The modulatory influence of some Echinacea-based remedies on antibody production and cellular immunity in mice.

UNLABELLED: Echinacea purpurea-containing remedies are herbal medicines used in respiratory tract infections and several inflammatory conditions as enhancers of non-specific and modulators of specific cellular immunity. They also exert anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-microbial activity. The aim of the present study was to compare the in vivo influence of orally administered three Echinacea purpurea-based remedies (IMMUNAL drops, ECHINACEA FORTE drops, IMMUNAL FORTE tablets) on some parameters of cellular and humoral immunity in mice. RESULTS: Feeding mice for seven days with IMMUNAL drops resulted in enhanced anti-SRBC antibody production and modulatory effect on proliferative response to PHA of their splenic lymphocytes. No stimulatory effect was observed on splenocytes chemokinesis. Mice fed with ECHINACEA FORTE drops presented enhanced response to PHA of their splenocytes. However, contrary to the previous group, no enhancement of antibody production was observed. In this group, lymphocyte-induced immunological angiogenesis (LIA) and chemokinesis (spontaneous migration - SM) of spleen lymphocytes was diminished after feeding mice with both doses (LIA) or with a higher dose (SM) of remedy. Lymphocyte-induced immunological angiogenesis activity of splenocytes collected from animals fed with prophylactic and therapeutic IMMUNAL FORTE tablet doses did not differ from the controls.

Common variable immune deficiency in children--clinical characteristics varies depending on defect in peripheral B cell maturation.

Common variable immune deficiency (CVID) is a heterogeneous disease associated with ineffective production of antibodies. It is usually diagnosed in adulthood, but a variable proportion of children develop CVID. Early identification of patients with potentially worse prognosis may help to avoid serious complications. The goal of this study was to associate the clinical phenotype of patients with early onset CVID with peripheral B-cell maturation profile. Four color flow cytometry was used to define distribution of peripheral B-cell subsets in 49 children with early-onset CVID. All clinical data were extracted from medical records. A proportion of patients demonstrated diminishing with time total B-lymphocytes pool, beyond physiological age-related changes. Irrespective from duration of the follow-up period the B-cell maturation profile in individual patients remained unchanged. We identified six different aberrant peripheral B cell maturation profiles associated with different clinical characteristics. Patients with an early B-cell maturation block earlier required replacement therapy and were at significantly greater risk of enteropathy, granuloma formation, cytopenia, and lymphoproliferation. B-cell maturation inhibited at the natural effector stage was associated with higher risk of autoimmune manifestations other than autoimmune cytopenia. Prevalence of male patients was observed among patients with B-cell maturation inhibited at naïve B-cell stage. In conclusion, the diagnostic process in patients with suspected early-onset CVID shall include routine analysis of peripheral B-cell maturation to provide surrogate markers identifying patients at greater risk of developing certain complications.

Liver transplantation with ABO incompatible graft under immunoadsorption protocol--case report.

BACKGROUND: ABO incompatible liver transplantation is still controversial, but accepted in selected cases. Recently several authors reported use of the new technology aimed at elimination anti-donor ABO specific hemagglutinins to assist immunosuppression in preventing acute rejection after transplantation. CASE REPORT: We report two cases of liver transplantation in children with ABO incompatible graft under immunoadsorption protocol. Both patients were transplanted urgently (one due to acute decompensation of chronic liver failure and second due to acute liver failure) with ABO incompatible liver grafts. Both patients were in very poor general condition with deterioration of neurological status and there were no suitable ABO compatible grafts at the time. In both cases immunosuppressive protocol consisted of induction with basiliximab, followed by tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil and corticosteroids. Additionally in both patients 3 immunoadsorption sessions with Glycosorb ABO® system (Glycorex AB, Sweden), were performed. There were no any acute rejection episodes till now. The only problem observed after transplantation was mild anemia due to low grade hemolysis in the postoperative period. Both patients are alive and well with very good liver function 20 and 26 months after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Immunoadsorption therapy can be safely and effectively introduced in recipients of ABO incompatible donor liver.

[Analysis of pulmonary function tests and cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with sarcoidosis]. / Analiza badan czynnosciowych pluc i skladu komórkowego plynu z plukania oskrzelowo-pecherzykowego u chorych na sarkoidoze.

We investigated cellular composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and changes in pulmonary function tests in patients with histopathologically proven sarcoidosis. We analyzed BAL, lung volumes, lung compliance, and diffusing capacity in 33 nonsmoking patients (18 males, 15 females, age 22-60 years, mean 40 years). In 39% of the patients we observed decreased static compliance and in 18% of patients reduction in diffusing capacity. The total cell count, percentage of lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio and pulmonary function parameters in I, II and III radiological stages of sarcoidosis were similar. We found a moderate negative correlation between the carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco% of pred.) and CD4/CD8 ratio (r = -0.40, p < 0.05). No correlation was observed between other pulmonary function indices and total cell count in BAL, percentage of lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratio. Our results suggest, that reduction in diffusing capacity may reflect an insensitivity of alveolitis, but correlation is moderate and it usefulness for making therapeutic decision is not clear.