[Superantigens in human disease]. / Superantígenos en la enfermedad humana.

Superantigens include viral and bacterial products, mainly of streptococci, staphylococci that stimulate T cells to proliferate nonspecifically through interaction with class II major histocompatibility complex products on antigen-presenting cells and then with variable regions on the beta chain of T cell receptor complex. Superantigens cause symptoms via release of immune cytokines. These proteins should be considered potential cause of illnesses such as rheumatic fever, arthritis. Kawasaki syndrome, atopic dermatitis, and guttate psoriasis because of their potent immune system-altering capacity.

[In vitro effect of bacterial extracts of S. aureus in chemokinesis and chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear cells]. / Efecto in vitro del extracto bacteriano de S. aureus en la quimiocinesis y quimiotaxis de células polimorfonucleares.

The purpose of the study was to determine if the extract of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro can modify chemokinesis and induce chemotaxis of polimorphonuclear (PMN) cells of peripheral blood in healthy donors. Chemocinesis and chemotaxis of PMN of peripheral blood in 30 healthy donors of either sex from 18 to 40 years old was measured. A 5 mL sample of peripheral blood was drawn. PMN were separated by Boyum's method and challenged with of Staphylococcus aureus extract and C5a as chemotactic factors, and Hank's solution chemokinesis. Chemokinesis was 54.6 +/- 8.8 microns, chemotactic response to C5a was 89 +/- 12.5 microns and with bacterial extract the response was 103 +/- 20.1 microns (p). In conclusion, complete extract of Staphylococcus aureus stimulates in vitro chemotaxis of PMN from healthy donors, and this stimulation is similar to known chemotactic factors as C5a.

[Nasal eosinophilia after specific provocation in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis]. / Eosinofilia nasal posterior al reto específico en pacientes con rinitis alérgica perenne.

We studied 35 patients with perennial allergic response to know the eosinophilia after the nasal challenge with specific antigen. Patients were selected randomly. In each patient, history and clinical examination, cutaneous tests, and eosinophil count in nasal mucous membrane were done 30 minutes and 8 hours after the challenge with Dermatophagoides antigen Results showed a significant increase of eosinophils after the challenge (P.006). Significant differences were not discussed between the eosinophil counts obtained 30 minutes and 8 hours after the challenge.

[In vitro effect of tuftsin (L-prolyl-L-arginine) on the oxidative capacity of polymorphonuclear lymphocytes in small-for-gestational-age newborn infants]. / Efecto in vitro de la tuftsina (L-prolil-L-arginina) en la capacidad oxidativa de los polimorfonucleares en niños recién nacidos pequeños para su edad gestacional.

Tuftsin has the function of activating cellular macrophages and polymorphonuclears (PMNs). This tetrapeptide is transported by the CH2 domain of the heavy chain between residues 289 and 292 of the gammaglobulin (IgG) molecule. The objective of this work is to determine the effect of synthetic tuftsin in its oxidative capacity of PMN cells of newborns of low birth weight for their gestational age having already been demonstrated that the phagocytic activity of these cells of macrophages and PMNs is diminished compared with the cells of newborns of normal birth weight according to gestational age. Results showed a stimulatory effect of the PMNs oxidative capacity with synthetic tuftsin by the increase of the nitrotetrazolium blue reduction, demonstrating that the low oxidative capacity of the cells of newborns of low birth weigh for gestational age does not correlate with an intrinsic cellular defect.

[Effect of Staphylococcus aureus extract on the expression of L-selectin and LFA-1, in neutrophils from patients with allergic bronchial asthma]. / Efecto del extracto de Staphylococcus aureus en la expresión de L-selectina y LFA-1, en neutrófilos de pacientes con asma bronquial no alérgica.

OBJECTIVE: Messier L-selectin and LFA-1 in neutrophils from moderate and non atopic asthma patients, before and after stimuli with and without Sa (Staphylococcus aureus). MATERIALS AND METHOD: Design Trial; experimental. We studied neutrophils from 12 moderate and non atopic asthma patients and 12 healthy subjects before and after stimuli with and without Sa. MEASURES: The neutrophyls adhesion molecules, CD 62-L and CD 11 a was measured by citometric flow assays. RESULTS: The median of CD 62-L molecule expression increase with the stimuli in non atopic asthma patients from 2444 (CI 1966, CS 3627, RC 1661) to 6285.5 (CI 5243, CS 7203, RC 1960), and the median of CD 11 a molecule expression decrease with the stimuli in non atopic asthma patients from 9910.5 (CI 9765, CS 9961, RC 196) to 7670 (CI 7125, CS 8291, RC 1166). The median of CD 11 a molecule expression increase with the stimuli in healthy subjects from 593 (CI 361, CS 929, RC 568) to 1113 (CI 910, CS 1240, RC 330) and the median of CD 11 a molecule expression decrease with the stimuli in healthy subjects from 9850 (CI 9741, CS 9898, RC 157) to 9808.5 (CI 9693, CS 9890, RC 197) [CI. Inferior Cuartil, CS. Superior Cuartil, RC.-Cuartil Range].

[Effect on FEV1 induced by the administration of salbutamol with aerochamber and metered dose inhaler]. / Efecto en el VEF1 al administrar salbutamol con la cámara de retención, espaciador e inhalador de dosis medida.

There are several devices known as spacers and aerochambers designed to help in the administration of drugs in spray into pulmonary airways in asthmatic patients. This study was done to determine the effect on FEV1 of salbutamol given through an aerochamber compared with metered dose inhaler and spacer. Thirteen asthmatic patients who met all selection criteria proposed, were included. Spirometry was operformed before and after salbutamol application by means of one of the aforementioned devices, assigned at random. The effect on FEV1 with metered dose inhaler was 22.76%, with spacer it was of 23.35% and with aerochamber it was of 23.94%. Statistical analysis did not show significant differences among groups. These data suggest that each of the three devices tested have the same effectiveness for administration of salbutamol in spray. This is, however, a preliminary study.

[In vitro effect of disodium cromoglycate on phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear cells of healthy asthmatic patients]. / Efecto in vitro del cromoglicato disódico sobre la actividad fagocítica de los polimorfonucleares de pacientes asmáticos sanos.

Disodium chromoglicate interferes cellular membrane transport, inhibits mediators release and activation of polymorfonuclear cells (PMN) by blocking intracellular free calcium increment. In order to assess if DC reduces in vitro phagocytic activity of PMN, these cells obtained from allergic asthmatic patients and healthy subjects were incubated with DC or Hanks solution (HS). Their phagocytic activity was measured with chemoluminiscence technique. There were not significant differences in phagocytic activity between the cells incubated with DC and those incubated with HS, nor between cells from asthmatic patients and healthy subjects. We conclude that DC has not in vitro effect on phagocytic activity of PMN from healthy and asthmatic subjects. There are no difference in PMN phagocytic capacity between healthy and asthmatic subjects.

[Clinical and laboratory features of 100 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis]. / Características clínicas y de laboratorio de 100 pacientes con rinitis alérgica perenne.

100 patient records were studied with a clinical diagnosis of perennial allergic rhinitis; they were 66 women and 34 men, with a range of 28.6 years old. The cutaneous tests were positive to pollens in 78% of the cases, fungus 39%, inhalables 39%, Dermatophagoides 19% and bacterial 7%. In the nasal mucous culture the following germs were isolated: S epidermidis 49%, S aureus 25%, Neisseria sp 15%, Corynebacterium 2%, P mirabilis 1% and E coli 1%. The nasal cytology was positive in 25% of the cases for the presence of eosinophils, and was negative in 75%. In only 27% of the patients eosinophil was found in the peripheric blood. The results are commented and the utility of the cultivation of nasal mucous and of the cytology of nasal mucous in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis is discussed.

In vitro effect of complete Staphylococcus aureus extract on chemotaxis of polymorphonuclear cells in children with bronchial asthma and chronic relapsing upper airways infections.

UNLABELLED: Chemokinesis and chemotaxis were measured in polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) from 51 children aged 1 to 8 years old, of either sex. Case group--41 non-allergic asthmatic children with chronic relapsing upper airways infections, diagnostic criteria were history of wheezing associated to an upper airways infection episode and negative skin tests. CONTROL GROUP: 10 healthy children. A sample of 10 ml of peripheral venous blood was drawn. PMN were incubated with Hank's solution to measure chemokinesis and with C5a and Staphylococcus aureus extract to measure chemotaxis. Chemokinesis values in healthy control children and in patients with non-allergic bronchial asthma were of 46.0 +/- 7.1 vs 23.8 +/- 6.1 microns (p < 0.01). C5a-stimulated chemotaxis values in healthy control children and in patients with non-allergic bronchial asthma were of 91.0 +/- 21.3 vs 92.3 +/- 21.0 microns (ns), and Staphylococcus aureus extract-stimulated chemotaxis values in healthy control children and in patients with non-allergic bronchial asthma were of 97.0 +/- 22.4 vs 92.0 +/- 23.0 microns (ns). These results suggest that PMN from children with non-atopic asthma have reduced chemokinesis. After a chemotactic stimulus with C5a and bacterial extract, leukocyte motility is corrected and reach similar values to that present in healthy children.

Efecto in vitro del cromoglicato disódico sobre la actividad fagocítica de los polimorfonucleares de pacientes asmáticos sanos / Disodium chromoglicate reduces in vitro phogcytic activity of the polymorphonuclear cells in asthmatic patients and healthy

El cromoglicato disódico (CGDS) interfiere con el trasporte de la membrana celular inhibiendo la liberación de mediadores y la activación de polimorfonucleares (PMN), al impedir el incremento del calcio libre intracelular. Para determinar si el CGDS disminuye la actividad fagocítica in vitro de PMN se incubaron PMN de personas sanas y asmáticos alérgicos con CGDS o con solución salina balanceada de Hank (SSBH) y se evaluó su actividad fagocítica con la técnica de quimioluminiscencia. Al comparar las muestras no se encontró diferencia significativa con la actividad fagocítica entre las incubadas con CGDS y las incubadas en SSBH sin CGDS; tampoco se halló diferencia en la actividad fagocítica entre los asmáticos y sanos y no hay diferencia en la capacidad fagocítica de PMN entre asmáticos y sanos