ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196122

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The palatine tonsils and nasopharyngeal adenoids represent the predominant immunocompetent tissue of the upper respiratory tract. Its major function is as a first line of defense against viral, bacterial, and food antigens that enter the upper aerodigestive system. Another major function of the tonsils and adenoids is to supply the local mucosal immune system of the upper respiratory tract with dimeric IgA-producing B cells. Secretory IgA has particular hydrophilic properties and is capable of preventing adsorption and penetration of bacteria and/or viruses into the upper respiratory tract mucosa. In addition, the role of the indigenous flora of the upper respiratory tract, particularly the viridans streptococci has been emphasized as providing a valuable source of bacterial interference to the colonization of potential pathogens.

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196123

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Peritoneal or bone-marrow-derived murine macrophages were exposed for 24 h in vitro to dilutions of the bacterial extract OM-85 BV, in the presence or absence of other added compounds [macrophage-activating factor (MAF), recombinant murine interferon-γ (IFN-γ)]. Various metabolic responses and functional activities were then measured. Glucose oxidation through the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway was markedly stimulated in OM-85 BV-treated macrophages compared to control macrophages. Similarly, OM-85 BV primed macrophages for superoxide production upon triggering by phorbol myristate acetate. Both effects were further enhanced by simultaneous treatment of the cells with MAF with OM-85 BV. The bacterial extract also induced macrophages to release large amounts of nitrite (a marker of the activated state). As regards functional responses, coincubation with MAF and OM-85 BV activated macrophages to destroy target cells as well as intracellular microorganisms; in the latter case, similar results were obtained when MAF was replaced by IFN-γ. In all these tests, the possibility that the observed effects were due to contamination of the bacterial extracts by endotoxin could be excluded. The above results indicate that OM-85 BV induces metabolic and functional properties in macrophages that are characteristic of the activated state and are important for host defen

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196125

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

To clarify the mode of action of an oral bacterial extract (OM-85 BV) on local airway immunity pre- and posttherapeutic washings from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of 28 adult patients with nonobstructive chronic bronchitis were analysed. In comparison to healthy controls, an elevation of total cell count due to an increased number of PMN leukocytes, and an impaired activity of the alveolar macrophages measured by the chemiluminescence response to opsonized zymosan was observed in patients with chronic bronchitis. After treatment with OM-85 BV, the BAL CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio and BAL interferon-γ levels were increased. The alveolar macrophage activity was normalized and the BAL IgA was regulated from a reduced or hyperelevated to a moderately increased level

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196126

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Adhesion of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) to vascular endothelium is one of the first events in their response against local bacterial infection. Different adhesion molecules sequentially mediate PMN adherence to endothelium and extravasation into inflamed tissues. We show that bacterial extracts OM-85 BV and OM-89 increase the expression of adhesion molecules at the surface of PMN and we suggest that this upregulation could be linked to the beneficial effect of bacterial extracts in the prevention of respiratory tract infections.

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196127

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

The preventive effect of OM-85 BV on recurrent ENT and respiratory tract infections has been documented in a series of clinical trials. This article reviews the more significant controlled clinical trials investigating the efficacy and safety of OM-85 BV in airway infections. The literature reviewed covers all age groups. In summary, the administration of OM-85 BV was associated with a decrease in the number of acute exacerbations, with an increase in the number of patients remaining free from infections and with a decrease in antibiotic consumption. These results indicate the efficacy of oral immunostimulation with the bacterial extract OM-85 BV in all age groups and demonstrate its protective effect against recurrent airway infections.

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196128

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196129

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

This report is an analysis of the medical records of 83 patients registered between 1960 and 1980 at Helsinki University Central Hospital as having malignant pleural mesothelioma. 65 of 83 patients had histologically confirmed malignant mesothelioma, and are the focus of this analysis. The remaining 18 (22%) patients were excluded because malignant mesothelioma was only confirmed cytologically, or because the primary tumor was not a mesothelioma. The ratio of men to women was 2:1.30 of 65 (46%) patients were not known or not likely to have been exposed to asbestos. The main symptoms at presentation were dyspnea, cough, chest pain, fatigue and weight loss. The median survival from diagnosis was 12 months, and from the onset of symptoms 18 months. Clinical stage and performance status were significant prognostic factors. Hematogenous metastases were present at autopsy in most cases. Disease and performance status therefore need to be well established and documented in clinical trials involving mesothelioma.

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196043

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

A morphometric study was carried out on biopsy specimens taken from 40 smokers (27 with chronic bronchitis and 13 asymptomatic) submitted to bronchoscopy to identify and quantify the possible structural differences between the two groups. The chronic bronchitic group had a mean age of 65.67 years and 57.04 pack-years of smoking, the asymptomatic group had a mean age of 44.69 years and 22.62 pack-years of smoking. 70 biopsy specimens (45 from chronic bronchitics and 25 from asymptomatic smokers), in which large areas of best-preserved and perpendicularly cut epithelium were present, were considered suitable for the study and examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The mean thickness of surface epithelium (p < 0.001), the number of layers of basal cells (p < 0.001), the intercellular space of the superficial zone of the epithelium (p < 0.05) and the percentage of abnormal bronchial cilia (p < 0.05) were significantly greater in patients with chronic bronchitis than in asymptomatic smokers. No significant difference between the two groups was observed in the thickness of the lamina reticularis of the basement membrane. Goblet cell hyperplasia was more marked in chronic bronchitics than in the asymptomatic smokers (p < 0.001), whereas the frequency of epidermoid metaplasia did not show a significant difference. The morphological study of the bronchial epithelium has allowed the identification of transitional cells, which gives rise to the concept that epidermoid metaplasia may result from conversion of mucous cells. This finding suggests that the different histologic types appearing in lung tumours may originate from one undifferentiated pluripotential stem cell, which is able to differentiate into different histogenetic types.

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196044

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger

摘要:

Although much attention has been paid to the effect of endothelin on the bronchopulmonary system, there are few reports concerning the effect of endothelin on Cl- secretion across airway epithelium. We examined the effects of endothelin-1, -2 and -3 on bioelectric parameters of canine tracheal epithelium, a tissue in which Cl- is actively secreted and Na+ is absorbed. Potential difference (PD) and short-circuit current (SCC) were measured using an Ussing chamber with 0.5 cm2 of exposed area, and conductance (G) was calculated by dividing SCC by PD. Luminal endothelin-1 produced transient increases in PD and SCC, returning to baseline values within 5 min after stimulation in a dose-dependent fashion and reached mean responses of 123 and 126% of baseline PD ad SCC, respectively, at 10-6M of endothelin-1, whereas submucosal endothelin-1 did not alter PD and SCC. G remained unchanged when stimulated by endothelin-1. Endothelin-2 and -3 did not produce any significant alterations in PD and SCC. Endothelin-1 evoked increases in PD and SCC, which were not altered by pretreatment with luminal amiloride (10-4M), or by treatment with submucosal propranolol (10-5M). Ionic substitution of Cl- with nontransported anions, iodide and gluconate, inhibited endothelin-1-induced increases in PD and SCC. Pretreatment with 10-5M indomethacin partially inhibited Endothelin-1-evoked increases in PD and SCC. These findings indicate that endothelin-1 stimulates Cl- secretion partially through the generation of cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid.

ISSN:0025-7931    

DOI:10.1159/000196045

出版商:S. Karger AG    

年代:1992

数据来源: Karger