White Blood Cell Percentage Research Articles

Hemogram study of an artificially feeding tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

Systematic classification and determination of various cells in normal peripheral blood of artificially feeding Tupaia belangeri chinensis of different ages and genders and evaluation of the effectiveness of an automatic blood cell classification counter for measuring tree shrew blood cells. Child, young and adult tree shrews (forty for each group) were randomly selected, half male and half female. After the animals were stable, the peripheral blood of each group was collected through the femoral vein, and the morphology of various blood cells of the tree shrew was observed and classified by the manual microscopic counting method and by an automatic blood cell classification counter. The Reference intervals of the normal peripheral blood cell absolute count, cell diameter and white blood cell percentage in tree shrews of different ages and genders has been calculated. White blood cell count and neutrophil relative count increased with age, while lymphocyte relative count decreased. The white blood cell count, neutrophil relative count, and lymphocyte relative count in the child group, as well as lymphocyte relative count in the young group, significantly differed according to gender (P<0.05), and the differences in other indicators were not significant. The Bland-Altman plot and the Passing-Bablok scattergram showed that the change trend of each indicator was consistent but exhibited large systematic differences between methods. Differences in peripheral blood cells exist among different age groups and different genders. An automatic blood cell classification counter is not suitable for the absolute count of blood cells in the tree shrew.

Chemical sterilization with intratesticular administration of zinc gluconate in adult dogs: a preliminary report

BackgroundChemical sterilization with zinc gluconate is being developed due to its permanent contraceptive effect in prepubertal dogs. In this study, five healthy adult dogs were selected randomly. Semen samples were collected and analyzed before the study to confirm normal testicular function. Under general anesthesia, pH neutralized zinc gluconate was injected directly into their testes. Testes diameter, ultrasonographic appearance, changes in the percentage of white blood cells, and testosterone concentration were monitored twice a week before and 1 month after the injection. At the end of the study, the dogs were castrated and their testes were removed for histopathological evaluation.ResultsThe general health of all dogs was normal after the injection. The appearance of testicular swelling was limited within 2 days of treatment. The average diameter of left and right testes was 2.48 and 2.03 cm before the injection and reached to diameter 2.12 and 2.15 cm, respectively, at the end of the study. Serum testosterone concentration was 4.2 ng/ml at the start and 4 ng/ml at the end of the study. The percentage of white blood cells at the start and end of the study were within normal ranges reported for dogs. Histopathological analyses indicate a degeneration of germ cells in seminiferous tubules, but Leydig cells retained their structure.ConclusionsTherefore, It is inferred that the injection of pH neutralized zinc gluconate into the adult dogs’ testes resulted in the loss of sperm-producing tissue without affecting the production of testosterone and the general health of adult dogs.

Immunostimulant Effects of Geophyte Plant Extract on Non-specific Defence Mechanisms of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The aim of this study was to determine the immunostimulant effects of geophyte plant extract on non-specific defence mechanisms of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). For this purpose, Muscari comosum was collected in Muğla region and extracted in ethanol. Then, The plant extract applied into fish by intraperitonal injection in two different concentrations (0.5mg/ fish and 2.0 mg/fish). The average fish weight was 140 g. Following the injection on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th days the blood and serum samples were collected from fish in each group and examined for various parameters including percentage of hematocrit, the counts of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) positive neutrophils, total leukocyte counts, percentage of white blood cells and serum lysozyme activity. The results indicated that the counts of NBT (+) neutrophils, percentage of monocyte and neutophil and total leukocyte counts increased in the group with injected 0.5mg plant extract /fish compared to control group (P&amp;lt;0.05). It has been revealed that this dose of M. comosum can be suggested to use to enhance non-specific immune system for rainbow trout aquaculture. However, immunostimulant effects of oral administration of this plant extract in rainbow trout are needed to be determine in future studies.

Lactoferrin Modulates Uterine Inflammation Postbreeding in the Mare

Our objective was to determine the effects of lactoferrin (LF) on the postbreeding inflammatory process of the endometrium. Mares were randomly assigned to receive either the control treatment (semen only: 1.25 × 109 dead sperm diluted in skim milk–based extender) or LF (semen + 1 g LF) in a cross-over design. Mares received 2,500 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin at the time of insemination and were then evaluated daily to determine the time of ovulation and the amount of intrauterine fluid accumulation (0 = none; 4 = large). Endometrial samples were collected approximately at 24 hours postinsemination. The amount of bacterial growth was given a score (0 = no growth; 4 = heavy growth), and the percentage of white blood cells (WBCs) in the smear was determined. Endometrial expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. There were no significant differences between control and LF groups for: intrauterine fluid 24 hours after artificial insemination (2.2 vs. 1.7), bacterial growth (1.2 vs. 0.8), and percentage of WBCs (37.3 vs. 21.0%). Mares inseminated with extender containing LF showed reduction in endometrial expression of IL-6 at 24 hours postinsemination compared to control treatment (P < .05). Results also showed a tendency of reduction in the expression of IL-1β (P = .09), IL-8 (P = .06), and TNF-α (P = .08) when compared to controls. Expression of IL-10 was similar between groups. Overall, the postbreeding inflammatory reaction in the uterus of mare's receiving LF was milder than in control mares.

Composition of leucocytes in peripheral blood of Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides, Smitt, 1898) (Nototheniidae)

ABSTRACTThe composition of leukocytes in the Patagonian toothfish (Dissostichus eleginoides Smitt, 1898), caught in the Scotia Sea at a depth of more than 1000 m, was studied. Cells with various morphofunctional characteristics and cell structure were found. Lymphocytes were predominant, followed by, in decreasing order, eosinophils, monocytes, blast forms and neutrophils. The composition of leukocytes in the Patagonian toothfish consists of the same types of leukocytes as the earlier studied Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman, 1937), but the percentage of white blood cells in the leukocyte formula differs between the two species.

Hyper-CVAD Plus Epratuzumab As Salvage Regimen for Younger Relapsed/Refractory CD22+ B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Patients: Results of the Phase 2 Prospective Cheprall Study

Purpose: Hyper-CVAD developed by the MD Anderson group a few years ago, is one of the standard salvage regimen used for younger relapsed/refractory ALL patients. Recently, targeted therapies using monoclonal antibodies directed against such surface antigens as CD19, CD20 or CD22 have allowed to obtain complete remission (CR) in B ALL expressing these markers. We hypothesized that combining Hyper-CVAD and an anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody could improve the response of such patients.Materials and Methods: This study evaluated the Cheprall salvage regimen, where epratuzumab, a humanized therapeutic monoclonal antibody against CD22 with mainly ADCC property, was associated to Hyper-CVAD, in younger patients (18-59 years old) with relapsed/refractory CD22+ (>30% of expression) B-ALL. Cheprall consisted of epratuzumab 360 mg/m²/d iv on days 1, 8, 15 and 22, cyclophosphamide 300 mg/m²/12h iv on days 1 to 3, vincristine 2 mg iv on days +4 and +11, doxorubicin 50 mg/m² iv on day +4 and dexamethasone 40 mg po on days 1 to 4 and 11 to 14. The main objective of the study was the overall response rate (CR + CR with incomplete platelets recovery (<100 000/mm3, CRp) + partial response (PR, >=50% of bone marrow (BM) blasts decrease or CR with persistent extramedulladory disease) evaluated between 4 and 6 weeks from day+1. Secondary objectives were overall (OS) and leukemia free (LFS) survivals and minimal residual disease (MRD) evaluated by flow cytometry.Results: Between January 2011 and April 2016, 31 patients from 11 French centres were enrolled in the study. A combination of epratuzumab + vincristine and dexamethasone (EVD) only was given to one patient subsequently excluded from the analysis. Among the 30 patients ultimately considered for analyses, 19 were males and the median age was 35 years (range: 21-59). The median time between diagnosis and Cheprall was 14.5 months (range: 4-130) and 13 patients had been allotransplanted. Disease status at time of Cheprall was as follows: primary refractory n=3; first relapse non treated n=13; refractory first relapse n=6, second relapse non treated n=7 and fourth relapse n=1. Median percentage of white blood cells and BM blasts were 4525/mm3(range: 90-86790) and 60% (range: 15-100), respectively. The median CD22 expression of BM blasts was 100% (range: 36-100). Four patients had extramedullary disease: breast n=2, parotid n=1, nervous central system n=1 (deviation). Cheprall was overall well tolerated including mostly pancytopenia as grade ¾ toxicities. Three patients died during aplasia (septis n=1; cerebral haemorrhage n=1, fusariosis n=1) and were not evaluable for response.The overall response rate was 50% (n=15) including 9 CR (30%), 1 CRp (3%) and 5 PR (17%). The number of CR/CRp was higher for patients in first non-treated relapse (54% vs 18%) with an age below 36 years (50% vs 14%), with <=50% of BM blasts (57% vs 26%) and with a delay between diagnosis and Cheprall > 18 months (54% vs 17%). Four out of 9 evaluated CR/CRp patients (45%) were documented with negative MRD. All patients in CR/CRp and 1 patient in PR received a consolidation consisting of a second cycle of Cheprall n=5, EVD n=5 or blinatumomab n=1. At the time of analysis (July 2016), all patients have died (during aplasia n=3, progression n=23, multiple organ failure n=1), except three responders still in CR, but yet recently enrolled (2015 n=1, 2016 n=2). Six patients received allogeneic transplant after Cheprall: 4 in CR2, 1 as salvage treatment and 1 in CR3. The last patient included and who achieved CR2 should be allografted in August 2016. Median OS was 3 months (range: 0.2-34.8). Median LFS for those achieving CR/CRp was 4.5 months (range: 1-12).Conclusion: Hyper-CVAD + epratuzumab allowed to obtain 50% of response in this cohort of patients at high risk of failure with refractory/relapsed younger CD22+ B-ALL. Disease improvement was however short-lived, which could be explained either by an insufficient disease load decrease and/or by escape of the blast cells to epratuzumab. This partial efficacy in a population of poor prognosis may suggest that epratuzumab should be tested within first-line chemotherapies as it may participate to decrease MRD level, especially before transplantation. The trial was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct no.NCT01219816. This study was supported by a grant from the French National Cancer Institute (PHRC 2010). DisclosuresHuguet:Pfizer, Novartis, BMS, Ariad, Jazz, Amgen: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees. Thomas:Pfizer: Consultancy. Goldenberg:Immunomedics: Employment, Equity Ownership, Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties. Wegener:Immunomedics: Employment, Honoraria.

Effects of Muscari comosum Extract on Nonspecific Immune Parameters in Gilthead Seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1758)

AbstractThis study was conducted to determine the effects of Muscari comosum (L.) Mill. 1768, geophyte plant extract on some nonspecific immune parameters of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1758). For this purpose, the plant was collected and extracted in ethanol solvent. Three different fish groups were formed, and each group was duplicated (total 300 fish). The plant extract was applied to the fish by intraperitoneal injection in two different concentrations (0.5 mg/fish and 2 mg/fish). Following injections on the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th d, blood samples were collected from each group. Some of the nonspecific immune parameters in blood and serum samples such as leukocyte level, phagocytic activity (NBT (+) cells), lysozyme activity, and the percentage of white blood cells were determined. The results indicate that in line with the parameters observed, the group given 0.5 mg/fish was not as effective as the one given 2 mg/fish but more effective than the control group. The nonspecific immune parameters of blood samples of the gilthead seabream in the 2 mg/fish experimental group showed that maximum levels on measured parameters of blood were reached at the first week postinjection. The applied concentrations of plant extract did not inhibit growth performance in any of the groups.

Evaluation of the fish health assessment index in the Olifants River system, South Africa

The fish health assessment index (HAI) biomonitoring technique, developed in the USA and subsequently tested in South Africa, was re-evaluated in the Olifants River system using Clarias gariepinus, Oreochromis mossambicus and Labeobarbus marequensis during drought and flood conditions in 1994–1997 at the same sample sites in the Kruger National Park as used previously, as well as at Loskop Dam and Bronkhorstspruit Dam in the upper catchment. Parasite numbers recorded from Clarias gariepinus supported the HAI hypothesis that higher endoparasite and lower ectoparasite numbers occur at highly impacted areas. The apparent effects of pollution type on the ratio between ectoparasites and endoparasites are discussed. Environmental stressors such as flood conditions resulted in immunological responses, reflected statistically as changes in white blood cell percentage (WBC%). It is suggested that endoparasite and WBC% data provide the best overall assessment of fish condition in the Olifants River system. Modifications made to the HAI included further development of the original parasite presence/absence component into a more extensive parasite index component. The modified HAI index shows promise as a long-term biological monitoring tool in South Africa.

Prediction of responsiveness or non-responsiveness to treatment of acute Kawasaki disease using 1 gram per kilogram of immunoglobulin – an effective and cost-saving schedule of therapy

Standard treatment of acute Kawasaki disease involves giving 2 grams per kilogram of immunoglobulin intravenously along with aspirin. More than half of the patients with acute Kawasaki disease, nonetheless, can be cured by giving only 1 gram per kilogram of immunoglobulin, thus reducing this aspect of the cost of treatment by half. Our purpose was to predict those patients with acute Kawasaki disease who would respond to treatment with 1 gram per kilogram of immunoglobulin given intravenously on the basis of their clinical profiles and laboratory findings prior to the initial treatment. We performed a retrospective review of the clinical records of consecutive patients with acute Kawasaki disease treated in our hospital with intravenous immunoglobulin from January, 2001, to December, 2005.During this period, we treated in this fashion 98 patients with acute Kawasaki disease. 65% of these needing immunoglobulin therapy were cured by giving 1 gram per kilogram. The neutrophil count and the percentage of white blood cells representing neutrophils, along with aspirate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin and C reactive protein, were all significantly lower, and sodium was significantly higher, in those responding to 1 gram per kilogram of immunoglobulin when compared to those who did not respond. The days of illness at the first intravenous treatment was later in those responding than in those failing to respond. We generated a score for prediction, assigning a point for each of C reactive protein equal to or greater than 10 mg/dl, sodium equal to or lower than 133 meq/l, alanine aminotransferase equal to or greater than 110 IU/l, and 2 points for the percentage of white blood cells representing neutrophils equal to or greater than 70%. Using a cut-off point of a score less than 2, we were able to identify those responding with 60% sensitivity, and 91% specificity.Thus, we are now able to predict those patients with acute Kawasaki disease who will respond to immunoglobulin given intravenously at 1 gram per kilogram using laboratory data, with a potential saving in medical costs.

Paradoxical Response Developed during the Antituberculous Treatment in Tuberculous Pleurisy

Background: A paradoxical response is defined as the radiological and clinical worsening of a previous lesion or the development of new lesion after initial improvement during theprocess of antituberculous treatment. The related factors for the development of a paradoxical response in patients with tuberculous pleurisy are not certain. Methods: We selected patients with tuberculous pleurisy who had been treated for more than 4 months. The changes onthe serial chest X-ray findings before and after treatment were reviewed. Paradoxical responses were regarded as any worsening or development of new lesion at least 2 weeks after the initiation of treatment. The baseline clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of the peripheral blood and pleural fluid were compared between the patients with a paradoxical response and the patients without a paradoxical response. Results: Paradoxical responses appeared in sixteen patients (21%) among the 77 patients.It took a mean of 38.6 days after the treatment and the time to resolve the paradoxical response was a mean of 32.1 days. For the patients with a paradoxical response, the median age was younger (30.5 years vs 39.0 years, respectively) and the lymphocytic percentage of white blood cells in the pleural fluid was higher (82.1% vs 69.6%, respectively) than for the patients without a paradoxical response. Conclusion: The development of a paradoxical response during the treatment of patients with tuberculous pleurisy was not rare and this was related with the age of the patients and the percentage of lymphocytic white blood cells in the pleural fluid. (Tuberc Respir Dis 2008;64:427-432)

Prediction of Intravenous Immunoglobulin Unresponsiveness in Patients With Kawasaki Disease

In the present study, we developed models to predict unresponsiveness to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in Kawasaki disease (KD). We reviewed clinical records of 546 consecutive KD patients (development dataset) and 204 subsequent KD patients (validation dataset). All received IVIG for treatment of KD. IVIG nonresponders were defined by fever persisting beyond 24 hours or recrudescent fever associated with KD symptoms after an afebrile period. A 7-variable logistic model was constructed, including day of illness at initial treatment, age in months, percentage of white blood cells representing neutrophils, platelet count, and serum aspartate aminotransferase, sodium, and C-reactive protein, which generated an area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve of 0.84 and 0.90 for the development and validation datasets, respectively. Using both datasets, the 7 variables were used to generate a simple scoring model that gave an area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve of 0.85. For a cutoff of 0.15 or more in the logistic regression model and 4 points or more in the simple scoring model, sensitivity and specificity were 86% and 67% in the logistic model and 86% and 68% in the simple scoring model. The kappa statistic is 0.67, indicating good agreement between the logistic and simple scoring models. Our predictive models showed high sensitivity and specificity in identifying IVIG nonresponders among KD patients.

Kimura's disease in a patient with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy on ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Sir, Kimura’s disease, endaemic in Asia, manifests as solitary or multiple subcutaneous nodules in the head and neck, marked peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE [1]. Many cases of this are associated with nephrotic syndrome of unknown cause; and there is no evidence in these patients for a relationship between the end-stage renal disease and Kimura’s disease. We describe a patient on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) with a unique concomitant presentation of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and Kimura’s disease. A 17-year-old Taiwanese boy was diagnosed as having nephrotic syndrome when he was 12 years old, and he was treated with oral prednisolone. Then he was lost to follow-up, having turned to traditional Chinese herbal drugs. At the age of 16, he presented at our hospital again with dyspnoea and oliguria. Haemodialysis was performed initially because of acute pulmonary oedema; then he received CAPD. Idiopathic eosinophilia was noted at this admission [white blood cells (WBCs), 6050/ml; segmented neutrophils, 59.4%; lymphocytes, 10.9%; monocytes, 4.1%; eosinophils, 25.3%; basophils, 0.3%; absolute eosinophil count, 1530/ml (normal 50–450/ml)]. His IgE was 2098 IU/ml (normal <200 IU/ml) and his haemoglobin was 9.9 mg/dl. About 6 months later, two subcutaneous nodules were found in his neck. Excisional biopsy was done which showed florid germinal centres, eosinophilic infiltration, eosinophilic abscesses and an increase of post-capillary venules—findings compatible with Kimura’s disease [2]. The patient’s cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) was 57.8%. Cardio-echography revealed dilatation of all four chambers with poor left ventricular performance [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 46%] and moderate pericardial effusion. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed. The patient, however, refused pericardiocentesis or myocardial biopsy. We tried methylprednisolone 500 mg intravenously for 3 days then oral prednisolone 40 mg/day tapered to 10 mg/day for 6 months. His eosinophil count decreased from 3429 to 391/ml (from 34.5 to 6.1 as a percentage of WBCs). His CTR remained essentially unchanged (58.2%), and his left ventricular function did not improve (LVEF 45%) after 6 months of steroid treatment. Since then, the patient has not received steroids, because he has had no appreciable improvement of cardiac function. A systemic component is usually absent in Kimura’s disease, but the disease is often associated with proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome [3]. In our case, we could not identify the aetiology of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy because myocardial biopsy was not performed. We can, however, exclude dialysis-related cardiomyopathy, because the patient was well nourished and free from oedema, and he had the following laboratory parameters: creatinine clearance (Ccr), 73.82 l/week; weekly Kt/V, 2.46; and normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR), 1.59 g/day. Based on a report by Sekiguchi et al., that steroid therapy was effective in 16 of 25 cases of eosinophilic heart disease [4], we tried steroids on this patient for 6 months, at the end of which his eosinophil count was decreased but without significant improvement of his left ventricular function. In conclusion, this is a unique case in which Kimura’s disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy co-existed. Their as yet undefined relationship may be evaluated further.

Long-term high copper intake: effects on indexes of copper status, antioxidant status, and immune function in young men

Short-term high copper intake does not appear to affect indexes of copper status or functions related to copper status, but the effects of long-term high copper intake are unknown. A study was conducted in men to determine the effect of long-term high copper intake on indexes of copper status, oxidant damage, and immune function. Nine men were confined to a metabolic research unit (MRU) for 18 d and were fed a 3-d rotating menu providing an average of 1.6 mg Cu/d. The men continued the study under free-living conditions for 129 d and supplemented their usual diets with 7 mg Cu/d. The men then returned to the MRU for 18 d of the same diet as during the first period, except that copper intake was 7.8 mg/d. Plasma copper, ceruloplasmin activity, ceruloplasmin protein, plasma malondialdehyde, benzylamine oxidase activity, erythrocyte superoxide dismutase, hair copper, urinary copper, and urinary thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were measured during each MRU period. Ceruloplasmin activity, benzylamine oxidase, and superoxide dismutase were significantly higher at the end of the second MRU period than at the end of the first. Urinary copper excretion, hair copper concentrations, and urinary thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were significantly higher during the second MRU period than during the first. Polymorphonuclear cell count, the percentage of white blood cells, lymphocyte count, and interleukin 2R were affected by copper supplementation. Antibody titer for the Beijing strain of influenza virus was significantly lower in supplemented subjects after immunization than in unsupplemented control subjects. Under highly controlled conditions, long-term high copper intake results in increases in some indexes of copper status, alters an index of oxidant stress, and affects several indexes of immune function. The physiologic implications of these changes are unknown.

The effect of tissue docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids levels on hypersaline tolerance and leucocyte composition in striped bass (Morone saxatilis) larvae

Larval striped bass (M. saxatilis), tissue docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids levels were modulated through dietary enrichments and the effect on growth and survivorship examined. Mean growth was significantly greater in larvae enriched with AA than in larvae enriched with DHA (F-value for AA treatment was 20.5 versus only 5.1 for the DHA treatment). Dietary treatment did not have a significant effect on larval survivorship (56.0±2.4%, p > 0.05). When challenged with hypersaline (25 psu) immersion, DHA enriched larvae survived better than AA enriched larvae, but larvae with body tissue levels of 15.4 mg AA g−1 and 7.2–15.4 mg DHA g−1 dry weight provided maximal survivorship to the challenge. Elevated levels of body tissue AA was generally associated with elevated levels of whole body cortisol. On the other hand, increasing levels of DHA mainly affected the kinetics of cortisol increase to hypersaline exposure. Larvae injected intraperitoneally with formalin fixed Staphylococcus aureus responded by altering the proportion of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils in perpherial blood. Lymphocytes, which accounted for the largest percentage of white blood cells (over 70%), decreased in all challenged larvae during the first 6 hours post injection then returned to pre-challenge levels after 44 hours. Conversely, the relative proportion of monocytes and neutrophils rose from 14% and 2% up to 28% and 6% of the total circulating leucocytes, respectively. The largest increase occurred in larvae fed a moderate level of both DHA and AA.

Genotoxic markers among butadiene polymer workers in China

While 1,3-butadiene is carcinogenic in rodents, cancer causation in humans is less certain. We examined a spectrum of genotoxic outcomes in 41 butadiene polymer production workers and 38 non-exposed controls, in China, to explore the role of butadiene in human carcinogenesis. Because in vitro studies suggest that genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferase enzymes influence genotoxic effects of butadiene, we also related genotoxicity to genetic polymorphisms in GSTT1 and GSTM1. Among butadiene-exposed workers, median air exposure was 2 p.p.m. (6 h time-weighted average), due largely to intermittent high level exposures. Compared with unexposed subjects, butadiene-exposed workers had greater levels of hemoglobin N-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)valine (THBVal) adducts (P < 0.0001) and adduct levels tended to correlate, among butadiene-exposed workers, with air measures (P = 0.03). Butadiene-exposed workers did not differ, however, from unexposed workers with respect to frequency of uninduced or diepoxybutane-induced sister chromatid exchanges, aneuploidy as measured by fluorescence in situ hybridization of chromosomes 1, 7, 8 and 12, glycophorin A variants or lymphocyte hprt somatic mutation. Also among the exposed, greater THBVal levels were not associated with increases in uninduced sister chromatid exchanges, aneuploidy, glycophorin A or hprt mutations. Butadiene-exposed workers had greater lymphocyte (P = 0.002) and platelet counts (P = 0.07) and lymphocytes as a percentage of white blood cells were moderately correlated with greater THBVal levels (Spearman's phi = 0.32, P = 0.07). Among butadiene-exposed workers, neither GSTM1 nor GSTT1 genotype status predicted urinary mercapturic acid butanediol formation, THBVal adducts, uninduced sister chromatid exchanges, aneuploidy or mutations in the glycophorin A or hprt genes. Overall, the study demonstrated exposure to butadiene in these workers, by a variety of short-term and long-term measures, but did not show specific genotoxic effects, at the chromosomal or gene levels, related to that exposure.

Investigation of some immunological functions in a group of asphalt workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

To investigate the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the human immune system, analyses were performed on T-cell subsets (CD4 +, CD8 +), B-cells (CD19 +), serum immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, IgA) and white blood cell percentages of 16 male workers who were employed in road paving operations and compared to 12 unexposed male controls. PAH exposure was assessed using urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) levels and was found to be significantly higher in workers than in the controls. While the CD4 + cell percentage and the CD4 +/CD8 + ratio were significantly higher in the PAH-exposed group, the percentages of CD8 + and CD19 + cells were unchanged. There was also a significant enhancement in serum IgG levels and the percentage of monocytes in the workers compared to the control group. These data suggest that chronic exposure to PAHs may affect some immune functions in humans.

A paediatric Crohn's disease activity index (PCDAI). Is it useful? Study Group on Crohn's Disease in Children and Adolescents.

Since 1976, various activity indices for Crohn's disease have been developed but none has been suitable for use in the paediatric age group. Therefore, the German-Swiss Study Group on Crohn's Disease in Children and Adolescents decided to develop their own paediatric Crohn's disease activity index (PCDAI) by multiple regression analysis of prospectively collected data. The result was a simple index consisting of two clinical (appetite, number of stools/week) and four laboratory variables (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum iron and alpha 2-globulin concentrations and bands as percentage of white blood cells). Applying the index to patients who were followed-up, it could be demonstrated that the changes in PCDAI inversely reflected the changes in weight and that the surgical removal of the inflamed parts of the gut reduced the disease activity index to levels comparable to those obtained in patients after successful, exclusively conservative, treatment. Low disease activity was maintained for at least three years.

Early changes in immune parameters induced by an acute nonantigenic inflammation in mouse: Influence of imuthiol

Calcium pyrophosphate (CaPP)-induced pleurisy, may represent one of the simplest expressions of inflammation in that the irritant is a non-diffusible, non-antigenic and non-pyrogenic agent. Spleen or lymph node T or B cell numbers and activities, as well as NK activity, were modified at distance by CaPP-pleurisy. An intense increase in blood polymorphonuclear cells was also triggered by the inflammatory process. Treatment with imuthiol (sodium diethyldithiocarbamate), an agent known to be active on the T-cell lineage, restored towards control values the inflammatory response and tended to normalized white blood cell percentages altered by the inflammatory process. The findings suggest imuthiol could be employed as a virtually non-toxic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent.

Adrenocortical nuclear size and function in response to high environmental temperature (37°C)

Groups of mature male rats (15 rats each) were exposed at 37°C for 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 hours. Plasma corticosterone concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.01) at 37°C throughout the experimental period as compared to control levels prior to heat exposure indicating adrenocortical hyperfunctioning. Corrected plasma corticosterone concentrations (corrected for plasma loss due to heat exposure) showed that the significant rise gradually reached a maximum at 6 hours at 37°C. After that time the corrected plasma corticosterone levels decreased showing a decline in adrenocortical hyperactivity. Critical dehydration (18.8% loss in body weight) and severe hemoconcentration (1/3 loss in percent plasma) were reached at 36 hours of the 37°C exposure. Dehydration and hemoconcentration were shown by the heat exposed animals despite the significant increase in water consumption. A significant elevation in body temperature (P < 0.01) reaching critical hyperthermia (42.9±0°C) at 36 hours was shown by rats exposed at 37°C. The percentage of white blood cells of the heat exposed rats showed a significant increase at 3 and 6 hours and a significant decrease at 36 hours. These changes in the percentage of white cells of rats at 37°C paralleled the corrected plasma corticosterone concentration. Data on the changes of the size of the adrenocortical cell nuclei in the heat exposed animals indicated stimulation by heat of the zona fasciculata and to a lesser extent the zona reticularis .