A report of cytomegalovirus cystitis and a review of other genitourinary manifestations of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome

We report a case of symptomatic cytomegalovirus cystitis associated with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome related complex. The diagnosis of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome was established by bladder biopsy. The hematuria resolved after systemic acyclovir therapy. The other known urological manifestations of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome are discussed.

Inhibiton of the colony-forming capacity of human T-lymphocytes exerted by theophylline

The effects of theophylline on T-lymphocyte colony formation were investigated both by in vitro studies (adding theophylline in cultures at three different concentrations--5, 15 and 30 micrograms/ml) and by in vivo experiments (after oral ingestion of 10 mg/kg time-released theophylline) in a group of young healthy volunteers. In vitro the drug showed a significant dose-dependent inhibitory effect on both peripheral mononuclear cells (PMNC) and purified T-lymphocyte colony formation. No significant differences in PMNC colony formation before and 12 h after the oral ingestion of theophylline was detected in the in vivo study, even if at the same time the plasma concentration of the drug remained at therapeutic level in every subject. In addition, in vitro experiments mimicking the in vivo conditions suggested that the apparent disagreement between the in vitro and in vivo results was due to experimental procedures (i.e. the inhibitory effect requires the constant presence of the theophylline in the culture medium). The experimental data provided in this study confirm, using different experimental procedures, the results of our recent investigations showing that theophylline exerts an inhibitory effect on T-cell proliferation.

Cefodizime administration in healthy subjects: studies of natural killer cells, urinary hormones and electrolytes

Two studies are here discussed: the first one on changes of the natural killer cell activity of PBM cells exposed in vitro to CDZ and the second one on urinary electrolytes, cortisol, aldosterone and DHEA-S circadian rhythms, evaluated in healthy subjects who received a single dose (2 g i.v.) of cefodizime (CDZ). The effect of CDZ in health includes a reduction of the circadian amplitude of natural killer cell activity. With the methods used, no difference was found between placebo and CDZ, as far as circadian rhythms of urinary electrolytes, cortisol, aldosterone and DHEA-S are concerned.

Inhibition of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) induced human T-cell colonies by methylprednisolone

The mechanisms underlying the inhibition of T-cell proliferation by methylprednisolone (MPS) have been investigated using a T-cell colony assay. Cell fractionation experiments have demonstrated that MPS exerted its effects at the level of both T-cells and monocytes. Thus, monocytes treated with MPS released a soluble factor that had suppressor activity on T-cell proliferation. Moreover, MPS directly blocked the proliferative capacity of T-cells, as demonstrated by the finding that MPS-treated T-cells formed reduced numbers of colonies even under optimal culture conditions and in the presence of exogenous IL-2.

Frequency-modulation-polarization spectroscopy

We have combined frequency-modulation and polarization spectroscopy to detect anisotropic spectral features with high sensitivity. The many line shapes possible with this technique and the potential for laser noise suppression were demonstrated by using saturation holes in iodine vapor.