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Respiratory Tract (respiratory + tract)
Kinds of Respiratory Tract Terms modified by Respiratory Tract Selected AbstractsTwo New Species of Symbiotic Ciliates from the Respiratory Tract of Cetaceans with Establishment of the New Genus Planilamina n. gen. (Dysteriida, Kyaroikeidae)THE JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006HONGWEI MA ABSTRACT. Examination of mucus discharged from the blowhole of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) at Marine Life Oceanarium, Gulfport, Mississippi, and false killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) and Atlantic bottlenose dolphin at SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, Florida, using live observations and protargol impregnation revealed mixed infections of Kyaroikeus cetarius and two new species. Planilamina n. gen. is characterized by a C-shaped argentophilic band located along the laterally flattened margin of cell and extending from the cell apex to subposterior cone-shaped podite; a deep oral cavity containing one short preoral kinety, two circumoral kineties, seven to 13 infundibular kineties, and a cytostome; a broadly funnel-shaped cytopharynx reinforced by argentophilic fibers but without nematodesmata; closely packed postoral kinetofragments set in a pocket located anterior left of the podite; and somatic kineties as a right field closely situated at the right surface and a left field bordering the anterior left margin of the oral cavity. The type species for the genus, Planilamina ovata n. sp., is distinguished from its sister species Planilamina magna n. sp. by the following characteristics: body size (28,65 × 20,43 ,m vs. 57,90 × 40,63 ,m), number of right field kineties (38,55 vs. 79,99), and position of the anterior end of the leftmost kinety in the right somatic field (anterior one-third vs. mid-body). The morphogenesis of Planilamina ovata is similar to that of K. cetarius. The diagnosis of Kyaroikeidae is emended to accommodate the new genus. [source] High total antioxidant activity and uric acid in tracheobronchial aspirate fluid of preterm infants during oxidative stress: an adaptive response to hyperoxia?ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 3 2000G Vento The effect of O2 exposure, expressed by mean daily fractional inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2), was evaluated during the first 6 d of life in the tracheobronchial aspirate fluid of 16 mechanically ventilated preterm infants in terms of both antioxidant response and oxidative damage, by measuring total antioxidant activity, uric acid concentrations and protein carbonyl content. Each day linear regression analysis was performed and a positive correlation was found between total antioxidant activity and FiO2 during the study period, especially on day 2 of life (r= 0.91, p < 0.0001), but uric acid correlated only in the first 3 d, especially on the 2nd day (r= 0.83, p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between carbonyl content and FiO2. The highest values of total antioxidant activity (416 and 790 ,mol l,1) were found in 2 babies ventilated with highest FiO2: 1 and 0.80, respectively. Total antioxidant activity was not detectable or was very low in the babies not requiring O2 therapy. The highest value of uric acid (270 ,mol l,1) was found in the baby ventilated with 100% oxygen. Uric acid concentrations obtained in these babies were much higher then those reported in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of adults. Preterm babies seem to have an antioxidant response in the tracheobronchial aspirate fluid following an oxidative stress and uric acid may be physiologically important as an antioxidant of the respiratory tract, especially during the first days of life. [source] Bilateral periventricular nodular heterotopia and lissencephaly in an infant with unbalanced t(12;17)(q24.31; p13.3) translocationDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2008Salvatore Grosso MD PhD Periventricular nodular heterotopia and Miller-Dieker syndrome are two different disorders of brain development. Miller-Dieker syndrome exhibits classical lissencephaly and is related to defects in the lissencephaly gene (LIS1). Periventricular nodular heterotopia is characterized by aggregates of grey matter adjacent to the lateral ventricle and is mainly linked to mutations in the Filamin A (FLNA) gene. We describe a male infant presenting with facial dysmorphisms resembling those of Miller-Dieker syndrome, neuromotor delay, and drug - resistant infantile spasms. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed periventricular nodular heterotopia overlaid by classical lissencephaly with complete agyria. Cytogenetic and molecular investigations detected a maternally inherited unbalanced translocation involving chromosome arms 17p and 12q. This resulted in partial monosomy of 17p13.3,pter and partial trisomy of 12q24.3,qter No mutation was found in the FLNA gene. The patient died at the age of 22 months from respiratory insufficiency during an infection of the lower respiratory tract. Our observation extends the list of the overlying cortical malformations associated with periventricular nodular heterotopia. It remains to be established whether this peculiar neuronal migration disorder represents a phenotype totally linked to 17q13.3 deletion or results from a combination of gene defects at 17q13.3 and 12q24.3. [source] Simultaneous cytological diagnosis of herpes simplex virus infection and primary lung cancer: Report of two casesDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11 2008Nicoletta Maounis M.D., Ph.D. Abstract Herpes simplex is an uncommon cause of lower respiratory tract infection that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent late complications. We report two cases with simultaneous herpes simplex virus infection of the lower respiratory tract and lung carcinoma. Cytology of bronchial brushing and washing fluids and postbronchoscopic sputum established the diagnosis, which was further corroborated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2008;36:818,822. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Esophageal aspergillosis in cytologic brushings: Report of two cases associated with acute myelogenous leukemiaDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Simon Bergman M.D. Abstract Aspergillus, which commonly involves the sinonasal region and upper respiratory tract, is reported for the first time in esophageal brushings in two immunocompromised patients with a history of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Aspergillus species was identified in both cases in smears as scattered three-dimensional groups of fungi with 45° angle branching. One case had a local esophageal noninvasive form, while the other, in addition to the esophagus, had disseminated to the spleen. Although Aspergillus is an uncommon cause of esophagitis in immunocompromised patients, its presence may be associated with an extremely poor prognosis as both expired shortly after detecting this fungus on esophageal brushings. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2004;30:347,349. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Diagnostic criteria and surgical procedure for megaesophagus , a personal experienceDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 4 2009A. Lewandowski SUMMARY Megaesophagus is the end-stage of achalasia cardiae. It is the result of peristaltic disorders and slow decompensation of the muscular layer of the esophagus. The aim of this article is to detail the diagnostic criteria and surgical management of megaesophagus. Criteria were acute bending of esophagus axis; lack of esophagus peristalsis, and no response to stimulation in the manometric test; and Los Angeles C/D esophagitis in the endoscopic examination. Between 1991 and 2004 seven patients (5 females, 2 males; age, 51,67 years; average age, 59 ± 8 years) were treated. A bypass made from the pedunculated part of the jejunum connecting the part of esophagus above the narrowing with the praepyloric part of the stomach was made. Access was by an abdominal approach. A jejunum bypass was made in six patients with megaesophagus. A transhiatal esophageal resection was carried out, and in the second stage a supplementary esophagus was made from the right half of the colon on the ileocolic vessels in one patient who had experienced two earlier unsuccessful operations. Symptoms of dysphagia, recurrent inflammation of the respiratory tract, and pain subsided in all patients. Complications were not reported in the postoperative period. All patients survived. Subsequent radiographic and endoscopic examination showed very good outcome. The jejunum bypass gave very good results in the surgical treatment of megaesophagus. [source] Association between atmospheric ozone levels and damage to human nasal mucosa in Florence, ItalyENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 3 2003Stefania Pacini Abstract We evaluated the effects of urban air pollutants on human nasal mucosa over an 8-month period on 102 subjects living in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. A group of subjects living in a city with a lower level of pollution (Sassari, Sardinia, Italy) was also analyzed. Nasal mucosa cells were harvested by brushing, a noninvasive procedure. Half of the cells were used for genotoxicity studies using the alkaline comet assay, and half for morphological studies. The levels of DNA damage in the nasal mucosa were considerably higher (+73%) in the subjects living in Florence than in Sassari. High levels of atmospheric ozone in Florence air correlated with DNA damage, and to the prevalence of inflammatory pathologies of the upper respiratory tract, although the ozone concentrations were below the Italian recommended attention level. Furthermore, higher levels of DNA damage were correlated with a dysfunction in the ability to maintain a normal epithelial cell structure. These data suggest an association between ozone air levels and damage in the upper respiratory tract. It remains unclear whether ozone itself or other associated pollutants are responsible for the observed alterations. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 42:127,135, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Development of a web screening interface to calculate aerosol deposition in the human respiratory tractENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 1 2002Vijay Ananth Cinnakonda First page of article [source] Cytotoxicity assessment of gliotoxin and penicillic acid in Tetrahymena pyriformisENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2006C. Gräbsch Abstract Various studies have documented the associations between mold exposure and effects on health. Mycotoxins, which occur in spores and mold fragments, can be involved in processes that have pathological effects, such as adynamia of the immune system, recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, or asthma. Using Tetrahymena pyriformis, a single-cell organism well established as a suitable model for human respiratory epithelium-cell functionalities, we investigated dose,response relationships of the mycotoxins gliotoxin and penicillic acid. Our study focused on the viability (cell count, MTT assay), energy levels (adenosine-5,-triphosphate content), energy-providing processes (MTT reduction per cell), and cell respiration (oxygen consumption). Both mycotoxins acted as cytotoxins in a dose-dependent manner. Gliotoxin had a stronger inhibitory effect (EC50 0.38 ,M) than did penicillic acid (EC50 343.19 ,M). The energy-providing processes were not inhibited or were only weakly inhibited under the influence of gliotoxin, whereas penicillic acid caused stimulation of the physiological parameters. Summarizing the results, it is clear that the two investigated mycotoxins must have different modes of action. They are not only different in the strength of their toxic effects but also in a variety of physiological aspects. In addition, T. pyriformis showed differences in its ability to overcome the negative effects of particular mycotoxin exposures. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 21: 111,117, 2006. [source] Mast cell tumours (mastocytosis) in the horse: A review of the literature and report of 11 casesEQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION, Issue 4 2008T. S. Mair Summary Mast cell tumours are uncommon tumours in horses, compared to some other species of domesticated animals. They are most frequently located in the skin, but they can also arise at other sites, including the upper respiratory tract and eye. Cytology or histopathology is required for diagnosis. Treatment options include surgical excision, laser ablation, cryotherapy, intralesional injection of corticosteroids or water, and radiotherapy. Malignant and systemic forms are very rare. [source] Videoendoscopic evaluation of the upper respiratory tract in 93 sport horses during exercise testing on a high-speed treadmillEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006S. H. FRANKLIN Summary Reasons for performing study: Videoendoscopy of the upper respiratory tract (URT) during high-speed treadmill exercise has proved to be invaluable in the assessment of URT dysfunction in racehorses. However, very little information exists regarding dynamic airway collapse in other sport horses used in nonracing equestrian disciplines. Objectives: To evaluate the videoendoscopic findings at rest and during exercise in a mixed population of sport horses referred for investigation of poor athletic performance and/or abnormal respiratory noise. Methods: Videoendoscopy of the upper airway was performed at rest and during high-speed treadmill exercise in 93 horses. Results: Dynamic airway obstructions were diagnosed in 77% of horses and were frequently complex in nature. The most common forms of dynamic collapse included soft palate dysfunction (54%), dynamic laryngeal collapse (38%), axial deviation of the aryepiglottic folds (24%) and pharyngeal wall collapse (18%). In the majority of horses, no obvious abnormalities were identified at rest. Enforced poll flexion was found to be a contributing factor in 24% of cases. Conclusions: Dynamic obstructions of the URT were a common cause of poor performance and/or abnormal respiratory noise in sport horses referred for investigation of performance problems. Potential relevance: This study highlights the importance of videoendoscopic evaluation of the URT during exercise in horses utilised for equestrian sports where exercise during competition is submaximal in nature. [source] Granzyme A expression reveals distinct cytolytic CTL subsets following influenza A virus infectionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Jessica M. Moffat Abstract CTL mediate anti-viral immunity via targeted exocytosis of cytolytic granules containing perforin and members of the granzyme (grz) serine protease family. Here, we provide the first analysis of grzA protein expression by murine anti-viral CTL. During the progression of influenza A virus infection, CTL expressed two divergent cytolytic phenotypes: grzA,B+ and grzA+B+. CTL lacked grzA expression during the initial rounds of antigen-driven division. High levels of grzA were expressed by influenza-specific CTL early post infection (day 6), particularly in tissues associated with the infected respiratory tract (bronchoalveolar lavage, lung). Following resolution of influenza infection, a small population of memory CTL expressed grzA. Interestingly, individual influenza A virus-derived epitope-specific CTL expressed different levels of grzA. The grzA expression hierarchy was determined to be KbPB1703=DbF262=KbNS2114>DbNP366=DbPA224 and inversely correlated with CTL magnitude. Therefore following influenza infection, a CTL cytolytic hierarchy was established relating to the different profiles of antigen expression and relative immunodominance. Analysis of CTL grzA expression during influenza virus immunity has enabled a more detailed insight into the cytolytic mechanisms of virus elimination. [source] Antibody-mediated bacterial clearance from the lower respiratory tract of mice requires complement component C3EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Elizabeth Abstract To assess the contribution of complement to respiratory immunity in the context of a natural bacterial infection, we used mice genetically deficient in complement components and the murine pathogen Bordetella bronchiseptica. Complement component C3 was not required for the control of bacterial infection or for the generation of infection-induced protective immunity. However, C3-deficient (C3,/,) mice were severely defective, compared to wild type, in vaccine-induced protective immunity. Adoptively transferred immune serum from convalescent wild-type or C3,/, animals rapidly cleared B.,bronchiseptica from the lungs of wild-type mice but did not affect its growth in C3,/, mice, indicating that the defect is not in the generation of protective immunity, but in its function. Immune serum was effective in C5-deficient mice but had little effect in the lungs of mice lacking either Fc, receptors (Fc,R) or CR3, suggesting bacterial clearance is not via direct complement-mediated lysis. Together, these data indicate that complement is required for antibody-mediated clearance of Bordetella and suggest the mechanism involves C3 opsonization of bacteria for phagocytosis that is both CR3- and Fc,R-dependent. [source] Adenylate cyclase influences filamentous haemagglutinin-mediated attachment of Bordetella pertussis to epithelial alveolar cellsFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Maria L.A. Perez Vidakovics Abstract Attachment to epithelial cells in the respiratory tract is a key event in Bordetella pertussis colonization. Filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) is an important virulence factor mediating adhesion to host cells. In this study, the relevance of the interaction between FHA and adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) during bacterial attachment was investigated. Mutants lacking either FHA or ACT showed significantly decreased adherence to epithelial respiratory cells. The use of several ACT-specific monoclonal antibodies and antiserum showed that the decrease in attachment of strains lacking ACT expression could not be explained by the adhesin-like activity of ACT, or a change of any of the biological activities of ACT. Immunoblot analysis showed that the lack of ACT expression did not interfere with FHA localization. An heparin-inhibitable carbohydrate-binding site is crucial in the process of FHA-mediated bacterial binding to epithelial cells. In the presence of heparin attachment of wild-type B. pertussis, but not of the isogenic ACT defective mutant, to epithelial cells was significantly decreased. These results suggest that ACT enhances the adhesive functions of FHA, and modifies the performance of the FHA heparin-inhibitable carbohydrate binding site. We propose that the presence of ACT in the outer membrane of B. pertussis to play a role in the functionality of FHA. [source] Comparative evaluation of intranasal and subcutaneous route of immunization for development of mucosal vaccine against experimental tuberculosisFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005Pramod K. Giri Abstract Activation of mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract is crucial for protection against respiratory infections. Whether the intranasal route of vaccination imparts better protection against pulmonary tuberculosis than that of subcutaneous vaccination remains a debatable issue. In this study, we have investigated the effect of the routes of immunization on the induction of immunoprotection against experimental tuberculosis employing mycobacterial culture filtrate proteins complexed with dimethyldioctadecylammonium bromide. Vaccination via intranasal and subcutaneous routes triggered immune activation in the spleen and cervical lymph node, while the former route of vaccination lead to higher antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferation, interferon-,, interleukin-12 and interleukin-4 responses in cervical lymph node and induction of antigen-specific IgA responses at mucosal level of the respiratory tract. Mice vaccinated via the intranasal route were found to be better protected against experimental tuberculosis particularly in lung compared to subcutaneous-immunized mice. These results emphasize the importance of the intranasal route vaccination in tuberculosis. [source] Novel vaccine strategies with protein antigens of Streptococcus pneumoniaeFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Edwin Swiatlo Abstract Infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) are a major cause of mortality throughout the world. This organism is primarily a commensal in the upper respiratory tract of humans, but can cause pneumonia in high-risk persons and disseminate from the lungs by invasion of the bloodstream. Currently, prevention of pneumococcal infections is by immunization with vaccines which contain capsular polysaccharides from the most common serotypes causing invasive disease. However, there are more than 90 antigenically distinct serotypes and there is concern that serotypes not included in the vaccines may become more prevalent in the face of continued use of polysaccharide vaccines. Also, certain high-risk groups have poor immunological responses to some of the polysaccharides in the vaccine formulations. Protein antigens that are conserved across all capsular serotypes would induce more effective and durable humoral immune responses and could potentially protect against all clinically relevant pneumococcal capsular types. This review provides a summary of work on pneumococcal proteins that are being investigated as components for future generations of improved pneumococcal vaccines. [source] Prevention of respiratory infections in the elderlyGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2002Mutsuo Yamaya The risk of nosocomial infections is 3,5-fold higher among older patients than among younger adults. Both the increased incidence of respiratory infections and the high mortality among older people are a consequence of a number of age-related factors, including coexisting illnesses, therapeutic interventions, and the aging process itself. Risk factors for the development of respiratory infections in older people can be broadly classified into factors that alter host defenses and factors that increase exposure to bacteria. These factors combine to adversely affect the person's capacity to defend against pathogens of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Despite the availability of potent new antimicrobials, the increasingly limited treatment efficacy of these antimicrobials is related to emerging microbial resistance. Recently, new methods of treating respiratory infections according to the mechanisms of infection have been introduced. Effective methods of preventing respiratory infections in older people were reviewed. [source] The impact of successive infections on the lung microenvironmentIMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Arnaud Didierlaurent Summary The effect of infection history on the immune response is ignored in most models of infectious disease and in preclinical vaccination studies. No one, however, is naļve and repeated microbial exposure, in particular during childhood, shapes the immune system to respond more efficiently later in life. Concurrent or sequential infections influence the immune response to secondary unrelated pathogens. The involvement of cross-reactive acquired immunity, in particular T-cell responses, is extensively documented. In this review, we discuss the impact of successive infections on the infected tissue itself, with a particular focus on the innate response of the respiratory tract, including a persistent alteration of (1) epithelial or macrophage expression of Toll-like receptors or adherence molecules used by subsequent bacteria to invade the host, (2) the responsiveness of macrophages and neutrophils and (3) the local cytokine milieu that affects the activation of local antigen-presenting cells and hence adaptive immunity to the next infection. We emphasize that such alterations not only occur during coinfection, but are maintained long after the initial pathogen is cleared. As innate responses are crucial to the fight against local pathogens but are also involved in the maintenance of the homeostasis of mucosal tissues, dysregulation of these responses by repeated infections is likely to have a major impact on the outcome of infectious or allergic disease. [source] Antibody response to influenza infection of mice: different patterns for glycoprotein and nucleocapsid antigensIMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Robert Sealy Summary Our previous studies of C57BL/6 mice intranasally infected with influenza virus (A/PR8) revealed a spike of virus-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA)-secreting antibody-forming cells (AFC) in the mediastinal lymph node (MLN) 7 days post-infection. Here we show that these AFC are directed only against viral glycoprotein, and not nucleocapsid antigens. The early IgA spike associates with a decline in glycoprotein-specific AFC during week 2 post-infection. In contrast to the glycoprotein-specific AFC, nucleocapsid-specific, IgA-secreting AFC develop gradually in the MLN and persist for more than 3 weeks post-infection. As peripheral lymph node reactions wane, the nucleocapsid-specific AFC appear as long-sustained populations in the bone marrow. Microanatomical examination of the respiratory tract in infected mice shows foci of infection established in the lung 2 days post-infection, from which virus spreads to infect the entire lining of the trachea by day 3. At this time, viral haemagglutinin can be seen within the MLN, probably on projections from infected dendritic cells. This feature disappears within a day, though viral antigen expression continues to spread throughout the respiratory tract. Total IgA- and IgG-secreting AFC appear histologically in large numbers during the first week post-infection, significantly preceding the appearance of germinal centres (revealed by peanut agglutinin staining in week 2). To explain these results, we suggest that the initial immunogenic encounter of B cells with viral antigens occurs about 3 days post-infection in the MLN, with antigens transported by dendritic cells from airway mucosa, the only site of viral replication. Viral glycoproteins expressed as integral membrane components on the surface of infected dendritic cells [probably in the absence of cognate T helper (Th) cells] promote members of expanding relevant B-cell clones to undergo an IgA switch and terminal local plasmacytoid differentiation. Anti-glycoprotein specificities are thus selectively depleted from progeny of activated B-cell clones which are channelled to participate in germinal centre formation (perhaps by cognate T helper cells when they become sufficiently frequent). One product of the germinal centre reaction is the long-sustained, bone marrow-resident population, which is accordingly rich in anti-nucleoprotein, but not anti-glycoprotein specificities. Of note, we find that AFC responses toward influenza virus and Sendai virus differ, even though viral replication is limited to the airway mucosa in each case. The response towards Sendai virus exhibits neither the early appearance of anti-glycoprotein AFC expressing IgA in draining lymph nodes, nor the subsequent relative deficit of this specificity from bone marrow AFC populations. [source] Eikinella corrodens wound infection in a diabetic foot: a brief reportINTERNATIONAL WOUND JOURNAL, Issue 4 2005Shmouel Ovadia Abstract Eikinella corrodens normally forms part of the flora of the oral cavity and mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. It is usually associated with dental, head and neck infections (Cohen, Powderly, 2004, Infectious Diseases) and is considered to be an unusual cause of orthopaedic infections. We recently treated a diabetic patient with E. corrodens osteomyelitis of the fifth metatarsophalangeal joint, a phenomenon which has been reported in only three cases previously (Konugres et al., 1987, E. corrodens as a cause of osteomyelitis in the feet of the diabetic patients. Report of three cases). We recommend including E. corrodens in the spectrum of causative pathogens in diabetic foot infections. [source] Effect of an Educational Intervention on Optimizing Antibiotic Prescribing in Long-Term Care FacilitiesJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2007(See Editorial Comments by Dr. Lona Mody on pp 130, 1302) OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of an educational intervention aimed at optimizing antibiotic prescribing in long-term care (LTC) facilities. DESIGN: Cluster randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Eight public LTC facilities in the Montreal area. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-six physicians. INTERVENTION: The educational intervention consisted of mailing an antibiotic guide to physicians along with their antibiotic prescribing profile covering the previous 3 months. Targeted infections were urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues, and septicemia of unknown origin. In the prescribing profile, each antibiotic was classified as adherent or nonadherent to the guide. Physicians in the experimental group received the intervention twice, 4 months apart, whereas physicians in the control group provided usual care. MEASUREMENTS: Data on antibiotic prescriptions were collected over four 3-month periods: preintervention, postintervention I, postintervention II, and follow-up. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to compare the proportion of nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions of the experimental and control groups. RESULTS: By the end of the study, nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 20.5% in the experimental group, compared with 5.1% in the control group. Based on the GEE model, during postintervention II, physicians in the experimental group were 64% less likely to prescribe nonadherent antibiotics than those in the control group (odds ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval=0.18,0.73). CONCLUSION: An educational intervention combining an antibiotic guide and a prescribing profile was effective in decreasing nonadherent antibiotic prescriptions. Repetition of the intervention at regular intervals may be necessary to maintain its effectiveness. [source] Distribution of mucins and antimicrobial substances lysozyme and lactoferrin in the laryngeal subglottic regionJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 4 2008Hannes Kutta Abstract The subglottic region of the larynx is of high clinical relevance with regard to infections and malignancies. Little is known about the distribution of mucins and antimicrobial substances in this area. In this study, we have investigated the mucin distribution in the normal subglottis of the larynx. Moreover, we analysed the expression of lysozyme and lactoferrin in this area. Therefore, the subglottic region of 34 larynges was investigated immunohistochemically with different antibodies to mucins and antimicrobial substances. The epithelium reacted positive with antibodies to mucins MUC1 (34/34), 5AC (26/34), 5B (10/34), 7 (8/34), 8 (10/34) and 16 (19/34); submucosal glands were positive to mucins MUC1 (34/34), 5B (10/34), 7 (8/34), and 16 (19/34); high columnar epithelial cells and serous parts of subepithelial seromucous glands were also positive for lysozyme (34/34) and lactoferrin (34/34). The results show that human subglottic epithelium and subepithelial submucosal glands produce a broad spectrum of mucins that is almost comparable with that in other areas of the respiratory tract. We hypothesize that the mucin diversity of the subglottis has an impact on positive functional consequences during vocal production and antimicrobial defence. This antimicrobial defence is supported by synthesis and secretion of antimicrobial substances such as lysozyme and lactoferrin. Moreover, knowledge of the observed distribution pattern of mucins in the subglottis can be a useful tool for a classification of subglottic laryngeal carcinomas. [source] Effects of an ethanol,gasoline mixture: results of a 4-week inhalation study in ratsJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2005I. Chu Abstract The inhalation toxicity of an ethanol,gasoline mixture was investigated in rats. Groups of 15 male and 15 female rats were exposed by inhalation to 6130 ppm ethanol, 500 ppm gasoline or a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (by volume, 6130 ppm ethanol and 500 ppm gasoline), 6 h a day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. Control rats of both genders received HEPA[sol ]charcoal-filtered room air. Ten males and ten females from each group were killed after 4 weeks of treatment and the remaining rats were exposed to filtered room air for an additional 4 weeks to determine the reversibility of toxic injuries. Female rats treated with the mixture showed growth suppression, which was reversed after 4 weeks of recovery. Increased kidney weight and elevated liver microsomal ethoxyresorufin- O -deethylase (EROD) activity, urinary ascorbic acid, hippuric acid and blood lymphocytes were observed and most of the effects were associated with gasoline exposure. Combined exposure to ethanol and gasoline appeared to exert an additive effect on growth suppression. Inflammation of the upper respiratory tract was observed only in the ethanol,gasoline mixture groups, and exposure to either ethanol and gasoline had no effect on the organ, suggesting that an irritating effect was produced when the two liquids were mixed. Morphology in the adrenal gland was characterized by vacuolation of the cortical area. Although histological changes were generally mild in male and female rats and were reversed after 4 weeks, the changes tended to be more severe in male rats. Brain biogenic amine levels were altered in ethanol- and gasoline-treated groups; their levels varied with respect to gender and brain region. Although no general interactions were observed in the brain neurotransmitters, gasoline appeared to suppress dopamine concentrations in the nucleus accumbens region co-exposed to ethanol. It was concluded that treatment with ethanol and gasoline, at the levels studied, produced mild, reversible biochemical hematological and histological effects, with some indications of interactions when they were co-administered. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Methods for the identi,cation of chemical respiratory allergens in rodents: comparisons of cytokine pro,ling with induced changes in serum IgEJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 4 2003R. J. Dearman Abstract No validated or widely recognized test methods are currently available for the prospective identi,cation of chemicals with the potential to cause respiratory allergy. The cellular and molecular mechanisms that result in the induction of chemical sensitization of the respiratory tract are unclear, although there is evidence for the selective development of T helper 2 (Th2)-type responses and, in some cases, the production of IgE antibody. We have therefore examined the utility of cytokine pro,ling using BALB/c mice, together with the measurement of induced increases in the total serum concentration of IgE in the Brown Norway (BN) rat, as markers for the prospective identi,cation of chemical respiratory allergens. Responses provoked by the reference respiratory allergen trimellitic anhydride (TMA) have been compared with those stimulated by the respiratory sensitizing diisocyanates toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and by the acid anhydride hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA). Topical exposure of BN rats to TMA, TDI and HHPA each provoked marked immune activation (increases in lymph node cellularity and proliferation). However, only treatment with TMA stimulated vigorous increases in the total serum concentration of IgE. In contrast, exposure to HHPA, TDI or HDI failed to provoke signi,cant changes in serum IgE concentration or induced only transient and relatively weak increases in serum IgE levels. In parallel experiments using BALB/c strain mice, however, topical application of all four chemical respiratory allergens provoked a marked Th2-type cytokine secretion pro,le in draining lymph node cells. These data suggest that the measurement of induced changes in serum IgE is not suf,ciently sensitive for the robust identi,cation of chemical respiratory allergens. Furthermore, irrespective of the reasons for variations in TMA-induced IgE production among BN rats, doubts remain regarding the utility of these animals for the characterization of immune responses to chemical allergens. Cytokine pro,ling using the BALB/c strain mouse apparently provides a more robust method for the hazard assessment of chemical respiratory allergens. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Induced changes in total serum IgE concentration in the Brown Norway rat: potential for identification of chemical respiratory allergensJOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2002E. V. Warbrick Abstract A variety of chemicals can cause sensitization of the respiratory tract and occupational asthma that may be associated with IgE antibody production. Topical exposure to chemical respiratory allergens such as trimellitic anhydride (TMA) has been shown previously to induce increases in the total serum concentration of IgE in BALB/c strain mice. Contact allergens such as 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), which apparently lack respiratory sensitizing potential, fail to provoke similar changes. However, it became apparent with time that there was some inter-animal variation in constitutive and inducible IgE levels. We have now examined the influence of topical exposure to TMA and DNCB on serum IgE levels in the Brown Norway (BN) rat. Such animals can be bled serially and thus it is possible to perform longitudinal analyses of changes in serum IgE concentration. The kinetics of IgE responses therefore can be followed on an individual animal basis, allowing discrimination between transient and sustained increases in serum IgE concentration. Rats (n = 5) were exposed on shaved flanks to 50% TMA, to 1% DNCB (concentrations that elicit comparable immune activation with respect to draining lymph node cellularity and proliferation) or to vehicle alone. Total IgE was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples taken prior to and 14,42 days following initial exposure. Those animals having high pre-existing IgE levels (>1.0 µg ml,1) were excluded from subsequent analyses. The levels of serum IgE in the majority of rats exposed to DNCB or vehicle alone remained relatively stable throughout the duration of all the experiments conducted, although some animals displayed transient increases in serum IgE. Only TMA treatment was associated with a significant and sustained increase in the level of serum IgE in the majority of experiments. The elevated concentrations of IgE induced by topical exposure to TMA are persistent, the results reported here demonstrating that induced changes in IgE are maximal or near maximal at approximately 35 days, with a significant increase in IgE demonstrable for at least 42 days following the initiation of exposure. Interestingly, although TMA and DNCB at the test concentrations used were found to be of comparable overall immunogenicity with regard to lymph node activation and the induction of lymph node cell proliferation, there were apparent differences in humoral immune responses. Thus, not only did exposure to TMA stimulate increases in total serum IgE concentration and the production of specific IgE antibody, but also a more vigorous IgG antibody response was provoked by TMA compared with DNCB. These data suggest that the measurement of induced changes in serum IgE concentration in the BN strain of rat is able to differentiate between different classes of chemical allergen. Given the inter-animal variation in IgE production, it would be prudent to incorporate a concurrent assessment of responses induced by treatment with TMA as a positive control against which to assess the activity of other test materials. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Inhibition of prolidase activity by nickel causes decreased growth of proline auxotrophic CHO cells,JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2005Wojciech Miltyk Abstract Occupational exposure to nickel has been epidemiologically linked to increased cancer risk in the respiratory tract. Nickel-induced cell transformation is associated with both genotoxic and epigenetic mechanisms that are poorly understood. Prolidase [E.C.3.4.13.9] is a cytosolic Mn(II)-activated metalloproteinase that specifically hydrolyzes imidodipeptides with C-terminal proline or hydroxyproline and plays an important role in the recycling of proline for protein synthesis and cell growth. Prolidase also provides free proline as substrate for proline oxidase, whose gene is activated by p53 during apoptosis. The inhibition of prolidase activity by nickel has not yet been studied. We first showed that Ni(II) chloride specifically inhibited prolidase activity in CHO-K1 cells in situ. This interpretation was possible because CHO-K1 cells are proline auxotrophs requiring added free proline or proline released from added Gly-Pro by prolidase. In a dose-dependent fashion, Ni(II) inhibited growth on Gly-Pro but did not inhibit growth on proline, thereby showing inhibition of prolidase in situ in the absence of nonspecific toxicity. Studies using cell-free extracts showed that Ni(II) inhibited prolidase activity when present during prolidase activation with Mn(II) or during incubation with Gly-Pro. In kinetic studies, we found that Ni(II) inhibition of prolidase varied with respect to Mn(II) concentration. Analysis of these data suggested that increasing concentrations of Mn(II) stabilized the enzyme protein against Ni(II) inhibition. Because prolidase is an important enzyme in collagen metabolism, inhibition of the enzyme activity by nickel could alter the metabolism of collagen and other matrix proteins, and thereby alter cell,matrix and cell,cell interactions involved in gene expression, genomic stability, cellular differentiation, and cell proliferation. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Histological and ultrastructural aspects of the nasal complex in the harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoenaJOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, Issue 11 2009Susanne Prahl Abstract During the evolution of odontocetes, the nasal complex was modified into a complicated system of passages and diverticulae. It is generally accepted that these are essential structures for nasal sound production. However, the mechanism of sound generation and the functional significance of the epicranial nasal complex are not fully understood. We have studied the epicranial structures of harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) using light and electron microscopy with special consideration of the nasal diverticulae, the phonic lips and dorsal bursae, the proposed center of nasal sound generation. The lining of the epicranial respiratory tract with associated diverticulae is consistently composed of a stratified squamous epithelium with incomplete keratinization and irregular pigmentation. It consists of a stratum basale and a stratum spinosum that transforms apically into a stratum externum. The epithelium of the phonic lips comprises 70,80 layers of extremely flattened cells, i.e., four times more layers than in the remaining epicranial air spaces. This alignment and the increased number of desmosomes surrounding each cell indicate a conspicuous rigid quality of the epithelium. The area surrounding the phonic lips and adjacent fat bodies exhibits a high density of mechanoreceptors, possibly perceiving pressure differentials and vibrations. Mechanoreceptors with few layers and with perineural capsules directly subepithelial of the phonic lips can be distinguished from larger, multi-layered mechanoreceptors without perineural capsules in the periphery of the dorsal bursae. A blade-like elastin body at the caudal wall of the epicranial respiratory tract may act as antagonist of the musculature that moves the blowhole ligament. Bursal cartilages exist in the developmental stages from fetus through juvenile and could not be verified in adults. These histological results support the hypothesis of nasal sound generation for the harbor porpoise and display specific adaptations of the echolocating system in this species. J. Morphol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Smoke Exposure Exacerbates an Ethanol-Induced Defect in Mucociliary Clearance of Streptococcus pneumoniaeALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2005Elizabeth A. Vander Top Background: Alcoholics and smokers are particularly susceptible to pulmonary infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, the pneumococcus. Infection begins when pneumococci colonizing the nasopharynx are aspirated into the lower respiratory tract. The major host defense against this movement is the mucociliary clearance apparatus. Both cigarette smoke and ethanol (EtOH) exposure alter ciliary beating and protein kinase activity in the respiratory mucosa in vitro, but their effects on bacterial clearance in the intact animal have not been determined. Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed twice daily for 12 weeks to either the smoke generated from 30 cigarettes (smoke,exposed) or room air (sham,exposed). For the last five weeks of smoke exposure, the rats were fed Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets containing 0%, 16%, 26%, or 36% EtOH calories. The rats then were infected intranasally with S. pneumoniae, and movement of the organisms into the lower respiratory tract was quantified by plate counts of the tracheas and lungs 4 hr later. Ciliary beat frequency (CBF) analysis was performed on tracheal ring explants from each animal before and after stimulation with the ,-agonist isoproterenol, and tracheal epithelial cell protein kinase C (PKC) activity was measured. Results: Ingestion of any of the EtOH-containing diets resulted in a dose-dependent increase in movement of S. pneumoniae into the rats' lungs. This EtOH-induced defect was augmented further by concurrent smoke exposure, although smoke exposure alone had little effect on S. pneumoniae movement. Smoke, but not EtOH exposure, activated tracheal epithelial cell PKC. Increased movement of organisms into lungs correlated with a decrease in CBF and loss of the ciliary response to isoproterenol. Conclusion: EtOH ingestion in our model facilitated movement of S. pneumoniae into rats' lungs, a phenomenon exacerbated by concurrent smoke exposure. Furthermore, the organism's movement into the lungs correlated with a blunting of the rats' ciliary response to an established stimulus. Defects in mucociliary clearance thus may be one cause of the increased risk of pneumococcal infections in people who abuse alcohol, particularly if they also smoke. [source] Allergy to peanut oil , clinically relevant?JOURNAL OF THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY & VENEREOLOGY, Issue 4 2007J Ring Abstract The increasing prevalence of food allergies (especially allergy to peanuts) has led to a discussion of how safe topical preparations containing peanut oil are with respect to allergy. The major allergens from peanuts are proteins that have been characterized at a molecular level and cloned. Clinical signs of peanut allergy symptoms can be observed on the skin (urticaria), or in the gastrointestinal and/or respiratory tract culminating in cardiovascular symptoms and anaphylactic reactions. In most cases, symptoms are elicited by oral uptake; rarely, a contact urticaria has been described. In vegetable oils, the contents of protein differ depending on the production process: crude oils contain approximately 100 times more proteins than refined oils. This has clear-cut implications for allergic individuals. Quantitative data are available regarding elicitation of symptoms in allergic individuals with a threshold dose of 0.1,1 mg peanut allergen in oral provocation tests. There are anecdotal reports of adverse reactions after topical use of peanut oils. In one epidemiological trial, an association between topical use of skin care products containing peanut oil and the development of peanut allergy was observed; however, the data reflect a retrospective analysis without specifying skin care products containing peanut oil and also without analysing the quantity of topicals used. In contrast, oral tolerance was prevented and allergic sensitization was enhanced in a mouse model using high concentrations of peanut protein. So far, no reliable data are available regarding doses required to induce sensitization against peanut allergen via the epidermal route. A possible induction of sensitization against peanut proteins through contact with the skin via skin care products and the respective protein concentrations is a matter of speculation. Patients with atopic diseases, namely eczema, need appropriate skin care because of the disturbed skin barrier function. The benefit of avoiding damage to skin barrier functions of atopic individuals by the use of peanut protein-containing skin care products seems to outweigh possible risks of sensitization and/or allergy induction against substances contained in those products containing refined peanut oil. [source] Effect of cigarette smoke extract on the polymorphonuclear leukocytes chemiluminescence: influence of a filter containing glutathioneLUMINESCENCE: THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL LUMINESCENCE, Issue 2 2005B. Zappacosta Abstract Cigarette smoking is known to be a risk factor for several chronic and neoplastic diseases. Many compounds formed by cigarette burning, ranging from particulate materials to water solutes and gaseous extracts, are considered to be noxious agents, and many biochemical and molecular mechanisms have been proposed for the toxic effects of cigarette smoke. The oral cavity and the upper respiratory tract represent the first contact areas for smoke compounds; even a single cigarette can produce marked effects on some components of the oral cavity, either chemical compounds, such as glutathione and enzymes, or cellular elements, such as polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Several studies suggest a protective role of glutathione against the noxious effects of tobacco smoke; the sulphydril groups of glutathione, in fact, could react with some smoke products, such as unsaturated aldehydes, leading to the formation of harmless intermediate compounds and simultaneously preventing the inactivation of metabolically essential molecules, such as some enzymes. In this paper we analyse the effect of a filter containing glutathione on the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes exposed to aqueous extract of cigarette smoke, measuring their chemiluminescence activity. The results of this paper indicate that the GSH--containing filter has a likely protective effect against the inhibition of cigarette smoke extract on polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||