccinated horses developed neutralising antibodies against WNV. None of the vaccinated or control horses developed clinical signs of WNV disease upon challenge. None of the nine horses challenged 2 weeks after primary vaccination and only one of the ten vaccinated horses challenged 1 year after vaccination developed detectable viremia after challenge, whereas more than 80% of the controls became infected. Results from these studies demonstrated that a primary course of two doses of vCP2017 provides both antibody response and an early immunity in horses against WNV viremia.

The anamnestic serologic response to vaccination with a canarypox virus-vectored recombinant West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine in horses previously vaccinated with an inactivated WNV vaccine.

A new recombinant West Nile virus (WNV) vaccine has been licensed for use in horses. Prior to the availability of the recombinant vaccine in 2004, the only equine WNV vaccine available on the market had been an inactivated vaccine. Since the recombinant vaccine only expresses selected viral genes, the question could be posed as to whether a single dose of the recombinant vaccine would be effective in producing an anamnestic serologic response in horses previously vaccinated with an inactivated WNV vaccine. In this study we demonstrate that vaccination of horses with a canarypox-vectored recombinant vaccine, under field conditions, results in a marked anamnestic response in horses previously vaccinated with an inactivated WNV vaccine.

Activities of DNA turnover and free radical metabolizing enzymes in cancerous human prostate tissue.

Activities of adenosine deaminase (ADA), 5'nucleotidase (5'NT), xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and levels of thiobarbituric acid reagent substances (TBARS) were measured in 10 cancerous and 10 noncancerous human prostate tissues. Decreased activities of DNA turnover enzymes (ADA and 5'NT), increased activities of GSH-Px and CAT, and unchanged activities of SOD and XO were observed in cancerous prostate tissues compared with those of noncancerous ones. TBARS levels were found to be higher in cancerous tissues than noncancerous ones. In correlation analysis, mostly positive correlations were established between enzyme activities of the cancerous tissues, whereas no meaningful correlations were found between enzyme activities of the noncancerous tissues except for a positive correlation between XO and SOD. The results indicate that the activities of DNA turnover enzymes were reduced, which was possibly an attempt to lower the rate of purine catabolism, and the activities of GSH-Px and CAT enzymes were increased, probably in response to increased free radical stress occurring in cancerous prostate tissues. Increased concentrations of TBARS suggested oxidant stress and thus accelerated peroxidative reactions in the cancerous tissues, even though antioxidant defense mechanisms were activated. These findings suggest that enzymatic antioxidant systems of cancerous prostate tissues cannot sufficiently eliminate oxidant factors and prevent cellular peroxidative reactions occurring during the carcinogenic process.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for lower caliceal calculi.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) therapy for isolated lower caliceal calculi. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 165 patients who were treated with the Siemens Lithostar Plus on an outpatient basis between March 1993 and August 1997. The age of patients ranged from 17 to 70 (mean 39.11) years. The stone size varied from 4 to 42 mm, and patients who had stones larger than 21 mm had a double-J stent inserted prior to treatment. RESULTS: The overall stone-free rate at 3 months was 53.33%; whereas it was 61.79, 48.27, and 27.27% according to the stone size, /=21 mm, respectively. Complications were rare, including 2 pyelonephritis, 2 subcapsular hematoma formation, 24 renal colics and 8 stone streets, which were managed by ureteral stenting or additional ESWL and resulted in complete stone clearance. CONCLUSION: ESWL therapy is a reasonable and effective method for small lower caliceal stones, but due to its relatively low stone-free and high complication rates, percutaneous nephrolithotripsy or open surgery should be considered for stones larger than 21 mm.

Recombinant fowlpox viruses coexpressing chicken type I IFN and Newcastle disease virus HN and F genes: influence of IFN on protective efficacy and humoral responses of chickens following in ovo or post-hatch administration of recombinant viruses.

We have constructed recombinant (r) fowl pox viruses (FPVs) coexpressing chicken type I interferon (IFN) and/or hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). We administered rFPVs and FPV into embryonated chicken eggs at 17 days of embryonation or in chickens after hatch. Administration of FPV or rFPVs did not influence hatchability and survival of hatched chicks. In ovo or after hatch vaccination of chickens with the recombinant viruses resulted in protection against challenge with virulent FPV and NDV. Chickens vaccinated with FPV or FPV-NDV recombinant had significantly lower body weight 2 weeks following vaccination. This loss in body weight was not detected in chickens receiving FPV-IFN and FPV-NDV-IFN recombinants. Chickens vaccinated with FPV coexpressing IFN and NDV genes produced less antibodies against NDV in comparison with chickens vaccinated with FPV expressing NDV genes.

Enhanced expression of cytokine genes in spleen macrophages during acute infection with infectious bursal disease virus in chickens.

We examined the effects of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) on splenic T cells and macrophages. In acute IBDV infection, splenocytes responded poorly to Con A stimulation. However, when T cells were isolated from whole spleen cells, purified T cells responded normally to Con A. This result indicated that functional T cells were present in the spleen but mitogen-induced proliferation of T cells was being suppressed by other cells. Previous studies indicated that soluble factors from suppressor cells may mediate this inhibition of T cell mitogenesis. We thus examined the effects of IBDV on spleen adherent cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantitate the expression of several cytokine genes in splenic macrophages. In acute IBDV infection, splenic macrophages exhibited enhanced gene expression of type I interferon (IFN), chicken myelomonocytic growth factor (cMGF), an avian homolog of mammalian IL-6, and 9E3/CEF4, an avian homolog of mammalian IL-8. Mitogen-stimulated spleen cell cultures also produced elevated levels of nitric oxide. The elevation of cytokine gene expression by macrophages occurred transiently during the acute phase of viral infection and coincided with in vitro inhibition of T cell mitogenic response of spleen cells.

Characterization of a novel monoclonal antibody which identifies chicken secretory component.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb) produced against chicken biliary IgA (bIgA) was characterized. This MAb, designated A63, reacted with purified chicken biliary IgA (bIgA) but not with serum IgA in ELISA. In Western blot analysis, it recognized an 80-kDa protein associated with bIgA. MAb A63, but not a chicken IgA-specific MAb, reacted strongly with chicken embryo allantoic fluid, a rich source of SC, in immunoblots. In immunohistostained sections of chicken intestines A63 stained intracytoplasmic vacuoles in the enterocytes consistent with goblet cells, whereas the IgA-specific MAb predominantly stained plasma cells in the lamina propria. Whereas the IgA-specific MAb only reacted with the homologous IgA, MAb A63 reacted with bile samples of chicken, turkey, and quail but not of duck or pheasant. These data collectively indicated that MAb A63 recognized an avian secretory component (sc).

Antigen-specific lymphoproliferative responses to tetanus toxoid: a means for the evaluation of Marek's disease virus-induced immunosuppression in chickens.

Antigen-specific lymphoproliferative responses were examined in chickens following immunization with tetanus toxoid (Ttx). The immune competence of chickens was assessed by mitogen assay utilizing phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulation and Ttx-specific antigen proliferation assay (Ttx-APA). Immune spleen cells but not peripheral blood leucocytes demonstrated specific proliferation following stimulation in vitro in a Ttx-APA. In this study, we examined firstly the effects of Marek's disease (MD)-associated immunosuppression on specific immune responses. The humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Ttx-APA, respectively. Secondly, we examined if vaccination against MD using a conventional herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT) vaccine and two recombinant HVT (rHVT) vaccines would affect the development of Ttx-specific immune responses. The rHVT vaccines used in this study included two constructs: one expressing both Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and MD virus (MDV) genes (HVT/NDV/MDV), and another expressing only MDV genes (HVT/MDV). The mitogenic responses of spleen cells of the vaccinated chickens were inconsistent allowing no definitive conclusions about vaccinal immunosuppression. The results of the Ttx-APA indicated that Ttx-specific lymphoproliferative responses provide a meaningful measure of immunosuppression. The MDV-induced immunosuppression resulted in the inhibition of Ttx-specific lymphoproliferation in vitro. Both HVT and rHVT vaccines were not immunosuppressive as indicated by the development of normal Ttx-specific lymphoproliferative responses in chickens. These results indicate that vaccination against MD results not only in the prevention of tumor formation but also protection from possible virus-induced immunosuppression.

Suppressor macrophages mediate depressed lymphoproliferation in chickens infected with avian reovirus.

A previous study indicated that spleens from reovirus-infected chickens contained macrophages that were primed to produce nitric oxide (NO). The presence of these primed macrophages correlated with depressed in vitro T cell mitogenesis. The current studies indicated that splenic adherent macrophages from virus-exposed chickens inhibited concanavalin A (ConA) induced proliferation of normal spleen cells. ConA-stimulated spleen cells from uninfected chickens, but not virus-exposed chickens, produced large quantities of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and a factor that induced NO production. This factor was tentatively named NO inducing factor (NOIF). The removal of macrophages from the spleens of virus-exposed chickens by plastic adherence resulted in partial recovery of ConA-induced proliferation and the production of normal levels of IL-2 and increased levels of NOIF, although these remained below normal. However, nonadherent spleen cells produced substantial quantities of NO, which indicated an incomplete removal of macrophages. Because removal by plastic adherence did not result in the depletion of all macrophages, spleen cells were panned with anti-CD3 antibody to obtain an almost pure population of T cells. Fractionated T cells from virus-exposed chickens proliferated vigorously to ConA and produced normal levels of IL-2 and NOIF. When splenic adherent cells from virus-exposed chickens were added to purified T cells, the T cells failed to respond to ConA. Addition of splenic adherent cells from virus-free chickens did not induce mitogenic inhibition. Further, the addition of purified T cells from the spleens of reovirus-infected chickens to T cells from virus-free birds did not adversely affect T cell mitogenesis. These data indicated that reovirus infection in chickens does not compromise the functional capabilities of T cells but induces suppressor macrophages that inhibit T cell functions.

Nitric oxide inducing factor as a measure of antigen and mitogen-specific T cell responses in chickens.

We describe here an assay to measure responses of T cells to in vitro stimulation with antigens and a T cell mitogen (ConA). Spleen cells from chickens immunized with live viruses and an inactivated antigen produced macrophage activating factors (MAF) in response to in vitro stimulation with homologous antigens. The production of MAF, quantitated by the induction of NO in a retrovirus transformed macrophage cell line, HD11 (Beug et al., 1979, Cell 18, 375) was antigen-specific and correlated well with T cell proliferation. Further studies showed that production of MAF was abrogated by cyclosporin A, anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 monoclonal antibodies. These data suggested that production of MAF required T cell activation and can be used as measure of antigen and mitogen-specific T cell responses in chickens.

An antiviral effect of nitric oxide: inhibition of reovirus replication.

We have previously shown that macrophages from chickens infected with avian reovirus are primed to produce nitric oxide (NO) in response to T cell cytokines and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We now show that NO exerts potent antireovirus effects. Reovirus replication was substantially reduced in a chicken macrophage cell line, HD11, induced to make NO by stimulation with LPS or conditioned medium from concanavalin A-stimulated spleen cells. The use of a competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, reduced the antiviral effect of LPS-stimulated HD11 cells. Cytostatic effects were concurrent with the observed antiviral effects of NO. Among these cytostatic effects were reduction in DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and mitochondrial metabolism. These results indicated that a potential consequence of macrophage priming following virus infection is the protection of cells against virus-induced replication and cytopathic effects, and this protection may be mediated by the cytostatic effects of NO on the host cell.

In vivo and In vitro interferon induction in chickens by S -28828, an imidazoquinolinamine immunoenhancer.

Imiquimod and its analogs belonging to a class of imidazoquinolinamines, activate immune system via cytokine induction, and have antitumor and antiviral effects in mammals. In this study, we showed that a related analog, designated S-28828, induced interferon (IFN) and macrophage activating cytokine(s) (macrophage activating factor, MAF) in chickens in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. IFN and MAF were detectable in the serum of chickens following oral administration. Serum IFN levels were the highest at 2 h after treatment. Although there was no detectable IFN in sera of chickens at 8, 24, and 48 h after treatment, high levels of interferon inducible enzyme, 2'-5' oligoadenylate synthase (2'5'OAS) were present at these time points. In vitro and ex vivo studies showed that spleen cells, bone marrow (BM) cells, and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) were capable of producing IFN and MAF, although spleen cells produced the highest levels. Our results suggest that S-28828 administered orally may be a useful immunoenhancing and antiviral agent for chickens.

Molecular and functional characterization of turkey interferon.

The turkey interferon (TkIFN) gene encodes a signal peptide and a mature protein of 30 and 162 amino acids, respectively. TkIFN mRNA expression was induced by reoviral double-stranded RNA in fibroblasts. The recombinant TkIFN protein possessed species-specific antiviral activity and in synergy with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced bone marrow macrophages to produce nitric oxide (NO). LPS or TkIFN alone did not induce bone marrow macrophages to produce significant amounts of NO, which showed that TkIFN provided one of the two signals necessary to induce NO production in turkey macrophages. Unlike the anti-inflammatory nature of mammalian alpha/beta IFNs, TkIFN augmented the LPS-induced expression of interleukin-8, a proinflammatory cytokine. This finding suggests a role for TkIFN in inflammatory conditions.