Interleukin -1beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in plasma and pleural fluid of pneumonia, lung cancer and tuberculous pleuritis

Interleukins IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF are increased in plasma of patients with severe infections and septic shock. Our objective was the evaluation of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF in plasma and exudates of pleural fluid and their contribution to the diagnosis. We studied 44 patients, 27 men and 17 women with mean age 66.81 +/- 11.75 years; 16 with pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion, 14 with primary lung cancer and pleural effusion and 14 with tuberculous pleuritis. We measured IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF in serum and pleural fluid with ELISA. In patients with pneumonia and parapneumonic effusion the mean value of IL-1beta IL-6 and TNF in plasma was 9.05, 19.24 and 21.34 pg/ml and in pleural fluid 10.34, 32.19 and 25.30 pg/ml. In patients with lung cancer the mean values of IL-1beta, IL-6 and TNF were 5.33, 11.74 and 11.51 pg/ml and 6.70, 13.13, 20.89 pg/ml, respectively. In those with tuberculous pleuritis the respective mean values were 10.33, 49.94, 21.27 pg/ml and 14, 56.59, 23.58 pg/ml. In conclusion, IL-1beta and IL-6 were found increased in plasma and tuberculous pleural fluid, indicating an inflammatory status.     

Induction of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and TNF alpha by Trichinella spiralis in serum of mice in vivo

Effects of selenium deficiency, induced by thioacetamide, were investigated in rats. Thioacetamide (0.3 g/L) given in drinking water, as expected, caused a significant loss of selenium from the liver. It was accompanied by liver cirrhosis and a significant increase in the liver weight as well as liver to body weight ratio. A significant loss of selenium from spleen was also accompanied by an increase in its weight. Weights of lungs, testis and kidney, however, were not affected by thioacetamide and there was no change in their selenium content. Plasma levels of selenium were significantly reduced in the thioacetamide treated group. All these changes were confirmed to be due to selenium deficiency caused by thioacetamide, as supplementation with selenium reversed these changes. The mode of action of selenium is unknown but may involve anti-oxidant defense mechanisms.     

The role of cytokines in pulp inflammation

Pulpitis is a typical inflammatory disease of dental pulp, characterized by the local accumulation of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines and chemokines. In addition to serving as intercellular messengers mediating the inflammatory response, cytokines and chemokines induce the expression and stimulate the activity of molecular and cellular agents which participate actively in destructive and reparative processes in the pulp. It is the balance between these processes which eventually determines the extent of pulp inflammation and the viability of the affected tooth. Over the last decade, a number of studies have attempted to correlate cytokine gene expression in the pulp with various stages of inflammation, with possible diagnostic applications in mind. A small survey of relevant information is presented in this paper.     

The role of P53 and Bcl-2 proteins in 7, 12-dimethylbenz-(a)-anthracene-induced tumor growth

7, 12- Dimethylbenz-(a)-anthracene (DMBA) has been used for a long time to induce rat mammary gland carcinogenesis. In a previous paper we described the effects of diet, of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the combination of these two factors on breast cancer. We also pointed out that DMBA tumor generating process is still poorly understood. The present study attempts to explore whether P53 or the pro-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 are potential targets of DMBA in its induction of breast tumors in the Sprague-Dawley rat breast tumorigenesis model. Our results indicate that the DBMA-induced tumors are apparently the result of P53 inactivation. This inactivation results in tumorigenesis, probably aided by the absence of Bcl-2 in the tumor cells of the Sprague-Dawley rat animal model. We discuss the potential mechanisms by which P53 inactivation results in tumorigenesis.     

A semi-automated approach towards generating three-dimensional mesh of the heart using a hybrid MRI/histology database

Both the forward and inverse problems of electrocardiography rely on the precise modelling of the anatomic and electrical properties of the thoracic tissues. This, in turn, requires good knowledge of the electrical anisotropy as well as conductivity inhomogeneity of the heart, lungs and the rest of the thorax. Cardiac electrical anisotropy is related to its microstructure (fibre length, density and orientation). We hereby present detailed three-dimensional (3D) meshes of the thorax and heart, using image data from contiguous 2D magnetic resonance (MR) imaging slices as well as a realistic 3D cardiac fibre orientation model that derives its data from high-resolution ex vivo human heart MR images and from histology specimens of heart tissue. Using specific software, we integrated the 3D thorax and heart meshes in one that addresses the related modelling requirements for the solution of the forward and inverse problems of electrocardiography.     

Infra-red laser irradiation enhances interleukin-1 receptor antagonist,increases 3H-thymidine incorporation and the release of [3H]arachidonic acid in human monocytes

The effect of infra-red laser irradiation has been experimented on various biological systems and particularly in human tissues, in vitro as well as in vivo. In order to examine the influence of laser irradiation on cells of the monocytic lineage we have irradiated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells with an infra-red laser at a wavelength of 904 nm, at 2000 Hz frequency and 15 mW for 2 min. Here, we report that laser irradiation for 2 min. at different preincubation times (T = 0 and T = 30 min) enhances LPS (10 g/ml or PHA (10 g/ml, suboptimal concentration) -stimulated monocytes by modifying cell proliferation, as judged by [3H] thymidine incorporation. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) along with an increased release of [3H] Arachidonic acid production, is also influenced by laser irradiated monocytes when treated for 2 min after 1 h incubation. IL-1RA production increased 4-5-fold after laser irradiation, while 3H-arachidonic acid incorporated from PMA-stimulated cellsased and the effect was significant at T = 0 and T = 30 min; while at T = 1 h the effect was negligible. These results may provide new information regarding the effect of laser irradiation on the immune system.     

A neural net model for the release of prolactin during pseudopregnancy in the rat

A theoretical probabilistic neural net model is proposed here based on the interaction between two subsystems, the connections of which are made up by means of chemical markers. The activity of such a system at t = n tau is exclusively dependent on the firing record of the system at t = (n-1) tau, on the level of spontaneous activity and on an external inhibitory influence which we have found that may play an important role in the prolactin release level during pseudopregnancy in rats. We explore some of the implications of this model on the possible role of the hippocampus in the phenomenon.