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Lavage Samples (lavage + sample)
Selected AbstractsAirway inflammation in Michigan pleasure horses: prevalence and risk factorsEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2006N. E. Robinson Summary Reasons for performing study: Although subclinical airway inflammation is thought to be common in horses, there is little information on its prevalence and none on risk factors. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for an increased number of inflammatory cells and for mucus accumulation in the trachea of pleasure horses. Methods: Horses (n = 266) in stables (n = 21) in Michigan were examined endoscopically, once in winter and once in summer 2004. Visible tracheal mucoid secretions were graded 0,5 and inflammatory cell numbers counted in a tracheal lavage sample. Information collected about each horse included age, gender, presence of cough, percent time indoors and source of roughage. The repeated measures were analysed by generalised estimating equations and linear mixed models. Results: Horses eating hay, especially from round bales, had the most neutrophils, whereas horses feeding from pasture had the fewest. Being female and being outdoors in winter were associated with increased numbers of inflammatory cells. Older horses had fewer macrophages than young horses. More than 70% of horses had >20% neutrophils in tracheal lavage. Twenty percent of horses had a mucus accumulation score >1; 17% had both a mucus score >1 and >20% neutrophils. The significant risk factors for mucus accumulation >1 were age >15 years, feeding on hay as compared to pasture, and being outdoors for more than 80% time in winter. Even though mucus accumulation score >1 was a risk factor for cough, only half of such horses coughed. Cough and mucus accumulation were associated with increased number of neutrophils. Conclusions: In comparison to pasture feeding, hay feeding, particularly from round bales, was associated with an increased number of neutrophils in the airway. Being outdoors in winter was associated with increased numbers of inflammatory cells and with mucus accumulation. Because 70% of horses have >20% neutrophils, this value should not be used as the sole indicator of airway inflammation. Potential relevance: The study reinforces the importance of hay feeding and older age as risk factors for inflammatory airway disease. Horses that do not have ,heaves' may be best kept indoors when winters are cold. [source] Virus load dynamics of individual CMV-genotypes in lung transplant recipients with mixed-genotype infectionsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 8 2008Irene Görzer Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of disease and transplant dysfunction in lung transplant recipients. Simultaneous emergence of more than one CMV-genotype can occur, and appears to be disadvantageous for the patient. In this study, the dynamics of individual CMV-genotypes in blood and lung was assessed within mixed CMV-genotype populations emerging after lung transplantation. In 69 plasma and 76 bronchoalveolar lavage samples of 16 lung transplant recipients with mixed CMV-genotype infections within the first year posttransplantation each of the major glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein H (gH) genotypes was selectively quantified by genotype-specific quantitative TaqMan assays. The data obtained revealed that individually different genotype dynamics occurred for the individual patients and that the relative levels of the genotypes to each other may change over time. The quantitative development was independent of the specific gB,gH-genotype. In 10 of the 16 lung recipients the patient's individual genotype composition was the same in blood and lung. Genotype development during the follow-up was influenced by antiviral treatment. These data show for the first time that the CMV load used as diagnostic tool after transplantation is not always a constant entity but reflects the sum of the individual CMV-genotype dynamics developing over time. J. Med. Virol. 80:1405,1414, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Impact of human metapneumovirus and human cytomegalovirus versus other respiratory viruses on the lower respiratory tract infections of lung transplant recipientsJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 3 2006Giuseppe Gerna Abstract Viral respiratory tract infections in lung transplant recipients may be severe. During three consecutive winter-spring seasons, 49 symptomatic lung transplant recipients with suspected respiratory viral infection, and 26 asymptomatic patients were investigated for presence of respiratory viruses either in 56 nasopharyngeal aspirate or 72 bronchoalveolar lavage samples taken at different times after transplantation. On the whole, 1 asymptomatic (3.4%) and 28 symptomatic (57.1%) patients were positive for human metapneumovirus (hMPV, 4 patients), influenza virus A (3 patients), and B (2 patients), respiratory syncytial virus (2 patients), human coronavirus (2 patients), human parainfluenza virus (2 patients), rhinovirus (5 patients), while 4 patients were coinfected by 2 respiratory viruses, and 5 were infected sequentially by 2 or more respiratory viruses. In bronchoalveolar lavage samples, hMPV predominated by far over the other viruses, being responsible for 60% of positive specimens, whereas other viruses were present in nasopharyngeal aspirates at a comparable rate. RT-PCR (detecting 43 positive samples/128 examined) was largely superior to monoclonal antibodies (detecting 17 positive samples only). In addition, HCMV was detected in association with a respiratory virus in 4/18 HCMV-positive patients, and was found at a high concentration (>105 DNA copies/ml) in 3/16 (18.7%) patients with HCMV-positive bronchoalveolar lavage samples and pneumonia. Coinfections and sequential infections by HCMV and respiratory viruses were significantly more frequent in patients with acute rejection and steroid treatment. In conclusion: (i) about 50% of respiratory tract infections of lung transplant recipients were associated with one or more respiratory viruses; (ii) hMPV largely predominates in bronchoalveolar lavage of symptomatic lung transplant recipients, thus suggesting a causative role in lower respiratory tract infections; (iii) RT-PCR appears to be the method of choice for detection of respiratory viruses in lung transplant recipients, (iv) a high HCMV load in bronchoalveolar lavage is a risk factor for viral pneumonia, suggesting some measure of intervention for the control of viral infection. J. Med. Virol. 78:408,416, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] The presence of trophoblastic cells in intrauterine lavage samples: lack of correlation with maternal and obstetric characteristicsPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 11 2008Riccardo Cioni Abstract Objectives To investigate the correlation between maternal, obstetric and sample characteristics and the quality (i.e. yield of trophoblastic cells) of intrauterine lavage (IUL) samples. Methods We collected 202 IUL samples from women scheduled for first trimester termination of pregnancy (TOP). Trophoblastic cells were isolated from IUL samples and used for DNA analysis by a multiplex quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) assay. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed, and a p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The presence of trophoblastic cells in IUL samples was documented in 151/202 cases (74.7%). Blood contamination of IULs was the only characteristic to positively correlate with the presence of trophoblasts (p = 0.039; OR: 1.99; 95% CI: 1.03,3.82). Conclusions The correlation between the presence of contaminating blood and trophoblastic cells would indirectly confirm the hypothesis that IUL might act as a mini-CVS. The high yield rate of trophoblasts irrespective of maternal characteristics and past obstetric history would support the clinical use of this sampling technique, provided that its safety is clearly defined. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Vaginal Nitric Oxide in Pregnant Women with Bacterial VaginosisAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Mehmet R. Genç Problem To evaluate vaginal nitric oxide (NO) production in response to alterations in the vaginal microbial flora. Method of study Cervicovaginal lavage samples from 206 women at 18,22 weeks of gestation were tested for NO, interleukin-1, (IL-1,), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), tumor necrosis factor- , and the inducible 70 kDa heat shock protein (hsp70). Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was diagnosed based on gram staining of vaginal smears. Results and conclusions Elevated NO (>2.14 mmol/L) was associated with a diagnosis of BV (38% versus 11%, P < 0.008) as well as an increased median vaginal IL-1ra concentration (72.5 ng/ml versus 36.6 ng/ml, P = 0.041). Elevated vaginal NO was also associated with vaginal hsp70 and this relationship was independent of BV status or IL-1ra concentrations (P < 0.026). We conclude that vaginal hsp70 release in response to abnormal vaginal microflora may trigger NO production in an attempt to minimize the pathological consequences of this altered milieu. [source] The impact of anterior cruciate ligament injury on lubricin metabolism and the effect of inhibiting tumor necrosis factor , on chondroprotection in an animal modelARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2009K. A. Elsaid Objective To examine the effects of anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) in a rat model on lubricin metabolism and its relationship to markers of inflammation and cartilage damage, and to determine whether blocking the metabolic effects of tumor necrosis factor , (TNF,) by etanercept increases the chondroprotection provided by lubricin. Methods Unilateral ACLT was performed in Lewis rats. Levels of lubricin, TNF,, interleukin-1, (IL-1,), and sulfated glycosaminoglycans (sGAG) in synovial fluid (SF) lavage specimens and synovial tissue lubricin gene expression were evaluated at 1 week and 4 weeks following ACLT. Histologic evaluation of articular cartilage included staining with lubricin-specific monoclonal antibody 9G3 and Safranin O. The percentage of lubricin staining on the surface of articular cartilage in weight-bearing areas was estimated by digital imaging. Blocking of TNF, was performed using etanercept, which was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg around the ACL-transected joints, using different dosing strategies. The ACL-transected and contralateral joints of these rats were harvested 4 weeks following surgery. Results Four weeks following ACLT, SF lubricin concentrations and the percentage of cartilage surface lubricin staining were significantly lower in the injured joints compared with the contralateral joints. A significant decrease in synovial tissue lubricin gene expression was associated with elevated TNF, and IL-1, concentrations in SF lavage samples. With all of the etanercept treatment strategies, blocking of TNF, significantly increased the amount of lubricin bound to cartilage, coupled with a significant decrease in sGAG release. However, changes in the concentrations of lubricin in SF were variable. Conclusion Blocking TNF, resulted in a chondroprotective effect, exemplified by increased lubricin deposition on articular cartilage and a decrease in sGAG release from articular cartilage in an animal model of posttraumatic arthritis. [source] Inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in allergic rhinitis: the effect of smokingCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2009K. Tanou Summary Background Accumulating evidence confirms the presence of pan-airway inflammation in allergic rhinitis patients. Smoking is known to affect the asthmatic airway inflammation. However, no study has evaluated the impact of smoking on airway inflammation of allergic rhinitis patients. Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of smoking on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, using non-invasive methods for sample collection. Methods Forty patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (20 smokers and 20 non-smokers) and 30 healthy subjects (15 smokers and 15 non-smokers) were recruited for the study during pollen season. All subjects were submitted to measurement of the fraction of exhaled NO (FeNO), exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection, nasal lavage collection, pre- and post- bronchodilation spirometry and metacholine bronchial challenge testing. pH, leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and 8-isoprostane were determined in EBC and nasal lavage samples. Results Patients with allergic rhinitis presented higher LTB4 and 8-isoprostane levels in nasal lavage (P<0.0001 for both comparisons), with no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers. Patients with allergic rhinitis also presented higher LTB4 levels and lower pH in EBC (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively), with prominent differences between smokers and non-smokers (P<0.0001 and P=0.003, for LTB4 and pH, respectively). A significant correlation between nasal lavage and EBC LTB4 values was observed (rs=0.313, P=0.048). Conclusions Patients with allergic rhinitis present increased LTB4 and 8-isoprostane in their nasal cavity, however, with no significant differences between smokers and non-smokers. In contrast, smokers with allergic rhinitis present higher LTB4 levels and lower pH in EBC, suggesting that these patients may be more susceptible to the deleterious effects of smoking, compared with non-smokers. [source] Eosinophil activation and cysteinyl leukotriene production in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitisCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 4 2004D. Dimova-Yaneva Summary Background It has been suggested that acute infantile bronchiolitis associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may share some pathogenic features with atopic asthma in that virus-specific IgE is produced and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cLTs) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) have been detected in airway secretions. ECP is a specific marker of eosinophil activation although leukotrienes can be released from a variety of cells including mast cells, eosinophils and monocytes. Objective To test the association between eosinophil activation and cysteinyl leukotriene production in the upper airway secretions of infants with RSV positive (RSV+ve) bronchiolitis. Methods Nasal lavage samples were performed in 78 infants (0.0,11.5 months) admitted to hospital with RSV+ve bronchiolitis soon after admission (0,48 h). Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) was assayed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) by fluoroimmunoassay (FIA). Results LTC4 was detectable in 51 and ECP in 57 of 78 samples with a significant positive relationship between LTC4 and ECP (r=0.557, P<0.001). Conclusion In the majority of our subjects with RSV+ve bronchiolitis ECP and LTC4 were detectable in upper airway secretions and were significantly associated with each other. In this clinical setting much of the detected LTC4 within upper airway secretions is likely to originate from the eosinophil, an observation that may have implications for clinical management and for delineation of the underlying mechanisms associated with this illness. [source] | |||||||||||||