Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) immunoassay as an in vitro alternative assay for identity and confirmation of potency.

PubMed

Ho, Mei M; Kairo, Satnam K; Corbel, Michael J

2006-01-01

Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) currently can only be standardised by delayed hypersensitivity skin reactions in sensitised guinea pigs. An in vitro dot blot immunoassay was developed for both identity and confirmation of potency estimation of PPD. Polyclonal antibodies (mainly IgG) were generated and immunoreacted with human, bovine and, to lesser extent, avian PPD preparations. Combining size exclusion chromatography (FPLC-SEC) and dot blot immunoassay, the results showed that PPD preparations were mixtures of very heterogeneous tuberculoproteins ranging in size from very large aggregates to very small degraded molecules. All individual fractions of PPD separated by size were immunoreactive, although those of the largest molecular sizes appeared the most immunoreactive in this in vitro dot blot immunoassay. This method is very sensitive and specific to tuberculoproteins and can be an in vitro alternative for the in vivo intradermal skin assay which uses guinea pigs for identity of PPD preparations. Although the capacity of PPD to elicit cell-mediated immune responses on intradermal testing has to be confirmed by in vivo assay, the dot blot immunoassay offers a rapid, sensitive and animal-free alternative to in vivo testing for confirming the identity of PPD preparations with appropriate potencies. This alternative assay would be particularly useful for national regulatory laboratories for confirming the data of manufacturers and thus reducing the use of animals.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity skin test responses to PPD and other antigens among BCG-vaccinated HIV-1-infected and healthy children and adolescents.

PubMed

Costa, Natalia Moriya Xavierda; Albuquerque, Maly de; Lins, Janaína Bacelar Acioli; Alvares-Junior, João Teixeira; Stefani, Mariane Martins de Araújo

2011-10-01

Among HIV-1-infected patients, CD4+ T cell counts are well-established markers of cell-mediated immunity. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin tests can be used to evaluate in vivo cell-mediated immunity to common antigens. DTH responses to tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD), sporotrichin, trichophytin, candidin and streptokinase/streptodornase antigens were assessed. Thirty-six HIV-1-infected children/adolescents and 56 age- and sex-matched HIV-1/HIV-2-seronegative participants were tested. All participants had a BCG scar. Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate significant differences between groups (p<0.05). The main characteristics of the HIV-1 patients were as follows: median age 8.1 years; 20/36 were males; 35 were vertical transmission cases; 34 were AIDS cases under antiretroviral therapy; median viral load = 3.04 log10 copies/ml; median CD4+ T cell count = 701 cells/μl. A total of 25% (9/36) and 87.5% (49/56) of HIV-1-infected and healthy participants, respectively, displayed DTH reactivity to at least one antigen (p<0.001). Among HIV-1-infected participants, reactivity to candidin predominated (8/36, 22.2%), while PPD positivity prevailed among healthy participants (40/56, 71.4%). PPD reactivity in the HIV-1-positive group was 8.3% (p<0.01). The median PPD induration was 2.5mm (range: 2-5mm) in the HIV-1 group and 6.0 mm among healthy participants (range: 3-15 mm). There was no correlation between PPD positivity and age. No correlation between CD4+ T cell counts and DTH reactivity was observed among HIV-1-infected patients. DTH skin test responses, including PPD reactivity, were significantly lower among HIV-1-infected participants compared to healthy controls, which likely reflects advanced disease and T cell depletion.

Dual Targeting Biomimetic Liposomes for Paclitaxel/DNA Combination Cancer Treatment

PubMed Central

Liu, Guo-Xia; Fang, Gui-Qing; Xu, Wei

2014-01-01

Combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with nucleic acid has shown great promise in cancer therapy. In the present study, paclitaxel (PTX) and DNA were co-loaded in the hyaluronic acid (HA) and folate (FA)-modified liposomes (HA/FA/PPD), to obtain the dual targeting biomimetic nanovector. The prepared HA/FA/PPD exhibited nanosized structure and narrow size distributions (247.4 ± 4.2 nm) with appropriate negative charge of −25.40 ± 2.7 mV. HA/FA/PD (PTX free HA/FA/PPD) showed almost no toxicity on murine malignant melanoma cell line (B16) and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) (higher than 80% cell viability), demonstrating the safety of the blank nanovector. In comparison with the FA-modified PTX/DNA co-loaded liposomes (FA/PPD), HA/FA/PPD showed significant superiority in protecting the nanoparticles from aggregation in the presence of plasma and degradation by DNase I. Moreover, HA/FA/PPD could also significantly improve the transfection efficiency and cellular internalization rates on B16 cells comparing to that of FA/PPD (p < 0.05) and PPD (p < 0.01), demonstrating the great advantages of dual targeting properties. Furthermore, fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry results showed that PTX and DNA could be effectively co-delivered into the same tumor cell via HA/FA/PPD, contributing to PTX/DNA combination cancer treatment. In conclusion, the obtained HA/FA/PPD in the study could effectively target tumor cells, enhance transfection efficiency and subsequently achieve the co-delivery of PTX and DNA, displaying great potential for optimal combination therapy. PMID:25177862

25-OCH3-PPD induces the apoptosis of activated t-HSC/Cl-6 cells via c-FLIP-mediated NF-κB activation.

PubMed

Wu, Yan-ling; Wan, Ying; Jin, Xue-Jun; OuYang, Bing-Qing; Bai, Ting; Zhao, Yu-Qing; Nan, Ji-Xing

2011-11-15

25-OCH(3)-PPD is a dammarane-type triterpene sapogenin isolated from the roots, leaves and seeds of Panax notoginseng, which has shown anti-tumor effects in several human cancer lines. In this study, we evaluated the effects of 25-OCH(3)-PPD on apoptosis of activated t-HSC/Cl-6 cells induced by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The inhibitory effects of eleven compounds isolated from Panax ginseng and P. notoginseng were detected in activated t-HSC/Cl-6 cells. 25-OCH(3)-PPD produced a significant inhibitory effect on activated t-HSC/Cl-6 cells. However, 25-OCH(3)-PPD showed almost no effect on the cell viability of Chang liver cells, a type of normal human hepatic cell line. Therefore, we aimed to determine the anti-fibrotic potential of 25-OCH(3)-PPD and to characterize the signal transduction pathways involved in activated HSCs. 25-OCH(3)-PPD decreased the fibrosis markers, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor β-1 (TGF-β1) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1). 25-OCH(3)-PPD elevated the level of cellular GSH in activated HSCs, which demonstrated that 25-OCH(3)-PPD might inhibit HSC activation by its antioxidant capacity. Further analyses revealed that 25-OCH(3)-PPD increased the levels of cleaved caspase-3, decreased the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and the expression of survivin via c-FLIP-mediated NF-κB activation and shed light on the regulation of apoptosis. Therefore, 25-OCH(3)-PPD may prove to be an excellent candidate agent for the therapy of hepatic fibrosis. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Risk factors for increased immune reconstitution in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens in tuberculosis HIV-infected, antiretroviral-naïve patients.

PubMed

da Silva, Tatiana Pereira; Giacoia-Gripp, Carmem Beatriz Wagner; Schmaltz, Carolina A; Sant'Anna, Flavia Marinho; Saad, Maria Helena; Matos, Juliana Arruda de; de Lima E Silva, Julio Castro Alves; Rolla, Valeria Cavalcanti; Morgado, Mariza Gonçalves

2017-09-06

Little is known regarding the restoration of the specific immune response after combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and anti-tuberculosis (TB) therapy introduction among TB-HIV patients. In this study, we examined the immune response of TB-HIV patients to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens to evaluate the response dynamics to different antigens over time. Moreover, we also evaluated the influence of two different doses of efavirenz and the factors associated with immune reconstitution. This is a longitudinal study nested in a clinical trial, where cART was initiated during the baseline visit (D0), which occurred 30 ± 10 days after the introduction of anti-TB therapy. Follow-up visits were performed at 30, 60, 90 and 180 days after cART initiation. The production of IFN-γ upon in vitro stimulation with Mtb antigens purified protein derivative (PPD), ESAT-6 and 38 kDa/CFP-10 using ELISpot was examined at baseline and follow-up visits. Sixty-one patients, all ART-naïve, were selected and included in the immune reconstitution analysis; seven (11.5%) developed Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS). The Mtb specific immune response was higher for the PPD antigen followed by 38 kDa/CFP-10 and increased in the first 60 days after cART initiation. In multivariate analysis, the variables independently associated with increased IFN-γ production in response to PPD antigen were CD4 + T cell counts <200 cells/mm 3 at baseline, age, site of tuberculosis, 800 mg efavirenz dose and follow-up CD4 + T cell counts. Moreover, the factors associated with the production of IFN-γ in response to 38 kDa/CFP-10 were detectable HIV viral load (VL) and CD4 + T cell counts at follow-up visits of ≥200 cells/mm 3 . These findings highlight the differences in immune response according to the specificity of the Mtb antigen, which contributes to a better understanding of TB-HIV immunopathogenesis. IFN-γ production elicited by PPD and 38 kDa/CFP-10 antigens have a greater magnitude compared to ESAT-6 and are associated with different factors. The low response to ESAT-6, even during immune restoration, suggests that this antigen is not adequate to assess the immune response of immunosuppressed TB-HIV patients.

Effect of space flight on cell-mediated immunity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mandel, A. D.; Balish, E.

1977-01-01

The cell-mediated immune response to Listeria monocytogenes was studied in rats subjected to 20 days of flight aboard the Soviet biosatellite Kosmos 7820. Groups of rats were immunized with 1,000,000 formalin-killed Listeria suspended in Freunds Complete Adjuvant, 5 days prior to flight. Immunized rats subjected to the same environmental factors as the flight rats, except flight itself, and immunized and nonimmunized rats held in a normal animal colony served as controls. Following recovery, lymphocyte cultures were harvested from spleens of all rats, cultured in vitro in the presence of L. monocytogenes antigens, Phytohemagglutinin, Conconavlin A, or purified protein derivative (PPD), and measured for their uptake of H-3-thymidine. Although individual rats varied considerably, all flight and immunized control rats gave a blastogenic response to the Listeria antigens and PPD. With several mitogens, the lymphocytes of flight rats showed a significantly increased blastogenic response over the controls. The results of this study do not support a hypothesis of a detrimental effect of space flight on cell-mediated immunity. The data suggest a possible suppressive effect of stress and gravity on an in vitro correlate of cell-mediated immunity.

Dual skin tests with Mycobacterium avium sensitin and PPD to detect misdiagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection.

PubMed

Larson, E M; O'Donnell, M; Chamblee, S; Horsburgh, C R; Marsh, B J; Moreland, J D; Johnson, L S; von Reyn, C Fordham

2011-11-01

A positive tuberculin skin test (TST) may indicate cross-reacting immunity to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and not latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). To assess misclassification of LTBI, as assessed by skin testing with Mycobacterium avium sensitin (MaS), and to determine how this misclassification affects the analysis of risk factors for LTBI. In a population-based survey, participants underwent skin testing with M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) and MaS. A PPD-dominant skin test was a reaction that was ≥ 3 mm larger than the MaS reaction; a MaS-dominant skin test was a reaction that was ≥ 3 mm larger than the PPD reaction. Of 447 randomly selected persons, 135 (30%) had a positive PPD test. Of these, 21 (16%) were MaS- dominant, and were therefore attributable to NTM and misclassified as LTBI. PPD reactions of 5-14 mm were more likely to be misclassified than those ≥ 15 mm (OR = 5.0, 95%CI 1.9-13.2). Adjusting for misclassification had only a small impact on the analysis of risk factors for LTBI. A substantial number of individuals who are diagnosed with LTBI are actually sensitized to NTM. Using dual skin testing would reduce misdiagnosis and prevent unnecessary treatment.

Melatonin attenuates postharvest physiological deterioration of cassava storage roots.

PubMed

Ma, Qiuxiang; Zhang, Ting; Zhang, Peng; Wang, Zhen-Yu

2016-05-01

Melatonin reportedly increases abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants, but information on its in vivo effects during postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) in cassava is limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of melatonin in regulating cassava PPD. Treatment with 500 mg/L melatonin significantly delayed cassava PPD and reduced the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) while increasing the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR), but not ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Transcript analysis further showed that expression of copper/zinc SOD (MeCu/ZnSOD), MeCAT1, glutathione peroxidase (MeGPX), peroxidase 3 (MePX3), and glutathione S-transferases (MeGST) was higher in cassava roots sliced treated with 500 mg/L melatonin than in those not exposed to exogenous melatonin. These data demonstrate that melatonin delays cassava PPD by directly or indirectly maintaining homoeostasis of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). We also found that accumulation of endogenous melatonin and the transcript levels of melatonin biosynthesis genes changed dynamically during the PPD process. This finding suggested that endogenous melatonin acts as a signal modulator for maintaining cassava PPD progression and that manipulation of melatonin biosynthesis genes through genetic engineering might prevent cassava root deterioration. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Two decades of p-phenylenediamine and toluene-2,5-diamine patch testing - focus on co-sensitizations in the European baseline series and cross-reactions with chemically related substances.

PubMed

Vogel, Tatiana A; Heijnen, Rakita W; Coenraads, Pieter-Jan; Schuttelaar, Marie-Louise A

2017-02-01

Cross-reactions and co-sensitizations are of great importance in understanding contact allergy and exposure sources. To investigate common cross-reactions and co-sensitizations in p-phenylenediamine (PPD)-sensitized and toluene-2,5-diamine (TDA)-sensitized individuals. From our patch test population, 8036 patients patch tested with the European baseline series were extracted. Readings had to be performed at least on day 3 according to ICDRG guidelines. Two hundred and fifty-one patients were sensitized to PPD and/or TDA; 231 patients were sensitized to PPD, and 109 to TDA. Significant differences were observed regarding the strengths of patch test reactions to PPD and number of cross-reactions. For TDA, a difference was found between all reaction strengths, except between + and ++ strengths. PPD-sensitized individuals were more likely to be sensitized to carba mix, cobalt chloride, colophonium, p-tert-butyl phenolformaldehyde resin, paraben mix, and methylisothiazolinone. TDA-sensitized individuals were more often sensitized to carba mix. Cross-reactivity was commonly found among individuals sensitized to PPD or TDA, and was strongly related to the strength of the patch test reaction. Regarding co-sensitizations, a frequently appearing or common exposure source could not be determined. However, modification of the allergen by, for example, the skin microbiota may have caused the formation of molecules that are, for the human immune system, indistinguishable from PPD. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Test result and interferon gamma response to human PPD in BCG scar positive and negative children.

PubMed

Sayyahfar, Shirin; Karimi, Abdollah; Fahimzad, Alireza; Shamshiri, Ahmad Reza

2014-03-01

The aim of this study is to compare Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) result and interferon gamma response to human PPD (purified protein derivative), in scar positive and scar negative BCG-vaccinated children. Between August 2007 and May 2008 a total of 236 children aged 1-168 months (mean 21 months) admitted to Mofid Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Each patient was examined for BCG vaccine scar and tested with TST and human PPD-based Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA). Two hundred and twenty one cases out of 236 (44% female, 1-168 months, mean age 21 months) were scar positive of whom 95% TST result was negative. Human PPD-based IGRA was positive in 110 (49.8%), negative in 85 (38.4 %) and indeterminate in 26 (11.8%) of scar positive patients. Fifteen children (40% female, 1-156 months; mean age 42 months) were scar negative. All the scar negative cases were TST negative. Human PPD-based IGRA was positive in 10 (66.7%), negative in 4 (26.7%) and indeterminate in 1 (6.7%) of scar negative patients. Immune responsiveness to human PPD antigens in scar positive and negative children may not correspond with results of the Tuberculin Skin Test. Copyright © 2013 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The structure of a purple acid phosphatase involved in plant growth and pathogen defence exhibits a novel immunoglobulin-like fold.

PubMed

Antonyuk, Svetlana Vladimirovna; Olczak, Mariusz; Olczak, Teresa; Ciuraszkiewicz, Justyna; Strange, Richard William

2014-03-01

Phosphatases function in the production, transport and recycling of inorganic phosphorus, which is crucial for cellular metabolism and bioenergetics, as well as in bacterial killing, since they are able to generate reactive oxygen species via Fenton chemistry. Diphosphonucleotide phosphatase/phosphodiesterase (PPD1), a glycoprotein plant purple acid phosphatase (PAP) from yellow lupin seeds, contains a bimetallic Fe-Mn catalytic site which is most active at acidic pH. Unlike other plant PAPs, PPD1 cleaves the pyrophosphate bond in diphosphonucleotides and the phosphodiester bond in various phosphodiesters. The homohexameric organization of PPD1, as revealed by a 1.65 Å resolution crystal structure and confirmed by solution X-ray scattering, is unique among plant PAPs, for which only homodimers have previously been reported. A phosphate anion is bound in a bidentate fashion at the active site, bridging the Fe and Mn atoms in a binding mode similar to that previously reported for sweet potato PAP, which suggests that common features occur in their catalytic mechanisms. The N-terminal domain of PPD1 has an unexpected and unique fibronectin type III-like fold that is absent in other plant PAPs. Here, the in vitro DNA-cleavage activity of PPD1 is demonstrated and it is proposed that the fibronectin III-like domain, which 'overhangs' the active site, is involved in DNA selectivity, binding and activation. The degradation of DNA by PPD1 implies a role for PPD1 in plant growth and repair and in pathogen defence.

Oral Administration of Heat-Killed Mycobacterium manresensis Delays Progression toward Active Tuberculosis in C3HeB/FeJ Mice

PubMed Central

Cardona, Paula; Marzo-Escartín, Elena; Tapia, Gustavo; Díaz, Jorge; García, Vanessa; Varela, Ismael; Vilaplana, Cristina; Cardona, Pere-Joan

2016-01-01

Low-dose tolerance using heat-killed mycobacteria has been tested as a means of stopping progression toward active tuberculosis (TB) lesions in a human-like murine model using C3HeB/FeJ mice. In the present study, we studied the effect of different treatment schedules with heat-killed non-tuberculous-mycobacteria (NTM) species when given orally, based on the hypothesis of generating oral tolerance. This study included M. manresensis, a new species belonging to the fortuitum group, present in drinking water. Oral treatment with M. manresensis for 2 weeks was able to induce a PPD-specific Tregs population, which has been related to a decrease in the neutrophilic infiltration found in TB lesions. Further mechanistic analysis using PPD-stimulated splenocytes links this 2-week treatment with heat-killed M. manresensis to IL-10 production and memory PPD-specific Tregs, and also to a weak PPD-specific global immune response stimulation, increasing IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ production. In lungs, this treatment decreased the bacillary load, granulomatous infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17). Oral administration of M. manresensis during standard treatment for TB also significantly reduced the relapse of active TB after ending the treatment. Overall the data suggest that the use of heat-killed M. manresensis could be a new and promising tool for avoiding active TB induction and as adjunctive to TB treatment. This supports the usefulness of generating a new kind of protection based on a complex balanced immune response focused on both destroying the bacilli and including control of an excessive inflammatory response. PMID:26779140

Oral Administration of Heat-Killed Mycobacterium manresensis Delays Progression toward Active Tuberculosis in C3HeB/FeJ Mice.

PubMed

Cardona, Paula; Marzo-Escartín, Elena; Tapia, Gustavo; Díaz, Jorge; García, Vanessa; Varela, Ismael; Vilaplana, Cristina; Cardona, Pere-Joan

2015-01-01

Low-dose tolerance using heat-killed mycobacteria has been tested as a means of stopping progression toward active tuberculosis (TB) lesions in a human-like murine model using C3HeB/FeJ mice. In the present study, we studied the effect of different treatment schedules with heat-killed non-tuberculous-mycobacteria (NTM) species when given orally, based on the hypothesis of generating oral tolerance. This study included M. manresensis, a new species belonging to the fortuitum group, present in drinking water. Oral treatment with M. manresensis for 2 weeks was able to induce a PPD-specific Tregs population, which has been related to a decrease in the neutrophilic infiltration found in TB lesions. Further mechanistic analysis using PPD-stimulated splenocytes links this 2-week treatment with heat-killed M. manresensis to IL-10 production and memory PPD-specific Tregs, and also to a weak PPD-specific global immune response stimulation, increasing IL-6, TNF, and IFN-γ production. In lungs, this treatment decreased the bacillary load, granulomatous infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17). Oral administration of M. manresensis during standard treatment for TB also significantly reduced the relapse of active TB after ending the treatment. Overall the data suggest that the use of heat-killed M. manresensis could be a new and promising tool for avoiding active TB induction and as adjunctive to TB treatment. This supports the usefulness of generating a new kind of protection based on a complex balanced immune response focused on both destroying the bacilli and including control of an excessive inflammatory response.

Naive helper T cells from BCG-vaccinated volunteers produce IFN-gamma and IL-5 to mycobacterial antigen-pulsed dendritic cells.

PubMed

Kowalewicz-Kulbat, Magdalena; Kaźmierczak, Dominik; Donevski, Stefan; Biet, Franck; Pestel, Joël; Rudnicka, Wiesława

2008-01-01

Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live vaccine that has been used in routine vaccination against tuberculosis for nearly 80 years. However, its efficacy is controversial. The failure of BCG vaccination may be at least partially explained by the induction of poor or inappropriate host responses. Dendritic cells (DCs) are likely to play a key role in the induction of immune response to mycobacteria by polarizing the reactivity of T lymphocytes toward a Th1 profile, contributing to the generation of protective cellular immunity against mycobacteria. In this study we aimed to investigate the production of Th1 and Th2 cytokines by naive CD4+ T cells to mycobacterial antigen-pulsed DCs in the group of young, healthy BCG vaccinated volunteers. The response of naive helper T cells was compared with the response of total blood lymphocytes. Our present results clearly showed that circulating naive CD45RA+CD4+ lymphocytes from BCG-vaccinated subjects can become effector helper cells producing IFN-gamma and IL-5 under the stimulation by autologous dendritic cells presenting mycobacterial protein antigen-PPD or infected with live M. bovis BCG bacilli.

[Prokaryotic expression and immunological characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv1886c].

PubMed

Tao, Chengwu; Zhao, Dan; Dong, Hui; Shan, Fa; Lian, Kai; Pan, Zhiming; Chen, Xiang; Yin, Yuelan; Jiao, Xin'an

2014-03-04

Ag85B (Rv1886c) is secreted during the early stages of infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The purpose of this study was probed into the immune response against Ag85B in vivo. Ag85B was prokaryotic expressed and identified, its immunological characteristics were evaluated with indirect-ELSIA, Sandwich-ELISA and Ag85B was mainly expressed in form of inclusion body enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT). confirmed by SDS-PAGE. Western blot analysis shows that the fusion protein had good specific reaction with serum of tuberculosis patient and serum of mice immunized with LM-Ag85B. C57BL/6 mice were subcutaneously immunized with Ag85B, the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in the spleen cells was determined by Sandwich ELISA, the level of IFN-gamma was significantly higher than that of IL-4 (P < 0.001) in the Ag85B immunization group, it indicated the protein induced Th1-tendency immune responses. Furthermore, purified protein derivative (PPD) used as coating antigen, antibody titer against Ag85B in murine serum reached 1:6400, it was demonstrated that Ag85B could also induce humoral immune responses. Additionally, C57BL/6 mice were intravenously immunized with M. tb H37Rv and bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) respectively for 42 days, M. tb H37Rv group intended to induce Ag85B specific Th1 type immune response, and its ability of eliciting cellular immunity was significantly stronger than BCG group (P < 0.001). Ag85B can affectively induce strongly Th1-tendency immune response and humoral response. Whereas, BCG prime vaccination only can elicit low levels of Ag85B(240-259) specific immune response. The study laid foundation for probing the pathogenic mechanism, the development of novel vaccine and the establishment of clinical diagnostic method.

Cytokine responses in relation to age, gender, body mass index, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, and otitis media among Inuit in Greenland.

PubMed

Nielsen, Nina O; Soborg, Bolette; Børresen, Malene; Andersson, Mikael; Koch, Anders

2013-01-01

To evaluate the cytokine response pattern in Inuit in Greenland in relation to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (MTI), and otitis media (OM) to assess whether Inuit may have signs of impaired immune responsiveness to infection. A cross-sectional health assessment was conducted among inhabitants of Maniitsoq, West Greenland, in 2009, and several health outcomes were measured. The prevalence of MTI, overweight, and obesity was assessed among 263 school children and 137 adults, and OM was assessed among the children. Cytokine responses were measured in whole blood cultures after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin or purified protein derivative (PPD). Associations between cytokine concentrations, age, gender, BMI, MTI, and OM were estimated by linear regression. Adults had generally higher cytokine concentrations than children. Children with MTI had 2.7 times higher interleukin (IL)-10 concentrations than those without (P = 0.01), and girls had 80% higher IL-10 than boys (P < 0.01) after phytohemagglutinin stimulation. Interferon (IFN)γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) concentrations were strongly elevated among children (P(IFNγ) < 0.001 and P(TNF) < 0.001) and adults (P(IFNγ) < 0.001 and P(TNF) <0.01) with MTI compared to those without after PPD stimulation. Adult women had significantly lower IFNγ (P = 0.03) and TNF (P = 0.04) concentrations than men. TNF was positively correlated with BMI in children (P = 0.01), and IL-10 was positively correlated with BMI in adults (P = 0.0004) after PPD stimulation. We found cytokine patterns similar to those reported from other immune competent study populations. Therefore, the study does not support the suggestion that Inuit may have impaired immune reactivity to infection. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Bidirectional psychoneuroimmune interactions in the early postpartum period influence risk of postpartum depression.

PubMed

Corwin, Elizabeth J; Pajer, Kathleen; Paul, Sudeshna; Lowe, Nancy; Weber, Mary; McCarthy, Donna O

2015-10-01

More than 500,000 U.S. women develop postpartum depression (PPD) annually. Although psychosocial risks are known, the underlying biology remains unclear. Dysregulation of the immune inflammatory response and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are associated with depression in other populations. While significant research on the contribution of these systems to the development of PPD has been conducted, results have been inconclusive. This is partly because few studies have focused on whether disruption in the bidirectional and dynamic interaction between the inflammatory response and the HPA axis together influence PPD. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that disruption in the inflammatory-HPA axis bidirectional relationship would increase the risk of PPD. Plasma pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured in women during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on Days 7 and 14, and Months 1, 2, 3, and 6 after childbirth. Saliva was collected 5 times the day preceding blood draws for determination of cortisol area under the curve (AUC) and depressive symptoms were measured using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Survey (EPDS). Of the 152 women who completed the EPDS, 18% were depressed according to EDPS criteria within the 6months postpartum. Cortisol AUC was higher in symptomatic women on Day 14 (p=.017). To consider the combined effects of cytokines and cortisol on predicting symptoms of PPD, a multiple logistic regression model was developed that included predictors identified in bivariate analyses to have an effect on depressive symptoms. Results indicated that family history of depression, day 14 cortisol AUC, and the day 14 IL8/IL10 ratio were significant predictors of PPD symptoms. One unit increase each in the IL8/IL10 ratio and cortisol AUC resulted in 1.50 (p=0.06) and 2.16 (p=0.02) fold increases respectively in the development of PPD. Overall, this model correctly classified 84.2% of individuals in their respective groups. Findings suggest that variability in the complex interaction between the inflammatory response and the HPA axis influence the risk of PPD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Frequency of Acute Hepatitis Following Acute Paraphenylene Diamine Intoxication.

PubMed

Ishtiaq, Rizwan; Shafiq, Sadaf; Imran, Ali; Masroor Ali, Qazi; Khan, Raheel; Tariq, Hassan; Ishtiaq, Daniyal

2017-04-21

Paraphenylene diamine (PPD) ingestion is manifesting as one of the more common ways of committing suicide in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, especially Bahawalpur. PPD is an ingredient of a compound commonly known "Kala Pathar" which means "Black Stone" in Urdu. It is readily available in the market at low cost and is used to dye hair and fur. Its intoxication inhibits cellular oxidation and affects the muscles causing rhabdomyolysis. This leads to myoglobinuria followed by renal failure and edema of face and throat resulting in respiratory difficulty. Very little is known about the impact of PPD intoxication on liver tissue. The purpose of the study was to find out the frequency of acute hepatitis following PPD intoxication. We reviewed the medical records of 109 patients with PPD intoxication admitted to Medical Unit-2, Bahawalpur Victoria Hospital from January 1, 2015, to June 30, 2015, in a descriptive, cross-sectional study. We noted the frequency of acute hepatitis and other complications, and we recorded the demographic features, clinical features, and outcomes of these patients. Our study included 32 men (29%) and 77 women (71%). The mean age was 22 ± 3.4 years, and most patients were young women aged 15 to 24 years. Suicidal ingestion was the leading cause of admission for 101 patients (93%). The most common clinical presentation was cervicofacial edema (95%), throat pain (88%), dysphonia (95%), cola-colored urine (100%), and oliguria (95%). Rhabdomyolysis (86%), acute hepatitis (51%), and acute renal failure (63%) were the most common clinical conditions following poisoning. Overall mortality was noted in 39 patients (36%) while all other patients achieved complete clinical recovery (64%). In patients with mortality, 20 of 39 (51%) developed acute hepatitis. Most patients (95%) in our study underwent tracheostomy. The frequency of acute hepatitis in PPD intoxication is high in this population, especially in young women. Measures need to be instituted regarding the management of acute hepatitis in PPD intoxication to improve patient outcomes. Workups in patients with PPD poisoning should include regular monitoring of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase to observe any damages to the liver so that acute hepatitis can be managed in a timely fashion.

Gene expression profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle after in vitro antigenic stimulation with purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD).

PubMed

Meade, Kieran G; Gormley, Eamonn; Park, Stephen D E; Fitzsimons, Tara; Rosa, Guilherme J M; Costello, Eamon; Keane, Joseph; Coussens, Paul M; MacHugh, David E

2006-09-15

Microarray analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance was used to investigate the gene expression program of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis. An immunospecific bovine microarray platform (BOTL-4) with spot features representing 1336 genes was used for transcriptional profiling of PBMC from six M. bovis-infected cattle stimulated in vitro with bovine purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD-bovine). Cells were harvested at four time points (3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h post-stimulation) and a split-plot design with pooled samples was used for the microarray experiment to compare gene expression between PPD-bovine stimulated PBMC and unstimulated controls for each time point. Statistical analyses of these data revealed 224 genes (approximately 17% of transcripts on the array) differentially expressed between stimulated and unstimulated PBMC across the 24 h time course (P<0.05). Of the 224 genes, 87 genes were significantly upregulated and 137 genes were significantly downregulated in M. bovis-infected PBMC stimulated with PPD-bovine across the 24 h time course. However, perturbation of the PBMC transcriptome was most apparent at time points 3 h and 12 h post-stimulation, with 81 and 84 genes differentially expressed, respectively. In addition, a more stringent statistical threshold (P<0.01) revealed 35 genes (approximately 3%) that were differentially expressed across the time course. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) of selected genes validated the microarray results and demonstrated a wide range of differentially expressed genes in PPD-bovine-, PPD-avian- and Concanavalin A (ConA) stimulated PBMC, including the interferon-gamma gene (IFNG), which was upregulated in PBMC stimulated with PPD-bovine (40-fold), PPD-avian (10-fold) and ConA (8-fold) after in vitro culture for 12 h. The pattern of expression of these genes in PPD-bovine stimulated PBMC provides the first description of an M. bovis-specific signature of infection that may provide insights into the molecular basis of the host response to infection. Although the present study was carried out with mixed PBMC cell populations, it will guide future studies to dissect immune cell-specific gene expression patterns in response to M. bovis infection.

Characterisation of the clinical and activated T cell response to repeat delayed-type hypersensitivity skin challenges in human subjects, with KLH and PPD, as a potential model to test T cell-targeted therapies.

PubMed

Belson, Alexandra; Schmidt, Tim; Fernando, Disala; Hardes, Kelly; Scott, Nicola; Brett, Sara; Clark, Deborah; Oliveira, João Joaquim; Davis, Bill; McHugh, Simon; Stone, John

2016-05-01

To characterise the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin reaction to repeated challenges of keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) in healthy volunteers, as a potential model to test T cell-targeted investigational agents. Forty-nine subjects received either KLH, PPD, or PBS repeat skin challenges, and clinical assessments including induration, erythema and Laser Doppler Imaging. Skin biopsies or suction blisters were taken after challenge to investigate the cellular infiltrate of the challenge site, the T cell activation status, as determined by LAG-3 expression, and, specifically for the blister, the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Point estimates, estimates of variation and corresponding 95% confidence intervals were constructed for each type of challenge and timepoint. The DTH response could be measured at 48 and 120 h post-KLH and PPD challenge with induration, erythema and Laser Doppler Imaging, with 48 h post-challenge demonstrating the peak of the response. PPD was well tolerated in subjects after multiple challenges, however, a significant number of KLH-treated subjects demonstrated an injection site reaction 6-7 days following the SC injection. PPD demonstrated a boost effect on the second challenge as measured by increased induration, where as this was not noted consistently for KLH. Compared to unchallenged and PBS control-injected skin, increased T cell numbers were detected in the challenge site by both the skin suction blister and biopsy technique, at either time point following KLH or PPD challenge. Use of the T cell activation marker LAG-3 demonstrated the activated phenotype of these cells. In skin blisters, higher numbers of LAG-3+ T cells were detected at 48 h post-challenge, whereas in the biopsies, similar numbers of LAG-3+ cells were observed at both 48 and 120 h. Analysis of blister T cell subpopulations revealed some differences in phenotypes between the time points and between the CD4 and CD8 T cells. Blister cytokine analysis revealed a pro-inflammatory dominated signature in PPD-challenged skin. In summary, our data support the use of a repeat KLH and PPD DTH challenge in clinical trials and that the clinical measures of induration and to a lesser extent erythema are appropriate to monitor the clinical DTH response. Both the blister and biopsy can be utilised to assess and quantify activated T cells and at the dose used, PPD was better tolerated than KLH and hence may be optimal for future studies.

Sensor for Monitoring Nanodevice-Fabrication Plasmas

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bolshakov, Alexander

2004-01-01

The term plasma process diagnostics (PPD) refers to a spectroscopic technique and sensing hardware that have been proposed for monitoring plasma processes used to fabricate electronic devices that feature sizes as small as several nanometers. Nanometer dimensions are characteristic of the quantum level of miniaturization, where single impurity atoms or molecules can drastically change the local properties of the nanostructures. Such changes may be purposely used in nanoscale design but may also be extremely damaging or cause improper operation of the fabricated devices. Determination of temperature and densities of reactants near the developing features is important, since the structural synthesis is affected by characteristics of the local microenvironment. Consequently, sensors capable of nonintrusive monitoring with high sensitivity and high resolution are essential for real-time atomistic control of reaction kinetics and minimizing trace contamination in plasma processes used to fabricate electronic nanodevices. Such process-monitoring sensors are required to be compact, multiparametric, and immune to the harsh environments of processing plasmas. PPD is intended to satisfy these requirements. The specific technique used to implement plasma diagnostics with a PPD sensor would be an advanced version of continuous-wave cavity-ringdown spectroscopy (CW-CRDS) capable of profiling spectral line broadenings in order to derive both Doppler and Stark components. CRDS is based on measurements of the rate of absorption of laser light in an optical resonator. The ultimate sensitivity results from a very long absorption path length within the cavity and immunity to variations in incident laser intensity. The proposed version of this technique would involve the use of multiplexing tunable laser diodes and an actively modulated high-reflectivity optical resonator, thus offering a synergistic combination of simplicity, compactness, high sensitivity, and high resolution. The multiplexing capabilities of diode lasers could be utilized to make the PPD sensor a single, simple, compact, and inexpensive tool for the acquisition of multiparametric data. A PPD sensor would be capable of continuous measurement of such physical parameters as gas temperature, gas velocity, electron number density, and absolute densities of reacting chemical species. A laser beam can be easily adjusted to analyze the immediate vicinity of the growing nanostructures (or features etched down) in real time. The absorption enhancement in an optical cavity would afford the sensitivity needed for measurement of the temperature and densities of species at concentrations significantly lower than measurable by other nonintrusive techniques. It is anticipated that fully developed PPD sensors would enable simultaneous measurement of local temperature and determination of plasma species responsible for the synthesis and functionalization of nanodevices. These sensors would also enable tracking the pathways and origins of damaging contaminants, thereby providing feedback for adjustment of processes to optimize them and reduce contamination. The PPD sensors should also be useful for optimization of conventional microelectronics manufacturing plasma processes. Going beyond plasma processes for fabrication of electronic devices, PPD sensors could be used for monitoring of atoms, molecules, ions, radicals, clusters, and particles in a variety of other settings, including outer space. Because of their high sensitivity, such sensors could also prove useful for detecting traces of illegal drugs and explosives.

The hair dyes PPD and PTD fail to induce a T(H)2 immune response following repeated topical application in BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Rothe, Helga; Sarlo, Katherine; Scheffler, Heike; Goebel, Carsten

2011-01-01

1,4-Phenylenediamine (PPD) and the structurally-related 1,4-toluenediamine (PTD) are frequently used oxidative hair dye precursors that can induce a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction known as contact allergy. Very rare cases of Type 1 (IgE-mediated) allergic responses associated with PPD or PTD have been reported among hair dye users. As part of an effort to determine if repeated dermal exposure to the dyes could induce a T-helper-2 (T(H)2) response, we used a dermal exposure regimen in mice reported to identify a T(H)2 response. Ear swelling was evident at post-final exposure to PPD and PTD, indicating that an immune response was observed. However, cytokine mRNA after repeated topical exposure to these two chemicals showed no shift in the expression toward the typical T(H)2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 compared to the T(H)1 cytokine interferon (IFN)-γ. Consistent with these cytokine profiles, no concomitant increase in total serum IgE antibody titer or in B220+IgE+ lymphocytes in lymph nodes and skin application site skin was detected. In contrast, using an identical exposure regimen, animals topically exposed to the known respiratory (Type 1) allergen toluene 2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) showed significant expression of IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA compared to IFN? as well as an increase in total serum IgE and in B220+IgE+ cells in lymph nodes and skin application site. The data generated are consistent with the pattern of adverse reactions to hair dyes seen clinically, which overwhelmingly is of delayed rather than immediate-type hypersensitivity. Although current animal models have a limited ability to detect rare T(H)2 responses to contact allergens, the present study results support the view that exposure to hair dyes is not associated with relevant T(H)2 induction.

The in vivo immunomodulatory effect of recombinant tumour necrosis factor-alpha in guinea pigs vaccinated with Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin

PubMed Central

Kramp, J C; McMurray, D N; Formichella, C; Jeevan, A

2011-01-01

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that treatment in vitro with recombinant guinea pig tumour necrosis factor TNF (rgpTNF)-α-enhanced T cell and macrophage functions. Similarly, injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected guinea pigs with anti-TNF-α altered splenic granuloma organization and caused inflammatory changes and reduced the cell-associated mycobacteria in the tuberculous pluritis model. In this study, rgpTNF-α was injected into bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated guinea pigs to modulate immune functions in vivo. Guinea pigs were vaccinated intradermally with BCG, 2 × 103 colony-forming units (CFU) and injected intraperitoneally with either rgpTNF-α (25 µg/animal) or 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for a total of 12 injections given every other day. Treatment with rgpTNF-α significantly enhanced the skin test response to purified protein derivative (PPD), reduced the number of CFUs and increased the PPD-induced proliferation in the lymph nodes at 6 weeks after vaccination. The levels of interleukin (IL)-12 mRNA were increased in the lymph node and spleen cells stimulated with PPD. TNF-α treatment induced a decrease in TNF-α, IL-12p40 and IL-10 mRNA levels in peritoneal cells following PPD stimulation while live M. tuberculosis caused an increase in TNF-α mRNA and a decrease in the IL-10 mRNA expression. TNF-α injection also induced an increase in the infiltration of mononuclear cells and in the proportions of CD3+ T cells in the lymph nodes. These results indicate that rgpTNF-α enhances some aspects of T cell immunity and promotes control of mycobacteria in the tissues. Future studies will address the role of TNF-α in BCG-vaccinated guinea pigs following low-dose pulmonary challenge with virulent M. tuberculosis. PMID:21545584

Recombinant BCG prime and PPE protein boost provides potent protection against acute Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice.

PubMed

Yang, Enzhuo; Gu, Jin; Wang, Feifei; Wang, Honghai; Shen, Hongbo; Chen, Zheng W

2016-04-01

Since BCG, the only vaccine widely used against tuberculosis (TB) in the world, provides varied protective efficacy and may not be effective for inducing long-term cellular immunity, it is in an urgent need to develop more effective vaccines and more potent immune strategies against TB. Prime-boost is proven to be a good strategy by inducing long-term protection. In this study, we tested the protective effect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) challenge of prime-boost strategy by recombinant BCG (rBCG) expressing PPE protein Rv3425 fused with Ag85B and Rv3425. Results showed that the prime-boost strategy could significantly increase the protective efficiency against Mtb infection, characterized by reduction of bacterial load in lung and spleen, attenuation of tuberculosis lesions in lung tissues. Importantly, we found that Rv3425 boost, superior to Ag85B boost, provided better protection against Mtb infection. Further research proved that rBCG prime-Rv3425 boost could obviously increase the expansion of lymphocytes, significantly induce IL-2 production by lymphocytes upon PPD stimulation, and inhibit IL-6 production at an early stage. It implied that rBCG prime-Rv3425 boost opted to induce Th1 immune response and provided a long-term protection against TB. These results implicated that rBCG prime-Rv3425 boost is a potent and promising strategy to prevent acute Mtb infection. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Improved CD4⁺ T cell responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in PPD-negative adults by M72/AS01 as compared to the M72/AS02 and Mtb72F/AS02 tuberculosis candidate vaccine formulations: a randomized trial.

PubMed

Leroux-Roels, Isabel; Forgus, Sheron; De Boever, Fien; Clement, Frédéric; Demoitié, Marie-Ange; Mettens, Pascal; Moris, Philippe; Ledent, Edouard; Leroux-Roels, Geert; Ofori-Anyinam, Opokua

2013-04-19

The Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis (TB) vaccine provides incomplete protection, necessitating development of an effective vaccine against TB disease. The Mtb72F/AS02 candidate vaccine was previously shown to be clinically well tolerated and immunogenic in Purified Protein Derivative (PPD)-negative adults. To improve the stability of Mtb72F, a point mutation was introduced into a putative serine protease site to give the final M72 construct. AS01 is an Adjuvant System that can potentially improve both humoral and cellular immune responses compared to the AS02 Adjuvant System or unadjuvanted vaccine. This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity in Mtb-naïve adults of vaccines containing 40 μg of the M72 antigen with AS02 or AS01 and compared the results with Mtb72F/AS02 vaccine (40 μg dose), M72 in saline (40 μg dose) and AS01 alone. In this Phase I/II observer-blind controlled trial, 110 participants were randomized (4:4:1:1:1) to receive M72/AS01, M72/AS02, Mtb72F/AS02, M72/saline or AS01, following a 0, 1-month schedule. Subjects receiving the adjuvanted M72 vaccines were followed up until 3 years post vaccination. Evaluation of the immune response and safety/reactogenicity was performed. For all vaccines, solicited adverse events (AEs) were predominantly mild to moderate and transient. No vaccine-related serious AEs occurred and no subject withdrew due to an AE. Immune responses induced by Mtb72F and M72 antigens combined with AS02 were similar. M72/AS01 and M72/AS02 induced robust polyfunctional M72-specific CD4(+) T cell and antibody responses persisting at 3 years, with the highest CD4(+) T cell responses found with M72/AS01. This first clinical study with M72/AS01 and M72/AS02 showed that both vaccines were clinically well tolerated and induced high magnitude and persistent cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. The Mtb72F/AS02 and M72/AS02 vaccines were comparably immunogenic with significantly higher immune responses compared to the M72/saline control. Of the formulations tested, M72/AS01 demonstrated significantly higher vaccine specific Th1 CD4(+) T cell responses supporting its further clinical evaluation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multiple cytokine responses in discriminating between active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection.

PubMed

Wu, Jing; Wang, Sen; Lu, Chanyi; Shao, Lingyun; Gao, Yan; Zhou, Zumo; Huang, Heqing; Zhang, Ying; Zhang, Wenhong

2017-01-01

Cytokines play an important role in cell-mediated immune responses against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. Cytokine profile specifically associated with active tuberculosis (ATB) patients, subjects with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and non-infected individuals remains to be determined. We enrolled a total of 92 subjects including patients with ATB (n = 25), LTBI (n = 36) and healthy controls (HC, n = 31) to investigate the cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after Mtb purified protein derivative (PPD) stimulation which was evaluated by a beads-based multiplex assay system. The production of IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, G-CSF, IFN-γ, IP-10, MIP-1α and TNF-α was abundantly induced by PPD in all three groups. The levels of IL-2, IL-10, IFN-γ, IP-10 and TNF-α were significantly higher in LTBI group than in ATB group. The combination of PPD-stimulated IL-2 and IL-10 accurately identified 84.0% of ATB and 88.9% of LTBI. We validated the use of PPD-stimulated IL-2 and IL-10 test combined with T-SPOT.TB test in a cohort of 44 subjects with TB suspicion. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined test were 83.3% and 92.3%, respectively. The PPD-stimulated IL-2/IFN-γ ratio (p < 0.001) in LTBI subjects was significantly higher than in active TB patients. Our study identified cytokine patterns characteristic of ATB and LTBI. Cytokines such as IL-2 and IL-10 may serve as biomarkers for distinguishing ATB from LTBI and healthy control and may contribute to intervention and improvement in TB diagnosis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Elevated Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody Increases Risk of Post-partum Depression by Decreasing Prefrontal Cortex BDNF and 5-HT Levels in Mice.

PubMed

Zhou, Yingying; Wang, Xinyi; Zhao, Yuhang; Liu, Aihua; Zhao, Tong; Zhang, Yuanyuan; Shan, Zhongyan; Teng, Weiping

2016-01-01

Post-partum depression (PPD) is a common mental disease in the perinatal period that profoundly affects mothers and their offspring. Some clinical studies have found that PPD is related to thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAbs); however, the mechanism underlying this relationship is unclear. Female C57BL/6 mice immunized with adenovirus encoding the cDNA of the full-length mTPO (mTPO-Ad) were used to establish the isolated TPOAb-positive mouse model in the present study. Maternal depressive-like behaviors were assessed using the forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT), and tail suspension test (TST) post-partum. The serum TPOAb titer was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before pregnancy and post-partum. Furthermore, in the prefrontal cortex, the mRNA and protein expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured, serotonin (5-HT) levels were measured by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), and total thyroxine (TT4) levels were determined by ELISA. Compared with the controls, the mice immunized with mTPO-Ad displayed depressive behaviors, with a significantly lower sucrose preference (SP) at the 12-h time point and a longer immobility time in the FST and TST, which were accompanied by a lower expression of BDNF and 5-HT but no change in the TT4 concentration in the prefrontal cortex. Together, these findings suggest that elevated TPOAb may increase the risk of subsequent PPD and decrease the concentration of BDNF and 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex.

Comparative Study of 14C-Labeled Purified Protein Derivative from Various Mycobacteria

PubMed Central

Landi, S.; Held, H. R.; Tseng, M. C.

1970-01-01

Biologically active 14C-labeled purified protein derivative (14C-PPD) has been prepared from the culture filtrates of seven species of mycobacteria, namely Mycobacterium tuberculosis Johnston strain (PPD), M. bovis BCG (PPD-BCG), M. avium (PPD-A), M. kansasii (PPD-Y), M. intracellulare (PPD-B), M. scrofulaceum (PPD-G), and M. fortuitum (PPD-F). These mycobacteria were grown in a culture medium containing a mixture of 14C-labeled amino acids. The yield and specific radioactivity of the PPD, of the nucleic acid, of the bacterial cells, and of the CO2 developed during growth have been determined for each of the seven species of mycobacteria. Although the yields of 14C-PPD antigens differed greatly for the different species of mycobacteria tested, their specific radioactivities were similar. The 14C-PPD antigens have been used as a means to measure their adsorption to glass. When glass ampoules containing dilute solutions (0.001 mg of PPD per ml) of these PPD antigens (PPD, PPD-BCG, PPD-A, PPD-Y, PPD-G, PPD-B, and PPD-F) were stored for 12 months at 5 C, it was found that they all adsorbed equally well to glass surfaces. In fact, regardless of the origin of the PPD, a loss due to adsorption of about 90% occurred during the first month of storage, and thereafter the PPD content remained practically constant for the rest of the duration of the storage period. The addition of 0.0005% Tween 80 to the PPD solutions effectively reduced the adsorption to glass of most PPD antigens. However, adsorption of PPD-BCG was not quite so effectively prevented, even when the Tween 80 concentration was increased from 0.0005 to 0.0005%. Images PMID:5485082

Molecular signatures distinguishing active from latent tuberculosis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, after in vitro antigenic stimulation with purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) or Candida: a preliminary report.

PubMed

Stern, Joel N H; Keskin, Derin B; Romero, Viviana; Zuniga, Joaquin; Encinales, Liliana; Li, Changlin; Awad, Carlos; Yunis, Edmond J

2009-01-01

Purified protein derivative (PPD) or tuberculin skin testing is used to identify infected individuals with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and to assess cell-mediated immunity to Mtb. In the present study, we compared PBMC cultures in the presence of tuberculin or Candida antigens using cytokine bead arrays and RNA microarrays. Measurements of different cytokines and chemokines in supernatants of PMBC cultures in the presence of PPD showed increased levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma in active tuberculosis infection (ATBI) and latent TB infected (LTBI) compared to controls, and increased levels of TNF-alpha in ATBI compared with LTBI. Also, we found increase of IL-6 in cultures of PPD positive and controls but not in the cultures with Candida. We also report the molecular signature of tuberculosis infection, in ATBI patients, the following genes were found to be up-regulated and absent in LTBI individuals: two kinases (JAK3 and p38MAPK), four interleukins (IL-7, IL-2, IL-6, and IFNbeta1), a chemokine (HCC-4) a chemokine receptor (CxCR5), two interleukin receptors (IL-1R2 and IL-18R1), and three additional ones (TRAF5, Smad2, CIITA, and NOS2A). By contrast, IL-17 and IGFBP3 were significantly up-regulated in LTBI. And, STAT4, GATA3, Fra-1, and ICOS were down-regulated in ATBI but absent in LTBI. Conversely, TLR-10, IL-15, DORA, and IKK-beta were down-regulated in LTBI but not in ATBI. Interestingly, the majority of the up-regulated genes found in ATBI were found in cultures stimulated with tuberculin (PPD) or Candida antigens, suggesting that these pathogens stimulate similar immunological pathways. We believe that the molecular signature distinguishing active from latent tuberculosis infection may require using cytokine bead arrays along with RNA microarrays testing cell cultures at different times following in vitro proliferation assays using several bacterial antigens and PPD.

Features of Ppd-B1 expression regulation and their impact on the flowering time of wheat near-isogenic lines.

PubMed

Kiseleva, Antonina A; Potokina, Elena K; Salina, Elena A

2017-11-14

Photoperiod insensitive Ppd-1a alleles determine early flowering of wheat. Increased expression of homoeologous Ppd-D1a and Ppd-A1a result from deletions in the promoter region, and elevated expression of Ppd-B1a is determined by an increased copy number. In this study, using bread wheat cultivars Sonora and PSL2, which contrast in flowering time, and near-isogenic lines resulting from their cross, "Ppd-m" and "Ppd-w" with Ppd-B1a introgressed from Sonora, we investigated the putative factors that influence Ppd-B1a expression. By analyzing the Ppd-B1a three distinct copies, we identified an indel and the two SNPs, which distinguished the investigated allele from other alleles with a copy number variation. We studied the expression of the Ppd-A1, Ppd-B1a, and Ppd-D1 genes along with genes that are involved in light perception (PhyA, PhyB, PhyC) and the flowering initiation (Vrn-1, TaFT1) and discussed their interactions. Expression of Ppd-B1a in the "Ppd-m" line, which flowered four days earlier than "Ppd-w", was significantly higher. We found PhyC to be up-regulated in lines with Ppd-B1a alleles. Expression of PhyC was higher in "Ppd-m". Microsatellite genotyping demonstrated that in the line "Ppd-m", there is an introgression in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 5B from the early flowering parental Sonora, while the "Ppd-w" does not have this introgression. FHY3/FAR1 is known to be located in this region. Expression of the transcription factor FHY3/FAR1 was higher in the "Ppd-m" line than in "Ppd-w", suggesting that FHY3/FAR1 is important for the wheat flowering time and may cause earlier flowering of "Ppd-m" as compared to "Ppd-w". We propose that there is a positive bidirectional regulation of Ppd-B1a and PhyC with an FHY3/FAR1 contribution. The bidirectional regulation can be proposed for Ppd-A1a and Ppd-D1a. Using in silico analysis, we demonstrated that the specificity of the Ppd-B1 regulation compared to that of homoeologous genes involves not only a copy number variation but also distinct regulatory elements.

Proteomic characterisation of bovine and avian purified protein derivatives and identification of specific antigens for serodiagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.

PubMed

Infantes-Lorenzo, José Antonio; Moreno, Inmaculada; Risalde, María de Los Ángeles; Roy, Álvaro; Villar, Margarita; Romero, Beatriz; Ibarrola, Nieves; de la Fuente, José; Puentes, Eugenia; de Juan, Lucía; Gortázar, Christian; Bezos, Javier; Domínguez, Lucas; Domínguez, Mercedes

2017-01-01

Bovine purified protein derivative (bPPD) and avian purified protein derivative (aPPD) are widely used for bovine tuberculosis diagnosis. However, little is known about their qualitative and quantitative characteristics, which makes their standardisation difficult. In addition, bPPD can give false-positive tuberculosis results because of sequence homology between Mycobacterium bovis ( M. bovis ) and M. avium proteins. Thus, the objective of this study was to carry out a proteomic characterisation of bPPD, aPPD and an immunopurified subcomplex from bPPD called P22 in order to identify proteins contributing to cross-reactivity among these three products in tuberculosis diagnosis. Trypsin digests of bPPD, aPPD and P22 were analysed by nanoscale liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Mice were immunised with bPPD or aPPD, and their serum was tested by indirect ELISA for reactivity against these preparations as well as against P22. A total of 456 proteins were identified in bPPD, 1019 in aPPD and 118 in P22; 146 of these proteins were shared by bPPD and aPPD, and 43 were present in all three preparations. Candidate proteins that may cause cross-reactivity between bPPD and aPPD were identified based on protein abundance and antigenic propensity. Serum reactivity experiments indicated that P22 may provide greater specificity than bPPD with similar sensitivity for ELISA-type detection of antibodies against M. tuberculosis complex. The subpreparation from bPPD called P22 may be an alternative to bPPD for serodiagnosis of bovine tuberculosis, since it shares fewer proteins with aPPD than bPPD does, reducing risk of cross-reactivity with anti- M. avium antibodies.

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive alleles Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a and their effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars.

PubMed

Seki, Masako; Chono, Makiko; Matsunaka, Hitoshi; Fujita, Masaya; Oda, Shunsuke; Kubo, Katashi; Kiribuchi-Otobe, Chikako; Kojima, Hisayo; Nishida, Hidetaka; Kato, Kenji

2011-12-01

The genotypes of photoperiod response genes Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1 in Japanese wheat cultivars were determined by a PCR-based method, and heading times were compared among genotypes. Most of the Japanese wheat cultivars, except those from the Hokkaido region, carried the photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-D1a, and heading was accelerated 10.3 days compared with the Ppd-D1b genotype. Early cultivars with Ppd-D1a may have been selected to avoid damage from preharvest rain. In the Hokkaido region, Ppd-D1a frequency was lower and heading date was late regardless of Ppd-D1 genotype, suggesting another genetic mechanism for late heading in Hokkaido cultivars. In this study, only 11 cultivars proved to carry Ppd-B1a, and all of them carried another photoperiod-insensitive allele, Ppd-D1a. The Ppd-B1a/Ppd-D1a genotype headed 6.7 days earlier than the Ppd-B1b/Ppd-D1a genotype, indicating a significant effect of Ppd-B1a in the genetic background with Ppd-D1a. Early-maturity breeding in Japan is believed to be accelerated by the introduction of the Ppd-B1a allele into medium-heading cultivars carrying Ppd-D1a. Pedigree analysis showed that Ppd-B1a in three extra-early commercial cultivars was inherited from 'Shiroboro 21' by early-heading Chugoku lines bred at the Chugoku Agriculture Experimental Station.

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive alleles Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a and their effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars

PubMed Central

Seki, Masako; Chono, Makiko; Matsunaka, Hitoshi; Fujita, Masaya; Oda, Shunsuke; Kubo, Katashi; Kiribuchi-Otobe, Chikako; Kojima, Hisayo; Nishida, Hidetaka; Kato, Kenji

2011-01-01

The genotypes of photoperiod response genes Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1 in Japanese wheat cultivars were determined by a PCR-based method, and heading times were compared among genotypes. Most of the Japanese wheat cultivars, except those from the Hokkaido region, carried the photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-D1a, and heading was accelerated 10.3 days compared with the Ppd-D1b genotype. Early cultivars with Ppd-D1a may have been selected to avoid damage from preharvest rain. In the Hokkaido region, Ppd-D1a frequency was lower and heading date was late regardless of Ppd-D1 genotype, suggesting another genetic mechanism for late heading in Hokkaido cultivars. In this study, only 11 cultivars proved to carry Ppd-B1a, and all of them carried another photoperiod-insensitive allele, Ppd-D1a. The Ppd-B1a/Ppd-D1a genotype headed 6.7 days earlier than the Ppd-B1b/Ppd-D1a genotype, indicating a significant effect of Ppd-B1a in the genetic background with Ppd-D1a. Early-maturity breeding in Japan is believed to be accelerated by the introduction of the Ppd-B1a allele into medium-heading cultivars carrying Ppd-D1a. Pedigree analysis showed that Ppd-B1a in three extra-early commercial cultivars was inherited from ‘Shiroboro 21’ by early-heading Chugoku lines bred at the Chugoku Agriculture Experimental Station. PMID:23136478

Monitoring contact sensitization to p-phenylenediamine (PPD) by patch testing with PPD 0.3% in petrolatum.

PubMed

Geier, Johannes; Ballmer-Weber, Barbara K; Dickel, Heinrich; Frosch, Peter J; Bircher, Andreas; Weisshaar, Elke; Hillen, Uwe

2013-07-01

Being a contact allergen of general relevance, p-phenylenediamine (PPD) is patch tested in the baseline series. However, PPD 1% in petrolatum may actively sensitize. Patch testing with PPD at 0.35% pet. proved to be safe, as far as active sensitization is concerned. To determine whether PPD 0.3% pet. reliably detects PPD sensitization. Patch testing with PPD 0.3% pet. and 1% pet. synchronously was performed in consecutive patients in a multicentre study within the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology. Altogether, 2042 patients were patch tested. PPD 1% pet. yielded 6.0% positive reactions (n = 123), and PPD 0.3% pet. yielded 4.7% (n = 95). The synchronous reproducibility of PPD reactions was similar as known from parallel patch tests with identical PPD concentrations. The diagnostic properties of PPD 0.3% pet. expressed as reaction index and positivity ratio were good. Of the 123 patients reacting to PPD 1% pet., 32 (26%) had no positive reaction to PPD 0.3% pet. In 22 of these 32 patients (69%), no clinical relevance could be found. As patch testing with PPD 0.3% pet. is reliable according to our results, we recommend replacing PPD 1% pet. in the baseline series with PPD 0.3% pet. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Mycobacterium bovis BCG Scar Status and HLA Class II Alleles Influence Purified Protein Derivative-Specific T-Cell Receptor Vβ Expression in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients from Southern India

PubMed Central

Shanmugalakshmi, S.; Dheenadhayalan, V.; Muthuveeralakshmi, P.; Arivarignan, G.; Pitchappan, R.M.

2003-01-01

Purified protein derivative (PPD) RT23-recalled T-cell receptor (TCR) Vβ expression was studied in the peripheral blood of 42 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 44 healthy controls from southern India, a region where tuberculosis is endemic. Forty-eight-hour whole-blood cultures in the presence or absence of PPD-RT23 were set up, and at the end of the culture period total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Expression of various TCR Vβ families was assessed by using family-specific primers. PPD-specific expression (usage) of TCR Vβ families 4, 6, 8 to 12, and 14 was found in more controls than patients. Among the responders (individuals who showed PPD-specific expression), endemic controls had significantly higher responses than the patients had for TCR Vβ families 2, 3, 7, 13, and 17. The majority of the patients did not show usage of most of the TCR Vβ families, and this was attributed to T-cell downregulation. A four-way nested classification analysis revealed that TCR Vβ family 1, 5, 9, 12, and 13 usage in the context of HLA class II high-risk alleles (DRB1*1501, DRB1*08, and DQB1*0601) and Mycobacterium bovis BCG scar status were the determining factors in susceptibility and resistance to tuberculosis. The healthier status of controls was attributed to the wider usage of many TCR Vβ families readily recalled by PPD, while the disease status of the patients was attributed to TCR Vβ downregulation and the resultant T-cell (memory cell?) unresponsiveness. Host genetics (HLA status) and BCG vaccination (scar status) seem to play important roles in skewing the immune response in adult susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis through TCR Vβ usage. PMID:12874334

Evaluation of bovine cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to various test antigens and a mitogen using several adjuvants.

PubMed

Hernández, Armando; Yager, Julie A; Wilkie, Bruce N; Leslie, Kenneth E; Mallard, Bonnie A

2005-03-10

The Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)-induced/purified protein derivative (PPD)-elicited tuberculin skin test is a reliable measure of cell-mediated immune response (CMIR), specifically delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH); however, its use in livestock may confound diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, various alternative antigen/adjuvant combinations were evaluated as inducers of DTH that were compared to the BCG/PPD test system with the purpose of finding a skin DTH protocol that does not cross-react with the tuberculin test and allows identification of high and low CMIR responder phenotypes. Specifically, 30 non-lactating cows (five/treatment) were sensitized on day 0 with mycobacteria [BCG, M. tuberculosis or Mycobacterium phlei cell wall extract (MCWE)], and ovalbumin (OVA) emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA), non-ulcerative Freund's adjuvant (NUFA), complete NUFA or MCWE. On day 21, cows were injected intradermally with various test antigens including PPD tuberculin, phlein, and OVA. Phosphate buffered saline was included as the negative control and the T-cell mitogen phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was also administered. Double skin-fold thickness was evaluated before and at 6, 24, and 48 h post-injection. Skin biopsies were taken at 24 and 48 h to assess oedema, necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration. BCG/PPD and M. phlei/phlein treatments when given with a Freund's adjuvant induced equivalent DTH with peak reactions at 24-48 h after antigen injection. Cows receiving NUFA had fewer injection site granulomas than FCA or CNUFA treatments. The change in skin thickness response to PHA peaked at 6 h. Only cows receiving mycobacteria in NUFA had skin response to OVA, which peaked 6-24 h post-injection. Only sites tested with PPD or phlein had significantly higher lymphocyte infiltration than control, whereas neutrophils were significantly higher at PHA test sites and eosinophils predominated at the PHA test sites. Macrophages were significantly more numerous at the PPD and/or phlein test sites in treatment groups that received killed mycobacteria in a Freund's adjuvant and/or with BCG, and at the PHA test sites in all treatment groups. It was concluded that the M. phlei/phlein system did induce DTH and was similar to the DTH induced by the BCG/PPD system when MCWE was administered with a Freund's adjuvant. Therefore, this protocol is suitable for detecting high/low CMIR responders in research herds. However, cross-reaction to PPD was evident following induction of DTH using M. phlei. Hence, this protocol does not alleviate the problem of artificial induction of DTH cross-reactivity and would not be suitable for commercial herds where tuberculin testing is required.

Immune suppressive effects of Helicobacter pylori on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

PubMed

Knipp, U; Birkholz, S; Kaup, W; Opferkuch, W

1993-05-01

Helicobacter pylori, the causative agent of type-B gastritis and duodenal ulcer in man is described as a bacterium able to stimulate the human immune system. This study demonstrates that H. pylori besides this property possesses an immune suppressive activity. The in vitro proliferation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD), phytohemagglutinin, and concanavalin A was reduced in a dose-dependent manner by bacteria which had been inactivated by incubation at 56 degrees C as well as by a soluble cytoplasmic fraction of H. pylori. The immune suppressive effect on the mitogen-induced proliferation could be increased by preincubation of the mononuclear cells with H. pylori. The observed effect does not seem to be a specific phenomenon depending on prior exposure of the blood donors to H. pylori, since suppression occurred with mononuclear cells of H. pylori-infected patients as well as of antibody-negative healthy control individuals. The suppressive activity was non-dialyzable, heat-labile (100 degrees C, 30 min) and sensitive to trypsin. Furthermore, the treatment at 100 degrees C caused an increase in the capability of H. pylori to induce lymphoproliferation. This fact indicates that the suppressive factor is also effective on H. pylori antigens. While exogenous interleukin-2, could to a certain extent, restore the responsiveness of the lymphocytes after PPD-stimulation in the presence of H. pylori, the addition of interleukin-1 had no effect on the suppressed lymphoproliferation. Cell-separation and cell-mixing experiments indicated that an influence on monocytes rather than on T cells is the major cause of the observed suppressive effect. Although the immunological mechanisms involved in H. pylori-associated gastritis are not clearly defined, it is reasonable to presume that suppression of host defense mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease.

Characterization of p-phenylenediamine-albumin binding sites and T-cell responses to hapten-modified protein.

PubMed

Jenkinson, Claire; Jenkins, Rosalind E; Aleksic, Maja; Pirmohamed, Munir; Naisbitt, Dean J; Park, B Kevin

2010-03-01

Exposure to p-phenylenediamine (PPD) is associated with the development of T-cell-mediated allergic contact dermatitis. The purpose of this study was to define the nature of the interaction of PPD with the protein and the antigenic determinant that stimulates T cells. Mass spectrometry was employed to show that PPD oxidation products bind irreversibly to cysteine (Cys, position 34) in human serum albumin (HSA). A modified tryptic peptide was characterized with an increase in mass of 106 Da, corresponding to the addition of PPD and not to the secondary products of self conjugation. Lymphocytes from 10 PPD-allergic patients, but not tolerant/naive individuals, were stimulated with PPD and PPD-modified HSA. A total of 70 PPD-specific and 10 PPD-HSA-specific CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+CD8+, Th2-secreting T-cell clones were generated from three allergic patients. In total, 40 clones were stimulated with both PPD and PPD-modified HSA. PPD-modified HSA triggered T-cell responses through a classical hapten mechanism involving processing. Presentation of PPD to several clones was dependent on protein complex formation (42 out of 48) and processing (32 out of 68); however, 12% of clones were triggered with PPD directly. These data identify Cys as the single target for PPD-HSA binding, and show that PPD protein adducts are antigenic determinants in patients with contact dermatitis.

Heterologous Immunological Effects of Early BCG Vaccination in Low-Birth-Weight Infants in Guinea-Bissau: A Randomized-controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Jensen, Kristoffer Jarlov; Larsen, Nanna; Biering-Sørensen, Sofie; Andersen, Andreas; Eriksen, Helle Brander; Monteiro, Ivan; Hougaard, David; Aaby, Peter; Netea, Mihai G.; Flanagan, Katie L.; Benn, Christine Stabell

2015-01-01

Background. Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) seems to have beneficial nonspecific effects; early BCG vaccination of low-birth-weight (LBW) newborns reduces neonatal mortality by >40% due to prevention of primarily septicemia and pneumonia. Methods. Within a randomized trial in LBW infants in Guinea-Bissau of early BCG vs the usual postponed BCG, a subgroup was bled 4 weeks after randomization. Levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured from whole-blood assays stimulated with innate agonists to Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2, -4 or -7/8, or purified protein derivative (PPD). Results. Among 467 infants, BCG significantly increased the in vitro cytokine responses to purified protein derivative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (PPD), as expected. BCG was also associated with increased responses to heterologous innate stimulation, particularly of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Conclusion. Four weeks after immunization, BCG-vaccinated infants have a significantly increased production of cytokines upon heterologous challenge, particularly T helper cell type 1 polarizing and typically monocyte-derived pro-inflammatory cytokines. BCG may accelerate the development of the neonatal immune system, mediating comprehensive protection against infections and mortality. PMID:25210141

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol Phospholipid Complex: Process Optimization, Characterization, In Vitro Dissolution and Molecular Docking Studies.

PubMed

Pu, Yiqiong; Zhang, Xitong; Zhang, Qi; Wang, Bing; Chen, Yuxi; Zang, Chuanqi; Wang, Yuqin; Dong, Tina Ting-Xia; Zhang, Tong

2016-10-19

20( S )-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a bioactive compound extracted from ginseng, possesses cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antiestrogenic, anticancer and anxiolytic effects. However, the clinical application of PPD is limited by its weak aqueous solubility. In this study, we optimized an efficient method of preparing its phospholipid complex (PPD-PLC) using a central composite design and response surface analysis. The prepared PPD-PLC was characterized by differential scanning calorimetric, powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses associated with molecular docking calculation. The equilibrium solubility of PPD-PLC in water and n -octanol increased 6.53- and 1.53-times, respectively. Afterwards, using PPD-PLC as the intermediate, the PPD-PLC-loaded dry suspension (PPD-PLC-SU) was prepared with our previous method. In vitro evaluations were conducted on PPD-PLC and PPD-PLC-SU, including dissolution behaviors and stability properties under different conditions. Results of in vitro dissolution behavior revealed the improved dissolution extents and rates of PPD-PLC and PPD-PLC-SU ( p < 0.05). Results of the formulation stability investigation also exposed the better stability of PPD-PLC-SU compared with free PPD. Therefore, phospholipid complex technology is a useful formulation strategy for BCS II drugs, as it could effectively improve their hydrophilicity and lipophilicity.

Enhanced oral absorption of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol by self-assembled liquid crystalline nanoparticles containing piperine: in vitro and in vivo studies

PubMed Central

Jin, Xin; Zhang, Zhen-hai; Sun, E; Tan, Xiao-bin; Li, Song-lin; Cheng, Xu-dong; You, Ming; Jia, Xiao-bin

2013-01-01

Background 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), similar to several other anticancer agents, has low oral absorption and is extensively metabolized. These factors limit the use of PPD for treatment of human diseases. Methods In this study, we used cubic nanoparticles containing piperine to improve the oral bioavailability of PPD and to enhance its absorption and inhibit its metabolism. Cubic nanoparticles loaded with PPD and piperine were prepared by fragmentation of glyceryl monoolein (GMO)/poloxamer 407 bulk cubic gel and verified using transmission electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. We evaluated the in vitro release of PPD from these nanoparticles and its absorption across the Caco-2 cell monolayer model, and subsequently, we examined the bioavailability and metabolism of PPD and its nanoparticles in vivo. Results The in vitro release of PPD from these nanoparticles was less than 5% at 12 hours. PPD-cubosome and PPD-cubosome loaded with piperine (molar ratio PPD/piperine, 1:3) increased the apical to basolateral permeability values of PPD across the Caco-2 cell monolayer from 53% to 64%, respectively. In addition, the results of a pharmacokinetic study in rats showed that the relative bioavailabilities of PPD-cubosome [area under concentration–time curve (AUC)0–∞] and PPD-cubosome containing piperine (AUC0–∞) compared to that of raw PPD (AUC0–∞) were 166% and 248%, respectively. Conclusion The increased bioavailability of PPD-cubosome loaded with piperine is due to an increase in absorption and inhibition of metabolism of PPD by cubic nanoparticles containing piperine rather than because of improved release of PPD. The cubic nanoparticles containing piperine may be a promising oral carrier for anticancer drugs with poor oral absorption and that undergo extensive metabolism by cytochrome P450. PMID:23426652

Effect of Ppd-1 on the expression of flowering-time genes in vegetative and reproductive growth stages of wheat.

PubMed

Kitagawa, Satoshi; Shimada, Sanae; Murai, Koji

2012-01-01

The photoperiod sensitivity gene Ppd-1 influences the timing of flowering in temperate cereals such as wheat and barley. The effect of Ppd-1 on the expression of flowering-time genes was assessed by examining the expression levels of the vernalization genes VRN1 and VRN3/WFT and of two CONSTANS-like genes, WCO1 and TaHd1, during vegetative and reproductive growth stages. Two near-isogenic lines (NILs) were used: the first carried a photoperiod-insensitive allele of Ppd-1 (Ppd-1a-NIL), the other, a photoperiod-sensitive allele (Ppd-1b-NIL). We found that the expression pattern of VRN1 was similar in Ppd-1a-NIL and Ppd-1b-NIL plants, suggesting that VRN1 is not regulated by Ppd-1. Under long day conditions, VRN3/WFT showed similar expression patterns in Ppd-1a-NIL and Ppd-1b-NIL plants. However, expression differed greatly under short day conditions: VRN3/WFT expression was detected in Ppd-1a-NIL plants at the 5-leaf stage when they transited from vegetative to reproductive growth; very low expression was present in Ppd-1b-NIL throughout all growth stages. Thus, the Ppd-1b allele acts to down-regulate VRN3/WFT under short day conditions. WCO1 showed high levels of expression at the vegetative stage, which decreased during the phase transition and reproductive growth stages in both Ppd-1a-NIL and Ppd-1b-NIL plants under short day conditions. By contrast to WCO1, TaHd1 was up-regulated during the reproductive stage. The level of TaHd1 expression was much higher in Ppd-1a-NIL than the Ppd-1b-NIL plants, suggesting that the Ppd-1b allele down-regulates TaHd1 under short day conditions. The present study indicates that down-regulation of VRN3/WFT together with TaHd1 is the cause of late flowering in the Ppd-1b-NIL plants under short day conditions.

Efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy as an adjuvant in periodontal treatment in Down syndrome patients.

PubMed

Martins, Fabiana; Simões, Alyne; Oliveira, Marcio; Luiz, Ana Claudia; Gallottini, Marina; Pannuti, Claudio

2016-12-01

Down syndrome (DS) has characteristics that include mental retardation, a characteristic phenotype, congenital heart defects, immune disorders, and increased risk of periodontal disease (PD). Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is the combined use of photosensitizers associated with low-level laser (LLL) and oxygen, leading to singlet oxygen formation, which contributes to the antibacterial activity of the phagocytes, killing bacteria. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of aPDT as an adjuvant to conventional periodontal treatment of PD in DS patients. A double-blinded, controlled, randomized, split-mouth study was conducted. A total of 13 DS subjects who were 18 years or older and who presented at least one tooth in each quadrant of the mouth with probing pocket depth (PPD) equal to or greater than 5 mm were included. The patients were evaluated at three different times: at the baseline, PPD were obtained. After 1 week, conventional scaling and root planing (SRP) was performed, and two randomly selected quadrants also received aPDT. One month after SRP, all the patients were reevaluated. Periodontal conditions were improved among all the participants. The PDT-with-SRP group presented a nonsignificant reduction in PPD (mean = 1.27 mm, median = 1.17 mm) relative to that of the SRP group (mean = 1.00 mm, median = 0.95 mm). Changes over time were compared using the Wilcoxon test. A significant reduction in median PPD was observed in both groups (p = 0.001). Both types of periodontal treatment, with and without PDT, were similarly effective and were associated with good clinical response.

Identification of new antigen candidates for the early diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in goats.

PubMed

Souriau, Armel; Freret, Sandrine; Foret, Benjamin; Willemsen, Peter T J; Bakker, Douwe; Guilloteau, Laurence A

2017-12-01

Currently Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection is diagnosed through indirect tests based on the immune response induced by the infection. The antigens commonly used in IFN-γ release assays (IGRA) are purified protein derivative tuberculins (PPD). However, PPDs, lack both specificity (Sp) and sensitivity (Se) in the early phase of infection. This study investigated the potential of 16 MAP recombinant proteins and five lipids to elicit the release of IFN-γ in goats from herds with or without a history of paratuberculosis. Ten recombinant proteins were selected as potential candidates for the detection of MAP infection in young goats. They were found to detect 25 to 75% of infected shedder (IS) and infected non-shedder (INS) kids younger than 10months of age. In comparison, PPD was shown to detect only 10% of INS and no IS kids. For seven antigens, Se (21-33%) and Sp (≥90%) of IGRA were shown to be comparable with PPD at 20months old. Only three antigens were suitable candidates to detect IS adult goats, although Se was lower than that obtained with PPD. In paratuberculosis-free herds, IGRA results were negative in 97% of indoor goats and 86% of outdoor goats using the 10 antigens. However, 22 to 44% of one-year-old outdoor goats were positive suggesting that they may be infected. In conclusion, this study showed that ten MAP recombinant proteins are potential candidates for early detection of MAP infected goats. Combining these antigens could form a possible set of MAP antigens to optimize the Se of caprine IGRA. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cellular Immune Response to Cytomegalovirus Infection After Renal Transplantation

PubMed Central

Linnemann, Calvin C.; Kauffman, Carol A.; First, M. Roy; Schiff, Gilbert M.; Phair, John P.

1978-01-01

A prospective study of 15 patients who received renal transplants defined the effect of renal transplantation on the cellular immune response to cytomegalovirus infection. Of 15 patients, 14 developed cytomegalovirus infection, usually in the first 2 months after transplantation, and all infections were accompanied by a normal humoral immune response. After the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy and transplantation, there was a general depression of lymphocyte transformation, as reflected in the response to phytohemagglutinin, accompanied by a specific defect in cellular immunity, as indicated by lymphocyte transformation to cytomegalovirus antigen. Eleven patients had cellular immunity to cytomegalovirus before transplantation, and all of these became negative in the first month after transplantation. In subsequent months, only 6 of the 14 study patients with cytomegalovirus infection developed specific cellular immune responses to cytomegalovirus. This occurred most often in patients who had severe febrile illnesses in association with infection. The specific cellular immune response which developed in the posttransplant period did not persist in three of the patients. This study demonstrates the dissociation of the humoral and cellular immune response to cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients and indicates the importance of the loss of cellular immunity in the appearance of infection. Previously infected patients lost their cell-mediated immunity and had reactivation infections despite the presence of serum antibody. PMID:215541

Heritable heading time variation in wheat lines with the same number of Ppd-B1 gene copies.

PubMed

Ivaničová, Zuzana; Valárik, Miroslav; Pánková, Kateřina; Trávníčková, Martina; Doležel, Jaroslav; Šafář, Jan; Milec, Zbyněk

2017-01-01

The ability of plants to identify an optimal flowering time is critical for ensuring the production of viable seeds. The main environmental factors that influence the flowering time include the ambient temperature and day length. In wheat, the ability to assess the day length is controlled by photoperiod (Ppd) genes. Due to its allohexaploid nature, bread wheat carries the following three Ppd-1 genes: Ppd-A1, Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1. While photoperiod (in)sensitivity controlled by Ppd-A1 and Ppd-D1 is mainly determined by sequence changes in the promoter region, the impact of the Ppd-B1 alleles on the heading time has been linked to changes in the copy numbers (and possibly their methylation status) and sequence changes in the promoter region. Here, we report that plants with the same number of Ppd-B1 copies may have different heading times. Differences were observed among F7 lines derived from crossing two spring hexaploid wheat varieties. Several lines carrying three copies of Ppd-B1 headed 16 days later than other plants in the population with the same number of gene copies. This effect was associated with changes in the gene expression level and methylation of the Ppd-B1 gene.

Heritable heading time variation in wheat lines with the same number of Ppd-B1 gene copies

PubMed Central

Ivaničová, Zuzana; Valárik, Miroslav; Pánková, Kateřina; Trávníčková, Martina; Doležel, Jaroslav; Šafář, Jan

2017-01-01

The ability of plants to identify an optimal flowering time is critical for ensuring the production of viable seeds. The main environmental factors that influence the flowering time include the ambient temperature and day length. In wheat, the ability to assess the day length is controlled by photoperiod (Ppd) genes. Due to its allohexaploid nature, bread wheat carries the following three Ppd-1 genes: Ppd-A1, Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1. While photoperiod (in)sensitivity controlled by Ppd-A1 and Ppd-D1 is mainly determined by sequence changes in the promoter region, the impact of the Ppd-B1 alleles on the heading time has been linked to changes in the copy numbers (and possibly their methylation status) and sequence changes in the promoter region. Here, we report that plants with the same number of Ppd-B1 copies may have different heading times. Differences were observed among F7 lines derived from crossing two spring hexaploid wheat varieties. Several lines carrying three copies of Ppd-B1 headed 16 days later than other plants in the population with the same number of gene copies. This effect was associated with changes in the gene expression level and methylation of the Ppd-B1 gene. PMID:28846721

The relationship between economic conditions and postpartum depression in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based study.

PubMed

Chang, Fung-Wei; Lee, Wen-Ying; Liu, Yueh-Ping; Yang, Jing-Jung; Chen, Shu-Pin; Cheng, Kuan-Chen; Lin, Yan-Cen; Ho, Te-Wei; Chiu, Feng-Hsiang; Hsu, Ren-Jun; Liu, Jui-Ming

2016-11-01

Understanding mothers' economic conditions and postpartum depression (PPD) is important for determining how they will take care of themselves and their infants during the postnatal period, especially for low-income families. This study examined the relationship between economic conditions and PPD to elucidate the effect of economic contraction on PPD. Our population-based nationwide study used 2000-2013 the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. A total of 1240 newly diagnosed PPD patients were recruited. We used the database of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics of Executive Yuan of Taiwan for national economic indicators. The correlation between economic indicators and PPD was examined. The PPD incidence was positively correlated with yearly unemployment rate, consumer price index, and gross domestic product. During the great recession of 2008-2009, PPD was positively correlated with inflation rate. Consumer price index had a positive correlation with PPD incidence per month when comparing PPD in 2010 with the economic indicators during the great recession. As this retrospective study evaluated macroeconomic indicators, it is unclear whether the macroeconomic indicators' effect on PPD totally reflects the effect of true personal economic status on PPD. There was a significant association between PPD and economic conditions. This study shows that mothers' familial environment plays an important role in the development of PPD. The impact of the worldwide economic downturn of the great recession on women is persistent. This useful finding may give health policy planners a hint of early discovering and dealing with PPD when worldwide economic downturn. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Economic and Health Predictors of National Postpartum Depression Prevalence: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-Regression of 291 Studies from 56 Countries.

PubMed

Hahn-Holbrook, Jennifer; Cornwell-Hinrichs, Taylor; Anaya, Itzel

2017-01-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) poses a major global public health challenge. PPD is the most common complication associated with childbirth and exerts harmful effects on children. Although hundreds of PPD studies have been published, we lack accurate global or national PPD prevalence estimates and have no clear account of why PPD appears to vary so dramatically between nations. Accordingly, we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the global and national prevalence of PPD and a meta-regression to identify economic, health, social, or policy factors associated with national PPD prevalence. We conducted a systematic review of all papers reporting PPD prevalence using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. PPD prevalence and methods were extracted from each study. Random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate global and national PPD prevalence. To test for country level predictors, we drew on data from UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank. Random effects meta-regression was used to test national predictors of PPD prevalence. 291 studies of 296284 women from 56 countries were identified. The global pooled prevalence of PPD was 17.7% (95% confidence interval: 16.6-18.8%), with significant heterogeneity across nations ( Q  = 16,823, p  = 0.000, I 2  = 98%), ranging from 3% (2-5%) in Singapore to 38% (35-41%) in Chile. Nations with significantly higher rates of income inequality ( R 2  = 41%), maternal mortality ( R 2  = 19%), infant mortality ( R 2  = 16%), or women of childbearing age working ≥40 h a week ( R 2  = 31%) have higher rates of PPD. Together, these factors explain 73% of the national variation in PPD prevalence. The global prevalence of PPD is greater than previously thought and varies dramatically by nation. Disparities in wealth inequality and maternal-child-health factors explain much of the national variation in PPD prevalence.

Allele frequencies in the VRN-A1, VRN-B1 and VRN-D1 vernalization response and PPD-B1 and PPD-D1 photoperiod sensitivity genes, and their effects on heading in a diverse set of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.).

PubMed

Kiss, Tibor; Balla, Krisztina; Veisz, Ottó; Láng, László; Bedő, Zoltán; Griffiths, Simon; Isaac, Peter; Karsai, Ildikó

2014-01-01

Heading of cereals is determined by complex genetic and environmental factors in which genes responsible for vernalization and photoperiod sensitivity play a decisive role. Our aim was to use diagnostic molecular markers to determine the main allele types in VRN - A1 , VRN - B1 , VRN - D1 , PPD - B1 and PPD - D1 in a worldwide wheat collection of 683 genotypes and to investigate the effect of these alleles on heading in the field. The dominant VRN - A1 , VRN - B1 and VRN - D1 alleles were present at a low frequency. The PPD - D1a photoperiod-insensitive allele was carried by 57 % of the cultivars and was most frequent in Asian and European cultivars. The PPD - B1 photoperiod-insensitive allele was carried by 22 % of the genotypes from Asia, America and Europe. Nine versions of the PPD - B1 -insensitive allele were identified based on gene copy number and intercopy structure. The allele compositions in PPD - D1 , PPD - B1 and VRN - D1 significantly influenced heading and together explained 37.5 % of the phenotypic variance. The role of gene model increased to 39.1 % when PPD - B1 intercopy structure was taken into account instead of overall PPD - B1 type (sensitive vs. insensitive). As a single component, PPD - D1 had the most important role (28.0 % of the phenotypic variance), followed by PPD - B1 (12.3 % for PPD - B1 _overall, and 15.1 % for PPD - B1 _intercopy) and VRN - D1 (2.2 %). Significant gene interactions were identified between the marker alleles within PPD - B1 and between VRN - D1 and the two PPD1 genes. The earliest heading genotypes were those with the photoperiod-insensitive allele in PPD - D1 and PPD - B1 , and with the spring allele for VRN - D1 and the winter alleles for VRN - A1 and VRN - B1 . This combination could only be detected in genotypes from Southern Europe and Asia. Late-heading genotypes had the sensitivity alleles for both PPD1 genes, regardless of the allelic composition of the VRN1 genes. There was a 10-day difference in heading between the earliest and latest groups under field conditions.

Inability of spleen cells from chancre-immune rabbits to confer immunity to challenge with Treponema pallidum.

PubMed Central

Baughn, R E; Musher, D M; Simmons, C B

1977-01-01

Although several lines of evidence suggest that cellular immune mechanisms play a role in controlling infection due to Treponema pallidum, recent studies have shown that induction of acquired cellular resistance by antigenically unrelated organisms fails to protect rabbits against syphilitic infection, thereby casting doubt on this hypothesis. In the present paper we describe attempts to transfer immunity to syphilis by using spleen cells from chancre-immune rabbits. Intravenous infusion of 2 X 10(8) spleen lymphocytes was capable of transferring acquired cellular resistance to Listeria and delayed hypersensitivity to tuberculin. However, in eight separate experiments using outbred or inbred rabbits, 2 X 10(8) spleen cells from syphilis-immune animals failed to confer resistance to T. pallidum whether by intravenous or intradermal challenge. Mixing immune lymphocytes with treponemes immediately before intradermal inoculation also failed to confer resistance. Despite the fact that syphilitic infection stimulates cellular immune mechanisms and induces acquired cellular resistance to antigenically unrelated organisms, cellular immunity may not play an important role in immunity to syphilis. PMID:143456

Indeterminate HIV-1 Western Blots: Etiology, Natural History and Psychological Reactions

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-24

All 6 seroconverters reported HIV risk behaviors , all had p24 bands prior to seroconversion, and 5 of the 6 seroconverted. within one month. HIV-1...tuberculosis or a positive skin test for TB (purified protein derivative or PPD), parity, immunization and transfusion history, past STDs, and risk behaviors ...He reported ongoing high-risk sexual behavior during the study period. Estimation of the sensitivity of the supplhmental HIIV-1 to-ts is not reliable

A mechanistic investigation into the irreversible protein binding and antigenicity of p-phenylenediamine.

PubMed

Jenkinson, Claire; Jenkins, Rosalind E; Maggs, James L; Kitteringham, Neil R; Aleksic, Maja; Park, B Kevin; Naisbitt, Dean J

2009-06-01

Exposure to the skin sensitizer p-phenylenediamine (PPD) is associated with allergic contact dermatitis; however, the ability of PPD to modify protein has not been fully investigated. The aims of this study were to characterize the reactions of PPD and the structurally related chemical 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinonediamine with model nucleophiles, a synthetic peptide (DS3) containing each of the naturally occurring amino acids and His-tagged glutathione-S-transferase pi (GSTP), and to explore the effect of dimethyl substitution on PPD-specific T-cell responses using lymphocytes from allergic patients. The reductive soft nucleophiles N-acetyl cysteine and glutathione prevented PPD self-conjugation reactions and Bandrowski's base formation, but no adducts were detected. N-Acetyl lysine, a hard nucleophile, did not alter the rate of PPD degradation or form PPD adducts. With PPD and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinonediamine, only cysteine was targeted in the DS3 peptide. PPD and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinonediamine were also found to selectively modify the reactive Cys 47 residue of GSTP, which has a pK(a) of 3.5-4.2 and therefore exists in a largely protonated form. Glutathione formed mixed disulfides with the DS3 peptide, reducing levels of PPD binding. Lymphocytes from PPD allergic patients proliferated in the presence of PPD but not with 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinonediamine. These results reveal that PPD and 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-benzoquinonediamine bind selectively to specific cysteine residues in peptides and proteins. Lymphocytes from PPD allergic patients were capable of discriminating between the different haptenic structures, suggesting that the hapten, but not the peptide moiety associated with MHC, is an important determinant for T-cell recognition.

Loss of sexual interest and premenstrual mood change in women with postpartum versus non-postpartum depression: A nationwide community sample of Korean adults.

PubMed

Kim, Kiwon; Hong, Jin Pyo; Cho, Maeng Je; Fava, Maurizio; Mischoulon, David; Lee, Dong-Woo; Heo, Jung-Yoon; Jeon, Hong Jin

2016-02-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a type of clinical depression that can affect women after childbirth. Few previous studies have explored the association of depressive and physical symptoms among women with PPD in a nationwide community study. A total of 18,807 adults, randomly selected, completed a face-to-face interview using the Korean version of Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) (response rate 80.2%). PPD was defined as a major depressive episode that began within 4 weeks after delivery. Of 679 female subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD), 14.0% (n=95) experienced PPD. Subjects with PPD were significantly more likely to have higher income, education, and reside in an urban area, compared to those with non-PPD. No significant differences were found in number of children. Multiple logistic regression revealed that the loss of sexual interest was the only symptom among 23 depressive symptoms that was significantly associated with depressive episodes among individuals with PPD (AOR=1.91, 95% CI 1.01-3.60) when compared with non-PPD. Loss of sexual interest was also significantly associated with the subjects with lifetime PPD regardless of depressive episode (AOR=1.93, 95% CI 1.12-3.31). Conversely, loss of confidence and loss of pleasure were less frequent in subjects with PPD. Premenstrual mood change (χ(2)=5.57, p=0.0036) and comorbid alcohol use disorder (χ(2)=5.11, p=0.031) showed a valid association with PPD. Loss of sexual interest and premenstrual mood change were associated with women with PPD, whereas those with non-PPD were not, thereby suggesting the possible link between sexual hormones and PPD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Surprisingly high specificity of the PPD skin test for M. tuberculosis infection from recent exposure in The Gambia.

PubMed

Hill, Philip C; Brookes, Roger H; Fox, Annette; Jackson-Sillah, Dolly; Lugos, Moses D; Jeffries, David J; Donkor, Simon A; Adegbola, Richard A; McAdam, Keith P W J

2006-12-20

Options for intervention against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection are limited by the diagnostic tools available. The Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) skin test is thought to be non-specific, especially in tropical settings. We compared the PPD skin test with an ELISPOT test in The Gambia. Household contacts over six months of age of sputum smear positive TB cases and community controls were recruited. They underwent a PPD skin test and an ELISPOT test for the T cell response to PPD and ESAT-6/CFP10 antigens. Responsiveness to M. tuberculosis exposure was analysed according to sleeping proximity to an index case using logistic regression. 615 household contacts and 105 community controls were recruited. All three tests assessed increased significantly in positivity with increasing M. tuberculosis exposure, the PPD skin test most dramatically (OR 15.7; 95% CI 6.6-35.3). While the PPD skin test positivity continued to trend downwards in the community with increasing distance from a known case (61.9% to 14.3%), the PPD and ESAT-6/CFP-10 ELISPOT positivity did not. The PPD skin test was more in agreement with ESAT-6/CFP-10 ELISPOT (75%, p = 0.01) than the PPD ELISPOT (53%, p<0.0001). With increasing M. tuberculosis exposure, the proportion of ESAT-6/CFP-10 positive contacts who were PPD skin test positive increased (p<0.0001), and the proportion of ESAT-6/CFP-10 negative contacts that were PPD skin test negative decreased (p<0.0001); the converse did not occur. The PPD skin test has surprisingly high specificity for M. tuberculosis infection from recent exposure in The Gambia. In this setting, anti-tuberculous prophylaxis in PPD skin test positive individuals should be revisited.

Two sensitizing oxidation products of p-phenylenediamine patch tested in patients allergic to p-phenylenediamine.

PubMed

Young, Ewa; Zimerson, Erik; Bruze, Magnus; Svedman, Cecilia

2016-02-01

The results from a previous study indicated the presence of several possible sensitizers formed during oxidation of the potent sensitizer p-phenylenediamine (PPD) to which PPD-sensitized patients might react, in various patterns. To extract and analyse a yellow spot from a thin-layer chromatogram with oxidized PPD, to which 6 of 14 (43%) PPD-positive patients had reacted in a previous study, in order to identify potential sensitizer(s) and to patch test this/these substance(s) in the 14 PPD-positive patients. The yellow spot was extracted from a thin-layer chromatogram of oxidized PPD, and two substances, suspected to be allergens, were identified by analysis with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS). The 14 PPD-positive patients, who had been previously tested with the thin-layer chromatogram of oxidized PPD, participated in the investigation, and were tested with dilutions of the two substances. GCMS analysis identified 4-nitroaniline and 4,4'-azodianiline in the yellow spot. Of the 14 PPD-positive test patients, 5 (36%) reacted to 4-nitroaniline and 9 (64%) reacted to 4,4'-azodianiline. The results show that 4-nitroaniline and 4,4'-azodianiline, formed during oxidation of PPD, are potent sensitizers. PPD-sensitized patients react to a high extent to concentrations equimolar to PPD of 4-nitroaniline and 4,4'-azodianiline. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Perinatal nutrition interventions and post-partum depressive symptoms.

PubMed

Gould, Jacqueline F; Best, Karen; Makrides, Maria

2017-12-15

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most prevalent mood disorder associated with childbirth. No single cause of PPD has been identified, however the increased risk of nutritional deficiencies incurred through the high nutritional requirements of pregnancy may play a role in the pathology of depressive symptoms. Three nutritional interventions have drawn particular interest as possible non-invasive and cost-effective prevention and/or treatment strategies for PPD; omega-3 (n-3) long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), vitamin D and overall diet. We searched for meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials (RCT's) of nutritional interventions during the perinatal period with PPD as an outcome, and checked for any trials published subsequently to the meta-analyses. Fish oil: Eleven RCT's of prenatal fish oil supplementation RCT's show null and positive effects on PPD symptoms. Vitamin D: no relevant RCT's were identified, however seven observational studies of maternal vitamin D levels with PPD outcomes showed inconsistent associations. Diet: Two Australian RCT's with dietary advice interventions in pregnancy had a positive and null result on PPD. With the exception of fish oil, few RCT's with nutritional interventions during pregnancy assess PPD. Further research is needed to determine whether nutritional intervention strategies during pregnancy can protect against symptoms of PPD. Given the prevalence of PPD and ease of administering PPD measures, we recommend future prenatal nutritional RCT's include PPD as an outcome. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Tolerance to a Hair Dye Product Containing 2-Methoxymethyl-P-Phenylenediamine in an Ethnically Diverse Population of P-Phenylenediamine-Allergic Individuals.

PubMed

Zahir, Amir; Kindred, Chesahna; Blömeke, Brunhilde; Goebel, Carsten; Gaspari, Anthony A

Allergic contact dermatitis after exposure to p-phenylenediamine (PPD)-containing hair dye products is a common and important clinical problem. Because there is a high rate of cross-elicitation of allergic contact dermatitis to other important hair dye products (such as p-toluene diamine and other aminophenol hair dyes) in PPD-allergic patients, safer alternative dyes with excellent hair coloring options are needed. This study aimed to study tolerance to Me-PPD in a PPD-allergic cohort. Twenty ethnically diverse volunteers with a history of contact dermatitis to hair dyes or other PPD-containing chemicals and positive patch test results to 1% PPD in petrolatum were recruited to study their immediate and delayed skin reactivity to PPD, vehicle control, and 2-methoxy-methyl-PPD (Me-PPD) using the allergy alert test (simulating hair dyeing conditions) on volar forearm skin. This test is a short-contact open patch test. The Me-PPD may offer a safer alternative for PPD-allergic patients with an absent or reduced elicitation response in the allergy alert test simulating hair dye use conditions. The absent or reduced response to Me-PPD diagnosed using the allergy alert test has been shown to help reduce the possibility of moderate to severe cross-elicitation reactions among consumers during hair dyeing.

Variability and Reliability of Paired-Pulse Depression and Cortical Oscillation Induced by Median Nerve Stimulation.

PubMed

Onishi, Hideaki; Otsuru, Naofumi; Kojima, Sho; Miyaguchi, Shota; Saito, Kei; Inukai, Yasuto; Yamashiro, Koya; Sato, Daisuke; Tamaki, Hiroyuki; Shirozu, Hiroshi; Kameyama, Shigeki

2018-05-08

Paired-pulse depression (PPD) has been widely used to investigate the functional profiles of somatosensory cortical inhibition. However, PPD induced by somatosensory stimulation is variable, and the reasons for between- and within-subject PPD variability remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the factors influencing PPD variability induced by somatosensory stimulation. The study participants were 19 healthy volunteers. First, we investigated the relationship between the PPD ratio of each component (N20m, P35m, and P60m) of the somatosensory magnetic field, and the alpha, beta, and gamma band changes in power [event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event-related synchronization (ERS)] induced by median nerve stimulation. Second, because brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms reportedly influence the PPD ratio, we assessed whether BDNF genotype influences PPD ratio variability. Finally, we evaluated the test-retest reliability of PPD and the alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS induced by somatosensory stimulation. Significant positive correlations were observed between the P60m_PPD ratio and beta power change, and the P60m_PPD ratio was significantly smaller for the beta ERD group than for the beta ERS group. P35m_PPD was found to be robust and highly reproducible; however, P60m_PPD reproducibility was poor. In addition, the ICC values for alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS were 0.680, 0.760, and 0.552 respectively. These results suggest that the variability of PPD for the P60m deflection may be influenced by the ERD/ERS magnitude, which is induced by median nerve stimulation.

Identification of proteins from tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) by LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Borsuk, Sibele; Newcombe, Jane; Mendum, Tom A; Dellagostin, Odir A; McFadden, Johnjoe

2009-11-01

The tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) is a widely used diagnostic antigen for tuberculosis, however it is poorly defined. Most mycobacterial proteins are extensively denatured by the procedure employed in its preparation, which explains previous difficulties in identifying constituents from PPD to characterize their behaviour in B- and T-cell reactions. We here described a proteomics-based characterization of PPD from several different sources by LC-MS/MS, which combines the solute separation power of HPLC, with the detection power of a mass spectrometer. The technique is able to identify proteins from complex mixtures of peptide fragments. A total of 171 different proteins were identified among the four PPD samples (two bovine PPD and two avium PPD) from Brazil and UK. The majority of the proteins were cytoplasmic (77.9%) and involved in intermediary metabolism and respiration (24.25%) but there was a preponderance of proteins involved in lipid metabolism. We identified a group of 21 proteins that are present in both bovine PPD but were not detected in avium PPD preparation. In addition, four proteins found in bovine PPD are absent in Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine strain. This study provides a better understanding of the tuberculin PPD components leading to the identification of additional antigens useful as reagents for specific diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Optimizing nitrogen application rate and plant density for improving cotton yield and nitrogen use efficiency in the North China Plain

PubMed Central

Dong, Helin; Zheng, Cangsong; Sun, Miao; Liu, Aizhong; Wang, Guoping; Liu, Shaodong; Zhang, Siping; Chen, Jing; Li, Yabing; Pang, Chaoyou; Zhao, Xinhua

2017-01-01

Plant population density (PPD) and nitrogen (N) application rate (NAR) are two controllable factors in cotton production. We conducted field experiments to investigate the effects of PPD, NAR and their interaction (PPD × NAR) on yield, N uptake and N use efficiency (NUE) of cotton using a split-plot design in the North China Plain during 2013 and 2014. The main plots were PPDs (plants m−2) of 3.00 (low), 5.25 (medium) and 7.50 (high) and the subplots were NARs of 0 (N-free), 112.5 (low), 225.0 (moderate) and 337.5 (high). During both 2013 and 2014, biological yield and N uptake of cotton increased significantly, but harvesting index decreased significantly with NAR and PPD increasing. With NAR increasing, internal nitrogen use efficiency(NUE) decreased significantly under three PPDs and agronomical NUE, physiologilal NUE, nitrogen recovery efficiency(NRE) and partial factor productivity from applied nitrogen (PFPN) also decreased significantly under high PPD between two years. Lint yield increment varied during different PPDs and years, but NAR enhancement showed less function under higher PPD than lower PPD in general. Taken together, moderate NAR under medium PPD combined higher lint yield with higher agronomic NUE, physiological NUE, and NRE, while low NAR with high PPD would achieve a comparable yield with superior NRE and PFPN and high NAR under high PPD and medium PPD produced higher biological yield but lower harvest index, lint yield and NUE compared to moderate NAR with medium PPD. Our overall results indicated that, in this region, increasing PPD and decreasing NAR properly would enhance both lint yield and NUE of cotton. PMID:28981538

Parasitoid wasp venom SERCA regulates Drosophila calcium levels and inhibits cellular immunity.

PubMed

Mortimer, Nathan T; Goecks, Jeremy; Kacsoh, Balint Z; Mobley, James A; Bowersock, Gregory J; Taylor, James; Schlenke, Todd A

2013-06-04

Because parasite virulence factors target host immune responses, identification and functional characterization of these factors can provide insight into poorly understood host immune mechanisms. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a model system for understanding humoral innate immunity, but Drosophila cellular innate immune responses remain incompletely characterized. Fruit flies are regularly infected by parasitoid wasps in nature and, following infection, flies mount a cellular immune response culminating in the cellular encapsulation of the wasp egg. The mechanistic basis of this response is largely unknown, but wasps use a mixture of virulence proteins derived from the venom gland to suppress cellular encapsulation. To gain insight into the mechanisms underlying wasp virulence and fly cellular immunity, we used a joint transcriptomic/proteomic approach to identify venom genes from Ganaspis sp.1 (G1), a previously uncharacterized Drosophila parasitoid species, and found that G1 venom contains a highly abundant sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) pump. Accordingly, we found that fly immune cells termed plasmatocytes normally undergo a cytoplasmic calcium burst following infection, and that this calcium burst is required for activation of the cellular immune response. We further found that the plasmatocyte calcium burst is suppressed by G1 venom in a SERCA-dependent manner, leading to the failure of plasmatocytes to become activated and migrate toward G1 eggs. Finally, by genetically manipulating plasmatocyte calcium levels, we were able to alter fly immune success against G1 and other parasitoid species. Our characterization of parasitoid wasp venom proteins led us to identify plasmatocyte cytoplasmic calcium bursts as an important aspect of fly cellular immunity.

Glucose supplement reverses the fasting-induced suppression of cellular immunity in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

PubMed

Xu, De-Li; Wang, De-Hua

2011-10-01

Glucose plays an important role in immunity. Three day fasting will decrease cellular immunity and blood glucose levels in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that glucose supplement can reverse the fasting-induced suppression in cellular immunity in gerbils. Twenty-eight male gerbils were selected and randomly divided into fed and fasting groups. Half of the gerbils in each group were then provided with either 10% glucose water or pure water. After 66 h, each gerbil was injected with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) solution to challenge cellular immunity. Results showed that glucose supplement restored blood glucose levels in fasted gerbils to those of the fed controls. It also recovered cellular immunity, body fat mass and serum leptin levels in fasted gerbils to the values of the fed controls. Blood glucose levels were positively correlated with body fat mass, leptin levels and cellular immune responses. Thymus and spleen masses, and white blood cells in fasted gerbils were not affected by glucose supplement. In general, our data demonstrate that glucose supplement could reverse fasting-induced suppression of cellular immunity in Mongolian gerbils. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-A1a and its effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars.

PubMed

Seki, Masako; Chono, Makiko; Nishimura, Tsutomu; Sato, Mikako; Yoshimura, Yasuhiro; Matsunaka, Hitoshi; Fujita, Masaya; Oda, Shunsuke; Kubo, Katashi; Kiribuchi-Otobe, Chikako; Kojima, Hisayo; Nishida, Hidetaka; Kato, Kenji

2013-09-01

The Ppd-A1 genotype of 240 Japanese wheat cultivars and 40 foreign cultivars was determined using a PCR-based method. Among Japanese cultivars, only 12 cultivars, all of which were Hokkaido winter wheat, carried the Ppd-A1a allele, while this allele was not found in Hokkaido spring wheat cultivars or Tohoku-Kyushu cultivars. Cultivars with a photoperiod-insensitive allele headed 6.9-9.8 days earlier in Kanto and 2.5 days earlier in Hokkaido than photoperiod-sensitive cultivars. The lower effect of photoperiod-insensitive alleles observed in Hokkaido could be due to the longer day-length at the spike formation stage compared with that in Kanto. Pedigree analysis showed that 'Purple Straw' and 'Tohoku 118' were donors of Ppd-A1a and Ppd-D1a in Hokkaido wheat cultivars, respectively. Wheat cultivars recently developed in Hokkaido carry photoperiod-insensitive alleles at a high frequency. For efficient utilization of Ppd-1 alleles in the Hokkaido wheat-breeding program, the effect of Ppd-1 on growth pattern and grain yield should be investigated. Ppd-A1a may be useful as a unique gene source for fine tuning the heading time in the Tohoku-Kyushu region since the effect of Ppd-A1a on photoperiod insensitivity appears to differ from the effect of Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a.

[The differences of the effects of Vrd1 and Ppd-D1 gene alleles on winterhardiness, frost resistance, and yield in winter wheat].

PubMed

Mokanu, N V; Faĭt, V I

2008-01-01

The influence of allelic differences of Vrd1 and Ppd-D1 genes on winterhardiness, frost resistance, yield and its components was studied in recombinant-inbred F5 lines of Odesskaya 16/Bezostaya 1. From 9 to 15% differences in the resistance of recombinant-inbred lines were determined by alternative alleles of Vrd1 gene and 10-16% of Ppd-D1 gene. Interaction of vrd1 and Ppd-D1a alleles led to the higher winterhardiness and frost resistance of tillered plants during the winter. At the same time the significant increase of the period to heading, plant height and the tendency of yield reduction were revealed for vrd1 vrd1 Ppd-D1a Ppd-D1a lines when compared to the lines of Vrd1 Vrd1 Ppd-D1a Ppd-D1a genotype.

Mutant Alleles of Photoperiod-1 in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) That Confer a Late Flowering Phenotype in Long Days

PubMed Central

Shaw, Lindsay M.; Turner, Adrian S.; Herry, Laurence; Griffiths, Simon; Laurie, David A.

2013-01-01

Flowering time in wheat and barley is known to be modified by mutations in the Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) gene. Semi-dominant Ppd-1a mutations conferring an early flowering phenotype are well documented in wheat but gene sequencing has also identified candidate loss of function mutations for Ppd-A1 and Ppd-D1. By analogy to the recessive ppd-H1 mutation in barley, loss of function mutations in wheat are predicted to delay flowering under long day conditions. To test this experimentally, introgression lines were developed in the spring wheat variety ‘Paragon’. Plants lacking a Ppd-B1 gene were identified from a gamma irradiated ‘Paragon’ population. These were crossed with the other introgression lines to generate plants with candidate loss of function mutations on one, two or three genomes. Lines lacking Ppd-B1 flowered 10 to 15 days later than controls under long days. Candidate loss of function Ppd-A1 alleles delayed flowering by 1 to 5 days while candidate loss of function Ppd-D1 alleles did not affect flowering time. Loss of Ppd-A1 gave an enhanced effect, and loss of Ppd-D1 became detectable in lines where Ppd-B1 was absent, indicating effects may be buffered by functional Ppd-1 alleles on other genomes. Expression analysis revealed that delayed flowering was associated with reduced expression of the TaFT1 gene and increased expression of TaCO1. A survey of the GEDIFLUX wheat collection grown in the UK and North Western Europe between the 1940s and 1980s and the A.E. Watkins global collection of landraces from the 1920s and 1930s showed that the identified candidate loss of function mutations for Ppd-D1 were common and widespread, while the identified candidate Ppd-A1 loss of function mutation was rare in countries around the Mediterranean and in the Far East but was common in North Western Europe. This may reflect a possible benefit of the latter in northern locations. PMID:24244507

Inhibitory effects and mechanism of 25-OH-PPD on glomerular mesangial cell proliferation induced by high glucose.

PubMed

Yu, Junxian; Liu, Chunna; Li, Zhe; Zhang, Chao; Wang, Zheng; Liu, Xinyu

2016-06-01

To investigate the protective effects and potential mechanism of the compound 25-OH-PPD (PPD) on the glomerular mesangial cells (GMC) under high glucose condition. The hypertrophic GMC cells were established by DMEM containing glucose and randomly divided into five groups, including the normal control group (Control), the high glucose model group (HG, 25 mmolL(-1)), the PPD low dose group (1μmolL(-1), PPD-L), the PPD middle dose group (5μmolL(-1), PPD -M) and the PPD high dose group (10μmolL(-1), UCN-H). The GMC were incubated for 48h under different treatment factors. Total protein content was determined by Lowry method. The diameter of the single GMC and volume were measured by computer photograph analysis system. The GMC cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), the content of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured by ELISA. [Ca(2+)]і transient was measured by Till image system and by cell-loading Fura-2/AM. The expression of COX-1 and COX-2 were also determined using ELISA method. The viability of GMC and the total protein content were decreased in HG group, different dosage PPD group could increase these indexes (P<0.05). The level of MDA was increased, the content of GSH and SOD was decreased in HG group, while PPD could reduce the MDA and enhance GSH and SOD (P<0.05). Following treatment with different dosage (PPD-L, PPD-M or PPD-H), the [Ca(2+)]і transient was reduced (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Moreover, the expression of COX-1 was decreased while COX-2 expression was increased in different dosage PPD groups. The protective effects of PPD on GMC from HG-induced hypertrophy may be associated with the inhibition of [Ca(2+)]і transient and decreasing expression of COX-1 via the oxidative-stress injure pathway. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Web-based education for postpartum depression: conceptual development and impact.

PubMed

Wisner, Katherine L; Logsdon, M Cynthia; Shanahan, Brian R

2008-12-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major public health problem that occurs in one of every seven women in the first 3 months after birth. Left untreated, PPD can persist for months to years and lead to adverse consequences for both mother and child. Primary care providers have the most medical contact with postpartum women and are well positioned to screen for and identify PPD. However, PPD recognition and treatment is generally not included in physician training, and few continuing education programs on PPD are available. Developed with support from NIMH SBIR contract (# HHSN278200554096C), the Web site MedEdPPD was designed to provide professionals with the tools to successfully engage, screen, diagnose, treat, and refer women with PPD. Resources on the site include CME/CE modules; interactive case studies; classic papers and current literature; provider tools; a comprehensive slide library; events calendar; and resources. MedEdPPD also contains materials for women with PPD, their friends and family members. As of March 2008, the site had over 17,000 visitors who represented both consumers and a broad distribution of health care professional disciplines. The nine CME/CE learning modules on MedEdPPD have been particularly heavily utilized by nurses. The number of repeat and new visitors has increased steadily since the site's launch. User feedback has been consistently positive. Based upon theories of adult education, MedEdPPD offers diverse strategies to facilitate learning. The site promotes education and training in PPD treatment that is flexible, cost-effective, and meets the needs of health care professionals.

Para-phenylenediamine allergy: current perspectives on diagnosis and management

PubMed Central

Mukkanna, Krishna Sumanth; Stone, Natalie M; Ingram, John R

2017-01-01

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is the commonest and most well-known component of hair dyes. Oxidative hair dyes and dark henna temporary tattoos contain PPD. Individuals may be sensitized to PPD by temporary henna tattooing in addition to dyeing their hair. PPD allergy can cause severe reactions and may result in complications. In recent years, frequency of positive patch test reactions to PPD has been increasing. Cross-sensitization to other contact allergens may occur, in particular to other hair dye components. Hairdressers are at a high risk for PPD allergy and require counseling regarding techniques to minimize exposure and protective measures while handling hair dye. We focus this review on the current perspectives of diagnosis and management of PPD allergy. PMID:28176912

Relationships of Race and Socioeconomic Status to Postpartum Depressive Symptoms in Rural African American and Non-Hispanic White Women

PubMed Central

Dolbier, Christyn L.; Rush, Taylor E.; Sahadeo, Latoya S.; Shaffer, Michele L.; Thorp, John

2012-01-01

This study examines the potential racial disparity in postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms among a cohort of non-Hispanic white and African American women after taking into consideration the influence of socioeconomic status (SES). Participants (N = 299) were recruited from maternity clinics serving rural counties, with over-sampling of low SES and African Americans. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered 1 and 6 months postpartum, and subjective SES scale at 6 months postpartum. Demographic information was collected during enrollment and 1 month postpartum, with updates at 6 months postpartum. Separate logistic regressions were conducted for 1 and 6 month time points for minor-major PPD (EPDS ≥ 10) and major PPD (EPDS > 12); with marital status, poverty, education, subjective SES, and race predictors entered in block sequence. After including all other predictors, race was not a significant predictor of minor-major or major PPD at 1 or 6 months postpartum. Subjective SES was the most consistent predictor of PPD, being significantly associated with minor-major PPD and major PPD at 6 months postpartum, with higher subjective SES indicating lower odds of PPD, even after accounting for all other predictors. This study shows that significant racial disparities were not observed for minor-major or major PPD criteria at 1 or 6 months postpartum. The most consistent and significant predictor of PPD was subjective SES. Implications of these findings for future research, as well as PPD screening and intervention are discussed. PMID:22961387

[Pattern of serum cytokines in patients with rheumatoid artritis according to PPD reactivity].

PubMed

de León Pandolfi, Darío Ponce; Pastor Asurza, César; Beraun, Yasmina; Acevedo-Vásquez, Eduardo; Sánchez-Torres, Alfredo; Alfaro Lozano, José; Perich Campos, Risto; Cucho Venegas, Mariano; Gutiérrez Villafuerte, César; Sánchez Schwartz, César

2006-11-01

We demonstrated, in a recently published study, far more PPD negative reactivity among patients who had RA (70%) than among controls (30%). To evaluate the hypothesis that different response to PPD in RA patients is associated with different profiles of serum cytokines, we compared the serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF alpha and IFN gamma from PPD negative and PPD positive RA patients. We also evaluated any correlations between serum cytokines and RA activity. Forty RA patients and 21 controls were enrolled. Those with an induration < 5mm were considered as negative and those with ≥ 5mm as positive PPD. Disease activity was calculated using DAS28. Plasma levels of cytokines were determined using the multiplex BD TM Cytometric Bead Array Kit Assay. Of the RA patients, 27 (67.5%) had negative reaction to PPD and 13 (32.5%) a positive reaction to PPD. There was no statistical difference in sex profile, age or activity index between both negative and positive PPD RA patients. There was no significant difference in all the cytokines measured between PPD positive and PPD negative RA patients. Index activity show a positive correlation with IFN gamma (r = 0.433; p = 0.005) and IL-6 (r = 0.325; p = 0.041) in RA patients. Positive and negative tuberculin RA patients seem to show a similar cytokine serum profile. Copyright © 2006 Elsevier España S.L. Barcelona. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Distribution of photoperiod-insensitive allele Ppd-A1a and its effect on heading time in Japanese wheat cultivars

PubMed Central

Seki, Masako; Chono, Makiko; Nishimura, Tsutomu; Sato, Mikako; Yoshimura, Yasuhiro; Matsunaka, Hitoshi; Fujita, Masaya; Oda, Shunsuke; Kubo, Katashi; Kiribuchi-Otobe, Chikako; Kojima, Hisayo; Nishida, Hidetaka; Kato, Kenji

2013-01-01

The Ppd-A1 genotype of 240 Japanese wheat cultivars and 40 foreign cultivars was determined using a PCR-based method. Among Japanese cultivars, only 12 cultivars, all of which were Hokkaido winter wheat, carried the Ppd-A1a allele, while this allele was not found in Hokkaido spring wheat cultivars or Tohoku-Kyushu cultivars. Cultivars with a photoperiod-insensitive allele headed 6.9–9.8 days earlier in Kanto and 2.5 days earlier in Hokkaido than photoperiod-sensitive cultivars. The lower effect of photoperiod-insensitive alleles observed in Hokkaido could be due to the longer day-length at the spike formation stage compared with that in Kanto. Pedigree analysis showed that ‘Purple Straw’ and ‘Tohoku 118’ were donors of Ppd-A1a and Ppd-D1a in Hokkaido wheat cultivars, respectively. Wheat cultivars recently developed in Hokkaido carry photoperiod-insensitive alleles at a high frequency. For efficient utilization of Ppd-1 alleles in the Hokkaido wheat-breeding program, the effect of Ppd-1 on growth pattern and grain yield should be investigated. Ppd-A1a may be useful as a unique gene source for fine tuning the heading time in the Tohoku-Kyushu region since the effect of Ppd-A1a on photoperiod insensitivity appears to differ from the effect of Ppd-B1a and Ppd-D1a. PMID:24273426

Is there a risk of active sensitization to PPD by patch testing the general population?

PubMed

Thyssen, Jacob Pontoppidan; Menné, Torkil; Nielsen, Niels Henrik; Linneberg, Allan

2007-08-01

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a constituent of permanent hair dyes, may cause contact allergy in exposed individuals. It has previously been questioned whether a patch testing with PPD in population-based epidemiological studies is entirely safe. The Glostrup allergy studies patch tested the same cohort twice. In 1990, 567 persons were patch-tested and only one person had a (+) positive reaction to PPD. In 1998, 540 persons were re-invited to a new patch test and 365 (participation rate 68%) were re-tested. There were no positive reactions to PPD. These studies indicate that patch testing with PPD in individuals with no previous positive reactions to PPD or with only one previous positive reaction does not cause active sensitization and can be performed with minimal risk.

Preprodynorphin-expressing neurons constitute a large subgroup of somatostatin-expressing GABAergic interneurons in the mouse neocortex.

PubMed

Sohn, Jaerin; Hioki, Hiroyuki; Okamoto, Shinichiro; Kaneko, Takeshi

2014-05-01

Dynorphins, leumorphin, and neoendorphins are preprodynorphin (PPD)-derived peptides and ligands for κ-opioid receptors. Using an antibody to PPD C-terminal, we investigated the chemical and molecular characteristics of PPD-expressing neurons in mouse neocortex. PPD-immunopositive neuronal somata were distributed most frequently in layer 5 and less frequently in layers 2-4 and 6 throughout neocortical regions. Combined labeling of immunofluorescence and fluorescent mRNA signals revealed that almost all PPD-immunopositive neurons expressed glutamic acid decarboxylase but not vesicular glutamate transporter, indicating their γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic characteristics, and that PPD-immunopositive neurons accounted for 15% of GABAergic interneurons in the primary somatosensory area. As GABAergic interneurons were divided into several groups by specific markers, we further examined the chemical characteristics of PPD-expressing neurons by the double immunofluorescence labeling method. More than 95% of PPD-immunopositive neurons were also somatostatin (SOM)-immunopositive in the primary somatosensory, primary motor, orbitofrontal, and primary visual areas, but only 24% were SOM-immunopositive in the medial prefrontal cortex. In the primary somatosensory area, PPD-immunopositive neurons constituted 50%, 79%, 55%, and 17% of SOM-immunopositive neurons in layers 2-3, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Although SOM-expressing neurons contained calretinin-, neuropeptide Y-, nitric oxide synthase-, and reelin-expressing neurons as subgroups, only reelin immunoreactivity was detected in many PPD-immunopositive neurons. These results indicate that PPD-expressing neurons constitute a large subgroup of SOM-expressing cortical interneurons, and the PPD/SOM-expressing GABAergic neurons might serve not only as inhibitory elements in the local cortical circuit, but also as modulators for cortical neurons expressing κ-opioid and/or SOM receptors. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Crystallization-induced dynamic resolution R-epimer from 25-OCH3-PPD epimeric mixture.

PubMed

Zhang, Sainan; Tang, Yun; Cao, Jiaqing; Zhao, Chen; Zhao, Yuqing

2015-11-15

25-OCH3-PPD is a promising antitumor dammarane sapogenin isolated from the total saponin-hydrolyzed extract of Panax ginseng berry and Panax notoginseng leaves. 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD was more potent as an anti-cancer agent than 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD and epimeric mixture of 25-OCH3-PPD. This paper describes the rapid separation process of the R-epimer of 25-OCH3-PPD from its epimeric mixture by crystallization-induced dynamic resolution (CIDR). The optimized CIDR process was based on single factor analysis and nine well-planned orthogonal design experiments (OA9 matrix). A rapid and sensitive reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) was developed and validated for the quantitation of 25-OCH3-PPD epimeric mixture and crystalline product. Separation and quantitation were achieved with a silica column using a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water (87:13, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0mL/min. The ELSD detection was performed at 50°C and 3L/min. Under conditions involving 3mL of 95% ethanol, 8% HCl, and a hermetically sealed environment for 72h, the maximum production of 25(R)-OCH3-PPD was achieved with a chemical purity of 97% and a total yield of 87% through the CIDR process. The 25(R)-OCH3-PPD was nearly completely separated from the 220mg 25-OCH3-PPD epimeric mixture. Overall, a simple and steady small-batch purification process for the large-scale production of 25(R)-OCH3-PPD from 25-OCH3-PPD epimeric mixture was developed. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Postpartum depression and culture: Pesado Corazon.

PubMed

Callister, Lynn Clark; Beckstrand, Renea L; Corbett, Cheryl

2010-01-01

The purpose of this article is to describe what the literature has shown about postpartum depression (PPD) in culturally diverse women. The majority of qualitative studies done with women identified as having PPD have been conducted with Western women, with the second largest group focusing on Chinese women. This article reviews the qualitative studies in the literature and discusses how the management of PPD in technocentric and ethnokinship cultures differs. Social support has been shown to be significantly related to fewer symptoms of PPD, and culturally prescribed practices may or may not be cultural mediators in decreasing the incidence of PPD. Nurses should be sensitive to the varied ways in which culturally diverse women perceive, explain, and report symptoms of PPD. Exemplary interventions for culturally diverse women suffering from PPD are examined in this article as well, although it is clear that additional research is needed to develop models for culturally competent interventions for PPD in culturally diverse women and to document the outcomes of such interventions.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, paranoid personality disorder diagnosis: a unitary or a two-dimensional construct?

PubMed

Falkum, Erik; Pedersen, Geir; Karterud, Sigmund

2009-01-01

This article examines reliability and validity aspects of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) paranoid personality disorder (PPD) diagnosis. Patients with personality disorders (n = 930) from the Norwegian network of psychotherapeutic day hospitals, of which 114 had PPD, were included in the study. Frequency distribution, chi(2), correlations, reliability statistics, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analyses were performed. The distribution of PPD criteria revealed no distinct boundary between patients with and without PPD. Diagnostic category membership was obtained in 37 of 64 theoretically possible ways. The PPD criteria formed a separate factor in a principal component analysis, whereas a confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the DSM-IV PPD construct consists of 2 separate dimensions as follows: suspiciousness and hostility. The reliability of the unitary PPD scale was only 0.70, probably partly due to the apparent 2-dimensionality of the construct. Persistent unwarranted doubts about the loyalty of friends had the highest diagnostic efficiency, whereas unwarranted accusations of infidelity of partner had particularly poor indicator properties. The reliability and validity of the unitary PPD construct may be questioned. The 2-dimensional PPD model should be further explored.

Identification of Ppd-B1 alleles in common wheat cultivars by CAPS marker.

PubMed

Okoń, S; Kowalczyk, K; Miazga, D

2012-05-01

Photoperiod response is a major determinant of the duration of growth stages in common wheat. In common wheat, many genes play a role in determining flowering time, but the Ppd genes located on the homoeologous group 2 play a major role. Of these Ppd-B1 is located on the short arm of 2B. In 107 common wheat cultivars grown in Poland and neighboring countries, the identification of Ppd-B1 alleles using in-del analysis by using a CAPS markers was investigated. 87 cultivars were shown to carry dominant Ppd-B1 alleles. This shows that Ppd-B1 alleles is have been widely used in common wheat breeding programme in these countries. Recessive ppd-B1 alleles were found only in 20 cultivars (12 Polish, 5 former Soviet Union, 2 German, 1 Swedish).

Manipulating the antigen-specific immune response by the hydrophobicity of amphiphilic poly(γ-glutamic acid) nanoparticles.

PubMed

Shima, Fumiaki; Akagi, Takami; Uto, Tomofumi; Akashi, Mitsuru

2013-12-01

The new generation vaccines are safe but poorly immunogenic, and thus they require the use of adjuvants. However, conventional vaccine adjuvants fail to induce potent cellular immunity, and their toxicity and side-effects hinder the clinical use. Therefore, a vaccine adjuvant which is safe and can induce an antigen-specific cellular immunity-biased immune response is urgently required. In the development of nanoparticle-based vaccine adjuvants, the hydrophobicity is one of the most important factors. It could control the interaction between the encapsulated antigens and/or nanoparticles with immune cells. In this study, nanoparticles (NPs) composed of amphiphilic poly(γ-glutamic acid)-graft-L-phenylalanine ethyl ester (γ-PGA-Phe) with various grafting degrees of hydrophobic side chains were prepared to evaluate the effect of hydrophobicity of vaccine carriers on the antigen encapsulation behavior, cellular uptake, activation of dendritic cells (DCs), and induction of antigen-specific cellular immunity-biased immune responses. These NPs could efficiently encapsulate antigens, and the uptake amount of the encapsulated antigen by DCs was dependent on the hydrophobicity of γ-PGA-Phe NPs. Moreover, the activation potential of the DCs and the induction of antigen-specific cellular immunity were correlated with the hydrophobicity of γ-PGA-Phe NPs. By controlling the hydrophobicity of antigen-encapsulated γ-PGA-Phe NPs, the activation potential of DCs was able to manipulate about 5 to 30-hold than the conventional vaccine, and the cellular immunity was about 10 to 40-hold. These results suggest that the hydrophobicity of NPs is a key factor for changing the interaction between NPs and immune cells, and thus the induction of cellular immunity-biased immune response could be achieved by controlling the hydrophobicity of them. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Predictors of Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant Women in the Year After Childbirth.

PubMed

Ganann, Rebecca; Sword, Wendy; Thabane, Lehana; Newbold, Bruce; Black, Margaret

2016-02-01

Immigrant women are at increased risk for postpartum depression (PPD). The factors that influence PPD among immigrant women are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify individual- and community-level factors predictive of PPD among immigrant women living in a large Ontario city at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year postpartum. The study involved a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, The Ontario Mother and Infant Study 3. This study included 519 immigrant women who were recruited from two hospitals in one urban city and delivered full-term singleton infants. Women completed a written questionnaire in hospital, followed by structured telephone interviews at 6 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after hospital discharge. Generalized estimating equations were used to explore factors associated with PPD, measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and two thresholds for depression (≥12 and ≥9). Rates of PPD at all time points were 8%-10% for EPDS scores of ≥12. For EPDS scores of ≥9, rates of PPD more than doubled at all time points. A lack of social support was strongly associated with PPD in all analyses. Living in Canada for ≤2 years, poor perceptions of health, and lower mental health functioning were other important predictors of PPD. Living in communities with a high prevalence of immigrants and low income also was associated with PPD. Complex individual and community-level factors are associated with PPD in immigrant women. Understanding these contextual factors can inform a multifaceted approach to addressing PPD.

Prevalence of positive ppd in a cohort of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

PubMed

Tamborenea, Maria Natalia; Tate, Guillermo; Mysler, Eduardo; Debonis, Jose; Schijedman, Adrian

2010-03-01

The main objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of positive and anergic tuberculin skin test (ppd) in a rheumatoid arthritis cohort of patients (RA) and assess the association among ppd results and clinical and treatment variables. Patients with RA diagnosis were included. The ppd was done by Mantoux method. Positive result was considered when indurations were equal or greater than 5 mm. Anergic reaction was defined when the indurations was 0 mm. We included 105 patients (N = 105). The prevalence of positive ppd was 12.4% (n = 13), while the 87.6% (n = 92) presented a negative result. The 69.5% (n = 73) of the population were anergic to ppd. Patients with negative result received higher steroids dosages than patients with positive ppd (p < 0.04). In the multivariable model, the steroids dosage was a significant and independent predictor of negative ppd (p = 0.021, OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.55-0.95). Anergic and non-anergic patients were separated in groups, and a new analysis was done. The higher dosage of methotrexate was associated to tuberculine anergy (p = 0.025). In the multivariable model, the methotrexate dosage was a significant and independent predictor of tuberculine anergy (p = 0.005, OR 1.14, 95% CIs 1.04-1.24). In conclusion, in our cohort, the prevalence of positive ppd was lower than others studies. Among analyzed variables, the high steroid dose was a significant and independent predictor of negative ppd. The methotrexate treatment and dose were associated with ppd anergy.

Retrospective analysis on the impact of tuberculosis on patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

PubMed

Zhang, Chang-Ran; Niu, Yuan-Yuan; Lin, Jian-Cong; Wu, Wen-Hui; Li, Ming; Li, Jian-Feng

2013-01-01

Up to now, there have been few reports concerning changes in lupus activity and immune indices of tuberculosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). A retrospective investigation was given to survey the case data of SLE patients companied with tuberculosis that were treated in our hospital from 2001 to 2010 and compared with that of sex- and age-matched patients with single SLE. Changes in autoantibodies, lupus activity, inflammatory indices, positive rates of tuberculin (PPD) test and tuberculosis antibody (TB-Ab) of both groups were observed. It was indicated by results that ANA antibody level and positive rates of anti-Sm, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were significantly lower in the TB group than those in the control group (P < 0.05); C3 and C4 levels were significantly higher in the TB group than those in the control group; damage of hematological system (predominantly platelet) was less severe in the TB group than that in the control group (P < 0.05); no significant differences in IgG, IgM and IgA were noted between two groups (P > 0.05); ESR, C-reactive protein and LDH levels were significantly higher in the TB group than those in the control group (P < 0.05); PPD-IgG were significantly higher in the TB group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). These results suggested that after SLE patients were infected with tuberculosis, immune function was altered and lupus activity was inhibited as well.

The tuberculin skin test in school going adolescents in South India: associations of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics with TST positivity and non-response.

PubMed

Uppada, Dharma Rao; Selvam, Sumithra; Jesuraj, Nelson; Bennett, Sean; Verver, Suzanne; Grewal, Harleen M S; Vaz, Mario

2014-11-18

India has generally used 1 TU purified protein derivative (PPD) as opposed to 2 TU PPD globally, limiting comparisons. It is important to assess latent TB infection in adolescents given that they may be a target group for new post-exposure TB vaccines. The aim of this study is to describe the pattern and associations of tuberculin skin test (TST) responses (0.1 ml 2 TU) in adolescents in South India. 6643 school-going adolescents (11 to <18 years) underwent TST. Trained tuberculin reader made the reading visit between 48 and 96 hours after the skin test Of 6608 available TST results, 9% had 0 mm, and 12% ≥10 mm responses. The proportion of TST positive (≥10 mm) was higher among older children, boys, those with a history of TB contact and reported BCG immunization Those with no TST response (0 mm) included younger participants (<14 years), those whose mothers were illiterate and those with a recent history of weight loss. Those of a higher socio-economic status (houses with brick walls, LPG gas as cooking fuel) and those with a visible BCG scar were less likely to be non-responders. Proportion of non-responders was lower than elsewhere in the world. Proportion of TST positivity was higher in those already exposed to TB and in children who had been BCG immunized, with a zero response more likely in younger adolescents and those with recent weight loss.

[Psychomotor development in offspring of mothers with post partum depression].

PubMed

Podestá L, Loreto; Alarcón, Ana María; Muñoz, Sergio; Legüe C, Marcela; Bustos, Luis; Barría P, Mauricio

2013-04-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) has adverse effects on psychomotor development of the offspring. To evaluate the relationship between PPD and psychomotor development in children aged 18 months, consulting in primary care. Cross-sectional study with 360 infants and their mothers. Children had their psychomotor evaluation at l8 months and mothers completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 4 and 12 weeks postpartum. The prevalence of both PPD and psychomotor alteration was estimated. The association between PPD and psychomotor alteration, including confounding variables, was estimated through logistic multiple regression analysis. The prevalence of PPD and psychomotor alteration was 29 and 16%, respectively Mothers with PPD had twice the probability of having an offspring with psychomotor alteration (Odds ratio = 2.0, confidence intervals = 1.07-3.68). This probability was significantly higher among single mothers or those with an unstable partner. PPD has a detrimental impact on psychomotor development of children.

[THE SYSTEMIC IMMUNITY CELLULAR LINK REACTION IN PATIENTS WITH TRAUMATIC ILLNESS].

PubMed

Plehutsa, I M; Sydorchuk, R I; Plehutsa, O M

2015-01-01

The effect of trauma on parameters of cellular immunity changes is studied. The study includes 52 patients with various forms of traumatic illness, aged 18-69 years (37.91-4.28). The control group consisted of 16 patients who underwent routine surgery not related to the pathology of musculoskeletal system. All patients of the main group were divided into 3 groups according to severity of the condition. Analysis of parameters of cellular link of immune system was performed by defining subpopulations of T-lymphocytes in indirect immunofluorescence method using a panel of monoclonal antibodies for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD22 lymphocytes' receptors and calculation of integrated indicators. The highest expression (immune disorders of II-III grades) of changes of cellular immunity observed in patients with severe traumatic: illness (expand clinical picture). Surgical intervention, even without traumatic injury significantly impact cellular immunity, but in patients with traumatic illness immunity violation were significantly higher than in comparison groups patients except immunoregulatory index.

Short communication: Proteomic characterization of tuberculin purified protein derivative from Mycobacterium bovis.

PubMed

Cho, Yun Sang; Jang, Young-Boo; Lee, Sang-Eun; Cho, Je-Yoel; Ahn, Jung-Mo; Hwang, Inyeong; Heo, Eunjeong; Nam, Hyang-Mi; Cho, Donghee; Her, Moon; Jean, Young Hwa; Jung, Suk Chan; Kim, Jong Man; Lee, Hee Soo; Lee, Keechan; Belisle, John T

2015-08-01

Bovine tuberculin purified protein derivative (bPPD) is used as an intradermal test (IT) reagent to detect bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in most countries. Identification of bPPD proteins is critical to understanding the immunological reaction of IT at the molecular level. While bPPD from the United Kingdom (UK) and Brazil (BR) have been recently defined at the proteomic level, bPPD from the Republic of Korea (KR) has not yet been analyzed. Here, bPPD KR proteome was examined for the first time. In total, 271 proteins were identified, including Mycobacterium bovis-specific proteins Mb0854c and Mb2898, and 42 known T cell antigens. On comparing with proteomes of bPPD UK and BR, 33 proteins were found to be common among all three bPPDs, of which 15 proteins were T cell antigens. M. bovis-specific antigens with T cell activity in bPPD may be novel candidates for use as alternatives to currently available bPPD in diagnostics. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression in Tianhe District of Guangzhou].

PubMed

Deng, Aiwen; Jiang, Tingting; Luo, Yingping; Xiong, Ribo

2014-01-01

To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of postpartum depression (PPD) in Tianhe district of Guangzhou. A total of 1428 postpartum women in 3 hospitals in Tianhe District of Guangzhou were screened with Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) and a self-designed questionnaire of PPD-related factors during the period from May to September, 2013. The prevalence of PPD was 20.03% in these women. Unconditional logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation of PPD with education, delivery mode, only daughter, relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, newborn gender satisfaction and housing condition (P<0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified education, delivery mode, only daughter, relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and newborn gender satisfaction as the risk factors for PPD, and housing condition was negatively correlated with the incidence of PPD with an OR value of 0.900. Compared with healthy postpartum women, the patients with PPD exhibited significantly reduced total score of social support rating scale, score of objective support, score of subjective support, and social utilization degree. The prevalence of PPD is high in Tianhe District of Guangzhou, and health education and psychosocial intervention should be offered to prevent PPD.

Discovery, evaluation and distribution of haplotypes of the wheat Ppd-D1 gene.

PubMed

Guo, Zhiai; Song, Yanxia; Zhou, Ronghua; Ren, Zhenglong; Jia, Jizeng

2010-02-01

Ppd-D1 is one of the most potent genes affecting the photoperiod response of wheat (Triticum aestivum). Only two alleles, insensitive Ppd-D1a and sensitive Ppd-D1b, were known previously, and these did not adequately explain the broad adaptation of wheat to photoperiod variation. In this study, five diagnostic molecular markers were employed to identify Ppd-D1 haplotypes in 492 wheat varieties from diverse geographic locations and 55 accessions of Aegilops tauschii, the D genome donor species of wheat. Six Ppd-D1 haplotypes, designated I-VI, were identified. Types II, V and VI were considered to be more ancient and types I, III and IV were considered to be derived from type II. The transcript abundances of the Ppd-D1 haplotypes showed continuous variation, being highest for haplotype I, lowest for haplotype III, and correlating negatively with varietal differences in heading time. These haplotypes also significantly affected other agronomic traits. The distribution frequency of Ppd-D1 haplotypes showed partial correlations with both latitudes and altitudes of wheat cultivation regions. The evolution, expression and distribution of Ppd-D1 haplotypes were consistent evidentially with each other. What was regarded as a pair of alleles in the past can now be considered a series of alleles leading to continuous variation.

The effects of tungstate on skin lesions caused by PPD in rats.

PubMed

Lee, Sang-Hee; Cho, Hyun-Gug; Lee, Sang-Il

2008-04-01

P-phenylenediamine (PPD) has been used as one of the ingredients in hair dye. The purpose of this study is to investigate the skin toxicity of PPD application in a tungstate-induced xanthine oxidase (XO) deficient animal model. PPD (2.5% PPD in 2% NH4OH) was applied to rat skin (25 mg/16.5 cm2) five times every other day in rats fed a standard diet (SD) or a tungstate supplemented diet (TD). The skin structure in the SD and the TD group was intact, whereas XO activity was not detected in the TD group during experimental periods. Furthermore, there were no differences between the SD and the TD group in dermal reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging enzymes. In these experimental conditions, although XO activity was not detected in the applied PPD rats fed a tungstate supplemented diet (PTD) group, it showed more severe tissue damage compared with the applied PPD rats fed a standard diet (PSD) group. In addition, the PTD group showed higher increased rates of ROS scavenging enzyme activity and lipid peroxide (LPO) content, and decreased glutathione (GSH) content than in the PSD group. In conclusion, the increase of PPD dermal toxicity in tungstate-induced XO deficient animals may be due to excessive ROS via ROS imbalance during PPD skin application.

Isolation, structural determination, and evaluation of the biological activity of 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3beta, 12beta, 20-triol [20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD], a novel natural product from Panax notoginseng.

PubMed

Zhao, Y; Wang, W; Han, L; Rayburn, E R; Hill, D L; Wang, H; Zhang, R

2007-01-01

Ginseng has been used extensively for medicinal purposes, with suggested utility for indications as diverse as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Herein we report the discovery and characterization of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD, a ginsenoside that inhibits growth and survival of cancer cells. The novel dammarane triterpene sapogenin (C31H56O4; molecular weight 492) was isolated from the total hydrolyzed saponins extracted from the leaves of Panax notoginseng using conventional and reverse-phase silica gel chromatography. Based on physicochemical characteristics and NMR data, the compound was identified as 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD. The biological activities of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD and its known analogs, 20(S)-PPD and Rg3, were evaluated in 12 human cancer cell lines. In all cell lines, the order of cytotoxicity of the test compounds was 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD > 20(S)-PPD > Rg3. 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD also induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase, and inhibited proliferation in breast cancer cell lines, demonstrating its potent biological effects. In regard to cytotoxicity, the IC50 values of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD for most cell lines were in the lower microM range, a 5-15-fold greater cytotoxicity relative to 20(S)-PPD and a 10-100-fold increase over Rg3. These findings suggest a structure-activity relationship among dammarane-type sapogenins. The data presented here may provide a basis for the future development of 20(S)-25-OCH3-PPD as a novel anti-cancer agent.

Cyclophilin A as a potential genetic adjuvant to improve HIV-1 Gag DNA vaccine immunogenicity by eliciting broad and long-term Gag-specific cellular immunity in mice.

PubMed

Hou, Jue; Zhang, Qicheng; Liu, Zheng; Wang, Shuhui; Li, Dan; Liu, Chang; Liu, Ying; Shao, Yiming

2016-01-01

Previous research has shown that host Cyclophilin A (CyPA) can promote dendritic cell maturation and the subsequent innate immune response when incorporated into an HIV-1 Gag protein to circumvent the resistance of dendritic cells to HIV-1 infection. This led us to hypothesize that CyPA may improve HIV-1 Gag-specific vaccine immunogenicity via binding with Gag antigen. The adjuvant effect of CyPA was evaluated using a DNA vaccine with single or dual expression cassettes. Mouse studies indicated that CyPA specifically and markedly promoted HIV-1 Gag-specific cellular immunity but not an HIV-1 Env-specific cellular response. The Gag/CyPA dual expression cassettes stimulated a greater Gag-specific cellular immune response, than Gag immunization alone. Furthermore, CyPA induced a broad Gag-specific T cell response and strong cellular immunity that lasted up to 5 months. In addition, CyPA skewed to cellular rather than humoral immunity. To investigate the mechanisms of the adjuvant effect, site-directed mutagenesis in CyPA, including active site residues H54Q and F60A resulted in mutants that were co-expressed with Gag in dual cassettes. The immune response to this vaccine was analyzed in vivo. Interestingly, the wild type CyPA markedly increased Gag cellular immunity, but the H54Q and F60A mutants drastically reduced CyPA adjuvant activation. Therefore, we suggest that the adjuvant effect of CyPA was based on Gag-CyPA-specific interactions. Herein, we report that Cyclophilin A can augment HIV-1 Gag-specific cellular immunity as a genetic adjuvant in multiplex DNA immunization strategies, and that activity of this adjuvant is specific, broad, long-term, and based on Gag-CyPA interaction.

Postpartum depression is a family affair: addressing the impact on mothers, fathers, and children.

PubMed

Letourneau, Nicole Lyn; Dennis, Cindy-Lee; Benzies, Karen; Duffett-Leger, Linda; Stewart, Miriam; Tryphonopoulos, Panagiota D; Este, Dave; Watson, William

2012-07-01

The purpose of this paper is to present research on the effects of postpartum depression (PPD) on mothers, fathers, and children that point to a re-conceptualization of PPD as a mental health condition that affects the whole family. As such, the objectives of this paper are to discuss: (1) the incidence and effects of PPD on mothers and fathers; (2) common predictors of PPD in mothers and fathers, and (3) the effects of PPD on parenting and parent-child relationships, and (4) the effects of PPD on children's health, and their cognitive and social-emotional development. Finally, the implications for screening and intervention if depression is re-conceptualized as a condition of the family are discussed.

Expression and purification of pheophorbidase, an enzyme catalyzing the formation of pyropheophorbide during chlorophyll degradation: comparison with the native enzyme.

PubMed

Suzuki, Yasuyo; Soga, Keiko; Yoshimatsu, Katsuhiko; Shioi, Yuzo

2008-10-01

Formation of pyropheophorbide (PyroPheid) during chlorophyll metabolism in some higher plants has been shown to involve the enzyme pheophorbidase (PPD). This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of pheophorbide (Pheid) a to a precursor of PyroPheid, C-13(2)-carboxylPyroPheid a, by demethylation, and then the precursor is decarboxylated non-enzymatically to yield PyroPheid a. In this study, expression, purification, and biochemical characterization of recombinant PPD from radish (Raphanus sativus L.) were performed, and its properties were compared with those of highly purified native PPD. Recombinant PPD was produced using a glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion system. The PPD and GST genes were fused to a pGEX-2T vector and expressed in Escherichia coli under the control of a T7 promoter as a fusion protein. The recombinant PPD-GST was expressed as a 55 kDa protein as measured by SDS-PAGE and purified by single-step affinity chromatography through a GSTrap FF column. PPD-GST was purified to homogeneity with a yield of 0.42 mg L(-1) of culture. The protein purified by this method was confirmed to be PPD by measuring its activity. The purified PPD-GST fusion protein revealed potent catalytic activity for demethylation of the methoxycarbonyl group of Pheid a and showed a pH optimum, substrate specificity, and thermal stability quite similar to the native enzyme purified from radish, except for the Km values toward Pheid a: 95.5 microM for PPD-GST and about 15 microM for native PPDs.

The ginsenoside PPD exerts anti-endometriosis effects by suppressing estrogen receptor-mediated inhibition of endometrial stromal cell autophagy and NK cell cytotoxicity.

PubMed

Zhang, Bing; Zhou, Wen-Jie; Gu, Chun-Jie; Wu, Ke; Yang, Hui-Li; Mei, Jie; Yu, Jia-Jun; Hou, Xiao-Fan; Sun, Jian-Song; Xu, Feng-Yuan; Li, Da-Jin; Jin, Li-Ping; Li, Ming-Qing

2018-05-14

Endometriosis (EMS) is an estrogen-dependent gynecological disease with a low autophagy level of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (eESCs). Impaired NK cell cytotoxic activity is involved in the clearance obstruction of the ectopic endometrial tissue in the abdominopelvic cavity. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) are two metabolites of ginsenosides, which have profound biological functions, such as anti-cancer activities. However, the role and mechanism of ginsenosides and metabolites in endometriosis are completely unknown. Here, we found that the compounds PPD, PPT, ginsenoside-Rg3 (G-Rg3), ginsenoside-Rh2 (G-Rh2), and esculentoside A (EsA) led to significant decreases in the viability of eESCs, particularly PPD (IC50 = 30.64 µM). In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that PPD promoted the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) and downregulated the expression of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in eESCs. Treatment with PPD obviously induced the autophagy of eESCs and reversed the inhibitory effect of estrogen on eESC autophagy. In addition, eESCs pretreated with PPD enhanced the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in response to eESCs. PPD decreased the numbers and suppressed the growth of ectopic lesions in a mouse EMS model. These results suggest that PPD plays a role in anti-EMS activation, possibly by restricting estrogen-mediated autophagy regulation and enhancing the cytotoxicity of NK cells. This result provides a scientific basis for potential therapeutic strategies to treat EMS by PPD or further structural modification.

Evolution and dispersal of emmer wheat (Triticum sp.) from novel haplotypes of Ppd-1 (photoperiod response) genes and their surrounding DNA sequences.

PubMed

Takenaka, Shotaro; Kawahara, Taihachi

2012-09-01

The sequence data from 5' UTR, intronic, coding and 3' UTR regions of Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 were investigated for a total of 158 accessions of emmer wheat landraces comprising 19 of wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides), 45 of hulled emmer wheat (T. dicoccum) and 94 of free-threshing (FT) emmer wheat (T. durum etc.). We detected some novel types of deletions in the coding regions from 22 hulled emmer accessions and 20 FT emmer accessions. Emmer wheat accessions with these deletions could produce predicted proteins likely to lack function. We also observed some novel mutations in Ppd-B1. Sixty-seven and forty-one haplotypes were found in Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1, respectively. Some mutations found in this study have not been known, so they have potential for useful genetic resources for wheat breeding. On the basis of sequence data from the 5' UTR region, both Ppd-A1 and Ppd-B1 haplotypes were divided into two groups (Type AI/AII and Type BI/BII). Types AI and AII of Ppd-A1 suggested gene flow between wild and hulled emmer. On the other hand, Types BI and BII of Ppd-B1 suggested gene flow between wild and FT emmer. More than half of hulled emmer accessions were Type AII/BI but few FT emmer accessions were of this type. Therefore, over half of the hulled emmer did not contribute to evolution of FT emmer.

Bipolar II disorder as a risk factor for postpartum depression.

PubMed

Mandelli, Laura; Souery, Daniel; Bartova, Lucie; Kasper, Siegfried; Montgomery, Stuart; Zohar, Joseph; Mendlewicz, Julien; Serretti, Alessandro

2016-11-01

There is evidence for a bipolar diathesis in postpartum depression (PPD) and women presenting with a first PPD frequently receive a diagnosis of bipolar type II disorder (BD-II). However formal evidence for an association between BD-II and PPD has not yet been reported. In the present study we tested a potential association between BD-II and PPD. Parous women with a diagnosis of bipolar type I disorder (BD-I) (n=93), BD-II (n=36) or major depressive disorder (MDD) (n=444) were considered in the present study. All women were retrospectively evaluated for history of PPD (DSM-IV criteria) and other clinical and socio-demographic features. Women with a history of PDD (n=139, 24%) were younger, younger at illness onset and had more family history for BD compared to women without history of PPD (n=436, 75.9%). Half of BD-II women reported PPD (50%), compared to less than one-third of BD-I and MDD women (respectively 27.5% and 21.6%) (p=0.004). Limitations include the retrospective assessment of PPD and no available data about the timing of postpartum episodes, illness onset or psychiatric care before or after childbirth, and the number of postpartum episodes. BD-II may confer a remarkable risk for PPD, which may be even higher than that of women affected by BD-I disorder. Careful monitoring of BD-II women during the pregnancy and postpartum period, as well as assessment of bipolar features in women with a PPD without a current diagnosis of BD are recommended. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Depression and suicidality during the postpartum period after first time deliveries, active component service women and dependent spouses, U.S. Armed Forces, 2007-2012.

PubMed

Do, Tai; Hu, Zheng; Otto, Jean; Rohrbeck, Patricia

2013-09-01

Although suicide is a leading cause of death among new mothers during the postpartum period, there has been limited research on self-harm in the postpartum period and associated risk factors. One potential risk factor for suicidality (completed suicides, suicide attempts, and suicide ideation including thoughts of self harm) during the postpartum period is postpartum depression (PPD). In this study of women who gave birth for the first time between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2011, 5,267 (9.9% of all who delivered) active component service women and 10,301 (8.2%) dependent spouses received incident PPD diagnoses during the one year postpartum period; 213 (0.4%) service women and 221 (0.2%) dependent spouses were diagnosed with incident suicidality. After adjusting for the effects of other covariates, service women with PPD had 42.2 times the odds to be diagnosed with suicidality in the postpartum period compared to service women without PPD; dependent spouses with PPD had 14.5 times the odds compared to those without PPD. The findings of this report suggest that a history of mental disorders was common among service women and dependent spouses with PPD in the postpartum period, and, in turn, PPD was a strong predictor for suicidality in the postpartum period. These results emphasize the importance of PPD screening during the postpartum period. They also suggest that additional focused screening for suicidal behavior among those already diagnosed with PPD may be warranted.

The protective effect of 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) against chronic sleep deprivation (CSD)-induced memory impairments in mice.

PubMed

Lu, Cong; Lv, Jingwei; Dong, Liming; Jiang, Ning; Wang, Yan; Fan, Bei; Wang, Fengzhong; Liu, Xinmin

2018-03-01

Sleep deprivation (SD) is associated with oxidative stress that causes learning and memory impairment. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), one of the protopanaxadiol-type saponins, has antioxidant and neuroprotective effect. This study was designed to research the protective effect of PPD against cognitive deficits induced by chronic sleep deprivation (CSD) in mice. The CSD model was induced by subjecting the mice to our self-made Sleep Interruption Apparatus (SIA) continuously for 14 days. The memory enhancing effects of PPD were evaluated by behavioral tests and the related mechanism was further explored by observing the oxidative stress changes in the cortex and hippocampus of mice. The results revealed that PPD (20 and 40 μmol/kg, i.p.) administration significantly improved the cognitive performance of CSD model mice in object location recognition experiment, novel object recognition task and Morris water maze test. Furthermore, PPD effectively restored the levels/activities of antioxidant defense biomarkers in the cortex and hippocampus, including the superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity, catalase (CAT) enzyme activity, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). In conclusion, PPD could attenuate cognitive deficits induced by CSD, and the neuroprotective effect of PPD might be mediated by alleviation of oxidative stress. It was assumed that PPD has the potential to be a neuroprotective substance for cognition dysfunction. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Immunological tools for the assessment of both humoral and cellular immune responses in Foxes (Vulpes vulpes) using ovalbumin and cholera toxin B as an antigenic model.

PubMed

Rolland-Turner, Magali; Farre, Guillaume; Muller, Delphine; Rouet, Nelly; Boue, Franck

2004-10-22

The immune response in the fox (Vulpes vulpes), despite the success of the oral rabies vaccine is not well characterized, and specific immunological tools are needed. To investigate both the humoral and cellular immune response, we used ovalbumin (OVA) and cholera toxin B (CTB) as an antigenic model to set-up ELISA and ELISPOT antibodies secreting cells (ASC) assays in the fox model. Identification of antibodies that cross-react with fox immunoglobulin was performed by Western blot, and their use was adapted for both the ELISA and ELISPOT ASC assay. The humoral and cellular specific immune responses were assessed after intra-muscular or intra-nasal immunization. Intra-muscular immunization resulted in the development of both cellular and humoral anti-OVA and anti-CTB responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Immunization via the intra-nasal route resulted in the development of a cellular and humoral response against CTB in PBMCs. This immune response was confirmed using splenocytes from immunized animals by ELISPOT assay at euthanasia. Females immunized via the intra-nasal route developed specific anti-CTB IgM, IgA and IgG in vaginal fluids after the initial boost (day 26) showing that mucosal immunization produces a vaginal immune response in foxes. These immunological tools developed here are now available to be adapted to other antigenic models to facilitate further immune studies in foxes.

Cross-reactions among hair dye allergens.

PubMed

Basketter, David A; English, John

2009-01-01

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is an important hair dye allergen, but there remains a reasonable suspicion that other hair dye chemicals may also be responsible for a proportion of the clinical burden of hair dye allergy. To assess to what extent presently assessed additional patch test agents contribute to the diagnosis of non-PPD hair dye allergy. A retrospective analysis was conducted of patch test results with hair dye allergens, focusing on the extent to which patients who were positive for allergic reactions to other hair dye allergens also had a concomitant positive reaction to PPD. For the hair dye allergens other than p-toluenediamine (PTD), reactions in the absence of a concomitant positive reaction to PPD were very rare. Positive reactors to PTD were also positive for reactions to PPD in 5 of every 6 cases. Pyrogallol positives often occurred in the absence of a PPD positive, but were never judged to be of clinical relevance. Hair dye chemicals other than PPD may be of importance, but the presently tested materials, with the possible exception of PTD, are normally positive only when a PPD-positive reaction is also present, suggesting that their use in patch testing in hair dye allergy is likely to be of limited value.

Conjoint IPT for postpartum depression: literature review and overview of a treatment manual.

PubMed

Carter, Wendy; Grigoriadis, Sophie; Ravitz, Paula; Ross, Lori E

2010-01-01

Distress about the quality of a woman's relationship with her partner has consistently emerged as a risk factor for Postpartum Depression (PPD). In addition to having an increased likelihood of developing PPD, women who are distressed about their relationships, experience more severe depressive symptoms of greater duration, and are more vulnerable to the development of mental health problems. The emotional well-being of partners of depressed mothers is also affected, signalling the need for interventions that incorporate the woman as well as her partner. Few interventions have been designed for women simultaneously experiencing PPD and relationship distress in a conjoint format. This article describes a newly developed Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) conjoint approach to treating PPD in the context of relationship distress. The existing literature on PPD is reviewed, as well as relationship distress and psychotherapy interventions for PPD with couples. This is followed by a description of an IPT conjoint approach to treating PPD with relationship distress.

Preparation, Purification, and Stability of Tuberculin

PubMed Central

Landi, S.

1963-01-01

The method used to produce “Connaught” tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) is described. The tuberculin PPD for the multiple-puncture method was shown to be stable for at least 24 months at 5 C; tuberculin PPD for the intracutaneous method was shown to be stable at 5 C and 24 C for a period of 18 months in the presence of Tween 80. Evans blue or brillant vital red was added to tuberculin PPD for improved testing by the multiple-puncture method. These tinted tuberculin preparations were found to be as stable as the Connaught tuberculin PPD preparations without dye at 5 C. Freeze-dried tuberculin PPD with Plasdone as an inert base was found to be remarkably stable for a period of at least 24 months at 5, 24, and 37 C. PMID:14063782

Genetically defined race, but not sex, is associated with higher humoral and cellular immune responses to measles vaccination

PubMed Central

Voigt, Emily A.; Ovsyannikova, Inna G.; Haralambieva, Iana H.; Kennedy, Richard B.; Larrabee, Beth R.; Schaid, Daniel J.; Poland, Gregory A.

2017-01-01

In addition to host genetic and environmental factors, variations in immune responses to vaccination are influenced by demographic variables, such as race and sex. The influence of genetic race and sex on measles vaccine responses is not well understood, yet important for the development of much-needed improved measles vaccines with lower failure rates. We assessed associations between genetically defined race and sex with measles humoral and cellular immunity after measles vaccination in three independent and geographically distinct cohorts totaling 2,872 healthy racially diverse children, older adolescents, and young adults. We found no associations between biological sex and either humoral or cellular immunity to measles vaccine, and no correlation between humoral and cellular immunity in these study subjects. Genetically defined race was, however, significantly associated with both measles vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immune responses, with subjects genetically classified as having African-American ancestry demonstrating significantly higher antibody and cell-mediated immune responses relative to subjects of Caucasian ancestry. This information may be useful in designing novel measles vaccines that are optimally effective across human genetic backgrounds. PMID:27591105

Exploring paradigms in postpartum depression research: the need for feminist pragmatism.

PubMed

Mollard, Elizabeth

2015-01-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is an important area of women's health research internationally and across disciplines. There is no guiding paradigm, however, to ensure that PPD research results translate to women on a global level. This commentary builds on the work of Doucet, Letourneau, and Stoppard ( 2010 ) to determine a "best fit" paradigm with which to guide PPD research. Postpositivism, critical theory, constructivism, and pragmatism are combined with a feminist ideology and critiqued as potential guiding paradigms for PPD research. After thorough examination, I conclude the need for further use of a feminist pragmatist paradigm in PPD research.

7 CFR 371.9 - Policy and Program Development.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... and Program Development. (a) General statement. Policy and Program Development (PPD) provides analytical support for agency decisions and plans. (b) Director of PPD. The Director of PPD is responsible...

Adoptive cellular therapy of cancer: exploring innate and adaptive cellular crosstalk to improve anti-tumor efficacy.

PubMed

Payne, Kyle K; Bear, Harry D; Manjili, Masoud H

2014-08-01

The mammalian immune system has evolved to produce multi-tiered responses consisting of both innate and adaptive immune cells collaborating to elicit a functional response to a pathogen or neoplasm. Immune cells possess a shared ancestry, suggestive of a degree of coevolution that has resulted in optimal functionality as an orchestrated and highly collaborative unit. Therefore, the development of therapeutic modalities that harness the immune system should consider the crosstalk between cells of the innate and adaptive immune systems in order to elicit the most effective response. In this review, the authors will discuss the success achieved using adoptive cellular therapy in the treatment of cancer, recent trends that focus on purified T cells, T cells with genetically modified T-cell receptors and T cells modified to express chimeric antigen receptors, as well as the use of unfractionated immune cell reprogramming to achieve optimal cellular crosstalk upon infusion for adoptive cellular therapy.

Effects of sodium fluoride on blood cellular and humoral immunity in mice.

PubMed

Guo, Hongrui; Kuang, Ping; Luo, Qin; Cui, Hengmin; Deng, Huidan; Liu, Huan; Lu, Yujiao; Fang, Jing; Zuo, Zhicai; Deng, Junliang; Li, Yinglun; Wang, Xun; Zhao, Ling

2017-10-17

Exposure to high fluorine can cause toxicity in human and animals. Currently, there are no systematic studies on effects of high fluorine on blood cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mice. We evaluated the alterations of blood cellular immunity and humoral immunity in mice by using flow cytometry and ELISA. In the cellular immunity, we found that sodium fluoride (NaF) in excess of 12 mg/Kg resulted in a significant decrease in the percentages of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Meanwhile, serum T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines including interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and Th2 cytokines including IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and Th17 cytokine (IL-17A) contents were decreased. In the humoral immunity, NaF reduced the peripheral blood percentages of CD19 + B lymphocytes and serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM). The above results show that NaF can reduce blood cellular and humoral immune function in mice, providing an excellent animal model for clinical studies on immunotoxicity-related fluorosis.

Driving mechanisms of passive and active transport across cellular membranes as the mechanisms of cell metabolism and development as well as the mechanisms of cellular distance reactions on hormonal expression and the immune response.

PubMed

Ponisovskiy, M R

2011-01-01

The article presents mechanisms of cell metabolism, cell development, cell activity, and maintenance of cellular stability. The literature is reviewed from the point of view of these concepts. The balance between anabolic and catabolic processes induces chemical potentials in the extracellular and intracellular media. The chemical potentials of these media are defined as the driving forces of both passive and active transport of substances across cellular membranes. The driving forces of substance transport across cellular membranes as in cellular metabolism and in immune responses and hormonal expressions are considered in the biochemical and biophysical models, reflecting the mechanisms for maintenance of stability of the internal medium and internal energy of an organism. The interactions of passive transport and active transport of substances across cellular walls promote cell proliferation, as well as the mechanism of cellular capacitors, promoting remote reactions across distance for hormonal expression and immune responses. The offered concept of cellular capacitors has given the possibility to explain the mechanism of remote responses of cells to new situations, resulting in the appearance of additional agents. The biophysical model develops an explanation of some cellular functions: cellular membrane action have been identified with capacitor action, based on the similarity of the structures and as well as on similarity of biophysical properties of electric data that confirm the action of the compound-specific interactions of cells within an organism, promoting hormonal expressions and immune responses to stabilize the thermodynamic system of an organism. Comparison of a cellular membrane action to a capacitor has given the possibility for the explanations of exocytosis and endocytosis mechanisms, internalization of the receptor-ligand complex, selection as a receptor reaction to a ligand by immune responses or hormonal effects, reflecting cellular distance reactions on the hormonal expressions, immune responses, and specificity of the mechanisms of immune reactions. Reviewing current research of cell activity, explanations are presented of mechanisms of apoptosis, autophagy, hormonal expression, and immune responses from the point of view of described cellular mechanisms. Thermodynamic laws are used to confirm the importance of the actions of these mechanisms for maintenance of stability of the internal medium and internal energy of an organism.

The level of PPD-specific IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells in the blood predicts the in vivo response to PPD.

PubMed

Martins, Marcia Valéria B S; Lima, Mônica Cristina B S; Duppre, Nadia C; Matos, Haroldo J; Spencer, John S; Brennan, Patrick J; Sarno, Euzenir N; Fonseca, Leila; Pereira, Geraldo M B; Pessolani, Maria Cristina V

2007-05-01

There are no reliable means for detecting subclinical mycobacterial infections. The recent sequencing of several mycobacterial genomes has now afforded new opportunities for the development of pathogen-specific diagnostic tests, critical in the context of leprosy and tuberculosis control. In the present study, we applied a multi-parametric flow cytometric analysis that allowed the investigation of T-cell functions in order to define immunological markers that measure previous exposure to mycobacteria. We compared the in vivo response to PPD, the gold standard skin test reagent for measuring previous exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with in vitro parameters of leukocyte activation in five PPD positive and five PPD negative healthy volunteers. PPD-stimulated peripheral leukocytes expressing CD4, CD69, cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA) and intracellular IFN-gamma were enumerated in whole blood and compared with the size of in vivo PPD-induced induration and IFN-gamma production levels as measured by ELISA in supernatants of PPD-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The reactivity to the tuberculin skin test (TST) was associated with markedly increased frequencies of PPD-responsive activated (CD69+) and IFN-gamma-producing CD4+T cells. Detection of PPD-specific IFN-gamma producing leukocytes was restricted to CD4+T cells and a subset of these cells was shown to express the skin homing molecule CLA. Multiple linear regression modeling of responses to PPD showed the highest association between skin test indurations and frequencies of PPD-responsive IFN-gamma-producing CD4+CD69+ T cells. Our data show that the in vitro enumeration of antigen-specific IFN-gamma-producing CD4+ T cells can provide an alternative to the in vivo tuberculin test for the detection of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Moreover, the measurement of these immunological parameters can be useful for the screening of new specific antigens defined by the genome sequence allowing selection of the best candidates for new diagnostics (including new skin tests), and vaccines for leprosy and tuberculosis.

Temporary Black Henna Tattoos and Sensitization to para-Phenylenediamine (PPD): Two Paediatric Case Reports and a Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Panfili, Elisa; Esposito, Susanna; Di Cara, Giuseppe

2017-04-14

Background : The use of temporary henna tattoos has increased dramatically in recent years, especially in children and adolescents. To obtain a darker colour and prolong the life of the tattoo, red henna, a plant-derived substance, is typically added to para -phenylenediamine (PPD). The mixture is called temporary black henna tattoo (TBHT). Because of its molecular characteristics, PPD can induce skin sensitization that may cause various clinical manifestations with successive exposures, among which the most common is allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). This report describes two paediatric cases of PPD sensitization and ACD after the exposure to TBHT and summarizes the literature on this emerging clinical problem. Case Presentation : We describe two cases of childhood-onset ACD that occurred 2 and 10 days, respectively, after the application of a TBHT during the summer holidays. Patch tests showed an evident positive response to 1% PPD in both cases. Sensitization to PPD occurred in the first case because a previous henna tattoo did not result in overt symptoms; in the second case, the reaction occurred after the same tattoo was retouched. In both cases, hypopigmentation persisted and both the patients and their families were advised to avoid further contact with PPD-containing materials and substances that could lead to cross-reactions. Conclusions : Sensitization to PPD is a growing phenomenon in children. The most common cause appears to be exposure to TBHT in which PPD might be present at unknown or high concentrations. Once sensitization occurs, patients may experience severe clinical symptoms which can present with a persistent hypopigmentation when they are re-exposed to substances that contain or cross-react with PPD. Given the widespread use of PPD, TBHT could adversely affect the daily life of paediatric patients; thus, for this reason, this practice as a fashion accessory must be discouraged. In addition, it is extremely important to provide scientific information on the risks of TBHT to consumers, especially to adolescents and to the parents of younger children to prevent PPD sensitization.

Racial and ethnic differences in the relationship between antenatal stressful life events and postpartum depression among women in the United States: does provider communication on perinatal depression minimize the risk?

PubMed

Mukherjee, Soumyadeep; Fennie, Kristopher; Coxe, Stefany; Madhivanan, Purnima; Trepka, Mary Jo

2018-07-01

Multi-state population-based studies exploring the racial/ethnic differences in the prevalence and correlates of postpartum depression (PPD), which affects 10-20% of women in the US, are rare. The aim of this study was to examine the racial/ethnic disparities in the relationship between antenatal stressful life events and PPD among US women and to explore whether antenatal health care provider communication on perinatal depression was associated with a lower risk. Data from the 2009-2011 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) were used. For each racial/ethnic group, the distribution of PPD was compared according to different levels of the stressors and socio-demographic, pre-pregnancy, antenatal, delivery, and neonatal characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed with PPD as the outcome and all variables that were significant in bivariate analyses as predictors. Eleven percent of 87,565 women met the criteria for PPD with the prevalence ranging from 7.9% among Asian/Pacific Islanders to 14% among American Indian/Alaska Natives. Irrespective of race/ethnicity, having many bills to pay and having more than usual arguments with husband/partner were risk factors for PPD. Among non-Hispanic black (NHB) women, having a husband/partner who did not want the pregnancy was associated with PPD (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14, 1.90), and among non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), drug/drinking problems of someone close was associated with PPD (aOR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.55). Provider communication was inversely associated with PPD among NHWs (aOR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.85) and NHBs (aOR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.60, 0.93). The protective effect of provider communication on PPD suggests the benefit of a simple conversation about perinatal depression during antenatal care. Furthermore, risk factors for PPD varied by race/ethnicity suggesting that these vulnerabilities should be taken into consideration in identifying women at-risk for PPD.

Postpartum Depression Among Somali Women in Norway.

PubMed

Løvlie, Astrid Louise; Madar, Ahmed Ali

2017-06-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) has been described as the most common complication experienced postpartum, affecting about 10-15 % of all new mothers. Factors like a history of mental illness, and experienced recent adverse life events has been associated with an increased risk for developing PPD. Immigrant women in Western countries have been found to have a marked higher prevalence of PPD compared to the general population. In Norway the prevalence of PPD in the general population has been found to be around 8-10 %, and among Pakistani immigrants a rate of 7.6 % was found. Somali people in Norway are the second largest immigrant group in Norway with a non-Western background. No study on PPD and associated factors among Somali women has been found in the literature. The aim of the study was to assess PPD and associated factors among Somali women in greater Oslo region, Norway. A cross-sectional survey was conducted; recruiting new mothers through all maternity wards in the Oslo region. Data was collected with interview-administrated questionnaires. PPD was assessed using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), defining those scoring ≥10 to have a possible PPD. Of the 80 eligible women identified, 39 (49 %) consented to participate, and completed the study. Of the 39 respondents 3 (7.7 %) were assessed to have a possible PPD. Most important associated factors found were history of mental illness, having experienced technical assistance during delivery, self-rated health and experienced economical problems last 12 months. A low prevalence of PPD was found, and both the prevalence and its associated factors should be interpreted with caution. The associated factors do not have enough power to give any strength to the associations. However, some of the results can be used in develop new hypotheses with regard to PPD among Somali women as immigrants in a Western society.

20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) alleviates scopolamine-induced memory impairment via regulation of cholinergic and antioxidant systems, and expression of Egr-1, c-Fos and c-Jun in mice.

PubMed

Lu, Cong; Dong, Liming; Lv, Jingwei; Wang, Yan; Fan, Bei; Wang, Fengzhong; Liu, Xinmin

2018-01-05

20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) possesses various biological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antitumor and anti-fatigue properties. Recent studies found that PPD functioned as a neurotrophic agent to ameliorate the sensory deficit caused by glutamate-induced excitotoxicity through its antioxidant effects and exhibited strong antidepressant-like effects in vivo. The objective of the present study was first to investigate the effect of PPD in scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory deficit in mice and the potential mechanisms involved. In this study, mice were pretreated with PPD (20 and 40 μmol/kg) and donepezil (1.6 mg/kg) intraperitoneally (i.p) for 14 days. Then, open field test was used to assess the effect of PPD on the locomotor activity and mice were daily injected with SCOP (0.75 mg/kg) to induce cognitive deficits and then subjected to behavioral tests by object location recognition (OLR) experiment and Morris water maze (MWM) task. The cholinergic system function, oxidative stress biomarkers and protein expression of Egr-1, c-Fos, and c-Jun in mouse hippocampus were examined. PPD was found to significantly improve the performance of amnesia mice in OLR and MWM tests. PPD regulated cholinergic function by inhibiting SCOP-induced elevation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, decline of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and decrease of acetylcholine (Ach) level. PPD suppressed oxidative stress by increasing activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lowering maleic diadehyde (MDA) level. Additionally, PPD significantly elevated the expression of Egr-1, c-Fos, and c-Jun in hippocampus at protein level. Taken together, all these results suggested that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD) may be a candidate compound for the prevention against memory loss in some neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

ACTS data center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Syed, Ali; Vogel, Wolfhard J.

1993-01-01

Viewgraphs on ACTS Data Center status report are included. Topics covered include: ACTS Data Center Functions; data flow overview; PPD flow; RAW data flow; data compression; PPD distribution; RAW Data Archival; PPD Audit; and data analysis.

Refined nomogram incorporating standing cough test improves prediction of male transobturator sling success.

PubMed

Shakir, Nabeel A; Fuchs, Joceline S; McKibben, Maxim J; Viers, Boyd R; Pagliara, Travis J; Scott, Jeremy M; Morey, Allen F

2018-05-01

To develop a decision aid in predicting sling success, incorporating the Male Stress Incontinence Grading Scale (MSIGS) into existing treatment algorithms. We reviewed men undergoing first-time transobturator sling for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) from 2007 to 2016 at our institution. Patient demographics, reported pads per day (PPD), and Standing Cough Test (SCT) results graded 0-4, according to MSIGS, were assessed. Treatment failure was defined as subsequent need for >1 PPD or further procedures. Parameters associated with failure were included in multivariable logistic models, compared by area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves. A nomogram was generated from the model with greatest AUC and internally validated. Overall 203 men (median age 67 years, IQR 63-72) were evaluated with median follow-up of 45 months (IQR 11-75 months). A total of 185 men (91%) were status-post radical prostatectomy and 29 (14%) had pelvic radiation history. Median PPD and SCT grade were both two. Eighty men (39%) failed treatment (use of ≥1 PPD or subsequent anti-incontinence procedures) at a median of 9 months. History of radiation (P = 0.03), increasing MSIGS (P < 0.0001) and increasing preoperative PPD (P < 0.0001) were associated with failure on univariate analysis. In a multivariable model with AUC 0.81, MSIGS, and PPD remained associated (P = 0.002 and <0.0001 respectively, and radiation history P = 0.06), and was superior to models incorporating PPD and radiation alone (AUC 0.77, P = 0.02), PPD alone (AUC 0.76, P = 0.02), and a cutpoint of >2 PPD alone (AUC 0.71, P = 0.0001). MSIGS adds prognostic value to PPD in assessing success of transobturator sling for treatment of SUI. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Biopsychosocial Conceptual Framework of Postpartum Depression Risk in Immigrant and U.S.-born Latina Mothers in the United States.

PubMed

Lara-Cinisomo, Sandraluz; Girdler, Susan S; Grewen, Karen; Meltzer-Brody, Samantha

2016-01-01

In this review, we offer a conceptual framework that identifies risk factors of postpartum depression (PPD) in immigrant and U.S.-born Latinas in the United States by focusing on psychosocial and neuroendocrine factors. Although the evidence of the impact psychosocial stressors have on the development of PPD has been well-documented, less is known about the biological etiology of PPD or how these complex stressors jointly increase the risk of PPD in immigrant and U.S.-born Latinas in the United States. Using PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase, we reviewed the literature from 2000 to 2015 regarding psychosocial and physiological risk factors associated with PPD to develop a conceptual model for Latinas. Our search yielded 16 relevant studies. Based on our review of the literature, we developed a biopsychosocial conceptual model of PPD for Latinas in the United States. We make arguments for an integrated model designed to assess psychosocial and physiological risk factors and PPD in a high-risk population. Our framework describes the hypothesized associations between culturally and contextually relevant psychosocial stressors, neurobiological factors (e.g., hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis response system and oxytocin signaling), and PPD in Latinas in the United States. Future studies should evaluate prospectively the impact psychosocial stressors identified here have on the development of PPD in both immigrant and U.S-born Latinas while examining neuroendocrine function, such as the HPA axis and oxytocin signaling. Our conceptual framework will allow for the reporting of main and indirect effects of psychosocial risk factors and biomarkers (e.g., HPA axis and oxytocin function) on PPD in foreign- and U.S.-born postpartum Latinas. Copyright © 2016 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

In vitro cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells in multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis. A preliminary report.

PubMed

Sada-Ovalle, Isabel; Torre-Bouscoulet, Luis; Valdez-Vázquez, Rafael; Lascurain, Ricardo

2009-05-01

Specific CD8+ T-cell cytotoxicity has been recognized as being involved in the elimination of drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). Given that there is currently no information on the cytotoxic effector functions of CD8+ T cells in multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), our objective was to analyse the cytotoxic activity, both basal and stimulated, of CD8+ T cells from MDR-TB patients and compare it with that of DS-TB patients, as well as purified protein derivative (PPD)+ and PPD- subjects. Cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells from MDR-TB patients, DS-TB patients, PPD+ and PPD- subjects was measured by a colorimetric assay, using H37Rv culture filtrate protein as the antigenic stimulus. Twenty-eight subjects were studied (7 MDR-TB patients, 7 DS-TB patients, 7 PPD+ subjects and 7 PPD- subjects). In the presence of the antigenic stimulus, the cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T cells from MDR-TB patients (% lysis) increased from 6.7% to 59.6% (P < 0.001). In DS-TB patients lysis increased from 3.2% to 22.5% (P < 0.001), whereas in PPD+ subjects it increased from 2.7% to 12.0% (P < 0.001) and in PPD- subjects from 1.3% to 3.2% (P < 0.001). Basal cytotoxic activity was significantly higher for MDR-TB patients than PPD+ and PPD- subjects (P = 0.003), but not compared with that for DS-TB patients (P = 0.05). Stimulated cytotoxic activity was highest for MDR-TB patients. CD8+ T cells from MDR-TB patients showed an exaggerated cytotoxic activity after antigenic stimulation. Further studies are required to elucidate the role of this response in the immunopathogenesis of MDR-TB.

A pseudo-response regulator is misexpressed in the photoperiod insensitive Ppd-D1a mutant of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

PubMed

Beales, James; Turner, Adrian; Griffiths, Simon; Snape, John W; Laurie, David A

2007-09-01

Ppd-D1 on chromosome 2D is the major photoperiod response locus in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum). A semi-dominant mutation widely used in the "green revolution" converts wheat from a long day (LD) to a photoperiod insensitive (day neutral) plant, providing adaptation to a broad range of environments. Comparative mapping shows Ppd-D1 to be colinear with the Ppd-H1 gene of barley (Hordeum vulgare) which is a member of the pseudo-response regulator (PRR) gene family. To investigate the relationship between wheat and barley photoperiod genes we isolated homologues of Ppd-H1 from a 'Chinese Spring' wheat BAC library and compared them to sequences from other wheat varieties with known Ppd alleles. Varieties with the photoperiod insensitive Ppd-D1a allele which causes early flowering in short (SD) or LDs had a 2 kb deletion upstream of the coding region. This was associated with misexpression of the 2D PRR gene and expression of the key floral regulator FT in SDs, showing that photoperiod insensitivity is due to activation of a known photoperiod pathway irrespective of day length. Five Ppd-D1 alleles were found but only the 2 kb deletion was associated with photoperiod insensitivity. Photoperiod insensitivity can also be conferred by mutation at a homoeologous locus on chromosome 2B (Ppd-B1). No candidate mutation was found in the 2B PRR gene but polymorphism within the 2B PRR gene cosegregated with the Ppd-B1 locus in a doubled haploid population, suggesting that insensitivity on 2B is due to a mutation outside the sequenced region or to a closely linked gene.

Re-conceptualising prenatal life stressors in predicting post-partum depression: cumulative-, specific-, and domain-specific approaches to calculating risk.

PubMed

Liu, Cindy H; Tronick, Ed

2013-09-01

Prenatal life stress predicts post-partum depression (PPD); however, studies generally examine individual stressors (a specific approach) or the summation of such exposure (a cumulative approach) and their associations with PPD. Such approaches may oversimplify prenatal life stress as a risk factor for PPD. We evaluated approaches in assessing prenatal life stress as a predictor of PPD diagnosis, including a domain-specific approach that captures cumulative life stress while accounting for stress across different life stress domains: financial, relational, and physical health. The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, a population-based survey, was used to analyse the association of prenatal life stressors with PPD diagnoses among 3566 New York City post-partum women. Specific stressors were not associated with PPD diagnosis after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Exposure to a greater number of stressors was associated with PPD diagnosis, even after adjusting for both sociodemographic variables and specific stressors [odds ratio (OR) = 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.5, 6.7]. Individuals reporting a moderate-to-high number of financial problems along with a moderate-to-high number of physical problems were at greater odds of PPD (OR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.2, 15.3); those with a moderate-to-high number of problems in all three domains were at over fivefold increased odds of PPD (OR = 5.5, CI = 1.1, 28.5). In assessing prenatal stress, clinicians should consider the extent to which stressors occur across different life domains; this association appears stronger with PPD diagnosis than simple assessments of individual stressors, which typically overestimate risk or cumulative exposures. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Drosophila cellular immunity: a story of migration and adhesion.

PubMed

Fauvarque, Marie-Odile; Williams, Michael J

2011-05-01

Research during the past 15 years has led to significant breakthroughs, providing evidence of a high degree of similarity between insect and mammalian innate immune responses, both humoural and cellular, and highlighting Drosophila melanogaster as a model system for studying the evolution of innate immunity. In a manner similar to cells of the mammalian monocyte and macrophage lineage, Drosophila immunosurveillance cells (haemocytes) have a number of roles. For example, they respond to wound signals, are involved in wound healing and contribute to the coagulation response. Moreover, they participate in the phagocytosis and encapsulation of invading pathogens, are involved in the removal of apoptotic bodies and produce components of the extracellular matrix. There are several reasons for using the Drosophila cellular immune response as a model to understand cell signalling during adhesion and migration in vivo: many genes involved in the regulation of Drosophila haematopoiesis and cellular immunity have been maintained across taxonomic groups ranging from flies to humans, many aspects of Drosophila and mammalian innate immunity seem to be conserved, and Drosophila is a simplified and well-studied genetic model system. In the present Commentary, we will discuss what is known about cellular adhesion and migration in the Drosophila cellular immune response, during both embryonic and larval development, and where possible compare it with related mechanisms in vertebrates.

Clinical features and risk factors for post-partum depression in a large cohort of Chinese women with recurrent major depressive disorder

PubMed Central

Tian, Tian; Li, Yihan; Xie, Dong; Shen, Yifeng; Ren, Jianer; Wu, Wenyuan; Guan, Chengbin; Zhang, Zhen; Zhang, Danning; Gao, Chengge; Zhang, Xiaoming; Wu, Jinbo; Deng, Hong; Wang, Gang; Zhang, Yunshu; Shao, Yun; Rong, Han; Gan, Zhaoyu; Sun, Yan; Hu, Bin; Pan, Jiyang; Li, Yi; Sun, Shufan; Song, Libo; Fan, Xuesheng; Li, Yi; Zhao, Xiaochuan; Yang, Bin; Lv, Luxian; Chen, Yunchun; Wang, Xiaoli; Ning, Yuping; Shi, Shenxun; Chen, Yiping; Kendler, Kenneth S.; Flint, Jonathan; Tian, Hongjun

2012-01-01

Background Post partum depression (PPD) is relatively common in China but its clinical characteristics and risk factors have not been studied. We set out to investigate whether known risk factors for PPD could be found in Chinese women. Methods A case control design was used to determine the impact of known risk factors for PPD in a cohort of 1970 Chinese women with recurrent DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD). In a within-case design we examined the risk factors for PPD in patients with recurrent MDD. We compared the clinical features of MDD in cases with PPD to those without MDD. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic and ordinal regression. Results Lower occupational and educational statuses increased the risk of PPD, as did a history of pre-menstrual symptoms, stressful life events and elevated levels of the personality trait of neuroticism. Patients with PPD and MDD were more likely to experience a comorbid anxiety disorder, had a younger age of onset of MDD, have higher levels of neuroticism and dysthymia. Limitations Results obtained in this clinical sample may not be applicable to PPD within the community. Data were obtained retrospectively and we do not know whether the correlations we observe have the same causes as those operating in other populations. Conclusions Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the despite cultural differences between Chinese and Western women, the phenomenology and risk factors for PPD are very similar. PMID:21824665

Differential contribution of two Ppd-1 homoeoalleles to early-flowering phenotype in Nepalese and Japanese varieties of common wheat.

PubMed

Nguyen, Anh T; Iehisa, Julio C M; Mizuno, Nobuyuki; Nitta, Miyuki; Nasuda, Shuhei; Takumi, Shigeo

2013-12-01

Wheat landraces carry abundant genetic variation in heading and flowering times. Here, we studied flowering-related traits of two Nepalese varieties, KU-4770 and KU-180 and a Japanese wheat cultivar, Shiroganekomugi (SGK). These three wheat varieties showed similar flowering time in a common garden experiment. In total, five significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for three examined traits, the heading, flowering and maturation times, were detected using an F2 population of SGK/KU-4770. The QTLs were found at the Ppd-1 loci on chromosomes 2B and 2D and the 2B QTL was also confirmed in another F2 population of SGK/KU-180. The Ppd-D1 allele from SGK and the Ppd-B1 alleles from the two Nepalese varieties might be causal for early-flowering phenotype. The SGK Ppd-D1 allele contained a 2-kb deletion in the 5' upstream region, indicating a photoperiod-insensitive Ppd-D1a allele. Real-time PCR analysis estimating the Ppd-B1 copy number revealed that the two Nepalese varieties included two intact Ppd-B1 copies, putatively resulting in photoperiod insensitivity and an early-flowering phenotype. The two photoperiod-insensitive Ppd-1 homoeoalleles could independently contribute to segregation of early-flowering individuals in the two F2 populations. Therefore, wheat landraces are genetic resources for discovery of alleles useful for improving wheat heading or flowering times.

Differential contribution of two Ppd-1 homoeoalleles to early-flowering phenotype in Nepalese and Japanese varieties of common wheat

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Anh T.; Iehisa, Julio C. M.; Mizuno, Nobuyuki; Nitta, Miyuki; Nasuda, Shuhei; Takumi, Shigeo

2013-01-01

Wheat landraces carry abundant genetic variation in heading and flowering times. Here, we studied flowering-related traits of two Nepalese varieties, KU-4770 and KU-180 and a Japanese wheat cultivar, Shiroganekomugi (SGK). These three wheat varieties showed similar flowering time in a common garden experiment. In total, five significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for three examined traits, the heading, flowering and maturation times, were detected using an F2 population of SGK/KU-4770. The QTLs were found at the Ppd-1 loci on chromosomes 2B and 2D and the 2B QTL was also confirmed in another F2 population of SGK/KU-180. The Ppd-D1 allele from SGK and the Ppd-B1 alleles from the two Nepalese varieties might be causal for early-flowering phenotype. The SGK Ppd-D1 allele contained a 2-kb deletion in the 5′ upstream region, indicating a photoperiod-insensitive Ppd-D1a allele. Real-time PCR analysis estimating the Ppd-B1 copy number revealed that the two Nepalese varieties included two intact Ppd-B1 copies, putatively resulting in photoperiod insensitivity and an early-flowering phenotype. The two photoperiod-insensitive Ppd-1 homoeoalleles could independently contribute to segregation of early-flowering individuals in the two F2 populations. Therefore, wheat landraces are genetic resources for discovery of alleles useful for improving wheat heading or flowering times. PMID:24399909

Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 modulates cytotoxic effects of protopanaxadiol on different human cancer cells

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Some of ginsenosides, root extracts from Panax ginseng, exert cytotoxicity against cancer cells through disruption of membrane subdomains called lipid rafts. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) exhibits the highest cytotoxic effect among 8 ginsenosides which we evaluated for anti-cancer activity. We investigated if PPD disrupts lipid rafts in its cytotoxic effects and also the possible mechanisms. Methods Eight ginsenosides were evaluated using different cancer cells and cell viability assays. The potent ginsenoside, PPD was investigated for its roles in lipid raft disruption and downstream pathways to apoptosis of cancer cells. Anti-cancer effects of PPD was also investigated in vivo using mouse xenograft model. Results PPD consistently exerts its potent cytotoxicity in 2 cell survival assays using 5 different cancer cell lines. PPD disrupts lipid rafts in different ways from methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) depleting cholesterol out of the subdomains, since lipid raft proteins were differentially modulated by the saponin. During disruption of lipid rafts, PPD activated neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase 2) hydrolyzing membrane sphingomyelins into pro-apoptotic intracellular ceramides. Furthermore, PPD demonstrated its anti-cancer activities against K562 tumor cells in mouse xenograft model, confirming its potential as an adjunct or chemotherapeutic agent by itself in vivo. Conclusions This study demonstrates that neutral sphingomyelinase 2 is responsible for the cytotoxicity of PPD through production of apoptotic ceramides from membrane sphingomyelins. Thus neutral sphingomyelinase 2 and its relevant mechanisms may potentially be employed in cancer chemotherapies. PMID:23889969

Intralesional immunotherapy with tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) in recalcitrant wart: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial including an extra group of candidates for cryotherapy.

PubMed

Amirnia, Mehdi; Khodaeiani, Effat; Fouladi, Daniel F; Masoudnia, Sima

2016-01-01

Due to paucity of randomized clinical trials, intralesional immunotherapy has not been yet accepted as a standard therapeutic method. To examine the efficacy and safety of intralesional immunotherapy with tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) for treating recalcitrant wart. In this randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial, a total of 69 patients with recalcitrant warts received either intralesional PPD antigen (n = 35) or intralesional saline (n = 34) for six times at 2-week intervals. A third group of candidates for cryotherapy (n = 33) was also included. The decrease in lesion size (good: complete response, intermediate: 50-99% improvement, poor: <50% improvement), adverse effects and recurrence within 6-month follow-up were documented. At the final session, good, intermediate and poor responses were observed in 77.1%, 22.9% and 0% of the PPD patients; 0%, 14.7% and 85.3% of the placebo patients and 18.2%, 33.3% and 48.5% of the cryotherapy patients, respectively (PPD versus placebo: p < 0.001; PPD versus cryotherapy: p < 0.001). No significant complication was seen in the PPD group. The recurrence rate was 8.6%, 5.9% and 24.2% in the PPD, placebo and cryotherapy groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Intralesional immunotherapy with PPD antigen is highly effective and safe for treating recalcitrant warts. IRCT201407089844N3 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT).

Investigating analgesic and psychological factors associated with risk of postpartum depression development: a case–control study

PubMed Central

Suhitharan, Thangavelautham; Pham, Thi Phuong Tu; Chen, Helen; Assam, Pryseley Nkouibert; Sultana, Rehena; Han, Nian-Lin Reena; Tan, Ene-Choo; Sng, Ban Leong

2016-01-01

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the role of peripartum analgesic and psychological factors that may be related to postpartum depression (PPD). Methods This case–control study was conducted in pregnant females who delivered at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital from November 2010 to October 2013 and had postpartum psychological assessment. Demographic, medical, and postpartum psychological status assessments, intrapartum data including method of induction of labor, mode of labor analgesia, duration of first and second stages of labor, mode of delivery, and pain intensity on hospital admission and after delivery were collected. PPD was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and clinical assessment by the psychiatrist. Results There were 62 cases of PPD and 417 controls after childbirth within 4–8 weeks. The odds of PPD was significantly lower (33 of 329 [10.0%]) in females who received epidural analgesia for labor compared with those who chose nonepidural analgesia (29 of 150 [19.3%]) ([odds ratio] 0.47 (0.27–0.8), P=0.0078). The multivariate analysis showed that absence of labor epidural analgesia, increasing age, family history of depression, history of depression, and previous history of PPD were independent risk factors for development of PPD. Conclusion The absence of labor epidural analgesia remained as an independent risk factor for development of PPD when adjusted for psychiatric predictors of PPD such as history of depression or PPD and family history of depression. PMID:27354803

Post partum depression and the psychosocial predictors in first-time fathers from northwestern China.

PubMed

Zhang, Yin-Ping; Zhang, Lu-Lu; Wei, Huan-Huan; Zhang, Yao; Zhang, Chun-Li; Porr, Caroline

2016-04-01

there is growing evidence that fathers also experience post partum depression (PPD). However, paternal PPD has been less studied than maternal PPD. Very few studies have investigated PPD in first-time fathers from northwestern China. the purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence and predictors of depressive symptoms in first-time fathers from northwestern China. a longitudinal study was conducted involving 180 couples who were assessed at three time periods: 3 days, 2 weeks and 6 weeks after childbirth. Self-reported questionnaires including Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Parenting Sense of Competence Scale (PSOC), and Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale (KMSS) were administered to all participants during each time period. after childbirth 35 (21.1%) of the fathers at 3 days, 32 (20.4%) at 2 weeks and 20 (13.6%) at 6 weeks, indicated that they suffered from PPD. Paternal parental sense of competence, paternal marital satisfaction, and maternal depressive symptoms were among the main predictors for paternal PPD. the study results suggest that paternal PPD is a significant public health concern. Health professionals should focus attention on the psychological health among new fathers during the postpartum period; and, the psychosocial predictors should be considered and incorporated into clinical assessment and intervention of paternal PPD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deciphering the proteome of the in vivo diagnostic reagent “purified protein derivative” from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

PubMed Central

Cho, Yun Sang; Dobos, Karen M.; Prenni, Jessica; Yang, Hongliang; Hess, Ann; Rosenkrands, Ida; Andersen, Peter; Ryoo, Sung Weon; Bai, Gill-Han; Brennan, Michael J.; Izzo, Angelo; Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle; Belisle, John T.

2013-01-01

Purified protein derivative (PPD) has served as a safe and effective diagnostic reagent for 60 years and is the only broadly available material to diagnose latent tuberculosis infections. This reagent is also used as a standard control for a number of in vitro immunological assays. Nevertheless, the molecular composition and specific products that contribute to the extraordinary immunological reactivity of PPD are poorly defined. Here, a proteomic approach was applied to elucidate the gene products in the U.S. FDA standard PPD-S2. Many known M. tuberculosis T cell antigens were detected. Of significance, four heat shock proteins (GroES, GroEL2, HspX, and DnaK) dominated the composition of PPD. The chaperone activities and capacity of these proteins to influence immunological responses may explain the exquisite solubility and immunological potency of PPD. Spectral counting analysis of three separate PPD reagents revealed significant quantitative variances. Gross delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in M. tuberculosis infected guinea pigs were comparable among these PPD preparations; however, detailed histopathology of the DTH lesions exposed unique differences, which may be explained by the variability observed in the presence and abundance of early secretory system (esx) proteins. Variability in PPD reagents may explain differences in DTH responses reported among populations. PMID:22522804

Severe allergic reactions to para-phenylenediamine in children and adolescents: should the patch test concentration of PPD be changed?

PubMed

Spornraft-Ragaller, Petra; Kämmerer, Eva; Gillitzer, Claus; Schmitt, Jochen

2012-04-01

Semipermanent henna tattoos containing para-phenylenediamine (PPD) are a well-known cause of severe contact dermatitis, mainly in children. Another relevant exposure source to PPD are hair dyes, which are increasingly used by children and have also been reported to cause intense facial and scalp dermatitis. German patch test guidelines for children recommend that PPD should only be tested in patients who have had a henna tattoo, and then at a reduced concentration of PPD 0.5 % for 24 hours. We report on patch test results in four patients, three children and one adolescent, with a history of contact dermatitis to henna tattoos or hair dye. We used the recommended or even lower patch test concentrations of PPD with 24-hours exposure in all patients. All patients showed very strong patch test reactions to PPD and cross-reactions to related compounds even after dilution of PPD to as low as 0.05 %. Therefore, we suggest that in children with a history of allergic reactions to this compound, a titration test should be performed beginning at a concentration of maximal 0.05 %. This procedure has also been proposed previously based on a larger cases series in adults. © The Authors • Journal compilation © Blackwell Verlag GmbH, Berlin.

High-Concentrate Diet-Induced Change of Cellular Metabolism Leads to Decreases of Immunity and Imbalance of Cellular Activities in Rumen Epithelium.

PubMed

Lu, Zhongyan; Shen, Hong; Shen, Zanming

2018-01-01

In animals, the immune and cellular processes of tissue largely depend on the status of local metabolism. However, in the rumen epithelium, how the cellular metabolism affects epithelial immunity, and cellular processes, when the diet is switched from energy-rich to energy-excess status, with regard to animal production and health, have not as yet been reported. RNA-seq was applied to compare the biological processes altered by an increase of dietary concentration from 10% to 35% with those altered by an increase of dietary concentration from 35% to 65% (dietary concentrate: the non-grass component in diet, including corn, soya bean meal and additive. High concentrate diet composed of 35% grass, 55% corn, 8% soya bean meal and 2% additive). In addition to the functional analysis of enriched genes in terms of metabolism, the immune system, and cellular process, the highly correlated genes to the enriched metabolism genes were identified, and the function and signaling pathways related to the differentially expressed neighbors were compared among the groups. The variation trends of molar proportions of ruminal SCFAs and those of enriched pathways belonging to metabolism, immune system, and cellular process were altered with the change of diets. With regard to metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism were most affected. According to the correlation analysis, both innate and adaptive immune responses were promoted by the metabolism genes enriched under the 65% concentrate diet. However, the majority of immune responses were suppressed under the 35% concentrate diet. Moreover, the exclusive upregulation of cell growth and dysfunction of cellular transport and catabolism were induced by the metabolism genes enriched under the 65% concentrate diet. On the contrary, a balanced regulation of cellular processes was detected under the 35% concentrate diet. These results indicated that the alterations of cellular metabolism promote the alterations in cellular immunity, repair, and homeostasis in the rumen epithelium, thereby leading to the switch of concentrate effects from positive to negative with regard to animal production and health. © 2018 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

The cellular and humoral immunity assay in patients with complicated urolithiasis.

PubMed

Ceban, E; Banov, P; Galescu, A; Tanase, D

2017-01-01

Especially complicated, renal lithiasis contributes to the general inflammatory syndrome development that interferes with nonspecific, humoral and cellular immune system. The surgical treatment of nephrolithiasis is closely related to drug therapy of urinary infection, one of the reasons being the reduction of the immune status. The work is performed by evaluating the immunological status preoperatively in 58 patients with complicated lithiasis. The analysis of the status in these patients demonstrated that complicated urolithiasis results in significant changes in the immune system, these changes being expressed at the cellular and humoral level of immunity.

[IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay versus PPD tuberculin skin test in the diagnosis of tuberculous epididymitis].

PubMed

Huang, Hao; Yang, Xi-Fei; Deng, Qun-Yi; Li, Bing; Liu, Guo-Hui; Zhang, Jie-Yun; Yang, Da-Fei

2012-06-01

To explore the potential application of IFN-gamma enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in the diagnosis of tuberculous epididymitis (TE) by comparing ELISPOT assay with the traditional purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin skin test. We examined 13 TE patients using an in-house ELISPOT kit, another 11 TE patients by PPD skin testing, and 57 healthy male volunteers by parallel test with both the methods. Twelve (92.3%) of the 13 TE cases were positive on ELISPOT assay, and 10 (90.9%) of the 11 TE cases positive on PPD skin test, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Among the 57 healthy male volunteers, 8 (14.0%) were positive on ELISPOT, and 28 (49.1%) positive on PPD test, the latter significantly higher than the former (P < 0.001). In terms of sensitivity, ELISPOT assay is similar to PPD test in the examination of tuberculous epididymitis. As for specificity, ELISPOT assay seems better than PPD test in differentiating tuberculous epididymitis patients from healthy males.

EARLY FLOWERING3 Redundancy Fine-Tunes Photoperiod Sensitivity1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Rubenach, Andrew J.S.; Vander Schoor, Jacqueline K.; Aubert, Gregoire; Burstin, Judith

2017-01-01

Three pea (Pisum sativum) loci controlling photoperiod sensitivity, HIGH RESPONSE (HR), DIE NEUTRALIS (DNE), and STERILE NODES (SN), have recently been shown to correspond to orthologs of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) circadian clock genes EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3), ELF4, and LUX ARRHYTHMO, respectively. A fourth pea locus, PHOTOPERIOD (PPD), also contributes to the photoperiod response in a similar manner to SN and DNE, and recessive ppd mutants on a spring-flowering hr mutant background show early, photoperiod-insensitive flowering. However, the molecular identity of PPD has so far remained elusive. Here, we show that the PPD locus also has a role in maintenance of diurnal and circadian gene expression rhythms and identify PPD as an ELF3 co-ortholog, termed ELF3b. Genetic interactions between pea ELF3 genes suggest that loss of PPD function does not affect flowering time in the presence of functional HR, whereas PPD can compensate only partially for the lack of HR. These results provide an illustration of how gene duplication and divergence can generate potential for the emergence of more subtle variations in phenotype that may be adaptively significant. PMID:28202598

Power partial-discard strategy to obtain improved performance for simulated moving bed chromatography.

PubMed

Chung, Ji-Woo; Kim, Kyung-Min; Yoon, Tae-Ung; Kim, Seung-Ik; Jung, Tae-Sung; Han, Sang-Sup; Bae, Youn-Sang

2017-12-22

A novel power partial-discard (PPD) strategy was developed as a variant of the partial-discard (PD) operation to further improve the separation performance of the simulated moving bed (SMB) process. The PPD operation varied the flow rates of discard streams by introducing a new variable, the discard amount (DA) as well as varying the reported variable, discard length (DL), while the conventional PD used fixed discard flow rates. The PPD operations showed significantly improved purities in spite of losses in recoveries. Remarkably, the PPD operation could provide more enhanced purity for a given recovery or more enhanced recovery for a given purity than the PD operation. The two variables, DA and DL, in the PPD operation played a key role in achieving the desired purity and recovery. The PPD operations will be useful for attaining high-purity products with reasonable recoveries. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Postpartum depression and traditional postpartum care in China: role of zuoyuezi.

PubMed

Wan, Ellen Y; Moyer, Cheryl A; Harlow, Siobán D; Fan, Zitian; Jie, Yan; Yang, Huixia

2009-03-01

To determine the relationship between the traditional Chinese practice of postpartum care, known as zuoyuezi, and postpartum depression (PPD) in China. A total of 342 Chinese women were surveyed 6- to 8-weeks post partum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and items assessing sociodemographics, health history, peripartum experiences, zuoyuezi, and social support. Prevalence of PPD was 15.5% (EPDS cutoff >or=13). PPD was associated with lower income, difficult pregnancy experience, poor infant health status, not attending childbirth classes, and low spousal involvement before and after delivery. Among the 96% of women who practiced zuoyuezi, those for whom the caregiver was her mother-in-law or who perceived zuoyuezi as unhelpful had twice the odds of PPD. These data highlight the importance of the peripartum experience in assessing PPD risk. Zuoyuezi is still commonly practiced in urban China, and further research is needed to explore its role in the potential prevention of PPD.

Identification of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 as the Major Isozyme Responsible for the Glucuronidation of 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol in Human Liver Microsomes

PubMed Central

Li, Jia; He, Chunyong; Fang, Lianxiang; Yang, Li; Wang, Zhengtao

2016-01-01

20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), one of the representative aglycones of ginsenosides, has a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. Although phase I metabolism has been investigated extensively, information regarding phase II metabolism of this compound remains to be elucidated. Here, a glucuronidated metabolite of PPD in human liver microsomes (HLMs) and rat liver microsomes (RLMs) was unambiguously identified as PPD-3-O-β-d-glucuronide by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometry. The chemical inhibition and recombinant human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms assay showed that the PPD glucuronidation was mainly catalyzed by UGT1A4 in HLM, whereas UGT1A3 showed weak catalytic activity. In conclusion, PPD-3-O-β-d-glucuronide was first identified as the principal glucuronidation metabolite of PPD in HLMs, which was catalyzed by UGT1A4. PMID:27005621

Antitumor activity of ginseng sapogenins, 25-OH-PPD and 25-OCH3-PPD, on gastric cancer cells.

PubMed

Zhao, Chen; Su, Guangyue; Wang, Xude; Zhang, Xiaoshu; Guo, Shuang; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-01-01

25-Hydroxyprotopanaxadiol (25-OH-PPD) and 25-methoxylprotopanaxadiol (25-OCH3-PPD), two ginseng sapogenins, have potent antitumor activity and their effects on gastric cancer (BGC-823, SGC-7901, MKN-28) cells and a gastric mucosa (GES-1) cell line are reported. Both compounds significantly inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells, while having lesser inhibitory effects on GES-1 cells by MTT assay. A mechanistic study revealed that the two ginseng sapogenins could induce apoptosis in BGC-823 cells by morphological observation, DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry and western blot analysis. Besides, the apoptosis was inhibited by Ac-DEVD-CHO, a caspase 3 inhibitor, which was confirmed by cell viability analysis. These results indicate that 25-OH-PPD and 25-OCH3-PPD have potential to be promising agents for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Proteomic analysis of injured storage roots in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) under postharvest physiological deterioration

PubMed Central

Qin, Yuling; Djabou, Astride Stéphanie Mouafi; An, Feifei; Li, Kaimian; Li, Zhaogui; Yang, Long; Wang, Xiaojing

2017-01-01

Postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) is a global challenge in the improvement of cassava value chain. However, how to reduce cassava spoilage and reveal the mechanism of injured cassava storage roots in response to PPD were poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the activities of antioxidant enzymes of cassava injured storage roots in PPD-susceptible (SC9) and PPD-tolerant (QZ1) genotypes at the time-points from 0h to 120h, and further analyzed their proteomic changes using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with MALDI-TOF-MS/MS. Ninety-nine differentially expressed proteins were identified from SC9 and QZ1 genotypes in the pairwise comparison of 24h/0h, 48h/0h, 72h/0h and 96h/0h. Of those proteins were associated with 13 biological functions, in which carbohydrate and energy metabolism related proteins were the biggest amount differential proteins in both genotypes, followed by chaperones, DNA and RNA metabolism, and defense system. We speculated that SOD in combination with CAT activities would be the first line of defense against PPD to support PPD-tolerant cassava varieties. The four hub proteins including CPN60B, LOS2, HSC70-1 and CPN20B, produced from the network of protein-protein interaction, will be the candidate key proteins linked with PPD. This study provides a new clue to improve cassava PPD-tolerant varieties and would be helpful to much better understand the molecular mechanism of PPD of cassava injured storage roots. PMID:28339481

Proteomic analysis of injured storage roots in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) under postharvest physiological deterioration.

PubMed

Qin, Yuling; Djabou, Astride Stéphanie Mouafi; An, Feifei; Li, Kaimian; Li, Zhaogui; Yang, Long; Wang, Xiaojing; Chen, Songbi

2017-01-01

Postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) is a global challenge in the improvement of cassava value chain. However, how to reduce cassava spoilage and reveal the mechanism of injured cassava storage roots in response to PPD were poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the activities of antioxidant enzymes of cassava injured storage roots in PPD-susceptible (SC9) and PPD-tolerant (QZ1) genotypes at the time-points from 0h to 120h, and further analyzed their proteomic changes using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with MALDI-TOF-MS/MS. Ninety-nine differentially expressed proteins were identified from SC9 and QZ1 genotypes in the pairwise comparison of 24h/0h, 48h/0h, 72h/0h and 96h/0h. Of those proteins were associated with 13 biological functions, in which carbohydrate and energy metabolism related proteins were the biggest amount differential proteins in both genotypes, followed by chaperones, DNA and RNA metabolism, and defense system. We speculated that SOD in combination with CAT activities would be the first line of defense against PPD to support PPD-tolerant cassava varieties. The four hub proteins including CPN60B, LOS2, HSC70-1 and CPN20B, produced from the network of protein-protein interaction, will be the candidate key proteins linked with PPD. This study provides a new clue to improve cassava PPD-tolerant varieties and would be helpful to much better understand the molecular mechanism of PPD of cassava injured storage roots.

Clinical features and risk factors for post-partum depression in a large cohort of Chinese women with recurrent major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Tian, Tian; Li, Yihan; Xie, Dong; Shen, Yifeng; Ren, Jianer; Wu, Wenyuan; Guan, Chengbin; Zhang, Zhen; Zhang, Danning; Gao, Chengge; Zhang, Xiaoming; Wu, Jinbo; Deng, Hong; Wang, Gang; Zhang, Yunshu; Shao, Yun; Rong, Han; Gan, Zhaoyu; Sun, Yan; Hu, Bin; Pan, Jiyang; Li, Yi; Sun, Shufan; Song, Libo; Fan, Xuesheng; Li, Yi; Zhao, Xiaochuan; Yang, Bin; Lv, Luxian; Chen, Yunchun; Wang, Xiaoli; Ning, Yuping; Shi, Shenxun; Chen, Yiping; Kendler, Kenneth S; Flint, Jonathan; Tian, Hongjun

2012-02-01

Post partum depression (PPD) is relatively common in China but its clinical characteristics and risk factors have not been studied. We set out to investigate whether known risk factors for PPD could be found in Chinese women. A case control design was used to determine the impact of known risk factors for PPD in a cohort of 1970 Chinese women with recurrent DSM-IV major depressive disorder (MDD). In a within-case design we examined the risk factors for PPD in patients with recurrent MDD. We compared the clinical features of MDD in cases with PPD to those without MDD. Odds ratios were calculated using logistic and ordinal regression. Lower occupational and educational statuses increased the risk of PPD, as did a history of pre-menstrual symptoms, stressful life events and elevated levels of the personality trait of neuroticism. Patients with PPD and MDD were more likely to experience a comorbid anxiety disorder, had a younger age of onset of MDD, have higher levels of neuroticism and dysthymia. Results obtained in this clinical sample may not be applicable to PPD within the community. Data were obtained retrospectively and we do not know whether the correlations we observe have the same causes as those operating in other populations. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the despite cultural differences between Chinese and Western women, the phenomenology and risk factors for PPD are very similar. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Q fever in pregnant goats: humoral and cellular immune responses

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Both humoral and cellular immunity are important in the host defence against intracellular bacteria. Little is known about the immune response to C. burnetii infections in domestic ruminants even though these species are the major source of Q fever in humans. To investigate the goat’s immune response we inoculated groups of pregnant goats via inhalation with a Dutch outbreak isolate of C. burnetii. All animals were successfully infected. Phase 1 and Phase 2 IgM- and IgG-specific antibodies were measured. Cellular immune responses were investigated by interferon-gamma, enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot test (IFN-γ Elispot), lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) and systemic cytokines. After two weeks post inoculation (wpi), a strong anti-C. burnetii Phase 2 IgM and IgG antibody response was observed while the increase in IgM anti-Phase 1 antibodies was less pronounced. IgG anti-Phase 1 antibodies started to rise at 6 wpi. Cellular immune responses were observed after parturition. Our results demonstrated humoral and cellular immune responses to C. burnetii infection in pregnant goats. Cell-mediated immune responses did not differ enough to distinguish between Coxiella-infected and non-infected pregnant animals, whereas a strong-phase specific antibody response is detected after 2 wpi. This humoral immune response may be useful in the early detection of C. burnetii-infected pregnant goats. PMID:23915213

The Transcription Factor EB Links Cellular Stress to the Immune Response



PubMed Central

Nabar, Neel R.; Kehrl, John H.

2017-01-01

The transcription factor EB (TFEB) is the master transcriptional regulator of autophagy and lysosome biogenesis. Recent advances have led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of lysosomes from a housekeeping cellular waste bin to a dynamically regulated pathway that is efficiently turned up or down based on cellular needs. TFEB coordinates the cellular response to nutrient deprivation and other forms of cell stress through the lysosome system, and regulates a myriad of cellular processes associated with this system including endocytosis, phagocytosis, autophagy, and lysosomal exocytosis. Autophagy and the endolysosomal system are critical to both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, with functions in effector cell priming and direct pathogen clearance. Recent studies have linked TFEB to the regulation of the immune response through the endolysosmal pathway and by direct transcriptional activation of immune related genes. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of TFEB’s function and the molecular mechanisms behind TFEB activation. Finally, we discuss recent advances linking TFEB to the immune response that positions lysosomal signaling as a potential target for immune modulation. PMID:28656016

The Transcription Factor EB Links Cellular Stress to the Immune Response

.

PubMed

Nabar, Neel R; Kehrl, John H

2017-06-01

The transcription factor EB (TFEB) is the master transcriptional regulator of autophagy and lysosome biogenesis. Recent advances have led to a paradigm shift in our understanding of lysosomes from a housekeeping cellular waste bin to a dynamically regulated pathway that is efficiently turned up or down based on cellular needs. TFEB coordinates the cellular response to nutrient deprivation and other forms of cell stress through the lysosome system, and regulates a myriad of cellular processes associated with this system including endocytosis, phagocytosis, autophagy, and lysosomal exocytosis. Autophagy and the endolysosomal system are critical to both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, with functions in effector cell priming and direct pathogen clearance. Recent studies have linked TFEB to the regulation of the immune response through the endolysosmal pathway and by direct transcriptional activation of immune related genes. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of TFEB's function and the molecular mechanisms behind TFEB activation. Finally, we discuss recent advances linking TFEB to the immune response that positions lysosomal signaling as a potential target for immune modulation.

Induction of strong anti-HIV cellular immunity by a combination of Clostridium perfringens expressing HIV gag and virus like particles.

PubMed

Pegu, Poonam; Helmus, Ruth; Gupta, Phalguni; Tarwater, Patrick; Caruso, Lori; Shen, Chengli; Ross, Ted; Chen, Yue

2011-12-01

The lower gastrointestinal tract is a major mucosal site of HIV entry and initial infection. Thus, the induction of strong cellular immune responses at this mucosal site will be an important feature of an effective HIV vaccine. We have used a novel prime-boost vaccination approach to induce immune responses at mucosal sites. Orally delivered recombinant Clostridium perfringens expressing HIV-1 gag (Cp-Gag) was evaluated for induction of HIV-1 Gag specific T cell responses in a prime-boost model with intranasal inoculation of HIV-1 virus like particles (VLP). HIV-1 specific cellular immune responses in both the effector (Lamina propria) and inductive sites (Peyer's patches) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were significantly higher in mice immunized using Cp-Gag and VLPs in a prime-boost approach compared to mice immunized with either Cp-Gag or VLPs alone. Such cellular immune response was found to be mediated by both CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cells. Such a strong mucosal immune response could be very useful in developing a mucosal vaccine against HIV-1.

Xenon in the Protoplanetary Disk (PPD-Xe)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marti, K.; Mathew, K. J.

2015-06-01

Relationships among solar system Xe components as observed in the solar wind, in planetary atmospheres, and in meteorites are investigated using isotopic correlations. The term PPD-Xe is used for components inferred to have been present in the molecular cloud material that formed the protoplanetary disk (PPD). The evidence of the lack of simple relationships between terrestrial atmospheric Xe and solar or meteoritic components is confirmed. Xe isotopic correlations indicate a heterogeneous PPD composition with variable mixing ratios of the nucleosynthetic component Xe-HL. Solar Xe represents a bulk PPD component, and the isotopic abundances did not change from the time of incorporation into the interior of Mars through times of regolith implantations to the present.

Intralesional tuberculin (PPD) versus measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine in treatment of multiple warts: a comparative clinical and immunological study.

PubMed

Shaheen, Maha Adel; Salem, Samar Abdallah M; Fouad, Dina Adel; El-Fatah, Abeer Aly Abd

2015-01-01

Intralesional purified protein derivative (PPD) or mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) were not previously compared regarding their efficacy or mechanism of action in treatment of warts. We aimed to compare their efficacy in treatment of multiple warts and investigate their effect on serum interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12. Thirty patients with multiple warts were included (10 treated with PPD, 10 with MMR, and 10 with normal saline (control)). Injection was done every 3 weeks until clearance or maximum of three treatments. Clinical response of target and distant warts was evaluated. Serum ILs-4 and -12 were assessed before and after treatment. A significantly higher rate of complete response was found in target and distant warts with PPD (60% each) and MMR (80%, 40%, respectively) compared with controls (0%), with no significant difference between both treatments. After treatment, the control group showed the lowest serum IL-12 and IL-4 levels compared with the MMR- and PPD-treated groups with statistically significant difference in between. MMR resulted in a significantly higher serum IL-12 than PPD. With PPD, IL-4 was increased with statistically significant change compared with pretreat-ment level. Intralesional PPD and MMR show comparable efficacy and safety in treatment of multiple warts. Serum ILs-4 and-12 increase following antigen injection. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Providing detailed information about latent tuberculosis and compliance with the PPD test among healthcare workers in Israel: a randomized controlled study.

PubMed

Taubman, Danielle; Titler, Nava; Edelstein, Hana; Elias, Mazen; Saliba, Walid

2013-12-01

The compliance of screening for latent tuberculosis (TB) with the tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) test is very low among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Israel. This randomized controlled study uses the Health Belief Model (HBM) as a conceptual framework to examine whether providing more information about latent TB and the PPD test increases the response rate for PPD screening among HCWs. All candidate HCWs for latent TB screening were randomly allocated to one of the following two invitations to perform the PPD test: regular letter (control group, n=97), and a letter with information about latent TB and the PPD test (intervention group, n=196). 293 HCWs were included (185 nurses, and 108 physicians). Overall, 36 (12.3%) HCWs were compliant with the PPD test screening. Compliance with PPD testing in the intervention group was not statistically different from the control group, RR 0.87 (95% CI, 0.46-1.65). Compliance for latent TB screening is low among HCWs in northeastern Israel. Providing detailed information about latent TB was not associated with increased test compliance. Understanding existing disparities in screening rates and potential barriers to latent TB screening among HCWs is important in order to move forward and successfully increase screening rates. Copyright © 2013 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In Vitro Priming of Naı̈ve T-cells with p-Phenylenediamine and Bandrowski's Base.

PubMed

Gibson, Andrew; Kim, Seung-Hyun; Faulkner, Lee; Evely, Jane; Pirmohamed, Munir; Park, Kevin B; Naisbitt, Dean J

2015-10-19

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a component of hair dye formulations that is associated with T-cell mediated allergic contact dermatitis. Antigen-specific T-cells from allergic contact dermatitis patients are activated with either PPD or the oxidation product, Bandrowski's base. In nonallergic individuals, T-cells that are activated by Bandrowski's base, but not by PPD, are readily detectable. The aim of the current study was to use an in vitro T-cell priming assay to assess the activation of memory and naı̈ve T-cells from healthy donors with PPD and Bandrowski's base, and to compare these responses to those observed from allergic patients. Both PPD and Bandrowski's base-responsive clones were generated from allergic patients. The majority of Bandrowski's base-responsive clones were CD4+ and displayed a lack of PPD reactivity. In contrast, CD4+ and CD8+ clones displaying PPD reactivity were detected. Approximately 25% of these displayed low levels of reactivity to Bandrowski's base. Clones from the allergic patients secreted a range of cytokines including IFN-γ, Il-13, and Il-22. In healthy donors, Bandrowski's base-specific T-cell proliferative responses and cytokine secretion were detected with both naı̈ve and memory T-cells. T-cell clones generated from the Bandrowski's base-responsive cultures responded to Bandrowski's base but not PPD. PPD-specific naı̈ve and memory T-cell responses were not detected from healthy donors. These data show that Bandrowski's base stimulates pre-existing memory T-cells isolated from healthy donors and primes naı̈ve T-cells when the chemical is bound to autologous dendritic cells. Priming naı̈ve T-cells against PPD failed, suggesting an important individual susceptibility factor is missing from the in vitro T-cell priming assay.

A multi-institutional joint study of contact dermatitis related to hair colouring and perming agents in Japan.

PubMed

Ito, Akiko; Nishioka, Kazue; Kanto, Hiromi; Yagami, Akiko; Yamada, Shigeki; Sugiura, Mariko; Yasunaga, Chihiro; Yoshii, Keiko; Kobayashi, Hiromi; Adachi, Atsuko; Ikezawa, Yuko; Washizaki, Kumiko; Inui, Shigeki; Miyazawa, Hitoshi; Oiso, Naoki; Nakata, Tokio; Matsunaga, Kayoko

2017-07-01

In Japan, allergic contact dermatitis caused by hair colouring agents is a considerable problem for those occupationally exposed and also for consumers. Over the last 20 years, p-phenylenediamine (PPD) has been a common allergen, with ∼7% positive patch test reactions. To investigate which ingredients caused allergic contact dermatitis related to hair dye and perming solutions in Japan, to assess whether PPD is suitable for screening for hair dye allergy, and to propose allergens for a Japanese hairdresser series. We selected 19 hair cosmetic allergens, including PPD, Bandrowski's base, cysteamine HCl, and ammonium thioglycolate. Altogether 203 patients (26 males and 177 females) with suspected contact allergy to hair colouring or perming solutions at 14 hospitals in Japan were included. The highest prevalence of positive reactions (35.1%) was for PPD. p-Methylaminophenol and o-aminophenol were often positive, both in the PPD-positive and in the PPD-negative patients. Moreover, cysteamine HCl often yielded positive test reactions. PPD is insufficient to diagnose contact allergy caused by to hair dyes. We recommend 13 allergens to be included in a Japanese hairdresser series. © 2017 The Authors. Contact Dermatitis published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Support intervention needs and preferences of fathers affected by postpartum depression.

PubMed

Letourneau, Nicole; Tryphonopoulos, Panagiota D; Duffett-Leger, Linda; Stewart, Miriam; Benzies, Karen; Dennis, Cindy-Lee; Joschko, Justin

2012-01-01

The effect of postpartum depression (PPD) on mothers has been extensively studied. But even though up to 50% of men whose partners suffer from PPD also have depressive symptoms, little is known about the impact of maternal PPD on fathers. Depressive symptoms are likely to decrease fathers' ability to provide maternal support. Children with 2 depressed parents are at significantly greater risk for poor developmental outcomes than those with 1 affected parent. The objective of this Canada-wide exploratory/descriptive study was to describe the support needs and preferences for support of fathers whose partners have had PPD. Qualitative methods and community-based research approaches were used, and one-to-one telephone interviews were conducted between 2009 and 2011 with a total of 40 fathers. Fathers desired support from both formal (professional) and informal (friends and family) sources and noted that ideal support interventions should cover a number of key topics including information on PPD and practical tips on how to cope with their partner's PPD. Fathers reported that the ideal PPD intervention program does not favor any one setup and, to reach the full spectrum of parents, the program must be multitiered, accessible, and as flexible as funding allows.

Noninvasive testing of asymptomatic bilateral hilar adenopathy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Carr, P.L.; Singer, D.E.; Goldenheim, P.

1990-03-01

The diagnostic strategy for asymptomatic patients with persistent bilateral bilar adenopathy often involves invasive procedures. The authors used Bayesian analysis to: (1) estimate the relative prevalences of diseases causing bilateral bilar adenopathy; (2) assess changes in the prevalence of disease by race, the presence of other clinical symptoms, and geography; and (3) determine the value of relevant noninvasive tests, including the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) assay, gallium scan, and purified protein derivative (PPD), in order to assess when a strategy of watchful waiting is appropriate. The analysis indicated that the ACE assay, particularly when paired with the PPD, can identify manymore » patients who might safely be managed without immediate invasive biopsy. Patients who are ACE+ and PPD- have an estimated probability of sarcoidosis of 0.95 or greater; patients who are ACE- and PPD+ have a probability of tuberculosis of 0.86 if black, 0.79 if white. In contrast, gallium scanning has no diagnostic role in this clinical situation. Bronchoscopic or mediastinoscopic biopsy has a limited role for patients who are ACE+ PPD- or ACE- PPD+ because of limited sensitivity. Patients who are both ACE- and PPD-, particularly if white, may have a high enough risk of lymphoma to consider invasive biopsy.« less

20(s)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) increases the radiotherapy sensitivity of laryngeal carcinoma.

PubMed

Teng, Bo; Zhao, Lijing; Gao, Jing; He, Peng; Li, Hejie; Chen, Junyu; Feng, Qingjie; Yi, Chunhui

2017-12-13

Laryngeal carcinoma (LC) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in the head and neck area. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, LC poses a serious threat to human life and health. Even with surgical removal, some patients were not sensitive to radiotherapy or experienced transfer or recurrence. 20(s)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), a natural product from Panax ginseng, has been reported to have cytotoxic effects against several cancer cell lines. However, whether it can improve the radiation sensitivity and the underlying mechanism of PPD's sensitization effect is still unknown. Herein, from in vitro and in vivo experiments, we found that the combination of PPD and radiation not only significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis, but also suppressed the tumor growth in mouse models. These findings confirmed the role of PPD in enhancing the sensitivity of radiotherapy. Moreover, our work showed that the expression levels of mTOR and its downstream effectors decreased remarkably after PPD addition when compared to radiation only. This result suggested that PPD's excellent synergistic effects with radiation might be associated with the down-regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway in Hep-2 cells.

Dynamics of leaf and spikelet primordia initiation in wheat as affected by Ppd-1a alleles under field conditions.

PubMed

Ochagavía, Helga; Prieto, Paula; Savin, Roxana; Griffiths, Simon; Slafer, GustavoA

2018-04-27

Wheat adaptation is affected by Ppd genes, but the role of these alleles in the rates of leaf and spikelet initiation has not been properly analysed. Twelve near isogenic lines (NILs) combining Ppd-1a alleles from different donors introgressed in A, B, and/or D genomes were tested under field conditions during two growing seasons together with the wild type, Paragon. Leaf initiation rate was unaffected by Ppd-1a alleles so the final leaf number (FLN) was reduced in parallel with reductions in the duration of the vegetative phase. Spikelet primordia initiation was accelerated and consequently the effect on spikelets per spike was less than proportional to the effect on the duration of spikelet initiation. The magnitude of these effects on spikelet plastochron depended on the doses of Ppd-1 homoeoalleles and the specific insensitivity alleles carried. Double ridge was consistently later than floral initiation, but the difference between them was not affected by Ppd-1a alleles. These findings have potential for selecting the best combinations from the Ppd-1 homoeoallelic series for manipulating adaptation taking into consideration particular effects on spikelet number.

Dynamics of leaf and spikelet primordia initiation in wheat as affected by Ppd-1a alleles under field conditions

PubMed Central

Ochagavía, Helga; Prieto, Paula; Griffiths, Simon

2018-01-01

Abstract Wheat adaptation is affected by Ppd genes, but the role of these alleles in the rates of leaf and spikelet initiation has not been properly analysed. Twelve near isogenic lines (NILs) combining Ppd-1a alleles from different donors introgressed in A, B, and/or D genomes were tested under field conditions during two growing seasons together with the wild type, Paragon. Leaf initiation rate was unaffected by Ppd-1a alleles so the final leaf number (FLN) was reduced in parallel with reductions in the duration of the vegetative phase. Spikelet primordia initiation was accelerated and consequently the effect on spikelets per spike was less than proportional to the effect on the duration of spikelet initiation. The magnitude of these effects on spikelet plastochron depended on the doses of Ppd-1 homoeoalleles and the specific insensitivity alleles carried. Double ridge was consistently later than floral initiation, but the difference between them was not affected by Ppd-1a alleles. These findings have potential for selecting the best combinations from the Ppd-1 homoeoallelic series for manipulating adaptation taking into consideration particular effects on spikelet number. PMID:29562296

The Relative Impact of Socioeconomic Status and Childhood Trauma on Black-White Differences in Paranoid Personality Disorder Symptoms

PubMed Central

Iacovino, Juliette M.; Jackson, Joshua J.; Oltmanns, Thomas F.

2015-01-01

The current study examines mechanisms of racial differences in symptoms of paranoid personality disorder (PPD) in a sample of adults ages 55–64 from the St. Louis, MO area. Socioeconomic status (SES) and childhood trauma were tested as intervening variables in the association between race and PPD symptoms using structural equation modeling. PPD symptoms were modeled as a latent variable composed of items from the PPD scales of the Multi-Source Assessment of Personality Pathology self and informant reports and the Structured Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM–IV) Personality. Childhood trauma was measured using the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire, and SES was a composite of parent education, participant education, and annual household income. Blacks exhibited higher levels of PPD symptoms across the 3 personality measures, reported significantly lower SES, and reported greater childhood trauma. The proposed model was a good fit to the data, and the effect of race on PPD symptoms operated mainly through SES. The indirect effect through SES was stronger for males. Findings suggest that racial differences in PPD symptoms are partly explained by problems more commonly experienced by Black individuals. PMID:24661172

Immune response

MedlinePlus

Innate immunity; Humoral immunity; Cellular immunity; Immunity; Inflammatory response; Acquired (adaptive) immunity ... normal and usually does not react against them. INNATE IMMUNITY Innate, or nonspecific, immunity is the defense ...

A study of the role of IL-12 in pulmonary tuberculosis using the whole blood flowcytometry technique.

PubMed

Zahran, Wafaa A; Ghonaim, Mabrouk M; Koura, Bothina A; El-Banna, Hassan; Ali, Sahar M; El-Sheikh, Nabila

2006-01-01

Pulmonary tuberculosis remains a major health problem. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which elicits a T-cell dependent immune response, initiated by monocytes through a large number of cytokines of which interleukin-12 is thought to play a critical role in initiation and regulation of T-helper (Th-1) like responses. To better understand the role of IL-12 in pulmonary tuberculosis patients, intracellular IL-12 in peripheral blood-derived monocytes was examined by flowcytometery. The percentage of monocytes producing IL-12 was measured after invitro stimulation of heparinized whole blood with mycobacterial protein antigens (culture filtrate). Of the 22 active tuberculosis patients, 17 were recent cases and 5 recurrent cases. Healthy controls were 14 individuals with detectable reaction to purified protein derivative (PPD+) and 14 without detectable reaction to PPD. The role of different factors affecting disease outcome such as treatment, age, gender, smoking, severity of disease and presence of other complications on the percentage of monocytes producing IL-12 was studied. Recurrent TB patients had a higher number of monocytes producing IL-12 in unstimulated cultures compared to other groups (P < 0.001). However, after in vitro stimulation there was a significant decrease in the number of monocytes producing IL-12 in recurrent TB patients as compared to recently diagnosed TB patients and healthy PPD+ individuals (P < 0.001). Antituberculosis chemotherapy was the only factor that had significant effect on the percentage of monocytes producing IL-12 (p < 0.05) while other studied factors did not show significant effect (p > 0.05). It is concluded that IL-12 plays a prominent regulatory role in tuberculosis.

Allergic Contact Dermatitis Due to Paraphenylenediamine: An Update.

PubMed

Encabo Durán, B; Romero-Pérez, D; Silvestre Salvador, J F

2018-02-26

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is an amine that is mainly used as an ingredient in hair dyes and henna tattoos. The incidence of allergic contact dermatitis to PPD is increasing, particularly in younger patients. In this article, we review the main sources of PPD and the substances with which it can interact and present a practical algorithm for diagnosing and treating suspected cases of PPD allergy. Copyright © 2018 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Longitudinal effects of dysfunctional perfectionism and avoidant personality style on postpartum mental disorders: Pathways through antepartum depression and anxiety.

PubMed

Oddo-Sommerfeld, Silvia; Hain, Sarah; Louwen, Frank; Schermelleh-Engel, Karin

2016-02-01

There is first evidence that some personality characteristics raise the risk of postpartum depression (PPD). The present longitudinal study investigates whether dysfunctional perfectionism and avoidant personality style predict PPD, postpartum anxiety (PPA) and bonding impairment (BI) directly or indirectly through antepartum anxiety (APA) and antepartum depression (APD). Pregnant women were recruited in two obstetric departments in Germany. The assessment occurred at two measurement time points: In the third trimester of pregnancy (N=297) and twelve weeks postpartum (N=266). Six questionnaires were administered during pregnancy: perfectionism, personality styles, anxiety, and depression. Postpartum, data on PPA, PPD and BI were collected. We conducted two path analyses in order to examine direct and indirect effects of the two personality characteristics on postpartum disorders. Testing for direct effects of dysfunctional perfectionism and avoidant personality style on PPD, PPA, and BI did not yield significant results. Instead, significant indirect effects were found: PPD, PPA, and BI were influenced indirectly by dysfunctional perfectionism and avoidant personality style via APD and APA. This model explained high portions of the variance of PPD, PPA, and impaired bonding. Each of the two personality characteristics explained a unique part of the outcome measures. The influence on BI was mediated by PPD. APD affected PPD and PPA more strongly than APA. Path models with manifest (observed) variables may lead to measurement errors. Self-rating questionnaires may raise the problem of social desirability. Dysfunctional perfectionism and avoidant personality style are significant risk factors for PPD, PPA, and BI. Screenings of both variables, as well as of APA and APD, which mediated the effect of personality traits on postpartum syndromes, are necessary. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The synergistic effect of breastfeeding discontinuation and cesarean section delivery on postpartum depression: A nationwide population-based cohort study in Korea.

PubMed

Nam, Jin Young; Choi, Young; Kim, Juyeong; Cho, Kyoung Hee; Park, Eun-Cheol

2017-08-15

The relationships between breastfeeding discontinuation and cesarean section delivery, and the occurrence of postpartum depression (PPD) remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of breastfeeding discontinuation and cesarean section delivery with PPD during the first 6 months after delivery. Data were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort for 81,447 women who delivered during 2004-2013. PPD status was determined using the diagnosis code at outpatient or inpatient visit during the 6-month postpartum period. Breastfeeding discontinuation and cesarean section delivery were identified from prescription of lactation suppression drugs and diagnosis, respectively. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios. Of the 81,447 women, 666 (0.82%) had PPD. PPD risk was higher in women who discontinued breastfeeding than in those who continued breastfeeding (hazard ratio=3.23, P<0.0001), in women with cesarean section delivery than in those with vaginal delivery (hazard ratio=1.26, P=0.0040), and in women with cesarean section delivery who discontinued breastfeeding than in those with vaginal delivery who continued breastfeeding (hazard ratio=4.92, P<0.0001). Study limitations include low PPD incidence; use of indirect indicators for PPD, breastfeeding discontinuation, and working status, which could introduce selection bias and errors due to miscoding; and potential lack of adjustment for important confounders. Breastfeeding discontinuation and cesarean section delivery were associated with PPD during the 6-month postpartum period. Our results support the implementation of breastfeeding promoting policies, and PPD screening and treatment programs during the early postpartum period. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol induces apoptosis in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells by downregulating the protein kinase B signaling pathway.

PubMed

Lu, Zeyuan; Xu, Huali; Yu, Xiaofeng; Wang, Yuchen; Huang, Long; Jin, Xin; Sui, Dayun

2018-02-01

Hepatoblastoma is the most common primary liver tumor for children aged <5 years old. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is a ginsenoside extracted from Pananx quinquefolium L ., which inhibits tumor growth in several cancer cell lines. The purpose of the present study was to assess the anticancer activities of 20(S)-PPD in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. The cytotoxicity of 20(S)-PPD on HepG2 cells was evaluated using an MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected using DAPI staining and flow cytometry. The expression of apoptosis-associated proteins was identified by western blotting. The results demonstrated that 20(S)-PPD inhibited the viability of HepG2 cell in a dose and time-dependent manner. The IC 50 values were 81.35, 73.5, 48.79 µM at 24, 48 and 72 h, respectively. Topical morphological changes of apoptotic body formation following 20(S)-PPD treatment were detected by DAPI staining. The percentage of Annexin V-fluoroscein isothyiocyanate positive cells were 3.73, 17.61, 23.44 and 65.43% in HepG2 cells treated with 0, 40, 50 and 60 µM of 20(S)-PPD, respectively. Furthermore, 20(S)-PPD upregulated the expression of Bax and downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and also activated caspases-3 and -9, and Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase cleavage. In addition, 20(S)-PPD inhibited the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt; Ser473). The results indicate that 20(S)-PPD inhibits the viability of HepG2 cells and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells by inhibiting the phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Inhibitory Mechanisms in Primary Somatosensory Cortex Mediate the Effects of Peripheral Electrical Stimulation on Tactile Spatial Discrimination.

PubMed

Saito, Kei; Otsuru, Naofumi; Inukai, Yasuto; Kojima, Sho; Miyaguchi, Shota; Tsuiki, Shota; Sasaki, Ryoki; Onishi, Hideaki

2018-06-01

Selective afferent activation can be used to improve somatosensory function, possibly by altering cortical inhibitory circuit activity. Peripheral electrical stimulation (PES) is widely used to induce selective afferent activation, and its effect may depend on PES intensity. Therefore, we investigated the effects of high- and low-intensity PES applied to the right index finger on tactile discrimination performance and cortical sensory-evoked potential paired-pulse depression (SEP-PPD) in 25 neurologically healthy subjects. In Experiment 1, a grating orientation task (GOT) was performed before and immediately after local high- and low-intensity PES (both delivered as 1-s, 20-Hz trains of 0.2-ms electrical pulses at 5-s intervals). In Experiment 2, PPD of SEP components N20/P25_SEP-PPD and N20_SEP-PPD, respectively, were assessed before and immediately after high- and low-intensity PES. Improved GOT discrimination performance after high-intensity PES (reduced discrimination threshold) was associated with lower baseline performance (higher baseline discrimination threshold). Subjects were classified into low and high (baseline) GOT performance groups. Improved GOT discrimination performance in the low GOT performance group was significantly associated with a greater N20_SEP-PPD decrease (weaker PPD). Subjects were also classified into GOT improvement and GOT decrement groups. High-intensity PES decreased N20_SEP-PPD in the GOT improvement group but increased N20_SEP-PPD in the GOT decrement group. Furthermore, a greater decrease in GOT discrimination threshold was significantly associated with a greater N20_SEP-PPD decrease in the GOT improvement group. These results suggest that high-intensity PES can improve sensory perception in subjects with low baseline function by modulating cortical inhibitory circuits in primary somatosensory cortex. Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Variation in cassava germplasm for tolerance to post-harvest physiological deterioration.

PubMed

Venturini, M T; Santos, L R; Vildoso, C I A; Santos, V S; Oliveira, E J

2016-05-06

Tolerant varieties can effectively control post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD) of cassava, although knowledge on the genetic variability and inheritance of this trait is needed. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and identify sources of tolerance to PPD and their stability in cassava accessions. Roots from 418 cassava accessions, grown in four independent experiments, were evaluated for PPD tolerance 0, 2, 5, and 10 days post-harvest. Data were transformed into area under the PPD-progress curve (AUP-PPD) to quantify tolerance. Genetic parameters, stability (Si), adaptability (Ai), and the joint analysis of stability and adaptability (Zi) were obtained via residual maximum likelihood (REML) and best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) methods. Variance in the genotype (G) x environment (E) interaction and genotypic variance were important for PPD tolerance. Individual broad-sense heritability (hg(2)= 0.38 ± 0.04) and average heritability in accessions (hmg(2)= 0.52) showed high genetic control of PPD tolerance. Genotypic correlation of AUP-PPD in different experiments was of medium magnitude (ȓgA = 0.42), indicating significant G x E interaction. The predicted genotypic values o f G x E free of interaction (û + ĝi) showed high variation. Of the 30 accessions with high Zi, 19 were common to û + ĝi, Si, and Ai parameters. The genetic gain with selection of these 19 cassava accessions was -55.94, -466.86, -397.72, and -444.03% for û + ĝi, Si, Ai, and Zi, respectively, compared with the overall mean for each parameter. These results demonstrate the variability and potential of cassava germplasm to introduce PPD tolerance in commercial varieties.

Short, natural, and extended photoperiod response in BC2F4 lines of bread wheat with different photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) alleles.

PubMed

Bentley, A R; Horsnell, R; Werner, C P; Turner, A S; Rose, G A; Bedard, C; Howell, P; Wilhelm, E P; Mackay, I J; Howells, R M; Greenland, A; Laurie, D A; Gosman, N

2013-04-01

Flowering is a critical period in the life cycle of flowering plant species, resulting in an irreversible commitment of significant resources. Wheat is photoperiod sensitive, flowering only when daylength surpasses a critical length; however, photoperiod insensitivity (PI) has been selected by plant breeders for >40 years to enhance yield in certain environments. Control of flowering time has been greatly facilitated by the development of molecular markers for the Photoperiod-1 (Ppd-1) homeoloci, on the group 2 chromosomes. In the current study, an allelic series of BC2F4 lines in the winter wheat cultivars 'Robigus' and 'Alchemy' was developed to elucidate the influence on flowering of eight gene variants from the B- and D-genomes of bread wheat and the A-genome of durum wheat. Allele effects were tested in short, natural, and extended photoperiods in the field and controlled environments. Across genetic background and treatment, the D-genome PI allele, Ppd-D1a, had a more potent effect on reducing flowering time than Ppd-B1a. However, there was significant donor allele effect for both Ppd-D1a and Ppd-B1a, suggesting the presence of linked modifier genes and/or additional sources of latent sensitivity. Development of Ppd-A1a BC2F4 lines derived from synthetic hexaploid wheat provided an opportunity to compare directly the flowering time effect of the A-genome allele from durum with the B- and D-genome variants from bread wheat for the first time. Analyses indicated that the reducing effect of Ppd-A1a is comparable with that of Ppd-D1a, confirming it as a useful alternative source of PI.

Preventable mix-ups of tuberculin and vaccines: reports to the US Vaccine and Drug Safety Reporting Systems.

PubMed

Chang, Soju; Pool, Vitali; O'Connell, Kathryn; Polder, Jacquelyn A; Iskander, John; Sweeney, Colleen; Ball, Robert; Braun, M Miles

2008-01-01

Errors involving the mix-up of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) and vaccines leading to adverse reactions and unnecessary medical management have been reported previously. To determine the frequency of PPD-vaccine mix-ups reported to the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) and the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS), characterize adverse events and clusters involving mix-ups and describe reported contributory factors. We reviewed AERS reports from 1969 to 2005 and VAERS reports from 1990 to 2005. We defined a mix-up error event as an incident in which a single patient or a cluster of patients inadvertently received vaccine instead of a PPD product or received a PPD product instead of vaccine. We defined a cluster as inadvertent administration of PPD or vaccine products to more than one patient in the same facility within 1 month. Of 115 mix-up events identified, 101 involved inadvertent administration of vaccines instead of PPD. Product confusion involved PPD and multiple vaccines. The annual number of reported mix-ups increased from an average of one event per year in the early 1990s to an average of ten events per year in the early part of this decade. More than 240 adults and children were affected and the majority reported local injection site reactions. Four individuals were hospitalized (all recovered) after receiving the wrong products. Several patients were inappropriately started on tuberculosis prophylaxis as a result of a vaccine local reaction being interpreted as a positive tuberculin skin test. Reported potential contributory factors involved both system factors (e.g. similar packaging) and human errors (e.g. failure to read label before product administration). To prevent PPD-vaccine mix-ups, proper storage, handling and administration of vaccine and PPD products is necessary.

Effect of Nadir CD4+ T Cell Count on Clinical Measures of Periodontal Disease in HIV+ Adults before and during Immune Reconstitution on HAART

PubMed Central

Vernon, Lance T.; Demko, Catherine A.; Babineau, Denise C.; Wang, Xuelei; Toossi, Zahra; Weinberg, Aaron; Rodriguez, Benigno

2013-01-01

Background The contribution of HIV-infection to periodontal disease (PD) is poorly understood.  We proposed that immunological markers would be associated with improved clinical measures of PD. Methods We performed a longitudinal cohort study of HIV-infected adults who had started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) <2 years. PD was characterized clinically as the percent of teeth with ≥1 site with periodontal probing depth (PPD) ≥5.0mm, recession (REC) >0mm, clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥4.0mm, and bleeding on probing (BOP) at ≥4 sites/tooth and microbiologically as specific periodontopathogen concentration. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess the associations between immune function and PD. Results Forty (40) subjects with median 2.7 months on HAART and median nadir CD4+ T-cell count of 212 cells/μl completed a median 3 visits. Over 24 months, CD4+ T-cell count increased by a mean 173 cells/µl (p<0.001) and HIV RNA decreased by 0.5 log10 copies/ml (p<0.001); concurrently, PPD, CAL and BOP decreased by a mean 11.7%, 12.1%, and 14.7% respectively (all p<0.001). Lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with worse baseline REC (-6.72%; p=0.04) and CAL (9.06%; p<0.001). Further, lower nadir CD4+ T-cell count was associated with a greater relative longitudinal improvement in PPD in subjects with higher baseline levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (p=0.027), and BOP in subjects with higher baseline levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis or Treponema denticola (p=0.001 and p=0.006 respectively). Longitudinal changes from baseline in CD4+ T-cell count and level of HIV RNA were not independently associated with longitudinal changes in any clinical markers of PD. Conclusion Degree of immunosuppression was associated with baseline gingival recession. After HAART initiation, measures of active PD improved most in those with lower nadir CD4+ T-cell counts and higher baseline levels of specific periodontopathogens. Nadir CD4+ T-cell count differentially influences periodontal disease both before and after HAART in HIV-infected adults. PMID:24146949

Xenon in the protoplanetary disk (PPD-XE)

DOE PAGES

Marti, K.; Mathew, K. J.

2015-06-18

Relationships among solar system Xe components as observed in the solar wind (SW), in planetary atmospheres and in meteorites are investigated using isotopic correlations. The term PPD-Xe is used for components inferred to have been present in the molecular cloud material that formed the protoplanetary disk (PPD). The evidence of the lack of simple relationships between terrestrial atmospheric Xe and solar or meteoritic components is confirmed. Xe isotopic correlations indicate a heterogeneous PPD composition with variable mixing ratios of the nucleosynthetic component Xe-HL. Solar Xe represents a bulk PPD component, and the isotopic abundances did not change from the timemore » of incorporation into the interior of Mars, through times of regolith implantations to the present.« less

Roles of microRNA in the immature immune system of neonates.

PubMed

Yu, Hong-Ren; Huang, Lien-Hung; Li, Sung-Chou

2018-06-13

Neonates have an immature immune system; therefore, their immune activities are different from the activities of adult immune systems. Such differences between neonates and adults are reflected by cell population constitutions, immune responses, cytokine production, and the expression of cellular/humoral molecules, which contribute to the specific neonatal microbial susceptibility and atopic properties. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered to modulate many aspects of immune responses. Herein, we summarize the distinct manifestations of the neonatal immune system, including cellular and non-cellular components. We also review the current findings on the modulatory effects of miRNAs on the neonatal immune system. These findings suggest that miRNAs have the potential to be useful therapeutic targets for certain infection or inflammatory conditions by modulating the neonatal immune system. In the future, we need a more comprehensive understanding in regard to miRNAs and how they modulate specific immune cells in neonates. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The role of ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, and polysaccharides in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots under postharvest physiological deterioration.

PubMed

Uarrota, Virgílio Gavicho; Moresco, Rodolfo; Schmidt, Eder Carlos; Bouzon, Zenilda Laurita; Nunes, Eduardo da Costa; Neubert, Enilto de Oliveira; Peruch, Luiz Augusto Martins; Rocha, Miguel; Maraschin, Marcelo

2016-04-15

This study aimed to investigate the role of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), polysaccharides, and protein contents associated with the early events of postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) in cassava roots. Increases in APX and GPX activity, as well as total protein contents occurred from 3 to 5 days of storage and were correlated with the delay of PPD. Cassava samples stained with Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) highlighted the presence of starch and cellulose. Degradation of starch granules during PPD was also detected. Slight metachromatic reaction with toluidine blue is indicative of increasing of acidic polysaccharides and may play an important role in PPD delay. Principal component analysis (PCA) classified samples according to their levels of enzymatic activity based on the decision tree model which showed GPX and total protein amounts to be correlated with PPD. The Oriental (ORI) cultivar was more susceptible to PPD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of para-phenylenediamine (PPD) in henna in the United Arab Emirates.

PubMed

Al-Suwaidi, Ayesha; Ahmed, Hafiz

2010-04-01

Henna is very popular in the United Arab Emirates (UAE); it is part of the culture and traditions. Allergy to natural henna is not usual; however the addition of para-phenylenediamine (PPD) to the natural henna increases the risk of allergic contact dermatitis. The objectives of the study were to identify the presence and concentration of PPD in henna available in UAE. Fifteen henna salons were selected randomly from three cities in UAE. Twenty five henna samples were acquired from these selected salons. The presence of PPD in henna samples was determined qualitatively and quantitatively using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The study showed that PPD was present in all of the black henna samples at concentrations ranging between 0.4% and 29.5% and higher than that recommended for hair dyes in most of the black henna samples. The presence of PPD in the black henna increases the risk of allergic contact dermatitis among users of black henna and a number of cases have already been reported in UAE.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) analogues chemosensitize multidrug-resistant cancer cells to clinical anticancer drugs.

PubMed

Liu, Junhua; Wang, Xu; Liu, Peng; Deng, Rongxin; Lei, Min; Chen, Wantao; Hu, Lihong

2013-07-15

Novel 20(S)-protopanoxadiol (PPD) analogues were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for the chemosensitizing activity against a multidrug resistant (MDR) cell line (KBvcr) overexpressing P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Structure-activity relationship analysis showed that aromatic substituted aliphatic amine at the 24-positions (groups V) effectively and significantly sensitized P-gp overexpressing multidrug resistant (MDR) cells to anticancer drugs, such as docetaxel (DOC), vincristine (VCR), and adriamycin (ADM). PPD derivatives 12 and 18 showed 1.3-2.6 times more effective reversal ability than verapamil (VER) for DOC and VCR. Importantly, no cytotoxicity was observed by the active PPD analogues (5μM) against both non-MDR and MDR cells, suggesting that PPD analogues serve as novel lead compounds toward a potent and safe resistance modulator. Moreover, a preliminary mechanism study demonstrated that the chemosensitizing activity of PPD analogues results from inhibition of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpressed in MDR cancer cells. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

pH-Responsive Micelle-Based Cytoplasmic Delivery System for Induction of Cellular Immunity.

PubMed

Yuba, Eiji; Sakaguchi, Naoki; Kanda, Yuhei; Miyazaki, Maiko; Koiwai, Kazunori

2017-11-04

(1) Background: Cytoplasmic delivery of antigens is crucial for the induction of cellular immunity, which is an important immune response for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. To date, fusogenic protein-incorporated liposomes and pH-responsive polymer-modified liposomes have been used to achieve cytoplasmic delivery of antigen via membrane rupture or fusion with endosomes. However, a more versatile cytoplasmic delivery system is desired for practical use. For this study, we developed pH-responsive micelles composed of dilauroyl phosphatidylcholine (DLPC) and deoxycholic acid and investigated their cytoplasmic delivery performance and immunity-inducing capability. (2) Methods: Interaction of micelles with fluorescence dye-loaded liposomes, intracellular distribution of micelles, and antigenic proteins were observed. Finally, antigen-specific cellular immune response was evaluated in vivo using ELIspot assay. (3) Results: Micelles induced leakage of contents from liposomes via lipid mixing at low pH. Micelles were taken up by dendritic cells mainly via macropinocytosis and delivered ovalbumin (OVA) into the cytosol. After intradermal injection of micelles and OVA, OVA-specific cellular immunity was induced in the spleen. (4) Conclusions: pH-responsive micelles composed of DLPC and deoxycholic acid are promising as enhancers of cytosol delivery of antigens and the induction capability of cellular immunity for the treatment of cancer immunotherapy and infectious diseases.

[Effect of cellular immune supportive treatment on immunity of esophageal carcinoma patients after modern two-field lymph node dissection].

PubMed

Wang, Jun-Ye; Ma, Guo-Wei; Dai, Shu-Qin; Rong, Tie-Hua; Wang, Xin; Lin, Peng; Ye, Wen-Feng; Zhang, Lan-Jun; Li, Xiao-Dong; Zhang, Xu; Yao, Guang-Yu

2007-07-01

Cellular immunity suppression is marked in patients with esophageal carcinoma, which may be resulted temporarily from surgical injury. This study was to evaluate the effect of cellular immune supportive treatment on cellular immunity of patients with esophageal carcinoma. A total of 60 patients with thoracic esophageal carcinoma, received two-field dissection, were randomized into control group and trial (immune supportive treatment) group. The patients in trial group were injected with Shenqi injection after operation; the patients in control group received no immune supportive treatment. Peripheral blood samples were obtained before operation, and 3 and 9 days after operation. AgNOR (argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions) activity in peripheral blood T lymphocytes was measured by tumor immune microphotometry. T cell subsets were measured by flow cytometry. The proportions of CD3+CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ cells were significantly higher in trial group than in control group at 3 days after operation (P < 0.05). The amount of AgNOR and proportions of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD4+CD25+ cells were significantly higher in trial group than in control group at 9 days after operation (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in 1-year survival rate between the 2 groups (P > 0.05). Shenqi injection could obviously improve cellular immunity of the esophageal carcinoma patients after modern two-field dissection.

Prevalence and predictors of postpartum depression among Arabic Muslim Jordanian women serving in the military.

PubMed

Yehia, Dalal Bashir Moh'd; Callister, Lynn Clark; Hamdan-Mansour, Ayman

2013-01-01

The purpose of this cross-sectional correlational study was to investigate the prevalence of symptoms and psychosocial predictors of postpartum depression (PPD) among Arabic Muslim Jordanian women serving in the military. Jordanian active-duty military women who had given birth within the last year (n = 300) and were working in 4 military hospitals participated in the study. Tools used included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and the Multidimensional Perception of Social Support. Sixty-seven percent of study participants had mild to moderate symptoms of PPD, and 16% had high levels of symptoms of PPD. Seventy-five percent reported having adequate social support, and 75% reported perceived stress above the cutoff score. There was a strong positive significant relationship between symptoms of PPD and perceptions of stress. There was a significant moderate negative relationship between symptoms of PPD and perception of social support. Income, intendedness of pregnancy, mode of birth, family social support, and perception of stress were the strongest predictors of PPD. There was a reciprocal relationship between PPD and psychosocial variables, with women having low levels of perceived stress and satisfaction with social support having fewer symptoms of postpartum. These findings demonstrate the need to address the psychosocial needs of Arabic Muslim Jordanian childbearing women serving in the military through comprehensive interventions. Findings highlight the importance of social support in decreasing perceived stress and symptoms of PPD in these women.

12-Chloracetyl-PPD, a novel dammarane derivative, shows anti-cancer activity via delay the progression of cell cycle G2/M phase and reactive oxygen species-mediate cell apoptosis.

PubMed

Wang, Xu De; Sun, Yuan Yuan; Zhao, Chen; Qu, Fan Zhi; Zhao, Yu Qing

2017-03-05

(20R)-Dammarane-3β, 12β, 20, 25-tetrol (25-OH-PPD) is a ginsenoside isolated from Panax ginseng (C. A. Meyer). This compound exhibits anti-cancer activities on many human cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated anti-cancer mechanisms of 12β-O-( L -Chloracetyl)-dammar-20(22)-ene-3β,25-diol(12-Chloracetyl-PPD), a modified 25-OH-PPD. We found that compound 12-Chloracetyl-PPD resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of viability in prostate, breast, and gastric cancer cells, without affecting the viability of normal cell (human gastric epithelial cell line-GES-1, hair follicle dermal papilla cell line-HHDPC and rat myocardial cell line-H9C2). In MDA-MB-435 and C4-2B cancer cells, 12-Chloracetyl-PPD induced G2/M cell cycle arrest, down-regulated mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) expression, up-regulated p53 expression, triggered apoptosis, and stimulated reactive oxygen species production. Apoptosis can be attenuated by the reactive oxygen species scavenger N-acetylcysteine. Our results suggested that compound 12-Chloracetyl-PPD showed obvious anti-cancer activity based on delaying cell cycle arrest and inducing cell apoptosis by reactive oxygen species production, which supported development of 12-Chloracetyl-PPD as a potential agent for cancer chemotherapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The nociception genes painless and Piezo are required for the cellular immune response of Drosophila larvae to wasp parasitization.

PubMed

Tokusumi, Yumiko; Tokusumi, Tsuyoshi; Schulz, Robert A

2017-05-13

In vertebrates, interaction between the nervous system and immune system is important to protect a challenged host from stress inputs from external sources. In this study, we demonstrate that sensory neurons are involved in the cellular immune response elicited by wasp infestation of Drosophila larvae. Multidendritic class IV neurons sense contacts from external stimuli and induce avoidance behaviors for host defense. Our findings show that inactivation of these sensory neurons impairs the cellular response against wasp parasitization. We also demonstrate that the nociception genes encoding the mechanosensory receptors Painless and Piezo, both expressed in class IV neurons, are essential for the normal cellular immune response to parasite challenge. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Impaired cellular immune response to tetanus toxoid but not to cytomegalovirus in effectively HAART-treated HIV-infected children.

PubMed

Alsina, Laia; Noguera-Julian, Antoni; Fortuny, Clàudia

2013-05-07

Despite of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the response to vaccines in HIV-infected children is poor and short-lived, probably due to a defect in cellular immune responses. We compared the cellular immune response (assessed in terms of IFN-γ production) to tetanus toxoid and to cytomegalovirus in a series of 13 HIV-perinatally-infected children and adolescents with optimal immunovirological response to first line antiretroviral therapy, implemented during chronic infection. A stronger cellular response to cytomegalovirus (11 out of 13 patients) was observed, as compared to tetanus toxoid (1 out of 13; p=0.003). These results suggest that the repeated exposition to CMV, as opposed to the past exposition to TT, is able to maintain an effective antigen-specific immune response in stable HIV-infected pediatric patients and strengthen current recommendations on immunization practices in these children. Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Metabolic regulation of inflammation.

PubMed

Gaber, Timo; Strehl, Cindy; Buttgereit, Frank

2017-05-01

Immune cells constantly patrol the body via the bloodstream and migrate into multiple tissues where they face variable and sometimes demanding environmental conditions. Nutrient and oxygen availability can vary during homeostasis, and especially during the course of an immune response, creating a demand for immune cells that are highly metabolically dynamic. As an evolutionary response, immune cells have developed different metabolic programmes to supply them with cellular energy and biomolecules, enabling them to cope with changing and challenging metabolic conditions. In the past 5 years, it has become clear that cellular metabolism affects immune cell function and differentiation, and that disease-specific metabolic configurations might provide an explanation for the dysfunctional immune responses seen in rheumatic diseases. This Review outlines the metabolic challenges faced by immune cells in states of homeostasis and inflammation, as well as the variety of metabolic configurations utilized by immune cells during differentiation and activation. Changes in cellular metabolism that contribute towards the dysfunctional immune responses seen in rheumatic diseases are also briefly discussed.

78 FR 65675 - National Infrastructure Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-01

... after the report of the Executive Order (EO) 13636 and Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 21 Implementation (EO-PPD) Working Group. We request that comments be limited to the issues listed in the meeting... contribution of public private partnerships. The committee will also receive a presentation from the EO-PPD...

77 FR 37916 - National Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-25

... Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8) on National Preparedness, the Public Assistance (PA) Bottom-Up Review... 1:45 p.m. EST, additionally; new members will be sworn- in. PPD-8, signed on March 30, 2011, directs... goal. PPD-8 replaces Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 (HSPD-8) and Annex 1. More information...

The stability of human, bovine and avian tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD).

PubMed

Maes, Mailis; Giménez, José Francisco; D'Alessandro, Adriana; De Waard, Jacobus H

2011-11-15

Guidelines recommend storing tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) refrigerated. However, especially in developing countries, maintaining the product refrigerated under field conditions can be difficult, limiting its use. Here we determine the effect of prolonged exposure to high temperatures on the potency of human, bovine and avian tuberculin PPD. Human, bovine and avian tuberculin PPD were stored for several weeks exposed to temperatures ranging from 37º to 100ºC. The potency was evaluated in vivo, in sensitized or naturally infected animals. Most test situations didn't affect the biological activity of the tuberculin PPDs and only very long and extreme incubations (several days at 100 °C) compromised the potency. Tuberculin PPD is very stable and can be stored or transported for long periods without refrigeration. 

Water-soluble derivatives of 25-OCH3-PPD and their anti-proliferative activities.

PubMed

Zhou, Wu-Xi; Sun, Yuan-Yuan; Yuan, Wei-Hui; Zhao, Yu-Qing

2017-05-01

(20R)-25-Methoxyl-dammarane-3β,12β,20-triol (25-OCH 3 -PPD, AD-1) is a dammarane-type sapogenin showing anti-tumor potential. In the search for new anti-tumor agents with higher potency than our previously identified compound 25-OCH 3 -PPD, 11 novel sulfamic acid and diacid derivatives that could improve water solubility and contribute to good drug potency and pharmacokinetic profiles were designed and synthesized. Their in vitro anti-tumor activities in MCF-7, A-549, HCT-116, and BGC-823 cell lines and one normal cell line were tested by standard MTT assay. Results showed that compared with compound 25-OCH 3 -PPD, compounds 1, 4, and 5 exhibited higher cytotoxic activity on almost all cell lines, together with lower toxicity in the normal cell. In particular, compound 1 exhibited the best anti-tumor activity in the in vitro assays. The water solubility of 25-OCH 3 -PPD and its derivatives was tested and the results showed that the solubility of 25-OCH 3 -PPD sulfamic acid and diacid derivatives were better than that of 25-OCH 3 -PPD in water, which may provide valuable data for the research and development of new anti-tumor agents. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Involvement of cathepsin B in mitochondrial apoptosis by p-phenylenediamine under ambient UV radiation.

PubMed

Goyal, Shruti; Amar, Saroj Kumar; Dubey, Divya; Pal, Manish Kumar; Singh, Jyoti; Verma, Ankit; Kushwaha, Hari Narayan; Ray, Ratan Singh

2015-12-30

Paraphenylenediamine (PPD), a derivative of paranitroaniline has been most commonly used as an ingredient of oxidative hair dye and permanent tattoos. We have studied the phototoxic potential of PPD under ambient ultraviolet radiation. PPD is photodegraded and form a novel photoproduct under UV A exposure. PPD shows a concentration dependent decrease in cell viability of human Keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) through MTT and NRU test. Significant intracellular ROS generation was measured by DCFDA assay. It caused an oxidative DNA damage via single stranded DNA breaks, micronuclei and CPD formation. Both lysosome and mitochondria is main target for PPD induced apoptosis which was proved through lysosomal destabilization and release of cathepsin B by immunofluorescence, real time PCR and western blot analysis. Cathepsin B process BID to active tBID which induces the release of cytochrome C from mitochondria. Mitochondrial depolarization was reported through transmission electron microscopy. The cathepsin inhibitor reduced the release of cytochrome C in PPD treated cells. Thus study suggests that PPD leads to apoptosis via the involvement of lysosome and mitochondria both under ambient UV radiation. Therefore, photosensitizing nature of hair dye ingredients should be tested before coming to market as a cosmetic product for the safety of human beings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The role of B cells and humoral immunity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

PubMed

Chan, John; Mehta, Simren; Bharrhan, Sushma; Chen, Yong; Achkar, Jacqueline M; Casadevall, Arturo; Flynn, JoAnne

2014-12-01

Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a major public health burden. It is generally thought that while B cell- and antibody-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens, the primary control of intracellular microbes derives from cellular immune mechanisms. Studies on the immune regulatory mechanisms during infection with M. tuberculosis, a facultative intracellular organism, has established the importance of cell-mediated immunity in host defense during tuberculous infection. Emerging evidence suggest a role for B cell and humoral immunity in the control of intracellular pathogens, including obligatory species, through interactions with the cell-mediated immune compartment. Recent studies have shown that B cells and antibodies can significantly impact on the development of immune responses to the tubercle bacillus. In this review, we present experimental evidence supporting the notion that the importance of humoral and cellular immunity in host defense may not be entirely determined by the niche of the pathogen. A comprehensive approach that examines both humoral and cellular immunity could lead to better understanding of the immune response to M. tuberculosis. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The role of B cells and humoral immunity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

PubMed Central

Chan, John; Mehta, Simren; Bharrhan, Sushma; Chen, Yong; Achkar, Jacqueline M.; Casadevall, Arturo; Flynn, JoAnne

2014-01-01

Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a major public health burden. It is generally thought that while B cell- and antibody-mediated immunity plays an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens, the primary control of intracellular microbes derives from cellular immune mechanisms. Studies on the immune regulatory mechanisms during infection with M. tuberculosis, a facultative intracellular organism, has established the importance of cell-mediated immunity in host defense during tuberculous infection. Emerging evidence suggest a role for B cell and humoral immunity in the control of intracellular pathogens, including obligatory species, through interactions with the cell-mediated immune compartment. Recent studies have shown that B cells and antibodies can significantly impact on the development of immune responses to the tubercle bacillus. In this review, we present experimental evidence supporting the notion that the importance of humoral and cellular immunity in host defense may not be entirely determined by the niche of the pathogen. A comprehensive approach that examines both humoral and cellular immunity could lead to better understanding of the immune response to M. tuberculosis. PMID:25458990

Effect of Neutralizing Transforming Growth Factor β1 on the Immune Response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Guinea Pigs

PubMed Central

Allen, Shannon Sedberry; Cassone, Lynne; Lasco, Todd M.; McMurray, David N.

2004-01-01

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a cytokine which has been shown to suppress the antimycobacterial immune responses of humans and experimental animals. In this study, the contributions of TGF-β to cytokine production in vivo were investigated by using the established guinea pig model of tuberculous pleurisy. Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated guinea pigs were injected intrapleurally with heat-killed virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Eight days following induction of an antigen-specific pleural effusion, guinea pigs were injected intrapleurally with anti-TGF-β1 or isotype control antibody. The following day, pleural exudates were removed, and the fluid volume and characteristics of the infiltrating cells were determined. Pleural fluid was analyzed for total interferon (IFN) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) protein levels by using appropriate bioassays. RNA from pleural effusion cells was examined to determine TGF-β1, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and interleukin-8 mRNA levels by using real-time PCR. Proliferative responses of pleural effusion lymphocytes were examined in response to concanavalin A and purified protein derivative (PPD) in vitro. Treatment with anti-TGF-β1 resulted in decreased pleural fluid volume and decreased cell numbers in the pleural space along with an increased percentage of lymphocytes and a decreased percentage of neutrophils. The bioactive TNF protein levels in pleural fluid were increased in guinea pigs treated with anti-TGF-β1, while the bioactive IFN protein concentrations were not altered. Expression of TGF-β1 and TNF-α mRNA was significantly increased following TGF-β1 neutralization. Finally, PPD-induced proliferative responses of pleural cells from anti-TGF-β1-treated animals were significantly enhanced. Thus, TGF-β1 may be involved in the resolution of this local, mycobacterial antigen-specific inflammatory response. PMID:14977939

Rab GTPases in Immunity and Inflammation.

PubMed

Prashar, Akriti; Schnettger, Laura; Bernard, Elliott M; Gutierrez, Maximiliano G

2017-01-01

Strict spatiotemporal control of trafficking events between organelles is critical for maintaining homeostasis and directing cellular responses. This regulation is particularly important in immune cells for mounting specialized immune defenses. By controlling the formation, transport and fusion of intracellular organelles, Rab GTPases serve as master regulators of membrane trafficking. In this review, we discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which Rab GTPases regulate immunity and inflammation.

Adult physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and postpartum depression, a population based, prospective study of 53,065 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

PubMed

Sørbø, Marie Flem; Grimstad, Hilde; Bjørngaard, Johan Håkon; Lukasse, Mirjam; Schei, Berit

2014-09-08

Postpartum depression (PPD) has detrimental consequences to the women, their infants and families. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between adult abuse and PPD. This study was based on data from 53,065 pregnant women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), conducted by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Women were recruited through a postal invitation in relation to a routine ultra-sound invitation at week 18 of gestation. Exposure to adult emotional, sexual, physical abuse was based on self-report at week 30, also differentiating if the perpetrator was known or a stranger, and whether the abuse was recent or not (<12 month since abuse). PPD was measured with a four items version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDS) at six months postpartum. The associations between different types of adult abuse and PPD were performed with logistic regression, adjusting for age, parity, civil status, education, child abuse, social support, and depression prior to pregnancy. Altogether, 11% had PPD, and 19% had been exposed to adult abuse. Women reporting adult abuse had an 80% increased fully adjusted odds of PPD (OR 1.8 95% CI 1.7-1.9) compared to non-abused women. There was a tendency towards higher odds of PPD for women reporting combinations of adult abuse (emotional, sexual and physical), as compared with those reporting sexual, emotional or physical abuse only. Exposure from known perpetrator was more strongly associated with PPD than exposure from an unknown perpetrator. Compared with women without adult abuse, the fully adjusted odds of PPD was 2.6 (95% CI 2.4-2.9) higher for women with any recent adult abuse and 1.5 (95% CI 1.5-1.7) higher for women with any adult abuse, but not recent. The results from this large prospective population-based cohort study support initiatives aiming to assess and adequately address abuse when counseling and treating women of PPD.

Extending cassava root shelf life via reduction of reactive oxygen species production.

PubMed

Zidenga, Tawanda; Leyva-Guerrero, Elisa; Moon, Hangsik; Siritunga, Dimuth; Sayre, Richard

2012-08-01

One of the major constraints facing the large-scale production of cassava (Manihot esculenta) roots is the rapid postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) that occurs within 72 h following harvest. One of the earliest recognized biochemical events during the initiation of PPD is a rapid burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. We have investigated the source of this oxidative burst to identify possible strategies to limit its extent and to extend cassava root shelf life. We provide evidence for a causal link between cyanogenesis and the onset of the oxidative burst that triggers PPD. By measuring ROS accumulation in transgenic low-cyanogen plants with and without cyanide complementation, we show that PPD is cyanide dependent, presumably resulting from a cyanide-dependent inhibition of respiration. To reduce cyanide-dependent ROS production in cassava root mitochondria, we generated transgenic plants expressing a codon-optimized Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mitochondrial alternative oxidase gene (AOX1A). Unlike cytochrome c oxidase, AOX is cyanide insensitive. Transgenic plants overexpressing AOX exhibited over a 10-fold reduction in ROS accumulation compared with wild-type plants. The reduction in ROS accumulation was associated with a delayed onset of PPD by 14 to 21 d after harvest of greenhouse-grown plants. The delay in PPD in transgenic plants was also observed under field conditions, but with a root biomass yield loss in the highest AOX-expressing lines. These data reveal a mechanism for PPD in cassava based on cyanide-induced oxidative stress as well as PPD control strategies involving inhibition of ROS production or its sequestration.

Risk For Postpartum Depression Among Immigrant Arabic Women in the United States: A Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Alhasanat, Dalia; Fry-McComish, Judith; Yarandi, Hossein N

2017-07-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) affects approximately 14% of women in the United States and 10% to 37% of Arabic women in the Middle East. Evidence suggests that immigrant women experience higher rates, but information on PPD among immigrant women of Arabic descent in the United States is nonexistent. A cross-sectional descriptive feasibility study was conducted to assess the practicality of implementing a larger proposed research study to examine predictors of PPD in US immigrant women of Arabic descent residing in Dearborn, Michigan. Fifty women were recruited from an Arab community center and completed demographic data, the Arabic version of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory-Revised (PDPI-R). Among participants, 36% were considered at high risk for developing PPD. Lack of social support, antenatal anxiety, antenatal depression, maternity blues (feeling depressed during the first 4 weeks postpartum), and life stress were significantly related to risk for PPD. Multiple regression analysis revealed that social support (t = -3.77, P < .0001) and maternity blues (t = 2.19, P = .03) were the only significant predictors for postpartum depressive symptoms. Findings of this study describe the prevalence of PPD in a sample of US immigrant women of Arabic descent and support the feasibility of a larger and more in-depth understanding of their immigration and acculturation experiences. Study participants reported high risk for PPD. Maternity blues and lack of social support were significant predictors to the risk for PPD. Future research tailored to this minority group is recommended. © 2017 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Extending Cassava Root Shelf Life via Reduction of Reactive Oxygen Species Production1[C][W][OA

PubMed Central

Zidenga, Tawanda; Leyva-Guerrero, Elisa; Moon, Hangsik; Siritunga, Dimuth; Sayre, Richard

2012-01-01

One of the major constraints facing the large-scale production of cassava (Manihot esculenta) roots is the rapid postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD) that occurs within 72 h following harvest. One of the earliest recognized biochemical events during the initiation of PPD is a rapid burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. We have investigated the source of this oxidative burst to identify possible strategies to limit its extent and to extend cassava root shelf life. We provide evidence for a causal link between cyanogenesis and the onset of the oxidative burst that triggers PPD. By measuring ROS accumulation in transgenic low-cyanogen plants with and without cyanide complementation, we show that PPD is cyanide dependent, presumably resulting from a cyanide-dependent inhibition of respiration. To reduce cyanide-dependent ROS production in cassava root mitochondria, we generated transgenic plants expressing a codon-optimized Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) mitochondrial alternative oxidase gene (AOX1A). Unlike cytochrome c oxidase, AOX is cyanide insensitive. Transgenic plants overexpressing AOX exhibited over a 10-fold reduction in ROS accumulation compared with wild-type plants. The reduction in ROS accumulation was associated with a delayed onset of PPD by 14 to 21 d after harvest of greenhouse-grown plants. The delay in PPD in transgenic plants was also observed under field conditions, but with a root biomass yield loss in the highest AOX-expressing lines. These data reveal a mechanism for PPD in cassava based on cyanide-induced oxidative stress as well as PPD control strategies involving inhibition of ROS production or its sequestration. PMID:22711743

Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis of composite resins with CQ and PPD as photo-initiators photoactivated by QTH and LED units.

PubMed

Brandt, William Cunha; Silva, Cristina Gomes; Frollini, Elisabete; Souza-Junior, Eduardo Jose Carvalho; Sinhoreti, Mário Alexandre Coelho

2013-08-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal and mechanical properties of the composite resins containing the photo-initiators camphorquinone (CQ) and/or phenyl-propanodione (PPD) when photoactivated with halogen lamp (XL2500/3M-ESPE), monowave (UltraBlueIS/DMC) and polywave (UltraLume5/Ultradent) LED units. A blend of BisGMA, UDMA, BisEMA and TEGDMA was prepared with the same wt% of photo-initiators CQ and/or PPD and 65wt% of silaneted filler particles. Compression strength (CS), diametral tensile strength (DTS) and diametral modulus (DM) were tested. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was made and the lost residual monomer were verified. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) was used for to analyze the glass transition temperature (Tg) and the storage modulus in 37°C. Degree of conversion (DC) was accomplished in the same samples of DMA using middle-infrared spectroscopy (mid-IR). CQ, CQ/PPD and PPD obtained the same results for all mechanical properties (CS, DTS and DM), lost residual monomer and storage modulus in 37°C, regardless LCU used. The results of Tg showed that the combination PPD-UltraLume5 produced the highest values. DC showed that the combination CQ-UltraLume5 resulted in the highest values and PPD-XL2500 in the lowest DC values. The study shows that PPD is not only effective photosensitizers, but also photocrosslinking agents for dental composite resins with a similar efficiency to CQ. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Progressive Prompt Delay with and without Instructive Feedback

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Reichow, Brian; Wolery, Mark

2011-01-01

We examined the effectiveness and efficiency of 2 instructional arrangements using progressive prompt delay (PPD) with 3 young children with autism and 1 child with developmental delays. Specifically, we compared PPD with instructive feedback (IF) to PPD without IF in an adapted alternating treatment design. The results suggested that (a) children…

77 FR 3483 - National Advisory Council

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-24

... and Mitigation. The NAC will discuss the Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8) on National... Topics in Emergency Management during lunch, scheduled for 12:20 p.m. PST to 1:20 p.m. PST. PPD-8, signed... the Nation to achieve the goal. PPD-8 replaces Homeland Security Presidential Directive 8 (HSPD-8) and...

Anti-lung cancer effects of novel ginsenoside 25-OCH(3)-PPD.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Rayburn, Elizabeth R; Hang, Jie; Zhao, Yuqing; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Ruiwen

2009-09-01

20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3beta, 12beta, 20-triol (25-OCH(3)-PPD), a newly identified natural product from Panax notoginseng, exhibits activity against a variety of cancer cells. Herein, we report the effects of this compound on human A549, H358, and H838 lung cancer cells, and compare these effects with a control lung epithelial cell line, BEAS-2B. 25-OCH(3)-PPD decreased survival, inhibited proliferation, and induced apoptosis and G1 cell cycle arrest in the lung cancer cell lines. The P. notoginseng compound also decreased the levels of proteins associated with cell proliferation and cell survival. Moreover, 25-OCH(3)-PPD inhibited the growth of A549 lung cancer xenograft tumors. 25-OCH(3)-PPD demonstrated low toxicity to non-cancer cells, and no observable toxicity was seen when the compound was administered to animals. In conclusion, our preclinical data indicate that 25-OCH(3)-PPD is a potential therapeutic agent in vitro and in vivo, and further preclinical and clinical development of this agent for lung cancer is warranted.

Distinct pathways of humoral and cellular immunity induced with the mucosal administration of a nanoemulsion adjuvant.

PubMed

Bielinska, Anna U; Makidon, Paul E; Janczak, Katarzyna W; Blanco, Luz P; Swanson, Benjamin; Smith, Douglas M; Pham, Tiffany; Szabo, Zsuzsanna; Kukowska-Latallo, Jolanta F; Baker, James R

2014-03-15

Nasal administration of an oil-in-water nanoemulsion (NE) adjuvant W805EC produces potent systemic and mucosal, Th-1- and Th-17-balanced cellular responses. However, its molecular mechanism of action has not been fully characterized and is of particular interest because NE does not contain specific ligands for innate immune receptors. In these studies, we demonstrate that W805EC NE adjuvant activates innate immunity, induces specific gene transcription, and modulates NF-κB activity via TLR2 and TLR4 by a mechanism that appears to be distinct from typical TLR agonists. Nasal immunization with NE-based vaccine showed that the TLR2, TLR4, and MyD88 pathways and IL-12 and IL-12Rβ1 expression are not required for an Ab response, but they are essential for the induction of balanced Th-1 polarization and Th-17 cellular immunity. NE adjuvant induces MHC class II, CD80, and CD86 costimulatory molecule expression and dendritic cell maturation. Further, upon immunization with NE, adjuvant mice deficient in the CD86 receptor had normal Ab responses but significantly reduced Th-1 cellular responses, whereas animals deficient in both CD80 and CD86 or lacking CD40 failed to produce either humoral or cellular immunity. Overall, our data show that intranasal administration of Ag with NE induces TLR2 and TLR4 activation along with a MyD88-independent Ab response and a MyD88-dependent Th-1 and Th-17 cell-mediated immune response. These findings suggest that the unique properties of NE adjuvant may offer novel opportunities for understanding previously unrecognized mechanisms of immune activation important for generating effective mucosal and systemic immune responses.

Cross-reactivity of anti-HIV-1 T cell immune responses among the major HIV-1 clades in HIV-1-positive individuals from 4 continents.

PubMed

Coplan, Paul M; Gupta, Swati B; Dubey, Sheri A; Pitisuttithum, Punnee; Nikas, Alex; Mbewe, Bernard; Vardas, Efthyia; Schechter, Mauro; Kallas, Esper G; Freed, Dan C; Fu, Tong-Ming; Mast, Christopher T; Puthavathana, Pilaipan; Kublin, James; Brown Collins, Kelly; Chisi, John; Pendame, Richard; Thaler, Scott J; Gray, Glenda; Mcintyre, James; Straus, Walter L; Condra, Jon H; Mehrotra, Devan V; Guess, Harry A; Emini, Emilio A; Shiver, John W

2005-05-01

The genetic diversity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) raises the question of whether vaccines that include a component to elicit antiviral T cell immunity based on a single viral genetic clade could provide cellular immune protection against divergent HIV-1 clades. Therefore, we quantified the cross-clade reactivity, among unvaccinated individuals, of anti-HIV-1 T cell responses to the infecting HIV-1 clade relative to other major circulating clades. Cellular immune responses to HIV-1 clades A, B, and C were compared by standardized interferon- gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assays among 250 unvaccinated individuals, infected with diverse HIV-1 clades, from Brazil, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, and the United States. Cross-clade reactivity was evaluated by use of the ratio of responses to heterologous versus homologous (infecting) clades of HIV-1. Cellular immune responses were predominantly focused on viral Gag and Nef proteins. Cross-clade reactivity of cellular immune responses to HIV-1 clade A, B, and C proteins was substantial for Nef proteins (ratio, 0.97 [95% confidence interval, 0.89-1.05]) and lower for Gag proteins (ratio, 0.67 [95% confidence interval, 0.62-0.73]). The difference in cross-clade reactivity to Nef and Gag proteins was significant (P<.0001). Cross-clade reactivity of cellular immune responses can be substantial but varies by viral protein.

Polyomavirus-Specific Cellular Immunity: From BK-Virus-Specific Cellular Immunity to BK-Virus-Associated Nephropathy?

PubMed Central

Dekeyser, Manon; François, Hélène; Beaudreuil, Séverine; Durrbach, Antoine

2015-01-01

In renal transplantation, BK-virus (BKV)-associated nephropathy has emerged as a major complication, with a prevalence of 1–10% and graft loss in >50% of cases. BKV is a member of the polyomavirus family and rarely induces apparent clinical disease in the general population. However, replication of polyomaviruses, associated with significant organ disease, is observed in patients with acquired immunosuppression. Monitoring of specific immunity combined with viral load could be used to individually assess the risk of viral reactivation and virus control. We review the current knowledge on BKV-specific cellular immunity and, more specifically, in immunocompromised patients. In the future, immune-based therapies could allow us to treat and prevent BKV-associated nephropathy. PMID:26136745

Rapid Assay of Cellular Immunity in Q Fever.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-10-01

Integrated Diagnostics for activity by re-incubation with L929 cells and no infectious material was detected. This antigen was tested for the ability to...UNCLASSIFIED •%E L E• M1 lt*’E••l DEC 1 119954 F A CONTRACT NUMBER: DAND17-95-C-5057 TITLE: Rapid Assay of Cellular Immunity in Q Fever PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR...SUBTITLE 5. FUNDING NUMBERS Rapid Assay of Cellular Immunity in Q Fever DAMDI7-95-C-5057 6. AUTHOR(S) Marjorie Wier, Ph.D. 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

Effect of the composition of a solution on the enthalpies of solvation of piperidine in methanol-acetonitrile and dimethylsulfoxide-acetonitrile mixed solvents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuz'mina, I. A.; Volkova, M. A.; Sitnikova, K. A.; Sharnin, V. A.

2014-01-01

Heat effects of dissolution of piperidine (ppd) are measured by calorimetry at 298.15 K over the range of composition of acetonitrile-methanol (AN-MeOH) mixed solvents. Based on the Δsol H ○(ppd)AN-MeOH values obtained using the literature data on Δsol H ○ (ppd) in acetonitrile-dimethylsulfoxide (AN-DMSO) mixed solvents and the vaporization enthalpy of ppd, the enthalpies of solvation of amine in AN-MeOH and AN-DMSO binary mixtures are calculated. A rise in the exothermicity of solvation of piperidine is observed upon the transition from AN to DMSO and MeOH, due mainly to the enhanced solvation of the amino group of ppd as a result of changes in the acid-base properties of the mixed solvent.

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the production of phenylpyruvate derivatives.

PubMed

Liu, Shuang Ping; Zhang, Liang; Mao, Jian; Ding, Zhong Yang; Shi, Gui Yang

2015-11-01

Phenylpyruvate derivatives (PPD), such as phenylpropanoids, DL-phenylglycine, dl-phenylalanine, and styrene, are biosynthesized using phenylpyruvate as the precursor. They are widely used in human health and nutrition products. Recently, metabolic engineering provides effective strategies to develop PPD producers. Based on phenylpyruvate-producing chassis, genetically defined PPD producers have been successfully constructed. In this work, the most recent information on genetics and on the molecular mechanisms regulating phenylpyruvate synthesis pathways in Escherichia coli are summarized, and the engineering strategies to construct the PPD producers are also discussed. The enzymes and pathways are proposed for PPD-producer constructions, and potential difficulties in strain construction are also identified and discussed. With respect to recent advances in synthetic biology, future strategies to construct efficiently producers are discussed. Copyright © 2015 International Metabolic Engineering Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differential Expression of Immunogenic Proteins on Virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Clinical Isolates

PubMed Central

Klepp, Laura; Vazquez, Camila; Rocha, Roxana Valeria; Blanco, Federico Carlos; López, Beatriz; Bigi, Fabiana; Sasiain, María del Carmen

2014-01-01

Molecular epidemiology has revealed that Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), formerly regarded as highly conserved species, displays a considerable degree of genetic variability that can influence the outcome of the disease as well as the innate and adaptive immune response. Recent studies have demonstrated that Mtb families found worldwide today differ in pathology, transmissibility, virulence, and development of immune response. By proteomic approaches seven proteins that were differentially expressed between a local clinical isolate from Latin-American-Mediterranean (LAM) and from Haarlem (H) lineages were identified. In order to analyze the immunogenic ability, recombinant Rv2241, Rv0009, Rv0407, and Rv2624c proteins were produced for testing specific antibody responses. We found that these proteins induced humoral immune responses in patients with drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis with substantial cross-reactivity among the four proteins. Moreover, such reactivity was also correlated with anti-Mtb-cell surface IgM, but not with anti-ManLAM, anti-PPD, or anti-Mtb-surface IgG antibodies. Therefore, the present results describe new Mtb antigens with potential application as biomarkers of TB. PMID:25105140

Toll immune signal activates cellular immune response via eicosanoids.

PubMed

Shafeeq, Tahir; Ahmed, Shabbir; Kim, Yonggyun

2018-07-01

Upon immune challenge, insects recognize nonself. The recognition signal will propagate to nearby immune effectors. It is well-known that Toll signal pathway induces antimicrobial peptide (AMP) gene expression. Eicosanoids play crucial roles in mediating the recognition signal to immune effectors by enhancing humoral immune response through activation of AMP synthesis as well as cellular immune responses, suggesting a functional cross-talk between Toll and eicosanoid signals. This study tested a cross-talk between these two signals. Two signal transducing factors (MyD88 and Pelle) of Toll immune pathway were identified in Spodoptera exigua. RNA interference (RNAi) of either SeMyD88 or SePelle expression interfered with the expression of AMP genes under Toll signal pathway. Bacterial challenge induced PLA 2 enzyme activity. However, RNAi of these two immune factors significantly suppressed the induction of PLA 2 enzyme activity. Furthermore, RNAi treatment prevented gene expression of cellular PLA 2 . Inhibition of PLA 2 activity reduced phenoloxidase activity and subsequent suppression in cellular immune response measured by hemocyte nodule formation. However, immunosuppression induced by RNAi of Toll signal molecules was significantly reversed by addition of arachidonic acid (AA), a catalytic product of PLA 2 . The addition also significantly reduced the enhanced fungal susceptibility of S. exigua treated by RNAi against two Toll signal molecules. These results indicate that there is a cross-talk between Toll and eicosanoid signals in insect immunity. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analytical Investigations of Toxic p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) Levels in Clinical Urine Samples with Special Focus on MALDI-MS/MS

PubMed Central

Hooff, Gero P.; van Huizen, Nick A.; Meesters, Roland J. W.; Zijlstra, Eduard E.; Abdelraheem, Mohamed; Abdelraheem, Waleed; Hamdouk, Mohamed; Lindemans, Jan; Luider, Theo M.

2011-01-01

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a common chromophoric ingredient in oxidative hair-dyes. In some African countries like Sudan, Egypt and Morocco but also in India this chemical is used alone or in combination with colouring extracts like Henna for dyeing of the hair or the skin. Excessive dermal exposure to PPD mainly leads to the N-mono- and N,N′-diacetylated products (MAPPD, DAPPD) by N-acetyltransferase 1 and 2 (NAT1 and 2) catalyzed reactions. Metabolites and PPD are mainly excreted via renal clearance. Despite a low risk of intoxication when used in due form, there are numerous cases of acute intoxication in those countries every year. At the ENT Hospital - Khartoum (Sudan) alone more than 300 cases are reported every year (∼10% fatal), mostly caused by either an accidental or intended (suicidal) high systemic exposure to pure PPD. Intoxication leads to a severe clinical syndrome including laryngeal edema, rhabdomyolysis and subsequent renal failure, neurotoxicity and acute toxic hepatitis. To date, there is no defined clinical treatment or antidote available and treatment is largely supportive. Herein, we show the development of a quick on-site identification assay to facilitate differential diagnosis in the clinic and, more importantly, the implementation of an advanced analytical platform for future in-depth investigations of PPD intoxication and metabolism is described. The current work shows a sensitive (∼25 µM) wet chemistry assay, a validated MALDI-MS/MS and HPLC-UV assay for the determination of PPD and its metabolites in human urine. We show the feasibility of the methods for measuring PPD over a range of 50–1000 µM. The validation criteria included linearity, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), accuracy and precision, recovery and stability. Finally, PPD concentrations were determined in clinical urine samples of cases of acute intoxication and the applied technique was expanded to identify MAPPD and DAPPD in the identical samples. PMID:21829608

Intimate partner violence around the time of pregnancy and postpartum depression: The experience of women of Bangladesh

PubMed Central

Broidy, Lisa; Baird, Kathleen; Mazerolle, Paul

2017-01-01

Background and objectives Intimate partner violence (IPV) around the time of pregnancy is a serious public health concern and is known to have an adverse effect on perinatal mental health. In order to craft appropriate and effective interventions, it is important to understand how the association between IPV and postpartum depression (PPD) may differ as a function of the type and timing of IPV victimization. Here we evaluate the influence of physical, sexual and psychological IPV before, during and after pregnancy on PPD. Methods Cross-sectional survey data was collected between October 2015 and January 2016 in the Chandpur District of Bangladesh from 426 new mothers, aged 15–49 years, who were in the first six months postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between IPV and PPD, adjusted for socio-demographic, reproductive and psychosocial confounding factors. Results Approximately 35.2% of women experienced PPD within the first six months following childbirth. Controlling for confounders, the odds of PPD was significantly greater among women who reported exposure to physical (AOR: 1.79, 95% CI [1.25, 3.43]), sexual (AOR: 2.25, 95% CI [1.14, 4.45]) or psychological (AOR: 6.92, 95% CI [1.71, 28.04]) IPV during pregnancy as opposed to those who did not. However, both before and after pregnancy, only physical IPV evidences a direct effect on PPD. Results highlight the mental health consequences of IPV for women of Bangladesh, as well as the influence of timing and type of IPV on PPD outcomes. Conclusions and implications The findings confirm that exposure to IPV significantly increases the odds of PPD. The association is particularly strong for physical IPV during all periods and psychological IPV during pregnancy. Results reinforce the need to conduct routine screening during pregnancy to identify women with a history of IPV who may at risk for PPD and to offer them necessary support. PMID:28472056

Intimate partner violence around the time of pregnancy and postpartum depression: The experience of women of Bangladesh.

PubMed

Islam, Md Jahirul; Broidy, Lisa; Baird, Kathleen; Mazerolle, Paul

2017-01-01

Intimate partner violence (IPV) around the time of pregnancy is a serious public health concern and is known to have an adverse effect on perinatal mental health. In order to craft appropriate and effective interventions, it is important to understand how the association between IPV and postpartum depression (PPD) may differ as a function of the type and timing of IPV victimization. Here we evaluate the influence of physical, sexual and psychological IPV before, during and after pregnancy on PPD. Cross-sectional survey data was collected between October 2015 and January 2016 in the Chandpur District of Bangladesh from 426 new mothers, aged 15-49 years, who were in the first six months postpartum. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between IPV and PPD, adjusted for socio-demographic, reproductive and psychosocial confounding factors. Approximately 35.2% of women experienced PPD within the first six months following childbirth. Controlling for confounders, the odds of PPD was significantly greater among women who reported exposure to physical (AOR: 1.79, 95% CI [1.25, 3.43]), sexual (AOR: 2.25, 95% CI [1.14, 4.45]) or psychological (AOR: 6.92, 95% CI [1.71, 28.04]) IPV during pregnancy as opposed to those who did not. However, both before and after pregnancy, only physical IPV evidences a direct effect on PPD. Results highlight the mental health consequences of IPV for women of Bangladesh, as well as the influence of timing and type of IPV on PPD outcomes. The findings confirm that exposure to IPV significantly increases the odds of PPD. The association is particularly strong for physical IPV during all periods and psychological IPV during pregnancy. Results reinforce the need to conduct routine screening during pregnancy to identify women with a history of IPV who may at risk for PPD and to offer them necessary support.

The effects of gestational stress and Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant treatment on structural plasticity in the postpartum brain--A translational model for postpartum depression.

PubMed

Haim, Achikam; Albin-Brooks, Christopher; Sherer, Morgan; Mills, Emily; Leuner, Benedetta

2016-01-01

This article is part of a Special Issue "Parental Care". Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication following childbirth experienced by one in every five new mothers. Although the neural basis of PPD remains unknown, previous research in rats has shown that gestational stress, a risk factor for PPD, induces depressive-like behavior during the postpartum period. Moreover, the effect of gestational stress on postpartum mood is accompanied by structural modifications within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)-limbic regions that have been linked to PPD. Mothers diagnosed with PPD are often prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications and yet little is known about their effects in models of PPD. Thus, here we investigated whether postpartum administration of Citalopram, an SSRI commonly used to treat PPD, would ameliorate the behavioral and morphological consequences of gestational stress. In addition, we examined the effects of gestational stress and postpartum administration of Citalopram on structural plasticity within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) which together with the mPFC and NAc forms a circuit that is sensitive to stress and is involved in mood regulation. Our results show that postpartum rats treated with Citalopram do not exhibit gestational stress-induced depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test. In addition, Citalopram was effective in reversing gestational stress-induced structural alterations in the postpartum NAc shell and mPFC. We also found that gestational stress increased spine density within the postpartum BLA, an effect which was not reversed by Citalopram treatment. Overall, these data highlight the usefulness of gestational stress as a valid and informative translational model for PPD. Furthermore, they suggest that structural alterations in the mPFC-NAc pathway may underlie stress-induced depressive-like behavior during the postpartum period and provide much needed information on how SSRIs may act in the maternal brain to treat PPD. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Effect of Stressful Life Events on Postpartum Depression: Findings from the 2009-2011 Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

PubMed

Qobadi, Mina; Collier, Charlene; Zhang, Lei

2016-11-01

Objectives To determine the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) among new mothers in Mississippi during 2009-2011 and evaluate the effects of different stressful life events in the year before delivery on the likelihood of PPD. Methods We used Mississippi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) 2009-2011 data (n = 3695) to evaluate the effects of different stressful life events on PPD. We categorized 13 stressors into 4 groups: financial, relational, trauma-related, and emotional. A composite score of the mothers' responses (≥10) to the three items: "I felt down, depressed, or sad", "I felt hopeless", and "I felt slowed down" was used to measure PPD. The items were rated on a Likert scale from (1) never to 5 (always). Descriptive statistics, Chi square tests, t tests, and logistic regression analyses were conducted using SAS 9.3 Proc Survey procedure (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Results The overall prevalence of self-reported PPD was 14.8 %. Mothers who experienced high relational with low financial and high trauma related stresses had the highest likelihood of PPD diagnosis after adjusting for confounders (OR = 8.6; 95 % CI, 3.5-21.3), followed by those who reported high relational stress with low financial and low trauma stresses (OR = 5.9; 95 % CI, 3.5-10.2). Those with high financial, low relational, and low trauma had the least likelihood of PPD (OR = 2.2; 95 % CI, 1.6-3.0) compared to women with low stress in all three categories. Conclusion Our findings showed that the likelihood of PPD was higher among women who had high relational stress, indicating that efforts to effectively prevent PPD need to focus on healthy relationships between partners during pregnancy.

Insights in Public Health

PubMed Central

Kimura, Lisa J; McGee, Amelia; Baird, Shelagh; Viloria, Joanne; Nagatsuka, Melissa

2015-01-01

Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai‘i (HMHB) is a local nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating health disparities and improving Hawai‘i's maternal, child, and family health though collaborative efforts in public education, advocacy, and partner development. A review of HMHB services revealed overwhelming requests for both breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD) support. The purpose of this article is to present the findings of two surveys that highlight the awareness of existing breastfeeding and PPD resources based on both parents and health care providers; perceptions of where and how care is accessed; and whether mothers throughout Hawai‘i have equitable access to support. Results helped assess gaps in resources and determine barriers to care, as well as provide suggestions for new services or resources. Web-based surveys were sent to 450 providers and 2,955 parents with response rates of 8.9% and 4.0%, respectively. Less than half of parent participants reported that their health provider discussed PPD with them. Participants identified a number of barriers to increasing access and utilization of PPD support resources, including: not feeling like symptoms were server enough, feeling embarrassed to seek help, not knowing where to find support/information, and not able to afford or insurance wouldn't cover PPD support. Only 40% of providers reported screening for PPD and 33% felt they had not received adequate training. Barriers identified by providers were a lack of trained providers, lack of PPD specific support groups, cultural stigma, and lack of PPD awareness among providers. Of the women who did not exclusively breastfeed for the full six-month recommendation, the most common breastfeeding concerns included: perceptions of low milk supply; lack of lactation support; medical reasons; and pain. Providers described an environment of uneven distribution of resources, general lack of awareness of available resources, along with a widespread lack of support for breastfeeding efforts. Recommendations for future efforts include comprehensive breastfeeding and PPD training for health care providers enhanced support groups, and improving awareness and access to information and support resources. PMID:25821653

Analytical investigations of toxic p-phenylenediamine (PPD) levels in clinical urine samples with special focus on MALDI-MS/MS.

PubMed

Hooff, Gero P; van Huizen, Nick A; Meesters, Roland J W; Zijlstra, Eduard E; Abdelraheem, Mohamed; Abdelraheem, Waleed; Hamdouk, Mohamed; Lindemans, Jan; Luider, Theo M

2011-01-01

Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) is a common chromophoric ingredient in oxidative hair-dyes. In some African countries like Sudan, Egypt and Morocco but also in India this chemical is used alone or in combination with colouring extracts like Henna for dyeing of the hair or the skin. Excessive dermal exposure to PPD mainly leads to the N-mono- and N,N'-diacetylated products (MAPPD, DAPPD) by N-acetyltransferase 1 and 2 (NAT1 and 2) catalyzed reactions. Metabolites and PPD are mainly excreted via renal clearance. Despite a low risk of intoxication when used in due form, there are numerous cases of acute intoxication in those countries every year. At the ENT Hospital - Khartoum (Sudan) alone more than 300 cases are reported every year (~10% fatal), mostly caused by either an accidental or intended (suicidal) high systemic exposure to pure PPD. Intoxication leads to a severe clinical syndrome including laryngeal edema, rhabdomyolysis and subsequent renal failure, neurotoxicity and acute toxic hepatitis. To date, there is no defined clinical treatment or antidote available and treatment is largely supportive. Herein, we show the development of a quick on-site identification assay to facilitate differential diagnosis in the clinic and, more importantly, the implementation of an advanced analytical platform for future in-depth investigations of PPD intoxication and metabolism is described. The current work shows a sensitive (~25 µM) wet chemistry assay, a validated MALDI-MS/MS and HPLC-UV assay for the determination of PPD and its metabolites in human urine. We show the feasibility of the methods for measuring PPD over a range of 50-1000 µM. The validation criteria included linearity, lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), accuracy and precision, recovery and stability. Finally, PPD concentrations were determined in clinical urine samples of cases of acute intoxication and the applied technique was expanded to identify MAPPD and DAPPD in the identical samples.

Low prevalence of reactive PPD prior to infliximab use: comparative study on a population sample of Hospital Geral de Fortaleza.

PubMed

Callado, Maria Roseli Monteiro; Lima, José Rubens Costa; Nobre, Christiane Aguiar; Vieira, Walber Pinto

2011-01-01

To identify tuberculosis infection in rheumatic patients on infliximab by use of PPD testing prior to immunobiologic therapy. This study comprised 157 patients undergoing infliximab treatment and 734 other patients undergoing laboratory screening for tuberculosis infection originating from several services. The Mantoux technique was used for PPD testing, and an induration of at least 5 mm was considered reactive status. In the infliximab group, 13% of the patients reacted to PPD, while, in the other group, 27% of the patients reacted to PPD (χ² = 13; P = 0.0003). These patients were divided into categories: adults with chronic diseases, PPD reactivity of 22%; and other controls, PPD reactivity of 31%. This shows the heterogeneous response of that population (χ² = 7; P < 0.009). In the infliximab group, subdivided according to pathologies [rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriatic arthritis (PA)], different reactivity rates were observed, the lowest value occurring among RA patients: (RA x AS: OR = 0.13; CI: 0.03-0.47; χ ² = 12; P = 0.0004) and (RA x PA: OR = 0.16; CI: 0.02-1.04; χ² Yates corrected = 3.6; P = 0.05). The PPD reactivity in the RA subgroup (4%) was also lower as compared with that of the chronic patients group (22%) (OR = 0.16; CI: 0.05-0.49; χ² = 14; P = 0.0002), even when reclassified into four subgroups: rheumatology (OR = 0.19; CI: 0.04-0.72), kidney transplantation (OR = 0.16; CI: 0.05-0.51), infectology (OR = 0.21; CI: 0.05-0.75), and other conditions (OR = 0.13; CI: 0.04-0.44). The low prevalence of PPD reaction in this Brazilian population, mainly in chronic patients, with the worst performance among RA patients, showed that the test has limited value for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in candidates to infliximab therapy.

The effects of gestational stress and SSRI antidepressant treatment on structural plasticity in the postpartum brain - a translational model for postpartum depression

PubMed Central

Haim, Achikam; Albin-Brooks, Christopher; Sherer, Morgan; Mills, Emily; Leuner, Benedetta

2015-01-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common complication following childbirth experienced by one in every five new mothers. Although the neural basis of PPD remains unknown previous research in rats has shown that gestational stress, a risk factor for PPD, induces depressive-like behavior during the postpartum period. Moreover, the effect of gestational stress on postpartum mood is accompanied by structural modifications within the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) – limbic regions that have been linked to PPD. Mothers diagnosed with PPD are often prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medications and yet little is known about their effects in models of PPD. Thus, here we investigated whether postpartum administration of Citalopram, an SSRI commonly used to treat PPD, would ameliorate the behavioral and morphological consequences of gestational stress. In addition, we examined the effects of gestational stress and postpartum administration of Citalopram on structural plasticity within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) which together with the mPFC and NAc forms a circuit that is sensitive to stress and is involved in mood regulation. Our results show that postpartum rats treated with Citalopram do not exhibit gestational stress-induced depressive-like behavior in the forced swim test. In addition, Citalopram was effective in reversing gestational stress-induced structural alterations in the postpartum NAc shell and mPFC. We also found that gestational stress increased spine density within the postpartum BLA, an effect which was not reversed by Citalopram treatment. Overall, these data highlight the usefulness of gestational stress as a valid and informative translational model for PPD. Furthermore, they suggest that structural alterations in the mPFC-NAc pathway may underlie stress-induced depressive-like behavior during the postpartum period and provide much needed information on how SSRIs may act in the maternal brain to treat PPD. PMID:25997412

High dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated acids during pregnancy and prevalence of post-partum depression.

PubMed

da Rocha, Camilla M M; Kac, Gilberto

2012-01-01

Observational studies suggest association between low concentrations of omega-3 family fatty acids and greater risk for post-partum depression (PPD). The objective was to investigate the effect of unbalanced dietary intake of omega-6/omega-3 ratio >9:1 in the prevalence for PPD. The study comprises a prospective cohort with four waves of follow-up during pregnancy and one following delivery. PPD was evaluated according to the Edinburgh Post-partum Depression Scale (PPD ≥ 11) in 106 puerperae between 2005 and 2007, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Independent variables included socio-demographic, obstetric, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake data, which were obtained by means of a food frequency questionnaire in the first trimester of pregnancy. Statistical analysis involved calculation of PPD prevalence and multivariate Poisson regression with robust variance. PPD prevalence amounted to 26.4% [n = 28; confidence interval (CI) 95%: 18.0-34.8], and higher prevalences of PPD were observed in women who consumed an omega-6/omega-3 ratio >9:1 (60.0%) and in those with pre-pregnancy BMI <18.5 kg/m(2) (66.7%). These variables held as factors associated to PPD in the multivariate model, elevating the chances of occurrence of the outcome in 2.50 (CI 95%: 1.21-5.14) and 4.01 times (CI 95%: 1.96-8.20), respectively. Analyses were adjusted for age, schooling, pre-pregnancy BMI, lipids consumption and time elapsed since delivery. It verified an association between omega-6/omega-3 ratio above 9:1, the levels recommended by the Institute of Medicine, and the prevalence of PPD. These results add to the evidence regarding the importance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the regulation of mental health mechanisms. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Tetraspanin CD37 contributes to the initiation of cellular immunity by promoting dendritic cell migration.

PubMed

Gartlan, Kate H; Wee, Janet L; Demaria, Maria C; Nastovska, Roza; Chang, Tsz Man; Jones, Eleanor L; Apostolopoulos, Vasso; Pietersz, Geoffrey A; Hickey, Michael J; van Spriel, Annemiek B; Wright, Mark D

2013-05-01

Previous studies on the role of the tetraspanin CD37 in cellular immunity appear contradictory. In vitro approaches indicate a negative regulatory role, whereas in vivo studies suggest that CD37 is necessary for optimal cellular responses. To resolve this discrepancy, we studied the adaptive cellular immune responses of CD37(-/-) mice to intradermal challenge with either tumors or model antigens and found that CD37 is essential for optimal cell-mediated immunity. We provide evidence that an increased susceptibility to tumors observed in CD37(-/-) mice coincides with a striking failure to induce antigen-specific IFN-γ-secreting T cells. We also show that CD37 ablation impairs several aspects of DC function including: in vivo migration from skin to draining lymph nodes; chemo-tactic migration; integrin-mediated adhesion under flow; the ability to spread and form actin protrusions and in vivo priming of adoptively transferred naïve T cells. In addition, multiphoton microscopy-based assessment of dermal DC migration demonstrated a reduced rate of migration and increased randomness of DC migration in CD37(-/-) mice. Together, these studies are consistent with a model in which the cellular defect that underlies poor cellular immune induction in CD37(-/-) mice is impaired DC migration. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

In Vitro Metabolism of 20(R)-25-Methoxyl-Dammarane-3, 12, 20-Triol from Panax notoginseng in Human, Monkey, Dog, Rat, and Mouse Liver Microsomes

PubMed Central

Li, Wei; Liu, Li; Sun, Baoshan; Guo, Zhenghong; Shi, Caihong; Zhao, Yuqing

2014-01-01

The present study characterized in vitro metabolites of 20(R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD) in mouse, rat, dog, monkey and human liver microsomes. 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD was incubated with liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. The reaction mixtures and the metabolites were identified on the basis of their mass profiles using LC-Q/TOF and were quantified using triple quadrupole instrument by multiple reaction monitoring. A total of 7 metabolites (M1–M7) of the phase I metabolites were detected in all species. 25(R)-OCH3-PPD was metabolized by hydroxylation, dehydrogenation, and O-demethylation. Enzyme kinetic of 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD metabolism was evaluated in rat and human hepatic microsomes. Incubations studies with selective chemical inhibitors demonstrated that the metabolism of 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD was primarily mediated by CYP3A4. We conclude that 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD was metabolized extensively in mammalian species of mouse, rat, dog, monkey, and human. CYP3A4-catalyzed oxygenation metabolism played an important role in the disposition of 25(R)-OCH3-PPD, especially at the C-20 hydroxyl group. PMID:24736630

Clinically Identified Postpartum Depression in Asian American Mothers

PubMed Central

Goyal, Deepika; Wang, Elsie J.; Shen, Jeremy; Wong, Eric C.; Palaniappan, Latha P.

2015-01-01

Objective To identify the clinical diagnosis rate of postpartum depression (PPD) in Asian American subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Design Cross-sectional study using electronic health records (EHR). Setting A large, outpatient, multiservice clinic in Northern California. Participants A diverse clinical population of non-Hispanic White (N = 4582), Asian Indian (N = 1264), Chinese (N = 1160), Filipino (N = 347), Japanese (N = 124), Korean (N = 183), and Vietnamese (N = 147) mothers. Methods Cases of PPD were identified from EHRs using physician diagnosis codes, medication usage, and age standardized for comparison. The relationship between PPD and other demographic variables (race/ethnicity, maternal age, delivery type, marital status, and infant gender) were examined in a multivariate logistic regression model. Results The PPD diagnosis rate for all Asian American mothers in aggregate was significantly lower than the diagnosis rate in non-Hispanic White mothers. Moreover, of the six Asian American subgroups, PPD diagnosis rates for Asian Indian, Chinese, and Filipino mothers were significantly lower than non-Hispanic White mothers. In multivariate analyses, race/ethnicity, age, and cesarean were significant predictors of PPD. Conclusion In this insured population, PPD diagnosis rates were lower among Asian Americans, with variability in rates across the individual Asian American subgroups. It is unclear whether these lower rates are due to underreporting, underdiagnosis, or underutilization of mental health care in this setting. PMID:22536783

Clinically identified postpartum depression in Asian American mothers.

PubMed

Goyal, Deepika; Wang, Elsie J; Shen, Jeremy; Wong, Eric C; Palaniappan, Latha P

2012-01-01

To identify the clinical diagnosis rate of postpartum depression (PPD) in Asian American subgroups (Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese) compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Cross-sectional study using electronic health records (EHR). A large, outpatient, multiservice clinic in Northern California. A diverse clinical population of non-Hispanic White (N = 4582), Asian Indian (N = 1264), Chinese (N = 1160), Filipino (N = 347), Japanese (N = 124), Korean (N = 183), and Vietnamese (N = 147) mothers. Cases of PPD were identified from EHRs using physician diagnosis codes, medication usage, and age standardized for comparison. The relationship between PPD and other demographic variables (race/ethnicity, maternal age, delivery type, marital status, and infant gender) were examined in a multivariate logistic regression model. The PPD diagnosis rate for all Asian American mothers in aggregate was significantly lower than the diagnosis rate in non-Hispanic White mothers. Moreover, of the six Asian American subgroups, PPD diagnosis rates for Asian Indian, Chinese, and Filipino mothers were significantly lower than non-Hispanic White mothers. In multivariate analyses, race/ethnicity, age, and cesarean were significant predictors of PPD. In this insured population, PPD diagnosis rates were lower among Asian Americans, with variability in rates across the individual Asian American subgroups. It is unclear whether these lower rates are due to underreporting, underdiagnosis, or underutilization of mental health care in this setting. © 2012 AWHONN, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses.

Effect of Asymptomatic Visible Third Molars on Periodontal Health of Adjacent Second Molars: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Qu, Hong-Lei; Tian, Bei-Min; Li, Kun; Zhou, Li-Na; Li, Zhi-Bang; Chen, Fa-Ming

2017-10-01

Evidence that asymptomatic third molars (M3s) negatively affect their adjacent second molars (A-M2s) is limited. The present study evaluated the association between visible M3s (V-M3s) of various clinical status with the periodontal pathologic features of their A-M2s. Subjects with at least 1 quadrant having intact first and second molars, either with V-M3s and symptom free or without adjacent V-M3s, were enrolled in the present cross-sectional investigation. Periodontal parameters, including plaque index (PLI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing pocket depth (PPD), and at least 1 site with a PPD of 5 mm or more (PPD5+), obtained from M2s were analyzed according to the presence or absence of V-M3s or the status of the M3s. The χ 2 test or t test was used to compare the mean PLI, PPD, BOP percentage, and PPD5+ percentage. The association of PPD5+ with V-M3 status was assessed using a multivariable logistic regression model (quadrant-based analysis), and variances were adjusted for clustered observations within subjects. In total, 572 subjects were enrolled in the study, and 423 had at least 1 V-M3. At the in-quadrant level, the presence of a V-M3 significantly increased M2 pathologic parameters, including PLI, PPD, BOP, and PPD5+. When analyzed using a multivariate logistic regression model, impacted M3s and normally erupted M3s significantly elevated the risk of PPD5+ on their A-M2s (odds ratio 3.20 and 1.67, respectively). Other factors associated with an increased odds of PPD5+ were mandibular region and older age. Finally, the patient-matched comparison showed that the percentage of BOP and PPD5+ on M2s increased when V-M3s were present. Irrespective of their status, the presence of V-M3s is a risk factor for the development of periodontal pathologic features in their A-M2s. Although the prophylactic removal of asymptomatic V-M3s remains controversial, medical decisions should be made as early as possible, because, ideally, extraction should be performed before symptom onset. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous site-directed mutagenesis of duplicated loci in soybean using a single guide RNA.

PubMed

Kanazashi, Yuhei; Hirose, Aya; Takahashi, Ippei; Mikami, Masafumi; Endo, Masaki; Hirose, Sakiko; Toki, Seiichi; Kaga, Akito; Naito, Ken; Ishimoto, Masao; Abe, Jun; Yamada, Tetsuya

2018-03-01

Using a gRNA and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, we performed simultaneous site-directed mutagenesis of two GmPPD loci in soybean. Mutations in GmPPD loci were confirmed in at least 33% of T 2 seeds. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated endonuclease 9 (Cas9) system is a powerful tool for site-directed mutagenesis in crops. Using a single guide RNA (gRNA) and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, we performed simultaneous site-directed mutagenesis of two homoeologous loci in soybean (Glycine max), GmPPD1 and GmPPD2, which encode the orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana PEAPOD (PPD). Most of the T 1 plants had heterozygous and/or chimeric mutations for the targeted loci. The sequencing analysis of T 1 and T 2 generations indicates that putative mutation induced in the T 0 plant is transmitted to the T 1 generation. The inheritable mutation induced in the T 1 plant was also detected. This result indicates that continuous induction of mutations during T 1 plant development increases the occurrence of mutations in germ cells, which ensures the transmission of mutations to the next generation. Simultaneous site-directed mutagenesis in both GmPPD loci was confirmed in at least 33% of T 2 seeds examined. Approximately 19% of double mutants did not contain the Cas9/gRNA expression construct. Double mutants with frameshift mutations in both GmPPD1 and GmPPD2 had dome-shaped trifoliate leaves, extremely twisted pods, and produced few seeds. Taken together, our data indicate that continuous induction of mutations in the whole plant and advancing generations of transgenic plants enable efficient simultaneous site-directed mutagenesis in duplicated loci in soybean.

History of postpartum depression in a clinic-based sample of women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

PubMed

Kepple, Alyson L; Lee, Ellen E; Haq, Nazli; Rubinow, David R; Schmidt, Peter J

2016-04-01

Overlapping comorbidities between premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression (PPD) suggest that these disorders represent a continuum of vulnerability with shared pathophysiology. We report the past histories of PPD (and other Axis I psychiatric illnesses) in a clinic-based sample of women meeting criteria for PMDD. 215 women, ages 19 to 51 years, who attended the National Institute of Mental Health Mood Disorders Clinic between 1988 and 2013 seeking treatment for PMDD and in whom we confirmed the diagnosis of PMDD (DSM-IV), were identified. All were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R or -IV. The frequency of PPD (major or minor) was established in the subgroup of women (n = 137) who had delivered at least 1 child. Ninety-three women (43.3%) had a past history of a mood disorder (ie, either major [n = 67; 31.2%] or minor [n = 10; 4.7%] depression or PPD [n = 16; 7.4%; 11.7% of parous women]). Nine of the 16 women with PMDD and a past PPD had either a past major depressive episode (MDE) or subsyndromal anxiety disorder. Thirty-three women (15.3%) had a past history of an Axis I anxiety disorder. A total of 40 women (18.6%) met criteria for past alcohol or drug abuse, 3 (1.4%) met criteria for bulimia nervosa, and 2 (0.9%) met criteria for anorexia nervosa. Our data demonstrate that PMDD and PPD do not frequently co-occur. These data do not suggest that PMDD and PPD share similar pathophysiology beyond being ovarian-steroid-triggered mood disorders. The high comorbidity of past MDE could contribute to the increased risk both for future MDE and for PPD in some women with PMDD. © Copyright 2016 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

The effect of day-neutral mutations in barley and wheat on the interaction between photoperiod and vernalization.

PubMed

Turner, Adrian S; Faure, Sébastien; Zhang, Yang; Laurie, David A

2013-09-01

Vernalization-2 (Vrn-2) is the major flowering repressor in temperate cereals. It is only expressed under long days in wild-type plants. We used two day-neutral (photoperiod insensitive) mutations that allow rapid flowering in short or long days to investigate the day length control of Vrn-2. The barley (Hordeum vulgare) early maturity8 (eam8) mutation affects the barley ELF3 gene. eam8 mutants disrupt the circadian clock resulting in elevated expression of Ppd-H1 and the floral activator HvFT1 under short or long days. When eam8 was crossed into a genetic background with a vernalization requirement Vrn-2 was expressed under all photoperiods and the early flowering phenotype was partially repressed in unvernalized (UV) plants, likely due to competition between the constitutively active photoperiod pathway and the repressing effect of Vrn-2. We also investigated the wheat (Triticum aestivum) Ppd-D1a mutation. This differs from eam8 in causing elevated levels of Ppd-1 and TaFT1 expression without affecting the circadian clock. We used genotypes that differed in "short-day vernalization". Short days were effective in promoting flowering in individuals wild type at Ppd-D1, but not in individuals that carry the Ppd-D1a mutation. The latter showed Vrn-2 expression in short days. In summary, eam8 and Ppd-D1a mimic long days in terms of photoperiod response, causing Vrn-2 to become aberrantly expressed (in short days). As Ppd-D1a does not affect the circadian clock, this also shows that clock regulation of Vrn-2 operates indirectly through one or more downstream genes, one of which may be Ppd-1.

Prenatal family support, postnatal family support and postpartum depression.

PubMed

Xie, Ri-Hua; Yang, Jianzhou; Liao, Shunping; Xie, Haiyan; Walker, Mark; Wen, Shi Wu

2010-08-01

Inadequate social support is an important determinant of postpartum depression (PPD). Social support for pregnant women consists of supports from various sources and can be measured at different gestation periods. Differentiating the effects of social support from different sources and measured at different gestation periods may have important implications in the prevention of PPD. In the family centred Chinese culture, family support is likely to be one of the most important components in social support. The aim of this study was to assess the association of prenatal family support and postnatal family support with PPD. A prospective cohort study was conducted between February and September 2007 in Hunan, China. Family support was measured with social support rating scale at 30-32 weeks of gestation (prenatal support) and again at 2 weeks of postpartum visit (postnatal support). PPD was defined as Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score > or =13. A total of 534 pregnant women were included, and among them, 103 (19.3%) scored 13 or more on the EPDS. PPD was 19.4% in the lowest tertile versus 18.4% in the highest quartile (adjusted odds ratio: 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.60, 1.80) for prenatal support from all family members, and PPD was 39.8% in the lowest tertile versus 9.6% in the highest tertile (adjusted odds ratio: 4.4, 95% confidence interval 2.3, 8.4) for postnatal support from all family members. Among family members, support from husband had the largest impact on the risk of developing PPD. Lack of postnatal family support, especially the support from husband, is an important risk factor of PPD.

Antibody response to a sterile filtered PPD tuberculin in M. bovis infected and M. bovis sensitized cattle.

PubMed

Rennie, Bryan; Filion, Lionel G; Smart, Nonie

2010-11-09

Bovine tuberculosis, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, afflicts approximately 50 million cattle worldwide and is detected by the tuberculin skin test (TST). While it has long been recognized that purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin is composed of a mixture of M. bovis derived protein components, little is known about the quality, relative quantity and identity of the proteins that make up PPD tuberculin. We manufactured a sterile filtered PPD tuberculin (SF-PPD) from a nine-week-old M. bovis culture supernatant in order to characterise the culture filtrate proteins (CFP) which make up M. bovis PPD tuberculin and to compare the antibody response of M. bovis infected versus M. bovis sensitized cattle. SF-PPD resolved into approximately 200 discrete spots using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) while fewer than 65 spots could be discerned from 2-DE gels of tuberculin derived from autoclaved culture supernatant. Two dimensional Western blot analyses indicated that sera from M. bovis sensitized cattle recognized additional SF-PPD antigens as compared to M. bovis infected cattle at seven weeks post infection/sensitization. However, application of a comparative tuberculin skin test resulted in an antibody boosting response to the same set of M. bovis CFPs in both the M. bovis infected and M. bovis sensitized cattle. We concluded that it is the heat sterilization of the M. bovis CFPs that causes severe structural changes to the M. bovis proteins. This work suggests that M. bovis infected cattle and cattle artificially sensitized to M. bovis with an injection of heat killed cells exhibit similar antibody responses to M. bovis antigens.

Rapid analysis of the skin irritant p-phenylenediamine (PPD) in henna products using atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Chen, Weiyang; Nkosi, Thobile A N; Combrinck, Sandra; Viljoen, Alvaro M; Cartwright-Jones, Catherine

2016-09-05

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) is applied to stain keratin, present in hair, skin and fingernails, a red-orange or rust colour. Producers of temporary tattoos mix the aromatic amine compound, para-phenylenediamine (PPD) into natural henna to create 'black henna' that rapidly stains the skin black. However, PPD may cause severe delayed hypersensitivity reactions following skin contact. This study proposes a rapid direct-analysis method to detect and identify PPD using an atmospheric solids analysis probe (ASAP) coupled to a Q-ToF mass spectrometer (MS). Since laborious, multistep methods of analysis to determine PPD are undesirable, due to the instability of the compound in solution, a screening method involving no sample preparation steps was developed. Experiments were carried out to optimise the corona current, sample cone voltage, source temperature, and desolvation gas temperature to determine ideal ASAP-Q-ToF-MS analysing conditions. Eleven of the 109 henna samples, originating from various countries, tested positive for PPD when henna products were screened using ASAP-MS, without any form of sample preparation other than grinding. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-ToF-MS) was subsequently used to confirm the results from ASAP and to determine the concentrations of PPD in henna products. The allergen was detected in the same eleven samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.05-4.21% (w/w). It can be concluded that the sensitivity of the ASAP-MS technique is sufficient (limit of detection=0.025% w/w) to allow screening of henna samples for the presence of PPD. This relatively new technique can be applied to commercial products without extraction, sample treatment or chromatographic separation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of 25-OCH3-PPD and the related substances by UPLC-MS/MS and their cytotoxic activity.

PubMed

Ding, Meng; Lu, Jingjing; Zhao, Chen; Zhang, Sainan; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-06-01

20(R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β,12β,20-triol (25-OCH3-PPD) is a promising antitumor compound belonging to triterpenoid saponins isolated from radix notoginseng. A systematic research on the related impurities in raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD has not been conducted. In this study, three impurities obtained by HPLC-ELSD and characterized by (13)C NMR and MS were observed in the raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD. Cytotoxic activities of the related substances were also evaluated, of which impurity B with 25-OCH3-PPD showed synergistic inhibitory activity against BGC-823 with IC50 values of 8.33μM. Furthermore, a rapid and selective UPLC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of the principal component and three related substances in the raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD. Multiple reaction monitoring scan mode was used for the quantification of 20(R)-25-OCH3-PPD and its three related substances. The four constituents were separated within 11min on a BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1mm, 1.7μm) using a mobile phase comprising methanol and 0.03% formic acid water (82:18, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2mL/min. The proposed UPLC-MS/MS method displayed acceptable levels of linearity, precision, repeatability, and accuracy. In addition, the proposed method was successfully applied for the establishment of a rational quality control standard for the raw material of 25-OCH3-PPD. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Positive relationship-intensity of response to p-phenylenediamine on patch testing and cross-reactions with related allergens.

PubMed

Thomas, Bjorn R; White, Ian R; McFadden, John P; Banerjee, Piu

2014-08-01

Hair dye exposure is the most common cause of sensitization to p-phenylenediamine (PPD). Cross-reactions with structurally related allergens occur. It is suggested that a stronger patch test reaction (3+ rather than 1+) to PPD (usually tested as 1% petrolatum) is associated with an increased propensity for cross-reactions. In this article we will demonstrate this association. Of 230 patients with allergic reactions to PPD on patch testing identified during 2007-2012 from clinical records, notes for 221 were available for review. Data were collected regarding age, sex, and grade of reaction [International Contact Dermatitis Research Group (ICDRG) criteria] to PPD. Cross-reactions with the following allergens, found in our baseline series, were recorded: Disperse Yellow 3, N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (IPPD), and caine mix. Having excluded 23 doubtful reactions, the reactions from 198 patients were further considered. Of the patients, 75.3% (n = 149) were female, and the mean age was 48.6 years (12-82 years). Of the patients allergic to PPD, 16.6% (n = 33) showed cross-reactions with one or more related allergens. Cross-reactions were seen in 16% with a grade of 1+, 14.5% with a grade of 2+, 28.6% with a grade of 3+ when PPD was tested 1% pet., and 50.0% when PPD was tested at 0.1-0.001%, arbitrarily considered to be 4+ (p = 0.02; Cramér's V = 0.23). An increasing likelihood of reactions to Disperse Yellow 3, IPPD or caine mix was seen with increasing strength of patch test reaction to PPD. The clinical relevance of these cross-reactions is unclear. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Panic disorder as a risk factor for post-partum depression: Results from the Perinatal Depression-Research & Screening Unit (PND-ReScU) study.

PubMed

Rambelli, C; Montagnani, M S; Oppo, A; Banti, S; Borri, C; Cortopassi, C; Ramacciotti, D; Camilleri, V; Mula, M; Cassano, G B; Mauri, M

2010-04-01

Although the role of anxiety disorders on the development of Post-partum Depression (PPD) have already been studied in literature, that of individual anxiety disorders has not received specific attention. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of Panic Disorder (PD) and family history for PD as risk factors for PPD. Six hundred women were recruited in a prospective, observational study at the 3rd month of pregnancy and followed up until the 6th month after delivery. At baseline, risk factors for PPD, Axis-I disorders and family history for psychiatric disorders were assessed. We investigated minor and major depression (mMD) occurred at 1st, 3rd and 6th months post-partum. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between PD, family history for PD and PPD. Forty women had mMD in the post-partum. PD during pregnancy (RR=4.25; 95%CI:1.48-12.19), a history of PD (RR 2.47; 95%CI:1.11-5.49) and family history for PD (RR=2.1; 95%CI:1.06-4.4) predicted PPD after adjusting for lifetime depression and risk factors for PPD. The response rate is moderately low, but it is similar to other studies. The drop out rate is slightly high, however the 600 women who completed the 6th month follow-up did not differ from the presence of PD at baseline. PD is an independent risk factor for PPD, underscoring need to assess PD symptoms during pregnancy. Furthermore, PD represents an important risk factor for the development of PPD and should be routinely screened in order to develop specific preventive interventions. Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Filicide and suicide in a family by paraphenylene diamine poisoning: a mother who committed suicide and poisoned her four children of which one died.

PubMed

Abdelraheem, Mohamed Babikir; Elbushra, Mohamed; Ali, El-Tigani; Ellidir, Rashid A; Bushara, Amna I; Abdelraheem, Waleed B; Zijlstra, Eduard E

2014-09-01

Paraphenylene diamine (PPD) hair dye poisoning is a common health problem in the Middle East and Indian subcontinent. It is the most common cause of suicide intent especially among females. We hereby present a 27-year-old female who presented with a clinical feature of PPD poisoning due to a suicidal attempt, and she died soon after arrival. She had survived a previous suicide attempt with PPD 4 years before. This time she also intentionally tried to kill her four children using PPD. One child died, one recovered after dialysis for acute kidney injury and the other two survived without any further intervention. This case illustrates that PPD poisoning may be used in filicide and suicide intent and that all patients who committed suicide should be reviewed and assessed by clinical psychiatrist. © The Author(s) 2012.

Post-Partum Depression, Personality, and Cognitive-Emotional Factors: A Longitudinal Study on Spanish Pregnant Women.

PubMed

Peñacoba-Puente, Cecilia; Marín-Morales, Dolores; Carmona-Monge, Francisco Javier; Velasco Furlong, Lilian

2016-01-01

In this study, our purpose was to examine whether personality and cognitive factors could be related to post-partum depression (PPD), mediated by anxiety, in Spanish women. Women were evaluated for personality and cognitive factors after the first trimester, for anxiety in the third trimester, and for PPD 4 months after childbirth. A structural equation model revealed that personality and cognitive factors were associated with anxiety and PPD as predictors. Neuroticism and extroversion proved to be the most relevant factors. Conscientiousness was associated with pregnancy anxiety. Pregnancy anxiety appeared as an independent predictor of PPD. The model presented here includes personality and cognitive and emotional factors as predictors of PPD. Comprehensive care for pregnant women should contemplate assessment and intervention on all these aspects. Special focus should be on cognitive factors and emotional regulation strategies, so as to minimize the risk of later development of emotional disorders during puerperal phases.

γδ T cell and other immune cells crosstalk in cellular immunity.

PubMed

He, Ying; Wu, Kangni; Hu, Yongxian; Sheng, Lixia; Tie, Ruxiu; Wang, Binsheng; Huang, He

2014-01-01

γδ T cells have been recognized as effectors with immunomodulatory functions in cellular immunity. These abilities enable them to interact with other immune cells, thus having the potential for treatment of various immune-mediated diseases with adoptive cell therapy. So far, the interactions between γδ T cell and other immune cells have not been well defined. Here we will discuss the interactivities among them and the perspective on γδ T cells for their use in immunotherapy could be imagined. The understanding of the crosstalk among the immune cells in immunopathology might be beneficial for the clinical application of γδ T cell.

Persistence at one year of age of antigen-induced cellular immune responses in preterm infants vaccinated against whooping cough: comparison of three different vaccines and effect of a booster dose.

PubMed

Vermeulen, Françoise; Dirix, Violette; Verscheure, Virginie; Damis, Eliane; Vermeylen, Danièle; Locht, Camille; Mascart, Françoise

2013-04-08

Due to their high risk of developing severe Bordetella pertussis (Bp) infections, it is recommended to immunize preterm infants at their chronological age. However, little is known about the persistence of their specific immune responses, especially of the cellular responses recognized to play a role in protection. We compared here the cellular immune responses to two major antigens of Bp between three groups of one year-old children born prematurely, who received for their primary vaccination respectively the whole cell vaccine Tetracoq(®) (TC), the acellular vaccine Tetravac(®) (TV), or the acellular vaccine Infanrix-hexa(®) (IR). Whereas most children had still detectable IFN-γ responses at one year of age, they were lower in the IR-vaccinated children compared to the two other groups. In contrast, both the TV- and the IR-vaccinated children displayed higher Th2-type immune responses, resulting in higher antigen-specific IFN-γ/IL-5 ratios in TC- than in TV- or IR-vaccinated children. The IFN-γ/IL-5 ratio of mitogen-induced cytokines was also lower in IR- compared to TC- or TV-vaccinated children. No major differences in the immune responses were noted after the booster compared to the pre-booster responses for each vaccine. The IR-vaccinated children had a persistently low specific Th1-type immune response associated with high specific Th2-type immune responses, resulting in lower antigen-specific IFN-γ/IL-5 ratios compared to the two other groups. We conclude that antigen-specific cellular immune responses persisted in one year-old children born prematurely and vaccinated during infancy at their chronological age, that a booster dose did not significantly boost the cellular immune responses, and that the Th1/Th2 balance of the immune responses is modulated by the different vaccines. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Promoting Postpartum Mental Health in Fathers: Recommendations for Nurse Practitioners

PubMed Central

Kumar, Sheena V.; Oliffe, John L.; Kelly, Mary T.

2017-01-01

The transition to fatherhood can challenge the mental health of first-time fathers and heighten their risk for postpartum depression (PPD). Paternal PPD not only affects the individual, but relationships with partners and children as well. This scoping review explores paternal PPD, highlighting the factors for and impacts of paternal PPD, the experiences of first-time fathers during the postnatal period, including their knowledge gaps and learning preferences. Drawing on the scoping review findings, recommendations are made for postnatal programs to improve the inclusion of new fathers amid describing how nurse practitioners can promote men’s mental health in the postpartum period. PMID:29183251

The Neurobiological Impact of Postpartum Maternal Depression: Prevention and Intervention Approaches.

PubMed

Drury, Stacy S; Scaramella, Laura; Zeanah, Charles H

2016-04-01

The lasting negative impact of postpartum depression (PPD) on offspring is well established. PPD seems to have an impact on neurobiological pathways linked to socioemotional regulation, cognitive and executive function, and physiologic stress response systems. This review focus on examining the current state of research defining the effect of universal, selected, and indicated interventions for PPD on infant neurodevelopment. Given the established lasting, and potentially intergenerational, negative implications of maternal depression, enhanced efforts targeting increased identification and early intervention approaches for PPD that have an impact on health outcomes in both infants and mothers represent a critical public health concern. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interaction of oxytocin level and past depression may predict postpartum depressive symptom severity

PubMed Central

Massey, Suena H.; Schuette, Stephanie A.; Pournajafi-Nazarloo, Hossein; Wisner, Katherine L.; Carter, C. Sue

2016-01-01

Purpose We examined plasma oxytocin concentration and postpartum depression (PPD) symptom severity in women who were not depressed during pregnancy, and whether this differed by major depressive disorder (MDD) history. Methods We assessed psychiatric history and plasma oxytocin in 66 healthy pregnant women in the third trimester (M = 35 ± 3 weeks) and depressive symptoms at 6 weeks postpartum (M = 5.9 ± 0.8 weeks). Linear regression analysis was used to examine oxytocin and PPD symptom severity, and moderation of oxytocin and PPD by past MDD. Results Women with (n = 13) and without (n = 53) past MDD differed in third trimester depressive symptom severity, but not oxytocin level, demographic factors or birth outcomes. Controlling for third trimester depressive symptoms, oxytocin level was unrelated to PPD symptom severity [B(SE) = −.019(.084); β = −.025; t = −.227; p = .821]. However, oxytocin level interacted with past MDD to predict PPD symptom severity [(B(SE) = 7.489(2.429); β = .328; t = 3.084; p = .003]. Higher oxytocin predicted greater PPD symptom severity in women with past MDD (p = .019), but not in women without (p = .216). Conclusions Replication in a larger sample and methodologic challenges are discussed. PMID:26957508

Active Ghrelin and the Postpartum

PubMed Central

Baker, Jessica H.; Pedersen, Cort; Leserman, Jane; Brownley, Kimberly A.

2015-01-01

Purpose Postpartum depression (PPD) occurs in 10%–15% of women. The appetite hormone ghrelin, which fluctuates during pregnancy, is associated with depression in nonpregnant samples. Here, we examine the association between PPD and active ghrelin from pregnancy to postpartum. We additionally examine whether ghrelin changes from pregnancy to postpartum and differs between breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women. Methods Sixty women participated in a survey examining PPD and had information in regard to ghrelin concentrations were included in the study. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess symptoms of PPD. Raw ghrelin levels and ghrelin levels adjusted for creatinine were included as outcomes. Results Women screening positive for PPD at 12-weeks postpartum had higher pregnancy ghrelin concentrations. Ghrelin concentrations significantly decreased from pregnancy to 6-weeks postpartum and this change differed based on pregnancy depression status. Finally, ghrelin levels were lower in women who breastfed compared with women who were bottle-feeding. No significant findings remained once ghrelin levels were adjusted for creatinine. Conclusions Although results do not suggest an association between PPD and ghrelin after adjusting for creatinine, future research should continue to explore this possibility extending further across the postpartum period with larger sample sizes. PMID:26424410

How does gender influence immigrant and refugee women's postpartum depression help-seeking experiences?

PubMed

O'Mahony, J M; Donnelly, T T

2013-10-01

The number of migrants arriving in Canada from non-European countries has grown significantly over the past three decades. How best to assist these escalating numbers of immigrant and refugee women to adapt to their new environment and to cope with postpartum depression (PPD) is a pressing issue for healthcare providers. Evidence has shown that immigrant and refugee women experience difficulties in accessing care and treatment for PPD. This qualitative study was conducted with 30 immigrant and refugee women using in-depth interviews to obtain information about the women's PPD experiences. The primary aim was to explore how cultural, social, political, historical and economic factors intersect with race, gender and class to influence the ways in which immigrant and refugee women seek help to manage PPD. Results reveal that immigrant and refugee women experience many complex gender-related challenges and facilitators in seeking equitable help for PPD treatment and prevention. We will demonstrate that (a) structural barriers and gender roles hinder women's ability to access necessary mental healthcare services and (b) insecure immigration status coupled with emotional and economic dependence may leave women vulnerable and disadvantaged in protecting themselves against PPD. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Improved oral bioavailability of 20(R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol using nanoemulsion based on phospholipid complex: design, characterization, and in vivo pharmacokinetics in rats

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xiangrong; Zhang, Yi; Guo, Shuang; Bai, Feifei; Wu, Tong; Zhao, Yuqing

2016-01-01

The aim of the study was to improve the oral absorption of the compound 25-OCH3-PPD with poor hydrophilicity and lipophilicity. 25-OCH3-PPD-phospholipid complex was prepared by solvent evaporation, then characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared absorption spectroscopy. The aqueous solubility and oil–water partition coefficient were compared with the free compound. A nanoemulsion loaded with 25-OCH3-PPD-phospholipid complex was developed by dissolving the complex in water in the presence of hydrophilic surfactant under sonication. After oral administration of the nanoemulsion and the suspension of 25-OCH3-PPD in rats, the concentrations of 25-OCH3-PPD in plasma were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method. The results showed that the solubility of the complex in water and n-octanol was enhanced. The oil–water partition coefficient improved 1.7 times. Peak plasma concentration and area under the curve(0–24 h) of the nanoemulsion of 25-OCH3-PPD-phospholipid complex were higher than that of free compound by 3.9- and 3.5-folds. PMID:27877020

Generation of anti-porcine CD69 monoclonal antibodies and their usefulness to evaluate early activation of cellular immunity by flow cytometric analysis.

PubMed

Hayashi, Yumiko; Okutani, Mie; Ogawa, Shohei; Tsukahara, Takamitsu; Inoue, Ryo

2018-05-01

T cell-mediated cellular immunity and humoral immunity are equally important for the prevention of diseases. To assess activation of human and mouse cellular immunity, early activation markers of lymphocytes are often used in flow cytometry targeting expression of CD69 molecules. Response of humoral immunity against infection or vaccination has been well investigated in pigs, but that of cellular immunity has been largely neglected due to lack of direct evaluation tools. Thus, in pig research a proper assay of antibody reacted with porcine CD69 is still unavailable. In the present study, two anti-porcine CD69 mAb-producing mouse hybridomas, 01-14-22-51 (IgG2b-κ) and 01-22-44-102 (IgG2a-κ), both showing fine reactivity with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin-stimulated porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes in flow cytometry, were established. When porcine peripheral blood lymphocytes were activated with PMA and ionomycin and analyzed by flow cytometry, it was found that both mAbs generated in this study stained about 70% of lymphocytes. In contrast, after an identical procedure, only 5% and 13.5% of lymphocytes were stained with anti-interferon-γ mAb and anti-tumor necrosis factor-α mAb, respectively. These results indicate that evaluation of cellular immunity activation turns more sensitive after using our newly generated mAbs. © 2018 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

High Dose Atorvastatin Decreases Cellular Markers of Immune Activation Without Affecting HIV-1 RNA Levels: Results of a Double-Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-02-15

M A J O R A R T I C L E High Dose Atorvastatin Decreases Cellular Markers of Immune Activation without Affecting HIV-1 RNA Levels: Results of a... atorvastatin on HIV-1 RNA (primary objective) and cellular markers of immune activation (secondary objective). HIV-infected individuals not receiving...antiretroviral therapy were randomized to receive either 8 weeks of atorvastatin (80 mg) or placebo daily. After a 4–6 week washout phase, participants

Ubiquitin in Influenza Virus Entry and Innate Immunity.

PubMed

Rudnicka, Alina; Yamauchi, Yohei

2016-10-24

Viruses are obligatory cellular parasites. Their mission is to enter a host cell, to transfer the viral genome, and to replicate progeny whilst diverting cellular immunity. The role of ubiquitin is to regulate fundamental cellular processes such as endocytosis, protein degradation, and immune signaling. Many viruses including influenza A virus (IAV) usurp ubiquitination and ubiquitin-like modifications to establish infection. In this focused review, we discuss how ubiquitin and unanchored ubiquitin regulate IAV host cell entry, and how histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), a cytoplasmic deacetylase with ubiquitin-binding activity, mediates IAV capsid uncoating. We also discuss the roles of ubiquitin in innate immunity and its implications in the IAV life cycle.

Ubiquitin in Influenza Virus Entry and Innate Immunity

PubMed Central

Rudnicka, Alina; Yamauchi, Yohei

2016-01-01

Viruses are obligatory cellular parasites. Their mission is to enter a host cell, to transfer the viral genome, and to replicate progeny whilst diverting cellular immunity. The role of ubiquitin is to regulate fundamental cellular processes such as endocytosis, protein degradation, and immune signaling. Many viruses including influenza A virus (IAV) usurp ubiquitination and ubiquitin-like modifications to establish infection. In this focused review, we discuss how ubiquitin and unanchored ubiquitin regulate IAV host cell entry, and how histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6), a cytoplasmic deacetylase with ubiquitin-binding activity, mediates IAV capsid uncoating. We also discuss the roles of ubiquitin in innate immunity and its implications in the IAV life cycle. PMID:27783058

Comparison of pro-inflammatory cytokines of non-healing and healing cutaneous leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Moafi, M; Rezvan, H; Sherkat, R; Taleban, R; Asilian, A; Hamid Zarkesh-Esfahani, S; Nilforoushzadeh, M A; Jaffary, F; Mansourian, M; Sokhanvari, F; Ansari, N

2017-04-01

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) heals spontaneously within several weeks or months, but, in rare cases, CL-active lesions last for many years. In this study, we assessed cell-mediated immunity in non-healing CL through the measurement of three pro-inflammatory cytokines: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-17a and CXCL-11. For this, 32 patients afflicted with healing or non-healing CL were recruited in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of every patient were treated with three antigens: purified protein derivative (PPD), soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Cytokine quantification was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results of our study showed that neither cytokine produced in the presence of a PPD stimulator (as an irrelevant antigen) significantly differed between the healing and non-healing groups (P-value ≥0.05 for all of them). However, IFN-γ, CXCL-11 and IL-17a levels produced in the presence of PHA or SLA were significantly higher within the healing than in the non-healing group (P-value <0.01 for all of them). It seems that appropriate levels of IFN-γ, as well as IL-17a and CXCL-11, contribute to the control of Leishmania infection. © 2017 The Foundation for the Scandinavian Journal of Immunology.

Immunological studies in cattle exposed to polybrominated biphenyls

PubMed Central

Kateley, John R.; Bazzell, S. J.

1978-01-01

The intactness of the immune system in cattle exposed to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) has been investigated by using several immunoassays. Eighty-seven animals have been studied, 35 control animals (not exposed to PBBs) and 52 animals exposed to PBBs (0.02–30 ppm/g fat equivalent). The immunoassays included a complete blood count, identification of peripheral blood T and B lymphocyte subpopulations, serum immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, and IgA), the in vitro response to lymphocytes to phytolectins (PHA, Con A, PWM), the antibody response to Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), the cell-mediated response to PPD, and determination of autoantibodies and/or immunosuppressive serum factors. For control and PBB-exposed cattle, there was no statistical difference between the number of circulating erythrocytes or leukocytes, the hematocrit, or hemoglobin content; the percentage or number of T and B lymphocytes; the isotope incorporation index (DNA synthesis) of lymphocytes in response to mitogens; the concentrations of serum immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, or IgA; the mean peak titer to KLH; or in vivo or in vitro immune response to PPD. Additional evaluation of cattle with tissue levels of PBB greater than 3 ppm/g tissue for hematological and immunological parameters revealed no statistical difference from control animals. Other experiments were performed to evaluate serum from cattle exposed to PBBs for autoantibodies to smooth muscle, mitochondrial or nuclear antigens. No evidence for autoantibodies was observed. Further studies were done to examine the cytotoxic and/or immunosuppressive activity of sera from PBB-exposed animals. In these studies, the blastogenic response of lymphocytes from control cattle and humans were evaluated in the presence and absence of serum from animals exposed to PBBs (> 3 ppm/g tissue). No evidence for either a cytotoxic or an immunosuppressive influence of such sera was demonstrable. Our studies indicate that PBB, at the levels studied, does not alter or interfere with lymphocyte surface antigens, the complex nuclear and cytoplasmic events required for mitosis and cell division, or the biological events required for antibody formation and cell-mediated immune reactions. Further, PBB exposure at the levels studied does not predispose cattle to autoantibody production or leucotoxic serum factors. PMID:210004

Skin sensitization potency and cross-reactivity of p-phenylenediamine and its derivatives evaluated by non-radioactive murine local lymph node assay and guinea-pig maximization test.

PubMed

Yamano, Tetsuo; Shimizu, Mitsuru

2009-04-01

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD)-related chemicals have been used as antioxidants in rubber products, and many cases of contact dermatitis caused by these chemicals have been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate relative sensitizing potency and cross-reactivity among PPD derivatives. Five PPD derivatives, p-aminodiphenylamine (PADPA), N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (IPPD), N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMBPPD), N-(1-methylheptyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (MHPPD), and the core chemical PPD were evaluated for their sensitizing potency and cross-reactivity using the non-radioactive murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) and the guinea-pig maximization test (GPMT). PPD and all the derivatives were identified as primary sensitizers in both tests. The order of potency in the LLNA was as follows: IPPD and PADPA > PPD > DMBPPD and MHPPD > DPPD. In the GPMT, all six groups of animals sensitized with one of these chemicals cross-reacted to four other derivatives. Specifically, the five groups that have a common basic PADPA structure, that is PADPA, DPPD, IPPD, DMBPPD, and MHPPD, all reacted to each other at almost the same scores, while none of them reacted to PPD. The cross-reactivity profile found in the study was to some extent different from that in previous human data, where distinction between cross-reaction and concomitant primary sensitization is not always clear.

Progesterone receptor (PR) polyproline domain (PPD) mediates inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

PubMed

Kawprasertsri, Sornsawan; Pietras, Richard J; Marquez-Garban, Diana C; Boonyaratanakornkit, Viroj

2016-05-01

Recent evidence has suggested a possible role for progesterone receptor (PR) in the progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, little is known concerning roles of PR in NSCLC. PR contains a polyproline domain (PPD), which directly binds to the SH3 domain of signaling molecules. Because PPD-SH3 interactions are essential for EGFR signaling, we hypothesized that the presence of PR-PPD interfered with EGFR-mediated signaling and cell proliferation. We examined the role of PR-PPD in cell proliferation and signaling by stably expressing PR-B, or PR-B with disrupting mutations in the PPD (PR-BΔSH3), from a tetracycline-regulated promoter in A549 NSCLC cells. PR-B dose-dependently inhibited cell growth in the absence of ligand, and progestin (R5020) treatment further suppressed the growth. Treatment with RU486 abolished PR-B- and R5020-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation. Expression of PR-BΔSH3 and treatment with R5020 or RU486 had no effect on cell proliferation. Furthermore, PR-B expression but not PR-BΔSH3 expression reduced EGF-induced A549 proliferation and activation of ERK1/2, in the absence of ligand. Taken together, our data demonstrated the significance of PR extranuclear signaling through PPD interactions in EGFR-mediated proliferation and signaling in NSCLC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

A longitudinal study of women's depression symptom profiles during and after the postpartum phase.

PubMed

Fox, Molly; Sandman, Curt A; Davis, Elysia Poggi; Glynn, Laura M

2018-04-01

An issue of critical importance for psychiatry and women's health is whether postpartum depression (PPD) represents a unique condition. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders asserts that major depressive disorder (MDD) may present with peripartum onset, without suggesting any other differences between MDD and PPD. The absence of any distinct features calls into question the nosologic validity of PPD as a diagnostic category. The present study investigates whether symptom profiles differ between PPD and depression occurring outside the postpartum phase. In a prospective, longitudinal study of parturient women (N = 239), we examine the manifestation of depression symptoms. We assess factor structure of symptom profiles, and whether factors are differentially pronounced during and after the postpartum period. Factors were revealed representing: Worry, Emotional/Circadian/Energetic Dysregulation, Somatic/Cognitive, Appetite, Distress Display, and Anger symptoms. The factor structure was validated at postpartum and after-postpartum timepoints. Interestingly, the Worry factor, comprising anxiety and guilt, was significantly more pronounced during the postpartum timepoint, and the Emotional/Circadian/Energetic Dysregulation factor, which contained sadness and anhedonia, was significantly less pronounced during the postpartum period. These results suggest that PPD may be a unique syndrome, necessitating research, diagnosis, and treatment strategies distinct from those for MDD. Results indicate the possibility that Worry is an enhanced feature of PPD compared to depression outside the postpartum period, and the crucial role of sadness/anhedonia in MDD diagnosis may be less applicable to PPD diagnosis. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Elevated levels of Hs-CRP and IL-6 after delivery are associated with depression during the 6 months post partum.

PubMed

Liu, Hao; Zhang, Yang; Gao, Yutao; Zhang, Zhenyu

2016-09-30

The objective of this study is to determine whether inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6) early in the postpartum period contribute to the development of postpartum depression (PPD). From 4 May 2014 to 30 June 2014, all eligible women not on medication for depression giving birth at the Beijing Chao-Yang hospital were consecutively recruited and followed up for 6 months. Depression symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and inflammatory biomarkers (Hs-CRP and IL-6) were tested. During the study period, 296 women were enrolled and completed follow-up. In these women, 45 (15.2%) were considered as meeting the criteria for PPD. Serum levels of Hs-CRP and IL-6 in women with PPD were significantly higher than those without PPD (all P<0.0001). Receiver operating characteristics to predict PPD demonstrated areas under the curve of IL-6 of 0.861 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.801-0.922), which was superior to Hs-CRP (0.837 (95% CI, 0.781-0.894), P<0.01). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, IL-6 and Hs-CRP were independent predictors of PPD. The present study demonstrates a strong relationship between elevated serum Hs-CRP and IL-6 levels at admission and the development of PPD within 6 months. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cellular immune responses to HIV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McMichael, Andrew J.; Rowland-Jones, Sarah L.

2001-04-01

The cellular immune response to the human immunodeficiency virus, mediated by T lymphocytes, seems strong but fails to control the infection completely. In most virus infections, T cells either eliminate the virus or suppress it indefinitely as a harmless, persisting infection. But the human immunodeficiency virus undermines this control by infecting key immune cells, thereby impairing the response of both the infected CD4+ T cells and the uninfected CD8+ T cells. The failure of the latter to function efficiently facilitates the escape of virus from immune control and the collapse of the whole immune system.

The cellular immunity and oxidative stress markers in early pregnancy loss.

PubMed

Daglar, Korkut; Biberoglu, Ebru; Kirbas, Ayse; Dirican, Aylin Onder; Genc, Metin; Avci, Aslihan; Biberoglu, Kutay

2016-01-01

We investigated whether changes in cellular immunity and oxidative stress in pregnancy have any association with spontaneous miscarriage. Circulating adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity as a marker of cellular immunity and malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as markers of T lymphocyte activation and parameters of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense were compared between 40 women with early pregnancy loss and another 40 women with ungoing healthy pregnancy. Women with miscarriage had higher serum ADA and GPx levels when compared with women with normal pregnancy (p = 0.034 and p < 0.001, respectively). Although serum MDA level was slightly higher in women with miscarriage, the difference was not significant (p = 0.083). CAT levels were alike in both groups. We have demonstrated an increased cellular immunity and perhaps a compensated oxidative stress related to increased antioxidant activation in women with early spontaneous pregnancy loss.

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) challenge, ruminal condition and cellular immunity in cattle.

PubMed

Sato, Shigeru

2015-02-01

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is characterized by repeated bouts of low ruminal pH. Cows with SARA often develop complications or other diseases, and associate physiologically with immunosuppression and inflammation. Ruminal free lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increases during SARA and translocates into the blood circulation activating an inflammatory response. Ruminal fermentation and cellular immunity are encouraged by supplementing hay with calf starter during weaning. SARA calves given a 5-day repeated administration of a bacteria-based probiotic had stable ruminal pH levels (6.6-6.8). The repeated administration of probiotics enhance cellular immune function and encourage recovery from diarrhea in pre-weaning calves. Furthermore, the ruminal fermentation could guard against acute and short-term feeding changes, and changes in the rumen microbial composition of SARA cattle might occur following changes in ruminal pH. The repeated bouts of low ruminal pH in SARA cattle might be associated with depression of cellular immunity.

Initiation-promotion skin carcinogenesis and immunological competence.

PubMed

Curtis, G L; Stenbäck, F; Ryan, W L

1975-10-01

The immune competence of mice during initiation-promotion skin carcinogenesis was determined by skin allograft rejection and lymphocyte mitogenesis. The carcinogen 7, 12-dimethylbenzanthracene inhibited the cellular immune competence of mice while lymphocytes from croton oil treated mice had enhanced PWM response. Chlorphenesin, a stimulator of cellular immunity, was found to inhibit tumorigenesis in initiation-promotion skin carcinogenesis when injected during promotion.

Waning and aging of cellular immunity to Bordetella pertussis.

PubMed

van Twillert, Inonge; Han, Wanda G H; van Els, Cécile A C M

2015-11-01

While it is clear that the maintenance of Bordetella pertussis-specific immunity evoked both after vaccination and infection is insufficient, it is unknown at which pace waning occurs and which threshold levels of sustained functional memory B and T cells are required to provide long-term protection. Longevity of human cellular immunity to B. pertussis has been studied less extensively than serology, but is suggested to be key for the observed differences between the duration of protection induced by acellular vaccination and whole cell vaccination or infection. The induction and maintenance of levels of protective memory B and T cells may alter with age, associated with changes of the immune system throughout life and with accumulating exposures to circulating B. pertussis or vaccine doses. This is relevant since pertussis affects all age groups. This review summarizes current knowledge on the waning patterns of human cellular immune responses to B. pertussis as addressed in diverse vaccination and infection settings and in various age groups. Knowledge on the effectiveness and flaws in human B. pertussis-specific cellular immunity ultimately will advance the improvement of pertussis vaccination strategies. © FEMS 2015. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Enhancing immune responses to inactivated porcine parvovirus oil emulsion vaccine by co-inoculating porcine transfer factor in mice.

PubMed

Wang, Rui-ning; Wang, Ya-bin; Geng, Jing-wei; Guo, Dong-hui; Liu, Fang; Chen, Hong-ying; Zhang, Hong-ying; Cui, Bao-an; Wei, Zhan-yong

2012-07-27

Inactivated porcine parvovirus (PPV) vaccines are available commercially and widely used in the breeding herds. However, inactivated PPV vaccines have deficiencies in induction of specific cellular immune response. Transfer factor (TF) is a material that obtained from the leukocytes, and is a novel immune-stimulatory reagent that as a modulator of the immune system. In this study, the immunogenicity of PPV oil emulsion vaccine and the immuno-regulatory activities of TF were investigated. The inactivated PPV oil emulsion vaccines with or without TF were inoculated into BALB/c mice by subcutaneous injection. Then humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), fluorescence-activated cell sorter analyses (FACS). The results showed that the PPV specific immune responses could be evoked in mice by inoculating with PPV oil emulsion vaccine alone or by co-inoculation with TF. The cellular immune response levels in the co-inoculation groups were higher than those groups receiving the PPV oil emulsion vaccine alone, with the phenomena of higher level of IFN-γ, a little IL-6 and a trace of IL-4 in serum, and a vigorous T-cell response. However, there was no significant difference in antibody titers between TF synergy inactivated vaccine and the inactivated vaccine group (P>0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that TF possess better cellular immune-enhancing capability and would be exploited into an effective immune-adjuvant for inactivated vaccines. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Noninvasive Technique for the Diagnosis of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Premature Infants by Analyzing Pulse Wave Phases on Photoplethysmography Signals Measured in the Right Hand and the Left Foot

PubMed Central

Goudjil, Sabrina; Imestouren, Fatiha; Armougon, Aurelie; Razafimanantsoa, Lucie; Mahmoudzadeh, Mahdi; Wallois, Fabrice; Leke, André; Kongolo, Guy

2014-01-01

Objective To evaluate the impact of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) on the pulse phase difference (PPD) between the left foot (postductal region) and the right hand (preductal region). Materials and Methods PPD was determined from arterial photoplethysmography signals (pulse waves) measured by infrared sensors routinely used for pulse oximetry in 56 premature infants less than 32 weeks gestation. Only infants with significant PDA (sPDA) diagnosed by echocardiography were treated with ibuprofen (for 3 days). Patients were classified according to whether or not they responded (Success/Failure) to this treatment. The Control group was composed of infants in whom ductus had already closed spontaneously at the time of the first echocardiography. The 3 groups were compared in terms of PPD at the beginning (T1) and at the end (T2) of the study. For patients in the Failure (n = 17) and Success groups (n = 18), T1 corresponded to the first day of treatment and T2 to the day after completion of the course of ibuprofen. In the Control group (n = 21), T1 corresponded to 1 to 3 days of life (DOL), and T2 to 4–6 DOL. Results Compared to the Control group, PPD was higher in the Failure (at T1 and T2) and Success (at T1) groups characterized by sPDA. After ibuprofen therapy, PPD in the Success group decreased to about the level observed in the Control group. The area under the ROC curve of PPD for the diagnosis of sPDA was 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–1); for an optimal cut-off of PPD ≥1.65 deg/cm, the sensitivity was 94.2% and the specificity was 98.3%. Conclusion In this study, PPD was correlated with ductus arteriosus status evaluated by echocardiography, indicating involvement of the ductal shunt in the mechanism of redistribution in systemic vascular territories. PPD can be considered for the diagnosis of hemodynamically significant PDA. PMID:24892695

Expression conservation within the circadian clock of a monocot: natural variation at barley Ppd-H1 affects circadian expression of flowering time genes, but not clock orthologs.

PubMed

Campoli, Chiara; Shtaya, Munqez; Davis, Seth J; von Korff, Maria

2012-06-21

The circadian clock is an endogenous mechanism that coordinates biological processes with daily changes in the environment. In plants, circadian rhythms contribute to both agricultural productivity and evolutionary fitness. In barley, the photoperiod response regulator and flowering-time gene Ppd-H1 is orthologous to the Arabidopsis core-clock gene PRR7. However, relatively little is known about the role of Ppd-H1 and other components of the circadian clock in temperate crop species. In this study, we identified barley clock orthologs and tested the effects of natural genetic variation at Ppd-H1 on diurnal and circadian expression of clock and output genes from the photoperiod-response pathway. Barley clock orthologs HvCCA1, HvGI, HvPRR1, HvPRR37 (Ppd-H1), HvPRR73, HvPRR59 and HvPRR95 showed a high level of sequence similarity and conservation of diurnal and circadian expression patterns, when compared to Arabidopsis. The natural mutation at Ppd-H1 did not affect diurnal or circadian cycling of barley clock genes. However, the Ppd-H1 mutant was found to be arrhythmic under free-running conditions for the photoperiod-response genes HvCO1, HvCO2, and the MADS-box transcription factor and vernalization responsive gene Vrn-H1. We suggest that the described eudicot clock is largely conserved in the monocot barley. However, genetic differentiation within gene families and differences in the function of Ppd-H1 suggest evolutionary modification in the angiosperm clock. Our data indicates that natural variation at Ppd-H1 does not affect the expression level of clock genes, but controls photoperiodic output genes. Circadian control of Vrn-H1 in barley suggests that this vernalization responsive gene is also controlled by the photoperiod-response pathway. Structural and functional characterization of the barley circadian clock will set the basis for future studies of the adaptive significance of the circadian clock in Triticeae species.

Regulatory T Cells Subvert Mycobacterial Containment in Patients Failing Extensively Drug-resistant TB Treatment.

PubMed

Davids, Malika; Pooran, Anil S; Pietersen, Elize; Wainwright, Helen C; Binder, Anke; Warren, Robin; Dheda, Keertan

2018-02-09

The advent of extensively (XDR-TB) and totally drug-resistant TB, with limited or no treatment options, has facilitated renewed interest in host directed immunotherapy, particularly for therapeutically destitute patients. However, the selection and utility of such approaches depend upon understanding the host immune response in XDR-TB, which hitherto remains unexplored. To determine the host immunological profile in patients with XDR-TB, compared to drug-sensitive TB, using peripheral blood and explanted lung tissue. Blood and explanted lung tissue were obtained from patients with XDR-TB (n=31), drug-sensitive TB (DS-TB, n=20) and presumed latent-TB infection (LTBI, n=20). T-cell phenotype (Th1/Th2/Th17/Tregs) was evaluated in all patient groups, and Treg function assessed in XDR-TB non-responders by co-culturing PPD pre-primed effector T-cells with H37Rv-infected monocyte-derived macrophages, with or without autologous Tregs. Mycobacterial containment was evaluated by counting colony-forming units. Patients failing XDR-TB treatment had an altered immuno-phenotype characterized by a substantial increase in the frequency (median; IQR) of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T-cells (11.5; 5.9-15.2) compared to DS-TB (3.4 %; 1.6-5.73; p < 0.001) and presumed LTBI (1.8 % 1.2-2.3; p < 0.001), which was unrelated to disease duration. Tregs isolated from XDR-TB patients suppressed T-cell proliferation (up to 90%) and subverted containment of H37Rv-infected monocyte-derived macrophages (by 30%; p= 0.03) by impairing effector T-cell function through a mechanism independent of direct cell-to-cell contact, IL-10, TGF-beta and CTLA-4. Collectively, these data suggest that Tregs may be contributing to immune dysfunction, and bacterial persistence, in patients with XDR-TB. The relevant cellular pathways may serve as potential targets for immunotherapeutic intervention.

Combinatorial contextualization of peptidic epitopes for enhanced cellular immunity.

PubMed

Ito, Masaki; Hayashi, Kazumi; Adachi, Eru; Minamisawa, Tamiko; Homma, Sadamu; Koido, Shigeo; Shiba, Kiyotaka

2014-01-01

Invocation of cellular immunity by epitopic peptides remains largely dependent on empirically developed protocols, such as interfusion of aluminum salts or emulsification using terpenoids and surfactants. To explore novel vaccine formulation, epitopic peptide motifs were co-programmed with structural motifs to produce artificial antigens using our "motif-programming" approach. As a proof of concept, we used an ovalbumin (OVA) system and prepared an artificial protein library by combinatorially polymerizing MHC class I and II sequences from OVA along with a sequence that tends to form secondary structures. The purified endotoxin-free proteins were then examined for their ability to activate OVA-specific T-cell hybridoma cells after being processed within dendritic cells. One clone, F37A (containing three MHC I and two MHC II OVA epitopes), possessed a greater ability to evoke cellular immunity than the native OVA or the other artificial antigens. The sensitivity profiles of drugs that interfered with the F37A uptake differed from those of the other artificial proteins and OVA, suggesting that alteration of the cross-presentation pathway is responsible for the enhanced immunogenicity. Moreover, F37A, but not an epitopic peptide, invoked cellular immunity when injected together with monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), and retarded tumor growth in mice. Thus, an artificially synthesized protein antigen induced cellular immunity in vivo in the absence of incomplete Freund's adjuvant or aluminum salts. The method described here could be potentially used for developing vaccines for such intractable ailments as AIDS, malaria and cancer, ailments in which cellular immunity likely play a crucial role in prevention and treatment.

Social energy exchange theory for postpartum depression.

PubMed

Posmontier, Bobbie; Waite, Roberta

2011-01-01

Postpartum depression (PPD), a significant health problem affecting about 19.4% of postpartum women worldwide, may result in long-term cognitive and behavior problems in children, spousal depression, widespread family dysfunction, and chronic and increasingly severe maternal depression. Although current theoretical frameworks provide a rich context for studying PPD,none provides a framework that specifically addresses the dynamic relationship of the inner personal experience with the social and cultural context of PPD. The authors propose the social energy exchange theory for postpartum depression to understand how PPD impedes this dynamic relationship and suggest it as a theoretical framework for the study of interventions that would target intra- and interpersonal disturbance within the social and cultural context.

Prenatal Life Events, Maternal Employment, and Postpartum Depression across a Diverse Population in New York City.

PubMed

Liu, Cindy H; Phan, Jenny; Yasui, Miwa; Doan, Stacey

2018-05-01

This study examined racial/ethnic disparities in three core postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms, and identified specific predictors of PPD including sociodemographic variables, life stressors and maternal employment. White, African American, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander women from the New York City area (n = 3010) completed the 2009-2011 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. African American women were less likely to have PPD than White women. Maternal employment during the postpartum was associated with an increased likelihood of PPD for White women relative to women who were not employed. Life stressors and maternal employment should be considered as culturally contextualized factors related to postpartum depression.

Immune function trade-offs in response to parasite threats.

PubMed

Kirschman, Lucas J; Quade, Adam H; Zera, Anthony J; Warne, Robin W

2017-04-01

Immune function is often involved in physiological trade-offs because of the energetic costs of maintaining constitutive immunity and mounting responses to infection. However, immune function is a collection of discrete immunity factors and animals should allocate towards factors that combat the parasite threat with the highest fitness cost. For example, animals on dispersal fronts of expanding population may be released from density-dependent diseases. The costs of immunity, however, and life history trade-offs in general, are often context dependent. Trade-offs are often most apparent under conditions of unusually limited resources or when animals are particularly stressed, because the stress response can shift priorities. In this study we tested how humoral and cellular immune factors vary between phenotypes of a wing dimorphic cricket and how physiological stress influences these immune factors. We measured constitutive lysozyme activity, a humoral immune factor, and encapsulation response, a cellular immune factor. We also stressed the crickets with a sham predator in a full factorial design. We found that immune strategy could be explained by the selective pressures encountered by each morph and that stress decreased encapsulation, but not lysozyme activity. These results suggest a possible trade-off between humoral and cellular immunity. Given limited resources and the expense of immune factors, parasite pressures could play a key factor in maintaining insect polyphenism via disruptive selection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Relationship Between Women's Intention to Request a Labor Epidural Analgesia, Actually Delivering With Labor Epidural Analgesia, and Postpartum Depression at 6 Weeks: A Prospective Observational Study.

PubMed

Orbach-Zinger, Sharon; Landau, Ruth; Harousch, Avi Ben; Ovad, Oren; Caspi, Liron; Kornilov, Evgeniya; Ioscovich, Alexander; Bracco, Danielle; Davis, Atara; Fireman, Shlomo; Hoshen, Moshe; Eidelman, Leonid A

2018-05-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is associated with pain during and after delivery, with studies showing reduced rates among women delivering with labor epidural analgesia (LEA). We hypothesized that women who intend to deliver with LEA but do not receive it are at higher risk for PPD at 6 weeks due to the combined experience of untreated labor pain and unmatched expectations during labor, and evaluated the interaction between labor plans related to LEA, satisfaction with pain control when actually delivering with LEA, and PPD at 6 weeks after delivery. A total of 1497 women with a vaginal delivery were enrolled into this prospective longitudinal study. Women's initial intention to deliver with or without LEA, how they subsequently delivered, and satisfaction with pain relief were recorded on postpartum day 1. Primary aim was selected as PPD at 6 weeks among women intending to deliver with but subsequently delivering without LEA compared with the rest of the cohort. Primary outcome was PPD at 6 weeks using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale; PPD was defined with a score ≥10 (scale from 0 to 30). Demographic and obstetric data were recorded. Fisher exact test was used for comparisons between groups. The interaction between intention and actual delivery with regard to LEA and PPD was tested. Overall, 87 of 1326 women completing the study at 6 weeks had PPD (6.6%). For the primary aim, 439 (29.3%) delivered without LEA, of which 193 (12.9%) had intended to deliver with LEA; the PPD rate among these women was 8.1%, which was not statistically different from the rest of the cohort (6.3%; odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-2.38; P = .41). A total of 1058 women (70.7%) delivered with LEA and 439 (29.3%) delivered without; therefore, 1169 (78.1%) delivered as intended and 328 (21.9%) did not (unmatched expectations). Evaluating the interaction between effects, there was a strong negative additive interaction between intending to deliver without LEA and actually delivering with LEA (risk difference = -8.6%, 95% CI, 16.2%-1.6%; P = .014) suggesting that unmatched intention effect is significantly associated with negative outcome. In multiple regression analysis, while intending to deliver with LEA (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; P = .029) and actually delivering with LEA (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .018) both increased the odds for PPD, the multiplicative interaction was protective (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99; P = .022), after adjusting for cofactors. Our study results did not demonstrate a significant increase in the odds for PPD at 6 weeks among women who intended to deliver with LEA but subsequently delivered without. However, we identified a protective interaction between intended LEA use and actual use on the incidence of PPD. Our data suggest an increased risk when women do not deliver as intended, particularly when not initially intending to deliver with LEA. The relationship between unplanned LEA and PPD may be mediated by a physically difficult delivery rather than or in addition to negative emotions related to unmet expectations or a sense of personal failure; therefore, counseling women after delivery to address any negative perceptions may be useful.

Potential of DosR and Rpf antigens from Mycobacterium tuberculosis to discriminate between latent and active tuberculosis in a tuberculosis endemic population of Medellin Colombia.

PubMed

Arroyo, Leonar; Marín, Diana; Franken, Kees L M C; Ottenhoff, Tom H M; Barrera, Luis F

2018-01-08

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the most deadly infectious diseases. One-third to one-fourth of the human population is estimated to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) without showing clinical symptoms, a condition called latent TB infection (LTBI). Diagnosis of Mtb infection is based on the immune response to a mixture of mycobacterial antigens (PPD) or to Mtb specific ESAT-6/CFP10 antigens (IGRA), highly expressed during the initial phase of infection. However, the immune response to PPD and IGRA antigens has a low power to discriminate between LTBI and PTB. The T-cell response to a group of so-called latency (DosR-regulon-encoded) and Resuscitation Promoting (Rpf) antigens of Mtb has been proved to be significantly higher in LTBI compared to active TB across many populations, suggesting their potential use as biomarkers to differentiate latent from active TB. PBMCs from a group LTBI (n = 20) and pulmonary TB patients (PTB, n = 21) from an endemic community for TB of the city of Medellín, Colombia, were in vitro stimulated for 7 days with DosR- (Rv1737c, Rv2029c, and Rv2628), Rpf- (Rv0867c and Rv2389c), the recombinant fusion protein ESAT-6-CFP10 (E6-C10)-, or PPD-antigen. The induced IFNγ levels detectable in the supernatants of the antigen-stimulated cells were then used to calculate specificity and sensitivity in discriminating LTBI from PTB, using different statistical approaches. IFNγ production in response to DosR and Rpf antigens was significantly higher in LTBI compared to PTB. ROC curve analyses of IFNγ production allowed differentiation of LTBI from PTB with areas under the curve higher than 0.70. Furthermore, Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) revealed that LTBI is associated with higher levels of IFNγ in response to the different antigens compared to PTB. Analysis based on decision trees showed that the IFNγ levels produced in response to Rv2029c was the leading variable that best-classified disease status. Finally, logistic regression analysis predicted that IFNγ produced by PBMCs in response to E6-C10, Rv2029c, Rv0867c (RpfA) and Rv2389c (RpfA) antigens correlates best with the probability of being latently infected. The Mtb antigens E6-C10, Rv2029c (PfkB), Rv0867c (RpfA) and Rv2389c (RpfA), may be potential candidates to discriminate LTBI from PTB.

[Post-partum blues and depression].

PubMed

Jalenques, Isabelle; Legrand, Guillaume

2009-04-20

Post-partum time is an eventful period with modifications of somatic but also biological and psychological status of women, leading to increased risk of anxious and depressive disorders. Diagnosis of post-partum blues (PPB) or post-partum depression (PPD) is sometimes difficult. PPB is usually benign; thus a punctual help is usually sufficient. A severe or long duration PPB is associated with an increased risk of PPD which has to be taken into account. PPD can be difficult to diagnose because of multiple clinical forms and specially variations in intensity. During prenatal period, the aim is to look for women who are at risk for PPB or PPD. So it is necessary that the different practitioners can exchange informations. A treatment of PPD is essential because it has an important impact on mother and child's health. General practitioner involves from prenatal period (deflection of risk factors) to the diagnosis, the look out and the following of mothers and children in collaboration with obstetric, pediatric and psychiatric teams.

Biological and Psychosocial Predictors of Postpartum Depression: Systematic Review and Call for Integration

PubMed Central

Tanner Stapleton, Lynlee R.; Guardino, Christine M.; Hahn-Holbrook, Jennifer; Schetter, Christine Dunkel

2017-01-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) adversely affects the health and well being of many new mothers, their infants, and their families. A comprehensive understanding of biopsychosocial precursors to PPD is needed to solidify the current evidence base for best practices in translation. We conducted a systematic review of research published from 2000 through 2013 on biological and psychosocial factors associated with PPD and postpartum depressive symptoms. Two hundred fourteen publications based on 199 investigations of 151,651 women in the first postpartum year met inclusion criteria. The biological and psychosocial literatures are largely distinct, and few studies provide integrative analyses. The strongest PPD risk predictors among biological processes are hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysregulation, inflammatory processes, and genetic vulnerabilities. Among psychosocial factors, the strongest predictors are severe life events, some forms of chronic strain, relationship quality, and support from partner and mother. Fully integrated biopsychosocial investigations with large samples are needed to advance our knowledge of PPD etiology. PMID:25822344

Assessment of the effectiveness of the PPD-mallein produced in Brazil for diagnosing glanders in mules.

PubMed

da Silva, Karla Patrícia Chaves; de Campos Takaki, Galba Maria; da Silva, Leonildo Bento Galiza; Saukas, Tomoe Noda; Santos, André Souza; Mota, Rinaldo Aparecido

2013-01-01

To assess the potency of the PPD-mallein produced in Brazil, five animals were from a property identified as a focus of glanders. These animals had suggestive clinical signs of the disease and the other five, from a property free from glanders, showed no clinical signs and were serology negative (control group). PPD-mallein from Burkholderia mallei was obtained by precipitation with trichloroacetic acid and ammonium sulfate. The animals were inoculated according to the criteria established by Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) for the diagnosis of glanders. After 48 h of application of PPD-mallein, there was swelling in the area of application, presence of ocular secretion and tears in sick animals. The control group showed no inflammatory reaction at the site of inoculation of PPD-mallein. This immunogen produced in Brazil and still being tested was effective for identifying the infection in true positive animals and excluding the truly negative ones, being a new possibility for diagnosis and control of glanders.

Insulin resistance in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with lymphocyte population aberration.

PubMed

Yan, Yan; Bao, Shihua; Sheng, Shile; Wang, Liuliu; Tu, Weiyan

2017-12-01

This study was designed to investigate the relationship of insulin resistance (IR) and cellular immune abnormalities associated with women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Women with RPL were divided into two groups according to their homeostasis model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) scores. The IR group received metformin approximately 3 months before pregnancy. The percentage of lymphocyte subsets and other blood biochemical indices were tested. The HOMA-IR and fasting serum insulin levels were related to the percentage of lymphocyte subsets. The women with RPL had higher CD3 + and CD3 + CD4 + cell levels while CD56 + CD16 + cell levels were lower. A higher likelihood of cellular immune abnormalities was observed. Women with normal lymphocyte subsets had normal pregnancy outcomes. Metformin significantly downregulated CD3 + and CD3 + CD4 + cells and improved pregnancy outcomes. IR was associated with cellular immune abnormalities in RPL. The data suggests that metformin affected the immune/inflammatory response, which may regulate the cellular immune balance and improve pregnancy outcomes. Abbreviations RPL: recurrent pregnancy loss; IR insulin resistance; HOMA-IR: homeostasis model assessment for IR.

Norovirus P particle efficiently elicits innate, humoral and cellular immunity.

PubMed

Fang, Hao; Tan, Ming; Xia, Ming; Wang, Leyi; Jiang, Xi

2013-01-01

Norovirus (NoV) P domain complexes, the 24 mer P particles and the P dimers, induced effective humoral immunity, but their role in the cellular immune responses remained unclear. We reported here a study on cellular immune responses of the two P domain complexes in comparison with the virus-like particle (VLP) of a GII.4 NoV (VA387) in mice. The P domain complexes induced significant central memory CD4(+) T cell phenotypes (CD4(+) CD44(+) CD62L(+) CCR7(+)) and activated polyclonal CD4(+) T cells as shown by production of Interleukin (IL)-2, Interferon (IFN)-γ, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α. Most importantly, VA387-specific CD4(+) T cell epitope induced a production of IFN-γ, indicating an antigen-specific CD4(+) T cell response in P domain complex-immunized mice. Furthermore, P domain complexes efficiently induced bone marrow-derived dendritic cell (BMDC) maturation, evidenced by up-regulation of co-stimulatory and MHC class II molecules, as well as production of IL-12 and IL-1β. Finally, P domain complex-induced mature dendritic cells (DCs) elicited proliferation of specific CD4(+) T cells targeting VA387 P domain. Overall, we conclude that the NoV P domain complexes are efficiently presented by DCs to elicit not only humoral but also cellular immune responses against NoVs. Since the P particle is highly effective for both humoral and cellular immune responses and easily produced in Escherichia coli (E. coli), it is a good choice of vaccine against NoVs and a vaccine platform against other diseases.

Socioeconomic, psychiatric and materiality determinants and risk of postpartum depression in border city of ilam, Western iran.

PubMed

Taherifard, Pegah; Delpisheh, Ali; Shirali, Ramin; Afkhamzadeh, Abdorrahim; Veisani, Yousef

2013-01-01

Background. Postpartum depression (PPD) is considered as one of the mood disturbances occurring during 2-3 months after delivery. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD and its associated risk factors in border city of Ilam, western Iran. Methods. Through a descriptive cross-sectional study in 2011, overall, 197 women who attended Obstetrics & Gynecology clinics postpartumly in the border city of Ilam, western Iran, were randomly recruited. A standard questionnaire that was completed by a trained midwife through face to face interviews was used for data gathering. Results. Mean age ± standard deviations was 27.9 ± 5.2 years. Prevalence of PPD was estimated to be 34.8% (95% CI: 27.7-41.7). A significant difference was observed among depression scores before and after delivery (P ≤ 0.001). Type of delivery (P = 0.044), low socioeconomic status (P = 0.011), and women having low educational level (P = 0.009) were the most important significant risk factors associated with PPD. The regression analysis showed that employed mothers compared to housekeepers were more at risk for PPD (adjusted OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.22-2.28, P = 0.003). Conclusions. Prevalence of PPD in western Iran was slightly higher than the corresponding rate from either national or international reports.

Evaluation of whole blood IFNgamma test using PPD and recombinant antigen challenge for diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis.

PubMed

Kalantri, Yatiraj; Hemvani, Nanda; Chitnis, D S

2009-06-01

Quantiferon TB gold (QFT-G) with recombinant antigen cocktail is well evaluated for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). However, diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is more difficult due to limitations of conventional techniques. This study compares recombinant antigens based QFT-G and low cost PPD based interferon test for the diagnosis of PTB and EPTB. IFNgamma release, with recombinant antigens and PPD, was assayed by ELISA from 140 cases of EPTB, 100 cases of PTB along with acid fast bacillus (AFB) detection, AFB culture on LJ and MGIT BACTEC. Sensitivity and specificity for QFT-G recombinant antigens was 84.29% and 96%, while for PPD based interferon was 70% and 84% for EPTB group. The sensitivity was far superior to AFB smear and culture for both the antigens. Nine samples were identified as non-tubercular mycobacteria (NTM) in the EPTB group and all were negative for QFT-G, but six of them were positive for PPD based test. Results of the study show that QFT-G using recombinant antigen is sensitive and specific for both PTB and EPTB diagnosis. The PPD based test is economic and offers comparable performance for PTB and EPTB diagnosis and also useful for diagnosis of NTM.

Photoperiod-H1 (Ppd-H1) Controls Leaf Size1[OPEN

PubMed Central

Digel, Benedikt; Tavakol, Elahe; Verderio, Gabriele; Xu, Xin

2016-01-01

Leaf size is a major determinant of plant photosynthetic activity and biomass; however, it is poorly understood how leaf size is genetically controlled in cereal crop plants like barley (Hordeum vulgare). We conducted a genome-wide association scan for flowering time, leaf width, and leaf length in a diverse panel of European winter cultivars grown in the field and genotyped with a single-nucleotide polymorphism array. The genome-wide association scan identified PHOTOPERIOD-H1 (Ppd-H1) as a candidate gene underlying the major quantitative trait loci for flowering time and leaf size in the barley population. Microscopic phenotyping of three independent introgression lines confirmed the effect of Ppd-H1 on leaf size. Differences in the duration of leaf growth and consequent variation in leaf cell number were responsible for the leaf size differences between the Ppd-H1 variants. The Ppd-H1-dependent induction of the BARLEY MADS BOX genes BM3 and BM8 in the leaf correlated with reductions in leaf size and leaf number. Our results indicate that leaf size is controlled by the Ppd-H1- and photoperiod-dependent progression of plant development. The coordination of leaf growth with flowering may be part of a reproductive strategy to optimize resource allocation to the developing inflorescences and seeds. PMID:27457126

Structural and spectroscopic characterizations on the charge-transfer interactions of the second generation poly(propylene amine) dendrimers with iodine and picric acid acceptors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

El-Sayed, Mohamed Y.; Refat, Moamen S.

2015-02-01

Herein, this study was focused to get a knowledge about the intermolecular charge transfer complexes between the second generation of poly(propylene amine) dendrimer (PPD2) with picric acid (PA) and iodine (I2) as π and σ-acceptors. The charge-transfer interaction of the PPD2 electron donor and the PA acceptor has been studied in CHCl3. The resulted data refereed to the formation of the new CT-complex with the general formula [(PPD2)(PA)4]. The 1:4 stoichiometry of the reaction was discussed upon the on elemental analysis and photometric titration. On the other hand, the 1:3½ iodine-PPD2 heptaiodide (I7-) charge-transfer complex has been studied spectrophotometrically in chloroform at room temperature with general formula [(PPD2)]+I7-. The electronic absorption bands of 2I2·I3- (I7-) are observed at 358 and 294 nm. Raman laser spectrum of the brown solid heptaiodide complex has two clearly vibration bands at 155 and 110 cm-1 due to symmetric stretching νs(Isbnd I) outer and inner bonds, respectively. The 1H NMR spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data of PPD2 charge-transfer complexes were discussed.

[Post partum depression: future perspectives].

PubMed

Pinna, Martina; Zompo, Maria Del

2012-01-01

Post partum depression (PPD) is a psychiatric illness approximately affecting 10-20% of women after childbirth. The objective of this work is to update our knowledge of PPD giving particular emphasis to etiopathogenetic hypotheses. An accurate search of the literature on this topic was conducted using free dedicated websites such as PubMed. The most recent studies reveal that PPD is a complex disease, whose pathogenesis is not yet clarified, determined by a mix of genetic, biological and environmental factors. Genetic studies have shown a possible involvement of polymorphisms of genes coding for serotonin transporter, 5HT2A and 5HT2C receptors, HMCN1 and METTL13 genes, D2 receptor and GABAA receptor (GABAAR). The involvement of these systems might provide an explanation of the relations among genetic alterations, hormonal fluctuations in the post partum, changes in neurotransmission and mood fluctuations typical of PPD. The results obtained so far are not exhaustive. However, there is a substantial evidence showing that patients with PPD may have a high genetic vulnerability, although we have not been able yet to pinpoint a specific biological marker of the disease. Recent research is focusing on the δ subunit of GABAAR and the possible role of selective agonists of this subunit, such as gaboxadol, in the treatment of PPD.

Adverse life events, psychiatric history, and biological predictors of postpartum depression in an ethnically diverse sample of postpartum women.

PubMed

Guintivano, J; Sullivan, P F; Stuebe, A M; Penders, T; Thorp, J; Rubinow, D R; Meltzer-Brody, S

2018-05-01

Race, psychiatric history, and adverse life events have all been independently associated with postpartum depression (PPD). However, the role these play together in Black and Latina women remains inadequately studied. Therefore, we performed a case-control study of PPD, including comprehensive assessments of symptoms and biomarkers, while examining the effects of genetic ancestry. We recruited our sample (549 cases, 968 controls) at 6 weeks postpartum from obstetrical clinics in North Carolina. PPD status was determined using the MINI-plus. Psychiatric history was extracted from medical records. Participants were administered self-report instruments to assess depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and adverse life events. Levels of estradiol, progesterone, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, oxytocin, and allopregnanalone were assayed. Principal components from genotype data were used to estimate genetic ancestry and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of PPD. This population was racially diverse (68% Black, 13% Latina, 18% European). Genetic ancestry was not a predictor of PPD. Case status was predicted by a history of major depression (p = 4.01E-14), lifetime anxiety disorder diagnosis (p = 1.25E-34), and adverse life events (p = 6.06E-06). There were no significant differences between groups in any hormones or neurosteroids. Psychiatric history and multiple exposures to adverse life events were significant predictors of PPD in a population of minority and low-income women. Genetic ancestry and hormone levels were not predictive of case status. Increased genetic vulnerability in conjunction with risk factors may predict the onset of PPD, whereas genetic ancestry does not appear predictive.

Cognitive factors and post-partum depression: What is the influence of general personality traits, rumination, maternal self-esteem, and alexithymia?

PubMed

Denis, Anne; Luminet, Olivier

2018-03-01

The objective was to assess the impact of cognitive factors on post-partum depression (PPD) symptoms. Because most of the literature data concern the immediate post-partum period or the first year post-partum, we notably sought to assess the longer term impact of cognitive factors on the symptoms of PPD. Two studies were performed. In a pilot study, 1-month post-partum, 63 women filled out a sociodemographic information sheet and completed the abbreviated, revised Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, the Ruminative Responses Scale, the Maternal Self-Report Inventory, and the Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale. In the main study, 124 women additionally completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The main study population was divided into 2 subgroups: women in the first year post-partum (n = 74) and those in the second year post-partum (n = 50). In the pilot study performed 1-month post-partum, brooding rumination and low self-esteem were significant predictors of the PPD symptom intensity. Neuroticism, brooding rumination, and low maternal self-esteem were also significant predictors of the PPD symptoms reported in the first year post-partum. Lastly, ruminative thoughts and alexithymia were significant predictors of the PPD symptoms reported in the second year post-partum. Our results suggest that alexithymia may be an important predictor of the incidence of this condition. The observation of differences in the PPD models as a function of the post-partum period may open up opportunities for developing novel PPD prevention/treatment programs. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Dermal penetration and metabolism of p-aminophenol and p-phenylenediamine: application of the EpiDerm human reconstructed epidermis model.

PubMed

Hu, Ting; Bailey, Ruth E; Morrall, Stephen W; Aardema, Marilyn J; Stanley, Lesley A; Skare, Julie A

2009-07-24

To address the provision of the 7th Amendment to the EU Cosmetics Directive banning the use of in vivo genotoxicity assays for testing cosmetic ingredients in 2009, the 3D EpiDerm reconstructed human skin micronucleus assay has been developed. To further characterise the EpiDerm tissue for potential use in genotoxicity testing, we have evaluated the dermal penetration and metabolism of two hair dye ingredients, p-aminophenol (PAP) and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) in this reconstructed epidermis model. When EpiDerm tissue was topically exposed to PAP or PPD for 30 min (typical for a hair dye exposure), the majority (80->90%) of PAP or PPD was excluded from skin tissue and removed by rinsing. After a 23.5h recovery period, the PAP fraction that did penetrate was completely N-acetylated to acetaminophen (APAP). Similarly, 30 min topical application of PPD resulted in the formation of the N-mono- and N,N'-diacetylated metabolites of PPD. These results are consistent with published data on the dermal metabolism of these compounds from other in vitro systems as well as from in vivo studies. When tissue was exposed topically (PAP) or via the culture media (PPD) for 24h, there was good batch-to-batch and donor-to-donor reproducibility in the penetration and metabolism of PAP and PPD. Overall, the results demonstrate that these two aromatic amines are biotransformed in 3D EpiDerm tissue via N-acetylation. Characterising the metabolic capability of EpiDerm tissue is important for the evaluation of this model for use in genotoxicity testing.

Mimicking the photosynthetic triplet energy-transfer relay

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gust, D.; Moore, T.A.; Moore, A.L.

1993-06-30

In the reaction centers of photosynthetic organisms, chlorophyll triplet states are sometimes formed by recombination of charge-separated intermediates. These triplets are excellent sensitizers for singlet oxygen formation. Carotenoid polyenes can provide photoprotection from singlet oxygen generation by rapidly quenching chlorophyll triplet states via triplet-triplet energy transfer. Because in bacteria the reaction center carotenoid is not located adjacent to the bacteriochlorophyll special pair, which is the origin of the charge separation, it has been postulated that quenching may occur via a triplet relay involving an intermediate chlorophyll monomer. We now report the synthesis and spectroscopic study of a covalently linked carotenoidmore » (C)-porphyrin (P)-pyropheophorbide (Ppd) triad molecule which mimics this triplet relay. The pyropheophorbide singlet-state C-P-[sup 1]Ppd (generated by direct excitation or energy transfer from the attached porphyrin) undergoes intersystem crossing to the triplet C-P-[sup 3]Ppd. In oxygen-free solutions, this triplet decays to [sup 3]C-p-Ppd through a triplet-transfer relay involving an intermediate C-[sup 3]P-Ppd species. In aerated solutions, quenching of C-P-[sup 3]Ppd by the attached carotenoid competes with singlet oxygen sensitization and thus provides a degree of photoprotection. In a similar traid containing a zinc porphyrin moiety, triplet transfer is slow due to the higher energy of the C-[sup 3]P[sub Zn]-Ppd intermediate, and photoprotection via the relay is nonexistent. The triplet relay ceases to function at low temperatures in both the natural and biomimetic cases due to the endergonicity of the first step. 37 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less

The Effect of Postpartum Depression and Current Mental Health Problems of the Mother on Child Behaviour at Eight Years.

PubMed

Closa-Monasterolo, R; Gispert-Llaurado, M; Canals, J; Luque, V; Zaragoza-Jordana, M; Koletzko, B; Grote, V; Weber, M; Gruszfeld, D; Szott, K; Verduci, E; ReDionigi, A; Hoyos, J; Brasselle, G; Escribano Subías, J

2017-07-01

Background Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) could affect children's emotional development, increasing later risk of child psychological problems. The aim of our study was to assess the association between child's emotional and behavioural problems and mother's PPD, considering maternal current mental health problems (CMP). Methods This is a secondary analysis from the EU-Childhood Obesity Project (NCT00338689). Women completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at, 2, 3 and 6 months after delivery and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) to assess CMP once the children reached the age of 8 years. EPDS scores > 10 were defined as PPD and GHQ-12 scores > 2 were defined as CMP. The psychological problems of the children at the age of eight were collected by mothers through the Child's Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Results 473, 474 and 459 mothers filled in GHQ-12 and CBCL tests at 8 years and EPDS at 2, 3 and 6 months, respectively. Anxiety and depression was significantly increased by maternal EPDS. Children whose mothers had both PPD and CMP exhibited the highest levels of psychological problems, followed by those whose mothers who had only CMP and only PPD. PPD and CMP had a significant effect on child's total psychological problems (p = 0.033, p < 0.001, respectively). Children whose mothers had PPD did not differ from children whose mothers did not have any depression. Conclusions Maternal postpartum depression and current mental health problems, separately and synergistically, increase children's psychological problems at 8 years.

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol-Induced Apoptosis in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line through the Inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

PubMed

Zhang, Hong; Xu, Hua-Li; Wang, Yu-Chen; Lu, Ze-Yuan; Yu, Xiao-Feng; Sui, Da-Yun

2018-04-02

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD) is one of the major active metabolites of ginseng. It has been reported that 20(S)-PPD shows a broad spectrum of antitumor effects. Our research study aims were to investigate whether apoptosis of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells could be induced by 20(S)-PPD by targeting the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Protein kinase B/Mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) signal pathway in vitro and in vivo. Cell cycle analysis was performed by Propidium Iodide (PI) staining. To overexpress and knock down the expression of mTOR, pcDNA3.1-mTOR and mTOR small interfering RNA (siRNA) transient transfection assays were used, respectively. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT)-test and Annexin V /PI double-staining after transfection. The antitumor effect in vivo was determined by the nude mice xenograft assay. After 24 h of incubation, treatment with 20(S)-PPD could upregulate phosphorylated-Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (p-PTEN) expression and downregulate PI3K/AKT/mTOR-pathway protein expression. Moreover, G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells could be induced by 20(S)-PPD treatment at high concentrations. Furthermore, overexpression or knockdown of mTOR could inhibit or promote the apoptotic effects of 20(S)-PPD. In addition, tumor volumes were partially reduced by 20(S)-PPD at 100 mg/kg in a MCF-7 xenograft model. Immunohistochemical staining indicated a close relationship between the inhibition of tumor growth and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal pathway. PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway-mediated apoptosis may be one of the potential mechanisms of 20(S)-PPD treatment.

The effect of social support around pregnancy on postpartum depression among Canadian teen mothers and adult mothers in the maternity experiences survey.

PubMed

Kim, Theresa H M; Connolly, Jennifer A; Tamim, Hala

2014-05-07

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that affects 10-20 percent of women, and can begin any time during first year after delivery lasting for months. Social support may decrease risk of depression during pregnancy for women. However, literature shows that the amount of social support received during and after pregnancy is different for teen mothers and adult mothers. This study examined the effects of social support received during and after pregnancy on PPD among Canadian women and identified if the relationship was different for teen mothers compared to adult mothers. The study was based on secondary analysis of the Maternity Experiences Survey. A total of 6,421 women with singleton live births, aged 15 years and older were analyzed. Teen mothers were identified as 15-19 years old and adult mothers were identified as 20 years and older. The main outcome of the study was PPD, which was evaluated using the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale. The main independent variable was social support received during pregnancy and after birth. Logistic regression was computed to assess the relationship between social support and PPD after adjusting for confounding variables and age as an interaction term. Adjusted Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals were reported. PPD was experienced by 14.0% among teen mothers and 7.2% among adult mothers (p < .001). Overall, teen mothers reported receiving more support during pregnancy and after birth than adult mothers (p < .010). The relationship between social support and PPD did not significantly differ for teen compared to adult mothers. Both teen and adult mothers were approximately five times more likely to experience PPD if they received no support or minimal support after the birth of the baby (95% CI, 3.51-7.36). Receiving social support especially after birth is important for mothers of all ages to reduce the risk of PPD.

Photopolymerization of N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl alcohol as amine co-initiator for light-cured dental resins.

PubMed

Schroeder, Walter F; Cook, Wayne D; Vallo, Claudia I

2008-05-01

The present study was carried out in order to assess the suitability of N,N-dimethylaminobenzyl alcohol (DMOH) as co-initiator of camphorquinone (CQ) and 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione (PPD) in light-cured dental resins. DMOH was synthesized and used as co-initiator for the photopolymerization of a model resin based on {2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxyprop-1-oxy)phenyl]propane} (Bis-GMA)/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA). Experimental formulations containing CQ or PPD in combination with DMOH at different concentrations were studied. The photopolymerization was carried out by means of a commercial light-emitting diode (LED) curing unit. The evolution of double bonds consumption versus irradiation time was followed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR). The photon absorption efficiency (PAE) of the photopolymerization process was calculated from the spectral distribution of the LED unit and the molar absorption coefficient distributions of PPD and CQ. DMOH is an efficient photoreducer of CQ and PPD resulting in higher polymerization rate and higher double bond conversion compared with dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate. The PAE for PPD was higher than that for CQ. However, the polymerization initiated by PPD progressed at a lower rate and exhibited lower values of final conversion compared with the resins containing CQ. This observation indicates that the lower polymerization rate of the PPD/amine system should be explained in terms of the mechanism of generating primary radicals by PPD, which is less efficient compared with CQ. The DMOH/benzoyl peroxide redox system, has recently been proposed as a more biocompatible accelerator for the polymerization of bone cements based on poly(methyl methacrylate), because cytotoxity tests have demonstrated that DMOH possesses better biocompatibility properties compared with traditional tertiary amines. The results obtained in the present study reveal the suitability of the CQ/DMOH initiator system for the polymerization of light-cured dental composites.

Unveiling the Metabolic Changes on Muscle Cell Metabolism Underlying p-Phenylenediamine Toxicity

PubMed Central

Marín de Mas, Igor; Marín, Silvia; Pachón, Gisela; Rodríguez-Prados, Juan C.; Vizán, Pedro; Centelles, Josep J.; Tauler, Romà; Azqueta, Amaya; Selivanov, Vitaly; López de Ceraín, Adela; Cascante, Marta

2017-01-01

Rhabdomyolysis is a disorder characterized by acute damage of the sarcolemma of the skeletal muscle leading to release of potentially toxic muscle cell components into the circulation, most notably creatine phosphokinase (CK) and myoglobulin, and is frequently accompanied by myoglobinuria. In the present work, we evaluated the toxicity of p-phenylenediamine (PPD), a main component of hair dyes which is reported to induce rhabdomyolysis. We studied the metabolic effect of this compound in vivo with Wistar rats and in vitro with C2C12 muscle cells. To this aim we have combined multi-omic experimental measurements with computational approaches using model-driven methods. The integrative study presented here has unveiled the metabolic disorders associated to PPD exposure that may underlay the aberrant metabolism observed in rhabdomyolys disease. Animals treated with lower doses of PPD (10 and 20 mg/kg) showed depressed activity and myoglobinuria after 10 h of treatment. We measured the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and creatine kinase (CK) in rats after 24, 48, and 72 h of PPD exposure. At all times, treatment with PPD at higher doses (40 and 60 mg/kg) showed an increase of AST and ALT, and also an increase of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and CK after 24 h. Blood packed cell volume and hemoglobin levels, as well as organs weight at 48 and 72 h, were also measured. No significant differences were observed in these parameters under any condition. PPD induce cell cycle arrest in S phase and apoptosis (40% or early apoptotic cells) on mus musculus mouse C2C12 cells after 24 h of treatment. Incubation of mus musculus mouse C2C12 cells with [1,2-13C2]-glucose during 24 h, subsequent quantification of 13C isotopologues distribution in key metabolites of glucose metabolic network and a computational fluxomic analysis using in-house developed software (Isodyn) showed that PPD is inhibiting glycolysis, non-oxidative pentose phosphate pathway, glycogen turnover, and ATPAse reaction leading to a reduction in ATP synthesis. These findings unveil the glucose metabolism collapse, which is consistent with a decrease in cell viability observed in PPD-treated C2C12 cells and with the myoglubinuria and other effects observed in Wistar Rats treated with PPD. These findings shed new light on muscle dysfunction associated to PPD exposure, opening new avenues for cost-effective therapies in Rhabdomyolysis disease. PMID:28321398

The frequencies of IFNγ+IL2+TNFα+ PPD-specific CD4+CD45RO+ T-cells correlate with the magnitude of the QuantiFERON® gold in-tube response in a prospective study of healthy indian adolescents.

PubMed

Jenum, Synne; Grewal, Harleen M S; Hokey, David A; Kenneth, John; Vaz, Mario; Doherty, Timothy Mark; Jahnsen, Frode Lars

2014-01-01

QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) is an IFNγ-release assay used in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The risk of TB progression increases with the magnitude of the MTB-specific IFNγ-response. QFT reversion, also associated with low Tuberculin Skin Test responses, may therefore represent a transient immune response with control of M. tuberculosis infection. However, studies at the single cell level have suggested that the quality (polyfunctionality) of the T-cell response is more important than the quantity of cytokines produced. To explore the quality and/or magnitude of mycobacteria-specific T-cell responses associated with QFT reversion and persistent QFT-positivity. Multi-color flowcytometry on prospectively collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells was applied to assess mycobacteria-specific T-cell responses in 42 QFT positive Indian adolescents of whom 21 became QFT negative (reverters) within one year. Ten QFT consistent negatives were also included as controls. There was no difference in the qualitative PPD-specific CD4+ T-cell response between QFT consistent positives and reverters. However, compared with QFT consistent positives, reverters displayed lower absolute frequencies of polyfunctional (IFNγ+IL2+TNFα+) CD4+ T-cells at baseline, which were further reduced to the point where they were not different to QFT negative controls one year later. Moreover, absolute frequencies of these cells correlated well with the magnitude of the QFT-response. Whereas specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells have been suggested to protect against TB progression, our data do not support that higher relative or absolute frequencies of PPD-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells in peripheral blood can explain the reduced risk of TB progression observed in QFT reverters. On the contrary, absolute frequencies of these cells correlated with the QFT-response, suggesting that this readout reflects antigenic load.

Structure and Function of Viral Deubiquitinating Enzymes.

PubMed

Bailey-Elkin, Ben A; Knaap, Robert C M; Kikkert, Marjolein; Mark, Brian L

2017-11-10

Post-translational modification of cellular proteins by ubiquitin regulates numerous cellular processes, including innate and adaptive immune responses. Ubiquitin-mediated control over these processes can be reversed by cellular deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs), which remove ubiquitin from cellular targets and depolymerize polyubiquitin chains. The importance of protein ubiquitination to host immunity has been underscored by the discovery of viruses that encode proteases with deubiquitinating activity, many of which have been demonstrated to actively corrupt cellular ubiquitin-dependent processes to suppress innate antiviral responses and promote viral replication. DUBs have now been identified in diverse viral lineages, and their characterization is providing valuable insights into virus biology and the role of the ubiquitin system in host antiviral mechanisms. Here, we provide an overview of the structural biology of these fascinating viral enzymes and their role innate immune evasion and viral replication. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The New Cellular Immunology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Claman, Henry N.

1973-01-01

Discusses the nature of the immune response and traces many of the discoveries that have led to the present state of knowledge in immunology. The new cellular immunology is directing its efforts toward improving health by proper manipulation of the immune mechanisms of the body. (JR)

Cellular immune responses against CT7 (MAGE-C1) and humoral responses against other cancer-testis antigens in multiple myeloma patients

PubMed Central

Lendvai, Nikoletta; Gnjatic, Sacha; Ritter, Erika; Mangone, Michael; Austin, Wayne; Reyner, Karina; Jayabalan, David; Niesvizky, Ruben; Jagannath, Sundar; Bhardwaj, Nina; Chen-Kiang, Selina; Old, Lloyd J.

2010-01-01

The type I melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) proteins CT7 (MAGE-C1) and MAGE-A3 are commonly expressed in multiple myeloma (MM), and their expression correlates with increased plasma cell proliferation and poor clinical outcome. They belong to the cancer-testis antigen (CTAg) group of tumor-associated proteins, some of which elicit spontaneous immune responses in cancer patients. CT7 and MAGE-A3 are promising antigenic targets for therapeutic tumor vaccines in myeloma; therefore, it is critical to determine if they are immunogenic in MM patients. We analyzed cellular and humoral immune responses against CTAgs in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias: MM, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Bone marrow lymphocytes from two of four untreated MM patients exhibited CT7-specific cellular immune responses as measured by an autologous cellular immunity assay, the first such immune response to CT7 to be reported in cancer patients. Sera from 24 patients were screened by ELISA for humoral immune responses to CTAgs. Two patients with MM demonstrated positive titers, one for MAGE-A1 and the other for SSX1. These data demonstrate that CTAgs, particularly CT7, are immunogenic in MM patients and merit further exploration as targets of immunological therapy in MM. PMID:20108890

Cellular immune responses against CT7 (MAGE-C1) and humoral responses against other cancer-testis antigens in multiple myeloma patients.

PubMed

Lendvai, Nikoletta; Gnjatic, Sacha; Ritter, Erika; Mangone, Michael; Austin, Wayne; Reyner, Karina; Jayabalan, David; Niesvizky, Ruben; Jagannath, Sundar; Bhardwaj, Nina; Chen-Kiang, Selina; Old, Lloyd J; Cho, Hearn Jay

2010-01-29

The type I melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) proteins CT7 (MAGE-C1) and MAGE-A3 are commonly expressed in multiple myeloma (MM), and their expression correlates with increased plasma cell proliferation and poor clinical outcome. They belong to the cancer-testis antigen (CTAg) group of tumor-associated proteins, some of which elicit spontaneous immune responses in cancer patients. CT7 and MAGE-A3 are promising antigenic targets for therapeutic tumor vaccines in myeloma; therefore, it is critical to determine if they are immunogenic in MM patients. We analyzed cellular and humoral immune responses against CTAgs in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias: MM, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM). Bone marrow lymphocytes from two of four untreated MM patients exhibited CT7-specific cellular immune responses as measured by an autologous cellular immunity assay, the first such immune response to CT7 to be reported in cancer patients. Sera from 24 patients were screened by ELISA for humoral immune responses to CTAgs. Two patients with MM demonstrated positive titers, one for MAGE-A1 and the other for SSX1. These data demonstrate that CTAgs, particularly CT7, are immunogenic in MM patients and merit further exploration as targets of immunological therapy in MM.

The polarization phase difference of orchard trees

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wang, James R.; Mo, Tsan

1990-01-01

An image obtained by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's airborne L-band polarimeter (SAR) over an agricultural area near Fresno, California, was analyzed for the signatures of polarization phase difference (PPD). The PPD of orchard trees was found to be distinctly different from that of bare fields or fields covered with other crops. Thus the PPD signatures obtained from a polarimeter may be useful in the understanding of the radar remote sensing of the earth's surface.

Physicochemical and Biological Studies on Various Preparations of Tuberculin Purifield Protein Derivative

PubMed Central

Landi, S.; Held, H. R.

1965-01-01

Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) has been prepared by seven different precipitation methods from culture filtrate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis. It was found to contain 48 to 99% tuberculoprotein, depending on the method of precipitation. The remaining percentage is represented by nucleic acid, polysaccharide, and ash. Activation analysis on tuberculin PPD and on tubercle bacilli has revealed the presence of trace elements. The molecular weight of tuberculin PPD has been found to be of the order of 14,800 to 27,800. The biological activity of tuberculin PPD varies from lot to lot and from method to method. A correlation between its molecular weight and its biological activity seems to exist. Images Fig. 1 Fig. 3 PMID:14325869

Peripartum Depression, Traditional Culture, and Israeli Society.

PubMed

Dekel, Sharon; Stanger, Varda; Georgakopoulos, Emily R; Stuebe, Caren M; Dishy, Gabriella A

2016-08-01

Although it is known that culture affects psychopathology, the nature of the relationship between culture and peripartum depression (PPD) is not fully understood. Here we report on 2 cases of Israeli women who are affiliated with traditional cultural groups that emphasize reproduction but developed PPD after childbirth. The first woman is an ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jew and the second is an Israeli Arab. The 2 cases illustrate the effect of cultural beliefs and rituals on the conceptualization, treatment, and trajectory of PPD. The cases suggest a complex relationship between traditional cultures and PPD, including the possibility that cultural factors may have both adaptive and maladaptive consequences. Future qualitative and quantitative studies are needed to further clarify this relationship. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Estimating genetic and phenotypic parameters of cellular immune-associated traits in dairy cows.

PubMed

Denholm, Scott J; McNeilly, Tom N; Banos, Georgios; Coffey, Mike P; Russell, George C; Bagnall, Ainsley; Mitchell, Mairi C; Wall, Eileen

2017-04-01

Data collected from an experimental Holstein-Friesian research herd were used to determine genetic and phenotypic parameters of innate and adaptive cellular immune-associated traits. Relationships between immune-associated traits and production, health, and fertility traits were also investigated. Repeated blood leukocyte records were analyzed in 546 cows for 9 cellular immune-associated traits, including percent T cell subsets, B cells, NK cells, and granulocytes. Variance components were estimated by univariate analysis. Heritability estimates were obtained for all 9 traits, the highest of which were observed in the T cell subsets percent CD4 + , percent CD8 + , CD4 + :CD8 + ratio, and percent NKp46 + cells (0.46, 0.41, 0.43 and 0.42, respectively), with between-individual variation accounting for 59 to 81% of total phenotypic variance. Associations between immune-associated traits and production, health, and fertility traits were investigated with bivariate analyses. Strong genetic correlations were observed between percent NKp46 + and stillbirth rate (0.61), and lameness episodes and percent CD8 + (-0.51). Regarding production traits, the strongest relationships were between CD4 + :CD8 + ratio and weight phenotypes (-0.52 for live weight; -0.51 for empty body weight). Associations between feed conversion traits and immune-associated traits were also observed. Our results provide evidence that cellular immune-associated traits are heritable and repeatable, and the noticeable variation between animals would permit selection for altered trait values, particularly in the case of the T cell subsets. The associations we observed between immune-associated, health, fertility, and production traits suggest that genetic selection for cellular immune-associated traits could provide a useful tool in improving animal health, fitness, and fertility. The Authors. Published by the Federation of Animal Science Societies and Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the American Dairy Science Association®. This is an open access article under the CC BY 2.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/).

TLR7 imidazoquinoline ligand 3M-019 is a potent adjuvant for pure protein prototype vaccines.

PubMed

Johnston, Dean; Zaidi, Bushra; Bystryn, Jean-Claude

2007-08-01

Cancer vaccines, while theoretically attractive, present difficult challenges that must be overcome to be effective. Cancer vaccines are often poorly immunogenic and may require augmentation of immunogenicity through the use of adjuvants and/or immune response modifiers. Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands are a relatively new class of immune response modifiers that may have great potential in inducing and augmenting both cellular and humoral immunity to vaccines. TLR7 ligands produce strong cellular responses and specific IgG2a and IgG2b antibody responses to protein immunogens. This study shows that a new TLR7 ligand, 3M-019, in combination with liposomes produces very strong immune responses to a pure protein prototype vaccine in mice. Female C57BL/6 mice were immunized subcutaneously with ovalbumin (OVA, 0.1 mg/dose) weekly 4x. Some groups were immunized to OVA plus 3M-019 or to OVA plus 3M-019 encapsulated in liposomes. Both antibody and cellular immune responses against OVA were measured after either two or four immunizations. Anti-OVA IgG antibody responses were significantly increased after two immunizations and were substantially higher after four immunizations in mice immunized with OVA combined with 3M-019. Encapsulation in liposomes further augmented antibody responses. IgM responses, on the other hand, were lowered by 3M-019. OVA-specific IgG2a levels were increased 625-fold by 3M-019 in liposomes compared to OVA alone, while anti-OVA IgG2b levels were over 3,000 times higher. In both cases encapsulation of 3M-019 in liposomes was stronger than either liposomes alone or 3M-019 without liposomes. Cellular immune responses were likewise increased by 3M-019 but further enhanced when it was encapsulated in liposomes. The lack of toxicity also indicates that this combination may by safe, effective method to boost immune response to cancer vaccines.

Incubation period and immune function: A comparative field study among coexisting birds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Palacios, M.G.; Martin, T.E.

2006-01-01

Developmental periods are integral components of life history strategies that can have important fitness consequences and vary enormously among organisms. However, the selection pressures and mechanisms causing variation in length of developmental periods are poorly understood. Particularly puzzling are prolonged developmental periods, because their selective advantage is unclear. Here we tested the hypotheses that immune function is stronger in species that are attacked at a higher rate by parasites and that prolonged embryonic development allows the development of this stronger immune system. Through a comparative field study among 12 coexisting passerine bird species, we show that species with higher blood parasite prevalence mounted stronger cellular immune responses than species with lower prevalence. These results provide support for the hypothesis that species facing greater selection pressure from parasites invest more in immune function. However, species with longer incubation periods mounted weaker cellular immune responses than species with shorter periods. Therefore, cellular immune responses do not support the hypothesis that longer development time enhances immunocompentence. Future studies should assess other components of the immune system and test alternative causes of variation in incubation periods among bird species. ?? Springer-Verlag 2005.

Cell Surface Changes Associated with Cellular Immune Reactions in Drosophila

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nappi, Anthony J.; Silvers, Michael

1984-09-01

In Drosophila melanogaster a temperature-induced change in immune competence accompanies cell surface alterations that cause its blood cells to adhere and to encapsulate a parasite. At 29 degrees C the blood cells of the tumorous-lethal (Tuml) mutant show a high degree of immune competence and encapsulate the eggs of the parasitic wasp Leptopilina heterotoma. At 21 degrees C the blood cells are essentially immune incompetent. High percentages of lectin binding cells were found under conditions which potentiated cellular encapsulation responses. Some immune reactive blood cells did not bind lectin. The low percentages of lectin binding cells in susceptible hosts suggest that developing parasites alter the cell surface of the blood cells of immune reactive hosts.

Subcutaneous administration CpG-ODNs acts as a potent adjuvant for an HIV-1-tat-based vaccine candidate to elicit cellular immunity in BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Panahi, Zeinab; Abdoli, Asghar; Mosayebi, Ghasem; Mahdavi, Mehdi; Bahrami, Fariborz

2018-03-01

To evaluate the combined effects of CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) adjuvant and subcutaneous injection route on efficacy of a HIV-1-tat DNA vaccine candidate using BALB/c mice as an animal model. Evaluation of cellular and humoral immunity of mice injected subcutaneously with HIV-1-tat gene cloned into a pcDNA3.1 vector indicated that significant levels of IFN-γ cytokine secretion (900 pg/ml), lymphocyte proliferation (2.5 stimulation index) and IgG 2a (1.45 absorbance 450 nm) production could be achieved. These indicators of stimulated cellular immunity were elicited 2 weeks after the last injection (P < 0.05). Formulation of HIV-1-tat DNA vaccine candidate with CpG-ODNs as an adjuvant while administrated subcutaneously are a promising approach to induce effective cellular immunity responses against HIV-1 infection.

JAK/STAT signaling in Drosophila muscles controls the cellular immune response against parasitoid infection.

PubMed

Yang, Hairu; Kronhamn, Jesper; Ekström, Jens-Ola; Korkut, Gül Gizem; Hultmark, Dan

2015-12-01

The role of JAK/STAT signaling in the cellular immune response of Drosophila is not well understood. Here, we show that parasitoid wasp infection activates JAK/STAT signaling in somatic muscles of the Drosophila larva, triggered by secretion of the cytokines Upd2 and Upd3 from circulating hemocytes. Deletion of upd2 or upd3, but not the related os (upd1) gene, reduced the cellular immune response, and suppression of the JAK/STAT pathway in muscle cells reduced the encapsulation of wasp eggs and the number of circulating lamellocyte effector cells. These results suggest that JAK/STAT signaling in muscles participates in a systemic immune defense against wasp infection. © 2015 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.

The catalytic A1 domains of cholera toxin and heat-labile enterotoxin are potent DNA adjuvants that evoke mixed Th1/Th17 cellular immune responses

PubMed Central

Bagley, Kenneth; Xu, Rong; Ota-Setlik, Ayuko; Egan, Michael; Schwartz, Jennifer; Fouts, Timothy

2015-01-01

DNA encoded adjuvants are well known for increasing the magnitude of cellular and/or humoral immune responses directed against vaccine antigens. DNA adjuvants can also tune immune responses directed against vaccine antigens to better protect against infection of the target organism. Two potent DNA adjuvants that have unique abilities to tune immune responses are the catalytic A1 domains of Cholera Toxin (CTA1) and Heat-Labile Enterotoxin (LTA1). Here, we have characterized the adjuvant activities of CTA1 and LTA1 using HIV and SIV genes as model antigens. Both of these adjuvants enhanced the magnitude of antigen-specific cellular immune responses on par with those induced by the well-characterized cytokine adjuvants IL-12 and GM-CSF. CTA1 and LTA1 preferentially enhanced cellular responses to the intracellular antigen SIVmac239-gag over those for the secreted HIVBaL-gp120 antigen. IL-12, GM-CSF and electroporation did the opposite suggesting differences in the mechanisms of actions of these diverse adjuvants. Combinations of CTA1 or LTA1 with IL-12 or GM-CSF generated additive and better balanced cellular responses to both of these antigens. Consistent with observations made with the holotoxin and the CTA1-DD adjuvant, CTA1 and LTA1 evoked mixed Th1/Th17 cellular immune responses. Together, these results show that CTA1 and LTA1 are potent DNA vaccine adjuvants that favor the intracellular antigen gag over the secreted antigen gp120 and evoke mixed Th1/Th17 responses against both of these antigens. The results also indicate that achieving a balanced immune response to multiple intracellular and extracellular antigens delivered via DNA vaccination may require combining adjuvants that have different and complementary mechanisms of action. PMID:26042527

Nonimpacted Third Molars Affect the Periodontal Status of Adjacent Teeth: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Li, Zhi-Bang; Qu, Hong-Lei; Zhou, Li-Na; Tian, Bei-Min; Gao, Li-Na; Chen, Fa-Ming

2017-07-01

Most previous studies of the effect of third molars (M3s) on the health of adjacent second molars (A-M2s) have focused on impacted M3s (I-M3s). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether nonimpacted M3 (N-M3s) could affect the periodontal status of A-M2s. In this cross-sectional study, patients (≥18 years) who had at least 1 quadrant with intact first and second molars and a nonimpacted or absent M3 were enrolled in this study. The periodontal measurements of M2 (6 sites) in the examined quadrants included the gingival index (GI), plaque index (PLI), probing pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment level (CAL), gingival recession, and bleeding on probing (BOP). The mean GI, PLI, PPD, CAL, and BOP proportion and the proportion with at least 1 site with a PPD of at least 5 mm (PPD5 + ) were compared using the t test or χ 2 test. The association of PPD5 + (percentage) or BOP (percentage) with the presence of N-M3s was assessed using a 2-level logistic regression model (quadrant-based analysis). One hundred thirty-five patients (43.7% men; 40.6 ± 11.5 yr old) were enrolled in this study. Patients who had at least 1 quadrant with 3 intact molars and an N-M3 were enrolled in group A (105 patients), and patients who had at least 1 quadrant with intact first and second molars without an M3 were enrolled in group B (30 patients). The periodontal parameters (ie, GI, PLI, PPD, CAL, BOP, and PPD5 + ) were markedly greater in group A. When other factors associated with periodontal disease were controlled, N-M3s were associated with the PPD5 + (odds ratio = 6.7) and BOP (odds ratio = 4.0) of the A-M2s. Other factors positively associated with A-M2 PPD5 + were location on the mandible, age older than 35 years, and smoking. The presence of N-M3s is a potential risk factor for the development of periodontitis in A-M2s. Copyright © 2017 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Delayed tuberculin reactivity in persons of Indochinese origin: implications for preventive therapy.

PubMed

Robertson, J M; Burtt, D S; Edmonds, K L; Molina, P L; Kiefe, C I; Ellner, J J

1996-05-01

To 1) study a variant delayed reaction to tuberculin testing as a way to enhance screening for tuberculosis among high-risk persons and 2) correlate the delayed reaction with lymphocyte blastogenesis. Cross-sectional study. 2 public health department clinics in North Carolina. 121 adults who had recently emigrated from Vietnam to North Carolina and who were ethnic Vietnamese and ethnic Dega, a minority population group from the central highlands region of Vietnam. Medical history, physical examination, laboratory evaluation, and standard purified protein derivative (PPD) testing (Mantoux method). Skin test results were read at 72 hours and again at 6 days. Variant reactivity was defined as induration of less than 10 mm at 72 hours that, when reassessed at 6 days, had increased in size to 10 mm or greater. Persons with negative (n=54) and variant (n=32) PPD results also had booster testing at 10 to 12 weeks. Serum samples were obtained from 57 participants for lymphocyte blastogenesis studies. 26% of participants had variant tuberculin reactivity. Variant reactivity was strongly associated with booster positivity: Sixty-five percent of persons with variant PPD results had booster positivity compared with 16% of persons with negative PPD results (P<0.001). The lymphocyte blastogenesis response of persons with variant PPD results was between the response of persons with negative PPD results and that of persons with positive PPD results. Variant reactivity in this high-risk group was a predictor of booster positivity. Together with the blastogenic response pattern, this association strongly suggests that variant reactivity has a high positive predictive value for tuberculous infection. Clinicians should incorporate these findings into their approach for choosing candidates for preventive therapy.

Natural variation and genetic make-up of leaf blade area in spring barley.

PubMed

Alqudah, Ahmad M; Youssef, Helmy M; Graner, Andreas; Schnurbusch, Thorsten

2018-04-01

GWAS analysis for leaf blade area (LA) revealed intriguing genomic regions associated with putatively novel QTL and known plant stature-related phytohormone and sugar-related genes. Despite long-standing studies in the morpho-physiological characters of leaf blade area (LA) in cereal crops, advanced genetic studies to explore its natural variation are lacking. The importance of modifying LA in improving cereal grain yield and the genes controlling leaf traits have been well studied in rice but not in temperate cereals. To better understand the natural genetic variation of LA at four developmental stages, main culm LA was measured from 215 worldwide spring barleys including 92 photoperiod-sensitive accessions [PHOTOPERIOD RESPONSE LOCUS 1 (Ppd-H1)] and 123 accessions with reduced photoperiod sensitivity (ppd-H1) locus under controlled greenhouse conditions (long-day; 16/8 h; ~ 20/~ 16 °C day/night). The LA of Ppd-H1-carrying accessions was always smaller than in ppd-H1-carrying accessions. We found that nine SNPs from the Ppd-H1 gene were present in the collection of which marker 9 (M9; G/T in the CCT-domain) showed the most significant and consistent effect on LA at all studied developmental stages. Genome-wide association scans (GWAS) showed that the accessions carrying the ppd-H1 allele T/M9 (late heading) possessed more genetic variation in LA than the Ppd-H1 group carrying G/M9 (early heading). Several QTL with major effects on LA variation were found close to plant stature-related heading time, phytohormone- and sugar-related genes. The results provide evidence that natural variation of LA is an important source for improving grain yield, adaptation and canopy architecture of temperate cereals.

The Genetic Control of Reproductive Development under High Ambient Temperature.

PubMed

Ejaz, Mahwish; von Korff, Maria

2017-01-01

Ambient temperature has a large impact on reproductive development and grain yield in temperate cereals. However, little is known about the genetic control of development under different ambient temperatures. Here, we demonstrate that in barley (Hordeum vulgare), high ambient temperatures accelerate or delay reproductive development depending on the photoperiod response gene PHOTOPERIOD1 (Ppd-H1) and its upstream regulator EARLY FLOWERING3 (HvELF3). A natural mutation in Ppd-H1 prevalent in spring barley delayed floral development and reduced the number of florets and seeds per spike, while the wild-type Ppd-H1 or a mutant Hvelf3 allele accelerated floral development and maintained the seed number under high ambient temperatures. High ambient temperature delayed the expression phase and reduced the amplitude of clock genes and repressed the floral integrator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T1 independently of the genotype. Ppd-H1-dependent variation in flowering time under different ambient temperatures correlated with relative expression levels of the BARLEY MADS-box genes VERNALIZATION1 (HvVRN1), HvBM3, and HvBM8 in the leaf. Finally, we show that Ppd-H1 interacts with regulatory variation at HvVRN1. Ppd-H1 only accelerated floral development in the background of a spring HvVRN1 allele with a deletion in the regulatory intron. The full-length winter Hvvrn1 allele was strongly down-regulated, and flowering was delayed by high temperatures irrespective of Ppd-H1 Our findings demonstrate that the photoperiodic and vernalization pathways interact to control flowering time and floret fertility in response to ambient temperature in barley. © 2017 American Society of Plant Biologists. All Rights Reserved.

The Genetic Control of Reproductive Development under High Ambient Temperature1[OPEN

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Ambient temperature has a large impact on reproductive development and grain yield in temperate cereals. However, little is known about the genetic control of development under different ambient temperatures. Here, we demonstrate that in barley (Hordeum vulgare), high ambient temperatures accelerate or delay reproductive development depending on the photoperiod response gene PHOTOPERIOD1 (Ppd-H1) and its upstream regulator EARLY FLOWERING3 (HvELF3). A natural mutation in Ppd-H1 prevalent in spring barley delayed floral development and reduced the number of florets and seeds per spike, while the wild-type Ppd-H1 or a mutant Hvelf3 allele accelerated floral development and maintained the seed number under high ambient temperatures. High ambient temperature delayed the expression phase and reduced the amplitude of clock genes and repressed the floral integrator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T1 independently of the genotype. Ppd-H1-dependent variation in flowering time under different ambient temperatures correlated with relative expression levels of the BARLEY MADS-box genes VERNALIZATION1 (HvVRN1), HvBM3, and HvBM8 in the leaf. Finally, we show that Ppd-H1 interacts with regulatory variation at HvVRN1. Ppd-H1 only accelerated floral development in the background of a spring HvVRN1 allele with a deletion in the regulatory intron. The full-length winter Hvvrn1 allele was strongly down-regulated, and flowering was delayed by high temperatures irrespective of Ppd-H1. Our findings demonstrate that the photoperiodic and vernalization pathways interact to control flowering time and floret fertility in response to ambient temperature in barley. PMID:28049855

Associations Between Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding, and Oxytocin Levels in Latina Mothers.

PubMed

Lara-Cinisomo, Sandraluz; McKenney, Kathryn; Di Florio, Arianna; Meltzer-Brody, Samantha

2017-09-01

Postpartum depression (PPD), often comorbid with anxiety, is the leading medical complication among new mothers. Latinas have elevated risk of PPD, which has been associated with early breastfeeding cessation. Lower plasma oxytocin (OT) levels have also been associated with PPD in non-Latinas. This pilot study explores associations between PPD, anxiety, breastfeeding, and OT in Latinas. Thirty-four Latinas were enrolled during their third trimester of pregnancy and followed through 8 weeks postpartum. Demographic data were collected at enrollment. Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at each time point (third trimester of pregnancy, 4 and 8 weeks postpartum). The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was administered postpartum and EPDS anxiety subscale was used to assess anxiety at each time point. Breastfeeding status was assessed at 4 and 8 weeks postpartum. At 8 weeks, OT was collected before, during, and after a 10-minute breast/bottle feeding session from 28 women who completed the procedures. Descriptive statistics are provided and comparisons by mood and breastfeeding status were conducted. Analyses of variance were used to explore associations between PPD, anxiety, breastfeeding status, and OT. Just under one-third of women were depressed at enrollment. Prenatal depression, PPD, and anxiety were significantly associated with early breastfeeding cessation (i.e., stopped breastfeeding before 2 months) (p < 0.05). There was a significant interaction between early breastfeeding cessation and depression status on OT at 8 weeks postpartum (p < 0.05). Lower levels of OT were observed in women who had PPD at 8 weeks and who had stopped breastfeeding their infant by 8 weeks postpartum. Future studies should investigate the short- and long-term effects of lower OT levels and early breastfeeding cessation on maternal and child well-being.

Replication of Epigenetic Postpartum Depression Biomarkers and Variation with Hormone Levels

PubMed Central

Osborne, Lauren; Clive, Makena; Kimmel, Mary; Gispen, Fiona; Guintivano, Jerry; Brown, Tori; Cox, Olivia; Judy, Jennifer; Meilman, Samantha; Braier, Aviva; Beckmann, Matthias W; Kornhuber, Johannes; Fasching, Peter A; Goes, Fernando; Payne, Jennifer L; Binder, Elisabeth B; Kaminsky, Zachary

2016-01-01

DNA methylation variation at HP1BP3 and TTC9B is modified by estrogen exposure in the rodent hippocampus and was previously shown to be prospectively predictive of postpartum depression (PPD) when modeled in antenatal blood. The objective of this study was to replicate the predictive efficacy of the previously established model in women with and without a previous psychiatric diagnosis and to understand the effects of changing hormone levels on PPD biomarker loci. Using a statistical model trained on DNA methylation data from N=51 high-risk women, we prospectively predicted PPD status in an independent N=51 women using first trimester antenatal gene expression levels of HP1BP3 and TTC9B, with an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69–0.92, p<5 × 10−4). Modeling DNA methylation of these genes in N=240 women without a previous psychiatric diagnosis resulted in a cross-sectional prediction of PPD status with an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68–0.93, p=0.01). TTC9B and HP1BP3 DNA methylation at early antenatal time points showed moderate evidence for association to the change in estradiol and allopregnanolone over the course of pregnancy, suggesting that epigenetic variation at these loci may be important for mediating hormonal sensitivity. In addition both loci showed PPD-specific trajectories with age, possibly mediated by age-associated hormonal changes. The data add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that PPD is mediated by differential gene expression and epigenetic sensitivity to pregnancy hormones and that modeling proxies of this sensitivity enable accurate prediction of PPD. PMID:26503311

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol enhances angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF secretion by activating p70S6 kinase and benefits wound healing in genetically diabetic mice

PubMed Central

Zhang, Er-Yun; Gao, Bo; Shi, Hai-Lian; Huang, Ling-Fang; Yang, Li; Wu, Xiao-Jun; Wang, Zheng-Tao

2017-01-01

Impaired angiogenesis is one of the crucial factors that impede the wound healing process in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). In this study, we found that 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD), an aglycone of ginsenosides in Panax notoginseng, stimulated angiogenesis and benefited wound healing in genetically diabetic mice. In HUVECs, PPD promoted cell proliferation, tube formation and VEGF secretion accompanied by increased nuclear translocalization of HIF-1α, which led to elevated VEGF mRNA expression. PPD activated both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathways in HUVECs, which were abrogated by LY294002 and PD98059. Furthermore, these two pathways had crosstalk through p70S6K, as LY294002, PD98059 and p70S6K siRNA abolished the angiogenic responses of PPD. In the excisional wound splinting model established in db/db diabetic mice, PPD (0.6, 6 and 60 mg ml−1) accelerated wound closure, which was reflected by a significantly reduced wound area and epithelial gaps, as well as elevated VEGF expression and capillary formation. In addition, PPD activated PI3K/Akt/ERK signaling pathways, as well as enhanced p70S6K activity and HIF-1α synthesis in the wounds. Overall, our results revealed that PPD stimulated angiogenesis via HIF-1α-mediated VEGF expression by activating p70S6K through PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascades, which suggests that the compound has potential use in wound healing therapy in patients suffering from DFUs. PMID:29075038

The impact of photoperiod insensitive Ppd-1a mutations on the photoperiod pathway across the three genomes of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum).

PubMed

Shaw, Lindsay M; Turner, Adrian S; Laurie, David A

2012-07-01

Flowering time is a trait that has been extensively altered during wheat domestication, enabling it to be highly productive in diverse environments and providing a rich source of variation for studying adaptation mechanisms. Hexaploid wheat is ancestrally a long-day plant, but many environments require varieties with photoperiod insensitivity (PI) that can flower in short days. PI results from mutations in the Ppd-1 gene on the A, B or D genomes, with individual mutations conferring different degrees of earliness. The basis of this is poorly understood. Using a common genetic background, the effects of A, B and D genome PI mutations on genes of the circadian clock and photoperiod pathway were studied using genome-specific expression assays. Ppd-1 PI mutations did not affect the clock or immediate clock outputs, but affected TaCO1 and TaFT1, with a reduction in TaCO1 expression as TaFT1 expression increased. Therefore, although Ppd-1 is related to PRR genes of the Arabidopsis circadian clock, Ppd-1 affects flowering by an alternative route, most likely by upregulating TaFT1 with a feedback effect that reduces TaCO1 expression. Individual genes in the circadian clock and photoperiod pathway were predominantly expressed from one genome, and there was no genome specificity in Ppd-1 action. Lines combining PI mutations on two or three genomes had enhanced earliness with higher levels, but not earlier induction, of TaFT1, showing that there is a direct quantitative relationship between Ppd-1 mutations, TaFT1 expression and flowering. © 2012 The Authors. The Plant Journal © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Unified Description of Scattering and Propagation FY15 Annual Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

the Texas coast. For both cases a conditional posterior probability distribution ( PPD ) is formed for a parameter space that includes both geoacoustic...for this second application of ME. For each application of ME it is important to note that a new likelihood function and thus PPD is computed. One...the 50-700 Hz band. These data offered a means by which the results of using the ship radiated noise could be partially validated. The conditional PPD

The entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi impairs cellular immunity of its host Helicoverpa armigera.

PubMed

Zhong, Ke; Liu, Zhan-Chi; Wang, Jia-Lin; Liu, Xu-Sheng

2017-09-01

In this study, we investigated the effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Nomuraea rileyi on Helicoverpa armigera cellular immune responses. Nomuraea rileyi infection had no effect on total hemocyte count (THC), but impaired hemocyte-mediated phagocytosis, nodulation, and encapsulation responses. Nomuraea rileyi infection led to a significant reduction in hemocyte spreading. An in vitro assay revealed that plasma from N. rileyi infected H. armigera larvae suppressed the spreading ability of hemocytes from naïve larvae. We infer that N. rileyi suppresses the cellular immune response of its host, possibly by secreting exogenous, cytotoxic compounds into the host's hemolymph. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Altered cellular and humoral immunity to varicella-zoster virus in patients with autoimmune diseases.

PubMed

Rondaan, Christien; de Haan, Aalzen; Horst, Gerda; Hempel, J Cordelia; van Leer, Coretta; Bos, Nicolaas A; van Assen, Sander; Bijl, Marc; Westra, Johanna

2014-11-01

Patients with autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's) (GPA) have a 3-20-fold increased risk of herpes zoster compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to evaluate if susceptibility is due to decreased levels of cellular and/or humoral immunity to the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). A cross-sectional study of VZV-specific immunity was performed in 38 SLE patients, 33 GPA patients, and 51 healthy controls. Levels of IgG and IgM antibodies to VZV were measured using an in-house glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cellular responses to VZV were determined by interferon-γ (IFNγ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISpot) assay and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) dye dilution proliferation assay. Levels of IgG antibodies to VZV were increased in SLE patients as compared to healthy controls, but levels of IgM antibodies to VZV were not. Antibody levels in GPA patients did not differ significantly from levels in healthy controls. In response to stimulation with VZV, decreased numbers of IFNγ spot-forming cells were found among SLE patients (although not GPA patients) as compared to healthy controls. Proliferation of CD4+ T cells in response to stimulation with VZV was decreased in SLE patients but not GPA patients. SLE patients have increased levels of IgG antibodies against VZV, while cellular immunity is decreased. In GPA patients, antibody levels as well as cellular responses to VZV were comparable to those in healthy controls. These data suggest that increased prevalence of herpes zoster in SLE patients is due to a poor cellular response. Vaccination strategies should aim to boost cellular immunity against VZV. Copyright © 2014 by the American College of Rheumatology.

Ginsenoside 25-OCH3-PPD promotes activity of LXRs to ameliorate P2X7R-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of hepatic fibrosis.

PubMed

Han, Xin; Song, Jian; Lian, Li-Hua; Yao, You-Li; Shao, Dan-Yang; Fan, Ying; Hou, Li-Shuang; Wang, Ge; Zheng, Shuang; Wu, Yan-Ling; Nan, Ji-Xing

2018-06-22

Ginseng is widely used in energy drinks, dietary supplements and herbal medicines, and its pharmacological actions are related with energy metabolism. As an important modulating energy metabolism pathway, liver X receptors (LXRs) can promote the resolving of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation. The present study aims to evaluate the regulation of 25-OCH3-PPD, a ginsenoside isolated from Panax ginseng, against hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in thioacetamide (TAA)-stimulated mice by activating LXRs pathway. 25-OCH3-PPD decreases serum ALT/AST levels and improves the histological pathology of liver in TAA-induced mice; attenuates transcripts of pro-fibrogenic markers associated with hepatic stellate cell activation; attenuates the levels of pro-Inflammatory cytokines and blocks apoptosis happened in liver; inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome by affecting P2X7R activation; regulates PI3K/Akt and LKB1/AMPK-SIRT1. 25-OCH3-PPD also facilitates LX25Rs and FXR activities decreased by TAA stimulation. 25-OCH3-PPD also decreases α-SMA via regulation of LXRs and P2X7R-NLRP3 in vitro. Our data suggest the possibility that 25-OCH3-PPD promotes activity of LXRs to ameliorate P2X7R-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome in the development of hepatic fibrosis.

Evaluation of phenyl-propanedione on yellowing and chemical-mechanical properties of experimental dental resin-based materials.

PubMed

Oliveira, Dayane Carvalho Ramos Salles de; Souza-Junior, Eduardo José; Dobson, Adam; Correr, Ana Rosa Costa; Brandt, William Cunha; Sinhoreti, Mário Alexandre Coelho

2016-01-01

To evaluate the influence of phenyl-propanedione on yellowing and chemical-mechanical properties of experimental resin-based materials photoactivated using different light curing units (LCUs). Experimental resin-based materials with the same organic matrix (60:40 wt% BisGMA:TEGDMA) were mechanically blended using a centrifugal mixing device. To this blend, different photoinitiator systems were added in equimolar concentrations with aliphatic amine doubled by wt%: 0.4 wt% CQ; 0.38 wt% PPD; or 0.2 wt% CQ and 0.19 wt% PPD. The degree of conversion (DC), flexural strength (FS), Young's modulus (YM), Knoop hardness (KNH), crosslinking density (CLD), and yellowing (Y) were evaluated (n=10). All samples were light cured with the following LCUs: a halogen lamp (XL 2500), a monowave LED (Radii), or a polywave LED (Valo) with 16 J/cm2. The results were analysed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05). No statistical differences were found between the different photoinitiator systems to KNH, CLS, FS, and YM properties (p≥0.05). PPD/CQ association showed the higher DC values compared with CQ and PPD isolated systems when photoactivated by a polywave LED (p≤0.05). Y values were highest for the CQ compared with the PPD systems (p≤0.05). PPD isolated system promoted similar chemical and mechanical properties and less yellowing compared with the CQ isolated system, regardless of the LCU used.

Socioeconomic, Psychiatric and Materiality Determinants and Risk of Postpartum Depression in Border City of Ilam, Western Iran

PubMed Central

Taherifard, Pegah; Delpisheh, Ali; Shirali, Ramin; Afkhamzadeh, Abdorrahim; Veisani, Yousef

2013-01-01

Background. Postpartum depression (PPD) is considered as one of the mood disturbances occurring during 2-3 months after delivery. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of PPD and its associated risk factors in border city of Ilam, western Iran. Methods. Through a descriptive cross-sectional study in 2011, overall, 197 women who attended Obstetrics & Gynecology clinics postpartumly in the border city of Ilam, western Iran, were randomly recruited. A standard questionnaire that was completed by a trained midwife through face to face interviews was used for data gathering. Results. Mean age ± standard deviations was 27.9 ± 5.2 years. Prevalence of PPD was estimated to be 34.8% (95% CI: 27.7–41.7). A significant difference was observed among depression scores before and after delivery (P ≤ 0.001). Type of delivery (P = 0.044), low socioeconomic status (P = 0.011), and women having low educational level (P = 0.009) were the most important significant risk factors associated with PPD. The regression analysis showed that employed mothers compared to housekeepers were more at risk for PPD (adjusted OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.22–2.28, P = 0.003). Conclusions. Prevalence of PPD in western Iran was slightly higher than the corresponding rate from either national or international reports. PMID:23984055

Tuberculin reactivity and tuberculosis epidemiology in the Pakaanóva (Wari') Indians of Rondônia, south-western Brazilian Amazon.

PubMed

Escobar, A L; Coimbra, C E A; Camacho, L A B; Santos, R V

2004-01-01

To investigate the characteristics of tuberculin skin test reactivity in the Pakaanóva Indians, in Amazonia, Brazil, after revaccination of all study participants with bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). The investigation was designed as a post-BCG vaccination purified protein derivative (PPD) survey. Data included PPD readings, age, sex, nutritional status, place of residence, previous tuberculosis, physical examinations and BCG status. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. About 90% (n = 505) of the total population participated. One third (32.1%) of the subjects presented induration > or = 10 mm at 72 h. Induration sizes showed weak linear correlation with age; differences between sexes were not observed. Skin reaction was not associated with nutritional status. Individuals with a history of tuberculosis were six times more likely to test positive. History of tuberculosis, age, and previous BCG vaccination were significantly associated with PPD reactivity in the multivariate analyses. The Pakaanóva showed a high proportion (58.4%) of non-reactors, even with a recent BCG booster. Sex differences in PPD reactivity were either not present or could not be demonstrated. The association between age and PPD reactivity resembles that observed in other Amazonian populations. The authors discuss the potential of PPD testing as a screening tool to enhance tuberculosis detection, especially in indigenous populations in Amazonia with limited access to health services.

Treatment of paranoid personality disorder with cognitive analytic therapy: a mixed methods single case experimental design.

PubMed

Kellett, Stephen; Hardy, Gillian

2014-01-01

Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) presents as chronic and widespread interpersonal distrust, whereby the actions of others are interpreted as malevolent and malicious. This research details the assessment, formulation and treatment of a case of PPD within a 24-session contract of cognitive analytic therapy (CAT). The outcome methodology was an A/B with extended follow-up single case experimental design (SCED). The SCED was supplemented with qualitative patient interviewing via the Change Interview regarding their experience of CAT, whether change had taken place and detailing of any identified change mechanisms. Quantitative results show that five out of the six daily rated paranoia target complaint measures were extinguished during the treatment phase. Qualitatively, the patient attributed change to the therapy conducted. The results suggest that CAT was an effective intervention in this case of PPD and are discussed in terms of identified methodological shortcomings, treatment implications and the potential for generating a convincing evidence base for the psychotherapy of PPD. Narrative reformulation using a CAT model offers a key opportunity for the patient to achieve a new understanding of their paranoia. Psychotherapy for PPD requires a cognitive component, within a boundaried and relational therapy, that is able to reflect on paranoid enactments and ruptures within the therapeutic relationship.There is a large role for clinician-researchers in developing a PPD outcome evidence base. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Photoperiod-H1 (Ppd-H1) Controls Leaf Size.

PubMed

Digel, Benedikt; Tavakol, Elahe; Verderio, Gabriele; Tondelli, Alessandro; Xu, Xin; Cattivelli, Luigi; Rossini, Laura; von Korff, Maria

2016-09-01

Leaf size is a major determinant of plant photosynthetic activity and biomass; however, it is poorly understood how leaf size is genetically controlled in cereal crop plants like barley (Hordeum vulgare). We conducted a genome-wide association scan for flowering time, leaf width, and leaf length in a diverse panel of European winter cultivars grown in the field and genotyped with a single-nucleotide polymorphism array. The genome-wide association scan identified PHOTOPERIOD-H1 (Ppd-H1) as a candidate gene underlying the major quantitative trait loci for flowering time and leaf size in the barley population. Microscopic phenotyping of three independent introgression lines confirmed the effect of Ppd-H1 on leaf size. Differences in the duration of leaf growth and consequent variation in leaf cell number were responsible for the leaf size differences between the Ppd-H1 variants. The Ppd-H1-dependent induction of the BARLEY MADS BOX genes BM3 and BM8 in the leaf correlated with reductions in leaf size and leaf number. Our results indicate that leaf size is controlled by the Ppd-H1- and photoperiod-dependent progression of plant development. The coordination of leaf growth with flowering may be part of a reproductive strategy to optimize resource allocation to the developing inflorescences and seeds. © 2016 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

Natural Product Ginsenoside 25-OCH3-PPD Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis through Down-Regulating MDM2

PubMed Central

Wang, Wei; Zhang, Xu; Qin, Jiang-Jiang; Voruganti, Sukesh; Nag, Subhasree Ashok; Wang, Ming-Hai; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Ruiwen

2012-01-01

Although ginseng and related herbs have a long history of utility for various health benefits, their application in cancer therapy and underlying mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Our recent work has shown that 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (25-OCH3-PPD), a newly identified ginsenoside from Panax notoginseng, exerts activities against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study was designed to investigate its anti-breast cancer activity and the underlying mechanisms of action. We observed that 25-OCH3-PPD decreased the survival of breast cancer cells by induction of apoptosis and G1 phase arrest and inhibited the growth of breast cancer xenografts in vivo. We further demonstrated that, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, 25-OCH3-PPD inhibited MDM2 expression at both transcriptional and post-translational levels in human breast cancer cells with various p53 statuses (wild type and mutant). Moreover, 25-OCH3-PPD inhibited in vitro cell migration, reduced the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and prevented in vivo metastasis of breast cancer. In summary, 25-OCH3-PPD is a potential therapeutic and anti-metastatic agent for human breast cancer through down-regulating MDM2. Further preclinical and clinical development of this agent is warranted. PMID:22911819

Natural product ginsenoside 25-OCH3-PPD inhibits breast cancer growth and metastasis through down-regulating MDM2.

PubMed

Wang, Wei; Zhang, Xu; Qin, Jiang-Jiang; Voruganti, Sukesh; Nag, Subhasree Ashok; Wang, Ming-Hai; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Ruiwen

2012-01-01

Although ginseng and related herbs have a long history of utility for various health benefits, their application in cancer therapy and underlying mechanisms of action are not fully understood. Our recent work has shown that 20(S)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (25-OCH(3)-PPD), a newly identified ginsenoside from Panax notoginseng, exerts activities against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. This study was designed to investigate its anti-breast cancer activity and the underlying mechanisms of action. We observed that 25-OCH(3)-PPD decreased the survival of breast cancer cells by induction of apoptosis and G1 phase arrest and inhibited the growth of breast cancer xenografts in vivo. We further demonstrated that, in a dose- and time-dependent manner, 25-OCH(3)-PPD inhibited MDM2 expression at both transcriptional and post-translational levels in human breast cancer cells with various p53 statuses (wild type and mutant). Moreover, 25-OCH(3)-PPD inhibited in vitro cell migration, reduced the expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, and prevented in vivo metastasis of breast cancer. In summary, 25-OCH(3)-PPD is a potential therapeutic and anti-metastatic agent for human breast cancer through down-regulating MDM2. Further preclinical and clinical development of this agent is warranted.

Structural and spectroscopic characterizations on the charge-transfer interactions of the second generation poly(propylene amine) dendrimers with iodine and picric acid acceptors.

PubMed

El-Sayed, Mohamed Y; Refat, Moamen S

2015-02-25

Herein, this study was focused to get a knowledge about the intermolecular charge transfer complexes between the second generation of poly(propylene amine) dendrimer (PPD2) with picric acid (PA) and iodine (I2) as π and σ-acceptors. The charge-transfer interaction of the PPD2 electron donor and the PA acceptor has been studied in CHCl3. The resulted data refereed to the formation of the new CT-complex with the general formula [(PPD2)(PA)4]. The 1:4 stoichiometry of the reaction was discussed upon the on elemental analysis and photometric titration. On the other hand, the 1:3½ iodine-PPD2 heptaiodide (I7(-)) charge-transfer complex has been studied spectrophotometrically in chloroform at room temperature with general formula [(PPD2)](+)I7(-). The electronic absorption bands of 2I2·I3(-) (I7(-)) are observed at 358 and 294 nm. Raman laser spectrum of the brown solid heptaiodide complex has two clearly vibration bands at 155 and 110 cm(-1) due to symmetric stretching νs(II) outer and inner bonds, respectively. The (1)H NMR spectra and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data of PPD2 charge-transfer complexes were discussed. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study on cross-reactivity to the para group.

PubMed

Picardo, M; Cannistraci, C; Cristaudo, A; De Luca, C; Santucci, B

1990-01-01

In 80 patients, positive to at least one hapten of the para group (para-phenylenediamine, diaminodiphenylmethane, benzocaine, PPD mix), patch tests were carried out with freshly prepared solutions of para-phenylenediamine (PPD) and of 3 selected aromatic compounds related structurally to PPD (para-aminophenol, ortho-aminophenol, hydroquinone). The number of positive reactions correlated with the rate of decomposition of the substances as evaluated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. PPD, which was almost decomposed after 24 h, gave the highest number of positive reactions, followed by ortho-aminophenol and by para-aminophenol, while hydroquinone, which was oxidized to the extent of 35%, did not give any reactions. To evaluate if a different rate of oxidation can modify the patch test response, in the same patients and in 10 normal volunteers, tests were carried out with PPD solutions containing the oxidizing agent silver oxide (0.1%). By this procedure a significant increase in the number of positive responses was observed. The results suggest that the rate of decomposition and therefore the amount of quinone(s) generated, might be the key to eliciting patch test responses to oxidizable aromatic haptens.

Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder.

PubMed

Lee, Royce

2017-06-01

Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) has historically been neglected by science out of proportion to its prevalence or its association with negative clinical outcomes. This review provides an update on what is known about PPD regarding its prevalence, demographics, comorbidity, biological mechanism, risk factors, and relationship to psychotic disorders. PPD has long been the subject of a rich and prescient theoretical literature which has provided a surprisingly coherent account of the psychological mechanism of non-delusional paranoia. Available data indicate that PPD has a close relationship with childhood trauma and social stress. Descriptive data on a sample of 115 individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder is examined in comparison with a group of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. The descriptive data largely confirm previously identified relationships between Paranoid Personality Disorder and childhood trauma, violence, and race. We identify important similarities to and differences from Borderline Personality Disorder. PPD continues to be an important construct in the clinic and the laboratory. Available data lead to a reconsideration of the disorder as more closely related to trauma than to schizophrenia.

Self-Care for Health in Rural Hispanic Women at Risk for Postpartum Depression.

PubMed

Kim, Younglee; Dee, Vivien

2017-01-01

To determine factors that affect self-care of rural Hispanic women at risk for postpartum depression (PPD). This study was a descriptive cross-sectional design based on the key concepts of Orem's Self-care Deficit Nursing theory. Data were collected from 223 Hispanic postpartum women residing in Mecca, North Shore, and Thermal in California by an interviewer-administered survey. Four instruments were utilized: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) for PPD, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support for social support, Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) for spirituality, and Self Rated Abilities for Health Practices for self-care. The prevalence of women at risk for PPD was about 43 %. Social support, spirituality, and self-care ability were significantly correlated in women with PPD. Social support was a strong factor in predicting self-care ability for 'Nutrition', 'Psychological well-being', 'Exercise', and 'Responsible Health Practices' in the rural Hispanic women at risk for PPD. The study findings can enable nurses and healthcare professionals to develop effective tailored interventions to assist rural Hispanic women's abilities to perform self-care for health, and in particular, during the postpartum period.

The experience of maternal and child health nurses responding to women with postpartum depression.

PubMed

Rush, Penelope

2012-02-01

Previous studies have shown that maternal and child health nurses (MCH nurses) are in a unique position to help mothers with postpartum depression (PPD), but little has been done to understand the MCH nurses' day-to-day experience. This Australian study addresses that issue by analyzing the results of eight in-depth interviews with MCH nurses. The data obtained from these interviews was analyzed using the phenomenological method described by Creswell, adapted from Moustakas. From this analysis five themes emerge: how MCH nurses recognize symptoms of PPD; the importance of having treatment options available; the role of rapport; the limits of MCH nurses in responding to PPD; and how MCH nurses respond when recognizing new cases of PPD. The results of the study reveal several areas for policy review, most significantly the need for more MCH nurse training to recognize the symptoms of PPD and identify the appropriate treatment option. In addition, a review of staff retention and mobility policies is recommended to improve rapport with mothers and maintain and grow knowledge of local treatment options.

Mistrustful and Misunderstood: A Review of Paranoid Personality Disorder

PubMed Central

Lee, Royce

2017-01-01

Purpose of review Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD) has historically been neglected by science out of proportion to its prevalence or its association with negative clinical outcomes. This review provides an update on what is known about PPD regarding its prevalence, demographics, comorbidity, biological mechanism, risk factors, and relationship to psychotic disorders. Recent Findings PPD has long been the subject of a rich and prescient theoretical literature which has provided a surprisingly coherent account of the psychological mechanism of non-delusional paranoia. Available data indicate that PPD has a close relationship with childhood trauma and social stress. Descriptive data on a sample of 115 individuals with Paranoid Personality Disorder is examined in comparison with a group of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder. The descriptive data largely confirm previously identified relationships between Paranoid Personality Disorder and childhood trauma, violence, and race. We identify important similarities to and differences from Borderline Personality Disorder. Summary PPD continues to be an important construct in the clinic and the laboratory. Available data lead to a reconsideration of the disorder as more closely related to trauma than to schizophrenia. PMID:29399432

Assessment of Different Strategies to Determine MAP-specific Cellular Immune Responses in Cattle

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Assessment of cellular immunity in cattle against Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) by established methods remains unsatisfactory for diagnostic purposes. Recent studies conclude that analysis of T-cell subset responsiveness may improve diagnostic outcome. Aim of this study was to iden...

PPD skin test

MedlinePlus

... is a method used to diagnose silent (latent) tuberculosis (TB) infection. PPD stands for purified protein derivative. ... skin test; Tuberculin skin test; Mantoux test Images Tuberculosis in the kidney Tuberculosis in the lung Positive ...

Parasitism and venom of ectoparasitoid Scleroderma guani impairs host cellular immunity.

PubMed

Li, Li-Fang; Xu, Zhi-Wen; Liu, Nai-Yong; Wu, Guo-Xing; Ren, Xue-Min; Zhu, Jia-Ying

2018-06-01

Venom is a prominently maternal virulent factor utilized by parasitoids to overcome hosts immune defense. With respect to roles of this toxic mixture involved in manipulating hosts immunity, great interest has been mostly restricted to Ichneumonoidea parasitoids associated with polydnavirus (PDV), of which venom is usually considered as a helper component to enhance the role of PDV, and limited Chalcidoidea species. In contrast, little information is available in other parasitoids, especially ectoparasitic species not carrying PDV. The ectoparasitoid Scleroderma guani injects venom into its host, Tenebrio molitor, implying its venom was involved in suppression of hosts immune response for successful parasitism. Thus, we investigated the effects of parasitism and venom of this parasitoid on counteracting the cellular immunity of its host by examining changes of hemocyte counts, and hemocyte spreading and encapsulation ability. Total hemocyte counts were elevated in parasitized and venom-injected pupae. The spreading behavior of both granulocytes and plasmatocytes was impaired by parasitization and venom. High concentration of venom led to more severely increased hemocyte counts and suppression of hemocyte spreading. The ability of hemocyte encapsulation was inhibited by venom in vitro. In addition to immediate effects observed, venom showed persistent interference in hosts cellular immunity. These results indicate that venom alone from S. guani plays a pivotal role in blocking hosts cellular immune response, serving as a regulator that guarantees the successful development of its progenies. The findings provide a foundation for further investigation of the underlying mechanisms in immune inhibitory action of S. guani venom. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Evaluation of the immune response in Shitou geese (Anser anser domesticus) following immunization with GPV-VP1 DNA-based and live attenuated vaccines.

PubMed

Deng, Shu-xuan; Cai, Ming-sheng; Cui, Wei; Huang, Jin-lu; Li, Mei-li

2014-01-01

Goose parvovirus (GPV) is a highly contagious and deadly disease for goslings and Muscovy ducklings. To compare the differences in immune response of geese immunized with GPV-VP1 DNA-based and live attenuated vaccines. Shitou geese were immunized once with either 20 μg pcDNA-GPV-VP1 DNA gene vaccine by gene gun bombardment via intramuscular injection, or 300 μg by i.m. injection, or 300 μL live attenuated vaccine by i.m. injection, whereas 300 μg pcDNA3.1 (+) i.m. or 300 μL saline i.m. were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Each group comprised 28 animals. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 2-210 days after immunization and the proliferation of T lymphocytes, the number of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells and the level of IgG assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using a one-way analysis of variance with group multiple comparisons via Tukey's test. The pcDNA-GPV-VP1 DNA and attenuated vaccine induced cellular and humoral responses, and there were no differences between the 20 and 300 μg group in the responses of proliferation of T lymphocyte and the CD8(+) T-cell. However, as to CD4(+) T-cell response and humoral immunity, the 20 μg group performed better than the 300 μg group, which induced better cellular and humoral immunity than live attenuated vaccine. This study showed that it is possible to induce both cellular and humoral response using DNA-based vaccines and that the pcDNA-GPV-VP1 DNA gene vaccine induced better cellular and humoral immunity than live attenuated vaccine.

Innate immunity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

PubMed

Fernández-Real, José Manuel; Pickup, John C

2008-01-01

Recent evidence has disclosed previously unrecognized links among insulin resistance, obesity, circulating immune markers, immunogenetic susceptibility, macrophage function and chronic infection. Genetic variations leading to altered production or function of circulating innate immune proteins, cellular pattern-recognition receptors and inflammatory cytokines have been linked with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity and atherosclerosis. Cellular innate immune associations with obesity and insulin resistance include increased white blood cell count and adipose tissue macrophage numbers. The innate immune response is modulated possibly by both predisposition (genetic or fetal programming), perhaps owing to evolutionary pressures caused by acute infections at the population level (pandemics), and chronic low exposure to environmental products or infectious agents. The common characteristics shared among innate immunity activation, obesity and insulin resistance are summarized.

Transcriptomic Response of Porcine PBMCs to Vaccination with Tetanus Toxoid as a Model Antigen

PubMed Central

Adler, Marcel; Murani, Eduard; Brunner, Ronald; Ponsuksili, Siriluck; Wimmers, Klaus

2013-01-01

The aim of the present study was to characterize in vivo genome-wide transcriptional responses to immune stimulation in order to get insight into the resulting changes of allocation of resources. Vaccination with tetanus toxoid was used as a model for a mixed Th1 and Th2 immune response in pig. Expression profiles of PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) before and at 12 time points over a period of four weeks after initial and booster vaccination at day 14 were studied by use of Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The transcriptome data in total comprised more than 5000 genes with different transcript abundances (DE-genes). Within the single time stages the numbers of DE-genes were between several hundred and more than 1000. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis mainly revealed canonical pathways of cellular immune response and cytokine signaling as well as a broad range of processes in cellular and organismal growth, proliferation and development, cell signaling, biosynthesis and metabolism. Significant changes in the expression profiles of PBMCs already occurred very early after immune stimulation. At two hours after the first vaccination 679 DE-genes corresponding to 110 canonical pathways of cytokine signaling, cellular immune response and other multiple cellular functions were found. Immune competence and global disease resistance are heritable but difficult to measure and to address by breeding. Besides QTL mapping of immune traits gene expression profiling facilitates the detection of functional gene networks and thus functional candidate genes. PMID:23536793

Transcriptomic response of porcine PBMCs to vaccination with tetanus toxoid as a model antigen.

PubMed

Adler, Marcel; Murani, Eduard; Brunner, Ronald; Ponsuksili, Siriluck; Wimmers, Klaus

2013-01-01

The aim of the present study was to characterize in vivo genome-wide transcriptional responses to immune stimulation in order to get insight into the resulting changes of allocation of resources. Vaccination with tetanus toxoid was used as a model for a mixed Th1 and Th2 immune response in pig. Expression profiles of PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) before and at 12 time points over a period of four weeks after initial and booster vaccination at day 14 were studied by use of Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). The transcriptome data in total comprised more than 5000 genes with different transcript abundances (DE-genes). Within the single time stages the numbers of DE-genes were between several hundred and more than 1000. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis mainly revealed canonical pathways of cellular immune response and cytokine signaling as well as a broad range of processes in cellular and organismal growth, proliferation and development, cell signaling, biosynthesis and metabolism. Significant changes in the expression profiles of PBMCs already occurred very early after immune stimulation. At two hours after the first vaccination 679 DE-genes corresponding to 110 canonical pathways of cytokine signaling, cellular immune response and other multiple cellular functions were found. Immune competence and global disease resistance are heritable but difficult to measure and to address by breeding. Besides QTL mapping of immune traits gene expression profiling facilitates the detection of functional gene networks and thus functional candidate genes.

Your Postpartum Checkup

MedlinePlus

... time. This is called postpartum depression (also called PPD). It’s a serious condition that can make it ... your life and take care of your baby. PPD can be treated. There are things you and ...

Humoral and cellular immunity in chromium picolinate-supplemented lambs.

PubMed

Dallago, B S L; McManus, C M; Caldeira, D F; Campeche, A; Burtet, R T; Paim, T P; Gomes, E F; Branquinho, R P; Braz, S V; Louvandini, H

2013-08-01

The effects of oral supplementation of chromium picolinate (CrPic) on humoral and cellular immunity in sheep were investigated. Twenty-four male lambs divided into four treatments and received different dosages of CrPic: placebo (0), 0.250, 0.375, and 0.500 mg of chromium/animal/day during 84 days. The base ration was Panicum maximum cv Massai hay and concentrate. Blood samples were collected fortnightly for total and differential leukocyte counts. On days 28 and 56, the lambs were challenged with chicken ovalbumin I.M. Serum samples were collected on days 46 and 74 and subjected to an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure IgG anti-ovalbumin. The cell-mediated immune response was determined by a delay-type hypersensitivity test using phytohemagglutinin. CrPic did not significantly affect humoral immunity in lambs but there was a negative effect on cellular immunity (P < 0.05) as Cr supplementation increased. Therefore, the level of Cr supplementation for lambs must be better studied to address its effect on stressed animals or the possible toxic effects of Cr on the animal itself or its immune system.

Is postpartum depression a homogenous disorder: time of onset, severity, symptoms and hopelessness in relation to the course of depression.

PubMed

Kettunen, Pirjo; Koistinen, Eeva; Hintikka, Jukka

2014-12-10

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a common illness, but due to the underlying processes and the diversity of symptoms, some variability is exhibited. The risk of postpartum depression is great if the mother has previously suffered from depression, but there is some evidence that a certain subgroup of women only experience depression during the postpartum period. The study group consisted of 104 mothers with postpartum major depression and a control group of 104 postpartum mothers without depression. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) was used for data collection. The severity of depression and other mental symptoms were assessed using several validated rating scales. A history of past depression (82%), including depression during pregnancy (42%) and during the postpartum period (53%), was very common in those with current PPD. Eighteen per cent of mothers with current PPD had previously not had any depressive episodes and four per cent had experienced depression only during the postpartum period. Therefore, pure PPD was rare. The onset of PPD was usually (84%) within six weeks of childbirth. Obsessive-compulsive symptoms, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, depressed mood, diminished pleasure/interest, decreased energy, and psychomotor agitation/retardation were common with all kinds of depression histories. Pure PPD was the most similar to the first depressive episode. Nevertheless, the severity of depression, the level of hopelessness, somatisation, interpersonal sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, psychoticism, sleep disturbance, and suicidal ideation were lower, appetite changed less, and concentration was better than in other recurrent depressions. According to this study, PPD is not a homogenous disorder. The time of onset, severity, symptoms, level of hopelessness, and the course of depression vary. Recurrent depression is common. All mothers must be screened during the sixth week postpartum at the latest. Screening alone is not effective; it is also important to give mothers information about PPD and to discuss the symptoms with them in order for them to recognise this disorder and possible new episodes in the future.

Clinical features of and risk factors for major depression with history of postpartum episodes in Han Chinese women: A retrospective study.

PubMed

Yang, Fuzhong; Gardner, Charles O; Bigdeli, Tim; Gao, Jingfang; Zhang, Zhen; Tao, Ming; Liu, Ying; Li, Youhui; Wang, Gang; Shi, Jianguo; Gao, Chengge; Zhang, Kerang; Li, Kan; Wang, Xumei; Liu, Lanfen; Sun, Jing; Du, Bo; Shi, Shenxun; Zhang, Jingbei; Wu, Wenyuan; Wang, Xueyi; Shen, Jianhua; Liu, Tiebang; Gu, Danhua; Liang, Wei; Deng, Hong; Pan, Jiyang; Yang, Lijun; Jian, Hu; Jiang, Guoqin; Meng, Huaqing; Miao, Guodong; Li, Yi; Hu, Chunmei; Huang, Guoping; Zhang, Yutang; Chen, Yunchun; Ha, Baowei; Gao, Shu; Fang, Xiang; Mei, Qiyi; Hong, Xiaohong; Yang, Donglin; Liu, Tieqiao; Fengyu, Yu; Zhong, Hui; Sang, Hong; Chen, Guibing; Cai, Min; Song, Yan; Dong, Jicheng; Shen, Zhenmin; Zhang, Wei; Wang, Xiaoping; Pan, Runde; Liu, Xiaojuan; Li, Yi; Liu, Zhengrong; Zhang, Qiwen; Li, Gongying; Flint, Jonathan; Kendler, Kenneth S

2015-09-01

We sought to investigate the clinical features of and risk factors for recurrent major depression (MD) with history of postpartum episodes (PPD) in Han Chinese women and the differences between first-onset postpartum MD (MD that has its first lifetime depressive episode in the postpartum period) and first-onset non-postpartum MD (MD with history of PPD and has its first lifetime depressive episode in a period other than postpartum). Data were derived from the China, Oxford and Virginia Commonwealth University Experimental Research on Genetic Epidemiology (CONVERGE) study (N=6017 cases) and analyzed in two steps. We first examined the clinical features of and risk factors for MD patients with (N=981) or without (N=4410) a history of PPD. We then compared the differences between first-onset postpartum MD (N=583) and first-onset non-postpartum MD (N=398) in those with a history of PPD. Linear, logistic and multinomial logistic models were employed to measure the associations. A history of PPD was associated with more guilt feelings, greater psychiatric comorbidity, higher neuroticism, earlier onset and more chronicity (OR 0.2-2.8). Severe premenstrual symptoms (PMS) and more childbirths increased the risk of PPD, as did a family history of MD, childhood sexual abuse, stressful life events and lack of social support (OR 1.1-1.3). In the MD with history of PPD subsample, first-onset postpartum MD was associated with fewer recurrent major depressive episodes, less psychiatric comorbidity, lower neuroticism, less severe PMS and fewer disagreements with their husbands (OR 0.5-0.8), but more childbirths (OR 1.2). Data were obtained retrospectively through interview and recall bias may have affected the results. MD with history of PPD in Han Chinese women is typically chronic and severe, with particular risk factors including severe PMS and more childbirths. First-onset postpartum MD and first-onset non-postpartum MD can be partly differentiated by their clinical features and risk factors, but are not clearly distinctive. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Allelic Variation in Developmental Genes and Effects on Winter Wheat Heading Date in the U.S. Great Plains

PubMed Central

Brown-Guedira, Gina; Haley, Scott D.; McMaster, Gregory S.; Reid, Scott D.; Smith, Jared; Byrne, Patrick F.

2016-01-01

Heading date in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other small grain cereals is affected by the vernalization and photoperiod pathways. The reduced-height loci also have an effect on growth and development. Heading date, which occurs just prior to anthesis, was evaluated in a population of 299 hard winter wheat entries representative of the U.S. Great Plains region, grown in nine environments during 2011–2012 and 2012–2013. The germplasm was evaluated for candidate genes at vernalization (Vrn-A1, Vrn-B1, and Vrn-D1), photoperiod (Ppd-A1, Ppd-B1 and Ppd-D1), and reduced-height (Rht-B1 and Rht-D1) loci using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) assays. Our objectives were to determine allelic variants known to affect flowering time, assess the effect of allelic variants on heading date, and investigate changes in the geographic and temporal distribution of alleles and haplotypes. Our analyses enhanced understanding of the roles developmental genes have on the timing of heading date in wheat under varying environmental conditions, which could be used by breeding programs to improve breeding strategies under current and future climate scenarios. The significant main effects and two-way interactions between the candidate genes explained an average of 44% of variability in heading date at each environment. Among the loci we evaluated, most of the variation in heading date was explained by Ppd-D1, Ppd-B1, and their interaction. The prevalence of the photoperiod sensitive alleles Ppd-A1b, Ppd-B1b, and Ppd-D1b has gradually decreased in U.S. Great Plains germplasm over the past century. There is also geographic variation for photoperiod sensitive and reduced-height alleles, with germplasm from breeding programs in the northern Great Plains having greater incidences of the photoperiod sensitive alleles and lower incidence of the semi-dwarf alleles than germplasm from breeding programs in the central or southern plains. PMID:27058239

Tuberculin skin testing: determinants and reaction.

PubMed

Lao, L Y; De Guia, T

1999-09-01

Mantoux purified protein derivative (PPD) skin testing was performed in schoolchildren who were grouped according to positive (Group I, n = 205) and negative (Group II, n = 79) exposure to recent acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) family contact. A prospective case-control study was undertaken to evaluate whether repeat bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, nutritional state, presence/absence of BCG scar, and degree of AFB positivity of sputum of adult TB cases affect PPD skin reactivity in these two groups. Group I with TB contacts had larger induration (13.00 +/- 11.29 mm) than the Group II control group of 4.52 +/- 6.20; P = 0.000. Purified protein derivative reaction as to the number of BCG vaccination(s) received showed an increase in size as the BCG vaccination is repeated with significantly larger induration in Group I than in Group II (P = 0.048). The nutritional status was subgrouped into A (weight < 10 percentile), B (weight 50-75 percentile), and C (weight > 90 percentile), which were comparable for both groups. The mean PPD induration of subgroup A in Groups I and II was not statistically different. However, the mean PPD induration was highly significant between Groups I and II in subgroup B (12.46 +/- 10.70 vs 3.80 +/- 5.71 mm; P = 0.000) and subgroup C (14.31 +/- 11.54 vs 5.42 +/- 6.70 mm; P = 0.000). Children in group I with the BCG scar were noted to have significantly greater PPD induration size than in group II (14.14 +/- 11.23 vs 5.05 +/- 6.24 mm; P = 0.000). The degree of AFB positivity of sputum of TB adult cases (1+ to 4+ and cavitary TB) has no effect on PPD size (P = 0.766). Close contact with individuals with active TB (AFB smear positive) is a very important factor for PPD skin conversion. Repeat BCG vaccination, malnutrition, and BCG with scars present difficulties in making a diagnosis of TB infection but did not affect PPD reactivity and did highlight the need for thorough clinical evaluation.

Development of a POC Test for TB Based on Multiple Immunodominant Epitopes of M. tuberculosis Specific Cell-Wall Proteins

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Jesus M.; Francis, Bryan; Burda, Sherri; Hess, Kaitlyn; Behera, Digamber; Gupta, Dheeraj; Agarwal, Ashutosh Nath; Verma, Indu; Verma, Ajoy; Myneedu, Vithal Prasad; Niedbala, Sam; Laal, Suman

2014-01-01

The need for an accurate, rapid, simple and affordable point-of-care (POC) test for Tuberculosis (TB) that can be implemented in microscopy centers and other peripheral health-care settings in the TB-endemic countries remains unmet. This manuscript describes preliminary results of a new prototype rapid lateral flow TB test based on detection of antibodies to immunodominant epitopes (peptides) derived from carefully selected, highly immunogenic M. tuberculosis cell-wall proteins. Peptide selection was initially based on recognition by antibodies in sera from TB patients but not in PPD-/PPD+/BCG-vaccinated individuals from TB-endemic settings. The peptides were conjugated to BSA; the purified peptide-BSA conjugates striped onto nitrocellulose membrane and adsorbed onto colloidal gold particles to devise the prototype test, and evaluated for reactivity with sera from 3 PPD-, 29 PPD+, 15 PPD-unknown healthy subjects, 10 patients with non-TB lung disease and 124 smear-positive TB patients. The assay parameters were adjusted to determine positive/negative status within 15 minutes via visual or instrumented assessment. There was minimal or no reactivity of sera from non-TB subjects with the striped BSA-peptides demonstrating the lack of anti-peptide antibodies in subjects with latent TB and/or BCG vaccination. Sera from most TB patients demonstrated reactivity with one or more peptides. The sensitivity of antibody detection ranged from 28–85% with the 9 BSA-peptides. Three peptides were further evaluated with sera from 400 subjects, including additional PPD-/PPD+/PPD-unknown healthy contacts, close hospital contacts and household contacts of untreated TB patients, patients with non-TB lung disease, and HIV+TB- patients. Combination of the 3 peptides provided sensitivity and specificity>90%. While the final fully optimized lateral flow POC test for TB is under development, these preliminary results demonstrate that an antibody-detection based rapid POC lateral flow test based on select combinations of immunodominant M. tb-specific epitopes may potentially replace microscopy for TB diagnosis in TB-endemic settings. PMID:25247820

Preclinical study and phase I clinical safety evaluation of recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis ESAT6 protein.

PubMed

Du, Wei-Xin; Chen, Bao-Wen; Lu, Jin-Biao; Gao, Meng-Qiu; Shen, Xiao-Bing; Yang, Lei; Su, Cheng; Wang, Guo-Zhi; Sun, Qing-feng; Xu, Miao

2013-05-15

To investigate the ability of rESAT6 to identify different mycobacteria-sensitized guinea pigs and its safety in preclinical and phase I clinical study. Guinea pigs were sensitized with different Mycobacteria. After sensitization, all animals were intradermally injected with rESAT6 and either PPD or PPD-B. At 24 h after the injection, the erythema of the injection sites were measured using a double-blind method. For the preclinical safety study, different doses of rESAT6 and BSA were given 3 times intramuscularly to guinea pigs. On day 14 after the final immunization, the guinea pigs were intravenously injected with the same reagents in the hind legs and the allergic reactions were observed. A single-center, randomized, open phase I clinical trial was employed. The skin test was conducted in 32 healthy volunteers aged 19-65 years with 0.1 µg, 0.5 µg, and 1 µg rESAT6. Physical examination and laboratory tests were performed before and after the skin test and adverse reactions were monitored. The volunteers' local and systemic adverse reactions and adverse events were recorded for 7 days. Positive PPD or PPD-B skin tests were observed in all Mycobacteria-sensitized guinea pigs; the diameters of erythema were all >10 mm. The rESAT6 protein induced a positive skin test result in the guinea pigs sensitized with MTB, M. bovis, M. africanum and M. kansasii; the diameters of erythema were 14.7±2.0, 9.3±3.8, 18.7±2.4, and 14.8±4.2 mm, respectively. A negative skin test result was detected in BCG-vaccinated and other NTM-sensitized guinea pigs. The rESAT6 caused no allergic symptoms, but many allergic reactions, such as cough, dyspnea, and even death, were observed in the guinea pigs who were administered BSA. During the phase I clinical trial, no adverse reactions were found in the 0.1 µg rESAT6 group, but in the 0.5 µg rESAT6 group 2 volunteers reported pain and 1 reported itching, and in the 1 µg rESAT6 group there was 1 case of pain, 1 case of itching, and 1 case of blister. No other local or systemic adverse reactions or events were reported. The rESAT6 can differentiate effectively among MTB infection, BCG vaccination, and NTM infection and is safe in healthy volunteers.

Proteomic approaches to understanding the role of the cytoskeleton in host-defense mechanisms

PubMed Central

Radulovic, Marko; Godovac-Zimmermann, Jasminka

2014-01-01

The cytoskeleton is a cellular scaffolding system whose functions include maintenance of cellular shape, enabling cellular migration, division, intracellular transport, signaling and membrane organization. In addition, in immune cells, the cytoskeleton is essential for phagocytosis. Following the advances in proteomics technology over the past two decades, cytoskeleton proteome analysis in resting and activated immune cells has emerged as a possible powerful approach to expand our understanding of cytoskeletal composition and function. However, so far there have only been a handful of studies of the cytoskeleton proteome in immune cells. This article considers promising proteomics strategies that could augment our understanding of the role of the cytoskeleton in host-defense mechanisms. PMID:21329431

[Atrio-ventricular pressure difference associated with mitral valve motion].

PubMed

Wang, L M; Mori, H; Minezaki, K; Shinozaki, Y; Okino, H

1990-05-01

Pressure difference (PD) across the mitral valve was analyzed by a computer-aided catheter system in dogs. Positive PD (PPD) was consistently traced in the initial phase of rapid filling. While heart rate (HR) was below 100 beat/min, a negative PD (NPD) followed the above PPD. In the period between the NPD and the 2nd PPD due to atrial contraction, PD was kept at zero, while LA and LV pressures were gradually elevated by pulmonary venous return. As HR exceeded 100, 2 positive peaks of PD merged into M-shaped or mono-peaked PD. Through higher inflow resistance produced by artificial mitral stenosis, PPD peak decayed without NPD. In mitral regurgitation with an acute volume overload, all of the PD amplitudes were exaggerated. Thus the quick reversal of PD suggested the effect in blood filling process across the mitral valve.

A qualitative meta-synthesis and theory of postpartum depression.

PubMed

Mollard, Elizabeth K

2014-09-01

To synthesize existing qualitative literature on the first-hand experiences of women suffering from postpartum depression (PPD), to uncover potential common themes, a meta-synthesis of 12 qualitative studies using Noblit and Hare's 7-phase model of meta-ethnography was used. Four themes were discovered: crushed maternal role expectation, going into hiding, loss of sense of self, intense feelings of vulnerability, plus practical life concerns. A preliminary theory of PPD as a 4-step process is proposed, based on the relationships between the themes in this meta-synthesis. This 4-step process is compared and contrasted with Cheryl Tatano Beck's 4-stage theory of PPD "Teetering on the Edge". This meta-synthesis and theory offers a significant contribution to the literature in helping identify PPD distinctly from depression outside of the postpartum period, and deserves further study.

Verbal implicit sequence learning in persons who stutter and persons with Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Smits-Bandstra, Sarah; Gracco, Vincent

2013-01-01

The authors investigated the integrity of implicit learning systems in 14 persons with Parkinson's disease (PPD), 14 persons who stutter (PWS), and 14 control participants. In a 120-min session participants completed a verbal serial reaction time task, naming aloud 4 syllables in response to 4 visual stimuli. Unbeknownst to participants, the syllables formed a repeating 8-item sequence. PWS and PPD demonstrated slower reaction times for early but not late learning trials relative to controls reflecting delays but not deficiencies in general learning. PPD also demonstrated less accuracy in general learning relative to controls. All groups demonstrated similar limited explicit sequence knowledge. Both PWS and PPD demonstrated significantly less implicit sequence learning relative to controls, suggesting that stuttering may be associated with compromised functional integrity of the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop.

Blood pressure and psychological distress among North Africans in France: The role of perceived personal/group discrimination and gender.

PubMed

Loose, Florence; Tiboulet, Marie; Maisonneuve, Christelle; Taillandier-Schmitt, Anne; Dambrun, Michael

2017-09-10

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between perceived ethnic discrimination and (physical and mental) health indicators among North African women and men living in France. This study included 82 North Africans, aged 18-64 years. Perceived discrimination was measured at both group level (PGD) and personal level (PPD). The physical health indicator was blood pressure. The mental health indicator was self-reported psychological distress. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher levels of PGD predicted higher blood pressure. PPD was not related to blood pressure. PPD was positively related to psychological distress among women, but not among men. PPD and PGD are associated with physical and mental health indicators in different ways among North African women and men in France. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Examination of premenstrual symptoms as a risk factor for depression in postpartum women.

PubMed

Buttner, Melissa M; Mott, Sarah L; Pearlstein, Teri; Stuart, Scott; Zlotnick, Caron; O'Hara, Michael W

2013-06-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a significant public health concern with prevalence of major and minor depressions reaching 20 % in the first three postpartum months. Sociodemographic and psychopathology correlates of PPD are well established; however, information on the relationship between premenstrual disorders and the development of PPD is less well established. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the role of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)/premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) as a risk factor for PPD. Premenstrual symptoms were assessed retrospectively using the premenstrual symptoms screening tool (PSST) and depression was diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria and assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). A two-stage screening procedure was applied. In the first stage, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was employed. In the second stage, women endorsing ≥5 symptoms on the PHQ-9 were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, HDRS, and PSST. Hierarchical linear regression showed that history of depression and PMS/PMDD contributed an additional 2 % of the variance (p < 0.001), beyond that of sociodemographic factor effects. The full model accounted for 13 % of the variance in postpartum depressive symptoms. Using logistic regression, a significant association also emerged between PMS/PMDD and PPD (OR = 1.97). The findings of this study suggest that PMS/PMDD is an important risk factor for PPD. Women endorsing a history of PMS/PMDD should be monitored during the perinatal period.

Investigation of Polarization Phase Difference Related to Forest Fields Characterizations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Majidi, M.; Maghsoudi, Y.

2013-09-01

The information content of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data significantly included in the radiometric polarization channels, hence polarimetric SAR data should be analyzed in relation with target structure. The importance of the phase difference between two co-polarized scattered signals due to the possible association between the biophysical parameters and the measured Polarization Phase Difference (PPD) statistics of the backscattered signal recorded components has been recognized in geophysical remote sensing. This paper examines two Radarsat-2 images statistics of the phase difference to describe the feasibility of relationship with the physical properties of scattering targets and tries to understand relevance of PPD statistics with various types of forest fields. As well as variation of incidence angle due to affecting on PPD statistics is investigated. The experimental forest pieces that are used in this research are characterized white pine (Pinus strobus L.), red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench Voss), black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill) B.S.P.), poplar (Populus L.), red oak (Quercus rubra L.) , aspen and ground vegetation. The experimental results show that despite of biophysical parameters have a wide diversity, PPD statistics are almost the same. Forest fields distributions as distributed targets have close to zero means regardless of the incidence angle. Also, The PPD distribution are function of both target and sensor parameters, but for more appropriate examination related to PPD statistics the observations should made in the leaf-off season or in bands with lower frequencies.

Stability of dilute solutions of tuberculin purified protein derivative.

PubMed

Landi, S; Held, H R

1978-06-01

The biological potency of 15 commercially available tuberculin solutions prepared from a master batch of tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) (PPD-CT68) and using a newly formulated diluent (Connaught diluent) containing 0.0005% Tween 80 as an anti-adsorption agent and 0.3% phenol as a preservative, was determined after storage for various intervals at 4, 24 and 37 degrees C. The 5 tuberculin units (TU) per 0.1 ml dose solutions were bioequivalent to a non-stabilized solution of PPD-S whereas the 1 TU and 250 TU per dose solutions were equivalent by calculation to a non-stabilized solution of PPD-S. It was found that the PPD solutions of all 3 strengths, 1, 5 and 250 TU per dose, were stable for at least 3 years at 4 degrees C and for 2 years at room temperature (24 degrees C). Even at 37 degrees C the solutions of all 3 strengths were stable for at least 1 year. The stability of Connaught tuberculin PPD solutions has not been affected by the changes in formulation. The stability data suggest that the expiry date of the newly formulated tuberculin products could be at least two years from the data of the last satisfactory potency test. Although these products are stable for at least 1 year even at 37 degrees C, we nonetheless agree with the Canadian and U.S. regulations that they be stored at 2 to 8 degrees C in their original containers.

Ceftriaxone pretreatment reduces the propensity of postpartum depression following stroke during pregnancy in rats.

PubMed

Guan, Yonghong; Liu, Xianying; Su, Yuetian

2016-10-06

Ischemic stroke increases the propensity to develop depression in humans and laboratory animals, and we hypothesized that such an incidence during pregnancy may increase the risk for the development of postpartum depression (PPD). To test this hypothesis, we used bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion (BCCAO) to induce transient cerebral ischemia in pregnant rats, and evaluated its effects on subsequent development of PPD in dams. Additionally, we investigated whether ceftriaxone pretreatments before the induction of brain ischemia could alter the propensity of PPD. We found that 15min BCCAO during pregnancy enhanced immobility time and reduced the frequency of swimming or climbing behaviors in the forced swim test, and decreased the sucrose preference in dams at postpartum day 21. Such behavioral alterations were associated with lower level of GLT-1 expression in the medial prefrontal cortical regions (mPFC) of PPD dams. Specifically, mPFC GLT-1 expression levels in dams with ischemia history were correlated with sucrose preference levels at postpartum day 21. Finally, ceftriaxone pretreatment (200mg/kg/day, 5days) before the 15min BCCAO prevented the development of PPD, and prevented the reduction of GLT-1 expression in the mPFC. Taken together, our results suggested that ceftriaxone pretreatment before brain ischemia during pregnancy may reduce the propensity for the development of PPD by preventing the loss of GLT-1 expression in the mPFC. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pad per day usage, urinary incontinence and urinary tract infections in nursing home residents.

PubMed

Omli, Ragnhild; Skotnes, Liv Heidi; Romild, Ulla; Bakke, August; Mykletun, Arnstein; Kuhry, Esther

2010-09-01

many elderly suffer from urinary incontinence and use absorbent pads. Pad use per day (PPD) is a frequently used measure of urinary incontinence. Nursing home residents are often dependent on help from nursing staff to change pads. This study was performed in order to determine whether PPD is a reliable method to quantify urinary incontinence in nursing home residents. Furthermore, the association between urinary tract infections (UTIs), PPD and fluid intake was studied. data were retrieved from a multicentre, prospective surveillance among nursing home residents. Data on the use of absorbent pads, fluid intake and incontinence volumes were collected during 48 h. During a 1-year follow-up period, data on UTIs were collected. in this study, 153 residents were included, of whom 118 (77%) used absorbent pads. Residents who used absorbent pads were at increased risk of developing UTIs compared to residents who did not use pads (41 vs 11%; P = 0.001). Daily fluid intake was not associated with UTIs (P = 0.46). The number of pad changes showed no correlation with the risk of developing UTIs (P = 0.62). Patients with a given PPD presented a wide range of incontinence volumes. the use of absorbent pads is associated with an increased risk of developing UTIs. PPD and daily fluid intake are not correlated with the risk of developing UTIs. PPD is an unreliable measure of urinary incontinence in nursing home residents.

Antepartum urinary tract infection and postpartum depression in Taiwan - a nationwide population-based study.

PubMed

Liu, Jui-Ming; Chiu, Feng-Hsiang; Liu, Yueh-Ping; Chen, Shu-Pin; Chan, Hsun-Hao; Yang, Jing-Jung; Chang, Fung-Wei; Hsu, Ren-Jun

2018-03-27

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in pregnant women due to anatomic and physiologic changes in the female urinary tract during pregnancy, and antepartum UTIs can cause adverse pregnancy outcomes that may induce mental stress. There have only been a few studies, however, investigating antepartum UTIs and mental stress. As such, the present study was conducted in order to investigate the association between antepartum UTIs and postpartum depression (PPD). We used data from the 2000-2013 National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan. Data regarding a total of 55,087 singleton pregnancies was utilized, including data regarding 406 women who were newly diagnosed with PPD in the first 6 months postpartum. The associations between PPD and antepartum UTIs or other risk factors were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. The logistic regression analysis results indicated that PPD was associated with antepartum UTIs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.07-1.65). Furthermore, the risk of PPD was higher in women with an upper antepartum UTI (aOR 2.97 (1.31, 6.77) than in those with a lower antepartum UTI (aOR 1.21 (1.02, 1.58)). Antepartum UTIs, particularly upper antepartum UTIs, are significantly associated with PPD. This information may encourage physicians to pay greater attention to the mental health of women who have suffered upper UTIs during their pregnancies.

One year follow-up of post-partum-onset depression: the role of depressive symptom severity and personality disorders.

PubMed

Uguz, Faruk; Akman, Cemal; Sahingoz, Mine; Kaya, Nazmiye; Kucur, Rahim

2009-06-01

Long-term follow-up and risk factors of persistent post-partum depression (PPD) are fairly unknown compared with its prevalence in the developing countries. In this study, we did a follow-up measure of PPD and examined the factors, which were associated with PPD 1-year post-partum. Our sample comprised of 34 women. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Edinburgh post-natal depression scale (EPDS) 6 weeks post-partum, and women with scores >12 on this scale was categorised as depressed. Personality disorders were determined at the same occasion by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R personality disorders (SCID-II). One year post-partum EPDS was completed. The rate of PPD 1-year post-partum was 32.4%, and it was unrelated to age at assessment, primiparity, number of children, employment status, economical status and educational level. Women depressed 1-year post-partum had significantly higher basal scores of EPDS and more often also a diagnosis of any axis II disorder; and specifically dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. In our sample, the predictors of 1-year post-partum PPD were having higher basal score of EPDS and the existence of a personality disorder. This study suggests that women with PPD, scoring high in the EPDS scale 6 weeks post-partum and having a personality disorder, run a higher risk for depression at 1-year follow-up.

Humoral and Cellular Immunity Changed after Traumatic Brain Injury in Human Patients.

PubMed

Wang, Jia-Wei; Li, Jin-Ping; Song, Ying-Lun; Zhao, Qi-Huang

2017-01-01

Previous studies have suggested that there is a disproportionally higher risk of infection following traumatic brain injury (TBI). This predisposition to infection may be driven by a poorly understood, brain-specific response in the immune system after TBI. However, there is a lack of studies that have fully characterized TBI patients to understand the relationship between TBI and peripheral immune function. In the present study, markers for humoral immunity and cellular immunity were measured for up to 2 weeks in the peripheral blood of 37 patients with TBI in order to elucidate the time course and the type of the peripheral immune response following TBI. 12 relatively healthy individuals without TBI and other neurological diseases were enrolled into the control group. Our data indicated that TBI could induce significant changes in humoral immunity characterized by a decrease in IgG and IgM levels and an increase in the complements C3 and C4 levels in comparison with the control group. Moreover, compared with the control group, a significant reduction in peripheral blood CD3 + and CD3 + CD4 + lymphocyte counts occurred early (days 1-3) following the onset of trauma. These results provide evidence that TBI is associated with substantial changes in humoral immunity and cellular immunity, which may explain the high incidence of infection encountered in these patients. © 2017 by the Association of Clinical Scientists, Inc.

Modulation of occluding junctions alters the hematopoietic niche to trigger immune activation

PubMed Central

Khadilkar, Rohan J; Vogl, Wayne; Goodwin, Katharine

2017-01-01

Stem cells are regulated by signals from their microenvironment, or niche. During Drosophila hematopoiesis, a niche regulates prohemocytes to control hemocyte production. Immune challenges activate cell-signalling to initiate the cellular and innate immune response. Specifically, certain immune challenges stimulate the niche to produce signals that induce prohemocyte differentiation. However, the mechanisms that promote prohemocyte differentiation subsequent to immune challenges are poorly understood. Here we show that bacterial infection induces the cellular immune response by modulating occluding-junctions at the hematopoietic niche. Occluding-junctions form a permeability barrier that regulates the accessibility of prohemocytes to niche derived signals. The immune response triggered by infection causes barrier breakdown, altering the prohemocyte microenvironment to induce immune cell production. Moreover, genetically induced barrier ablation provides protection against infection by activating the immune response. Our results reveal a novel role for occluding-junctions in regulating niche-hematopoietic progenitor signalling and link this mechanism to immune cell production following infection. PMID:28841136

Cellular immune response experiment MA-031

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Criswell, B. S.

1976-01-01

Significant changes in phytohemagglutinin (PHA) lymphocytic responsiveness occurred in the cellular immune response of three astronauts during the 9 day flight of the Apollo Soyuz Test Project. Parameters studied were white blood cell concentrations, lymphocyte numbers, B- and T-lymphocyte distributions in peripheral blood, and lymphocyte responsiveness to PHA, pokeweed mitogen, Concanavalin A, and influenza virus antigen.

Quillaja brasiliensis saponins induce robust humoral and cellular responses in a bovine viral diarrhea virus vaccine in mice.

PubMed

Cibulski, Samuel Paulo; Silveira, Fernando; Mourglia-Ettlin, Gustavo; Teixeira, Thais Fumaco; dos Santos, Helton Fernandes; Yendo, Anna Carolina; de Costa, Fernanda; Fett-Neto, Arthur Germano; Gosmann, Grace; Roehe, Paulo Michel

2016-04-01

A saponin fraction extracted from Quillaja brasiliensis leaves (QB-90) and a semi-purified aqueous extract (AE) were evaluated as adjuvants in a bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) vaccine in mice. Animals were immunized on days 0 and 14 with antigen plus either QB-90 or AE or an oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Two-weeks after boosting, antibodies were measured by ELISA; cellular immunity was evaluated by DTH, lymphoproliferation, cytokine release and single cell IFN-γ production. Serum anti-BVDV IgG, IgG1 and IgG2b were significantly increased in QB-90- and AE-adjuvanted vaccines. A robust DTH response, increased splenocyte proliferation, Th1-type cytokines and enhanced production of IFN-γ by CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes were detected in mice that received QB-90-adjuvanted vaccine. The AE-adjuvanted preparation stimulated humoral responses but not cellular immune responses. These findings reveal that QB-90 is capable of stimulating both cellular and humoral immune responses when used as adjuvant. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Long-lasting memory of cellular immunity in a chronic myeloid leukemia patient maintains molecular response 5 after cessation of dasatinib

PubMed Central

Jo, Tatsuro; Noguchi, Kazuhiro; Hayashi, Shizuka; Irie, Sadaharu; Hayase, Risa; Shioya, Haruna; Kaneko, Youhei; Horio, Kensuke; Taguchi, Jun

2018-01-01

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), including imatinib, dasatinib and nilotinib are primarily used in the initial treatment of chronic phase (CP)-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), as CMLs harbor the BCR-ABL fusion product. An increased number of lymphocytes and large granular lymphocytes (LGLs) have been observed in patients treated with dasatinib, but not other TKIs. The LGLs have been reported to be primarily natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). In the present study, a CP-CML patient who has maintained molecular response 5 for >2.4 years after stopping dasatinib was reported. Memory and effector CTLs and NK cells, were observed after 2.4 years of treatment-free remission, despite the fact that lymphocyte counts are not elevated in the patient. These results suggest that dasatinib may induce cellular immunity, including NK cells and CTLs and this cellular immunity may be maintained for a long period following cessation of dasatinib. The results suggest that this cellular immunity may provide a long-term cure without the need for continued TKI treatment. PMID:29435021

Multiple organ gigantism caused by mutation in VmPPD gene in blackgram (Vigna mungo).

PubMed

Naito, Ken; Takahashi, Yu; Chaitieng, Bubpa; Hirano, Kumi; Kaga, Akito; Takagi, Kyoko; Ogiso-Tanaka, Eri; Thavarasook, Charaspon; Ishimoto, Masao; Tomooka, Norihiko

2017-03-01

Seed size is one of the most important traits in leguminous crops. We obtained a recessive mutant of blackgram that had greatly enlarged leaves, stems and seeds. The mutant produced 100% bigger leaves, 50% more biomass and 70% larger seeds though it produced 40% less number of seeds. We designated the mutant as multiple-organ-gigantism ( mog ) and found the mog phenotype was due to increase in cell numbers but not in cell size. We also found the mog mutant showed a rippled leaf ( rl ) phenotype, which was probably caused by a pleiotropic effect of the mutation. We performed a map-based cloning and successfully identified an 8 bp deletion in the coding sequence of VmPPD gene, an orthologue of Arabidopsis PEAPOD ( PPD ) that regulates arrest of cell divisions in meristematic cells . We found no other mutations in the neighboring genes between the mutant and the wild type. We also knocked down GmPPD genes and reproduced both the mog and rl phenotypes in soybean. Controlling PPD genes to produce the mog phenotype is highly valuable for breeding since larger seed size could directly increase the commercial values of grain legumes.

Multiple organ gigantism caused by mutation in VmPPD gene in blackgram (Vigna mungo)

PubMed Central

Naito, Ken; Takahashi, Yu; Chaitieng, Bubpa; Hirano, Kumi; Kaga, Akito; Takagi, Kyoko; Ogiso-Tanaka, Eri; Thavarasook, Charaspon; Ishimoto, Masao; Tomooka, Norihiko

2017-01-01

Seed size is one of the most important traits in leguminous crops. We obtained a recessive mutant of blackgram that had greatly enlarged leaves, stems and seeds. The mutant produced 100% bigger leaves, 50% more biomass and 70% larger seeds though it produced 40% less number of seeds. We designated the mutant as multiple-organ-gigantism (mog) and found the mog phenotype was due to increase in cell numbers but not in cell size. We also found the mog mutant showed a rippled leaf (rl) phenotype, which was probably caused by a pleiotropic effect of the mutation. We performed a map-based cloning and successfully identified an 8 bp deletion in the coding sequence of VmPPD gene, an orthologue of Arabidopsis PEAPOD (PPD) that regulates arrest of cell divisions in meristematic cells. We found no other mutations in the neighboring genes between the mutant and the wild type. We also knocked down GmPPD genes and reproduced both the mog and rl phenotypes in soybean. Controlling PPD genes to produce the mog phenotype is highly valuable for breeding since larger seed size could directly increase the commercial values of grain legumes. PMID:28588392

Degradation and annealing studies on gamma rays irradiated COTS PPD CISs at different dose rates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Zujun; Ma, Yingwu; Liu, Jing; Xue, Yuan; He, Baoping; Yao, Zhibin; Huang, Shaoyan; Liu, Minbo; Sheng, Jiangkun

2016-06-01

The degradation and annealing studies on Colbalt-60 gamma-rays irradiated commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) pinned photodiode (PPD) CMOS image sensors (CISs) at the various dose rates are presented. The irradiation experiments of COTS PPD CISs are carried out at 0.3, 3.0 and 30.0 rad(Si)/s. The COTS PPD CISs are manufactured using a standard 0.18-μm CMOS technology with four-transistor pixel PPD architecture. The behavior of the tested CISs shows a remarkable degradation after irradiation and differs in the dose rates. The dark current, dark signal non-uniformity (DSNU), random noise, saturation output, signal to noise ratio (SNR), and dynamic range (DR) versus the total ionizing dose (TID) at the various dose rates are investigated. The tendency of dark current, DSNU, and random noise increase and saturation output, SNR, and DR to decrease at 3.0 rad(Si)/s are far greater than those at 0.3 and 30.0 rad(Si)/s. The damage mechanisms caused by TID irradiation at the various dose rates are also analyzed. The annealing tests are carried out at room temperature with unbiased conditions after irradiation.

Process techniques of charge transfer time reduction for high speed CMOS image sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhongxiang, Cao; Quanliang, Li; Ye, Han; Qi, Qin; Peng, Feng; Liyuan, Liu; Nanjian, Wu

2014-11-01

This paper proposes pixel process techniques to reduce the charge transfer time in high speed CMOS image sensors. These techniques increase the lateral conductivity of the photo-generated carriers in a pinned photodiode (PPD) and the voltage difference between the PPD and the floating diffusion (FD) node by controlling and optimizing the N doping concentration in the PPD and the threshold voltage of the reset transistor, respectively. The techniques shorten the charge transfer time from the PPD diode to the FD node effectively. The proposed process techniques do not need extra masks and do not cause harm to the fill factor. A sub array of 32 × 64 pixels was designed and implemented in the 0.18 μm CIS process with five implantation conditions splitting the N region in the PPD. The simulation and measured results demonstrate that the charge transfer time can be decreased by using the proposed techniques. Comparing the charge transfer time of the pixel with the different implantation conditions of the N region, the charge transfer time of 0.32 μs is achieved and 31% of image lag was reduced by using the proposed process techniques.

Adsorption of tuberculin PPD to glass and plastic surfaces

PubMed Central

Landi, S.; Held, H. R.; Hauschild, A. H. W.; Hilsheimer, R.

1966-01-01

For some time it has been known that the adsorption of tuberculin to glass is a source of practical difficulties in tuberculin testing; for example, it leads to a loss of potency in diluted tuberculin PPD preparations used in the intracutaneous method of skin testing. The authors have correlated decreasing biological potency with decreasing radioactivity in solutions of tuberculin PPD labelled with 14C. The decrease in radioactivity is due to adsorption of PPD-14C to the glass or plastic surface of containers; it can be prevented by the addition of 0.0005% Tween 80. The extent of the decrease is affected by the type and size of the containers, the volume of solution used and the storage temperature. It is the same in the presence of 0.3% phenol or 0.01% Chinosol used as preservatives. The concentration of Tween 80 does not affect the size of the tuberculin skin reactions in BCG-sensitized guinea-pigs. It is recommended that an anti-adsorption agent be added to all dilute solutions of tuberculin PPD; in solutions for intracutaneous use containing 50 TU per ml, Tween 80 at a concentration of 0.0005% is satisfactory. PMID:5297556

Plant-Pathogen Effectors: Cellular Probes Interfering with Plant Defenses in Spatial and Temporal Manners

PubMed Central

Toruño, Tania Y.; Stergiopoulos, Ioannis; Coaker, Gitta

2017-01-01

Plants possess large arsenals of immune receptors capable of recognizing all pathogen classes. To cause disease, pathogenic organisms must be able to overcome physical barriers, suppress or evade immune perception, and derive nutrients from host tissues. Consequently, to facilitate some of these processes, pathogens secrete effector proteins that promote colonization. This review covers recent advances in the field of effector biology, focusing on conserved cellular processes targeted by effectors from diverse pathogens. The ability of effectors to facilitate pathogen entry into the host interior, suppress plant immune perception, and alter host physiology for pathogen benefit is discussed. Pathogens also deploy effectors in a spatial and temporal manner, depending on infection stage. Recent advances have also enhanced our understanding of effectors acting in specific plant organs and tissues. Effectors are excellent cellular probes that facilitate insight into biological processes as well as key points of vulnerability in plant immune signaling networks. PMID:27359369

Over-Expression of Superoxide Dismutase Ameliorates Cr(VI) Induced Adverse Effects via Modulating Cellular Immune System of Drosophila melanogaster

PubMed Central

Pragya, Prakash; Shukla, Arvind Kumar; Murthy, Ramesh Chandra; Abdin, Malik Zainul; Kar Chowdhuri, Debapratim

2014-01-01

The evolutionarily conserved innate immune system plays critical role for maintaining the health of an organism. However, a number of environmental chemicals including metals are known to exert adverse effects on immune system. The present study assessed the in vivo effect of a major environmental chemical, Cr(VI), on cellular immune response using Drosophila melanogaster and subsequently the protective role of superoxide dismutase (SOD) based on the comparable performance of the tested anti-oxidant enzymes. The immuno-modulatory potential of Cr(VI) was demonstrated by observing a significant reduction in the total hemocyte count along with impaired phagocytic activity in exposed organism. Concurrently, a significant increase in the percentage of Annexin V-FITC positive cells, activation of DEVDase activity, generation of free radical species along with inhibition of anti-oxidant enzyme activities was observed in the hemocytes of exposed organism. In addition, we have shown that ONOO− is primarily responsible for Cr(VI) induced adverse effects on Drosophila hemocytes along with O2 −. While generation of O2 −/ONOO− in Cr(VI) exposed Drosophila hemocytes was found to be responsible for the suppression of Drosophila cellular immune response, Cr(VI) induced alteration was significantly reduced by the over-expression of sod in Drosophila hemocytes. Overall, our results suggest that manipulation of one of the anti-oxidant genes, sod, benefits the organism from Cr(VI) induced alteration in cellular immunity. Further, this study demonstrates the applicability of D. melanogaster to examine the possible effects of environmental chemicals on innate immunity which can be extrapolated to higher organisms due to evolutionary conservation of innate immune system between Drosophila and mammals. PMID:24505420

Constituents and secondary metabolite natural products in fresh and deteriorated cassava roots.

PubMed

Bayoumi, Soad A L; Rowan, Michael G; Beeching, John R; Blagbrough, Ian S

2010-04-01

A phytochemical analysis of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) fresh roots and roots suffering from post-harvest physiological deterioration (PPD) has been carried out. The first isolation and identification of galactosyl diacylglycerides from fresh cassava roots is reported, as well as beta-carotene, linamarin, and beta-sitosterol glucopyranoside. The hydroxycoumarin scopoletin and its glucoside scopolin were identified from cassava roots during PPD, as well as trace quantities of esculetin and its glucoside esculin. There is no isoscopoletin in cassava roots during PPD. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Depression, family and cellular immunity: Influence of family relationships and cellular immunity on the severity of depression.

PubMed

Zdanowicz, Nicolas; Reynaert, Christine; Jacques, Denis; Tordeurs, David; Lepiece, Brice; Maury, Julien

2015-09-01

Exposure to stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis through the release of catecholamines, which modify humoral and cellular immunity. On the one hand, this psycho-immunological theory makes it possible to forge links between immunity and depression. On the other hand, we know that family determinants are an important variable in the model of vulnerability to depression. Our study weighs the influence of cellular immunity and family relations on the severity of depression. 498 inpatients with major depressive disorder were enrolled in an open-label trial. In addition to a socio-demographic questionnaire, they completed Olsen's FACES III and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Flow cytometry was used to assess lymphocyte subsets. In terms of immunity, there are correlations between the BDI and percentages of CD3 (p=0.015; r=-0.112), CD4 (p<0.000; r=-0.175), CD4/CD8 (p=0.045; r=-0.093) and CD16 and 56 (p=0.014; r=0.113). In terms of family relationships, there is a correlation between the BDI and family of origin, both for cohesion (p=0.007; r=-0.169) and adaptability (p=0.035; r=-0.133) measures. With respect to the relationship between family dynamics and immunity, there are correlations between adaptability in the family of origin and CD3 (p=0.04; r=0.094) and CD4 (p=0.044; r=0.093). A logistic regression model for family variables explained 11.4% of the BDI, compared to 12.7% for immune variables, while a model including the two explained 16%. While both the family and immunity can explain the BDI, it is surprising they have a greater effect in combination than individually. This suggests that the psycho-immunological theory should look at the relation between immunity and family life, notably in relation to the family of origin.

Induction of humoural and cellular immunity by immunisation with HCV particle vaccine in a non-human primate model.

PubMed

Yokokawa, Hiroshi; Higashino, Atsunori; Suzuki, Saori; Moriyama, Masaki; Nakamura, Noriko; Suzuki, Tomohiko; Suzuki, Ryosuke; Ishii, Koji; Kobiyama, Kouji; Ishii, Ken J; Wakita, Takaji; Akari, Hirofumi; Kato, Takanobu

2018-02-01

Although HCV is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, there is currently no prophylactic vaccine for this virus. Thus, the development of an HCV vaccine that can induce both humoural and cellular immunity is urgently needed. To create an effective HCV vaccine, we evaluated neutralising antibody induction and cellular immune responses following the immunisation of a non-human primate model with cell culture-generated HCV (HCVcc). To accomplish this, 10 common marmosets were immunised with purified, inactivated HCVcc in combination with two different adjuvants: the classically used aluminum hydroxide (Alum) and the recently established adjuvant: CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) wrapped by schizophyllan (K3-SPG). The coadministration of HCVcc with K3-SPG efficiently induced immune responses against HCV, as demonstrated by the production of antibodies with specific neutralising activity against chimaeric HCVcc with structural proteins from multiple HCV genotypes (1a, 1b, 2a and 3a). The induction of cellular immunity was also demonstrated by the production of interferon-γ mRNA in spleen cells following stimulation with the HCV core protein. These changes were not observed following immunisation with HCVcc/Alum preparation. No vaccination-related abnormalities were detected in any of the immunised animals. The current preclinical study demonstrated that a vaccine included both HCVcc and K3-SPG induced humoural and cellular immunity in marmosets. Vaccination with this combination resulted in the production of antibodies exhibiting cross-neutralising activity against multiple HCV genotypes. Based on these findings, the vaccine created in this study represents a promising, potent and safe prophylactic option against HCV. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Anti-EGFR Targeted Monoclonal Antibody Isotype Influences Antitumor Cellular Immunity in Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

PubMed

Trivedi, Sumita; Srivastava, Raghvendra M; Concha-Benavente, Fernando; Ferrone, Soldano; Garcia-Bates, Tatiana M; Li, Jing; Ferris, Robert L

2016-11-01

EGF receptor (EGFR) is highly overexpressed on several cancers and two targeted anti-EGFR antibodies which differ by isotype are FDA-approved for clinical use. Cetuximab (IgG1 isotype) inhibits downstream signaling of EGFR and activates antitumor, cellular immune mechanisms. As panitumumab (IgG2 isotype) may inhibit downstream EGFR signaling similar to cetuximab, it might also induce adaptive immunity. We measured in vitro activation of cellular components of the innate and adaptive immune systems. We also studied the in vivo activation of components of the adaptive immune system in patient specimens from two recent clinical trials using cetuximab or panitumumab. Both monoclonal antibodies (mAb) primarily activate natural killer (NK) cells, although cetuximab is significantly more potent than panitumumab. Cetuximab-activated neutrophils mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) tumor cells, and interestingly, this effect was FcγRIIa- and FcγRIIIa genotype-dependent. Panitumumab may activate monocytes through CD32 (FcγRIIa); however, monocytes activated by either mAb are not able to mediate ADCC. Cetuximab enhanced dendritic cell (DC) maturation to a greater extent than panitumumab, which was associated with improved tumor antigen cross-presentation by cetuximab compared with panitumumab. This correlated with increased EGFR-specific cytotoxic CD8 + T cells in patients treated with cetuximab compared with those treated with panitumumab. Although panitumumab effectively inhibits EGFR signaling to a similar extent as cetuximab, it is less effective at triggering antitumor, cellular immune mechanisms which may be crucial for effective therapy of HNSCC. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5229-37. ©2016 AACR. ©2016 American Association for Cancer Research.

Immigrant and refugee women's post-partum depression help-seeking experiences and access to care: a review and analysis of the literature.

PubMed

O'Mahony, J; Donnelly, T

2010-12-01

• This literature review on post-partum depression (PPD) presents an analysis of the literature about PPD and the positive and negative factors, which may influence immigrant and refugee women's health seeking behaviour and decision making about post-partum care. • A critical review of English language peer-reviewed publications from 1988 to 2008 was done by the researchers as part of a qualitative research study conducted in a western province of Canada. The overall goal of the study is to raise awareness and understanding of what would be helpful in meeting the mental health needs of the immigrant and refugee women during the post-partum period. • Several online databases were searched: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, MEDLINE (Ovid), EBM Reviews - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. • Review of the literature suggests: 1 Needs, issues and specific risk factors for PPD among immigrant and refugee women have been limited. 2 Descriptive accounts regarding culture and PPD are found in the literature but impact of cultural factors upon PPD has not been well studied. 3 Few studies look at how social support, gender, and larger institutions or organizational structures may affect immigrant and refugee women's help-seeking and access to mental health care services. 4 More research is needed to hear the immigrant and refugee women's ideas about their social support needs, the difficulties they experience and their preferred ways of getting help with PPD. This review and analysis of the literature is about the phenomenon of post-partum depression (PPD) and the barriers and facilitators, which may influence immigrant and refugee women's health seeking behaviour and decision making about post-partum care. As part of a qualitative research study conducted in a western province of Canada a critical review of English language peer-reviewed publications from 1988 to 2008 was undertaken by the researchers. The overall goal of the study is to raise awareness and understanding of what would be helpful in meeting the mental health needs of the immigrant and refugee women during the post-partum period. Several online databases were searched: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, MEDLINE (Ovid), EBM Reviews - Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Findings suggest: (1) needs, issues and specific risk factors for PPD among immigrant and refugee women have been limited; (2) descriptive accounts regarding culture and PPD are found in the literature but impact of cultural factors upon PPD has not been well investigated; (3) few studies examine how social support, gender, institutional and organizational structures present barriers to the women's health seeking behaviour; and (4) additional research is required to evaluate immigrant and refugee women's perspectives about their social support needs, the barriers they experience and their preferred support interventions. © 2010 Blackwell Publishing.

10 CFR 850.3 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... vitro measure of the beryllium antigen-specific, cell-mediated immune response. Beryllium worker means a... particles. Immune response refers to the series of cellular events by which the immune system reacts to...

Early identification of women at risk of postpartum depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in a sample of Lebanese women.

PubMed

El-Hachem, Charline; Rohayem, Jihane; Bou Khalil, Rami; Richa, Sami; Kesrouani, Assaad; Gemayel, Rima; Aouad, Norma; Hatab, Najat; Zaccak, Eliane; Yaghi, Nancy; Salameh, Salimé; Attieh, Elie

2014-09-07

During the postpartum period, women are vulnerable to depression affecting about 10 to 20% of mothers during the first year after delivery. However, only 50% of women with prominent symptoms are diagnosed with postpartum depression (PPD). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is the most widely used screening instrument for PPD . The main objectives of this study are to assess whether an EPDS score of 9 or more on day 2 (D2) postpartum is predictive of a depressive episode between days 30 and 40 postpartum (D30-40), to determine the risk factors as well as the prevalence of PPD in a sample of Lebanese women and to determine a threshold score of EPDS predictive of PPD. A sample of 228 women were administered the EPDS on D2. An assessment for PPD was done on D30-40 during a telephone interview. On D2, the average score on EPDS was 7.1 (SD = 5.2) and 33.3% of women had an EPDS score ≥ 9. On D30-40 postpartum, the average score was 6.5 (SD = 4.7) and 19 women (12.8%) presented with PPD. A positive correlation was shown between scores on EPDS on D2 and D30-40 (r = 0.5091, p < 0.0001). A stepwise regression shows that an EPDS score ≥9 on D2 (p < 0.001) and a personal history of depression (p = 0.008) are significantly associated with the diagnosis of PPD on D30-40. The EPDS may be considered as a reliable screening tool on as early as D2 after delivery. Women with EPDS score ≥ 9 and/or a positive personal history of major depressive disorder should benefit from a closer follow-up during the rest of the post-partum period.

Network representations of immune system complexity

PubMed Central

Subramanian, Naeha; Torabi-Parizi, Parizad; Gottschalk, Rachel A.; Germain, Ronald N.; Dutta, Bhaskar

2015-01-01

The mammalian immune system is a dynamic multi-scale system composed of a hierarchically organized set of molecular, cellular and organismal networks that act in concert to promote effective host defense. These networks range from those involving gene regulatory and protein-protein interactions underlying intracellular signaling pathways and single cell responses to increasingly complex networks of in vivo cellular interaction, positioning and migration that determine the overall immune response of an organism. Immunity is thus not the product of simple signaling events but rather non-linear behaviors arising from dynamic, feedback-regulated interactions among many components. One of the major goals of systems immunology is to quantitatively measure these complex multi-scale spatial and temporal interactions, permitting development of computational models that can be used to predict responses to perturbation. Recent technological advances permit collection of comprehensive datasets at multiple molecular and cellular levels while advances in network biology support representation of the relationships of components at each level as physical or functional interaction networks. The latter facilitate effective visualization of patterns and recognition of emergent properties arising from the many interactions of genes, molecules, and cells of the immune system. We illustrate the power of integrating ‘omics’ and network modeling approaches for unbiased reconstruction of signaling and transcriptional networks with a focus on applications involving the innate immune system. We further discuss future possibilities for reconstruction of increasingly complex cellular and organism-level networks and development of sophisticated computational tools for prediction of emergent immune behavior arising from the concerted action of these networks. PMID:25625853

Effect of Hydrophobic Side Chains in the Induction of Immune Responses by Nanoparticle Adjuvants Consisting of Amphiphilic Poly(γ-glutamic acid).

PubMed

Shima, Fumiaki; Akagi, Takami; Akashi, Mitsuru

2015-05-20

The new generation vaccines are safe but poorly immunogenic, and thus they require the use of adjuvants. Adjuvants that can control the balance and induction level of cellular and humoral immunities are urgently required for the treatment of and/or protection from infectious diseases and cancers. However, there are no adjuvants which can achieve these requirements. In this study, amphiphilic poly(γ-glutamic acid) (γ-PGA) with various kinds of hydrophobic amino acid ethyl esters (AAE) was synthesized (γ-PGA-AAE) and used to prepare antigen-encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs). γ-PGA-graft-Leu (γ-PGA-Leu, where Leu = leucine ethyl ester), γ-PGA-graft-Phe (γ-PGA-Phe, where Phe = phenylalanine ethyl ester), and γ-PGA-graft-Trp (γ-PGA-Trp, where Trp = tryptophan ethyl ester) formed monodispersed NPs that encapsulated ovalbumin (OVA). The type and the induction level of the antigen-specific cellular and humoral immunities could be controlled by the kinds of hydrophobic segments and vaccine formulation (encapsulation or mixture) used. When OVA was encapsulated into NPs, the cellular immunity was dominantly induced, while humoral immunity was dominant when OVA was mixed with NPs. These results are a first report to demonstrate that the balance and induction level of cellular and humoral immunities could be controlled by modifying compositions of NPs and vaccine formulation. Our results suggest that γ-PGA-AAE NPs can provide safe and efficient nanoparticle-based vaccine adjuvants, and the results also provide guidelines in the rational design of amphiphilic polymers as vaccine adjuvants which can control the balance of immune responses.

Booster phenomenon of QuantiFERON-TB Gold after prior intradermal PPD injection.

PubMed

Igari, H; Watanabe, A; Sato, T

2007-07-01

University medical school in Japan. To clarify the influence of prior intradermal purified protein derivative (PPD) injection on QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G). Ninety-seven sixth-year university medical students aged 20-29 years concurrently underwent QFT-G and tuberculin skin test (TST). The first negative QFT-G and the first TST <15 mm were followed by a second QFT-G one month later. Five of the 97 (5%) subjects tested positive for the first QFT-G. Thirty-three underwent a second QFT-G, five of whom (15%) turned positive, demonstrating the booster phenomenon of QFT-G. Prior intradermal PPD injection may boost QFT-G. Further studies of the diagnostic significance and immunological mechanisms of this phenomenon are needed. For clinical application, especially during contact screening, QFT-G should be evaluated while keeping in mind the possible influence of prior PPD intradermal injection.

Synthesis of a conjugated pyrrolopyridazinedione-benzodithiophene (PPD-BDT) copolymer and its application in organic and hybrid solar cells.

PubMed

Knall, Astrid-Caroline; Jones, Andrew O F; Kunert, Birgit; Resel, Roland; Reishofer, David; Zach, Peter W; Kirkus, Mindaugas; McCulloch, Iain; Rath, Thomas

2017-01-01

Herein, we describe the synthesis and characterization of a conjugated donor-acceptor copolymer consisting of a pyrrolopyridazinedione (PPD) acceptor unit, and a benzodithiophene (BDT) donor unit. The polymerization was done via a Stille cross-coupling polycondensation. The resulting PPD-BDT copolymer revealed an optical bandgap of 1.8 eV and good processability from chlorobenzene solutions. In an organic solar cell in combination with PC 70 BM, the polymer led to a power conversion efficiency of 4.5%. Moreover, the performance of the copolymer was evaluated in polymer/nanocrystal hybrid solar cells using non-toxic CuInS 2 nanocrystals as inorganic phase, which were prepared from precursors directly in the polymer matrix without using additional capping ligands. The PPD-BDT/CuInS 2 hybrid solar cells showed comparably high photovoltages and a power conversion efficiency of 2.2%.

Metabolomics combined with chemometric tools (PCA, HCA, PLS-DA and SVM) for screening cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) roots during postharvest physiological deterioration.

PubMed

Uarrota, Virgílio Gavicho; Moresco, Rodolfo; Coelho, Bianca; Nunes, Eduardo da Costa; Peruch, Luiz Augusto Martins; Neubert, Enilto de Oliveira; Rocha, Miguel; Maraschin, Marcelo

2014-10-15

Cassava roots are an important source of dietary and industrial carbohydrates and suffer markedly from postharvest physiological deterioration (PPD). This paper deals with metabolomics combined with chemometric tools for screening the chemical and enzymatic composition in several genotypes of cassava roots during PPD. Metabolome analyses showed increases in carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolics, reactive scavenging species, and enzymes (superoxide dismutase family, hydrogen peroxide, and catalase) until 3-5days postharvest. PPD correlated negatively with phenolics and carotenoids and positively with anthocyanins and flavonoids. Chemometric tools such as principal component analysis, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and support vector machines discriminated well cassava samples and enabled a good prediction of samples. Hierarchical clustering analyses grouped samples according to their levels of PPD and chemical compositions. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to Inactivated Swine Influenza Virus Vaccine in Weaned Pigs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Purpose: To evaluate and compare humoral and cellular immune responses to inactivated swine influenza virus (SIV) vaccine. Methods: Fifty 3-week-old weaned pigs from a herd free of SIV and PRRSV were randomly divided into the non-vaccinated control group and vaccinated group containing 25 pigs each....

Comparison of Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to Inactivated Swine Influenza Virus Vaccine in Weaned Pigs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Humoral and cellular immune responses to inactivated swine influenza virus (SIV) vaccine were evaluated and compared. Fifty 3-week-old weaned pigs from a herd free of SIV and PRRSV were randomly divided into the non-vaccinated control group and vaccinated group containing 25 pigs each. Pigs were va...

Mechanism of protection from primary bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. I. The effects of dexamethasone.

PubMed Central

Shope, R E; Muscoplat, C C; Chen, A W; Johnson, D W

1976-01-01

A series of investigations was designed to study the role of cellular immunity and passive antibody in protecting neonatal calves from primary bovine viral diarrhea virus infection. Administration of corticosteroids (dexamethasone) in doses capable of suppressing cellular immunity markedly potentiated systemic bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves which lacked bovine viral diarrhea passive neutralizing antibody. Immunosuppressed calves did not form neutralizing antibody to bovine viral diarrhea virus and developed a fatal viremia. Calves with high levels of passive bovine viral diarrhea neutralizing antibodies were protected from the effect of corticosteroids. The results suggest an essential role for humoral passive antibody, but not for cellular immunity, in protection from primary systemic bovine viral diarrhea virus infection in calves. PMID:187303

HIF Transcription Factors, Inflammation, and Immunity

PubMed Central

Palazon, Asis; Goldrath, Ananda; Nizet, Victor

2015-01-01

The hypoxic response in cells and tissues is mediated by the family of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors that play an integral role in the metabolic changes that drive cellular adaptation to low oxygen availability. HIF expression and stabilization in immune cells can be triggered by hypoxia, but also by other factors associated with pathological stress: e.g., inflammation, infectious microorganisms, and cancer. HIF induces a number of aspects of host immune function, from boosting phagocyte microbicidal capacity to driving T cell differentiation and cytotoxic activity. Cellular metabolism is emerging as a key regulator of immunity, and it constitutes another layer of fine-tuned immune control by HIF that can dictate myeloid cell and lymphocyte development, fate, and function. Here we discuss how oxygen sensing in the immune microenvironment shapes immunological response and examine how HIF and the hypoxia pathway control innate and adaptive immunity. PMID:25367569

HIF transcription factors, inflammation, and immunity.

PubMed

Palazon, Asis; Goldrath, Ananda W; Nizet, Victor; Johnson, Randall S

2014-10-16

The hypoxic response in cells and tissues is mediated by the family of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription factors; these play an integral role in the metabolic changes that drive cellular adaptation to low oxygen availability. HIF expression and stabilization in immune cells can be triggered by hypoxia, but also by other factors associated with pathological stress: e.g., inflammation, infectious microorganisms, and cancer. HIF induces a number of aspects of host immune function, from boosting phagocyte microbicidal capacity to driving T cell differentiation and cytotoxic activity. Cellular metabolism is emerging as a key regulator of immunity, and it constitutes another layer of fine-tuned immune control by HIF that can dictate myeloid cell and lymphocyte development, fate, and function. Here we discuss how oxygen sensing in the immune microenvironment shapes immunological response and examine how HIF and the hypoxia pathway control innate and adaptive immunity.

The Immune Response and the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myositis: a Critical Review.

PubMed

Ceribelli, Angela; De Santis, Maria; Isailovic, Natasa; Gershwin, M Eric; Selmi, Carlo

2017-02-01

The pathogenesis of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIMs, including polymyositis and dermatomyositis) remains largely enigmatic, despite advances in the study of the role played by innate immunity, adaptive immunity, genetic predisposition, and environmental factors in an orchestrated response. Several factors are involved in the inflammatory state that characterizes the different forms of IIMs which share features and mechanisms but are clearly different with respect to the involved sites and characteristics of the inflammation. Cellular and non-cellular mechanisms of both the immune and non-immune systems have been identified as key regulators of inflammation in polymyositis/dermatomyositis, particularly at different stages of disease, leading to the fibrotic state that characterizes the end stage. Among these, a special role is played by an interferon signature and complement cascade with different mechanisms in polymyositis and dermatomyositis; these differences can be identified also histologically in muscle biopsies. Numerous cellular components of the adaptive and innate immune response are present in the site of tissue inflammation, and the complexity of idiopathic inflammatory myositis is further supported by the involvement of non-immune mechanisms such as hypoxia and autophagy. The aim of this comprehensive review is to describe the major pathogenic mechanisms involved in the onset of idiopathic inflammatory myositis and to report on the major working hypothesis with therapeutic implications.

Cellular and humoral immune responses during tuberculosis infection: useful knowledge in the era of biological agents.

PubMed

Matucci, Andrea; Maggi, Enrico; Vultaggio, Alessandra

2014-05-01

In this review, recent insights into innate and adaptive cellular and humoral immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) are discussed and the role of specific cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is highlighted. According to recent findings, the immune system plays a key role in avoiding mycobacteria dissemination. The importance of different cell types (macrophages, dendritic cells, interferon-γ-producing T cells) as well as the production of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-12, and IL-23/IL-17 have been demonstrated. Alveolar macrophages are considered the first cells infected by Mtb during respiratory infection. Mtb proliferates within alveolar macrophages and dendritic cells and induces the release of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-12. Toll-like receptors-stimulated dendritic cells link innate and adaptive immunity by promoting polarization of effector T cells. The efficient induction of Th1 immunity is decisive in defense against Mtb. In fact, host effector immune response against Mtb is related to the presence of a Th1 response. The definition of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the immune response to Mtb can be helpful in developing new preventive strategies to avoid infection relapse, particularly in patients treated with biological agents.

Protective Cellular Immunity Against Influenza Virus Induced by Plasmid Inoculation of Newborn Mice

PubMed Central

Bot, Adrian; Bot, Simona; García-Sastre, Adolfo

1998-01-01

Neonate organisms display an intrinsic disability to mount effective immune responses to infectious agents or conventional vaccines. Whereas low. doses of antigens trigger a suboptimal response, higher doses are frequently associated with tolerance induction. We investigated the ability of a plasmid-expressing nucleoprotein of influenza virus to prime a specific cellular immune response when administered to newborn mice. We found that persistent exposure to antigen following plasmid inoculation of neonates leads to a vigorous priming of specific CTLs rather than tolerance induction. The CTLs were cross-reactive against multiple strains of type A influenza viruses and produced IFNγ but no IL-4. The immunity triggered by plasmid inoculation of neonates was protective in terms of pulmonary virus clearance as well as survival rate following lethal challenge with influenza virus. Whereas the persistence of the plasmid at the site of injection was readily demonstrable in adult mice at 3 months after inoculation, mice immunized as newborns displayed no plasmid at 3 months and very little at 1 month after injection. Thus, DNA-based immunization of neonates may prove an effective and safe vaccination strategy for induction of cellular immunity against microbes that cause serious infectious diseases in the early period of life. PMID:9851359

Polymorphisms in the Wilms Tumor Gene Are Associated With Interindividual Variations in Rubella Virus-Specific Cellular Immunity After Measles-Mumps-Rubella II Vaccination.

PubMed

Voigt, Emily A; Haralambieva, Iana H; Larrabee, Beth L; Kennedy, Richard B; Ovsyannikova, Inna G; Schaid, Daniel J; Poland, Gregory A

2018-01-30

Rubella vaccination induces widely variable immune responses in vaccine recipients. While rubella vaccination is effective at inducing immunity to rubella infection in most subjects, up to 5% of individuals do not achieve or maintain long-term protective immunity. To expand upon our previous work identifying genetic polymorphisms that are associated with these interindividual differences in humoral immunity to rubella virus, we performed a genome-wide association study in a large cohort of 1843 subjects to discover single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with rubella virus-specific cellular immune responses. We identified SNPs in the Wilms tumor protein gene (WT1) that were significantly associated (P < 5 × 10-8) with interindividual variations in rubella-specific interleukin 6 secretion from subjects' peripheral blood mononuclear cells postvaccination. No SNPs were found to be significantly associated with variations in rubella-specific interferon-γ secretion. Our findings demonstrate that genetic polymorphisms in the WT1 gene in subjects of European ancestry are associated with interindividual differences in rubella virus-specific cellular immunity after measles-mumps-rubella II vaccination. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Continuous DC-CIK infusions restore CD8+ cellular immunity, physical activity and improve clinical efficacy in advanced cancer patients unresponsive to conventional treatments.

PubMed

Zhao, Yan-Jie; Jiang, Ni; Song, Qing-Kun; Wu, Jiang-Ping; Song, Yu-Guang; Zhang, Hong-Mei; Chen, Feng; Zhou, Lei; Wang, Xiao-Li; Zhou, Xin-Na; Yang, Hua-Bing; Ren, Jun; Lyerly, Herbert Kim

2015-01-01

There are few choices for treatment of advanced cancer patients who do not respond to or tolerate conventional anti-cancer treatments. Therefore this study aimed to deploy the benefits and clinical efficacy of continuous dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer cell infusions in such patients. A total of 381 infusions (from 67 advanced cases recruited) were included in this study. All patients underwent peripheral blood mononuclear cell apheresis for the following cellular therapy and dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cells were expanded in vitro. Peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets were quantified through flow cytometry to address the cellular immunity status. Clinical efficacy and physical activities were evaluated by RECIST criteria and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores respectively. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between cellular infusions and clinical benefits. An average of 5.7±2.94x10(9) induced cells were infused each time and patients were exposed to 6 infusions. Cellular immunity was improved in that cytotoxic CD8+CD28+T lymphocytes were increased by 74% and suppressive CD8+CD28-T lymphocytes were elevated by 16% (p<0.05). Continuous infusion of dendritic cells-cytokine induced killer cells was associated with improvement of both patient status and cellular immunity. A median of six infusions were capable of reducing risk of progression by 70% (95%CI 0.10-0.91). Every elevation of one ECOG score corresponded to a 3.90-fold higher progression risk (p<0.05) and 1% increase of CD8+CD28- T cell proportion reflecting a 5% higher risk of progression (p<0.05). In advanced cancer patients, continuous dendritic cell-cytokine induced killer cell infusions are capable of recovering cellular immunity, improving patient status and quality of life in those who are unresponsive to conventional cancer treatment.

Evasion of host immune defenses by human papillomavirus.

PubMed

Westrich, Joseph A; Warren, Cody J; Pyeon, Dohun

2017-03-02

A majority of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are asymptomatic and self-resolving in the absence of medical interventions. Various innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as physical barriers, have been implicated in controlling early HPV infections. However, if HPV overcomes these host immune defenses and establishes persistence in basal keratinocytes, it becomes very difficult for the host to eliminate the infection. The HPV oncoproteins E5, E6, and E7 are important in regulating host immune responses. These oncoproteins dysregulate gene expression, protein-protein interactions, posttranslational modifications, and cellular trafficking of critical host immune modulators. In addition to the HPV oncoproteins, sequence variation and dinucleotide depletion in papillomavirus genomes has been suggested as an alternative strategy for evasion of host immune defenses. Since anti-HPV host immune responses are also considered to be important for antitumor immunity, immune dysregulation by HPV during virus persistence may contribute to immune suppression essential for HPV-associated cancer progression. Here, we discuss cellular pathways dysregulated by HPV that allow the virus to evade various host immune defenses. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evasion of Host Immune Defenses by Human Papillomavirus

PubMed Central

Westrich, Joseph A.; Warren, Cody J.; Pyeon, Dohun

2016-01-01

A majority of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are asymptomatic and self-resolving in the absence of medical interventions. Various innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as physical barriers, have been implicated in controlling early HPV infections. However, if HPV overcomes these host immune defenses and establishes persistence in basal keratinocytes, it becomes very difficult for the host to eliminate the infection. The HPV oncoproteins E5, E6, and E7 are important in regulating host immune responses. These oncoproteins dysregulate gene expression, protein-protein interactions, posttranslational modifications, and cellular trafficking of critical host immune modulators. In addition to the HPV oncoproteins, sequence variation and dinucleotide depletion in papillomavirus genomes has been suggested as an alternative strategy for evasion of host immune defenses. Since anti-HPV host immune responses are also considered to be important for antitumor immunity, immune dysregulation by HPV during virus persistence may contribute to immune suppression essential for HPV-associated cancer progression. Here, we discuss cellular pathways dysregulated by HPV that allow the virus to evade various host immune defenses. PMID:27890631

Cellular Self-Defense: How Cell-Autonomous Immunity Protects Against Pathogens

PubMed Central

Randow, Felix; MacMicking, John D.; James, Leo C.

2013-01-01

Our prevailing view of vertebrate host defense is strongly shaped by the notion of a specialized set of immune cells as sole guardians of antimicrobial resistance. Yet this view greatly underestimates a capacity for most cell lineages—the majority of which fall outside the traditional province of the immune system—to defend themselves against infection. This ancient and ubiquitous form of host protection is termed cell-autonomous immunity and operates across all three domains of life. Here, we discuss the organizing principles that govern cellular self-defense and how intracellular compartmentalization has shaped its activities to provide effective protection against a wide variety of microbial pathogens. PMID:23661752

Cellular self-defense: how cell-autonomous immunity protects against pathogens.

PubMed

Randow, Felix; MacMicking, John D; James, Leo C

2013-05-10

Our prevailing view of vertebrate host defense is strongly shaped by the notion of a specialized set of immune cells as sole guardians of antimicrobial resistance. Yet this view greatly underestimates a capacity for most cell lineages-the majority of which fall outside the traditional province of the immune system-to defend themselves against infection. This ancient and ubiquitous form of host protection is termed cell-autonomous immunity and operates across all three domains of life. Here, we discuss the organizing principles that govern cellular self-defense and how intracellular compartmentalization has shaped its activities to provide effective protection against a wide variety of microbial pathogens.

Evaluation of the immunological cellular response of Cebus apella exposed to the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea and treated with CANOVA®.

PubMed

Feio, Danielle Cristinne Azevedo; Muniz, José Augusto Pereira Carneiro; Montenegro, Raquel Carvalho; Burbano, Rommel Rodriguez; De Brito Junior, Lacy Cardoso; De Lima, Patrícia Danielle Lima

2014-01-01

The immune response modifier Canova® is a homeopathic remedy indicated for patients with depressed immune system, since this drug appears to increase adaptive immunity and induce an immune response against multiple and severe pathological conditions, including cancer. We evaluated the pattern of immune cellular response in non-human primates of the species Cebus apella exposed to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) with and without Canova®. Twelve animals were divided into four groups, with three animals each: negative control and three experimental groups, MNU-alone (35 days); MNU (35 days)-plus-Canova® (3 days) and Canova®-alone (3 days). The animals received MNU orally and Canova® by three intravenous injections. Evaluation of the cellular immune response was performed by immunophenotyping of T-lymphocytes (CD4(+), CD8(+)), B-lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Analysis was also performed of the cell cycle. Our results suggest an increase of T-lymphocytes (CD4(+)CD3(+)) only in the Canova® group, while in the MNU-plus-Canova® group only B-lymphocytes increased. Copyright © 2014 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

A real-time pulsed photon dosimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brown, David; Olsher, Richard H.; Eisen, Yosef; Rodriguez, Joseph F.

1996-02-01

Radiation sources producing short pulses of photon radiation are now widespread. Such sources include electron and proton linear accelerators, betatrons, synchrotrons, and field-emission impulse generators. It is often desirable to measure leakage and skyshine radiation from such sources in real time, on a single-pulse basis as low as 8.7 nGy (1 μR) per pulse. This paper describes the design and performance of a prototype, real-time, pulsed photon dosimeter (PPD) capable of single-pulse dose measurements over the range from 3.5 nGy to 3.5 μGy (0.4 to 400 μR). The PPD may also be operated in a multiple-pulse mode that integrates the dose from a train of radiation pulses over a 3-s period. A pulse repetition rate of up to 300 Hz is accommodated. The design is eminently suitable for packaging as a lightweight, portable, survey meter. The PPD uses a CdWO 4 scintillator optically coupled to a photodiode to generate a charge at the diode output. A pulse amplifier converts the charge to a voltage pulse. A digitizer circuit generates a burst of logic pulses whose number is proportional to the peak value of the voltage pulse. The digitizer output is recorded by a pulse counter and suitably displayed. A prototype PPD was built for testing and evaluation purposes. The performance of the PPD was evaluated with a variety of pulsed photon sources. The dynamic range, energy response, and response to multiple pulses were characterized. The experimental data confirm the viability of the PPD for pulsed photon dosimetry.

Postpartum Depression in Women: A Risk Factor Analysis.

PubMed

Zaidi, Farheen; Nigam, Aruna; Anjum, Ruby; Agarwalla, Rashmi

2017-08-01

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a known entity affecting not only the women but the whole family. It affects women more harshly and chronically due to their increased stress sensitivity, maladaptive coping strategies and multiple social roles in the community. To estimate the commonly associated risk factors of PPD among the women coming to a tertiary hospital in New Delhi, India. It was a longitudinal study conducted at the antenatal clinic for a period of one year. Total 260 women were screened at > 36 weeks of gestation, of which 149 postnatal women completed the questionnaire for PPD at six weeks of their delivery. The inform consent, demographical data and obstetrical details from each participant was taken before commencing the screening. Various risk factors and their association were determined by odds-ratio and significant association was accepted at < 5% level of error. In order to identify the most important confounding variables, logistic regression analysis was used. PPD is a common mental health problem seen among the postnatal women as it was found in 12.75% (19 out of 149) of subjects at six weeks of their delivery. Moreover, it has significant association with the young maternal age (p-value=0.040), birth of the female child (p-value=0.015), previous stressful life events (p-value= 0.003), low self-esteem and feeling of loneliness (p-value=0.007). This study provides important information regarding the risk factors associated with development of PPD in this region of India. Female sex of the new born and the younger age play an important role in the development of PPD.

Intradermal tuberculin testing of wild African lions (Panthera leo) naturally exposed to infection with Mycobacterium bovis.

PubMed

Keet, D F; Michel, A L; Bengis, R G; Becker, P; van Dyk, D S; van Vuuren, M; Rutten, V P M G; Penzhorn, B L

2010-08-26

African lions in the southern half of Kruger National Park (KNP) are infected with Mycobacterium bovis. Historically, reliable detection of mycobacteriosis in lions was limited to necropsy and microbiological analysis of lesion material collected from emaciated and ailing or repeat-offender lions. We report on a method of cervical intradermal tuberculin testing of lions and its interpretation capable of identifying natural exposure to M. bovis. Infected lions (n=52/95) were identified by detailed necropsy and mycobacterial culture. A large proportion of these confirmed infected lions (45/52) showed distinct responses to bovine tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) while responses to avian tuberculin PPD were variable and smaller. Confirmed uninfected lions from non-infected areas (n=11) responded variably to avian tuberculin PPD only. Various non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) were cultured from 45/95 lions examined, of which 21/45 were co-infected with M. bovis. Co-infection with M. bovis and NTM did not influence skin reactions to bovine tuberculin PPD. Avian tuberculin PPD skin reactions were larger in M. bovis-infected lions compared to uninfected ones. Since NTM co-infections are likely to influence the outcome of skin testing, stricter test interpretation criteria were applied. When test data of bovine tuberculin PPD tests were considered on their own, as for a single skin test, sensitivity increased (80.8-86.5%) but false positive rate for true negatives (18.75%) remained unchanged. Finally, the adapted skin test procedure was shown not to be impeded by persistent Feline Immunodeficiency Virus(Ple) co-infection. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Survivors of Child Maltreatment and Postpartum Depression: An Integrative Review.

PubMed

Hutchens, Bridget F; Kearney, Joan; Kennedy, Holly Powell

2017-11-01

An integrative review was performed to explore the relationship between a maternal history of child maltreatment and subsequent postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms. Six electronic databases were used to explore the literature, including PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus. Studies were included that used victims of child maltreatment as one of the independent variables and PPD symptoms as one of the dependent variables. Studies were excluded if they focused only on women with adult intimate partner violence or women with PPD who were perpetrators of child abuse rather than survivors. The studies were required to be original research, and there was no limit to years or language. The search yielded 589 studies, 16 of which were included in the final sample. These studies were assessed for quality, and a data display matrix was developed to extract the sample, design, methods, operational definitions for independent and dependent variables of interest, major findings with effect sizes, and limitations. Using the data display matrix, the studies' methods and findings were synthesized for divergent and convergent patterns. Studies were varied in their designs, samples, and operational definitions of child maltreatment and PPD, and were low to moderate in quality. Results were inconsistent, but a majority suggest a positive association between a maternal history of child maltreatment and subsequent symptoms of PPD. Child maltreatment and PPD are complex issues that require careful screening by women's health care providers and clearly defined operational definitions in future research. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed. © 2017 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.

Interferon-γ and interleukin-17 production from PPD-stimulated PBMCss of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

PubMed

Nunnari, Giuseppe; Pinzone, Marilia R; Vancheri, Carlo; Palermo, Filippo; Cacopardo, Bruno

2013-04-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Interferon (IFN)-γ and Interleukin(IL)-17 profiles in patients with different clinical presentations of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and to compare them with those of tuberculin-negative and tuberculin-reactive healthy controls Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCss), isolated from patients (n=52) and controls (n=30), were stimulated ex vivo with purified protein derivative (PPD) and IFN-γ and IL-17 levels in the supernatant were measured. At baseline, PBMCss from patients with TB released a significantly lower amount of IL-17 (p=0.043) than PBMCss from healthy controls, whereas IFN-γ levels were similar in the two groups. After PPD stimulation, a significant rise in IL-17 levels was found only among healthy controls (p=0.02). This rise in IL-17 levels was similar between tuberculin-reactive and tuberculin-negative subjects. After PPD stimulation, patients with infiltrative TB secreted higher levels of IL-17 and IFN-γ than those affected with chronic, miliary and cavitary TB (p < 0.01). IFN-γ production from patients with infiltrative TB was even higher than for healthy controls (p < 0.01). PBMCss from tuberculin-reactive patients released higher levels of IFN-γ than tuberculin-negative subjects after PPD stimulation (p < 0.01). Ex vivo PPD stimulation of PBMCs from patients with pulmonary TB does not significantly stimulate IL-17 release; however, higher IL-17 and IFN-γ levels are found in patients with infiltrative disease, in comparison with those affected with miliary, cavitary and chronic TB.

Modification to the Capsid of the Adenovirus Vector That Enhances Dendritic Cell Infection and Transgene-Specific Cellular Immune Responses

PubMed Central

Worgall, Stefan; Busch, Annette; Rivara, Michael; Bonnyay, David; Leopold, Philip L.; Merritt, Robert; Hackett, Neil R.; Rovelink, Peter W.; Bruder, Joseph T.; Wickham, Thomas J.; Kovesdi, Imi; Crystal, Ronald G.

2004-01-01

Adenovirus (Ad) gene transfer vectors can be used to transfer and express antigens and function as strong adjuvants and thus are useful platforms for the development of genetic vaccines. Based on the hypothesis that Ad vectors with enhanced infectibility of dendritic cells (DC) may be able to evoke enhanced immune responses against antigens encoded by the vector in vivo, the present study analyzes the vaccine potential of an Ad vector expressing β-galactosidase as a model antigen and genetically modified with RGD on the fiber knob [AdZ.F(RGD)] to more selectively infect DC and consequently enhance immunity against the β-galactosidase antigen. Infection of murine DC in vitro with AdZ.F(RGD) showed an eightfold-increased transgene expression following infection compared to AdZ (also expressing β-galactosidase, but with a wild-type capsid). Binding, cellular uptake, and trafficking in DC were also increased with AdZ.F(RGD) compared to AdZ. To determine whether AdZ.F(RGD) could evoke enhanced immune responses to β-galactosidase in vivo, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with AdZ.F(RGD) or AdZ subcutaneously via the footpad. Humoral responses with both vectors were comparable, with similar anti-β-galactosidase antibody levels following vector administration. However, cellular responses to β-galactosidase were significantly enhanced, with the frequency of CD4+ as well as the CD8+ β-galactosidase-specific gamma interferon response in cells isolated from the draining lymph nodes increased following immunization with AdZ.F(RGD) compared to Ad.Z (P < 0.01). Importantly, this enhanced cellular immune response of the AdZ.F(RGD) vector was sufficient to evoke enhanced inhibition of the growth of preexisting tumors expressing β-galactosidase: BALB/c mice implanted with the CT26 syngeneic β-galactosidase-expressing colon carcinoma cell line and subsequently immunized with AdZ.F(RGD) showed decreased tumor growth and improved survival compared to mice immunized with AdZ. These data demonstrate that addition of an RGD motif to the Ad fiber knob increases the infectibility of DC and leads to enhanced cellular immune responses to the Ad-transferred transgene, suggesting that the RGD capsid modification may be useful in developing Ad-based vaccines. PMID:14963160

Cytomegalovirus immune evasion by perturbation of endosomal trafficking

PubMed Central

Lučin, Pero; Mahmutefendić, Hana; Blagojević Zagorac, Gordana; Ilić Tomaš, Maja

2015-01-01

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs), members of the herpesvirus family, have evolved a variety of mechanisms to evade the immune response to survive in infected hosts and to establish latent infection. They effectively hide infected cells from the effector mechanisms of adaptive immunity by eliminating cellular proteins (major histocompatibility Class I and Class II molecules) from the cell surface that display viral antigens to CD8 and CD4 T lymphocytes. CMVs also successfully escape recognition and elimination of infected cells by natural killer (NK) cells, effector cells of innate immunity, either by mimicking NK cell inhibitory ligands or by downregulating NK cell-activating ligands. To accomplish these immunoevasion functions, CMVs encode several proteins that function in the biosynthetic pathway by inhibiting the assembly and trafficking of cellular proteins that participate in immune recognition and thereby, block their appearance at the cell surface. However, elimination of these proteins from the cell surface can also be achieved by perturbation of their endosomal route and subsequent relocation from the cell surface into intracellular compartments. Namely, the physiological route of every cellular protein, including immune recognition molecules, is characterized by specific features that determine its residence time at the cell surface. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of endocytic trafficking of immune recognition molecules and perturbations of the endosomal system during infection with CMVs and other members of the herpesvirus family that contribute to their immune evasion mechanisms. PMID:25263490

78 FR 18848 - Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Wrightsville Beach, NC and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-28

... annual PPD Beach2Battleship iron and half iron distance triathlons. This deviation allows both... accommodate the 6th annual PPD Beach2Battleship iron and half iron distance triathlons on Saturday, October 26...

Is Survival Better at Hospitals With Higher “End-of-Life” Treatment Intensity?

PubMed Central

Barnato, Amber E.; Chang, Chung-Chou H.; Farrell, Max H.; Lave, Judith R.; Roberts, Mark S.; Angus, Derek C.

2013-01-01

Background Concern regarding wide variations in spending and intensive care unit use for patients at the end of life hinges on the assumption that such treatment offers little or no survival benefit. Objective To explore the relationship between hospital “end-of-life” (EOL) treatment intensity and postadmission survival. Research Design Retrospective cohort analysis of Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council discharge data April 2001 to March 2005 linked to vital statistics data through September 2005 using hospital-level correlation, admission-level marginal structural logistic regression, and pooled logistic regression to approximate a Cox survival model. Subjects A total of 1,021,909 patients ≥65 years old, incurring 2,216,815 admissions in 169 Pennsylvania acute care hospitals. Measures EOL treatment intensity (a summed index of standardized intensive care unit and life-sustaining treatment use among patients with a high predicted probability of dying [PPD] at admission) and 30- and 180-day postadmission mortality. Results There was a nonlinear negative relationship between hospital EOL treatment intensity and 30-day mortality among all admissions, although patients with higher PPD derived the greatest benefit. Compared with admission at an average intensity hospital, admission to a hospital 1 standard deviation below versus 1 standard deviation above average intensity resulted in an adjusted odds ratio of mortality for admissions at low PPD of 1.06 (1.04–1.08) versus 0.97 (0.96–0.99); average PPD: 1.06 (1.04–1.09) versus 0.97 (0.96–0.99); and high PPD: 1.09 (1.07–1.11) versus 0.97 (0.95– 0.99), respectively. By 180 days, the benefits to intensity attenuated (low PPD: 1.03 [1.01–1.04] vs. 1.00 [0.98–1.01]; average PPD: 1.03 [1.02–1.05] vs. 1.00 [0.98–1.01]; and high PPD: 1.06 [1.04–1.09] vs. 1.00 [0.98–1.02]), respectively. Conclusions Admission to higher EOL treatment intensity hospitals is associated with small gains in postadmission survival. The marginal returns to intensity diminish for admission to hospitals above average EOL treatment intensity and wane with time. PMID:20057328

Epigenetic Alterations in Cellular Immunity: New Insights into Autoimmune Diseases.

PubMed

Wang, Zijun; Lu, Qianjin; Wang, Zhihui

2017-01-01

Epigenetic modification is an additional regulator in immune responses as the genome-wide profiling somehow fails to explain the sophisticated mechanisms in autoimmune diseases. The effect of epigenetic modifications on adaptive immunity derives from their regulations to induce a permissive or negative gene expression. Epigenetic events, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs (miRNAs) are often found in T cell activation, differentiation and commitment which are the major parts in cellular immunity. Recognizing the complexity of interactions between epigenetic mechanisms and immune disturbance in autoimmune diseases is essential for the exploration of efficient therapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize a list of studies that indicate the significance of dysregulated epigenetic modifications in autoimmune diseases while focusing on T cell immunity. © 2017 The Author(s)Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Dead cell phagocytosis and innate immune checkpoint

PubMed Central

Yoon, Kyoung Wan

2017-01-01

The human body loses several billions of cells daily. When cells die in vivo, the corpse of each dead cell is immediately cleared. Specifically, dead cells are efficiently recognized and cleared by multiple types of neighboring phagocytes. Early research on cell death focused more on molecular mechanisms of cell death regulation while the cellular corpses were merely considered cellular debris. However, it has come to light that various biological stimuli following cell death are important for immune regulation. Clearance of normal dead cells occurs silently in immune tolerance. Exogenous or mutated antigens of malignant or infected cells can initiate adaptive immunity, thereby inducing immunogenicity by adjuvant signals. Several pathogens and cancer cells have strategies to limit the adjuvant signals and escape immune surveillance. In this review, we present an overview of the mechanisms of dead cell clearance and its immune regulations. PMID:28768566

Trans-Golgi network/early endosome: a central sorting station for cargo proteins in plant immunity.

PubMed

LaMontagne, Erica D; Heese, Antje

2017-12-01

In plants, the trans-Golgi network (TGN) functionally overlaps with the early endosome (EE), serving as a central sorting hub to direct newly synthesized and endocytosed cargo to the cell surface or vacuole. Here, we focus on the emerging role of the TGN/EE in sorting of immune cargo proteins for effective plant immunity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Specific vesicle coat and regulatory components at the TGN/EE ensure that immune cargoes are correctly sorted and transported to the location of their cellular functions. Our understanding of the identity of immune cargoes and the underlying cellular mechanisms regulating their sorting are still rudimentary, but this knowledge is essential to understanding the physiological contribution of the TGN/EE to effective immune responses. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Proinflammatory tachykinins that signal through the neurokinin 1 receptor promote survival of dendritic cells and potent cellular immunity.

PubMed

Janelsins, Brian M; Mathers, Alicia R; Tkacheva, Olga A; Erdos, Geza; Shufesky, William J; Morelli, Adrian E; Larregina, Adriana T

2009-03-26

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the preferred targets for immunotherapy protocols focused on stimulation of cellular immune responses. However, regardless of initial promising results, ex vivo generated DCs do not always promote immune-stimulatory responses. The outcome of DC-dependent immunity is regulated by proinflammatory cytokines and neuropeptides. Proinflammatory neuropeptides of the tachykinin family, including substance P (SP) and hemokinin-1 (HK-1), bind the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) and promote stimulatory immune responses. Nevertheless, the ability of pro-inflammatory tachykinins to affect the immune functions of DCs remains elusive. In the present work, we demonstrate that mouse bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) generated in the presence of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), express functional NK1R. Signaling via NK1R with SP, HK-1, or the synthetic agonist [Sar(9)Met(O(2))(11)]-SP rescues DCs from apoptosis induced by deprivation of GM-CSF and IL-4. Mechanistic analysis demonstrates that NK1R agonistic binding promotes DC survival via PI3K-Akt signaling cascade. In adoptive transfer experiments, NK1R-signaled BMDCs loaded with Ag exhibit increased longevity in draining lymph nodes, resulting in enhanced and prolonged effector cellular immunity. Our results contribute to the understanding of the interactions between the immune and nervous systems that control DC function and present a novel approach for ex vivo-generation of potent immune-stimulatory DCs.

Comparison of the immune responses in BALB/c mice following immunization with DNA-based and live attenuated vaccines delivered via different routes.

PubMed

Cai, Ming-sheng; Deng, Shu-xuan; Li, Mei-li

2013-02-18

The objective of this study was to compare immune responses induced in BALB/c mice following immunization with pcDNA-GPV-VP2 DNA by gene gun bombardment (6 μg) or by intramuscular (im) injection (100 μg) with the responses to live attenuated vaccine by im injection (100 μl). pcDNA3.1 (+) and physiological saline were used as controls. Peripheral blood samples were collected at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 49, 63, 77 and 105 d after immunization. T lymphocyte proliferation was analyzed by MTT assay and enumeration of CD4(+), and CD8(+) T cell populations in peripheral blood was performed by flow cytometric analysis. Indirect ELISA was used to detect IgG levels. Cellular and humoral responses were induced by pcDNA-GPV-VP2 DNA and live virus vaccines. No differences were observed in T cell proliferation and CD8(+) T cell responses induced by the genetic vaccine regardless of the route of delivery. However, CD4(+) T cell responses and humoral immunity were enhanced in following gene gun immunization compared with im injection of the genetic vaccine. Cellular and humoral immunity was enhanced in following gene gun delivery of the genetic vaccine compared with the live attenuated vaccine. In conclusion, the pcDNA-GPV-VP2 DNA vaccine induced enhanced cellular and humoral immunity compared with that induced by the live attenuated vaccine. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Essential Role of Lymph Nodes in Contact Hypersensitivity Revealed in Lymphotoxin-α–Deficient Mice

PubMed Central

Rennert, Paul D.; Hochman, Paula S.; Flavell, Richard A.; Chaplin, David D.; Jayaraman, Sundararajan; Browning, Jeffrey L.; Fu, Yang-Xin

2001-01-01

Lymph nodes (LNs) are important sentinal organs, populated by circulating lymphocytes and antigen-bearing cells exiting the tissue beds. Although cellular and humoral immune responses are induced in LNs by antigenic challenge, it is not known if LNs are essential for acquired immunity. We examined immune responses in mice that lack LNs due to genetic deletion of lymphotoxin ligands or in utero blockade of membrane lymphotoxin. We report that LNs are absolutely required for generating contact hypersensitivity, a T cell–dependent cellular immune response induced by epicutaneous hapten. We show that the homing of epidermal Langerhans cells in response to hapten application is specifically directed to LNs, providing a cellular basis for this unique LN function. In contrast, the spleen cannot mediate contact hypersensitivity because antigen-bearing epidermal Langerhans cells do not access splenic white pulp. Finally, we formally demonstrate that LNs provide a unique environment essential for generating this acquired immune response by reversing the LN defect in lymphotoxin-α−/− mice, thereby restoring the capacity for contact hypersensitivity. PMID:11390430

[Immune response to live influenza vaccine].

PubMed

Naĭkhin, A N; Rekstin, A R; Barantseva, I B; Donina, S A; Desheva, Iu A; Grigor'eva, E P; Kiseleva, I V; Rudenko, L G

2002-01-01

Priority data on the induction, by using a Russian live cold-adapted reassortant influenza vaccine (LIV), of the cellular and humoral immunity with regard for attenuation and genetic reassortment of vaccine stains as well as with regard for the age of vaccinated persons and the production of Th1 (IFNY, IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokine markers in vitro are presented. It was demonstrated in vivo that a pathogenic virus of the A group by far more actively induced the lymphocyte apoptosis as compared with attenuated genetically reassorted stains. Unlike the influenza pathogenic virus, the genetically attenuated and reassorted strain did not produce any negative effects on the induction of cellular immunity. A comparative study of the LIV immunogenic properties in vaccinated persons showed an advantage of LIV over inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) in stimulating the cellular and local immunity in the elderly. Unlike IIV, LIV induced an active and balanced immune response developing due to Th1 and Th2 activation. LIV was found to stimulate well enough the production of IFN and IL-2 in both young and old persons.

Difference in immune response in vaccinated and unvaccinated Swedish individuals after the 2009 influenza pandemic

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Previous exposures to flu and subsequent immune responses may impact on 2009/2010 pandemic flu vaccine responses and clinical symptoms upon infection with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza strain. Qualitative and quantitative differences in humoral and cellular immune responses associated with the flu vaccination in 2009/2010 (pandemic H1N1 vaccine) and natural infection have not yet been described in detail. We designed a longitudinal study to examine influenza- (flu-) specific immune responses and the association between pre-existing flu responses, symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI), impact of pandemic flu infection, and pandemic flu vaccination in a cohort of 2,040 individuals in Sweden in 2009–2010. Methods Cellular flu-specific immune responses were assessed by whole-blood antigen stimulation assay, and humoral responses by a single radial hemolysis test. Results Previous seasonal flu vaccination was associated with significantly lower flu-specific IFN-γ responses (using a whole-blood assay) at study entry. Pandemic flu vaccination induced long-lived T-cell responses (measured by IFN-γ production) to influenza A strains, influenza B strains, and the matrix (M1) antigen. In contrast, individuals with pandemic flu infection (PCR positive) exhibited increased flu-specific T-cell responses shortly after onset of ILI symptoms but the immune response decreased after the flu season (spring 2010). We identified non-pandemic-flu vaccinated participants without ILI symptoms who showed an IFN-γ production profile similar to pandemic-flu infected participants, suggesting exposure without experiencing clinical symptoms. Conclusions Strong and long-lived flu-M1 specific immune responses, defined by IFN-γ production, in individuals after vaccination suggest that M1-responses may contribute to protective cellular immune responses. Silent flu infections appeared to be frequent in 2009/2010. The pandemic flu vaccine induced qualitatively and quantitatively different humoral and cellular immune responses as compared to infection with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic H1N1 influenza strain. PMID:24916787

Cellular and humoral cross-immunity against two H3N2v influenza strains in presumably unexposed healthy and HIV-infected subjects.

PubMed

Agrati, Chiara; Castilletti, Concetta; Cimini, Eleonora; Lapa, Daniele; Quartu, Serena; Caglioti, Claudia; Lanini, Simone; Cattoli, Giovanni; Martini, Federico; Ippolito, Giuseppe; Capobianchi, Maria R

2014-01-01

Human cases of infection due to a novel swine-origin variant of influenza A virus subtype H3N2 (H3N2v) have recently been identified in the United States. Pre-existing humoral and cellular immunity has been recognized as one of the key factors in limiting the infection burden of an emerging influenza virus strain, contributing to restrict its circulation and to mitigate clinical presentation. Aim of this study was to assess humoral and cell-mediated cross immune responses to H3N2v in immuno-competent (healthy donors, n = 45) and immuno-compromised hosts (HIV-infected subjects, n = 46) never exposed to H3N2v influenza strain. Humoral response against i) H3N2v (A/H3N2/Ind/08/11), ii) animal vaccine H3N2 strain (A/H3N2/Min/11/10), and iii) pandemic H1N1 virus (A/H1N1/Cal/07/09) was analysed by hemagglutination inhibition assay; cell-mediated response against the same influenza strains was analysed by ELISpot assay. A large proportion of healthy and HIV subjects displayed cross-reacting humoral and cellular immune responses against two H3N2v strains, suggesting the presence of B- and T-cell clones able to recognize epitopes from emerging viral strains in both groups. Specifically, humoral response was lower in HIV subjects than in HD, and a specific age-related pattern of antibody response against different influenza strains was observed both in HD and in HIV. Cellular immune response was similar between HD and HIV groups and no relationship with age was reported. Finally, no correlation between humoral and cellular immune response was observed. Overall, a high prevalence of HD and HIV patients showing cross reactive immunity against two H3N2v strains was observed, with a slightly lower proportion in HIV persons. Other studies focused on HIV subjects at different stages of diseases are needed in order to define how cross immunity can be affected by advanced immunosuppression.

Using critical ethnography to explore issues among immigrant and refugee women seeking help for postpartum depression.

PubMed

O'Mahony, Joyce Maureen; Donnelly, Tam Truong; Este, Dave; Bouchal, Shelley Raffin

2012-11-01

Critical ethnography was used as a pragmatic research methodology to explore the postpartum depression (PPD) experiences of immigrant and refugee women. We examined the social, political, economic, and historical factors that affected the help-seeking behavior of these women during PPD episodes. The critical ethnography method allowed participants to share their experiences with each other and afforded opportunities to the researchers to acknowledge and validate, rather than simply observe and record, their testimony. This study of PPD thus increased our awareness and understanding of the health issues of immigrant and refugee women.

Influence of adjuvant detached mindfulness and stress management training compared to pharmacologic treatment in primiparae with postpartum depression.

PubMed

Ahmadpanah, Mohammad; Nazaribadie, Marzieh; Aghaei, Elham; Ghaleiha, Ali; Bakhtiari, Azade; Haghighi, Mohammad; Bahmani, Dena Sadeghi; Akhondi, Amineh; Bajoghli, Hafez; Jahangard, Leila; Holsboer-Trachsler, Edith; Brand, Serge

2018-02-01

Ten to 15% of mothers experience postpartum depression (PPD). If untreated, PPD may negatively affect mothers' and infants' mental health in the long term. Accordingly, effective treatments are required. In the present study, we investigated the effect of detached mindfulness (DM) and stress management training (SMT) as adjuvants, compared to pharmacologic treatment only, on symptoms of depression in women with PPD. Forty-five primiparae (mean age: M = 24.5 years) with diagnosed PPD and treated with an SSRI (citalopram; CIT) took part in the study. At baseline, they completed questionnaires covering socio-demographic data and symptoms of depression. Experts rated also symptoms of depression. Next, participants were randomly assigned to one of the following study conditions: adjuvant detached mindfulness (CIT+DM); adjuvant stress management training (CIT+SMT); control condition (CIT). Self- and experts' ratings were completed at the end of the study 8 weeks later, and again at 8 weeks follow-up. Symptoms of depression decreased significantly over time, but more so in the CIT+DM and CIT+SMT group, compared to the control condition. The pattern of results remained stable at follow-up. In primiparae with PPD and treated with a standard SSRI, adjuvant psychotherapeutic interventions led to significant and longer-lasting improvements.

How do medical educators design a curriculum that facilitates student learning about professionalism?

PubMed

Langendyk, Vicki; Mason, Glenn; Wang, Shaoyu

2016-02-04

This study analyses the ways in which curriculum reform facilitated student learning about professionalism. Design-based research provided the structure for an iterative approach to curriculum change which we undertook over a 3 year period. The learning environment of the Personal and Professional Development Theme (PPD) was analysed through the sociocultural lens of Activity Theory. Lave and Wenger's and Mezirow's learning theories informed curriculum reform to support student development of a patient-centred and critically reflective professional identity. The renewed pedagogical outcomes were aligned with curriculum content, learning and teaching processes and assessment, and intense staff education was undertaken. We analysed qualitative data from tutor interviews and free-response student surveys to evaluate the impact of curriculum reform. Students' and tutors' reflections on learning in PPD converged on two principle themes--'Developing a philosophy of medicine' and 'Becoming an ethical doctor'--which corresponded to the overarching PPD theme aims of communicative learning. Students and tutors emphasised the importance of the unique learning environment of PPD tutorials for nurturing personal development and the positive impact of the renewed assessment programme on learning. A theory-led approach to curriculum reform resulted in student engagement in the PPD curriculum and facilitated a change in student perspective about the epistemological foundation of medicine.

Intradermal injection of PPD as a novel approach of immunotherapy in anogenital warts in pregnant women.

PubMed

Eassa, Bayoumy I; Abou-Bakr, Amany A; El-Khalawany, Mohamed A

2011-01-01

Immunotherapy for treatment of recalcitrant warts was used through different modalities including intralesional injection of purified protein derivative (PPD), which is an extract of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, used for testing exposure to tuberculin protein, either from a previous vaccination or from the environment. This method is used to evaluate the efficacy of a new approach of intradermal injection of PPD in the treatment of anogenital warts in pregnant women. A total of 40 pregnant women, aged 20-35 years, and presented with anogenital warts were enrolled in this study. Human papillomavirus (HPV) typing was done using the GP5+/GP6+ PCR assay. The patients were treated with weekly injections of PPD given intradermally in the forearms, and evaluated for the response regularly. HPV type-6 was the predominant genotype (67.5%). Overall, the improvement in this study was 85% and was related to the extent of tuberculin reactivity. Nineteen (47.5%) patients demonstrated complete clearance, 15 (37.5%) had partial response, and three (7.5%) had minimal response. Three (7.5%) cases did not respond to treatment. Side effects were minimal and insignificant. Treatment of anogenital warts in pregnant women with intradermal injection of PPD was found to be a unique, safe, and effective modality of immunotherapy. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Plasmonic behaviour of phenylenediamine functionalised silver nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akmal Che Lah, Nurul; Samykano, Mahendran; Rafie Johan, Mohd; Syahierah Othman, Nuurul; Mawardi Saari, Mohd; Bey Fen, Leo; Zalikha Khalil, Nur

2017-09-01

The surface functionalisation of AgNPs has demonstrated improved capability for various applications by modifying their surface chemical conditions. In this study, AgNPs functionalised with p-phenylenediamine (PPD) ligand were prepared, and the plasmonic effects of the nanocomposites were then investigated. The synthesis and functionalisation of Ag nanocomposites were achieved through chemical modification reaction of naphthalene group through hydrothermal synthesis. The influence of the chemical modification reaction on the plasmonic behaviour and size variation were obtained via optical measurement techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) for absorbance characteristic, photoluminescence for emission response and micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS) for SERS study on the presence of regions containing AgNPs and PPD ligand. It was observed that the one-step process of deprotonation of the amino group on the aromatic rings gives the re-arrangement of the electron cloud towards the π-conjugated system. High-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis showed the formation of the nanocomposites and the AgNPs (for ~4 and ~5 nm of diameter sizes) are well-dispersed over the PPD matrix. The nanocomposites are assembled into higher dimensional structures through coordination with functional PPD ligand and also increasing the PPD amount led to the increase in the surface area of the nanoparticles.

Low Yield of Chest Radiography in General Inpatients and Outpatients with "Positive PPD" Results in a Country with Low Prevalence of TB.

PubMed

Eisenberg, Ronald L; Heidinger, Benedikt H

2017-07-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and spectrum of abnormalities on routine screening chest radiographs among inpatients and outpatients with "positive purified protein derivative (PPD)" in a large tertiary care academic medical center in a country with low prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). The reports of all chest radiographs of general inpatients and outpatients referred for positive PPD (2010-2014) were evaluated for the frequency of evidence of active or latent TB and the spectrum of imaging findings. The results of additional chest radiographs and computed tomography scans were recorded, as were additional relevant clinical histories and symptoms. Of the 2518 patients who underwent chest radiography for positive PPD, the radiographs were normal in 91.3%. The vast majority of the abnormal radiographs demonstrated findings consistent with old tuberculous disease. There were three cases (0.1%) of active TB, all of which were either recent immigrants from an endemic area or had other relevant histories or clinical symptoms suggestive of the disease. Universal chest radiography in general inpatient and outpatient populations referred for positive PPD is of low yield for detecting active disease in a country with low prevalence of TB. Copyright © 2017 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of concordance between labelling and content of 52 hair dye products: overview of the market of oxidative hair dye.

PubMed

Antelmi, Annarita; Bruze, Magnus; Zimerson, Erik; Engfeldt, Malin; Young, Ewa; Persson, Lena; Foti, Caterina; Sörensen, Östen; Svedman, Cecilia

2017-04-01

Hair dyes contain strong allergens and are widely available. Correct labelling is a necessity in order to provide information about the contents. To compare the labelling and content of hair dyes. In total, 52 hair dyes, from 11 different countries, were bought over the counter. High-pressure liquid chromatography was used for the analysis of p-phenylenediamine (PPD), toluene-2,5-diamine (2,5-TDA), and three oxidation products of PPD. There was good agreement between labelling and content, although seven of the 52 products (13.5%) studied were incorrectly labelled. There were differences in the geographical use of PPD and 2,5-TDA; 2,5-TDA was more common in European products, while PPD was more common in products purchased outside Europe and was present in higher concentrations. All dyes purchased in Europe contained PPD and 2,5-TDA at levels within the limits defined by European legislation, however, levels were higher in some products purchased outside Europe. Only a small group of hair dyes sold in Europe were mislabelled. Further improvement in labelling, by providing the concentration of chemicals, may facilitate products to be purchased both locally and within the global market, when travelling or on the internet.

Humoral and cellular immune response in mice induced by the classical swine fever virus E2 protein fused to the porcine CD154 antigen.

PubMed

Sordo, Yusmel; Suárez, Marisela; Caraballo, Rosalina; Sardina, Talía; Brown, Emma; Duarte, Carlos; Lugo, Joanna; Gil, Lázaro; Perez, Danny; Oliva, Ayme; Vargas, Milagros; Santana, Elaine; Valdés, Rodolfo; Rodríguez, María Pilar

2018-03-01

The development of subunit vaccines against classical swine fever is a desirable goal, because it allows discrimination between vaccinated and infected animals. In this study, humoral and cellular immune response elicited in inbred BALB/c mice by immunization with a recombinant classical swine fever virus (CSFV) E2 protein fused to porcine CD154 antigen (E2CD154) was assessed. This model was used as a predictor of immune response in swine. Mice were immunized with E2CD154 emulsified in Montanide ISA50V2 or dissolved in saline on days 1 and 21. Another group received E2His antigen, without CD154, in the same adjuvant. Montanide ISA50V2 or saline served as negative controls for each experimental group. Animals immunized with 12.5 and 2.5 μg/dose of E2CD154 developed the highest titers (>1:2000) of CSFV neutralizing antibodies. Moreover, CSFV specific splenocyte gamma-interferon production, measured after seven and twenty-eight days of immunization, was significantly higher in mice immunized with 12.5 μg of E2CD154. As a conclusion, E2CD154 emulsified in Montanide ISA50 V2 was able to induce a potent humoral and an early cellular immune response in inbred BALB/c mice. Therefore, this immunogen might be an appropriate candidate to elicit immune response in swine, control CSF disease and to eliminate CSFV in swine. Copyright © 2018 International Alliance for Biological Standardization. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of the endoparasitoid Cotesia chilonis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitism, venom, and calyx fluid on cellular and humoral immunity of its host Chilo suppressalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) larvae.

PubMed

Teng, Zi-Wen; Xu, Gang; Gan, Shi-Yu; Chen, Xuan; Fang, Qi; Ye, Gong-Yin

2016-02-01

The larval endoparasitoid Cotesia chilonis injects venom and bracoviruses into its host Chilo suppressalis during oviposition. Here we study the effects of the polydnavirus (PDV)-carrying endoparasitoid C. chilonis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitism, venom and calyx fluid on host cellular and humoral immunity, specifically hemocyte composition, cellular spreading, encapsulation and melanization. Total hemocyte counts (THCs) were higher in parasitized larvae than in unparasitized larvae in the late stages following parasitization. While both plasmatocyte and granulocyte fractions and hemocyte mortality did not differ between parasitized and unparasitized hosts, in vitro spreading behavior of hemocytes was inhibited significantly by parasitism throughout the course of parasitoid development. C. chilonis parasitism suppressed the encapsulation response and melanization in the early stages. Venom alone did not alter cellular immune responses, including effects on THCs, mortality, hemocyte composition, cell spreading and encapsulation, but venom did inhibit humoral immunity by reducing melanization within 6h after injection. In contrast to venom, calyx fluid had a significant effect on cell spreading, encapsulation and melanization from 6h after injection. Dose-response injection studies indicated the effects of venom and calyx fluid synergized, showing a stronger and more persistent reduction in immune system responses than the effect of either injected alone. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Stability of Cellular Immune Parameters over 12 Weeks in Patients with Major Depression or Somatoform Disorder and in Healthy Controls.

PubMed

Krause, Daniela; Stapf, Theresa M; Kirnich, Verena B; Hennings, Anika; Riemer, Sabine; Chrobok, Agnieszka; Fries, Daniel R; Pedrosa Gil, Francisco; Rief, Winfried; Schwarz, Markus J; Schmidmaier, Ralf

2018-06-12

Cellular immune status in major depression (MD) patients differs from that in somatoform disorder (SFD) patients and healthy controls (HC). It is still questionable whether the patterns of immune parameters remain stable over time. Therefore, we studied lymphocyte and monocyte cell counts and neopterin levels in peripheral blood of MD and SFD patients and HC over 12 weeks and tested for correlations between biochemical and psychometric parameters. Thirty-nine patients with MD, 27 with SFD, and 51 HC were recruited. Peripheral blood was drawn at four visits, at 4-week intervals. We assessed the total cell count of B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, T lymphocyte subpopu-lations, and monocytes by flow cytometry, and neopterin serum levels by ELISA. Psychometric parameters were measured with questionnaires. Counts of lymphocytes, monocytes, and neopterin were stable in the SFD and HC groups. In the MD group, total CD3+, CD3+CD8+, NK cells, and CD3+CD25+ T cells showed inhomogeneous variances in Friedman tests, particularly in females. Neopterin correlated with depressed mood in MD patients, and with body mass index in HC. Cellular immune parameters are stable in HC and SFD. Our results may indicate influences of MD and gender on some cellular immune parameters. This may need to be considered in future immunological studies. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Shallow Water Acoustics Studies

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-30

and 2) a demonstration that the predictive probability of detection ( PPD ) formalism of Dyer and Abbot works well, using QPE field data. The...applications, and 3) showing that the PPD formalism for detection could be a useful extension of the usual sonar equation ROC curves. TRANSITIONS

Effect of liniment levamisole on cellular immune functions of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

PubMed

Wang, Ke-Xia; Zhang, Li-Hua; Peng, Jiang-Long; Liang, Yong; Wang, Xue-Feng; Zhi, Hui; Wang, Xiang-Xia; Geng, Huan-Xiong

2005-12-07

To explore the effects of liniment levamisole on cellular immune functions of patients with chronic hepatitis B. The levels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by biotin-streptavidin (BSA) technique in patients with chronic hepatitis B before and after the treatment with liniment levamisole. After one course of treatment with liniment levamisole, the levels of CD3(+), CD4(+), and the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) increased as compared to those before the treatment but the level of CD8(+) decreased. The total expression level of mIL-2R in PBMCs increased before and after the treatment with liniment levamisole. Liniment levamisole may reinforce cellular immune functions of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Gene, Immune and Cellular Responses to Single and Combined Space Flight Conditions-B (TripleLux-B):

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-03-31

ISS043E070945 (03/31/2015) --- ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, Expedition 43 flight engineer aboard the International Space Station, is seen working on a science experiment that includes photographic documentation of Cellular Responses to Single and Combined Space Flight Conditions. Some effects of the space environment level appear to act at the cellular level and it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of these effects. This science project uses invertebrate hemocytes to focus on two aspects of cellular function which may have medical importance. The synergy between the effects of the space radiation environment and microgravity on cellular function is the goal of this experiment along with studying the impairment of immune functions under spaceflight conditions.

Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D are associated with periodontal disease.

PubMed

Laky, Markus; Bertl, Kristina; Haririan, Hady; Andrukhov, Oleh; Seemann, Rudolf; Volf, Ivo; Assinger, Alice; Gruber, Reinhard; Moritz, Andreas; Rausch-Fan, Xiaohui

2017-06-01

Vitamin D plays an essential role in bone metabolism as well as in immunity. Hence, it might affect the development and extent of periodontal disease. The aim of this study was the assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) status in periodontal disease. Twenty-nine patients with severe periodontal disease and 29 healthy volunteers were recruited in this case-control-study. Serum 25(OH)D levels, Periodontal Probing Depth (PPD), Clinical Attachment Level (CAL), Bleeding on Probing (BOP), Body Mass Index (BMI), and current smoking status and smoking history (packyears) were assessed in all participants. Serum 25(OH)D levels were compared between controls and cases. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) for periodontal disease in 25(OH)D deficient probands. Patients with periodontal disease presented a significantly higher proportion of deficient 25(OH)D levels (i.e., <50 nmol/l) compared to healthy controls (48 vs. 14 % respectively). The adjusted OR for periodontal disease with vitamin D deficiency was 1.5 (95 % CI, 1.13-1.98). No correlation between serum 25(OH)D levels and CAL, PPD, and BOP in the group with periodontal disease was found. In this case-control-study 25(OH)D deficiency is significantly associated with periodontal disease. The assessment of vitamin D levels in patients presenting with periodontal disease seems advisable, as vitamin D deficiency might be involved in the onset and progression of periodontal disease.

Gamma delta T cell responses associated with the development of tuberculosis in health care workers.

PubMed

Ordway, Diane J; Pinto, Luisa; Costa, Leonor; Martins, Marta; Leandro, Clara; Viveiros, Miguel; Amaral, Leonard; Arroz, Maria J; Ventura, Fernando A; Dockrell, Hazel M

2005-03-01

This study evaluated T cell immune responses to purified protein derivative (PPD) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in health care workers who remained free of active tuberculosis (HCWs w/o TB), health care workers who went on to develop active TB (HCWs w/TB), non-health care workers who were TB free (Non-HCWs) and tuberculosis patients presenting with minimal (Min TB) or advanced (Adv TB) disease. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with Mtb and PPD and the expression of T cell activation markers CD25+ and HLA-DR+, intracellular IL-4 and IFN-gamma production and cytotoxic responses were evaluated. PBMC from HCWs who developed TB showed decreased percentages of cells expressing CD8+CD25+ in comparison to HCWs who remained healthy. HCWs who developed TB showed increased gammadelta TCR+ cell cytotoxicity and decreased CD3+gammadelta TCR- cell cytotoxicity in comparison to HCWs who remained healthy. PBMC from TB patients with advanced disease showed decreased percentages of CD25+CD4+ and CD25+CD8+ T cells that were associated with increased IL-4 production in CD8+ and gammadelta TCR+ phenotypes, in comparison with TB patients presenting minimal disease. TB patients with advanced disease showed increased gammadelta TCR+ cytotoxicity and reduced CD3+gammadelta TCR- cell cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that HCWs who developed TB show an early compensatory mechanism involving an increase in lytic responses of gammadelta TCR+ cells which did not prevent TB.

Experimental phytophotodermatitis.

PubMed

Gonçalves, N E L; de Almeida, H L; Hallal, E C; Amado, M

2005-12-01

Phytophotodermatitis (PPD) is defined as a phototoxic reaction of the skin after contact with substances derived from plants and subsequent exposure to sunlight. It is a frequent disease in our outpatient clinics during summer because of contact with Tahitian lemon. Our objectives were to experimentally reproduce PPD in rats, to identify whether PPD is induced by minimal exposure periods to sunlight, to find what kinds of lemons and which parts of the lemon (the fruit juice or the peel juice) may trigger the disease; to know whether the use of sunblock prevents the reaction; and to perform light microscopy of the lesions to describe their histology. Adult rats (Rattus norwegicus), three in each experiment, were used. After painting the rats with the fruit juice or the peel juice they were exposed to sunlight for 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 min. Tahitian and Sicilian lemons were used in the experiments. Biopsies with 3-mm punches of different times of exposure were performed. The peel juice of both lemons reproduced PPD, which was clinically evident after 48 h. When the peel juice was alone applied there was no reaction; moreover, exposure to sunlight alone triggered no reaction. Two and a half minutes of exposure time was sufficient to induce phototoxic reaction, which was time dependent (the longer the exposure the more intense the reaction). Histopathological studies showed epithelial time-dependent vacuolar degeneration. The use of sunblock diminished the intensity of the reaction but did not prevent it. PPD can be reproduced in an animal model. It may be caused by the peel juice of Tahitian and Sicilian lemon. Because of an extremely short time of exposure (2.5 min) is sufficient to induce PPD it is necessary to alert the population, of the need for caution when handling lemons, especially outdoors despite using sunblock.

Functional characterisation of HvCO1, the barley (Hordeum vulgare) flowering time ortholog of CONSTANS.

PubMed

Campoli, Chiara; Drosse, Benedikt; Searle, Iain; Coupland, George; von Korff, Maria

2012-03-01

Variation in photoperiod response is a major factor determining plant development and the agronomic performance of crops. The genetic control of photoperiodic flowering has been elucidated in the model plant Arabidopsis, and many of the identified genes are structurally conserved in the grasses. In this study, HvCO1, the closest barley ortholog of the key photoperiod response gene CONSTANS in Arabidopsis, was over-expressed in the spring barley Golden Promise. Over-expression of HvCO1 accelerated time to flowering in long- and short-day conditions and caused up-regulation of HvFT1 mRNA under long-day conditions. However, the transgenic plants retained a response to photoperiod, suggesting the presence of photoperiod response factors acting downstream of HvCO1 transcription. Analysis of a population segregating for HvCO1 over-expression and natural genetic variation at Ppd-H1 demonstrated that Ppd-H1 acts downstream of HvCO1 transcription on HvFT1 expression and flowering. Furthermore, variation at Ppd-H1 did not affect diurnal expression of HvCO1 or HvCO2. Over-expression of HvCO1 increased transcription of the spring allele of Vrn-H1 in long- and short-day conditions, while genetic variation at Ppd-H1 did not affect Vrn-H1 expression. Over-expression of HvCO1 and natural genetic variation at Ppd-H1 accelerated inflorescence development and stem elongation. Thus, HvCO1 probably induces flowering by activating HvFT1 whilst Ppd-H1 regulates HvFT1 independently of HvCO1 mRNA, and all three genes also appear to have a strong effect in promoting inflorescence development. © 2011 The Authors. The Plant Journal © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Antepartum and postpartum exposure to maternal depression: different effects on different adolescent outcomes.

PubMed

Hay, Dale F; Pawlby, Susan; Waters, Cerith S; Sharp, Deborah

2008-10-01

Postpartum depression (PPD) is considered a major public health problem that conveys risk to mothers and offspring. Yet PPD typically occurs in the context of a lifelong episodic illness, and its putative effects might derive from the child's exposure to other episodes, in pregnancy or later childhood. The aim of the study is to test two hypotheses: (1) that the effects of PPD on adolescent outcomes are partly explained by antepartum depression (APD) and (2) that the effects of APD and PPD are both explained by later exposure to the mother's depression. A random sample of 178 antenatal patients was drawn from two general medical practices in South London; 171 gave birth to live infants, and 150 (88%) were assessed at 3 months post partum, with 121 of their offspring (81%) assessed for emotional disorders (ED), disruptive behaviour disorders (DBD) and IQ, at 11 and 16 years of age. When APD and subsequent episodes of depression were taken into account, PPD had a significant effect on adolescent IQ, especially for boys, but did not predict psychopathology. ED and DBD in adolescence were predicted by the extent of exposure to maternal depression after 3 months post partum; a significant effect of APD on ED in girls was accounted for by later exposure to the mother's illness. Mothers' symptoms of anxiety, smoking and alcohol use in pregnancy did not predict adolescent outcomes, once maternal depression was taken into account. Some effects attributed to mothers' mental health problems in pregnancy or post partum may be mediated by cumulative exposure to maternal illness, probably reflecting genetic influence and gene-environment correlation. However, PPD has a direct effect on cognition. Clinicians should endeavour to identify women with depression in pregnancy (31% of this sample) and help them to manage their lifelong illness.

Family history, not lack of medication use, is associated with the development of postpartum depression in a high-risk sample.

PubMed

Kimmel, Mary; Hess, Edward; Roy, Patricia S; Palmer, Jennifer Teitelbaum; Meltzer-Brody, Samantha; Meuchel, Jennifer M; Bost-Baxter, Emily; Payne, Jennifer L

2015-02-01

We sought to determine clinical predictors of postpartum depression (PPD), including the role of medication, in a sample of women followed prospectively during and after pregnancy. Women with a history of mood disorder were recruited and evaluated during each trimester and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postpartum. DSM-IV criteria for a major depressive episode were assessed by a psychiatric interview at each time point. Sixty-three women with major depression and 30 women with bipolar disorder entered the study and 75.4 % met DSM-IV criteria for a MDE during pregnancy, postpartum, or both. We modeled depression in a given time period (second trimester, third trimester, or 1 month postpartum) as a function of medication use during the preceding period (first, second, or third trimester). The odds of being depressed for those who did not use medication in the previous period was approximately 2.8 times that of those who used medication (OR 2.79, 95 % CI 1.38-5.66, p = 0.0048). Of 38 subjects who were psychiatrically well during the third trimester, 39.5 % (N = 15) met the criteria for a MDE by 4 weeks postpartum. In women who developed PPD, there was a high rate of a family history of PPD (53.3 %) compared to women who did not develop PPD (11.8 %, p = 0.02). While the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy reduced the odds of being depressed overall, the use of psychiatric medications during pregnancy may not protect against PPD in women at high risk, particularly those with a family history of PPD.

Luteinizing hormone-follicle stimulating hormone ratio as biological predictor of post-partum depression.

PubMed

Ramachandran Pillai, R; Sharon, Leena; Premkumar, Nancy R; Kattimani, Shivanand; Sagili, Haritha; Rajendiran, Soundravally

2017-01-01

Post-partum depression (PPD) is the common adverse outcome of child bearing which affects the wellbeing of both mother and newborn and has long-term effects. Hence, reliable potential biological tests for early detection of PPD are essential. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were associated with depressive disorders and the present study estimated the levels of serum FSH, LH in postpartum depression and explored them as predictive biomarkers in the development of PPD. In this nested case control study done at a tertiary care hospital in South India, 450 postpartum women were screened at 6th week post-delivery for PPD. Socio-demographic and clinical data were recorded and depressive symptoms were assessed using Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Out of 450 subjects screened, 100 women with depressive symptoms were categorized as cases and 100 controls were selected from the remaining subjects matching for age and BMI with cases. Serum levels of FSH and LH were measured using direct competitive immunoassay by chemiluminescene technology. Serum LH/FSH ratio was found to be significantly (p=0.02) low in PPD women when compared to normal postpartum subjects. We also found a significant negative correlation between LH/FSH ratio and EPDS scores. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cut-off value for serum of LH/FSH levels in predicting postpartum depression was estimated to be 0.22mlU/mL with an AUC of 0.598 (95%CI, 0.291-0.859). Our study demonstrated that low LH/FSH ratio after delivery was associated with increased risk for the development of PPD. Low LH/FSH ratio at six-week post delivery can be used as a robust biochemical predictor of post-partum depression. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cellular Factors Targeting APCs to Modulate Adaptive T Cell Immunity

PubMed Central

Do, Jeongsu; Min, Booki

2014-01-01

The fate of adaptive T cell immunity is determined by multiple cellular and molecular factors, among which the cytokine milieu plays the most important role in this process. Depending on the cytokines present during the initial T cell activation, T cells become effector cells that produce different effector molecules and execute adaptive immune functions. Studies thus far have primarily focused on defining how these factors control T cell differentiation by targeting T cells themselves. However, other non-T cells, particularly APCs, also express receptors for the factors and are capable of responding to them. In this review, we will discuss how APCs, by responding to those cytokines, influence T cell differentiation and adaptive immunity. PMID:25126585

Dead cell phagocytosis and innate immune checkpoint.

PubMed

Yoon, Kyoung Wan

2017-10-01

The human body loses several billions of cells daily. When cells die in vivo, the corpse of each dead cell is immediately cleared. Specifically, dead cells are efficiently recognized and cleared by multiple types of neighboring phagocytes. Early research on cell death focused more on molecular mechanisms of cell death regulation while the cellular corpses were merely considered cellular debris. However, it has come to light that various biological stimuli following cell death are important for immune regulation. Clearance of normal dead cells occurs silently in immune tolerance. Exogenous or mutated antigens of malignant or infected cells can initiate adaptive immunity, thereby inducing immunogenicity by adjuvant signals. Several pathogens and cancer cells have strategies to limit the adjuvant signals and escape immune surveillance. In this review, we present an overview of the mechanisms of dead cell clearance and its immune regulations. [BMB Reports 2017; 50(10): 496-503].

The comparative immunology of wild and laboratory mice, Mus musculus domesticus

PubMed Central

Abolins, Stephen; King, Elizabeth C.; Lazarou, Luke; Weldon, Laura; Hughes, Louise; Drescher, Paul; Raynes, John G.; Hafalla, Julius C. R.; Viney, Mark E.; Riley, Eleanor M.

2017-01-01

The laboratory mouse is the workhorse of immunology, used as a model of mammalian immune function, but how well immune responses of laboratory mice reflect those of free-living animals is unknown. Here we comprehensively characterize serological, cellular and functional immune parameters of wild mice and compare them with laboratory mice, finding that wild mouse cellular immune systems are, comparatively, in a highly activated (primed) state. Associations between immune parameters and infection suggest that high level pathogen exposure drives this activation. Moreover, wild mice have a population of highly activated myeloid cells not present in laboratory mice. By contrast, in vitro cytokine responses to pathogen-associated ligands are generally lower in cells from wild mice, probably reflecting the importance of maintaining immune homeostasis in the face of intense antigenic challenge in the wild. These data provide a comprehensive basis for validating (or not) laboratory mice as a useful and relevant immunological model system. PMID:28466840

Label-Retaining Stromal Cells in Mouse Endometrium Awaken for Expansion and Repair After Parturition

PubMed Central

Cao, Mingzhu; Yeung, William S.B.

2015-01-01

Human and mouse endometrium undergo dramatic cellular reorganization during pregnancy and postpartum. Somatic stem cells maintain homeostasis of the tissue by providing a cell reservoir for regeneration. We hypothesized that endometrial cells with quiescent properties (stem/progenitor cells) were involved in the regeneration of the endometrial tissue. Given that stem cells divide infrequently, they can retain the DNA synthesis label [bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)] after a prolonged chase period. In this study, prepubertal mice were pulsed with BrdU and after a 6-week chase a small population of label-retaining stromal cells (LRSC) was located primarily beneath the luminal epithelium, adjacent to blood vessels, and near the endometrial–myometrial junction. Marker analyses suggested that they were of mesenchymal origin expressing CD44+, CD90+, CD140b+, CD146+, and Sca-1+. During pregnancy, nonproliferating LRSC predominately resided at the interimplantation/placental loci of the gestational endometrium. Immediately after parturition, a significant portion of the LRSC underwent proliferation (BrdU+/Ki-67+) and expressed total and active β-catenin. The β-catenin expression in the LRSC was transiently elevated at postpartum day (PPD) 1. The proliferation of LRSC resulted in a significant decline in the proportion of LRSC in the postpartum uterus. The LRSC returned to dormancy at PPD7, and the percentage of LRSC remained stable thereafter until 11 weeks. This study demonstrated that LRSC can respond efficiently to physiological stimuli upon initiation of uterine involution and return to its quiescent state after postpartum repair. PMID:25386902

Investigation of the interfacial reaction between metal and fluorine-contained polyimides

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Ching-Yu; Chen, J. S.; Hsu, S. L. C.

2005-07-01

In this work, thin metal films (Cr and Ta) were deposited on fluorine-contained polyimides, 6FDA-BisAAF, and 6FDA-PPD. The chemical states of the metal/polyimide samples were characterized by using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XPS analysis reveals that metal-C, C-O, and metal-O bondings are present in metallized 6FDA-BisAAF and 6FDA-PPD. C-F bonds are observed in bare 6FDA-BisAAF and 6FDA-PPD however, they are not seen in the metallized samples. Disappearance of the C-F bonding is attributed to the disruption of CF3 side groups from the main chains of 6FDA-BisAAF and 6FDA-PPD when the chains are exposed to the plasma during the metal deposition. Nevertheless, the disruption of CF3 side groups also creates sites for the formation of metal-C or C-O bondings, which provide a positive adhesion strength at the metal/polyimide interface, as revealed by the tape test.

Word-initial /r/-clusters in Swedish speaking children with typical versus protracted phonological development.

PubMed

Lundeborg Hammarström, Inger

2018-01-01

The present study investigated word-initial (WI) /r/-clusters in Central Swedish-speaking children with and without protracted phonological development (PPD). Data for WI singleton /r/ and singleton and cluster /l/ served as comparisons. Participants were twelve 4-year-olds with PPD and twelve age- and gender-matched typically developing (TD) controls. Native speakers audio-recorded and transcribed 109 target single words using a Swedish phonology test with 12 WI C+/r/-clusters and three WI CC+/r/-clusters. The results showed significantly higher match scores for the TD children, a lower match proportion for the /r/ targets and for singletons compared with clusters, and differences in mismatch patterns between the groups. There were no matches for /r/-cluster targets in the PPD group, with all children except two in that group showing deletions for both /r/-cluster types. The differences in mismatch proportions and types between the PPD group and controls suggests new directions for future clinical practice.

Electrochemical investigation of functionalized graphene aerogel with different amount of p-phenylenediamine as an advanced electrode material for supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gholipour-Ranjbar, Habib; Ganjali, Mohammad Reza; Norouzi, Parviz; Naderi, Hamid Reza

2016-07-01

Graphene aerogel has attracted great attention as a new and efficient electrode material for supercapacitors. It can be expected that functionalization of graphene aerogels can further improve their capability. In this study, graphene aerogel functionalized with different amount of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and the effect of PPD amount on the supercapacitive performance of functionalized graphene aerogel (FGA) was investigated. Structural characterizations showed that PPD molecules initiated graphene aerogel sheets assembly into three-dimensional structures and also increasing PPD amount led to increase in surface area. Electrochemical investigations proved that the FGA with larger pore size showed enhanced supercapacitive performance compared with the FGA with smaller pore size. The optimized FGA-based electrode exhibited outstanding specific capacitance (SC) of 385 F g-1 at a discharge current density of 1 A g-1, good rate capability (215 F g-1 at 20 A g-1), and exceptionally high cyclic stability by displaying 25% increase in SC after 5000 cycle.

Photon path distribution and optical responses of turbid media: theoretical analysis based on the microscopic Beer-Lambert law.

PubMed

Tsuchiya, Y

2001-08-01

A concise theoretical treatment has been developed to describe the optical responses of a highly scattering inhomogeneous medium using functions of the photon path distribution (PPD). The treatment is based on the microscopic Beer-Lambert law and has been found to yield a complete set of optical responses by time- and frequency-domain measurements. The PPD is defined for possible photons having a total zigzag pathlength of l between the points of light input and detection. Such a distribution is independent of the absorption properties of the medium and can be uniquely determined for the medium under quantification. Therefore, the PPD can be calculated with an imaginary reference medium having the same optical properties as the medium under quantification except for the absence of absorption. One of the advantages of this method is that the optical responses, the total attenuation, the mean pathlength, etc are expressed by functions of the PPD and the absorption distribution.

The Immunology of Posttransplant CMV Infection: Potential Effect of CMV Immunoglobulins on Distinct Components of the Immune Response to CMV

PubMed Central

Carbone, Javier

2016-01-01

Abstract The immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is highly complex, including humoral, cellular, innate, and adaptive immune responses. Detection of CMV by the innate immune system triggers production of type I IFNs and inflammatory cytokines which initiate cellular and humoral responses that are critical during the early viremic phase of CMV infection. Sustained control of CMV infection is largely accounted for by cellular immunity, involving various T-cell and B-cell subsets. In solid organ transplant patients, global suppression of innate and adaptive immunities by immunosuppressive agents limits immunological defense, including inhibition of natural killer cell activity with ongoing lowering of Ig levels and CMV-specific antibody titers. This is coupled with a short-term suppression of CMV-specific T cells, the extent and duration of which can predict risk of progression to CMV viremia. CMV immunoglobulin (CMVIG) preparations have the potential to exert immunomodulatory effects as well as providing passive immunization. Specific CMVIG antibodies and virus neutralization might be enhanced by modulation of dendritic cell activity and by a decrease in T-cell activation, effects which are of importance during the initial phase of infection. In summary, the role of CMVIG in reconstituting specific anti-CMV antibodies may be enhanced by some degree of modulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses, which could help to control some of the direct and indirect effects of CMV infection. PMID:26900990

The Immunology of Posttransplant CMV Infection: Potential Effect of CMV Immunoglobulins on Distinct Components of the Immune Response to CMV.

PubMed

Carbone, Javier

2016-03-01

The immune response to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is highly complex, including humoral, cellular, innate, and adaptive immune responses. Detection of CMV by the innate immune system triggers production of type I IFNs and inflammatory cytokines which initiate cellular and humoral responses that are critical during the early viremic phase of CMV infection. Sustained control of CMV infection is largely accounted for by cellular immunity, involving various T-cell and B-cell subsets. In solid organ transplant patients, global suppression of innate and adaptive immunities by immunosuppressive agents limits immunological defense, including inhibition of natural killer cell activity with ongoing lowering of Ig levels and CMV-specific antibody titers. This is coupled with a short-term suppression of CMV-specific T cells, the extent and duration of which can predict risk of progression to CMV viremia. CMV immunoglobulin (CMVIG) preparations have the potential to exert immunomodulatory effects as well as providing passive immunization. Specific CMVIG antibodies and virus neutralization might be enhanced by modulation of dendritic cell activity and by a decrease in T-cell activation, effects which are of importance during the initial phase of infection. In summary, the role of CMVIG in reconstituting specific anti-CMV antibodies may be enhanced by some degree of modulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses, which could help to control some of the direct and indirect effects of CMV infection.

Periodontal parameters and BANA test in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

PubMed Central

TORRES, Sérgio Aparecido; ROSA, Odila Pereira da Silva; HAYACIBARA, Mitsue Fujimaki; GUIMARÃES, Maria do Carmo Machado; HAYACIBARA, Roberto M.; BRETZ, Walter Antônio

2010-01-01

Objectives The aim of this study was to analyze the periodontal parameters of patients with chronic renal failure. Material and Methods The periodontal status of 16 Brazilian patients aged 29 to 53 (41.7±7.2) years with chronic renal failure (CRF) and another matched group of 14 healthy controls with periodontitis was assessed clinically and microbiologically. Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), dental plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), and dental calculus index (CI) were the clinical parameters recorded for the entire dentition (at least 19 teeth), while the anaerobic periodontopathogen colonization in four sites with the highest PPD was evaluated using the BANA test (“PerioScan”; Oral B). Results The results for the CRF group and control group, respectively were: PPD: 1.77±0.32 and 2.65±0.53; GR: 0.58±0.56 and 0.51±0.36; PLI: 1.64±0.56 and 1.24±0.67; GI: 0.64±0.42 and 0.93±0.50; CI: 1.17±0.54 and 0.87±0.52. Comparison between groups using the "t" test revealed a significantly increased PPD (p<0.001) in the control group. Comparison of the other clincial parameters by the Mann-Whitney test showed differences only for PLI, which was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the CRF group. Spearman's test applied to each group showed a positive correlation among all clinical parameters, except for GR (p<0.05). None of the groups showed any correlation between GR and GI, while a significant negative correlation between GR and PPD was observed for the CRF group. The percentage of BANA-positive sites was 35.9% for the CRF group and 35.7% for the control group. The BANA test correlated positively with PPD only in the control group and with GR only in the CRF group. Conclusions In spite of a higher PLI and dense anaerobic microbial population even in shallow PPD, patients with CRF exhibited better periodontal conditions than periodontitis patients, which is an evidence of altered response to local irritants. PMID:20857011

Sexual function and postpartum depression 6 months after attempted operative vaginal delivery according to fetal head station: A prospective population-based cohort study

PubMed Central

Hamel, Jean-François; Brun, Stéphanie; Madar, Hugo; Merlot, Benjamin; Sentilhes, Loïc

2017-01-01

Objective To evaluate the effect of the fetal head station at attempted operative vaginal delivery (aOVD), and specifically midpelvic or low aOVD, on female and male sexual function and symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD) at 6 months. Design Prospective population-based cohort study. Setting 1,941 women with singleton term fetuses in vertex presentation with midpelvic or low aOVD between 2008 and 2013 in a tertiary care university hospital. Methods Symptoms of female sexual dysfunction using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence/Sexual Function Short Form Questionnaire (PISQ-12), symptoms of PPD using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score, symptoms of male sexual dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) and perineal pain were assessed 6 months after aOVD. We measured the association between midpelvic or low aOVD and symptoms of female and male sexual function and symptoms of PPD at 6 months using multiple regression and adjusting for demographics, and risk factors of sexual dysfunction, symptoms of PPD and perineal pain with adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results The study included 907 women (46.7%) who responded to the questionnaire; 18.4% (167/907) had midpelvic aOVD, and 81.6% (740/907) low. Most women (873/907 [96.3%]) of those with partners reported sexual activity at 6 months. No significant difference was observed for PISQ-12, EPDS, IIEF-15 scores and perineal pain between mid and low pelvic groups. Compared with low pelvic aOVD, midpelvic aOVD was not significantly associated with either female or male sexual dysfunction (p = 0.89 and p = 0.76, respectively), or maternal symptoms of PPD (p = 0.83). Perineal pain significantly increased the risk of male and female sexual dysfunction and maternal symptoms of PPD at 6 months (p = 0.02, p = 0.006, and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion Midpelvic compared with low pelvic aOVD was not associated with an increase in sexual dysfunction, nor with symptoms of PPD at 6 months. PMID:28591209

Impact of stimulus-related factors and hearing impairment on listening effort as indicated by pupil dilation.

PubMed

Ohlenforst, Barbara; Zekveld, Adriana A; Lunner, Thomas; Wendt, Dorothea; Naylor, Graham; Wang, Yang; Versfeld, Niek J; Kramer, Sophia E

2017-08-01

Previous research has reported effects of masker type and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) on listening effort, as indicated by the peak pupil dilation (PPD) relative to baseline during speech recognition. At about 50% correct sentence recognition performance, increasing SNRs generally results in declining PPDs, indicating reduced effort. However, the decline in PPD over SNRs has been observed to be less pronounced for hearing-impaired (HI) compared to normal-hearing (NH) listeners. The presence of a competing talker during speech recognition generally resulted in larger PPDs as compared to the presence of a fluctuating or stationary background noise. The aim of the present study was to examine the interplay between hearing-status, a broad range of SNRs corresponding to sentence recognition performance varying from 0 to 100% correct, and different masker types (stationary noise and single-talker masker) on the PPD during speech perception. Twenty-five HI and 32 age-matched NH participants listened to sentences across a broad range of SNRs, masked with speech from a single talker (-25 dB to +15 dB SNR) or with stationary noise (-12 dB to +16 dB). Correct sentence recognition scores and pupil responses were recorded during stimulus presentation. With a stationary masker, NH listeners show maximum PPD across a relatively narrow range of low SNRs, while HI listeners show relatively large PPD across a wide range of ecological SNRs. With the single-talker masker, maximum PPD was observed in the mid-range of SNRs around 50% correct sentence recognition performance, while smaller PPDs were observed at lower and higher SNRs. Mixed-model ANOVAs revealed significant interactions between hearing-status and SNR on the PPD for both masker types. Our data show a different pattern of PPDs across SNRs between groups, which indicates that listening and the allocation of effort during listening in daily life environments may be different for NH and HI listeners. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Etiological periodontal treatment with and without low-level laser therapy on IL-1β level in gingival crevicular fluid: an in vivo multicentric pilot study.

PubMed

Mastrangelo, F; Dedola, A; Cattoni, F; Ferrini, F; Bova, F; Tatullo, M; Gherlone, E; Lo Muzio, L

2018-01-01

Cytokine proteins may have important roles during different human physiological and pathological processes. In the oral cavity, the bone loss and periodontal tissue pathology was related to inflammatory process activation. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of etiological periodontal therapy with and without the use of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on clinical periodontal parameters and interleukin (IL)-1β level in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from chronic periodontitis (CP) patients. Thirty non-smoker CP patients were selected from the Foggia University Dental Clinic and other 2 private dental clinics. All patients were divided into two homogeneous randomized groups: 15 patients were treated with only scaling and root planing (group 1) and 15 patients with scaling and root planing etiological treatment and LLLT (group 2). In all sites, at baseline before treatment, the periodontal pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP) were measured. In the PPD sites, the GCF samples were collected from 30 deep (≥5 mm) and shallow (≤3 mm) sites and IL-1β were evaluated at baseline, after 10 days and 1 month. In all the samples at baseline, the IL-1β concentration in GCF and BOP rate were significantly higher at deep PPD sites than at the shallow ones. After 10 days in all samples no PPD improvement was observed in the BOP rate but the IL-1 β level was statistically significantly improved (p<0.005) in group 2 compared to group 1. At 10 days and 1 month, in all deep PPD sites, PPD and BOP improvements were observed. At same time, IL-1β levels were lower and statistically significantly (p<0.005) improved in group 2 compared to group 1. The results confirmed that the periodontal etiology treatment of deep PPD sites with or with-out associated LLLT promotes periodontal health. Etiological treatment associated with LLLT, improves BOP and inflammation in periodontal disease. Moreover, the IL-1β concentration changes in GCF suggest these cytokines as a predictable marker of gingival inflammation in chronic periodontitis patients.

Measuring Cellular Immunity to Influenza: Methods of Detection, Applications and Challenges

PubMed Central

Coughlan, Lynda; Lambe, Teresa

2015-01-01

Influenza A virus is a respiratory pathogen which causes both seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics; infection continues to be a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Current influenza vaccines principally stimulate humoral immune responses that are largely directed towards the variant surface antigens of influenza. Vaccination can result in an effective, albeit strain-specific antibody response and there is a need for vaccines that can provide superior, long-lasting immunity to influenza. Vaccination approaches targeting conserved viral antigens have the potential to provide broadly cross-reactive, heterosubtypic immunity to diverse influenza viruses. However, the field lacks consensus on the correlates of protection for cellular immunity in reducing severe influenza infection, transmission or disease outcome. Furthermore, unlike serological methods such as the standardized haemagglutination inhibition assay, there remains a large degree of variation in both the types of assays and method of reporting cellular outputs. T-cell directed immunity has long been known to play a role in ameliorating the severity and/or duration of influenza infection, but the precise phenotype, magnitude and longevity of the requisite protective response is unclear. In order to progress the development of universal influenza vaccines, it is critical to standardize assays across sites to facilitate direct comparisons between clinical trials. PMID:26343189

Antibody and Cytokine Responses of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) Vaccinated with Recombinant Chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) with Two Different Adjuvants

PubMed Central

Khan, Shahneaz Ali; Desclozeaux, Marion; Waugh, Courtney; Hanger, Jon; Loader, Jo; Gerdts, Volker; Potter, Andrew; Polkinghorne, Adam; Beagley, Kenneth; Timms, Peter

2016-01-01

Developing a vaccine against Chlamydia is key to combating widespread mortalities and morbidities associated with this infection in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). In previous studies, we have shown that two or three doses of a Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein (rMOMP) antigen-based vaccine, combined with immune stimulating complex (ISC) adjuvant, results in strong cellular and humoral immune responses in koalas. We have also separately evaluated a single dose vaccine, utilising a tri-adjuvant formula that comprises polyphosphazine based poly I: C and host defense peptides, with the same antigen. This formulation also produced strong cellular and humoral immune responses in captive koalas. In this current study, we directly compared the host immune responses of two sub-groups of wild Chlamydia negative koalas in one population vaccinated with the rMOMP protein antigen and adjuvanted with either the ISC or tri-adjuvant formula. Overall, both adjuvants produced strong Chlamydia-specific cellular (IFN-γ and IL-17A) responses in circulating PBMCs as well as MOMP-specific and functional, in vitro neutralising antibodies. While the immune responses were similar, there were adjuvant-specific immune differences between the two adjuvants, particularly in relation to the specificity of the MOMP epitope antibody responses. PMID:27219467

Reprint of "fish immunity to scuticociliate parasites".

PubMed

Piazzon, María Carla; Leiro, José; Lamas, Jesús

2014-04-01

Some species of scuticociliates (Ciliophora) behave as facultative parasites and produce severe mortalities in cultured fish. Pathogenic scuticociliates can cause surface lesions and can also penetrate inside the body, where they feed on tissue and proliferate in the blood and most internal organs, killing the host in a few days. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the protective role of fish cellular and humoral immune responses against these parasites. Immune humoral factors, especially complement, are of particular importance in defending fish against these ciliates. However, knowledge about how the fish immune system responds to scuticociliates is scant, and the cellular and molecular events that occur during the response are not known. We also describe the possible mechanisms used by scuticociliates to avoid or resist the defensive reaction of the host. For example, the release of proteases can help parasites enter fish tissues and impair the fish cellular and humoral responses. Several vaccine formulations containing scuticociliates have induced a good antibody response and protection in fish immunized and challenged with homologous strains of particular species. However, protection was not achieved in fish immunized and challenged with heterologous strains, and the antigens involved in protection and the antigenic differences between heterologous strains have not yet been determined. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Fish immunity to scuticociliate parasites.

PubMed

Piazzon, María Carla; Leiro, José; Lamas, Jesús

2013-10-01

Some species of scuticociliates (Ciliophora) behave as facultative parasites and produce severe mortalities in cultured fish. Pathogenic scuticociliates can cause surface lesions and can also penetrate inside the body, where they feed on tissue and proliferate in the blood and most internal organs, killing the host in a few days. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on the protective role of fish cellular and humoral immune responses against these parasites. Immune humoral factors, especially complement, are of particular importance in defending fish against these ciliates. However, knowledge about how the fish immune system responds to scuticociliates is scant, and the cellular and molecular events that occur during the response are not known. We also describe the possible mechanisms used by scuticociliates to avoid or resist the defensive reaction of the host. For example, the release of proteases can help parasites enter fish tissues and impair the fish cellular and humoral responses. Several vaccine formulations containing scuticociliates have induced a good antibody response and protection in fish immunized and challenged with homologous strains of particular species. However, protection was not achieved in fish immunized and challenged with heterologous strains, and the antigens involved in protection and the antigenic differences between heterologous strains have not yet been determined. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Linking tumor glycolysis and immune evasion in cancer: Emerging concepts and therapeutic opportunities.

PubMed

Ganapathy-Kanniappan, Shanmugasundaram

2017-08-01

Metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion are two hallmarks of cancer. Metabolic reprogramming is exemplified by cancer's propensity to utilize glucose at an exponential rate which in turn is linked with "aerobic glycolysis", popularly known as the "Warburg effect". Tumor glycolysis is pivotal for the efficient management of cellular bioenergetics and uninterrupted cancer growth. Mounting evidence suggests that tumor glycolysis also plays a key role in instigating immunosuppressive networks that are critical for cancer cells to escape immune surveillance ("immune evasion"). Recent data show that induction of cellular stress or metabolic dysregulation sensitize cancer cells to antitumor immune cells implying that metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion harmonize during cancer progression. However, the molecular link between these two hallmarks of cancer remains obscure. In this review the molecular intricacies of tumor glycolysis that facilitate immune evasion has been discussed in the light of recent research to explore immunotherapeutic potential of targeting cancer metabolism. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cellular Immunosenescence in Adult Male Crickets, Gryllus assimilis

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Ecological immunity studies in invertebrates, particularly insects, have generated new insights into trade-offs between immune functions and other physiological parameters. These studies document physiologically-directed reallocations of immune costs to other high-cost areas of physiology. Immunos...

A leukocyte activation test identifies food items which induce release of DNA by innate immune peripheral blood leucocytes.

PubMed

Garcia-Martinez, Irma; Weiss, Theresa R; Yousaf, Muhammad N; Ali, Ather; Mehal, Wajahat Z

2018-01-01

Leukocyte activation (LA) testing identifies food items that induce a patient specific cellular response in the immune system, and has recently been shown in a randomized double blinded prospective study to reduce symptoms in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We hypothesized that test reactivity to particular food items, and the systemic immune response initiated by these food items, is due to the release of cellular DNA from blood immune cells. We tested this by quantifying total DNA concentration in the cellular supernatant of immune cells exposed to positive and negative foods from 20 healthy volunteers. To establish if the DNA release by positive samples is a specific phenomenon, we quantified myeloperoxidase (MPO) in cellular supernatants. We further assessed if a particular immune cell population (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils) was activated by the positive food items by flow cytometry analysis. To identify the signaling pathways that are required for DNA release we tested if specific inhibitors of key signaling pathways could block DNA release. Foods with a positive LA test result gave a higher supernatant DNA content when compared to foods with a negative result. This was specific as MPO levels were not increased by foods with a positive LA test. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors resulted in inhibition of positive food stimulated DNA release. Positive foods resulted in CD63 levels greater than negative foods in eosinophils in 76.5% of tests. LA test identifies food items that result in release of DNA and activation of peripheral blood innate immune cells in a PKC dependent manner, suggesting that this LA test identifies food items that result in release of inflammatory markers and activation of innate immune cells. This may be the basis for the improvement in symptoms in IBS patients who followed an LA test guided diet.

Using Qualitative Research To Define Statewide Professional Personnel Development.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wichowski, Chester P.; Walker, Thomas J.

The Temple University Center for Vocational Education Professional Personnel Development (PPD), one of three regional centers in Pennsylvania, used qualitative strategies for steering PPD programs. Center personnel found that collecting quantitative data was absolutely necessary to determine whether objectives were being met, but was not always…

[Parental care and post partum depression: a case report].

PubMed

Aceti, Franca; Carluccio, Giuseppe Mattia; Meuti, Valentina; Piperno, Francesca; Sogos, Carla; Straniero Sergio, Bianca; Nicolis, Sara

2012-01-01

The post partum depression (PPD) is a severe risk factor for the emotional and cognitive development of offspring. The Authors describe the relationship between mother with PPD and her two-year old child. The mother repeats patterns of parental care experienced during her own childhood.

Oral Combination Vaccine, Comprising Bifidobacterium Displaying Hepatitis C Virus Nonstructural Protein 3 and Interferon-α, Induces Strong Cellular Immunity Specific to Nonstructural Protein 3 in Mice.

PubMed

Kitagawa, Koichi; Omoto, Chika; Oda, Tsugumi; Araki, Ayame; Saito, Hiroki; Shigemura, Katsumi; Katayama, Takane; Hotta, Hak; Shirakawa, Toshiro

2017-04-01

We previously generated an oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) vaccine using Bifidobacterium displaying the HCV nonstructural protein 3 (NS3) polypeptide. NS3-specific cellular immunity is important for viral clearance and recovery from HCV infection. In this study, we enhanced the cellular immune responses induced by our oral HCV vaccine, Bifidobacterium longum 2165 (B. longum 2165), by combining interferon-α (IFN-α) as an adjuvant with the vaccine in a mouse experimental model. IFN-α is a widely used cytokine meeting the standard of care (SOC) for HCV infection and plays various immunoregulatory roles. We treated C57BL/6N mice with B. longum 2165 every other day and/or IFN-α twice a week for a month and then analyzed the immune responses using spleen cells. We determined the induction of NS3-specific cellular immunity by cytokine quantification, intracellular cytokine staining, and a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay targeting EL4 tumor cells expressing NS3/4A protein (EL4-NS3/4A). We also treated mice bearing EL4-NS3/4A tumor with the combination therapy in vivo. The results confirmed that the combination therapy of B. longum 2165 and IFN-α induced significantly higher IFN-γ secretion, higher population of CD4 + T and CD8 + T cells secreting IFN-γ, and higher CTL activity against EL4-NS3/4A cells compared with the control groups of phosphate-buffered saline, B. longum 2165 alone, and IFN-α alone (p < 0.05). We also confirmed that the combination therapy strongly enhanced tumor growth inhibitory effects in vivo with no serious adverse effects (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the combination of B. longum 2165 and IFN-α could induce a strong cellular immunity specific to NS3 protein as a combination therapy augmenting the current SOC immunotherapy against chronic HCV infection.

Postpartum Depression Among Asian Indian Mothers.

PubMed

Goyal, Deepika; Park, Van Ta; McNiesh, Susan

2015-01-01

To explore Asian Indian mothers' perspectives of postpartum depression (PPD) and mental health help-seeking behavior. Qualitative exploratory design. Using convenience sampling, postpartum mothers were recruited through flyers posted in public places and on social media sites. Postpartum depression risk was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) prior to qualitative interviews. Content analysis methods were used to extract themes from participant narratives. Twelve self-identified, married, Asian Indian mothers, aged between 29 and 40 years, living in Northern California, who gave birth to a healthy infant within the last 12 months, took part in this study. Scores on the EPDS indicated two participants were at an increased risk for developing PPD. Content analysis revealed two emerging themes: (1) Culture-specific postpartum practices and ceremonies and their role in maternal-infant postpartum recovery; and (2) Maternal mental health help-seeking behavior. Nurses taking care of women during the extended prenatal and postpartum period have the unique opportunity to build rapport with their patients which can offer a window of opportunity to educate and help dispel myths about PPD symptoms and treatment. To promote successful maternal-infant outcomes, PPD education should be initiated at the first prenatal appointment, continue during the pregnancy, and be incorporated into well-baby visits through the first postpartum year. Education should include signs and symptoms of PPD as well as importance of timely mental-health help-seeking.

How do medical educators design a curriculum that facilitates student learning about professionalism?

PubMed Central

Mason, Glenn; Wang, Shaoyu

2016-01-01

Objectives This study analyses the ways in which curriculum reform facilitated student learning about professionalism. Methods Design-based research provided the structure for an iterative approach to curriculum change which we undertook over a 3 year period. The learning environment of the Personal and Professional Development Theme (PPD) was analysed through the sociocultural lens of Activity Theory. Lave and Wenger’s and Mezirow’s learning theories informed curriculum reform to support student development of a patient-centred and critically reflective professional identity. The renewed pedagogical outcomes were aligned with curriculum content, learning and teaching processes and assessment, and intense staff education was undertaken. We analysed qualitative data from tutor interviews and free-response student surveys to evaluate the impact of curriculum reform. Results Students’ and tutors’ reflections on learning in PPD converged on two principle themes - ‘Developing a philosophy of medicine’ and ‘Becoming an ethical doctor’- which corresponded to the overarching PPD theme aims of communicative learning. Students and tutors emphasised the importance of the unique learning environment of PPD tutorials for nurturing personal development and the positive impact of the renewed assessment programme on learning. Conclusions A theory-led approach to curriculum reform resulted in student engagement in the PPD curriculum and facilitated a change in student perspective about the epistemological foundation of medicine. PMID:26845777

Multicenter clinical trial on a permanent hair dye containing paratoluenediamine.

PubMed

Foti, Caterina; Balato, Nicola; Cristaudo, Antonio; Patruno, Cataldo; Pigatto, Paolo; Ambrifi, Marina; Bufano, Tamara; Damiani, Giovanni; De Rocco, Mariagrazia; Diani, Marco; Napolitano, Maddalena; Romita, Paolo

2018-08-01

Adverse reactions to hair dyes are frequent and usually caused by sensitization to paraphenylenediamine (PPD). The aim of the study was to evaluate the tolerability of a PPD-free permanent hair dye (Shine On, BioNike, Milan, Italy) containing paratoluenediamine (PTD) in a group of subjects sensitized to PPD. The trial, which carried out at four dermatology centers, included subjects sensitized to PPD that turned out negative to patch testing to PTD. The subjects underwent to an open test consisting in the application of two hair dye colors of the product under examination. Finally, subjects who were negative upon the open test were offered to undergo the usage test with the dye, with dermatological evaluations carried out 48 and 96 hours after product application. Sixty subjects were enrolled. They underwent the open test with two shades of dyes: "color 1 - black," the dye color with the highest concentration of color intermediates, and "color 7.3 - golden blonde," the dye color with the highest number of chemically different color intermediates. No reactions occurred with "color 7.3 - golden blonde," while 3 cases (3 out of 60) showed erythema and edema reactions to color 1. The hair dye usage test was negative for all the 21 subjects that were enrolled. The hair dye evaluated in this study (Shine On, BioNike) can be a valid alternative for subjects sensitized to PPD.

Hair dye dermatitis and p-phenylenediamine contact sensitivity: A preliminary report

PubMed Central

Gupta, Mrinal; Mahajan, Vikram K.; Mehta, Karaninder S.; Chauhan, Pushpinder S.

2015-01-01

Background: The contact allergic reactions from p-phenylenediamine (PPD) in hair dyes vary from mild contact dermatitis to severe life- threatening events (angioedema, bronchospasm, asthma, renal impairment). Objectives: To study the clinical patterns and PPD contact sensitivity in patients with hair-dye dermatitis. Materials and Methods: Eighty (M:F 47:33) consecutive patients aged between 18 and 74 years suspected to have contact allergy from hair dye were studied by patch testing with Indian Standard Series including p-phenylenediamine (PPD, 1.0% pet). Results: 54 Fifty-four (M:F 21:33) patients showed positive patch tests from PPD. Eight of these patients also showed positive patch test reaction from fragrance mix, thiuram mix, paraben mix, or colophony. Fifty-seven (71%) patients affected were aged older than 40 years. The duration of dermatitis varied from < 1 month to > 1 year with exacerbation following hair coloring. Forty-nine patients had dermatitis of scalp and/or scalp margins and 23 patients had face and neck dermatitis. Periorbital dermatitis, chronic actinic dermatitis, and erythema multiforme-like lesions were seen in 4, 2, and 1 patients, respectively. Conclusions: Hair dyes and PPD constitute a significant cause of contact dermatitis. There is an urgent need for creating consumer awareness regarding hair-dyes contact sensitivity and the significance of performing sensitivity testing prior to actual use. PMID:26225326

Influences of maternal postpartum depression on fathers and on father-infant interaction.

PubMed

Goodman, Janice H

2008-11-01

Maternal postpartum depression (PPD) has been shown to negatively influence mother-infant interaction; however, little research has explored how fathers and father-infant interaction are affected when a mother is depressed. This study examined the influence of maternal PPD on fathers and identified maternal and paternal factors associated with father-infant interaction in families with depressed as compared with nondepressed mothers. A convenience sample of 128 mother-father-infant triads, approximately half of which included women with significant symptoms of PPD at screening, were recruited from a screening sample of 790 postpartum women. Mothers and fathers completed measures of depression, marital satisfaction, and parenting stress at 2 to 3 months' postpartum and were each videotaped interacting with their infants. Results indicate that maternal PPD is associated with increased paternal depression and higher paternal parenting stress. Partners of depressed women demonstrated less optimal interaction with their infants, indicating that fathers do not compensate for the negative effects of maternal depression on the child. Although mother-infant interaction did not influence father-infant interaction, how the mother felt about her relationship with the infant did, even more so than maternal depression. The links between maternal PPD, fathers, and father-infant interaction indicate a need for further understanding of the reciprocal influences between mothers, fathers, and infants. Copyright © 2008 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

Association between serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and chronic periodontitis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Primasari, A.; Sihombing, K. P.

2018-03-01

Serum concentration of [25(OH)D] in Indonesia is at low level although Indonesia is one of Asia country which has a tropical climate. Vitamin D as an immunomodulatory agent invitro and in animal studies. However, data from clinical studies involvement vitamin D to chronic periodontitis are still controversy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum concentration of [25(OH)D] and chronic periodontitis. Totally 45 chronic periodontitis patients were analyzed. Spearman correlation models adjusted for subject and parameter included periodontal pocket depth (PPD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), and bleeding on probing (BOP) are analyzed. Totally 51.11% person have serum concentration of [25(OH)D] 21-50ng/mL were called insufficiency, and 15.56% is deficiency. Mean values of PPD >3mm indicating moderate criteria, CAL >4mm meaning severe criteria, and mean grade of BOP >2 degrees means the interdental papilla appears to be filled with little or much blood. Spearman correlation test results showed an inverse correlation between serum concentration of [25(OH)D] to the value of PPD, CAL, and BOP, however, was not statistically significant (r PPD -0.09; r CAL -0.118; r BOP 0.001, p>0.05). Insufficiency serum concentration of 25- hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was not associated significantly with PPD, CAL, and BOP of chronic periodontitis.

Postpartum depression and infant-mother attachment security at one year: The impact of co-morbid maternal personality disorders.

PubMed

Smith-Nielsen, Johanne; Tharner, Anne; Steele, Howard; Cordes, Katharina; Mehlhase, Heike; Vaever, Mette Skovgaard

2016-08-01

Previous studies on effects of postpartum depression (PPD) on infant-mother attachment have been divergent. This may be due to not taking into account the effects of stable difficulties not specific for depression, such as maternal personality disorder (PD). Mothers (N=80) were recruited for a longitudinal study either during pregnancy (comparison group) or eight weeks postpartum (clinical group). Infants of mothers with depressive symptoms only or in combination with a PD diagnosis were compared with infants of mothers with no psychopathology. Depression and PD were assessed using self-report and clinical interviews. Infant-mother attachment was assessed when infants were 13 months using Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). Attachment (in)security was calculated as a continuous score based on the four interactive behavioral scales of the SSP, and the conventional scale for attachment disorganization was used. PPD was associated with attachment insecurity only if the mother also had a PD diagnosis. Infants of PPD mothers without co-morbid PD did not differ from infants of mothers with no psychopathology. These results suggest that co-existing PD may be crucial in understanding how PPD impacts on parenting and infant social-emotional development. Stable underlying factors may magnify or buffer effects of PPD on parenting and child outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prenatal predictors of postpartum depression and postpartum depressive symptoms in Mexican mothers: a longitudinal study.

PubMed

Lara, María Asunción; Navarrete, Laura; Nieto, Lourdes

2016-10-01

Prospective studies on the predictors of postpartum depression (PPD) in Latin America are scarce, which is a matter of importance, since the significance of PPD risk factors may vary according to the level of development of a country, the types of measurement and the time periods assessed. This study identifies the prenatal predictors for PPD (diagnostic interview) and postpartum depressive symptoms (PPDS) (self-report scale) in Mexican mothers at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Two hundred and ten women were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-I), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and various risk factor scales. Univariate logistic regressions showed that social support, marital satisfaction, life events, a history of psychopathology, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, the traditional female role, previous miscarriages/termination of pregnancy and unplanned/unwanted pregnancy were significant predictors for both PPD and PPDS at both assessment times in the postpartum. Education, age, marital status, income, occupation, parity, C-section and resilience were significant for only one of the measurements and/or at just one assessment time. General findings replicate a high- and low-income country observed psychosocial risk profile and confirm a sociodemographic and obstetric profile of vulnerability that is more prevalent in resource-constrained countries. PPD constitutes a high burden for new mothers, particularly for those living in low-middle-income countries who face social disadvantages (such as low educational attainment and income).

Contact allergy to common ingredients in hair dyes.

PubMed

Søsted, Heidi; Rustemeyer, Thomas; Gonçalo, Margarida; Bruze, Magnus; Goossens, An; Giménez-Arnau, Ana M; Le Coz, Christophe J; White, Ian R; Diepgen, Thomas L; Andersen, Klaus E; Agner, Tove; Maibach, Howard; Menné, Torkil; Johansen, Jeanne D

2013-07-01

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is the primary patch test screening agent for hair dye contact allergy, and approximately 100 different hair dye chemicals are allowed. To examine whether PPD is an optimal screening agent for diagnosing hair dye allergy or whether other clinically important sensitizers exist. Two thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine consecutive patients in 12 dermatology clinics were patch tested with five hair dyes available from patch test suppliers. Furthermore, 22 frequently used hair dye ingredients not available from patch test suppliers were tested in subgroups of ~500 patients each. A positive reaction to PPD was found in 4.5% of patients, and 2.8% reacted to toluene-2,5-diamine (PTD), 1.8% to p-aminophenol, 1% to m-aminophenol, and 0.1% to resorcinol; all together, 5.3% (n = 156). Dying hair was the most frequently reported cause of the allergy (55.4%); so-called 'temporary henna' tattoos were the cause in 8.5% of the cases. p-Methylaminophenol gave a reaction in 20 patients (2.2%), 3 of them with clinical relevance, and no co-reaction with the above five well-known hair dyes. Hair dyes are the prime cause of PPD allergy. PPD identifies the majority of positive reactions to PTD, p-aminophenol and m-aminophenol, but not all, which justifies additional testing with hair dye ingredients from the used product. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A three-component system incorporating Ppd-D1, copy number variation at Ppd-B1, and numerous small-effect quantitative trait loci facilitates adaptation of heading time in winter wheat cultivars of worldwide origin.

PubMed

Würschum, Tobias; Langer, Simon M; Longin, C Friedrich H; Tucker, Matthew R; Leiser, Willmar L

2018-06-01

The broad adaptability of heading time has contributed to the global success of wheat in a diverse array of climatic conditions. Here, we investigated the genetic architecture underlying heading time in a large panel of 1,110 winter wheat cultivars of worldwide origin. Genome-wide association mapping, in combination with the analysis of major phenology loci, revealed a three-component system that facilitates the adaptation of heading time in winter wheat. The photoperiod sensitivity locus Ppd-D1 was found to account for almost half of the genotypic variance in this panel and can advance or delay heading by many days. In addition, copy number variation at Ppd-B1 was the second most important source of variation in heading, explaining 8.3% of the genotypic variance. Results from association mapping and genomic prediction indicated that the remaining variation is attributed to numerous small-effect quantitative trait loci that facilitate fine-tuning of heading to the local climatic conditions. Collectively, our results underpin the importance of the two Ppd-1 loci for the adaptation of heading time in winter wheat and illustrate how the three components have been exploited for wheat breeding globally. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Early severe scoliosis in a patient with atypical progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPD): Identification of two WISP3 mutations, one previously unreported.

PubMed

Montané, Lucia Sentchordi; Marín, Oliver R; Rivera-Pedroza, Carlos I; Vallespín, Elena; Del Pozo, Ángela; Heath, Karen E

2016-06-01

Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPD) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia associated with pain and stiffness of multiple joints, enlargement of the interphalangeal joints, normal inflammatory parameters, and absence of extra-skeletal manifestations. Homozygous or compound heterozygous WISP3 mutations cause PPD. We report two siblings from a non-consanguineous Ecuadorian family with a late-onset spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Mutation screening was undertaken in the two affected siblings using a customized skeletal dysplasia next generation sequencing (NGS) panel and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Two compound heterozygous mutations were identified in WISP3 exon 2, c.[190G>A];[197G>A] (p.[(Gly64Arg)];[(Ser66Asn)]) in the two siblings, both of which had been inherited. The p. (Gly64Arg) mutation has not been previously described whilst the p. (Ser66Asn) mutation has been reported in two PPD families. The two siblings presented with atypical PPD, as they presented during late childhood, yet the severity was different between them. The progression was particularly aggressive in the male sibling who suffered severe scoliosis by the age of 13 years. This case reaffirms the clinical heterogeneity of this disorder and the clinical utility of NGS to genetically diagnose skeletal dysplasias, enabling adequate management, monitorization, and genetic counseling. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Antenatal and postnatal risk factors of postpartum depression symptoms in Thai women: A case-control study.

PubMed

Roomruangwong, Chutima; Withayavanitchai, Sinaporn; Maes, Michael

2016-12-01

To examine the effects of different predictors on the incidence and severity of postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms in a Thai population. In this case control study we delineate the clinical, demographic and socio-economic risk factors associated with PPD symptoms. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) 4-6 weeks postpartum to divide parturients into those with (n = 53) and without (n = 260) PPD using a cutoff score of 11. This study confirms previous risk factors for PPD (i.e. a history of lifetime major depression and PPD, a history of depression during pregnancy, multi-parity, unwanted pregnancy, childcare stress, premenstrual syndrome, pain symptoms in the early puerperium), and describes new risk factors (i.e. use of caffeine during pregnancy and baby feeding problems). There are significant associations between (a) a lifetime history of major depression and depression during pregnancy, a history of postpartum depression and lifetime mania; and (b) a history of lifetime mania and a history of depression during pregnancy and a history of postpartum depression. A history of lifetime major depression and depression during pregnancy are the most important risk factors for postnatal depression, suggesting that sensitization processes increase risk towards postpartum depression. Postpartum depression may be a subtype of unipolar depression or bipolar disorder. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DNA methylation pattern of Photoperiod-B1 is associated with photoperiod insensitivity in wheat (Triticum aestivum).

PubMed

Sun, Han; Guo, Zhiai; Gao, Lifeng; Zhao, Guangyao; Zhang, Wenping; Zhou, Ronghua; Wu, Yongzhen; Wang, Haiyang; An, Hailong; Jia, Jizeng

2014-11-01

As one of the three key components of the 'Green Revolution', photoperiod insensitivity is vital for improved adaptation of wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars to a wider geographical range. Photoperiod-B1a (Ppd-B1a) is one of the major genes that confers photoperiod insensitivity in 'Green Revolution' varieties, and has made a significant contribution to wheat yield improvement. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the photoperiod insensitivity of Ppd-B1a alleles from an epigenetic perspective using a combination of bisulfite genomic sequencing, orthologous comparative analysis, association analysis, linkage analysis and gene expression analysis. Based on the study of a large collection of wheat germplasm, we report two methylation haplotypes of Ppd-B1 and demonstrate that the higher methylation haplotype (haplotype a) was associated with increased copy numbers and higher expression levels of the Ppd-B1 gene, earlier heading and photoperiod insensitivity. Furthermore, assessment of the distribution frequency of the different methylation haplotypes suggested that the methylation patterns have undergone selection during the wheat breeding process. Our study suggests that DNA methylation in the regulatory region of the Ppd-B1 alleles, which is closely related to copy number variation, plays a significant role in wheat breeding, to confer photoperiod insensitivity and better adaptation to a wider geographical range. © 2014 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2014 New Phytologist Trust.

Chlamydia muridarum Alters the Immune Environment of the Murine Genital Tract to be More Permissive for Infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a Novel Coinfection Model

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-04-05

Immun 39:1491-4. 35. Brunham, R. C., D. H. Martin , C. C. Kuo, S. P. Wang, C. E. Stevens, T. Hubbard, and K. K. Holmes. 1981. Cellular immune...Greene, B. Smith, M. Hagensee, D. H. Martin , and A. J. Quayle. 2008. A distinct cellular profile is seen in the human endocervix during Chlamydia...and persistence. BMC Microbiol 8:5. 131. Hobbs, M. M., T. M. Alcorn, R. H. Davis, W. Fischer, J. C. Thomas, I. Martin , C. Ison, P. F. Sparling, and

Histocompatibility antigens and genetic control of the immune response in guinea-pigs. V. Evidence from further breeding studies for the polygenic control of the cellular immune response to structurally unrelated antigens in the guinea-pig.

PubMed

Geczy, A F; de Weck, A L

1977-10-01

Further breeding studies were carried out to investigate the polygenic control of the cellular immune response in the guinea-pig to low doses of aspirin anhydride (ASAN), penicilloylated bovine immunoglobulin (BPO-BGG) and to the multi-chain copolymer (T, G)-A-L. Although responsiveness to these three antigens is controlled by three independently segregating loci, at least one gene required for these responses is linked to the strain 13 haplotype.

Cellular immune responses to HPV-18, -31, and -53 in healthy volunteers immunized with recombinant HPV-16 L1 virus-like particles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pinto, Ligia A.; Viscidi, Raphael; Harro, Clayton D.

Human papillomavirus-like particles (HPV VLP) are candidate vaccines that have shown to be efficacious in reducing infection and inducing robust antiviral immunity. Neutralizing antibodies generated by vaccination are largely type-specific, but little is known about the type-specificity of cellular immune responses to VLP vaccination. To determine whether vaccination with HPV-16 L1VLP induces cellular immunity to heterologous HPV types (HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-53), we examined proliferative and cytokine responses in vaccine (n = 11) and placebo (n = 5) recipients. Increased proliferative and cytokine responses to heterologous types were observed postvaccination in some individuals. The proportion of women responding to heterologousmore » types postvaccination (36%-55%) was lower than that observed in response to HPV-16 (73%). Response to HPV-16 VLP predicted response to other types. The strongest correlations in response were observed between HPV-16 and HPV-31, consistent with their phylogenetic relatedness. In summary, PBMC from HPV-16 VLP vaccine recipients can respond to L1VLP from heterologous HPV types, suggesting the presence of conserved T cell epitopes.« less

Vaccination with Combination DNA and Virus-Like Particles Enhances Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses upon Boost with Recombinant Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Expressing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Envelope Proteins.

PubMed

Gangadhara, Sailaja; Kwon, Young-Man; Jeeva, Subbiah; Quan, Fu-Shi; Wang, Baozhong; Moss, Bernard; Compans, Richard W; Amara, Rama Rao; Jabbar, M Abdul; Kang, Sang-Moo

2017-12-19

Heterologous prime boost with DNA and recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) vaccines is considered as a promising vaccination approach against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). To further enhance the efficacy of DNA-rMVA vaccination, we investigated humoral and cellular immune responses in mice after three sequential immunizations with DNA, a combination of DNA and virus-like particles (VLP), and rMVA expressing HIV-1 89.6 gp120 envelope proteins (Env). DNA prime and boost with a combination of VLP and DNA vaccines followed by an rMVA boost induced over a 100-fold increase in Env-specific IgG antibody titers compared to three sequential immunizations with DNA and rMVA. Cellular immune responses were induced by VLP-DNA and rMVA vaccinations at high levels in CD8 T cells, CD4 T cells, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells secreting interferon (IFN)-γ, and spleen cells producing interleukin (IL)-2, 4, 5 cytokines. This study suggests that a DNA and VLP combination vaccine with MVA is a promising strategy in enhancing the efficacy of DNA-rMVA vaccination against HIV-1.

Pilot study of whole-blood gamma interferon response to the Vibrio cholerae toxin B subunit and resistance to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli-associated diarrhea.

PubMed

Flores, Jose; DuPont, Herbert L; Paredes-Paredes, Mercedes; Aguirre-Garcia, M Magdalena; Rojas, Araceli; Gonzalez, Alexei; Okhuysen, Pablo C

2010-05-01

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), which produces heat-labile toxin (LT), is a common cause of travelers' diarrhea (TD). The B subunit of ETEC LT is immunologically related to the B subunit of Vibrio cholerae toxin (CT). In this pilot study we evaluated the whole-blood gamma interferon response to CT B in 17 U.S. adults traveling to Mexico. Only one of nine subjects who demonstrated a cellular immune response as determined by whole-blood gamma interferon production to CT B on arrival to Mexico developed diarrhea, whereas five of eight without a cellular response developed diarrhea. Markers of the cellular immune response to ETEC LT could help in identifying individuals immune to ETEC LT, and these markers deserve additional study.

Effect of liniment levamisole on cellular immune functions of patients with chronic hepatitis B

PubMed Central

Wang, Ke-Xia; Zhang, Li-Hua; Peng, Jiang-Long; Liang, Yong; Wang, Xue-Feng; Zhi, Hui; Wang, Xiang-Xia; Geng, Huan-Xiong

2005-01-01

AIM: To explore the effects of liniment levamisole on cellular immune functions of patients with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: The levels of T lymphocyte subsets and mIL-2R in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by biotin-streptavidin (BSA) technique in patients with chronic hepatitis B before and after the treatment with liniment levamisole. RESULTS: After one course of treatment with liniment levamisole, the levels of CD3+, CD4+, and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ increased as compared to those before the treatment but the level of CD8+ decreased. The total expression level of mIL-2R in PBMCs increased before and after the treatment with liniment levamisole. CONCLUSION: Liniment levamisole may reinforce cellular immune functions of patients with chronic hepatitis B. PMID:16437674

A Correlational Study on Transformational Leadership and Resilience in Higher Education Leadership

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wasden, Shane T.

2014-01-01

This quantitative correlational study investigated the relationship between self-perceived transformational leadership and self-perceived resilience within the confines of higher education leadership. This dissertation is written from a professional practice doctorate (PPD) perspective. A discussion of the PPD and its components is provided along…

T7 phage displaying latent membrane protein 1 of Epstein-Barr virus elicits humoral and cellular immune responses in rats.

PubMed

Gao, J; Liu, Z; Huang, M; Li, X; Wang, Z

2011-01-01

The latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) encoded by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has become a potential target in EBV-associated tumor prevention and treatment due to its multiple biological effects. In this study, the recombinant T7 phage displaying full-length LMP1 protein was cloned and used as an immunogen to immunize rats. Results of flow cytometry, Western blot analysis, and ELISA confirmed that both humoral and cellular immune responses were elicited in the immunized rats. Our data suggested that T7 phage was an efficient antigen carrier. The recombinant T7-LMP1 phage reconstitutes the antigenic and immunogenic properties of LMP1 and can serve as a vaccine against EBV.

A Shift from Cellular to Humoral Responses Contributes to Innate Immune Memory in the Vector Snail Biomphalaria glabrata

PubMed Central

Pinaud, Silvain; Portela, Julien; Duval, David; Nowacki, Fanny C.; Olive, Marie-Aude; Allienne, Jean-François; Galinier, Richard; Dheilly, Nolwenn M.; Kieffer-Jaquinod, Sylvie; Mitta, Guillaume; Théron, André; Gourbal, Benjamin

2016-01-01

Discoveries made over the past ten years have provided evidence that invertebrate antiparasitic responses may be primed in a sustainable manner, leading to the failure of a secondary encounter with the same pathogen. This phenomenon called “immune priming” or "innate immune memory" was mainly phenomenological. The demonstration of this process remains to be obtained and the underlying mechanisms remain to be discovered and exhaustively tested with rigorous functional and molecular methods, to eliminate all alternative explanations. In order to achieve this ambitious aim, the present study focuses on the Lophotrochozoan snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, in which innate immune memory was recently reported. We provide herein the first evidence that a shift from a cellular immune response (encapsulation) to a humoral immune response (biomphalysin) occurs during the development of innate memory. The molecular characterisation of this process in Biomphalaria/Schistosoma system was undertaken to reconcile mechanisms with phenomena, opening the way to a better comprehension of innate immune memory in invertebrates. This prompted us to revisit the artificial dichotomy between innate and memory immunity in invertebrate systems. PMID:26735307

The neuroendocrine immunomodulatory axis-like pathway mediated by circulating haemocytes in pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas.

PubMed

Liu, Zhaoqun; Zhou, Zhi; Jiang, Qiufen; Wang, Lingling; Yi, Qilin; Qiu, Limei; Song, Linsheng

2017-01-01

The neuroendocrine-immune (NEI) regulatory network is a complex system, which plays an indispensable role in the immunity of host. In this study, a neuroendocrine immunomodulatory axis (NIA)-like pathway mediated by the nervous system and haemocytes was characterized in the oyster Crassostrea gigas Once invaded pathogen was recognized by the host, the nervous system would temporally release neurotransmitters to modulate the immune response. Instead of acting passively, oyster haemocytes were able to mediate neuronal immunomodulation promptly by controlling the expression of specific neurotransmitter receptors on cell surface and modulating their binding sensitivities, thus regulating intracellular concentration of Ca 2+ This neural immunomodulation mediated by the nervous system and haemocytes could influence cellular immunity in oyster by affecting mRNA expression level of TNF genes, and humoral immunity by affecting the activities of key immune-related enzymes. In summary, though simple in structure, the 'nervous-haemocyte' NIA-like pathway regulates both cellular and humoral immunity in oyster, meaning a world to the effective immune regulation of the NEI network. © 2017 The Authors.

Immune cell-poor melanomas benefit from PD-1 blockade after targeted type I IFN activation.

PubMed

Bald, Tobias; Landsberg, Jennifer; Lopez-Ramos, Dorys; Renn, Marcel; Glodde, Nicole; Jansen, Philipp; Gaffal, Evelyn; Steitz, Julia; Tolba, Rene; Kalinke, Ulrich; Limmer, Andreas; Jönsson, Göran; Hölzel, Michael; Tüting, Thomas

2014-06-01

Infiltration of human melanomas with cytotoxic immune cells correlates with spontaneous type I IFN activation and a favorable prognosis. Therapeutic blockade of immune-inhibitory receptors in patients with preexisting lymphocytic infiltrates prolongs survival, but new complementary strategies are needed to activate cellular antitumor immunity in immune cell-poor melanomas. Here, we show that primary melanomas in Hgf-Cdk4(R24C) mice, which imitate human immune cell-poor melanomas with a poor outcome, escape IFN-induced immune surveillance and editing. Peritumoral injections of immunostimulatory RNA initiated a cytotoxic inflammatory response in the tumor microenvironment and significantly impaired tumor growth. This critically required the coordinated induction of type I IFN responses by dendritic, myeloid, natural killer, and T cells. Importantly, antibody-mediated blockade of the IFN-induced immune-inhibitory interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1 receptors further prolonged the survival. These results highlight important interconnections between type I IFNs and immune-inhibitory receptors in melanoma pathogenesis, which serve as targets for combination immunotherapies. Using a genetically engineered mouse melanoma model, we demonstrate that targeted activation of the type I IFN system with immunostimulatory RNA in combination with blockade of immune-inhibitory receptors is a rational strategy to expose immune cell-poor tumors to cellular immune surveillance. ©2014 American Association for Cancer Research.

Immune TB Antibody Phage Display Library as a Tool To Study B Cell Immunity in TB Infections.

PubMed

Hamidon, Nurul Hamizah; Suraiya, Siti; Sarmiento, Maria E; Acosta, Armando; Norazmi, Mohd Nor; Lim, Theam Soon

2018-03-01

B cells and in particular antibodies has always played second fiddle to cellular immunity in regard to tuberculosis (TB). However, recent studies has helped position humoral immunity especially antibodies back into the foray in relation to TB immunity. Therefore, the ability to correlate the natural antibody responses of infected individuals toward TB antigens would help strengthen this concept. Phage display is an intriguing approach that can be utilized to study antibody-mediated responses against a particular infection via harvesting the B cell repertoire from infected individuals. The development of disease-specific antibody libraries or immune libraries is useful to better understand antibody-mediated immune responses against specific disease antigens. This study describes the generation of an immune single-chain variable fragment (scFv) library derived from TB-infected individuals. The immune library with an estimated diversity of 10 9 independent clones was then applied for the identification of monoclonal antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis α-crystalline as a model antigen. Biopanning of the library isolated three monoclonal antibodies with unique gene usage. This strengthens the role of antibodies in TB immunity in addition to the role played by cellular immunity. The developed library can be applied against other TB antigens and aid antibody-derived TB immunity studies in the future.

pH-Sensitive fusogenic polymer-modified liposomes as a carrier of antigenic proteins for activation of cellular immunity.

PubMed

Yuba, Eiji; Kojima, Chie; Harada, Atsushi; Tana; Watarai, Shinobu; Kono, Kenji

2010-02-01

By modification of liposomes with poly(glycidol) derivatives such as succinylated poly(glycidol) and 3-methylglutarylated poly(glycidol), we have developed functional liposomes that generate fusion ability at mildly acidic pH. We investigated the feasibility of these polymer-modified liposomes as a carrier of antigenic proteins for induction of cellular immunity. These pH-sensitive fusogenic liposomes encapsulating ovalbumin (OVA) were applied to DC2.4 cells, a murine dendritic cell line. Observation with confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that these polymer-modified liposomes were taken up efficiently by the cells, thereafter delivering their contents into the cytosol, probably through fusion with endosomal membranes. Murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells treated with polymer-modified liposomes encapsulating OVA stimulated CD8-OVA1.3 cells more strongly than OT4H.1D5 cells, indicating that the liposomes induced MHC class I-restricted presentation. Furthermore, administration of the polymer-modified, OVA-loaded liposomes from nasal cavities of mice induced stronger cellular immune responses than the OVA-loaded plain liposomes. Because the ability of the polymer-modified liposomes to activate cellular immunity was comparable to that of Freund's complete adjuvant, which is a widely used adjuvant, they potentially have use in production of efficient vaccines for immunotherapy.

TWO INNEXINS OF Spodoptera litura INFLUENCES HEMICHANNEL AND GAP JUNCTION FUNCTIONS IN CELLULAR IMMUNE RESPONSES.

PubMed

Pang, Zunyu; Li, Ming; Yu, Dongshuai; Yan, Zhang; Liu, Xinyi; Ji, Xinglai; Yang, Yang; Hu, Jiansheng; Luo, Kaijun

2015-09-01

Insect cellular immune responses include encapsulation, nodule formation, and phagocytosis. Hemichannels and gap junctions are involved in these cellular actions. Innexins (Inxs: analogous to the vertebrate connexins) form hemichannels and gap junctions, but the molecular mechanisms underlying their biology is still unclear. In this article, we reported a steady-state level of Inxs (SpliInxs) in hemocytes of Spodoptera litura, which formed nonfunctional hemichannels on the cell surface to maintain normal metabolism. We also reported that two innnexins (SpliInx2 and SpliInx3) were expressed significantly higher in hemocytes compared to other tissues, suggesting that they play important roles in hemocytes. Amino acid analysis found that two cysteine residues in two extracellular loops provided the capability for SpliInx2 and SpliInx3 hemichannels to dock into gap junctions. Western blotting demonstrated that both extracellular and intracellular loops of SpliInx3 and the extracellular loops of SpliInx2 might undergo posttranslational modification during the formation of a steady-state hemichannel. During hemichannel formation, SpliInx2 presented as one isoform, while SpliInx3 presented as three isoforms. These results provide fundamental knowledge for further study of how steady-state levels of SpliInxs are dynamically adjusted to perform cellular immune responses under immune challenge. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Single cell analysis of innate cytokine responses to pattern recognition receptor stimulation in children across four continents

PubMed Central

Smolen, Kinga K; Cai, Bing; Fortuno, Edgardo S; Gelinas, Laura; Larsen, Martin; Speert, David P; Chamekh, Mustapha; Kollmann, Tobias R

2014-01-01

Innate immunity instructs adaptive immunity, and suppression of innate immunity is associated with increased risk for infection. We had previously shown that whole blood cellular components from a cohort of South African children secreted significantly lower levels of most cytokines following stimulation of pattern recognition receptors (PRR) as compared to whole blood from cohorts of Ecuadorian, Belgian, or Canadian children. To begin dissecting the responsible molecular mechanisms, we now set out to identify the relevant cellular source of these differences. Across the four cohorts represented in our study, we identified significant variation in the cellular composition of whole blood; however, significant reduction of the intracellular cytokine production on the single cell level was only detected in South African childrens’ monocytes, cDC, and pDC. We also uncovered a marked reduction in polyfunctionality for each of these cellular compartments in South African children as compared to children from other continents. Together our data identify differences in cell composition as well as profoundly lower functional responses of innate cells in our cohort of South African children. A possible link between altered innate immunity and increased risk for infection or lower response to vaccines in South African infants needs to be explored. PMID:25135829

Modulation of innate and adaptive cellular immunity relevant to HIV-1 vaccine design by seminal plasma.

PubMed

Selva, Kevin J; Kent, Stephen J; Parsons, Matthew S

2017-01-28

Mucosal exposure to HIV-1 infection generally occurs in the presence of semen. Immunomodulation by seminal plasma is well described in the reproductive biology literature. Little is known, however, about the impact of seminal plasma on innate and adaptive anti-HIV-1 cellular immunity. The study investigated the effects of seminal plasma on immune responses considered important for prophylactic HIV-1 vaccine development, namely innate and adaptive cellular immunity mediated by natural killer (NK) cells and T cells, respectively. The ability of seminal plasma to modulate direct, antibody-dependent and cytokine-stimulated NK cell activation was assessed utilizing intracellular cytokine staining. Direct and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity was assessed using lactate dehydrogenase release assays. The effects of seminal plasma on T-cell activation upon stimulation with staphylococcus enterotoxin B or HIV-1 Gag peptides were assessed by intracellular cytokine staining. The impact of seminal plasma on redirected cytolysis mediated by T cells was measured using lactate dehydrogenase release assays. Both direct and antibody-dependent NK cell activation were dramatically impaired by the presence of either HIV-1-uninfected or HIV-1-infected seminal plasma in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, seminal plasma suppressed both direct and antibody-dependent NK cell-mediated cytolysis, including anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent cytolysis of gp120-pulsed CEM.NKr-CCR5 cells. Finally, seminal plasma attenuated both HIV-1 Gag-specific and staphylococcus enterotoxin B-induced CTL activation. Semen contains potent immunosuppressors of both NK cell and CD8 T-cell-mediated anti-HIV-1 immune responses. This could impede attempts to provide vaccine-induced immunity to HIV-1.

A core viral protein binds host nucleosomes to sequester immune danger signals

PubMed Central

Avgousti, Daphne C.; Herrmann, Christin; Kulej, Katarzyna; Pancholi, Neha J.; Sekulic, Nikolina; Petrescu, Joana; Molden, Rosalynn C.; Blumenthal, Daniel; Paris, Andrew J.; Reyes, Emigdio D.; Ostapchuk, Philomena; Hearing, Patrick; Seeholzer, Steven H.; Worthen, G. Scott; Black, Ben E.; Garcia, Benjamin A.; Weitzman, Matthew D.

2016-01-01

Viral proteins mimic host protein structure and function to redirect cellular processes and subvert innate defenses1. Small basic proteins compact and regulate both viral and cellular DNA genomes. Nucleosomes are the repeating units of cellular chromatin and play an important role in innate immune responses2. Viral encoded core basic proteins compact viral genomes but their impact on host chromatin structure and function remains unexplored. Adenoviruses encode a highly basic protein called protein VII that resembles cellular histones3. Although protein VII binds viral DNA and is incorporated with viral genomes into virus particles4,5, it is unknown whether protein VII impacts cellular chromatin. Our observation that protein VII alters cellular chromatin led us to hypothesize that this impacts antiviral responses during adenovirus infection. We found that protein VII forms complexes with nucleosomes and limits DNA accessibility. We identified post-translational modifications on protein VII that are responsible for chromatin localization. Furthermore, proteomic analysis demonstrated that protein VII is sufficient to alter protein composition of host chromatin. We found that protein VII is necessary and sufficient for retention in chromatin of members of the high-mobility group protein B family (HMGB1, HMGB2, and HMGB3). HMGB1 is actively released in response to inflammatory stimuli and functions as a danger signal to activate immune responses6,7. We showed that protein VII can directly bind HMGB1 in vitro and further demonstrated that protein VII expression in mouse lungs is sufficient to decrease inflammation-induced HMGB1 content and neutrophil recruitment in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Together our in vitro and in vivo results show that protein VII sequesters HMGB1 and can prevent its release. This study uncovers a viral strategy in which nucleosome binding is exploited to control extracellular immune signaling. PMID:27362237